Panelology - Casualty of the 90s(?): Star Wars

by Brandon
In celebration of Star Wars week, Panenology presents another Casualty of the 90s; Star Wars. What? Star Wars? Was Star Wars a true casualty of the glut-and-bust 1990s? Not really, but what did happen in the 1990s for the Star Wars property was truly odd in a sense. Bucking the trend, the Star Wars line actually succeeded and made it through the 90s.

The Real Dark Times
In many way, one could argue that Star Wars was a casualty of the 80s. Though the Star Wars films of the early to mid part of the decade solidified the property's iconic pop culture status, it would be overly kind to say that the last few issues of the Star Wars title published by Marvel were sheer fluff. The writing and art were lackluster at best. If you ever want to feel shame as a Star Wars fan, watch the Holiday Special or pick up a few of the final issues. That tremor in the Force you feel? Yeah, that's not natural. Marvel would ultimately lose the license due to slumping sales and waning fan interest. The comic book prospects for Star Wars looked pretty grim at this point.

Success!
Dark Horse picked up the license and published Dark Empire in 1991. 1991 was a benchmark year for Star Wars. The expanded universe was really kicking into gear with novels like Heir to the Empire and Dark Empire. The expanded universe, or in Star Wars speak the EU, is the all inclusive term used to describe anything that basically doesn't happen on-screen that continue the story of Star Wars. This includes novels, comics, video games, and other forms of media. Dark Empire, though originally started for Marvel, was decidedly different in tone and quality of work than the old Marvel series. The story followed Luke Skywalker turning to a now cloned Emperor for further training. The series was very successful and remains a fan favorite to many. The success would span two sequels, Dark Empire II (1994) and Empire's End (1995).

The tour of the EU would continue with the Tales of the Jedi in 1993. This series initially followed the rise, fall, and eventual redemption of Jedi Ulic Quel-Droma. In this era, Jedi Knights and Sith warlords squared off frequently. The Rule of Two didn't exist yet, so you could literally throw an Ewok into a crowded bar and hit a Sith or two. There were seven miniseries that fell under the Tales of the Jedi moniker between 1993 to 1998. Several of the series would remain fairly rare until the recent publication of the Star Wars Omnibuses by Dark Horse. The series would prove to be so popular that it would influence the Knights of the Old Republic franchise, including video games and the current comic book.

To say that the Star Wars line was rife with titles is a bit of an understatement. The X-Wing squadron, Rogue Squadron, which had gained fame from video game and from the novels, populated their own miniseries and ongoing title. The Crimson Empire books chronicled the misadventures of the Red Guard. There were a few original graphic novels like Vader's Quest too. The original films were also further explored. New adaptations of the original trilogy were created to coincide with the release of Special Editions in 1997. The original films would also get a manga makeover from 1998-1999.

The Prequel Era Begins
In 1998, Dark Horse began gearing up for the prequel era. It's hard to believe now, but there actually was a lot of initial excitement for the prequels. Information was closely guarded and fans clung onto every shred of information let out about Episode 1. I'm not making that up. Before jar-Jar could ruin it for most of us, Dark Horse began publishing Star Wars, a new ongoing title that would chronicle the time before, during, and after the prequel trilogy.

The first two arcs would feature Ki-Adi-Mundi, the freaky long headed guy who occupied valuable space and consumed useless amounts of air on the Jedi Council. The third arc, Emissaries of Malastare, focused more on the Jedi Council. Like The Phantom menace, the stories would prove to be less than enjoyable to many fans, causing a shift in focus in 2000 to the Wolverine of the Star Wars universe, Quinlan Vos.

Also in 1999, Star Wars Tales would start. Sadly lasting for only 24 issues, this anthology series presented some canon stories, but many fell under the Infinities banner. Infinities? Think Elseworlds, but with Star Wars characters.

The 2000s and Beyond
Comparatively speaking, Star Wars eked out of the 1990s relatively unscathed. Like any title, there were a few duds to be produced in the time, but for the most part the stories were enjoyable and still enjoyed by many fans today. The Star Wars ongoing would morph into Republic and the later Dark Times in the 2000s to reflect the start and end of the Clone Wars. Three more ongoing titles would be started in the 2000s; Sat Wars Empire (Later Rebellion), Knights of the Old Republic, and Legacy. A new Clone Wars title is also coming out soon from Dark Horse. Star Wars fans can enjoy titles from the Old Republic, Imperial, and New Republic Eras.

The bottom line is that Star Wars was one of the few licensed properties to actually flourish in the 90s. Though some changes have been made, the comic books have remained enjoyable and successful for Dark Horse.

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Make Love Like a Wookie

by Brandon

Want to get your freak on with a lady, but want to make it a memorable, meaningful experience for both of you? Let Dr. Brandon give you a lesson in love. Wookie love! I want to teach you all of the tantric sex methods that have been taught on Kashyyyk for generations. Though feared for their fierceness on the battlefield, many people do not know that they have a penchant for virility in the bedroom. This humble guide will arm you with all the talents you need to make whoopee like an ace Wookie!

Get to know your partner.
Wookies aren’t exactly known for their verbosity in or outside the bedroom. The even have a reputation for just getting what they want, while ignoring their partner’s desires. Despite this sometimes unfair situation, there are several things that you can do to improve communication in the bedroom with your partner. If she asks if you would like her to put on something sexy, don’t just shrug or throw her impassively on the bed and begin getting your groove on. Simply say something nice like, “WAA WAAA WARGH!” or “MWAH WAH RAWH WAH!” This will let her know that you think her opinions are important and that you want her input.

Embrace your body hair.
Typically, an excess of body hair is cringe inducing flaw that many women find to be horrendously uninviting. But perk up! You’re reading an article that will get you bedded by chicks that dig the surplus hair currently residing on your back, chest, appendages, or nether regions! This overabundance of hair isn’t to be seen as a negative. Oh no. It’s an asset on the Wookie Love market. Just think of the kinky games you can bring into foreplay by being just a bit shaggy! Love braids, anyone? You bet! For those ladies that enjoy long cuddling sessions before and after lovemaking, your hirsute body will provides comfort she can’t find outside of a zoo or a cheap New York street vendor.


Avoid shower, spa, and hot tub situations. Though being hairy is definitely a plus for Wookie style lovemaking, I would almost categorically recommend that you avoid all contact with water. Though scenic watery locales can provide extra romance to nearly any romantic encounter, it can only lead to tears and anguish in the case of a Wookie. Wet, soppy fur aside, the real issue is the smell. Wet hair is wet hair, and typically long, flowering hair like that of a Wookie definitely carries a scent. Remember, the goal is to woo the woman, not make her wrinkle her nose. If you must take your activities outdoors, Wookies typically feel more comfortable in the forest. If you can find some nice wooded areas you will be on the hyperspace route to supreme happiness in no time.

Don’t be afraid to growl.
Low guttural noises have been a large part of human society for years. Wrestling, Animal Planet programming, Vin Diesel movies, and hot, primal sex all require growling. Growling can significantly enhance the lovemaking experience while adding an air of animal wildness to the mix. Just don’t get carried away. Growls work best if they are released in 3 to 7 second spurts. Anything under makes it seem like a belch, and anything over that threshold just sounds like you are faking it.


Establish a first-rate O-Face.
Wookies have been known for their brutal visages. It can be tough to show excitement when you have the face of a stone cold killing beast. Women have often reported feeling distant and sad after making love with someone well versed in Wookie love making skills because it can be too rough. Sure, women who seek out the Wookie type know what they are getting into, but that doesn’t excuse you from taking a shred of responsibility in the act. When in the middle of achieving climax, it is not appropriate to growl angrily like you have just been refused service at a Mos Espa bar. Slamming your fists down on the body of your lover like you have just lost a game of Dejarik to a couple of droids is also a no-no. As Yoda said, you must learn some control. Even in a galaxy far, far away, orgasms are an exciting, passionate response intended to be enjoyed, not feared. The best advice I can give you is to practice, practice, practice. Get in front of mirror and practice a passionate, yet loving O-face. Your partner will appreciate it.

Be careful with that mouth, Chewie.
If one truly adopts a Wookie lifestyle, they have to be careful with their newly sharpened teeth. You can’t just go slobbering around your usual haunts, if you know what I mean. It may help to get some fruits to practice smooching on at first. Melons obviously work best, but other smaller fruits can give you accurate dimensions of your maw’s reach. Just be mindful that even though you are a menacing carnivore, you are also a lover, and lovers seldom draw blood.

Be choosy with potential mates.
You’re a big hunk of Wookie man that attracts all sorts of attention from the fairer sex. So what? Don’t jump on the first thing promises to take you on the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs. Select your bedroom crew member (or members) as exclusively as you would a life debt. But don’t be too afraid to take a chance. If you turn down those Twi’lek twins now, who knows when another opportunity for some hot action like that will come up again?

In the end, making love like a Wookie is more about attitude than anything else. Don’t let other people’s judgments color your self-image. Don’t fret over the details and just let your Wookie come out of you naturally. You will know you have succeeded when the ladies continue to show up after you refuse to clean your tree hut.

Good luck out there, would-be-Wookies. It’s a tough galaxy out there, but you can succeed too!
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Remembering 'Ringo: A Review of TELLOS: COLOSSAL

by Doug Smith

As most comics fans know, the industry lost one of its brightest stars a year ago today, when artist Mike Wieringo died far too young of a sudden heart attack. Over the weekend, I read the trade paperback of what many people say was the work nearest and dearest to his heart, the fantasy series Tellos, which he created with writer Todd Dezago.



Tellos is a fantasy world, and our heroes include the young Jarek, the giant tiger Koj (who is Jarek's guardian and best friend), the beautiful female pirate Serra, and the troublemaking duo of Hawke and Rikk. The story is a familiar one, as it is mostly about Jarek's hero quest; he is the "one" who has been prophesied will save Tellos from the dark lord Malesur, provided that Jarek can find the "other" who will help him to free the power of a captured djinn. The hero quest is just about the oldest type of tale in existence, and Jarek will bring to mind any number of idealistic young heroes-to-be, from Frodo to Luke Skywalker to Neo. Koj is the Obi-Wan to Jarek's Luke, and comparisons to other key Star Wars cast members can be made for Serra (Leia), Malesur (Darth Vader), the old mage Thomestharustra (Yoda), and Hawke and Rikk (Han and Chewie). There's a reason this type of story has been passed down through the ages though; it works. Dezago doesn't try to reinvent the wheel here; he embraces the tradition of the heroic journey and gets the most out of his take on the legend. Yes, some of the dialogue seems out of place in a fantasy setting (a dragon named Brad who says "Dude" and "par-tay"?), but it's a refreshing change from the standard medieval-speechifying so often found in this genre, and there's a solid story reason for it.

What really makes the tale so great, though, is the tone that Dezago and Wieringo perfectly capture from start to finish. This is a fun, light-hearted book that is perfect for all ages. Wieringo always employed a cartoony style that, while I sometimes didn't feel it was quite right for some of his mainstream superhero work, is just pitch-perfect here. From everything I've ever read about 'Ringo, he missed the days of comics being fun, and wanted to bring that back. It's to his credit that he never wavered from this belief, never adopted the "kewl" style of dark, edgy, grim 'n' gritty so popular in the past two decades. In Tellos, he created a world that was perfect for his sensibilities. Even when the story does turn dark, 'Ringo shrewdly pulls the camera back, never getting too graphic or scary in scenes of violence. His depiction of Serra is lovely and sexy without being gratuitous; it's the same kind of beauty you would see in Disney heroines like Princess Jasmine. A romantic interlude between Serra and Hawke is set up so that the scene has context beyond the possible sexual nature, allowing parents an "out" to explain to their kids just what is going on in that scene. Adding greatly to the overall tone is colorist Paul Mounts, who favors big, bright, vibrant colors; again, a breath of fresh air compared to the dark, muted palletes so in favor nowadays.

Tellos hits all the right notes, with action, fun, humor, some scares, some romance, and some tragedy. But it's always done in a way that feels like a true labor of love for the creators. Wieringo was a master of conveying emotion through facial expressions; the slightest change in a character's features reveal more than a half-dozen panels crammed with expository dialogue. His artwork is beautifully detailed without ever being busy or confusing, and his pacing and storytelling skills are stellar; the story flows wonderfully from panel to panel and page to page.

The ending of Tellos features a nice twist over the course of the last two chapters, which adds to the emotion already on display, increases the depth of the storytelling, and provides for a bittersweet but emotionally satisfying climax. When I was done, I wanted to read the story again, because the knowledge gained at the end of the story brings a whole new level of artistry to the tale.

I know that several of the other writers for the Bad Genious have young children, and this is a book that I would highly recommend that you read to your kids; it's the kind of tale you can read over and over again and it should fire their imagination.

In his afterword, Todd Dezago mentions that he and Mike have "four or five more" story arcs planned. Sadly, that afterword was written just a few months before 'Ringo passed away, and the two will not be able to work together again. But reading the book in light of Mike's passing brings a new, deeper understanding of the book's themes and enriches the experience.

Thanks Todd. Thanks Paul. But most of all...thanks 'Ringo.


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Remembering Mike Wieringo

by Liana

If you're reading this blog, the reason for today's posts needs no explanation. Today, the Bad Genious takes a break from celebrating Star Wars Week to remember artist Mike Wieringo, who died one year ago. For my part, this means taking a look at his work with Mark Waid on Fantastic Four, which many (myself included) consider one of the best runs on any comic book ever.

It's pretty hard for me to talk about a comic book and not focus on the writing. Art has always been secondary to me. Usually, I only really notice it when it's going all wrong (Greg Land, Humberto Ramos). When it's all right (Gary Frank, Steve Epting), it just blends seamlessly into the story and appreciation comes second to enjoyment. 'Ringo changed that for me. Well, he didn't change it, because I still do it. But his work on Fantastic Four did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by me, not then and certainly not now.

And still, I find it hard to talk about this without focusing on the writing. I mean, Mark Waid told amazing stories. His grasp on the characters was incredible. Indeed, he brought the fantastic back to our four favorite imaginauts. So if Waid did all this, what exactly did 'Ringo do?

He brought it all to a level rarely reached in comics. He took what was bound to be a classic run and made it legendary. How do I know this? Because those issues that used fill-in artists just weren't the same. No offense to the other artists, but there was always a little sigh of disappointment when you picked up that month's issue and didn't see 'Ringo's name on the cover. They were all capable artists, but none of them could match the style, the energy, the life 'Ringo brought to the book.


I don't know how you determine what an artist comes up with on his own and what a writer instructs him to draw without seeing the scripts, but I feel comfortable giving credit to 'Ringo for imaginative details like Franklin casually blowing square bubbles (FF60) and the Thing wearing a lame Human Torch costume for Halloween (FF517). Sure, maybe Waid had the ideas, but 'Ringo put them on the page with such conviction, such wonder, that you can't help but smile.

But he didn't just do awe. 'Ringo was so great with all kids of expression. Be it shock and creepiness, like Doom presenting Reed with a freaky bugged out vision of Valeria (just before the FF's trip to H-e-double-hockey-sticks; FF61), or profound sadness, when Johnny reminds Reed (while in Heaven! FF510) that he misses Ben too.

One of 'Ringo's most amazing spreads also comes in the "Unthinkable" arc, when Doom locks Reed in an infinite library, books about magic stacked high and forever, and tells him, "This door can be opened by an enchantment a four-year-old could learn. Whenever you think you're ready to face me, come find me. Take your time. Though were it my child burning in the fires of Hell....I'd hurry." Now, I know from the extra bits at the back of the hardcovers that Waid requested Reed standing "inside a staircased, torchlit library of near-infinite size that seems to go on forever in all directions, filled to the hilt with moldering books and scrolls, dwarfing Reed in its enormity." My scanning skills (and my scanner) leave much to be desired, but I think you can get the idea from this image (FF70), even though I couldn't get the full two-page spread and had to resort the mini-image in the back of the hardcover.


Could anyone else but 'Ringo have met Waid's request? Probably. But how many of them would have done it this well? Not many.

There's one image, or sequence of images, that has stuck with me from the time I first read it years ago until today. In fact, as Dan was reading the run for the first time over the weekend, I tried to describe it to him so he could flag it for me when he came across it. It was so powerful to me that even though I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday, I can never forget the impact those panels had on me, a girl who barely knew at the time that comic books had things like writers and artists. For me, these images capture so much of what made 'Ringo one of The Greats. The sorrow, the confusion and despair on Reed's face is so....I don't have the words to finish that sentence. I'm trying, but nothing's coming. The Thing has a hole the size of Gibraltar blown into his chest. He's dead. Reed is trying frantically to revive him.


Others (cheap Bendis joke here) try the repeating panels thing, often to no effect. But here, well, it still blows me away. You can feel Reed's devastation sink in. It's powerful, and it's my favorite 'Ringo panel ever. Who else can grab a pencil and show you that? Mike Wieringo is in a very small club. And he is missed. Read more!

The Prequels: Star Wars or Star Bores?

by Yassir and Brandon

Yas - To say I am a fan of the original Star Wars trilogy would be a massive understatement. I based my dissertation for my degree on Star Wars. I have watched these films thousands of times and I still consider them to be my favourite movies. I KNOW that there are tons of films better in terms of direction, plot and well, everything...BUT to ME these films are my favourites. Deal with it.

I dreamt and speculated about the prequels since 1983. I still remember watching the trailer for The Phantom Menace. I'm getting goosebumps even now just writing this. I was completely blown away; my beloved Star Wars was back.

What a shame that it turned out to be the biggest disappointment in cinematic history. To me, anyway....

Over to you Brandon!

Brandon - Like Yassir, Star Wars has been my favorite film for as long as I can remember. It's not just a film series for me, though. I've put massive amounts of time, thought, and money into this epic mythology. However, I never presumed that this trilogy was made specifically for me. Sure, like most fans, I would spend long hours with friends coming up with potential sequel ideas. But I always kept the healthy knowledge that if anything more from George Lucas, it would be his vision alone. I love Star Wars as a story, but I don't presume to control its creative destiny.

I was absolutely elated when the prequel trilogy was announced. The idea of exploring the back story of Anakin Skywalker was great. Everyone knew what the ending was, but so much of the past was covered in mystery.

Unlike many fans, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the trilogy. I think it largely held true to the heart of the original films. I would be lying if I said there weren't elements of the prequels that didn't disappoint me, but those instances are minor. I feel like the Prequels have made the whole Star Wars universe more cohesive. I think the prequels add more to the Star Wars galaxy than it takes away. We are better off as fans having them than not having them.

Yas - I see what Brandon is saying in that this is and always will be Lucas' baby. What I'm arguing, and what I passionately believe, is that Lucas phoned the prequels in. He lost his touch. Yes, this is his vision but the old Lucas who had it all to prove would not have made these prequels. Where did he go wrong? Where do I start? Wellllllll:

• George Lucas directing - this is where I feel the films really suffered. Lucas has never been a natural director in my opinion (and to be fair in his own opinion too). These films would have infinitely improved with somebody else at the helm with Lucas still actively involved. McCallum as producer was also a bad choice as he turned out to be nothing more than a yes man. If Lucas had to direct he needed a producer who would be prepared to argue his points.
  
  
• Casting - Ewan McGregor as Obi Wan? Check. Portman as Amidala? Check. Liam Neeson? Check. To be honest I had no real problems with the casting, what I had problems with was the delivery, the performances. However, unfortunately I have to lay the blame on Lucas' doorstep. The fundamental reason? DIALOGUE! The dialogue was atrocious. Yes I know the Holy Trilogy™ wasn't exactly Shakespeare but the dialogue in the prequels was beyond awful. It didn't help that the delivery of said dialogue was wooden and uninspiring. The actors and actresses delivering such tripe need strong direction. They didn't get it.
  
  
• The nature of the Force vs Midichlorians - The Force in the original trilogy was ambiguous and spiritual. The prequels felt the need to spell it out with the ridiculous inclusion of the Midichlorians. It made it much more scientific than spiritual, and I feel this weakened the cool factor of The Force.
  
  
  
• Anakin as a Ten Year old - This was, I feel, one of the biggest reasons why the prequels were a let down. When Obi Wan first tells Luke that he fought with Anakin in the Clone Wars you felt they were the same age and good friends. Why Lucas felt the need to start his story with Anakin as 10 years old is beyond me. That kid was so annoying, and to be fair, Anakin as a whole was annoying. Darth Vader should not have been a whiny brat but that's what Lucas made him out to be
  
  
• The Clone Wars - going back to that conversation between Obi Wan and Luke who thought that the Clone Wars would be about droids vs the Clones AND the Jedi? How incredibly lame is that? Who cares about robots and battle Droids?

Brandon -

• George Lucas Directing - I think it was essential for George Lucas to direct these movies, for better or worse. I think this allowed for George to not fall into the "fanboy appeasement" trap. Star Wars fans love to fill in the blanks. We've been doing this rather efficiently since the saga began. However, Lucas ensured that none of the multitude of ideas surrounding where he should go with the direction of the prequels by filtering out the ideas through his own direction. George Lucas is a director, Star Wars is his baby, and I don't think he should have to give it up.
  
  
• Casting - I think Lucas did a superb role in casting nearly everyone, even Jar-Jar. As obnoxious as he was, he did a good job casting Ahmed Best. With regards to casting Anakin, I think he did a better job casting Hayden than he did with his choice for the first movie. Yuck. Otherwise, I think Lucas found a lot of good live and vocal talents to populate the silver screen.
  
  
• The nature of the Force vs Midichlorians - I wasn't bothered by this new interpretation of the Force as many fans were. The Force is still mystical right? We just now know that is is caused by a symbiotic relationship. It makes more sense than marking it up to pixie dust. Plus, it doesn't factor heavily in the trilogy. It wasn't like we were exposed to CSI: Coruscant throughout the prequels.
  
  
• Anakin as a Ten-Year old Boy - This is a tough one. Did anybody expect this? No, I don't think so. I think most assumed we would meet Anakin and Obi-Wan already entangled in The Clone Wars, not while he's whining about how his last podracer was blasted. But it was interesting. I think it makes Anakin's fall more powerful to show him as an innocent child. The roots of his issues with the galaxy come as a young man, just like real life. Believe it or not, Adolf Hitler put his pants on one leg at a time just like anybody else. So why can't Vader have been a snotty child once upon a time? I think a lot of people came into the Prequels thinking Anakin was going to be this terrible person from square one and were shocked to see him in scenes where he would do stuff like run to hug his mother. "Hug his mother? No, kill that bitch!" the millions cry. It's kind of a silly notion to think he's just evil. There's no drama if he was just evil. Part of the interest in Anakin's story arc over the six movies is to see him come full circle. Innocence, corruption, failure, rebirth. That's what Star Wars is all about.
  
  
• The Clone Wars - This was probably one of the biggest mysteries going into the Prequels. An offhanded remark by Obi-Wan sparked the imagination of millions of fans. I think Lucas could have fleshed out the Clone Wars a bit more in the Prequel trilogy for those who weren't as immersed in the other franchise merchandising as fans like me, but he is making up for that with the cartoon and movie. I didn't mind the fact that droids were involved. In fact, back in the mid-90s (around '95 or '96), I read in a fan magazine a very accurate description of the first movie in which it talked about droids versus clones. I didn't think this was a bad idea then, so there wasn't much "sticker shock" for me when the story behind the Clone Wars began to take shape in the novels, comic books, cartoons, and movies.

Yas - Well argued, my man, but as much as I agree that Star Wars is Lucas' baby I still feel that another director would have benefitted the movies invaluably. After all it didn't hurt Empire did it?

And I never wanted Anakin to be evil straight away. It needed to be fleshed out and gradual but I don't think Lucas pulled it off at all. The big turn was because Mace was gonna arrest The Emperor? And even then when Anakin killed Mace he just suddenly pledges allegiance? Sorry, didn't work. And no, I do not think the preceding films made this course of events at all credible. The corruption you speak of simply did not feel believable.

Brandon - I definitely agree with you that the corruption of Anakin could be a bit more believable, but you're discounting his slaughter of the Tusken Raiders and his two fights with Dooku. Anakin wrestled with his anger before Windu ever walked into Palpatine's office.

Yas - Oh, I'm not discounting that at all and that (the Tusken slaughter) was particularly done well but I still maintain that the final push that made him turn was not believable. To make matters worse the dialogue and acting was laughable and pathetic.

To wrap up, I will always remain a massive Star Wars fan. Whilst I did not love the prequels and wished that they were even better than the original trilogy I do concede that there have been additions that I welcomed, such as Padawans, the stuffiness and staidness of the Jedi Council, Pod Racing and Yoda with a lightsaber.

But ultimately the prequels were a failure (in my opinion, I hasten to add).

I'm off now to watch my beloved Holy Trilogy™.

Brandon - I think that you're right. It could have been done better. Therein lies some of the problem with the acceptance of the Prequels with fans. Everyone knew the outcome of the Prequels before they saw one minute of footage. Anakin becomes Darth Vader. Yet, we all had built in expectations of how that should happen. Did it live up to expectations? Probably not! As Star Wars fans often do, they are looking at this through rose colored Stormtrooper helmets.

As for me, I'll stick with the entire saga. Read more!

Star Wars @ Dark Horse

by Brandon

It’s Star Wars weeks here at BG! Not only do fans have some lovely movies to choose from, there are also novels, video games, and comic books to tickle the fancy of any Hutt. Dark Horse has been doing bang-up job with the property since the early 1990s. They offer a wide variety of titles for fans of all ages. If you haven’t tried one of their titles, why not give them a shot? Dark Horse has some great comic book offerings from the galaxy far, far away. Here is a list of my favorite books offered by Dark Horse.





Clone Wars Adventures Volumes 1-10 ($6.95 each)
These handy little volumes from Dark Horse complimented the original Cartoon Network Clone Wars series. Featuring a whole plethora of characters from the prequel trilogy, these adventures are great for fans of all ages.




Crimson Empire ($17.95)
A fan favorite, this story focuses on the illusive Red Guard for Emperor Palpatine. Kir Kanos is one of the more dynamic characters to come from the Expanded Universe (EU) in the 1990s. Featuring characters such as Darth Vader and Wedge Antilles, this is a great introductory title for those wanting to dip their toes in to the Expanded Universe during the original trilogy era. The second volume is less exciting, but still a fun read if you like the first volume.



Tales of the Jedi Omnibus Volumes 1 & 2 (24.95 each)
The various Tales of the Jedi miniseries were the first ventures into the Knights of the Old Republic Era. This era is unlike the Prequel or Original trilogy eras because Jedi and Sith are both running amuck during this time. Set approximately 4,000 years before the Battle of Yavin (BBY, in Star Wars speak).




Dark Empire Volumes 1 & 2 ($17.95 each)
The three books in the Dark Empire cycle are the closest thing comic book fans can get to a sequel trilogy in comic book format. Of these three titles, the first two volumes are excellent additions to the Star Wars mythos. Featuring a resurrected Palpatine and Luke dabbling in the Dark Side, this title has the look and feel of the Original trilogy. Also, Boba Fett returns! Empire’s End, the third and final volume, is largely forgettable due to the inconsistent storytelling.



Clone Wars Volume 7, When They Were Brothers ($17.95)
The Clone Wars collections bring together the Republic series along with the various Clone Wars issues and miniseries published by Dark Horse. Volume 7 collects the 2005 Free Comic Book Day selection and the Obsession miniseries. This series focuses on the ongoing battle between Asajj Ventress, the bounty hunter Durge, and Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Meant to be an ending to their fight, this volume features bombastic battles and more Jedi than you can shake a lightsaber at. Look for more from Asajj this week as Clone Wars hits theaters.



Star Wars Volume 4, Twilight ($12.95)
Introducing the immensely enjoyable Quinlan Vos and Aayla Secura, these issues set the tone for the remainder of the Star Wars ongoing that would later become Republic. This volume begins with Vos losing his memory and his quest in finding his lost Padawan Aayla.



Knights of the Old Republic Volume 3, Days of Fear/Nights of Anger ($18.95)
The year long “Days/Nights” arc was a powerful addition to this great, if uneven at times, title. Fugitive Jedi Zayne Carrick is on the run from his former Jedi masters who slaughtered his fellow apprentices. During this year long arc, we see Zayne grow as a Jedi. These first two stories in this arc are an excellent jumping on point for new readers.




Dark Times Volume 1, The Path to Nowhere ($17.99)
Dark Times is a frustrating title. It’s one of the best titles Dark horse is currently publishing, but it has had some issues with lateness. Couple that with the recently announced hiatus the title is taking while DH focuses on the new Clone Wars book, this title is aggravatingly good. Case in point, the first volume of the book is an excellent look at a Jedi on the run after Order 66. The shocking violence that ends this trade truly earns the title “Dark Times” for the series.

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Panelology - Casualties of the 90s: The Punisher

by Brandon

This week’s Panelology starts a series of articles looking at titles, companies, properties, and creators from that flamboyant decade of comic book decadence, the 1990s. The 90s were filled with many success stories that ultimately ended in a poly-bagged implosion caused by a lack of monetary resources, a misuse of properties, creative woes, and just plain bad luck. In my mind, the character that best exemplifies the comic book collapse of the 90s is one of my favorite characters, the Punisher.

The Roaring 90s
The early 90s were good to Frank Castle. Leaving the 80s, Punisher was already featured in two titles, his self-titled which began in 1987 and 1988’s War Journal. Though created in the 70s, Punisher resonated well with fans in the 80s due to the dark nature of the character. The character, much like many larger than life action-oriented properties of the early to mid-90s, received a lot of success. Of the Marvel properties, Punisher seemed more like the brand of antihero that was coming out of the early Image books. He was dark, brooding, and ultraviolent. And he had guns. We all know those early Image creators liked inserting guns into their titles. Big guns, at that. Guns were cool then, what can I say. The fact that Punisher was big on guns gave him a competitive edge during those early days of competition between Image and Marvel. In a way, Punisher was Image before there was Image; alternative to alternative.

By 1993, the budding Punisher franchise had grown to support four monthly titles, adding the fun at first War Zone and the laughably bad 2099 title. That’s four titles for one character. Do the comic book math there. To me, that just doesn’t even add up right. I’m of the opinion that no one character should really support several titles. There are all sorts of benefits creatively to having just one title per character. The fact that Punisher is often portrayed as a one-dimensional character did not help the saturation of Punisher books out at all. In the early to mid 90s, one could now read four titles where Punisher popped a cap in someone’s ass monthly. That was too much for a character like Punisher, no matter how enjoyable it is to see him shoot bad people.

He's Everywhere
The Punisher was also like Santa Claus, Jesus, and Bill Gates in the 1990s; he was everywhere! I think many people forget that for a time in the 90s Punisher was a lot like Wolverine. It seemed like he was showing up not only in his own four titles, but everybody else’s titles too. Some of the appearances in books like Ghost Rider, Daredevil, and Wolverine actually seemed to fit the mold of Punisher’s violent underpinnings. But many of his appearances were awful and unnecessary. Just taking a look at some of his more bizarre comic book visits to titles like Dr. Strange, Fantastic Four, Silver Sable, Quasar, Namor, and West Coast Avengers should make you scratch your head and ask, “What the fuck is Punisher doing in a Namor book?” And yet, there he is, in all his glory, hanging out with a dude who wears a scaly Speedo. Punisher has guns, damnit! Guns! GUNS! He should not be hanging out with Namor, least of all with a loser like Quasar. Punisher also appeared along side with some fairly “wtf” people outside of the Marvel Universe too. Most famously, you have the Archie crossover, but he also appeared in Alf. Throwing the Big Pun in your title for a month gained a Colbert-like bump in your sales, I suppose. But really, West Coast Avengers? Archie? Quasar?

Punisher fans, hang your heads in shame!

On top of all of this, Punisher also starred in several prestige-format comic books. By several, I mean approximately 1,857. This is one less the amount of appearances he had in other idiot’s comic books. While many of these specials were actually pretty good, these titles just added to the glut and oversaturation of the property. It was rumored that near the downfall of the character there were several unpublished Punisher prestige format books and miniseries just waiting in the wings to be published. The mystique of this now lost Punisher file filled with more schlock from the 90s has become an urban legend.

This type of overuse of the character was about to take its toll. The carrying capacity for Punisher in the volatile comic book market was not far behind.

The Downfall
By 1995, poor sales on all of the Punisher titles forced Marvel to cancel all of them. The main title would be resurrected later that year, with the writing chores being handled by John Ostrander. As a writer, Ostrander is generally a highly capable, one of my favorites. However, he tried some pretty bizarre things out for the Punisher. First, he had the Punisher join the mob. Later, after that went tits up, he had him join S.H.I.E.L.D. I kid you not. After that story went tits up, the title was cancelled with issue 18 due to Marvel’s economic woes despite and a general decline in popularity of the character. Like several canned titles, issues 19 and 20 were already in the creative works, potentially haven been written and drawn, but they would never see the light of day. Oh, and Punisher had a Steven Seagal style ponytail for the first few issues. I cannot tell a lie. It’s true.

But there is appositive side to the mid-90s for Punisher. Though 1995 would seem like a bad year for Punisher with the start of a new lackluster series, there was one highlight. One of the last in the line of prestige format books hit the shelves called Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe by one Ennis. As the title suggests, in this book, Punisher kills the entire Marvel Universe. The end. It was a bloody, What if?-type fun ride that would give a glimpse of what the future would hold for the Punisher.


Punisher would fall into further humiliation with the publishing of the now infamous 1998 Golden/Sneigoski/Wrightson limited series. In the miniseries, Punisher gets powers from angels so he can put caps into people’s ass for them. Yes, you got that right. Angels. I remember reading this during my freshmen year of college thinking, “Who the fuck green-lit this piece of garbage?” This is an X-File if there ever has been one. While I don’t recommend actually buying this miniseries, do try to borrow it from some sad fan like me who actually bought the damn thing (I also somehow got a signed version of issue #1 along the way, but I don’t remember how). It is truly a bizarre, David Lynch-style reading experience that will make you want to write an angry letter to your congressman or Bill O’Reilly. To make matters worse, this angelic-gun-toting version of Punisher appeared alongside Wolverine in a miniseries in 1999 called Revelations. Ugh. This should have simply been titled 90s Glutfest. It was a simple proposal; take two of Marvels most overused heroes and put them together. Genius! But not really. Unlike the first angel miniseries, you should not seek this one out. I believe it’s illegal.

Beyond the 90s
And yet, in true Punisher style, the property somehow survived all of this. Punisher has been one of the success stories of surviving the 90s. He had one of the most bizarre and toilsome journeys of any Marvel character (with the exception of Spider-Man), but he mostly came out on top. In 2000, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon would begin their influential run on the title with the 12-issue maxi-series that pretty much forgot/ignored all of the trash of the 90s. Ennis was responsible for bringing Punisher back to his vigilante roots.

Though his run is at an end, Ennis continues to work on the Punisher today after planting him in a much deserved mature content title outside of the boundaries of the Marvel Universe. In 2006, a second ongoing Punisher title began, War Journal volume 2, to much praise as Punisher was “returned” to the Marvel Universe after a short absence. There have been several specials that have been made too, with most being accepted with positive praise. Punisher also doesn’t show up as much in other titles. While there have been a few instances of his carousing around the Marvel Universe, they have been generally tasteful appearances that don’t seemed forced or out of place. There was a fairly unremarkable movie adaptation and a new “requel” set to hit theaters this winter.

So, Punisher ended up on top despite some hefty creative missteps in the 1990s. It seemed like the creators involved in the 90s didn’t have a passion for the character. Sure, they probably liked him, but under the guidance of someone who truly enjoys and gets the Punisher like Garth Ennis, the character has flourished. To many Punisher fans, Ennis has heralded in a Golden Age for their favorite black clad vigilante. I know I feel that way.

And I would be lying if I said that the entire 90s run of Punishers books was bad. There were some great titles. Check out the list of recommended reading at the end of this article for some superb Punisher highlights. In the end, let’s all hope the next decade treats Frank as well as this one and much better than the 90s!

Next time...
Of course, if you have a story suggestion for Casualty of the 90s, I'd love to hear them. Post a comment below. Next week is Star Wars Week. Panelology will be taking a special “Casualties of the 90’s” look at Star Wars comics. See you then!

Recommended Reading:
Here are some great Punisher stories worth checking out from the 90s. Enjoy!
- Punisher War Journal #'s 25-27 (1990 - The Sicilian Saga)
- Punisher P.O.V. #'s 1-4 (1991)
- Punisher 53-59 (1991-1992 - The Final Days)
- Punisher: Die Hard in the Big Easy (1992)
- Punisher/Captain America: The Blood & Glory (1992)
- Punisher War Zone #'s 12-16 (1993 - Psychoville, USA)
- Punisher: A Man Named Frank (1994)
- Punisher: Year One #'s 1-4 (1994)
- Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe (1995)
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BG Roundtable: Iron Man vs. Dark Knight

by Liana

Dan said that The Dark Knight was “arguably the best superhero flick ever.” Vocal Minority said “it wasn’t….I honestly think I enjoyed Iron Man more.” Thus, with a bit of nudging from your friendly neighborhood editor, a roundtable was born. Which was the better—or maybe even best ever—superhero movie? The Bad Genious debates the important issues!

Let us begin by conceding that everyone involved with the Bad Genious thought Iron Man and The Dark Knight were both EXCELLENT movies.

And now, a confession: your FNE doesn’t really like Batman. Shocking? Perhaps, but facts are facts. And the fact is that Batman, the character, has never found a place in your FNE’s heart. Odd, considering how much she loved the old 60’s TV show and Tim Burton’s first movie. So, as much as she liked The Dark Knight and found it a fantastic movie, she liked Iron Man more. A lot more.

Vocal Minority - I enjoyed The Dark Knight. But everyone raved about it being the “best film ever” and it wasn’t. I'm not even sure it was the best superhero flick I've ever seen. But that's the price of hype I guess. I can honestly say I enjoyed Iron Man more.

Betsy - I think Iron Man is easier to watch. The subject is a lot lighter and more fun.

Vocal Minority - I'm not sure what it is, but I don't think it's a question of ease-to-watch. I think there's a little bit of the fact that I've seen Batman on screen quite a lot, but never seen Stark before. It also helped that Stark is a more interesting character than Bruce Wayne.

Joe - Some of you are on crazy pills.

The General - I would possibly say that I enjoyed Iron Man more; it proved how good a super hero movie can be. But, I think that Dark Knight was a better movie; it proved that a super hero film didn't have to be a "super hero film."

Joe - The General is not on crazy pills.

Vocal Minority - I'm not utterly convinced you have sufficient perspective to make that distinction, Bat-boy....

Joe - Crazy. Pills.

Doug - With Iron Man, I always felt like I knew what was just around the corner. There were no surprises. With Dark Knight, I honestly didn't know what was going to happen next. I can't think of another superhero movie that really put me off-guard the way Dark Knight did.

Dan - Iron Man was limited in its scope because it had to go through all the motions of telling the origin and introducing characters.

The General - You basically knew what to expect and Iron Man knew what to deliver. For as pitch perfect as it was, it was also fairly “safe.” Batman was successful because Nolan was reinventing the super hero movie a bit, in terms of tone and storytelling. It had more in common with a movie like Heat than it did your standard super hero film.

Chris - Take away the superhero angles from both movies and what have you got? Iron Man was a kind of generic story about a weapons designer who sees the errors of his ways and tries to turn his company in a new direction only to have a money grubbing subordinate who wants to keep doing business as usual. The Dark Knight was a twisty crime caper with a psychotic antagonist that nobody knows what he's going to do next (probably not even himself).

Vocal Minority - I dunno about Iron Man being safer than Dark Knight. I mean you were right when you said that Dark Knight is very much like a crime film in the Michael Mann vein. But that doesn't make it less safe, just conventional in the crime-genre kinda way. Iron Man had a main character with marvelously complex motives and morals. One night stands, boozing, arrogant - whereas Batman is a far more conventional and, arguably, simplistic hero.

The General - I will say that, as good an actor as Christian Bale is, Robert Downey Jr. did a better job of inhabiting Tony Stark than Bale did Bruce Wayne.

Vocal Minority - Downey was miles better than Bale, but Stark's a much more interesting character, plus he was the focus of the flim.

So if Tony Stark and Iron Man are more interesting than Bruce Wayne and Batman, why does Batman make the better movie? Is it because Harvey Dent and the Joker are more dynamic that Obadiah Stane?

Brandon - The Joker is insane, but in the way it manifests itself outwardly lends to a pretty one-dimensional portrayal. However, Heath Ledger’s personality absolutely bleeds off the screen.

Betsy - Ledger’s Joker was absolutely unique in a way that made Jeff Bridges’ Stane look cookie-cutter by comparison.

Vocal Minority - Joker was interesting because he was so full-on and nothing else. But I think we're short-selling Stane, and indeed Bridges' portrayal here. Yes, he got a bit obvious as the threat-at-the-end, but up to that point... he was subtle. He wasn't obviously the villain. You knew he was unhappy with what Stark was doing, but it wasn't a raving, evil thing. He was parental and sympathetic - you could see why stark still trusted him until the complete betrayal. And when he was ruthless, it was a cold, menacing calm. The character might have been more of a stereotype, but Bridges' acting was great. Comparatively the Joker was just all-get-out nuts and chaos. Much easier to throw yourself into and come out brilliantly, especially when the script gives you so many opportunities to look great. Much easier to get right for the right actor.

The General - I agree with Tim that, up until he went evil, Stane was a sympathetic character, and you could see why Tony would trust in him. That's a big accomplishment for a character you knew was going to be the bad guy. But, it also was problematic because it meant his switch to evil was less believable. That said, Ledger’s Joker was better by a long shot.

Doug - Gary Oldman hasn't gotten nearly enough praise for his portrayal of Jim Gordon. And Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent was, arguably, the second-best part of Dark Knight.

Dan - And of course Dark Knight had Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, who are always wonderful to watch on screen. Iron Man had the dude from Hustle & Flow.

But Iron Man had Jarvis!

Okay, your FNE is tired and her Internet connection is acting up. Any closing thoughts?

Chris - Iron Man needed the superhero aspect to raise the script above something mediocre while Dark Knight would have been an amazing crime film without it.

Joe - Iron Man was the best comic book movie to come out since Batman Begins, but prior to The Dark Knight. Dark Knight is the best movie I’ve ever seen.

So there you have it. The Bad Genious debated, and you’re all winners. But especially Iron Man, because your FNE still liked it better. Read more!

From Top to Bottom #15: Comic Book Comforts

by Matt

Welcome to the 15th edition of the weekly "From Top to Bottom" column! Every week I will look at something within the comics industry and give you my opinion on what I think is the best and what I think ranks amongst the bottom-feeders.

Last week, I geeked out with more X-Men stuff by looking at the Top and Bottom of X-Men miniseries. I had a hoot pulling out some old X-Men miniseries and re-reading them and finding a few that I absolutely loved and could read anytime. Now you have heard of comfort foods, foods that make you feel happy and safe and bring back pleasant memories. Well, I have some comic books that do the same thing. They make me happy every time I read them and I can read them anytime, they are my Comic Book Comforts. Which is why I named the column the way I did. There are a lot of comics that qualify for this, but I am only going to look at miniseries. After looking at my Top 3 Comforts, I will then take a look at some miniseries that I have that leaves me scratching my head and wondering why.

This wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. While I did have a ton of choices, I immediately knew which ones were my absolute favorites the moment that I found them. I am sure that some will disagree with my picks, and that is fine, but you have to remember that I am picking out the books that act as a comfort food. These books go hand-in-hand with Mountain Dew: Livewire and Cadbury Creme Eggs for me. These are the guilty pleasures that I would want with me on a desert island (with LiveWire and Creme Eggs). Here are my Top 3 Comic Book Comforts.

3) Robocop versus Terminator
Like I have said before, I am a sucker for crossovers and I just couldn't pass up two of my favorite movie characters crossing over. Add to that a superb creative dream team of Frank Miller and Walt Simonson (that alone should convince you to pick this series up) and this project just screamed fun. And it certainly was fun! It had a lot of twists and turns and was very tongue-in-cheek at times and totally surpassed what I expected. I loved that the Terminator's mission was to save Robocop because the creation of Robocop led directly to the formation of SkyNet. And the last page was totally Walt Simonson.


2) JLA: The Nail
Written and drawn by Alan Davis. In this DC universe, Martha and Jonathan Kent never discover the spaceship that the baby Superman crashed to Earth in due to a nail that caused a flat tire on thier truck. So we get to see what the world would be like without Superman. Lots of appearences from almost everyone from the DC Universe and one of the more haunting Batman/Joker confrontations. The followup Another Nail was very entertaining but not as memorable and great as this first series.





1) The Human Target
I saw the cover to #1 in the Previews and it made me try out this series and I was so glad I did. This series was a wild ride that I was not prepared for it. Peter Milligan and the late Edvin Biukovic brought back Christopher Chance, the Human Target and took him to the 'Vertigo' universe for more suitable and mature stories could be told. The basic premise is Christopher Chance becomes an actual Human Target by disguising himself as someone marked for death, then he draws out the assassin and he tries to put a stop to them. But it goes much deeper than that, the Human Target didn't just look like the person he was protecting, he BECAME that person and at times couldn't separate who was who. This miniseries just keeps you guessing. Peter Milligan is at the top of his game with sharp writing and dialogue and the art by Biukovic just leaps off the page. This led to an original graphic novel (The Final Cut) and to a monthly series that sadly lasted only 21 issues.

And now for the Bottom 3, the miniseries that I had real high hopes for when they first came out but were major disappointments. And for some strange reason they remain in my collection only because I think they will suddenly get good. They remind me of one of my favorite movie reviews. It was for the new Highlander 2 Special Edition DVD and the reviewer said (and I am paraphrasing) "No matter how much you dress it up and spray perfume on it, poop will always remain poop." No matter how good I think these books will be, it will never change.

3) Extinction Event
Brett Booth's art was the biggest draw (pun totally intended) for this series but the idea behind it actually sounded a little cool. A Texas earthquake unearths evidence that man is not the most intelligent species on Earth. A team of specialists is dispatched to investigate and they find out that it was dinosaurs who were the most intelligent species on Earth, and some of them are still living. Now Brett Booth can draw the heck out of a dinosaur so I was intrigued. And I was left disappointed. I don't think this was meant to be a comedy.



2) Northstar
Ugh. This mini series was terrible. The art was muddled and drawn in the "Image" style and completely ignored the events in Alpha Flight #106 which featured the outing of Northstar. Alpha Flight was canceled with #130 and they announced a new Northstar mini-series that if it became popular would become an ongoing series. I was hoping that the series would examine Northstar's lifestyle a bit more but we got nothing more than a pointless story with pointless villains and "kewl" characters like Kane and Weapon P.R.I.M.E. You know what would make this series worse? If I really cared for Northstar. Which brings us to my #1 Bottom pick and I character I adore.

1) Excalibur
I love Captain Britain. A few years after the original Excalibur series was canceled, a new four-issue limited series titled Excalibur came out. And I was excited for this new Excalibur book because it would feature Cap more than the X-charcters that ruined the book in the last years. Remember Britannic? Ugh. It featured Captain Britain and Meggan and guest-starred Psylocke (whom for some reason paraded around in a bra) and the Black Knight (whom I thought would be a natural fit for Excalibur). The series dealt with Brian becoming King of Otherworld, the idea behind the series seemed natural but the series was extremely boring and the costume changes for Captain Britain were horrible. What was up with the flaming Union Jack on his face?

Now there were a lot of other miniseries that I really enjoyed. Daredevil: Man Without Fear, Earth X, Batman: The Long Halloween just to name a few. But for these books I have to be in the mood to read them again. I can't just grab those books off the shelf. What are your "Comic Book Comforts"?
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Trades Wait for Me – Filthy Painkillers

by Dan

Before I decided to re-read New X-Men in order to give my Unpopular Opinion a couple weeks ago, I was in the middle of a very different Morrison title, The Filth. Throw in Dynamite’s Essential Painkiller Jane collection and I’ve got myself a couple trades that waited for me.








The Filth - Once I got my Unpopular Opinion written, I finished this 13 issue maxi-series. One thing I quickly realized is that I don't dislike Morrison's writing as much when he's just doing his own thing and not trying to squeeze familiar characters into his unfamiliar, and sometimes out-of-character, plots. Overall, I liked The Filth and the fun and twisted stories. Of course, what’s not to like about Communist talking chimps, microbiotic Teletubbie-like civilizations and a porn star with super-potent black jizz? Unfortunately, those are only subplots and when the book is focused on The Hand, the wacky government organization that deals with horrible things the world doesn’t need to know about (see super-potent black jizz), the story gets lost and Morrison seems to have a lot of disconnects in his scripts. The art by Chris Weston, Gary Erskine and Matt Hollingsworth is fantastic. Every character is completely unique. Every face is expressive. And every page pops with color. Nothing I'd really read through again, but worth it for the hardcore Morrison fans or those that like twisted, adult content in their funny books. B-



Essential Painkiller Jane - To be completely honest, I have no idea why I bought this six-issue collection of the original Event Comics series. I have the comics in the basement. I could break them out whenever I want. I could savor the awesomeness that was any Event comic’s “back matter” - Cup O’ Joes, Jimmy's Box, Ads for the fan club....all that fun stuff that a huge JoeyQ & JimmyP fanboy like me loved. Oh, and a fun story too.

Speaking of which, the story here holds up better than I would have ever imagined. Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn spin three very good plotlines over five issues, with pitch perfect art from Rick Leonardi and Jimmy Palmiotti. The zero issue that leads off the collection--and muddies the waters of Jane’s origin more than it clears them--would be a decent capper to the series if it was actually at the end of the book instead of the beginning. Overall, I’m thrilled that these stories still hold up and, while I prefer the issues to the trade, would recommend this to anyone who digs action or crime comics. A- Read more!