picked up a copy of Identity Crisis on the way home from work yesterday, and OH MY GOD. I *love* this comic. Before it even got to any of the emotional stuff, I lost it over "I bet Batman never does this to *his* parents." And then the actual action started, and... OH MY GOD.

One thing I really liked about the buildup: In the narration, every new scene starts with "[character name.] [relationship between characters.]" Meltzer was really emphasizing the connections each character has-- Clark to his parents, Dick to *his,* despite their being dead, Ollie and his son, Tim and his dad, Ray and Jean, Black Lightning and Katana. He illustrates how vulnerable they all are, because they have all these emotional ties. And then he shows us what every one of them fears the most-- losing a loved one, because of danger their calling created. It made me HAPPY. But I'm a freak.

in the, let's call it, 623 fic

I see you've cracked the code of my e-mail address...

Aw, man. The code's totally over my head.

I am definitely going to have to read and post more often. So much to talk about. First, catching up...

Re: Wonder Woman's SO - her most recent (white font, some spoilage for WW arc before Rucka took over:) SO was named Trevor Barnes, who was a UN aid relief worker. He sacrificed himself at the end of the "Game of the Gods" arc written by Walter Simonson, pencilled by Jerry Ordway, and inked by P. Craig Thomas. His sacrifice helped Diana defeat the Shattered God from taken over the universe. Trevor is now part of Gaea.

The other possibility is that they're collections of the really old "Crisis on Earth One" and "Crisis on Earth Two" stories from the sixties that started the whole multiverse mess off. (Okay that actually happened in Flash, but those are the stories where the JSA first returned.)

I think the collections are title "Crisis on Multiple Earths". The trades have recently been re-released and comein 3 volumes, IIRC.

The "Justice League Adventures," based on the cartoon, is supposed to be fun, too.

That was just cancelled, Victor, though who knows, they may relaunch when the show does. They are still issuing Batman and Superman Adventures comics, in Readers-Digest-sized books.

I didn't know that they cancelled Justice League Adventures. I do know that they cancelled Batman Adventures and are ending stories set in the Batman: The Animated Series universe, to make way for a comic covering the new The Batman animated show. Anyway, the trade collections for Batman Adventures, Superman Adventures, Batman:Gotham Adventures are all fine comics. I also thin they are pretty good primers in how to read comics, with some innovative panel arrangements helping expose sequential storytelling techniques to the younger generation.

I just want to mention that I really like the opening credits to Justice League.

Who doesn't? When I first started getting into Justice League, I went to the Cartoon Networks website and played the intro sequence over and over. And doesn't everybody love hearing Keith David's voice when he says "we now return to Justice League"?

Lastly, reading the Authority, Planetary and Starman in trades, which is mildly frustrating, as Starman's been FINISHED for three years and there's at least one more graphic novel left. Maybe two

DC has just announced that the penultimate Starman trade, named Grand Guignol, will come out on September 22.

Read Young Justice askye. Written by Peter David, it was one of the under appreciated titles of DC. Unfortunately, most of the series was uncollected, but they should be readily available in back issue bins at low costs.

I want to collect this too, but I have a hard time with the art. The "big heads, little bodies" aspect throws me. But I'm sure I'll get over it.

I love the analysis given about Infinity Crisis #1. I have to add, how pissed do you think Batman will be when he finds out there is a secret he didn't know about (if he didn't)? That could really drive a wedge between him and Ollie.

Did anybody read Marvel's (lame) response to IC, Identity Disc? I think Bryan Singer should sue, but I guess Marvel bought him off by handing him Ultimate X-Men to oversee.

Finally, selected samples of tomorrow's pull list:

• Birds of Prey #68
• Batman:Gotham Knights #54
• Gotham Central #20 (the ending to #19 rocked).
• Ex Machina #1 (Written by Brian K. Vaughn (of Y: The Last Man and art by Tony Harris Starman)
• Outsiders #13
• Challengers of the Unknown #1 (by Howard Chaykin)
• Seaguy #2
• Daredevil #61
• Ultimate Fantastic Four #7 (Warren Ellis' first issue)

That ought to hold for a week.

DC has just announced that the penultimate Starman trade, named Grand Guignol, will come out on September 22.

I'm soooo there. sitting around waiting has been hard.

As to IC, I'd imagine there are PLENTY of secrets Batman's not privy to, if only because he never knew to look for them. Or, conversely, he may already know, and jut not said anything. I mean, it IS Batman.

And doesn't everybody love hearing Keith David's voice when he says "we now return to Justice League"?

Oh, god, now that you've mentioned it, I'm earwormed with a lead-in.

And doesn't everybody love hearing Keith David's voice when he says "we now return to Justice League"?

Ooh. I haven't watched a lot, but I've heard that voice, and I just heard it in my head, and I was wondering why it sounded familiar, so I IMDbed him...he was Goliath!

Daredevil #61

Ooh. I've decided I like Milla.

Oh, god, now that you've mentioned it, I'm earwormed with a lead-in.

Glad to help.

Ooh. I've decided I like Milla.

Good call, because, you know, DD's girlfriends have the life expectancy of a Spinal Tap drummer. (At least Elektra got better).

Wait a sec! Dude, Milla could totally turn into that blind assassin from "Blind Date."

Wait, crap, she got killed too. Dammit.

Also, since I started with the new volume (though I did read Miller's The Man Without Fear ), I never really saw much of the relationships with Karen and Elektra. Milla's the first one I've watched develop.

What I'm currently liking about DD is the relationship all the street level New York heroes have going. They're this close to having bushwacker and electro busting in on their weekly poker game.