Showing posts with label Dominik Zine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dominik Zine. Show all posts

Vambrace Yourselves: The Great Wonder Woman Roundtable


Despite being one of the three most important characters in the DC universe, it's taken Wonder Woman an inordinate amount of time to get a movie adaptation worthy of her. Until now, the only adaptations of the Amazon Princess's adventures were the Lynda Carter-starring 1970s TV show and the 2009 animated movie.  Otherwise, the character was generally either part of an ensemble or worse, given a side role. It felt like Wonder Woman will never get the chance to shine her fellow Trinity members Batman and Superman got. Even the announcement that WB is making one that'll be a part of their cinematic universe didn't inspire confidence, especially due to the controversial nature of the DCEU, influenced by the general depressing tone and quality of already released films.

But all our fears turned out to be unfounded, as Patty Jenkins's Wonder Woman turned out as well as it did, gaining outstanding critical acclaim and love from fans both old and new —  breaking box office records all over the world. After this undeniable success, the future of female-led superhero movies is looking brighter than ever.

Naturally, we here at Critical Writ have our own thoughts about Wonder Woman. We've already released our review of the movie, written by our own Elessar and now it's time for our other members to discuss how the film affected them.

Warning:  We do discuss spoilers below!  


Let's begin by sharing our personal history with the character. Are you a new-fangled fan, or were you already very familiar with Wonder Woman?

Tova: I’m very new to Wonder Woman. I borrowed the Sensation Comics anthology with Wonder Women stories from the library just before the movie premiered and had read some of that, and I read the first volume of DC Bombshells, but that’s the only experience I have with the character outside of hearing and reading about her. I’ve also frequently used the GIF of Lynda Carter smashing the patriarchy, of course.

Adrian: I’m very familiar with the comics and animated stories! I’m a fan of Greg Rucka’s various runs, Gail Simone is my hero, but the Justice League cartoon stands out as having the most on-point Wonder Woman. Susan Eisenberg’s voice work epitomizes Diana much like Kevin Conroy is the definitive voice of Batman. I love Diana so much that once aspiring to write a Wonder Woman screenplay served as a catalyst for growing my creative writing skills.

Rosario: I am very familiar with the character, insofar as “half-remembered fragments of Lynda Carter’s show” and being a long-time fan of the DCAU. Even now, getting comics in my country is a tall order, so I never got into them. But Diana was always one of my favorite heroes. My love of all things mythological just cemented my love for her.

Megan:  I’ve been reading Wonder Woman now for almost ten years; it was Gail Simone’s The Circle that really made me a fan.  I wanted to get into her earlier, but I always thought her costume (the one with the star spangled panties) was utterly ridiculous.  Terry Dodson drew her to make her look so powerful, so it was when I saw the cover for The Circle that I felt I could really get over that.  Ever since, I felt like DC had the greatest superhero ever on their hands that they just weren’t promoting well.  If you’re a longtime Wonder Woman fan, it’s the same as being a long suffering Wonder Woman fan.

Ivonne: I’m pretty new to Wondie. I mean I know Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, and that’s about it. I never read the comic books before last year, and I’ve only read a smidgen of stuff since. Mostly, everything I know about Wondie I know from the DC animated movies/series, and word of mouth.



What are your overall feelings on the movie?

Adrian: Relief. It’s been a rough five years or so for DC fans. The comics went through a contentious period with the New 52 and the DCCU has been struggling to find its footing. It had grown hard to imagine that DC fans would ever “get to have nice things.” Patty Jenkins delivered a fun, tonally-accurate, and explosive adventure. I feel, for once, hope for the DCCU.

Tova: I’ll answer this question in a very literal way: Many and intense! There’s a lot of joy simply in seeing a badass heroine at the centre of a story, but when empathy is one of the central characteristics of that heroine, that joy turns much stronger and bigger. Perhaps the sadness in the movie was also heightened as a result, because I felt that more intensely than usual with epic adventure movies as well. And a strange kind of protective love for mankind that most of the type of humans and human actions we see in this story really shouldn’t inspire but which Wonder Woman is full of. It was definitely an inspiring movie. I’m aware I’ve likely ignored many issues with the plot because of all these emotions and the awe it made me feel, but that seems like minor details when a movie gives you this kind of experience.

Rosario: I agree with Tova, I am probably being more forgiving of the film due to the sheer excitement of seeing Diana in the big screen. Do understand, that for me has been a really, really long time. The other DC animated film about her I keep hearing about? I don’t even think it’s dubbed, there are no DVDs of it being sold here, it hasn’t been aired so far as I know… It has been a really, really long time. The hype has been so real here, with people going multiple times to the cinema for Wonder Woman. This is not something we do here. When I sat in the cinema and saw Themyscira for the first time it felt—wow.

Megan:  Like Adrian, relief.  You’ve come a long way, Diana.  I’m so happy that not only did she get her first big budget film, and not only is it a critical darling and box office success—it is a movie that is in love with Wonder Woman and everything she represents.  Despite the changes from the comic, the movie gets to the heart of what makes her so damn lovable.  I feel vindicated, and I am so happy that millions of people now have a chance to love her too!

Ivonne: Relieved that it didn’t suck! This was the one movie DC needed to get right, and they did, apparently more by accident and lack of care, than by design (they gave Jenkins pretty free reign, and seemed quite surprised by the success of the film). I’m a Marvel fangurl first and foremost, but I needed WW to do well, for the express reason of kicking Marvel in the ass so they start acknowledging their female fans… and so that they don’t screw up Captain Marvel. As for Wonder Woman itself, I loved it. It was inspiring, visually beautiful, and one of the only movies I’ve seen come out of Hollywood that wasn’t male-gazey. It was, in a word, wonderful.


How did you find the plot? What do you think about the the movie's version of Diana's origin?

Adrian: I feel great affection for the clay baby origin, but the New 52 ret-con establishing Diana as Zeus’ daughter opened up a whole new, exciting wing of her family tree that was previously non-existent. So much potential here! And yet, it seems they scuttled all those possibilities in the few minutes of Wonder Woman, establishing that the entire pantheon of gods were eliminated in Zeus and Ares’ great conflict. The plot perfectly serves Diana’s character growth and while I’m thankful for that, I mourn what could have been, and hope for a return of the gods in sequel.

Rosario: I am extremely ignorant of the comics. I know the broad strokes, and with all the controversy the New-52 retcon drudged up it was all but impossible for me to ignore, so… This is the first time for me encountering Diana’s origin, so I am… blasé, maybe? It’s a good story as any. It is suitably mythological for me because of the incestuous undertones: The Amazons were created by Zeus, so kind of like his daughters, then Zeus and Hippolyta had a clay baby. To me it was more important how the film emphasized how it was the Amazonian society that gave Diana her morals, and how it was Antiope’s and Hippolyta's love what shaped her into the woman who became a heroine.

Tova: I really liked the idea that Diana doesn't have a father, even in the biological sense, but only a mother. Her entire history and heritage being female is just so appealing to me, especially considering no one ever suggests there's something missing there — her family and childhood is whole and full. Like Rosario says, the film still emphasizes the women around Diana, and it's clear they're the ones who shaped her. But you don't go "By the way, you were told a lie about your origin and Zeus is actually your father" and then not examine what that means for the character. I'm not looking forward to that examination (sorry!).

Megan:  The plot, overall, is fairly in line with what we’ve seen before in the comics.  Unfortunately, the goddesses involved in her creation are gone, boo.  But it’s not the New 52 origin, which I was dreading.  The clay baby origin is always my favourite, and while there was a quick line that suggested that wasn’t true, that person wasn’t under the sway of the lasso yet, I don’t think, and so I’m choosing to ignore it.  I just wish there was a cinematic of the clay baby coming to life and the Amazons crowding around the one child they ever had, or that they included that they were reincarnated from abused women.

Ivonne: I’m not a fan of all the goddesses having been killed, but I don’t mind Diana having a father. Although, not going to lie, when it was revealed that he had sired Diana on Hippolyta, my immediate thought was to wonder what animal he turned her into to rape her, since Zeus is kind of known for that. I know, pretty awful, but there you have it. Zeus was very… clean in this version of Greek mythology. But I guess he’s dead, so whatever. I’m fine with not having him present in her life.


How did you feel Gal Gadot fared in the role?

Tova: Great! She has such an expressive face, and I love how you get to see the outside world reflected through her eyes when you watch her watch it. Like when Diana first encounters soldiers wounded in the war, or the people in the French village they reach after going through No Man’s Land. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve grown somewhat immune to similar scenes showing war after so many movies have used them, and they don’t pack the same emotional punch anymore. But thanks to Gadot’s acting (and probably the writing and directing as well) these scenes do work, and it makes the whole story more engaging, as it gives us great insight into Diana’s motivations in her quest to end the war. Then she puts on her warrior face, and the determination behind Gadot’s eyes is just as convincing as the compassion.

Adrian: I’ve been a fan of Gal since her work in the Fast & Furious franchise. Gisele and Han OTP! I think she did a good job in accurately expressing Diana’s warmth, determination, conviction, and purity of heart. I don’t feel like Gal’s talent as an actress has grown much past her days in Fast, but I think I’m in the minority on that assessment: after all, she did make millions of people cry!

Rosario: She pulls off the naïvety so well. I don’t remember much of her prior work, thus, I cannot comment on that, but when she runs up, excited at seeing a baby, when she was eating the ice cream and thanked profusely the vendor… Gadot was amazing. The way Diana marveled at her own power was also very good acting. She was occasionally weak when she had to be more serious, but maybe that could be interpreted as Diana being somewhat confused at the stupid morality of Man’s World, so I don’t give much weight to it.

Megan:  Fantastic.  There were a few lines I thought were clunky, particularly the narration at the beginning and at the end, but it could have just been how it was written.  Those were my only gripes, and I quickly forgot it once the film got going.  When she was cast I was disappointed that they didn’t go with an actress who was more muscular; yes, I was one of those people!  And I will admit I was wrong.  Gadot looked powerful and strong.  I totally believed she could lift a tank like it was nothing.

Ivonne: Back when Gadot was introduced, I wasn’t sure I liked her. And on a political level, I don’t, because her politics regarding Palestine is typically Israeli. That said, and setting dubious politics aside, I thought Gadot was fabulous in this role. She really owned it, she seemed to revel in it, she looked gorgeous and powerful. She was so expressive in her wonder when Diana is first running around London, and yet she never comes off as naive or stupid. Gadot ended up being perfect for the role despite my initial misgivings.


What are your thoughts on the film's supporting cast - the characters adapted from comics (Steve, Etta) and the original ones (Sameer, Charlie and Chief)?

Adrian: Etta was exceptional; we need more of her. In the past, Steve has pointedly been Diana’s damsel in distress, but in the film they succeeded in making him more than a mere love interest, but a friend and an inspiration. Diana deserves no less. I really enjoyed the original characters, but much like Etta, I’m saddened that we can’t expect to see more of them.

Rosario: Steve was so charming, I truly hurt for Diana when That Scene happened. Because of how much the trailers featured Etta, I was disappointed that we didn’t get more of her in the film, so I hope there is a director’s cut or extra scenes or something when we can appreciate more of her, as well as have more of the trio. Overall, I thought the supporting cast was great, especially their interactions with Diana. My favorite was Chief, mainly due to the potential of his character. In a universe where the gods existed, could it be really that he is a demigod? I sure hope so! I hope he appears in more films! Also, I liked how the Soldier Trio represented something about war. Sameer is the person with no other hope than to join the war, Charlie is the soldier who struggles to try to make something of himself in a war he doesn't know what it stands for anymore and that has damaged him, and Chief is the one so hurt by conflict that he is just numb to further conflict. That’s what they are until Diana comes along.

Megan:  I love Etta!  More of her please!  If her sequel is modern day, can she have been reincarnated?  Same actress in the role of Smetta Smandy? Steve was great.  The animated movie kind of poisoned his character for me (he’s a chauvinist pig in that one), and Chris Pine is kind of a similar character in the first Star Trek film so I was anticipating something similar.  But Pine did a fantastic job and I really loved him in the end.  Sameer, Charlier and Chief were great; I really love that the film didn’t shy away from the fact that this was a war of colonial powers that brought men of colour from around the world to fight in a war they had no real stake in.  I also hope the theory that Chief is a demigod himself is true, I’d love to see him in the sequel.

Ivonne: Chris Pine was another surprise for me (along with Gadot). I thought he did a fabulous Steve Trevor. He was never over-bearing, despite probably thinking Diana was a little bit crazy, and ultimately he proved himself to be respectful of her and her power. I was pleased at how well Chris Pine, a leading man normally, seemed to naturally take to the role of supporting actor to Gadot. As for the Howling Commandos Lite, they were pretty good. If I have any complaints, is that we maybe didn’t get enough of them. They grounded Diana, humanized the faces of this terrible war, and they did it well.

Tova: I don’t think there’s much to add here! I always like a good ragtag team of misfits, and then one here did not disappoint. Like the others have said, I would have liked to see more of them, and more of Etta Candy, so I’m a little sad the sequel will take place in the present.
I’ll also miss Steve, who really was a pleasant surprise.


What are your thoughts on how the movie handled its human and supernatural villains?

Adrian: Dr. Poison was very intriguing, another character who I desperately want to know and see more of. Ludendorff and Ares were a bit two-dimensional, but I felt like Dr. Poison could carry a whole film. Could we get extras and vignettes like they did for the MCU? Ares serving as a violent muse to mankind has some interesting tendrils to explore, but ultimately it seemed to diminish the depth of the human villains.

Rosario: We definitely need to see more of Dr. Poison. Elena Anaya’s interview with The Verge uncovers so much I am thirsty. And I didn’t even know it! That said, while I agree that Ludendorff and Ares need to be explored more, I think I may be one of the only people who disagree with the assessment that the film did not serve itself by having Ludendorff and Ares be stereotypical villains. I actually liked that Ludendorff was like a human version of Ares. It really set up that Man is the best (as reflected by Steve and Etta) and the worst.

Tova: I think it was necessary to have human villains, for the reason Rosario describes, to show personifications of the worst as well as the best of humankind. I do not agree about Dr. Poison. To my, admittedly limited, understanding of the DC world of heroes and villains, one of its biggest issues is that villainy there very often comes from mental illness. It’s so full of mentally unstable villains that an asylum for the “criminally insane” is one of the main locations of DC stories, and a large share of Batman’s enemies have been patients there. Along with that there’s also the more widespread trope where disfigurement or disability (the two often being intermixed in pop culture) either serves as a sign of evil or itself leads to evil.

One of the clearest examples might be Two-Face, who is driven insane and adopts his villainous persona after being severely scarred on one side of the face, and is often portrayed as suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and/or dissociative identity disorder.

With this in mind, to have a villain who is obsessive, sadistic and “a maniac”, and whose “hideous” facial scars are described as proof of her sadistic side (all descriptions from the Anaya interview) seems to me to reinforce all those harmful tropes. I think Dr. Poison is a step up from characters like Two-Face, but then, why use that category of storytelling device at all? There are so many better options out there.

Megan:  The villains just weren’t developed well, but I think that was okay for the story they were trying to tell.  It wasn’t really about who the big bad was, because the real danger is the potential for evil that is in every human.  That said, what I like about Wonder Woman comics is that she really gets to the heart of her villains and often wins them over to her side.  Part of me wishes we saw that with Dr Poison, the last big fight could have been cut down and we could have had some resolution between them.  On the other hand, an unrepentant female villain is so rare, outside the femme fatale trope.  She’s scarred, she’s mean, she’s not sorry, and she’s not not going to fall for a pretty face, Steve.

Ivonne: I really wanted more of Dr. Poison. I felt like there was a great deal of development left at the table with her. But she was convincingly evil, and I was glad she didn’t fall for Steve’s shenanigans at the party. The actress needed more room to shine, because honestly, she was fabulous.

I thought the use of Ludendorff was a strange choice, seeing as he is an actual historical figure from WW1 that survives that war to get somewhat involved with Hitler prior to WW2. Making the choice to kill him was odd, to say the least. They could have called that character anything, made up a name of a fictional general, so why use a real historical figure? Add to that, I guarantee that most American audiences don’t know the name. It’s not that he’s obscure--he’s not--but American history courses are woefully short when it comes to anything before WW2. European audiences probably knew Ludendorff quite well, though, and especially his history.

Ares was… okay. The final battle was all kinds of cool CGI, but it was weird to see Professor Lupin as the god of war. For all that Ares was the boogeyman that Diana chased the entire movie, he wasn’t particularly frightening. That said, I will give kudos to the fact that I never saw it coming that this particular character was Ares. Normally superhero films are fairly predictable, so it was nice to be surprised that way.


What did you think about the movie’s use of the World War I setting, as opposed to WW2, more traditionally connected to Wonder Woman’s origin?

Rosario: I thought it was brilliant, actually. It’s one of the best settings to learn about the murky world we live in, at least for an Amazon warrior. The War is one of the murkiest conflicts ever. The War was arguably started by the Black Hand, an extremist Serbian separatist group, when Gavrilo Princip killed Archduke Ferdinand. It is a prime example of a “your terrorist are our freedom fighters” scenario. The whole thing was magnified by allies dragging each other into war, treaties falling apart all over the place—just look at how the Kingdom of Italy went from the Allied side to the Triple Entente side. It’s really tragic as well how it strips away Diana’s conviction that we are so inherently good. Yet, she chose chose to fight that final battle, anyway. Had I not known from hearsay her comics’ origin is in World War II, I would never have guessed, since The Great War feels so thematically appropriate for Wonder Woman.

Tova: This is where I have to admit I thought the movie took place during WWII all through watching it. Quite embarrassing, but also regrettable for the dimension clearly lost on me because I wasn’t aware of the context! I love Rosario’s analysis here, and in hindsight it truly does enhance the themes of human nature of good and evil and, especially, the grey area in between.

Adrian: There's a lot of thematic symmetry between Diana's first experiences with Man's World and mankind itself coming to grips with the new horrors of modern warfare, so I think the setting world worked beautifully. One of the trailers that ran before Wonder Woman was Dunkirk, the story of a massive rescue operation to save Allied soldiers from the Germans in WWII. A rescued soldier, fearing for his own life, balks at prospect of returning to Dunkirk to save more lives, when the ship’s captain tells him "There's no hiding from this, son. We have a job to do." It's that same call to duty that soldiers faced in WWI, and in a way that had never been experienced before. You won't have trouble finding exceptionally bloody episodes throughout history, but the first World War set a gruesome new standard in suffering, appallingly prodigious in death count; something the world had not previously seen or imagined. Life in the trenches of Verdun was so deadly, so bleak, it's what directly inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's vision of Mordor in Lord of the Rings. Indeed, the never-ending battle of attrition that is “No Man’s Land” set an ideal landscape in which Diana could arise, crossing the chasm that no man could, establishing not just to the audience but to herself, that she can make a difference, even when the task before her is an impossible one.

Megan:  For the story they’re trying to tell, it was a perfect change.  With WWII, you have the Nazis vs the Allies and I think we can all agree that while Allies committed war crimes too, it’s largely accepted that it was a war against evil.  WWI wasn’t about that.  It wasn’t good versus evil, us against Nazis and genocide.  It was empires with stolen lands forcing men to fight over, essentially, nothing.  It wasn’t a war any side can really feel good about.  It was a terrible, pointless  war that should never have happened at all.  I really liked that in the British war council, the general was all for sacrificing soldiers, and on the German council before Ludendorff attacked would not stand for any more lives being lost.  The Germans weren’t any more to blame here than the British.  That and you know, the reveal about Ares, really hit that home.

Ivonne: It was a nice change of pace to have WW1 be the setting, but for all of that, this movie still felt a great deal like Captain America: The First Avenger in the entire latter half. Also, I heard that there were American audiences who were puzzled on which war it was, but honestly, that says more about the public education in this country than anything else. The movie “placed” the setting quite well, between the language Steve used to try to explain it to the Amazons, and the trench warfare. Costumes, props, and things like the planes were gorgeously done to make this period piece work.


What did you like the most about the film? And what you thought was its biggest failing?

Adrian: I have some minor quibblings around Diana’s naiveté (a bit overdone) and the mythology (for instance, they didn’t cover why she wears the bracers or the nature or purpose of their power), but the biggest failing of the film was a lack of representation. Many have rightly said Wonder Woman is inescapably a feminist film, which is why the film is remiss regarding intersectionality. Anyone not hopelessly insulated recognizes the Amazons of Themyscira as queer, yet this is never represented on screen. While the racial diversity could have been worse (I love that Artemis, of an African Amazon splinter-cell Bana-Mighdall, was played by Ann Wolfe!), many Amazons' scenes were cut. With the core cast of Amazons being blonde and white, we’re left with the same old story: white women elevated to the forefront of modern feminist ideals, with women of color unobtrusively shuffled off to the side. While Gal Gadot provides much-needed representation for Jewish women in superhero films, we cannot ignore that “Hollywood perceives her in terms of unspecified whiteness.” Otherwise, I will forever love Wonder Woman for simply getting Diana’s character right. The depiction of Themyscira and the Amazons was otherwise near perfection and the proper tone of the film could serve dividends for the whole future of the DCCU. Wonder Woman is a great movie.

Rosario: I don’t have much to add to this, since I mostly agree with Adrian in failings and strengths. More explanations, more diversity in the Amazons is needed. That said, the combat scenes were well done, the slow-mo was in all the right places.

Tova: If it’s not already clear from the amount of words I used to criticize the character, Dr. Poison is one of my least favourite parts of the film. Anaya plays her splendidly, but I can’t disregard the problematic elements, which are really at the foundation of the character.
One other thing that has kept tugging at my mind since I first thought of it is: Why the hell is there no mention of Wonder Woman returning, or not returning, to Themyscira at the end of the movie? It’s almost like the Amazons are forgotten. That doesn’t fit the tone in the first part of the movie, and certainly not the parting of Diana and her mother. Themyscira is such an important part of Wonder Woman’s story, and I would have liked to see that acknowledged as this first story wraps up.

As for what I liked the most: The feelings! The feminism! The wonder! I suspect everything that has made people love Wonder Woman for decades

Megan:  Not to correct you Tova, but Hippolyta says to Diana as she leaves that she can never come back.  This is a thing in the comics; once she leaves, she may never return.  Of course, in the comics she eventually does, and since Amazons are going to be in Justice League we should get an answer.  I do agree with Adrian about representation, could have been better.  I also really wish Diana was less confused by sexism and more outraged by it.  I suppose that would have clued her into the evils of man sooner, unless she would just conclude the patriarchy is a tool of Ares as well. As for what I liked most….Themyscira!  It was everything I wanted and more.

Ivonne: I loved the way this movie made me feel. I loved seeing a powerful woman who was still feminine and beautiful. I loved that she wasn’t filmed under the male gaze. I loved Themyscira and wanted more of it. More Amazons, more Amazons of color, especially. And as Adrian has already pointed out, the film’s biggest failing was how powerful the white feminism was, but how short it was on representation of anyone else. Yes, we saw black Amazons, and some brown ones too, but they didn’t speak, and one of them was even the Mammy stereotype when Diana was a child. Oooo boy… as a feminist piece, this one has major failings on intersectionality.

I’m not sure if this is a failing or a strength, but I did feel like someone at WB looked around, asked why MoS, BvS, and SS were so critically panned while Marvel has had a dozen hits, and decided “screw it, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Wonder Woman felt, emotionally, like Captain America: The First Avenger to me, and it pretty much even ended the same way. When the movie ended, my husband leaned over and whispered, “Steve will be back in Wonder Woman: The December Soldier!” But seeing as how The First Avenger still remains one of Marvel’s best films, I suppose this isn’t a failure for Wonder Woman. And well, it’s no accident that so many folks, including critics, loved this one, as opposed to the first three DC films.


Finally, let's make a wishlist for the future sequel, which is obviously coming thanks to the movie's reception. What would you like to see in it, aside from the return of Patty Jenkins in the directorial chair? What are your biggest hopes and greatest wishes?

Adrian: More women of color, more Amazons, more gods, more magic! Villains! Cheetah, Circe, and Medusa (see: Wonder Woman: Eyes of the Gorgon by Greg Rucka) would all make great villains for the sequels! Sidekicks! Can we get Wonder Girl Donna Troy and/or Cassie Sandsmark? An Artemis and Antiope buddy warrior movie?! I want all the things! Also, it’s implied the canon that there is a lineage of Amazonian Wonder Women throughout history. Can we get a Hippolyta as an ancient world Wonder Woman prequel? Can we see Nubia, Diana’s twin sister as Wonder Woman? There definitely were Wonder Women before Diana; what else would the suit have been made for?

Tova: More Amazons, which should naturally lead to more WOC and queerness. And it’s not enough to show that other Amazons are queer, I want an unambiguously pan- or bisexual Wonder Woman as well, and I want it treated with the same subversion of the male gaze that much of this movie showed. If I can dream big then bigoted straight men will watch the sequel and feel annoyed and let down, and cool men, women and non-binary folks will leave the theatre feeling empowered. I want a movie that truly deserves the label “cultural Marxist SJW propaganda”. Because we’re worth it.

Megan:  I think as long as China bans any movie with outright LGBT representation, we’re not getting it in a Wonder Woman film.  That would be my greatest wish though. But more Amazons, Nubia, Smetta Smandy, Chief, The Holliday Girls, and Ferdinand please.  Also, WB, email me about my amazing Wonder Woman RPG idea.  The lasso mechanics alone will be worth it.

Ivonne: More Amazons, more women, more women of all colors, goddesses returning, some of Wondie’s classic female villains… and that’s to start! Also, needs more lassoing, and definitely an invisible jet (I’m kidding, that’s stupid). But seriously, I just want more Wonder Woman, and more Patty Jenkins, and LOTS MORE FEMALE DIRECTORS AND STARS. And I want it right now!

Adrian Martinez is a graphic designer, comic book letterer, hobbyist writer, and all-around geek living in New York City.

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.

Ivonne Martin is a writer, gamer, and avid consumer of all things geek—and is probably entirely too verbose for her own good.

Megan “Spooky” Crittenden is a secluded writer who occasionally ventures from her home to give aid to traveling adventurers.

Rosario is an early-twenties, outspoken woman, who likes to burrow between piles of books, and store miscellaneous trivia in her head.

Tova Crossler Ernström is a bisexual Swede, feminist, socialist, INFJ, Hufflepuff, HSP and Taurus. She is fond of personality tests, labels and lists.

Secret Empire, or The Ignominious History of NaziCap


It's Spring, so it's time for Marvel to start another crossover event.

Actually, scratch that. At the rate the publisher's been starting new earth-shattering event series, a more accurate intro would be "it's Wednesday, so another Marvel crossover event is happening." The particular one we'll be focusing on is Secret Empire, the culmination of Nick Spencer's run on Captain America: Steve Rogers, the prologue of which was reviewed by our own Zachary. While it's mostly agreed upon that a creator's script quality drops for event series for whatever reason, Spencer's remained, for the most part, intact. Instead, it seems like he realized he's going to be known forevermore as "the man who turned Captain America into a Nazi," and decided to double down, sacrificing whatever quality of character he had remaining.

Now, some might protest me calling Steve Rogers's Cosmic Cube and Hydra-related mishaps as being turned into a Nazi. They will argue that Hydra is just a regular bad guy army, like Stormtroopers from Star Wars. Sure, the organization was only ever led by people identifying as Nazis, but it's not like they're lifting around their arms, yelling "Heil Hitler." Why, they're not even German, and everyone from movies knows only those people can be Nazis!

See? Completely not Nazi-related
I wholeheartedly disagree. Yes, the organization started out without any connections to Nazism both on a meta level--as Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created it as non-specific cultish evil organization--and in the fictional history of Marvel universe, where it's an ancient organization of evil, predating Nazis. However, as time went on, it became more and more deeply connected to the ideology, borrowing its iconography and rhetoric. As I mentioned above, the only characters ever in charge of Hydra were fanatical Nazis like Red Skull, Baron von Strucker, Baron Zemo and Madame Hydra, while newer members like Crossbones were intended as the group's version of a Neo-Nazi. Hell, for most of Marvel's history no other villain wanted to have anything to do with them; not Doctor Doom, not Kingpin, no one. Flag Smasher cancelled one of his plans after he found out it benefitted Red Skull in some way. And, famously, Magneto tried to kill the skull-faced Nazi. When a supervillain was willing to work with Hydra, like Norman Osborn, it was a clear sign of how un-repentantly evil they were.

And though Marvel is trying is trying to reframe Hydra as a non-descript evil organization, it can only fail. The group has been connected to the Nazi ideology for far too long and far too intrinsically. And it couldn't have picked a worse moment for it too, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows–-which more people are familiar with than comics–-openly equate Hydra with Nazis, to the point that, in order to make Baron Zemo more relatable, they entirely reworked his character, with him openly opposing Hydra. Hell, the currently ongoing Framework story arc on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. uses the organization to explore current US political climate, using it as a metaphor for the growing fascist influences.


Now that we've established that Hydra are Nazis and not, I don't know, alt-right or some other made-up nonsense, it's time to explain why it's disturbing that Marvel made Captain America, of all characters, subscribe to its ideals. While superheroes turning evil is a long, tired and generally unwelcome trope, it's another thing to turn them into Nazis. When it's Steve Rogers that this happens to, it's an exceptionally stupid move.


Captain America Steve Rogers was created by two Jewish creators, Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, to openly oppose the Nazi ideology, at time when it was a controversial creative decision. The United States was maintaining an isolationist policy in regards to war going on in Europe, and there were many groups supporting the Nazi regime and subscribing to its ideology. Sure, there was a two page comic where Superman arrested Hitler and Stalin, written by the character's creators, but it was a fairly tame publication unconnected to its publisher, Detective Comics. Kirby and Simon took a more open, uncompromising stance towards Nazis, something that didn't earn them supporters in the American Nazi community--to the point that they received police protection.

So from the very moment of his inception, Captain America had a staunch anti-Nazi policy, courtesy of his creators. And it goes down to his design; sure,the vast majority of early superheroes were white men, but Steve Rogers look exceptionally like an Aryan wet dream, a tall, muscular, blonde-haired and blue-eyed man. He's someone who, in the eyes of the Nazis, should join them and reap benefits of fulfilling their purity standards, not opposing them. By designing Cap that way, Kirby and Simon showed that you don't have to be part of a discriminated minority--a Jew, a Black person, etc.-–to care for them and fight for their rights. So taking that character and making him a Nazi sends a different message, a message that, consciously or not, it doesn't matter, promotes indifference towards the plight of others, and sees the privileged position of a white straight cis man and his lack of empathy as fact of nature.

And that's before we get even to the plot of the event series and Marvel's promotional efforts surrounding it. The publisher seems bent on convincing everyone that Captain America is still a hero, just forced to do bad things, to the point that it has issued a statement on ABC News. And yet, it's really hard to believe a character's heroic status when they create a totalitarian state, have one of their oldest friends killed and order a whole city of innocent people destroyed as an example. You know who else did that? DC's supervillainess Cheshire, who nuked a country to make a point.

And that's not to mention the pro-Nazi atmosphere surrounding it. The Free Comic Book Day short issue released this weekend ends on an image that made people who had the displeasure to first see it scream: Captain America effortlessly lifting Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. Even ignoring the inherent stupidity of having the item for some reason this twisted version of Steve Rogers is somehow still worthy of lifting it, we have the problem of the comic using–-consciously or not-–imagery famously connected to Neo-Nazis. This group, like their German antecedents, is downright obsessed with vikings and Norse mythology, and the hammer of Thor is a symbol commonly used by them.

*vomit sounds*
But this seems to be par the course for a comic that started out regurgitating the tired, uninformed and just plain insulting alternate history trope: that Nazis were ever capable of winning WW2. No, Spencer, mate, Nazi Germany wasn't an economic powerhouse capable of any technological breakthrough with an unbeatable army. I'm from Poland; the Nazis had the numbers and the technological advantage when they attacked my country in 1939, and it still took them a month to beat us (with USSR's help), and the effort left them so exhausted they didn't attack Denmark until about a year later. There was no chance of a major scientific discovery, because Nazis ignored most of then-modern physics as "Jewish science" and the only remaining scientists (after people like Einstein fled) were mediocrities more interested in their careers than advancement of human knowledge. And the Nazi economy was a joke, barely held together and set to fall apart as soon as either the war or resources ended.

And yet Spencer continues to spread this harmful trope, creating a story where the Nazis were absolutely capable of winning the war, and the only way Allies won was thanks to Spencer's favorite deus ex machina, the Cosmic Cube. But that's not surprising, Spencer has time and again proven he doesn't condemn Nazis for their hateful ideology, treating them as equals to any other viewpoint. Sure they did some bad things, but in Spencer's understanding of the world they have the same right as the people they don't even consider human. After all, since the start of 2017 he's been more preoccupied with defending Nazis from being punched then empathizing with people suffering from their hate.

And it gets worse once the series gets started properly, because he keeps playing the "Nazis were extremely capable and well-organized geniuses" trope. As we find out in the first issue, after the Hydra took over it has, in the span of two days, created jobs, improved foreign trade and instituted single payer healthcare. It plays into the whole "at least Hitler made trains run on time" mindset that makes a certain type of person sigh with nostalgia over strong rulers – ignoring the reality that dictatorships aren't, for some reason, heaven on Earth, and people are emigrating there in droves.

And this is just two issues! Three, if you count the short FCBD comic! We still have 8 more to go until this is over. I shudder to think of the lows Spencer and Marvel will reach both within this story and in their attempts to justify.


Contrast and compare Kieron Gillen's Über published by Avatar Press, where the Third Reich barely manages to turn back from the brink of defeat thanks to sudden discovery of superpowers. Gillen describes it as "what if Nazis discovered the atomic bomb first," but even then the series doesn't bother treating Nazis as anything other than disgust. He also clearly presents the Third Reich as on the verge of collapse from both in-fighting and lack of resources, thanks to the amount of research he put into the series. Not only that, out of the Reich's three most powerful superhumans only one is an actual Nazi, and is presented clearly as a psychotic bully and, once tables are turned, a coward. Out of the other two, one only follows orders because she's motivated by revenge, and the other actually hates Nazis. And Gillen made it clear from the start that the series, which recently started its second and final volume, Über: Invasion, will end with the Third Reich falling, just like it happened in 1945.


Another fine example that does "superheroes as Nazis" well is Grant Morrison and Jim Lee's issue of The Multiversity, Mastermen, which imagines a world where instead of in Kansas, Superman landed in the Third Reich as a baby, and was raised as a Nazi. This led to Hitler winning the war (and let's face it, he only could ever win with a Kryptonian as his secret weapon) and a world-spanning Nazi empire. While it sounds similar to Secret Empire, unlike this series it's clearly set in an alternate version of the DC universe. Not only that, it also treats Nazis with contempt, opening with an image of a constipated Hitler.

But there's a difference between two great writers like Kieron Gillen and Grant Morrison and a man like Nick Spencer; when creating a story like that you have to be talented, skillful and have genuine character. And until the event is over and Marvel starts frantically attempting to pretend it never happened (like it did after turning Captain Marvel into a totalitarian dictator in Civil War II), I think we should read comics that will treat Nazis in the only way they deserved to be.

You let 'em have it, Hellboy.

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.

Make a Solicit Check - Best of June 2017 Comics Solicitations


There are many comics coming out every month, it’s easy to lose track of promising new releases. That’s why we here at Critical Writ have started "Make a Solicit Check" — a monthly column devoted to the most interesting announcements.

This month: non-compliant ladies, ice-controlling superheroes and Lovecraftian eldritch monstrosities from beyond time.

10. Hush, Little Baby

Babyteeth #1 - Donny Cates, Garry Brown (Aftershock)


Oh, this one can go really good or horribly wrong. Thus far, Donny Cates had a winning string with Buzzkill, Paybacks, the amazing God Country and the upcoming Redneck; taking the fantastic and looking at it through a more human lens. For instance, God Country is Thor/Kirby's New Gods from the perspective of a family taking care of a member suffering from Alzheimer's, now cured thanks to a Mjolnir-like magic weapon.

This, though, will require more from Cates particularly; it's a Rosemary's Baby-style horror, told from the perspective of a pregnant teenage girl, whose baby will be the Antichrist. This type of horror can be already exploitative of fears and anxieties related to pregnancy, and taking an underage mother's perspective can turn it into a interesting story — or make it even more exploitative, depending on how it is written. Fingers crossed that Cates manages to make it work.

9. One Flew Under the Cuckoo's Nest

The Unsound #1 - Cullen Bunn, Jack T. Cole (Boom! Studios)


Cullen Bunn's Marvel output is mixed, but his creator-owned stuff, especially of the horror genre like Harrow County is top notch. This time, he's trying his hand at a horror set in a psychiatric hospital, which could turn out interesting, or tread old grounds by demonizing people suffering from mental illness. Our protagonist, Ashli, starts her new job in one of the aforementioned hospitals, only to find a new, darker world set in its bowels. I'll say this: even if the writing turns out to be disappointing, at least the art is going to be amazing. Just look at this cover.

8. Ice, Ice, Baby*

Iceman #1-2 - Sina Grace, Alessandro Vitti (Marvel)


The reveal that Bobby Drake of the X-Men is gay was met with trepidation. On the one hand, yay for increased diversity in mainstream comics! On the other hand, the handling of the reveal is commonly considered to be awkward, making the person responsible for the reveal –Jean Grey– look invasive and unconcerned with the privacy of Bobby's thoughts. There's also the fact that Iceman's had a sizable list of female love interests, so identifying him as gay is a bit weird when other orientations like bi or pan seem more fitting. Regardless, it's a new world for Bobby Drake, with his first ongoing solo ever. Sadly, yet in line with Marvel's other picks for RessurrXion (ugh), it will not be written by a gay man (or even a bi or pan one), but a straight man. Of course. Let's hope it's at least enjoyable enough.

*Oh like you wouldn't have done that yourselves.

7. It's Not Easy Being Dead

September Mourning, Vol. 1 - Mariah McCourt, Emily Lazar, Sumeyye Kesgin (Image)


So here's a weird thing: generally the word "volume" is reserved for collected editions and graphic novels that are part of a series. Even Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire's A.D.: After Death, despite each of its three parts being extensively longer than a regular issue, refers to each of them as an issue. So this new series, using the word "volume," should be a graphic novel and thus noticeably more expensive, right? Except it's only twice as long as a regular issue and it costs only a dollar more than any other new Image series.

In any case, the series sounds pretty interesting. Created by an all-female team, it'll tell the story of an amnesiac girl turned into a human/grim reaper hybrid by a former Reaper of the lonely, injured and abused. Left in charge of the souls of the "worthless", she aides them in remembering and finishing the last thing they left undone in their lives.

September Mourning, Vol. 1 is set to be released on June 14.

6. Heartbreak Hotel

Heartthrob Season 2 #1 - Christopher Sebela, Robert Wilson IV (Oni Press)


I really like Oni Press's seasonal model of releasing its original comics; on the one hand, it allows creators to test the waters, to see if readers like the concept. It allows them to release shorter and easier to produce regularly stories, with breaks between seasons allowing them a manageable production schedule. On the other, readers get a chance to test new stories from new creative minds and see if they can provide a satisfying payoff without needing to invest in a long-running title that can go off the rails before reaching the destination that might not even be worth the journey. Everybody wins.

Heartthrob is proof it works. Its first season, released in 2016, told the story of Callie Boudreau, a terminally ill woman saved by a heart transplant (at the time when this procedure was revolutionary), who discovered that along with a stranger's organ she also got his soul in the deal, sharing her mind. What followed was a story of love, crime, Fleetwood Mac and the eventual breakup. Now Callie's in hiding from the FBI in Canada, trying to live a normal life. Except Mercer is still inside her mind, waiting for his chance at payback.

Heartthrob Season 2 #1 will be released on June 7.

5. Fghtan! Fghtan! All-Ages Fghtan!

Calla Cthulhu - Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Erin Humiston (Dark Horse)


H.P. Lovecraft is a touchy subject in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror fandom. On the one hand, he create possibly the world's first and most enduring modern mythology that influenced many works in ways big or small. On the other... the guy was a horrible racist prick with questionable writing skills. Luckily, you don't have to enjoy him or his work to enjoy anything influenced by it, including this all-ages comic. Calla Cthulhu (quality pun) is a regular teenage girl except for the fact that in her veins runs the blood of the Great Old Ones. When others take summer jobs at McDonald's, she has to battle otherworldly threats, like her uncle, the King in Yellow. And this time, she also has to stop a terrifying Dread Dead One from awakening in the ruins of R'yleh. Written by Evan Dorkin (Beasts of Burden) and children's author Sarah Dyer, it's promising to be a fun read, with a subtle smattering of scares.

Given that it's an advance solicit, you'll have to wait until August 16 to read it.

4. Lon the Professional

Beautiful Canvas #1 - Ryan Lindsay, Sami Kivela (Black Mask Studios)


I love how exciting and unpredictable Black Mask's output is. This time, we have a story of a hitwoman named Lon Eisley, hired to kill a little boy—only a few days after finding out her girlfriend is pregnant. She spares the kid and together they hit the road across the dystopian world, which sounds like it's influenced by the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas aesthetic.

3. Heroes We Need

Secret Weapons #1 (of 4) - Eric Heisserer, Raúl Allén, Patricia Martin (Valiant)


I honestly feel bad for not covering Valiant often enough in those columns. This indie superhero publisher has built itself a nice niche, and I can only compliment its release strategy. Knowing full well it isn't as big a fish as either of the Big Two, Valiant doesn't overstretch its capabilities, only releasing generally about a dozen titles (ongoings and miniseries) and primarily investing in quality by hiring talents like Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Fred Van Lente and Jody Hoser.

Sadly, few releases means not every character gets their chance to shine. And out of all its characters, few have been as underutilized as Livewire. This African American female technopath has been part of the universe since its reboot in 2011, and a key member of Unity; the publisher's Avengers/Justice League equivalent. Well, in June she'll finally get her chance to shine. Written by the screenwriter behind the Oscar-nominated Arrival and upcoming Valiant superhero movies (Harbinger and Bloodshot), this comic will see Livewire build her own team from people ignored by the universe's greatest villain, Toyo Harada, in his quest to build an army that would turn his vision of a utopia into reality. Where he saw disappointments, she sees talent that can be utilized. Secret weapons, if you will.

Secret Weapons #1 will be released on June 28.

2. The B Is Back

Bitch Planet: Triple Feature #1 - Cheryl Lynn Eaton, Andrew Aydin, Conley Lyons, Maria Fröhlich, Joanna Estep (Image)


There hasn't been a new Bitch Planet issue for a while now, and the store shelves are poorer for its absence. To make up for it, Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentino DeLandro are bringing a special anthology special issue for this feminist sci-fi satire comic. Written and drawn by creators hand-picked by DeConnick and DeLandro, the three stories featured promise to provide us with the series' trademark revolutionary rage and biting criticism of real life patriarchy. This series has been deeply missed, so it's fantastic to see it return with a bang.

Bitch Planet: Triple Feature #1 is set to be released on June 14.

1. It's Just Another Freaky Friday

Crosswind #1 - Gail Simone, Cat Staggs (Image)


She may be taking a break from mainstream comics, her hit Vertigo horror series may be on hiatus, and her all-ages Wonderfalls book may be still in development, but there's still one title by comics queen Gail Simone to look forward to. Announced in late 2015, her ongoing  that mixes body-swapping and mob stories will finally see the light of day. Ever since her exclusivity contract with DC ended, Gail has been on a roll, releasing quality series one after another, so this especially worth looking forward to.

Crosswind #1 is set to be realeased on June 21.

TRADE-SPOTTING - JUNE 2017 EDITION

(NOTE: many of the below trade solicits are advance solicits and won’t be released until August or later.)

Boom! Studios: Mega Princess (August); Namesake (August); SLAM! Vol. 1 (August)

Dark Horse: Dead Inside Vol. 1 (August 2)

DC Comics:  Clean Room. Vol. 3: Waiting for the Stars to Fall (July 12); Deathstroke. Vol. 2: Gospel of Slade (July 5); Frostbite (July 26); Midnighter and Apollo (July 19); Mother Panic. Vol. 1: A Work in Progress (July 26); Shade, the Changing Girl. Vol. 1: Earth Girl Made Easy (July 12)

Image Comics: Descender. Vol. 4: Orbital Mechanics (June 21); Monstress Vol. 2 (June 21); The Wicked + The Divine. Vol. 5: Imperial Phase (I) (June 7)

Marvel: Ghost Rider. Vol. 1: Four on the Floor; Hulk. Vol. 1: Deconstructed (July 12); Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. Vol. 3: The Smartest There Is; Ms. Marvel. Vol. 7: Damage Per Second (July 19); Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 3: Careless Whisker(s) (July 19); The Totally Awesome Hulk. Vol. 3: Big Apple Showdown (July 12); U.S.Avengers. Vol. 1: American Intelligence Mechanics (July 19)

Oni Press: Angel City: Town without Pity (August 16)

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.

Landmarks: Astro City #41 Review

astro city

There are many independent superhero series, but while many of them are high quality, they generally explore or interrogate the genre in a manner that puts those comics clearly outside of the mainstream. They can be parodies like Empowered or grim like Kick-Ass, they can feature imperfect characters like They're Not Like Us or take a more melancholy tone like Black Hammer. In their search for genre maturity, few decide to remain as uplifting and optimistic as the works they interrogate. Astro City is one of those few.

Since 1995, when the first issue was released, Kurt Busiek's Astro City has been a wonderful mélange of influences from both Marvel and DC with Busiek's own human look at the genre he wrote in for a long and storied time and has given him a near encyclopedic knowledge. The series, set primarily in the titular city, often takes the perspective of a regular human on the regular superhero storytelling. The anthology format allows Busiek to often change perspective and tell different stories in arcs small and short or in single issues, and allows us to see the world he created and Brent Anderson (most commonly) depicts.

astro city

The very first issue, told from the perspective of the Superman-like Samaritan, has been often hailed as one of the best Superman stories ever written, and I for one gained a greater understanding and appreciation of the character's archetype thanks to it. "The Nearness of You" shows how the fallout of reality-threatening events, so common in mainstream superhero stories, would affect regular people. The two Steeljack storylines provide a more understanding look at small-time supercriminals than either of the Big Two ever tried, with only Marvel's recent Iluminati taking a stab at it in its first Titania-focused issue. One of the first stories of the current series, started in 2013, is focused on a 911-like hotline that helps superheroes find threats that need stopping and people that need help.

And now the series is celebrating its biggest landmark; while this is 45th issue of the current run of Astro City, it also is the 100th issue overall. For that occasion, Busiek and Anderson are giving us a double-sized story focused on the character that gave the titular city its name—The Astro-Naut.

astro city

In a typical Astro City we learn about the main character through the eyes of an ordinary person. In this case, it's Romeyn Falls (Astro City's original name) city council member and friend of the aforementioned character, Joseph Greenwald. The Astro-Naut himself, Roy Virgil, is a larger than life figure, molded after Howard Hughes or –to pick a more comic book example– Marvel Cinematic Universe's Howard Stark. He's a brilliant and wealthy inventor with a gigantic smile on his face for much of the issue. The story follows his early exploits as the town's favorite costumed crimefighter, and his forays into interstellar adventuring, Buck Rogers-style. And then it all changes when WW2 begins, taking a mature and thoughtful approach to how the character would be involved in the conflict and how the public would react to his choice.

The concept of presenting a science-fiction/fantasy character through the eyes of an ordinary person isn't new –and certainly not uncommon for Astro City– but if done well, it can help paint a more relatable view of the central character, without obscuring it too much with the beholder's bias. As usual for the series, it works well; we get a good understanding of who Roy Virgil is and how his journey as a hero progresses, while also getting a sense of who Joseph Greenwald is. As usual for the book, it's really well done and reminds us of how good the series is. It's like Saga; people really don't talk about how good the comic is anymore, because at this point it's obvious. Water is wet. The sky is blue. Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson put out a good issue of Astro City.

astro city

If I were to have a minor complaint to the issue's story, it'd be its connection to the overall plot-arc of the series since its 2013 return, i.e. the Broken Man's fight against the Oubor. The story generally gets told in its own issues, with the Broken Man showing the readers events from Astro City's past that tie into that story. Here, it's a quick appearance of the character, who wordlessly points out a character connected to the main mystery. It's quick, but a little disruptive to the flow and tone of the story.

The art is the usual high quality for the series. Brent Anderson has a perfect style for the comic, flexible enough that he can jump between dynamic superheroic action and quiet personal conversations, and it always look good. His designs take pulp influences and recreate them in a more humane, relatable way.

astro city

The 100th issue is a perfect celebration of the series. While the story is not entirely unusual, the size and character of it make it more special. After all, this is the first issue we get to see the origins of the most important character of the comic—the city itself. How it transitioned from being Romeyn Falls to self-described "Home of the Heroes", whose citizens are proud of their many protectors. And hopefully, there's at least half as many issues to come in the future.

Astro City #41 is written by Kurt Busiek with art by Brent Anderson, and it's published by Vertigo Comics It can be found at your local comic shop or digitally on comiXology.

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.

Make a Solicit Check - Best of May 2017 Comics Solicitations

make a solicit check comics rocket raccoon victor lavalle last song

There are many comics coming out every month, it’s easy to lose track of promising new releases. That’s why we here at Critical Writ have started "Make a Solicit Check" — a monthly column devoted to the most interesting announcements.

This month: we got a comic overload! So many exciting new titles have been announced for May, we just had to increase the regular size of the column. First, though, we'll pay lip-service to the month's least interesting solicitation.

DISHONORABLE MENTION

Secret Empire #1-3 - Nick Spencer, Steve McNiven, Andrea Sorrentino (Marvel)

marvel secret empire nazi!cap

Nick Spencer sucks and the only good thing coming out of Secret Empire is that the idiotic and offensive "Steve Rogers is secretly a Nazi" plotline will finally go and fucking DIE. Also, this better not be another event series that gets constantly delayed and ends up lasting the entire year like Civil War 2 did, or until we die of old age—whichever comes first.

Now let's talk about good comics.

12. Who's Got the Heart of a Hunter?/Pounding Like Thunder

Youngblood #1 - Chad Bowers, Jim Towe (Image)

youngblood

And we start off the good comics, surprisingly, with a Youngblood comic. Or maybe not that surprisingly. in the recent several years Rob Liefeld was happily giving his creations into the hands of other, MUCH better writers, which led to exciting series like Joe Keatinge and Sophie Campbell's Glory, Brandon Graham's Prophet and Warren Ellis and Tula Lotay's Supreme: Blue Rose. And since 2017 is the 25th anniversary of Image Comics, it's only fitting the publisher would mark the occasion with a reboot of the comic that started it all. Written by X-Men 92's Chad Bowers and featuring the art of newcomer Jim Towe, whose impressive redesign of the team excited Liefeld a few months back, the series will likely be more fun than the original.

Though we'll all mourn Diehard punching a guy with his crotch.

Youngblood #1 is set to be released on May 3.

11. Phase Two of RessurrXion - No "Ugh" This Time, Because Secret Empire Exists

Secret Warriors #1-2 - Matthew Rosenberg, Javier Garrón (Marvel)

Jean Grey #1 - Dennis Hopeless, Victor Ibanez (Marvel)

Generation X #1-2 - Christina Strain, Amilcar Pinna (Marvel)

Cable #1 - James Robinson, Carlos Pacheco (Marvel)

Black Bolt #1 - Saladin Ahmed, Christian Ward (Marvel)

marvel secret warriors jean grey cable generation x jubilee black bolt

Actually, I've got one more little rant: Jean Grey is one of Marvel's oldest female characters and finally getting her first ever ongoing series. So who do they pick as the writer? Kelly Thompson? Marguerite Bennett? Mariko Tamaki? Nope - Dennis Hopeless. I'll admit his run on Spider-Woman is stellar, but come on. And apparently the plot will focus on the Phoenix Force, because of course it will. Why test new waters (like he did with Spider-Woman) when you can fall on the tired Jean-Phoenix connection.

As for the other series, I actually don't have any big criticisms. I was going to remark on the oddity of Matthew Rosenberg's Secret Warriors having a roster consisting of Daisy Johnson, Kamala, Lunella (and Devil Dinosaur), the never-really-catching-on Inferno and the nihilistic Karnak. But given the opening arc's premise of fighting off Nazi!Cap's attack on Inhumans it actually makes sense for such disparate characters to form a team.

Other than that, we have a promising Generation X about young X-Men under the care of Jubilee, and an interesting-sounding series about the Inhuman king Black Bolt, written by an accomplished writer Saladin Ahmed and drawn by the master of psychedelic art Christian Ward. And, finally, there's Cable. I guess if you like the epitome of 90s gun-toting anti-heroes, you'll enjoy it?

10. Grrl Power

Samaritan #1 - Matt Hawkins, Atilio Roj (Image)

Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #1 - Jim Mahfood (Image)

grrl scouts samaritan

In a pleasant coincidence, Image is releasing two new comics about women kicking butt. The first one, Samaritan by Matt Hawkins, is focused on a woman with a vendetta against one of America's biggest military contractors, and she's going to exact it by stealing all their research and making it public. Hawkins's work is generally hit or miss for me, but the premise is enough to warrant a look. The first issue is set to be released on May 24.

But the comic that's going to get the most critical reaction will likely be Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks by writer and artist, Jim Mahfood. Mahfood is primarily know for the cult-classic Tank Girl, and this is his first new creator-owned comic in years. Originally released as Girl Scouts in 1995 (the name change is the result of a cease and desist letter from Girl Scouts of America), the psychedelic adventures of Gwen, Daphne and Rita were released by Oni Press in a 4 issue miniseries in 1998 and later, in Grrl Scouts: Work Sucks, by Image in 2003. And now the girls return with a new series set to be released on May 17.

9. All-Star

Eternal Empire #1 - Jonathan Luna, Sarah Vaughn (Image)

eternal empire luna vaughn alex + ada

One of the best Image titles released in recent years was Alex + Ada - a touching science-fiction story about artificial intelligence and relationships. Since the series' end in 2015 its creators were mostly silent, with only Sarah Vaughn writing a terrific three issue Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love miniseries for DC. Now they're back, this time with an epic fantasy series about the war against the Eternal Empress and one of her workers' rebellion. While the setup isn't the most original, neither was Alex + Ada's - and the duo made it an unforgettable tale.

Eternal Empire #1 is set to be released on May 3.

8. God Gaves Us Rock'n'Roll

The Last Song #1 (of 4) - Holly Interlandi, Sally Cantirino (Black Mask)

black mask last song

Music can be a saving force in our lives, helping get us through dark days. Such was the case with Nicky Marshall, whose troubled upbringing started by his father's suicide led him to start a rock'n'roll band Ecstasy with his childhood friend Drey. The miniseries from an all-female creative team of newcomers will start with the grassroots clubs of the 80s and chronicle the duo's career.

7. Ave Gillen, Morituri Te Salutant

The Wicked + The Divine: 451 A.D. #1 (one-shot) - Kieron Gillen, André Lima Araújo (Image)

wicked + divine 451 ad

Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie's The Wicked + The Divine is one of Images best ongoing series, and now it's getting another special one-shot issue focused on one of that world's earlier Pantheons. Set in the last years of the Roman Empire, as Atilla the Hun ravages Gaul, it will feature another version of Lucifer, unwilling to take the unraveling of the world lying down. Featuring amazing art by Avengers A.I.'s André Lima Araújo, the one-shot will not be collected in the series' volume 5, so if you don't want to wait for an unspecified amount of time for a volume with all of the special issues, you won't want to miss it.

The Wicked + The Divine: 451 A.D. #1 is set to be released on May 17.

That's not the only one-shot written by Gillen and released in May. There's also the James Bond: Service comic, with art by Antonio Fuso and published by Dynamite, featuring 007 against a backdrop of Britain facing Brexit. That concept might make you interested in it to check it out, even if like me you're apathetic towards the character.

6. A Bug's Life

Bug!: The Adventures of Forager #1 (of 6) - Lee Allred, Michael Allred (DC/Young Animal)


forager new gods young animal allred kirby

Young Animal is probably the best thing DC is currently involved in. All of the series released thus far has been a quality creation, and now a new comic is joining them. This six-issue miniseries, created by the entire family of Allreds, will celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the legendary Jack Kirby's birth by telling a story using one of his lesser known New Gods creations. Forager originally was a member of humanoid bugs living under the surface of New Genesis. This comic's incarnation will take part in an interdimensional pursuit after General Electric; a villain set on finding a reality bending metal. The Allred involvement promises this to be a fun, enjoyable title, and it's a good way to celebrate the late comics legend.

Bug!: The Adventures of Forager #1 will be released on May 10.

5. Awesome (Co)Mix, Volume 2

All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #1-2 - Gerry Dugan, Aaron Kuder (Marvel)

Rocket #1 - Al Ewing, Adam Gorham (Marvel)

I Am Groot #1 - Christopher Hastings, Flaviano (Marvel)

all new guardians of the galaxy rocket raccoon technet i am groot

May 2017 is now officially a Guardians of the Galaxy month. Not only is the second movie premiering, not only do we have good ongoing comics about Star-Lord and Gamora, but we're finally getting a new run on the team itself. While Gerry Duggan wouldn't be my first choice, he's doing good work on Deadpool, so there's hope for a fun title. A twice-monthly one at that, as Marvel decided to ape DC a little bit.

But that's only the start of Guardians news. Gwenpool's Christopher Hastings is scripting I Am Groot, which is the third time he's taken a bizarre idea: a whole ongoing focused on Baby Groot. Hopefully, he will make it work like Zachary's favorite new character.

But the true star of this month's news is that Al Ewing is taking over Rocket Raccoon. The book will feature our favorite mammal building an Ocean's Eleven-style team for one last heist. And that team? Technet. Leave it to Ewing to bring back a mostly forgotten team of interdimensional bounty hunters. Plus, Pip the Troll.

By the way, if you're worried about Gamora's absence in May solicitations, don't worry. The series wasn't cancelled (yet), issue #5 was just delayed from April.

4. *insert Stranger Things theme*

Misfit City #1 - Kiwi Smith, Kurt Lustgarten, Naomi Franquiz (Boom!/Boom!Box)

misfit city stranger things 10 things i hate about you legally blonde

Kiwi Smith is a pretty big deal in the movie industry, having written scripts for films like 10 Things I Hate About You and Legally Blonde. Now she's joining forces with Kurt Lustgarten and artist Naomi Franquiz to bring a new fun-sounding Boom!Box series, joining the imprint's star titles like Lumberjanes and Giant Days. The comic will join the growing numbers of media inspired by 80s entertainment (particularly The Goonies), like last year's Stranger Things show or upcoming video games Knights and Bikes and Crossing Souls. Misfit City will tell the story of an all-female group of friends living in a town famous for being the set for an 80s movie (appropriately enough), who find adventure in the form of Black Mary's treasure map.

3. Who's The Cat That Won't Cop Out/When There's Danger All About?/(Cage!)

Luke Cage #1 - David F. Walker, Nelson Blake (Marvel)

luke cage

David F. Walker's Power Man and Iron Fist has been one of Marvel's highlights in recent years. The comic is ending, and the band is breaking up again; Iron Fist is moving to his own series written by Ed Brisson in March, while Luke Cage remains in Walker's hands. The new series, starting in May, will see Luke take on a more detective role (hence the Shaft theme above). The opening arc is little bit of a noir cliche; a person travels to a city to take part in a funeral of an important person for them (in this case Dr Burstein, the man who made Luke unbreakable), only to get involved in mysteries/crime surrounding said town. However, Walker has a good enough track record that I'm willing to give it a chance.

2. Ain't No Time for Subtlety

Calexit #1 - Matt Pizzollo, Amancay Nahuelpan (Black Mask)

calexit

We're living in terrifying times, and we really need fiction to help us deal with reality and inspire us. That's the goal of the creative team behind the astounding (both in quality and the length of hiatus between each issue) Young Terrorists. The duo will bring the not-really-serious idea of California seceding from the US –based on the the state hard stance against #45's hateful politics– and craft a story imagining a world where that concept is reality. It's not going to be subtle, but given that we live in a world where punching Nazis is inexplicably controversial, we don't really have time for subtlety.

1. Very Likely Better Than Penny Dreadful's Frankenstein Monster

Victor LaValle's Destroyer #1 - Victor LaValle, Dietrich Smith (Boom!)

victor lavalle destroyer big machine ballad of black tom frankenstein

Victor LaValle is a renowned and award-winning African American novelist.  He is the author of Big Machine, and most recently nominated for the Nebula award for his The Ballad of Black Tom novella. So as you can imagine, an announcement of his first comic book is a pretty big deal. Destroyer will tell the tale of the last heir of the infamous Victor Frankenstein; a Black woman Dr. Jo Baker, who resurrects her son Akai, killed by Chicago police; mirroring the disturbing number of real-life tragedies in recent years. In fact, Akai's name is based on one of the victims of those shootings, Akai Gurley. Unfortunately for Dr Baker and her son, that act puts her on a collision course with her ancestor's original creation, who's working towards the destruction of humanity.

TRADE-SPOTTING - MAY 2017 EDITION

(NOTE: many of the below trade solicits are advance solicits and won’t be released until June or later.)

Archie Comics

  • Betty and Veronica Vol. 1 (Adam Hughes, Jose Villarrubia, Jack Morelli; collects issues #1-3; out on May 10)
  • Josie & the Pussycats Vol. 1 (Marguerite Bennett, Cameron DeOrdio, Audrey Mok, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Jack Morelli; collects issues #1-5; out on May 24)


Boom! Studios

  • The Backstagers Vol. 1 (James Tynion IV, Rian Sygh; collects issues #1-4; out in July 2017)
  • Giant Days: Not on the Test Edition Vol. 1 (James Allison, Lissa Treiman, Max Sarin; hardcover; collects issues #1-8; out in July 2017)
  • Lumberjanes To the Max Edition Vol. 3 (Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Brooke Allen, Carey Pietsch, Carolyn Nowak; hardcover; collects issues #18-24; out in July)
  • The Woods Vol. 7 (James Tynion IV, Michael Dialynas; collects issues #25-28; out in July 2017)


Dark Horse

  • Dept. H. Vol. 2: After the Flood (Matt and Sharlene Kindt; collects issues #7-12; out on July 5)
  • Ether. Vol. 1: Death of the Last Golden Blaze (Matt Kindt, David Rubin; collects issues #1-5; out on July 19)


DC Comics

  • Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye. Vol. 1: Going Underground (Gerard Way, Jon Rivera, Michael Avon Oeming; collects issues #1-6; out on June 28)
  • DC Comics Bombshells. Vol. 4: Queens (Marguerite Bennett, Mirka Andolfo, Laura Braga, Marguerite Sauvage, Sandy Jarrell, Pasquale Qualano, Matias Bergara, Richard Ortiz; collects issues #19-24; out on June 21)
  • Harley Quinn. Vol. 2: Joker Loves Harley (Amanda Conner, Jimmi Palmiotti, John Timms, Chad Hardin and others; collects issues #8-13; out on June 21)
  • Justice League of America. Vol. 1: Road to Rebirth (Steve Orlando, Jody Houser, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Mirka Andolfo, Stephen Byrne, Jamal Campbell, Andy MacDonald; collects /The Atom/ #1, /Vixen/ #1, /The Ray #1/, /Killer Frost/ #1 and /Rebirth/ #1; out on June 7)
  • New Super-Man. Vol. 1: Made in China (Gene Luen Yang, Viktor Bogdanovic, Richard Friend; collects issues #1-6; out on June 21)
  • Nightwing. Vol. 2: Back to Blüdhaven (Tim Seeley, Marcus To, Marcio Takara, Minkyu Jung; collects issues #9-15; out on June 14)
  • Teen Titans. Vol. 1: Damian Knows Best (Benjamin Percy, Khoi Pham, Jonboy Meyers, Diogenes Neves; collects issues #1-5 and /Rebirth/ #1; out on June 14)


Image Comics

  • Mayday (Alex de Campi, Blond, Tony Parker; collects entire miniseries; out on May 17)
  • Motor Crush Vol. 1 (Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, Babs Tarr; collects issues #1-6; out on June 14)
  • No Mercy Vol. 3 (Alex de Campi, Carla Speed McNeil, Jenn Manley Lee; collects issues #9-14; out on May 24)
  • Revival Deluxe Collection Vol. 4 (Tim Seeley, Mike Norton; hardcover; collects issues #36-47; out on May 31)
  • Violent Love. Vol. 1: Stay Dangerous (Frank J. Barbiere, Victor Santos; collects issues #1-5; out on May 24)


Marvel Comics

  • Black Panther: World of Wakanda. Vol. 1: Dawn of the Midnight Angels (Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxanne Gay, Yona Harvey, Rembert Browne, Alitha E. Martinez, Afua Richardson, Joe Bennett; collects issues #1-5; out on June 14)
  • Occupy Avengers. Vol. 1: Taking Back Justice (David F. Walker, Carlos Pacheco; collects issues #1-4; out on June 21)
  • Star-Lord. Vol. 1: Grounded (Chop Zdarsky, Kris Anka; collects issues #1-6 and Annual; out on June 21)
  • Star Wars: Doctor Aphra. Vol. 1: Aphra (Kieron Gillen, Kev Walker; collects issues #1-6; out on June 21)
  • Ultimates 2. Vol. 1: Troubleshooters (Al Ewing, Travel Foreman; collects issues #1-6; out on June 21)

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.