(Editors Note: We’re having some technical difficulties with the images on this weeks Monitor Tapes. Our apologies for the delay with today’s installment.)
DC Universe Holiday Special 2008
Holiday specials are a lot like the traditional sock you get every year. You don’t really hang it on the chimney, as most of us don’t have chimneys (or if you do, most likely you don’t want to hammer nails or whatnot into said chimney). And I’m not talking the transparent mesh socking you’d get with weird candy and nuts (could be just me or a California thing), but an actual stocking filled with a bounty to the brim.
Here’s the problem though, stockings end up being a weird receptacle of strange things hodge-podge’d together by family and friends with best intentions. So you’d be excited to reach in and naturally you’d be jazzed about pulling out the king-sized candy bar and the toy robot from your aunt and uncle, but then you’d also get the floss and menthol cough-drops from your grandmother. Not that there’s anything wrong with it! Tis better to give than receive, but what I’m trying to say is their really a mixed bag of stories.
Frank Quietly Cover- Awesome!
Sterling Gates/ Karl Kershchl single page story/ beginning/ ending?– I’ve got to admit, I did a double take as there were no words on the page and I thought maybe they were doing a framing sequence story through the book, upon further reading it does appear as if it bookends all the stories. Cool, but unfortunately it only made me think of graphic design jobs I’ve had where I ended up with the client sitting shotgun and trying to complete the job with them over my shoulder saying “Can you put a monkey in there? Yeah, I think a monkey would make it better, people like monkeys!”
The Man in Red/ Matt Chenrniss/ Peter Johnson– Sorry guys, I didn’t really need a Superman/ Santa parable origin. Again, cute for someone who will appreciate it (maybe the wee ones), but I couldn’t dig it.
Dan Didio’s Aquaman story/Ian Churchill- “Somewhere Beyond the Sea”- On the plus side, it’s Aquaman, not that kid Aquaman with the Golden Age origin, but the real deal Arthur Curry ass-kicking king of the seven seas! (please, please make a regular Aquaman or re-issue one of the old ones, my DC Direct Justice League needs him!) That’s really what this story has going for it. The rest of it is a parable of the birth of Christ, a really heavy handed one at that. I know it’s Christmas and I’m sure when it was thought up it was a whale of a story, but it just doesn’t really jive with me (especially since the Swamp Thing meets Jesus story was axed). Ian Churchill’s art is very nice to look at, he’s come a looooooooong way from his Image days.
“Good King Wencelas” Paul Dini/ Dustin Nguyen- Now this is how it’s done son! Batman Christmas parable (with Ace the Bat-hound! Please DC, you brought back Krypto, give us back ACE!) to the legend/lyrics of the carol. It’s just brilliant, buy the special just for this, as I’m sure it won’t be reprinted (as Holiday Special shorts are rarely). Nguyen’s art is fantastic!
“A Day Without Sirens” Joe Kelly/ Mick Bertilorenzi- The highly underrated Joe Kelly delivers a fun Gotham/ Commissioner Gordon story about a “Day Without Sirens” (or crime) campaign that no one in Gotham truly believes (with the exception of some ribbing from the coffee stand) will happen, as Gotham is a city known for crime, and it just becomes more depressing and terrible around the holidays. Mick Bertilorenzi’s art is like a Edward Risso/ Peter Snejbjerg hybrid that’s pretty darn good. Another great story with an ending I didn’t see coming that was equally awesome.
“It’s a Wonderfull Night” Art Baltazar & Franko Aureliani/ Tim Levins- A quick fun story with Nightwing, Robin, and Boomerang (seriously, I love it when the last two character’s get together and “dad” stuff comes up, awkward!)
“Christmas with the Beetles” JC Vaughn/ Lee Garbet– three generations of loser small time crooks get their asses handed to them via three generations of Blue Beetles. If you like the Beetles (including Jamie) you’ll probably dig, it but even I was kind of ho-hum over this one.
Skimming over the remaining highlights- Huntress and Teen Titans story, kinda skimmed them, look decent but I wasn’t in the headspace for teens (in both stories) and the angst that comes with them. “Party Animal” by Burnett and Maguire is a bit of Justice League Unlimited by way of Giffen Leauge, damn fun. “Let There be Light” Dr. Light (Kimiyo Hoshi) set’s her back up as a superhero, though even I must admit it’s a weird place to do it.
So there’s your haul for the DC Holiday Special. Like I said, mixed bag but worth it for the good stuff.
And in brief-
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #14
Nightwing and Batgirl duke it out till Alfred settles their hash, Alfred style. No idea what’s going on as I’m going in blind on this book (I dropped it a while ago) coupled with the fact that despite any RIP tie-ins, I’m pretty sure the writers are as clueless as the characters are to Batman’s whereabouts (I’m betting on a long overdue vacation after kicking the devils ass, it takes it out of you). On the plus side, Eddy Nygma, who is the Riddler kicking ass at the celebrity detective game (please do not turn him back to a goofy bat-villian), unfortunately the rest of Gotham treats him like the godamn Trix Rabbit (c’mon guys! In my best Chris Crocker impression “LEAVE EDDY ALONE!”), cut him some slack, even Batman did!
Next Wednesday’s comics 12/24/2008
THE ALL-NEW ATOM VOL. 4: SMALL WONDER
BATMAN #683
BATMAN: GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #8 (OF 12)
THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #20
THE FLASH #247
RANN/THANAGAR: HOLY WAR #8 (OF 8)
REIGN IN HELL #6
SCOOBY-DOO #139
SUPERMAN/SUPERGIRL: MAELSTROM #4 (OF 5)
TRINITY #30
VIGILANTE #1
WONDER WOMAN #27
As I’m sure the internet will crack in half with the release of Batman #683, I’ll be looking into that as we decipher the delicate situation surrounding Mr. Wayne.
Thanks for reading!