tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.comments2024-03-12T08:50:44.547-04:00 Relatively Geeky NetworkRelatively Geekyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214808049768090936noreply@blogger.comBlogger648125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-57924538333119096032024-03-12T08:50:44.547-04:002024-03-12T08:50:44.547-04:00Just to be clear, Doctor, I am not saying that I w...Just to be clear, Doctor, I am not saying that I would have loved this to the same extent if I had paid full cover price for it back when it was new. That is one of the glories of the quarter-bin, that it enables you to take a chance on a strange, offbeat, unusual book, with only a slight investment of money, time, and attention.<br /><br />And I do think that you are right on target in saying that even for someone like me, who likes the slice-of-life sort of story, I only want them as the side dish, as the occasional diversion.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-83592962076646149232024-03-11T11:20:02.891-04:002024-03-11T11:20:02.891-04:00Interesting comic to bring attention too. I didn&#...Interesting comic to bring attention too. I didn't get this one. And I wholeheartedly agree that this does just what a #1 issue is supposed to do. You know the theme, the cast, and a subplot. More than enough to bring you back if it clicks.<br /><br />I also think this wouldn't click for me. These days I mostly read comics for escapism and entertainment. And I probably have room for maybe 1 title of whimsy 'slice of life' adventures. <br /><br />One thing that I think has happened is that there is a glut of whimsical 'slice of life' comics on the racks these days, both back in 2016 and now. And I don't know if the market can sustain more of this type than others. I also think it waters down the genre a little when there are so many titles about it. For me, I tend to give She-Hulk a long leash because I love Jen. But that means I prob won't buy others.<br /><br />Perhaps worse is when comics can't commit and do a hodgepodge of 'slice of life' and adventure. That isn't going to help anyone. The recent Supergirl special spent a lot of time showing how alone she feels and how she eats cupcakes. Maybe an introspective issue is okay in a monthly title now and then ... but a special? <br /><br />Anyways, this is rambling. As I always say, if you like a comic I am happy for you. Happy comic fans buy more comics and keep the comic market churning. <br /><br />Glad you liked it.Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-80960598801678616762024-03-04T07:48:50.509-05:002024-03-04T07:48:50.509-05:00Thanks for that -- all this Legion talk has me rea...Thanks for that -- all this Legion talk has me really wanting to go back for a read-through of some of the issues! Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-32722580921023445402024-03-03T20:38:04.066-05:002024-03-03T20:38:04.066-05:00Great episode. I do think that 'moments' m...Great episode. I do think that 'moments' makes you think of a singular event/scene and not a character's growth. But I might have a couple of thoughts.<br /><br />I only feel knowledgeable about the Legion to comment so a few things.<br /><br />1) The Projectra neck snap - for one, Nemesis Kid had a history with both Karate Kid and Projectra, having been a traitor from the beginning when they were initiated into the Legion at the same time. So this one had history. <br /><br />I'll also say that Nemesis Kid power is to immediately have a resistence/method of overcoming his enemy's powers. So yes, he was immune to her illusions but not her training. Great moment. <br /><br />2) Saturn Girl - I definitely concur with Mart that Imra defeating Mon-El and Ultra Boy easily in the Universo Project is a huge moment and should have been included. <br /><br />But for me, her moment, occurs in Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #3 - standing up to Darkseid, begging him to give her back her son, and then going to him again. Gutsy. (https://legionofsuperbloggers.blogspot.com/2015/07/legion-of-super-heroes-annual-2-1986.html)<br /><br />As for other moments - <br />Dream Girl being elected leader right before Great Darkness is a moment, especially given how well she led the team through that.<br /><br />Shrinking Violet - not a 'moment', but she went from shy wallflower, to kidnap victim, to more aggressive and independent, to finally being in one of the first open gay relationships in comics. She has the biggest arc I would say. <br /><br />Great show all around. Great guests.<br /><br />Thanks for doing this!Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-18709930356880417572024-03-02T13:36:16.201-05:002024-03-02T13:36:16.201-05:00Glad to bring you some unknown Chaykin!
I am also...Glad to bring you some unknown Chaykin!<br /><br />I am also curious what his preferred method for doing art. Must be strange moving back-and-forth between being a writer-artist and then solely an artist working with another writer.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-16639882161574018712024-02-23T12:46:17.632-05:002024-02-23T12:46:17.632-05:00Pretty crazy that a monthly title that Chaykin did...Pretty crazy that a monthly title that Chaykin did art on slipped through the cracks for me! I did not know this book existed until this show.<br /><br />Time travel stories are fraught with danger. The whole 'I know you'll do it because you already did it' conceit is fun when pulled off well.<br /><br />And Doom with supra-fetal-vision is too weird for me to think about.<br /><br />Great to hear the 'behind the scenes' script stuff. I wonder what it is like for someone grizzled like Chaykin, and so very accomplished like Chaykin, to deal with 'full script'. If he thinks he could visualize things better does he talk to the writer? Draw it the way he wants? Or shrug and follow the script? Perhaps I'll ask him at Terrificon?Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-66596910775507310062024-02-06T20:05:09.808-05:002024-02-06T20:05:09.808-05:00Good points. I appreciate your views on what first...Good points. I appreciate your views on what first and second issues should contain. Maybe because this was oversized, they tried to do both?<br /><br />But that STILL doesn't explain how the SWORD issues will work going forward. Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-63989974461080805742024-02-06T07:48:24.195-05:002024-02-06T07:48:24.195-05:00Well, this certainly was an interesting issue. I s...Well, this certainly was an interesting issue. I suppose it was appropriate for a review of S.W.O.R.D. that it was narrated by H.A.L.<br /><br />Listening to this review, and I might be wrong, but I have no idea what the long term direction of this title would be. Is it space missions? Is it defense against space incursions? Is it mutant police force? I know the last bit of this book was a 'mission' to get that artifact so is the plan to gather up things like that, like mutant Indiana Jones?<br /><br />If I don't know what the book is about after the first issue I don't know if I will be inclined to continue. (I mean, the theme of the book can't be Magneto inspecting the satellite.) And that is especially true if the first issue was expensive and filled with the fluff you mention. I think, unfortunately, that some creators think that prose pages and org charts make the book more adult and add content making the price more understandable. But for me it is the opposite.<br /><br />So what would Anj do? Well, I talk about how the second issue, for me, is the place for the 'infrastructure'. Have this first issue be whatever the direction is - space missions to gather weapons, space defense, etc. Now I know what S.W.O.R.D. is all about. Then the next issue you can have them walk the halls and point out the different characters and their position within the organization, a tour of the satellite, etc. Now I know what the book is going to be about and the cast of characters/locale/etc.<br /><br />Anyways, hope you are on the mend! Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-74058725654522234892024-02-03T18:03:50.804-05:002024-02-03T18:03:50.804-05:00Seeing as I found these 4 very inexpensive, 🤞 tha...Seeing as I found these 4 very inexpensive, 🤞 that I can also find the last 4 very inexpensive! Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-65013045052321297122024-01-26T10:04:27.797-05:002024-01-26T10:04:27.797-05:00I think many of us of a certain grew up with dads ...I think many of us of a certain grew up with dads who listened to radio shows and exposed us to them. Like yours, my dad loved the Shadow and had me listen to them, I think on cassette tapes. <br /><br />On my own, I have since found some Philip Marlowe radio stuff and (to my great surprise) a Harry Lime (The Third Man) show. As you know, Lime is despicable in the Third Man movie. In the show, it is earlier in his life where he is more a lovable scoundrel and not an antibiotic bootlegger. <br /><br />I never was a Green Hornet guy so don't know if I'll track these down. But they sound standardly fun. Hope you find the rest of the issues!Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-65399850564779762662024-01-20T12:50:45.335-05:002024-01-20T12:50:45.335-05:00It was an excellent holiday season, yes.
Our frie...It was an excellent holiday season, yes.<br /><br />Our friend Martin referred to the post-Christmas activity as a "gift within a gift." Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-43371101445463167272024-01-17T08:18:43.601-05:002024-01-17T08:18:43.601-05:00Sounds like a great holiday season!
You and I tal...Sounds like a great holiday season!<br /><br />You and I talk sports a lot. College football isn't a big deal in New England so the thrill of a bowl game, even a minor one, isn't one I am familiar with. Glad you were able to go and witness the win!<br /><br />The PR collection sounds like the world's best Christmas gift. And yes, organizing and stacking and recalibrating it was probably as much fun as receiving it! True Kudos to Val and Em for putting it all together! <br /><br />And how wonderful that you returned the true gems of the collection back to the man to turn. It would have been easy for someone less moral to hand over the wall books.<br /><br />Can't wait to hear all about the issues you kept!Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-46261641822446421742024-01-01T17:32:50.236-05:002024-01-01T17:32:50.236-05:00But you are a super-expert, and a good friend!
Th...But you are a super-expert, and a good friend!<br /><br />Thanks for listening. Appreciated.Relatively Geekyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08214808049768090936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-57545936810271087082023-12-26T20:12:53.226-05:002023-12-26T20:12:53.226-05:00I've never been a regular listener to the Shor...I've never been a regular listener to the Shortbox Showcase, but, when I heard a rumor that, in this episode, Em had some complimentary things to say about Jimmy Olsen, I *had* to listen. I really enjoyed this one, not just for the Jimmy Olsen love, but for the couple of call-outs I received, even though, again, I'm not a regular listener, or commenter on this show. Like both of you, I really enjoyed "The Adventures of Superman", and, yes, I did guess, early on, that "the general" was General Lane (kind of obvious when they introduced a character known only as "the general" without a name, it must be a general we know, with some connection to Superman and/or a close character to him). <br />I really liked the development of all the characters -- Lois, Jimmy, Perry, even Steve Lombard -- and thought they were well-made, and I liked the fact that Jor-El, whose connection to him is still unknown to Superman, doesn't speak English. I'm less a fan of the anime style, but it does seem to work in this case, and it's growing on me a bit. I'm very much looking forward to Season 2. <br />Thanks for this most enjoyable episode of youe Shortbox Showcase.Halk-Karhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086839075464653445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-91428186052498321252023-12-13T13:11:30.536-05:002023-12-13T13:11:30.536-05:00I know somebody who considers medical dramas to be...I know somebody who considers medical dramas to be science fiction, because: (1) they involve science; and (2) they rarely have any connection to real life medicine!<br /><br />Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-62769374095868456512023-12-12T13:21:22.368-05:002023-12-12T13:21:22.368-05:00I've never been a big Iron Man fan so this was...I've never been a big Iron Man fan so this was fun to listen to, especially the reverberations I saw in the Iron Man movie.<br /><br />I did chuckle at the discussion about 'reality' in TV and comics regarding professions. I can tell you, medical dramas often have a kernel of truth but are often more fantasy than fact. There is a sort of scale. ER more truthful than House more truthful than Grey's Anatomy/The Resident for example.<br /><br />My brother was a Public Defender. He can't stand law shows. I LOVE Law and Order (Waterson years). He hates them. He loves House; I cannot watch it. <br /><br />Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-31681160287740042952023-11-19T16:44:13.694-05:002023-11-19T16:44:13.694-05:00How do you manage to work Chaykin into every comic...How do you manage to work Chaykin into every comic book analysis?<br /><br />Reminds me of the time Doctor Doom ... Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-3431557671258820292023-11-16T10:38:22.445-05:002023-11-16T10:38:22.445-05:00Great coverage. The Legion is my second fave IP fr...Great coverage. The Legion is my second fave IP from DC and was one of the Super-Bloggers, covering a number of the Legion runs.<br /><br />The 'green legs' on the cover are definitely Ultra Boy's, just based on the boots.<br /><br />My main comment is about the Tommy Tomorrow story. First off, Supergirl did indeed boot him out of Action (and I think basically out of comics) starting in 252. She remained there for looong time.<br /><br />As for Tommy Tomorrow, i can never read his stories without remembering that Howard Chaykin made him a mega-fascist in his Twilight series. And Brent becomes a sort of virginal religious acolyte in that book too. <br /><br />Lastly, I think a lot of acid was dropped back in the day. Alien fishermen cutting through the fabric of the universe???Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-63663337265806536282023-11-02T17:39:40.811-04:002023-11-02T17:39:40.811-04:00Yeah, I get that. I find her, especially in this v...Yeah, I get that. I find her, especially in this version, to be edgy, dark, mysterious, serious ... and so that Vertigo-style logo makes sense to me. But maybe they swung too far away from the showy / fun original logo.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-31108727406039700422023-11-01T09:34:57.581-04:002023-11-01T09:34:57.581-04:00I've not heard the episode yet but in answer t...I've not heard the episode yet but in answer to the question, I'm not a fan of the Vertigo logo, the scratchiness of the second word is more suited to an Arkham Asylum project than a dark superhero. The Adventure Comics logo is the classic for the character, though I see they would want something less showy/fun. But they've not nailed it.Marthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14549873753178202680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-86798247612064168122023-10-29T16:26:17.829-04:002023-10-29T16:26:17.829-04:00Yeah, I think that "controlling the Castle&qu...Yeah, I think that "controlling the Castle" rule needs a modern refresh.<br /><br />Anj on the beach in a suit of armor: Pics or it didn't happen.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-10419860744243008462023-10-16T20:11:21.363-04:002023-10-16T20:11:21.363-04:00Thanks for another great review.
I definitely had ...Thanks for another great review.<br />I definitely had the reprint of the second part as a kid. Even then, I wondered how Latveria was such a pushover of a country that in just the time Doom was away on vacation, the peasants were all goose-stepping in arm bands. "Whoever controls the castle controls the country" seems a little simplistic.<br /><br />I did like the hallucinogenic gas ending as that was definitely mind bending to a young Anj reading the books. That Anj thought it much more reasonable in a comic for them to have actually been shrunk than to just believe they had been.<br /><br />I do think that I'll imprint on Doom a little though. Next time I'm in Monaco I plan to sun myself by the poolside in full plate armor.Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-75390793681455583332023-10-04T08:09:59.869-04:002023-10-04T08:09:59.869-04:00I like the concept of what Dynamite tried, a mega-...I like the concept of what Dynamite tried, a mega-crossover and individual mini-series. I have read at least some of the Flash Gordon, and going through the stack, I see I picked up Prince Valiant #1 at some point. Probably worth a look. Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-4541403962099093182023-10-03T07:06:22.741-04:002023-10-03T07:06:22.741-04:00Excellent show. Glad the QB survived the podcast s...Excellent show. Glad the QB survived the podcast shakeups.<br /><br />This does sound like a decent book. Perhaps for me, the most interesting thing is how his (and the other King feature character's) license keeps shifting. I bought the Flash Gordon book my Parker/Shaner in 2014 when Dynamite held it. Weird to hear Marvel had it briefly!<br /><br />I am much more of a Phantom guy, and Flash Gordon guy than a Mandrake one. Perhaps I thought, erroneously, that he was a copy of Zatara (rather than the reverse)!<br /><br />So glad to hear his history and some of how that played out in the book. <br /><br />Thanks again!Anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023193805914075078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754356721889145004.post-84298071920226641712023-09-21T13:48:44.782-04:002023-09-21T13:48:44.782-04:00CBDB, RIP. What a great site.
I imagine that my i...CBDB, RIP. What a great site.<br /><br />I imagine that my inconsistency in filing these books will become more obvious and embarrassing as this series continues.<br /><br />That Chaykin may well have come from you. Thanks!Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17931657785049108565noreply@blogger.com