March looks like a Marvel-heavy month for me.

Okay, one thing really stands out right away in the Marvel Solicitations:

AVENGERS ACADEMY #10 & #11
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Pencils by SEAN CHEN (#10) & TOM RANEY (#11)
Covers by MIKE MCKONE
The return of the Wasp? The return of Korvac? It’s two book-shaking issues in one month – and issue #12 guest-stars the Avengers! First it’s a “day in the life” of the students, with special guest instructors Protector and Dr. Strange! Then Thor, Steve Rogers, Iron Man and more assemble as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ most powerful villains storms the school as Korvac comes back! Enroll in AVENGERS ACADEMY now and find out why ComicBookResources.com calls it “one of my favorite new series to come along in a while.”
32 PGS. (each) /Rated A …$2.99 (each)

But... WHICH Wasp? I'm torn. I'm already dying to have Hank back in wings, but I'm considerably excited at the slim chance this means seeing Jan again. (In the meantime, Gage has said that February's issue #9 will be "pretty Quicksilver-centric". That one is Finesse meeting possible Papa Taskmasker, so it makes sense to have Pietro on hand for damage control.)

I am definitely getting 3 of these Captain America specials, but I'm not sure about this whole... .1 thing.

Is that Dust on the cover of X-men: Legacy? All in all, this whole Age of X thing is appealing to the Age of Apocalypse fan in me, and Carey DOES write the only X-book I still read. Beyond that, Marvel's metaplot "Fear Itself" actually looks intriguing so far. Immonen and Fraction, not a bad team. And according to Gage's twitter this even is primed to tie big into the Avengers Academy developments I've been watching like a hawk.

DC's got me a little less enthusiastic. Batwoman #2 and Jimmy Olsen #1 seem the most interesting to me right now, along with Morrison's Batbooks.

This Generation Lost tease has completely failed to peak my interest, but it's got me annoyed for pretty much the same reasons it has DCW irritated. It's like back when I dropped Daredevil a few years back over a Milla death tease in the solicit. (I wish I could find the post, I think it was on Newsarama, maybe mostly an argument in the comments.) They're letting us know that they hear the concerns, but rather than make an effort to fix anything they're going to just try and play on our anxieties. It's really dismissive and insulting, and just makes me want to leave them alone a few years until they work out their issues.

I might drop the Green Lantern books for this War of the Green Lanterns thing. It's just not grabbing me. Wonder Woman, on the other hand, has me with the cover:



It's good they've realized there's really only one opponent who can match her.

Proof DC pays attention to complaining fans...

...and tries to get money off of them without giving them exactly what they want. From the January Solicits:

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL HC
Written by Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis
Cover by Maguire & Austin
Art by Kevin Maguire, Terry Austin and Al Gordon
A new hardcover collecting the classic JUSTICE LEAGUE #1-6 and JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #7 from the late 1980s! Can an unlikely new Justice League line-up work as a unit to stop terrorists at the U.N., a brigade of Rocket Reds, the Royal Flush Gang, and other threats — or will they succumb to in-fighting and bad jokes?
Advance-solicited; in stores March 12 • FC, 192 pg, $24.99 US

A hardcover.

As a Green Lantern fan who bought so many Hal Jordan flashback stories, this really made me laugh. The editors may change, but the business never actually does.

(Thanks for catching this one Matt.)

December Solicits

From Newsarama:

GREEN LANTERN #26
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Mike McKone & Andy Lanning
Cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Setting the stage for the Green Lanterns' role in FINAL CRISIS comes Part 1 of "The Alpha Lanterns," a new story arc written by Geoff Johns with art by Mike McKone (TEEN TITANS)! Who are the Alpha-Lanterns? What bizarre cosmic surgery have they undergone? And how will they affect the future of the Green Lantern Corps?
In the aftermath of the Sinestro Corps War, the Green Lanterns are undergoing an unprecedented reconstruction and reinvention, and the controversial Alpha-Lantern project is in full effect.
Meanwhile, with Sinestro's true machinations for his war revealed to Earth's prime Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart, debate rages across Oa as lines are drawn and crossed, new bonds are formed, and old ones broken.
On sale December 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #19
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art and cover by Patrick Gleason & Prentis Rollins
The pieces of the Sinestro Corps War are still falling as Guy is finally reunited with his lost love, Ice! And as Kyle Rayner tries to start his new life as a Green Lantern, Sinestro rings continue to empower new and deadlier forces in space.
On sale December 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

GREEN LANTERN/SINESTRO CORP SECRET FILES #1
Written by Geoff Johns & Sterling Gates
Art by Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver, J.G. Jones, Patrick Gleason and Joe Prado
Cover by Reis & Oclair Albert
For the first time ever, the secrets of the Book of Oa and the Book of Parallax are revealed in short stories looking at the past, present and future of the Corps! This 64-page Special features new tales of both the Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps!
In store December 19 • 64 pg, FC, $4.99 US

First: Ice! Yay!

Second, Kyle in space. This should be interesting because of the Parallax storyline. Being stationed on Oa means the paranoia focused on Hal before will either be lessened enough to let someone who's been Parallax be on Oa, or its just going to be an all-around worse situation for Kyle since he has to work in the heart of the Corps.

Third, check out the three covers. Same theme for all of them, not sure what that's getting at. Also, note the middle right (well, your left as you view the cover) of GLC and the Secret Files. Ice is important enough to be in the Corps picture. Katma's on the Secret Files, so we should get at least a Katma flashback part if not a little story and profile for her. (No, I don't see it as a sign of imminent resurrection. That's the Silver Age Corps on that cover. Still, if the writers like her enough they might bring her back later.)

Outside of that, Kyle's going to a gender swapped world and the Red Son world with Donna and Jason. Tangent characters are in Justice League of America, Wonder Woman's in The Atom, Alan Scott adn Jade are in JSA: Classified, Blue Beetle's going to space, Drew Johnson's on Supergirl, McKeever's starting his Birds of Prey run, and Cyclone is in an enviable position.

Solicits: Hal, Jaime, Diana, and... Mitch?

Full DC solicits up.

I already told you about the Justice League of America #14 cover, and the Countdown tie-ins.

The covers to Green Lantern #24 and Green Lantern Corps #17 look good, but I don't trust the solicits enough to try and derive any clues from them. Suffice it to say, I'm going to be reading and hanging on every panel of both books and the two Sinestro Corps tie-in specials.

Blue Beetle's getting in on the fun, too:

BLUE BEETLE #20
Written by John Rogers
Art and cover by Rafael Albuquerque
A “Sinestro Corps War” tie-in! The Lanterns’ war hits home as a yellow ring appears in El Paso. But is it being offered to the Scarab or to Jaime Reyes? And whose will is stronger?
On sale October 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

The cover to the Flash #233 has the kids in cute costumes.

Aside from that, this looks written with me in mind:

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #7
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Pérez & Bob Wiacek
Cover by Pérez
Wonder Woman and Power Girl fight side-by-side against a foe who may be more powerful than both of them combined!
On sale October 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

And, of course, the one to wait for:

WONDER WOMAN #13
Written by Gail Simone
Art and cover by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson
An electrifying new era begins for the world’s greatest superheroine! Gail Simone (BIRDS OF PREY, SECRET SIX) joins the phenomenal art team of Terry and Rachel Dodson for what promises to be one of the most exciting Wonder Woman stories ever!
What exactly is the Circle, and what deadly secret do they hold about Diana’s birth? What familiar face from Wonder Woman’s past returns with a mission to spy on Special Agent Diana Prince? Why is the Department of Metahuman Affairs on a collision course with the wounded remnants of the Society of Super-Villains? All this plus monkey assassins in a story that spans the globe and shakes Diana to her core!
On sale October 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

The other thing to catch my eye was this (emphasis mine):

DC INFINITE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #1
WRITTEN and illustrated by various
Cover by Gene Ha
Don’t miss this collection of 13 stories of tricks and treats by some of comics’ top creators, including writers Steve Niles, Mark Waid, Steve Seagal, Dan DiDio, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Peter Johnson (TV’s Supernatural), David Arquette (Scream), Cliff Dorfman (Entourage) and many more with art by Ian Churchill, Dean Ormston, Dustin Nguyen , Bernard Chang and others! The inmates of Arkham horrify each other with terrifying tales involving Superman and zombies, Batman and vampires, Robin and werewolves, Aquaman and witches, Flash and the dead, and more! Plus, the return of Resurrection Man!
On sale October 31 • 80 pg, FC, $5.99 US

I think we can take it as a given that they're digging him up so they can kill him again.

October Solicits

The full solicits aren't up until Monday, but they have some early DC ones up.

This probably spoils the end of the current GL crossover, but check out the cover to Countdown for a look at Kyle's new look. The design is nice, and I like it. Very close to traditional, but still Kyle and the hair has a bit of length that does away with the crewcut that scared me from that sketch last month. (Yes, that crewcut annoyed me more than anything in Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps.) Can't wait for an artist I really like to draw it.

Also, Kalinara has notes on the JLA cover and which Lantern is on it. I'll be doing my I Told You So dance in the meantime.

Oh, and if anyone would like to see an entertaining and rage-inducing conversation on race as Hal-only fans react to the JLA cover and cry because now their favorite's only dominating one book, check out the discussion thread on Newsarama. There's vague whining, then it gets cooking around Page 4 or 5 when someone mentions reverse discrimination.

The Newsarama forum debates the issue of racism with all of the class and dignity we've come to expect from a superhero fan-site message board.

Hal-fans take this opportunity to express the opinion John is a character with no personality other than being black while John-fans point out he has a rich and detailed history that stupid people like to ignore because they don't know enough about Green Lantern, but Hal-fans still insist that he's being thrown in for race. Someone who can't count thinks that half of the team is black now, someone says a third and members of the silent majority sensibly realize that they don't know how many people are on the finalized roster yet. There's the "editorially mandated diversity so it will suck" vs. "McDuffie loves John so its no surprise" argument, the theoretically intelligent point that there's more to diversity than adding a black character is used to support an extremely stupid argument, the required Didio-trashing and a "Did you know Kyle's Hispanic?" "WTF? Seriously?" tangent thrown in for variety.

Somewhere along the way someone points out that DC spoiled the ending to Sinestro Corps, but the "JLA is Kyle's book, dammit!" fans don't show up until Page 8.

Also on page 8, a reader loses his faith in the writer's word and someone finally brings up that there might be two Lanterns on the team or that Hal might have very good in-story reasons for dropping out.

On Page 9 there is a valiant effort at stopping the fight through logic.

My absolute favorite is the this post:

There are people of color in this country. They deserve super-heroes. You are a big doodee head.

See, being a Green Lantern fan is not all the Hal vs. Kyle war. Sometimes we fight about John too.

My, my...

Looks like Pedro was on the right track. Check out what Kalinara saw when she checked the official website solicit for Tales of the Sinestro Corps Presents Parallax:

Written by Ron Marz; Art by Adriana Melo and Marlo Alquiza; Cover by Mike McKone and Andy Lanning

Get ready for a new series of specials focusing on members of the Sinestro Corps and tying into the "Sinestro Corps War" crossover!

DC Universe | 32pg. | Color | $2.99 US

On Sale September 19, 2007

That's it. The solicit they gave everyone else is not up there. The plot thickens and I only have one more week to guess what in the Sinestro Corps special is supposed to piss Kyle fans off so badly. I really should know better than to believe press releases for Green Lantern storylines. (And interviews, for that matter).

Still, half the fun of serialized fiction for me is playing detective and seeing how much of the story I can figure out in advance. (Yes, I am the type of fan they are thinking of when they make sure to drop these lies.) If I enjoy the comics more than what I've come up with myself, I consider it a success.

Previews and Rumors

(Via) Newsarama has a whopping nine early solicits up before the full ones go live, and this one in particular is quite interesting to me:

TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS PRESENTS PARALLAX #1
Written by Ron Marz
Art by Adriana Melo & Marlo Alquiza
Cover by Mike McKone & Andy Lanning
Get ready for a new series of specials focusing on members of the Sinestro Corps and tying into the “Sinestro Corps War” crossover! In this initial installment, the writer who introduced Kyle, Ron Marz, dissects what led Kyle to his downfall and explains the Parallax entity.
On sale September 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US"

Let's not panic. Downfall is vague, and the name "Kyle" may be a typo (or even a purposeful typo, I wouldn't put it past them) and they meant to say "Hal." That would explain the silhouette on the cover looking like Hal's old armor.

Still, the idea I've heard floating around is that Kyle will get possessed. I find it extremely unlikely, Parallax is Kyle's major villain so its very possible he can trip Kyle up without possessing him. Honestly, though, if that happens I don't think it'll bother me so long as its not too dragged out and not just a rehash of what went on with Hal.

At least with Kyle they'd have established its a possession at the start, and I'm sure it wouldn't be a long-term issue because they have him invested in the metaplot already. Though, that would be kind of interesting. Fighting Parallax influence, dealing with Donna and Jason, running from the Monitors and trying to fix the universe.

It could really suck, but even in that case I'd buy it for trainwreck value and to follow one of my favorite characters and maybe get to see Kyle decked out in the Parallax armor. I think he would look awesome with in that costume.

On the other solicits, I am looking forward to Kyle's role in the metaplot. Marz is writing it, and I generally find him to be an amiable writer (you'll hear about it here if he irritates me too much). There is always the chance he will fuck up the female characters, but its not a certainty. I'm not a Ray Palmer fan, but I'll be getting The Search for Ray Palmer.

Infinity Inc and Suicide Squad are not grabbing me like I thought they might.

And I view the Wonder Woman Annual with bitterness, because instead of giving us a real annual they are giving us the issue that should have been issue #5.

Edit: This guy has an interesting point:

Did you notice on the cover for the Search for Ray Palmer, he has a power ring and his freaking crab mask? I think they're putting him back in his old costume. I can't stand that old costume!

Not the costume griping, mind you, because Kyle's first costume is actually looking nice next to the last two (Though the haircut on this cover sketch is dreadful. Does Kyle seem like a crewcut type to anyone who's ever read him? Honestly. I'm going to pretend he and Jason swapped clothing for some inexplicable reason there, because Jason is drawn like Kyle should be), but on the old costume in the other preview. Kyle's downfall = the foolish loss of his powers? Parallax might trick him into giving them up or wasting them.

Oh, I hope they do that. I hope they depower Kyle and make him a regular Lantern again. What he's got is unwieldy.

Nikki's a real lantern now!

I don't know how I missed this last month, but in accordance with DC tradition Soranik Natu (Kali and I have been calling her Nikki between ourselves) has finally gotten a butt-showcasing cover all her very own.



The artist has the concept sketches posted on his blog.

About Fucking Time.

Newsarama:

WONDER WOMAN #5 (JAN070319), which was previously slated to feature the final chapter of the 5-part story "Who Is Wonder Woman," will feature a new story when it arrives in stores on March 14.

This new story is by Will Pfeifer (CATWOMAN, AMAZONS ATTACK), with art by Jean Diaz, Geraldo Borges and Wellington Diaz and a cover by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson. In it, Wonder Woman learns that a new women's movement has begun, inspired by her killing of Max Lord - and leaving Diana torn between the good intentions of the movement and the validation it gives her violent act. Worse yet, she's ordered to investigate a possible connection between Wonder Woman and this movement by Sarge Steel and the department of Metahuman Affairs!

Chapter five of "Who Is Wonder Woman" will be rescheduled at a future date.

Retailers may adjust orders on WONDER WOMAN #5 (JAN070319) now through its final order cutoff date of Thursday, February 22.

Also, orders for the WONDER WOMAN: WHO IS WONDER WOMAN? HC (FEB070299) have been cancelled. This title will be resolicited at a future date.

A step in the right direction, at least. Actually getting the damned book out!

The article says issue 4 is due out on February 21st. If that gets delayed they should do a two page recap and print the last two issues as flashbacks or a story told by the characters. It'll look bad and sloppy, but honestly, this has gone on too damned long.

Something to Smile About

Wonder Woman #6 Solicit from Newsarama:

WONDER WOMAN #6
Written by Jodi Picoult
Art by Drew Johnson & Ray Snyder
Cover by Terry & Rachel Dodson
Best-selling author Jodi Picoult (The 10th Circle, Sister’s Keeper) takes the writing reins, setting Wonder Woman on a collision course with her long-missing people, the Amazons!
Special Agent Diana Prince of the Department of Metahuman Affairs is assigned the impossible task of capturing Wonder Woman! How she can capture herself is just the start of Wonder Woman’s problems, as Diana Prince must relearn how to exist as a human woman and a deadly foe begins closing a net on the Amazon Warrior that will lead to a catastrophic outcome! With gorgeous art by Drew Johnson and Ray Snyder (52)!
On sale March 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

So the Amazons return, the secret identity stays, and most importantly Drew Johnson is back. I love what the Dodsons have been doing, but damned if I didn't miss this guy to death. He draws the most incredible women, and the most incredible Olympians!

I hope this means he'll get to modernize Hermes. I hope this means the gods are back.

I hope this means it ships on time.

I hope this means I won't pan the crap out of this book because of I hate the writing.

February Solicits Time

Finally we get the Wonder Woman#5 promo. Now if we could just see the third issue.

WONDER WOMAN #5
Written by Allan Heinberg
Art and cover by Terry & Rachel Dodson
Concluding the 5-part story “Who is Wonder Woman?” The combined forces of Wonder Woman’s transformed rogues gallery declare all-out war on the amazing Amazon, compelling the all-new Wonder Woman to mend fences and join forces with her predecessor and with Wonder Girl if she’s going to survive to finally answer the question: “Who Is Wonder Woman?”
On sale February 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Here's the rest.

While I'm not fond of the current Green Lantern, it will be over and we'll get a surprise. I'm already surprised by how well I took the news of that month's guest star in Ion. This is when the new writer takes over The Flash. I'm not sure I trust even Darwyn Cooke with The Spirit still. The phrase "Omega Women" made me cringe. Captain Comet is still solicited as Captain Comet (Take that, Starlin!) and I like the Marilyn Monroe-style JSA cover.

Thank you, DC!

In the March/April trade announcements:

WONDER WOMAN: THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP
Writers: William Moulton Marston, Robert Kanigher, Dennis O'Neil, George Pérez and Phil Jimenez
Artists: H.G. Peter, Ross Andru, George Pérez, Phil Jimenez and others
Cover artist: Alex Ross
Price: $19.99 US/$23.99 CAN
Page count: 192 pages

Now, more! Because you still have some serious catching up to do here to get near Superman or Batman.

(I said I'd post less, not stop completely, and this is important.)

Ion #10 Cover

Okay, this really spoilery cover just made me love the writer, the artist, everyone involved. I am having 90s editorial stunt flashbacks, and this time its a good thing.

Fess Up!

(From Newsarama)

MANHUNTER #25
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina & Fernando Blanco
Cover by Jesus Saiz
The solo adventures of Kate Spencer come to a stunning conclusion - but her new life as a dark hero has only just begun! Final issue.
On sale August 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Okay, come clean. Who wasn't buying? Who murdered this book?

Ion Musings

The April solicitations came out before I woke up today (damn nocturnal hours) and the Internet is abuzz with a sigh of disappointment.

April is an ending month. Infinite Crisis Ends on April 19th. Seven Soldiers ends on April 5th. 52 doesn't start until May. Wonder Woman doesn't relaunch, neither does The Flash or JLA. These solicits are well into the OYL story, but they can't give much away witgout giving away these endings. I think it's fairly natural to feel a certain let down for this month's solicits.

Basically, for new stuff we have Checkmate #1 and Ion #1 on April 26th. The very next week after Infinite Crisis #7, which heavily implies that their storylines depend on events in that book.

ION #1
Written by Ron Marz
Art by Greg Tocchini
Cover by Ivan Reis
Following the events of INFINITE CRISIS and the RANN/THANAGAR WAR SPECIAL, writer Ron Marz (GREEN LANTERN) returns to the character he created, giving Kyle Rayner an entirely new lease on life in a new ongoing series with art by rising star Greg Tocchini (1602: New World, Thor: Son of Asgard)! A distraught Kyle Rayner has emerged one year later, transformed with abilities that may surpass those of any Green Lantern ever. So beware his power...because his might may not be on the side of right. For a signed edition, see Dynamic Forces section of Previews.
On sale April 26 • 1 of 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Edited by Eddie Berganza

There's a bit been made of it on Comic-Bloc and on the Newsarama thread that the book is solicited like a maxi-series ("1 of 12") but it states its an ongoing. I'm not sure what to think about that.

As you may have learned from James, Ron Marz is already dropping hints for the nature of the Ion series. He's very careful about what he says about Kyle, but he has no problem ruining the ending of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. (To his credit, he left Citizen Kane out of this.)

"I will tell you that due to events in the Rann-Thanagar Special, Kyle finds himself with quite a bit more power as his disposal. But adjusting to all that power is ... problematic."

"When the series opens, it is indeed 'One Year Later'. Kyle's been through quite a lot, and he's trying to put his life back in order. He'd like nothing better than to have time to paint and get his head together. But events transpire that won't let him do that. Something happens that pulls him back into space."

Which all begs the question, what happened to make him still so upset a year after the event? Kyle generally recovers easily.

The first Green Lantern story I ever read was Green Lantern #91, which is a story about Kyle getting tortured by Desaad, and flashing back to the day before where Donna had up and left him. Marz had a fondness for flashbacks and dream sequences that entire run, actually. It's very possible this first storyline is set during the One Year gap, and we open with Kyle reflecting on the events of the past year, or even relating them to another character.

And there's a clearer version of the cover, but I still don't think it's the final product. You can see Guy and John in the background, though. Everybody who's ever been and Earth Lantern is standing there behind him. Fairly symbolic.

But I'm still wondering, why cover the face?

Why can't poor Kyle ever cut a break?

I mean, seriously, Kyle Rayner's dayjob is artist. He's known to be vain. He's established as exceptionally good-looking out of costume.

But instead of leaving him in a normal Green Lantern uniform, where he looks absolutely adorable, they have to give him some unique look. And he gets stuck with the worst costumes.

Case in point: Comics Continuum has a preview cover of Ion #1.

Maybe it's not as bad as it looks. Maybe we'll see the interiors and find that it's wierd lighting. Maybe we're all just disappointed not to get a Green/White color scheme again like last time he was Ion. Maybe we're disappointed the floppy hair isn't back. Or maybe there's just something off about the hands.

But there is always some glaring little thing wrong with a Kyle Rayner. First, it was the crabmask, then it was the dog collar, now its -- Well, everyone seems to see a different problem here.

Can't any of these guys design a costume?

Are we going to have to get out a Ouija board and have Gil Kane do it for them?

March Solicits: An Afterthought

LUCIFER #72
Written by Mike Carey
Art by Peter Gross & Aaron Alexovich
Cover by Michael Wm. Kaluta
Concluding the 2-part “Evensong.” In the realm of his old enemy, Izanami, Lucifer must once again take back what is his. But this time there are no challenges or ambushes, and no traps except for one — which the Morningstar walks into with his eyes wide open.
On sale March 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.75 US • MATURE READERS

I always hate to read stories that use biblical characters and a backdrop of Judeo-Christian Trinity culture. Now, I'm fine with parallels and parodies, but using a character direct from the Christian Bible is a surefire way to get me to lose interest.
Most of my friends take this as a blind rejection of all things Christian, and I encourage this interpretation. But it's a total lie. The truth is that I've had a problem with biblical characters since the Season of Mists storyline in the Sandman. Don't get me wrong, that is my favorite storyline, but it's always why I get a little chill whenever I see Vertigo Lucifer. Neil Gaiman wrote the ebst interpretation of Satan I ahve ever seen. He was beautiful, eerie, psychotic, selfish, and scheming. He looked absolutely divine and had this slightly oily used car salesman energy. He spoke elegantly, and cruely, and made absolute perfect sense.

It was rather traumatic.

It's not that I'm a believer. But I understand precisely what Lucifer is meant to represent. All of those little parts of me that I do not really want to be there.

Yeah, I know Tantra, Acceptance, roses grow from the mud, Spock I need my pain...

I can take the guy as an intriguing villain. I can handle him as a sympathetic bystander character. I can read (and yes, quite enjoy) the angels as villains in Hellblazer without a problem, though featuring angels is not a selling point.

But I'm just not enlightened enough to handle Lucifer as a protagonist. So I can't even crack the cover of this series.

It's the epitome of cynicism.

March Madness!

Well, the March Solicits are out. And some, but not all of Wizard's questions have been answered. Yet, pretty much nothing about the True Plot of Infinite Crisis has been revealed. The names of several Survivors ahve been revealed, but there are a number of conspicuous bsences. Careful Marketing. (And yes, I'm greatly enjoying it!)

I've never commented on these before, but since I keep getting hits for "DC comics march solicits" (and "red hat society tv gifts for men," but not Jodie Sweeten) I figured I may as well start. Here are the DC Comics March 2006 solicits, by the way (Heavy spoilerage), and what follows is my reaction to them.

Tread carefully, Here There Be Spoilers!

Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Donna Troy, Oracle, Hawkman, and the Flash are conspicuous by their absensce. JLA's absence is not the least bit surprising. The promised Green Lantern Corps ongoing is quite noticable in its absence, but it's possible that they are going to reflect the true shipping schedule of the Green Lantern books, and give us one every two months. In March, we get Green Lantern; then in May, we get GLC, then in July, we finally get to see Kyle again in Ion, and we see Hal again in September, and so on... (Guess what's not on this week's list again, folks!)

Anyway, I'm willing to bet Cassandra Cain has joined the Birds of Prey cast, along with Barbara Gordon as a mobile superheroine. Either that, or one of them is Catwoman now. I'm definitely staying with Birds of Prey, though, because Lady Blackhawk is still there!

Teen Titans may get knocked off my list. It all depends on who those silhouettes belong to -- but I like Johns' Superboy and will miss him if he's not there.

Outsiders sounds tempting, but I think I'll pass. However, not to gloat prematurely, but I can make out most of the cover sihoulettes and I don't see Jade.

Alan Scott, on the other hand, is safe from being turned into Kyle motivation. He's on the cover of JSA: Classified (that is not Hal!) and JSA in March.

That's okay, I was wrong about plenty other things. It does indeed seem that Vandal Savage will be responsible for the death of millions. Oh well. I was so sure it would be Brainiac.

All signs point to Catwoman as the brand-new Mommy (name change, not Cawoman anymore, new cast member) but Wonder Woman and Barbara Gordon are not mentioned at all, so it's still possible. Plus, Aphrodite only knows what happened to Power Girl to position her where she is in these solicits. So, down but not out here.

If they are going by the Pre-Crisis Kandor, Supergirl has been stripped of her powers like Clark always was when he went to that city. But notice both Superman covers feature Clark Kent prominently in his street clothes. It's possible there was more than one right answer to that one.

Already, there are rumors that Nightwing is not Little Dickie. And, to be sure, nothing in the solicits confirms that Little Dickie is still Nightwing. Only that someone who looks like him is wearing the suit. Normally I say, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, odds are it's Dickie Grayson in this duck outfit but I'm going to side with the rumor-mongers here. Because it bodes very badly for Guy Gardner if Dick Grayson is still around as Nightwing after IC. And I like Guy. He's a jerk, but he's still nice enough to take Kyle model-watching to cheer him up after he's been kidnapped and tortured for like the 80th time. I sincerely hope he's not the Kyle-motivation death in the Rann-Thanagar War Special.

The only question for sure answered is the Mayoral one. Mayor Oliver Queen. Rumor has it that the Star City Stand-Up Comedy Guild held an 11-day celebration after the election. He's going to make those boys a lot of money. I'll bet in 2007 we see Lorne Michaels finance his bid for the Presidency. Green Arrow might be interesting.

Amongst all of the other solicits, Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis still looks like Aquaman. I'll pass, thank you.

Greg Rucka

Power Girl

Kandor

I haven't been a Supergirl fan since Peter David, but it looks like I will be again -- Where did I put my T-Shirt?


And finally, I don't want to say the following because a) I'm mad the spin-off is late this week, b) I'm mad the spin-off wasn't solicited for March, and c) there is a disturbing lack of opportunity to see Kyle Rayner's butt in March.

However, Green Lantern #10 was still the most interesting preview this week. Simone Bianchi draws a wonderful Hal Jordan. (I prefer him to Alex Ross as a cover artist). The beautiful pencils of Ivan Reis! The plot thread that kept me buying the book after issue #3! Sinestro!

And, of course, the intriguing comment "And why will the most unlikely of sons become one of Hal Jordan's greatest enemies?"
-- Now, the name Todd Rice has been tossed around, but the way Johns handle him he's hardly "unlikely" (especially if Jade does die somewhere in all of this) so I'm going to rule him out right away.
-- Connor Hawke would be highly unlikely, but it had better be a huge misunderstanding.
The name Kyle Rayner has come up, but the "son" connection is too symbolic there.
-- My favorite suggestion is Capt. Comet from the Comic Bloc Forums. That one is just brilliant. But he can't actually be evil. Just in opposition here.
-- Along that vein -- Superman, Last Son of Krypton, Big-time Green Lantern Antagonist. Again, can't actually be evil, just in opposition. I mean, Batman was the villain in GL: Rebirth.

I'm thinking none of the above, though. The "Grandmaster of the Manhunters" turns out to be a son of one of Hal's old friends, or Hal himself (Rumor has it he was originally going to be the father of Power Girl's Zero Hour baby). It's possible Tom Kalmaku or Carol Ferris had a son that has it out for Jordan for whatever reason. It could be one of Jim or Jack Jordan's kids. Or Airwave, Hal's uncle's kid. Hell, it could be a fourth Jordan brother!

That would be kind of freaky. Jon Jordan? Jake Jordan? Jordan Jordan?

Was Hal's Dad a rabbit?

Sweet Gods, I'm actually going to buy Wizard again!

Well, DC Comics tried very very hard to keep it under wraps, but someone leaked the February solicits two days early. (Spoilers ahead)
Now, for those of you who are behind the rest of the class, the 2006 February DC Comics Solicits are important because they are the last issues before the entire product line leaps forward for one year, with the exception, of course, of Infinite Crisis, because they are cocky enough to show us the results of the end of that storyline before actually showing us the end of that storyline.

They took it down but it was too late! Several specimens from the Online Message Board Sub-culture seized onto the news. And there was copying, and pasting, and oh yes, Panicking.

Much Panicking.

Because what should have said "Final Issue" (I'm looking in your direction, Supergirl) did not (Which doesn't necessarily mean that it's not ending, we'll see when the March solicits come out for sure). And two books that should certainly not have said "Final Issue" did.

And for the first time since I started reading comics, I will not be reading The Flash.

Because it's not even offered.

And those sneaky butts didn't even say "Final Issue" for January's solicits!

No, the title "Finish Line" didn't imply anything! How many times have those Rotten Bastiches promised us Superman would die! Or that This would be the End of Superman!

And how many times have they followed through?

Three!

Three Lousy Times! In over 60 years of publishing!

So naturally, when I see "The End" or "Dies" or "Finished" I tend not to believe it unless it actually contains the words "Final Issue."

They're just trying to scare us, that's all. They are just trying to scare us.

Wally will survive. Wally will most definitely survive. Killing another Flash is just way too obvious.

They can relaunch the series without replacing Wally.

Yes, they can.

And hey, they can replace Wally without killing him!

Yes, they can. They did it with Starman!

And Green Lantern!

Hell, they did it twice with Green Lantern!

Oh, wait...

Anyway, I'm not even mildly afraid for Wonder Woman. The entire DC Editorial staff doesn't have the collective cajones needed to off a character that big.

Well, Grant Morrison probably does. But they have him distracted with Seven Soldiers right now.

However, this and other news will be forcing me to pick up Wizard #171 while I am on vacation. In November. In the Land of Snow and Mountains. Visiting a place that is 30 minutes from the nearest comic book store in the Summer.

Yes, I am going to drive 30 minutes (realistically, though, it will be an hour for snow) to the middle of a city that hasn't seen progress since the Coal-Mining Era, from the middle of a valley that believes the Earth is Flat and there is a straight drop to Oblivion beyond the Pocono Mountain Ridge that surrounds them, to spend six entire dollars on a magazine, which will probably feature at least six pages on two-dimensional breasts.

But it will have a confirmed cancellation list from DC Comics.

The official announcement of the new Green Lantern artist (and perhaps some preview pages!)

And of course, the announcement of Ron Marz's new DC project. Now, nearly everyone knows I'm not much of a Ron Marz fan (No offense to the man, I've seen his posts online and he is the very personification of class -- and I hear he sings well too!) -- his writing has skill, but it's not really my cup of tea. But, hearing this announcement should lay to rest a rumor that plagues my thoughts.

Well, actually, several rumors which plague my thoughts:
1) That there will be an "Ion" series launched in March
2) That Kyle Rayner will be getting his own on-going series again
3) That Kyle will be internalizing his powers during Infinite Crisis and leaving the Green Lantern Corps
4) That Kyle will be fed up with the Guardians and leaving the Green Lantern Corps that he worked his ass off to restart
5) That Kyle will be taking the name "Ion" again, and possibly the powers
6) That Ron Marz will be writing for DC "a title that has never been seen before, starring a character that has"
7) That Ron Marz will be writing Kyle Rayner as Ion
8) That Kyle Rayner will be dying.

On the bright side, though, if this is true: It means Kyle lives. And, as I think Kyle Rayner was the best thing to ever come out of Ron Marz's head, I'll at least be buying the first storyline, to see if I like what's going on.

But, I hope Marz is playing with a different hero (or heroine -- Hey, maybe we'll get to see a male love interest die gruesomely! No, that wasn't a cheap shot. His record and his thoughts on killing off supporting characters is well-documented! I just think he should get a fair shake and a chance to stuff a man in a fridge to prove he's not a misogynist, okay? Okay, I just wanna see a male supporting character stuffed into an appliance to even the score. But Ron Marz is the man to do it!). Because I like how Gibbons and Johns are writing Kyle right now, and I want to see where they take him.

I'll find out a week from Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Midtown Comics has Green Lantern #5 on it's confirmed shipping list. Maybe we can finally see what Hal Jordan's been up to. And it should put to rest another rumor that has been plaguing the DC Comics Message boards this week.