I got an email this week from Vic, evidently a long-time comics fan who sent me a few images of the original Heroine Addict, a fan-made comic dating back to the 70s, produced by one Al Tanner and the Comic Heroines Fan Club. Click on the thumbnail to the left for a selection of covers sent by Vic (scaled down a bit so's not to run dry of web-space). So there you go folks, Heroine Addict has a long and proud history.
Actually, I just picked the name out of a hat when I made this site, and even then it wasn't an original idea - when I'm browsing a livejournal or somesuch, I
often save some of the cute or funny icons, just to have a look through them occasionally when I'm in need of a chuckle. And one such was this one, which I thought rather clever.
So there you go folks, the Secret Origin of Heroine Addict - just like many comic characters, there's lots of origins, and they don't have much to do with each other. Give it twenty years or so and (if I'm still running this site, probably covering digi-comics downloaded directly into our brains via our cyber-net implants) I'll do a Crisis and retcon the whole thing into an even bigger mess.
Previews ~ Final Crisis: Revelations #2 (p60) has Renee Montoya, the Question, on the cover, so although I haven't been tempted overall by the Final Crisis tie-ins, that's one I'll be picking up. Broken Girls (p194) is a graphic novel that sounds intriguing, a kind of girls' boarding school/juvenile hall version of Lord of the Flies. All three Artesia hardcovers (p200) are reoffered for anyone who hasn't got them already; I can't recommend Artesia highly enough, check the February TPB-a-thon for my reviews of the first two. Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #52 (p228) is worth a look, as is I Was Kidnapped By Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space!!! #5 (p319). Andrea-D (p322) gets a trade paperback, see below for a review of issue #1. And in action figures, there's Indie Spotlight (p424) featuring Kabuki, Hulk Legends (p427) with Savage She-Hulk (yay!), and Heroes (p430) with Elle Bishop.
Final Crisis #2 ~ The investigation into the murder of Orion starts to come together, and drives this issue more or less, and thankfully the existential farting around is scaled way back - at only 30 pages, you just can't afford to fill up a comic issue with the kind of thematically-meaningful asides that work in longer storytelling media like novels. This issue is an upward step from the debut, with the three main plotlines - the Orion murder, Libra, and the New Gods - all starting to be revealed as actual stories rather than cryptic soundbyte-esque scenes, and a couple of good 'boom' moments that get your attention through sheer ballsiness and visceral impact. This is such a multi-layered story that it's difficult to articulate why I don't think it's really firing on all cylinders, but if I had to say something, it's that Morrison seems to be trying to tell a story about ideas - and I don't think that's a good idea (pardon the pun). You tell stories about people, and the ideas in the story flow from their choices and actions - and right now, Final Crisis doesn't really have anyone worth calling a 'main character', so far as its focus goes. No matter how interesting Morrison's ideas are, the two issues we have so far can't overcome that fundamental flaw.
Madame Xanadu #1 ~ I gather Madame Xanadu is an established character or some sort, but I know nothing about her - nor did this issue tell me anything about her, although I guess it's fair to assume that the main character, Nimue, is her, or will become her, or something. But ignoring the cover, this is the story of Nimue, a forest spirit, who's involved in the fortunes and fate of Camelot. I'm not big on the Arthurian stories, but i vaguely recall the name - at any rate, everything necessary to enjoy the story is made plain enough in the issue, so background reading isn't mandatory. Nimue, an occasional lover of Merlin, favours Camelot and the peace it brings to the land - her altruistic outlook has her enjoying seeing people living peaceful, happy lives, and that's all the motivation she needs to devote herself to Camelot's continued success. On the other hand there's her sister Morgana, mother of Arthur's bastard son, who she wants on the throne and who is willing to see his forces go to war to achieve that, destroying the peace that Nimue cherishes. Meanwhile a strange spirit is visiting Nimue, offering bleak counsel on the eve of the war. The story is told well, though now and then the writing strays a bit far into 'medieval speak' - you know what I mean, everyone being very formal and a bit stilted - though in other scenes the dialogue is more naturalistic and fluid. The art by Amy Reeder Hadley has a degree of anime influence in it in the way she depicts Nimue, with large, expressive eyes being the dominant feature - it's pleasing, and other characters are more traditionally realistic, but with Nimue being central the anime-ish style feels present a lot. Unfortunately Guy Major's colours are hampered by the issue being printed on non-glossy paper, with the attendant problems that brings - the intense darks and intense colours both feel faded and washed out. Nevertheless if fantasy, of the old school King Arthur mould, is your thing, this is definitely worth checking out.
Avengers: The Initiative #14 ~ This title is playing the Avengers/Secret Invasion tie-in game this month, with a look back at its own history to reveal the Skrully goings-on that have only been hinted at before. Now that we know Yellowjacket's not what he seems, his various escapades in the Initiative - starting with taking out the Hydra carrier in issue #2 - are revisited, and we see what really happened, rather than what we were led to believe. Crusader - also a Skrull, but not an invading one - also features, and his story weaves into that of Hank Pym, and also 3-D Man, who isn't a Skrull, but who turns out to have the holy grail in the Skrull invasion: a way to detect them. Of course, the invasion isn't going to be brought to a halt by something that happens in a tie-in, so it's no surprise when things get all fouled up, but it happens in a clever kind of way. Caselli is back on art duties, and his return is welcome - he doesn't put a foot wrong, nor does Daniele Rudoni, providing very accomplished colours. Something in the writing, though, while it remains of a high standard, just doesn't feel as polished as the early issues of this title - I don't know whether it's Gage co-writing, or just that Slott, with Spider-Man on his plate now, doesn't have the time he needs to really smooth everything out perfectly, but there's some dialogue in this issue that could stand a bit of revision. All in all though, good show, and while it's not a crucial tie-in if you're just reading Secret Invasion, Initiative readers should find it a worthwhile and interesting Skrully storyline. That said, the Hank Pym material forms an interesting, and quite cohesive, 'duet' of sorts with the Pym-centric issue of Mighty Avengers this week, reviewed below.
Ms. Marvel #28 ~ If I recall rightly, in reviewing last issue I suggested that the Carol-doubts-herself notion had really been taken as far as it could go for now, and she needed a genuine victory to even the scales lest this title spiral down into a mire of self-pity. Well, Brian Reed must've been reading (okay, so it's possible that he's just a good storyteller without my help; plus, time-travel would have to have been involved if it was my review, I think), because this issue could aptly be titled 'Ms. Marvel Kicks Arse'. It's not a 'perfect' victory (or even a final victory, since she's still in plenty of peril by the end), but of course we don't want her to resolve all of her problems right away, otherwise there'd be nothing to do next issue. But right now, facing the army of Super-Skrulls that have descended on New York, Carol goes into soldier-warrior mode, and just plain fights her way through the whole issue, tearing Skrulls to bits left and right and... well, she just doesn't stop. There's the question of how far she'll go, how much of a problem is it that she's enjoying herself, but for right now, she's confronted with a big, powerful enemy in a straight-up fight, and she straight-up out-fights them. Adriano Melo provides solidly entertaining art, with Mariah Benes inking and Chris Sotomayor colouring - lots of energetic action (although now and then a bit too much 'supermodel posing' from Carol) - and there's plenty more of Marvel's current favourite game of spotting which superhero powers and costumes have been amalgamated into the various Super-Skrulls.
She-Hulk #30 ~ A guest appearance by Hercules anchors this issue, which gives us some explanations on the whole Bran thing, but sneakily introduces some new twists at the same time. Peter David draws effectively on She-Hulk's history with Herc, going back to volume one of Dan Slott's run on the title, as well as Herc's involvement in World War Hulk and his current status. My one slight misgiving with Herc is that some of his dialogue didn't seem Herc-ish enough - you know, all the "Thou art mine ally, and I shall stand by thee forever!" stuff - which I know is easy to overdo (like I just did), but here feels a bit under-done, and it's only in the occasional panel that I found his voice matching my impression of how Hercules talks. Maybe he's been getting more modern in his own title at present, I wouldn't know. That's a minor matter though, and everything else rings true. Semeiks's art is attractive and powerful, with a fun touch of retro comic book feel in some of the fight scenes, however I do have to say that in a couple of panels early on he got a bit carried away with Shulkie's breasts. She's 6'7" and built powerful, that doesn't equate to boobs the size of basketballs. That too is a minor matter, and all in all this is a solid issue that provides a satisfying conclusion - for now - to the plotline that's been running through recent issues, and sets the stage for the Secret Invasion related crossover with David's X-Factor that's coming up next.
Andrea-D #1 ~ This is... well, it's pretty over the top. We have a typically stacked bad girl, kicking plenty of ass through a mission to take down some bad guys, and wearing as close to nothing as possible - I mean, just look at those cutoff denim shorts on the cover, ye gods. So it must be said, this isn't the most sophisticated of comics, but I find myself kind of liking it. Aside from the cover and inside covers the art is all black and white, and while a lot of scenes seem like they really would be better for colours - when you're doing classic 90s bad girl cheesecake, vivid colour is part of the equation - there are also a lot of panels that use the monochrome art to their advantage, a bit like Sin City lite. This issue has been out for a while, I gather - I just happened to notice it this week, while I was browsing - so it may be difficult to find in most stores by now, but if you see it, take a look. It may not be a masterpiece, but it's got a bit of charm to it.
Sky Doll #1 & #2 ~ This French series, translated and republished by Marvel for the rest of us, is an excellent example of why European comics can't be ignored - it's a lavish, wonderful, beautiful, intelligent work of literature, a sci-fi fantasy of vast scope that nonetheless is absolutely relateable and relevant to today's world, with its clever and thought-provoking depictions of religion and morality. The art is a treat for the eyes, with luscious, full-bodied colours spread over a whole range of palettes, all keyed to the moods and tones of the scenes and the overall story. And on top of all of that, the story and its characters aren't static, but are a constant process of evolution - you can't pigeonhold characters or plotlines based on past experience, because they grow and change as yuo read, showing new developments and new sides of themselves in a way that most comics take years, if not decades, to achieve, if they bother at all. As Marvel's first import from Soleil, this is an absolute winner, and hopefully will usher in much greater exposure in the American market (and the Australian one, which largely follows the US) for European comics.
The Clockwork Girl #4 ~ This steampunk fairy tale wraps up in fine style, with a powerful climax that doesn't shy away from elements that children might find upsetting or frightening - my view is that it's fine to be upset by a story, so long as it all works out in the end (if the peril isn't upsetting, what's the point of it?), and this does, with a heartwarming conclusion. Everything from the prior three issues is drawn together quite neatly, and when this is published in trade paperback form I think it'll be a great comic for a parent to read to a child, as well as one adult readers can enjoy for its own sake.
Mighty Avengers #15 ~ As New Avengers (reviewed below) does for Spider-Women, this does for Hank Pym - we see how he was replaced, and what his actions afterwards really meant now that we know what he was. There's quite a lot of pre-switch material though, so this issue is partly about the real Hank Pym - it's not until page 12 that Pym is out and the Skrulls are in, and at that point the tone and focus of the issue shifts. The Ultron story that opened Mighty Avengers is revisited, from Hank's perspective, in a way that ties into Secret Invasion quite elegantly - I must say, with revelations flying about all over the place now, it's becoming apparent that Bendis really does know what he's doing in a very meticulous, very consistent way. The one thing that's missing so far that I'd like to see is a look back at the days of Civil War through the eyes of Pym, since he (so far as we know) is the Skrull who was most closely involved in the course of the pro-registration side - his rise to prominence is alluded to here, but not shown, and that's something I'd like to see.
Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose TPB volume 6 ~ This latest volume contains issues #26-30 of the Tarot series, along with reproductions of each issue's bonus lithograph, aalternate covers, the photos used on the credits pages, and a couple of pages of bonus art. #26, 'Digital Demon', is a bit of a so-so issue - there's nothing wrong with it, but it's a generic Tarot adventure with a demon-of-the-week, and nothing truly stands out. #27, 'The Goblin Queen', is another matter entirely - it's gleefully funny and mischievous, adorably poignant, and shows a different side to Raven Hex, with her fierce sense of loyalty to those she loves giving her one of her most positive portrayals. #28 and #29 are a two-part crossover between Tarot and the 3 Little Kittens miniseries, with the Kittens involved in a government operation that goes awry with their crazy nemesis Latex Red showing up - there's lots to love about the Kittens, a riotously fun secret-agent-girl-team parody, but I found the Gulf War 2 plot elements, presented in quite a serious manner, didn't sit too well with them, making their patriotism seem simplistic in light of the reality of the situation there. #30, 'Haunted Hairball', is a return to the wildly silly and fun side of things, with Pooka, Tarot's winged cat familiar, inadvertently causing mayhem for Tarot and Boo Cat. This volume wouldn't really be the best one to hand to a new reader, with the somewhat ideologically uneasy 3 Little Kittens crossover a sore point that detracts from the fun of the lighter issues, but readers familiar with Tarot and Balent's storytelling style will find a lot to appreciate in spite of that.
Vix! #1 ~ Here's a new title I bought on a complete whim. Vix - real name Celeste - is an ordinary girl who just got powers one day, with no explanation. Caution prevents her from revealing her abilities to the public - only her sister Tats (Tatyana) knows, and between the two of them they're of the view that until they know more, secrecy is the best strategy, but their efforts to deal with Vix's powers are hampered by the fact that they're just a couple of teenage girls, and have no idea at all how to go about dealing with sudden inexplicable superpowers. Meanwhile there's a shadowy conspiracy watching Vix, and strange visions or memories are surfacing in her head. It's the first issue, so naturally explanations are in short supply, and the issue basically puts its faith in characterisation, with the promise that more of the plot will be revealed later. It's not a bad bet, with the girls, their younger sister Reena and their mother all coming across as likeable and fairly distinct, a credit to Rantz A. Hoseley's charismatic dialogue. Matthew Humphreys' art is cartoony but engaging, although there's one artistic quirk that I haven't figured out how to interpret: during the opening sequence Vix is a pale-skinned blonde, but from the following scene through to the end of the issue she's a tanned redhead with freckles. I don't know whether that's meant to indicate that her appearance changes when she activates her powers or what - if that's the case, a sequence somewhere in this issue showing the transition from one to the other, say her hair colour changing when she momentarily uses her powers later, would have been appreciated, because I was left a bit confused. But that aside, it's a promising debut, and worth checking out the next issue to see where it goes.
Modesty Blaise: Top Traitor ~ For those who don't know (I didn't, prior to picking this up on a whim when I noticed it at the bookshop) Modesty Blaise is an old school heroine, debuting in 1963 in serialised comic strip adventures. She's a mix of James Bond and Emma Peel, a stylish and sexy woman with the brains to unravel criminal plots and cold war espionage, and the athletic skill to out-fight the various thugs, gangsters, spies and villains she invariably runs up against. Reprints of these classic strips have been appearing since 2004 - they're up to volume 13, I gather, but this one is the third, containing three stories of which 'Top Traitor', a cold war double-agent plot taking inspiration from real-world events, is the first. Reading comic strips is a very different experience to comic books - with everything confined to the narrow newspaper-format strips, and only a few panels at a time, there are none of the expansive splash pages or cascades of dialogue or narration you find in today's comics. Modesty's adventures are fast-paced and accessible, moving from setup to peril to revelation to the next complication in the storyline, and so on to the final showdown with the villain behind the whole thing. At first glance it may seem dated compared to 'modern' thrillers, but just think of how much more powerful a film Casino Royale (the new one), with its back-to-basics approach, was compared to the 'modern' special effects extravaganzas like Die Another Day (which I enjoyed, but it's pure popcorn). Modesty's like that - there's no superpowers or satellite-mounted lasers, just bad guys with guns, and our heroine relying on her wits (and her faithful allies) to save the day. If you're after something different in a heroine to today's comic book fare, this is a good place to look.
New Avengers #42 ~ Another fill-in-the-backstory Secret Invasion tie-in, but when you've got a formula that works this well, why change? This time we see a big slice of recent Marvel history from the point of view of Spider-Woman, who (we know by now, but this confirms it) was replaced by the Skrull Queen. The formation of the New Avengers, the SHIELD rogue faction stuff, and the lead-up to House of M all feature in what would be a spectacularly ballsy retcon, except that Bendis really did plan this all along. The audacity of it is breathtaking at times, and you laugh in sheer admiration for what they're doing - and it's doubly impressive in today's age of comics, where six issues is a 'run', and this kind of years-long story is a rarity. The only thing that confuses me - were they really giving Jessica a boob job at the same time as restoring her powers? Because on the operating table she doesn't look that chesty - yes she's lying down, but even so - and there's a couple of silvery blobs among the instruments. It's a weird in-joke, if that's what it is. Anyway, boobs aside, this is another worthwhile tie-in - if you're buying Secret Invasion, and know the history of the Avengers for the past few years, you don't want to miss this.
Aspen Showcase #1 ~ A fun little one-shot about Aspen Matthews, the lead character (I think) of Fathom, a comic I've never read (aside from a three-way crossover with Witchblade and Tomb Raider ages ago) but always been curious about. Aspen's going to her high school reunion, which brings back memories from her past, about who she was back then, and how she began moving towards the person she is now, who's most at home in the water. In a bikini or otherwise; yes, there's lots of eye candy in this issue. But the dialogue and character story is decent and well-told, and all in all it's an easy, enjoyable read that presents Aspen as not just your average woman, and someone maybe worth getting to know a bit better.
