Protected: Master Debaters – Episode 10 – Which Spider-Man Reigns Supreme?
Protected: Master Debaters – Episode 9 – The Best Movies of 2018!
Protected: Master Debaters – Episode 8 – The Best Video Games of 2018
Protected: Master Debaters – Episode 7 – The Best of TV of 2018
Protected: Master Debaters – Episode 6 – The Worst of Winter!
Protected: Master Debaters – Episode 5 – Back To (Fictional) School!
One of my very first memories, from when I was (I think) 4 years old, is of playing in the backyard of one of my best friends: I was Batman, and she was Batgirl and we were chasing dragonflies around. (Not a terribly Bat-thing to do, in retrospect, but I plead the ignorance of youth, as I so often do.) When I’d watch the Adam West Batman show, which I loved, when Batgirl’s motorcycle would race across the screen at the end of the title sequence, indicating she’d be in the episode about to air, my heart would beat faster. I’ve always had more female friends than male, ever since I was just a kid, and somehow Batgirl figured into that entire thing.Since I now have four daughters with the greatest woman in the world, and am fully aware of how superior the female of the species is, my love of Batgirl just comes naturally, I guess. I mean, seriously: Batman + female = how great is that?
Huh! Interesting. I’ve never thought about it before, but off the top of my head: in my own AU, there’d be Batman, and then there’d be the rest of the Batfamily. Batman would usually–but by no means always–operate solo, although he’d frequently request/accept the assistance of one or two of the others, with occasional instances where they’d all collaborate for an operation. Nightwing would be the (almost) unquestioned unofficial leader of the rest of the Batfam, which would also have Tim, Cassandra, Stephanie and of course Oracle. The Helena Huntress would be somewhat on the periphery, often part of the gang but just as often not, with the relationship at least a bit tense.
I think they have a very strong understanding. I think Gen Y and Millennials are very aware of the forces, whether governmental or corporate or simply societal, affecting their lives. They’re aware of what and who manipulates them, or at least is trying to. I think they know what they want and what they don’t want, and are aware of their own internal contradictions better than previous generations, and they understand those in power far better than those in power understand them. Of course, I could be wrong. :)I joined tumblr I don’t even know how long ago. Three or four years? And many, many months would go by when I’d even forget I had a tumblr–I think I seriously went like a year and a half between visits once. But at a certain point, I started following enough people that the energy really started to draw me in. I didn’t get tumblr for a long time–it seemed like the worst of Twitter plus Facebook plus good old-fashioned blogging. It took me quite a while, and finding the correct (for me) combination of people to follow, for it click. I’m still not very good at it, honestly, but it’s definitely my favorite of the various social media platforms.
See you all real soon
Max Eber
max@sub-cultured.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
REVIEW | The Batman Who Laughs – #1
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #4
Review | The Lost Path by Amélie Fléchais
Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #2
Top 10 Comics of 2017
It’s been about two years (count em, two years folks) since DC Comics decided to reboot their universe, causing a wave of changes to their superhero families and their status quo. The Batfamily was hit rather strongly with change. Perhaps (not surprisingly) the female members were changed the most and or dispatched of; Barbara Gordon is cured from her lower body paralysis and is Batgirl again, both Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain were wiped away from canon along with Charlie, otherwise known as the heroine Misfit as well as Helena Bertinelli who whilst she was a real person, is now dead and was (most likely) never Huntress. Tim Drake’s personal history was rebuilt from the ground up with rather disastrous results. Dick Grayson has returned back to the Nightwing mantle after a stint as a second Batman. Damian kept his mantle as Robin, that is until this past February when Grant Morrison, his creator, seemingly killed the (chronologically in former main canon) young 5th Robin in the pages of Batman Incorporated.
A lot of fans, well…they’re not liking this entire situation and the route DC has taken their favorites characters in the Batfamily. Even nearly two years later. And the whole “If you don’t like it, why don’t you do it yourself?” reaction from those who don’t mind the new changes and status quo in response to said naysayers? Well, people who are unsatisfied are doing just that and taking some of the closing lines from Stephanie Brown’s Batgirl run; ” It’s only the end if you want it to be” to heart. Whether out of frustration or just pure love for the characters fans are teaming up with their friends and other artists and are taking writing and presenting these characters into their own hands. And it’s not just fanart. Full fancomics and fan series.
I should know, I’m one of those fans doing just that.
I myself write (when not writing for you readers among other secret writerly things ) an ongoing AU fancomic series Batgirl Incorporated with artist Yu Lyn Chen. It stands as a stand-alone universe centered around the female members of the Batfamily presented through an actiony Saturday morning cartoon and retro-anime lens with a sci-fi bent that is intended to be more fun and somewhat more adolescent appropriate and kid-friendly as opposed to the new Batman line (barring the digital Li’l Gotham) which is rather dark and grim, in particular the quite somber Batgirl title.
By yu lyn chen, head artist and designer at Batgirl Inc. Aw yeah Bat ladies.
My own comic launched officially last December and we are currently wrapping up the last leg of Chapter I, posting about a page or two a week. Our site also features a concept art open submission requests to help foster aspiring artists skills and to help build their portfolios. We also feature guest comic strips, including my own collaboration with Mexican comic artist Vicente Rico, whose work everyone should keep an eye on. Our collaboration,” It’s only the end IF you want it to be” are our one-shots starring Stephanie Brown Batgirl set in the pre-reboot world. Our second strip in the series, specifically for summer is currently being done.
boom. pow.
Enough of my own stuff, as there are even more impressive work out there and the thing I wanted to feature the most is JunioR a second Bat-themed comic that centers around a still living Damian Wayne, his friends and family (especially him and animals) that is an absolute must read and my top recommendation for everyone this week even if you are not a fancomic fan you should check this one out; it’s good stuff. Sensitive, well balanced and artful these are little comics worth sharing and easy to catch up on.
A comic all about Damian? Really too good to be true. Another plus? Oh god the comic is gorgeous. With art rivaling if not better than what DC has on their own titles, this little comic is a treat to look at each month, which they have impressively delivered a full short comic each month since their launch in March, reaching a lot of attention on tumblr. Speaking of which, the next issue features Stephanie Brown!
Oh my glob. Stephanie was one of the best parts of Damian’s character development, like don’t even deny it.
The comic takes place in a pre-reboot DC canon. Stephanie Brown is still Batgirl. Nightwing is still in blue. But the stories are softer. More kid friendly. Short monthly touching, funny little stories that are really easy to catch up on. From the words of the creators Vivien Gallasch, Pamela Lovas, Wave & Megan Butler ;
[JunioR is] dedicated to the character of Damian Wayne and his numerous family members, friends, and pets. It’s quite a simple concept. Every month we will publish a short comic with focus on Damian and one other character. The current release schedule is the first Saturday of every month.
We do this because we feel like there are many more stories about Damian to tell, and because there should be a place for lighter and gentler stories. We want to tell these stories and want to share them with the fans.
I am noticing a trend; people who are wanting to do their own series and comics seem to want softer or at the least more fun or balanced stories featuring their favorite superheroes. They want things perhaps younger people can read (god forbid a kid can read about the same character that’s on their shoes or bedsheets). This plays into what I’ve been saying about children’s media the past few weeks as well; comics in particular are unsyncronized with their own merchandise and demographics. Don’t you think that’s a bit crazy? Should we be paying more attention to that?
I know of a third Batfamily series also in development, this one featuring their take on a team featuring Jason Todd and Cassandra Cain as Blackbat and I can’t wait to see that develop and launch.
Do you read JunioR or Batgirl Inc? I personally would love to know what you think of people taking the Batfamily into their own hands both as a reporter, and as a writer of one of said series.
https://www.facebook.com/Juniorthecomic
https://www.facebook.com/BatgirlIncorporatedTheSeries
Max Eber
Staff Writer/The Doctor
max@ihogeek.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
CONversations: Camilla d’Errico
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Sub-Cultured #GoodBooks: Nobrow’s ‘The Spectators’ and ‘Fantasy Sports’
Last week I talked about some cartoons that are breaking boundaries and providing kids with fun and yet progressive and intelligent cartoon series. I wanted to add one more to the list, and its a doozy; SheZow. The premise of the recently imported The Australian/Canadian cartoon on Hub about a boy that is granted the ability to turn into a superhero from his aunt’s magic ring, the twist is that his superhero form has the appearance of a girl. He can’t have the powers otherwise.
The show has already premiered in other countries and was just brought to the States June 3rd. The premise alone is daring and it’s already gathered criticism both constructive and damning from all sides. One Million Moms in particular condemns the cross-dressing for the sake of humor (no surprise). I think it’s too new to weigh in for sure but overall I feel this cartoon is another that is noteworthy since it treats the condition, that is powers comes from the female alter-ego so cavalierly. This kind of gender stuff hasn’t really been played with in Western cartoons much to my knowledge. So kudos SheZow.
Moving on, I wanted to shift some focus onto two things I think are worth your attention, this time in comics form:
EARTHWARD from Bryan Q. Miller and Marcio Takara is a graphic novel coming out for kids and teens that is set to launch sometime later this year.Starring a wonderfully diverse cast, the graphic novel series is meant to follow the “Mercury Six” as they solve a mystery concerning their missing parents.
Look at this cast. Can it get any better? It probably does.
From Bryan Q. Miller;
The MERCURY SIX, consisting of Eldest BEN and his hot-tempered sister, ALYSSA; SMACK, the hustler; CODY and TRIN, the learned, proper set of twins; and little DANIELLA, orphaned by a SPACE PIRATE assault, then taken in as one of Mercury’s own.are sent on a standard supply run, but return to find Mercury adrift, and their respective parents missing. The only clue as to what happened – a warning recorded by their trusty TEACHBOT:
“DON’T COME LOOKING FOR US.”
Wet your appetite? Sound sorta familiar? Well I ran an announcement for the then unfunded project back in January. I think this type of media is exactly what I personally am looking for and think we need more of for children, teens and adults alike. It is sophisticated and yet accessible. Bryan Q Miller get’s it;
Again from Bryan Q Miller:
The goal is to create a piece of Graphic fiction that can be enjoyed by both children AND adults, while pandering to neither – a line that is rarely ridden in the current climate.
That said, while trying to make this as all-ages as possible, there is still some danger and space violence (explosions, blasters, etc.) present that may be uncomfortable for a reader younger than age 7. “Earthward” definitely wanders into the “PG”-range of the media spectrum.
The secondary goal, of course, is to have this be the first in a yearly series of adventures for the Mercury Six.
This is EXACTLY the philosophy I am espousing. There is a place for gratuitous violence and adult, grown-up stories. But I feel there really is a need for this at the moment as well. Strong emphasis on family , adventure, and a generality that is neither dumb nor pandering. Everyone should look into this when I believe it becomes available sometime in September.A second comic I feel is amazing, and is pretty much the antithesis to all the complaints I have for the Disney Princess line. This so called antithesis? Princeless by Jeremy Whitley.
You tell them. DC Comics. Take note.
That’s Princess Adrienne. She’s, well, amazing:
oh
my
A little blurb.
Princeless is the story of Princess Adrienne, one princess who’s tired of waiting to be rescued. Join Adrienne and her guardian dragon, Sparky, as they begin their own quest in an all-ages action adventure designed specifically for those who are tired of waiting to be rescued… and who are ready to save themselves.
Starring a heroine of color, for that fact alone Princelsss is enough in a world where characters of color in Medevial and Rennaisance-society styled fantasy genre are often given the cold shoulder by writers when that just shouldn’t be. Additionally the writing is top notch, extremely genre savy, critical and almost fourth wall breaking in its satire and criticisms. It’s also extremely conscious of race and representation
God. Such Perfection.
While the spunky and brash and self-saving Adrienne is the lead; she is also only one of many sisters who well, are also princesses. Each sister is different and will be featured. The different types of girls and their different interests and personalities are amazing. Because it shows the different types of girl you can be if you want or that it’s okay to. Notably whilst Adrienne is tomboyish her younger sister is your more traditional hyper-feminine Snow White style princess. The comic argues it can fine to be either if you choose. The variety of characters, the genre savvy nature and overall critical eye to comics, it’s own genre, sexism and race issues are all things going for it but above all; it’s also fun.
What about you readers? What do you think being published right now is a must read for those who want good comics that anyone can read? The only thing DC Comics is putting out right now worth buying is Li’l Gotham which is more or less spectacular if only going off of Dustin Nguyen’s wonderful watercolor artwork.
Any suggestions? Put them in the comments!
Max Eber
Staff Writer/The Doctor
max@ihogeek.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
REVIEW | The Batman Who Laughs – #1
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #4
Review | The Lost Path by Amélie Fléchais
Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #2
Top 10 Comics of 2017
This Saturday because the world has been stricken with and continues to have shitty things going on, I want to keep it short and emphasize the need for more superheroes. In more ways than one. Because negativity and being awful, it all just needs to stop.
In a traditional sense, yes we need more superheroes in our comic books and videogames and animated shows that actually represent everyone and then feature those characters in fun, engaging and heroic stories to help inspire people and children alike to be better and do better. The “grimdark” trend in storytelling from big name comic companies that consistently toss heroes through the shredder and ‘life shattering revelations” and events are not particularly enthralling, nor does it inspire. Poorly written and executed. It’s dull, editorial mandates derailing a lot of creativity. I could go on, but that is a different post for another week. This is not just about traditional superheroes in your comics and on your TV. We also need more flesh and blood superheros: you.
In real life we technically already do have actual “superheroes” who risk their lives for others all over the world; soldiers, policemen, doctors, researchers, nurses, firemen, volunteers, teachers , true vigilante activists, mothers, sisters, fathers, investigative journalists, writers and artists, nuns and monks and spiritualists. Any and all good Samaritans or individuals who help others actively or wish to actively help others or the planet through their work. The thing that links all of these people together? Compassion.
In the words of the Indigo Tribe: Nok!
We need more compassion in the world. More empathy. With more compassion for instance, writers can write superheroes and stories that are full of heart and understanding, and yet also still be entertainment. But the big thing, with compassion we can change how we think and act; anyone can be a superhero in their real life if we try a little to be a bit more open. A bit more gentle and empathetic. A bit less in a bubble. A bit less self serving.
Preach it Diana.
We need compassion, become aware of our actions and how they effect other people. We need to work actively to be better people. Instead of bickering and hate. After this week’s occurrences all over the world, we just need to step back, stop being dicks, and instead be heroes. What would Peter Parker Do? What would Captain Rogers do? What would Clark Kent Do? Lois Lane? Wonder Woman? Heroes are heroes because they exemplify the best of us, or at the least, they are supposed to.
Okay we might not want to ask “What Would Batman Do” but, look, he does get some stuff right, is it really this difficult? Guns. Bad. Go away.
I think comic companies have forgotten that to a degree, and perhaps most of us have too. Not to say people aren’t amazing, there are so many good, compassionate people. Because people are inherently good. But we can be even more so. In the face of the struggles and the awful things going on in the world; we have to. We do not have to learn all at once, but we can do it. It will take work, but we can do it. We can make a difference. We really can. No radioactivity, billionaire fortunes, or mutant powers needed. Just compassion.
Think we can do it?
Max Eber
Staff Writer/The Doctor
max@ihogeek.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
REVIEW | The Batman Who Laughs – #1
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #4
Review | The Lost Path by Amélie Fléchais
Emerald City Conversation with Jen Wang
REVIEW | Doomsday Clock #2
