Denny Colt is watching you...

...via Google.

Actually, this has nothing to do with Denny Colt's cockeyed voyeurism of you, but actually is to celebrate what could be Will Eisner's 94th birthday.

Will Eisner was a pretty cool guy, and the folks at Bleeding Cool do a lot better job than singing his praises than I do.

I'm just happy that an icon of comics history got his own Google doodle, and I'd be even happier if people got to know who Will Eisner was because of it.

Comics Go Historical?

It's funny how legitimate conversations can veer into the world of comics.  This past week one of the history teachers at work brought up how there might be an error in the AP History textbook regarding Aaron Burr.  While she was doing research online, her conversation consisted mostly of, "Did anyone know that [fill in random Aaron Burr fact here]?" about three times and me replying, "Yes, I did."  I'm not really a history buff, but I was a little obsessive about the Federalist era there for a while.  Let's just say that Alexander Hamilton was the Hal Jordan of his day, and that entertains me.

So, while on our respective lunch breaks, we were all trying to figure out whether Aaron Burr held a position in Jefferson's cabinet, and being the Paragon of Information of my workplace, I went immediately to Wikipedia, and of course this jumped out at me:

Leave it to comics to make history more awesome than it already is.  And thank you, Wikipedia.

Are you as surprised as I am that Hal actually knew what year Aaron Burr died?

How often to you see something historical in a comic book today?  Comics today seem to exist in a cultural bubble: I'm not sure what world the characters live in.  I know they live in the U.S., becuase pop culture references get dropped every now and then.  Because I'm just one of those people that likes to learn random things, I kind of miss the "educational" value that comics had in the Silver Age.  Even if they got the science wrong in a Flash comic, at least they were trying.  And there were those little articles in between the stories that were somehow related to the stories: an article about astronomy in Mystery in Space, for example.  I think reading a comic would be a little richer if some knowledge was added to the mix, and if those little informational columns came back, they could be an incentive to buy single issues, assuming they aren't printed in trades.

Well, if you consider going on a power trip and prompting the aliens' western territories to secede from the Union, well, then sure, I guess he succeeded.

While I don't need an overtly-historical story like this one to make me happy, I'd like a little mention of something I could use to win Jeopardy someday.  Maybe the Flash rogues were the ones really responsible for stealing The Scream, for example?

My favorite panel.  Too bad this didn't happen in real life.  In the sequel to this story, Hamilton shows up and is all awesome and finishes what the monster started.  Okay, not really, but that would be cool.

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 49

49.  Justice is served, Harvey Dent style (Batman: Shadow of the Bat #62-63, 1997.)  (***Potential Spoilers!***

I know hardly anything about The Punisher, but the more I think about it, the more I think I'd like him.  Sometimes I need a break from the peaceful-warrior style of Justice served by heroes like The Martian Manhuner, and I need a Machiavellian approach to satisfy those darker yearnings for Revenge...er...Justice.  (Did I mention I'm half-Sicilian?)

Fun Fact: My Mom's dog is a Chow Chow!

There's a book I have called Batman and Philosophy in which one of the essays examines whether Batman's decision to not kill the Joker is causing more lives to be lost.  Depending on the mood I'm in, I'll waver between, "Don't sacrifice your morals and break your one rule!" to "Oh, just kill him already and be done with it!"  But Bruce Wayne won't ever pull a trigger, even in the name of Justice.

But guess who will?

All Batman villians must laugh when shooting their henchmen.  It's just tradition at this point.

Yeah, that's right, Batman: Harvey Dent will get your dirty work done.  Good thing about leaving things to the Fate of a coin toss: it's really good at absolving guilt.  The good portion of Harvey's psyche decices to emerge and punish criminals under the mantle of "Janus."  He's pretty darn close to being a superhero, too: he dons a mask of the Greek god Janus and some black robes and starts punishing criminals and righting wrongs, and even twarts Two-Face's plans to destroy the city, becoming his own nemesis.  I could get used to this.

Plus, as an added bonus, we get to see Harvey Dent in a naval uniform and speak all piratey and shoot people with a gun that makes really cool sound effects:

C'mon, say it out loud, you know you want to: SHFF!!

Oh, and slap people around, too.

If anyone at DC is looking for a "new" angle to take Harvey Dent in, instead of the hoodie-wearing-betrayed-by-his-own-gang incarnation, you could always revisit this.

Just don't forget the military uniform, okay?

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 50

50.  J'onn J'onzz goes back to John Jones (JLA #104, 2004, collected in JLA: Pain of the Gods.)

I'm a big fan of small moments in comics.  Some belittle those, and the reviews on Amazon for the trade reflects that.  (I think someone called this trade the "Pain of the Reader.")  Okay, some of the stories seem a little forced, and even the Martian Manhunter one isn't stellar all around, but I see it as a nice break from fighting interstellar armies and sorceresses and Darkseid all that.  It's all about variety for me.

Anyway, for whatever reason, the JLA are in the mood for getting some heavy duty feelings off their chests.  While John Stewart is talking about that whole Xanshi debacle, J'onn decides he needs to be "elsewhere."

And that elsewhere is as a temp worker at a detective agency in his guise of "John Jones" (complete with hat.  Who-hoo!), where he manages to creep out his bosses despite being a stellar employee.  So one of his superiors decides to send "Loony Linda" to follow him around to make sure "there are no bodies in his refrigerator--and if there are..."

Linda and J'onn find themselves having dinner and during their conversation, J'onn just picks up and leaves.  The next night, J'onn is getting all Batman on an abusive husband, and Linda accidentally sees that John Jones isn't human.

Linda shows up on John Jones's door shortly thereafter and tells him she saw him.

John Stewart then shows up and congratulates Linda on figuring out what's really driving J'onn to act the way he is, and that Mr. Stewart had had it backwards the whole time.  J'onn wasn't feeling uncomfortable fitting in.

I know some long-time readers thought J'onn had regressed socially, but I read this early on in my comics reading career, so I came in with a fresh mind.  It was nice to see J'onn in his secret identity doing some detective work and helping regular folks down on the street.  I really miss that.  Who says only Batman has a monopoly on the "little" crimes?

Besides, artist Ron Garney and colorist David Baron did a fine job of evoking the John Johns aesthetic from the 1950's, with a few touches of Darwyn Cooke's work in DC: The New Frontier, and that's a combination I'd definitely like to see more of.  I mean, look at J'onn's little New Frontier-inspired apartment, complete with Oreos and chair right in front of the TV:

Apparently they don't have mothers on Mars that tell you not to sit too close to the set.

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 51

51.  J'onn J'onzz, G'nort, and Kilowog go out on the town.  (Justice League America #51, 1991.)

I love it when a great story can be told in a single issue.  Here's one of my favorite single issue stories from the JLI years.

It all started when G'nort came to town...

Do I really need to say any more?

Well, after the world's least-competent Green Lantern comes back to the JLI Embassy and finds there is no welcome home party for him, he finds Kilowog, who is bored to tears.  Kilowog has the brilliant idea to go for a night on the town, which would've been okay, until J'onn hears about it.

And this is how J'onn is roped into babysitting the two of them for the night.  I mean, what could possibly go wrong, right?

A dozen shredded men's suits and a stage full of terrified spandex-wearing Broadway actors later, the three "aliens and proud of it" superheroes decide to close the night out with a nice, relaxing dinner.

Extra points if you know what villain is attacking J'onn!

What, you think they'd get off the hook that easily?

And you didn't think Beetle and Booster wouldn't rub it in after they had to go bail J'onn out of jail, did you?

That poor, poor Martian.

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 52

52. Blue Beetle and Booster Gold steal J'onn's cookies (Martian Manhunter #24, 2000.)

I wasn't a huge fan of the Martian Manhunter series, but there was one bright spot in those thirty-six issues that almost makes up for it.

In Martian Manhunter #24, we take a trip back in time to the Justice League International days, and as usual, the michevious Blue and Gold are up to something:

The amazing thing is, I had no idea who Beetle, Booster, Maxwell Lord, Fire, Ice, OR Guy Gardner were when I read this issue, and I still thought it was funny.  Even this Maxwell Lord guy was amusing to me and I wanted to know more about him.  I had only sought it out to satiate my Martian Manhunter fandom, and had yet to read any Justice League International titles.  Now, of course, this all makes a whole lot more sense.

Obviously, this must translate well to new readers, because I sent the above panel to my non-comics-reading-but-Smallville-watching-friend and she found their "impish grins" amusing.

This is also the reason why "Choco Addiction," along with fire, is listed as a weakness on J'onn's DC Wikia page.  Recently, it seems, they went back to referring to "Chocos" as "Oreos," which I like.

And where are you going to ever find another Guy Gardner panel like this?  Muahaha.

And nor does seeing exchanges like this ever get old in my mind:

Martian Manhunter #24 could very easily have been an issue of JLI.  One minor quibble is that Ostrander made Booster the instigator and Beetle the somewhat-unwilling participant who realized they'd gone too far, and really the roles should've been reversed.  But, hey, it's good fun nonetheless, and  I like a good laugh from my comics every now and then.  Actually, more than every now and then.

I'm hoping that that little teaser image of a JLI banner shown in DC's editor column last week means an eventual return to the good ol' JLI days.  Wouldn't that be nice?

Oh, and one more.  I couldn't help adding this one in:

That's the Maxwell Lord I miss!

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 53

53.  Two-Face goes noir (Batman: Black and White #1, 1996, collected in: Batman: Black and White Volume 1, Batman vs. Two-Face, and Batman: Made Love and Other Stories.)

If you are a Two-Face fan, even a small one, then you are in for a treat.  Thankfully, it's easy to come by, so there's no excuse not to hunt it down and read it.

Let me start off by saying that I never really cared much for the Bruce Timm-created Batman: The Animated Series version of Two-Face.  He was portrayed a bit too much like a stereotyped 1930's gangster.  Plus, I didn't like the look at all.  The bad side of his face was blue (maybe not to scare the kiddies?) and a tad too ridiculous, and the good side of his face looked wayyy to much like Ralph Bellamy for my tastes.*  (Though I'm pretty sure Timm went on record saying he used another classic actor as inspiration, but the name escapes me right now.)

Anywho, in this eight page story written and drawn by Bruce Timm, Two-Face gets some state-of-the-art plastic surgery and therapy to get rid of the Two-Face persona, compliments of Bruce Wayne.  He then falls in love with Marilyn, the beautiful and brilliant lady plastic surgeon who fixed him up.

Harvey Dent in a hat.  You got into my dreams again, didn't you, Mr. Timm?

Everybody's all happy.  Harvey's wearing a hat.  The happy couple is out shopping for wedding rings.  It's all a little slice of heaven until...

...Marilyn's twin sister shows up.

A leopard print jacket?  This girl's got style!

And we all know how Harvey Dent has some issues with the number two.

I will say this about Bruce Timm: he draws a hell of a classic car.  I guess crime does pay.  In the form of a 1937 Supercharged Cord 812.  (Originally I had "Packards," but Bubbashelby was nice enough to identify the model of the car for me!)

I'm not going to give away the ending, but suffice to say, it's a darn good one, and it has a bit of a twist.  The amazing thing part of it all is that Bruce Timm is able to pull off a story a beginning, middle, and an end, a clear sense of tone and voice, and a dramatic punch of a finish, to boot, all in just eight pages.  The sad thing is that I read this very early on in new comics reading days, so was under the impression that all comics were this good.

It's a sad, tough, cynical world, Marilyn.

I can't recommend this story highly enough.  It ranks up there with the best of the best Two-Face stories, and Timm does in eight pages what very few writers can do in 22 pages, or 202 pages for that matter.

*For all you kiddies who are too young to remember, Ralph Bellamy was a classic movie actor from the 30's and 40's.  He always played a boob, usually the dumb ex-boyfriend to the the smart, sassy heroine of the picture.  Here he is:

He's not a bad guy nor a bad actor.  But he was always the butt of everyone's joke.

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 54

54. Despero gets a cape (Justice League America #38, 1990, collected nowhere, unfortunately.)

Amidst all the merriment and silliness of the day-to-day shennanigens of the Justice League Intenational, a dark threat was growing in outer space.  Literally.

Defeated a long time ago (I don't really know when, probably in the 1960's), the Justice League beat Despero, and he spent some time chilling in space.  He then came alive again, as an agent of pure hatred, and fell to Earth, crashing through a flagpole bearing the United Nations flag:

For whatever reason, Despero left the flag on as an impromptu cape, and clad in the now-disgraced symbol of international unity, he went on to cause all sorts of horrors for the Justice League International.

It's a scary and powerful symbol, just like Despero.

Frank, of the Idol-Head of Diabolu, also included the next issue, #39, which covers the battle and ensuing aftermath, in his DC75 Moments.

Oh, and here's another treat.  Issue #38 ends with this Dramatic(!) moment:

When the Martian is angry enough to point at you, you know you're in BIG trouble.

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 55

55.  Two-Face gets a cupcake.  (Yes, you read that right.)  (Detective Comics #747, 2000, collected in Gotham Central Volume 2, "Half a Life," 2005 and New Gotham: Volume 1, 2001)

"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones," said Phillips Brooks, a guy who I don't know from Adam but just found a quote from through a quick Google search.

Face it, comic books are about BIG moments.  Planets blowing up and things being thrown into the sun and all that.  And while that's fine and good, it's a lot easier to relate to the smaller things in life.

The single-issue story in Detective Comics #747 is all about a day in the life of Gotham police detective Renee Montoya, specifically, her twenty-ninth birthday.  A small mystery crops up when an unsigned bouquet of flowers arrives on her desk.

Amidst the day-to-day tasks of a detective, like testifying in court and putting up with obnoxious partners, Detective Montoya goes about solving the mystery of the unsigned flowers and finds out it was none other than Bruce Wayne who sent her the flowers.

Or was it?

Since this takes place right after No Man's Land, during which Montoya caught the eye of Harvey Dent and/or Two-Face (you're left guessing which side (or both) is enamoured with her.  Though the truth is revealed in Rucka's No Man's Land novelization), Montoya surmises Bruce Wayne did sent the flowers on behalf of Dent.

This is the Batman I like: the one who still believes in redemption, who has a heart, who would do a favor for an old friend, which to me is much more heroic than just running around beating the stuffing out of criminals proclaiming you are the night.  It's also the same Batman that was on the animated series back in the early 90's.

So, Montoya decides (grudgingly) to go visit Harvey:

Dammit, Dent!  I said off the phone already!

And, Batman leaves one of his friendly neighborhood Batman notes in Renee's car:

See?  Even Batman knows villains need to be loved.

Oh, and the type of flowers Two-Face sent Montoya?  Tulips.  Do you know how many times I read this story and STILL didn't figure out why it should be tulips?  I also just realized now that the color scheme throughout this issue is made up of only two colors.  I may not be the sharpest tack in the tool shed, but hey, that doesn't stop me from trying.

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 56

56.  Booster Gold, meet Rip Hunter.  Rip Hunter, meet Booster Gold.  (Booster Gold v1 #13, 1987, collected in DC Showcase Presents: Booster Gold Volume 1)

For the past few days I've had my nose buried in my copy of Showcase Presents: Booster Gold.  I bought it on a whim a year ago and never got around to reading it, and it's been quite the surprise.  (But more on that later.)

Anyway, about a third of the way in (in the middle of a multiple-issue story) Booster suddenly and inexplicably gets my brother's ridiculous haircut from high school an ugly buzz cut.  So my first reaction was, "Why'd Jurgens do that?" and the second reaction of course was, "Crap.  How long do I have to look at this?" and then I flipped through the rest of the book trying to find out.  (Yes, I am this superficial.)

I mean, why change Booster from this look:

Hal Jordan, eat your heart out.

To this?

Cue flashbacks to my childhood.

Well, the answer became evident in issue #13, when Booster Gold meets up with Rip Hunter.  It's because Rip Hunter has the exact same hair, right down to the color and style.  (Anyone who's read the current series will know why.)  So, I'm guessing they didn't want two people running around looking like carbon copies of each other.  And who knew Rip Hunter was so fabulous?  I hadn't a clue.

Hal Jordan...oh, heck, I got nothing.

Well, this is a momentous meeting for both characters, as Rip pretty much hasn't left Booster's side since.  I never realized the relationship went that far back, but without it we probably wouldn't have the current "Time Masters" pairing of Rip Hunter and Booster Gold seen in 52 and now in his new series.  Plus, Rip Hunter's just a cool guy and deserves a higher profile.  Not only is he a scientist, but he can kick some serious butt, too, and who else can pull off a white t-shirt and jeans as their superhero "uniform?"

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 57

57.  Mars is destroyed (Justice League of America #71, 1969, collected in Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Volume 4)

The history of Mars in the DC univsere hasn't been a stable one.  It started out peaceful in J'onn's earliest appearances, and then we learned that it lived up to its name and was stricken with a world-wide civil war, before being changed back to mostly peaceful again.  (I think I've got all the bases covered...maybe.)

Anyway, during the original run of the Justice League of America, J'onn came back to enlist the help of his JLA friends to save his home planet from a greedy pale-skinned Martian warlord named Commander Blanx.

As is oft with a Martian Manhunter story, its is steeped in tragedy, and there is little in the way of a happy ending.  J'onn and the JLA fail to stop Blanx before he incinerates the whole planet.

The good news is that Blanx is vanquished, but it is little consolation after the destruction of a world.

75 Favorite Moments in DC History: Number 58

58.  Harvey Dent argues against Two-Face (Detective Comics #739, collected in Batman: No Man's Land, 1999).

Well, it's no secret that I'm a big sucker for a Two-Face appearance, no matter how small.  The gigantic Batman crossover No Man's Land featured Two-Face quite prominently.  He was still being characterized as a gangster with split personalities ("dissociative identity disorder" being the proper term for it nowadays), which, as I'm reading more comics, I'm starting to like less and less.  (It's Scipio's fault, really.)

Anyway, the lawlessness of No Man's Land provided the perfect opportunity for Two-Face to set up his very own courtroom, which never ceases to amuse me.  Frankly, I think the writers could've milked this a little more for what it's worth (perhaps they did in the issues that weren't collected in the trades.)  But what I think makes Two-Face the "scariest" (when written correctly) villain is, that, like Batman, he believes in justice, albeit a darker shade of justice.  Vigilante heroes, by definition, operate outside the law to administer justice when the legitimate justice system can't.  Why should Harvey Dent's version of vigilante justice be any less legitimate than Batman's?

Well, that's a topic to be explored for another day.  But, back to No Man's Land.  Basically, Harvey's little courtroom involved putting Jim Gordon on trial.  Two-Face was the prosecution, and Harvey Dent, after Renee Montoya's pleading, became the defense, and both sides of his personality argue against each other.  (Which I find a bit of a stretch.  I mean, a D.A. playing defense attorney?)

Here you go:

They never tell you who the stenographer is...

It is a bit over-the-top, but, hey, it's Gotham, so what do you expect?

DC 75: Twenty-One Cool Booster Gold Covers

I was inspired by Frank's collection of top covers he's compiled.  I figured I'd throw my hat into the ring.  I already picked out some Adam Strange covers a while ago, and now I decided to pick out some Booster Gold covers.  I don't think I'm really qualified to say what's the best and what isn't, so don't put too much stock in the order here.  I mostly judged by the quality of the art and just personal preference.  With artists like Dan Jurgens, Kevin Maguire, and Adam Hughes drawing most of Booster's solo covers, you really can't lose.

Anyway, without further ado:

Twenty-One Top Booster Gold Covers

21.  Booster Gold v2 #34, 2010

A moment from the JLI is reflected in Booster's goggles.  Drawn by Kevin Maguire.

20.  Booster Gold v2 #3, 2007

Did I ever tell you how much I like word bubbles on covers?  A lot.  Plus, this is amusing.

19.  Justice League Unlimited #43, 2008

Blue and Gold dreaming of fame and glory, JLU-style.  Awfully cute.

18.  Booster Gold v2 #21, 2009.

Booster Gold reconizes the poser Batman, Dick Grayson.  He's not as dumb as he looks.

17.  Booster Gold v1 #20, 1987

Dramatic cover, and Booster sans-goggles.

16.  Booster Gold v2 #23, 2009

*Edtied to add: Thanks to Saranga's suggestion.  Somehow, while throughout hours of looking at Booster Gold covers, I remembered this one, but then forgot to put it on my list.  What can I say?  I get distracted easily.  The photo cover is unusual, but it works so well here becuase it's a real-life fan wearing a real-life t-shirt (that you can actually buy!).  That kind of product placement would make Booster proud.  I find it all rather hilarious.  And now I want that shirt, and when someone asks me who Booster Gold is, I'll be obligated to reply, "The Greatest Hero You Never Heard Of!(TM)"

15.  Booster Gold v2 #10, 2008

More of a Blue Beetle cover than a Booster Gold cover, but dramatic nonetheless.

14.  Booster Gold v2 #13, 2008

I mentioned how much I like word bubbles earlier, right?  A nice cover by Chris Batista.

13.  Justice League Quarterly #7, 1992

Just simple and sweet, with lots of smiles.

12.  Booster Gold v2 #1, 2008

The first issue of Booster's new series.  A really cool cover.  It's unfortunate that the headshot of Max got covered up by the title.

11.  Booster Gold v2 #17, 2009

I know, I'm going a little heavy on the new series.  But the covers are so pretty!  Look at all the colors!  And the shininess!

10.  Booster Gold v1 #25, 1988

The cover from Booster Gold's final issue of his first series.  Anyone else notice how much he's sucking in his gut?

9.  Booster Gold v2 #18, 2009

Just Booster and Rip looking cool.  And a time sphere.  And the scarab.  And a sword?

8.  Booster Gold v2 #32 and #33, 2010

Could he get any shinier?!  The first one deserves to be a foil cover.  I consider these a set, so I didn't break them up.  Much like the Lobo vs. Guy Gardner pair of covers back in the JLI years.  Oh, that Kevin Maguire....just look at that crooked smile.  It's perfect.

7.  Justice League Quarterly #1, 1990

Nevermind Booster for the moment, what's going on between Gypsy and J'onn?  Not to mention Ice hiding in the background and Ted's holding up the UPC symbol, and Flash is asleep.  But you know what's really hilarious?  Batman's head being completely covered by the title.  Adam Hughes hit this one out of the park.

6.  Booster Gold v2 #11, 2008

Dramatic and well-drawn by Dan Jurgens.  Check out the reflections.  You just can't have images inside your costume unless it's shiny.  Take that, Batman.

5.  52 #37, 2007

Guess who else is shiny?  Skeets.

4.  Justice League International #8, 1987

An iconic cover of the JLI era, and very amusing.  Wouldn't it be cool if you could hire superhero movers?

3.  Booster Gold v2 #7, 2008

Really awesome composition and use of perspective here.  Just look at all those angles (not just the angles of the buildings, mind you) and see how they all come together.  That's skill.  Dan Jurgens is an artist I really admire.

2.  Justice League America #37, 1990

One of my all-time favorite JLI issues.  (Heck, one of my all-time favorites issues, period.)  Adam Hughes evokes pure horror on the expressions of all four characters (gotta love Beetle in Ice's arms) all because of, yes, a stray cat.

1.  Justice League America #34, 1990

Well, here it is: my all-time favorite Booster Gold cover.  Also, my favorite Blue Beetle cover.  And my favorite JLI cover.  It's a trifecta of awesomeness.  I can't figure out which is more hilarious: the fact that Booster shaves his chest, or the fact that Ted doesn't.  I also never realized until now that Booster appears to be wearing a Speedo and Ted is wearing scarab beetle trunks.  It can't get better than that!  And bonus: angry Max being restrained by Batman and J'onn.

Honorable Mentions:

Booster Gold #36, 2010

Okay, so it hasn't been released yet, but it's really cool.  Not only is it symbolic (the red on the back of the puzzle piece makes it), but Kevin Maguire shows us once again that not only is he a master at drawing anatomy, but that he can pull off difficult perspectives with ease.

Cover from 52 trade paperback, Volume 4, 2007

Well, it's not from a single issue, so I didn't count it.  But it's nicely done and I like the color scheme.

So, there you have it!  I hope you enjoyed the list!