The List - 8/26/09

Man, for some reason posting this tonight has been a real hassle, here's the books I'm grabbing this week, attempt number four...

It's also a special edition of the list as right now I'm right there with Paul, in the fact that I need to drop some stuff. With the November Previews coming out this week, you can be sure the Lists within the upcoming months to be MUCH shorter :

BATMAN AND ROBIN #3 - "Batman Reborn" concludes the explosive reteaming of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, WE3, New X-Men)! Witness Batman and Robin's final showdown against Professor Pyg and the Circus of Strange! The future looks bright for the new Dynamic Duo as they prove themselves in battle, but lurking in the shadows is a mysterious red-hooded vigilante. Also, the origin of Scarlet! - I dig Grant Morrison, and I dig Frank Quitely just as much. This book defintitely see Morrison on his A-game. It's out there, but not too much. Also the stuff Quitely is pulling off in the panels is fantastic. I think at next years Harvey's we'll see Batman and Robin nominated all across the boards, much like All-Star Superman was this year.

BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS #3 - Black Lantern Titans are descending together onto Titans Island! Will the Titans be prepared to fight off their deceased allies? And how can Beast Boy not lose his heart to Black Lantern Terra? - Here's where it gets tough. I've always like the Titans and Teen Titans, but the books have just left me feeling empty lately. I'm hoping for more from this Blackest Night tie-in though.

DETECTIVE COMICS #856 - "Elegy" part 3 of 4! Batwoman unites with an unlikely ally to momentarily defeat the fairytale villain known as Alice. But when Kate is forced to attend a high society event, she soon learns that her worlds are colliding as Alice's plans for Gotham's elite put Kate's father directly in harm's way. Plus, in the next part of The Question co-feature, writer Greg Rucka and artist Cully Hamner bring Renee's search for a missing girl to new depths when The Question is trapped inside a sinking car. Will her life and her leads end up at the bottom of the river? - Consistently one of the strongest books since the Batman: Reborn launch. Rucka and Williams blow it away every month, and while I like the Question co-feature, it's been leaving me wanting for the most part. I wish the Manhunter one was in this book. Then I'd be truly happy.

THE FLASH: REBIRTH #4 - Barry Allen left a legacy that thrived after his death. Now his return threatens it all. What secrets does Barry hold inside him about the fate of the Flash Family? What destiny awaits Wally and his twins? What murderous force targets Bart Allen? And what does it truly mean to be a speedster? - Here's the thing. I love the Flash, but I'm not overly hyped about this book like I was Green Lantern: Rebirth. Now I was at the begining, but now it's just kind of like "oh the Flash is coming out". It's going to be interesting to see where this goes and how it will impact my Flash ordering in the future, since there's a rumoured two Flash titles coming out of the conclusion to Rebirth.

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #3- With their uneasy alliance in place, the sirens encounter trouble in the form of the mysteriously returned Bruce Wayne. He's dazzling, he's dangerous and he's got his sights set on Harley Quinn! Has romance sparked between these two long-time enemies – or is Wayne playing a more sinister game? - I like this book, I like the characters, I like the writer but I think I found one of the easiest titles to drop out of the Batman: Reborn books. I don't mean any slight to the book because I dig it, but in the scope of things I don't think it's a must read. Sorry Mr. Dini.

GREEN LANTERN #45 - BLACKEST NIGHT continues! The Black Lanterns descend on all the Corps throughout the universe! Sinestro's assault on the Star Sapphires' homeworld of Zamaron is interrupted by another Sinestro Corps – one made up of those who died during the Sinestro Corps War! And while the War of Light flickers, deep in the darkness of space, John Stewart comes face-to-face with his deceased wife – and longtime Green Lantern – Katma Tui. - Finally, a book I KNOW I'm not dropping or worried about. With Blackest Night firing on all cylinders, all the Green Lantern and Blackest Night books easily find their way to the top of the read pile.

TEEN TITANS #74 - The assault against the Teen Titans continues this issue as the team struggles to even the odds. Will they be defeated by a foe with superior leadership? And in the co-feature, Ravager is attacked in her arctic hideaway. Who wants her dead? That's what she wants to know… - This is kind of tough. I've been on board with Teen Titans since the Geoff Johns relaunch a few years ago, but sadly the book has benn floundering a lot lately. I'd hate to drop this now that Superboy and Kid Flash are back, because I want to see them turn up again. But I guess I can always pick it up again later.

COVER GIRLS OF THE DC UNIVERSE: ZATANNA - Seductive sorceress Zatanna Zatara casts a spell on the DC Universe as she becomes the second Adam Hughes Cover Girl to appear as a stunning statue. With a pose taken directly from the cover of CATWOMAN #58. - This is one thing I hate about using Previews to order my books. I ordered this statue MONTHS ago, and then of course I lose my job the week before it comes out and my money situation is tight. I guess it's time to tap into that $50 emergency credit I put down at the store a few months ago...

INVINCIBLE PRESENTS: ATOM EVE - To commemorate the tragic events involving Atom Eve in recent issues of INVINCIBLE, Image is reprinting her acclaimed solo series for the first time ever. See Eve’s beginnings as she gets her powers and trains herself to the hero we all knew and loved. Don’t miss out a second time! - This is the OTHER thing I hate about ordering through Previews. I only read Invincible through trade, so I try to avoid any spoilers as this is a book I love reading in one sitting when ever the collections come out. So when it comes to ordering the new ones I HATE when they give something big away. Thanks Image.

RUNAWAYS #13 - It’s the end of the Runaways’ California dreamin’ as they attempt to make their escape from Klara’s chlorophyll lockup…only to be denied by heavily armed outside forces who are about to foreclose on the property in a big way! Chase finally tells the truth about a violent event in his past. And when the kids have no choice but to turn to Hunter Stein to find a way out of this mess, he reveals a Malibu Beach House secret they never would have guessed. But it’s not easy sailing because Chase is about to make a unilateral decision that looks a lot like...murder?! - Runaways has gotten MUCH better under the guiding hand of Kathryn Immonen, but the book is still missing the fun and danger it had under Brian K. Vaughan. It's tough, but this book may be on the chopping block eventually.

Bagged and Bored Cast Episode 2

As of tonight Episode 2 of the Bagged and Bored Cast is officially live on iTunes!

In this episode we debut our new segment the Week In Geek, then we dive into The List and talk about whats got us pumped for next weeks new books. Then we head right into our main topic where we discuss the weekly comics past and present from DC's 52 to Wednesday Comics. Finally we bend into our Movie Fix where we talk about the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and the upcoming movie by M. Night Shamalyan.

If you haven't already, nows the perfect time to subscribe and join us for some weekly discussion!

The List - 6/10/09

Been a while since there's been any new article, let alone a new List, but here's hoping that things will be a little more frequent now.

Here's my picks from this week's new releases:

BATMAN #687 - In this special epilogue to BATTLE FOR THE COWL, new BATMAN writer Judd Winick rejoins the Bat Family! This 40-page issue explores the final moments of the Battle for the Cowl as the new Batman learns that winning the Cowl comes at a high price! Witness the new Batman taking to the streets of Gotham City for the first time! Putting a new man inside the Bat-suit was the easy part – now the fun begins! Guest-starring Superman and Wonder Woman, this issue is a must-read for any Batman fan. - This issue seems like it has a lot going for it, from Dick Grayson's first meeting with Wonder Woman and Superman wearing the Cowl, an additional 8 pages of story, an extra $1 on the price tag and the return of Judd Winnick as writer (which depending on your point of view that could be a good thing or a bad thing).

The Flash: Rebirth #3 - At last, the answer to the question that's plagued DC fans for decades: Who's faster, Superman or The Flash? Call your bookie and bet the farm, because you've never seen a run like this – and if speedsters keep dying at the pace they're going, you might never see another one again! - While it's been a decent story so far, I feel like a lot of the wind was taken out of this series' sails by having Barry Allen return in the pages of the love it or hate it Final Crisis event. While the mini has picked up the pace a bit (Flash puns are always the easiest to work in), it still lacks the punch that John's and Van Sciver's Green Lantern: Rebirth mini had a few years ago.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #37 - The penultimate "Emerald Eclipse" chapter is upon us as the breakout on Oa leads to vast devastation and death across the planet. As the War of Light rages, do Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner, Kilowog and the rest of the Corps have the willpower to quell the riot and overcome the napalm-spewing Red Lanterns and the fear-spreading Sinestro Corps? - Both Green Lantern titles have become the books to watch going into this summer and GLC has been firing on all cylinders as it juggles multiple plotlines like the riots on Oa, the Natu/Sinestro relationahip, as well as the assault on Daxam, all the while the racing towards DC's Blackest Night mini-event.

RED ROBIN #1 - Writer Chris Yost (New X-Men, X-Force) and artist by Ramon Bachs (Civil War: Front Line) kick off a brand-new ongoing series right here with "The Grail" part 1 of 4! Following the aftermath of BATTLE FOR THE COWL, a new Batman watches over Gotham City. But not everyone is ready to give up on the old one. Someone believes that Bruce Wayne may still be alive…and that someone is Red Robin. But who is wearing the Red Robin costume, and why is he traveling the globe looking for a dead man? Whoever he is, he's not alone in his search! - From solicitaion info and his general lack of appearing in any of the other Bat-Family titles it's safe to assume that previous Robin, Tim Drake, will be assuming a new mantle with this title now that Damian Wayne has taken on the roll of Robin. Tim has always been a fantastic character and this new direction looks to be interesting while still keeping within the tone of the character. Meanwhile Yost has become one of the strongest and possibly most overlooked writers in Marvel's stable, so hopefully his work at DC will continue to be as strong.

TITANS #14 - Starting this issue, we begin one-shot "Day in the Life" stories. And this issue stars Cyborg! In the grueling aftermath of the "Deathtrap" arc, Vic Stone must face the very teammates he feels he let down big-time. How he deals with it will shock you! - Cyborg has always been one of those characters that never really did anything for me, and so far the TitansFreshman has been alright, so this one may surprise me.

title has been rather hit or miss (mind you it was a Judd Winnick launch). Hugh Sterbakov writes this one and his work with other young characters in Top Cow's

COVER GIRLS OF THE DC UNIVERSE: WONDER WOMAN - My big collectible for the month, this statue sees the launch of a new collectible series designed by cheesecake or "Good Girl" artist Adam Hughes. Love his style or not, you've got to admit, the guy knows what he's doing.

Flash in the pan?

Today on MTV's comic book website the "Splash Page" (note the article is missing now), writer Grant Morrison may have slipped up and by saying he could say nothing actually in turn said a whole lot.

Since Morrison's currently involved in a few film properties, and the Scottish-born writer just brought the long dead Flash, Barry Allen back to life the interview turned towards his thoughts on the long drawn out process of bringing the Flash movie to life:

“Yeah, that’s the kind of thing I can’t talk about,” Morrison said. “Yes, I have talked to them. I’m deeply involved in those discussions. I know what’s going down with all of that, and it’s actually really exciting. But beyond that, I can’t say anything. I wish I could tell you. I’m sure announcements will probably be made at some point, but I can’t say anything.”

So by saying he's deeply involved in discussions, knows whats going on with the property, and that there will be announcements made at some point, isn't he just kind of letting the cat out of the bag?

A Flash movie by David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Blade, Blade II, Blade: Trinity) and supposedly/hopefully starring Ryan Reynolds has long been in the dreaded purgatory that is "pre-production", but if a big name creator like Grant Morrison is involved that means things may be progressing.