DC Universe Holiday Special '09 (Deadman) "Unbearable Loss" Story/Art - Scott Kolins Colors - C.P. Smith Letters - Jared K. Fletcher Editors - Adam Schlagman & Eddie Berganza Who's ready for a... darker Holiday story... that only barely touches on the fact that it happens during Christmastime? Yeah... me neither! Let's do it anyway though... --
We open with a look at the front cover of the Gotham... er, Gazette? Is that the official newspaper of Gotham? I dunno... the fact that it's a newspaper is all that matters at the moment. The headline reads that there are 13 children missing... courtesy of the Scarecrow. Oh, also... it's Christmas Day. We're introduced to a homeless boy named William, who is using newspapers to keep warm... and a woman named Karen, who simply-put cannot deal with what the paper reports.
Ya see, this Karen... just so happens to be, the Scarecrow's Mother! Dang, she looks pretty good for her age! She blames herself for her son's numerous crime-sprees... and it looks like she's really feeling this one. Probably because she's just received confirmation of her guilt... via her evil offspring!
From here we get a quick-n-dirty origin story for the Scarecrow. He was taken from Karen as a baby and raised by his Great Grandmother... who, from all accounts, was a real piece of work. She basically tortured children... and twisted little Johnny into the psychopath he'd become.
Unable to cope with the guilt, Karen ascends to the top of her apartment building... and dives off!
Here's where Deadman enters the story. He sneaks into Karen's body... and manages to sorta-kinda save her life... well, her soul, anyway. Deadman/Karen splash into the water below... which is convenient. Much easier to finish this story in the water, rather than, ya know... on the pavement. I wonder how much water-front apartment living in Gotham costs? Maybe Mrs. Scarecrow is doing really well for herself?
In the drink, Deadman and Karen('s soul) have a chat. He more or less tells her to let go of all of her guilt... and she cries ethereal tears.
The homeless boy from earlier, William notices Karen's body... and rushes in to help her. As he pulls her out of the water and attempts to resuscitate her... Deadman tries to impress upon her the value of her life. And so, she chooses to live.
We wrap up the following day... still really bummed out about the Scarecrow's most recent crime. Looks like he got away with it... which, doesn't say all that much for, ya know, Batman. Wandering the streets, she happens across young William... and she offers to take him out for lunch.
-- Well that was kind of weird, wunnit? Not so much a Christmas story... heck, feels kind of like an inventory story that, as luck would have it, just happened to include a newspaper that they could date as December, 25! I feel like I've used the "of two minds" excuse to fence-sit a few times over the past couple of weeks... but, here we are again. As a story on it's own... it's okay. It's well-told, and has all of the nuts and bolts of an above-average anthology chapter. It fits into (the then) continuity, and doesn't really hurt anything. Sometimes that's all we can hope for! On the other hand, this kind of illustrates one of my main problems with the Deadman character. There's really no way Karen should have survived the fall, simply because she "chose life". There's also the convenience of her just happening to live in an apartment building within inches of deep water. I mean, I get it... it's a Miracle, yadda yadda yadda... but, again... it's a Deadman story where he can more or less snap his fingers to remove any possible tension or stakes. As you all may know... that ain't my favorite sort of deal. Overall though... I dunno, it ended on a high note. One can hope that maybe Karen decided to take William in, to give her a second chance at raising a productive member of society... and give him a warm place to sleep. Not bad. Tomorrow: Rudolph the Red Tor-nay-do...
Brave and the Bold (vol.3) #16 (October, 2008) "Tempted" Writer - Mark Waid Artist - Scott Kolins Colorist - Rob Schwager Letterer - Rob Leigh Editor - Joey Cavalieri Cover Price: $2.99 Living up to our "random review" mission statement today... just reached into my still-stuffed "to be filed" box, and plucked out... this very issue. --
We open in Gotham City, where the Bat-Signal is illuminating the night sky. Commissioner Gordon is surprised to find that it isn't Batman responding to the call tonight... instead, it's Superman! Gordon fills him in on some goings-down concerning an Underworld Auction in Gotham, however, before he can finish his thought, Superman hears an alarm ping off in the distance. He excuses himself and sees to it. Gordon is taken aback by Superman's politeness... and considers whether or not a transfer to Metropolis might do him good.
Superman speeds across the city, to find... duh, Catwoman breaking into a vault. A vault, which houses a large golden egg.
Superman winds up triggering the vault-sensors, which gives him quite a jolt... not that it really affects him all that much, but it does give a split-second's distraction... long enough for Catwoman to (think she'll) get away. Catwoman makes a run for it, while sharing a somewhat pervy monologue on what she might do with the Man of Steel.
He tells her to 'splain... and so, she does. Ya see, she was only trying to steal that "Horse Egg" because she needed it in order to get herself into the Underworld Auction... it apparently takes a million bucks (in cash or "goods") to get inside... and tonight's top item is one she cannot miss. Turns out they're auctioning off a map... to some hidden cave right outside Gotham! Ruh-roh.
Upon hearing this, Superman rushes off to Atlantis... where he plucks a necklace off of a statue, which he values at well over a million dollars. This oughta get 'em in!
Buuuut, they certainly can't go in looking like Superman and Catwoman... and so, we get a "dressing down" montage. It's cute, but completely predictable... Superman is dressed down to look, ya know, exactly like Clark Kent. Selina doesn't notice... which, stands to reason... not sure how familiar she's supposed to be with a mild-mannered reporter from Metropolis... but, you'd figure somebody in Gotham might recognize him, right?
The pair make their way into the auction, and are seated just as item fourteen is put up for bids. It's a joker playing card coated in jen-you-wine Joker venom. How 'bout that? The single card goes for ten-grand. Just imagine if it were CGC slabbed!
Finally, the map is put up for bid... however, it's right about now that the Atlantean necklace starts to crumble... ya see, the atmosphere topside ain't exactly ideal for its suppleness... suppledy... suppleocity, you know what I mean.
As Clark worries about the necklace, the auctioneer describes the item up for bids. This map is to... not the Batcave, but to Clayface's hidden grotto!
Just then, the necklace goes to pieces... or dust, if you prefer. The auction-goons surround Clark and proceed to pound on him with baseball bats... which, goes about as well as you might imagine. Once the "S" is spotted, the place clears out... including Selina Kyle.
Superman rushes the stage to try and get some info out of the auctioneer... but he ain't spillin'. Also, he knows Superman won't really hurt him, so he doesn't have all that much to lose anyway... just jail time, and I suppose that comes with the gig. Superman tries to "Bat-up" his dialogue... but, well... you know.
Nearby he hears a woman shouting into her cell phone. This woman knows that Catwoman has stolen the map, and it headed to the grotto in order to get herself some Clayfacey powers. Superman is able to (somehow) track the phone call from cell tower to cell tower, and discover who she is speaking with. That's a pretty interesting use of super-hearing... not one I recall seeing before (or perhaps, since).
We shift scenes over to the grotto, and sure 'nuff... Catwoman is being attacked by a trio of Clayfaces. Superman shows up and takes the wind out of their sails... and lungs!
Then, it's lecture time! Superman feels as though Catwoman used him in order to get her hands on the Clayface-pool-water. She's all, "nuh-uh"... and explains that she just wanted to find the place in order to destroy it. Three seconds later... t'ings go boom.
We rejoin our heroes atop a building in Gotham City. Catwoman gives Superman a peck on the cheek, and suggests maybe they hang out again real soon... perhaps even in Metropolis... and, ya know what... maybe she'll bring a friend. Superman's eyes widen... and he suggests she just leave.
As a parting shot, we see that Catwoman does have a sample of the grotto water... but, unfortunately for her, Superman sees it too.
-- Well, this was a lot of fun, wasn't it? It isn't all that often we get to see a Superman/Catwoman team-up. There's probably plenty of good reasons for that, but I'm glad they had the chance to work together here. As a "one-off", I mean... this was a blast. It sorta teeters on "silly" without falling over the edge... and is lighthearted enough as to not feel draining. It's Superman sorta as a fish-outta-water, working in his buddy's city... alongside one of his buddy's "associates". I remember when I was growing up, for whatever reason I thought it might be cool to have Batman and Superman swap titles... like, give Batman six-months on Action Comics, and have Superman in Detective Comics. It might also be fun to have them swap cities for a month or two... looks like, at the very least... Jim Gordon might certainly appreciate the change! The bait-and-switch on the "cave outside Gotham" was handled incredibly well. I never read this one before now, and didn't see the twist coming. I truly expected it to be that someone discovered the Batcave... and Selina was going to wind up considering use of lethal force in order to contrast "Gotham" methods with Superman's. I think my only real "ehh" moment here is, having Superman change clothes... and look exactly like Clark Kent. I know it's supposed to be a "funny, ha-ha" for us... but, ehhhhh... even though I'm "in on" the joke, it just comes across as a little too "cute". Overall... throw this in any random stack of comics, and chances are... this'll be the most fun one there. Scott Kolins' art is really fantastic, and he delivers some great facial expressions to depict Superman's reactions toward his temporary teammate. Definitely worth a look. For your convenience, this bugger is available digitally. -- Interesting Ads:
Young Justice #22 (August, 2000) "... the Best Intentions!" "Father's Day" "Stakeout" "Other Interests" Writers - Todd DeZago, Jay Faerber, Chuck Dixon, & Brian K. Vaughan Pencillers - Todd Nauck, Coy Turnbull, Patrick Zircher, & Scott Kolins Inkers - Bud LaRosa, Rodney Ramos, Norm Rapmund, & Dan Panosian Letterers - Clem Robins, Ken Lopez, & Albert DeGuzman Colorist - Jason Wright Separations - Digital Chameleon Assistant Editor - Maureen McTigue Editor - Eddie Berganza Cover Price: $2.50 Hey, there's a familiar cover... well, kinda familiar. It's pretty reminiscent of New Teen Titans #8... "A Day in the Lives"... except here, we have a red robot instead of a red menace!
That Titans issue was a classic. Does Young Justice have any hopes of living up to it? Read on... --
We open with the Red Tornado who is having a good hard think on whether or not he should consider himself a "father" to Traya. He's struggling with the fact that he feels so much like a father... but, technically, isn't. Just then, his attention is drawn to a playground where children are... well, playing. He sees a certain group, and they instantly remind him of... well, you know.
He then hears a girl crying. He approaches her to find out what's up... and she tells him that a boy just hit her. When Reddy confronts the boy... he explains that he saw that she was all by herself and was just inviting her to play "tag" with the rest of the kids.
We wrap up with a woman who was watching (but, for some reason didn't get involved when she saw a girl crying) tell Reddy that he's a "natural" when it comes to parenting.
Then... an interlude! Back at the temporary Young Justice HQ in the Poconos, Bart is trying to figure out a way for Superboy to get his powers back. Ya see, this is on the heels of the "Sins of Youth" event, in which all of the teen heroes swapped ages with the adult heroes... so, say... Superboy became Superman, and vice-versa. Anyhoo, when Superboy returned to his "real" age, he no longer had powers. And so, here we have Bart Allen rummaging through his issues of Secret Origins to try and concoct Kon's return to a super-powered state.
Our next vignette features Robin and Nightwing as they stakeout a fella named Billings in Bludhaven. Robin's having some trouble readjusting to being in his teen-age body after briefly becoming Batman. He's also struggling with the fact that... being Batman was hard. Who better to chat up than the original Robin... and short-tenured Batman himself, Dick Grayson?
They continue to chat, and the subject shifts to secret identities. Ya see, Tim hasn't shared his with his Young Justice teammates... because, with his comes (in theory) the whole Bat-Family. Dick points out how funny it is that Tim felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of being Batman... however, feels right at home leading an entire superhero team.
Just then, they see their ticket into Billings' house. Hungry Harry's Deli delivers! When Billings goes to answer the door, we find out exactly what kind of sandwich he ordered... a knuckle sandwich! (Yeah, that was pretty bad... I apologize).
Turns out he'd actually ordered cheesesteak fajitas... which, I feel like they were trying to establish as the "tourist food" of Bludhaven. As they tie the baddie up, Nightwing is convinced that everything will eventually work itself out.
Back to the interlude... Bart has read his comics and has a few ideas on how Kon-El might get his groove back. First he tops off his Soder Cola with some Super Soldier Serum Syrup... then places a non-radioactive spider atop his sushi rolls. It's a cute scene.
Our next story features Cassie as she finds out she'd scored the lead in her schools presentation of Our Town. She's not at all sure how she feels about this... after all, she only tried out so her gal-pal wouldn't have to do it alone. Said gal-pal then starts getting on her about planning her life. Wow, that escalated pretty quickly.
Later on, Cassie returns home... and unfortunately for her, it's report card day. Her mother is furious that her daughter got a B in history... and forbids her from meeting up with her Young Justice friends on school nights until she raises that grade.
She can, however, train with Artemis. The pair discuss some of Cassie's trepidation when it comes to heroing. After the age-swap of "Sins of Youth" Cassie knows that she most definitely does want to be a superhero when she grows up... but, what about now? Maybe she'd like to have a semi-normal teen-age experience... maybe even be in a school play. Welp, that's not what "Artie" wants to hear... and she dismisses her.
On the ride home, the Sandsmarks happen across a a woman who had just flipped her car and slammed into a pole. She made it out okay, however, her baby is still struggling in the inferno. Lucky for her, one of those Sandsmarks is Wonder Girl. Cassie saves the tot... realizes the kind of difference she can make as a superhero... and the following day, drops out of the play? Okay.
Our final "interlude" has Bart still trying all sorts of ways to give Kon some (any) powers. He starts by bathing him in a mixture of chemicals... which, I guess isn't the worst idea considering how several of the speedsters got their powers.
When Kon doesn't immediately exhibit super speed, Bart figures maybe he used the "Plastic Man chemicals" instead... and checks to see if Superboy's appendages have become all stretchy. No dice there either.
Superboy then pins Bart down and tells him to back off... then we close out with a look at all the rest of the goofy stuff Impulse had snagged in his attempt to make a hero out of Kon. How did Bart get a hold of a Green Lantern battery?! And 'Mazing Man's helmet?!
-- Had more fun with this than I expected. Young Justice is one of those weird books... it was probably in my Top 3 books while it was coming out, but I have such a hard time revisiting it. Not sure if I just "outgrew" 'em... maybe it reminds me how none of "these" characters really exist anymore... or, maybe it just reminds me that this was half-a-life ago, and I start questioning all of the decisions I've made since then. Either way... ahem, had a good time with this. Should we start with the framing/interlude sequence? These scenes were cute. Bart acting like you'd imagine Bart would in this sort of situation. I mean, he's being a complete pain in the ass... but, his heart is definitely in the right place. He's going to these lengths in order to help his buddy. Gotta remember that Kon is one of his very few "real" friends... and he probably doesn't wanna lose him as a "running buddy" on the team. It's also always neat to see those "gallery" panels with oddities like, ya know, 'Mazing Man's helmet (which even makes it to the cover!). And all the Bart-takes on classic superhero origins was a lot of fun to see. Let's talk about the Cassie arc first. I get what they're going for here... but, and I think we've talked about this before... when you bring the idea of superheroes being able to save "everybody", it all kinda starts to fall apart. Here we have Cassie, who just happened to be in the right place to save that baby from the burning car... which says to her that she needs to be a superhero from this point on... and walk away from her role in the school play. But... heroes can't be everywhere, right? I mean, if Cassie had her way, she'd have been across country hanging out (and heroing) with Young Justice on this night... and that baby wouldn't have made it. So... which is it? You're never going to be everywhere at once... and if heroes could save everybody... then nothing bad would ever happen. Not sure what giving up a role in a school play would help. Again... I get what they're going for... I just think it's a pretty flimsy way to go about it. Red Tornado's story was... ehh, a bit on the saccharine side. Another where I "get what they're going for", but still... feels a bit trite. I mean, for the entire thing to work, we have to allow for the fact that a grown-up woman ignored the cries of a young girl... who, as far as anyone knew, had just been slapped by one of the boys. And, really... what exactly did Reddy do besides ask "What happened here?" Is that really being a "natural" father? I think that's just being an adult, no? Unsurprisingly, (and ignoring it's non-ending) I felt like the Nightwing and Robin bit was likely the strongest of the issue. Tim struggling with how much he should let his teammates "in" has been an ongoing thread in Young Justice from the very start. I appreciate that they understand (and explain) just what a domino-effect giving out his secret identity has the potential to cause. It really could unravel the entire Bat-Family... which wouldn't be a good thing. I dig that while Tim and Dick have so many similarities, they're also very different young men. I loved that Dick was quick to point out the differences between the Teen Titans and Young Justice. His dismissal of the "Junior Justice League" as perhaps a little "less stable" than his old team was pretty neat... and, also pretty true. This was a "jam" issue of sorts, with several writers and artists... all of which flowed pretty nicely. The only artist who really stuck out here was Zircher, as he is far less cartoony than the rest of the team. Still, great work all around as far as art is concerned. Overall, yeah... this is worth a peek. It's not quite on the level of a Scott Lobdell post-crossover X-Men issue, but if you ask me... few things are. The kids are starting to get their lives back to normal following "Sins of Youth", and it was a pretty good time. This issue is available digitally. -- Letters Page:
