JLU Waller was fine, but I prefer Ostrander’s Waller. I like Waller as a bitch who will do some morally questionable things, but is ultimately a good person.

She should be like LeCarre's George Smiley character - he hates himself for doing it, but he will do what he has to do, whatever it is.

That basically describes JLU Waller, except I think she went overboard at times (like hiring someone to kill Terry McGinnis’ mother and brother so that Terry would become more like Bruce Wayne - what the heck?!?!)

Yeah, that was stupid. And having it be an aged Phantasm was the height of absurd fanwankery. Hated that episode horribly, a totally fanfic ending to the Batman Beyond saga.

That basically describes JLU Waller, except I think she went overboard at times (like hiring someone to kill Terry McGinnis' mother and brother so that Terry would become more like Bruce Wayne - what the heck?!?!). But yeah, JLU Waller was miles better than the "Nyah ha ha" villainy of Waller in Checkmate.

But I'm willing to wait if the issue is drawn by Cho. I just wish he would give Janet a different haircut.

Please keep us updated on the yes/no cleavage cover from Catwoman (sorry it just came out that way); I think it's one of Hughes' best, conceptually, and would love to know why he didn't just have the cleavage there in the first place.

- Jason L Blair
Writer, The Long Count

In Ostrander's classic Suicide Squad run, she's a hard-nosed b***h at times, but he kept her likable and relatable. She was dealing with psychopaths and felons and had to make hard decisions to get the job done. Hell, she stood up to Batman and won! Her past growing up in a poor inner city neighborhood and raising several kids on her own was also heavily referenced and helped to further her characterization.

Rucka ignores most of that to show her as callous and gone-over-the-edge ruthless. I wasn't happy with her portrayal, and haven't really been since those halcyon Ostrander days. Hopefully his usage of her in the new SS mini will help restore some of that humanity to her.

I've just finished reading Grendel: Behold the Devil # 2, and yet, I remain unconvinced that your guess is right.

2 reasons:
1) Matt Wagner has a history of hiding things under the surface, and introducing subtle (or not-so) clues that leads up to the "wow - I didn't see that coming" factor.
2) Hunter Rose/Grendel is a crime lord who is not afraid of getting his hands dirty from time to time. He has fought Argent several times and is not shy of writing about their confrontations as indicated in Devil by the Deed and both volumes of Black, White, and Red.
The premise of this new series, is based on the pages that was ripped out of his journal. What was so disturbing and unsettling to Hunter that he didn't want anyone to know about it? For someone who's completely immersed in violence and blood-letting, it must be terrifying to even think about it.

Whether you or I am right or wrong, will be proven in the next 6 issues (sigh - 8 issues seems so little).

Cheers. Tom

Of them, though, with the exception of Loeb, Rucka's written her the worst.

Making her "the bad guy," with all the requisite evil behavior and stupidty that come with being the bad guy (as bad guys generally have to lose and the reader is supposed to want them to lose), is a real disservice to the character.

Not as much of a disservice as making her a love-sick evil stooge of Luthor (Loeb!), but still, quite bad.

In Booster Gold 5, one of the cryptic messages on Rip Hunter's blackboard says "No trophy=Stephanie?" Given that's been a way to drop hints about future DC plot events before, it suggests a Stephanie return.

Oh, and there was a Spoiler appearance in Gotham Underground. it's unclear if that's Stephanie, though.

With SNKS, each issue can be seen as a kind of movement, Warnings, Preparations, Deluge and Aftermath. Four of the stories weave throughout, Ziusudra the narrator, Noah, the Chinese myth, (which is a compsite of two myths, and the Sharon Boatwright story. Other myths are told as short 2 and 4 page interludes.

My co-writer, A. David Lewis originated the initial concept and focused most closely on the Noah story, which he knocks out of the ballpark, bringing elements of Muslim, Jewish and Christian tradition coupled with his own insights into human nature to retell the Noah story as never before.

I'm certainly glad that the Simpsons comic is a hit with the kids, text. I know I'm not the target demographic, but the nice thing about the Simpsons is they appeal to all age groups. It's a charming comic; I'm just not sure it's worth buying.

The less said about DiDio, the better.
After all, the more one complains about him(it/whatever), the more his existence is justified.

Nice write-up of Ex Machina, I'm sure that you'd be sorry to note that there will be 17 issues left in the series.

Another nice write-up of Grendel: Behold the Devil. As being one of the long-time fans of Grendel since it's back-up in the pages of MAGE (the first series), I have an idea of who is Hunter Rose's stalker. So as not to spoil any newcomer's joy of reading the new series, the answer may well be located in The Devil Inside of Grendel # 13-15 (Comico series).

As always, a joy or delight to read your blog.

'til next time, have a Merry X-mas, and Happy New Year.

I loved the big transforming robot in Birds of Prey, so I guess my soul is still intact. Good for me.