Wonder Woman Changes: My Opinion

I haven't blogged regularly for quite some time. I have been working a lot and trying to figure out what to do with my life, so it has been very quiet.

Until today.

Because I have been a fan and longtime Wonder Woman reader, I wanted to give some thoughts. I believe the many dollars I have spent collecting the book from 1974 on and buying back issues that have created a continuous run from 1966 entitle me to this. No internet/comic book lurker am I- you have found the real deal here, Kids.

First off, I am disappointed with the new costume. I am not outraged, because I know it won't last forever. My first impression was that it looked like an old school X-Men costume. My second reaction was that it actually takes away her singular, iconic form and makes her quite ordinary. I am a traditionalist and I won't apologize for it. Her "stars and spangles" costume has always set her apart, and I have never felt that she looks "cheap" or "sexy" in a way that is degrading, other then when past artists have given her the thong look that to me has always been a cop out in general.

J. Michael Straczynski is going to put his stamp on the character as he sees fit in his run. Will it have lasting effects? There is no way to know at this point in time as all we have seen is a preview. I do know that there is a pretty big loophole already in place that will allow the next creative team to bring Diana back to any point in her history. This means that all the outrage that is pouring out right now may be just a moment in time.

Has the new look made her less "revealing"? Not in my mind. She has a bustier and she is wearing lycra/leathery style pants that don't hide anything. All they have done is cover her up with tight clothing and put a jacket on her. It isn't like they put Wonder Woman in a hoop skirt, for Hera's sake. :-)

As a reader, I am not a fan of what I have seen so far. I have already ordered issues 601 and 602 on my DCBS order, so I will have the opportunity to explore further and see if the new creative team can change my mind.

I am not freaking out because I have read comics long enough to know that the only constant in it is change. I am also convinced that DC has done this to make it easier to produce a movie with a more "realistic" edge for non-comic book readers.

Bottom line: I don't like the new look. Taking away the boots and the traditional costume have just made her less extraordinary in my book. I also don't like the fact that she has lost the traditions and rich culture of her upbringing- I always felt it made her unique.

Her new codename should be "Urban Wonder Chick with the X-Men outfit so We can Make a Movie", cuz that is what it all boils down to.

Now I am going to go read my friend's blogs to see what they think. :-)

What is your opinion on the change?

A Couple of Quick Things...

People who rip off deceased artists' work and sell it on eBay suck.

The Justice League: Arsenal mini-series isn't the worst comic book series I have ever read, but it doesn't exactly toot roses either.

Life is insane, but I miss this place. I hope that really soon things will change and I can spend a lot more time here. :-) HOPING!!

Post Emerald City!

I went to the Emerald City Comicon with every intention of blogging photos and keeping up a stream of information. That obviously didn't happen, so here I am today following up.

This year I volunteered again for HERO Initiative and then I helped Jim out at the Sequential Treasures artist alley table. Between those ventures, seeing old friends, and trying to recover from being sick, while deciding if alcohol would interact poorly with my meds, it was quite the full plate. LOL.

The good news is that ECCC was a wonderful time. It was busy, hectic, and tempers flared a bit, but it is always what you make it. Those of you that know me are aware that I always try and have fun, and keep a positive attitude, so finding out that I had a good time is nothing new.

We got to Seattle Friday night and waited for our good friend Brian to get off work. Then we ran over to the convention center, got the lay of the show, and got our badges. Since I was feeling so unwell with a bad head cold, we headed to Brian's place early. He was kind enough to put us up, and I am ever so grateful for that.

Saturday morning, we were up early and anxious to get to the show. Jim shared a table with Randy "Rantz" Kintz and his booth babe Phoebe. I helped him get set up and then assisted in the booth for awhile.

HIGHLIGHT: Jim got to meet Stan Lee and get his autograph. He also got to shake his hand. I am so happy that this happened! In the early 1990's, Jim and his brother Tom tried to meet Stan Lee back in Philly but it never worked out. That being said, there was no way he was going to miss his opportunity this time! Mission accomplished, and I am happy with our decision, even though an autograph was $40.

I also got to see my good friend from college and her fiance'. It was their very first comic book show, and they had a great time. I was thrilled to see Michelle, and was happy to find out that Tony used to read comics growing up, so he had a definite point of reference. I also love the fact that they got to see what all the chaos is about. Both vowed to come back next year.

I love working the HERO Initiative booth. It is for a great cause, so it is easy to sell the product. I also get to work with great people- Brian, Kasey, Carly, Mike, etc. I was at the booth from 4 p.m. to close, and it went fast.

Saturday was a good day for friends and raising money. It wasn't the best day ever for Sequential Treasures. Selling original art is a niche, and the folks at the show didn't go overboard. We had problems that we have identified for next year- bigger signage, more table space, and a better take-away for prospective clients. The business is growing, and I am excited to be a small part of that.

We ended the day in the best way possible- at the HERO Initiative 3 minute sketch cocktail hour with Tim Sale. Jim got a killer Iron Man piece, and I got two beers. :-)

I will be back to finish up talking about Sunday, a short blog summit, and why it is important to keep Comics Fairplay a regular commitment and bit of fun in my life.

My picture is of Jim at his artist's alley table- ready for business!

Hero Initiative at ECCC

Signing schedule tomorrow! Come by booth 907 tomorrow and raise money for a good cause.



-- Post From My iPhone

Hitting the Limit: Comic Prices

I was talking to Jim last night about the upcoming Emerald City Comicon. He wanted to know if I was going to take any spending money, and my answer was a quick "no". The reason for this is simple.

The price of comic books in the current market have turned me off to buying new ones. When books hit $3.99, I hit my limit. Suddenly my habit felt like a burden- a huge financial one.

I honestly have wandered around my basement looking at my many long boxes, feeling pissed off that I spent so much money over the years on books that sit in a box. Of course, I also feel the same way about DVD's, CD's, and hardcover books, so I digress a bit.

My point is that I am scared to spend anymore money on comic books at this point. I enjoy the few that I still get, and I really appreciated your responses on what you are reading. I just wish that the limit on a new book was $2.50 or under.

I know that publishers and creators have to make a living, so I am under no false illusion about the reality of things. It just disappoints me. I loved comic books for so many years, and now I just feel bitter. I think that is a big reason I didn't blog for awhile. I didn't get my books every week any more, and I couldn't spend much on the ones I did get. Thank God for Discount Comic Book Services. If not for them, I wouldn't be able to afford them anymore at all.

It feels weird to go to a major comic event without any desire to spend money. I sincerely hope that when I get there it changes. Right now I want to work the HERO Initiative booth to raise money for creators in need and I want to help Jim out at his booth. I also want to see my wonderful friends, and that is the bonus.

What do you think would help me change my mind? Is it too late, because of the price of comics? I worry that it will never be the same again.

Has the price of comics changed your opinion?

What Are You Reading?

It's been awhile. I have dropped a lot of books. Some I have kept because I actually like them. It is like comic book reading the way it is supposed to be, I guess.

My surprise ongoing favorite has been Incredible Hercules. I love Greg Pak's scripting, and the interaction between Hercules, Amadeus Cho, and the supporting cast is fun and fresh.

Wonder Woman and Power Girl are my "female" go-to books. Gail Simone has lit the fire on the Amazon's book, taking it from a so-so title to a great one. She has re-energized the Amazons and given Diana a new lease on life. I appreciate Aaron Lopresti's art on the book- he draws strong female characters without being too heavy on the sexy tip.

Speaking of art, Amanda Conner makes it look like she was born to draw Power Girl. Her art is fun and exciting, and I appreciate the symbiosis with Jimmy Palmiotti on the book.

The Boys is my current "favorite" read. Garth Ennis and Darrick Robertson have taken a twisted concept and added heart to it. Sometimes putting a mirror up to society and mixing in the traditional association of "valiant teams" into a dark blender can be an eye-opener. It certainly is here.

The only X-Title I am currently getting is Uncanny X-Men. Though Terry Dodson and Greg Land on art chores wouldn't be my first pick, Matt Fraction is inspired as a writer. If I didn't know any better, he is having as much fun writing it as I have reading it.

I have also followed Blackest Night and enjoyed it despite not buying the tie-in books other then Green Lantern. I am anxiously awaiting the hopefully astounding conclusion.

What are you reading? Can you recommend me something that I am missing? I would certainly appreciate it as I don't go to comic book stores very often and don't have that point of reference.

Retirement Homes Circa 2040

In the past couple of years I have had the opportunity to visit my grandparents in a retirement home and observe the activities that occur therein. It seems pleasant enough, and I hope to be able to afford senior living someday.

My sister and I were having a conversation a couple of weeks ago and ever since then I have been thinking about what I can expect at a retirement home when it is my time. Since my generation and younger is so computer savvy, and since the general outlook on life has continued to evolve, it should be pretty interesting.

Retirement homes now:
Bingo and Gin Rummy
Day trips to events like the county fair or home show
General telephone usage
Lawrence Welk and Big Band music
Black and White movies, big on westerns
A tendency to dress up in nice slacks and button down shirts and/or pantsuits
Remembering those that fought in World War II
General calisthenics and physical therapy
Saying "darn it"
Lots of pride when the grandkids visit

Retirement homes circa 2040:
Virtual X-Box tournaments
Trips to rock shows and lots of concern over if the mosh pit is going to be a hip breaker
Texting my homies while surfing the net and checking Facebook
Jay-Z and Metallica blaring on the sound system
Tarantino and Die Hard film festivals
Blingy Christian Audiger t-shirts and ripped jeans
Remembering those who fought for the last copy of Avatar 3D on virtual DVD
Wii Fit and body pump with intermittent trips to pump iron
Saying "f*#k it"
Lots of pride when the grandkids visit

Okay, maybe some things never change.

I just know that it will be fun finding out how we will roll, especially with so much technology at our fingertips. I wonder how we will act and if we will mellow with age or if we will continue to seek continuous instant gratification.

What do you think?

I'm Back....

After a long absence, I am here announcing my renewed presence. It has been crazy in "life" and lots of things have consumed my time.

The biggest "non time" problem is that I only get comic books once a month. Also, I haven't had time to read the comic book news or check out other blogs. I am pretty much lost when it comes to current comic book affairs. That has made it tough to blog.

What is bringing me back?

For one, the Emerald City Comicon is coming up on March 13 and 14 in Seattle. I will be volunteering at the HERO Initiative booth and Jim will be there with his artists, conducting business over at artist alley.

Original art has also become an interest, though I don't have the capital to invest in it. Watching what Jim does and how the market has beared up during the poor economic times has been fascinating to say the least.

Last but not least, I missed you guys. :-)

Stay tuned for thoughts, musings, and rants.... I have a Stan Lee one coming out next!

Rest In Peace: Patrick Swayze

What an awful day in this world. Actor Patrick Swayze has succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. He leaves behind a beautiful wife, Lisa, and a legion of fans that span the generations.

Swayze first entered my radar in The Outsiders. In a cast of teen idols, he came off as the paternal one. Good looking and emotional, Swayze looked to have a bright future. Then there was Red Dawn. What a moment in time that was! Anyone have a favorite moment from those two movies?

"No one puts Baby in a corner" was burned into our collective brains in Dirty Dancing. My sister and I couldn't believe how sexy and sensitive he was. Sigh. Not gonna lie about that one now. The movie had it's hokey moments, but it continues to delight audiences.

Then there was Road House. Whew! Playing Dalton, the tough but tender bouncer, this is where I truly learned to love the Swayze. When it comes on television to this day, the hubby and I may stop to watch. This film is one of my favorite old school gems.

I know a lot of folks are fans of Ghost, but I prefer Swayze's macho turn in Point Break. Between Keanu Reeves and him, it was quite a treat for both the ladies and the action fan in general. I absolutely love this movie and I know my husband has a soft spot for it as well.

Rather then going through the rest of his filmography, I would like to take a moment and cheris the Saturday Night Live skit Swayze did with Chris Farley. You know what I am talking about! The Chippendales tryout skit that solidified Farley's comedic genius was also a triumph for our man. It took a lot of guts to let it all hang out and be the straight man to Farley.

I will remember Patrick Swayze as a remarkable dancer, a devoted husband, and a guilty pleasure of sorts. He was one of the good guys, despite a few road bumps along the way. God Speed to you, Mr. Swayze. You have earned your rest.

Marvel and DC Shake Things Up... Another Opinion

So Disney bought Marvel, huh? DC is now DC Entertainment and has a female chief? Interesting. Am I supposed to go into a cold sweat and panic now? That's just not going to happen.

God knows that sometimes things need a good shakeup. The fans and pundits have certainly said so numerous times. Here is the golden opportunity on a platter, right?

I work in animal health, and in the last 15 years there have been several shake ups and mergers. These changes affect the employees and some lose their jobs. It also makes things seem uncertain and gives the end user cause for pause. What inevitably happens is that the top sellers go along like clockwork while the slow selling products and antiquated thinkers take a hike.

For better or for worse.

These companies aren't always right. There are inevitably speed bumps. Some folks don't like the new status quo. It is always full of changes and adjustments. Getting used to having new management and ideas that aren't what fit with our own ideals can be the hardest part. Embracing change isn't easy.

That being said, do I think that comics will change? Not really. From everything I have read and seen, there is an awareness that people are in place that can handle the paper portion of the proceedings.

What fascinates me is the changes that will be visible to the non-comic book reader. Will we walk the aisles of our local stores and see even more merchandise? Will there be more presence on our smart phones? Will video games be a bigger factor? I say yes to all the above.

At this point as an old school fan, I want to embrace change and take the ride. I challenge the new powers involved in these endeavors to give me a reason to be excited and joyful. It would be a nice feeling.

Randomly Weird Moment of the Day

Today during lunch, I went to the bank, whick is located in a Safeway grocery store. To my great surprise, I found that I couldn't get through to park my car.

Why, you may ask?

Two elderly gentlemen were parked in the middle of the driveway in a large Impala. One was sitting in the car while the second was standing behind a Cadillac Escalade that was parked in a handicapped spot.

I put my car in park, noting that there were at least SIX cars behind me. I called to the man outside the car and asked if he thought he could move so that traffic could filter through.

His reply: "Nope. We are busy turning in this car that is illegally parked in a handicapped spot".

I asked "do you think you could park next to it so that traffic can get through?"

His crabby reply: "No. We are doing important citizen's business here today."

My (still calm) answer: "You need to move. You are blocking traffic and causing a serious potential for accidents."

Him: "Nope. You all have to wait."

Me (hysterically): "There are cars backed up to the road now. It is dangerous. Move now."

Him: glares at me and doesn't move.

Me: "I am calling 911. You are causing a hazard."

Him: "To hell with you all. I am almost finished."

In the meantime, the guy behind me has gotten out of his car and is swearing at the two old guys. There is lots of honking. A store employee has come out and is observing the scene. It is chaos.

The senior citizens pull into the next spot. I hear this:

"Just wait until this happens to you. You kids don't appreciate a damn thing we have done for you!"

We all are able to proceed to parking spots and go about our business. I count 18 cars behind mine. Yikes.

As I walk in, the store employee is still getting an earful from the old guy about his rights as a senior citizen...

Moral of the story: Two wrongs don't make a right.

For the record, my grandma is in a wheel chair, and I have been very upset at seeing non-handicapped (lazy) types use those spots. I just don't see how blocking traffic and making a scene is going to fix things.

Awesomely Bad 1980's Hair: Vixen

While I am picking on the Detroit Justice League of America, I might as well confess my extreme hatred of Vixen's hair. I know that to some it was a creative, awesome look, but to me it just looked... weird.

Vixen is sporting a mullet of sorts, with beautiful braids in the back, but a strange, scary, faux ears thing going on in front. It was hard for me to see a character that was supposed to be a model looking so funny.

What did you think of her look?

Pictured: Cover to Justice League of America Vol. 1 #234.

Awesomely Bad 1980's Costumes: Vibe

When the Justice League of America broke up it was sad. Then Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and Zatanna moved things to Detroit and picked up four new members. The one I would like to focus on tonight is Vibe.

Dressed in stylish yellow pants with black and orange on the pockets, this 1980's dreamboat was a sight to behold. His v-neck black and yellow top only served to accent this. Top off the outfit with a red bandana, green shades and gloves, and a what appears to be a fabulous mullet, Vibe is definitely on my list of "awesomely bad" costumes.

I defy any artist in comics today to make this character cool.

There- the gauntlet has been thrown. Heh.

What did you think of Vibe?

Life and Stuff...

Well, once again my good intentions are for nothing. First I went on vacation to the county fair to watch the nephews. Then it was back out of town again. Then I got sick.

Crap.

The good news is that I am feeling better today. The bad news is that my comics have pretty much gone unread.

Hopefully today is the day!!

I hope life is treating you all well. I am trying to get caught up on my blog reading as well, so I hope to catch up on that as well.

Comics still rule though!

Comics Fairplay: 5 Years of Blog-foolery and More!

For the last year, I have not been very active on my blog. I have meant to, and have actually had things brewing in my head that I really wanted to write about. It is always good intentions lately. My husband and I talked about the fact that I am not doing a very good job blogging. In a nice way, he asked me if I thought I ought to retire the blog.

For a month I thought about it. Hard. I just can't do it.

Today is the 5 year anniversary of the creation of Comics Fairplay and I carry mixed emotions. Without CF, I wouldn't have met so many wonderful people. The list is so long, and the folks are so precious to me, that I hardly dare to list them. CF gave me an entry way to vent my feelings and frustrations about an industry that continues to confound me in every possible way. It also gave me a chance to give my opinions about feminism and comics. I like to think that in a blogosphere that was ready to rumble, I was a voice of sanity.

So it is down to this: until I am ready to sit down and declare myself content with all things comics, this place can't go away. Though I only post once or twice a week, I still feel a sense of passion about the industry. What I encounter as a stumbling block is TIME. My life has been through so many changes in the last five years! I have lost family, have had a roller coaster ride of changes at work, I lost and gained many pounds, and I faced the most horrific challenge a person can face.

The good news is I am still standing. I still believe that there is a place for women to read and create comics. It happens every day, Folks. I think that the industry is more powerful then ever with the avalanche of success of several comic book movies. I do cringe at the San Diego Comicon though- it has become celebrity central, and its own size threatens to swallow it whole. Give me Emerald City Comicon any day of the week!

Five years. Joy. Pain. Terror. Anger, Happiness. Friendship. Hate. Love.

It has all been here. Let's continue the ride a little bit longer, shall we?

This Year's Birthday Present...

So today is my 43rd birthday. Arrgggghhh! Yikes.

At any rate, my husband conspired with artist extraordinaire Jason Metcalf to do a commission for my birthday. It turned out fantastic! Jim wanted to do a warrior look with an action pose, and like normal, Jason came through with a major upgrade.

Pretty sweet, huh? I am a lucky girl. Thank you to Jason and to the hubby for this beautiful piece.

Last Weekend: Comic Evolution and Pat Benatar??!!

The hubby and I had a busy weekend. First we got up early on Saturday and headed to Puyallup, WA for the Comic Evolution benefit "Be A Superhero for Babies" fundraiser. Our friends Randy Kintz and Jason Metcalf were going to be there sketching and there was a huge silent auction that all benefitted the March of Dimes.

Jim and I were blown away at how awesome Comic Evolution is! It is the neatest, best arranged shop I have seen in a long time. Owner Chuck Messinger has a vision that has become one of the coolest realities ever brought to life in comic retailer format. There is amazing original art and prints on the walls, tons of back issues, a great wall of new books, and an amazing amount of trades and graphic novels. He also has a wall of action figures and numerous busts and statues. It is the kind of store a reader WANTS to go to. Needless to say, I wish I lived closer.

We were lucky that day to see Clayton Crain and meet Paul Gulacy. I was a bit taken aback and flattered when Gulacy thought I was part of the "talent". LOL. Nice guy with great stories and a larger then life presence, he did a wonderful Green Lantern sketch for Jim. The lucky hubby also got a Spider-Girl sketch from Crain.

I bid on a piece of original art from Alias by Michael Gaydos and won it! We are currently trying to figure out how to get it here as I had to leave early. Jim bid on a few pieces but was outbid at the end.

On Sunday we went and saw Pat Benatar at Legends Casino. We didn't know what to expect, but we both knew we really wanted to see her in concert. Benatar didn't disappoint! She sounds remarkable and has a sweet sense of humor. Her husband Neil Giraldo is the guitarist of the band, and they really seemed to be happy to be performing together.

The concert lasted about an hour and a half, but it could have gone on all night as far as I was concerned. Benatar played many of her hits and the crowd really warmed up. Speaking of warm, did I mention the concert was outdoors and that it was in the high 80's when we got there. Lots of sunscreen and care to cover up saved us sunburns!

It isn't often that I get to have such an action packed weekend, so this was a real treat. Normally I am working or we have some kind of project going on here at home! I wish every weekend could be this much fun, but with unlimited money and time all week to recover!

Happy almost Wednesday to you!

Awesome Store- Awesome Cause!

There are tons of pieces of original art to bid on! Clayton Crain, Randy Kintz, and Travis Bundy are sketching!

Also, Bumpy's has the best pizza! Thank you to Chuck for the tip!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Head to Comic Evolution!

Today in Puyallup, Comic Evolution is having a silent auction and artists sketching to raise money for the March of Dimes. If you can, head down there and bid or get a sketch!

Photos to come... Comic Evolution is an amazing store!!!



-- Post From My iPhone

Limited Series Versus Ongoing Series: The Questions

A couple of days I was reading The Boys #31. It was vicious and brutal, with a character taking a permanent dirt nap before the last page unfolded. The impact was swift and meaningful, charging the series with an "anything can happen" vibe.

Why is this? Could it be that creator Garth Ennis has expressed that the series is finite, ending with issue #70?

I think that has a lot to do with it.

In a series like Y The Last Man, Preacher, or 100 Bullets, where there is a limited series mentality, no character is sacred. Anyone can be killed at any time, and the status quo can change without warning.

Characters like Wonder Woman, Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, and even Captain America all suffer from the forever ongoing issue. Creators and Editors can make dictates that shake things up, and often do. There just isn't the same impact allowed though, because through decades of history, these things have been done before. Sure Bruce Wayne is MIA right now, presumed dead in continuity, but how long will that logically last? Last time DC did this, Azrael took over the cowl and grew increasingly nuts until Bruce Wayne stepped back in. This time with Dick Grayson in charge, it could be much longer, but in my gut I know Bruce Wayne will be back.

The closest to a complete reboot I have seen in an "A-list" character is back in the 1980's when DC sent the Wonder Woman of pre-Crisis to Olympus after having her fall in battle. The new (and current) Wonder Woman was completely overhauled. Diana was back on Paradise Island with a few new twists and a complete opportunity for a new lease on life. After 20 years, she still hasn't had a truly steady boyfriend, though she has dabbled. Evidently Wonder Woman's kryptonite is a long term relationship!

Dizzy from 100 Bullets didn't have that hanging over her head. Though she swiftly became one of my favorite characters, and though her series has ended, I felt she was allowed to live without a net in 4 color drama. There were no expectations after all. I didn't grow up with Dizzy, and though I had an attachment to the character, it wasn't the same as how I feel about Wonder Woman- the first female character I learned about and wanted to emulate.

That is a heavy duty responsibility for the comic creators in an ongoing series, especially when said character has been in existence over 60 years. The fanbase gets upset, and it is hard to deal with. Kill a character in a finite series, and we get over it because it is artistic license in a product meant to entertain, rather then entrap.

It feel odd to me knowing that before I would be done with The Boys, most of these characters would be dead. It also felt strange to know that as much as I would like Hughie and Starlight to make it to the end, their relationship will most likely end in heartbreak, unless Ennis takes the Preacher approach and lets them ride off into the sunset, so to speak.

I guess that is why comics are entertainment, right?