Yes ONE of several thousand GREEN LANTERNS is GAY

Well if you haven't heard it by now DC comics has announced that the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott is now gay in the pages of the alternate universe title Earth 2. Everyone in the comics world saw this coming for weeks now but it is official and with that official statement comes all of the ignorant new articles proclaiming "GREEN LANTERN IS GAY". These articles gloss over Alan Scott's history and how he's not even actually what we today consider a member of the Green Lantern corps, nor is he the character that the God Awful movie starring Ryan Reynolds was based on. Does this matter? I think so. DC loves the fact that they are going to have headlines all over the news and they get to do it without actually scaring off any homophobic fans of the actual Green Lantern comics which are one of their better selling books. It's similar to the way that Marvel made headlines when they "made" an alternate universe version of Spider-Man a mixed racial (Black/Hispanic) young man named Miles Morales. There where screams by the national news that "SPIDER-MAN IS NOW BLACK" despite that this change had no effect on the "real Spider-Man". This news is simply a cash Grab by DC comics who are intelligently using a very relevant topic without actually changing a massive franchise they own. So I submit the below pictures/explanation for those of you possibly confused by today's news.

 HIM = GAY

HIM = NOT GAY

 HIM = NOT GAY

  HIM = NOT GAY

  HIM = NOT GAY

 ALL OF THEM = NOT GAY (THAT WE KNOW OF)

So in closing, calm it down people. DC Comics made one character who's not even really Green Lantern come out in an alternate universe. Hardly what Id call groundbreaking stuff. My assumption is if any of you are riled up by this its because you probably know nothing about the actual comics world which means DC succeeded in exactly what it planned.

See ya when I see ya suckers,

Rambler

Earth Day, Smchearth Day

As I wrap up my evening here in a cold and rainy NJ, I'm reminded that today is that grand tree hugging holiday of old called Earth Day. It's a day I don't particularly care for and not just because I'm an ignorant, crotchety, horrible man. It's actually much more than those facts. See I've always had issues with most things that the majority of people accept as the norm ( My current biggest hatred is the Bullying propaganda being shoved down the children and parents' throats of this country, but that's subject for a whole nother horrid ramble). It's not that I'm trying to go against the grain or anything remotely hipsterish like that. I just never liked things that seem to promote how great we as a society are. Here me out if you will. And if you do I thank you in advance because as I've already admitted, I'm a horrible man. We often love to create days or movements that proclaim to the world how great we are as a people. That if we collectively band together we can achieve anything with simply our own abilities. Here's the truth, we can't. People in general are selfish, prideful beings. No matter how wonderful of a person one may be, deep down inside at our core we are all about ourselves. Earth day is a perfect example of how wonderful we think we are. We as a people have spent years destroying this world we were given and now because we have grown into a more "conscious" generation of people we act as though obnoxious acts of self righteousness are going to fix everything. Walking somewhere for one day instead of using your car every April and then spending the rest of your year buying and wasting products isn't going to fix anything. It's just going to make you feel better about yourself. Now I also understand there are some who actually live as every day is earth day who only buy recycled products and the whatnot. I also notice that these are usually the most judgmental folk you can run into. I don't doubt their sincerity always, but I often wonder if even subconsciously it's less about saving the planet than it is making oneself feel that they are more elevated of a human being than others. I know I'm being quite judgemental myself here, but I will thrice reiterate, I am a terrible man. I'll close my poor excuse for a blog entry with his thought. If you really feel that your efforts are leaving an undeniable positive mark on this world than that's great, do it to your hearts content. But until we as people are willing to actually take a step backwards and completely overhaul our minds and hearts individually there is no hope for a societal change. I'm all for good stewardship, I just hate when stewards walk around talking like their the king.

Lamenting over John Carter

Its been over a month since Disney's John Carter was released in theaters and subsequently crashed and burned upon impact. As far as common knowledge goes, the film was horrible and a giant disaster that Disney will be recovering from for quite some time (don't fret though, they should more than make up for it with the ungodly amount of money that The Avengers will bring in for them over the next month or 2). The problem is, John Carter was a GREAT film. It was fun, accessible to the whole family and was the type of film that Sci Fi fans normally love to watch. While I wont get into the debate of whether this was a better made film than Avatar, I will say as a fan I find it horrifying that Avatar made almost 3 BILLION dollars in sweet sweet box office cash while John Carter is struggling to break 300 MILLION worldwide (it may sound like alot but that 300 mil is pretty much what it cost Disney to make the film).

         There's many places one could point blame when looking at this movie. You could chalk it up to The Lorax stealing away many families that first opening weekend or you could blame today's ignorant movie going masses for writing this movie off as an Avatar clone (despite it being the film version of the book that Avatar stole from most), but for me the blame lays squarely on the films parent company, Disney. There's a large fact that everyone must accept about Disney. THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO MARKET SCIENCE FICTION. Sorry I shouted, Im just still upset over all of this. It just drives me insane that a film with so much potential was absolutely wasted by a company that is soooo good at marketing everything else they own. The best example I can give you is the marketing itself. Here's Disney's huge Superbowl trailer for the for John Carter.

Looks kinda like a SYFY network movie of the week right? No explanation of the character, no idea of the plot. Just generic action music and quick shots of scenes we have no investment in. Now lets try a fan made trailer that at least attempts to engage the audience.

Seriously....how much better was that? How is it that a fan sitting at home figured out how to sell this movie but one of the largest movie studios with the biggest marketing machine in the world had no clue? Its just seriously sad that the story that influenced so many of our modern classics has been reduced to a giant failure and will more than likely never see the light of day again. This film could have brought the original books (which are free on most digital reading platforms due to them being so old ) back into popular culture and had the opportunity to influence an entire new generation of readers with its fantastic stories. But instead, we just get a big giant FAIL by Disney who will brush this off and never look back. I for one will do my best to share this film with friends as the years pass and hope it reaches some sort of cult status which is the least it deserves. Such a waste.  :-(

Ill see ya when I see ya folks,

Its been fun Kindle Fire....But I think its time we went our separate ways

Dear Kindle Fire,

           How are you my love? I hope all finds you well. Its been a whirlwind romance we've had these past 3+ months and I just want to say that despite the current situation we find ourselves in, Ive enjoyed every moment I spent with you. From the first moment I laid eyes upon you, I knew you were something special. You do so many things right and although our own relationship is coming to an end I know you can still provide this world with so much joy. From your price point of $199 to your wonderful app store where you have something free to offer everyday, you are better than you may ever know. I know it seems odd that as I choose to leave you I shower you with compliments, but I do so in hopes that you continue to grow, as I know your future holds great things. That's the future though and we sadly find ourselves in the here and now.
          Right now I just need something different. For the most part you did everything I needed, but the one thing I asked you for most you just couldn't provide. I told you when we first met that more than anything I loved you because you gave me access to the world of digital comics. I needed that access, that ability to be able to find things at a moments notice and for a while you did everything you could to give me that. But alas, then came the new year, and you started to get lazy. I'd come to you asking for titles and you'd tell me you didn't have them, even though I knew you did. You tried to blame Comixology for your problems and said it was their fault and for a time I believed you. I tried to tell myself it wasn't your fault but then I looked around and saw that Comixology worked fine for everyone else, just not for you. I started to realize that they weren't the problem.
       I know it seems cold to leave you when your down. To just run off looking for someone else who can give me what I'm looking for but that's just what needs to happen and I'm sorry for that. I made sure that someone else would take good care of you. I found them on Ebay and they seem very willing to open their home to you and provide you the love I no longer can. I'm moving on as well. I've recently been looking into opening my heart up to the Ipad. I know its easy to be angry and just think I'm leaving you for the younger, prettier option that's just popped up in my life, but I need that Comixology fix and I know they can provide it. I hope we can still be friends and someday we can both look back and remember our time together with fondness. Best wishes and luck on all of your future endeavors.

Love Always,

Writing Rambler

P.S. Ill see you when I see you

Thoughts on Linsanity

    I love me a good underdog story. I mean Since my youth I've rooted for the Cleveland Browns, it doesn't get more underdog than that. With that said, seeing the electric rise of Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin has been nothing short of amazing these past 2 weeks. Now I'm definitely not the first person to have some words on this story and I know I wont be the last but I just found this whole thing too intriguing to not say anything. Now if theres a chance you've been living under a rock for the past several days you may have no clue what I'm talking about, so for the courtesy of educating your ignorance, I am sharing the below link to get you caught up.....go ahead watch away....I'll go make a sandwich or something.....

...okay, there you go...now were all on the same page. So lets discuss. Here we have this fantastic story about an undrafted basketball player who struggles getting into the NBA but gets his moment to shine (one of those moments in life where you either step up or regret not having done so for the rest of your life) and he makes every second count so far. Its just joyous to watch and by the mood of fans and the country in general the consensus seems to be that they are enjoying it as well.


...Ohh by the way there is one other thing that you may have casually observed in the nice video above. Have you guessed it yet? Let me help. You see this guy, Jeremy Lin......[whispers] He's Asian (American of Taiwanese descent to be exact)...... Yup, I can here it already. The sirens of the PC police are on their way to my house for daring to publicly notice that someone is of a different race than myself. Its funny how every story I've seen on Lin walks on eggshells when mentioning his race. Now please understand I am as horrified as anyone when people like Floyd Mayweather run their mouths claiming Lin's hype is only due to him being Asian or the geniuses who run the MSG network find it okay to show a graphic of Lin's face coming out of a fortune cookie (my eyes are still rolling especially at that one), but I just think as mature adults we should be able to recognize what Lin is doing on behalf of Asian Americans and appreciate it for the positive thing that is.


   What Lin is doing currently is remarkable regardless of his race. Hes come out of seemingly nowhere to lift a team that has been severely under performing in what most had hoped would be a year of resurgence for the team.Hes inspiring, humble and a marketing dream come true. BUT...... to not say his race has even slightly helped his appeal is ridiculous. Now I know I may have lost some of you with that statement, but please, here me out if you will. Jeremy Lin is doing something groundbreaking and that's a positive thing. Besides all of his on court heroics he is breaking the stereotype for what makes an NBA player. An excerpt from a study published in Slam magazine from 2011 shows the following:


"–In the NBA, 83 percent of the players were people of color, an increase of one percentage point from last year’s totals. This represents the highest percentage of players of color since the Racial and Gender Report Card began reporting the composition of the NBA teams. The percentage of African-American players increased by one percentage point to 78 percent, equaling the highest since 2001-02. The percentage of Asians remained constant at 1 percent. The percentage of Latinos increased by one percentage point to 4 percent.  The percentage of people of color classified as other was slightly under 1 percent. The percentage of international players decreased by one percentage point to 17 percent, the lowest percentage since the 2003-04 season. 
–At 17 percent, this was the lowest percentage of white players since the Racial and Gender Report Card began reporting the composition of the NBA teams."

Those facts alone show that what Lin is currently doing IS unique & theres nothing wrong with recognizing it. I applaud J-Lin (clearly were friends by my casual nickname) and the fact that hes given so many people who don't usually connect to the game of basketball something to cheer for. You cant say the fact that there will be a generation of young Asian American kids who have a new role model to look up to is a bad thing (If there was a large, out of shape Irish-American man with a red beard currently dominating the league, Lord knows I'd be on his bandwagon). Diversity is a beautiful thing and I for one have never subscribed to the "theres only one race, the human race" nonsense. Lets recognize each other's differences, learn from them and be better people for it (yeah even my teeth hurt after typing that one, lol). So calm it down everyone, Jeremy Lin is Asian and he's also awesome. I say hooray for that.


      To end this pile of nonsense I call a blog entry I'll say I look forward to seeing where his career goes from here. I also look forward to seeing how other teams adjust to defend him (New Orleans did enough of it to pull off a win against the Knicks tonight) & just how he'll fare with a healthy Carmelo Anthony back on the floor. All in all its a fun time to be watching the Knicks play ( a statement no one has been able to say for quite some time now) and that's good for any real basketball fan regardless of their ethnicity.


See ya when I see ya folks.....

The Episode 1 Dilemma

Dear friends and lovers..... I must assume at this point if you still follow me its your own fault if you get disappointed in my horrid lack of updates....truly I am a master of slackery (not a word) and all things it encompasses and I realize now that apologizing for it every time I decide to finally post something would just be insulting to us all.....so with that said I will simply say hello and hola (German) and I truly hope you are all well....with that ugly business out of the way lets get onto more pressing matters:

    I recently ran into a conundrum..... My daughter, an extremely sweet and funny 8 year old, came to me and asked the question any nerd parent dreads.....that question of course was "Daddy, can we go see Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D?"..... It was like all the air was taken out of the room and I forgot how to speak for what felt like days.....as I recovered from the question I simply said "sure sweetie" and then left her presence to return to my own world of inner turmoil over this series of events that had just unfolded.

Let me say before anything else, I DO NOT HATE EPISODE 1..... Don't get me wrong, I get all of the hate and I fully understand the many reasons nerds around the world gather in unison to loathe this film.....but still for me it wasn't that big of a deal.

I love STAR WARS.....Always have and always will....and though EPISODE 1 is without question my least favorite of all, I still cant find it in myself to say I hate it....this sentiment alone will make many a nerd furious as its become widely accepted that you cant be a real STAR WARS fan anymore without hating EPISODE 1... I say that's nonsense...hogwash even if you want me to get vulgar.....

I've never fully understood all the hatred because so much of it could be applied to any entry in the series....one of the biggest complaints I always here is that the dialogue is terrible and wooden at times (which i fully agree with) but has there ever been a STAR WARS movie that hasn't had wooden dialogue? For all of his achievements, George Lucas has never been the best at writing things people would actually say....I mean most of the star wars movies dialogue is laughable at the least when compared to other solid franchises......but this is all beyond my point, lets get back to that shall we...

...So after running these thoughts of nerd rage towards EPISODE 1 through my head I realize the whole argument is ridiculous....the point of the matter is I have standing before me an 8yr old girl who is excited to go see a STAR WARS movie. In a world where we now have pink Lego's (because apparently regular color Lego's are just too much for girls to handle) and millions of other stupid barriers that are set up to morph my daughter into a brainless clone of a living Bratz doll, here she is simply asking to share in an experience that I grew up with as well (I was a child who grew up with the Original trilogy and the prequels in my late teens/early twenties) and because of the horrible cynicism that our geek culture uses as its lifeblood I had for a second considered not taking her. But alas, that second passed and I decided there was no way we wouldn't be in attendance.

...After a week of her behaving at school to make sure I didn't cancel our trip we were off to see the movie. Her excitement was infectious, She couldn't wait to see if we got the special 3D glasses and toy our theater had advertised as part of a STAR WARS kids event day and I was excited for her. We got to the theater and had the fun of seeing a line full of parents and kids (some of whom were in full costume) all excited to experience the event together. We watched the movie, she participated in some of the free events after (face painting, Lego building..etc) and all in all we had a great day.

 

The one thing I think I took most from this was seeing how many parents and kids were out enjoying the movie together. Sure I still think EPISODE 1 is terrible in so many ways ( I literally cringe when I here the racist Asian accents of the trade federation and pretty much every time Jar Jar Binks is on screen) but it doesn't really matter. STAR WARS was never made for adults who nitpick every scene of a movie. In all honesty the prequels probably should have never been made because they re not meant for today's society. All 6 of the films thrive off the viewer either being a wide eyed child or an adult who can relate to that. These movies were made for children who don't notice the terrible parts in the world but simply see the fun and beauty of it.

So for 2+ hours I got to see the world through an 8yr olds eyes again and it was a lot of fun. It didnt matter that we already own this movie at home (on more video formats than Id like to admit). It didnt matter that the movie was in 3D (it added nothing to the film). All that mattered was that we had a fun time at the movies. Thats all STAR WARS has ever been about and that's all it ever needs to be. Also, I dare say one hasnt lived until they see an 8yr old girl ask to have her face painted like Darth Maul, while other kids run around pretending to be warriors from another Galaxy.

 

Ill see ya when I see ya folks

Get some FREE SPIDERMAN love while its hot

Just a quick ramble and some info while it lasts.....Looks like theres gonna be a cool fan event going on around the world on Monday Feb. 6th for the new spiderman movie.... these events are always fun and theres usually some cool stuff/giveaways for the fans.... heres the main link for all the sites   http://www.theuntoldstorybegins.com/# 

... and heres the link for the NYC event taking place at 3pm on  the 6th http://www.gofobo.com/rsvp/promotion/55f977d20ea528326c028e49d1914c9e



.... hope to see you when I see you there!!

One last thing about 2011........

Good people of the interwebs....I have returned to you with tidings from the great state of Imwaytoolazytokeepupwiththisblogville, USA, hoping that you've all been well and we can continue our joyous relationship of my rambling and you reading in this new year....I'd love to say that I have some new found resolutions to discipline myself in this year of 2012 so that I write more entries and don't live my life as a complete slacker, but alas its who I am and I wouldn't want to pretend I was anything else...with that said Ill do my best (fingers crossed) to get on here more often and spew out some patented Rambler shenanigans as only I can....

I figured the best way I should start off this new year would be to actually remember to write about something I had meant to include before the year's end and then start fresh from there.....

-I'll give you the main reason my "Slackertude" was in full effect at the close of 2011 and that was the Joyous Event of the century that took place when I had the pleasure of marrying the current Mrs. Rambler. Although I have mentioned it before I did want to bring up one fact about the wedding that I wanted to share with anyone who comes across this page. In looking for a cake topper for our nuptials I came across a really great artist who created a topper for us and just wanted to show her some love on here..... you can check out her eBay page here http://myworld.ebay.com/cin701/?_trksid=p4340.l2559 .... excellent work and extremely professional and easy to work with....here's a pic of the work she did on our topper (What can I say, I really like Arkham City)

....Cynthia from Awesome Toppers really did a great job and before I did anything going forward I just wanted to give her a shout and say thanks for making a great memory from our wedding....

...with that I can move forward properly and will be posting some other thoughts as the days and hours pass....see ya when I see ya ppl

More Fire!!!...More Fire!!!!

Ohhh my friends how I've missed you!!!.... So I've been off getting married and cruising around the world and stuff as of late (more on that in future blogs) So I greatly apologize that my blog has become the digital equivalent of tumbleweed blowing on an old west landscape.... I have much to spew about but I wanted to start off showing some love to the thing now makes me smile every morning....no, not the new Mrs. Rambler you fools....what I speak of is the 24 hours of bliss I have experienced with my nice shiny new Kindle Fire......

....I know there's a lot of curiosity around the device especially with the holidays upon us so I figured I'd help answer some simple things about it.... also I took a few minutes and just made a video of the Fire in action....enjoy and feel free to hit me up with any questions you have..

Dr. Pepper prescribes sexism?

So here's the thing.....I'm a pretty stubborn guy....I can be ignorant, old fashioned and downright sexist at times (but enough about my good points)....What I've come out of suspended animation for (I realize how long its been since Ive posted anything my lovely people and you have my sincerest apologies...Frankly, I'm a lazy, lazy man and that inherent laziness coupled with child rearing and an upcoming wedding that is consuming my free time is just no good for the business of collecting my thoughts here) is some commentary on this commercial:

        I actually only saw this commercial a few days ago but my immediate reaction was "Wow Dr. Pepper....that may have been the worst attempt at humor ever". Its pretty weird because I firmly believe that in the realm of comedy anything goes. You cant get hurt feelings because that's just the nature of the beast. I normally have no problem laughing at most things that normal good hearted people find offensive (I mean, I personally want to start a campaign to protect bullies because of all this, no more bullying, Gestapo-like, nonsense that is currently going on in America's schools). So why, ohh why, do I find myself offended for women when I see this? Am I going soft? Has old age and raising two daughters turned me into some bleeding heart pansy? Possibly, but I think my real dislike of this whole product campaign is that it comes down to its reasoning in general. In today's highly PC culture I refuse to believe that a major corporation put this ad out with no idea it would drum up controversy. This whole ad is made to bring attention to a brand that is trying to step up and compete with the bigger boys (Coke & Pepsi). It's like Sprint taking a huge monetary gamble and getting the IPhone but instead of risking your bet on one of the world's most beloved tech devices they are instead betting the house on controversy and good old fashioned disrespect. Some people might consider it a smart move because it does make people talk about the product and as its always said "any publicity is good publicity" but the way they chose to go about this is just pure ignorance to me. The commercial probably wouldn't have made me care either way were it not for the tag line "not for women". Why? Why throw those words in there.... It just doesn't make sense to me...does the controversy of those 3 words drum up enough business to justify turning off an entire section of buyers?  Just putting the idea that any product your selling is "not for someone" is basically saying "please don't buy our product, we don't want your kind's money". Honestly if Dr Pepper would have just left out this tag line it would have been an idea (a still somewhat crappy produced and yet another carbon copy of the old spice guy format version of an idea...but an idea nonetheless) about turning a diet drink into something "manly" and no one would have been able to complain (well they would have, but I wouldn't have considered their complaints valid therefore clearly they would not have mattered.....see I told you I can be ignorant when I try).... I don't know, I just think this was a dumb move on Dr. Pepper's part and if the creators are actually as sexist as they claim then I have one question for them: "If your sexism assumes this drink isn't for women then I'd also assume in your ideology you assume most women still do the grocery shopping (which in many cases is a fact) and in that case who exactly do you think will be buying this product?".... I know I won't and I'm not even a woman (despite my dad who does the grocery shopping ways)...Just some food for thought...

......see ya when I see ya folks

Self for Sale....Get your Selfs while theyre hot

How goes it my lovely friends? I was thinking recently about the many way in which we as a society have become quite good at selling ourselves.....Now I know what your thinking...."how could you lower yourself to selling your body for money Rambler?".... Well to answer that Ill first say I appreciate your care but clearly you don't know me very well for its pretty common knowledge that for the right price Id do just about anyth.......(.I clearly need to stop writing  now).....Secondly and much more relevant I am not talking about physically selling oneself, though the truth isn't that far off....

... what I mean by this is that we have become increasingly obsessed with the culture of self....I mean its been going on for years with "reality" TV for example. Anyone who has even watched TV in the past 10-20 years has been able to observe a drastic shift from (successful) scripted television to cheap, quick, loosely scripted shows starring casts ranging from normal everyday Joes to wanna be actors doing their best pretending to be everyday Joes. We have created a celebrity culture for ourselves and by ourselves (Please don't be so ignorant as to blame TV programmers as it is we who dictate what is successful....trust me if all of a sudden people watched in masses a show about helping the poor and bought helping the poor shirts and helping the poor videos from itunes than helping the poor shows and copycat shows would be up and down or local programming guide....okay I'm getting off my soapbox now). Long gone are the days of looking up to our movie stars and sports heroes (whether that was ever healthy is a whole nother story). What we do now, to put it simply, is look up to those of us who without much talent or training find a way to make it in today's culture....Now personally I think its a horrible sign of how out of control and lost our current society is but one cant deny that people like the derelicts of the Jersey Shore and the ever business savvy yet mostly talentless Kardashian family are the hot melty center of our pop culture Stromboli (I have to stop blogging around lunch time)....

...Where am I going with all this passionate rhetoric about how we've become a society of people looking for ways to sell themselves and become the next talentless fool who cashes in?.....Nowhere particularly to be honest...I just thought it'd be fun to talk about how horrible each and every one of us are as human beings despite how good we think we are as a precursor to me trying to sell myself (Now isn't that ironic).... and with that said I shall join in on the quest for talentless success by providing you with the following ;-)

get at me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Writing_Rambler @Writing_Rambler

follow me here Duh!: http://thewritingrambler.blogspot.com/

ans last but not least patron my pockets by buying from me on Ebay: http://myworld.ebay.com/itslvg3

read my weekly comic book reviews on http://www.aintitcool.com

..... Ill see ya when I see ya folks.....

Thank you Nike for making my dreams a reality

So when I was a kid my favorite movie was without question Back to the Future 2....I lived it...I breathed it and Im pretty sure I can still recite every word to it........

....so when I get online and read a story tonight ( check it out here http://www.nicekicks.com/2011/09/is-nike-taking-us-back-to-the-future/ ) about Nike having a Patent for actual power lacing shoes and a lot of secret tweets being sent out...well I assumed it was just too good to be true....

Then I saw this video...

...All I can say is MIND BLOWN.....

THE NEW 52 & THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

Hey there fine people...its been a little while hasn't it? what can I say, the summer just seems to fly by and with having to juggle fatherhood, writing reviews, watching movies, working now and then from home, camp counseling, battling hurricanes, inspiring the youth, playing horseshoes, creating nanobots, locating Frankensteins brain, visiting the Amish and general tomfoolery it's been hard to keep up with my writing here....But don't fret, I still love you all nonetheless...

So today is 8/31 (technically 9/1 by the time I post this) and for most it is a day that harshly reminds one that the joys of summer have come crashing to a halt and Fall will be soon upon us ....we all know what that means don't we? Sweater weather...kids back in school...the leaves changing to a glorious Autumn hue and my natural enemy, the soulless crossing guard, will once again be slithering from there dank caves to torture us all before we know it....ohhh how I despise those creatures of the day....................................

....................(okay I vented...I'm better now)..........

..........but for Comic fans, today was also a day of change in our world....Today saw DC comics release FLASHPOINT #5 & JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 ( I wont officially review these here....though I will say they are both very satisfying and should be picked up....especially JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 for old and new readers alike)......the only 2 new releases from the company today signified a major changing point in the DC comics universe, as years of storylines and history have been suddenly reset and all titles (52 over the next month) have been renumbered as #1's and are set to welcome a new generation of readers into the DC world.....

...Many people have written this "REBOOT" off as a marketing ploy and I cant blame them, as the comic book industry as a whole has often used gimmicks and shocking storylines to make headlines and sell some extra copies of a particular book. One Thing that is unique about this moment though, is that it is seemingly a company wide change. While a big gamble for DC comics, as they risk polarizing their core audience, they also are bravely attempting to broaden their status in popular culture.Currently DC comics takes 2nd place to Marvel comics in overall sales and name recognition (Not my personal opinion, just facts....personally I prefer DC's brand of storytelling much better) so a move like this makes sense as they want to claim the top spot in the comics world......

...Where this story gets really interesting is one of the ways that DC is attempting to "push" their comics to the top, which is day and date availability of their books digitally as well as in traditional comic shops. For some this looks like the nail in the coffin for the retail comic stores that are becoming very outdated with every new technological update. For others its a revolution that will forever better the industry as a whole. .............

.................My Opinion (and really that's what your here for)is that its a mixed bag of both but for the most part will be a positive move for DC and the Comic industry as a whole. The ability to be able to read your favorite stories the day they are released no matter where you are is an awesome advance in technology and can definitely help bring in revenue. It also becomes somewhat appealing to those people who may not be comfortable strolling into the troll dungeons that many local comic shops can often resemble but still would like to read some books (I say this out of love as I myself can be quite the comic book troll at times). It's just a fact, your average person either doesn't know where a local comic shop is (and their numbers get lower every day) or wouldn't be caught dead walking into one, for fear of not looking cool (something I gave up on quite some time ago).The main negative response I can see (and it mostly comes from comic book nerds, after they are done complaining about changes to Superman's costume......seriously guys, get over it) is something that isn't really a negative, and that is pushing the comics to go more mainstream is destroying part of the culture that we nerds so often lovingly (you could also probably use the words violently or creepily here as well) cling to with a passion. While I get your fears my fellow nerds, you have to learn to live with these changes......were a digital world and we've got to accept that world includes comics now (side note: there's a terrific App called COMIXOLOGY that you can get for your Apple or Android devices that pretty much works like the Itunes store but for comics, this is also where DC and Marvel both provide their comics digitally each week....though Marvel has not embraced day and date release....at least not yet..........you folks should check it out if interested....a great way to keep up with stories without having to go to the store to buy the books)............sure in the long run some old school comic book stores are going to disappear and it sucks but the comic book culture will thrive on.........comics have embedded their way into our culture and are responsible for some of the biggest entertainment franchises ever.... simply put...they're not going anywhere!

....all in all everyone needs to calm down....at the end of the day your favorite stories are still going to be there whether your crazy about the new ones or not.....I get how it sucks when your into something and then all of a sudden it gets popular and now everyone is seemingly an "expert" on it....these things are just going to happen and the only choice you really have to make is wheter you are going to embrace the change and enjoy the future of the comic industry or join the ranks of the miserable cynics who wouldn't be happy if the next issue they bought came with a million dollar check.....for me, I'm gonna embrace the change and keep enjoying what new stories I get each and every Wednesday, hopefully you will too........

.......If I have personally come away with anything from this whole experience it's that never have I wanted a digital tablet more in my life than I do now. So Kudos to you DC Comics, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee and all those involved as no matter what happens with the outcome of this venture you will be responsible for me owning a tablet of some sort in the near future (of course that will be after I'm done paying for my wedding because that is much more important.........Just in case the future Mrs. Rambler is reading this).

...Till next time...Ill see ya when I see ya folks

COMIC REVIEWS FOR 8/26

BRIGHTEST DAY AFTERMATH: THE SEARCH FOR SWAMP THING #3

Writer: Jonathan Vankin

Art: Marco Castiello

Publisher: DC

Reviewer: The Writing Rambler

                So I’ve had the pleasure of being able to read/review all 3 of the BRIGHTEST DAY AFTERMATH: SEARCH FOR SWAMP THING issues for AICN and boy does this final issue end with a glorious bang. Yup, those are the exact words I would use to start a review if I lived on the Bizzaro planet of Htrae, where everything is opposite. Unfortunately I don’t and for the 3^rd time DC readers are given a jumbled, messy story that has no real meaning or explanation towards the reintroduction of John Constantine and Swamp Thing to the mainstream DCU.

                This 3^rd and final issue of the limited series was supposed to be the conclusion of Constantine’s journey searching for Swamp Thing and the newly resurrected Alec Holland, but instead were given more of the same confusing runaround with no real furthering of the story. Random appearances from Madame Xanadu, Batman, Superman and Deadman (who I assume was thrown in to remind us this is supposed to connect to BRIGHTEST DAY still) add to the “chaos” of this series. To put it simply there is no point to this book other than being a 3 part reminder that Constantine and Swamp Thing are part of the DCU again. From Constantine’s odd change of heart at the end of the book to Batman’s horribly cheesy comment about EPA regulations, this final issue seems like a culmination of bad ideas put to paper.

                There’s not much new or unique about the book’s artwork other than it is consistent with the first two issues. Marco Castiello returns to take the reins back from Renato Arlem who handled the 2^nd issue and while he does a good job depicting the mess of a story that were given, I did find it funny that his version of Batman here just made me think some drifter stole Batman’s costume and is pretending to be him. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me but something is off about this story’s caped crusader.

I do have something positive to say about this book and that is I’ve finally come to peace with the cover art. If you’ve read my past reviews on this series you’ll know I’ve been pretty annoyed how the covers so far have both misrepresented the content and then mostly copy and pasted the previous issue’s artwork. Well with this issue we finally get a cover that has something to do with the content within, so I guess that’s a good thing, right?

Overall, this entire series has been a huge disappointment to readers who were anticipating learning more about John and Swamp Thing’s place in the current DCU. When you couple this with the fact that this series is also supposed to be the wrap up to a huge event like BRIGHTEST DAY you realize how much of a failure this really is. All I can hope is that with the relaunch of the DCU upon us we will be given much better stories for all of the characters involved.

GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS # 13

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Art: Ron Frenz

Publisher: DC

Reviewer: The Writing Rambler

                EMERALD WARRIORS 13 is the final issue of the series as well as the last GREEEN LANTERN title we get in the pre “reboot” DCU. While there is no big, epic story that some may have hoped or even a bridge to what will happen in the “new” DCU I actually really enjoyed what we’re give here. It’s yet another one shot focused on Guy Gardner (much like the past two EMERALD WARRIOR issues), who this time is teamed up with Batman in what feels much more like an issue of THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD than any GREEN LANTERN title.

                I really love what Tomasi has done with these final issues as he is great at delivering stories that use Guy Gardner’s personality to the fullest. He just seems to really enjoy writing Guy stories and it shows. Throw in getting to see him include Batman and the unique “chemistry” that he and Guy share and you have a really enjoyable story overall. The issue is a quick whodunit that takes place on an international space station but truthfully none of the background matters as it’s the fun of watching Batman and Guy act as a successful team that keeps you turning the pages.

                The art by Ron Frenz blends with the story and keeps everything moving well. The art in any book is there to enhance what should be a well written story and it’s exactly what we get here. Nothing we’ve never seen before, but enjoyable because it flows with everything and never becomes a distraction to the reader like I’ve experienced in some of the WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERN: AFTERMATH books as of late.

                This book probably isn’t for everyone as many people don’t like throwing down their hard earned $3 to buy a one shot that has no real significance in the larger GREEN LANTERN storylines, but these are often the stories that are made for the die-hard fans. As a fan of GREEN LANTERN I definitely recognize that many of the major events in the DCU for the past few years have somewhat had a Lantern influence and if anything we’ve been spoiled with large arcs that have taken the title to new heights. Because of this, we often dismiss smaller issues that don’t have some type of larger theme/event going on and it’s a shame. An issue like this should mean just as much to a fan because without books that create and build up these character’s personalities for us to love/hate, their actions in larger stories would be pointless. In a way I think this issue is a fitting end to this series as it reminds me that despite not having several lanterns featured or any universe spanning story it’s still a completely enjoyable read and that it’s the personality of characters like Guy Gardner that keep me coming back for more.

COMIC REVIEW FOR 8/22

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #63

Writer: Scott Kolins

Art: Scott Kolins, Daniel HDR, Freddie Williams II and Joe Prado

Publisher: DC

Reviewer: The Writing Rambler

               

                They always say all good things must come to an end and after 63 issues as the main cover reminds us it’s time to say “goodbye” to the GREEN LANTERN CORPS. This “goodbye” will be short lived of course, as most readers are fully aware GREEN LANTERN CORPS will continue in the new GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1 (currently scheduled for a September 21^st release).  Nonetheless, I enjoyed this issue as it continued to show how disheveled the Corps have become in the aftermath of the WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS and took time to remind us that despite the hard times there is still honor amongst the Corps.

                Scott Kolins presents the reader with four different chapters showing some of the different ways the GREEN LANTERNS CORPS are suffering in the wake of this past war. I actually enjoyed how this was handled for the most part. The way the stories are presented sets up some ideas for where the series may be headed in the relaunch and it does so without focusing on main characters like Hal or Sinestro. The fact that some of the “lesser” characters are given focus here is the high point of the issue and a good reminder that though most larger stories revolve around the 4 earth lanterns, there is a much bigger GREEN LANTERN CORPS who are being affected by these events. Probably the best of the 4 stories actually revolves around the idea that many of the GREEN LANTERNS have reached a boiling point towards their disdain of the earth lanterns and are tired of them seemingly always being the center of the Corps’ problems. I’m hoping this idea is explored in depth once the relaunch happens as it could provide some great stories of conflict within the Corps.

                The art in the issue is much like the story as it is divided into four unique chapters. Normally I’m not a fan of multiple artists handling one issue (as it can become a distraction) but it works here as were presented with each individual tale. All four artists hold their own in the book and I especially liked the combination of Freddie Williams II’s art matched with Kolins’ story about the anger towards the earth lanterns (which Kyle Rayner is forced to be the recipient of).  I also loved the variant cover featuring Kyle  looking like the toughest version of a blue lantern I’ve ever seen, though I must point out, at no point in this issue (or any of the relaunch cover previews for that matter) does Kyle become a blue lantern. In all honesty it makes no sense as a variant to this issue but its artistic quality should still be commended.

                As the issue ends, the reader is presented with the idea that despite all of these obstacles, true members of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS know their duty comes above all other things. Some may find the wrap up of the issue somewhat cheesy and forced (which I can understand to an extent) but I think the overall reminder that members of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS hold a high honor and take it very seriously despite their disagreements is a great way to end the 63 issue run. While I wouldn’t say this was the best possible way the series could have “ended” I do think its handled well enough to give proper closure to a solid book and bridge the gap for what’s to come.

COMIC REVIEWS FOR 8/15

WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS: AFTERMATH #2

Writer: Tony Bedard

Art: Ransom Getty & Andy Smith

Publisher: DC

Reviewer: The Writing Rambler

               

                With WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS: AFTERMATH # 2 we finally reach the end of the entire WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS story. There’s so much happening that there’s no real closure given to the overall storyline but it’s not necessarily a bad thing in this case. While it does a lot more on the setting up end than actually closing out the WAR story, it is still an enjoyable read and is definitely great for any GREEN LANTERN fan waiting for all the repercussions from the events that just took place to be fleshed out more come September.

                One thing I particularly enjoyed about Tony Bedard handling this AFTERMATH story is the way he focuses on each of the lantern’s personalities in his writing. While I enjoy Geoff John’s large scale stories and what he’s done with GREEN LANTERN overall, I do always like seeing how Bedard can “take it down a notch” and get back to focusing on what’s going on inside the heads of the main characters. He gives us a story where the Corps are all but broken and there’s a real sense of confusion amongst most of its members as to what is going to happen next. Characters are angry, dealing with loss and having to accept decisions they don’t agree with while still remaining loyal to the corps. It sets a great mood for the series overall and is a good starting point for what’s to come.

I also enjoyed the art in this issue and actually preferred Getty and Smith’s work here over Miguel Sepulveda and Tyler Kirkham’s work on the first issue. There were a few panels in the first issue (specifically a few oddly drawn captures of Sinestro) that just took me out of the story but here I feel like everything is crisp and flows well. I also have to mention the Cover art (both the regular by Tom Fleming and variant by Dave Johnson) which are just beautifully drawn and do a great job of conveying the tone of the books in very simple yet detailed work.

The only real low point of this book is when the story jumps back to a conversation taking place between Saint Walker and Ganthet. While I have no problem with the story that’s being set up, it just seems to come out of nowhere in the book (much like it did in issue #1) and feels out of place in the issue. It’s like there should be a cheesy caption above it that reads “Meanwhile…on the other side of OA”. All in all, it’s a small blemish in an otherwise well handled story.

Overall, WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERN’S: AFTERMATH does a good job of continuing the story, though it does present more questions than answers. It leaves the reader with some closure for the larger war (particularly a great “memorial” for Mogo) but still anticipating everything that’s on its way. It shows just how much the events of this war have taken out of the Corps and how there will probably be a lot of changes coming because of it. Personally, I think it’s a great time to be a fan of GREEN LANTERN and with four different titles coming in the DC relaunch I’m hoping for even more exciting stories in the future.

Comic Reviews from 8/8/11

FLASHPOINT: BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #3

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Art: Eduardo Risso

Publisher: DC

Reviewer: The Writing Rambler

                With the month of August upon us, we find ourselves heading toward the finale of the entire FLASHPOINT story and the impending reboot/re-launch of the DCU. With the end so near, we are also getting the final chapters of some of the tie in books, which for many fans have been the best part of the whole FLASHPOINT event. This week we see the close of arguably the best tie in with BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #3.

                After the setup of the first issue, which showed the reader the kind of Batman that Thomas Wayne was and the emotional sucker punch of the Joker reveal in the second issue, I was anxiously waiting to see how Brian Azzarello would close out this wonderfully told Batman story. To my delight, Azarello yet again creates a classic Batman tale and finishes up the story near perfectly. It stays dark and continues providing us a backstory of just how this world’s Batman and Joker came to be. It really is a thing of beauty to see a classic Joker/Batman fight seamlessly intertwined with a tragic backstory of a parent’s loss (told through flashbacks during the battle). As the book closes we see not only that we have been given a fully fleshed out Batman tale but also a motivation for Thomas’ actions in the overall FLASHPOINT story. It left me satisfied and really looking forward to what Batman will do in the final issue of FLASHPOINT.  

As the battle and the overall story come to a close its quality is only exemplified by Eduardo Risso’s artwork yet again. All the pain and loss that both Batman and Joker have suffered in this world are able to be felt in each panel through Risso’s work. His style perfectly blends with Azzarello’s writing and together they present a Batman story for the ages. As good as Azzarello’s writing is I honestly think this book could have contained no words and still conveyed one of the best Batman stories in years. One other thing I would like to mention in regard to the artwork is a commendation for Dave Johnson and his work on the cover art. He has done a great job throughout these 3 issues of setting the tone of the book with great covers for each and especially on this third and final issue. The image he presents here of a husband and wife mourning the loss of their child is both haunting and beautiful and it is one of my favorite Batman covers in a long time.

                My only real problem with this final issue has nothing to do with the book in any way. It is simply the fact that I don’t want to give it up and would love nothing more than to continue reading stories based in FLASHPOINT’s version of Gotham. Everyone involved in BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE should be proud as they have crafted not only a fantastic Batman story but truly a unique universe on its own. I don’t know what the future holds for Batman and the DCU as a whole but I can only hope somehow, someway we get to revisit the world of BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE again.

BRIGHTEST DAY AFTERMATH: THE SEARCH FOR SWAMP THING #2

Writer: Jonathan Vankin

Art: Renato Arlem

Publisher: DC

Reviewer: The Writing Rambler

                A little over a month ago we were given a pretty weak start to BRIGHTEST DAY AFTERMATH: THE SEARCH FOR SWAMP THING. Sadly with issue #2 we are given more of the same. What we have here is basically a book full of questions with no answers in sight. The only real difference in this issue from the last is that John Constantine is interacting with Superman instead of Batman.

                This second issue, much like the first, is all over the place. We have Constantine trying to use Superman to help him find Alec Holland while were also being given a story of Alec Holland trying to piece his life together in his old lab. Much like the first issue seemed more aimed at force feeding DC readers who may be unfamiliar with John Constantine his general bio, this issue seemingly does the same for Alec Holland. While I get that the company wants new readers to know these characters I feel that they are doing more of a disservice to longtime fans who are looking for a good three part story before everything is reset come September anyway.

The art in the book outshines the story much like the first issue and the transition from Marco Castiello to Renato Arlem works just fine. The main difference is in how Arlem’s work has a more “old school” vibe to it, especially in the way he captures Superman. Overall I didn’t mind the change though it didn’t make or break the issue in any way.

                Once again though, I have to comment on the cover art for this series which has now become a sore point for me. Last month I mentioned how the cover seemed poorly executed and included Superman when he didn’t even appear in the issue. This month while we do actually have everyone’s favorite Kryptonian in the issue, we are basically given a rehash of the first issues cover! The cover is literally an alternate take of the last one minus Batman and Zatanna being included. I understand the cover doesn’t make the story but in this case it seems reflective of the content; repetitive and somewhat pointless.

I really hate being negative when it comes to a title but so far this short series seems like a complete waste of time for readers. I don’t know how this story will be wrapped up in issue 3 (if it even can be) and while I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Constantine and Swamp Thing in “The new 52” I fully assume the finale of this series will leave us all scratching our heads much like the first two chapters have.  All in all I wouldn’t recommend this series as there are much better things happening in the DCU but as a completest myself I’ll be there to see how it all wraps up.