The Westside Goth Show #49: Empowered Edition

2011 Ramble Awards

2010
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2008

Favorites in Movies

November Comic Order 2010

PREVIEWS #268-Keeping me informed.



JOHN CARTER OF MARS WARLOARD OF MARS TP-Big time collection of comics based on a popular sci-fi series I never read that's being made into a movie.

BATMAN INCORPORATED #3-Waiting impatiently...

BATMAN AND ROBIN #19-Soon the new creative team starts...

KNIGHT & SQUIRE #4 (OF 6)-Issue 31 was a big shrug from me. Looked nice though.

BIRDS OF PREY #8-Yeah.

BATGIRL #17-Just added, will be picking up a few on midtown until it lines up.

GREEN LANTERN #62 (BRIGHTEST DAY)-Yeah.

TEEN TITANS #91-Yeah.

ZATANNA #9-Oh hell yeah, baby!


SHOWCASE PRESENTS JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA TP VOL 05-Finally, a Showcase volume I can get behind.

TINY TITANS #36-Awww yeah!

FABLES #101 (MR)-Anxious for #100.

HACK SLASH ME WITHOUT YOU (ONE-SHOT) LEISTER CVR (MR)-Liking Hack/Slash.

MORNING GLORIES #6-3 issues in and I'm still not sure.

AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #4 (OF 9)-Yep, 8 months, 4 issues. But at least its on schedule.

X-MEN #7-New arc?

WOLVERINE & JUBILEE #1 (OF 4)-Vampire Jubilee?

DEADPOOLMAX #4 (MR)-When did this become a 6 issue mini?

AVENGERS ACADEMY PREM HC PERMANENT RECORD-I head Mike McKone only drew the first few issues. Lame...

CAPTAIN AMERICA OPERATION REBIRTH PREM HC-Old school 90's Cap stories.

TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #66 (MR)-Sexy fun?

VAMPIRELLA #3-Waiting on issue 1 to arirve still.

NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 13-Definitely a good series here.

HIGH SCHOOL OF DEAD GN VOL 01 (MR)-Screw the zombies, I'm looking forward to the cheesy fan service.


DC WONDER WOMAN BISHOUJO STATUE-Petite manga-esque WW statue. What I've been waiting for... in May...

Empowered Volume 6 Did...

7 EMPOWERED TP VOL 06 (MR) 4,276 in the TOP 100 GRAPHIC NOVELS.

Those of course are comic retailer numbers. Here's Amazon's ranking.

# Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #10,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

* #25 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > Dark Horse
* #33 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels > Superheroes
* #99 in Books > Entertainment > Humor > Satire, General

I wonder what the Bookstore numbers will be. But either way, Dark Horse placed 4 GN's in the top 10. More than Marvel or DC. Empowered being one of the only two of those four to be original material versus licensed properties.

Image actually placed 3 GN's which is good too.

Thoughts on Empowered

Why Empowered is the Best Super-Hero Comic Around

When I first saw preview pages for Empowered, almost a whole year before its release, I made the mental note to pick up the OGN when it dropped. I had seen some of Adam Warren's comics before and being both a manga fan and a fan of superheroes, I was interested in the premise of the book: a self-conscious heroine with an unreliable super suit who ends up being tied and bound and generally not taken seriously. Sounded like a winner to me.

Volume 1 was a funny, sexy, enjoyable romp that I read several times through and through. Which was great because FUN is not exactly the biggest concern for a number of the top titles, suspense is. Building the suspense of the characters world and the struggle between good and evil. So Empowered struck like a breath of fresh air.

Now one of the tricks to a good superhero series is a supporting cast which sadly seems to get put on the back burner more and more. The supporting characters that joining Emp kept the good times rolling. Her boyfriend Thug Boy, best friend Ninjette, and the caged alien overlord that live on her coffee table and than there were those Super Homies. Those damned Super-Homies.

The first set of stories were mostly short but a few pieces of future plot-lines were laid. From the origin of Sistah Spooky, a glimpse of the villainous Willy Pete, and the minion background of Thug Boy. The second volume kept things going this time putting some more emphasis on Ninjette's history as well as her attraction to Thug Boy but it was the ending to that particular volume that stands out the most, which involved Empowered trying to help a criminal who aneurysm. All while providing stories of Empowered tied up in embarrassing ways, questioning why she does what she does, and having her support group tell her everything's fine and she's cool and those Super-Homies suck.

It was 2008 where things really started to explode. Of course volume 3 was a bit of the same with a little more background on Thug Boy, learning a little more about Empowered's suit and a big Ninja attack at the end. Volume 4 however takes so much of what had been laid out as foundation and started to expand. The superhuman hospital: the Purple Paladin, alien drugs, superhuman awards ceremony, and the introduction of Maid Man and Mindfuck. As well as big twist at the ending involving one of the capes. With one of the big plot strains through out being Ninjette post ninja attack.

What volume 4 does it moves Empowered from just being a fun and sometimes dramatic take on superhero comics which at times resembled a sitcom, and elevated it to something a cut above the rest. Taking elements and ideas that have been used before and creating something wholly unique. The idea of Mayfly, an alien drug, that will kill you fast but perhaps give you super genius skills is a crazy notion. Just as is the notion that Empowered, despite her affiliation with the Super-Homies is only starting to learn about certain secrets in the superhuman community. Secrets they keep away from the public. Plus the twist regarding Mindfuck is genius and I never saw it coming.

Sadly, Warren slowed down production to a volume a year so the wait was painful for volume 5. Volume 5 was the sort of punch to the gut of current crop superhero comics. It gets it all right. Holding onto the fun escapism but further developing what makes it stand apart. I think that there is a notion that escapism can not turn out truly dramatic material but its escapism and fun that allows us to see characters in their best light. to see them succeed and try so that way when the bad happens we feel more emotionally connected. Versus all bad all the time with very little give.

The fifth volume picks up after the events in volume 4 which further distances Empowered from certain members of the Super-Homies, learn much more about Mindfuck who becomes a good friend of Emp's, and we get ready to truly meet a figure from Thug Boys past: Willy Pete. A character whose popped up a little here and there but never as an enemy of the Super-Homies.



The last chapter, Say That I Deserve This, is for me personally the kind of comics that is being attempted but not quite achieved in superhero comics. A story that's tragic and sad without feeling like a failed effort at being tragic and sad. It hits all the right notes because for a period now I've watched Empowered grow as a character. Seen how she deals with people. See the world that is around her. So the first confrontation with Willy Pete and how it plays out gave me goosebumps and choked me up. The way it effected not just Empowered herself but Sistah Spooky, a character you hate first but slowly start to tolerate. I really want to spoil it but I want you to read it. Its a fucking masterpiece. That two page spread and the pages both before and after it... I'm sorry, call me when a mainstream superhero comic and pull of a death scene so perfectly(and no, Spooky does not die).

So, last month volume 6 came out. Damn... Warren puts much of the funny aside to get tot he aftermath and also talking about something so boring as superhero deaths. In this case, superhero deaths-not boring. The way he creates consequences about a heroes gifts is something that MIGHT have been done before but not in any sort of elaborate way. At least not in any of the Marvel or DC books I've seen. It also gave us a real role for a villain referenced only once before in Volume 1: Deathmonger. Damn, what an incredible visual. Not just him but... Yeah... buy the book.

One of the things that I am more interested in as a reader of comics is if I can reread the book. There are a number of "great" and "award winning" stories I don't believe I'd ever read twice. You see all the great characterizations, complex plotting, and use of metaphors, symbolism and motiffs don't necessarily mean you'll make something beyond a one time read. For me, Empowered is one of those books I can reread almost anytime. or in the very least skim through and pick through my favorite bits and lines and scenes.

Empowered is also a book that I like to push on people. My brother rarely reads American comic books but the other day when he found out volume 6 came out he was mad I didn't let him know. My friend Lauren emailed me after I sent her the first two volumes for Christmas raving about it. I push the book on people because its fun and looks gorgeous.

That's it. I say check it out. It's my favorite book right now and it saddens me that it'll be a whole year before the next volume. Unless Warren puts out another one shot in between like he did last year.



(PS-Page 4 of Google image search for Empowered Comic leads you to this blog. Sweet.)

September Comic Book Favorites 2010

Been a while since I did this.


6. Zatanna #5-Zatanna is my second favorite female superhero title and number one favorite superhero ongoing book. Even despite the fact that Stephane Roux isn't doing the interiors it still looks and is fun. (Just ntoice Roux doesn't seem to be coming back, sticking to covers but Jesus Saiz and Cliff Chang doing upcoming issues is fine by me).


5. Tarot Witch of the Black Rose-Guilty pleasure? Nah. I admit I like it because its bad and cheescakey. In this one Licorice Dust confronts Tarot about her relationship with Boo Cat who Dust is dating. All kinds of sexy. Interestingly this book has a devoted cult female audience. I also approve of the picture of the creators hanging with rock legend Danzig.


4. Green Lantern #57-Once again I ask; wheres Cowgirl? But seriously good times. Ending was interesting seeing as Gail initially had something similar planned with Wonder Woman. You know, before they turned it down and screwed up the character.


3. Batman & Robin #14-Thomas Wayne, aka the Black Glove is a punk bitch. Frazer Irving's art is bizarre and awesome. That's all I have to say on this.


2. Hack/Slash Omnibus Volume 2-I ordered up to volume 3 without reading an issue but I always found the idea fascinating. Volume 1 was rather hit and miss with a few more misses. Volume 2 which collects the first 17 issues of the ongoing series(before the creator split with Devil Due Publishing) is mostly hit. Cassie Hack and Vlad tear through the US killing "slashers"(think movie slasher villains). Good times galore. I really like the Hack character.


1. Empowered Volume 6-My favorite female superhero title being published puts the usual tomfoolery aside to continue with the drama and heartache of the last volumes shocking finale. Empowered continues to be the most developed female hero in the business and she does that with occasionally more cheesecake than your usual bread and butter heroines. This volume also makes Blackest Night look dull with their take on dead superheroes.

Buy all Empowered volumes.

Couple of questions.
1-Why can't DC just get Gail Simone an artist to stay on Birds of Prey? Even in her first run between the good artist would be crappy fill-in artists and now we're only 5 issues in and its happening again.

2-Can Allen Heinberg not write the Avengers to come off as mostly assholes? I understand Ms. Marvel is a bitch but everyone else too?


Later.

Coming Soon to My House June

PREVIEWS #261 JUNE 2010
FIRST WAVE #2 (OF 6)
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM TP
HELLCYON #2 (OF 4)
GREEN LANTERN #54 (BRIGHTEST DAY)
BIRDS OF PREY #1 (BRIGHTEST DAY)
BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1 (OF 6)
BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2 (OF 6)
BATMAN AND ROBIN #12
DETECTIVE COMICS #865
GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #12
WONDER WOMAN #44
ZATANNA #1
TINY TITANS #28
FABLES #95 (RES) (MR)
JOE THE BARBARIAN #5 (OF 8) (MR)
BLACK WIDOW #2
X-FACTOR PREM HC INVISIBLE WOMAN HAS VANISHED
WONDER WOMAN DEFLECT BY ROSS T/S LG (C: 1-1-3)

Tenative Mail Order Comics Order for May(and Beyond)

What and why...

PREVIEWS #260 MAY 2010 (INCLUDES MARVEL PREVIEWS TOO)-Because I don't get the previews I tend to miss out on cool things from time to time. Like Essential Avengers Vol. 7 and Serenity Rose Vol. 2. Which I still need to get.

HELLCYON #2 (OF 4)-Cover art on issue one looked good so here's hoping.

GREEN LANTERN #54-Not as high on this series as I was pre-Blackest night which hasn't impressed me as much as it has others. Still, good series.

BIRDS OF PREY #1-Gail Simone returns and with her original artist Ed Benes to boot! One of the first titles I was buying when I started buying comics regularly instead of sporadically.

BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1 (OF 6)
BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2 (OF 6)-Too many bi-weekly type books or mini-series coming out DC. I dropped the notion of Brightest Day and while JLA: Generation Lost looked interesting I decided to go with Morrison and Batman.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #12-Dope ass series.

DETECTIVE COMICS #865-Don't know how long I'm going to be buying this one. With Batwoman being in a new series I doubt the Question back-up can be a reason to spend 3.99(well, 2.47 from MOC). But we'll see.

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #12-Guilty pleasure. Next week I have to get the issues I'm missing and the one I forgot to put on order. That's 6, 9, and 11.

FIRST WAVE #3 (OF 6)-Missing 100 Bullets and enjoy Rags Morales art. I'm looking forward to this.

WONDER WOMAN #44-Coming up on WW #600. And on the new regime. Til than i'm having fun.

ZATANNA #1-I like Zatanna. The art work previews look good.

ABSOLUTE ALL STAR SUPERMAN HC-Don't need it. But damn if I want it. Plus over $30 off. Hopefully a lot of extras.

TINY TITANS #28-Consistently entertaining.

FABLES #95-Resolicited. Fables still one of the best.

JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 07 NEW ADVS OF JACK & JACK-Jack of Fables is fun too.

JOE THE BARBARIAN #5 (OF 8)-Still not quite sure about this one. Interesting and good art though.

AME COMI STAR SAPPHIRE PVC FIGURE-If I cut one thing from my list is this sexy statue. I want it but that's 45 dollars right there.



SHUDDERTOWN #3-Need more alternative comics and this one looked interesting.

BLACK WIDOW #2-Oh my god its a Marvel book. Not the biggest Daniel Acuna fan but his work does look good on the right title and I think, judging by the covers, this one will fit nicely.

X-FACTOR PREM HC INVISIBLE WOMAN HAS VANISHED-Currently, the longest Marvel title I've been following.

NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 09-Since I always forget about this book I've decided to add it to my MOC pull list. Vol. 8 coming to me from Amazon. This might be my favorite comic right now and its taking effort not to read it online, which i do for a couple other titles.

WONDER WOMAN DEFLECT BY ROSS T/S LG-This would be my fifth Wonder Woman shirt and first by Alex Ross not counting my Justice League shirt.

GREEN LANTERN KYLE RAYNER SYMBOL T/S XL-My friends giving me money for this.

My largest order ever. Only cutting Brightest Day which I ordered and no more Batman Confidential after Sam Keith's beautifully drawn run. Though I don't care for the story. So far no May Amazon comic pre-orders so maybe than I'll pick up those two trades.

July 2008 Solicits-Dark Horse

I'm going to give you a look at things coming out that I might get based on recent solicitations. We'll start with Dark Horse.

ASTRO BOY 1 & 2
Osamu Tezuka (W/A)
On sale Sept. 10
b&w, 424 pages
$14.95
TPB, 4 1/2" x 6 3/4"

I don't have any Tezuka. So lets start with the first hit he had.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #16
Joss Whedon (W), Karl Moline (P), Andy Owens (I), Michelle Madsen (C), Jo Chen (Cover), and Georges Jeanty (Cover)
On sale July 2
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

I like it, but its not my favorite comic. Still-the characters make me come back.

GANTZ VOLUME 2
Oku Hiroya (W/A)
On sale Sept. 24
b&w, 224 pages
$12.95
TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/16"

First volume pre-ordered of this hit manga. Of course with this, Astro Boy and the upcoming Black Lagoon I should stop looking for new manga to buy.

February Favorites-2008

List of my favorite reads for February.


#9: Tiny Titans #1-Cute is what this book aims for, and it hits its target nicely. Really, this was so amusing and fun.


#8: Incredible Hercules #112-114-Suggested by Marvel comics fans(who when I was asking for suggestions kept pushing on books I specifically didn't want or explained why I wasn't into) and purchased. I quite enjoyed it. It's got action, humor, and an understanding of the mythology of the character. Plus Ares is a jerk and that was fun.


#7: Batman & the Outsiders #4: Batgirls back to being cool AND a Green Arrow book I want to read! Seriously, Winnick did okay for a while but now I just want him far away from the character. Not only that, but the return(possibly, we'll have to see but I do believe that's right) of two cool characters I hadn't noticed until reading Dan Didio's comments and fan speculation. Who you ask? Come on, your nose must be twitching.


#6: Wonder Woman #17-Despite the artist switch, Gail Simone's first arc reestablishes bad ass Wonder Woman. Not since Greg Rucka's prime on this book as Diana been so cool. It's Wonder Woman versus Amazons and Nazis! Just good stuff in the finale of this arc.


#5: Azumanga Daioh the Manga Omnibus-The re-release of the complete Azumanga Daioh series. This manga, which is done mostly as comic strips, follows the lives of six teenage friends in high school. It's hilarious. Not to like this means you have no heart.


#4: Checkmate #23-The series is in it's last issues under Greg Rucka and company but they're going to go out with a bang! Following up on the Pawn 502 story sees Checkmate once again having to deal with the terrorist organization Kobra. Damn... the next creative team is going to fail this book. Well, the art of Manual Garcia will be nice though.


#3: Crime Bible: The Five Lessons in Blood #5-Sudden ending without captions aside-DAMN! We're two months in and Greg Rucka delivers the best ending I've seen in quite a while. It's not a "new" kind of ending but one I, and many other readers, did not expect to see come out of this title. Renee Montoyas journey as a character keeps getting filled with twists and turns and here's another one. Manual Garcia does his best work yet with a gorgeous looking book. The alternating artists was a great idea for this mini-series. Can't wait to see what Greg Rucka has in store for the Question next.


#2: Batman #674-Things come together as we learn the secret of the mysterious three Batman. But there's some new questions arising from these answers. Morrison continues using older stories as a source of inspiration for his run. This issue was so good I started seeing some of the online detractors turning around in favor of what Morrison is accomplishing.


#1: Gunsmith Cats: Burst Vol. 3-Rally Vincent and Bean bandit enter an illegal street race with different goals. Rally's is to turn up some cash since Bandits assets are on hold(his holding onto some cash for several people) while Bandit is thinking he needs to get rid of the crooked cop after him. All that plus more! Rally gets a new car to replace her beloved Shelby GT5000 and even shows some wannabe marksman proper gun control. Damn this is good.

Top 10 for October 2007

Honorable Mention: Showcase Presents Teen Titans Vol. 2
The only Titans I really, really like. Sadly Nick Cardy isn’t handling all the art but Neal Adams, Gil Kane and Jim Aparo contribute. Robin, Wonder Girl, Flash, Speedy and Aquaman in crazy adventures. I’m several stories in and Neal Adams stories he wrote and drew are amongst some of the best old school Titans stories. Also Wonder Girl premieres one of her more famous outfits with Gil Kane oat the helm. The Nick Cardy stuff delivers. This is a better volume than the first but damn… more Nick Cardy please. What else did this guy draw? That man was something special.



10. Detective Comics #837


9. Justice Society #10: What’s it say about me when 9-10 are on this list and I only thought they were good? I need new comics. Still, JSA is a good read and I’m interested in seeing where its going but all the Kingdom Come stuff is rather annoying.


8. Green Arrow Year One #6: Hey, maybe not the best GA story but miles better then the last year or so or Judd Winicks run.


7. Runaways #28


6. Green Lantern #24


5. Fables #66: Good Prince heats up a little after the last few issues did little for me. Love the cover.


4. Booster Gold #4


3. Crime Bible 5 Lessons in Blood #1: I don’t care what anyone says, Greg Rucka is the man. I like him better than Ed Brubaker and I overall enjoy him more than most the other grounded writers. I think it comes down to the fact I’m enthralled into the life he puts into his characters. I’ve loved everything he’s done with Renee Montoya and this was a great debut issue. I guess part of the feeling was that, post 52, this comic actually made me feel as happy about DC as I did then. I am probably being a tad bias and it’s not super great but-hey-I was really into this.


2. Checkmate #19: I really think this book gets better and better. More Rucka goodness.


1. Empowered vol. 2: I had volume 1 as an Honorable Mention months back but… I read that volume more times then most books this year and as the months ticked by anticipation for this volume kept shooting up higher and higher. It delivered. More subplots, continuing the tiny subplots from last volume, and the great comedy and characterizations make this my fav book of the month.