At the Chicago Cultural Center:

. . "Raw, Boiled, and Cooked," work by Bill Griffith, Art Spiegelman, Chris Ware, and other comic artists, through Oct 3

My store did have BoP, for the record. I love when Dinah and Helena are snarky.

Gotham Knights: 1) Okay, we don't *know* that Orpheus is dead; after all, Wesley survived a slit throat! 2) I love whoever writes the blurbs for next week's comics. It just made me laugh. 3) Damn, Batman! Took you long enough to figure it out! Oh, also: 4) I had to laugh at the Batcrew (Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl) reacting to Batman's war plans with what seems, to me, to be the appropriate amount of "This man really IS fucked-up!"

Identity Crisis: I didn't expect Jean to survive. I also didn't expect that there would be no deaths this issue.

I've read too much at the DC message boards to even comment on whether or not we've gotten any further with figuring out who the killer is. Other than that, I almost feel like nothing happened in this issue. Other than Clark getting pissy, and stuff with Hal/Spectre that I don't really understand b/c I know nothing of the Lantern backstory.

I picked up the books but haven't had a look in yet.

(Got BoP, GK and IC also some of the things I've had them holding for me.)

Re: GK. Who didn't call Orpheus dying? Or, as Teppy guesses, perhaps not dying? But geez, with "ORPHEUS MUST REMAIN ALIVE" dropped twice a page, it was ridiculously telegraphed. But I did like Spoiler in this issue. Liked her beating up those punks and asserting Bats' wrongitude in firing her. For all I know, she's being self-righteous, cause I don't know the exact circumstances around the firing, but I always like characters to affirm themselves. It's a thing.

I'm not sure that nothing happened, per se, in IC. Perhaps not on a plot mechanics basis, but it's a setup issue. It's put targets on both Lois and Boomerang's son. And we've gotten some more clues.

Daredevil was great. Many amusing bits.

Anyone pick up Madrox ? Looks like an interesting title. I don't know much about the history of Multiple Man, but I like the first issue.

I was tempted to pick that up today, myself. I'm fairly well-versed on him, up until the events of X-Factor 100, after which I kind of fell away for a while. I'm interested what it is about him that's MK material.

Finally picked up Volumes 5 and 6 of Sandman. Attempting to read the series in sequence is a right bastard when your local shops refuse to carry it. It'll be easy as hell to get 7, of course--it's just a matter of which version of Brief Lives is prettiest to my eyes.

Also, I'm back. No one remembers.

I'm interested what it is about him that's MK material.

The basic premise is that he's running a detective agency . Which is always fun.

Given his powers, that is interesting. He certainly has the smartass factor to be a PI. I just hope they didn't give him the John Constantine makeover just for the sake of effect.

My stupid backup store had no IC. But I am fully caught up with War Games to date and...yeah Batman not so bright to only have worked it out now. Perhaps it's hubris. Catwoman was very annoying -- why not the fuck just tell Batman? Is this her walking the hero line? Keeping a dangerous promise in letter only? Pfft. Like seconds don't count. Him working it out himself doesn't mitigate that.

New X-Men #5 was absolutely beautiful. Interesting too, but mostly beautiful. They need to reconsider their New Mutant uniform, though -- the diagonal lines coming in from the shoulders are coloured in flesh tones too often, and that's porn on the girls.

X-Men #161 weirded me out -- are they going somewhere with Polaris? She's more powerful than anyone else on the team, it seems, and by a lot. She's not just Jean Greyesque, she's Phoenixlike.

cereal:

I was reading this TCJ column on Understanding Comics, and I have to say, when it comes to being cool, they're icy.

Two of the pros they namecheck TURN UP, and even Scott McCloud has his first post ignored.

I have now read BoP, GK and IC.

Why were Huntress and Dinah at that party/meeting? Were they just supposed to beat up henchmen? I may have to reread when I am less tired.

I also loved everyone's reaction to the fucked upness of Bats' plan.

Is this the first issue of IC where Batman has been active?