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Best Shots Reviews: ACTION COMICS, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, More
Greetings, 'Rama Readers! Still standing after your Avengers movie hangovers? Best Shots proves that we are gluttons for punishment, as we rose from our popcorn-and-candy comas to give you some Monday reviews! So kick back and enjoy the other show as Pierce Lydon leads the column, with a look at the latest issue of Action Comics...
Action Comics #9
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Gene Ha and Art Lyon
Lettering by Patrick Brosseau
Published by DC Comics
Review by Pierce Lydon
'Rama Rating: 8 out of 10
As a whole, Grant Morrison's run on Action Comics thus far has disappointed me. The everyman, working class approach we were promised was quickly pushed aside in favor of a bland, hard sci-fi take. It's not just that the story was bad, it was the bait-and-switch that was disconcerting, further solidifying that DC was still lacking a true, consistent vision for the Man of Steel. But with Issue #9, Morrison has written the single greatest Superman issue of the New 52. It's telling, however, that the man wearing the shield isn't Clark Kent.
There was a lot going on in Action Comics before we got to this point. Clark Kent had very quickly gone from a T-shirt and jeans wearing do-gooder to an all-powerful alien super-being in the course of just a few issues. While seemingly schizophrenic on the surface, both characterizations match up with Morrison's own ideas about the Man of Steel, but it never seemed like the shift was meant to happen so rapidly. Morrison takes a breather in Issue #9. We meet Cal Ellis, the Superman of Earth-23, who also happens to be the President of the United States of America. What's truly wonderful about this book is how Morrison manages to cut right to the crux of the issue at hand without slogging through Kryptonian history or weighing the story down with minute continuity details. He is still able to spin a high-concept, science fiction superhero story, but he does it in 20 pages. He exhibits a handle on pacing that hasn't been this good since he was on Batman and Robin.
Morrison uses the villain's backstory to draw parallels between the current comic book industry climate that are hard to ignore. The young scientists are a stand-in for creators (perhaps more specifically Superman creators Siegel and Shuster). The corporation that buys their ideas could be either of the Big Two. The product of the corporation's influence on the original idea results in a "violent, troubled, faceless anti-hero concealing a tragic secret life, a global marketing icon." Sound a little bit like DC's handling of the Superman over the past few years. A hero who is supposed to be a champion of the people is actually a champion for no one, and instead is used to sell bed sheets, T-shirts and false hope.
Gene Ha's storytelling abilities are on full display. Some artists have a tendency to try to pack too much into a done-in-one. As a result, layouts become claustrophobic and panels seem overly cluttered. But in this issue, Ha matches the pace set by Morrison's script. The layouts may not be overly dynamic and occasionally the backgrounds are a little bit bare, but as a whole, it all works to tell a clear and concise story. Together with solid character renderings and an effective new design for Cal Ellis' Superman suit, Ha has crafted a fine work that communicates a larger sense of understanding of the medium in which the story is presented.
This isn't a perfect book. The plot of the book is fairly predictable but it serves the larger metaphor. This creature chews up and spits out lesser Supermen until Cal Ellis can take him down. And Lois Lane's final words then serve as an echo of a largely disappointed Superman fan base. On the last page, with victory a reality, she says, "I guess you must be Superman done right." I can't say I don't agree with her.
Amazing Spider-Man #685
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba and Edgar Delgado
Lettering by Joe Caramagna
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by Jake Baumgart
'Rama Rating: 6 out of 10
The twice-monthly Amazing Spider-Man has been speeding along like the Webhead in his Spider-Mobile, which seems fitting given that new costume. However, with Issue #685, the title seems to have hit a bit of a road bump. Although Dan Slott's script continues to raise the stakes, Humberto Ramos' stylized pencils have crossed the line into distracting from being the perfect mix of exaggerated proportions and cartoon aesthetics. What has been fun ride so far might be suffering from a bit of a second act lull.
Dan Slott has really nailed down his version of Peter Parker. With the whole world against him for opposing Doctor Octopus's plans to stop global warming (or fry the Earth, whichever side of that you're on), Spidey has stepped up to the plate more as a war general than a wisecracking New Yorker. Slott has brought out a unique side of the character that doesn't get as much screen time — this Peter Parker sees a world at stake and, being the only hero around to handle it, takes on the mantle of both commander and Public Enemy #1.
It's nice to see Spider-Man working with Horizon Labs, talking with soldiers like Black Widow and Silver Sable and putting out the Patton-like call to whatever heroes are left planetside. Slott has realized this Spider-Man more as an idealized hero and with less of the foibles of Peter Parker. However, Slott hasn't changed the character, as you can see through the Webslinger's familiar comedic tone during battle. Instead, Slott has grown the character. The story's pacing within the issue moves quickly enough and doesn't linger long on any one set piece. However, it does seem to be languishing a bit towards the end of the issue, with a lot of dialogue and no real action scenes. Yet, with that last page reveal, the action is definitely coming.
Unfortunately, Humberto Ramos does not fare as well this issue. Ramos, the perfect choice for a Spider-Man book given his figures and dynamic style, hits a few potholes this time around. This certainly is a hit-or-miss issue for the artist. On one page, Ramos's figures would look dynamic, with intuitive layouts would express the script clearly and super-clean linework... and then the next page would have none of these things. There were bits like people having no noses (later colored on by Edgar Delgado) or the women looking too spindly. A televised J. Jonah Jameson is exaggerated to the point of almost looking like a anthropomorphic kangaroo (which is unfortunate for the character Kangaroo, who is also in this issue). Heavy inking by Victor Olazaba spills a lot of black space on the page, muting the excitement and unnecessarily bringing down the tone of a very entertaining book.
While his linework seems quicker and scratchier this time around, Ramos is still no slouch when it comes to presenting the script enthusiastically on the page. Sometimes Ramos hits the nail on the head with figures and proportions — it's nice to see, for example, that the Sinister Six don't all have the same muscular physique. Panels are shot from unique angles and draw attention to the action and then arranged in a way that, without repeating itself, keeps the story moving quickly.
Although certainly no reason to drop the title, Amazing Spider-Man might just be in a rough patch this month and will work out the kinks by next issue. The title has been able to capture a sort of adventurous fun reminiscent of a cartoon series while still staying true to the comic. With the talent on this book and the direction it's going, consider Amazing Spider-Man #685 the calm before the planetary-level space inferno.
Supreme #64
Written by Erik Larsen
Art by EriK Larsen, Cory Hamscher, and Steve Oliff
Letters by Chris Eliopoulos
Published by Image Comics
Review by Rob McMonigal
'Rama Rating: 8 out of 10
Fight for your lives! It's the Legion of Daxes versus the Team of Supremes in this battle royale follow-up to the last Alan Moore Supreme story that holds its quality while setting up a danger that is even bigger than the threat of an entire planet of Dax alternatives.
It wasn't going to be easy for Erik Larsen, trying to pick up where one of the most revered comics writers of the last 20 years left off, but this issue shows that he has the ability to keep the momentum of this revived Rob Liefeld property going. Reveling in Supreme's Superman-like nature (one of the foes that Supreme and his alternates must fight is "DoomsDax," among many other little Easter Eggs that continue, albeit in a less blatant form, in this issue), Larsen fills the pages with many of the ideas and concepts that were prevalent in the Silver Age of the Man of Steel. There's the Fortress, of course, which falls to earth in a great visual metaphor, but we also see things like Supremium, a multi-colored metal that impacts on Supreme just like Kryptonite and a so-called mirror prison, where horrors undescribed lay waiting.
The whole thing reads very much like an homage turned on its ear, as Larsen has the Daxes destroy everything iconic about Supreme, bit by bit. It's a deconstruction that works here because unlike in other superhero universes, I don't get the impression that all of this will be reset later, when a new editor or writer or corporate owner comes along. These deaths are real, and while they don't have a lot of impact individually—they're mostly created to be killed—collectively Larsen uses them to good effect, setting up the final part of this comic and its big reveal, where we learn that not all versions of Supreme are heroic and good-hearted.
I don't know if the Extreme Supreme (my name for him) was Larsen's idea or is a legacy from Alan Moore, but the idea is perfect. He is ruthless and stops at nothing, the kind of hero that was so popular during the original run of Supreme. When he arrives, this Supreme does exactly what you'd think, and before he's through, nothing may be the same again. It's hard to believe, but by the end of this issue, Larsen has created a threat far worse than the army of Daxes. It's going to be fun to see just how this resolves itself, and I love that we've seen so much in only two issues. This is old-school storytelling with modern sensibilities, and it works perfectly.
Though there aren't any copyright-tweaking visuals this time around (though one of the Supreme characters, a rocky version, calls the whole thing "a revoltin' development), Larsen and Hamscher once again turn in an issue that is visually amazing. Despite so much chaotic action, I had no problem at all following along with the story and knowing just what was going on. The battle scenes are epic and large, but I still felt like I was getting a complete story, because of the pacing. Larsen uses a wide variety of panel styles, and is actually very restrained in terms of splash pages, which make the ones we do get have a lot of power. (The first shot of Extreme Supreme, which I don't want to spoil, is especially effective for this reason, I think.) We continue to get a lot of wide, expressive eyes and facial features and the placement of characters across the page is top-notch. While there is definitely a lot of blood and gore, none of it feels gratuitous. The choices of what to show and how to show it match the storyline perfectly. As I mentioned with Supreme #63, Hamscher is a great collaborator for Larsen, and I hope they continue to work together for a long time.
There's a lot to like about Supreme #64, which shows that a superhero comic can be a lot more than just a series of splash pages and speeches. Though it would be impossible to match Alan More stride for stride, Larsen and his appreciation for older, epic stories is a good replacement. I don't know how long he can keep up the fast and bold pacing, but for now Supreme is one of the books I look forward to every month.
Dial H #1
Written by China Miéville
Art by Mateus Santolouco, Tanya Horie and Richard Horie
Lettering by Steve Wands
Published by DC Comics
Review by Aaron Duran
'Rama Rating: 7 out of 10
A book like Dial H is a hard sell for readers. Unlike Swamp Thing and Animal Man, DC's two big "dark" breakouts of the New 52, Dial H lacks the Vertigo pedigree that pulled in readers of the aforementioned titles. But, this also isn't the Dial H long-time DC fans remember from classic '60s run, or even the unappreciated H.E.R.O. limited series. What it does have going for it is the wildly imaginative writer, China Miéville and the relatively unknown artist Mateus Santolouco. Miéville is extremely skilled in weaving fully believable if wholly insane worlds. But, as has often been the case in the past, novel writers don't always make the smoothest transition into comics. So, all this stacks up into a comic that has the potential for epic train-wreck or something truly special. Well, without getting too meta on the book, that might be exactly what China and Mateus intended.
Our randomized hero, Nelse is nothing to write home about. But he used to be. With some well-placed exposition we learn he was once a professional boxer on the rise. A man with a real future and drive. What happened we don't yet know, but now he's just a fat man that barely survived a faux heart attack, smokes way too much, and is slowly driving away the one friend he still has. A simple but good setup for what we know is coming. Thankfully, Miéville avoids too many pitfalls in bringing out the phone booth hero within Nelse. Nelse's transformation into hero is born more from guilt and sadness, rather a real sense of right and wrong. He didn't follow his friend outside because he saw him getting jumped by thugs. Nelse did it because he knew he was being a colossal jerk to the only guy that puts up with him. It just so happens his buddy is in mid mugging when his guilt kicked in. It's when Nelse fat-fingers an attempt to dial 911 that Miéville gets to crank his weird-o-meter to 11.
Don't go looking for established or even logical heroes in this book. What you'll get is Boy Chimney, a carbon and petrol-spewing beast of a hero that just might be what a bad case of urban blight needs. Just as it takes days to get the smell of a dingy bar out of your hair, so too does Miéville find his hero oozing into the evils of the city. Mind you, we're only halfway through this issue with this creature creating all manner of heroic havoc. Still, there are moments in the comic where Miéville's writing feels a little contrived. We aren't introduced to the villain through any force of organic growth. Rather, the bad guys make an appearance simply because the book needs a villain and to be perfectly honest, that left-field reveal takes away from the story. Although I'm willing to chock this minor plot bump to Miéville making the transition from novelist to comic book writer. As a rule, comic book readers aren't as forgiving, and Miéville might have felt a need to get to the conflict a bit too fast.
Mateus Santolouco is an interesting artist for Dial H. He has a truly wonderful eye for the dark and twisted machinations of Miéville's world. When the various heroes and villains dominate the pages, the art transports you to an extremely bizarre and almost hellacious world. Physical features are twisted just enough to remain recognizable, but still very unsettling. I also enjoy how the heroes abilities directly effect how the pages break down. When Boy Chimney oozes and sifts around his targets, so too do the panels seem to shift and move, with Chimney himself often occupying more than one panel. Although this also has the unwanted effect of altering how you read the book. Unlike J.H. Williams or Yanick Paquette, Santolouco still hasn't fully grasped panel movement. But, when that day comes, we readers are going to have all kinds of twisted fun.
Santolouco's pencils in more mundane settings lacks the passion and energy from previous action scenes. The shift of living smoke and grit slithering into a rather bland alley with a lone figure is a little too extreme for my taste. Santolouco clearly loves some heavy inks, but I wonder if the quieter scenes would be better served by dialing them back a bit. Still, his attention to horrific detail reminds me of Lukas Ketner's work in Witch Doctor and will only enhance the story as Santolouco and Miéville work more together. Another note of kudos is due to colorists Tanya and Richard Horie. This book takes place in a very dark and morbid world where rich coloring would have lessened the otherworldly impact of the title. As it stands, Tanya and Richard found a good balance of tones and are a strong match for both Santolouco and the book.
Dial H still has a long way to go before it makes required reading status, but this first issue is a very strong debut from a character that only the oldest or most diehard DC fans remember. Miéville definitely has a lock on the voices of the people that live in this world, he just needs to find the balance between long-form prose and 20 pages of comic. And the art? If Santolouco can find some focus without losing his innate craziness in style this titles needs, then DC will have another hit on their hands with Dial H. I know that's a lot of "ifs," but I'm willing to stick around long enough to see them give it a go.
Skeleton Key #1
Written and Illustrated by Andi Watson
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Review by Rob McMonigal
'Rama Rating: 7 out of 10
Writer-artist Andi Watson unlocks the door to more stories in his Skeleton Key series with three endearing tales collected together from the pages of the new Dark Horse Presents, showing there are still plenty of great stories to be told within that ever-changing universe.
For those unfamiliar with the premise, Skeleton Key is about a girl named Tamsin who holds a key that can open up to just about any place, except, sadly, for home. She's joined by a fox spirit, Kitsune, and they go on adventures from place to place, with almost unlimited possibilities. It gives Watson a lot of room to work, and that variety shows in this short collection, as each story has a very different feel from each other.
In the first story, "Dead Can't Dance," Tamsin and Kitsune stumble upon three pretentious musicians who are trying to use real zombies to spice up their act. When that doesn't work, they move on to a new level, summoning a creature called the Dance Master of the Dead. Because this is an Andi Watson comic, instead of being gory or partly dismembered or something similarly bloody, the Master is dressed impeccably in Victorian-era clothing, and dances accordingly, though he and his undead companions are clearly skeletons. Only Tamsin can save the day, in a clever twist that isn't what the reader is expecting. It's a great done-in-one that gives new readers a good idea of the premise and even ends with a one-liner.
Popping out of a filing cabinet in a great visual splash page, our heroines (and their raccoon) must solve the mystery of a haunted hotel room in the second story, "Room Service." More comedic this time, they soon find out that a tragic incident involving complimentary food leads to a rather pathetic spirit who just wants to find a home. This story works mostly because the events are absolutely preposterous, yet seem to make sense to all involved. In a world where keys lead to different worlds and times, what's wrong with a ghost who wants to work nights?
"Lost Property" rounds out the collection, and it is by far the most serious of the three stories, though that is a relative term. Starting out in a nearly blank room, the girls find themselves trapped in the Museum of the Lost, because the museum's curators believe they should be the newest exhibit! This story has some great references, from lost passports to lost explorers, and the way Tamsin figures out how to beat their captors is really innovative, even if it makes Kitsune's head hurt. I also love the final panel on this one, which closes everything neatly. This was my favorite of the three, and it's a great way to close the comic.
Like many of the independent comics creators that came up via Slave Labor Graphics and Oni Press, Watson's style is simplistic, getting the job done with visuals that might look more at home in a comic strip for the newspaper instead of a comic book. While his characters show a lot of movement, they are not very detailed. Each main character is delineated with just a few simple lines and their expressions are often blank and missing noses, or just very basically sketched out.
The first story features the most detailed work, with the pretentious outfits for the band and fancy Victorian closing for the Dance Master and his troop. The backgrounds are effective, but are similarly light on details, giving just enough of an impression to ground the reader in the setting. This comic is referred to as a "color special" but it's more shading than anything else, and I don't think it actually adds anything to the stories. All three tales would work in black and white without any problem. Again, the comparison to newspaper strips is apt here, as their colorization is also often unnecessary. Skeleton Key is more about the story than it is about the artwork, so those for whom the art skill is paramount might do better to stay away.
I'm a long-time fan of Andi Watson, so getting to see more of his work was a pleasure. If you are looking for a comic that features young girls who act like young girls, Skeleton Key is something you should seek out.
Earth 2 #1
Written by James Robinson
Art by Nicola Scott, Trevor Scott and Alan Sinclair
Lettering by Dezi Sienty
Published by DC Comics
Review by Brian Bannen
'Rama Rating: 6 out of 10
The original belief behind a second Earth within the DC Universe was to explain how characters from the main DC titles could exist beside older, outdated versions of themselves. For example, in Earth-2, Superman's name was Kal-L, The Flash was Jay Garrick and Green Lantern was Alan Scott, except he got his powers from a ring of magic rather than one made of willpower by little blue men. So how does James Robinson's version stack up? To be honest, I'm intrigued. James Robinson turns in a decent story that does well to differentiate itself from the original DC universe.
From the onset, James Robinson immerses the readers in action. The first 21 pages are pure energy, but they also go far to introduce the three main characters, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. Robinson's version of these characters is a lot brighter than the Earth One versions. Superman is the confident leader he should be, Wonder Woman is a powerful and intelligent tactician and Batman is a less brooding, yet just as calculating version of himself. I liked all the characters, and thought Robinson's work in this issue really made them intriguing. The way the three work together kept me engaged in the story and I was genuinely curious to see how it would play out.
The final seven pages, however, detract from the beginning of the comic. Suddenly, Robinson switches to Alan Scott and Jay Garrick, yet both of these characters are shadows of their former selves. Here, Scott is now a media tycoon and Garrick is a shiftless loser. I wish Robinson had saved this type of character introduction for the second issue because it feels out of place here. The momentum comes to a dead stop, and then we're given a quick yet unsuccessful origin of Scott and Garrick's lives, both of which basically occur on a single page. The way the first part of the comic works to establish its characters is almost the opposite of how it attempts to do the same thing in the end. Robinson's execution in the beginning is not as fluid as his execution in the end. Whereas Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are all seamlessly intertwined with each other, Scott and Garrick feel like tacked-on additions to the story. Unfortunately, I think the last third of the book will diminish just how good this comic could have been.
As for the art, I was a bit thrown at first by Ivan Reis's cover, as Superman's costume looks different in the actual comic. But this bothered me only for a minute, because Nicola Scott's art is pretty good. The character lines are sharp and smooth, and for the amount of detail Scott has to draw, she succeeds in jamming the panels with imagery while not making them too cluttered. Like Reis, Scott's pages, while full, never loose their clean composition. Trevor Scott's inks help with this as each character is articulated wonderfully. Even background characters are highly detailed — as Wonder Woman talks with Mercury in the foreground of one panel, you can see Kal-L fighting a group of Parademons in the background. That fight may be in the distance, but the art team still makes it look powerful.
This is also due to Alan Sinclair's colors. Superman's blues never looked more engaging, and even Batman's dark colors seem to shine in Sinclair's hands. Basically, the heroes look like heroes. The art is really the best part of the comic as even the scenes lacking action — like those found at the end of the issue — still appear as visually engaging, particularly the final page.
I'm still on board with Earth 2, but I'm not sure Robinson can keep the momentum going if he has to work so hard on revamping characters for new readers. We're given a new Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman in the beginning of the issue, and their origins are woven seamlessly into the story. Garrick and Scott, however, feel out of place here, and now that I see towards whom Robinson is shifting his focus, I wonder if he'll be able to tell as good a story with such uninteresting characters.
Exiled #1
Written by Kieron Gillen, Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico and Andy Troy
Lettering by Clayton Cowles
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by Scott Cederlund
'Rama Rating: 7 out of 10
So the New Mutants' neighbor just happens to be a peeping tom Asgardian. There's something you don't get in just any old Marvel crossover.
In an age where Avengers vs. X-Men exists to satisfy fannish questions of who would win in fights, Exiled #1 feels like an old fashioned setup for a crossover as writers Kieron Gillen, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico bring together characters who have shared pasts. That's not to say that Asgardians and mutants belong together but ever since Chris Claremont and Art Adams' classic "Asgardian Wars" New Mutants special, there has been a link between the groups of characters. Particularly there's been Danielle Moonstar, a mutant and a Valkyrie. While more part of the X-Men camp, she has her feet in both worlds.
The true star of this book is Carmine Di Giandomenico, who effortlessly brings the high-exalted gods of myth together with the daily humdrum life of a group of kids (or in this case, mutants) together. Di Giandomenico even gives new life to the depths of Mephisto's Hell, showing the netherworldly demon as some kind of 9-5er having to ruthlessly and despicably let off some steam at the end of "another day's work's over." He pulls of the godly, the hellish and the mundane, all in the span of pages. He draws everything with the same vigor without ever losing control over his setting or his characters.
Di Giandomenico has an energetic style brings his characters to life. Unlike other big stories that are more about some plot device or self-indulgent "who would win" argument, Exiled #1 is about the characters reacting to the other characters around them. Gillen, Abnett and Lanning have written an issue that's about the struggle of characters, not of costumes or teams. This is what Di Giandomenico captures, particularly in Zig, the New Mutants' neighbor and peeping tom. He has his secrets that keep him apart from people but he's always watching and vigilant. Mephisto has a job that's all about secrets, and Loki has made pacts that are secrets from the other Asgardians. Everyone is protecting something they don't want their partners or neighbors to know. And that's what Di Giandomenico draws until the end when a number of those secrets explode in the New Mutants' faces.
The writing trio use this issue to set up what happens when the world of mutants and the worlds of gods collide. This issue is about the potential of what will happen as everything churns beneath the surface. The Disir, a mutant Valkyrie, an exiled god and deals made with the Devil are all ingredients in this witch's brew of storytelling. There's something in all of those that scare the other characters in this issue. Gillen, Abnett and Lanning all excel at writing large casts so there's no wasted effort in getting these characters together. Nothing is forced in this issue as all the characters have their own trouble and they all intersect when the volatile Disir, the oldest Asgardian shieldmaidens, escape the hell that they were in.
Because everything flows together, Exiled #1 doesn't feel like the type of crossover we've gotten much of lately. Gillen, Abnett, Lanning and Di Giandomenico simply have a story that involves a large cast that all have problems and troubles that are somewhat related to one another. All of those problems are perfectly on display in Zig, the mutant's voyeuristic neighbor who has something to hide. That's what drives the drama in Exiled — not some trumped-up plot that forces these disparate characters together, but the secrets that we hide to protect ourselves.
Venom #17
Written by Rick Remender and Cullen Bunn
Art by Kev Walker, Terry Pallot and Chris Sotomayor
Lettering by Joe Caramagna
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by David Pepose
'Rama Rating: 5 out of 10
"Oh, Eugene. You just excrete bad luck."
The hits just keep on coming for Eugene "Flash" Thompson — better known to readers these days as Venom — but I'm starting to wonder if we as readers are becoming numb to the blows. Rick Remender and Cullen Bunn take our antihero to even darker places with this installment of the series, but despite a colorful cadre of villains, there's not many surprises to really sink your teeth into.
Maybe that's because, at this point, losing has been begun to feel like the natural status quo for Flash Thompson. Forget the Parker luck — Flash hasn't been able to throw a punch without getting tortured in the Savage Land or in Blackheart's realm, hasn't been able to walk out the door without getting dumped by Betty Brant or getting blackmailed by the Crimemaster. And so Rick Remender, joined now by The Sixth Gun writer Cullen Bunn, is in a fairly unique position — whereas some writers box themselves into a corner with overpowered, unbeatable characters, Venom is a character where you know his plans aren't going to work out. You expect him to lose. It almost comes to a point where, aside from Flash's addiction to the Venom symbiote, you kind of wish he'd just hang up the suit already — it's clearly not up his alley.
Unfortunately, since you know Flash isn't going to score a win, this series starts to wax masochistic. Remender has been setting up a quirky crew with the Savage Six, and while they're not the iconic world-beaters that the Avengers or the Fantastic Four fight (or even the shadow reflections Spider-Man faces), they're serrated and weird and uniformly vicious enough to be worth Flash's time. (Bunn joining this story hasn't affected the book's ultimate strength, which is the jazzy, character-building dialogue.) But even with the fight scenes that everybody wants to see, there comes a point where you just get tired of seeing all the different ways Venom can get hit — we do read these books to see the home team strut their stuff a little bit, too, and it feels like it's been a long time since Flash has even connected bat to ball.
Artist Kev Walker, on the other hand, continues to evoke the visual tone that artist Tony Moore set up when the series first began. I love the haunted look on Flash's face as he agonizes over whether or not to try to kill the Crimemaster — there's some real acting going on, down to him pressing a pistol against his forehead. With Terry Pallot inking his work, Walker looks smoother than usual, with some of his expressions actually reminding me a bit of Paul Pelletier. That said, the one bug Walker still needs to work out are the action sequences — with all of the dodging and shooting in Remender and Bunn's script, there aren't a lot of memorable action beats in this chapter. It's a problem with composition, with the camera often lingering at a distance when it should get down, dirty and in your face.
I've heard a decent amount of buzz for this issue of Venom, and for two characters, I would say that big things do happen to them. Well, at least they'd say so. And that's what I think saps Venom of its energy — it's hard for us to see a lot of this stuff as a big deal. Ribs broken? He'll get better. Villains assembling? He'll escape. Family is in the crosshairs? That's just a typical Tuesday for Flash. Now that the stakes have been upped, I'm hoping that Remender and Bunn can crank up the tension some more and give Flash an actual win to shake things up. Copious fight sequences aside, this frenetic opening salvo still fizzles more than it explodes.
Batwing #9
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Marcus To, Ryan Winn and Brian Reber
Lettering by Dezi Sienty
Published by DC Comics
Review by Brian Bannen
'Rama Rating: 4 out of 10
For a comic that's supposed to be a tie-in to "Night of the Owls," Batwing is more about telling its own hokey story than it is about being a worthy addition to a great series.
Initially, I was pretty intrigued by the comic. It opens with a parlor meeting of the Court of the Owls, and readers are reminded of why the Owls are so dangerous. But when Judd Winick shifts back to Batwing — who is an African named David Zavimbe — the story feels more about getting its geopolitical message out about the massacres of the Congo and the hypocrisy of dictatorial leadership. What bothered me more was how transparent the story became. The second a dinner party was mentioned, I already knew when the climax would occur.
I would also say that for a lead character, David is pretty one-dimensional. It's like as a character, he's just waiting for the moment when he can put the Batwing suit on. His supporting cast, however, is interesting. I loved seeing Lucius Fox as the technological go-to guy and Matu Ba, David's butler (and this comic's version of Alfred) is serviceable as David's confidant and mentor. Much like a father figure, Matu provides David with redirection when he needs it. But because the story is centered on Batwing and the Court of Owls, both characters have diminished roles.
On the other hand, Winick writes some intense action scenes. Batwing's fight with the Owl who attempts to kill Lucius Fox is brutal, and David makes some painful yet necessary decisions to save Fox's life — decisions Bruce would frown upon, but one's which make for some cool moments. But even in these scenes, David's narrative of the fight detracts from it. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the final two pages, when the evil dictator gets his just desserts.
Macus To's initial illustrations are great, but as the comic progresses, his art becomes less engaging. Maybe it's because Batwing's costume is pretty silly and because it just looks so clunky, or maybe it's Brian Reber's background colors (which are mostly the same dull brown/orange), but I didn't really enjoy the art in the book. To's character designs are great, and both Ryan Winn and Brian Reber do a great job on the illustrations of the Owls. But, similarly to Mark Bagley, character faces appear thickly inked and overly shaded. This makes them look muddled and less detailed. Even Batwing's costume looks like a big heavy piece of metal, and as I see him fight, I can't help but think how hard it must be for him to move.
I like Judd Winick and I'm a fan of some of his earlier work (his Green Arrow and Batman runs, for example), but this issue failed to engage me. It might be its predictability or its less than interesting main character, or it might just be the fact that Scott Snyder is just that good, but Batwing does not come close to being as absorbing as some of the other Bat-titles on the shelves.
D.O.G.S. of Mars TPB
Written by Johnny Zito, Tony Trov, and Christian Wieser
Art by Paul Maybury
Letters by Gabe Bautista
Published by Image Comics
Review by Rob McMonigal
'Rama Rating: 3 out of 10
Not everyone is happy to have new neighbors, especially in space. A terraforming mission goes horribly wrong when a freak Martian weather event leads to horrible deaths and desperate decisions in this sci-fi horror comic whose premise works a bit better than its execution.
Zoe is the captain of an exploratory force whose goal is to reactivate the magnetic field of Mars by bombing its core. The idea is dangerous and the mission has a high-risk factor, made worse by the less than stellar nature of the crew. From the domineering captain to the power-seeking second in command to people who are only on the ship because there was a recession, it's clear that the mission is ill-fated. When danger signs crop up, Zoe refuses to take the more prudent course of action, and soon the whole ship is in danger from Martian creatures that are eventually compared to wild dogs. But these dogs, with their ability to assimilate and convert the human crew into more monsters, are far more terrifying than anything this crew has faced before. Most of the drama is about the attempts of the humans to stay alive while they fight their petty jealousies and the creatures that are determined to wipe them off the planet.
Dogs of Mars is a great concept. We have an alien world, a monster that is so powerful the humans look like they have no hope, and instead of the usual noble crew fighting the good fight, we get a set of characters who you wouldn't want to be associated with, making their task infinitely more difficult. The problem is that while the story features quite a bit of running from the alien, the main characters aren't established enough (beyond Zoe and her second in command, Turk) to be more than cannon fodder for the escalating danger of the alien. There are some cool moments, such as when we first run into the Martian dogs or when the crew must escape across a canyon by shimmying along an improvised bridge but it's hard to care whether or not these people survive when we just barely got to know them.
I think the story actually would have worked better had everyone save Zoe and Turk been killed off right away, allowing this to turn into a blend of visceral and psychological horror as the two humans duel against each other and the monsters. That's actually what happens by the end, as the pair wind up together with one last, desperate plan to stop the dogs and still accomplish the mission. I think it would have been more effective to see this dynamic sooner, as the other crew members who die are just cyphers.
Another issue with the story is Paul Maybury's art. His style is very loose and sketchy, not unlike Paul Pope, and while that creates a sense of unease because we cannot clearly see the monster, it also muddies the story and often makes it difficult to know what is going on. There were quite a few times where I had to flip back and forth to try and make sense of the action, either because of panel design, camera angle selection, or just the way the characters were portrayed. I think that Maybury was trying to visualize the chaos going around Zoe and her crew, but the end result are entire pages where I had no idea what I was trying to read. This unfortunately includes the end sequence, where I still don't quite understand what happens to Zoe and Turk, beyond the fact that they have a fight.
I really liked the red shading that is used, given this story is set on Mars, but other than that, the art was a real disappointment for me and it definitely took away from the story. Dogs of Mars started on Comixology, and I wonder if the conversion from digital to print might have contributed to some of the issues.
While I am a big fan of horror comics and I like the idea of an otherworldly horror that seeks to prevent humanity from converting its planet, there's just too much wrong with Dogs of Mars for me to recommend it, unless you have a compelling need to read everything set on the red planet.Got a comment? There's lots of conversation on Newsarama's FACEBOOK and TWITTER!


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Nightwing to Take One for the Team in 'Forever Evil'
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
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Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
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by Grayson » Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:54 pm
In the DCnU the ability to beat up the bad guys is greater than any other ability.
by Juan Cena » Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:21 pm
Which is why DC is failing.
by TimH » Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:32 pmso the only hook didio can find for forever evil is that he's going to kill a costumed Dick?
anyone have any idea what the plot or premise is beyond somebody getting hurt and shiny covers that move around like a GIF image, buton expensive paper?
by TimH » Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:43 pmwhy does Didio hate his Dick so much? do you suppose all his bluster and overbearingness is overcompensation because a gym teacher taunted him as Dan Dildo? Or because Didiot is an actual word in the Dick-tionary? Or because fans confuse him with Dan Slott? (dildo and slot-one writes well, the other needs backup from keith giffen)
*hey kids! wanna learn how to break into comics? be the editors' boss!
by Zechs » Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:51 pm
Which surprisingly she was more like Barbara in her ongoing and here in the New 52 Barbara is even more fuck-up than Stephanie ever was. It's amazing that she still has the mantle after all those lives that she's failed to save. Because her first action after getting healed: "I'M GONNA BE BATGIRL AGAIN!!!!"
And stupidest choices of the past two years goes to Gordon Barbara Gordon. It amazes me at times the stupidity of this character and the series. Masochists and blind obedient fools the lot of you. Least Cassandra Cain fans were wise to avoid the garbage that was v. 2. How true "Barbara Gordon fans" blindly love this trash makes me think they'd do anything for the character. But then this is the same company that has select "favoritism". ARGH.. glad I don't give any of these jackals a dime of my money.
by holtom2000 » Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:00 am
bwaa haahaa also they are playing EPCOT in Sept when I am there... should I see them?
by syxxpakk » Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:41 amWell I'm excited to see where it goes, personally.
by IvCNuB4 » Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:02 am
Yeah. That line is absolutely hysterical coming from the guy that blatantly rigs every Moment Of The Week so what he doesn't like won't win
by SporkBot » Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:12 am
Well, let's have some level of fairness here (DC wouldn't, but that doesn't mean we can't): This isn't QUITE the Babs we're used to. In this universe, love it or loath it, she was a college freshman that was inspired to wear what looked like a wool onesy and a laughingly thin domino-esque mask to fight crime with Batman...for a year or two. Then she decided to shelve the costume and focus on her studies. Then she got shot and was crippled for three years before being healed somehow (they probably haven't figured out the details).
Now, none of us have to like it (and a whole lot of us don't), but this isn't the Barbara that was crippled permanently/indefinitely for a less specific number of years. The old Barbara was crippled in 1988, and in about a year, in 1989, she became Oracle. Meaning that the old Babs was stronger than the new Babs. The former was so dedicated to crime-fighting and helping people, she flipped a middle finger to adversity and worked around her paraplegia.
The latter, however, didn't seem to do anything in that timespan. Her tech skills are far from her previous incarnation. What gives? Did she sulk for all that time? Did she do nothing but research how to get her legs back? Maybe we'll get the answers, but regardless, I think my point stands: DC traded a strong character for a weaker version. And Babs isn't the only one.
by Punchy » Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:53 amOnce Dick became Batman, it was clear to me that he should have stayed in that role. He was actually interesting as Batman and has a well-defined and interesting role in the DCU. This is even with Bruce also back as the global Batman.
Since the New 52 and the reversion to Nightwing... who gives a fuck? You may as well kill him. The only time he's been interesting in the last 2 years was that one panel in Batman Inc #8 which referenced his time as Batman with Damian.
There's no point in having him spinning his heels doing nothing, even if his costume is now red instead of blue.
by IvCNuB4 » Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:22 pmSo according to BC today, he's not going to be killed, however another fate may have been correctly guessed in this thread.
by xaraan » Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:27 pmUpdated, just to point out that Rich at BC added some clarification to the spoilage, saying that Nightwing will not die, but what he goes through may be worse.
-pip pip!
by Zechs » Thu Jun 27, 2013 2:23 pm
Dust off the wheelchair. Welcome the fifth new character direction for Dick in under three years.
by xshane666x » Thu Jun 27, 2013 2:27 pmWhy does DaDildo hate Nightwing?
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Every business is a digital business. That's because every customer is now a digital customer. Nowhere is this more evident than in the retail arena, where shoppers have used social networking and mobility to transform their purchasing experiences.
In response to the rise of the digital customer, retailers are looking to leverage digital technologies to drive new levels of customer engagement and competitive advantage. One area that holds particular promise is augmented reality.
Augmented reality is an emerging technology that superimposes computer-generated images and content onto real-world environments, thereby enhancing a user's perception of reality by combining physical and virtual elements.
With today's proliferation of social networking and mobile applications, customers have non-stop access to more knowledge and more opinions than ever before. This information is shaping their preferences for products and services, as well as their expectations for personalized retail experiences.
It's not easy to meet the needs of this new breed of customer. In an "always-on" world, customers have the power to continually redefine the retail shopping experience they want to have. Their expectations are rising—and constantly evolving. They want to be enticed and engaged. They want digital content and digital options that are easily accessible 24/7. And they want a seamless experience, across multiple channels that enable them to search, compare and purchase products and services on their terms.


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The central bank has given its clearest signal yet that another interest rate cut is still on the cards and economists believe there is a good chance it could come in time for Christmas.
Financial markets are betting on a greater than 50 per cent chance the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will cut the cash rate to three per cent in December, following the release of the minutes from its November board meeting.
It was always going to be a stretch that Tuesday's release of the minutes would offer anything new, given the RBA had only recently released its more in-depth quarterly monetary policy statement.
But there was one sentence in the minutes that rang alarm bells among economists.
"(Board) Members considered that further easing may be appropriate in the period ahead," the minutes said.
Treasurer Wayne Swan said lower interest rates were the benefit from the Labor government's "responsible and successful" management of the economy.
"Families right around Australia are benefiting from the government's responsible strategy to return the budget to surplus, which gives the Reserve Bank the flexibility to cut rates if it deems necessary," Mr Swan said in a statement.
HSBC Australia chief economist Paul Bloxham said the minutes gave more forward guidance than previous statements.
"We expect another cut to the cash rate, probably before Christmas," Mr Bloxham said in a client note.
The minutes again explained the reason why the cash rate was left unchanged at 3.25 per cent at the November board meeting, when many economists had expected another cut.
"With prices data for the September quarter slightly higher than expected and recent information on the world economy slightly more positive, the board judged that the stance of monetary policy was appropriate for the time being," the minutes said.
The central bank expects underlying inflation to remain close to 2.5 per cent - the middle of its two to three per cent target band - over the next two years, apart from the temporary effect of the carbon price.
"With the disinflationary effect of the earlier exchange rate appreciation on tradable prices waning, this forecast was predicated on the assumption of ongoing productivity growth and some moderation in the growth of wages to contain domestic cost pressures," the minutes said.
Last week's release of the September quarter wage price index - the RBA's preferred measure of wage growth - did show some moderation in pressures compared to the previous three quarters.
Inflation aside, Treasury executive director for the macroeconomics economics group, David Gruen, told a conference that productivity improvements were crucial if living standards were to continue improving.
While a rising terms of trade had supported incomes during the 2000s, productivity growth was historically the predominant source of income growth in the economy over the previous four decades.
In the future, Australia's terms of trade will detract from income growth, as will an ageing population as the baby boomer generation moves into retirement.
"If this is the case, we will rely on productivity improvement to again become the dominant contributor to growth in Australian incomes," Dr Gruen told a Productivity Commission-Australian Bureau of Statistics conference in Canberra.


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by Tom Utescher
Against a visiting Peddie School squad that certainly looked imposing in warm-ups, a relatively small Springside Chestnut Hill Academy ballclub hustled to a 7-4 lead in the first six minutes.
The Lions still led by that figure at the close of the first quarter in last Wednesday's non-league encounter, but after that the Falcons stepped up their game and the home team couldn't respond. From late in the opening frame until the third period was almost over, SCH scored just three points in a span of 17 minutes, and ultimately Peddie prevailed, 40-24.
On their home court a day earlier, the Lions had made a late run at Engineering & Science High School. A number of fourth-quarter free throws helped the home team almost erase a double-digit deficit entirely, but the visitors pulled out a 47-44 victory. Senior guard Gianna Pownall netted a game-high 23 points and backcourt companion Julia Schumacher, a junior, added nine.
That setback, coupled with Wednesday's outcome, gave the Lions an overall mark of 1-5, while Peddie improved to 3-2. The Hightstown, NJ boarding school arrived in Chestnut Hill with an international cast; among the starters were 6'3" Chizi Onyekwere, who grew up in Nigeria, and guard Maggie Wu, from Kunming, China.
After several misses by each squad, a lay-up by Peddie's Madison Skerritt opened the scoring almost two minutes in, but SCH senior Maddi Hinchey knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing and Pownall scored off of a steal for the Lions. Skerritt bagged a pair of free throws for the Falcons, then the scoring for the quarter concluded with a breakaway bucket by Schumacher that put the hosts up 7-4.
Peddie regrouped between periods. Onyekwere, who had let herself get trapped directly under the basket several times in the first quarter, positioned herself better and was able to use her size in the paint more effectively. The guards were more alert in handling the basketball, and two field goals moved the Falcons ahead for good, 8-7, with six-and-a-half minutes still to play before halftime.
After SCH called time-out with 4:01 left and the score 15-7, sophomore Olivia Byron made one of two free throws and Pownall drove for a transition lay-up, but this was all the scoring the Lions would do until late in the third quarter. Up 17-10 at the intermission, Peddie tacked on another 10 consecutive points as the second half unfolded.
The SCH offense finally showed signs of life with just over a minute remaining in the third period, when a rebound was converted into a lay-up by Pownall's freshman sister, Marissa. Big sister Gianna followed her example and hit a three-pointer and a transition lay-up.
With Peddie's Angela Glaser nailing a jumper at the buzzer, the Falcons took a 29-17 lead into the final round. The Lions got within 10 points at 31-21, but Peddie pulled away again after that as Skerritt finished with 14 points and Onyekwere put up 11. Gianna Pownall led SCH with nine points for the afternoon.
UPDATE: Arriving late at Friends Central for a Friday contest, Pownall scored 20 of her 24 points in the second half as SCH burned the host Phoenix, 57-46. Schumacher scored 12 points and freshman forward Lindsay Hiner had nine for the Lions.


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Keystone Science School Keystone Science School
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Keystone Science School educates youth and adults to broaden perspectives and foster appreciation for engaged citizenship. We accomplish this through meaningful and collaborative learning experiences in the natural mountain environment that incorporate nonbiased scientific inquiry, leadership development, civic engagement and academic rigor.
Since 1976, Keystone Science School has taught scientific principles and leadership skills to young people, teachers, and community members through engaging hands-on field experiences. KSS was founded on the belief that leaders should approach decision-making with a healthy respect for scientific inquiry, collaboration, and civic engagement. Our programs prepare future leaders to address the increasingly complex issues our society faces. Check out our values - they define KSS's culture and help guide the staff when making decisions.
Located at 9,200 feet on the site of Old Keystone Village in Keystone, Colorado, our historic 23-acre campus serves as the ultimate outdoor laboratory and is the home base for our diverse suite of programs. Our facilities include modern log-style dormitories, a central dining hall, an outdoor amphitheater, and a state-of-the-art observatory.


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Monster Robot is Ringing in the holidays with discount games!
BTG: Down with the Ship is FREE from Dec.18th to Dec.20th!
Like monster robot Studios on facebook to find out which games are going FREE all month http://www.facebook.com/MonsterRobotStudios?ref=hl
Monster Robot Studios Presents
Bridge The Gap: Down With The Ship!
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Apparently, Pol Position's invitation once again got lost in the mail, so we had to rely on clandestine dispatches from inside the event to know what was going on. And while Mayor Michael Bloomberg used to dip into his largesse to shell out for real-life Broadway actors and actresses for his rebuttal to the press' skewering of his policies, big bucks and diminutive stature, de Blasio's team kept it simple, calling in just a few favors from Steve Buscemi, Cynthia Nixon, and Al Sharpton.
Luckily, we were able to get a few photos from the mayor's office to share with you. De Blasio's portion of the program included a take on Rocky and a parody of the Honeymooners, which according to our insider included First Lady Chirlane McCray and Nixon reminiscing about the days they used to experiment sexually together.


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Mayhem Intergalactic is a game with simple rules giving rise to rich strategy. Each session lasts only 5-15 minutes, yet there is enough depth and replayability to keep you occupied for hours at a time. In a nutshell, it's a turn-based 4X-like strategy game, providing a streamlined version of the gameplay found in other turn-based strategy games. There is no resource micromanagement, allowing you to concentrate on strategy and tactics instead. Also, there's an alien wearing a monocle.
It's alot like the Galcon games but turn-based


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10 mins ago
December 23, 2015
I love Pochettino's Tottenham
I love Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham. I'm putting that out there, unapologetically.
I love his 'straight down the line' take with the media. No sound-bytes, no misleading quotes, no digging out players. He's honest, but he keeps his cards close to his chest. Politically switched on, but appearing straightforward. He toes the party line but comes across as a pleasant guy, who backs his players.
I love that he's created a coherent unit. I can't remember a Spurs team ever being so tactically 'as one' in my lifetime. We've had good teams through having great individuals. We've played some great football through those great individuals. But most of our players are – roughly – around the same level (with a couple of exceptions) but it is the team playing as a unit that is so, so vital. We are greater than the sum of our parts, and when else could we have said that in recent memory?
I love that he has improved individuals beyond recognition. Last season Danny Rose went from one of my least favourite Spurs players to one of my very favourites. I had previously always liked his attitude but did not think he had the ability or intelligence to be a regular; yet he was in our top three performers. In the summer I wanted Mousa Dembélé gone. Now, he's utterly pivotal. He has clearly always had ability, so I won't pretend that Pochettino has dramatically improved him technically. But he has identified his key weakness and made him a more complete player. And that weakness? A lack of aggression. There was never a cutting edge with Dembélé. Now, he's bossing games, taking responsibility, and we miss him when he's not there.
I love his judgement and the way he backs himself. Daniel Levy said of him: "He said to me [in the summer]: 'I don't want a defensive midfielder. I am very comfortable that I can make Eric Dier into a top defensive midfielder.' "I think if we asked most people [before the season started], they would have said he was wrong. We have to give credit to Mauricio for his skill, and you have to trust his judgement." (via the official site). That is remarkable. Dier is a talented boy – I think we all saw that last season. I actually predicted that he'd be an England player this season. But as a midfielder? Absolutely remarkable! I would never have thought that he would have the mobility (he's quick, but he never seemed that nimble) or the speed of thought. Yet he has slotted in like an absolute natural.
I love his 'management'. Andros Townsend messed up. He was silly, he made a mistake. Pochettino called him out on it:
"Discipline for me is very important. I can understand the player – we have a young squad and a player can make a mistake – but when you cross the limit it is important to stop that. As a manager I am very fair but the discipline is very important. The staff need to show respect to the player and the player needs to show respect to the staff." (via The Guardian).
Now, Townsend's volunteering to play Under-21 football to keep his fitness up, putting in a proper shift at that level, and becoming a role model for our young players. He will probably leave in January, but the handling of the whole event was perfect.
Last season was imperfect, and there were a few gentle concerns. But now it's clear that it was about building foundations, planning for the future. Cutting loose the deadwood and building a team of like-minded players who will fight for the shirt and their leader.
I can't wait for 2016's Tottenham Hotspur. Happy New Year and COYS.
This is SO spot on, Windy.
Poch is doing things right, just bloody perfect.
You could've mentioned our so many things; like our central midfield throughout most of last season too, especially Mason. Mason has even (although not a regular this season) added another level to his game in my opinion – as he seems to get into the box more often.
You could've mentioned Poch's ability to handle the dressing room. Kaboul, Adebayor (only on the pay roll cuz no one wants him), and that lot, he skipped those out. He quickly got rid of players that didn't fit into his system – so not to pay ridiculous wages and also not ruin their careers.
And it's not like these guys didn't get a chance. It seems everyone gets a chance. But Poch is honest like that – and as we saw with Kaboul he is not late to admit his own errors as when he changed the captaincy quite shortly into the 14/15 season.
The honesty also shines through in his squad choice. Players often get a chance after one or two strong performances, as we saw recently with Carroll. This is so important, as it makes all squad members believe they CAN make it to the first team if they keep their heads down, focus in training and take their chance when it comes.
Poch is everything that we've asked for all these years.
Also, he himself is young and genuinely seems clever, so I'm my prediction is that he'll adapt to new styles and tactical developments in the game – he himself will also continue to evolve as a manager, is what I'm trying to say.
Merry x-mas and a big f***ing COYS!
/Andreas @andreasloftager
Excellent current state of play summary
May I also add the sublime skill of Toby, the magnificent Delle Ali, Lamela's potential recognised and the brilliant Hugo also all enjoying Poch's coaching skills and quality encouragement
Merry Christmas,
Paul Shelf
Couldn't agree more and couldn't have put it better myself.
The way Poch conducts himself is pure class in all departments and just what we as a club needed.
Now we need to keep hold of him for the long term, to see us in to the new stadium with stability and optimism.
I am just so disappointed that with the amount he has achieved in such a short time our 'supposed' great fan base has never really vocally supported him. The odd song not sung with gusto is a poor return for the value he has brought to our club.
Big MJ was wholeheartedly supported and his songs gave an extra atmosphere to the ground.
Sing for Poch, no one deserves our support more !
Spot on; let's work out how to sing his name and give him all the recognition that he truely deserves for getting us to the position we're in and, hopefully, stay in or better! Merry Christmas, COYS
Villa should have got 1-4 managers all English too. Harry redknapp/ Big sam/ pards/ pulis. This was before they went sunderland and palace. Neway my point is these men have proven season after season if u struggling down there and u give em a good lil time (not2months left of epl) they can dig u out and focus your squad on belief. Now not saying Rg wont suceed but has he ever managed in epl? And i dont know if a relegation scrap is want he would want as he grounding to epl, i mean he could get sacked or take them down (good on his cv eh). I believe managers like those are more suited to upper top ten of epl. So 1 of those 4 managers, get to12th 10th 8th 6th if u wana be a pardew, and when then cant get u any higher past a certain point, ala harry the 4th/5th, pulis12th/7th (etc) THEN you get a RG/ arsene/ pochettino/ klopp type manager. Villas scrap could really be destroying his managerial passona. Villa been sliding about roughly 5 seasons now and believe i could do a better job than ALL THEIR MANAGERS since Martin Oneill lol SERIOUSLY!!
Now back to mighty spurs COYS,
Pochettino got beat by tottenham TWICE 2-3 in the season we were in disarray with AVB/sherwood era. We have been finishing roughly 5th so often wether we deserved 4th or 6th which means we are pretty steadly a fifth placed team. Now we been there since HR days so we should be progress or declining. The fact we had three managers in a year (beating a juvaliant poch shamton twice along the way), disarray squad, still finished fifth, squandered over £100M and alot of other back ground politics. I would say that wasnt the worse transitional period we could have endured. Its just when GB went and we were spending like a guy fresh outta jail in a strip club, we thought and we were on the rise. Little did we realise we were going backwards until the 6-0mc, 0-5 liverpools 3-0 arsenals etcs.. So to still end up 5th and end up with a manager while we are steadily 5th, who CAN see the structure we need to kick on to steadily 4th or 3rd or 2nd etc so we can be there the next 5years, great! I thought van gaal with his expirence might have been prefered option (4me anyways shhh tho) but i didnt know at the time the BIG ideas DANIEL LEVY HAD FOR SPURS SO CREDIT TO HIM AND POCH AND THE SQUAD FOR MAKING IT WORK THIS TIME AROUND. Buzzing as a spurs fan of 30yrs first time in a long while! And 1more thing if we want 1st place, we need: 2 decent strikers ie berahino/batsyimichy or say whoever just TWO. They should be happy on bench because we will be going places and have sufficent cover for at least 2-3years while they proper gel, maybe A CB to cover fazios spot when he departs, and lastly maybe a sigardson/ bale type player to push eriksen and who can create/vision but maybe pritchard can do fill type.
Thank you for reading, they Just my opinons and soooo sorry for the essay lol
Mauricio's blue & white army! Mauricio's blue & white army!
Not original by any stretch, but one that I've always loved.
Good article that sums up most of my thoughts on the current situation.
If I can take issue with you on one point: Dier's conversion. I was very disappointed for Dier when they bought both Wimmer and Toby in the summer as I have been a fan of him since he started with us. I figured he would be putting in for a transfer.
Then I saw that MoPo was going to play him as a DM, and suddenly, I started to think that MoPo who has won nothing throughout his managerial career, might actually be the real deal. So contrary to what you wrote, I never had any doubts that Dier could do this job well.
In all fairness though, some of my other predictions were slightly less accurate. These include that Rose would never make a full-back, and that a player making his debut for us in the EL, had probably played both his first and final first team game for us. In case you haven't worked it out, the player was Harry Kane.
Spot on Windy. A lot still to do but for the first time in a long time we have clear direction.
Went to the Southampton game and was pleasantly surprised to see a Tottenham team beaten by Newcastle the previous week, soak up some pretty intense pressure, then figuratively smash Southampton to pieces in the last 60 mins. Being in the Southampton end right next to the yids made it a little difficult to celebrate at the time, but somehow holding in the pride until we got out the stadium made it feel even greater. Hopefully we can carry this on into the festive period and after that, anything can happen! COYS!!!
I agree with all the above. But let's hope that Poch stays with us and doesn't get 'bought' by one of the desperados (ie Chelsea or Man Utd or even Bayern or Real) next season. He'd be mad to go to these places because he's perfect for us; and us for him. His best work is with young players coming up, not prima donnas.
I wouldn't expect MoPo to be with us forever, but I think he's ours until he starts winning things coinsistently.
The teams you mention normally choose managers who are blinged up with trophies. Moyes was an exception in that he was a good friend of SAF.
Bayern try to promote from within, which is what we should all be trying to do. Nowadays, once you sack a manager, you usually end up sacking the entourage that he brought with him, when the new manager brings his entourage.
FWIW, I used to express serious doubts about MoPo, and like the teams you mentioned, Spurs usually went for "blinged up" CV's. Based on that, I still don't really know how he got the job, especially as Soto did better under Koeman, when MoPo left, but I am delighted that thetre are wiser heads then mine making these decisions.
Spurs are definitely playing much better this year. They are playing as a team. Hope that we get a striker soon to reduce the pressure on Kane to deliver in every game. Win the next three matches and European football beckons. COYS.
After decades of seeing Spurs limping along, all I wanted was the team to put up a good fight. Now we have that, and some.
I actually do not think MoPo will be tempted to go anywhere else, even Real as this stage. He is smart. He knows we have real talent in the first XI and the youth pipeline, that young players respond better to his "philosophy" than big name players, and the potential of the new stadium. He can really build a fine reputation as a miracle worker with young players. At Real, tempting though it might be, he won't last more than a season.
My concerns are: (i) whether we have the legs to pursue the high-tempo game all season; and (ii) some players may grow tired of running more than 10km every game as they grow in age and stature.
I agree that Poch has built a team out of players playing as a team who cost is just a fraction of United or Chelsea.
But Leic, C. Pal and Watford are doing better or just as well.
The lost points in some of the draws, I would maintain, are related to putting players in positions that waste their talents.
Lamela: Best on the left or centrally.(His hattrick vs Monaco is evidence.)
Dembele: Best when employed as an AM on the left.
Eriksen: Though he finds more space to maneuver on the flanks, he is best played centrally. He has to up his game to shake off close markers.
Dier, Mason/Bentaleb(either one when fit) are the DM choices.
Thus, in my opinion,
Right AM: Son/Alli/Njie
Central AM: Eriksen/Carroll/Lamela
Left AM: Dembele/Lamela/Chadli/Son
Striker: Kane(Son or Lamela when Kane really needs a rest)
Merry Christmas
Great to see Spurs finish the last 3 games of 2015 with wins, PLUS:
1. Poch has a plan B(as shown yesterday)
2. We are getting goals through more channels
a. Walker, Davies and Trippier delivered assists with their crosses.
b. Solo goals from Kane, Carroll and Lamela
c. Goal instincts of Toby, Dier, Alli and Son guided them to the right place at the right time.
I see no reason why we shan't be firmly in the top 3 come mid-Feb if there are no FA Cup replays to tire the lads,
Everyone is playing for the shirt Windy and that has not happened for quite some time. Your right to be very optimistic about the future, its very infectious.
Nice write up Windy….think everyone understands what MoPo is trying to do.
Last time we had a team of player's as opposed to some gifted individuals was very terribles 90s team…Paul Stewart etc.
So while you are spreading the love…..how about a word for Danny boy…..Dele Alli……Liverpool fan…….5m?….Oh to be a fly on the wall at the next mickey mouser "committee" meeting lmao.
Happy Xmas one and all…..:-)
Totally agree.
Watching us without the ball is like watching Barcelona without the ball. Organised pressure. Not quite the same with the ball yet! I thought it was a huge miss not signing a defensive midfielder, I thought Dier was a desperate gamble not to spend any more money. Wow was I wrong, he's had a fantastic season so far, especially at his age. Poch has got the best out of several players who were looking a bit lost, most are still improving which is a great sign. Still need another center forward though. Coys.
One thing I don't understand is if Poch said don't buy a defensive midfielder, why were we trying for Bender and Wanyama in late August?
If I recall what Levy said correctly, they tried a coupke of targets. But e did not come off, MoPo said he would try Dier out. Very pragmatic, I thougt.
That is very different then, and makes more sense.
Regarding Wanayama, I spoke to a Soton fan who told me that we had only a passing interest in Wanayama.
If you recall, this was following the Stoke game where Toby made an error, and he explained it by saying that it would have never happened at Soton because Wanayama would have been there to protect him.
My source tells me that following on from this, A Sky Sports journo who was a Spurs fan, "bigged up" the story that Sours were interested. They made an enquiry. Was told "no sale", and left it at that.
Seems strange that Wanyama would put in a transfer request based on just a passing interest.
Maybe he thought that he could force a move and took the interest as being more than tentative. As you are probably aware, most players are guided by their agents who are on a percentage and it would not surprise me if he said something like "If you can force a move, I can double your money".
What I find particularly interesting about this story is that when Soton said he wasn't for sale, we pulled out immediately. Looking at what happened with Berahino, Peace was far more ambivalent and was sending out messages that we were not offering enough. Not once did he ever say, as Soton were purported to have said, "He's not for sale".
Make what you will of that, but I think this points to Peace "sexing up" what should have been a private negotiation for brownie points from his fans.
Good read Windy, thanks and great feeling to be a Spurs fan nowadays. I am lucky enough to have seen the great team of the 60s so have seen a TEAM playing before. Like others I think we are desperate for Kane cover. More so with Clinton's injury but I wonder what MP's gifted touch will bring from what we have already.
Merry Xmas to all and a very happy and exciting 2016.
Happy Spurs fan
Spot on Windy, and I think that his brilliance is best shown by how what had previously looked a weak set up has been transformed into one that is both strong in defence and attack. Before Poch that 4-2-3-1 formation leaked like hell.
Why? Because it was too structured. Pochettino has made it a fluid formation that works beautifully. When Rose and Walker go forward, Toby and Verts slot into their Belgian positions as makeshift LB/RB. And that's fine because Dier just drops back into the gap.
In midfield, Dier is again important, forming a central triangle, usually with Alli and Dembele. The advantage of having Dembele in the centre not Eriksen is that he can drop back if needed, which also allows Alli to get forward more because he knows the other two will have him covered.
Then in attacking midfield, it isn't as LM/CAM/RM. It's as LAM/CAM/RAM. The full backs provide the width most of the time, meaning the attacking player can overload the centre, and once again interchange position throughout the match. It's why Eriksen is comfortable playing on the left, already with more assists than he got close to last season. Lamela is like a new signing, encouraged to try the technical stuff without fear of it coming back to haunt him, because he'll get multiple chance every match, which coupled with both his high work rate and his improvement anyway has dramatically improved his success rate. Son and Njie were both bought because they can play anywhere in the attacking 3rd, providing yet more fluidity.
I may be frowned upon for saying this, but I feel like if we give just a few more months, we could see something really special, almost Barcelona like.
First time since HR days where I feel that there is a manager and a squad I identify with. Post Harry was so depressing and post Bale was absolutely awful really, despite where we were finishing. Didn't recognize the players, didn't feel any affinity with the team. In 1 1/2 years, Poch has completely turned that around. It's quite an amazing accomplishment, to be honest. Now, if we could just finish teams off when we're dominating them, we'll be real contentders.
What impresses me most is he can get the best out of players. Look at Lamela, Dembele and Dier. Where were they 2 seasons ago? Probably being criticized left and right. He's turned them around.
Now look at other coaches. Or other teams like Man United. Everyone talks about clearing out a squad and buying new players, big names etc.
Our very own Poch knows how to get the best out of existing players. Of course, there have been some new signings to replace those who didn't perform or didn't fit the system. But we have a lot of revived talent. Probably no other team can boast of that.
Dier only joined us last season. Before that, he was getting good reviews in Portugal, including being described as "The new John Terry", (for all the right reasons of course). Personally, I think he will also captain England one day.
Well done. 3-0
Keep scoring in our next 2 away games and we will be really having a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Agree with your post, but have to say that it has been disappointing that you haven't written more for some time.
We stand close to the summit of something very special, as has been noted above. It has been said that we need to get another one or two strikers, possibly a defensive midfielder. I am not sure that we do need the midfielder, but probably we do need back-up for Kane. The problem is who? I am not convinced that Berahino is worth the asking price, nor whether he is clinical enough; he has also spent a long time on the bench, so his match fitness in a Tottenham side has to be questioned.
I find myself in absolute agreement with everything you say.
In terms of posts, I am a far from prolific contributor to this site myself, but what I enjoy so much about Windy's blogs, is thebniche that he fills, especially regarding "Work in Progress" (that's "the kids" in case you haven't guessed).
Regarding Berahino, apart from the reasons you give, I can't see how this deal can take place. Even when he was on form, we were the only team that expressed any serious interest, and even then, I thought that when compared to his contemporaries, Ings, Austin and Kane, he was well overpriced.
But add to that. Macho Man Peace has made a rod for his own back, regarding accepting anything less than £25 mill, especially from Levy.
I probably shouldn't say this, especially on a site where the team are regarded as football purists, but I am closet admirer of Pullis.What I like about him , is hos ability to do the best with what he has available to him, and he rarely has that much to begin with. I often wonder how he might do with a team that had "potential". Unlike his chairman, I don't believe him to be a fool. So when he said a couple of months back that he didn't think that we would be back in for him, I think this was code for, "Now that I know what he's like, I wouldn't want him if I was Spurs".


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Western Regional Off-Track Betting has announced that the Niagara County Legislature adopted a resolution to support full casino gaming at Batavia Downs Casino. Niagara County is the 12th Western and Central New York County to support Batavia Downs Casino following its colleagues in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Oswego, Orleans, Steuben, Schuyler, Wayne, Cayuga, Seneca and Erie counties.
The counties that own Batavia Downs, Western Regional Off-Track Betting said, recognize the important dialogue that needs to take place in the next year concerning casino gaming and the inclusion of Batavia Downs as a full casino venue.
"We are encouraged by the continued and overwhelming support of Western and Central New York counties and the importance of Batavia Downs Casino to the local municipalities and state education," said Michael Nolan, COO of WROTB and Batavia Downs. "The counties have recognized that, as the only municipally owned casino in New York state, the revenues not only help state education, but also help local property tax relief for the 17 municipalities that own Batavia Downs."
Batavia Downs is owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. Municipalities that own Batavia Downs Casino include the 15 counties of Western New York as well as the cities of Buffalo and Rochester. The track is also home to Batavia Downs Casino, featuring 640 video slot machines. Batavia Downs Casino is located less than one mile from Thruway Exit 48.


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Concerned about planning ordinance
Thanks to the troops
Citizens Academy Graduate
The La Grange Police Citizens Academy is a 10-week course sponsored by the La Grange Police Department. My wife and I recently had the opportunity to attend and it was time well spent. The academy is free, by the way, and held at the police station in downtown La Grange.
Hats off to EMS
There are many excuses why people do not pay their taxes.
In the early hours of April 6, the Oldham County EMS and fire department prevented me from having the ultimate excuse. Their quick and professional response to an emergency call to my house shaved off critical time and gave the specialized teams at the Norton Brownsboro Hospital the opportunity to perform an emergency surgery.
'Old' doesn't mean historic
Let me get this straight: six people in La Grange can decide how you live in your old home? I sometimes wonder who died and made them gods.
These good people think they are doing us old people, young people and all in between good by saving something old.
Tired of obstructionist politics
In regards to your article on alcohol fees over the past two years, since it was never mentioned, I would like to know what percentage of those fees came from standalone drive-thru package stores?
How many of the extra 77 drunk drivers shopped these vs. shopping at Kroger or any walk-in store that sells other things? How many more lives are in danger with 77 more drunks on the road?
Important votes ahead
The Oldham County Clerk's Office wants to take this opportunity to inform all voters of upcoming election information.
Not a fan of caucus
I am glad JD Sparks thinks the caucus was so great. As for me my wife and my daughter we don't think so.
We tried to go vote, but traffic was backed up forever. We finally gave up and left. First time I have not voted in about 50 years.
Go back to regular polling places instead of one place.
As the Chair of the Oldham County Republican Presidential Caucus I want to say that I was amazed at the turnout for the caucus on March 5. Finally, Kentucky is relevant again in national elections. And people were excited to make sure their voices were heard.
Copyright © 2019
The Oldham Era is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Oldham County and LaGrange, Kentucky, and the surrounding area.


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Captain Phil's Planet Holiday SpecialBy Angelo on Mon, 12/18/2017 - 9:05pm
Celebrate the holidays with Captain Phil featuring music by Big Big Train, Spiraling, Pandafan. Jethro Tull (Of Course!) Mariah Carey (!?) and a live reading /performance of The Grinch who Stole Christmas starring Anne Marie Strauss, Captain Phil and Scarbucket as Cindy Lou Who (Formerly of Tatooine.)
Let us know you're listening, RSVP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/310974216075037/
Airs Thursday, December 21, 2017
Ken Burns' Longtime Composer, David Cieri, on Tom Needham's The Sounds of FilmBy Angelo on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 6:38pm
Thursday, December 7, 2017, on the Sounds of FilmBy Angelo on Thu, 12/07/2017 - 12:40pm
Rocco DiSpirito on the Sounds of Film - TONIGHT at 6:05 PM.By Angelo on Thu, 11/30/2017 - 2:37pm
Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito will be calling into the Sounds of Film at 6:05 PM to discuss his book signing at Book Revue in Huntington, NY, which is tonight at 7:00 PM.
Brooklyn Academy of Music's The Fountainhead Previewed on Tom Needham's The Sounds of FilmBy Angelo on Wed, 11/29/2017 - 9:35pm
Don Stratton on Global RhythmsBy Angelo on Mon, 11/27/2017 - 10:34pm
WUSB Sunday Street Series: Ellis PaulBy Angelo on Mon, 11/27/2017 - 9:48pm
Grammy-winner, James Mtume, talks Miles Davis, Roberta Flack and Notorious B.I.G. on Tom Needham's The Sounds of Film.By Angelo on Wed, 11/15/2017 - 7:49pm
Bustin' Out Blue Science ReviewBy Angelo on Mon, 11/13/2017 - 6:59pm
On Tuesday night, between 9:00 and 10:00 PM, Bustin' Out Blue Science Review will have, from the Wardenclyffe Telsa Science Center, Rich Gearns, Neil Baggett, Marc Allessi and Carl Erikson.
And Dr. Helio Takai will be co-hosting the program and talk about the past present and future of Tesla and the Science Center.
Jane Ira Bloom on Smooth Jazz RadioBy Angelo on Sun, 11/12/2017 - 10:31am
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, between 2:00 and 4:00 pm Smooth Jazz Radio's George Rudolph will be interviewing Soprano Saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom about her new album Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson. Jane has received the 2017 Downbeat International Critics Poll for Soprano Sax and the 2017 Jazz Journalists Association Award for Soprano Saxophone Player of the Year. Her new album sets to music some of Emily Dickinson's most famous works. She will performing at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Friday, Nov 17th at 7:30 pm. The Church is located at 315 West 22nd Street in NYC.


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