Wanted TPB : Siren

Writer: J. Torres
Artist: Tim Levins
Publisher: Image Comics (1998)
Includes: Siren #1-3

From the guys that brought you...The Copybook Tales (The greatest sliver of 80's comic culture captured on page) comes Siren!, a book that deserved more then it got.

The three issue series slipped through the cracks of most Wednesday-holics, but was not forgotten by yours truly.

Note to Reader: I edited the article (below) down. To see the unedited version Google it.

Review of Siren by Rebecca Salek on Sequential Tart:

Private Detective Zara Rush, barely scraping by on divorce cases and sexcapades, has finally landed a big case: teenager Chip Baloo has run away from home. Chip is a shapeshifter and his parents are frantic to find him. Unfortunately, Chip has fallen in with a woman who wants nothing more than to destroy Zara and all those she holds dear...

The downside to discovering a series only long after its publication is - not being able to find the first issue! Grr. The same thing happened with The Red Star (Image) and Forty Winks (Peregrine).

I wish I could find the first issue of Siren...and I wish that it had lasted longer than three issues!

Siren is the city, an island city not unlike Manhattan. It is a city in which magic and the paranormal are accepted as the norm. In Siren, the Red Scare didn't involve Communists, but rather vampires. The public library carries books on shapeshifters. Costumed vigilantes patrol the night. And hotel doormen have the ability to teleport from one building to another, using doors as magical gateways.

Siren is a very good story. A hard-boiled PI tale set in a city of vampires and magic. I just wish that I could find the first issue, so I had a better grasp of what was going on. And I wish that Torres and Levins would produce a few more issues. So far as I know, Zara Rush's only appearance since Siren has been in one short story in Love In Tights #6 (see above). That's not enough.

Sidenote: Recently this creative duo released a new mini-series, The Family Dynamic; which hopefully will not suffer the same fate as Siren and go TPBless. However, since I haven't heard a peep about one in the works...my guess is, it's not made the cut. LAME!

Wanted TPB : Nocturne

Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Jose Fonteriz
Publisher: Marvel Comics (1995)
Includes: Nocturne #1-4

This mini-series was suppose to update and introduce the Night Raven mythos found in the Marvel UK books to an American audience...it failed!

So where did it go wrong...in my opinion?

That damn PURPLE! high tech, what the fuck, superhero suit killed this reboot.

KILLED IT! I SAY!

Pick up the mini on Ebay and see what I mean.

BIG NOTE from the Dork: I think Marvel should release a collection of Night Raven's adventures from the various Marvel UK titles

Wanted TPB : Fantastic Four Big Town

Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist: Mike McKone
Publisher: Marvel Comics (2000)
Includes: Fantastic Four Big Town #1-4

Note to Reader: I edited the article down. To see the unedited version click the title link.

The story behind the much-anticipated mini-series and its creative controversy.
By James Busbee November 08, 2000

This is a tale of two Big Towns. Fantastic Four: Big Town, the much-talked about four-issue mini-series, tells the story of a world where the advanced technology of Marvel's superheroes has filtered down to the street-level everyday society. But in recent days, the series' behind-the-scenes story has eclipsed the four-color version. Big Town has become yet another freelancer-versus-editorial throw down, and in the minds of many fans marks the first major test of new Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada's authority, leadership and creator loyalties.

The problems began early last week, when Big Town creator Steve Englehart says he received a cryptic message from Marvel informing him that editors had made changes to the first issue of the series, altering pages and, in some cases, according to Englehart, characters' entire motivations. Englehart decided to take his concerns public, excoriating editors for making changes and distancing himself from the finished product. 'In the end, the first issue of the series that I've said such great things about over the past several months was just gone,' said Englehart in a public statement. 'And I just heard about it, weeks after the fact.'

To longtime followers of Marvel's editorial policies, the changes came as no surprise...in recent years, the most infamous being Captain America #14, in which writer Mark Waid removed his name from the finished product in protest to uninvited changes. But Englehart's very public posting drew the attention and ire of Quesada, who stepped into the fray with his own take on the entire situation.

'I called back the book after reading a black-and-white review copy, which was given to me for my approval...because parts of it were simply unclear and confusing, not just to myself but to several other editors as well,' said Quesada in his first statement to the comics press. 'Maybe this was due to the fact that it was cut from six to four [issues, a decision made months ago]. Nevertheless, [certain story aspects were not] clear. Plus, when you're dealing with a story based on an alternate future, proper character and story setups need to be made so that the reader isn't totally confused.'

But what about the series itself? After all the political infighting, will anybody even care about the book that started all the fuss? They should. All sides agree that Big Town is a heck of a story, and a potential franchise, even without the office politics that have surrounded it.

WOW, I had no idea all this went on behind the scenes. Drama! I just liked the artwork and never got to read it. If Marvel ever released this as TPB they should include the original script as a bonus.

Wanted TPB : The Falcon Mini-Series

Writer: Jim Owsley
Artist: Paul Smith and Mark D. Bright
Publisher: Marvel Comics (1983)
Includes: The Falcon #1-4

The Falcon stars in this first and only solo series along side his feathery sidekick, Redwing. During the story he discovers he is not just uncannily (wink wink) good at training birds he is psychically connected to them. Yep, he is a mutant! Hot Damn! A point slammed home when a Sentinel tries to kill him.

My only regret in this series is that Paul Smith didn't draw the whole thing. I loved Paul Smith's artwork at this time.

Sidenote: At a later date, outside this mini, Marvel said the Falcon wasn't a mutant! Oh well.

Wanted TPB : Tempest

Writer: Phil Jimenez
Artist: Phil Jimenez
Publisher: DC Comics (1996)
Includes: Tempest #1-4

With Tempest (aka Aqualad-a name I like WAY BETTER then Tempest) playing a major role in Blackest Night, you'd think DC would cash in and put this mini into TPB. But nooooo and it doesn't look like they will any time soon.

Andy Oliver of Broken Frontier writes of the mini-series: Slizzath first appeared in Tempest #1 (Nov 1996) . Slizzath is actually Tempest’s uncle, part of the Atlantean exile group known as the Idylists. In that miniseries he attempted to drain away Garth’s magical powers, as he does here, and was responsible for an undead duplicate of the former Aqualad’s lost love Aquagirl (who died in Crisis On Infinite Earths). As a necromancer his desire to die and ally himself with the Black Lanterns during the Blackest Night makes perfect sense.

A Fact about Phil Jimenez and the Tempest mini-series posted on Queersupe: His first open relationship was with his first editor and mentor at DC, Neal Pozner, who was HIV-positive when they started dating, and was hesitant about dating someone younger and HIV-negative. Jimenez became Pozner’s caretaker until his death in 1994 and in the last issue of the Tempest miniseries, Jimenez dedicated the miniseries to Pozner, and wrote an editorial page in which he came out publicly for the first time. “It got over 150 letters,” he says, “including the classic letter from the kid in Iowa: ‘I didn’t know there was anyone else like me.’ Coworkers at DC were surprised to hear Jimenez referred to as Pozner’s partner at his memorial as their relationship wasn’t public knowledge.

Cool Poster: Justice Society of America, They're Back!

This poster is smooth and cool like a cigarette. And yes, I have no idea what that means.

Wanted TPB : Young Heroes in Love

Writer: Dan Raspler
Artist: Dev Madan
Publisher: DC Comics (1997)
Includes: Young Heroes in Love #1-17 plus issue 1000000

Ryan McLelland (a reviewer for Ain't It Cool News) writes: I loved Young Heroes when this series first was released back in 1997. I always think of series like this that start of strong only to be canceled some eighteen issues later a bit a head of its time. It was about a superhero team but more about the relationships between team members, which sometimes got a little hotter then your average New Mutants issue. Why? Because that’s how young people would act if they were thrust together: fight crime and hookup with each other!

Wanted TPB : Justice Society of America, Gone and Back Again

Writer: Roy Thomas (special), John Ostrander (Armageddon), and Len Strazewski (mini-series) Artist: Michael 'Mike' Gustovich and Dave Ross (special), Michael Netzer and Josef 'Joe' Rubinstein (Armageddon), and Mike Parobeck (mini-series).
Publisher: DC Comics (1986 and1992)
Includes: Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special, Armageddon: Inferno #3 and #4, and Justice Society of America #1-8

This series was about a bunch of old retired dudes still fighting the good fight. I loved the fact this series didn't try to be "hip" but just was what it was. I added the other three issues (Special and Armageddon) to the mix so the TPB would have context.

Plus Mike Parobeck artwork in this series...ROCKED!

Clipped from Wikipedia: In 1992, the JSA was given an ongoing monthly series titled Justice Society of America, written by Len Strazewski with art by Mike Parobeck, featuring the original team adjusting to life after returning from Ragnarok. Though Justice Society of America was intended as an ongoing series, and was popular with readers, it was cancelled after only eight issues. Writer Len Strazewski, in an interview explaining the cancellation of this surprise hit series, said, "It was a capricious decision made personally by Mike Carlin because he didn't like Mike's artwork or my writing and believed that senior citizen super-heroes was not what DC should be publishing. He made his opinion clear to me several times after the cancellation."Much more "cartoony" than the more realistic artwork favored at the time, Parobeck's art was a pioneering example of the "animation" style that would become quite popular with Batman: The Animated Series. Justice Society of America included the first appearance of Jesse Quick, the daughter of All-Star Squadron members Liberty Belle and Johnny Quick.

Wanted TPB : Clash

Writer: Tom Veitch
Artist: Adam Kubert
Publisher: DC Comics (1991)
Includes: Clash #1-3

When this first came out I remember liking it. However, I do not recall anything else about it. A basic web search came up with nada as well, that's pretty sad:(

DC time to reintroduce the world to this series!

Wanted TPB : Aquaman, first mini-series

Writer: Neil Pozner (mini-series) and Gary Cohn and Dan Mishkin (special)
Artist: Craig T. Hamilton (mini-series) and George Freeman (special)
Publisher: DC Comics (1986 and 1989)
Includes: Aquaman (mini-series) #1-4, Aquaman Special #1

As a general rule, for The Dork Review, I do not want to have negative attitudes found in our posts. There is enough of that in the blogsphere already. However, from time to time an passionate review, with a mixture of funny, will find it's way to a post.

Even though the review below is not favorable to the story, it doesn't change the fact I want this as a TPB.

TPBs are not just about collecting the "good stories" for me, but about collecting moments in time.

Clipped from The Cosmic Treadmill review for the mini-series:

Not only is it a plot that should never have been greenlit, but Pozner had such atrocious dialog skills that each word balloon elevates my blood pressure and makes that blood vessel on my forehead (you know, the one we all have that reacts adversely to poor writing) come that much closer to bursting.

Now I do admit to feeling bad to trashing the late Pozner’s writing skills because by all accounts he was one of the good guys in the comics business. So don’t take the trashing here as an attack on a good guy’s character-I’m only taking aim at his writing skills employed in this Aquaman mini-series.

In the end, this isn’t a tale about Aquaman’s heroism, but about his stupidity and what a failure he would be if left to his own devices. And, putting aside my numerous other criticisms, that alone is enough to damn this series. A mini-series about a hero that makes the hero look like an incompetent, moronic jerk? In what way was this going to sell more issues of comic books starring Aquaman?

Clipped from The Cosmic Treadmill review for the Special:

This insult to the word “Special”, a sequel of sorts to the Pozner/Hamilton mini-series, is not just bad. It is wretchedly impenetrable. It has to be the worst Aquaman story ever (tears are welling up in my eyes because I know that as horrendous as the Aquaman Special is, there is probably a worse story to be encountered in the next 20 years worth of Aquatales).

Clipped from It's BobRo The Answer Man! by Bob Rozakis:
Skipping ahead to the mid-1980s, Neal Pozner had envisioned his second Aquaman mini-series as one that would spotlight the rest of the Aqua-family. Described in detail in AMAZING HEROES PREVIEW SPECIAL #3 (1986), the story aimed at expanding the roles of Mera (described by Pozner as "more powerful than Aquaman... in her own way") and Aqualad. Filling the void left by the recent death of Aquagirl in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #9 and #10, a new character named Tawna was to have become Aqualad's new girl friend. Other players were to have included Ronal (Lori Lemaris' husband) and Makaira. Makaira was Vulko's wife but the first mini-series failed to explicitly point this out and, unaware of her role, future writers ignored the character.

Promotional poster for the mini-series.

Wanted TPB : The New Teen Titans and Batman and the Outsiders Crossover

Writer: Marv Wolfman and Mike W. Barr
Artist: George Pérez and Jim Aparo
Publisher: DC Comics (1983)
Includes: The New Teen Titans #37 and Batman and the Outsiders #5

Two issues is not enough to flesh out a TPB, but perhaps DC could convince Marv Wolfman and George Pérez to create a hefty back story to make up the difference.

Or separate stories about different team members teaming up, like Halo and Raven or Black Lighting and Wonder Girl and yes I am a total dork.

Fun Fact: This two shot crossover had a promo poster that I would love to get and frame.

Wanted TPB : The Jack of Hearts

Writer: Bill Mantlo
Artist: George Freeman
Publisher: Marvel Comics (1984)
Includes: The Jack of Hearts #1-4

Clipped from The Mask Bookwyrm's D.K. Latta's review: Jack of Hearts was a super hero who contained vast energy-powers, but could only keep them under control via his costume. Knocking around for a few years as a perennial guest star, he finally landed his own mini-series.

A morose Jack is kept confined as people (S.H.I.E.L.D., actually) try to figure out ways to prevent his ever escalating powers from destroying the world. But then he learns startling things about his origins -- like that his dead mother was actually from another planet, and said planet is in desperate need of a new energy source. Jack decides to leave for this new world with ex-girlfriend (and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man supporting character) Marcy Kane, who reveals she's more than he knew. However, there are some Shakespearian-like agendas and betrayals being pursued by various factions on the planet in question, building to a cosmic -- but downbeat -- resolution.

Ultimately, thanks to Mantlo's seeming conviction, and Freeman's atmospheric art, Jack of Hearts is a pretty good read. Although the story was maybe intended to be a finale for the character, I think he's still around in Marvel continuity.

He actually is not around anymore...he died not just once, but twice! However, with the trend that is comics today, he will probably die several more times.

I think Marvel missed an opportunity when he died those two times in Avengers #491 and #500 (as a Zombie) to reprint this mini-series as a TPB.

Wanted TPB : Buffed Despero VS JLA

Writer: Gerry Conway (1986) and Keith Ian Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis
Artist: Luke McDonnell (1986) and Adam Hughes
Publisher: DC Comics (1986/1998)
Includes: Justice League of America Vol. 1 #247-254 and Vol. 2 #37-40

Despero was a scrawny kid (alien ruler) who got sand kicked in his face (freedom from his dictatorship) by a bully (The Justice League of America), but with the help of the Charles Atlas work out plan (the Flame of Py'tar) he got buffed and kicked their ass!

In one such ass kicking...

Clipped from Wikipedia: ...the battle ended only through Martian Manhunter employing a one-time, never before seen application of his telepathy to trick Despero into thinking he had successfully killed not only the Justice League, but all life on Earth, causing him to let go of his hatred and regressing to the form of a fetus.

WHAT! WHAT! You read that right! He killed EVERYONE (or thought it) and was so happy turned into a fetus. A fetus...HAHAHHA...OK!

Clipped from Wizard Magazine:

Wanted TPB : Knight Watchman

Writer: Gary Carlson and Chris Ecker
Artist: Ben Torres
Publisher: Big Bang Comics (1994/1998)
Includes: Knight Watchman, Graveyard Shift #1-4

I loved all the stuff Big Bang Comics did (or hopefully will still do), but this mini-series, Knight Watchman, sat above the rest. It was a both a tribute to the Dark Knight Returns and an original story all it's own. Big Bang Comics always managed to ride that line with great finesse.

Clipped from Caliber Comics: Midway City has long been known as the most dangerous city in America and it just got worse. When as assassination attempt leaves the Mayor in critical condition, super hero Galahad, in the hospital with a shatter leg, and the crooked acting Mayor in charge, there’s no one to stop the crime wave that’s sweeping the city. Except for one man, Galahad’s mentor, the legendary Knight Watchman who’s been retired for years.

Wanted TPB : Kitty and Caliban Get Hitched!

Writer:Chris Claremont
Artist: Dave Cockrum, Paul Smith, and John Romita Jr.
Publisher: Marvel Comics (2003)
Includes: The Uncanny X-Men #148, 169, 170, 176-179

Caliban was the first mutant fan stalker, both figuratively and literally! The fact he got Kitty to marry him and in a really gross way, "do it or the man you love dies!" is just perfect.

Add a cool fight with The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants where Colossus almost dies and well...'nuff said.

Wanted TPB : America VS Justice Society and Last Days of the Justice Society of America

Writer: Roy and Dann Thomas
Artist: Rafael Kayanan, Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway (VS) David Ross and Mike Gustovich (Last Days)
Publisher: DC Comics (1985)
Includes: America VS Justice Society #1-4 and Last Days of the Justice Society of America

Clipped from Wikipedia: The series was set on Earth-Two and began with the discovery of Batman's diary (The Batman of Earth 2 was dead at that point) which indicated that the Justice Society was guilty of treason during World War II and conspired to cover-up their treason after the war was over.

Clipped from DC Database: Following the Crisis On Infinite Earths, the remaining surviving members of the Justice Society along with Sandman's partner Sandy and Hawkman's wife Hawkgirl gather in the estate of Carter Hall in a funeral service for Helena Wayne and the Earth-2 Dick Grayson, whom they knew became the Huntress and the Earth-2 Robin. They also realize that, with the merging of the Earth universes to form one single universe with one Earth on which most of the surviving superheroes from those universes now coexist, their own team has become redundant and past their time. Earth-2 Hawkman calls for the Justice Society to be immediately disbanded when the Spectre appears unto them, crying out in pain before he collapses.

This mini-series and special are nice book ends for Earth 2 before it is wipe clean with Crisis. The classic 1970's Justice Society of America appearance have been TPBed in two volumes already. DC should complete the trilogy with these stories.

Wanted TPB : Superman & Batman Generation 3 An Imaginary Tale

Writer:John Byrne
Artist: John Byrne
Publisher: DC Comics (2003)
Includes: Superman & Batman Generation 3 #1-12

DC released the first two Generation series as TPB, but left this Macro-Series out. I know a lot of time has passed and no one would care, but how can you leave the final chapter hanging!

Don't make me Library Bind this series DC, cause I will. OH, you heard me...I WILL!

Animated Panels: Justice League #193

This issue of the Justice League of America #193, drawn by George Pérez was very cinematic in the panel structure as evident above. This issue is HIGHLY recommended.

Cool Pin-Ups: John Byrne's Fantastic Four

Cool Pin-Ups: George Pérez's Teen Titans

How cool would it be if these were released as 11 by 17 prints? Pretty damn cool!

Cool Poster: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS poster by GEORGE PEREZ and ALEX ROSS

After this poster came out Dorks everywhere had a smoke:)

Wanted Poster: John Byrne's Marvel X-Men

Come on Marvel this is a no brainer!

Wanted Poster : John Byrne's Fantastic Four Pin-Up

Wanted Poster: Alph Flight

This group shot deserves to be made into a poster and was a missed opportunity for Marvel back in the 80's. UPDATE: I found this Promo poster on Ebay.

Cool Poster: John Byrne's Alpha Flight

This poster was made in the 1980's when Alpha Flight was cool and hadn't yet spiraled down the drain to lame.

Cool Posters: Michael Golden's Marvels

Clipped from Ebay seller, "Published in 1982, this was a clever little advertising gimmick from SQ Productions. Measuring 34 x 11 inches, it's basically an 8 page catalog that folded down to a 5.5 x 8.5 inch self-mailer. As a bonus for ordering the catalog, you get a GORGEOUS full color 11x17 poster (2 of the 8 pages of the catalog) by Michael Golden, featuring all the Marvel Super-Stars! Everyone from Uatu the Watcher to Shang Chi, Master of Kung-Fu, are assembled. In a nifty bit of teleporting, the X-Men's Nightcrawler appears twice in the poster! As you can see from the photo, this is a really nice piece of advertising - the best thing Marvel never published!"

I managed to score one of these off Ebay. I love this poster! and can't wait to get it framed.

Dynamic Forces released this lithograph in 2004. I prefer the white background.

Cool Posters: John Byrne's DC and Marvel Crossover, sort of.

These two posters were released in the 1980's.

I have been trying to buy them for awhile. Usually a bit pricey, so the hunt continues.

I do wonder who commissioned them to be made, since they are characters from two separate companies. If anyone knows please post a response.