Waiting for Wednesday, Issue 30

Captain's Log
Wednesday morning, around 6:00 am.

I'm up early this morning. Too early. The alarm clock went off, so I woke up, got out of bed, and dragged a comb across my head. I went downstairs and drank a cup...

And then I looked at the clock, and it was 5:30. It was supposed to be 7:30. Must be a time/space rift, I thought, and decided to go check with my handheld communicator device (iPhone 3G).

Communicator read the same. 5:30.

Stupid, stupid, chronal shifts. Stupid, stupid inability to set an alarm clock properly.

With over three hours to go before the initiation of the day's mission, I decided to watch TV. Realizing that there's nothing on at such an hour, I decided to instead start typing this week's Waiting for Wednesday.

So, groggily, and angrily, I type and--HOLY TONY SHALHOUB! Does that Feed Reader say 34?!?

You like us...you really like us...

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This week features many of the Usual Suspects; the books that I've been praising month in and month out. Such as Madame Xanadu, issue 15 and Detective Comics, issue 857. Both of these titles are favorites of mine, and I do hope that I've been able to persuade some of you to at least pick them up and flip through them in the store.

Madame Xanadu has been a consistently high quality title, with solid writing and beautiful art. It's a time-jumping story about a magical, immortal woman who tries to help mankind through the ages. Currently, the good Madame is in turn of the century New York City, and she is hunting a brutal killer.

The art by comics legend Michael Kaluta is perfect for the macabre storyline, and while this issue is the final in the "Exodus Noir" arc, these recent issues will likely be collected in the near future. So, trade wait if you haven't jumped on board yet, but do give this series a try in some capacity.

And then there's Detective Comics, written by Greg Rucka and with mind bending art by J.H. Williams. Seriously, folks. This is the best drawn comic on the stands today, and the praise it's received from all corners is certainly well deserved.

This is the Batwoman story that Rucka's been waiting to tell for almost three years now, and he is delivering a compelling, creepy tale with a brand new villain. And did I mention the art? The fully painted, double page-spanning art? Sure I did. But, c'mon--just look at the cover to this week's issue:

Go. Buy. Now.

Okay, so, there's my little tirade about the two titles that I've begged you to buy, over and over again. Now onto the new stuff. From my favorite DC writer, Geoff Johns, comes a brand new mini series that will retell the origin of Superman. And it's in-continuity, and official, for people who care about such things.

Cleverly titled Superman: Secret Origin, this highly anticipated story will be drawn by Gary Frank, and the first issue will be oversized, clocking in at 48 pages. Here's the blurb from DC:

Hot on the heels of their acclaimed run on ACTION COMICS, superstars Geoff Johns and Gary Frank reunite to present a 6-issue event that spells out the definitive origin of Superman for the 21st century – and it all starts with a gigantic 48-page issue!

Chronicling Clark Kent's journey from the cornfields of Smallville to the skyscrapers of Metropolis, you'll witness a whole new look at the beginnings of Lex Luthor, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Lois Lane, Metallo, Jimmy Olsen, the Parasite and more! It's a look at the mythic past of the Man of Steel with an eye toward the future!

While Johns is a master at mapping out and delivering some of the best action sequences in comics today, I feel his greatest asset as a writer is in his ability to tell an accessible story. DC, especially over the past few years, has told these big, sweeping, universe-encompassing stories that, frankly, one needs a PhD in DCU Lore to appreciate.

And, while Johns' stories are most definitely steeped in DCU history, he writes them in a way that someone (like me, for example) can pick up a Green Lantern story and give a hoot about the characters involved.

So, yeah, I'll be on board during his Superman run, and I recommend this title to anyone who has been thinking about dipping the toe into the DCU, but has been hesitant because of the giant ball of continuity that needs to be unraveled. This mini will be (should be, anyway) a no strings attached, pick it up and enjoy kinda deal.

Heck, this is the book I'd give to a non-comics reading buddy, since the combination of writer, artist, and format is perfect for someone new to the game.

And finally, we end this 30th edition of Waiting for with some (awesome) Goon-related news. Today sees the release of the most current trade paperback volume of The Goon, which collects the third and final part of the Goon Year saga.

Entitled "A Calamity of Conscience," this trade features the latest Goon issues released. So, if you've been reading the series via trade, once you reach the end of this one, you are all caught up. (Yes, Nathaniel, you can borrow this when I'm done. Sheesh...some people...)

I have Exfanded upon this title ad nauseam on the blog, so I'll make it brief today. The Goon rules. You should read The Goon.

There.

Oh! And one more thing. As of Sunday night, Eric Powell finished off the final pages of his Goon movie script. He reported on his Twitter page that the guys at the movie studio (Blur) loved it. So, The Goon is now one step closer to being up on the big screen.

And, possibly, mainstream.

For me, seeing Goon and his maniacal pal Franky (what with his knife-weilding and unspeakable late night antics) up on the big screen is something I can't even fathom, as it's been this little thing that I've loved for a long time and no one else even cared about. It's too cool for words.

Right. So, that's it from me today. What are you Waiting for?