DCU Holiday Bash: 2 shorts

Well it is after Christmas. All the gifts have been unwrapped, all the parties have ended, and all the clothes your mom bought for you have been exchanged at the store for clothes you would rather wear. Except for the underwear. Those you are stuck with. Sorry.

Anyway, I do hope you all had a good holiday. Mine was a strange mix between busy and slow. Sometimes all in the same day. But even with all the Christmas events going on, I still wanted to make sure that I was able to keep to my upload schedule. On the other hand, I am lazy, so this week I'm going to do two short, two page comics. So let's turn off our brains and grab some leftover candy canes, this is DCU Holiday Bash: Satan's Little Helper and Just Another Night.

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to wish you all a happy holiday and a Merry Christmas. Thank you everyone who comes to my little back ally blog and enjoys reading my views on comics and such. It does mean a lot to me to know that someone is reading.

DCU Holiday Bash: Present Tense

Bet you didn't know that back in the day, 1997 that is, DC put out a Christmas comic. Well now you do know. DCU Bash is a comic with many short Holiday themed stories all about different characters. All the stories are written by different people and drawn by different artist, plus most stories are ten pages or less, so you can read a few and not feel compelled to keep going if you so wish. This week I'll be looking at the story titled Flash: Present Tense. But do not think I'll just stop after that. There are many more good stories and messages in this comic alone. So lets turn off our brains and grab some ice (it'll make sense later, trust me) it's time to enjoy Flash: Present Tense.

The Ray

DC's newest mini series. And I do have to say, I enjoyed this story. It was funny for the most part and the art is great. The basic plot of this first issue is a simple origin story. A Korean-American lifeguard just happened to get hit with a science light beam. That beam, rather then kill him, gives him superpowers. Lucky for us, he uses his powers for good rather then evil. I think it is thanks to his hippie parents (really, his parents ARE in fact hippies). Anyway, the mini series is off to a good start. A strong hero, a pretty good villain with questionable powers shown at the end, and lots of just funny lines. If you find it and have an extra three bucks, I say try it.

Batgirl: Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas

Okay, I have had enough of any color lantern for a good while. So let's really change gears and go into the Batman Animated Universe. As you might have guessed, there was a comic book that was written by Paul Dini and drawn by Bruce Timm. This comic was made the same way as the animated show. So in a sense, it was like reading storyboards. This is more true for this comic. This story was turned into an episode on the real animated series. But for now, let's turn off our brains and grab some eggnog, it's time to read Batgirl: Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas.

Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special

Like I said last week, there is a third Sonic Kids story but that story had nothing to do with Sonic as a kid. That was the main reason I did not want to look into that. The other reason? CHRISTMAS!!!!! Yes, as I am sure you are all sick of now, Christmas is here. So for the month of December I'll be looking at Christmas themed comic books. Now if you do not like Christmas or celebrate it, I am very sorry. I am a Christian and I do love Christmas. Plus, this is my blog, I'll do whatever I please here. So with that out of the way, let's turn off our brains and grab some cookies, this is Green Lantern: Larfleeze Christmas Special.

Sonic Kids Story 2

Last week we got the story of royal pain Sally, emo Tails, and lots of nothing happening. At the end of that story, it told us to turn the page to see how Tails got his shoes! Tails getting shoes?! That has to be the best story ever written by man or woman! Well I guess we'll have to see as we turn off our brains and eat chili dogs, its time for Sonic Kids Story 2.

Sonic Kids Story 1

Ah Sonic. He can really move. Sonic, he's got an attitude. Sonic, he's the fastest thing alive.

As many of you might know, this year was Sonic the Hedgehog's 20th anniversary. Sega gave us a great game, from what I have seen and read, called Sonic Generations. It has the current form of Sonic teaming up with retro 1991 powers Sonic to save all time or something like that. But with all the talk about Sonic, I got to thinking about how many people know Sonic's origin. No no, I don't mean in the video games. That is a different can of worms that I don't want to open. So I wanted to talk about his origin story in the comics. But it was not in issue 01. Issue 01 of the Sonic Comic Universe was just Sonic fighting Robotnik. No real story was set up yet, at least nothing deep. We really didn't get much in the lines of Sonic's life before Robotnik before this comic came out. Now I am sure that things have changed over the years and I do not follow Sonic comics as closely as I use to, but that will not stop me from looking at a piece I loved from my childhood. So get ready to turn off your brain and grab a chili dog, it's time for Sonic Kids, story 01 

Subway / Justice League Famous Fans the Motion Comic

The time has now truly come. I have looked at all the copies of Famous Fans in the comic books and all that is left is the motion comic. Just to get this out of the way, what I did to get the images for this comic was I watched the comic and paused the video on each frame, mostly at the point right when the image changes. I screen captured it and cropped the images in Photoshop. But if you want to follow along, look at the end of this review for the link to the motion comic itself. But for now, turn off your brain and grab some avocado, it's time for Subway / Justice League Famous Fans the Motion Comic!

Subway / Justice League Famous Fans #4

Well, the time has finally come. It has been a good run but it is, at long last, the end of the Subway Famous Fans Ad comics. We had football players fight divers, basketballs stop apes, and Grundy falling into frozen water. Its been a good run. So, for the last time, turn off your brain and grab some avocado, it's time for Subway / Justice League Famous Fans #4.

Subway / Justice League Famous Fans #3

Well it is after Halloween. All the candy you got has been eaten, you have 3 new cavities, and a stomach ache. Well why not have something healthy now? Maybe something like a Subway Sandwich would hit the spot. Yep, it is that time of the week again. Time to look at the Subway ad comics. So turn off your brain, grab some Avocado, and lets take a look at this weeks Famous Fans.

Subway / Justice League Famous Fans #2

Hey everyone. It's Tuesday. Grab your Subway sandwich and get ready to turn off your brain, it's time to look at another Subway ad comic, Famous Fans.

Subway / Justice League Famous Fans #1

Mmmm. Subway Sandwiches. Good for you, good for your wallet, and good in comics? Well ok, that last one might be a stretch.

Back during the August event known as Flashpoint, Subway released 4 mini ad comics, all of them 6 pages in length and that does not include covers, in different books. These ad's had the title of 'Famous Fans'. They were simple and dumb, both in writing and art. Now these ad's were not that great as both marketing for Subway, and as Justice League titles, but they were what a comic book ad should be. If you ever read any of the hostess comic ads, you'd understand. You don't have to take my word for it. Because now you get to see my review of the Justice League / Subway comics.

I figured out something

I am not meant to make videos. Like at all. They never work right and I am never happy with them. I'll might make something if something just seems fun or what not, but review videos, yeah, I give up.

I'll still write out my feelings on Comics and such here, but that will be all that comes of it.

Just something I figured out not that long ago.

Preview of My Greatest Adventures and The Shade

Another week and two more books to give a preview for.

The first book is titled My Greatest Adventure.

Alright, here is where things get tricky for me. Back at the beginning of this year, there was a small mini series released called Weird Worlds. It was a comic made up of 3 mini stories that did not interact at all. And because covers are what makes us pick up any first book, this cover had Lobo on it. Reading Lobo is like watching a car wreck, but in a good way. Lobo is fun and enjoyable when done right, even if he is a jackass to everyone. Well in Weird Worlds, the Lobo story was done well and was always a fun ride. But as I said, there are a total of 3 stories in that.book. The other 2 were about a creature called Garbage Man, and Tanga. These were two brand new characters and that book was their debut. I really liked the characters. Garbage man is a less scary story of the swamp thing, while Tanga is a fun 20-something (in earth years) girl who has some pretty bad luck.

All this ties into me picking up this book. You see, when Weird Worlds mini series ended, it said that the stories of Garbage Man and Tanga will continue later that year. Well this book does that. The Lobo story did end in Weird Worlds, which was nice. Now to replace the Lobo story we have Robot Man, a member of the Doom Patrol once apon a time. This book does a great job picking up where Weird Worlds left off. But it is that reason why I have a hard time saying you should get it. I love it because I went into the book already knowing the characters, but I feel that if you did not read Weird Worlds, this book might be hard to get into.

Overall: If you read Weird Worlds, get this book. If not, still look through it. The stories and art are all awesome.

The second book that came out this week was The Shade

The Shade is a fun anti hero character. He was a villain at one time, but has since changed.

The story takes place in the month of October and he is in a depressed funk. He talks to Starman about it, as well as his girlfriend. Both think that he needs to find a way to get over it and his girlfriend even suggests that he needs a new adventure, like when he was a villain. And no, she does not want Shade to turn back to crime. She just seemed to remember him happier when he had some kind of thrill in his life. The story is off to a good start with a great battle at the end of the book with Deathstroke.

Oh and before I forget, this book has a much better version on Deathstroke then the Deathstroke book. Yeah, try and wrap your head around that one.

This Deathstroke is what comic readers would want from the character. He is quiet, focused, and totally awesome. And, if I can be a bit truthful, Seeing this full page shot of Deathstroke was the deciding factor for me to pick up this book. I love Deathstroke when he is done right. This book gives me that.

Overall: A must read, even if the book does sound a bit depressing at times.

Well that is the new books for this week. No idea what is coming out next, if anything, but you can be sure that I'll be getting it and giving you all a preview.

All images are owned by DC.

Justice League Relaunch title

Well it has been a while in the making. Real life took over and all that, plus I had to make sure I was happy with the review I was writing. Well now here it is. The last of the new 52 titles to look at. Ironicly it was the first book released. I am so backwards. Well here is my review on Justice League.

Preview of Huntress mini series

Hello everyone, Comic Kathy once again to bring you a preview of a new DC book.

Last week the new 52 ended. I looked over all the books, with my review of Justice League coming this weekend, depending on how things go in real life. But this week saw the start of 2 mini series. The first is one about the Penguin. I did not pick it up because, well, I didn't. I only semi like the Penguin as a character and that does say a lot, seeing how the Penguin goes from pudgy man in suit, to Gotham under world business man, to creepy monster man. I might still pick it up but not now.

No, today I wanted to share with you all my feelings on the new Huntress mini series. As I am sure you must know by now, I got into the character Huntress from Gail Simone's hit title Birds of Prey. Seeing as how Huntress was not in the new 52 Birds, I did wonder what she was doing. Well thanks to this book I now know.

This book was writen by Paul Levitz. Who is this you ask? Well Mr. Levitz was the man who gave us the basic character that Huntress is today. You see, back in the day there were 52 Earths all in the same place just at different dimensions. Most of these Earths are just there, never really looking into what goes on there. But there was an Earth that was very big. This was Earth-2. Earth-2 was the home of the Justice Society of America and one of the members of this group was the first Huntress. The person who first wrote this incarnation of Huntress was Paul Levitz. So yeah, this book was written by the guy who first wrote her. Now there have been a number of changes to the Huntress character over the years and Paul takes them into account. This Huntress is not the Huntress he first wrote for. But like Paul Dini writing the Gotham City Sirens, Paul Livitz does a great job of still knowing how to write for the girl he made.

The art work is very well done. The characters, backgrounds, and panels are all well defined from each other and the coloring is bright and easy to look at, even in the night scenes. Nothing feels like it blends together and becomes one big blur like it does in some Gotham city comics.

The story, from what I can tell anyway, is about Huntress going to Italy to stop some crime traffic that is on its way to her home in Gotham. Of course nothing is as easy as that and Huntress finds herself slowly getting in over her head. Only time will tell if she can rise up or drown under this case.

Like I said, this is only the first issue of the mini series. The book is going to go on for a total of 6 issues and if the rest are anything like this first book, then I look forward to reading more in the future.

Overall: Huntress is so worth your time. Even if you know nothing about the character, this book and the new DC relaunch is a good place to start for new readers. Of course, if you do like her, then I still encourage you to research Huntress's true history. Her life before the relaunch that is.

Where in the world is Red Cloak?

It is the last week for the Red Cloak sightings. I hope this was a fun little bit for you all. If I find out more info, I'll be sure to share it with you all here. In the mean time, here are the answers.

Preview of DC Relaunch Week 05

Well it's the final week of the DC relaunch. Guess that means that after this week, I'm out of the job. Oh well. In the mean time, lets look at the last week of titles.

I spy with my little eye, the Red Cloak

Yep. That time of the week again. Time for the answers for where is the Red Cloak. Since I have nothing else to say about it (she doesn't do anything yet in the DCU) I'll just move on to the pictures.

Preview of DC relaunch week 04

Hello all,  Comic Kathy here. Well it is thursday and that means it is time once again to look at the DC relaunch. Now going into this week there were many books I was looking forward to. I had a bit of a let down on some of them. But enough about that, lets look at the books.

Where is the Red Cloak again?

Week 03 relaunch Red Cloak spottings.

Where is the Red Cloak?

See this figure? Well this is a woman I am going to call "Red Cloak". She has been appearing in all the issues of the month long relaunch. Well I found her. In every issue, I found her. Sometimes it takes me 2 reads and a few days, but I always find her. What is she up to? What is she meant to do? No one, outside DC, knows.

Anyway, this post is to show you all where she is each issue. Since I missed last week, I'll be uploading all issues this week. Justice League is the comic right above.

It be talk like a pirate day

To all you lubbers and and wenches, it be talk like a pirate day. I hope ye all were ables to talk like one fer the day.

This be a small postin to yet it be known that I knew about it.

Preview of DC relaunch week 03

Hello all. Comic Kathy here. Well it is a new week (kinda) and that means a new batch of relaunch titles from DC. And like last time, I'm going to give you all a preview of them and my thoughts. It should go without saying, but there might be spoilers here. So lets get started.

Preview of DC relaunch week 02

Well the video will not load anywhere. Sadness. So I guess I'll just write out my reviews.

Well this is not what I wanted.

So I have my first video ready and rendered, but it seems to be too big. I need to cut off like 5 GB of size. Trying different compressions and whatnot. Anyway, The first video will be a tad late then what I had planned. Whee.

Start of a new Blog

Hello and welcome to Comic Kathy Views. This blog will host my videos mostly but will also have reviews of items I like and don't like. I hope you all will enjoy this blog and I know I'll have fun with it.