Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode #37
Big Daddy Danger #1 (October, 2002)
Creator, Writer & Artist - Adam Pollina
Inker - Tyson McAdoo
Colors & Separations - Thomas Chu
Associate Editor - Ivan Cohen
Editor - Mike Carlin
Cover Price: $2.95
Big Daddy Danger, what's that? Well, it's a little discussed/little known DC Comic about a superhero professional wrestler. Why are we talking about it? Well, how else would I be able to shoe-horn a conversation about my own life and times as a professional wrestler... for about six months or so.
Spectre (vol.4) #12 (February, 2002)
"The Spectre of Christmas!"
Writer - J.M. DeMatteis
Artist - Ryan Sook
Letters - Chris Eliopoulos
Colors - Guy Major
Assistant Editor - Morgan Dontanville
Editor - Dan Raspler
Cover Price: $2.50
Heyyy, Happy Festivus everybody!
I ask you what better way to air my grievances and test my strength then to discuss an issue of Spectre?!
Anyone who has listened to any of the programming on the Cosmic Treadmill "Network" knows that the Spectre ain't exactly my cuppa tea. I always saw the character as nothing more than a moody and irritable "get out of jail free" card who writers could pull out whenever they needed to make their story seem more important... or to bail them out when they write themselves into a corner.
This is probably why the only time I actually actively collected his title was when Hal was wearing the rags. Surely Hal Jordan could make this property interesting, right?
Right?
Well'a let'ssssa find out'a.
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We open on a narrated scene of Hal-as-Spectre watching Hal-as-young-boy moodily watching his family prepare for Christmas... for some reason, this brings him great joy. Suddenly he is whisked away and finds himself stood right at the foot of Santa Claus... who is in need of Spectrey aid. Hal is incredulous at first... which, c'mon, considering what the Spectre is, is meeting Santa really outside the realm of possibilities?
Hal learns that his Spectre-temple (or whatever it is) has been pulled through a rift of sorts. Hal is still in all kinds of disbelief over the situation... but Santa presses on regardless. He assures him that everything exists where they are... the Easter Bunny, even the Great and Powerful Oz. This story ain't about them though.
Santa and the Spectre arrive at a Christmas Party, which is where we meet the fella narrating the story... Charles Dickens. Hal is pretty taken aback by this, as growing up his father would read A Christmas Carol in the days leading up to Christmas. Hal lets himself go, and begins to enjoy himself at the soiree.
We shift scenes to Hal's niece, Helen. She is playing Candy Land or something with... are you kidding me... the Phantom Stranger?! The Spectre and the Phantom Stranger? Oh c'mon! It's been nearing on twenty-years since the last time I even looked at this series, so I can't say exactly what's going on here. Either way, she kicks the board away and says it's "for babies"...
Back in Santa's Village the party finally begins to die down... until the only people left are Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Charles Dickens, Abin Sur (who has been hanging around throughout this run) and the Spectre himself. Hal finally remembers that Santa asked him there for a reason, and it's high time they got around to dealing with it. Santa sends Hal (and Dickens) to another place... a town or something, but one not nearly as lively and animated as Santa's.
Upon arrival, they are greeted with the repeated shrieking of "Get Out!" The person behind this voice is revealed to be... Ebeneezer Scrooge, and he's pretty ticked off. Ya see, he hates the fact that he's only remembered for being the villain of A Christmas Carol... and how nobody thinks of him as the man he became at the end of the story... which, I gotta admit, is a bit clever! Apropos of nothing, Scrooge kinda looks like Stan and Ollie's boss at the Toy Factory in March of the Wooden Soldiers.
And so, he sics a bunch of witches on Hal and Chuck! They're just the thing to kayo our heroes... after which, Scrooge and Company loads Dickens into a coffin and ties Hal to a tree... upside down? Okay then. Odd customs, but who am I to judge?
While hangin', Hal revisits that memory of the moody boy watching his family getting into the Christmas Spirit. We learn that this was Hal's first Christmas following his father's death... and the lengths his mother went to that day to get him to smile... laugh even! She sang... very poorly.
The memory causes Hal to begin laughing out loud.
And, as we all know... laughter is contagious!
Amid the frivolity, Santa and Company arrive to spread even more Christmas cheer!
With his job complete, Hal returns through the rift where he meets up with his niece and the Phantom Stranger... and we're outta here.
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This issue does a lot of things right... but, I still can't say that I necessarily enjoyed it. I feel like this was trying to evoke a Sandman sort of feeling, bringing in literary characters and what-not... but didn't quite stick the landing, at least not in the "overall" sense.
Let's get the Dickens stuff out of the way first. I thought the idea that Scrooge is tired of only being looked at as a villain was super clever... because, really... nobody talks about the "changed man" he becomes after being visited by the ghosts. It's always about what he was a penny-pinchin' ol' skinflint 'e was ('e was? 'e was!) Nobody's going to get that reference... it's okay though.
I feel like more could've been done with that concept. Like, an entire arc of Fables or something... ya know? They just burned through it too quickly. I won't go so far as to call the idea "mind-blowing", but... it's wonderfully clever regardless.
Let's talk Hal. He kinda wraps himself up in his Christmas memories... which is sorta what we all do, right? I mean, I'm coming to you today as a childless adult... Christmas has a significantly different meaning to me now than it did 20-30 years ago. It was certainly better back in the long ago, and had a "magic" to it... magic that can still cause me to smile (laugh even).
Christmas as an adult (without children) doesn't really bring that kind of joy. We touched on this when we discussed a Wally West Christmas last week. You find yourself creating traditions... perhaps to convince yourself that things are just as special as before. Maybe even a twelve-day blogging marathon... ahem.
What I'm getting at is, Hal found the Christmas spirit in memories of his youth... and in sharing his joviality, he was able to bring Christmas to a place it otherwise wouldn't have been. This works on many levels... and hits me a little closer to home than I had initially realized.
Overall... a perfectly readable and enjoyable book (with wonderful Ryan Sook art). A little disappointing in that it kinda rushed through and squandered a really cool take on Ebeneezer Scrooge. It doesn't look like this issue (or series) is available digitally... I'm guessing DC might not want us to remember that Hal Jordan was ever the Spectre!
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On the Tenth Day of Christmas on Infinite Earths, I gave to you, Spectre (vol.4) #12, Batman #598, Batman #596, Flash (vol.5) #17,Batman and the Outsiders #31, Captain Atom #13! Scooby-Doo! #139, Superman #369, Impulse #34, and a Flash (vol.2) #73 Discussion and Review.
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Batman #598 (February, 2002)
"Santa Klaus is Coming to Town!"
Writer - Ed Brubaker
Pencils - Scott McDaniel
Inks - Andy Owens
Colors - Roberta Tewes
Separations - WildStorm FX
Letters - John Costanza
Associate Editor - Michael Wright
Editor - Bob Schreck
Cover Price: $2.25
Hey remember yesterday when we met Santa Klaus? Well, we're just two months later (publishing time), and he's back... just in time for Christmas, even!
Unfortunately, all of DC's books that shipped in December, 2001 were part of a weird "cover theme" month... and so, we're robbed of a fun Holiday cover. Not the biggest fan of this (or any) cover-theme, but it's far better than that month during the late 90's where it was just close-ups on a hero's face. Yeesh!
Anyhoo, let's see what this creep's got in his sleigh for us good girls and boys!
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It's a week before Christmas, and we open at Wayne Manor. The man of the house is quite displeased that his bodyguard (Sasha Bordeaux) has found where he keeps all of the Christmas decorations. He tells her they don't celebrate the Holidays there, but she ain't havin' none of it. Before Bruce can put up too much more of an argument, he spies the Bat-Signal illuminating the night sky... and he's off to work in a flash.
We rejoin him, in his work duds, at a Gotham dentist office where he meets Detective Montoya. She tells him that our new pal Santa Klaus had been brought in for some oral surgery (impacted molars!), and during the procedure, he happened to overtake the surgical team and get away!
Not before killing them though!
Renee brings Batman out into the reception area where he speaks to a couple of survivors: a nurse and a security guard. They both report that Santa Klaus knew their darkest "naughty" secrets... it was as though he could read their minds...
We catch up with Klaus as he roams the streets of Gotham, causing all sorts of mischief by telling people the secrets they never want to hear said aloud. He happens upon a pair of panhandling children who he hires as gun-wielding "elves".
Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce gets all melancholy staring at Sasha's Christmas Tree. He briefly allows himself to think back to a perfect holiday season from his youth, before snapping out of it.
Over the next few days, reports come in about a dude in a Santa costume (flanked by a pair of elves) handing out gifts to naughty men and women. Those gifts are, naturally, bombs.
Batman is called in to check out the latest bombsite... a bar, where ol' Klaus just went nuts handing out "gifts" left and right. A bartender managed to survive the blast, because he chased after "Santa" to try and get a gift for his kid. That's when he saw him push the detonator... which blew up the whole joint. The bartender claims to have overheard Santa Klaus say he now had "ze perfect chance".
Batman immediately assumes this means that the baddie is going to bomb Gothafeller Center... er, Gotham Square. And, sure enough, Klaus and Company are present and accounted for... and handing out gifts!
Santa tries handing a gift to one man in particular, who turns it down on account'a he's Jewish. This causes Klaus to fly into a rage... how dare he refuse one of his gifts! Luckily, the ruckus caused is enough to tip Batman and the GCPD off on his location!
Batman has the GCPD comb the crowd for "gifts" while he gives chase to Klaus. As he follows, Batman accidentally knocks a fella down. Unfortunately, that fella was smoking a cigarette... which rolled right under the giant Gotham Square Christmas Tree! Before we know it, the whole thing has gone up in flames. They probably should've refilled the water reservoir!
During the struggle, Santa himself winds up engulfed. Using his cape, Batman manages to put out the fire... and Santa Klaus's "season of giving" comes to a close.
We wrap up back in the Batcave, where Sasha has brought Bruce his Christmas gift. He sheepishly tells her that he didn't get her anything. She's not surprised. Bruce unwraps the present, and is shocked that it's just what he had wanted (we readers don't get to see what's in the box...). The pair retire to the not-cavey part of the Manor to watch some Christmas movies, and we're outta here.
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Well, that's more like it, eh?
While I'm certainly a "Christmas all year long" type'a dude, it's definitely better to see ol' Santa Klaus as close to the actual Holiday as possible.
Thing of it is, there ain't all that much more to say about him, right? We know from yesterday's piece that he's going to punish all of the "bad" boys and girls... only this time around we get the added wrinkle that he might be able to read minds? Does that mean he knows about Batman's secrets? That kinda ups the ante, dunnit? Guess it's a moot point though... dude went down pretty easy.
I'm not sure we've discussed Sasha yet on the blog... I thought she was a pretty fun character, and that she added a bunch to the bat-books around this time. I had a buddy I worked with who was positively obsessed with her, for whatever reason... kept asking me questions about her, at a time when she only had all of five appearances.
I appreciated how she could go from all-business bodyguard, to a sorta perky, sorta charming pain in Bruce's butt. I hated it when she got sucked into the post-Infinite Crisis Checkmate book, because that book be boring, my friends.
I'm not sure if this is a complaint or not... but, I'm really wondering what Sasha's gift to Bruce was. It's been... jeez, 16-17 years since I read any of this... so I don't know if it was ever followed up on, or was just meant to be a nice "moment" between the two. I'm pretty sure many readers were convinced that there was going to be a long and tangled romance between the two... and thought maybe this was going to be the start of it.
Of course, that's not the case... the following month will see Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure, which rolls right into the several months-long Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive storyline... which, I'm now kinda getting an itch to revisit.
Overall... this was a good read. If you're a sucker for Christmas books like I am, this one's a no-brainer. If you wanna see some Moonlighting-esque awkwardness and contention between Bruce and Sasha... you'll probably dig this one as well. This issue is available digitally.
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Hawkman (vol.4) #1 (May, 2002)
"First Impressions"
Story - Geoff Johns & James Robinson
Pencils - Rags Morales
Inks - Michael Bair
Colors - John Kalisz
Separations - Heroic Age
Letters - Bill Oakley
Assistant Editor - Morgan Dontanville
Editor - Peter Tomasi
Cover Price: $2.50
If you've ever thumbed through this blog, you might've noticed the lack of Hawkman material covered here... and there's a reason for that! I really can't bring myself to care about the character. Well, I take that back... I've only ever cared about the character once, and it was during the era we're going to be discussing today.
Now, don't take what I just said as a sign that I don't like the character... I do. I think he's great as a hard-ass member of a team, and don't mind him making guest appearances in other books... I just don't care enough about his trappings nor his janked history to follow an actual series wherein he is the star. Except... for the era we're going to discuss today.
This spins out of one of my favorite series's's's's of all-time, JSA. It was during The Return of Hawkman (which we really ought to get to here at the blog), that I started to dig the character. Stood to reason that I'd dig the ongoing as well, and so... I gave it a shot.
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We open in New York City. There is a small passenger plane in the midst of being hijacked... but, they don't get all that far before Hawkman and the JSA arrive on the scene. Carter doesn't waste any time before bashing his way into the cockpit.
The pilot loses control of the small rig, but Hawkman is able to right the flight with his might! He tosses the baddies out, and they are snagged by members of the Justice Society. Power Girl calls out to Carter for a job well done... but he doesn't seem to be in the mood for talking at the moment.
We shift scenes to Ironwood, Michigan where Speed Saunders is repairing his hot air balloon... while it's in the middle of a flight! Now, Speed Saunders is an oldie... actually made his first appearance way back in Detective Comics #1 (March, 1937), if ya believe it. He is the cousin of Shiera Saunders (the original Hawkgirl), and is the grand-uncle to Kendra Saunders (the current Hawkgirl). Speaking of Kendra, she's just arrived to chat Speed up about the Stonechat Museum in St. Roch, Louisiana.
Speed recognizes St. Roch... it's the city where Kendra's parents were murdered. Kendra starts having doubts as to whether or not Speed has always been on the up and up with her regarding the passing of her folks... and begins questioning a lot of what he's told her. She decides to look into it herself... and asks that her grand-uncle does not contact Hawkman. She wants to do this herself. Naturally, no sooner is she out of panel, than Speed is on the phone with Carter.
Next, we're introduced to the city of St. Roch. As far as I know, this is it's first appearance (though, I could be mistaken). It's a port town, reminds me of New Orleans... which, I'm pretty sure it's supposed to. Carter's narration describes it as being culturally and politically divided... and dirty.
We rejoin Hawkgirl inside the Stonechat Museum. She's looking for a man named Danny Evans. She tries to get some answers out of someone who appears to be in charge... but doesn't get far. The fella doesn't believe she is who she says she is. He's met Hawkgirl, ya see. Just then... Hawkman struts in, and suddenly everyone's doubts are lifted.
Carter greets the gentleman. Turns out he's Oliver Evans, Danny's father. Hawkman explains the Hawkgirl situation... which only seems to make Kendra's blood boil. I get it... I think many of us have been in a situation where our credibility is questioned... until someone perceived as being credible vouches for us. It's humbling... and holy cow, is it frustrating.
Anyhoo, Kendra hands over a telegraph from Danny Evans to her parents, Michael and Trina Saunders... warning them not to pursue an exhibit. Oliver explains that Danny is an archaeologist, and is currently on an expedition in Punjab, India.
Also... that they haven't heard a peep out of him in over two days. Looks like Danny might be in some trouble.
We shift scenes to the posh estate of a man with a meticulously manicured mustache. He receives a call about the Hawks snooping around the Museum... which he doesn't seem to be a fan of. Oh, he also really wants The Third Eye of Shiva... which just so happens to be the relic Danny Evans is currently after. Before hanging up, he orders that Bloque be called in to take care of the birds.
Back in St. Roch, Hawkgirl is getting ready to fly off to India in order to track down Danny. Hawkman isn't so sure it's a good idea. As he goes to take off after her, he is grabbed by the ankle and slammed into a nearby car. This baddie... is Bloque. His powers seem to be that he can block (bloque?) out the senses of whoever he's fighting. First he blocks Carter's ability to hear.
Then... his ability to see!
Just as he's about to go in for the kill... he is struck on the side by a crazy-looking knife. Then... he's crushed by a car. Turns out, Hawkgirl hadn't made it all that far yet.
Together, the Hawks beat the hell out of Bloque. The police arrive and refer to the big guy as the "Most Wanted Hitman in St. Roch". When I think of "hitmen", I don't think about someone dressed quite as loudly as this fella. Well, unless he's a Canadian pro-wrestler, I guess. Anyhoo, he's hauled away.
We wrap up with Carter and Kendra deciding to head to India together. Working together suits them... even if it's not as the fabled lovers we might be used to.
Odd note: We learn that Shiera didn't like hamburgers. What's not to love about burgers?!
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A pretty good opener... and one that really side-steps much of the mishegas regarding Hawkman's tortured (and fractured) history. You don't need to know all that much to pick this issue up and enjoy it. It's an issue where a conflict is established, a mission statement is (sorta) said, and we get a bit of action so the characters can flex their wings.
The dynamic between the Hawks here is really neat. I love the idea of Kendra bucking tradition/fate/legend/whatever. She doesn't just fall into this romantic relationship simply because she's told she has to... or that she's supposed to, because it's the way it's always gone down. A lot of interesting story spurs to travel down here.
Gotta say, that scene where old man Evans ain't buying Kendra's story until Carter vouches for her? That one kinda hit me where it hurts. I feel like I've been in just that situation a time or two... and it always burned my ass. I'm not a terribly egocentric guy... but, at the same time, the thought of having my credibility questioned (when it's unnecessary) makes my teeth itch.
I like the addition of St. Roch to DC's fictional United States of America. I've always been a sucker for made up city "analogues". Not sure why... maybe it helps me to disconnect from the real world a bit easier.
While I enjoyed this quite a bit... it's really just a set-up issue, which means there isn't a whole heckuva lot to say about it. I'd say that this (and the JSA arc that proceeded it) might be one of the easier ways to "get into" Hawkman. I know it worked for me... unfortunately though, it turned out to be the only take that really clicked for me.
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