Heroes Convention 2015 part 2: Sketches and Prints

So I am attempting for a second time to upload and write about HeroesCon that happened almost a month ago now.  I tried last week and had a trifecta of problems that just made me give up.  I am now going to attempt to post a bit on my commissioned sketches and some small prints I bought.  I hope this works because I believe I am passing another Kidney Stone.  

I will first try and display the work of Mike Maihack.  He is the creator of the excellent Cleopatra in Space series.  He did the sketch of Huntress in my Sketch Book last year.  This year I decided to ask about my Word Girl/Captain Huggyface idea.  He was doing these watercolor commissions and I had to choose, so Captain Huggyface now is immortalized in my collection.  I am putting a scan of a print from him as well.  He is awesome and I bought other large prints, but the little Batgirl is nice.

 

Next we have the Kevin Sharpe and the sketch I had done for my book.  I saw and then later that day bought a large Lion-O print from him.  It was that print that had me ask for Panthro.  I am sorry it does not show up well in the book.  The scan did not capture it all either.  So you get only the partial glory of this part of my collected sketches.

 

During one of Things From Another Universe's sales I picked up a sketch cover issue of The All New Captain America #1.  I also bought the regular cover.  I have not collected Marvel in current form for around ten years now.  I did know Sam Wilson, aka. The Falcon had been tapped to be the new Cap.  I sought out an artist to do my cover.  I always try and have at least one woman in my grouping of sketch requests.  Sometimes it is almost always women creators who I pick.  I saw Bridgett Connell and knew I had found my artist.  She had renderings of birds and wings in her art that was for sale.  That was perfect as I had planned on requesting Redwing and the Shield to be my cover image.  I did not realize this was a color commission.  The results are OUTSTANDING.  I mean this is just gorgeous.  The even cooler part is that just near her was Stuart Immonen who did the interior art for the book.  So it has an original cover and it is sign by the artist.  Pretty sweet huh?

Last is the small work I bought from an artist who I have just fallen in love with their work.  Her name is Laura Truxillo.  She has developed a look for the characters she does.  I bought Richard's either Birthday or Christmas present from her.  I couldn't resist buying this Guy Gardner print.  She did a Mera Sketch for my book a couple of years back.

So that is the art project part of HeroesCon.  I still have more to write.  Just working it in between summer work and passing kidney stones.

BDS

Flashback Fridays: Justice League International Annual #2

Getting back into the swing of things with a JLI offering for you patient people.  Recently a great lady at church allowed me to purchase some old comics from her at a really great price.  I am giving her money from some that I sell, not because I have to, but because it just feels like the right thing to do.  The books were varied, but really cool.  This Annual from the quirky JLI series was one of them.  It is funny and just a great read.  Harkens (how many times do you get to use the word harkens in a sentence?) back to a simpler time of comics.  A time when all was not grim and reality based.  Sex sold in a subtle way and life was always wrapped up in nice packages in the end.

This issue has the Joker trying to assassinate the heroes of the Justice League International.  It is one blunder and dumb luck scenario after another.  The Joker is very dark, but in a dark humor way.  He makes the story move as we get a peak at the lives of part of the JLI.  Big Barda and Scott Free (Mister Miracle) are throwing a Bar B Que at their suburban home.  All the action will funnel to that area by the end.  Martian Manhunter and Rocket Red experience the Little Russia area of New York I assume.  Booster Gold and Blue Beetle become Repo Men.  This leads to them driving an experimental Tank to the gathering.  Yes, the Joker gets in the drivers seat eventually.  Ice Maiden shows up Fire on an audition for models.  It all runs smoothly into a look at their off adventure lives while a homicidal clown tries to off them without success.

The end has a moment that is so far removed from how we see Batman today that it is funny, yet odd to read for me.  Oh, forgot to mention Guy Gardner trying to help Scott with the grill, it is funny.  Light-hearted read with a strangely serious plot.  What comics lacks nowadays in many ways.

I hope to get some post lined up in the que, so keep an eye out.  Also thanks for reading.  It is nice to see that people check out these ramblings.

BDS

DCnU: Justice League International #1

            What an odd book.  I really am unclear how to categorize it.  Is it a Checkmate type United Nations intrigue book?  Maybe it is a Spares & Pairs superhero team.  It has so much going on in this first issue that it was really hard to love it at all.  I do like that the August General in Iron is in this book.  The characters are neat.  Was Godiva around before Flashpoint?  If not she is here now.  Booster Gold is interesting as a leader who could be great.

            I sure hope Guy Gardener is not exclusive to this title.  I will miss him if he is.  I do not plan on getting the next issue.  It just didn't do anything to make me want to read more.  I know this one is short, but really I have little to say about Justice League International.

BDS

War of the Green Lanterns The Conclusion & Aftermath

Green Lantern #67  Conclusion

Green Lantern Corps #61

War Of The Green Lanterns Aftermath #1

War Of The Green Lanterns Aftermath #2

( T H E R E  W I L L  B E  S P O I  L  E  R S  ! )

 

            I will ramble a bit because I want to make sure the Spoiler stuff is on down the frame some before I talk about it.  This was a long delay in discussing the Conclusion I know.  The thing is I wanted to really talk about some of what happened and didn't want to have to censor my comments for fear of spoiling someone's reading experience.  So be warned, from here on I will not be responsible if you read something you shouldn't.

            GREEN LANTERN #67 wraps up the War.  We open with a mentally freed Green Lantern Corps in pitched battle with the Entity controlled Guardians.  Knowing they need help from the other Corps leaders Hal turns to Kyle.  He is the key to freeing the others from the Book of the Black.  Kyle literally draws them free.  It is cool and validates suspicions about certain members of the different colors that have been hinted upon.  The rings of the other colors are almost free to go to their respective welders.  Krona overrides the rings and soon he and Hal are in battle.

            During this one of the big moments happen.  Sinestro attacks without a power ring, until one selects him, a green ring.  That is right, Sinestro is once again a chosen corps member.  BIG SHOCK.  Hal just screams for him to fight.  The second occurrence of big importance comes when Hal Jordan summons the will to use the lethal force and kill Krona, a Guardian of the Universe.  This will drive fear into the hearts of the Guardians and spur the last shock.  Hal Jordan is dismissed from the Corps and sent back to Earth.

            You read correctly, Hal once again saves the Universe and the Guardians strip him of his power ring.  Sinestro is a Green Lantern.  The destruction is just massive and terrible.  It all leads into an aftermath of strange proportions.

            I am adding GREEN LANTERN CORPS #61 to the final report because it is as much part of the aftermath as the two issues released as a special.  This deals with one of the Green Lanterns chosen during the craziness that overwhelmed Mogo and the Corps and the effects on John Stewart.  Most of the “newbies” are just discarding the rings and asking to be taken home.  They are shattered beings.  When the rings chose them the effect was to then have them killing anyone and everyone around them before being called to Oa to battle the Earth Lanterns.  Most feel guilt and shame and are not wanting to be a GL.

            One young woman named Qurina does not want to give up the ring.  She was a law enforcement officer on her planet and has the sense of duty others do not.  Feeling scorned by the other Lanterns and still wanting to atone for her part in the War she seeks out the other person on Oa that is being scorned, John Stewart.  He destroyed Mogo to stop the flow of Green Lantern Power Rings across the Universe.  He made a choice that killed the most beloved Lantern in existence.  Now he is hated.

            A distress call comes from Qurina's sector.  The other GL for that sector is dead.  She responds with John by her side.  What follows is John teaching her about seeing the big picture.  It is a story that displays how small attempts can lead to more chaos, but seeing beyond the small conflict to the reasons and roots of the conflict can have a managed solution.  It is a nice story from the reconstruction of the Corps.

            Now we get to the WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS AFTERMATH # 1 & 2 which is a very detailed story with a bunch of conflict and directions that will lead into the DCnU.  A shattered Corps is at odds with what has occurred and some of the new Lanterns, Sinestro being the focus.  Resignations fly and the Guardians act like their usual arrogant selves.  Ganthet has retreated because he feels he fits nowhere.  It is here in Issue #1 that Salaak is shown as an important part of the Lantern bureaucracy.  He deduces that they all are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress.  The thing is we also see him mistreated by the very Guardians he is loyal to and it is here we see a possible Corps where Salaak serves as a main leader instead of follower of the Guardians.

            Sinestro screams for the ring to get off.  He is taken away and later we see the Guardians trying to get the ring off.  It apparently is stuck on him.  Natu, his daughter is recruited to help some disgruntled Lanterns kill Sinestro.  This will lead to a neat confrontation starring Kyle Rayner later on.  Kyle and John face some Earth Lantern hatred.  Seems the rest of the Corps is not happy to once again be rescued by the foursome from Earth.  A seed is growing that will mark a change in the way Lanterns approach each other.  The Alpha Lanterns will become important as “the cops who police the cops.”  Things are changing.

            This has been one of the best stories I have ever read.  Shocks and drama galore.  It was fast and serious and at the core you knew no one was safe.  Each of your favorite Lanterns had singular parts that allow for them to stand out.  It was yet another tale of wonder from Geoff Johns.  He keeps raising the bar and then jumping over it just to raise that bar again.

BDS

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

War of the Green Lanterns: Parts 4, 5, & 6

GREEN LANTERN #65

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #59

GREEN LANTERN:  EMERALD WARRIORS #9

I had wondered if Geoff Johns could sustain another creative story event.  I mean, the guy has just built epic upon epic.  he does it again with War of the Green Lanterns.  This has been a wonderful read.  I figure that my having multiple books before me helps greatly.  If I were to read a title then have to wait it would be so excruciating because this story is just that good.  I mean we have the entire Corps taken over and the Guardians possessed.  It is brilliant.

I must say that Ganthet has been wonderful in this story.  Each time the little guy appears we are reminded just how powerful he is.  I wonder if he has forsaken his Guardian power?  If not it is a great balance to see just how powerful the odds are against the heroes this go around.  The Four Earthmen have been forced to take the rings of the other Corps to just fight against Krona's mind-controlled horde.  Add that one of the coolest things to happen is the arrival of Mogo.  That was so cool.

I can feel the consequences growing for them having made the decision to wear the other colors.  There will be ramifications for Guy as a Red Lantern, John as an Indigo Lantern, Kyle wearing a Blue Ring, and Hal taking up the mantle of Sinestro with a Yellow Ring.  Watching those emotions slowly force there way into each was funny and scary.  You can see the problems they are and will have with accepting these emotions into themselves.

This is a great read and I am just loving every minute of it.  The intrigue and scope of the story just builds each issue.  You want to know how this war will resolves itself.  Will Ganthet survive?  Can they stop Krona?  Will the Green Lantern Corp be trusted after what has occurred? It all is there waiting the be revealed.

BDS

War of the Green Lanterns

GREEN LANTERN #62

GREEN LANTERN #63

GREEN LANTERN #64

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #58

GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #8

One awesome thing that happened because I am a poor church worker is the fact that I had to wait so long before buying my comics.  Just the hold box was all I purchased and it was big.  The plus side is the way I got to read the beginnings of the WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS.  It reads very well back to back to back.  I love this stuff.  I am amazed how Geoff Johns seems to be able to up the ante each and every time he creates an event for the Corps.  Here we once again have a threat to the universe in the form of the rogue Guardian Krona.  Remember that I predicted correctly that Krona was the strange adversary that was capturing the entities.  In this grouping of comicbooks we see the Butcher (Red Entity) and the Predator (Violet Entity) captured and the collection complete.  What really was disturbing was seeing the "New Guardians" sucked into the Book of the Black.

All heck has broken loose.  The final Guardians are possessed by the Entities and now Parallax is inside the Central Battery and turning the Green Lantern Corps into a group of Zombies.  Apparently Krona has no new ideas.  He reprogrammed the Manhunters to kill a planet and now it appears his plan is to use the Corps and Guardians to kill the Universe.  Creepy and dangerous is the order as again the four Earth Lanterns must face this threat with only Kilowoog and Ganthet along for the ride.  When you see what happens to Ganthet you will feel pain.  I like that little guy and seeing him take the lead and put himself out there makes me hope that at least before all is over he is able to see Syad again.  I probably misspelled her name.  

This story is like no other in recent days.  Sure we get the same cosmic danger, but the fact that our threat is the very ones that normally stop the danger is very different.  I am wondering what all those other Corps are doing as this is unfolding.  As I write this a thought occurred to me about the fact that Hal has the rings of the other "New Guardians" and I think I know how they come into play.  See Kyle and John are trapped without the aid of their rings on Oa as Ganthet runs a diversion.  So where is Hal and Guy?  They end up in EMERALD WARRIORS beating the crap out of each other somewhere far away.  By the time the snow clears I bet Hal wishes he had let his buddies Flash, Superman, and Batman tag along.

Oh I am loving this storyline.  It helps that this is happening in the Green Lantern section of books only.  It also helps that DC dropped the price of EMERALD WARRIORS to $2.99.  Some of you are trade waiters, my advice is to plan on getting this in trades if you aren't buying the titles monthly.  This is The Green Lantern Corps at its worst and maybe its finest.


BDS

Rapid Remarks!

Untold Tales of Blackest Night #1                Think of this as the “Deleted Scenes” of the Blackest Night.  That is what we get here.  The book has tales that are glimpses of moments we did not get to see.  Donna Troy and the effects of the baby bite.  Some dumb Flash villains trying to become Black Lanterns.  Animal Man in the middle of his struggle with being a former dead person.  Scarecrow and his Yellow Ring, which I had hoped for more of a tale.  A tragic look at the result of the Black Rings on Ragman.  Costly, it runs $4.99.  Might be for completist only.  It will probably be collected with the trades.

Power Girl #17                       Why does Winnick have to write this?  I want to follow this character.  I really do.  I am not liking Judd Winnick on this book.  I rarely enjoy his work.  I am trying to wait out his run and see if someone else takes the writing chores soon.  If not, then I might be dropping PG in the near future.

Secret Six #27             Spawn is on the cover.  Not really, but that is what it looks like to me and apparently many of the people who saw the cover in the store.  I like Simone’s writing, but this piecemeal story telling is getting old.  Back to basics please.  Still, an Awesome Amanda Waller tale in these pages.  So that is worth the price of Admission.

Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #3                       Still great.  Has some of the best of the Lantern Corps present.  Other Lanterns here as well.  $3.99 price so you must weigh the financial side of reading this in single issues.

Green Lantern #58                The mystery of the Lantern Entities continues.  Looks like Carol will be Queen of the Zamorans.  This book has Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Atrocious, Carol Ferris, and Larfleeze.  C’mon you know you are reading this in single of trade versions.  This issue has the Blue Entity saving a child and choosing her as the vessel.  Plus Atrocious kills a bunch of murderers.  What I want to know is when are we getting the DexStarr One Shot?

Green Lantern Corps #53                  One image.  Kyle punching the crap out of Sinestro.  We see what the Weaponer did with the White Lantern Ring energy net that Boston Brand made.  It is intriguing that he can use it that way.  All action issue with cool concepts for ring energy.  This is a must read right now.  Been where the cool stories have been.

Batman Beyond #5 of 6                    You know they gave Terry McGuiness his own series right?  This issue shows us why it is a great book.  Bruce expresses his softer side.  A Dick Grayson cameo times two and the new Catwoman.  It is just a great read.

Zatanna #6                 A really good book so far.  I like the almost Fanfiction mind-control element here.  This is a nice look at the magical side of the DCU.  We get her cousin Zach here as well.  Very good read.

            This may become a regular post.  I can cover what I am reading and get just the basic thoughts out there.  What do you think?  Hey tell a friend.  I really hope to have rebuilt some recognition before I get to the Convention buys.  I want the people to get a bunch of coverage if I can.  Thanks for dropping by.

BDS

Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #2

                Everyone is calling this a Guy Gardner book.  For the most part they would be correct.  Guy does seem to be the anchor.  Yet the title is Emerald Warriors.   In fact there are two others Green Lanterns that take the stage this issue.  Still this is the story of the secret mission that Guy is undertaking as part of the pact with the Red Lantern Atrocious and Green Lantern Ganthet.  What is most wonderful is that we get a glimpse of the human side of Guy.  He knows that this mission will come between him and the other three Earth Lanterns and he fears what that means for his friendship with each one.  That is really cool.  The other major part is that we are seeing how the Red Lantern infection has been affecting him.

                Arisa joins the book and we see what the loss of Sodam Yat has had on her.  She was just beginning to acknowledge feelings for the new Ion bearer when he sacrificed his life to save his ungrateful planet.  She is not handling things well.  This is becoming the emotionally unbalanced book with Guy and Arisa dealing with heavy duty feelings.  Why not throw Kilowog into the mix?  He has been rocked by the deaths of so many rookie Lanterns.  Kilowog has been the training officer for the Corps for a long time.  All the loss has brought him to the decision to leave that post and strike out with Guy to the unknown sectors.  He is dealing with some hard thoughts.

                There is a looming threat out in the unknown sector.  Mind controlled Green Lanterns that have delivered some of the Children of the White Lobe to this odd guy.  What he does to them is just plain horrible.  He has a tagline worthy of the TV Show Heroes.  “Control the Corps, Control the Universe.”  It is yet another of these past deals the Guardians made coming back to bite the Green lantern Corps in the behind.  So the stage is set for a hard battle in the unknown sector.  The Red Lantern gal with the bone wings makes her presence known.  She has been sent by Atrocious to monitor the mission and his interest in it.  Her story is tragic.  It was shown in the Tales of the Corps series that ran as Blackest Night approached.  Her rage is justified as well as any of the lanterns we know of in that group.

                This is a great book that gives us three of the best Green Lanterns a spotlight.  They are deserving of this special attention and I believe the book will show it is justified as a third offering of the GLC each month.  It is one of the few books I will buy that is over $3.00.  It must maintain its current excellence to be continually bought.  I wonder if the recent price reductions DC announced reach this title?  That would be really cool.

BDS