kaithonks

[kaithonks]

The Hull (Aug 20th)

I am once more feeling like I'm running around like a chicken with its head cut off. And that's boosted by the fact that summer is doing its last hurrah and I feel like I'm melting. But these aren't really bad things, just life going on with all its peaks and troughs.

I did get less reading done than I wanted to get done this week, but I did end up finishing a novel that's been on my list for a while. It's nice that in developing this habit of weekly updates and posting about my reading, I've been expanding my reading beyond comics. I've still been filling my spare time with books in a way I haven't in a really long time.

The Read:

Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League was probably one of the best things I read last week. I can't really pinpoint what about it got me so much, but the energy between the two leads was great, and I'm looking forward to the next issue.

Mr. Terrific Year One #2 also wasn't bad, and I wasn't nearly as lost as I thought I might be when I originally picked it up. I still think I'm going to wait for the trade paperback at this point. I will be looking for more Mr. Terrific, though, in the future.

With the Green Arrow 2024 Annual #1, the more I feel I really need to give it a try. It's got a lot of stuff I like, and I feel like Oliver does seem to really grow as a character, while still at his core being the Green Arrow. I did try and watch the TV show ages ago. But I've heard mixed things about that. I think I do have it saved somewhere, though.

Supergirl #4 was fine. I suppose I might pick up one more issue of it, but I'm not really convinced to keep reading it. I definitely still want to give Kara here a fair shot, but I think there are probably better stories for her out there. I really enjoyed her section in DC's Kal-El-fornia Love, so it's a little disappointing that her solo run is pretty milquetoast. Like, am I worried about that this run is just giving fan service? Between the last issue and its Venom-like costume and this issue with the goth dress-up scene, I'm a little defensive.

Staying on the Superman side of things, Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum was interesting. I definitely can tell this was the Ice Cream Man people. I am vaguely interested, but I was aware at the start that there were definitely more types of Kryptonite, but I'm not really sure what the goal is here. It's a little side story.

The big thing I finished this week was The Prince and the Dressmaker, and I gave most of my thoughts on that already. I really enjoyed it as much as I thought I would. I defiantly feel I could have pushed harder into its themes, but the trade-off for that would have likely been its fable/fairy tale aesthetic and more pages that probably just weren't in the time of the budget. I think what caught me the most was the little tidbit that originally the characters would have been adults. And well, I get that a lot of identity stories take place in the teens for a good read, but I just can't help but mourn the adult story. Especially as I am someone who didn't really question or figure themselves out until adulthood.

I also ended up finishing Spinning by Tillie Walden, and gosh, I really enjoy her work. I definitely don't really like this as much as On a Sunbeam, but I love Walden's approach to the topic. Graphic memoirs are a very different beast than the typical written memoir, as they bring the author's bias to the front stage, as while humans typically like pictures as "proof" of what was "real," the graphic memoir is drawn, and thus the art is more of a focus than normal, as though it's showing us "what happened" as a picture would, but because it's a drawing, it shows us that this isn't necessarily what totally happened but who the author remembers and feels about it. And I can see the bones of On a Sunbeam here in Walden again, using empty space to show the distance and loneliness she felt.

The Unread:

I didn't end up picking up the new issue of Nightwing, and funny enough, I didn't end up reading the Rebirth era volumes of Nightwing I got a few weeks ago. It's a bit funny because Nightwing has typically been the first thing that I read and get out of the way, but that just didn't happen this week.

Nightwing will likely get pushed back again, as I've started Wynd Book One: The Flight of the Prince. It's pretty good so far, but I won't say too much about it until I finish the series.

I also didn't have many pulls this week. Again, I didn't pick up Nightwing as well; my store was out when I got there, but I did end up getting Absolute Flash #6 and Krypto the Last God of Krypton. I am really looking forward to more Krypto, Flash, and I am more mild too. I will probably end up doing another post about the Absolute line now that Flash and Green Lantern both have enough issues out that I feel pretty comfortable in my opinions about all the runs going on right now.

Well, not a lot of new stuff this week, but again, I haven't had much time to really sit down and read or even really check what's out and what is new. Next week will likely be the same, but I am hoping as fall approaches that things will slow down and cool off. Literally and figuratively.

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about The Prince and the Dressmaker

So something I personally like to see in queer stories is acceptance. Honesty and real acceptance. This is because, well, we live in a world that at the best of times seems to only begrudgingly give LGBTQ+ people the OK, and even that is with limitations. I am often hit back with "It's not realistic though." Yeah, it's not. But it should be, and I believe in showing young queer people what they can have and what they should have; it protects them from pushing themselves down in the acceptance of a limited acceptance. With that I feel I've spelled out my thoughts on The Prince and the Dressmaker. I really enjoyed it. It's not the best queer story I've read; heck, I could forgive people for not even recognizing it as such. They could easily read it as a simple message that clothes have no gender, but if you follow that thought, it only leads towards people's expression of masculinity and femininity. An expression of not identifying with a binary gender.

The Prince and the Dressmaker is simply very Disney-like in style. Everything has a soft, round quality to it; the colors are also soft and pretty muted. So if it is a Disney style, it is a classic era version. All of it gives a fantasy and fable tone to the story. I do end up feeling that in that style the story has limited itself and not really allowed for more dramatic colors and fashion. But I understand its tradeoffin keeping more to its fable tone. I also would have liked to see more, at the very least some more of Frances's male designs, to really show how Sebastian is most comfortable in the things she makes. Yes, he loves dresses and expressing his femininity, but it's Frances's designs that are what make him comfortable because they are made for who he really is.

While I am nitpicking, I must really say that I still love the story because at the end of the day it still ends with true acceptance. The King's reaction wasn't perfect, but it was from a place of confusion, but the King partaking in the fashion show along with his guards showed the clarity and real understanding and acceptance. I should have loved it if the queen was put in male clothing, but I get again I might be asking too much when the story really hits all the right notes for me. This is for a younger reader than I am, and the simplicity works more in favor of that. It pushed for more that full acceptance might get pushed aside, as it really isn't about anyone over Sebastian and Frances, and while it might not fully explore all the ideas it brings to offer, what it does, it does do well. You feel bad for both Sebastian and Frances; both are in unfair situations. And that's realistic, feeling pressured to be someone you are not and feeling the pressure to give up on your dreams for others. It's also realistic that Sebastian runs away, taking the small act of his father turning his back on him as a total rejection. And it is Frances who puts the king's head on straight and reminds him Sebastian was perfect as he was. That at the end of the day calms all my nitpicks about the story and how I simply wish it pushed certain areas more, but like Sebastian himself, it's perfect as it is.

[kaithonks]

The Hull (Aug 13th)

I made some observations this week when I went to my local library. I saw a guy in a wheelchair using the elevator to get to the second floor. A guy filling out the application for a card. A mother and her daughter checking out books together. A pair of people admiring the small art exhibit in the library showcases. There were two teens in the designated teen area. When I left, a woman on her bike with her dog came up; the dog tried to go into the library, but she said, "Not today." Then when walking to the comic shop today, I saw a playground full of kids. It was a bunch of little things, but a bunch of little things that had me feeling like we were doing OK.

The Read:

The Spectre: Wrath of The Spectre Omnibus was kind of a trip; it went from a fun little trip to genuine "what the heck," and I have a lot of respect for the growing pains comics were going through in the Bronze Age as they really pushed the transition into "These comics can be more than fun stories." But gosh, you can at least try to make a bit of sense or keep it consistent with how his powers work. Like, is he two people? Is he one? I have no idea.

I am really hoping Brombal pulls it back because Batgirl #10 was kind of a real disappointment. The run so far has felt like such a love letter to DC's sort of kung-fu area comics, and I was enjoying how they were working on Shiva's character. But her biological brother is such a downer. I'm at least glad Cassandra is not really treating him like family, just as someone she shares DNA with, but I'm just not excited to see where this goes."

I CALLED IT! I CALLED IT! I haven't read a lot of Omega Men. I have read the Tom King run, though. And I know Primus is typically depicted as a dude with long red hair. So when in Absolute Superman they introduced this new Primus, I was instantly like, "Oh, that's Talia," AND IT WAS. It makes me think that my other theories about what Absolute Superman's importance in the greater absolute universe is might also be true. Also bless them for actually giving Talia some skin color.

The Unread:

Like I said at the start, I did go to the library, so I am restocked with some more graphic novels.

The Prince and the Dressmaker has been on my radar for a while, and so I grabbed that. I have to say I love that the prince has a NOSE on him. It's a design choice; the visual already tells us he is a little different from most Prince Charmings you know. I love it.

I also picked up Spinning by Tillie Walden because, well, On a Sunbeam is in my favorite books, so I'm happy to try another of Walden's works. I also used to be in ballet myself, so we'll see how this goes.

Speaking of people's work that I enjoy, James Tynion IV. Something Is Killing the Children is probably one of my favorite current running series, and I do need to read his Batman run, but I also have a tricky situation with Batman mainline continuity in that most of the time it annoys me. And I don't really want to get a sour taste for an author whose work I really enjoy. Anyway, I got James Tynion IV's Wynd Book One: The Flight of the Prince. Funny little side story: Books 1 and 2 are in the Young Adult/Manga section of my library, but book 3? In the regular graphic novel! Well, whatever.

Like the look of my library hall and a nice transition to my comic shop, but I got volumes 4, 5, and 6 of the Rebirth era Nightwing.And after this I think it will be time for me to hit up the Tom Taylor run… I have heard mixed things about that. Which in comic space is really a foreboding sign. I personally am not a fan of what I've read of Taylor's work. I find it a bit on the shallow side. Which, as mentioned in my last post, isn't a bad thing if it's done with enough care and attention.

Anyway, at the comic shop I got a few things, mainly Cheetah and Cheshire. Rob the Justice League and Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum. With Cheetah and Cheshire, I am only vaguely aware of those characters, but gosh, it looked like a good time in the previews. On the other hand, I am familiar with Ice Cream Man, and The Kryptonite Spectrum is by the same team. I'm not exactly hopeful for this, but I'm curious.

Other than that, I got Supergirl #4, Green Arrow 2024 Annual #1, and finally Mr. Terrific Year One #2. Supergirl I've been low-key following. Green Arrow… I don't know how to explain my relationship in reading Green Arrow. I've read his year one and then that pride variant I got, and I just liked the cover of the Annual because of Roy. I like Roy. In most things I have read, he's been a side character, and he's yet to not be a fun addition. I fully admit, though, that his New 52 Outlaws is likely not a great depiction, but it's New 52, and I just assume everyone is out of character. Finally, Mr. Terrific Year One has been something I've had my eye on but haven't seen around, and while this might be an issue too, the other is just really kickass, so I don't feel that bad.

Anyway, I might not have pull. I'm pretty happy with all I got this week, and I saw a lot of hopeful things. To top it off, I got a little Sonic Croc charm from a worker at my local comic shop because she remembered that I had pulled the Sonic and DC comics, and she thought I must like Sonic. I mean, I'm more of a shadow guy, but it's the thought! We're OK.

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about DC x Sonic The Hedgehog

I know this run actually finished a bit ago now, but I put off talking about it because I really wanted to talk about McCloud's Zot!, as there was a little more meat on those bones. At least when talking about comics in an academic sense. I am by no means calling this run bad; it's just got a very different goal. Zot! was a comic run trying to reach out and have the reader feel something, to have some complex emotions and really connect with the characters. DC x Sonic the Hedgehog's goal is to tell a fun crossover story. And it does that well. It definitely doesn't make it any lesser because it does what it wants to do and does a fantastic job.

So the obvious joke within this crossover is Sonic and the Flash having a little beef to see who is faster. And it does that, but not in a low-hanging-fruit way, but in a way that actually showcases both The Flash's and Sonic's personalities. It builds a really fun dynamic. I am sure people have seen the panels of the Flash introducing himself and saying, "I'm 'speed' personified," and Sonic responding with, "Then I am 'speed' perfected!" And that scene perfectly encapsulated everything about their really fun relationship. It's a very friendly competition and mutual respect. And every panel with Sonic and Flash is just so fun with their snappy dialog and the really bright and colorful art.

Of course, while Flash and Sonic take most of the spotlight of this limited run, Shadow and Batman are also a pretty fun dynamic. Their darker tone again and the lightheartedness of the run are pretty funny, especially in that first issue when we go from Sonic and Flash to them talking about the people they lost. But it's a nice balance and kind of showcases the importance of their characters to their respective teams in adding some gravity to their stories.

But even outside of them, the others are also really fun. Wonder Woman and Amy, Superman and Knuckle, and Green Lantern and Silver all have fun dialog together, and I enjoyed seeing them together. Honestly, I wish we got more. In particular I would have liked more of Wonder Woman and Amy or even Wonder Woman and Blaze. Or Amy and Supergirl or Amy and Hawkgirl. Honestly, when I think about it, though, all the pairings were fun to see how they interacted with each other. I am really happy it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger with Eggman and Lex Luthor.

At the end of the day, this is what a good crossover should be. Showcasing both teams and having them interact in very "in character" ways. It's a lighter tone that really works for both series but is not totally toothless. There are stacks and tension, and I feel it can be enjoyed by both DC fans and Sonic fans. As someone who is a fan of both, it's an extra little treat for me.

This also kind of brings me to something I've been thinking more about recently, and that's the sort of exploratory nature of comic books. While it's unlikely that anyone hasn't heard of the Justice League or Sonic the Hedgehog, they are still different series, and you might not have had an interest in reading the other until now. I haven't read a Sonic comic in a long time, but this has me thinking about them again. And with superhero comics being known for their crossovers, it really promotes curiosity about other characters and runs. DC x Sonic the Hedgehog is a great example of what I'm talking about here. So like I said at the start, while it's not trying to be necessarily as emotionally deep as something like Zot!, DC x Sonic the Hedgehog still has a lot of value.

[kaithonks]

The Hull (Aug 8th)

Well, summer is in its last month. And what a summer it's been concerning world events aside. I've managed to do a lot of good reading and keep up with twice-weekly updates, so there's been quite a bit of growth on my end, and I'm hoping that this momentum can be kept up for the rest of the year. The art, I mean. Literally everything else can go.

The Read:

Anyone following this blog probably saw my Zot! post, and gosh do I have such a soft spot for that series now. It was earnest in a similar way that the 2025 Superman movie was but was helped by the fact that Zot was not invincible and also a teenager. It's a sweet story with a little bit of humor but still serious when it needs to be. I'll likely be recommending it for years to come.

The Golden Compass: The Graphic Novel was interesting. It was good, but part way through I remembered how thick The Golden Compass was. I do think not everything makes the transition from novel to graphic novel, as the pacing defiantly feels rockier and none of the art is really given much room to breathe. I mean, at the end of the day it was The Golden Compass, and The Golden Compass is a good story, and when accompanied by really nice art, it's definitely not bad, just not the way one who probably experienced the story would.

Speaking of translated works, I really didn't know what to expect out of Speed Racer #1, but it was fine. I could definitely still see its anime/manga roots, but I feel it's made the transition a lot more smoothly and embraced the aspects it has as a western comic. I'm probably going to keep an eye out to see where this goes.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch by Kelly Thompson was about where I expected it to be. There are some parts where you can see ideas that eventually make their way into Absolute Wonder Woman. It's not quite on Absolute's level, though, but it's still really enjoyable, and I've yet to read anything by Thompson I haven't enjoyed.

Moving on to DC, DC's Kal-El-fornia Love was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. There wasn't anything jaw-dropping in it, but it didn't need that. It was what was on the tin: fun little side stories with the Superfamily in California. Really enjoyable stories, and seeing John Constantine there made me double take, but if you are a Superman fan, it's definitely a treat.

Rebirth Nightwing did not start off strong by reminding me of Grayson, as my distaste for that run is being well documented. But it's slowly improved. I don't think it's any better than New 52, and I do not for the life of me understand people's insistence on the Court of Owls being some kind of great villain. They just don't work for me. While we are still on the topic of Nightwing, Nightwing Annual #1 Sins of the Past was interesting. I'll probably need to see what they ultimately do with this, but I'm not that interested in the female villain or the female police officer. The new main villain is interesting, but the way the girl seems to be interested in every part of Dick's life is getting a little "eeeeeh" for me. You might notice I do not remember either of their names. And I could get up and open up my comic to check, but I feel this better conveys how disinterested I am in those characters.

DC X Sonic the Hedgehog was everything I wanted out of it: a fun little romp in a world mixing DC and Sonic. The little teaser at the end was also great. Thought without spoiling, I don't think that partnership would last any amount of time given how Dr. Eggman is.

The Unread:

I started The Spectre: Wrath of The Spectre Omnibus, but I have only made it a few issues in, and gosh, you can tell this is some Silver Age stuff. It's not aged terribly well, but I've read newer stuff that is definitely worse. So far it kind of reminds me of those old radio shows, which is definitely not the worst thing I could be reminded of.

As for my weekly trip to the comic book shop, nothing really caught my eye this week. It seemed a lot of trade paperbacks were coming out, which is nice, but again nothing I was too invested in getting. So my wallet defiantly thanked me this week as I only came out with Batgirl #10 and Absolute Superman #10. Funny enough, I am very excited for Superman to see if my theories get any more support, but I am very much not excited for Batgirl, as I am still dreading what will be done with her new bio brother.

Well, that is pretty much it. I don't think I'll have time to go to the library until next week, and it's too hot for me to do much else today. So I'm going to go turn on my fan, get an ice cream, and read my comic books and truly enjoy my summer.

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about Zot!

So my personal opinion is that if you really want to get into comic books, you should read Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud. It's a great book to really start getting into the weeds of how comic books do what they do and to get into comic studies. You really can't get into a comic studies discussion without Understanding Comics or Scott McCloud coming up. The thing was, I personally had never read McCloud's comic work outside of Understanding Comics and its sequels, and in some ways that felt like a disservice. So when I was at my local library and saw McCloud's most notable work, Zot!, it felt like the right time to fill that gap.

Look, I knew McCloud was an Osamu Tezuka fan just from reading Understanding Comics and how he broke down some of Tezuka's paneling, but Zot! really made it clear how much of a fan he was. Or maybe just how inspiring Tezuka's work really is. Zot! will likely become something I point to when I talk about inspiration over just trying to copy. Because while it might be easy to point out the similarities in the art style and the fact they are black and white, those are just surface-level things. You can see the influence in how McCloud sets up his panel, in who he chooses, in what the frame is, and in how it balances lighthearted tones with deep emotions. It's even in its progressive theme. And it feels like McCloud isn't just copying but understands what makes Tezuka's work, well, work. Which makes sense that after this, McCloud went on to actually write Understanding Comics.

To talk a bit more directly about the comic itself, Zot himself was really fun to follow in his adventures with his maybe girlfriend Jenny. The stories were that of a typical superhero but with a little more reflection of humanity. This is actually one of the few stories where the love triangle of Zot, Jenny, and Woody works. Because Zot and Woody don't ever really fight over Jenny, they respect her and want her to be happy. And I honestly would have been happy if she ended up with either of them.

Zot, in his over-chipper and optimistic ways, got himself into trouble by charging ahead, and Jenny was there to balance him out and pull him back. Like when he nearly "sells out," Jenny objects and tells him this isn't just him making money; he's an example people look up to. Zot also helps Jenny see the beauty of her home, Earth.

On the flip side, Woody is more reserved, and it's Jenny who pushes him to do good, particularly in writing an article about homophobia in their school. And Woody is always there for Jenny, supporting her and admitting when he hurts her. Woody is the most mature of the three, in my opinion, and it is best shown when he decides that he's not comfortable being the "other" boyfriend anymore. All three stay friends. I mean, I honestly might have liked to see Woody and Zot fall in love and we get a real couple going on, but eh, it was the 90s, and I'm sure the issue that focused totally on a side character questioning their orientation was pushing it.

Introspection is the word that comes to mind. Not just in looking at McCloud himself but also in the characters of Zot!, particularly in the last third of the series in copy of Zot! The Complete Black and White Collection I had called "Part 2: The Earth Stories." To the point, McCloud had kept us mostly in Zot!'s 'utopia,' a futuristic world where there were still problems and villains, but there were people like Zot himself who weren't afraid to stand up. And a major conflict subtly boils under the surface of the story. Jenny is deciding not only which boy to pick, but also which earth she wants to live on. She feels pushed towards Zot's earth because of all the problems the side characters highlight in "The Earth Stories," but at the end of the day, it's Zot still standing up and telling her he hasn't given up on her world, so she shouldn't either.

To answer the question the end of the series posed, I don't think it's wrong to want to live in a more perfect world, and everyone has the right to want something more. It's key to remember Zot's world is not perfect; it still has people like 9-Jack-9 and The Blotch. But it also has people like Zot, who are working to protect it and keep making it better. It's not to want a better place, but we all are born where we are no matter how unfair, but we all have the power to change things for the better.

It's been about 38 years since the first issue of Zot!, and it's held up incredibly well. Zot! felt like a progression of McCloud learning as he went and improving his storytelling, and that works in the stories favor, particularly if you come away with the same answer to the end I did. It's hopeful and quite beautiful, and it's fun reading McCloud's own thoughts on his work. It's simply great, and I feel like I have an even better understanding of McCloud's arguments with Understanding Comics because of it.

[kaithonks]

The Hull (Jul 30th)

So I love my local comic book shop, but I get the feeling that because I'm relatively new to physical collecting, the workers there don't fully get that I have been into comics for most of my life. I did used to have quite an impressive Archie collection. But this time the worker felt the need to explain that annuals are one-shots. And yes, I know most annuals are independent stories. Well, awkward conversations aside, I am pretty happy with what I picked up at the shop, and I do have some catching up to do on what I picked up at the library.

The Read:

Godzilla #1 was pretty fun; I'm not sure I'll follow up. If I see the next issue pop up, though, I probably will pick it up, but while I enjoy it, I don't have much to say for it right now.

Moving on to DC stuff, New History of the DC Universe #2 is still shaping up to be what I said with issue one. I don't think it's going to be a new fan thing. Yes, it's building a summary world up, but again, if you aren't invested in DC in some way already, it's probably going to be too dense to read.

With that, Nightwing #128 was interesting, and I am wondering where all this is going to go and if it will tie into what I've heard is happening in Justice League and World's Finest. I have been meaning to try both, but they have never had that strong a grip on my attention.

Still in Dick Grayson's neck of the woods, I read Volumes 2-3 of Grayson. And well. I think, so far, it's my least favorite of Dick's runs. It all feels so pointless and not about who Dick Grayson is but rather the cool things he can do? The spy drama's 'drama' is really flat, and "hypnosis" as a get-out-of-jail-free card is pretty lame after a while. And while in most of King's writing I feel there is some meaning or theme I can at least defend, I got nothing here. People just calling Dick a liar over and over doesn't make a theme.

On the other side of that, Wonder Woman #10 and Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 were both just amazing. I really want to talk about them again, but I find myself holding back because I want people to just read them and experience them withoutmuch outside influence.

Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #1 was definitely one where I am going to be looking for the full trade paperback for when it comes out. The premise probably would have had me on my back food if it was anyone else, but I have a lot of faith in Ram V's work.

The Unread:

Well, I have a lot of unread this week. I did mean to get started on it, but last week ended up really busy. First off, if you are into really critically thinking about your comics, my first recommendation will always be Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud. Yes, it's a little outdated in the digital age, but the way it gets you thinking about the small pieces that make up comics is still valuable. Even if it doesn't have time to really, really get into the weeds about certain aspects. But on that I had recently realized I'd never read Scott McCloud's other work, particularly Zot! So I ended up picking it up from the library.

Also on a whim I ended up with The Golden Compass: The Graphic Novel. I did read the novel a while ago, but I don't remember much about it other than some drama my Catholic school had over it, which I ended up using to write a short story. So with that bit of lore, I figure it might be a good time for a reread or, well, a reading of the graphic novel version.

Back to DC and Nightwing, I have decided to move on to the Rebirth era and start reading his volumes 1-3 of Rebirth. I don't think it could be really any worse than Grayson.

Also in DC I ended up with The Spectre: Wrath of The Spectre Omnibus. This has been on my watch list for a while as well; it's an omnibus, and I do enjoy being able to read a large chunk of a character in one go. And well, with the Superman movie, I hear the character of the Spectre has an influence on Mr. Terrific's story, so I figure two birds with one stone!

Finally out of my library pickup, I got Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and well, I 100% only added this to my pile because I saw Kelly Thompson's name. She and Deniz Camp kind of have me by the throat right now.

For my pulls, I guess I've just been knee-deep in Nightwing and not even realized it, as the annual my comic store work felt the need to explain to me was in fact the Nightwing Annual #1 Sins of the Past.

I also picked up DC's Kal-El-fornia Love, because, well, I am a resident of California, and there was a sense of pride that compelled me to pick it up. I am looking forward to it because again, while I have a lot of pride towards the state I call home, it equally can be as fun to make jokes about.

DC X Sonic the Hedgehog''s last issue is out, and I am sad to see it go, but I'm also looking forward to finally being able to talk about it, especially after having seen the new Superman movie.

Finally, I ended up getting Speed Racer #1. Why? Honestly, I couldn't tell you. Probably for the bit? What bit you, you ask? Again. No clue. I just picked it up because I vaguely remember the Speed Racer anime and then the 2008 movie.

This week was chaotic, and I ended up writing a ton more than I did read, which is not a bad thing. I went pretty quickly through my reading, so it was nice to sort of take a break and restock. I do have a lot that's interesting to me, and I think it will give me a lot to think on. At the very least it can't be any worse than Grayson.

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about On A Sunbeam

I meant to talk about this about two weeks ago, but it ended up getting pushed back a few times because, well, the Superman movie happened, and I really wanted to talk about that. Then Zatanna finished, and I wanted to put that out, but this has been sitting in my head for a while, especially in how On A Sunbeam uses silence.

Silence in comic books has a few different forms, the main one being simply no sound effects, panels with little to no art or dialog, or simply no dialog. When using both, it enhances the feeling of silence. That feeling can be extra important, especially in a story set in space. That lack of sound combined with nearly empty panels makes you really feel that the characters are in space. It makes the reader feel the longing and emptiness that comes with such a setting.

On a Sunbeam is almost never loud, even in emotional moments where being loud might be beneficial. The dialog bubbles are always a little wobbly, with the dialog being small and having lots of white space around it. It's almost like the characters are constantly whispering or talking softly. Now one could think of this as a downside, but I think it's actually a very clear motif because part of talking is listening. And not being heard is an important theme of On A Sunbeam. These characters are clearly speaking, but the way the dialog is presented gives the impression that they aren't always being heard, and that becomes more clear when Char is forced to leave the crew and Jo takes her place. Jo clearly doesn't care to listen to the crew constantly misgendering Elliot, and even when Mai and the crew confront Jo, she doesn't seem to understand until she is left in silence.

Speaking of Elliot, Ell doesn't even begin to speak until chapter sixteen, and we don't even get to see what they say to Mia. It's important that Elliot, the former cartographer, is the one who is nonverbal for most of the story. A person whose job it is to make maps and guide people doesn't speak. On a Sunbeam's silence is a part of its theme of distance, the distance not only in space but between people, how people communicate in the things they say and don't say. For example, Mia's whole motivation to see Grace again is to just talk with her and say the goodbye she didn't get the first time around. And it's Elliot who was going to make maps, things that again guide people's choices not to speak. Ell can still communicate and still bonds with the crew and, in some ways, is even the one who brings the crew together. As Ell is the one Alma and Char help escape the staircase. Ell also mentors Mia, whom Jules defends from Jo. Ell chooses silence, and it's in those silent moments the characters grow and find themselves.

To emphasize this, the climax of the story is when Grace and Mia meet again. The important part of these scenes is the background. The dialog bubbles are still soft and uneven, but the backgrounds are not just Grace's room; they shift between wobbling colors of yellow, blue, red, and black. Often seeming to depict space, and then they shift to pure white silence. The Conversation ends with a pure white background only depicting Grace and Mia hugging each other, symbolizing they have heard each other and there isn't anything more to say.

On a Sunbeam is one of those beautiful stories that will forever hold a space in my heart because it not only is a story well told but also a story that understands what it is and uses all elements of what it is. It uses its parts to build themes of silence, distance, and building real connection. It uses its panels, its lettering, its writing, and its setting all to build those emotions in the reader.

[kaithonks]

The Hull (Jul 23rd)

Well, I am exhausted, but it's a week of restocking for me. I almost didn't go to the shop today but figured that since I missed picking up the new Nightwing last week, I should, especially since tomorrow I'll likely go back to the library for another run. I am exhausted, but I often find myself struggling to actually take the time to stop.

The Read:

Zatanna wrapped up rather wonderfully, as some might be able to tell by my last post. I'll likely be rereading the whole thing again because I head off to the library to try and find more books with her.

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #2 was rather heartbreaking but in sort of a good way. I suppose I'm going to keep up with it, as I'm just excited to see Krypto eventually find his people again. Especially after being with Lex.

Absolute Flash #5 and Robin and Batman: Jason Todd #2 were about where I expected them to be. Flash was fine, but Robin and Batman was more about trying to justify Jason Todd's death and generally taking away the interesting part of his morality. I am not going to say much because I am certain that I will have thoughts with the final issue.

Power Rangers Prime #1 wasn't exactly what I was expecting, and when I think about it, I am not sure what I was expecting. It has been ages since I've seen a Power Rangers show, and I'm not sure how the universe has evolved or changed in the meantime. I think the trade paperback will be out soon if it isn't already, and I think I will give it a try.

November by Fraction and Charretier was a really interesting crime drama that, like Power Rangers, wasn't something I totally expected. I'm more familiar with Fraction not taking his work so seriously, i.e., Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen, Sex Criminals, and even Hawkeye. But Sex Criminals and Hawkeye did give a little taste of Fraction's talents in drama, particularly in his panel direction. The short panels of November really help set its tense and tight tone. I don't think I really have much to say about it other than I did enjoy it; I liked the characters and how it set its story up.

Another one I am liking but don't really have much to say about is CHEW: The Omnivore Edition Vol. 2. I'm going to keep reading it, and I like the pulp nature of the story, but I just don't have much to say on it.

The Unread:

Something I kind of randomly picked up was Godzilla #1. Kaiju was always a genre I have a vague interest in, being a part of the tokusatsu genre, which Power Rangers and other shows are a part of. I kind of just say this in the area of my local shop where the owners promote things they like, and I figured, why not!

Along similar lines Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #1 was something I saw people praising but didn't pick up at the time. I was casually going through my shop's boxes and saw it, so I figured I'd grab it.

The end of the month tends to be my favorite time, as both Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 and Absolute Wonder Woman #10 are out, and I am excited to read more. I'm actually planning to use them both to give myself some relaxation time, as both these runs have been just so good and given me so much to think about in terms of comics and storytelling.

With that, New History of the DC Universe #2 was something I forgot was coming, and I already see this series as something that will be kind of hard to judge. It's not really a traditional comic but more like a supplement that is here to catch people up on DC's in-universe history.

Finally, Nightwing #128 was something I forgot about last week, which kind of ends up describing all my feelings towards the run. But as I said in my post about Nightwing, I keep getting pulled back in because I just enjoy Dick's character, and even when the run isn't great.

Again, I'll likely be heading back to the library for more tomorrow, so I'll have more unread things for next week and likely more read, but I might end up trying to take a break. Try is the key word.

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about Zatanna

So Zatanna's 6-issue limited run wrapped up this week, and I have been waiting to talk about this. Zatanna isn't an area of DC I was super familiar with, but my brother only really likes Hellblazer, which Zatanna is tangentially attached to, so when her mini came out with really pretty art, I decided to give it a try. That was a good movie on my part. I loved this run; it's one I'm probably going to spend quite a bit of time sinking my teeth into because it's one of the rare cases where I find that they aren't just using the main character's history as a crutch or just as an aesthetic but as an important part of the story and themes.

Down at its core, this six-issue run is about storytelling. It begins with a mother telling a child a bedtime story, a story we learn more and more about at the start of each run. But while we are getting that story, we are getting Zatanna's story and her trying to save herself and her friends. She also gets trapped in movies and dreams. Her occupation as a stage magician is very important to all stories. Early on, Zatanna explains to her assistant Adam that in her show she tells lies, but with a tiny piece of belief, it essentially becomes true. And that's something that can be said about the art of storytelling as a whole. It also has an element of meta commentary because later in issue #5 we get Zatanna walking over the pencils of her own comic. She even saves Blue Devil by showing him as an angel while repeating that line about having "a little faith." Now that may or may not be true, but the key is Zatanna believes it is true, so it was able to help him. And a page later Wonder Woman is able to break Laevateinn because she believes she will shatter all falsehood. All of these things are true to these characters and are their stories.

There are a lot of layers that ended up making this story, and a lot of lies and half-truths. Things that get distorted and used. What I love about it all is Zatanna is living on both sides. Yes, she has to lie to make a performance work, but she can also see when it's too much and harmful; thus, she lets the White Lady go because she believed a lie. Like with Blue Devil, she can use maybe a lie but a half-truth to help and save people. It speaks a lot to her character and gives a lot more depth to her. She is also just a really fun character to read and follow; she's confident but knows when she needs support and has the friends to back her up. It definitely left in an area where I do want to learn more about her and see these different relationships she has.

If I had to nitpick, I would say at times the art is too busy and things can be hard to follow, but at the same time I find myself feeling forgiving of that because again it fits in with the aesthetic of a stage magician and all these other-world events. So it definitely feels more nitpicky than real issues, because with that I do feel this is a story where it's best to read it a few times over to really take in all those details in the art and story.

At the end of the day, this is a fun story with a lot of amazing and beautiful art, and it got me more into Zatanna, which is the best thing a comic can do for you. Read more.

[kaithonks]

Hey more writing by me! Please do check it out!

[kaithonks]

The Hull (Jul 16th)

Well now I've seen Superman! It was great, but I had a pretty rough week past that. Though I did manage to get a lot of reading done, which is always a bonus, I do sometimes struggle with things to talk about when I don't have many thoughts, but I had a lot of thoughts this week.

The Read:

I debated a long time between talking about the new Superman movie and On a Sunbeamby Tillie Walden because, boy, was that a great read. Not that I was surprised by it; a reliable source told me it was a good read, and I have quite a few thoughts about it that I will be saving for next Monday.

I ended up reading volumes 4 and 5 of the New 52 Nightwing while waiting for my car to be repaired (at the time of writing I'm still waiting on getting it back) and had a nice little chat with the front desk worker about comics. So with Nightwing I'm at the Grayson saga, and I did read the first volume of that. While I've been generally enjoying New 52, I've got my quibbles, and I've got more quibbles with Tom King's writing, and as I've said before, that will eventually have its day.

Absolute Superman #9 has left me feeling elated with some of my theories about its future direction. I am tempering my expectations because I do think some of my theories might be a bit out there, but still, I'm excited.

Supergirl #1-3 was interesting? I'm not totally sure how I feel about it. I know some of my confusion might be from my lacking Supergirl, but at the same time, though, I'm not really sure this is the run for me. I'll probably give it one or two more issues.

The Unread:

November and CHEW: The Omnivore Edition Vol. 2 remain the only unread of my library books, but I don't really expect them to stay that way for much longer.

At my local comic shop I was going through the variant cover, and I saw the Juni Ba variant of Power Rangers Prime #1. I was already interested in this series after their Free Comic Book Day double issue with VR Troopers. So getting a cover with an artist I love is a win for me.

The last issue of Zatanna is something I've been looking forward to for a while. Gosh, the cover is beautiful, though. If there is anything out of this run, it's the wonderful art. I really do need to start putting my favorite variants on my walls.

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #2 was on the excited-to-read list, but the rest of my pulls this week are Absolute Flash #5 and Robin and Batman: Jason Todd #2. Absolute Flash, I'm sure, will be fine, but I am very unsure of Robin and Batman: Jason Todd. That first issue was not great, but I'm really hoping Lemire pulls it back and does something more than "this kid was destined to fail and die," which, honestly, is just distasteful. Even if you don't like Jason's character.

A week of highs and lows, and just keep marching on. I do again really hope more people get the chance to see Superman while it's still in theaters because it really reminded me of my love of theaters and the movie-going experience. It honestly has been what got me through the week because sometimes all you need is a bit of hope.

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about Superman (2025)

Warning: Spoilers

I was going to put this off another week, as I wanted to give this movie more time for people to see since I saw it at an early screening. And this movie is an experience, one I really want people to have without spoilers. But honestly, I just really want to talk about this movie because it is a rare case where I've had a hard time not getting up in arms over criticism of it.

First off, no I don't actually think this movie is perfect. My personal criticism is that the movie is too fast. It doesn't really give its emotional beats much time to breathe, and I think even just an extra ten minutes would have made things just hit that much harder. That being said, I think this movie's strongest point is how much it makes me feel despite not really giving me the time to stew and take those emotions in. I can see how people might not like this, and combined with James Gunn's distinctive style, I could see it being too much. At the end of the day, though, I find myself being forgiving of the movie's flaws, because those flaws ultimately add to the story's message to me. Humanity is imperfection, and Superman himself cherishes his humanity.

To shift gears slightly I want to talk about something I haven't really seen yet. This movie is about hope, but it is also about community.

After Lois talks with Guy about Superman's identity, Lois expresses her frustration that Clark/Superman is so trusting, and Guy responds with something along the lines of him trusting the Justice Gang because they are "Men of the Cloth" and gestures to his costume. This is a sort of throwaway joke line, but I feel it's still important because up to that point we saw Clark and his relationship with the people at the Planet, how he interacts with people as Superman, and how he interacts with the Justice gang. But that line emphasizes their brotherhood, their small niche community. Superman might not be officially a member, but Guy at least recognizes their similarities. And at the end it is the Justice Gang who comes in and is able to take up the spaces Superman struggles to fill.

But that's the Superman side. Another side is Clark Kent. A parallel that hit me was at the start of the movie after Superman loses his first fight and he gets Krypto to "take him home," he is taken to the Fortress of Solitude and is healed in what looks to be a painful way while the messages of his parents play. Then after he gets kryptonite poisoning, he is taken home to the Kent farm. There he rests and heals while his adoptive parents hover over him. This time things are a lot more relaxed; we do lose a bit of the emotion here because it does go so fast, but there is still a moment of Pa Kent crying over how proud he is of Clark while telling him parents don't dictate their children's lives. The contrast of these scenes really builds on the strength and importance of community that is there for you. Yes, I still think Jor-El and Lara are still important to Clark's identity but aren't able to be there for him and support him when he needs it. Going back to the first scene where the healing is painful and that is a part of his birth planet that is hurting him in the second scene shows that it's not always healthy to hold on to what can't be.

Clark, throughout the movie, had people who he could rely on, who loved him and backed him up. In contrast, Lex Luthor loses his girlfriend to Jimmy motherfucking Olsen before being publicly humiliated. And treated like a dog's chew toy, but that is beside my point. The point is Lex lost in part due to him not having real and true support behind him, Eve turn on him with out much of a second thought. And Lex likely didn't pick her for more then how them being together would reflect on him.

This film is not perfect; Superman is not perfect. But because he has a community behind him who still believe in him at his lowest, he is able to keep getting up. He has people to support him to fill in where he lacks. James Gunn has a stellar team behind him to help make these movies. Yes, there are issues I have with his direction and style, but in those gaps I can see where his crew shines. All the performances were amazing; no one felt miscast or unimportant. The music was also amazing, both the needle drops and the original music. These things help pick up where there are issues. So both inside and out, this movie is not only about hope and care, but also about how we need community to foster that hope.

[kaithonks]

The Hull (Jul 9th)

So I'm going to see the Superman movie tomorrow, and I'm very excited. It's been a long time since I've been to a theater, and I typically only go for special occasions or movies I really think I'll love. Superman happened to make that list. That last one was the Sonic movies, but that's a different story. Regardless, it's been an exciting week for me, and I've been keeping myself pretty busy.

The Read:

I still have mixed feelings about Ice Cream Man, as some of you might have seen in my last post. It's a really well-executed comic, but I think at the end of the day it simply doesn't fall into my tastes, so my appreciation for it is more from an artistic point of view than for its actual content.

CHEW I enjoyed more, as I kind of expected I would. It hits a lot of the things I like, being a pulpy sort of detective story with a weird little twist too. Not as many people eating as I thought there would be, but I understand why that is. It isn't Hannibal or anything. But I did go to my library and pick up the next omnibus.

Brombal pulled out my least favorite fucking trope that I did a whole post on in Batgirl #9. But I have a little faith in Brombal's skill and his history that I'm not as concerned about Cass's new brother as I typically would be. Particularly in that this new family will invalidate the family Cassandra had already built withinthe Batman House.

Green Arrow #13 was a lot funnier than I thought it would be, especially since I just picked it up for the cover. It had me thinking I should probably try and read some more because I liked what was going on. I did read Green Arrow: Year One a while back, and while I found it interesting, it didn't really push me into trying more. And I did try the TV show Arrow back when it premiered, but again, I never kept up or followed through. But maybe I should.

VR Troopers #1 was fine? Thought it didn't hit enough of my brain for me to consider getting the next issues, but I might check it out again once a paperback comes out.

Same goes for Batman: Dark Patterns #1. I enjoyed it; it definitely had a lot of what I like in a Batman story, but again, I'm not really pushed to buy single issues for it. Something just doesn't really hold up well to me when confined to maybe 20 pages. It was a fine enough hook, but not strong enough for me to wait for more singles.

The Unread:

I ended up getting a lot more at the library than I really meant to, but considering how much reading I've been doing, I only really feel bad for making the librarian deal with me taking up so much of their time.

On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden has been on my list for a long time, and I didn't realize that my library had put it in the teen graphic novels and not with the others. I hadn't looked there for it before because that section was mostly manga, and I've been taking a break from that. Regardless, I found it and am already a few chapters in and enjoying it so much.

I also ended up getting all four volumes of Matt Fraction's November. I am a pretty big Fraction fan; his Jimmy Olsen run takes up a large chunk of my head now, and I do also think about Sex Criminals a lot. So while I don't know a ton about this story, I'm interested enough by his other work to give it a go.

As mentioned before, I got CHEW: The Omnivore Edition Vol. 2, but with that I got the next two volumes of the Nightwing New 52 Run. My goal is to read as much Nightwing as I can to catch up, even if I get behind with the current run.

Lastly, I only had Absolute Superman #9 on my pull list, but I ended up picking up issues 1, 2, and 3 of Supergirl. I have never really been that big into the Superman side of DC. Through no fault of its own. Superman is just under 13 years shy of being 100. He's a foundational block of what comic books as a medium are, but things have grown. Superman is still VERY important to our culture, and I generally don't think you could run out of content for him, but that does make a massive wall of just OK content you'd have to sort through to find the really good stuff, and that can be disheartening. So by extension I've never been interested in Kara. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was a good read, and I liked the themes, but it was by Tom King? And one day I will get around to giving my thoughts about him, but that's not today. So when I found some neat variant covers of the first 3 issues, I figured it was a good time to give her a real try.

That is everything I got this week. A lot of stuff, and a lot of stuff I'm following up with, and some new things I'm excited to try out. There probably is some point I can make about commitment and trying things, but honestly I'm just happy to get to see Superman tomorrow.

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about Ice Cream Man

The first thing I should probably address is that I kind of know when something really isn't for me. With that, I have never really been a horror fan; I appreciate it from an academic point a lot more than I actually enjoy it. Horror being about fears and anxiety makes a more open space for discussing things that might be considered "taboo." With that, I am an anxious person by default. While I can enjoy thinking about what a horror work means or is trying to tell me, it's often hard for me to get to that because it will set me on overdrive, and I might not even make it through. There is also a line where if you are making me so anxious, the other purpose and message will be defeated because I just can't (and shouldn't be expected to) produce the effort required to get to the message. These are just my general thoughts on the horror genre, and Ice Cream Man doesn't really get anywhere close to the line. I'm hoping to add a bit of context that this well-received series, just really isn't for me.

I made it through Volumes 1-6, as though they were what was available at my library, and honestly, I am not that interested in reading more. Now it is strictly related to it being a horror and maybe more to do with it being a semi-anthology. It's never that scary to me, but like comedy, that is a completely subjective issue.

Ice Cream Man has some really good issues, but also some that just fall flat. I have talked a little about this in my "The Hull" post, but the character of the Ice Cream Man didn't really work for me as a connecting force because they explained too much too early on, and it eventually moved away from the whole centering of him being an ice cream man, which just made it all the weaker.

But I do get why this series is so well received because when it is good, it's really good. In each volume there was at least one story that really hit me, and it was able to use both its horror and comic elements well. Even when the stories were weaker, Ice Cream Man did interesting things with its medium. Like Chapter 13 being a palindrome. While not particularly using its horror elements well, its being a palindrome emphasizes how trapped the protagonist is in his cycle of grief and unable to move forward.

Chapter 18 is another great story showing us someone slowly losing their memories; it's horrible, but with a beautiful ending. It definitely is more loosely connected than some of the others, but it doesn't feel out of place with the others in its series. Chapter 22 is another really good one that again feels a lot more separated from the rest of the series but not completely out of place. So I can really appreciate that while I might not enjoy everything, the series is tonally consistent while still trying to push what it can do with its visual medium.

If it sounds like I'm being vague, I kind of am because I feel that people who enjoy horror and comics should give the series a shot, and I don't want to spoil anything for them. This sort of comes back to my feeling on horror as a whole; I generally appreciated this series more than I really enjoyed it. Some of that is its horror, mostly in how it's never really that horrifying to me; some of that is I don't particularly care for how the anthology part is handled. Again, though, I can appreciate what it tries to do. So while I don't feel this is something really for me, this is something I can still recommend to people who do enjoy horror.

[kaithonks]

The Hull (Jul 2nd)

Well, a new month is upon us, and I noticed that my first week's pull has shrunk a little since the end of Two-Face last month. Honestly, I nearly forgot about my pulls this week, as I am still adjusting to a new schedule and working around my well work. But I did end up getting some really nice stuff this week.

The Read:

Most probably saw my last post about Nightwing, so I am caught up with the current run as well as the first 3 volumes of the New 52 run. Again, while I don't think it's a great story, Dick himself is keeping him hooked and wanting to read more of his stories.

Absolute Martian Manhunter is continuing to knock the ball out of the park with its storytelling and visuals, and the same goes for Assorted Crisis Events #2. No joke, Deniz Camp is currently pumping out some of the best comic work out there now. And the best thing about it is it's plain good art. I don't have to put any stipulation on my recommendation of these works. Well, besides maybe trigger warnings, they are pushing comics forward, and it makes me excited for the future.

On that, Absolute Wonder Woman is also keeping up its amazing quality. I'll probably have more thoughts as we get more into this story arc, but I currently can do more than say, "You just need to read it!"

DC x Sonic the Hedgehog is also still so much fun to read. Last time Lex and Knuckles had me laughing, and now it's Superman and Eggman. It's just simple fun? Like while Absolute Martian Manhunter is great art, DC x Sonic the Hedgehog is great comic fun. Both are great, and I feel people should read them, but they are not quite the same.

New History of the DC Universe reminded me of Neil Gaiman's existence and how part of the DC universe is kind of stained forever. Which is sad, but I am still appreciative of what the comic is doing, and I kind of like how it's being told. I am not sure it's a new fan thing, though; it's doing a great job of building the world up, but the way it's told, it feels dense in part, which, given its sort of tapestry nature, might be a turnoffif you aren't already invested in this world.

The Unread:

I did start on volume 4 of Ice Cream Man but haven't gotten that deep into it. Though the first story is probably my second favorite story so far, so I'm glad I'm sticking with it. But we'll see where it goes.

Also in the library pile, CHEW: The Omnivore Edition Vol. 1 is still unread, but I have looked up a basic summary, and I am a little more excited for it, given I am a big detective story fan and the premise is intriguing.

Now form my comic story. I got my copy of Batgirl #9 with Camp, Brombal. He is another one of my favorite writers currently pumping content out. The last issue really had me wanting him to revive Richard Dragon and that whole side of DC, and I'm hoping we'll get to see more of it here.

So every week I feel my argument of "I don't really care about variant covers" because I ended up finding 2024 Green Arrow #13 with the Connor Hawke Pride Cover. Gosh dang, I wasn't even buying physical comics when this cover came out last year, but I wanted it. So while I'll probably read it and maybe check out what's going on in the Green Arrow, I'm just happy to have this beautiful cover.

Another pickup I got was Batman: Dark Patterns #1. Honestly, I was waiting for the trade paperback for this, as I was interested in the story, but seeing it in the boxes at my store, I decided just to give the first issue a go to see if I would even like it to start with.

Finally I sort of caved (?) and got VR Troopers. Some may remember I picked up the preview at Free Comic Book Day, and I'd been contemplating getting it when it released, and I didn't originally, but again I caved this week seeing it on the shelf.

That's everything I ended up picking up and reading last week. I'm still working and getting used to a new schedule, but I've been managing to keep up with my reading, and I've been getting a lot of good stuff and having good conversations about that work with people. I've also been collecting those Justice League ID cards, and gosh, when can I get a Kyle Rayner?

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about Nightwing

My first exposure to Nightwing was not through the animated 2003 Teen Titans like many people my age. It was actually sort of through my mother. My mom had an old MAD magazine, which she gave to my brother, and slipped in there were a few Teen Titans. The memory is very faint now, so I don't remember what story it was. I just remember really liking it and wanting to steal it from my brother but ultimately not going through with it.

Eventually I did go back and read more of the George Pérez New Titans. And me being me, it did take a moment for it to click after I read Pérez's Wonder Woman that it was the same person. But I hadn't really read any of Nightwing's solo run. My timing was pretty good with that, as Dan Watter and Dexter Soy were taking over Nightwing's, and it seemed like a good place to start.

As anyone reading my weekly "The Hull" updates might know, I have been keeping up with it, but it hasn't really gripped me. The story and art are both fine, but there are little niggles I have that come from it not being a new run but a continuing run. I've never liked Barbara and Dick as a couple; part of that is just DC's total disregard for Barbara's character as they pass her around the Batboys like some kind of trophy. It really just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. So no matter how well written Barbara and Dick's relationship may be, it's always going to have a bit of a stench to me, and that's no one person's fault, really. So it being in the current Nightwing turns me off a bit. It also makes me question if Barbara is just in Blüdhaven all night now. Granted, I have gaps in my knowledge of Batman and company's recent history.

With that, I have started trying to fill that gap by reading Nightwing's New 52 run, of which I got the first 3 volumes at my local library. Anyhow, you know it's still always nice seeing the connections and new perspectives on other stories I have read. Particularly with Court of Owls, though that is still one of my least favorite stories. We did at least get more with Dick and William, but while I kind of enjoy Nightwing's New 52 run, it's another run I have niggles with. Partly in trying to give Nightwing a deeper connection to Gotham. I like Dick having his space, and distinct story lines tying him back to Gotham felt weird. He didn't need that Gotham connection; having his family origin be more up in the air fit his character, especially in a book where a big conflict was how fast he kept moving forward.

I did like how the Court of Owls parts did focus more on Dick's personal investment and didn't go too far into the Court itself, as again, I just don't care for that type of plot line.

So with all this, I sort of wondered to myself, if I don't really care for what these stories are doing, why am I still invested in reading more? And well, it's Dick Grayson himself. Dick's character is interesting; he's witty, charming, and always trying to do his best to help people. You can see him struggling, but it never gets him down; he always picks himself back up and tries again. He's hopeful, even in New 52, where he looks a bit like an emo boy, with the red suit and mask that occasionally has red lenses. He's a great example of how a good character can carry a not-so-good plot. Nightwing is still not my favorite character, but he does have a place in my heart.