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KC Carlson by Stuart Immonen
A KC COLUMN by KC Carlson
Hey, let me tell you a bit story…
A week or so ago, I was surfing the Web comic sites, as I do every couple of months or so, basically trolling for concepts for upcoming columns, or trying to discover dependable comics news (which is getting harder as well as harder to do) as well as came across a (not new) story at Comic book Resources. (And shouldn’t they be called Comic book movie news now? )
(Anyway… not truly my primary point here…)
The CBR story is about the then-upcoming Batman #9 as well as some strange things going on in that issue. Batman is producing his own version of a suicide Squad, made up of present Arkham residents. Tom King composed it, as well as Mikel Janin is the artist.
Batman #9
Later on down the column, there’s a recommendation to a mysterious character making a surprise appearance in 21st century Arkham Asylum. as well as I mention “21st century” deliberately, since the character in concern is definitely not from around right here — or more properly not from around now! I should note that CBR published spoiler warnings in their headlines however went ahead as well as exposed details (and artwork… obviously provided by DC) in the body of the story. however the book came out a couple of months ago, so I’m ignoring that nicety, since this is fascinating news — at least to a truly hardcore group of fans who have been dying for over a year since their preferred series has not been around.
The secret character is Saturn Girl. That is, Saturn woman of the legion of Super-Heroes. Of the 31st century. In other words, somebody who is not expected to be anywhere in the 21st century. much less an inmate of Arkham Asylum. (Who has determined her as “Doe”, by the way.)
I am intrigued. sufficient to ensure that I seek out as well as discover Batman #9 at Westfield east last week (even though it’s a few months old at this point). I flip with the problem at the store, to verify what I had heard, since I don’t generally trust people that I don’t understand to make an actual legion of Super-Heroes sighting these days, but, yep, that appears like Saturn Girl. I buy the book, take it home, as well as checked out it.
What the hell? What is Saturn woman performing in Arkham Asylum in the 21st century? Obviously, I’m not going to discover out here, since she’s in a grand overall of five small panels. however that IS the LSH sign she’s drawing on her cell wall with her finger.
The bigger surprise (at least to me) was I truly enjoyed reading that issue. as well as not just since of the LSH thing. It was a truly well-written as well as intriguing problem of Batman, obviously setting up a bigger (and most likely not LSH-related) storyline — which I’m likewise looking ahead to reading, ideally soon.
The take on as well as the strong #5
Why is this Batman/LSH tease so great? since other than two single problems — The take on as well as the strong #179 (by Martin Pasko & Ernie Colon) in 1981 as well as The take on as well as the strong #5 (by mark Waid & George Pérez) in 2007 — as well as a couple of other stray, fleeting appearances, Batman as well as the legion have never truly hung out much together. In fact, I believe that Batman may have teamed up with the inferior five more frequently than he did with the LSH. just like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody expects to see Batman as well as the LSH together! great on DC for not doing the obvious thing of reintroducing the legion in the Superman titles.
KING NOTES
The Vision Vol. 1
I’m quite sure the primary reason I truly enjoyed Batman #9 was Tom King’s writing. I was a big fan of his run on Marvel’s extremely different The Vision series — quickly one of last year’s most oddly compelling reads — as well as a series that was often discussed on Wednesdays at Westfield East. The fundamental premise was that the Vision, obviously tired of being a superhero, decides to produce himself a household (wife, son, daughter, dog), get a task as a consultant in Washington, DC, as well as settle down in one of DC’s cozy suburbs. as well as this is nice… for one issue. as well as then things slowly go to hell for the next 11 issues, when the series concludes. (By design, I may add. By then, King had been offered Batman full time as well as jumped at it. like you wouldn’t, if you might compose like that…) If marvel doesn’t do a Vision hardcover with all 12 of these issues, they are idiots…
(I should likewise point out that the Smartest guy In Comics (well, usually…), mark Waid, quickly scooped up Viv Vision (the daughter) to join the other marvel teen outcasts in the pages of The Champions — my present preferred marvel title.)
Tom King’s Wikipedia page has a quite great rundown of his fascinating composing career, which of program began long before The Vision in comic books that I have not checked out (yet). He’s no complete stranger to the Batman household of comics, previously composing Grayson (with Tim Seeley) as well as coordinating the “Robin War” crossover in addition to composing both of that storyline’s bookends. He’s likewise written Omega guy (prematurely cancelled however restored as well as wrapped up because of fan demand), teen Titans annual #1 (both 2015), as well as an acclaimed eco-friendly lantern story “Will You Be My God?” (with Evan Shaner) in Justice League: Darkseid War: eco-friendly lantern in 2016, all for DC Comics. The Sheriff of Babylon (by King with art by Mitch Gerads) is continuous from Vertigo Comics, as well as his book A when congested sky (illustrated by Tom Fowler) was published in 2012. King likewise spent seven years as a counterterrorism operations policeman for the CIA before his composing career began.
HELLO, I must BE GOING
Batman Vol. 1: I Am Gotham
Before wrapping up, let me backtrack a bit. When DC rebirth started, I made a pact with myself that I would at least inspect out all the rebirth series. I enjoyed a great deal of them (and am continuing to buy as well as checked out many of them today). The ones I didn’t enjoy were largely the Batman- as well as Superman-related titles — which was quite much a carryover from their new 52 series that I likewise didn’t read. So I stopped buying most of the Superman as well as Batman books after the very first problem or two. including Tom King’s Batman, which I felt was a bit as well Scott Snyder-influenced. (Yes, I recognize that Snyder is the bee’s knees of Batman creators these days, however his work did bit for me, both then as well as now.) Plus, I discovered the Batman world (especially during new 52) method as well complex with completely as well many characters (and crossovers) to keep track of — most of whom seemed to be a Robin of some kind or another.
Truth to tell, I really stopped reading most of the Bat-books years before new 52 even happened. turns out I wasn’t much of a grant Morrison Batman fan either (although liked his Doom Patrol as well as All-Star Superman). It has dawned on me that sufficient time has now passed, I may really enjoy a more curated jaunt with Morrison’s run on the character, if I might handle to prevent major missteps like final Crisis.
Anyway, reading this “stray” problem of Batman (for a totally different reason besides Batman) as well as truly enjoying it, is leading me to go back as well as checked out King’s Batman run from the beginning. as well as I’m taking advantage of being late to the celebration by reading this Batman series as it comes out in collections — the extremely very first time that I am doing this. (Old floppy habits die hard…) I’m feeling like I’m lastly headed into the future of contemporary comic book reading (or I assumption I should state “a” future, as I’ve already tried digital as well as truly didn’t like it much, except for the truth that storage was great deals easier than floppies).
Speaking of the future, I likewise have to say thanks to Batman for getting me excited for the (hopefully soon) upcoming relaunch of the legion of Super-Heroes, which is strongly rumored to be by the team of artist Jim Lee and… writer Tom King! LLL! Woo Hoo HOO!
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KC CARLSON: utilized to have something to do with the legion of Super-Heroes… about a thousand years ago. Or perhaps it just feels that long ago…
WESTFIELD COMICS is not accountable for the stupid things that KC says. particularly that thing that truly irritated you. like all those weird world names in the 30th Century. They always irritated me since I had difficulty spelling typical words properly — as well as I had to keep in mind planets like Cargg as well as Bgtzl as well as Imsk as well as Bismol as well as Xanthu as well as Talok VIII… as well as Earth… earth was the worst!
The take on as well as the strong #5 cover is from the Grand Comics Database.