Zing goes the Lantern

I have to admit, I never read a lot of Green Lantern growing up. To me, he was just a guy who could make shapes out of light.

However, as I read him now in DC’s Justice League, he’s pretty much the comic relief. Maybe this comic relief style is on the heels of the Ryan Reynolds movie (which refused to take itself too seriously), or maybe Hal Jordan has always been a bit of a cocky wise-cracker, either way, it fits.

I guess that makes Green Lantern the DC equivalent of Spider-Man, who is always quick with the quip.

Which begs this question: who’s a bigger wise-cracker: Green Lantern or Spider-Man?

The sordid Fantastic Four?

I’ve never read much Fantastic Four, though one of my brothers used to have an extensive collection.  I know they’re icons. I know they’ve been around for 50 years. I know the Human Torch is now dead (or not). I don’t know specific storylines.

However, recently I came across some packs of Fantastic Four Archives, put out by Rittenhouse. Maybe it’s just the way the description is written, but some of these storylines for the Fantastic Four are so … sordid is the word that comes to mind … it seems soap opera-ish. Consider the description on the back of card #44 (above):

“Johnny Storm and Alicia Masters, the Thing’s ex-girlfriend, were getting married. In an attempt to bring the Thing back to the Fantastic Four, Johnny asked him to be his best man. It turned out not to be one of Johnny’s better ideas. Frustrated, angry and depressed, the Thing stormed out of the building with the She-Hulk in pursuit. Realizing that what the Thing really needed was to blow off some steam, She-Hulk started an all-out brawl with the Thing. This was just what the Thing needed and after he cooled down, he accepted Johnny’s offer to be his best man.”

What? Doesn’t that sound like a plot straight out of a reality show? Typically, asking one of your future-wife’s ex-boyfriend’s to be your best man is a recipe for drama. Am I wrong?

What other comic book story lines could be straight out of a reality show?

Busted for being the poser that I am

Found myself in the checkout line at the local library Saturday, sporting my $3.99 Gap Outlet Green Lantern tee.

I handed my books and CD to the librarian.

“I see you’re wearing the shirt,” he said with a grin, “but do you know the oath?”

“Uhhh,” I muttered, “To protect and serve … ?”

He cut me off, and, not looking at me, shuffled through the stack of books and spoke:

“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power: Green Lantern’s light.”

He smiled.

“And,” he added, “these are due back April 21.”

Busted.

So here’s where Nerd Ethics come to play: Should I not wear the shirt again until I learn the oath, or find a new library?

Nerd talk: Fanboys vs. Zombies #1

Does this cover look familiar? It’s one of eight (yes, eight) different covers from the first issue of the short-run Fanboys vs. Zombies from Boom! Studios.

And here I thought the whole Zombie craze was dying … though, if you think about it, killing Zombies is never as easy as it sounds. Unless, of course, you follow Rule #2.

But, anyway, back to the cover. Look familiar? It should, especially if you are either a certain age, or certain stripe of geek. Consider:

That’s right: they’re borrowing from a holy grail of nerdom: Star Wars. (And this is before we had to identify it as A New Freaking Hope.)

There’s supposed to be something fun and playful from borrowing from the past to expose the present. That’s what pop culture does, I guess. Even the story seems familiar: friends descending on a fan convention only to come across the undead …

Oh yeah … this:

It would be funnier if I didn’t already have the book … now it’s kind of sad. Just like the cover: it’s a little humorous, but a little played out.

Maybe zombies are a metaphor for popular culture …  it always comes back from the past with a look of horror, mixed with a dash of campy.

Awesome of the Day: Burt Ward, Boy Wonder

Holy Random Spin-Off Batman!

Was trolling through the interwebs and looking up Free Comic Book Day offerings and came across Burt Ward: Boy Wonder. Here’s the pitch:

For the creators of the hit Misadventures of Adam West series, comes the out of this world spin-off featuring everyone’s favorite Boy Wonder, Burt Ward.  After playing Robin in the Batman TV show, Burt still needs to be a hero and along with a couple of friends saves the world again and again!

So random. So weird. So wonderful. Want to read more?

Now, if we can only get that darn TV show released …