This is Entry 195: Brightest Day

Today the 25th & final issue of DC Comics' Brightest Day (but it's marked 24 because their was an Issue 0) came out in your local comic book store. What did I think of it?

meh. & huh?

What did I think of the story as of a whole? uh... Not sure. My feelings are leaning towards not good. It had it's moments (and most of those only involved 1 character from the book). But coming off the pure awesomeness that was Blackest Night, Brightest Day wasn't as good. I've thought about why it wasn't good.

Why did I think one was awesome where as the other was not awesome. It think was the length & width that really killed it for me. Length as in 25 issues long & Width as in had a lot of people in the series. Having a bunch of people in a book can work but if most of your characters from the book don't interact with each other that can be bad.

Brightest Day was all over the place, in terms of location & what it was doing. There was no one set storyline. We had like 5 or more story lines going on at the same time which can be annoying & confusing. Or, I know annoyingly confusing!

Brightest Day was annoyingly confusing & not so good!

What I think would have saved it a bit (for me at least) if they had done it a different way. If there had been a series short mini-series (3 or 4 issues long) with 2 books bookending the series. One to start off all the story lines (which what 0 was) & one to tie up all the story lines together (which the last few issues & Issue 24 tried to do). The mini-series would have been about the different characters: One for Hawkman/Hawkwoman, One with Deadman, Hawk & Dove, One about Martian Manhunter, One about Aquaman & One about Firestorm(s). This is sort of how the series went anyways there were certain issues that only featured a few characters & you had no idea what what those that weren't in the issues were doing.

Also what made Blackest Night good was that it 7 issues so the story clipped along, going from awesome thing to awesome thing. There were various tie-in mini series that helped fill in some gaps that weren't really necessary to the main book (which almost of the tie-in stuff I read was cool). With Brightest Day it was 25 issues & just took a stroll to the endpoint. I didn't really see any tie-in mini series. In BD, Stuff happened in each issue but you had to wade through a half dozen issues before something major or a plot point happened. I think stuff major happened in Issue 0 & then the next time something major happened was in Issue 7 by that issue BN was done & over. I was willing to let this happen in BD: it was a longer series, there was a lot to set up & other excuses I said as I started to read this series.

By the mid point I was lost. I'd read the latest issues, put it down I wouldn't know what I had just read. I found myself thinking over it in my head & it wasn't making sense. I found myself wanting to yell at the book: EXPLAIN, BRIGHTEST DAY, EXPLAIN!!!!!!!!! WHAT ON RAO'S GREEN KRYPTON IS GOING ON??????? WHAT IS YOUR POINT????????

And for the most part, the events of Brightest Day just seemed to be happening in it's own world. You didn't see the events spill over into the Batman books, Superman books, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern Books. Or even some of the series that were launched a result of the aftermath from Blackest Night (BD was a result of BD).

I'm not even sure what the point of the Brightest Day was other then to kill off Hawkwoman (again), introduce a new Aqualad (who didn't really do anything), bring back Swamp Thing (Why?) & have an excuse to launch a few new titles. Which wasn't a bad thing: Justice League: Generation Lost is awesome! The Flash book is pretty cool, too.

At the end of Issue 24 there wasn't one. There was no end, just a "story threads from here will be continuing on elsewhere. Have a nice day! :)" That's fine but you have to have an ending to your book! Give the readers (i.e. Me) a feeling that reading this series was worth it?

WHAT WAS YOUR POINT?

TELL ME!

We'll be soon going into DC's next major event Flashpoint which from all that I've seen could be awesome! And it playing one one thing i really like in comics: Alternate Timelines! But I don't think I'll be picking it up in the individual issues. I don't have enough money as i once had. I wish that I could use all the money I spent on BD & spent it on FP.

*sigh* If I only knew then what I know now.

Well, until next: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

T-Minus 5

This is Entry 194: Hyping the Blog part 2

Here is another promotional poster for "Living for Wednesday":



Most of these "quote" are fake & made up by me. The 1st quote is a mixture of quote from the back of a 1960s' era book I have & was the inspiration for this poster. I had originally planed on making all the quote positive but felt it was funnier if they got less positive as you went down the poster. :)

I have few more poster idea which I post as I make them.

Until then: Stay Jazzy!

Oh, yeah.. Happy Easter! (if you celebrate that sort of thing)

- Brian

T-Minus 6

This Is Entry 193: Hyping the Blog

I created this Poster to promote my blog & to poke a bit of fun at what Marvel is doing with the Fantastic Four comic book. I am enjoying what they are doing with it. It was just that this was a joke that I couldn't pass up on.




I have a few other Promotional Poster ideas that when I get them made I post them.

Until then Stay Jazzy!

- Brian

T-Minus 7

This is Entry 192: Wonder Woman on TV Part 2

To follow up my last posting, It seems that all the (negative) comments surrounding the Wonder Woman from the upcoming TV show seem to have gotten to the show's producers. As seen in this "on set" image shows:



She still has pants but they aren't shiny bright blue latex anymore & the boots are red, not blue! Still not sure how I feel about the show but I'd be willing to check an episode or two.

That's all I have for now. I know that not much has been happening lately but there is stuff being planned.

So, until next time: Stay Jazzy!

-Brian

T-Minus 8

This is Entry 191: Wonder Woman on TV

So... there is going to be a new Wonder Woman TV show & over at Entertainment Weekly's website they have the first photo of what Wonder Woman will look like in the show:



which makes me think of this:



That's how Wonder Woman is appearing in the comics' currently. But recently she's been seen without the jacket. The TV version seems to be drawing inspiration from the comics (which is good) but I would have gone for a darker blue or a black for the color of the pants. But I think most people were hopping for a more classic version of the costume.

I'm not sure how I feel about this or the show the in general. I don't I've ever seen a episode of the old 1970's TV show.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

T Minus 9

This is Entry 190: FCBD 2011 Preview

In less then 2 months is the 10 anniversary for Free Comic Book Day! The annual event where comic book stores across & the around the world give out comic books for.. you guessed it: FREE!



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I was looking at their website & the comics that will be given out. So, I've made a partial list of the comics that I would like to pick up. Not every store has gives out every comic:


Green Lantern/Flashpoint by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis & Andy Kubert.
According to the website: This is the perfect jumping-on point for new readers who can't wait to see the Green Lantern major motion picture from Warner Bros.! Discover how and why Hal received the power ring that changed his life forever with this reprinting of Green Lantern #30, a pivotal chapter of the Green Lantern: Secret Origin graphic novel by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. Plus: No comic fan can afford to miss this exclusive first sneak peek of Flashpoint, DC's blockbuster event of 2011, by the all-star team of Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert!

So, half of it is a reprint but the Flashpoint part is what I'm excited about.


Super Dinosaur Origin Special #1 by Robert Kirkman & Jason Howard.
According to the Website: Super Dinosaur is finally here! In this standalone origin special you will learn everything there is to know about Derek Dynamo's best friend, Super Dinosaur! Where did he come from? How did he avoid extinction? What is Inner-Earth? And what the heck is DynOre and why is it so dangerous? All this and more will be revealed - and all for FREE!

Now I hadn't heard of Super Dinosaur before but how can you pass up a Comic Book about a Dinosaur with rocket launchers attached to it!


Captain America/Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers! by Roger Langridge & Chris Samnee.
According to the website: From the fan-favorite creative team of Thor: The Mighty Avenger comes a time-twisting tale of Camelot-craziness. When mischievous Loki's machinations throw Thor and a World War II-era Steve Rogers into King Arthur's court, it's an adventure neither noble Avenger will ever forget!

This is one of the two comics Marvel is putting out for the event (the other is a Spider-Man comic) but this one intrigues me more.


Civil War Adventure by Chuck Dixon & Gary Kwapisz.
According to the website: Two-fisted, historically accurate stories of the war that divided America! Bloody Bill Anderson's rein of terror in Missouri traps a reluctant soldier in the battle of his life in 'I Rode With The Devil!' Blood-stained axes, moonshine, murder, and revenge in the South Carolina swamps leads to a gunrunner's worst fear in 'Gator Bait!' Check out the 'Battle Field Amputation' fact page!

This comic comes from a company I had never heard of (History Graphics Press) & it seems (to me) like an odd choice for FCBD but it dose seem like it could be an interesting read.


Deadliest Sharks/Prehistoric Predators by Joe Brusha & Anthony Spay.
According to the Website: Sharks, Dinosaurs and Dangerous Animals! This FCBD edition from Zenescope's Silver Dragon Books' imprint has got them all. This book previews Discovery Channel's and Animal Planet's first ever line of Graphic Novels and is based on some of their most popular programming including Shark Week. A book for animal fans of all ages to enjoy.

Much like the Civil War book it seem like an odd choice but could be an interesting read. If the discovery channel wanted to do more comics based off their shows I'd be open to seeing a Mythbuster comic. :)


Inspector Gadget by Dale Mettam & Jose Coba.
According to the Website: Inspector Gadget, Penny and Brain are back... but so is M.A.D.! On what should be a peaceful vacation aboard the Orient Express, Gadget must locate Professor Sagan-Heisenberg and escort him safely back to Metro City. But with M.A.D. agents everywhere, perhaps this time, Dr. Claw will finally beat his nemesis. Go-Go-Gadget-Adventure!

This comic (from Viper Comics) seems to riding the recent wave of Comics based off of Cartoons from my childhood. I have fond memories of the show & am willing to check out the book.


The Mis-Adventures of Adam West #1 by Reed Lackey, Russell Dauterman & Matt Bellisle.
According to the Website: The Man, The Myth, The Amulet? Legendary star of the small and silver screen, ADAM WEST, has his career youth-enized in this hip-whimsical,trans-dimensional epic of an adventure. When a mysterious fan delivers an exotic amulet to Mr. West's doorstep he is Dorothy-fied on an odyssey that will change his career, his love life and inadvertently make him the man that saves the universe!

Bluewater Productions is known for producing comics based off of real people. But I'm not quite sure what to make of it. It could either be really super cool & awesome or extremely stupid. I hope the comic is earlier!


The Tick by various people.
According to the website: In honor of this year's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, NEC Press offers fans-both old and new-an all-new full-color full-lenght 32-page comic book! Featuring a new 7-page introductory story by the awesome creative team of the popular ongoing Tick Series, Benito Cereno and Les McClaine! Plus we offer original full-color preview material from this year's blockbuster project, The Tick's Giant Circus Maximus, the all-new and updated official "encyclopedia" of The Tick Universe! Use this FCBD Tick both to introduce new fans to the phenomenon know as The Tick, as well as to introduce Tick fans to the upcoming Giant Circus Maximus project!

I have a soft spot for The Tick. I remember watching the cartoon as a kid & reading some of the comics.

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As I said these aren't the only comics that will be given out, you can see the website for the rest. These were the just the ones that interested me the most. Also on the site you can find out what comic book stores in your area will be participating in the event.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

T MINUS 10

This is Entry 189: Da Bat

In case you were wondering how to do it...



also...



Until next time: Stay Jazzy!

- Brian

This is Entry 188: Emerald City 2011 Part 3

Today was Day 2 & was good.

It was more laid back (at least for me). I of course bought some comics (most of them were from the 50 cents bins) but for most of the time it was just wondering around the con looking at stuff & taking pictures at what we saw (today My Dad came with me).

There were a lot more people in costume today then yesterday & many pictures of the costumed people were taken (Photos are forth coming!). One person I kept seeing was Booster Gold. It's hard to miss some in a bright blue & gold costume. Through out the day I saw them about a 10 times. The last time I got a photo with them. She (yes, it was a woman dressed as BG) where there with 2 other women: 1 dressed as the second Blue Beetle & the other was dressed as Goldstar! ( I didn't see a Skeets but Booster Gold had Oreos). There was also who I think was a guy dressed up as Wonder Woman. Lots of cool costumes!

Other people I saw there Brian Michael Bendis past by me twice & was shorter then I thought he would be. Another person there was Ken Jennings, of JEOPARDY fame. He's a local guy & my dad knows him a bit. So, I got to talk to Ken about comics a bit which was cool was we both were searching the bins for stuff (Noticed he was looking at a bunch of Superman stuff). I got my Crisis on Infinite Earths novel signed by Marv Wolfman.

Went to 2 Panels: Super Blank: The Game Show which is basically the old 1970's game Show Match Game with comic writer's & artists as the panel. There were a few references to Match Game (brief references of Charles Nelson Reily & Gene Rayburn)/. A fun thing. I'd go back to it next year if they had it. Also there prizes for playing where really cool: DVDs', Posters, Comics, Sketches & 1990's era blank Marvel Comics forms.

Also went to the DC Universe panel which to not be confused with theDc Nation I went to on friday. But they were basically the same thing it's just that this one was more well attended. :) In prep for the Super Blank panel I saw the last bit of a panel featuring a few web cartoonists & that was pretty fun.

As I left the Con outside the building was a guy playing a Tuba with a guy playing a trombone. What type of music were they playing? music from Star Wars.

Emerald City ComiCon 2011 was another good year. I'll be back for next year, their 10th Anniversary!

Until next posting (which most likely will be photos): Stay Jazzy, everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 187: Emerald City 2011 part 2

So... today was the 1st day of this year's Emerald City ComiCon! How was it? Awesome! How could it be any less! :)

I bought some comics. Some of them I had been looking for a few years & finally found! I was also really good this time: I didn't really stray from my list & half of my list is also boughten which is also really cool!

I bought 2 t-shirts (one of the Red Skull holding the Cosmic Cube & the other relating to the TV show "Doctor Who").

I had a comic signed by Dan Jurgens (writer/artist of a whole bunch of things & creator of Booster Gold), I got a sketch from artist Colleen Coover (this year's subject: Jimmy Olsen). I also had the 1st Issue of the awesome late '90's short lived DC Comics series "Chronos" by the artist from the book: Paul Guinan! I also piked up his recent book: Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel. The book which he created with his wife, Anina Bennett (who was also there). I bought the book & inside my copy is a sketch of Boilerplate in the book & the two of them signed the book, too!

I went to 2 panels: 1 put on by DC Comics. The other relating to Star Trek & behind the scenes stuff. Both were good.

I also took some pictures. Didn't take any footage.

I am also going back tomorrow for Day 2 & since I spent most of my money today it might just more of people watching day.

I'll report back on that after it happens. Until then I think I'm going to go read some comics & as always I'd like you all to Stay Jazzy!

- Brian

This is Entry 186: Emerald City 2011 part 1

This weekend is the 2011 Emerald City ComiCon! I've been getting prepped: found my sketch book (hoping to add a piece or two to it), made a list of comics I'd like to find (oddly enough a lot of them seem to have Batman in them), been looking over the panel schedule (see what I want to go to), charging batteries (so my cameras can work) & a few other things.

This will mostly be my last Pre-Con posting. If people want to read a "How to" of going to to a Comic Book Convention. About 2 years ago I wrote one out. I don't it's an full "how to" guide but it's something! :) You can read it here! I still like it. Someday I might even get around to updating it.

To see pictures from last year's ECCC: go here!

Since I will be attending 2 of the 3 day Convention. I hope to be back here tomorrow & give you a rough run down of what I did on Day 1. On Saturday I hope to get on here & give what I did on Day 2. But I might just end up here on Sunday & telling what I did on both days. I am also taking my video camera so I hope take some footage to make a video. Took it last year but didn't use it. :(

Until next time: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian