Whatchu Talkin' 'Bout, Black Manta?

On this 2013 New Year's Eve we leave you with a call-back to a time long ago when an old white guy with two black kids was edgy television. Diff'rent Strokes was a staple of my childhood. The theme is also the song that pops in my head unwarranted more than any other.

Maybe if Philip Drummond took in Bronze Tiger and Black Manta at a young age they woudn't have turned to a life of crime.

I'd proclaim 2014 to be the "Year of McSoss," but I'm not that ambitious. Happy New Year, everyone!

-Gint

Gint's 12-24-13 Pull-List Review

Its not often I get a 2-book week for the Pull-List. My wallet was relieved.

Second Place:

Justice League #26

Geoff Johns flexes his giant bonersaurus for Cyborg on the last page of this book. So help me god if Cyborg is the linchpin to taking down the Crime Syndicate, I'm gonna be pissed.

This issue folds the origins of the other members of the Syndicate into one issue. What John's cleverly does is gives the us Power Ring, Johnny Quick, Atomica and Deathstorm origins while quietly developing Grid (the Syndicate's Cyborg analog) into one of the most interesting characters in this crossover. I have more sympathy for Grid in this one issue than I do a lifetime of reading comics featuring Cyborg. Sorry, he's just not Justice League material, Geoff. May as well put Vibe in the League.

The art in this issue by Ivan Reis and Co. is beautiful. His cinematic layouts are gorgeous. His Power Ring and Johnny quick origins are reminiscent of his work on Green Lantern where he made a name for himself.

First Place:
Forever Evil #4

Geoff Johns finally reveals how Sinestro gets involved in the strictly Earth matter of the Crime Syndicate taking over. Afterall, Sinestro shouldn't give a fuuuuuuck about what happens to Earth.

Batman has a secret Sinestro Corps ring (from the pre-New 52 story Blackest Night?). It has just enough charge for Batman to use once which presumably alerts Sinestro to its presence and draws him to Earth. If Sinestro doesn't show the Syndicate what's up next issue I'm gonna be pissed. He is, after all, Parrallax at this point.

Johns and David Finch do a really great job of making Power Ring really scary. He's so mentally unstable, that this is the first issue you really get the sense of how fucked up a character he is.

I don't know if its a matter of Geoff Johns writing all his favorite characters in one book, but Forever Evil has been great each issue out. Each character get their due and each one is interesting in their own right. Just seeing the banter/arguing between Luthor's team is enough to pick up this book.

Ps David Finch's cover is garbage. What's up with Lex's legs?

Panel of the Week:

This full-page of Grid by Ivan Reis and Co. is the coolest Cyborg will EVER be. And it takes an evil alternate universe version to get him there. Kudos to whichever colorist (Rod Reis, Tomeu Morey or Tony Avina) added those lighting effects to his eye. Nice touch.

-Gint

When All Else Fails, Resort to Physical Violence

I'm actually pretty okay with Marvel holding the majority of the Pie of Success when it comes to movies. Well-made comic book movies can only help comic books as a whole. So as long as Marvel is making good ones, and some others like Man of Steel get some positive looks, it only helps our chances of seeing that elusive Booster Gold film. Hopefully before this comic movie bubble bursts.

One thing Marvel's success with their shared cinematic universe has done is it gave Sony the bright idea that Spider-Man can be a successful franchise... with or without Spider-Man. Early rumors are that the villains of the Spider-U will branch off and we'll get Sinister Six and Venom stand-alone movies. I'm sure there's a market for that kind of thing out there. I can't help but think without the main character (Spider-Man) those movies will fall in the realm of The Wolverine, which has garnered the attitude of, "eh, I'll get around to seeing it."

Sony certainly isn't going to dump the kind of money into these films as they would an ACTUAL tent-pole film, so while the theory sounds promising, I think the execution will fall short of what we want those movies to be.

Maybe Sony should chill out and wait til Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a success before they start developing an entire universe out of what could be a mediocre movie.

Oh yeah, I think Henry Cavill would totally kick Andrew Garfield's ass.

-Gint