Lethally Blonde Productions (186)
I got 199 problems and the Savage Dragon ain't one of them. Savage Dragon, by Image Comics co-founder Erik Larsen, has reason to celebrate. In a current market that is plagued by low-run numbers, frequent creator changes, and endless relaunches and reboots, Savage Dragon is on the precipice of its 200th issue - all by the same creator.
"A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of both women and men."
-Gloria Steinem
And, really, is there anyone more qualified to define "feminism" than Gloria Steinem? After all, she was (and is) the poster person for feminism in modern HERstory. By that definition, I would give a resounding "Hell yeah!" to the question of whether Wonder Woman is a feminist or not.
When I was little, I was first introduced to Wonder Woman via the television series starring Lynda Carter. I was head-over-heels in love, a crush that holds strong to this day. While Wonder Woman clearly has appeal on her own, Carter is largely credited for immortalizing the live version of everyone's favorite Amazon Princess. Naturally, I was thrilled to learn DC Comics had announced the launch of another Digital First series with Wonder Woman as the star, the first being the well-received, non-continuity-based Sensation series. This time, DC has followed its successful Batman '66 formula based on the popular, campy television series from the '60s starring Adam West, with Wonder Woman '77 based on the campy television series from the '70s using the likeness of Lynda Carter.
"Yowza! Yowza! Yowza! Step right up . . . to the greatest show on Earth! We got dancing, legless girls! We got creepy lobster boys! We got a woman with three--- what?!?"
We wait for it every Halloween, the return of Ryan Murphy's juicy drama/thriller/spooky chiller anthology series on FX, American Horror Story. This season's subtitle, Freakshow, pretty much sums up the premise.
A funny thing recently happened in the pop culture world in a rare moment of synergy (OMG! I dropped a Jem reference already, and we just got started!), when the world of comic books and Hip-Hop controversy collided. Marvel Comics released its arguably super sexed-up variant cover image for the forthcoming Spider-Woman series by renowned erotica artist Milo Minara at precisely the same moment Nicki Minaj dropped her new single, "Anaconda." The song is an ode to big butts and I cannot lie . . . and borrows heavily from the 1992 Sir Mixalot hit, "Baby Got Back," another tribute to titanic tushes. The artwork features Nicki in what could very well be reminiscent of a typical Spider-Woman pose with her barely covered, albeit surgically enhanced derrière front, center, and in your face.
Batman and Superman have both enjoyed success with digital 1st series by high-profile creative teams in Batman '66 and Superman Adventures. It was only a matter of time before the 3rd member of DC's triumvirate, Wonder Woman, joined the party with the August release of
her own digital 1st series, Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman. The title is an obvious nod to Sensation Comics, the title that launched Wonder Woman in 1942.
In 1992 Marvel Comics released its line of comics based on their properties set in the year 2099. This project featured series based on Dr. Doom amongst others, but the clear standout was Spider-Man 2099 by Peter David and Rick Leonardi. The book focused on genetic engineer genius Miguel O'Hara who wound up being the Spider-Man of the year 2099. The character was quite likeable, and the creative team of David and Leonardi didn't hurt things either. While the character was enjoyable and the book sustained a healthy run, it eventually went the way of most alternate reality offshoots and disappeared into obscurity while remaining a popular addition to the Spider-Man mythos.
MINOR SPOILERS BELOW
"I've been looking for an original sin
One with a twist and a bit of a spin
And, since I've done all the old ones
‘Till they've all been done in
No, I'm just looking
And, I'm gone with the wind
Endlessly searching for an Original Sin"
So sang Taylor Dayne in the theme to the ill-fated 1994 film adaption of The Shadow starring Alec Baldwin. The movie may have been a flop, but the song still rests comfortably in my iPod.
He's so "Lucky;" he's a star! I can't remember the first time I became aware of my cosplaying friend, Chris Riley. I think at some event here in L.A. It's a little presumptuous to say "friend," as I don't think we've actually met, but he is a kindred spirit nonetheless. With cosplaying at the height of popularity with shows like Heroes of Cosplay and Hollywood mega hits making every Tom, Dick, and Harry want to don a cowl, I thought it would be fun to check in with Chris Riley (a.k.a. Captain Lucky), and the following interview transpired.
I have always had a fondness for Iron Fist, as he was one of my brother's favorite superheroes when we were growing up. I was somewhat excited when Marvel Comics announced that an Iron Fist monthly would be part of their new Marvel NOW! revamp or relaunch or whatever you want to call it, but not nearly as excited as I was that one of my favorite artists, Kaare Andrews, would be both writing and handling the art chores on the new series. I have been a fan of Kaare's work since Ultimate X-Men and enjoyed his runs on Astonishing X-Men, Spider-Man: Reign, and anything else he has put his artistic stamp on, like the iconic covers he did for The Incredible Hulk and Amazing Spider-Man. Clearly, Kaare has a great love of comics; he took a brief hiatus to direct the film Cabin Fever: Patient Zero and returned to comics afterward (Praise Baby Jesus!), and it shows in the amazing storytelling in his first issue of Iron Fist: Living Weapon.
Kaare was kind enough to participate in the following interview.
