Oracle's Importance

Added Link of an interview between Jill (the Nerdy Bird) and Gail Simone (Writer Extraordinaire)

http://www.the-gutters.com/

Sometimes characters grab hold of our imagination and allow us to be inspired.  The tag of Superman was always "You will believe a man can fly."  Captain America is the collection of all that was ever good about the ideals America was founded upon.  Spider-Man is the everyman that we all can feel a connection to as we live our lives.  None though have the impact of a character that really represents true adversity.

The character of Barbara Gordon is within the comicbook fan community a legendary character.  She was the first Batgirl.  We know her as the love interest of Dick Grayson the first Robin.  The major contribution was what became of the character after her most tragic event.  For those that do not know, Babara was shot by the Joker.  The bullet paralyzed her for life.  She became an even stronger force to the super hero community of the DCU.  From her Wheelchair she fell back on her intellect and became Oracle.  Oracle is the technological genius that knew everything, could hack any system, and kept the heroes informed.  She would even gather her own team of women and a few men that needed a second chance into her Birds of Prey.  

Yet, it is not the Oracle that really made her important.  It is the fact that she was a comicbook representation of a person with a disability (I hope that if that is not PC I will be forgiven) seen as capable of great things.  It saddens me that this reboot will erase that representation.  Well, The Nerdy Bird has written a better column on the impact of this loss.  Please go read the links I am placing below.  Also the comic strip I added in images.

BDS

ORACLE Is Stronger Than BATGIRL Will Ever Be

Nerdy Bird 1

Nerdy Bird 2

  Nerdy Bird Interview With Gail Simone

War of the Green Lanterns: Parts 7, 8, and 9

Green Lantern #66

Green Lantern Corps #60

Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #10

            I was not able to get this written and posted before I left for Heroes Convention.  Since it has been a bit of time I want to warn you readers if you have not gotten around to reading these books yet that I plan on discussing the big thing that happened this go around.  It was and has been spoiled all over the Internet and I see no reason to do anything more than give a warning that I will have that same spoiler material within this post.

            Yellow Lantern Hal Jordan and Red Lantern Guy Gardner are trying to get Parallax out of the Central Power Battery.  Standing in their way are the Guardians of the universe who have been possessed by the remaining entities.  They are really neat looking and the first thought I had while watching them attack was that they would make a cool toy set.  Still, this is a great battle.  Krona is around as well.  It makes for some cool visuals.  The secondary plot thread is the fate of those trapped by Lyssa Dark within the Book of the Black.  Sinestro has broken free of the horrific memories that each former Lantern trapped carries.  He searches for Lyssa and rips through the pages and memories of the others.  That is represented in some really creative artwork.  My theory of what the Indigo Tribe really is has some fact placed on it.  I thought when I saw Black Hand a true believing member of the Indigo Lanterns that is was a forced Compassion.  Seems I was right in thinking all the ring bearers were former “evil doers” forced to be forces of compassion.  The head Lantern of that group is pretty hardcore.  It makes sense why she is the only one of the group to see and interact with Sinestro as he enters her memories.

            Indigo Lantern John Stewart and Blue Lantern Kyle Rayner take over the GLC book.  There mission is to save Mogo.  The Planet lantern is discharging an infinity number of rings to find new Green Lanterns.  Problem is that because of the Yellow infection it is just building a larger army for Krona and not choosing the best of the Universe to serve.  It is an interesting fight.  Kyle and John face hordes of Green Lanterns and Mogo as well.  Do not forget what happens when a Blue lantern is near a Green Lantern, instant super charge.  Kyle does get a handle of his powers some and can snap some of the troops out of the infection.  Doesn't work on Mogo and the reason stems back to The Blackest Night.  This brings John to a cool use of a destructive Lantern groups power.  It also leads us to the explosive death of Mogo.  It was an unbelievable moment.

            The event is enough to snap every infected Lantern, Guardian, and Krona for a loop when the death causes a mental feedback.  Ghanthet is free and soon Guy has to worry about that Pink Thong again as he and Hal are forced to wear the two extra rings.  Guy gets Love and Hal gets Greed.  Even though with Ghanthet all the ROY G BIV spectrum is represented it falls to Guy Gardner to finish the job.  It is an inspiring and sad moment as Guy releases his feelings about being a Lantern.  Soon the gang is all assembled and free to unite as Green Lanterns again.  The final battle looms and it just adds that Geoff Johns is the greatest GL storyteller of this and many eras.

BDS

Girl Power: Birds of Prey #12, Power Girl #24, Supergirl #64, and Zatanna #13

            I guess this could be a Girl Power collection of comments.  I just want to give some opinion on this books that I read.

Birds of Prey #12 – Oracle is dead, long live Oracle.  Barbara has let the world believe Oracle is gone and now Gail Simone is free to just return to her set of stories for a bit.  This is a neat covert ops story.  It has a very twisted ending as well.  It is neat seeing Lady Blackhawk do more than drive a car or fly a plane.  Since Gail returned she has really brought this character to the forefront of the group.  Most reviewers I read commented on the Question being in the story.  Everyone is speculating that She will join.  I am not sure she needs to be a regular.  The team is a bit crowded as it is right now.  Great book as always.

Power Girl#24 – Had DC not announced the reboot of some characters and the new number 1's I was on my way to dropping PG.  I love the character and supporting cast, but like normal Judd Winick just does nothing for me as a reader.  I have nothing against the guy.  I gave him a chance.  I just do not find his storytelling all that fascinating.  I have this sense/fear that many of the DC titles I read will disappear when this reboot that is not a reboot happens.  So I am basically on until August.  Either I am wrong and the fact that Winick remains writer has me drop the book, or I get to try a new creator out on the book.  If I am correct and it is canceled, then I have no decision to make.

Supergirl #64 – The current story concludes.  It is a nice little team up tale of how Supergirl is capable of defending Metropolis while Big Blue is wandering the country.  Has two of my favorite newer characters, Blue Beetle and Miss Martian and the little boy we are to love to hate, Robin.  Just a nice tale that respects the fact that Supergirl is a great heroine.  Plus I still love the new look.  All women do not keep long hair.  Her current hairstyle fits what many women I see and know have as there personal cut.

Zatanna #13 – I use to use the term “bridge story” when I was reviewing comics at PBR.  It was how I describe a story that was a connector to the things that had come before and the new action about to happen.  It is a way to catch your breath as a reader.  This issue is one of those.  It has some humor with the weird fortune telling cat.  The Spectre is a foreshadowing of future plot development.  What is of most importance is that Detective Colton finds out something very important about himself.  Brother Night escapes and finds out as well.  It will lead us into a neat place for the story of Zatanna I think.

            So there is a bit of my thoughts on some of the books I read.  No time for full reviews, but I wanted to comment.

BDS

Heroes Convention 2011 Day 3

So Today was a rush to get back to check out of the hotel on time.  Apparently something happened to cause the advance entrance to be voided today and it was 11 AM before the doors opened.  We had to check out at Noon so it was a rush to find prints that I had wanted, buy shirts, and take some pictures.  If anyone knows the young woman in the fantasy type purple dress, she looked awesome, just saying.

I am tired, but it was a good convention.  I never made it to a single panel, still I had fun.  In a way not having DC and Marvel there gave it a nicer feel to the convention.  There was no empty seats as meetings with people went on because it was convenient to do a bit of business.  Maybe too, the fact some of the "bosses" were not there made it easier to speak your mind some.  No Newsarama as I saw.  Few if any of the so called Comic News people.  I guess with Wizard Magazine dead and buried and the "competition" for the Conventions gone it made our little Con less fashionable.  

Next year I believe is the 30th Anniversary, figure some big creators that have fond memories will be in attendance.  Wonder if the Major players will return?  If they do, please remember we will be kind to you here in the South even if you felt we were not good enough to date this year.

Pictures Below

Heroes Convention Day 2

Day Two of HeroesCon has my feet hurting. I have found some good trades I was looking for here at the Con. I have Dynamo 5 vol. 4, Two Shadow Pacts, G-Man, and some Witchblade/Top Cow Trades. Got some great sketches that I will scan when I am at home. There were a few costumes this year and some that I was able to snap pictures of the people. It was a nice laid back day. I watched the friend I am with meet Jim Starlin. It was neat seeing him meet a guy that had created a character he loved, Dreadstar.

It has been different without any Marvel or DC presence other than the creators here on there own. In some ways it is nice. There were no side meetings that added to absences of creators. This year seems earlier and it has a different atmosphere. I like this, but miss some of the bigger names that comes with the corporate attendance. Image has been here as a company and so have some of the smaller independents. I guess the fact no panels really intrigued me is what seems off. I have liked having a hotel room all three days. This is vacation for me so I am trying to enjoy.

Looking forward to the last day tomorrow. It will be a day of deciding whether to buy prints or books. I have so many prints I want. I need to win the lottery so I can just buy all the stuff I want. I did get some free comics. I grabbed a good stack of kids comics for a step-cousin.

Boogity Boogity Cheese!

BDS

PICTURES in the next POST

Heroes Convention Pictures from Saturday June 4th, 2011

HeroesCon Day 1

 Sorry I did not get the War of the Green Lanterns report up.  I have to hurry because I am under a thirty minute time limit for free Internet in the lobby.  Made it to HeroesCon and even though Marvel and Dc Corporate have decided to shun us this year the creators are here and we had a great opening day.  I have a Darkwing original cover sketch comic.  Bought some awesome prints.  Met Scottie Young at long last and found a bunch of twenty-five cent comics.


I wanted a commission of Scrap from Dynamo 5 and decided on Rebekah Isaacs for the job.  She did a wonderful sketch of the goth gal powerhouse.  I have a new comic from the guy that brought us PandaDog.  Buttons as well.  I just have had a great day and look forward to the rest of the Convention.


My feet hurt and I am tired.  So I will post again tomorrow.  Bye for now.


BDS