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In the first issue of this excellent but underrated 5 issue miniseries, Steve Vance, Leonard Kirk (fresh off a stint in Supergirl) and Rick Burchett (Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood) pay homage to the classic 1985 series “Crisis On Infinite Earths” still considered by many the granddaddy of all mega-crossover events in comics. Marv Wolfman and George Perez’ maxi series about the death of multiple Earths and universes did away with Barry Allen, the flash of the silver age, in a shocking manner. In an earlier post I promised to tell you how Flash was responsible for saving the super heroes, and not in a fictional sense.Well to make a long story short, in the 50s a psychologist by the name of Frederic Wertham published a book called “Seduction of the Innocent” in which he hypothesized crime and horror comics were corrupting juveniles into committing crimes. The more things change, the more they stay the same I guess, similar arguments are being made today about video games and violence. In the end, Wertham’s tirade almost did away with comics, especially superheroes which were popular at the time. In September of 1956 under the leadership of editor Julius Schwartz, the Flash was updated with a sleek new red costume and he ushered in the return of the superhero genre (Showcase #4)
Back to “Dead Again,” Vance does a masterful job of taking elements from “Crisis” to craft an original story starring Deadman, whose alias as circus trapeze artist Boston Brand is reborn after he is murdered by a thug named the hook.In issue #1 Deadman is trying to save the Flash from dying again in the Crisis, but what he doesn’t know is that his old enemy, a powerful brujo named Darius Caldera, wants to trap Flash’s soul for his own evil purposes. I’ve always though Deadman was one of DC’s most interesting but underrated characters from back in the day. This entire series is a joy to read, if only because it retells some of the most pivotal events in DC continuity such as the death of Jason Todd in a fresh, original story. Darius Caldera is a powerful adversary and the art by Kirk and Burchett is colorful and beautiful. What’s even more intriguing is the fact the day is saved not by one of DC’s heavy hitters like Superman or Batman (though they both make appearances) but by a little known hero like Deadman who constantly acknowledges throughout the series he is a third stringer at best. Pure fun throughout as Deadman is witness to a different death each issue teleporting from each event a la Quantum Leap I highly recommend this little known series.
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Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogu
e Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal…or his life?
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Volume 13 -
The second Millar/Hitch run, Ultimates 2, began in December 2004 and finished in May 2007. In the first six issues, the Ultimates again fight overseas, invading and forcefully disarming rogue nations and causing worldwide concern that the United States is gradually establishing an expansionist empire akin to that of ancient Rome. The truth of the Ultimates’ actual involvement with the second Hulk rampage is revealed, causing a massive PR disaster and a death sentence for Bruce Banner.During a search for a mole within the Ultimates, Thor is suspected and later incarcerated, based on evidence fabricated by what is later revealed to be the trickster god Loki, Thor’s half-brother. The series had a sizeable Hank Pym subplot, showing him attempting to redeem himself to the Ultimates (with prototype designs for Ultron Robots) and try a humiliating superhero comeback by joining a hapless vigilante group, the Defenders.
Millar stated in Pop Culture Shock that this arc reflected contemporary issues, ranging from hyper-powered countries like the USA, preemptive strikes, the rising world-wide anti-American sentiment in the wake of the neoconservative Bush Doctrine, and the “rogue nation” classification and the fear of backlash in form of nuclear armageddon. Millar said: “In the name of oil, this administration is stirring up a hornet’s nest (…). My own belief is that there’ll be a couple of nuclear attacks in the States, the multinationals will move elsewhere, the American economy will completely collapse and make the 30s look like the 80s and the Middle East will be occupied by drafted teenagers from your home town. (…) I hope I’m completely and utterly wrong.
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Name: Bleach: Diamond Dust Rebellion
Type: Anime MovieReview :
A valuable artifact known as “King’s Seal” is stolen by a mysterious group of people during transport in Soul Society. Hitsugaya Toushiro, the 10th division captain of Gotei 13, who is assigned to transport the seal fights the leader of the group and shortly after goes missing. After the incident, Seireitei declares Hitsugaya a traitor and orders the capture and execution of Hitsugaya. Kurosaki Ichigo refuses to believe this, and along with Matsumoto Rangiku, Kuchiki Rukia and Abarai Renji swear to uncover the real mastermind of the stolen seal, find Hitsugaya and clear his name. Meanwhile, a rogue Hitsugaya searches for the perpetrators and uncovers a dark secret regarding a long dead shinigami.
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