Hey folks,
A short return to a series I love. I love it so much I've talked about it here and here. Have I mentioned I also love time travel? Oh I do. I do.
Booster Gold Effs Up Everything, Again: Booster Gold Day of Death
I first met Booster Gold in the pages of 52. If you have not read that excellent series then I urge you to do so, especially if you are a DC fan. In 52 Booster emerged as the first character who tried to fill the superhero void when Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman decided to take a break after Infinite Crisis. However it turns out that Booster's major character flaw is that he will do anything for fame and fortune. He is a bit of a douchebag, but he does in the end want to do the right thing. It's just that occasionally he strays. Since the end of 52 Booster's been working with Rip Hunter in his own title Booster Gold. I've loved reading this series in trade paperback, so the moment I saw a copy available I had to snatch it up.
And it didn't disappoint. Time travel is a difficult gambit. It often becomes of question of whether you believe that one can change the future by manipulating a significant event or if you follow a philosophy that some events are just always going to happen. It's complicated. It can hurt your head if you think about it too hard. Booster Gold follows the idea that somethings are just "supposed" to happen, it's been deemed "solidified time." This is illustrated in Booster Gold #5 where Booster cannot stop Barbara Gordon from being shot. He desperately tries again and again but tragically it's just meant to happen.
This precedent regarding the rules of time travel, which was established by Geoff Johns, is key to the story arc in Day of Death. In this arc Booster is sent by Rip Hunter to get some info from the Bat Cave since Bruce Wayne has disappeared. But being Booster Gold, well he screws things up. This is not a spoiler-with Booster it's pretty inevitable. Thank God for Rip Hunter. Of course it is the pairing of these two men that makes this series wonderful. They are polar opposites in a "Odd Couple"-kind've way. It's very entertaining as written by Jurgens in this arc.
Back to time travel, writer Jurgens continues to use these issues to show us DC readers what parts of comic continuity are important. The DC universe needs Dick Grayson and the Teen Titans; Dick Grayson is supposed to become Batman and help Damian; these events are "solidified time." Without this series of events then the DC Universe will be in a bad place. Rip and Booster have to put things right. Will they? C'mon this is a comic book. While the ending was slightly predictable I still enjoyed this series because it doesn't wrap itself in convolution. It's still pretty simple to understand. Even for Booster.
Have a great week! Book Slave.
Showing posts with label Booster Gold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Booster Gold. Show all posts
2010-06-14
2009-02-10
Unique Voices and Redeemable Superheroes
Hello world,
I hope you are all having an excellent week. I myself am beginning to finally fall into that regular groove now that January is over. Well Onward!
Reviews
Booster Gold Vol. 2
I really enjoyed the first volume in this series and have been eagerly anticipating the next one. Booster Gold is a fun time-travelling romp through the DC Universe. An unconventional Booster is always on the lookout for any opportunity to gain fame and fortune. After the series 52 he hooks up with time master Rip Hunter and is recruited to fix holes in the time stream. This set up in the prior volume leads to Booster being able to save his friend the Blue Beetle. The consequences of that are played out in this volume. Writer Geoff Johns does his usual amazing job of balancing comic continuity and great characterizations. I loved the relationship between Booster and Blue Beetle. Their friendship has the effect of making Booster a much more likeable guy. His confrontation between him and his father is pretty heart-wrenching. I cannot wait for the next volume in this great series.
Past Review
Booster Gold: 52 Pickup
What It Is
Linda Barry's new book is part workbook, part treatise on the creative process. In her own original way Barry puts forth a theory that focuses on images. As an artist her work begins with an image and then grows from there. Her unique point of view makes this book more than a series of exercises, it is an experience. She includes philosophical questions such as "What is the Image?" and her struggles with self-doubt. Like her other works such as One Hundred Demons she also shares her autobiographical development as an artist. This is a wonderful book for anyone who is interested in or struggling with their own self-expression. Barry is a wholly original and fun artist. This book is amazing.
Other Reviews
Bay Moon | Salon | Whereof One Can Speak
All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem
After seeing the irreverent title I thought that was a book for me. Indeed I was right. This could be classified as an "anti-self help book" due to it's unflinchingly original message. Rosenwald states her message right up front when she says "They want you to think something’s wrong with you because you don’t have self-esteem like you ‘should." Through her writings and crazy art style Rosenwald is able to showcase her unique view of the world. Now you may not always agree with her sarcasm, and she is a bit smug, but I often found myself laughing at some of her viewpoints. In the end Rosenwald does not want to tell you what you need to change. Her assertion that it's okay to be strange and unlikeable is refreshing. The art style of the book is also very cool. The combination of typography and image is crazy and eye-catching.
Other Reviews
Blog Critics | The Dirty Shirt | Pink Me
The Reading List
Books
The Collected Poems of Robert Graves
The Wordy Shipmates
Magazine
Newsweek
Comic
Superman #684
Check Out Count: Improving slowly.
Comic Pull List: Action Comics #874, Batman #686, Batman And The Outsiders Special #1, Captain Britain And Mi 13 #10, Fables #81, Green Arrow Black Canary #17, Incognito #2, Trinity #37
Have a great week! Book Slave.
I hope you are all having an excellent week. I myself am beginning to finally fall into that regular groove now that January is over. Well Onward!
Reviews
Booster Gold Vol. 2
I really enjoyed the first volume in this series and have been eagerly anticipating the next one. Booster Gold is a fun time-travelling romp through the DC Universe. An unconventional Booster is always on the lookout for any opportunity to gain fame and fortune. After the series 52 he hooks up with time master Rip Hunter and is recruited to fix holes in the time stream. This set up in the prior volume leads to Booster being able to save his friend the Blue Beetle. The consequences of that are played out in this volume. Writer Geoff Johns does his usual amazing job of balancing comic continuity and great characterizations. I loved the relationship between Booster and Blue Beetle. Their friendship has the effect of making Booster a much more likeable guy. His confrontation between him and his father is pretty heart-wrenching. I cannot wait for the next volume in this great series.
Past Review
Booster Gold: 52 Pickup
What It Is
Linda Barry's new book is part workbook, part treatise on the creative process. In her own original way Barry puts forth a theory that focuses on images. As an artist her work begins with an image and then grows from there. Her unique point of view makes this book more than a series of exercises, it is an experience. She includes philosophical questions such as "What is the Image?" and her struggles with self-doubt. Like her other works such as One Hundred Demons she also shares her autobiographical development as an artist. This is a wonderful book for anyone who is interested in or struggling with their own self-expression. Barry is a wholly original and fun artist. This book is amazing.
Other Reviews
Bay Moon | Salon | Whereof One Can Speak
All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem
After seeing the irreverent title I thought that was a book for me. Indeed I was right. This could be classified as an "anti-self help book" due to it's unflinchingly original message. Rosenwald states her message right up front when she says "They want you to think something’s wrong with you because you don’t have self-esteem like you ‘should." Through her writings and crazy art style Rosenwald is able to showcase her unique view of the world. Now you may not always agree with her sarcasm, and she is a bit smug, but I often found myself laughing at some of her viewpoints. In the end Rosenwald does not want to tell you what you need to change. Her assertion that it's okay to be strange and unlikeable is refreshing. The art style of the book is also very cool. The combination of typography and image is crazy and eye-catching.
Other Reviews
Blog Critics | The Dirty Shirt | Pink Me
The Reading List
Books
The Collected Poems of Robert Graves
The Wordy Shipmates
Magazine
Newsweek
Comic
Superman #684
Check Out Count: Improving slowly.
Comic Pull List: Action Comics #874, Batman #686, Batman And The Outsiders Special #1, Captain Britain And Mi 13 #10, Fables #81, Green Arrow Black Canary #17, Incognito #2, Trinity #37
Have a great week! Book Slave.
2008-06-10
Soccer, X-Men, and Booster Gold
Hey folks,
How are you? Doing well I hope. Howse your summer going? Good. Excellent. Well for me this week it's all about Soccer and weddings. Yes my life is uber-exciting. At least I have you out there gentle readers. Or at least the delusional hope that you are out there. Are you? *crickets* Well onward!
Reviews
Booster Gold: 52 Pickup
I've been heavily anticipating this trade/spinoff from the comic series 52. Booster Gold is paired with time guardian Rip hunter as someone is trying to off super heroes "terminator" style by offing there ancestors. I love time travel stories so this book scratched that itch. It's a lot of fun making one's way through DC history as Booster tries to maintain continuity. Of course Booster is still the selfish glory hog he's always been, but this series does more than play his character for laughs. His character is given more dimension as he gives up individual JLA glory to save the team. The best issue of the arc involves Booster revisiting The Killing Joke as he tries to save Barbara Gordon. Good new series.
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1
Fun new re-imagining of the X-Men from Joss Whedon. The "mutant cure" storyline raises a lot of great action and discussion/commentary. (Gay subtext anyone?) However it is the interaction between the characters where Whedon's writing comes through. There is some great dialogue between characters. I particularly loved the scenes between Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost. BTW How awesome is Emma Frost? Now I see why fanboys love her character. She's funny, adult, and edgy. Much like Faith from the Buffy universe. I'll definitely continue with this series.
Quiet Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian
To sum up quickly: I thought it was awesome. Look for an in-depth blog entry focusing on this title in the next few days.
What's In My Bag
Books
Assassination Vacation
DC Comic Guide to Writing Comics
Magazine
Entertainment Weekly
Comic
Criminal 2 #3
Check Out Count: Finally getting under control.
I know that we are in the middle of NBA finals, but maybe try some international soccer. There will be a game almost everyday for the rest of the month. Perhaps you might like it. I'm just saying. Anyway have an excellent week! Book Slave.
How are you? Doing well I hope. Howse your summer going? Good. Excellent. Well for me this week it's all about Soccer and weddings. Yes my life is uber-exciting. At least I have you out there gentle readers. Or at least the delusional hope that you are out there. Are you? *crickets* Well onward!
Reviews
Booster Gold: 52 Pickup
I've been heavily anticipating this trade/spinoff from the comic series 52. Booster Gold is paired with time guardian Rip hunter as someone is trying to off super heroes "terminator" style by offing there ancestors. I love time travel stories so this book scratched that itch. It's a lot of fun making one's way through DC history as Booster tries to maintain continuity. Of course Booster is still the selfish glory hog he's always been, but this series does more than play his character for laughs. His character is given more dimension as he gives up individual JLA glory to save the team. The best issue of the arc involves Booster revisiting The Killing Joke as he tries to save Barbara Gordon. Good new series.
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1
Fun new re-imagining of the X-Men from Joss Whedon. The "mutant cure" storyline raises a lot of great action and discussion/commentary. (Gay subtext anyone?) However it is the interaction between the characters where Whedon's writing comes through. There is some great dialogue between characters. I particularly loved the scenes between Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost. BTW How awesome is Emma Frost? Now I see why fanboys love her character. She's funny, adult, and edgy. Much like Faith from the Buffy universe. I'll definitely continue with this series.
Quiet Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian
To sum up quickly: I thought it was awesome. Look for an in-depth blog entry focusing on this title in the next few days.
What's In My Bag
Books
Assassination Vacation
DC Comic Guide to Writing Comics
Magazine
Entertainment Weekly
Comic
Criminal 2 #3
Check Out Count: Finally getting under control.
I know that we are in the middle of NBA finals, but maybe try some international soccer. There will be a game almost everyday for the rest of the month. Perhaps you might like it. I'm just saying. Anyway have an excellent week! Book Slave.
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