SOLO Best of!
Solo ran for 12 issues before facing off against the ultimate comics supervillain, cancellation. Looking through those books, I’ve decided to list the best single story from each issue (though some were framed in a larger story). Please mind the story’s listed are “my” personal favorites, and are in no way me trying to make you love them yourselves (though you should!)
1- Tim Sale (with Jeph Loeb, Brian Azzarello, Darwyn Cooke, and Diana Schutz)
Date Knight (written by Darwyn Cooke)
Date Knight is a great Catwoman “romp”, as she sets up a heist not to steal, but rather gain the attention of Batman, for a danger filled fling with the caped crusader. Batman peruses Catwoman over rooftops, into a cart of roses, and even through a restaurant, excited by the thrill of the chase. Not by any means heavy reading, it’s just fun to read Catwoman so brilliantly characterized, and Batman’s frustrations in dealing with her.
2- Richard Corben (with John Arcudi)
Belzon’s Treasure
As most of these issues, all the story’s are good, but the one that struck me most was the first, Belzon’s Treasure. Much like an old EC Horror comic, this is a story of a savage time where gentlemen searched the lost corners of the world for treasure. George Belzon, of the title is on the run from thieves of whom his guides sold him out to and left him without the map to the treasure of Queen Dulor (luckily, he’d memorized the map as part of a 15 year search and obsession). After locating the tomb, he passes out succumbing to the elements of the desert and lack of fluids. Lucky for him he’s discovered by Uldro, the caretaker of the holy tomb who revives him and re-hydrates him. As he asks Uldro to see the treasures, “She” reveals herself as a beautiful woman, striping down to nothing, leading to a bit of embarrassment to George, as he tries to explain he meant the “other” treasure”. As she delivers a warning (the second as it starts becoming clear), Belzon begins to go for his gun right before the thieves enter.
Without ruining the rest of the story, grizzly justice is met in the end, but not the full story. If you can track down a copy (or any copies of SOLO), I strongly suggest reading it to see what happens.
3- Paul Pope
Life-Sized Monster Ghost
Spinning out of the previous story (an “homage”/ Pope style reworking of Kirby’s OMAC), a young boy orders a life-sized “Polyethylene Ghost” from one of the many ads found in the comics of the time. Much to the dismay of the kid, he finds the expectations he harbors and the actual product differing radically. Despite the disappointment we’ve all shared in much the same way, the boy finds another “mystical artifact” and orders it, only to learn the life lesson of repeated tiny disappointments.
4- Howard Chaykin
Horrors!
Perhaps I’m drawn to this story in particular due to it’s autobiographic nature. Howard Chaykin hosts and narrates this story illustrating and illuminating his life in brief, starting with finding the magic of comics and an inherent fear of horror comics (and horror in general). As it tracks his influences and career, it gives a fantastic if all to short insight to one of the greatest comic creators in the history of the medium.
5- Darwyn Cooke
Funny Pages
Not so much a story, but rather a “Funny Papers” style Sunday section. Rather than write about it, I’ll just show you what you may have missed.
Again, hard to chose as there are many great story’s in this issue, but this was the most fun part!
6- Jordi Bernet (with John Arcudi, Joe Kelly, Andrew Helfer, Chuck Dixon, and Brian Azzarello)
Back Bone (written by John Arcudi)
Hilarious “Horror” in the vein of the TV show “Eerie, Indiana” (look it up!) Single mom and her daughter rent a room in their house to make up for lack of income from the “absentee” father. The daughter who’s named Lainie suspects something is off with the renter, from the way he talks to the way he smells. After reports of strange pig mutilations, Lainie investigates the stranger further, finding he’s clearly “strange”, leaving her to figure out a way to let her mother know and believe her. How she figures out the solution to the problems is hilarious to say the least.
7- Mike Allred (with Laura Allred and Lee Allred)
Doom Patrol VS Teen Titans
This was one of the harder choices, considering all the great stories in this issue, but ultimately the only one I could make. With Speedy proclaiming “We’re gonna’ party like it’s 1969!”, Robin and the Titans “crash” Bruce Wayne’s “Penthouse Pad” to host a super-teen party. While below the penthouse, Rita Farr and the Doom Patrol are using Rita’s apartment to allow the Chief and Co. to get some shuteye before the “Crimefighters Conference” the next morning.
Needless to say, wackiness ensues. And it has nothing to do with the random appearance of Bat-Mite.
More super-teens and super-pets show up, an attack from Phantom Zone criminals, and Bobby Sherman records ensure things getting “really” out of hand, forcing Doom Patrol and Teen Titans to clash. Good times all around!
8 Teddy Kristiansen (with Neil Gaiman and Steven Seagle)
On the Stairs (written by Neil Gaiman)
I’m a sucker for cutesy ghost stories, and that’s exactly what Neil Gaiman excels at. Kristiansen’s artwork and Gaiman’s words mix like peanut butter and jelly in this story about Deadman. As Deadman tells a young girl about his day, we see him end up delving deeper into his past, as a ways to explain to the girl what’s around the corner for her.
9- Scott Hampton (with John Hitchcock)
Batman: 1947 (Written by John Hitchcock and Scott Hampton)
An actor who portrays Batman as a promotion for a theater showing Batman serials tucks his children (who believe he’s really “The Batman”) before going to work. As a robbery takes place across the street, a child fan pushes the “Dark Knight” into action to catch the robbers. Planning to run down an alley to avoid the robbers and sneak back to the theater, he’s unfortunately spotted by them. Fortunately for him, the real Batman appears. It’s a simple fun Batman story, not unlike many that appeared in the Black & White series, also spearheaded by Mark Chiarello.
10- Damion Scott (with Rob Markmam and Randee Carcano)
Superman is… (written by Damion Scott and Randee Carcano)
Not so much a straightforward narrative, rather a series of eight pin-ups illustrating the Man of Steel and how a picture says a thousand words.
Distilling the power, majesty, morality, hope and more of the character, his art both runs wild while also showing what makes Superman great.
11- Sergio Aragonés (with Mark Evanier)
I Killed Marty Feldman
Frankly, I don’t know if the story is true, nor do I care if it is (though Sergio “Swears” it is). Truth is, it’s a great little story about Aragonés working in movies an meeting the legendary Marty Feldman. As much as I’d like to go over the story like I’ve done with the rest, you really just have to read it yourself and have a love of both Marty Feldman and Sergio Aragonés.
12- Brendan McCarthy (with Howard Hallis, Steve Cook, Sir Trevor Goring, Robbie Morrison, Tom O’Connor and Jono Howard)
Batman (Written with Robbie Morrison, illustrated with Sir Trevor Goring)
By and far the “Trippiest” of the SOLO issues, my favorite out of the bunch is probably the most straight-laced of the bunch. The narrator is in search of a lost 1960’s Batman story he’s not sure if he read or dreamt up in his own mind. After deciding to recreate it, he ends up meeting with Lionel Percival, an old artist no longer working but taking commissions. Unfortunately, he’s killed in a fire when his apartment building goes up in flames. Believing all was lost, Percival’s sister contacts the narrator informing him of surviving items going up for sale, some of them being the pages he commissioned. What follows is a fairly simple Batman story in which he fights off an army of disembodied hands, lead by a giant hand. Trippy, but fitting into the Batman of that era, it’s a great dual story that you should read, as this issue is pretty easy to find, as it was the last of the series and wasn’t in huge demand.
Planned future issues were to include issues by the following creators- Brian Bolland, John Cassaday, Dave Gibbons, Adam Hughes, Kevin Maguire, Tony Harris, J. G. Jones, Kevin Nowlan, Bill Sienkiewicz, Walt Simonson, Jill Thompson, Brian Stelfreeze, Bruce Timm, John Van Fleet, George Pratt and Matt Wagner.
Somewhere, there’s an alternate Earth where this series continued……and I weep for not living there.
Elseworlds, 52, and Beyond! Mandroid schools you in the 52 Alternates of DCU.
With “Elseworlds” no longer being around as a label for an infinite well for alt-continuity stories, with the new continuity playground that is “52” (51 versions of alternate DCU Earths) we can hope that new stories are on the horizon when the “Playground” officially opens up to creators (see “Multiversity” below).
I’m only highlighting and listing a handful of the 52, to spare not only my sanity (as my brain is rapidly becoming a brain melt with aju sauce), but that of you readers as well. Pre Final Crisis there was a “hard list” of the 52 that has now changed post Final Crisis (for example, Earth-8 was previously Home to JLA second generation characters like Kyle Rayner and Connor Hawke, now it is “Angor”, the Marvel-Esque villain earth).
Selected Post-Final Crisis Alternate Earths (The 52)
New Earth/ Earth 0- Regular DCU continuity
Earth-2- Justice Society Infinity based off of JSA and Infinity Inc. combining (based off Earth Two pre-COIE*)
Earth-3- Crime Society of America, “evil” JLA counterparts (similar to Antimatter U** and based off of Earth Three pre-COIE)
Earth-4- “Charlton Comics” Earth, including the characters of said comics (a mix of pre-COIE Earth-Four and Watchmen). Soon to be featured in Grant Morrison’s Multiversity series.
Earth-5- “Fawcett Comics” Earth, featuring the Marvel Family (Shazam!) (based off Earth-S Pre- COIE). Also featured in Multiversity (Thunderworld).
Earth-8- Marvel-esque Earth called “Angor”, violently ruled by Villains lead by Lord Havok
Earth-9- Based off of the “Tangent” Universe, featuring new takes on classic characters only in name
Earth-10- “Quality Comics” Earth featuring the Freedom Fighters and Nazi versions of the JLA (based off of Earth X pre-COIE)
Earth-20- Pulp versions of DC’s heroes, including Doc Fate, Lady Blackhawk, Immortal Man, the Mighty Atom, the Green Lantern, and the Bat-Man. To be featured in Multiversity.
Earth-22- “Kingdom Come” Earth, of the title series by Mark Waid and Alex Ross.
Earth-50- “Wildstorm” Earth, containing the Authority, Planetary, and Wildcats.
Earth-51- “Jack Kirby” Earth, where the New Gods (Fourth World) have been reborn (post Final Crisis), along with Kamandi and OMAC taking place there as well.
* Crisis on Infinite Earths)
**Of note, the “Antimatter Universe” containing the “Crime Syndicate of Amerika” (first appearing in the Graphic Novel “JLA: Earth 2”) and the Weaponers of Qward is actually part of DCU/ Earth-0.
And with that, let’s look at next year’s “Multiversity” by Grant Morrison
Eight issues coming next year, six of them are one-shots highlighting one of the post Final Crisis 52 Earths (or really 51, as Earth-0 is DCU proper), and the final two issues are a two part story highlighting the entire multiverse its self. Though they are to be stand alone in nature, they interlink as an over-reaching story when read all together (not unlike the Seven Solders mini/ mega-series)
Earth-4- Charlton/ Watchmen Mash-Up, Charlton’s characters done in a Watchmen style (ironic considering they were the original basis for Watchmen). Not necessarily a “Watchmen 2”, the book will feature the original Charlton characters slightly revamped while retaining their roots. The Captain Atom of the series has already appeared in Morrison’s Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3D as Captain Allen Adam, a mix of the Charlton version and Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen.
Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family will be featured in “Thunderworld”, a classic Marvel in line with the original Faucett Comics version. With that in mind, don’t expect a complete retro throw back as Morrison plans to make it with a PIXAR sensibility and in the style of how All Star Superman was done. No artist announced as of yet, but if Quietly can slip it into his schedule, it would be perfect.
“90’s” Earth (not it’s official name or designation) features a throwback to the era of coffee houses and grunge, as the new generation of heroes (offspring of Silver Age? JLA) run around hot dogging for media attention and moping. Think the bastard children fighting in the streets in Kingdom Come meets the Hills.
Earth-20’s story features the Society of Superheroes, a pulp version of DCU including Doc Fate and other Pulp versions of DC characters. There’s much more including looks at additional Earths stories, but I’m holding off looking up more info until I receive new solid info, more likely closer to the date of completion.
Myself, I hope to see a spinoff of this series leading into some Alt-U books/ series, really hoping that “Multiversity” (supposedly the “Team” in the final two issues consisting of Alt superheroes from different Earths teaming up) spins into an ongoing along the lines of Marvel’s Exiles. Speaking of, I’m surprised Marvel does such a book and DC doesn’t, considering the idea it’s self is so very DC and lends perfectly into the tapestry of the DCU/ 52. Think about it, wouldn’t you love to read about a team consisting of Red Son Superman, Batman Beyond, New Frontier Wonder Woman, In Darkest Knight Green Lantern (Bruce Wayne), and more teaming up to protect the multiverse from threats beyond comprehension!!!
DC COMICS AVAILABLE THIS WEDNESDAY, 6/24/2009
DC/ JOHNNY DC
* ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER VOL. 1
* BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #6
* DETECTIVE COMICS #854
* FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: INK #2 (OF 6)
* GOLDEN AGE STARMAN VOL. 2
* GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1
* GREEN LANTERN #42
* GREEN LANTERN: TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS
* JLA: DELUXE EDITION VOL. 2
* JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #34
* JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #28
* THE LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #2 (OF 6)
* SGT. ROCK: THE LOST BATTALION #6 (OF 6)
* THE SPIRIT #30
* SUPERMAN #689
* SUPERMAN: TALES FROM THE PHANTOM ZONE
* TEEN TITANS #72
* WONDER WOMAN #33
VERTIGO
* THE LITERALS #3 (OF 3)
* MADAME XANADU #12
* NORTHLANDERS #18
* UNKNOWN SOLDIER #9
WILDSTORM
* FREDDY VS. JASON VS. ASH: THE NIGHTMARE WARRIORS #1 (OF 6)
* KILLAPALOOZA #2 (OF 6)
* STARCRAFT #2
* WILDCATS #12
Check out dccomics.com for news and updates on your favorite DC comics, and as always, thanks for reading!