Author: Glenn Hauman

Holy Terror
by Frank Miller

You probably know somebody who changed a lot after 9/11.

That person was reasonably cool, you hung out. Maybe you were in a wedding party together, maybe you knew them from school. But after 9/11, they went extreme. It was like talking to a different person– someone who you would have sworn didn’t have a mean bone in their body suddenly talked about killing anybody wearing a turban. (If you don’t have someone in your life who fits this description– and God, how I envy you– a good example in popular culture would be Dennis Miller, who went from ex-Weekend Update anchor to Fox News Commentator.) Maybe they had a reason, maybe not, but you were shocked by how far they might go.

And if there’s any comic book character who embodies how one bad day can twist you and change you for life, it’s Batman. Which is where the story of Holy Terror really began.

This book, finally in stores this week after numerous delays, was originally conceived as Frank Miller having Batman fight Al-Qaeda, and the serial numbers are barely filed off. We have a caped vigilante who is in no way Batman, a female cat burglar who is in no way Catwoman, and a cop who is in no way James Gordon. Never mind that this is coming out from Legendary Comics, the comic book arm of Legendary Pictures, who is working closely with Warner Brothers on the current Batman films. It’s not Batman.

Sure it’s not.

So we start off with a chase scene between Not-Batman and Not-Catwoman which degenerates into foreplay– think what we had in last week’s Catwoman #1, but even more explicit– which is climaxed (sorry) with an explosion.

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“There’s no one quite like MY Flying Glory” This week’s page is all about people past and present who felt they could OWN Flying Glory. All part of Issue 14 “Reverberations” as we continue to celebrate the
10th Anniversary of FLYING GLORY AND THE HOUNDS OF GLORY
Read it at: http://www.flying-glory.com/

In Lone Justice, we presented the story of a superhero whose millionaire secret identity fell on hard times during what is politely termed an economic downturn. Well, according to this vacation rental listing on Trip Advisor, Lone Justice isn’t the only fellow having problems:

Situated in the grand expanse of the Thomas and Martha Wayne estate on the outskirts of Gotham City, Wayne Manor welcomes guests with centuries-old charm combined with the very latest technological amenities to ensure your stay is as memorable as the day your parents died.

Relax in the misty gray sunshine on the spacious greens for a damp stroll in the afternoon, or in the event of clear skies enjoy a cocktail at your choice of either Olympic-sized swimming pools. In the evening, retire from your day of sun or drizzle into the renown Wayne Library, its towering walls lined with original printings ranging from classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the latest reflections upon Jungian psychological individualization theory. Please note that vistors traveling with busts of family members should be advised not to leave them on display near any large windows, as such statuettes have been known to attract some of the more aggressive–however stately and noble!–nocturnal wildlife of the manor grounds.

Our one-man hospitality staff allows Wayne Manor to remain affordable for any guest budget; there’s no need to be world-travelling celebrity photojournalist or the daughter of an Arabian mystic to enjoy a luxurious weekend with us!

And at only $2000 a week, it’s within almost anybody’s price range. We know where we’re spending the High Holy Days…

In honor of the memory of Minck Oosterveer, who passed away last weekend, BOOM! Studios is offering all issues of Mark Waid and Oosterveer’s The Unknown and The Unknown: Devil Made Flesh for free through all their digital partners — comiXology, iVerse, Graphicly, and mydigitalcomics. It’s a very good story, albeit a bit weird reading it now, with its themes of life after death.

Take a look and see just what made this guy so good. Here’s a preview of the first ten pages of The Unknown:

Also, BOOM!’s Editor-in-Chief, Matt Gagnon, has written a stirring remembrance of Minck.

This is a high price for original art– on the other hand, you can drive the artwork home.

Volkswagen of America presents the one-of-a-kind Star Wars edition 2012 Passat TDI^® Clean Diesel featuring hand-drawn illustrations from the complete Star Wars saga, drawn by comic book artist Ken Lashley (Justice League of America, The Flash, X-Men, Legion of Super Heroes and the DCnU Blackhawks) which is being auctioned on eBay. In celebration of the September launch of Star Wars The Complete Saga on Blu-ray, Lucasfilm is asking fans to Use the Force for Good to support Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).   SU2C funds groundbreaking cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives.  As part of that campaign, Lucasfilm has partnered with eBay to create this exclusive auction, allowing fans to bid on rare and exciting Star Wars items and experiences.

Lashley went through about 35 Sharpie markers drawing on the thing, and yes, it’s been covered in sealant. Here’s Ken drawing the VW at SDCC:

Bidding ends today, and is currently around $25000. The biggest drawback? It’s going to be hell to frame. And yes, it even does this: