Saturday, January 24, 2015

Bustin' Down The Doors, And Breaking The Source Wall!

... Miss me much?  So, an interesting story about my extended absence... I really don't have one.  Last weekend was a case of my simply being generally exhausted, which is funny since it is the last full holiday weekend I have for my current contracted job.  The weekend before that was a case of both mental AND physical exhaustion, after spending THREE STRAIGHT DAYS of cleaning up the aftermath of a rather hectic Michigan winter storm front.  (It wasn't a three day blizzard, or any crisis to that degree, but just when you think the area on the street where you park is FINALLY cleaned of the rapidly thawing road slop, the Grand Rapids road commission figures out a way to pile yet MORE near your curb.  Geez...)  But my sincere apologies for making you all wait this long for my latest blog entry.  Come hell, or high water... or the next MAJOR EVENT REBOOT... I'll attempt to make more of an effort to be more "weekend ready" for content. 

Now, is there anything really new and exciting for me, in terms of comic book content?  I have recently finished reading the Dan Abnett "Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Racoon and Groot" prose novel, and it comes HIGHLY recommended to anyone that's a fan of Abnett's previous work with the "Guardians", or even just people who are familiar with what they enjoyed from the major motion picture.  It was a fun ride, riddled with TONS of Marvel Cosmic continuity for us hardcore "geeks".  I've also started receiving notifications about the upcoming C2E2 convention in Chicago, which makes for a great excuse for my girlfriend and I to make the trip out to the Chi-Town area to visit with friends of ours, and for myself to luxuriate in comic book BLISS.  There's still a few things I wish to check out in the near future, such as I BELIEVE the recently... or so-to-be... released "Justice League: Throne of Atlantis".  (My opinions on that film may prove to be EXTREMELY volatile, as they were for "Justice League: War", but I can't give an opinion until I witness it for my own, correct?)  We had a casting for the upcoming CBS "Supergirl" series, "Batman V. Superman" was extended to TWO feature films, so on and so forth.  Just because I don't actively spend a weekend writing about comics does NOT mean the world of comics-based news stops.  Say... Didn't you readers show up here for my writings, in the first place?  Heck, I haven't even gotten to thanking EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU for putting my page views over the 6,000 mark!  I imagined I would have reached that point when my grandkids would be asking me why I'm reading these "funny paper piles with colored illustrations".  So, let's get back into the ball game!
In my "Super Powers" trilogy mini-series, I may have espoused a fondness for a certain villainous icon.  Who would have ever suspected a book like "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134" would give birth to not ONLY the period of time where Jack Kirby entered the world of DC Comics after achieving fame and creative highs at Marvel, but also to a character that DC has grown to save for some of their "major events"... and the first six issues of the "meh" New 52 "Justice League" book, Darkseid.  The thing is, today's entry is NOT about Darkseid, himself!  Father of Orion, lord of Apokolips, and seeker of the Anti-Life Equation is sort of a "gimme" subject, and thereby too easy to fall back on for subject material.  What I've often thought about is how Darkseid's "extended family", though, resembles a bit of a WACKY sitcom situation!  I mean, his lackies are menacing, and contain many varied powers and abilities to make even a Superman take pause, but you cannot deny that Darkseid HAS to have some sort of cosmic sense of humor to surround himself with some of the "crazy characters" that I'll shine a bit of a light on for today's entry!  And we can't get much better of a starting point than a character that's also a "chip off the old block"...
KALIBAK- "New Gods #1" showed us that hairy, squat men had room for comic book superstardom, as well!  Kalibak, Darkseid's OTHER offspring, was a major heavy for Seid's power plays.  Physically intimidating, occasionally possessing the Beta-Club, which can inflict nerve pain in any living being, and can pummel the LIVING TAR out of Earth-based cops like Dan Turpin, Kalibak loves a good rumble.  He's also AMAZINGLY fashionable for a Cro-Magnon-esque being, either being draped in the best emerald clothing in the universe, sporting fall-based browns for his major animated series debut, and being transformed into a tiger-man for "Final Crisis"!  I picture Kalibak to be the mischievous, but still adorable, child actor of the Darkseid sitcom.
DESAAD- I've also mentioned, in the past, of my general lack-of-enthusiasm for the Forever People, but in "Forever People #2", we first met Darkseid's sometimes buddy, sometimes pain in the butt... and in my eyes, the Balki to Darkseid's "Corsin Larry", Desaad.  His main super-power is the fact that he's extremely intelligent and crafty, but oh... how he LOVES the pain of others, almost to the point where he often derails Darkseid's plans in order to luxuriate in the misery of others! 
DOCTOR BEDLAM- No... This master of android animates did NOT just decide upon that name, because "Doctor Doom" was already taken.  "Mister Miracle #2" introduced us to another scientific contributor to Darkseid's cause, the energy-being known as Doctor Bedlam, who's main power involves instant transfer among his animate constructs.  Because of this lack of reliance on a physical form, Doctor Bedlam is essentially "invincible", but it DOES take time for the body transfers to fully integrate.  I imagine he'd end up being one of Darkseid's wacky neighbors that would show up less frequently than his kid or his wicked roommate, but he wouldn't show up for just one episode per season!
GLORIOUS GODFREY- Can you believe ANOTHER issue of Forever People, namely #3, gifted us with ANOTHER cast member of Darkseid's wacky crew?  Geez, this was CERTAINLY a case where the villains were outshining the featured heroes of the title!  Glorious Godfrey's main ability is possessing a tongue more honeyed and persuasive than a politician, able to manipulate the thoughts and feelings of average men.  He also possesses helmet technologies that help create his personal army of Justifiers.  He was even a major force behind the first post "First Crisis" event, "Legends", turning the Earth against heroes, and even partly tweaking the ear of President Ronnie Reagan!  (He even took a page from Kalibak, and turned into Don King for "Final Crisis"!  ONLY IN AMERICA!!!)  I imagine he'd be another semi-regular guest star, persuading someone into some CRRRRAZY scheme!
GRANNY GOODNESS- You just KNOW our beloved Granny would be a series regular, acting as the Ms. Garrett to Darkseid's collection of friends and buddies!  GODS!  GODS!  GOOOODS!!!  "Mister Miracle #2" introduced the world to Darkseid's go-to for education for his elite soldiers and his Female Furies strike squad.  And if it weren't for the time, love, and tenderness that Granny gives to these mere "lowlies", Darkseid would be sorely lacking in foot soldiers to throw at the DC Superheroes!  Plus, we wouldn't have the awesome Ed Asner donating his voice to an OBVIOUSLY FEMALE comic character for animated features!  I wouldn't want to live in a world without that, would you?!?
KANTO- Don't tell him, but even though he debuted in "Mister Miracle #7", I sometimes keep forgetting Kanto even really EXISTS as a member of Darkseid's posse!  Heck, I believe the first time I even SAW the character was in an issue of "Adventures of Superman" for a crossover that dealt with Superman investigating his own death, and that travel taking Kal-El to Apokolips, where he met with this Ren Faire frequenter.  His main "claim to fame" was being Darkseid's "master assassin", but considering I have probably seen him show up as many times as one hand can count, he must not have been heavily relied upon.  Maybe he was showing up at aforementioned festivals, macking on the "fair maidens", and purchasing fried turkey legs.  Maybe an every-other-season guest star, for when the cast needs to make a special event trip to a new locale!  "Darkseid Does Denmark"!
MANTIS- Whether you love his more costumed appearance, or his Terminator-bug appearance, Mantis was yet ANOTHER product of those dirty space Hippies, the Forever People, in issue #2.  Unusual that he's ANOTHER character that hasn't been terribly prolific, akin to Kanto, but the MAJOR difference is that I still find Mantis to be much more memorable.  Master of the "Bug" army of New Genesis, after a plot to gain their control, and possessing the power of "energy vampirism", Mantis certainly makes for a fun sparring partner for any super powered being!  (Or maybe he's that one character that works at the same office Darkseid does, just to be "that jerk guy".  Hey, they serve as "energy vampires" for sitcom characters AND in real life!)
VIRMAN VUNDABAR- "Mister Miracle #5" just continues on with the hit parade of granting us memorable characters for Darkseid to play with!  Heck, his name even BESPEAKS how awesome he is, with a slight mistranslation of the German word, "Wunderbar", which is of COURSE rather "wonderful"!  In a way, his sitcom role would be as a "bosom buddy" to Granny Goodness, since they are rather close associates.  It's not often showcased in a majority of Darkseid's appearances, because the 'Seid prefers to take direct command, but Virman's main role in this kooky cast of characters is to serve as a military strategy figurehead.  Which is ironic... in the Alanis Morissette way... since his short stature places him WELL BELOW most people's head levels!  I made a funny!
SIMYAN AND MOKKARI- We end today's entry with the C3PO and R2D2 of Darkseid's universe... or so they are in my head... Simyan and Mokkari, who to tie up the whole package, first showed up in "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #135"!  Guess which one is which?  G'wan!  Think about what character most resembles a simian!  If you figured that out, you also know which one is the "goldenrod" of this mad scientist duo.  They are best known as the primary movers and shakers for Darkseid's covert Earth-based plans, often starting underground labs for weapon and lifeform developments in the war against light, life, and liberty.  But darned if they fellas don't STILL put a smile on my face, just because of their "Odd Couple" nature!







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