It's not easy being a gimp!

Over at newsarama, Kelley Puckett, the new Supergirl writer, has this to say about his creation, Batgirl;

NRAMA: Since you created the character, can we ask your opinion, while we have you, on what's been happening with Cassandra Cain? KP: You know, I'm flattered that people ask me about that, but at the end of the day if the character's name starts with "Bat"...then it's not your character. She's not an easy character to write. She wasn't easy for me, and I created her. So my sympathies go out to everybody who has tried to make her work.


http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=125165

So she's not easy to write?
WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU EXPECT, MAN? WHEN YOU MAKE HER DUMB AND DRESS HER IN A GIMP SUIT??????

Sometimes it's just too easy.

Martin's Soapbox: New Avengers: Illuminati #4

Gah, would the person nearest to Edinburgh please come and slap meacross the chops for buying this ridiculous waste of paper and ink?Previous issues of this continuity implant series have been annoying,but this was just abominable.I bought it cos of the nice cover - it looked like the women in thelives of Reed, Prof X, Black Bolt, Iron Man and Dr Strange (poorNamor, he's so alone), not actually being stupid, had found out aboutthe activities of the so-called Illuminati and were going to kickmanly superhero butt. But no, Sue Richard, Lilandra, Mesdames Medusaand Masque and Clea don't actually appear. They're just discussed in ascene in which five of the previously most dignified men in the MarvelU discuss how easy it is or isn't to get superheroine ass.Thing is, Clea has chosen Dark Dimension rule over marrying StephenStrange, as you would, and he's miffed in a supposedly comedic way.The other men chime in with their opinions of their womenfolk and weget such priceless dialogue as,talking about Sue:REED: "If I am not exactly where I'm supposed to be the second shewants me there, because I'm in the middle of something . . . she justleaves."TONY: Leaves? As in?"REED: "She gets up and leaves the building without saying anything."TONY: "Where does she go?"REED: "Oh, I KNOW where she goes" (looks at Namor)So, Brians Bendis and Reed are telling us that despite the evidence ofhundreds of stories involving Reed and Sue's relationship, she'sregularly storming out to hang out with/possibly shag Namor if Reeddoesn't attend to her every whim. Marvel, I say thee Bollocks.That's the low point, the rest of the comic isn't much better. Itturns out that Reed thinks little of his fellow humans, seeing them asstupid ants. Now, it could be that this is part of a ruse to persuadeGrant Morrison's evil Kree would-be conqueror Marvel Boy to come overto the light. See, although he's in prison and no immediate threat,and the Illuminati could actually tackle him with their teams, bigbrains and magic space gems/Soda Crystals Cosmic were he to break out,they decide to go to his prison, smack him around and play with hishead. It could be that this is Bendis and co saying that Tony Starkand pals were always the control freak nuts they became in Civil War;more likely, it's just lack of consideration for establishedcharacterisation.Jim Cheung's art is nice, and wasted.The car crash rubbernecker in me will buy next issue, to see how itall ends (the Marvel Boy business is unresolved) so feel free to say

Martin's Soapbox: Supergirl #20

This was a great issue. The art – pencils, inks and colours – of
Renato Guedes is just lovely, with, as has been pointed out, Supergirl
looking like a human being

It was great to see Amazons Attack, and Supergirl, though the eyes of
war veteran Greg (hmm . . . ) and I'd love to see more of him and
Ranay (is that a made-up name?). Perhaps they could join the Wonder
Woman supporting cast next time she's living in Washington, or get a
transfer to wherever Kara is living this week - they could be her
surrogate parents. It was good that Greg put the deaths in some kind
of context rather than leave the door open for years of angst.

Kara's character was unrecognisable from previous issues. Thank God.

Martin's Soapbox: Countdown #39

I thought this was a big filler, really. I'm bored with the Trickster
and Piper. This on the run bit just doesn't jibe with the Piper we've
had for the last few years. He's thoroughly reformed and would surely
hand himself in to the authorities, ask to see Wally and explain his
position (remember, despite what Flash seemed to show' we're meant to
take it that neither fella was directly involved in Bart's demise).
I'd have expected Trickster to go to his FBI buddies, whether he
thinks he was 'influenced' into going good by Zee or not. All that
happened this time is that they're back on the run, with the Suicide
Squad once more in pursuit, and have bumped into Batwoman and The
Queerstion.

The Karate Kid/Luornu (I am NOT calling her bloody Una) run-in with
Oracle didn't ring true at all. Sure, she was busy, but since when
does Babs give attitude like that? Especially given she knows these
people are good guys.This sequence did, though, have the issue's best
moment, all the more effective for being understated - Lu's fear at
being caught by one of Oracle's tentacle things - obviously
remembering her first death at the hands of Computo.

The Jimmy moment was nice, but we're getting a better version of the
story in the Superman titles - here he seems a buffoon.

The Holly/Harley story is laughable, all this Athena as a lifecoach
business. Make it stop.

And the Challengers of Beyond? Two measly pages for the story I'm most
interested in. The Monitor/Multiverse business is my main problem with
Countdown - it unbalances the book, being of such obviously greater
import than the other storyline. It feels that we should be following
this story much more.

Jim Calafiore's art was very nice, apart from in the Donna and Atom
sequence. Hope he does more.

And as for that back-up, my gosh, has there ever been a worse filler?
Four pages of expository dialogue, amounting to the same thing we're
told every month - there's a threat to the Multiverse and the Monitors
disagree on how to sort it out. OK. the bit about the Crisis on
Infinite Earths shadow demons being part of the Anti-Life Equation is
new to me, but still, this really drags.

Amazons Attack # 4

…………..and, once again, Superman is a prat! If Queen Hippolyta, a terrorist responsible for the death of hundreds – maybe thousands, who knows? – was Osama bin Laden, would the boy scout in blue just fly in and whisk away Wonder Woman for a quick chat? Would the hero to whom all life is sacred, and can move faster than a speeding bullet, let a motley group of Amazons be mown down by American soldiers with guns? One of the many pitfalls of a shared universe, some characters should be written out, or explained away, so some sense can prevail. Unfortunately, Amazons Attack is just cack!

This comic was bad!

The Insect Queen speaks her mind!

Lois Lane, Convict!

Right you are dearie!

What that lummox sees in you, Rao knows. If you're not trying to lop of his locks, or trick him into revealing his secret ID, then you're counterfieting license plates.

Next you'll be done for jay walking.

The Handsome Hound of Steel!

Oh come now Krypto, shouldn't you be trying to explain to your master how you gave birth to a litter of Super-Pups?

Sure enough, Krypto didn't just get changed into a handsome (shouldn't that be beautiful?) Collie, but a bitch into the bargain.

Who did the dirty deed was never revealed, but Krypto had a guilty look on his face for a long time after the effects of that 'Red Kryptonite Cloud' faded.