Tag Archives: New 52

The Saturday Comics: The Sandman: Overture

16 Nov

November 16, 2013

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Almost exactly 2 years ago, when DC started The New 52, I dropped comics. The final issue of Flashpoint was my last comic book from either company. Since then I bought only 2 trades, both of which reprinted stories from the 70’s and 80’s.

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The Batman arc on the left made my Top Ten Comics list, and the JLA/JSA/All-Star Squadron crossover narrowly missed the list.

Since then I have not missed comics. Oh, I haven’t completely given up. Last week I read the first two collections of Superior Spider-Man and I think it was great. I also read Batman: Court of Owls not long ago. So I did not totally give up comics but I need to point out that I did not buy any of those books. I read someone else’s copies.

However, I broke my oath this week. I went out and deliberately bought a new, single issue of a current comic. It was the first money I have spent, and the first weekly comic I have read, in 2 years.

The Sandman Overture by Neil Gaiman, returning to the character he made famous and the medium it was meant to be read in.

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What can I say? Neil Gaiman is a genius, and J.H, Williams is his perfect complement. I have been waiting for this comic since it was announced last year and I was not disappointed. This is only a mini-series, 6 issues, so it would be a small thing to collect the series and then go back to not dropping comics. However, I am going to wait for this in trade paperback (or better, hardcover.) I have the whole Sandman collection in trades and this belongs right next to it on the bookshelf.

And then no more comics.

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Writer’s Block #7: A Special Routine

6 Nov

November 6, 2013

Well, here I am again. Me vs. the page. Me vs. the blank screen. Me vs. writer’s block. Have I wasted enough time? Yep, once again I need to turn to our nation’s colleges and universities (I must be desperate) and look to the list of bizarre college essays for inspiration.

I didn’t find any, but here we go: Please describe a daily routine or tradition of yours that may seem ordinary to others but holds special meaning for you. Why is this practice significant to you? (Barnard, 2009)

Well, I don’t; really like to talk about this, but I guess maybe it will help me to unburden myself. Maybe it will help me to sleep at night.

One night, years ago, when I was young, my family was leaving the movie theater, capping off a great evening in which we had dinner at a fancy restaurant and saw the opening night of the Mark of Zorro. The city wasn’t as crime ridden as it is now, but even then there were some places you avoided.

It wasn’t too late, the alley not too dark, and our car was parked just across the street. We were happy and probably not paying too much attention or maybe we would never have gone down that alley, seen that man.

He stopped us.
Had a gun.
Demanded mom’s jewelry.
Dad took a step towards him.
The gun blazed.
Twice.
And I was an orphan.

I swore on their graves that their deaths would not go unavenged.  And every day I pass that alley and leave flowers amongst the cans of garbage and broken bottles and detritus of urban life.

What? Shit, sorry, that’s Batman’s story. I thought it sounded familiar. But seriously, that is a much better story than mine. You don’t want to hear it, it wouldn’t interest you.

What? Really, you do? It probably isn’t half as interesting as you think.

Ok, you asked for it. My special routine?

Every morning I get up early and read a book on the can. That’s it. It’s quiet and no one bothers me.

Hey, I’m no Batman.

 

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