ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Red Lantern/Red Arrow

The awesome mock-up cover done for that Fringe episode (which took place in the alternate universe).

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© DC Comics/Warner Bros.

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Ollie's Stupendous Chili Recipe

Time for some cooking activity with Green Arrow!
Here's a pretty fun page, Ollie's own "Chili Recipe". Beware though, it's certainly edible, this isn't just a joke, but like you'd expect from GA, it's HOT! Really hot, like it will burn your entire mouth and ruin your sense of taste for months!

But if you feel up to the challenge, try it~

I wonder who at DC spent the time making this one up :P

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Only a hothead like Ollie or someone with Bats' discipline is able to survive this chili!

JLA © DC Comics

#Gaming NEWS! LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

And here's a pretty kickass trailer of Traveler's Tales' latest game, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes!
That's right, another Lego Batman game, this time featuring guest JLA-characters to play with!

Get More: GameTrailers.com, LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes - Open World Trailer, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Looks a bit Arkham City-sh, don't you think?
And voice acting?! Whoah! you got me surprised there! (was there voices in their latest Lego games too, or is that new?)

It's nice to expand these Lego DC games, not just Robin around anymore, but the likes of Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman and Aquaman!
By the way, it's nice to see even as a Lego, Hal Jordan sort of looks/acts like a douche, even the 2-3 seconds he got in that above trailer :P

This game will be out later next month, on almost all current systems~

ComicPanelsOfTheWeek: I'm starving!

Just Hal Jordan, being his usual chauvinist.

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And yes, he's adressing Silver Age-Wonder Woman there. I'm expecting a punch to land in the middle of his face on 3....2...1...

JLA © DC Comics

#CollegeHumor - "Animation: Too Many Avengers"

With the Avengers out (I should really take the time to watch it....soon....), here's a pretty awesome animated parody from CollegeHumor:



Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's how the general public's starting to feel, with all these superheroes around each other, teaming up.
They seem to be loving Avengers - for now. But you might see some eyebrows rising if there will ever be an Avengers 2 some day...

Super Dictionary: flower

He just really likes his flowers.

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Super Dictionary © DC Comics

Super Dictionary: asleep

Super-creepiness at its finest...

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Super Dictionary © DC Comics

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Lick it clean

Poor Arisia...since her original appearance, through her romance with Hal Jordan and her odd aging-thing 'n' all..she's never been given a break.

Here's the way her confrontation with (Green Lantern villain) Star Sapphire ended up:

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Green Lanterns Corps © DC Comics

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: A night to howl!

Good ol' classic JLI! :D
Guy and Tora... I miss this couple..

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Justice League of America #28 © Marvel Comics

CBR Chase

 

Here's an absolute must read - and yeah, I'm already telling it right away from the start.

One of the most original and interesting reads DC produced in these last couple of decades.
Introducing...

Comic title: Chase
Art by J.H. Williams III, Charlie Adlard, Rick Burchett, Kelley Jones, Yanick Paquette, Greg Scott, Diego Barreto, Eric Canete, Robert P Hall, Shawn Martinbrough, Michael Gray and John Beatty
Stories by Daniel Curtis Johnson, J.H. Williams III and Doug Moench

Published by DC Comics
From 1998/2011
Lineup Adam Strange, Animal Man, Countdown
Format: Omnibus trade paperback, collecting the 9-issue miniseries of Chase, Chase One Million, Batman #550 and short stories from DC Universe Heroes: Secret Files #1, Secret Files Guide to the DCU, Superman: Our Worlds at War - Secret Files #1, JSA Secret Files #2, Flash Secret Files and Origins #3, Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files #1, Batgirl: Secret Files #1 and Hawkman: Secret Files #1. 

Chase is a title created by J.H. Williams III and Daniel Curtis Johnson.
It lasted for 10 issues - not counting the specials and tie-ins/appearances/cross-overs in other books.
It really became something unique, thanks to the combined efforts of its creators.
The writing of Dan Curtis Johnson made its stories stand out as a smart noir-esque and mature title taking place in the DC Universe. A more realistic approach and supernatural to this costumed populated fictional world.

While J.H. Williams III really gave a life to this side of the DCU.
And was oh-so fitting to this unique approach.

Playing with the comic book medium, analyzing it and deconstructing this incredible premise. (of flying people dressed in spandex costumes)

Our titular character first appeared in Batman 550 (in 1998) to promote the launch of this new series (which is also included in this book).

Cameron Chase is an agent of the D.E.O. - the Department of Extranormal Operations - newly recruited by Director Bones himself, head of the DEO.
She's part of a special task force of the government, her role is to mointor and keep "metahumans" under control.

Being a former detective, most of her stories are told as cases and assignments.

Along the way she discovers she actually possesses powers of her own, the ability to negate superpowers of other metas in her proximity.

She also tries to come to terms with a long time trauma from her childhood during the course of her series.
Her father was killed in an horrible fashion involving costumed characters...

Spoiler:

Walter Chase had been the super hero known as the Acro-Bat, many years ago.
With a bunch of other costumed heroes, they formed a team called "Justice Experience", probably inspired by stories about the Justice Society in the 50s no doubt.
But due to their inexperience, someone perished once during a struggle with supervillains. Someone took it personally and decided to avenge the death of that girl. He became Doctor Trap, went on a vendetta against the Justice Experience.
And killed Chase's father in front of her own eyes as a child.

Anyway, that is why Chase hate costumed vigilantes.

During the course of her series, Chase is assigned to various kind of jobs, tasking the Suicide Squad, Teen Titans, etc.
The stories shift from serious tone to more light hearted tales.
Her family secrets revealed in an amazing 6th issue, the Dark Knight guest stars several times and clashes with Chase...

It's a very fun book all around.
The quality is maintained, and supervised through and through, even in the guest issues or other appearances in other comics, like the ones from Shadow of the Bat or Secret Files.

And a fun exploration of what having spandex-wearing individuals around mean and the unforeseen implications those so-called heroes don't always think of.

Lots of different sort of stories, including a fan-favorite One Million tie-in special issue. (a story taking place in the distant future)
Case that Chase works on, personal exploration through her own abilities and confrontations over "super-powered activities" juridisctions. This complete collection covers a wide range of type of stories.
Various unexpected surprises awaits Chase on her journey.

Also guest starring such characters as Batman, The Teen Titans, Booster Gold, Green Lantern, The Flash, the Martian Manhunter, the Justice Society and many more!

Overall, a recommended book!
May you be a DC Comics fan or not. Newcomer or long time reader.
New to American comics or not.

It's a very fun entry point to all things super powers. At a more human level.

The stories in themselves are great, original, dark, "real".

And also, this is as good as it gets in published comics.
This book is a huge omnibus-sized softcover in full color.
Containing 352 pages worth of material, covering most of Chase's career.
(she appeared much later on in the pages of Manhunter and Bat-woman at the moment)

Simply said, an absolute must read!

I give it:

  3 / 3 Plastic-trophies!

DC News! Superman Versus The Elite

With Justice League: Doom finally released, it's now time to turn over for DC's next animated project.
Which will be Superman Versus The Elite...

Here's the official pitch:

The Elite, a team of super-powered antiheroes, is renowned for killing their enemies. Despite the acclaim and approval the Elite enjoy, Superman knows they are in the wrong, creating more harm than good by their methods. Tensions between them finally culminate in a mass showdown on Jupiter’s moons, when Superman is forced to prove that violence is never a positive.Superman vs. The Elite, the latest in the series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies from Warner Bros. Animation, will be available on Blu-ray, DVD, On Demand and for Download.

It's announced for a Summer release date. (no clue regarding the month?!)

It seems this new direct-to-video movie will be based on Joe Kelly's run in Action Comics (more specifically, issue #775) which featured new villains Elite and Manchester Black.
Sounds like an original pick for a movie feature!
It will be a bit darker than your usual Superman cartoons for sure.

Superman Versus The Elite will have George Newbern as Superman and Pauley Perrette as Lois Lane.
And the film is directed by Michael Chang (Batman: Brave and the Bold,..) with Bruce Timm as executive producer and Alan Burnett (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights) as producer.

Check out some pics:

No trailer yet.

BTW, World's Finest got a pretty cool interview with Nathan Fillion regarding his two times voicing Hal Jordan. So, check it out!

And DC Nation started, alongside new episodes of Young justice and Green Lantern (the CGi animated cartoon).
Warner Bros Animation making random new cartoon shorts and other segments around DC Comics characters!
What d'you guys think of it so far - for those who've seen it.
Me?
I like it, I like the idea.
The segment about Green Arrow's boxing arrow was random but funny (and waaaay too short). So far my favorite's been Plastic Man's episode!

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: This doesn't feel right

The only good scene from the entire awful DC Universe Online: Legends comics based on the game...

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DC Universe Online: Legends © DC Comics

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Agent Green and his Corps

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Green Lantern © DC Comics

CBR Rann–Thanagar War

 

Time for some more Mystery in Space!!

Rann–Thanagar War was a direct sequel to Planet Heist.
It was one of the stories DC released as part of the hype to build up yet another event called Infinite Crisis (alongside Villains United, OMAC Project and Day of Vengeance).

I usually tend to avoid big epic crossovers and mega-events (if they're not Green Lantern related or assigned to way too many authors to be properly coordinated)...but being the first, and only Adam Strange centric one, this was a must read for scifi comics fans.

At least..that's what I thought.
Surely a mini-event following a mini-series, both leading into another bigger event cannot be that bad...can it?

Comic title: Rann–Thanagar War
Art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Joe Bennett and Marc Campos
Story by Dave Gibbons

Published by DC Comics
From 2005-06
Lineup Adam Strange, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Countdown
Format: Trade paperback, collects the 6-issue miniseries.

Promoted as part of the Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Rann–Thanagar War is a sort of a reimagining of of an old interplanetary conflict between DC Comics' interstellar heroes, originally depicted in World's Finest Comics in the 70s.

The idea to have this big epic space war between various stars-based DC proprieties' been around for ages since the original Crisis, but it took until 2005 to see it finally take shape properly.

Without dealing with this "Infinite Crisis" mentioned above, per say, Rann–Thanagar War is actually a continuation of the story from Adam Strange: Planet Heist, crossing over with on-going stories from Green Lantern and Green Lanterns Corps.

A Man of Two Worlds joins forces with two immortal Egyptians/Aliens Hawkmen!

After dealing with Thanagarian rogues who tried to bring in an all-out war and the end of the universe as we know it, Adam Strange is now facing yet another cataclysmic event of cosmic proportions!
Our space adventurer his now trying to save two planets from the brink of a war.
His adopted planet Rann was teleported into Thanagar's star system.
But now the system is getting unstable... Thanagar is getting lured into its own sun and will be crash landing soon!

After helping out the surviving Thanagarians into its principal city Ranagar, the Rannian forces and populations start getting ideas about these intruders. After all aren't they the reason their homeworld's been transported into this place to begin with? And vice-versa.
Tension arise amongst these two races, blaming one another for their current condition...

Strange goes to Earth to bring in Hawkman and Hawkgirl, two Earth heroes used to Thanagarian technology and civilization. But once he comes back.. he seems to arrive a bit too late to prevent a war...

Meanwhile, Green Lanterns Kyle Rayner and Kilowog are sent on a covert mission to this very same planet. Ordered by the Guardians to check out the location because of rumors regarding a dangerous incoming menace.
They are however asked not to interfere in politics, as GLs shouldn't, this would mean having the Corps taking sides in other planets' internal conflicts.

The war begins... is it too late?
Soon, the Thanagarian heroine Hawkwoman joins in, as does Tamaraneans and the cruel Blackfire (sister of Teen Titans' Starfire). Various other planets are drawn into the conflict one by one.
Alliances are forged, other allies join our heroes. Blackfire tries to take this occasion to seize power.

It's an actual Star Wars of epic proportions that quickly overtakes most of DC's finest science fiction heroes, featuring Adam Strange, the Green Lantern Corps, the Hawks, the Omega Men, the L.E.G.I.O.N. and even Captain Comet!

Rann–Thanagar War is a pretty fun story.
It last for only 6 chapters, but lots of things happen in these few pages.
The art is quite gorgeous all over the book, including various talents and shining stars from DC's creative team.

It's a story about an elusive peace threatened by two very different populations from different worlds.
There is various quickly thrown around subplots which served as basis for other books later on (more on that below).

Religious fanatics aspiring for power are trying to overthrown these worlds at war.
Blackfire betrays various groups to gain more power herself.
Tigorr and the Omega Men come back to help Adam Strange, whether they planned for it or not.

Finally a common enemy emerges from the ruins, Onimar Synn., the Sin Eater. A "deity" that used to plague Thanagar long ago. Now back with the intention to take over the planet, feeding off the souls of the people and building an army of undead at the same time.
Captain Comet joins in as well to defeat this god, who has the ability to manipulate Nth Metal (a metal native from Thanagar) alongside various other dangerous powers...

Overall, it's a fun crazy colorful book that goes all over the place.

The story, written by one of my all-time favorite authors, Dave Gibbons (cult classic Green Lantern writer and Watchmen artist) is fun enough. I love his work.
But I really think, had DC let this be a self-contained story, this could have been much better in the end. (like an absolute must read experience)

But the book was then followed by an event, and various titles were sprang off from this mini.
Including a L.E.G.I.O.N. title, various related spin-offs concerning specific characters (such as Adam Strange and some others) and other tie-ins (another Rann-Thanagar War later on).

But if you like scifi comics, Adam Strange comics or other space-based DC characters? This is as good as it gets.
Ignoring the sequels this story ended up being a lead into, it is a big epic crossover featuring tons of fan favorite and obscure character from all over the cosmos.
Including DC's greatest space champions from across the universe Adam Strange, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Green Lantern, the Omega Men, L.E.G.I.O.N. and the Darkstars!

If all this sounds good to you, despite the unresolved subplots, grab a copy, sit down and enjoy the show~

I give it:

  2.5 / 3 Plastic-trophies!

Super Dictionary: serious

Poor Hal...he's really treated like a joke in this Super Dictionary..

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Super Dictionary © DC Comics

Super Dictionary: blossom

Hal's so "in-character" in the pages of this Super Dictionary...

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Super Dictionary © DC Comics

FanFilmFriday: The Death and Return of Superman

Here's a "fanfilm" for the day!

Remember when Man of Steel died and returned in the '90s?
Well Max Landis here certainly does. (though he's waaaay too young to have actually followed the whole thing originally now that I think about it..)
Who's Max Landis? He's the son of the legendary comedy and horror movie master John Landis.

Back then, the epic Death and Return of Superman story was such a success it launched a boom in comics that marked the generations to come, changed the whole comic book industry regarding mega-events and tie-ins, was adapted into a videogame..
Warner even tried to make a movie out of all this..but only that lame lackbuster Steel was made - with no connections to Supes whatsoever due to all the delays and cancellation of the other related movies. (a Superboy, Cyborg and Eradicator movies were also planned to accompany a Death and Return of Superman)

Anyway, Max did this whole summary and critique of the whole Death and Return saga, featuring various talents such as Mandy Moore as Lois Lane, Elijah Wood as Hank Henshaw, Simon Pegg as John Landis, etc...

Enjoy this ~17 minutes video!

Epic!
Funny enough, accurate and entertaining!

Max Landis adds:

The original rant was 45 minutes long, so of course we had to cut a bunch of stuff out for time, and because it was just too stupid. Like for instance the part where Pa Kent dies of a heart attack and literally GOES TO HEAVEN. AND SEES SUPERMAN.

If I saw this video, I might nerd rage out so hard. But luckily I made it, so I'm pretty happy. Really I'd hope people just are with me, and happy that Guy Gardner and Bloodwynd get to be in a movie.

Guy Gardner, haha!
Gotta love seeing all these characters portrayed, even if briefly!

Kids these days, always complaining about everything..
Even more so on the interwebz :P

Anyways, besides that, the video was actually sort of fun!
I actually like Death and Return of.. but managed to enjoy this lil' video nonetheless.

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Dex-Starr: Secret Origins

Here's something different for a change!
The origin story of everyone's favorite Red Lanterns~

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Green Lantern #55 © DC Comics

ComicPageOfTheWeekend: Aw Yeah, Lanterns!

Pin-up page special!

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Tiny Titans © DC Comics

Super Dictionary: duck

I don't know what Hal's got with ducks in this super dictionary, but he sure has a thing for 'em :P

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Super Dictionary © DC Comics