Hey Weaponeers! I wanted to give some kudos to a couple of cool things I’ve seen recently that celebrate comics (and that ESB poster needs a rest) since the majority of words dedicated to comics on the internet are largely negative (Ummm…Kyle Rayner rant anybody?). But our buddy Chris Sims, of Awesome Hospital and The ISB fame, wrote a fantastic article for Comic Alliance counting down the 20 greatest Superman panels ever…EVER! We need more articles like this that promote the fantastic moments in comics instead of tearing down creators, ripping the latest costume redesign or hyping some storyline that is 4 months out from hitting shops. There is no cynicism or criticism in his words. Just pure love. Basically, we need more dialogue about why comics are awesome, which the Top 20 list accomplishes. It encompasses all that is great about Supes, from Silver Age absurdity to earnest, cutting emotion. All of his choices are worthy of making a list like this. There is one glaring omission though. I’d even argue it should be in the top 5.
In JLA #6, the League is turning the tide against an invasion of vicious warrior angels. Led by the bull-like Asmodel, the heavenly army has the JLA on the ropes. After Asmodel defeats Martian Manhunter in single combat, Superman thanks his battered friend as he steps up to take on the angel. I’d to see Grant Morrison’s script because it was inspiring enough for this panel to crackle out of Howard Porter’s pencil.
Superman wrestles an angel
Except that doesn’t look like Superman. Because the story takes place in the maligned Electro-blue period, the iconic costume is missing. Everything else about the scene is Superman to the core though. When facing a renegade agent of God, Superman’s defiant refusal to yield is one those fist-pumping, F-yeah moments that are so rare now. Even The Flash took a second to appreciate the moment. I remember reading that comic 4 or 5 times straight lying on my dorm bunk in college, growing more in love with it with each subsequent reading. Other than the electro costume, I have no idea why Chris wouldn’t include that panel in the list.
The second thing I want to point out comes from Bully the Stuffed Bull and his great blog; Comics Oughta Be Fun. While the X-Men have cast of hundreds, the A-listers are the most used. They are the default X-Men. The boring X-Men in the wrong hands. I’m always disappointed when I see line-up of just Cyclops, Wolverine, Emma, Storm, Beast, Angel, Iceman, Kitty, Colossus and Jean or any variation of because they are overused as a unit. When Scott Lobdell was writing the X-Men, he adhered to the philosophy that team should always be a mix of old and new. The X-Men are at their best when the headliners are saving the world standing next to some lesser known mutants. The X is about fighting for your right to exist. And that means all three-fingered hands on deck.
In response to David Finch’s covers to X-Men Legacy 208-212, Bully put together the only mural cover of these secondary X-characters you’ll see. To some, this roster is the cannon fodder for writers looking to score a few mutant scalps in their stories. Or they are viewed as examples of a bloated brand that lost its way. But I’d argue these are the characters that make the mutant world interesting. Take Maggott for example. Here is a guy with a digestive system that is two armored,external insects that eat anything and give him super strength. Bad ass! Or Cannonball, a tough Southern kid with enough grit to lead to X-Men if needed. Nice to see some love thrown these guys way instead of forgotten or culled (DON”T GET ME STARTED ON THE FATE OF THE GEN-X CHARACTERS!). I think I can name everybody except for the guy in front of Thunderbird I. Maybe Thunderbird II?
UPDATE: Here is my own shoddy photoshopped cover of a few more X-Men absent from Bully’s mural:
And, finally, Kevin Church is branching out into the superhero genre with his latest Agreeable Comic:
When hyping the book, Kevin uses the tagline “It’s everything we love about superheroes and none of the stuff we hate.”
If that doesn’t sound like it celebrates comics, what does? Artist Tracie Mauk looks like she is bringing it too. And if this is anywhere near as good as She Died in Terrebonne, we all win. I can’t wait to read it.
Chris
Get your grubby hands on it here: