Why Is This Blog Called Key Issue Comics?

If you've been reading this blog you may be wondering, "Why the hell is it called 'Key Issue Comics?'  The only thing here is a bunch of comic reviews and links to comic related stuff."  Well, I started this blog so that I could put together lists of key issues of various comic book titles.  That was and still is my intention.  I got back into collecting comics after an absence of nearly 13 years.  Triggered primarily by a couple of articles I read about the new Wonder Woman costume and the new X-Men title.  Probably more important is that I can actually afford it now.

I enjoy reading comics and I also hope that someday someone will pay outrageous amounts of money for the ones I've collected.  So I'm always on the lookout for "REALLY good deals" on collectible books.  Like the New Mutants #98 that I found for about 80 cents.  I haven't had it graded yet but my guess is that it's probably VF/NM 9.0.  That's what I mean by really good deals.  If that book had been 40 bucks or more I probably would have passed on it.  Thanks to many generations of my family, I'm what you might call a tightwad.

Possible Wonder Woman Solo Movie?

According to Variety, Gal Gadot who will be playing Wonder Woman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel signed on with Warner Brothers for three movies.  So the speculation is that in addition to the sequel and Justice League, the third must be a solo Wonder Woman film.  Hopefully that's true, though I fear it may be a just in case for a Justice League 2 if the first one is successful.  They should make a solo movie and if anyone knows someone at Warner Brothers please direct them to my post from three years ago about how to make a Wonder Woman movie.  I didn't jump into the fray earlier about whether Gal Gadot is the right actress for Wonder Woman but I will now.  Gadot is beautiful obviously, but will she be able to play Diana.  Based on her remarks about the role to an Israeli TV show, I'm pretty confident that she's got the right attitude.  The pic accompanying this post is Gadot next to the cover for Wonder Woman Vol 2 #128 by one of the best to ever do Wonder Woman covers, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.  Judge for yourself.

Key Issues - Wonder Woman Volume 2

Wonder Woman #152, Adam Hughes

I didn't start reading comic books until around 1989 or 1990.  Before that my exposure to superheroes was through cartoons like Super Friends and live action TV shows like The Incredible Hulk and Wonder Woman.  While they could be dismissed as just TV shows, I think they were pretty important to my childhood development.  In fact, outside of the 18 plus years I spent in Sunday school at church, I'm guessing that shows like Super Friends and G.I. Joe contributed quite a bit to my moral and ethical code.  I also think that Wonder Woman starring Lynda Carter probably also played a part in my image of the ideal woman.  I don't believe it's a coincidence that I married a woman who is just as smart, sexy, strong, and independent as Wonder Woman.  Anyway, here's the list of key issues I came up with for Wonder Woman Volume 2.  The first volume I've tackled with over 200 issues.  I've undoubtedly missed something so please let me know and I'll remedy it.  For all things Wonder Woman, you can check out these two great sites, Wonder Woman Network  and Amazon Archives.  Click the jump for the key issues.

DC/WB, Why Not Make a Wonder Woman Movie?

I just finished watching Wonder Woman, the DCU animated movie.  I'm kind of upset that it has taken me this long to watch it.  I'm more disappointed that DC and Warner Brothers have decided to push Wonder Woman to TV instead of a live action film.  You can read my earlier comments about the TV show here.  I've read that no one can come up with a good script for it, but this animated version throws that argument out the window.  Sure, some things would have to be changed.  Amazons, undead Amazons, and Ares' army all fighting on the National Mall might be more than a non-comic audience can handle.

One Quick Review, One Not So Quick Review

Wonder Woman #607

Cover, Don Kramer

Let me start by saying thank you to Phil Hester.  Since he took over last issue I finally feel like I'm reading a Wonder Woman comic again.  I really like the contrast between this issue and the last.  In #606 we see Diana in a situation where it was kill or be killed and in #607 we get to see her merciful side.   I also really enjoyed the new imaginings of the old villains who are to say the least, ruthless.  My only complaint and I'm sure this was plotted well in advance of Hester taking the reigns is the length of the story arc.  Ten issues is way too long in my opinion even for an origin/evolution to superhero story.






Twilight Guardian #2

Cover, John Tyler Christopher

I didn't review TG #1 because I considered it a set up issue that would introduce or reintroduce people to the Twilight Guardian.  If you're not familiar, TG is a Real Life Superhero (RLSH) with some OCD and possibly other mental issues who patrols a nine block radius around her home every night.  During the first issue we see her reading old comics to prep for her patrol, and then walking around her neighborhood throughout the night.  She notes potential dangers like possible faulty wiring that are laughable because of how seriously she takes them.  However there are hints of other dangers: a villain named Dusk Devil, her missing boyfriend, and her father's mysterious past.  All in all it was a good setup issue.  Some people I talked to mentioned that it was rather wordy, though I thought it was a nice touch that emphasized her OCD.

Wonder Woman Picked Up by NBC ( It Will Probably Suck )

After a busy weekend I finally got back to some comic related news and ran across this article about NBC picking up David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman pilot.  At first glance, this news sounds great.  I like Wonder Woman.  David E. Kelley has created some great shows (Boston Legal, Picket Fences) and written some fantastic movies (Lake Placid and Mystery, Alaska).  The new head of programming at NBC is the guy who brought Dexter and Weeds to Showtime.  It seems everything has fallen into place.

However, believe me when I tell you this show will suck.  Last year, Megan Fox called Wonder Woman "lame."  Apparently, Lynda Carter was not too happy about the comment.  As it turns out Megan Fox is right, but for the wrong reason.  She said something about the invisible jet and how Wonder Woman's not invisible in the jet.  This comment makes me think her knowledge of WW is from the Super Friends cartoon.