For those who are following the New 52, I’m curious. Everywhere I ask this question, the titles trend differently, leading credence to the theory that different social media attract differently-opinioned readers.
So my question for Tumblr is, which five of the 52 are your favorites so far?
No worries if you like my books or don’t, doesn’t matter, just curious about the five books that made you the most excited for the next issue.
Demon Knights, Wonder Woman*, Batgirl*, Deathstroke, Animal Man.
I feel bad picking just five, but those were the ones which made me desperate to read the next issue. I have also loved every Batman title so far, and all the Super-titles (Superboy was so good, and I was so surprised by that).
My biggest disappointments (with the caveat that things might improve over the next issues and this is not my final judgment on the book): Hawk and Dove, Red Hood. I could go on about Red Hood, but why bother, when others have said it already? I actually found it insulting.
I’m reserving my decision on Catwoman because a) I’ve just been reading the Jim Balent run, so seeing a possibly-too-sexy Catwoman isn’t quite such a shock to the system, and b) I feel like the last page may be like dropping a rock in a pool, and the ripples will extend throughout the series; I mean that we saw the, er, climax (sorry!) of that encounter, and it was meant to be shocking, and to start off plot and development. The issue didn’t feel out of character, but let’s just say that Catwoman’s boobs were a little too familiar to me by the end. A lot will depend on the next few issues; if the title turns into “sexy time with Catwoman! What bra is she wearing this week?” then I will be very upset.
I don’t want to go overboard with criticism, though, because I have enjoyed 90% of what I’ve read. I miss some titles like mad (Red Robin, Secret Six, Gail Simone’s Birds of Prey) but I’m intrigued by the new ones, especially under the ‘Dark’ umbrella.
One very important question for DC, though: where is Deadshot’s moustache? It needs to return immediately.
* Incidentally, these titles are exactly how you should write a sexy woman. I have no problem with sexy or badass characters, but they’ve got to be done right.
Okay, as I said elsewhere, this was where their story was always going to go. It’s been the plan since my first year on the book. And the response from the lgbtq community has been absolutely heart-melting. I thank all the people that sent kind notes and emotional letters and met me at St. Louis…
It strikes me that the idea of homosexuality - especially where there is little actual knowledge of gay people - may, for some people, be the most offensive thing about it (although I’m not a psychologist - still, it’s often true that we fear that which we do not understand). If there are two characters of the same sex that one likes and empathises with, and then they end up getting together, perhaps that puts a different perspective on the issue for some people; they can see these individuals that they already like, and see how happy they are. I don’t know. What I do know is that Gail Simone’s new run on Birds of Prey has been alternately tearing me to pieces and bringing me to tears. This latest development is both wonderful and wonderfully written.
I read all the comics sites on a regular basis but I tend to forget about CraveOnline. And then one day I’ll remember it and pop on there for a look. And today I found this. It is purportedly Black Canary’s diary recounting the plots of Birds of Prey issues 1 and 2. Excuse me, WTF? Written by…
I suppose that the writer was trying to make a point with this dreck (presumably that Gail Simone is undermining her work by using an artist who draws sexy women) but I think if they had just made the point it would have been better for all concerned. The thing is, I’m not sure they had a point to make. While reading the last paragraph of the article, I expected an argument about Benes’s art being too sexy - perhaps the word ‘exploitative’ would come up, although I would disagree - but the point simply seems to be that they lost all higher brain function while looking at the art, and were therefore unable to read the words. Um.
I don’t think there are enough words to describe the “diaries” themselves, but here are a few to start with: crass, insulting, embarrassing (in that I am embarrassed for the person who wrote them).
From Walks through Bath, by Pierce Egan, 1819.
I’ve never been to Bath, and although the place must have necessarily changed a good deal since the publication of the book, I’m strongly inclined to take it as a guide for my eventual (and, I hope, inevitable) visit.
“The Divine Jane is a short documentary film specially commissioned for the exhibition A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy. It examines the influence of Austen’s fiction—and her enduring fame— through interviews with leading writers, scholars, and actors.”
Top 1 Habits of Amazing Writers
- They write.
No better advice on the subject has ever been given.
This is venturing into Grump territory (although the title of this tumblog* should be warning enough of that particular vice) but on visiting Tumblr’s Popular page, it seems that the vast majority of tumblr users: a) have an average age of sixteen, and b) post pictures that they didn’t take/make with no credit or link to indicate where they came from. The former they can’t help, but the latter is just bad manners. I disapprove.
It makes me wonder what to do with my little tumblog. I already have a twitter (used for random thoughts and exchanging brief amusements with friends) and two blogs (one for crafts, one for interactive fiction). Surely I don’t need another place to speak? Surely I’ll find I’m spreading myself too thinly over too many sites? I suspect I would be if I didn’t give this blog a direction. I also suspect that the direction should be that of my last post: of history, especially of interesting quotations from overlooked texts. I enjoy them far too much not to share.
* Should it be tumbleblog, or perhaps tumblrblog, or just tumblr? Tumblog just sounds too cute for words.
I’m still discovering dubstep and breakcore music (and would be hard pressed to say exactly what genre this track is) but Hecq is already one of my favourite artists, and this video is magnificent.
