Arrow: Revisted & In Depth

Conclusion: I'm not a fan of the CW's ARROW.

Mainly because it seems they are trying to capitalize on Dark Knight popularity to make Ollie more like Bruce Wayne/Batman than the Green Arrow most people have loved since the late 60s. The crazy liberal, environmentalist, socialist Green Arrow. With the Robin Hood costume. And the goatee.

This guy.

I learned recently that up until 1969, Green Arrow was a light hearted version of Batman (maybe not as gritty as the CW's trying to make it) but then he got a "reboot" (that no one called a reboot) when Ollie lost his moeny and saw what life was like for the poor people of Star City. (Why do they call it Starling City in the TV show? That just sounds stupid.) The crazy liberal Ollie was genuinely complicated AND unique, not exactly an easy thing for a superhero to achieve. And I also just really love Ollie and I feel possessive of him, mainly because of how they totally wrecked right before the reboot (Yeah, JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE AND FALL, I hate youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu--

--uuuuuuuuuuu.)

and apparenlty after the reboot as well. I have a friend that's going to let me borrow the GREEN ARROW issues he possesses but until then I have only what wikipedia has told me. Which is this:

In DC's 2011 launch of the New 52, Green Arrow was given his own ongoing series.^[20] Ollie Queen is Green Arrow and he balances his own breaking of laws with his efforts to bring outlaws to justice across the globe.
Roy's memories in Red Hood and the Outlaws bring to the surface that when Ollie cut their partnership ties, he publicly took all of Roy's stocks in his company and left Roy to his own devices leading Roy to an attempted assisted suicide by the hands of Killer Croc. Roy also comments how he steals from Ollie's company to get the arrows for his adventures.^[21]

This is, obviously, unacceptable and a totally stupid and obnoxious way to handle the character. Yeah, Ollie always kind of sucked as a dad but he tried, for goodness sake! But none of this really has anything to do with why I don't hate the Green Arrow tv show so I should probably focus on that. Sorry, Reed. The New 52 just keeps breaking my heart.

 A list would probably be easiest. So. Reasons I don't like ARROW:

1. Ollie's really young. I get most people aren't going to tune in for a middle aged sassy wonderful man with an awesome goatee and all but, still, it's so weird seeing him so young. I mean, I'll buy it's an origin story kind of like Smallville but it's just so weird because for most of his career, Ollie hasn't been, like twenty. He's been more of a thirties kind of guy.
2. They're trying too hard to make him exactly like Batman. He's all crazy and vegenence oriented. He's putting on the drunken playboy facade for all to see. Lameeeeeeee.
3. Merlin is his best friend. I get that will make the betrayal more painful but it's so stupiddddddddddddd. (I wonder if Hal will ever be on this show... That would be AMAZING. I love Hal. And the Hal/Ollie bromance.)

Behold their beauty.

     4.  They've made his sister's nickname Speedy. Makes me miss Roy :( But because it's a girl I
           insantly think of Mia. Oliver's sister's name is Thea in this show so that's a fail. But she is
           getting addicted to drugs so it has me half convinced that they'll make her get AIDS, Mia style
     5.   I have no idea if Green Arrow is killing people or not. He grabbed that one thug and was all
           "no one can know my secret" and... broke his neck? Magically erased his memory? I'm unsure.
           I just know that if they make him kill people that is totally NOT OKAY.
     6.   It's too gritty and dark and he's all broody. Lame compared to how witty and funny the Ollie I
           fell in love with used to be.
     7.   Why are they calling Dinah "Laurel"? That's her middle name. Though they did have Merlin
           call her "Dinah Laurel Lance" at the very end. ALSO. A love triangle?! WHY?!?!?!
     8.   Why is Huntress in this show? She's a Batman girl. EDIT: I was reminded that Huntress was
           in BIRDS OF PREY with Dinah so that actually makes a lot of sense. Also. Will Black
           Canary ever make an appearance. It kind of looked like her in the previews for next week.
           Unless that was supposed to be Huntress? But Huntress was never blond... EDIT: I recently
           read that China White from GREEN ARROW: YEAR ONE is supposed to be in this show, so
           maybe that's the blond person?

Pictured: Not blond. Also, bad ass.

       9.   Last night's episode felt really rushed. They crammed A LOT in. This is supposed to stretch
             to be a series, remember?
     10.   My main problem is that this show is trying to make Green Arrow into Batman because
             Batman is gritty and cool and popular. I love Batman. We all know this. But Green Arrow
             ISN'T Batman. PLEASE STOP TRYING TO MAKE THEM THE SAME! I know it will
             probably make the studio money, so what do they care, but I (and hopefully other comic fans
             with me) will care very much!

Let's be real. I'm going to keep watching this show, if only to see where it goes. But it makes me miss the Ollie I used to know and love. BEFORE this show. BEFORE the New 52. BEFORE freakin' awful JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE AND FALL.

I also miss this:

Best. Couple. Ever.

When they wreck my comics that's when I don't love comics that much.

Arrow

Watched the series premiere of the CW's Arrow. Unsure how I feel about it. Will make a longer post in the near future.

Also, need to discuss watching the animated movie for The Dark Knight Returns. That, I loved. Two new posts will follow soon.

I know you've missed me, Reed. I'm sorry for the impromptu vaycay.

...

Kill it with fire.

This is why I DON'T love comics... but only sometimes.

I was procrastinating doing homework, as is my custom, but trying not to fall asleep (I gave blood today, woo!) so I was trolling around on ew.com and I found this:

My EYES. They BURN.

Like... NO. According to the article this isn't a one time thing it's now CANON. WHY?!?! I tried to be okay with this for, like, five seconds and then I couldn't handle it anymore. I LOVE Lois and Superman. Seriously. Lois and Clark is one of my favorite parts of the Superman character and whoever said it in the comments is right, that relationship anchors him!

Superman is basically the most powerful being in the entire freaking world, thanks very much. He's an alien. As the article puts it, "Both have huge hearts for mankind, yet also feel estranged from humanity." Meaning Superman and Wonder Woman but ignore her. Superman LOVES mankind but he also feels estranged from the people he wants to protect because he's an alien and stronger than everyone and put on this pedestal by the people of Earth. And when he's with Lois, he's reminded of his humanity, he stays in touch with the people he's trying to protect. I feel like him being with Wonder Woman will keep him farther and farther from the people he wants to help. It's just NOT a good idea. He's supposed to be SuperMAN. And Lois reminded him that he was a man.

The Lois and Clark relationship was one of my favorite in all of the DCU and when I read that they did away with the marriage, I wept. Not only was Dinah and Ollie over (I hate you JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE AND FALL--

 --yeah, YOU.)

but Clark and Lois were done too. But then I had a moment of hope when I thought that they'd broken them up so we could enjoy them falling in love all over again. To which I say "YA-TAAAA!!!" But apparently, I was wrong. Because apparently Superman is with Wonder Woman now. Poooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

I am tempted to believe that he'll do his thing with Diana and then it won't work or whatever and then maybe he can fall in love with Lois? Please? I will blow a gasket if they try to make Superman like Batman. In the former canon he had, what, three girlfriends if you count Lois? Do NOT make him go from one failed relationship to the next. I can only handle so much heartbreak. Batman is my limit. I love Superman too much to see him suffer the same way. And I don't care what anyone says. Batman is suffering. He likes relationships, despite his loner status. Why would he have three four three four sidekicks?

I'll start counting you, Jason. I promise.

Now I'm not saying that the Superman-Wonder Woman pairing hasn't worked. In ALTERNATE UNIVERSES or STAND ALONE TITLES. Case in point, KINGDOM COME, which is beyooonnnndddddd amazing.

Alex Ross, I love you.

SPOILERSSSSSSSSSS AHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAD

In that, Superman and Wonder Woman fall in love and she gets pregnant at the end. In that, I like it. In that, Lois is dead. So I'm okay with it. I like them together in KINGDOM COME.

I also don't mind them together in THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN (my feelings on this graphic novel can be found here). It's kind of an unneccessary subplot except no never mind because Lara is made and that's important. I didn't hate the pairing there.

But, again, those are not CANON stories. And now in the CANON DC has spit in my face and the faces of millions of fans who have loved Superman forever and have loved Lois and their dynamic and their chemistry and what she means and what she does for him and ARGH. Normally I love comic books. You know this, Reed. But moments like these --

NOT AGAIN.

-- make me wish I didn't read them at all...

Awwwww, Bat-family movie night!

Never mind. I take it back.

Good looking out, Bruce.

The Dark Knight Returns Animated Movie

I just remembered this is happening. I'm literally giddy with glee.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again

Okay, listen, Frank Miller is a genius.

I'm not in the minority for thinking this (I think). I mean, read his work and you'll understand.

BATMAN: YEAR ONE. Perfection. They haven't written another Batman origin story in, like, ever. One that's canon anyway. I mean, yeah you have Geoff Jones's BATMAN: EARTH ONE (balls awesome, by the way) and in other stuff you have references to his childhood but BATMAN: YEAR ONE. That's kinda it. I love it. I love Jim Gordon. I love Bruce Wayne. I love the ending. I could take or leave Selina in this interpretation. Anyway. BATMAN: YEAR ONE = wonderful.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. THE BEST. PERFECT. AMAZING. Like, if anyone knows or cares anything about comics, they've read this. And if they have a brain, they recognize that is one of the greatest stories ever out there. It's certainly one of my favorites (though I couldn't pick my favorite comic if you held a gun up to my head... okay, maybe then, if I had to). But this post isn't about BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

This post is about this:

The sequel. BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN.

Let me say, first of all, that I love the cover image used for the graphic novel trade. It's the smallest possible panel in the actually book but it makes such a great cover. I think that image kind of sums up everything Batman is, was, means, thinks, feels. It's just, perfect.

Now, I still really like this comic book but I also have some major issues with it. First of all, it's just not nearly as interesting as THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. That one is all about Bruce Wayne realizing that he never really left Batman behind and that Gotham (America? the world?) really needs Batman. Heck, they really need heroes in general. And THAT one culminates in this beyond awesome showdown between Batman and Superman (*sob* why can't you just be friends always?). And the ending has this perfect cliffhanger type thing going on. It's just great.

THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN doesn't really hold a candle to it, quite frankly (that is not a pun). I really like it, don't get me wrong, and I find Frank Miller's art really compelling and interesting. He also does that juxtaposition thing from the first one just as well in the sequel. But I just don't care as much in this one. I like how Batman is kind of hidden from you for a good long while and then even after he finally appears, you don't see him much. I also really dig Bruce as a baldie. He looks real good.

I HATE what he did to Dick Grayson. I hate it so much it almost makes the whole thing unreadable for me. I like Carrie, don't get me wrong, but make it Jason Todd, not Dick Grayson. I can't stand by that. It's not okay with me. I'm not a fan of this. At all. In the slightest. At all. AT ALL.

What I am a fan of: Frank Miller's writing. Seriously. The man is a literary genius. All who dislike him are fools. Because I like him. Everyone else must like him too. Some examples I totally dig:

"Then he summed up everything he had to say about Batman in so few words it made me cry. And cry I did. Like a baby. So did everybody else.

"'We're in trouble deep. We need him.

"'We need Bruce Wayne.'" (this is from the "Top Cop Pops" exclusive by Vicky Vale at the beginning of the book)

Son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl: "I do not accept these deaths. I do not accept this crime.
Batman: You're going to get what I never got. Retribution.

(Whoa, that was a huge jump between the first two... oh well...)

Superman: It's hard to control, isn't it? The heat vision. Of all the powers, it takes the longest to master. When I was a baby, I almost burned down my parents' house. It did cost them a shed. Pa was furious... Lara. What sort of world have I given you?

Batman: CHILDREN, PULL ON YOUR TIGHTS -- AND GIVE THEM HELL.

Batman: This is the world you turned your back on, pal. These are the people you abandoned. Watch. Learn. And make your choice.

Captain Marvel: He (Billy) died eight years ago. So I'm going on a one-way trip.
A CREATURE OF MAGIC. CAPTAIN MARVEL.
Wonder Woman: "One  - way trip"?... Where do you go?
Captain Marvel: Where... Where's a wish go? Where's a dream go when you wake up and can't remember it? Nowhere. Give everybody my best. It's been nice... existing.
Wonder Woman: Say the word, warrior! Go out with a lion's roar!
SHAZAM!

Batman: We aren't here to rule. We aren't here to bring chaos or anarchy. We're here to end the reign of criminals. Luthor. Brainiac. This is only the beginning. Tyrants, your days are numbered. You can't fight us -- and you can't find us, we strike like lightning -- and we melt into the night like ghosts. (can you feel my adoration from where you're sitting, Reed?)

Supergirl/Lara: (about/to Batman) How dare you! You're nothing but human flesh and human bone. I could hunt you down in a second -- erase you at my whim! You can't speak to me like that -- and you sure as hell can't speak to my father like that!
Superman: Yes. He can. He's our only hope. The bastard. He's our only hope.

Batman V.O.: No.
Not just yet, old man.
Not just yet.
One more job to finish.
One last run.
One last run.

Green Lantern V.O.: Bruce. You begged me not to leave. You said we could win. Now we'll find out. How strange that it would be you. The mean one. The cruel one. The one with the darkest soul. How odd that you, of all of us, would prove to be the most hopeful. (< this one I love an exceptional amount)

Green Lantern V.O.: Bruce. You were right. When you laughed in our faces, all those years ago -- when you called the rest of us a pack of fools -- you were right. Of course we're criminals. We've always been criminals. On this planet we have to be criminals. (< this one really makes you think)

Carrie: You're losing all your stuff. You're blowing it all up.
Batman: It's nothing. It's junk. A robot tyrannosaur, for goodness sake.
Carrie: Well, yeah, and that giant penny was pretty bogue. But it's your history. Your whole history. Batman: Souvenirs, darling. Nothing but souvenirs.

Seriously. LOVE IT.

I know that was probably so tedious for you to read, Reed. It was pretty tedious for to type. But it's one of the main reasons I love comic books - good comic books. Good writing.

Other things I like:

• Miller's portrayal of the heroes as they come out of retirement, particularly Barry Allen, the Flash.
• An acknowledgement of how crazy powerful Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) is. I hate when writers ignore that fact.
• Bald Bruce.
• The art.
• The writing.
• The writing.
• Oh, and did I mention the writing?

That's what makes a good comic book: good writing. So many people think it's about the art or whatever but if the writing is flat, the book falls apart. Granted, the same can be said for the art but I think that even if the art isn't really your style, if the writing is good, it holds it all together. For me, I couldn't stand the art of WATCHMAN at first yet Moore's story and writing held the hot mess together. Or even BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. I didn't buy that trade for a long time cause the art weirded me out. But the writing is crazy good and that persuaded me and now I really like the art.

Good writing = why I love comic books.

This Counts Right?

Somehow, some way, I spent close to five hours yesterday looking at videos of the actors from Dragon Ball Z. You can judge all you want, Reed, but I seriously forgot how huge a part of my childhood this show was. Seriously. And then I started learning about this beautiful creation:

It's Dragon Ball Z without all the stupid filler (which was fun sometimes) that made the planet Namek cycle the longest thing of my entire life. Seriously. I watched the trailer for PART 1, which is episodes 1-13, and I seriously cried. So then I bought said PART 1 on Amazon for tenish dollars... for the Blu-Ray! Deals ahoy!

I'm beyond pumped, Reed. I'm going to get the mangas next time I'm home and read them all again. Woo! Does this count? I mean, the manga are technically comics so they can be posted on this blog right? Wait, this is my blog isn't it? So I can post whatever I want. Yay freedom!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go listen to Dragon Soul on repeat for a few million years. Ah, my nerd is showing and I refuse to be ashamed!