Showing posts 146 - 150 of 222 matching: justice league international
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Here at Boosterrific, we are developing quite a relationship with the Kevin Maguire/Terry Austin "Class of 87" Justice League International poster.

You may recall that back in August I solicited help getting a close-up of Batman's shoulder. I am finally at liberty to tell you why: the original art was in need of some repair, and the new owner, Malvin, needed a photo reference. Now the work is back from the restorer, and it looks great.

In addition to this piece, Malvin has a very impressive catalog of art online at ComicArtFans.com that you may enjoy (including a much larger resolution image of these inks). We both offer thanks to everyone who helped, especially Shawn Baston.
| | Tags: comicartfans.com justice league justice league international kevin maguire malvin poster terry austin
Eyz posted on Oct. 10, 2012 at 5:25 AM
Woah!<br />Absolutely fantastic^^<br /><br />(Today's captcha key was appropriately: "ice gold" - what a coincidence!!!)
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Eleven years ago today, DC released JLA: Incarnations, an anthology mini-series focused on telling the "untold" stories set a various points in the prior history of the Justice League. Most of the fun and frustration of this series was in seeing how writer John Ostrander would mangle characterization and history in order to squeeze his new stories into pre-existing continuity. Issue #6, published 11 years ago today, was no exception.

This issue contains two stories set about 7 years apart, and both stories generously feature Booster Gold. Booster and Blue Beetle are the protagonists in the issue's lead story, "Buddies." The pair invent the villainous identities of Bloodspot and Deathmetal in order to sneak into the rogue nation of Bialya. As entertaining as the story is, at times almost everything seems to be an anachronism. Errors stretch from DC Universe chronological impossibilities (Mister Miracle's inclusion in events would have been impossible in the time period) to real-world industry conventions (the ultra-violent "grim and gritty" comics that would feature characters with ridiculous names "Bloodspot" and "Deathmetal" wouldn't be published for several years after the era in which this story was set). Even the relationship between the protagonists is blatantly misrepresented (Booster Gold should be playing straight to Blue Beetle's zany ideas, not the other way around).
The other story, "Authority," doesn't do much better. "Authority" details the untold and much-needed story of the dissolution of Extreme Justice, mostly from the point of view of team leader Captain Atom. Booster naturally plays a part in this story as well, although artist Eric Battle doesn't seem to realize that Booster wore more than one costume between the founding of the Justice League International and the conclusion of the Extreme Justice debacle. Again, Ostrander doesn't let history get in his way, as he, like Geoff Johns in the more recent retcon seen in Justice League International Annual, ignores that the United Nations washed its hands of the JLI long before the end of the team. As we all know, DC's writers never let facts get in the way of telling their stories.
That's not to say these stories aren't enjoyable, because they are. Objectively, they are entertaining reads that add to our knowledge of the period they represent. Subjectively, however, they don't quite live up (or in Extreme Justice's case, down) to the era that inspired them. Without hesitation, I recommend reading the issue, but like any story of historical fiction, I'll leave leave it up to the reader to decide how much truth they contain.
| | Tags: blue beetle history justice league justice league international mister miracle reviews
Eyz posted on Oct. 3, 2012 at 11:40 AM
I actually quite liked the BWAHAHA-feature from that issue. The EXTREEEEEEME Justice one, not so much...<br /><br />I mean, the interaction between Ted and Booster might not have been the way it was originally showed in the original JLI/JL stories from Giffen and DeMatteis, but it's kinda close to the way that era was re-represented by the duo more recently in Booster Gold solo series not that long ago.<br />Or the way the era is shown through a "nostalgic lens" whenever revisited (be it in a JL annual - the chocos/warfrat incidents, "I can't believe...", etc.)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Why was Justice League International volume 3 cancelled? Probably because by issue 12 it was selling about as well as Booster Gold volume 2 was selling at issue 47.

If Booster can do as well alone, why stick him with a bunch of dead weight like Guy Gardner and Batman? (Note that while our old pal Shag at FirestormFan.com will attribute the sales bump beginning at issue 9 to an appearance by Firestorm, but it's really do to a change in DC's return policy.)
| | Tags: firestorm firestormfan.com graph justice league justice league international sales shag
MetalWoman posted on Sep. 12, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Actually, Booster Gold 44-47 had inflated numbers because of the tie in with Flashpoint. Booster Gold 43 sold only 16,018 units. Still, that is a very nasty drop off from issue 1 to 12.<br /><br />Metal Woman
Grimmy posted on Sep. 12, 2012 at 4:56 PM
Surprised that the Annual didn't sell better, considering the pivotal (?) events contained therein. Oh well, just have to wait for the JLA series for the "important" (Booster) story to pick back up again. <br /><br />BTW, I agree. The JLI was just dead weight for our golden hero, glad they're history.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Sep. 12, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Yes, MetalWoman, I realize the comparison is unfair. The axe had already fallen on both series by the time they reached their final issue. If we want to extrapolate from the data for a fair comparison, given that JLI was bleeding nearly 2,000 units per issue, we should note that it would have reached the same nadir Booster Gold v2 reached at issue 47 by issue 20. That's quite terrible.
Grimmy posted on Sep. 12, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Although bad, I don't think sales were the driving force behind the cancellation. Blue Beetle sells in the LOW teens...<br />My guess is that plans changed for Booster's role in this re-imagined universe and we'll soon be seeing him back in his more popular Time-Master role once the events of the Annual get ironed out. Just a little dream of mine.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
It's been a week, and I'm still pissed off about how bad Justice League International Annual #1 was.
Last week's poll question: Did you enjoy how Justice League International Annual wrapped up the series? (43 votes)
But enough about the present. Let's return to the topic of three weeks ago: classic artists. How you feel about the classic writer/artists teams? Each of the following pairs created an iconic hero with a discernible style.
| | Tags: artists justice league international polls writers
Eyz posted on Sep. 7, 2012 at 5:46 AM
I'm voting "The Man" and "The King" :P<br />I'm kinda sad that Stan Lee never actually got to reimagine him part of the whole "Imagine Stan Lee's" Elseworld books for DC actually..
xingyiquan posted on Sep. 12, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Wow I couldn't disagree more.<br />I've been reading Booster Gold since issue #1.<br />Dan Jurgens has been a poor writer, full of cliches and lameness.<br />The 1000 was his only decent bad guys.<br />Who are booster golds rogues gallery? Name the bad guys created by Jurgens to challenge booster? That weird mini alien that killed Goldstar (HORRIBLE IDEA BY THE WAY!)<br />His superman vs booster arc was actually pretty cool and has been used well since then.<br />But really, who is booster's nemesis? Two full Booster Gold series and no actual nemesis this is pathetic! Backlash the guy with the whips? The weird evil wizard during the time travel miniseries? God Jurgens pisses me off!<br />Now, after a boring, formulaic, phoney JLI series gets rightfully cancelled ( I collected the entire Geffen series from the old days and it was far superior)this Annual was the best issue of the whole run.<br />The anti-Occupy story where Jurgens made up Breakdown and his lame pals, with the most overt politicized right wing nonsene was simply horrible. The political posturing was so transparent and weak my goodness. Even my 12 year old self would have seen through the contrived drama and straw men he created. Oh yes, these anarchist protesters are destroying america, gag. I don't care his political preference but the simplistic and childish approach he took was yet another reminder of why I can't stand Jurgens immature, uncompelling and simply boring writing.<br />And yet I've read every issue of every Booster Gold comic ever published just about!!<br />Am I crazy or what?<br />Now on to the Annual. I realized halfway through that this was NOT a jurgens book, because it was clever, interesting, compelling and had some very cool ideas in it.<br />I loved how Guy was complaining and mad at booster, the reader is thinking that Guy is just doing his normal cranky pants thing. But then it turns out he was right and Booster WAS full of it. That was cool!!!!<br />I loved how The Olympian was such an arrogant bastrd!! Had me cracking up. Jurgens can't write that self-mocking tone, he is so straight laced and fake posturing trying to write a 60's style sincere comic he has no nuance whatsoever.<br />I love how Batwing quit and Guy left in the first few pages. Followed by Booster declaring this is the beginning of the New justice league! That kind of ironic juxtaposition is impossible for a simpleton like Jurgens, he can't write anything but a straight good guy vs bad guy clash.<br />Beetle"Where is superman and wonderwoman?" in the voice of a naive youngster, revealing much about his character and being funny at the same time. That's good writing. Not just a chest puffed out Im here to save the day thing that Jurgens would have done.<br />I loved how it played on Boosters fake confidence and how he was scamming everyone with the best of intentions.<br />Compare to JLI #12 with the totally predictable sad sack booster saying I give up then being persuaded by his buddies to keep up the fight. So obvious so lame so dam frustrating!<br />I absolutely LOVED the arrival of the future booster lecturing his previous self. The time travel aspect of booster has been ignored throughout the series, and finally we get the most compelling aspect of booster back in the spotlight.<br />To give Jurgens credit, the 52 card pick up was pretty cool, and wrapping booster with Rip Hunter and the time master stuff was cool. I like that and they have to keep bringing that back to show how Booster stands out from other superheros. It's a good idea that Jurgens has consistently flubbed up but he gets some credit there for sure.<br />I LOVED how the future booster fails and begins to fade away, then the real booster fades too. FINALLY SOME real drama, something interseting, something to care about something to wonder about, something open ended and dangerous and compelling!!!<br />Not just another smash up of some lame lightweaver loser that you knew exactly how it would end.<br />When I saw the author was Geoff Johns I said FINALLY a decent writer. He made JLI slighting interesting for the FIRST time in the entire series. Not totally predictable and formulaic like Jurgens.<br />Now you hear me hating on Jurgens, but don't get me wrong. I'm a huge Booster fan since issue One and there are some ideas he's had that I really liked. Having booster be a scavenger who's powers were based on bits and pieces taken from the Legion, booster as time master, booster as self-questioning leader, etc. These are good. But as a writer he is so far behind the pack, his stuff would have been corny in the 60's and that's not a compliment.<br />I don't need "dark brooding edgy". Just interesting, compelling and well written work, which unfortunately Jurgens cannot do.<br />However he's the only writer who actually has passion for doing a booster book, and until some other guy takes him on, Booster remains only a shadow of how interesting he could be.<br />Where's alan moore when we need him!<br />Keep up the good work on the blog!<br />XYQ
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Sep. 12, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Quote: "FINALLY SOME real drama, something interseting, something to care about something to wonder about, something open ended and dangerous and compelling!!!"
Clearly, you're not as jaded about the state of DC Comics as I am. Glad to hear that DC does, in fact, still reach some audience who has enthusiasm for their product.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
I can't imagine myself cosplaying. I'm far too short and fat to come within 10 feet of spandex. But I'm glad to think that someone out there is making the effort to bring our heroes to life.
Last week's poll question: What is your opinion of cosplaying? (41 votes)
With the publication of Justice League International Annual this week, the JLI is no more. At least for the time being. I thought the issue was terrible, but I've been informed that some people actually liked it. I'm going to put it to a straight up or down vote this week: how did the wrap-up issue sit with you?
(If you want to put more than just two cents in, I invite you to rate and comment on the issue yourself here.)
| | Tags: cosplay justice league international polls
Eyz posted on Sep. 4, 2012 at 4:33 AM
My answer will be the same as the winning vote, no doubt. :/