So Super Duper is the story of the little hero who could. Psyche is an adorable little hero with a rather weak power, he’s an empath. He can sense the emotions around him, and that’s pretty much it. But much to the amazement of himself and others who wonder how useful Psyche can be, he receives an invitation to join the premier super team, the Amazin’ Naughts, under the leadership of one of Psyche’s heroes, Captain Idol. At first, Psyche thinks his position on the team is the easiest thing ever. He just points to where evil is happening. Soon, Psyche is forced to take a more active role and is given a task by Captain Idol, despite the doubts of himself and others that he doesn’t have what it takes for such a responsibility. Yet, as the story progresses, we’re learning that Psyche and others don’t give him enough credit. He’s far more valuable than he thinks. Psyche’s journey to realize his potential, however, is only one part of the So Super  [Continue reading...]

The Emerald City ComiCon, in its brand new digs at the Washington Convention Center, was a treat this past weekend. The show moved from its old location at Qwest Field, south of downtown, to a more central location just blocks away from all the nightlife on Capitol Hill. The show was bigger than ever, and showed no signs of slowing down. (Next year, the show is moving to an ever larger space in the Convention Center.) The Prism Booth was staffed by volunteers Mark Brill (co-creator of The Mark of Aeacus from Class Comics) and Benjamin Williams, and got a steady stream of LGBT-comics-loving visitors throughout the weekend. Shout-outs also go out to Max Steinmetz and Ernesto Lopez de Victoria, who helped out at the booth and kept us company. In addition to the presence of the one-and-only Power Girl and the majestic X-Man Storm, the booth was visited from Andy Mangels (comic book writer, DVD-extras maestro, and the writer of the recent Iron Man: Beneath the Armor from Del  [Continue reading...]

There’s no denying it: moms are da bomb. Since my latest Queer Eye sting happens to fall on Mother’s Day, I thought it a propos to explore a comic that deals with what it means to be maternal. Comics have always been quick to honor the one person in most people’s lives they can always depend on: Ma Kent, Queen Hippolyta, Aunt May. (Okay, technically that last one wasn’t Peter Parker’s biological mother, but you can’t say she didn’t raise him like he was her own.) Even superhero moms give their children practical wisdom when it comes to making tough decisions, and they offer unending solace when they make the wrong decisions. Moms never deny their kids comfort—even when it involves a heavy dose of self-sacrifice. There are some comic book characters that no one would ever think would fit the role of mother. Can you just imagine if a nut-job like Poison Ivy were to conceive a little rootlet? Elsewhere in the Batman mythos, though, another seemingly unlikely candidate  [Continue reading...]

Blood, sweat, and tears. Those are terms often used to describe what it takes out of a person when they're giving birth to a creation that means the world to them. If Pride High causes Tommy to lose a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, then I say thanks for giving of himself to provide the world with the story that is Pride High. Consistently, every issue keeps getting better and better as the story unfolds and reveals the next thrilling curve in this fun and exciting roller coaster ride. I'm going to try and avoid spoilers for most of Pride High - what happens here and what has happened before - because I want people to go out and buy the issues. But, I'll try and give you a basic understanding of the story. Pride High is the story of teen students at Poseidon Preparatory Academy for Heroic Youth, or Poseidon Prep for short. Every year, the student body is invited to form five-member squads to participate in the Inter-Squad Championships (I.S.C.), sort  [Continue reading...]

"There are two certainties in life--death and taxes." --Benjamin Franklin (Really!) Outgoing rebate checks have put taxes on the forefront of American thought, but taxes have, of course, been with us from our nation's very beginning. In fact, unfair tithing is a very real part of our nation's genesis--our "secret origin" for the guy living in his mother's basement. Tacit with taxation is this elemental, elementary covenant betwixt payer and payee: the citizen exchanges his scrilla for governmental security. In a real way, Franklin's second certainty is a means of staving off the first. Throughout the American experiment, the twin certainties of death and taxes have remained constant, indeed...but for red, white, and blue members of the lavender tribe, a third certainty has remained doggedly, regrettably constant, as well. Super-hero comics have had their share of constants, too: corporate greed, structural incompetence, and slave wages for the talent come immediately to mind.  [Continue reading...]

I must admit I had last read Jane's World when I picked up some of the comic books at a San Diego Comic Convention a few years back, and then misplaced them in one of several comics boxes in storage. Jane's World may have been on the web, but I only recently got off dial-up, opening up a wide, wide world of creative ways to happily waste my time. What a surprise to see how fully-realized this series has become, and what great work Paige Braddock has put into it. When I first saw a copy of the new collection, Jane's World Volume 8, I fell right into the storyline, even though it had obviously been under development for years. And, if anyone feels lost, a quick trip to janecomics.com will give background, character sketches of the cast, access to the earliest strips, the opportunity to purchase the previous collections and a link to the almost-daily strip which now runs on Comics.com, along with Dilbert, Nancy, Get Fuzzy and other favorites.  [Continue reading...]

In my continuing examination of the problems with Gotham City, we reach the final and most fatal of Gotham’s flaws: its chief crime fighter is virtually indistinguishable from Liberace. I know that at first blush the comparison seems tenuous, but let me explain. As you doubtlessly recall from my last review of this same comic, in order to capture the wily Copperhead, Batman enlisted the aid of Wonder Woman and Batgirl, having them pretend to be wildly in love with him, so it would seem as if Batman was too busy dealing with their lovesick antics to pursue the sneaky criminal. This plan would totally work ... if they lived on the set of Three’s Company, which is to say that it would never work, but it does help to illuminate the many clues that let us know that Batman and Liberace were separated at birth. As with Liberace (or “Lee” to his friends), Batman’s homosexuality was an open secret. The magazines of Liberace’s day were frequently atwitter with suggestive  [Continue reading...]

Years ago when mercenary Marc Spector was brought back to life by a vengeful Egyptian god, and a superhero named Moon Knight was born. Since his inaugural appearance (Werewolf By Night #32, August 1975), the crescent-carrying caped crusader has fought valiantly for justice. Though never the sanest of superheroes, Moon Knight was pushed over the edge by writer Charlie Huston and artist David Finch in the opening arc of Marvel's All-White-Batman's newest publication. In a violent arc entitled “The Bottom,” Spector is broken and battle-scarred from his last battle with his arch-enemy, Bushman. Spector has literally and figuratively hit rock bottom. Told mostly in flashback, Spector laments his recent decisions, but then at the end of the first issue, the action moves to the present to reveal the former superhero’s legs have been crushed by his opponent. The second issue begins with Spector crawling to the statue of Khonshu and begging to be reinstated as the god’s  [Continue reading...]