First Appearances: Big Barda
Second pic by Shawn McManus
Chris Samnee:
Supergirl
Black Canary
Elektra
Catwoman
She-Hulk
Kitty Pryde and Lockhart
Pixie
Wonder Woman
The Next Robin
Just my thoughts on ‘the next Robin’ discussion.
It’s too soon. It’s too soon for Batman and, frankly, it should be too soon for the fans, too. Think about it. His sidekick, his partner, and his son all died when Damian was stabbed. Given Batman’s tendency to think through each and every aspect of every problem, he really should be thinking and agonizing through the whole idea of having a sidekick, of having a minor at his side while he’s fighting crime. He shouldn’t queuing up the next one.
That fans are already talking about the next one says something about how cynical we’ve become. Death. Trauma. None of it means anything, really. Let’s at least make a pretense of caring about these characters.
Could it be Harper Row? Could it be Ellie? I’ve always liked the idea of a female Robin and I am sure a good writer could turn either of them, or another woman entirely, into a great Robin. Or an altogether new sidekick. But let’s give it a couple of years.
Sad news for Courtney Crumrin fans. Creator Ted Naifeh has confirmed that the last issue was indeed the last issue. Not really a surprise. It felt like a last issue.
He gave his reasons in an interview at Comics Alliance. Essentially, he wanted her story to have a conclusion. He felt that to continue it as an ongoing would rob her life of any sense of meaningfulness. Interestingly, just this past week I read Umberto Eco’s 1972 essay ‘The Myth of Superman,’ which makes much the same point. Superman could be a legendary figure, a demi-god, but the necessities of life as a trademarked property means that whatever he accomplishes must continually set aside. He does great things and accomplishes nothing.
So let’s give Courtney’s story an end. It’s not as though readers can no longer enjoy her story. In fact, next month sees the publication of the third hardcover special edition, Courtney Crumrin and the Twilight Kingdom.
There’s a new Wonder Woman fan film, this one made by professional stunt man Jesse V. Johnson. Stunts are emphasized—it’s Wonder Woman v. the Nazis!—but watching it what I liked best was that the costume was obviously inspired by Cliff Chiang’s current designs. Wonder Woman is played by Nina Bergman.
Fan reenactment, pretending to be your favorite character, it’s nothing new. In this scene from Anne of Green Gables Anne Shirley and her friends try to re-enact from Tennyson’s Lady of Shalott. It doesn’t go well.
Geek-dom. It predates comics, television, movies. All it takes is imagination and a willingness to enjoy yourself.
