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Home , Alex Maleev, Beetle (comics), Blue Beetle (comic book), Booster Gold, Civil War (comics), David Lapham

Volume 11 #5 “News, reviews and opinions from the world of comics” August 2007 Countdown to is teamed with as they but that’s been the case for years All-New Booster Gold #1 desperately try to prevent the now. The work Brian Bendis did on It seems that there are a lot of fans DCU’s past and future from the series easily rivals the epic Frank out there of the and being destroyed. Booster Miller run (shhh…it may actually J.. DeMatties will become a hero during be better). And then the news came International (JLI) series from some of the most impor- that Bendis was leaving back in 1987. And why shouldn’t tant times in history, but and it was simple to assume that there be? JLI was funny, will anybody ever know the fun was over. But Maguire’s art was fantastic and the role he’s played? Prob- seamlessly picked up right where it produced classic DC moments ably not, but that’s part of the fun Bendis left off and took the series to like knocking out Guy of this series considering how yet another level. We’re not kidding Gardner with one punch. The book important fame is to about any of this – fan or was obviously influential to many Booster. not, you are seriously missing out of today’s writers as evidenced by if you are not reading Daredevil their references to that time period every month. and the systematic deconstruction So to those of you not on board of everything about it. Seriously, yet, may we recommend Daredevil if nobody liked JLI, its characters #100. This issue is the beginning wouldn’t have played such impor- of Ed Brubaker and artist Michael tant parts in mega-events like 52 Lark’s third story arc, but you and Infinite Crisis. The mainstays All you really need should be able to jump right in. As of the entire JLI run, Blue and to know though is that the extra incentive, Daredevil #100 is Booster Gold, were major players stories in All-New Booster 104-pages and features guest art by in the events that shaped the DCU Gold are going to count. John Romita Sr., , Lee over the last couple of years. Who This isn’t some throw-away Bermejo, and . Oh yeah, would have thought that was concept and, with Johns at it’s also got the New and going to happen, right? Well it’s the helm, you can be sure a ton of bad guys. What more could not over yet as this month we get that major events play out you really want? the start of an all-new Booster Gold in these pages. Just look at the series appropriately titled All-New characters shown on the cover Booster Gold. to the first issue: Barry Allen, So you’re probably asking why of Earth II, JLI-era Guy Big Planet Comics you should care about some spin- Gardner, , Mr. Mind, off from 52. Most comics that get and Robin from The Dark Knight to Open Its launched out of big cross-overs are Returns. That’s a pretty good line- due to die an ugly right? JLI up for just the first cover and there Fourth Store! was just a spin-off from is surely more to come. Make sure right? Mighty Avengers is just a to check out All-New Booster Gold Big Planet Comics is proud to announce its spin-off of right? See? #1. fourth store, the store formerly known as There are times that spin-offs count Liberty Books & Comics. Stop on by! and All-New Booster Gold should Daredevil #100 be one of them. Written by Geoff Every few months we’re presented Johns (52, JSA, ) with a reason to urge you to read Big Planet Comics of College Park and featuring art by , Daredevil. It’s been something of 7315 Baltimore Ave All-New Booster Gold promises an amazing journey for this title. College Park, MD 20740 to answer many of the questions It’s still a little strange to hear some- 301-699-0498 raised by the re-creation of the body tell you that Daredevil is one Multiverse. In the series, Booster of the very best titles on the shelves, 2 | www.bigplanetcomics.com Hotline: 301.718.1890

Outsiders: Five of a Kind it. Terror, Inc. is about – get this So Batman is putting his – Mr. Terror who is fifteen and a back together. This half centuries old and doomed to weekly event (good thing there decompose for all of . He are five Wednesdays this month) has to replace his limbs with fresh sees Batman picking a new team parts, except for right arm which member in each issue. I’m really is made up of an enchanted metal pulling for in week that houses the essence four. Also on sale this month is of his dead sweetheart. Presents: Batman and And he runs a detec- the Outsiders Vol. 1 TP, in case tive agency. How can you’re feeling nostalgic for the you not want to read last time Batman had Outsiders. something with that kind of a description? It’s also a book, so expect plenty of sex, violence and gross decomposition. It’s like a Jerry Bruckheimer movie.

flashback to the pair’s early years. series is based on the true story of This will be great except for the an 18-year-old autistic boy from part where you’re supposed to Oregon who was recruited into the keep a straight face when Logan army suggests that things might says he’s a secret for the get a little biting. Keep in mind Canadian government. Oh, what though that Baker is one of the best Marvel writers would give to go cartoonists of this generation, and back in time and make that he’s also funny as . Don’t be British. Or Scandinavian. surprised to see this series winning all sorts of awards next year. #855 Uh, (The Goon) art on a 3-part story…really Avengers Classics #3 nothing else needs to be said. How did I miss the first two issues of this series? Dwayne McDuffie retelling classic Avengers stories Omnibuses with painted art by Mike Oeming Omnibuses? Is () AND covers by Art #50 that the plural of Adams? Count me in! By the Look – I know we hype this book “omnibus?” Either way, keep an eye on McDuffie every month. But this story arc way, these collec- who is the man responsible for is really, really special. It’s the tions from Dark the legendary Justice League rematch between The Punisher Horse are quite the animated series as he gets set to and Barracuda, and the stakes deal. Clocking in at take over the JLA comic in a few are higher than you could ever around 450-pages months. imagine. Seriously – don’t miss each, these collections cover vast out on the last page of this issue amounts of history for the Star Wolverine Origins #16 or the next 5-issues. Wars and Aliens vs. Predator I’d read an entire series about comics…both of which are better Logan and Terror, Inc. #1 (of 5) Special Forces #1 (of 6) than you think they are. Unless fighting together during WWII, David Lapham (Stray Bullets, isn’t known for pulling you think they’re really good. so it should come as no surprise ) makes great his punches when it comes to polit- Then they’re as good as you think that I’m excited for this 5-part comics. He won an Eisner to prove ical commentary so the fact that this they are. The end. Hotline: 301.718.1890 www.bigplanetcomics.com | 3

Catching Up On Reader Mail

Ah, the summer does indeed the floor, and nobody says “Hey you’re totally rooting for him to Value Menu. These questions will suck. When you’re a kid it’s all it’s a !” I thought to myself, kick the crap out of the Illumi- continue to haunt me until next camp and being released into “Huh. If I didn’t know that was nati because of what he’s been year when this dude gets arrested your parents custody, but as an a Skrull, I’d be wondering why through and the fact that they’ve for the same thing while dressed adult it’s all work and posting turned into a zombie been total jerks the whole time up like with a Chalupa bail. Entertainment has been real when she died.” It just wasn’t he’s been gone. Although I guess under his helmet. hit or miss this summer. The that clear what was going maybe they were acting that way summer movies have been on, with no exposi- because they were , but Q: The other night I caught good (thanks Die Hard tion, or no Internet. any way you look at it Marvel myself making fun of a family IV!) and the summer On one hand, this did a great job of handling this member for going to get the new movies have been bad is certainly a very story and then working it back Harry Potter book at midnight at (looking at you Spider- fun ride being set into the main story lines. Even if a store where people were going Man 3). The summer up by one of the they hadn’t done all of that, the to be in costume, and then I real- comics have been mostly best writers in the action in World War would ized that at the last comic show I good (Countdown, JLA, industry. On the other be worth the price of admission was at I saw a dude in a He-Man World War Hulk, Barracuda) hand, this could be some alone. costume complete with chest- and as always the summer mail shady slight of hand in terms plate and loincloth. Isn’t there a has been interesting. Let’s kill off of continuity. As I understand Q: Last month you were difference between Harry Potter the rest of August with some mail it, Bendis had this Skrull thing talking about that doctor in mania and the more exuberant from you, the reader. planned from before Civil War, Florida who got arrested for fans at comics shows? but it is an amazingly convenient groping two women at a bar crawl A: Ah, this is a really good Q: Since it was revealed in way to undo a lot of what’s been while he was dressed like Captain example of not throwing stones New Avengers that Elektra was a done to the Marvel U in the last America. To make matters worse, when you live in a glass house Skrull, does that mean more char- year. Either way, I’m hooked and when the cops got him back to jail full of alphabetized comic boxes. acters in the Marvel U are Skrulls can’t wait to see where this is all they found drugs and a Taco Bell All things being equal, there is too? If so, who? And when exactly going. burrito hidden in his pants. What no difference between the Harry did they take Elektra? And what happened to that guy? Potter fans, the Star Wars fans, did they do with her? Does this Q: World War Hulk is A: What happened to him? the Trekkies, Cosplayers at Anime mean that all the out-of-character awesome. He got off without so much as a shows, the people in costume at stuff that happened during Civil A: You see – that’s not really mark on his permanent record. If I comic shows, people at the renais- War is due to the fact that a bunch a . That’s a statement, got arrested for doing half of that sance fair, people who reenact the of people are really Skrulls? Is Iron albeit one I totally and absolutely stuff, I’d be in an orange jumpsuit Revolutionary War (or any war), Man a Skrull? Was the Captain agree with. Way back when Planet picking up trash on the side of the and fans of the band . If the America that got shot a Skrull? Hulk got started, I thought it was highway. I guess good lawyers something that you love requires What exactly is a Skrull? a cheesy idea. Then I started can get you out of a pinch. You’d that you dress up in elaborate A: One thing is certain in the reading the issues, and I couldn’t be surprised by how many people costumes – so be it. It’s certainly aftermath of the big Elektra = wait for the next one. The thing asked me what kind of burrito he better than not having a hobby. Skrull revelation – there are a lot that’s awesome about Planet was packing when they heard the Sure you might be pushing it a of unanswered questions. To be Hulk and World War Hulk is that story. All we know is that it was little too far, but we’re not gonna honest, I heard the news before I the set-up was flawless. The Hulk from Taco Bell. I’m not clear on stomp all over your fun…except read that issue of New Avengers. gets shot into space by the Illumi- whether it was a 7-Layer, Fiesta, for maybe the renaissance fair When I saw the page where the nati, then is absent during Civil Spicy Chicken, Grilled Stuft, or people…a line has to be drawn Elektra/Skrull is lying dead on War, and by the time he gets back, maybe just something off the somewhere. 4 | www.bigplanetcomics.com Hotline: 301.718.1890 Monsters of Rock Comics

This month sees the release of not exactly like this series set a know anything else? The Umbrella Academy, a new new standard for comics about by rapping Shaolin monks. Well I 2 – Kiss: A Super who happens to be the singer guess it did since there was no Special for . It’s old standard for comics about Not only was comic this printed pretty easy to pick on this guy, rapping Shaolin monks…but you with ink made from the band but he seems to have a genuine get the point. member’s actual blood (which appreciation for good in 1977 contained three new comics (he mentions Grant 4 – The Cryptic Writings strains of Hepatitis), but it was Morrison and Alex of also the first of what would be Toth as influences for The band most famous an endless supply of crappy Kiss whatever it’s worth) for being fronted merchandise. This is where it all and the James Jean by the guy that got started. covers for the series kicked out of Metal- are pretty awesome. So lica right before they 1 – Revolutionary Comics: Rock we’re going to give Gerard made it big makes our list N’ Roll Comics the benefit of the doubt while with the most convoluted of Revolutionary Comics presented a we wait to read The Umbrella these projects. This series wasn’t series of autobiographical comics Academy. Instead let’s look at the based on the band members about tons of bands. Their claim top-five worst comics featuring (since comics about getting to fame was that they bypassed musicians: drunk and crying are boring), 3 – Insane Clown Posse: The comic shops and sold directly to but on their lyrics. That’s right Pendulum stores at the mall. Thanks Revo- 5 – Wu-Tang Clan: The Nine – stories based on the lyrics to The Pendulum is a series of lutionary Comics for introducing Rings Of Wu-Tang the songs on the album “Killing comic books based upon the a whole generation of people to Far be it from us to make fun Is My Business…And Business Dark Carnival universe, envi- comics that were no better than of any comic starring the real Is Good.” Dudes with mullets sioned by the Insane Clown a terribly drawn version of the life Ghostface Killah, but it’s were psyched. Posse. Do you really need to history of .

Hello and welcome back to what Tekkonkinreet (Black & is at least the fourth or fifth most White) popular column in the Big Planet by Taiyo Matsumoto Orbit, Indyville! There are some No 5, Blue Spring and now sweet books coming out this Tekkonkinreet. Shamefully, that’s month, so let’s hop to it! everything in print at the moment from Japa- I Killed Adolf Hitler nese Moebius by fanboy Taiyo Jason is not a man Matsumoto. of many words. Trust me, Over the course of I mean the approximately “a M o e b i u s whole bunch” of thing as a graphic novels he compliment. has managed to tell Sure, he apes great stories almost M o e b i u s ’ purely with his clean, style, but he straight-forward art style. So, does it well. when I heard his new graphic Really well. novel was about a guy traveling So buy this. And buy Blue Spring back in time to kill Hitler I was The recent American-produced A ker-azy futuristic tale about as well. I lied about No 5, though. intrigued. You should be, too. manga by B. Graham, King City, werewolves, organ smuggling You can’t buy it anymore. It’s out somehow slipped right past and awesomeness in general. of print. See what I mean! It went Multiple Warheads #1 me. His new book, Multiple So awesome. Seriously, it’s out of print while I was writing by Brandon Graham Warheads, suffered no such fate. awesome. this!

Big Planet Orbit Volume 11 #5; August 2007 is published by Joel Pollack, Peter Casazza and Jared Smith for Big Planet Comics. www.bigplanetcomics.com.

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