Young Justice Review

What you need to know: A group of Super Hero Side ki...er... assistants band together to form a junior version of the Justice league.


What you'll love

Guest Appearances: In the first few minutes of the pilot we see virtually every member of the Justice League. Furthermore the characters have actual roles, they aren't just window dressing. It's a tricky balance but I hope we continue to see Justice League members as a part of the show. At the very least these legends should loom large in the minds of the kids.

Action: The biggest critique I have in terms of the animated DCU is that the movies are just one big fight scene. There's not nearly enough story. Young Justice borders on this but never crosses the line. There's a good mix of action and story.

Characterization: I found the cast and more importantly the writer's take on them to be very likable. They represent the kind of angst only youth can bring.

Continuity light: I didn't grow up reading DC comics, I've never even heard of the Young Justice comic book. So it was nice to be able to grasp everything that was going on in the series without having nitpick over comic continuity. Young Justice is a hodge podge between the comic and the Teen Titans series.

Clever plot: I loved the way the plot developed slowly as the hour progressed, the show's script was very strong. The story itself was clever and engaging at the same time. Leaving you wanting more at the end.


What you won't

Continuity Hawks Beware: There are many differences between this version and the comic.(which is why they call it an adaptation by the way) But if you're expecting the comic you'll be disappointed.

Kid Friendly: The very nature of this series, says that it will appeal to kids more so than normal Justice League series. And while they don't make it as kiddy as Teen Titans. I think as this series progresses we will find that kids like it better than the adults. There's aren't enough easter egss, or wink and nods towards the adults.

Where were the women: There's just no excuse for it. They threw in Miss Martian at the end of the pilot, but it really was a throw away scene. Also Wonder Woman's absence is notable. How hard would it be to have a Young Amazonian girl join the team. And WW play the role of the protective mentor. Seems like a no brainer to me.


Bottom Line: I think my kids will love this series. As for me and other adults, it's worth watching, but I don't think it's anything special.(yet)


Grade: B

Captain America #612 Review

What you need to know: Captain America(Bucky) is on trial for crimes he committed while he was the Winter Solider.

What you'll love

Steve Rogers: He may not be Cap anymore but Steve has a huge role in this arc. He's Bucky's champion, arranging for his defense on several levels. The way Steve stands by Bucky is not unexpected given who he is. Still it is welcome. There's still something noble about a good guy doing what he thinks is right.

Social Commentary: It's fitting that this book would reflect where our society is. Before Fox News and MSNBC became what they are today, cable and news networks focused in on big trials. Every quasi celebrity trial was a feeding frenzy. Brubaker captures this dynamic in this issue. If someone named Captain America really were on trial, this is probably what it would look like. More important Brubaker isn't heavy handed or biased with his commentary, he presents it and the audience decides.


Putting the pieces in place: I got the feeling that BruBaker was setting the pieces up on the chessboard in this issue. There are several threads that need to be resolved and the way he pays these off will determine how successful this arc is.

What you won't

Lack of action: It's not a problem for me. But if you like Rock em, Sock em action this is not the issue, or arc for you. Although there is some nice Falcon/Black Widow action.

Resonance: Bucky's dilemma might have been the aspect of the story that stood out least in this issue. BruBaker touches on it, but he doesn't truly explore Bucky's angst.


Bottom line: I like the direction BruBaker is going in with this arc. This is a solid read and worth picking up. It's got a nice Law and Order vibe to it.


Grade: B+

Amazing Spiderman 649

What you need to know: With a new job, new girl and a new life, Peter Parker has truly hit the big time! Too bad an enemy from his past is back to screw all that up.

What you'll love

Hobgoblin: In my eyes Hogoblin is the most overlooked and under appreciated villain in the Spideyverse. The guys just plain fun, which is more than I can say for other villains who's names end in Goblin.

Humor: I can't tell you how many times, I smirked or snickered reading this comic, Dan Slott has such a good grasp on Spidey's snarkiness.

Fun: I've read more issues of Amazing Spider man than any other comic. One of the main reasons I've been drawn to it is that it's just plain fun. A guy my age swinging through the air, without a care in the world, even though in reality his life is falling apart. I think too often writer's confuse Spidey's being an "everyman" with being a loser. Peter Parker is not a loser, he's smart, handsome, and always has a girlfriend, this is not a loser. The key is to show his humanity as he struggles to make a life. His powers are extraordinary but his life outside of the mask is every bit as ordinary as ours.

New Status Quo: I just love the direction the way things are set up in Big Time, consider me anti OMD, however BigTime simply puts an end to all the controversy and tells good Spidey stories.(at least so far) Ending BND was a stroke of genius for two reasons. First Big Time is a natural jumping on point. Two OMD/BND will always be a loaded subject and associated with one most divisive decisions in comics. Big Time says to Spidey fans lets put that aside and just enjoy Spidey again.


What you won't

Length: So far the issues have come in a 30 page format. In both issues I thought there was a lull around page twenty five or so. In both issues Slott quickly recovers, finishing with a bang, but I think I'd rather see a 22 pager with a quality backup story. With a supporting cast as strong as Spidey's a backup could be very strong.

Lab: What the hell is going on in that lab Peter works at? He's been there twice and it's been attacked twice. Can Pete please make it through one work day?

Bottom Line: If you left this book because of OMD/BND, it's time to come home. Spidey's back!

Grade: A-

Batman Dectective Comics 871

What you need to know:In "The Black Mirror" part 1 of 3, a series of brutal murders pushes Batman's detective skills to the limit and forces him to confront one of Gotham City's oldest evils.

What's good

Art: Jock captures Gotham City's noir atmosphere perfectly.

Grounded: I struggle with any Batman story that takes place outside Gotham, for me it strains credulity for a human to go toe to toe with superheroes, and gods. I've felt a similar way but less so about the direction Morrison has taken Batman in this year. The time traveling is fun, but at some point, I'd like to know what the hell was going on. This is a great way to do it. A classic, back to basics, Batman detective story.

Characterization: Snyder has Dick and Commisher Gordon down cold. There's a weight to this book as Dick has assumes the cowl, this time with the blessing of Bruce Wayne. Even more impressive is the dynamic between Gordon and Dick. There's one panel in particular that stands out. The two men stand on a rooftop discussing a case, as Gordon and Batman have done so many times. Gordon, looks up staring in amazement that Dick is still there. (As the first Batman is known for disappearing mid-sentence) It's a small detaill but it subltey spells out the differences between the two Batmen and their relationship with Gordon.

Interwoven: Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Synder's script is the way he masterfully weaves, this story together. Not only are there nice references to other characters in the Bat family rouges gallery, but they actually have relevance to the plot.


What you won't: Honestly there's not much to complain about here. Solid work

Bottom Line: If you're a Batman fan this title must be added to your pull list. Synder and Jock are on the ground floor of a masterful run.

Grade: A

Ten Questions with Susan Shan

1. Wow What a game by Micheal Vick last night. Do you think he is the MVP of the league?

It's too early to call Vick the MVP, but he's the early favorite even with three missed games.

2. Donovan McNabb just signed what we now know is a heavily incentive laden contract with the Red Skins, do you think this is a good decision for either side, and what have you thought of Donovan's stint in D.C so far?

I've always liked Donovan. He was one of my first interviewees, and he has remained classy and personable throughout the years. The contract is good for both sides; Donovan doesn't lose anything by signing it, and the Redskins can release him at the end of the season if they are not satisfied. It's tough to gauge Donovan's stint in D.C. because not only is this his first year, it's the coaching staff's first year. The entire team has to adjust to a new system along with a new quarterback. And, it's not as if Donovan has a premier wideout to pass to. Joey Galloway is almost 40 years old, and he's Donovan's WR2; that's a joke.

3. Who's the best team in football right now?

If the Steelers had beaten the Patriots, that would be the easiest answer in the world. Since the Steelers lost, I'll have to say the Falcons (with uncertainty).

4. Who's the best team in the AFC?

New England Patriots (reluctantly). I still think the Steelers or Ravens are the best team, but records don't lie; the Patriots beat both.

5. How good are the Falcons?

Their offensive weapons (Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez) were expected to be good, but the defense has really stepped up. The defense is ranked eighth in the league in terms of points allowed (19.4 points per game). I've always liked Curtis Lofton, and he once again anchors the defense. Lofton is a tackle machine who probably should've made the Pro Bowl last year.

6. Is Randy Moss done?

I don't think he's done. It was never a question about his talent, which he still has. The other stuff is up to him, and that's what will determine the rest of his time in the NFL.

7. How did you get into sports.? What unique challenges do women(and in your case a minority) face?

I was raised to love sports. My dad took me to bars when I was five years old to watch Texas A&M football games. I was also a tomboy who played sports instead of with dolls. Growing up, I had one Barbie doll that was given to me as a gift by my parents' friend. Instead of playing with the doll, I used to toss it around like a ball.

Sports reporting is a tough field for a female, much less a minority female. I fight to gain respect and credibility every day for my writing abilities and sports knowledge. People find it difficult to believe that I really did choose this field because I love sports and everything sports stand for. I could care less about fame, popularity, or being on television. As long as I can make a decent living doing what I love, that's all that matters.

8. The NFL just came out with it's 100 greatest players of all time. Do you have any major problems with the list? Who's your number one?

Honestly, lists like these are always tough to make. It's like when the NCAA Selection Committee chooses its field of 65 (now 68); some teams are overrated, some underrated, and a few deserving teams are snubbed. As a whole, I have no major quibbles with the list. Peyton Manning will be No. 1 by the time he retires.

9. I'm a Cowboy fan, so I have to slip in a question about my boys. Who do you think Jerry will hire? Is Garrett the answer or will he look in a another direction?

It's tough to argue with how the team responded to Garrett. If he continues to motivate the team like he did in his first week, he will be the Cowboys head coach next year. In addition, everyone knows how much I like Felix Jones. My biggest complaint with the Cowboys has always been that they have no idea how to effectively use the talented and explosive Jones. In Garrett's first game as head coach, he started Jones over Marion Barber. That's definitely a step in the right direction.

10. Fill in the blank Fantasy Football is _________________.

God's gift to football fans.

Susan Shan is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a B.A. in Creative Writing. She had her first major interviews at 16 with Donovan McNabb and Jeff Garcia. Since then, she has interviewed numerous athletes and written countless articles along with a brief stint as a professional poker player. Check out her website: susanshan.com

Osborn 1 Review

What you need to know: Osborn chronicles the prison time of everyone's favorite Spidey villain, Norman Osborn.

What you'll love

The writing: I've never read any of here stuff before, but Kelly Sue Deconnick is a revelation. In Obsborn she gives each character a very distinctive voice. That's in addition to her dialogue which is very strong as well.

Back story: Clearly Marvel slapped Warren Ellis' name on this book in order to sell more books. I've never been big on Elllis, but I like Norman so I gave it a shot. Honestly I thought they co wrote the book. In reality Ellis weaves a sinisterly creepy tale of one of Osborn's fellow prisoners. It's a brillant story that makes use of every single panel. If every back story were like this, I'd never complain about paying 3.99 for a comic.

Norah: My last experience with Norah was in American Son(which is great, you should check it out) She was interesting in that arc but in this book she nearly steals the show, she's funny, neurotic and fearless.(just how I like my women) I kept thinking to myself. Warren Ellis wrote this character?(I know, I know I was confused.) Sometimes it's nice to actually have a woman writing a female character.

Art: I can't tell you how much I hated Rios's depiction of Peter Parker. I've been reading spidey comics since I was 13 and I've never seen that look on Peter, I don't know if it was an attempt to update Petey or what but it didn't work for me. Maybe I'm a Peter snob, I don't know. However every other panel in the book is great. This is not an easy feet, because there are some challenging things to draw in this issue. I think Rios has the potential to be a break out star.

What you won't

Where's Norman: For a book called Osborn there's not a lot of the titular character. The book still works but I would like to see ole Goblin head a little more.


Bottom Line: I had high hopes for this book and it exceeded them.

Grade: A

Morning Glories 4 Review

What you need to know: The students of Morning Glories hatch a plan to save one of their own.


What you'll love

Art: Joe Eisma does it once again. His art is so consistent at this point that I almost tire of saying it. In this issue I notice how he made every room in Academy look unique. This may sound easy but it's not. Eisma gives Morning Glory Academy the perfect atmosphere. There's a also a subtle effect of Eisma's art. Morning Glories school seems massive.

Deeper Characterization: In this issue Spencer digs deeper into what makes these kids tick. Literally every page is about fleshing these characters out and allowing us to discover who they are.

Nice Twist: The ending of the issue isn't exactly shocking but it catches you off guard though. It's a nice beat they can be taken in several directions and it defintley left me salivating for the next issue.

Reflective: In a past review I mentioned that what separates a good story from a great one is what it has to say about life. The exploration of the human condition, if you will. There's a nice scene where this is on display towards the back of the book.

What you won't

Ensemble cast: It's just the nature of the beast. Spencer's a great juggler, but it's hard to juggle this many characters. I'm interested to see how he does it. It's not really a problem for me personally because my two favorite characters are consistently highlighted. But I can see where some are coming from.

Slowed down: There's a lot of planning in this issue, which is never my favorite. It's very smart planning but people sitting around talking, or plotting as it were, can seem to drag.

In between: I felt like this was a bridge issue to get us towards the end of the arc. Spencer raised the stakes but not in any way that's new. We've seen the children punished before, so that's nothing new.


Bottom Line: Morning Glories has consistently been one of the best books on the shelves since its inception. This is a book you can give to your girlfriend.(or any other non comic reader for that matter)

Grade: B+

Cam Newton:Hypocrisy, Racism or Circumstance

By :Cory Carlton


So a lot has been made of the Cam Newton saga and to be honest I won’t say it’s much to do about nothing but its pretty close. If Auburn indeed did pay Newton 210,000 to come there to be quite honest they got a steal.

Newton will be at Auburn for two years max which equals tuition of at $40,000. Add the let’s shoot high and say $350,000(I’m sure he’s gotten some spending money along the way) and you’re looking at Auburn making a $400,000 investment. Last year without Cam Auburn finished 8-5 and went to the Outback bowl, receiving around 4 million dollars for participating. This year Auburn is slated to go to the BCS national title game in which the payout will be around 17 million dollars. That’s at the very least a 13 million dollar difference. If you ask me that’s the best investment I’ve ever heard of. I wish the stock market had ROI like that.

And for those of you playing the holier than thou card pretending to be shocked about what you are reading, let’s be honest the payroll in the SEC is much higher than the American League Central. If Cam Newton made a mistake it wasn’t taking money because it seems like he did that pretty well, the mistake was asking a school that you know couldn’t afford you for that much money. The reason Mississippi State is snitching is because they have nothing to lose. You think Cam and his daddy Creflo just asked MSU for money but just skipped that step when LSU and Oklahoma came knocking?? Of course they didn’t but Oklahoma and LSU participate in the code so they don’t want to open Pandora’s Box. This isn’t some magic revelation that college players get paid, just like people knew Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were on steroids, or people know that the NFL treats their players like crap and give them no insurance once they retire or that one and done college basketball players attend maybe one class……. All year. NO ONE CARES and when I say cares I mean people don’t have a true sense of what's wrong, at least not the ones actually watching the games. People might get self righteous and try to “protect the best interest of the game” but no one truly cares or wants to fix the issues. And I don’t think they should.

The most self-righteous of them all is the NCAA and SEC. So let me get this straight SEC you can suspend Bruce Pearl proactively but not Cam Newton. I wonder what the reason for that is. Is it integrity? Of course not it’s money. Because when it’s all said and done Auburn might have to give back a title and the wins but the SEC doesn’t have to give back that 17 mil. In basketball there are no bowl games so Tennessee becomes irrelevant. The reason they truly suspended Pearl is similar to the reason USC fired Tim Floyd. When it comes time for the “hammer” to come down you throw the basketball team under the bus because they are less profitable, it’s a business.

So in about six months or so after the bowl games and Auburn has won a title and Newton has won a Heisman and this story has died down, the NCAA will probably rule that Newton was ineligible. Then everyone will come down on Newton and tell the world that he is a bad person because he took money. If someone is making over 20 million dollars of pure profit from your services you are no amateur. How can you truly expect someone from Newton’s economic background to actually turn down the money is my real question. So why does the person become the necessary evil? Why was Reggie Bush vilified? Ultimately the first thing that comes to mind is because he is black. No matter what planet you live on it should be no surprise to you that racism still exist in America. Where are the white cases of Sean Bell or Amadou Diallo? Why do African Americans account for just 28 percent of drug usage in America yet account for 73 percent of drug related arrests. So yes racism exists but it doesn’t really here. '

Did the story come out because of racism? No if Cameron Newton was white this would have still happened. Did the story reach this high of magnitude because Newton is black? No. The only aspect that race may play a part is that if Newton was white he may get the benefit of doubt. But seeing as though he is actually guilty I’m not really sure how that is pertinent to the situation. So is Cam Newton a victim of racism? Somewhat. Is Newton a victim of hypocrisy? Absolutely, but more so Newton is a victim of circumstance. Sh*t hit the fan and someone has to take the fall and since Newton will stop making Auburn money in about three months it will have to be him. It’s not racial it’s just the way it is. And once again No one cares.

Ten Questions with ArchVillian author Barry Lyga

1. Why do you write?

It's always been a compulsion of mine. It's less about the actual act of writing, for me, and more about the idea of telling stories. My most vivid memories of childhood all relate to telling stories in one way or another. And now I get to do it for a big audience...and I get paid for it!

2. What's your writing process? Do you used pen and paper(at any point), outlines, note cards etc..? How many hours a day? Basically any details you like to share about your writing process.

Pen and paper still have a place in my workflow: If I'm away from the computer and inspiration strikes, I may use pen and paper if I don't have easy access to my cell or my iPad. But I also print out everything I write and edit it with a pen; it's the only way I can do it.

My actual writing process is outlined on my blog: http://barrylyga.com/new/wa-my-method.html

3. When you get an idea for a story what's the first thing you do?And where do the ideas come from?

When I get an idea, usually the first thing I do it...ignore it! Seriously. Ideas are cheap and easy. The tough thing is finding GOOD ideas. So when an idea pops into my head, I turn it over a few times, think about it a little bit, and then forget about it. If it's a good one, then it'll keep nagging at me until I finally sit down and pound out some notes on it. If it's a bad one, then I'll forget all about it and never waste another moment on it.

As to where they come from... I don't know. I feel like ideas just float around in the air and sometimes I bump into them.

4. What made you delve into young adult fiction, and how is it
different from writing adult fiction?

Well, I delved into YA because a bunch of friends suggested I try it. So I wrote my first book -- The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl -- to see if I could write for that age group and surprise, surprise! I loved it!

The only real difference -- for me -- is that the main character and most of the supporting characters have to be kids. So the focus has to be on them, not on the adults. Which is fine, because I enjoy writing from the point of view of kids.

> 5. What's your breaking in story? (Comics/novels)

Well, I wrote my novel, but first I had written a lot of other stuff -- short stories and some other novels -- that wasn't all that good. So by writing the stuff that wasn't good, I learned how to improve and how to hone my skills. It took a long time, but I eventually got to the point where I wrote a novel that I knew was good. I went to a writers' conference, where I met my agent and that's when I broke in.

6. The protagonist in your story, Kyle plays a lot of pranks where
did your inspiration for the pranks come from?.

I just tried to think of things that kids would do -- like pantsing someone -- and then gave them a special Kyle-twist...like adding a laser!

7. Kyle definitely makes some morally ambiguous choices in the novel.
As a writer how do you address that and still have your audience have
empathy for him?

The trick is to have those choices be understandable. So that the audience thinks "Well, he did the wrong thing there, but I understand WHY he did it." It's also important that Kyle tries to do the right thing in some cases and it backfires on him. That makes it a little more understandable that he would sometimes make the wrong choice, because doing the right thing didn't really work out for him, so why not try something else?

8. You use several familiar superhero tropes, what's their
inspiration and are any heroes that Kyle and other characters in the
story are based on?

The basic inspiration was as simple as this: What if you got superpowers...but you couldn't tell anyone? And what if you ended up with everyone thinking you were a bad guy? I just started from there and ran with it. Of course, I was inspired by a lot of superhero tropes, but there's something like seventy years of comic book superheroes out there -- it would be tough to narrow down or explain all of the inspirations! I just try to have fun with Kyle and his world.

9. What writers have or still do inspire you?

As a kid, I was really inspired by comic book writers like Alan Moore and Paul Levitz, but also by genre writers like Stephen King and Joe Haldeman. Later, I was inspired by classic literary writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and John Milton. Really, it's just a question of reading stories that made my imagination go wild. I'm inspired by any writer who can take a story I've seen before and do something amazing and unexpected with it.

10. You've taken the traditional superhero story and turned it on
its head. What do you think your story has to say about the Super Hero genre?

Oh, I don't think it has anything to say about the superhero genre, unless it's that I really, REALLY love superheroes. :) I'm not trying to comment on the genre or deconstruct it or anything like that. I'm just using the tools people have used for decades and trying to have some fun and do something unexpected. If I do my job right, hopefully people will be really surprised as the story develops.

Thunder Agents 1

What you need to know: Would you rather burn out or fade away? That's the question at the heart of this bold new series about a group of people who, for one reason or another, are at their wits' end until they're offered a chance to become superheroes. The catch? Their powers will kill them.

Writer Nick Spencer (Morning Glories) and artist CAFU (WAR OF THE SUPERMEN) present a fresh take on the classic comics property, starring a new batch of recruits brought in to take over the original agents' mantles and make some difficult choices of their own - all while dealing with global threats the rest of the DCU doesn't even know exist!


What you'll love

Nick Spencer: is the Kevin Durant of comics.(Hopefully you're basketball fans) It's become trite to say that Spencer is up and coming, mostly because at this point, he's just coming. All of Spencer's books have a unique voice, and Thunder Agents is no different. Agents is a nice contrast to Morning Glories in that it gives Spencer more room to flex his intellectual muscles. Even though this is Spy Fi, Spencer can show more of his hand than he can is a mysterious story like Morning glories. In this issue he shows a cleverness and a voice that reminded me of Brian K Vaughn.

Opening Scene: Screenwriters say that the first ten pages are the most important in a script. In comics the same is true, but the time frame is more condensed. Starting with a bang is always nice, but equally nice is for a writer to present an intriguing premise and draw the reader in. I especially love the camera angle that the story starts with. Very unique, it's a credit to Cafu and Spencer.

Art: Speaking of up and coming, Cafu's art in this issues is spectacular, this issue alone announces his arrival onto the big stage. Though Cafu's action scenes are heart stopping, it's the quiet emotional scenes that truly resonate. He actually did something I'v never seen done in a comic. On page 18 he perfectly conveys the coyish, response of a woman that doesn't want to like a guy but still does. Rarely do comic artist do well with complex and/or conflicting emotions, Cafu knocks it out of the park.

Spy Fi: Fans bitch and moan about the lack of crime comics, but in reality there's been a resurgence. Truthfully one of the most neglected sub-genres is espionage. As a huge Spy-Fi fan it's great to see a well thought out tale of subterfuge and skulduggery.

Cliffhanger: Nothing Spencer does is cliche, it would have been very easy to end this issue on a literal cliffhanger, with the heroes facing impending physical doom. Instead Nick unleashes the hook of the series, and believe me it's a doozy.


What you won't

Confusing: I was very sleepy when I started reading this issue, and frankly my brain hurt, in a good way. I found myself having to go back and make sure I understood what was going on, which I don't think is necessarily a bad thing. I think there should be a level of convulsion in any good spy tale. If you like Spy fiction the word triple agent simply rolls off the tongue. However if' you're looking for knock em sock em action(and only that) then this probably isn't the book for you.

Bottom Line: Spencer continues his breakout year with another strong offering. Thunder Agents is everything I hoped Secret Avengers would be.

Grade: A

Ten Questions with Dominique Agri

1. Well the news of the week is obviously JMS's departure from Wonder Woman and Superman, in favor of writing sequel to the Superman Earth one GN. What are your thoughts?

I didn’t read his X Men run and from what I know (he killed off Jean Grey) he doesn’t sound like my kind of writer anyway. I thought that making Superman walk the country was too close to the biblical allegory he’s tied to and I’m not sure if he conceived the idea of changing Wonder Woman’s origins but I wasn’t a fan of it. I didn’t buy into the hype of his signing on and I won’t miss him. I haven’t had the chance to read Earth One yet (my copy is back in the States) so I’ll let you know how I feel about that when I do.

2. One quote from JMS really stood out for me.

"I think that's where the business is going, and creatively, limited series and graphic novels have always been my strong suit in that they let me tell cohesive stories with a beginning, middle and end. They can also be written and drawn before anything is ever announced or solicited, as was the case with Earth One, which has been one of the greatest and most creatively rewarding experience of my career" My Twitter feed is filled with theories on what he means, what's your take?

Frankly, I’m not sure. I would hope that writers have the foresight to plan a beginning, middle, and end when they take on monthlies. I guess he doesn’t. Maybe that explains why it was taking so long to get to a point in both books.

3. Grant Morrison is one of the most significant runs in the history of Batman, how closely have you followed it, and what do you think of the new status quo for the Bat titles.

I’ve basically read most of it – Final Crisis, Battle for the Cowl, Batman and Robin, Return of Bruce Wayne – and I like his work a lot, even if I don’t always understand what’s going on. When I go back and read it in one sitting, I find the nuances of his work and the little hints he leaves really enhances the story. I think he’s bringing a really interesting take on the character for this generation.

4. I know you're out of the country right now, so your scope is a bit limited. What books are you really enjoying right now?

I do feel really out of touch. My friend has been sending me my weekly books on a monthly basis but it stops me from picking up new independent books I think look cool just browsing in my LCS. Right now I’m really only reading DC – all of the Green Lantern books. I love Emerald Warriors. Guy Gardner has been my favorite since childhood. I actually have his original title from the 90s. I absolutely love Gail Simone’s work on Birds of Prey. I think that she brings a lot of strength to the all female cast. I will always stick to the holy trinity. I am not a huge fan of JMS’ take on Wonder Woman but I’ll support her regardless and I look forward to seeing what will happen now. Geoff Johns made me a Flash fan even though I was reared on Wally West I’m beginning to appreciate Barry more and more. I also really like Bendis’ Scarlet and I think the art is great. I can’t wait to get back to Midtown Comics though. I already have a ton of Marvel and Indy titles on my Christmas list.

5. From looking at your website it's clear that we are both huge Spidey fans so I have a few Spidey related questions.

I’m not actually much of a Spider-Man fan though I appreciate the character. I haven’t read that much of him.

• Did Spidey 3 suck as bad as people say? (I don't think so but I'm in the minority)
  

My boyfriend MADE me see that movie in the IMAX and I hated it. I can’t fathom why directors and writers feel the need to include corny dance sequences to all these movies. I couldn’t stand Kiresten Dunst as Mary Jane. She’s supposed to be an elegant fashion model and they chose someone who was furthest from that.

• What do you think of the impending reboot?
  

I think they could focus on other heroes instead of recreating what they’ve already done but I have high hopes that it will make up for the last movie.

• What Villains would you like to see in it?

I’m not sure. I really like Venom and Dr. Octopus but they will probably find characters they haven’t used yet.

6. How did you get into comics? What inspired you to start your website?

My father got me into comics as a young kid. He would buy me all the Archie books as well as some of the major story arcs in DC. I think it was The Death of Superman that made me fall in love with the medium and the character - Funeral for a Friend was so moving that I’ll never forget it. As an adult, it was Final Crisis that reintroduced me to reading comics regularly. I had to know why Batman died. I always laugh when I think that it took the deaths of two of my favorite characters to bring me into this world.

I also wrote my MA thesis on The Legacy of Wonder Woman which was a great way to reintroduce myself to the medium as well as its history.

7. What's it like being a woman in the comics world?

I’d say it’s probably pretty similar to any average reader. I get annoyed when I see nipple shots in every panel (ahmmm X Women) but I understand publishers are trying to appeal to a typically male audience. When I see overt, unnecessary sexual images, I hope it’s not deterring potential fangirls from reading comics but then again, I don’t see men who look like most comic guys in real life so I’d say it’s pretty equal on that front. Otherwise, I wish it would stop being a shock that I like comic books but I think that will change with time. The more women who admit they read comics, the less weird it will be to male fans.

8. There's so much talk about what it means to have a strong female character. In your opinion what does that phrase mean?

A strong female character is written as a person who has her own mind and knows how to use it. I think Gail Simone is extremely good at writing women. She gives them a voice and turns them from sidekicks, love interests and damsels in distress to real people readers can relate to. It seems female characters are so often just added to comics as something to look at. I adore the characters like Lady Death, Witchblade, and Pergatorie and I think they’re all very strong females but their art is so sexually explicit it would be easy to discount their power.

There are really two ways to think about it. A woman can own her sexuality and use it. There’s a great Wonder Woman book where she teams up with Black Canary and goes undercover to bust Roulette’s underground fighting ring. Black Canary tells Wondy it’s easier to infiltrate using good looks instead of force. I agree with that and I think it’s a statement for comics as a whole. We all like looking at something nice but at what point does it become offensive? I think the answer is when it’s constant. I don’t need to see Wonder Woman’s ass in every shot but thrown in a panel every so often doesn’t bother me.

The other side of it is that these images are our fantasies – either ones that have been fed to us as beautiful by media influences or some subconscious urge but regardless, comic books aren’t just about the writing. They’re largely about the art and without alluring images to look at, the medium dies. As long as the sexy women in these books recognize they aren’t meant to be male playthings, I think they’re still strong females that readers will appreciate instead of disrespect.

9. What's the best comic you've ever read?

That is a really difficult question to answer. I think comics that illicit deep emotional responses are the best. Grant Morrison’s All Star Superman made me cry my eyes out for an hour. It was so moving and I think he really captured the nature of the character.

10. Will they ever make a Wonder Woman movie?

When I asked my peers what got them into comic books, so many of them mentioned the cartoons they watched as a kid – namely Batman TAS. Wonder Woman hasn’t had a strong following since 1941 and 1975 respectively. First it was William Moulton Marston’s run which brought millions of children to read her title and then it was Lynda Carter donning the star spangled armor and acting on a television show. We are now a film and television centered culture and without that, her comic will never be recognized by the masses even though people the world over know her name.

It is definitely a step in the right direction that they’re putting her back on the small screen. David E. Kelly has a long history of writing female characters other women like and will watch. I’m taking bets he’ll make Diana Prince a civil rights lawyer by day and if that comes to fruition and is done and casted well, I have no doubt the show will appeal to teens and 20 something women but that’s still not a broad enough appeal.

For more of Dominique check out her website comicsperiod.com. I can personally vouch for it's awesomeness. While you're there check out the adventures of Vlog girl.(it's great stuff)