Sarah Jane Smith

When I started this blog I intended to talk about all facets of my geeky side. So far I've indulged mainly in comics. and why not its a very exciting time to be a comic fan. DC rebooted their entire universe, Archie comics have introduced their first gay character, The X-men have split apart (BTW uncanny x-men was my favorite book this week), Sonic has gone back to his roots. Things are blowing up across the board in comics. My point is that comics are only one part of my geekly focus and I want to highlight All of it. So I want to take this moment to bring up Brittish Sci-Fi icon Elisabeth Sladen. 

Earlier this year we lost this truly amazing actress. She was best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith from Doctor Who. Starting in 1973 she would stay on until 1976, and from this time she would reprise her role over the decades.  With the doctor who revival in 2005 (called NewWho by fans) she returns again in the 2006 series 2 episode School Reunion. This return prompted her on Spin-off called the Sarah Jane Adventures.

 Developed for CBBC it became a favorite of new and old fans. In this series Sarah Jane gets a family. spoiling a weekly alien plot, raising her genetically engineered son, and training a new generation to take care of alien threats to earth her life blossoms. She reminds us that life on earth is an adventure too. Now the series is over, fortunately before her illness and death Miss Sladen had recorded 3 serials (for a total of 6 episodes) for Sarah Jane Smith.

So with a heavy heart I loaded up the final episodes already sad that this was the last I'd see of Sarah Jane Smith. In this season she adopts an Alien daughter, we get a great story out of my favorite character in the series Clyde, and we get a last story of her and Luke (bonus points for him learning to be a big brother).Then came the very ending:

cue tears streaming down my face. The story will go on forever Lis. Now excuse me while I go spend too much money on old Doctor who DVDs.

Shock to the System

The first month of the DC relaunch is over.  I read nearly 52 new #1s this month and it was exhausting. Some of it was ok, some of it was so painful I felt like my soul became tainted and dirty. Then there were books that just made me happy to be a comic book fan during this time.  One of those books is Static Shock. Most of you who know Static Shock probably think of this:

Like I said during the first week of the DC relaunch I did not miss and episode of this cartoon. NOT ONE.  So I am very glad that they decided to include static in the relaunch. It’s true that Batwing is being an unquestionable badass:

 and Justice League International is being the best team book DC is making now; but neither of them give me the sheer joy and pleasure of Static Shock.  So far both issues of this comic book have given me everything that a new series needs to hook you:  character introduction and development, action packed scenes, likeable support characters, and lots of setup to keep readers interested.

Because of his interference in their operations the Slate gang is targeting Static. Their trump card Virule succeeds in severing Statics arm only for it to miraculously grow back. While the Slate gang gets berated for failing to take out Static, Virgil himself is trying to figure out exactly what happened with his arm.

The kid is smart coming up with a plausible theory for why it happened if not how.  My only quibble so far is at least brought up in the issue; Virgil needs a support system. Sure he has Hardware, but he doesn’t want to bother his mentor (benefactor ?). Besides hardware isn’t his friend like Frieda (or Richie from the cartoon).

So back at the Hawkins house the next big mystery rears its head (literally right out of Sharon’s mouth). Apparently for some reason Sharon has a clone (and how I missed it last issue is beyond me because now that I know it was painfully obvious.  Both Sharon’s think they are the original and hate each other and it’s all somehow Virgil’s fault (or at least he blames himself). I hope this story line continues for a while.

Being the science smarty that he is he goes to a science and math school appropriately named after Static’s Creator Dwayne G. McDuffie. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this man. Not only is he responsible for the minority owned and operated Milestone Comics. He was also wrote episodes of Teen Titans, was and editor for Cartoon Network’s Ben 10 Alien Force.  I am sure that Mr. McDuffie is looking down on this series smiling (and hoping it doesn’t turn to crap)

Overall I really am enjoying this run because it keeps Static’s character firmly intact. He is smart, heroic, 

A believable teenager

Static likes the ladies and the ladies like static.

And a hopeless science dork, seriously look at him fanboying his enemy’s tech:

So I am looking forward to every issue of this amazing comic. It is highly recommended to fans of the original comic, cartoon and to new readers alike.

I’m going to make a Side note that didn’t fit into the review proper. Joker appears in this book and I hope to all that is good in the world that Batman doesn’t show up. This is Static’s book we don’t need Batman sticking his nose in here too. He is all over the DC 52 verse. Let’s run down the list of Bat related books in the new universe:

• Detective Comics-Stars Batman
• Batman- Stars Batman
• Batgirl-stars a Batman Partner
• Batwoman- Batman INC. member (and Batman shows up)
• Catwoman-Stars his Girlfriend whatever Catwoman is to him(who may have raped him but that’s Another rant)
• Red Hood and the Outlaws –stars Batman’s anti-hero douchebag former partner
• Batwing- Batman Inc. member (and Batman shows up)
• NIghtwing- Stars Dick Grayson former Batman partner
• Batman and Robin- Stars Batman
• Justice League-Has Batman as a member
• Justice League International-Batman Is a member
• Batman: The Dark Knight-Stars Batman

That’s 12 books connected to Batman 13 if you count Teen Titans which stars another pupil of Bruce Wayne. That makes about 25% of the books. Yes Batman is awesome but you are over exposing him DC.  Here is a hint DC Batman does not poop rainbows and lollipops you have other awesome heroes let them shine on their own.