Masks and Reporters

Before we get into the geek out comics reviews, word: Carrie Fisher will be a guest at the Canadian National Science Fiction Expo in Toronto during the weekend of September 1-3. I'm not sure if she is charging extra on top of the $39 to get past the front doors (Shatner and Nimoy are there as well, going the grossly expensive 'Evening With' route--over $200--in order to breathe the same air as them) to get autographs. This Sci-Fi expo is being held in conjunction with the Comic Book, Horror, Gaming and Anime Expos--all of which cost around $40 to get past each door. It used to be you paid a flat fee and got to attend *all* of them, but not anymore. Being a fan is expensive.

Read more comics. At least I didn't procreate!



Robin #152 continues what looks to be an excellent run for Adam Beechen and Freddie Williams. Here, the new Captain Boomerang, the son of the previous Captain, who killed Tim Drake's father, is out to find Robin, which pisses off the Boy Wonder a wee bit. If that's not enough, Robin is also out to find a dirty nuke the Joker left to go off in August 2006. On top of that, Tim also meets his new study tutor--Zoanne--who may be his next girlfriend. (DC is trying its best to create characters who aren't white, and so Zoanne is black.) Let's hope she lasts longer than Tim's last girlfriend, who is currently pushing up daisies. And we finally have Tim confront Bruce about the whole 'Boy Target' question. Why does Robin wear bright colours while Batman doesn't? Sadly, Bruce doesn't really answer, which makes me suspect the bastard. But we learn Batman likes the Clash, so that's okay.




If Civil War
is a Michael Bay film, then Frontlineis more like an episode of Homicide: Life On The Streets. Okay, so the analogy crosses mediums, but grant me the point. I actually prefer this title to the big, star studded one: writer Paul Jenkins actually makes you think, while putting in some great surprises. (Who is holding that glowing pumpkin, anyway?) Iron Man and the Pro-Reg side really come off as a-holes here. The 'Speedball in Gitmo' storyline continues to depress, and the 'Sleeper Agent' story--in which we seen Namor making his move--is also very interesting. I didn't buy the final few pages, in which Jenkins tries to draw a parallel with the Vietnam War, but that was the only clunker in any otherwise fine issue.



There are at least two major surprises here in the latest issue of Daredevil. One made me smile. The other made me gasp, in that order. Old school fans will join me in the smile. The gasp? Didn't see it coming. For once, Marvel was able to keep a secret. If you aren't reading this title, then you really are cheating yourself of some great fun. Brubaker does mention his leaving the title, which sent chills down my spine. Let's hope it's not for a very, very long time.