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Post by oblique on Dec 22, 2017 9:11:57 GMT -5
I love the long titles - although I can see why the titles might cause some headaches on the homepage - and felt much the same about Orphan Black! I've never been able to find the whole show available to watch, I've seen the first two seasons, as it's no longer on Netflix in Canada. One day I'll get the whole thing and binge the last few seasons. I really like the titles the episodic storytelling structure.
While I'm sure you had big plans - when I'm working on a project the ideas are always bigger than the stories that can contain them in a reasonable manner! - I do think it all worked out well on the pages of Justice League.
Characters like Superman and Majestic can often be challenging to write properly in a team book, which makes enemies like Kobra and Stormwatch interesting, when they to use Superman (for examples) own strength against him in the public eye...but not this team! I look forward to seeing more of where Majestros is going.
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Post by oblique on Dec 16, 2017 9:13:24 GMT -5
Beautiful issue, Charlie! This was a very nice 'rest' issue between stories, but had it's own intense dramatic beats with Batman and Wonder Woman. I always loved those two in the "Justice League" and "Justice League Unlimited" cartoons; thinking of the episode where their both tweens (due to a spell) always makes me smile. While this might have referenced outside runs I've never read, it felt real and right to me!
There were also great scenes with the Hawks and the exciting Outsiders backup begins! I really like that you're digging into Kobra. Look forward to more!
Question - that's a great, very sweet, few pages with Bruce and Diana, and then...Sklitch? What happened!? Did Diana just kill him in a really bloody fashion!?
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Post by oblique on Dec 15, 2017 14:58:18 GMT -5
It's also cool to receive the occasional insight into the editorial discussions you have had and the different ideas each editor has given you. Very cool!
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Post by oblique on Dec 15, 2017 14:57:29 GMT -5
As always, it's nice not having to wait for the finale of an ongoing series this jampacked! Great work, Charlie, on the "Stormwatch" story from #46 to #48. First, great titles. Drag the angels down and hold them under in particular is such a sinister, aphoristic title that really helped frame the issue. I skimmed your previous "Letters" and I can see where you're coming from, using the styling of a television series in the pacing of your issues. I think I can say that it works! Jaime's covers were great. I love his costuming for Wonder Woman (I'm a big fan of Amazonian Diana) and Mera.
It was a lot of fun to see the Justice League take on this incarnation of Stormwatch and give them a very satisfying beat-down. It felt very much like the Wildstorm universe, for good an ill - adult, serious, dramatic, on the edge of being too self-serious, and then balanced nicely for DC2. Honestly, it felt like the right call to leave Stormwatch off the table after this, so to speak. After fighting Kobra, it was nice that the League had regained enough public trust and learned a lesson or two that helped them defeat Bendix. You wrote a very fun-to-hate scummy sort of villain, and he got his comeuppance! Chloe was pitch perfect, what a final moment! That was great.
Moving along was the "B" plot with Majestic and the Daemonites. I will have to wait and see where that is going! It did feel a little like Superman was 'Worfed' a bit in these issues to up the ante with the Kherans, but that is a minor complaint. But the Lord Imperator's betrayal was, to me, unforeseen and a little shocking. Damn. Majestic is more akin to Martian Manhunter than Superman in that regard - those two haven't really interacted, either!
I will add that I didn't necessarily know that time had passed, perhaps I read too quickly? Anyways, congrats on a great finale. I loved the big rescue aboard the Stormwatch ship. This was the Justice League standing firm and emerging intact. Great issues!
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Post by oblique on Dec 6, 2017 18:49:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the recommendation!
You guys had an impressive team here, with such obvious respect and consideration for the site. I hope my small contributions, and general appreciation, are met with approval. Sounds like I'm fishing for a compliment, I guess; all I mean is that it's kind of like landing a gig at DC Comics and standing in admiration of past successes. Looking forward to RIP! (Scary sounding title...)
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Post by oblique on Dec 6, 2017 18:45:24 GMT -5
You're very welcome. Naturally, I'd agree your writing has improved by leaps and bounds (looking at my old material as an aspiring writer can be...frightening...). But it's telling of your skill, enthusiasm, and commitment that you've continued to work on the site, and I sure appreciate it. Can't wait to see what you have in store for Batman and the League.
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Post by oblique on Dec 6, 2017 18:39:14 GMT -5
Not to worry, I'm not going anywhere. I might work at a truly sluggish pace, but I'm happy to read, review, and comment.
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Post by oblique on Nov 26, 2017 13:38:09 GMT -5
I hope you don't mind the very light edits I made to your contributions; they were in effort to bring the dialogue into line with what was occurring both elsewhere in the story and then later on in the ongoing arc. Of all the people I've ever collaborated with on the site, or had to edit, I found your work to be both tight and easy on my editorial eye, so that's a fantastic thing to experience. I hate hate hate editing other people's work, because I want to read stuff as a fan, not with a critical eye, but I could do both here without detriment to either aspect. Thanks again! I certainly don't mind at all. I'm glad you found it relatively easy. I draft and redraft and redraft, which I hope helps, but I also notice that it sometimes leaves orphaned fragments behind that have lost context. As for this issue, I knew the dialogue would need to be refined to fit the overall story. It was a ton of fun, and I hope to contribute again to more issues in the future.
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Post by oblique on Nov 17, 2017 9:50:30 GMT -5
This was an epic finale to an awesome arc! It really felt like each member of the League got to shine in some tough battles. The Planetmasters were good minions that provided some muscle to the Kobra Cult; obviously, Kobra feels most dangerous as an insidious political force, but it's always fun to punch the hired help through a wall. I love that the League could bring in 'reinforcements.' That's the advantage to being on the side of the angels, and it really shows the depth of the DC2 continuity and their in-universe relationships with other heroes. At times this conclusion felt like it was moving pretty fast, or that I had missed a tie-in issue, but the main points were all covered appropriately.
The final scene were damn tricky! Two Jason Burrs, man, Kobra is a hydra. I'm sure we'll see Jason Burr again. Overall, I really liked the balance of politics, intrigue, detective-work, and combat in this series. It was a ton of fun. Of course, there are a ton of hooks for the next issue! It's never over, indeed.
P.S. As always, the covers shine. The wide shot of the League and their allies was a great way to help visualize the different players in this issue and really set the tone for a big, fun, brawl.
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Post by oblique on Nov 15, 2017 18:35:27 GMT -5
Frankly, I always wonder the same things: where is the League, where is Superman, where is the Corps... Perhaps it's overly technical, but I think fiction like this (rather than the more limited word count of a comic) is the place where those questions can have, and deserve, an answer!
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Post by oblique on Nov 15, 2017 18:33:41 GMT -5
I think you made Kobra into a real threat, approaching the level of a 'horror' comic at times. Can't wait for the ending, I'm sure it's good! I don't think this arc has been too dense, but it was ambitious. Two overlapping arcs in serial fiction can be intimidating, but ultimately rewarding I'm sure.
Personally, I'm a big fan of recaps, especially in serial fiction. It's often a way to highlight the most relevant points that a reader needs to know. I understand that you can usually provide textual clues to fill in any missing pieces, but when you're working on multi-layered stories like this a good recap is still a very useful tool.
In my (limited) experience as a fanfiction writer, I've always wondered if anyone else was reading my fics! I recently wrapped up one story and posted an epilogue after a multi-month hiatus. I didn't expect anyone to even read the damn thing, but I felt like the story deserved an ending. Then I got two very sweet reviews. It really drove home how most readers are dead silent, but they are out there, and a few genuinely appreciate the story you're telling.
Anyways, I'm glad I have the free time to comment and that you're the type of author that responds. I always find reader engagement can help me tease out themes and story ideas too. I'm very glad to have found the site.
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Post by oblique on Nov 8, 2017 19:09:35 GMT -5
I have to say that the talent this site attracted to draw such amazing covers and create the logos is exceptional. Great work, Charlie! It really feels like a comic book.
As for this issue in particular, one word: terrifying. Concise, almost ruthless, very well-written. I really liked this issue. My only gripe would be poor Carol Ferris; while she's obviously being manipulated telepathically and/or emotionally, there's something that rubs me the wrong way about the manifestation of her 'possession.' I'm sure it will pan out, of course.
It is nice that you're exploring Henshaw's psychological trauma. The distorted or broken text and the evocative descriptions all fit together in a creepy jigsaw puzzle. This was a spine-tingling issue with a haunting cover. Great job!
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Post by oblique on Nov 4, 2017 12:17:11 GMT -5
Wow, Charlie, what a powerful issue! The world wasn't in danger, like you said, but this issue still crackled with energy.
First, it was smooth and easy to follow despite the large cast. I continue to enjoy Hal and Chloe's deepening relationship and it's nice to see them interact with more of Hal's extended family. I love "slice of life" moments for superheroes, and this issue was a great example of how to draw on that well for drama.
That said, I had a little trouble with some of the presentation of disability. It made sense, given how macho Hal and his brothers are and how they were raised, but it would have been nice if someone else had provided an additional perspective for poor Jim and, perhaps even more importantly, his son. Boy will need some real therapy.
The scenes with Kyle held less resonance for me as I'm not up to date on Nightwing or Teen Titans, but you did a fine job covering the relevant details. It was a fascinating scene with Kyle and Donna with some almost sinister plot hooks for later! Man, Kyle, someone should have seen this coming...too much power and all that!
I love what you've done with Sinestro, Guy, and Arisia; it was a great moment for all of them. Enjoy it while it lasts indeed. This was a great issue, Charlie, thank you for all your hard work on the title, it really pays off in character-driven stories like this one. Cheers!
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Post by oblique on Oct 20, 2017 19:14:02 GMT -5
Very clever issue! I really enjoyed the super-powered politics. You provided a good recap of continuity for newcomers like me to pick up.
The Kobra plot is very exciting; they're a great villain for the League. The tattoo was an awesome little trick! On to the next issue.
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Post by oblique on Oct 15, 2017 19:06:53 GMT -5
Wow, what a great issue and a perfect mission that only the League could handle. I enjoyed the 'A' plot wiht Martian Manhunter. Loved his patient analysis of the situation. They found a good solution.
There were also tons of plot hooks for Kobra and the Daemonites. Almost too much at times? That said, your summaries keep me up to speed! I'm eager for Kobra to get their comeuppance.
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Post by oblique on Oct 15, 2017 8:26:58 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear that the relaunch didn't come together in exactly the way you had hoped, but it definitely delivered a strong new vision for the League! But also, it does raise a problem I’ve had with the Big Seven concept. They’re all big hitters, so you have to smash them down hard to make any conflict worthwhile. If you have a lower powered team, threats can be big and scary and they make sense when they win out. But a straight Kobra vs League fight is going to be difficult because what are they, really? That can be a big problem for heavy hitters like Superman and the Justice League. Sometimes it feels like the best solution is to let them win the fights, but suffer the consequences, and focus on psychological battles. Apart from the occasional 'planetary-level threat.' That's what I enjoyed about Kobra, it felt like the League could win the fight but were struggling to win the war, facing PR problems and a nebulous enemy that works in the shadows! Interesting! Someone else had dibs on Hawkman, perhaps? Batman is definitely the straight man, especially with characters like Hal and the Flash, which makes his occasional joke all the more amusing. I'm certainly enjoying all of your work, and it's a lot of fun to follow serialized adventures over such a long period. Like a good comic book or webcomic, it's very rewarding to the reader. Cheers! Save
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Post by oblique on Oct 14, 2017 9:15:21 GMT -5
I've had a blast reading the "Scarlet Reign" story and thought I'd leave my review on this issue. The finale was amazing. I loved the different lanterns coming to the fore and you handled the broad cast of characters, especially the addition of Sinestro and Arisia Rrab, very well. It was a lot of fun and quite satisfying to see Jordan and Guy take such quick and decisive actions in a crisis, while not cruel or excessive obviously. Sometimes it's refreshing to see the hero put the bad guy down HARD. Scarlet Reign had a lot of very interesting concepts. I enjoyed your subversion of the Parallax story from the DC Universe. It was an exciting conclusion and I look forward to seeing some of the fallout. Now, on to the anniversary specials. David Charlton's "Target Green Lantern" was very cute and a fun read. "Impressive" by Jay Mcintyre was funny and it's really good to see GLs doing disaster relief in addition to stomping on super-villains. "Black and White" by John elbe was a terrifying reintroduction for Black Hand, yikes! "Electric Sound" covered some of the most interesting lanterns I've seen and reminds me how much I enjoy the breadth of the DC Universe, specially the space-themed books like GLC. Mark Bowers' "Mogo" story was a fun romp. The anniversary issue had a stunning collection of authors with some amazing stories Congratulations, guys, on creating such a memorable site and a great place for DC fans.
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Post by oblique on Oct 7, 2017 9:01:22 GMT -5
Strong issue with a lot of balls in the air. You keep the story moving briskly but also focus on a few Leaguers at a time, helping me keep track of what's going on and demonstrating some fun pair-ups, like Aquaman and Batman. I love how they're dealing with the fraught politics of their, well, existence and how people and governments react to something like the Justice League. Great issues for volume 2! I confess I know little about the Daemonites or the Wildstorm Universe, so this is going to be interesting!
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Post by oblique on Oct 5, 2017 18:40:31 GMT -5
Very good issue! This was a good moral dilemna with clever interwoven plotting. Ultimately, I think it was the appropriate decision for Hawkman, although at great cost.
I've never been a big fan, or read many issues, of Hawkman. It's cool to read more about him on this site! Right now I will say that Hawkwoman feels a little too much like an appendage; I might just feel that way given that Hawkgirl was my first introduction to the Hawks on Justice League, and thus feels like the mroe developed version of the two.
Interestingly, I've literally never read an issue with Kobra in the comics. This is the first time I've heard of them! Kobra is a great villain for the Justice League! You can't quite punch your way out of any given situation with them, but have access to heavy hitters for the occasional battle. They're insidious and evil. I look forward to their eventual defeat!
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Post by oblique on Oct 5, 2017 18:26:57 GMT -5
And we're back!
This issue was amazing, great work Charlie. While I certainly didn't have to wait for Volume 2, it felt like a solid new beginning. I liked the references to other issues on the site at the time (I think) but I could still follow the solid plot. This issue didn't have my favorite fight scenes, they felt a little hectic to me, but it's hard to juggle this many big guns at once! The plotting and characterization were perfect.
I am a fan of the Big Seven, and enjoyed your version of Hawkman as well, so it was nice to see the gang back together. The repartee between Flash and Batman ("Don't.) after the communications signal went dead was brilliant. It reminded me of an episode of the Justice League cartoon, although the subject matter was more mature. Can't wait to see what happens next!
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Post by oblique on Oct 1, 2017 13:06:24 GMT -5
As a latecomer to these issues, I didn't have to wait for the ending but that didn't make it anymore difficult to read. David seems to have said it best, this was a brutal, hard, and powerful story. A very neat introduction to John Stewart, and I can also see why it was hard to finish. (The scene breaks were fun, I feel like they helped with the visual identity of the issue and the 'comicness' of the site.) You're version of the power ring is fascinating and awesome. I love your portrayal of Stewart and his connection to Darkseid. Quite a twist of the knife in third issue. A moving story that I'm glad I got to read in it's entirety.
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Post by oblique on Sept 1, 2017 19:49:25 GMT -5
What an incredible cover and an incredible issue. I'm glad to have contributed! Oblique kindly stepped up to write the Wonder Girl and Troia scenes, and I’m glad he did. I knew they’d be fun to do, but I had the main plot to write, and knowing someone else was taking up the other most important part of the issue made life a whole lot easier. He captured some real verve and poise with his prose, and I think it’s another encouraging sign that when he decides to write his own solo title on the site it’ll be a winner! Where all the writers at? C’mon down! Roy did a great cover highlighting the three ‘Wonders’ featured in the issue, and I’m chuffed to have had a collaborator for so long on the site, and who works to such a consistent high quality. I’m lucky to be working with folks like Oblique, Roy, and especially my long-suffering editor Mark, who undercuts all my attempts at humour by being funnier than me, and keeps me level-headed when my writing goes off in all kinds of different directions. Thank you for the kind words, Charlie! I hope, eventually, my prose can live up to some of the writing I've had the pleasure to read on this site--and this issue is no exception! I had no idea what was going to happen, so I followed each twist and turn with bated breath! As I suspect you had planned, at first I though it was Hippolytus crawling his way back to godhood. But no! Ares pulls a fast one on the Celestial Pantheon. I loved his ploy, although I dread the potential consequences. From the opening scene with his vivid cruelty, to Nobody's exploration of a fascinating and haunting world of the divine, to the final reveal, I was hooked! It was hard to read my own contributions and resist the desire to file off a few of the rough edges. I can see Charlie (and, perhaps, Mark's?) efforts at work to refine my dialogue. I felt much more attached to the first scene with Cassie, but I think, ironically, that the scene with Donna turned out better now that I have some distance. Regardless, I hope any readers enjoyed my contributions. It was amazing to see how it all fit together! Frankly, I'm a little afraid of what to expect from 'An End To The Age of Wonders!' This was an epic prologue. Charlie, you have plans within plans within plans... As for what will be left afterwards, well! For newcomers to the site and DC fans who find these stories, what will be left is a true treasure. An incredible legacy that aspires to, and matches, some of the best comics ever written in depth, emotional intensity, and good fun--and beats them in planning ability. For aspiring writers, it's proof that there are amazing stories to be told, and that better writing and stories are found in collaboration with our peers. There are always more stories to tell, and, for now, I'm glad to keep reading them. SaveSaveSaveSave
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Post by oblique on Sept 1, 2017 18:58:38 GMT -5
P.S. I had this niggling feeling so I checked a few old threads and you did mention that, for now at least, Omega Point has been put on the shelf. As an aspiring writer and fan, I understand when that happens! I've had more than one great project stall on me in the past! This site and these stories are a tremendous testament to your skill and commitment, including this arc on Justice League.
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Post by oblique on Sept 1, 2017 18:11:33 GMT -5
The Justice League faced a terrifying challenge in "Collision Course!" I loved the opening issue and, I'll admit, that brief excursion into the multiverse was pretty cool. I enjoyed the set of characters created for Red Robin's dystopian future, and how it played with elements from the prime world's past. It was a great setup to the arc! Unfortunately, I'm not sure I'm the biggest fan of the the finale. First, the writing and plotting were quite good! This is more of a matter of personal opinion. Red Robin came off as a little pretentious and unnecessarily opaque, making it hard for me to root for him. (Mind you, I think it's hard to get on-side with someone that single-minded...) The final conflict fell a little flat for me, like it was building up to something but I was missing a few pieces! (I believe this is due, in part, due to the fact that the finale was a cliff-hanger!)
I still enjoyed the brief moments of calm in this issue where characters from the two timelines could connect, great dialogue and touching moments for me as a reader. The Justice League demonstrated the true depths of sacrifice and commitment required of great heroes. I see that that next issue heralds a new beginning, and I'm on to more! Cheers.
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Post by oblique on Aug 26, 2017 12:28:16 GMT -5
I got through stylistic phases with a title like Justice League. You mainly want to have fun while doing any kind of fan fiction, so in an effort to achieve that you introduce characters from all quarters to make a fun roster and then see where the characters take you. But at the same time, the title was at its ‘best-selling’ in the real world when it had the Big Seven as the main guys, not when Doctor Light was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Batman and Wonder Woman, so how best to bridge that gap? When this run was going on, I was thick in my ‘Who-Do-I-Want-To-Write?’ headspace, and that’s how we ended up with the likes of Animal Man, Big Barda and Mister Miracle, et al, in the main roster. And Guy Gardner as the main Green Lantern! These kind of characters are fun to write and have as part of your roster because they’ve not had regular (or any) interactions with other somewhat esoteric characters, so you can create really interesting character dynamics every single issue which have never been seen before. I'm a big fan of the Big Seven and often gravitate towards stories that feature a tight focus on a short roster of Leaguers. I prefered Justice League to Justice League Unlimited and Young Justice Season 1 to the sprawling second season. That said, you're totally right that you need to have fun and explore new ideas as a writer (and a reader) especially for fan-fiction, and I think you did an excellent job. This site has really given me a way to explore unusual characters that I've never followed in the comics, especially if it was an old story (I'm an awful art snob and I know it can limit my own enjoyment of what is really a good comic). This way, I discovered Hal Jordan can be a remarkably deep and interesting character, and new characters (to me) like Ted Kord, Big Barda, and Mister Miracle! It's been a really fun run. I think it's safe to say it's been a roaring success. Moving through the back issues it feels like a coherenet and well developed story. I'll be back for more! Save
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Post by oblique on Aug 26, 2017 12:19:31 GMT -5
Decade would features stories set in the ten year period and after the event series itself. I have one for the Tim Wayne Batman I want to do which will be bat shit crazy but I think you can tell from everything I’ve said across the site that I’m worried about over-committing myself! Regarding Superwoman as a mantle, I think it’s important to note that at this point, she’s been a hero on Earth longer than Superman would have been. I think we pretty much stated that the timeline for our superheroes starts with his debut (the only hero being around longer in the Modern Age being Batman, who started two years before that) and she debuted six, maybe seven years into that, so she’ll have had a few years in his shadow as Supergirl before he leaves Earth. The world would have accepted her eventually, and she’s cast of that shadow, so who are they going to trust more now? Him or her? Oh, I think I just got an idea for another Decade story… I remember reading about the rapport that Katie McGrath (Lena) and Melissa Benoist (Kara) have in the ‘ Supergirl’ show and that played a small role in the change in their relationship in the DC2, but at the same time, the way I was writing, and the way the characters ended up interacting and emoting at each other, this was a natural place for their relationship to end up. We could have very easily gone the boring route and had another ‘generation’ of Els and Luthors feuding, but what’s the point? When some feedback in the earlier issues mentioned that their interactions felt very flirty, that hammered home the point that my writing was apparently trying to make to me—these two needed to end up together. You’ll see where that takes them in Omega Crisis, especially after the events of the second issue. One of the reasons I actually wanted to use Lena wasn’t because of her appearance in the TV show (I don’t watch it at all regularly) but because of her appearances in early 2000s Superman comics, where she became Brainiac 13’s apprentice. She became a very real character at that point, and I’m a firm believer in the earlier comics you read shaping your fandom. Anyway, when I wrap every other extraneous story I’ve started or plotted or teased on the site I’ll sit down and get to work on Decade, but before all that I have to finish Omega Crisis. Wish me luck! Thanks for reading! I can't wait for more! I think your Superwoman, her new powers, and her relationship with Lena all deserve a continuation. Decade sounds like a ton of fun. It definitely feels like, and this is a compliment to how this story worked so well, Superwoman has been on Earth for a long time and truly established herself there. The tendency, and appeal, to retell origin stories and keep characters like Superman operating on Earth in such a limited time span (look at the New 52 and it's bizarre insistence that every superhero had only been in the public eye for jsut five years) is so limiting! I moved back through the New 52 and found a wealth of stories that played on how more established character and world dynamics can be just as, if not more interesting, than an origin story. In a remarkable achievement, Superwoman got to be both. I didn't know that Lena was a character in the comics, not that it's surprising, of course. It's so true that the earlier comics (and, perhaps, television shows) shape your fandom! Justice League introduced me to their Big Seven and John Stewart's place in my mind as the Green Lantern. The Batman (not the Timmverse) was my foundation for Batman, Robin, and Batgirl. When I started reading comics, the first stories I really got into defined my favorite characters. That said, it's been a real treat discovering new characters and new versions of their adventures on this site. Superwoman happened to receive a boost (for me) from the coincidentally concurrent show! And, yes, the covers were amazing. Such a strong, stunning vision for a superheroine. Her outfit was a pitch-perfect evolution of Superman's. Loved this story and look forward to more, no matter how long it takes. Your dedication to the craft, and this site, is very impressive. I hope new readers like me are a worthy reward. SaveSave
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Post by oblique on Aug 14, 2017 20:10:54 GMT -5
I really enjoyed this run of Justice League! The return of the Star Conqueror! From the tense opening hook to the climactic battle inside J'onn's mind, it felt like the Justice League faced a real threat.
Starro enabled some fun match-ups and good character moments as the League battled inside Laputa. Barda was a hilarious addition to the team! I liked your portrayal of Martian Manhunter's mindscape and Animal Man's clever victory. It showed great planning, teamwork, and effort on your part. Looking forward to the next battle!
-Oblique
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Post by oblique on Aug 7, 2017 12:27:26 GMT -5
WOW. Just, wow. This was a great finale to my favorite story on this site right now, hands down. I love Kara and this issue neatly wrapped up all of the threads from the previous issues and opened the door to something I expect will be even better. I enjoyed the back-and-forth in the "Ten Years Later" timeline, but I'm also excited to see more in the future, seeing as how you mentioned yourself that Kara is now Superwoman in her own right (she's a hero for her own reasons and not just to honor Kal). In some ways, she has even transcended her cousin's legacy. I love her new-ish powers and abilities and her own roster of allies. While, of course, Lena was NEVER going to be her archnemesis, I'll admit, I did not see the final battle coming. Well played. Gorgeous action and clever writing to capture some of the nuances of telepathy, nanotechnology, and their inner battle in written form. I'm quite happy for these two lovebirds, and you did their (second) kiss justice. Lovely! (This reminds me that Lena Luthor was in Supergirl Season 2 and some fans were convinced, given the chemistry the two actors had on screen, that the show was going to take a similar route.)
I was actually quite worried (when I saw the finale subscript) that this was going to be the last Superwoman story! I was all set to write a glowing review and beg for more issues, and then I saw that the adventure will continue! Thank goodness. I see Zod is back! I wonder if Superwoman needs a new archnemesis of her own to round-out the supporting cast? I'm excited to see Lionel and what I hope will be a comedic introduction to his granddaughter's new life, although I might be missing the mark there. What a good story. Thanks, Charlie, for an amazing ride. I look forward to tomorrow, and more to come.
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Post by oblique on Jun 25, 2017 9:26:10 GMT -5
Congratulations on an epic finale to an amazing run on Green Lantern! I've had the privilege to read Green Lantern in the order you put it together in the library (and I didn't have to wait three years or so to get to this point). The plot was so tight, the references were timely, and the character development built on everything that had come before it.
I'll admit I was never the biggest fan of Green Lantern; I've never collected the comics and Hal Jordan was always my least favorite member of the League! So it means something (I think) when I say that you've won me over to the ol' flyboy. This was a dramatic, desperate battle for the universe's greatest ringslinger, and a tragic victory. I enjoyed the culmination of his story with Chloe Sullivan (and I just liked having her in the DC2). That said, I wasn't the biggest fan of Carol Ferris' interactions with the Predator. It felt like she was too easily manipulated--not that the Predator, of course, wasn't a powerful and disturbing psychic, but that I wish Carol hadn't been the target. At the same time, it was part of the Predator's cruel assault on Jordan's life.
It's hard to describe how awesome the final battles with the Predator were. You dealt with one of the (oftentimes) biggest holes in stories were the hero is pitted against someone they know who is being controlled by an outside force...how hard to it would be to forgive the monster they became under the influence of some evil, how they could talk like your old friend, pry at your mind. Jordan's responses were pitch perfect. The dialogue and the combat were exceptional. And it all ended in such tragedy.
I'm sure that Hal Jordan will be back, and I hope to see Jessica and Chloe Sullivan again in the future. For now, I look forward to John Stewart's time with the ring. I'll be back for more soon!
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Post by oblique on Jun 25, 2017 9:12:53 GMT -5
Two great issues of Justice League (#26 and #27)! #26 offered a great roundup as the League sought out some new recruits; I loved how we got see to see Buddy Baker's perspective on these titans. Superman was such an inspirational figure in that issue.
The next issue was a fun one-shot with some dimension-hopping action. Unlike some, I must admit that I didn't realize who Becky was until the reveal! It was a lovely ending for a great adventure that reminded me of some of the best episodes of Justice League/Justice League Unlimited, which was my introduction to these heroes. Great job!
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