Today, Peter and Shelby are discussing Earth-2 1, originally released May 2nd, 2012.
Peter: We have officially reached the Second Wave of the New 52. With it, we see the reintroduction of the DC Multiverse, and thus alternate versions of some of our favorite super heroes. We begin here with Earth-2 #1, which will then lead us into the rest of this brave new world.
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The Retcon Punchers spend an awful lot of time looking for ways to celebrate our nerdy obsessions. This means a lot of time sunk into scouring Etsy, Deviant Art, Think Geek or whatever. Sometimes we see things so great we just have to share them… and then clutch them fiercely to our collective chest. Throw it in The Vault.
Website: Etsy
Who Would Love This: People who wear bow ties, PeeWee Herman
Price: $12.25 each
Bow ties have been making a come back as of late, and all the nerds don’t want to be left behind! While these are a little narrow in terms of events and such that you could wear them at. I feel that there are only a few very specific types of weddings that you could wear one of these bow ties at, for example. I wish that we could see Jimmy Olsen wearing a Superman bow tie, it would be sweet. There is also the option to choose your bow tie for the appropriate occasion or day. Maybe you’re feeling rather super, wear the Superman tie. Going to NASA for a tour? Martian Manhunter tie has you covered. Chasing storms? Red Tornado.
In 2008, Marvel Studios introduced Tony Stark to the big screen in “Iron Man.” 4 years, one sequel, and new Thor and Captain America franchises later, we are a week away from “The Avengers.” This is the first time a studio has created separate movies for each team member, leading into a full-fledged, comic book team movie. Will it work? More important, could it be done for a DC team? What would it take for a full-fledged Justice League movie? Retcon Punchers sound off. Welcome to the Chat Cave.
Patrick: Oh, it’ll work. I don’t think there’s a doubt in anyone’s mind that The Avengers is going to work. It’s release geniusly coincides with the weekend of Free Comic Book Day, so fans of the movie may find themselves wandering into their local comic shop. Once inside, they’ll inevitably stumble on Marvel’s big cross-over series: Avengers vs. X-men. We laugh at the corporate buzz-word “synergy,” but this is some impressive fucking synergy.
Today, Peter and Drew are discussing the All-Star Western 8, originally released April 25th, 2012.
Peter: Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti have obviously become pretty close to mastering the character of Jonah Hex. They’ve held his reigns for so long that they know exactly how to write him. This new issue of of All-Star Western pushes Jonah dangerously close to the line between hero/anti-hero and villain. Hell, I’m not always sure which side of the line he normally falls on anyway.
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Today, Shelby and Peter are discussing Green Lantern Corps 8, originally released April 18th, 2012.
Shelby: We talk a lot on this site about the balance of action and plot in the titles we read. Comic books have a fine line to tread, between providing enough action to keep things interesting and also creating a plot that’s deep enough to keep things interesting. Last month’s issue of Green Lantern Corps was one of those action-light issues, and I thought it was boring. More specifically, I thought the necessary plot points that were executed were done so in a overwrought and cliched way. This month we have another action-light issue, but happily Peter Tomasi has written a story that advances the plot into the next arc in a way that keeps me interested.
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Today, Peter and Patrick are discussing Captain Atom 7 and 8, originally released on March 21st, and April 18th, 2012.
Peter: As we continue in the post modern world of Captain Atom, we are seeing a lot of references to time and not-so-intuitive nature of cause and effect. The running clock which accompanies every scene-change ensures that this theme remains pervasive throughout. Time is ever moving around us, but in the world of Captain Atom, it’s something entirely different.
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Today, Drew and Peter are discussing Nightwing 8, originally released April 18th, 2012. This issue is part of the Night of the Owls crossover event. Click here for complete NotO coverage.
Drew: Scott Snyder has said that, for Batman, the Night of the Owls is all about his relationship to Gotham. That singular focus on a theme so close to Bruce’s identity can be felt throughout that title, and all of our favorite books have a similar thematic focus; Wonder Woman on family, The Flash on time, etc. While these themes all focus on aspects of their heroes’ identities, Kyle Higgins has managed to refract the events of the Night of the Owls onto identity itself, Nightwing’s own pet theme. Last month’s reveal that Dick had been earmarked (okay, toothmarked) to be the next Talon struck a powerful blow to his sense of self, which was still on the mend from his recent costume changes (plus the inherent issues of being a kind of unmoored twenty-something). Continue reading
Today, Shelby and Peter are discussing Justice League 8, originally released April 18th, 2012.
Shelby: I love a good mystery. As a wee lass, I loved Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys; though my tastes have strayed somewhat since then, I still believe there is nothing better than mystery (big or small) to hook someone into a plot. Apparently, Geoff Johns agrees with me, because this month’s Justice League is loaded with mysteries of varying height and weight. Even though I’m not crazy about the actual events that took place in this issue, the mysteries Johns is beginning to uncover are tantalizing to a curious cat like me. Continue reading
Peter: As it has been mentioned a few times already, last weekend Shelby and I attended C2E2. It was a wonderful time, and we had the distinct pleasure of meeting some of our favorite comic book authors and artists, all of whom were incredibly awesome and humble individuals.
Today, Shelby and Peter are discussing Deathstroke 8, originally released April 11th 2012.
Shelby: Of all the titles of the New 52 I’m reading, I think the one that surprised me the most was Deathstroke. I started reading it at the recommendation of my comic shop; all I expected was a story with some hardcore, kickass action. What I got was an introduction to a character I like a lot, not only for his total badassedness, but also for the depth Kyle Higgins brought to the character. Peter and I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Kyle at C2E2 this weekend, and we all shed a single tear at his leaving Deathstroke.
Retcon Punch 