Gotham Lounge

Who is Supernova?

2006-07-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

If you've been reading DC Comics' weekly series 52, then you know one of the great riddles of the weekly drama is just who is the newest hero to grace the skies of Metropolis, a man who calls himself Supernova? And as I was looking through the pages of 52 #10 where Clark Kent pulls a Lois Lane by throwing himself out a window of the Daily Planet, only to be rescued by the new mystery hero, something popped out at me.

Here's Supernova's insignia:

And here's Jack (Starman) Knight's insignia:

Remarkably similar, aren't they? So does this mean Jack Knight is really Supernova? Nope. Want to know who I think it is though? Here, I'll show you:

Would explain a whole lot....

The Other Side

2006-07-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

Paul Van Dyk

Otherwise

2006-07-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

Morcheeba

Even Better Than the Real Thing

2006-07-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

Little Lies

2006-07-19T08:00:00.001-07:00

Fleetwood Mac

Waiting to Die

2006-07-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

Zero 7

It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)

2006-07-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

AC/DC

Dreams

2006-07-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Deep Dish, Dreams

Gotham Lounge on MySpace

2006-02-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

Hi there. Miss me?

Gotham Lounge is now on MySpace. If you've got a MySpace account, by all means feel free to add me as your friend. The more, the merrier, as they say somewhere.

I intend to return to the Lounge (this blog, not the one on MySpace) on a semi-regular basis in the next few weeks. So keep your eyes, or your RSS feeds whatever, peeled.

Auld Lang Syne

2005-12-31T16:45:00.000-08:00

Today marks the last day of my year! of! blogging! which started with Trade Whore and eventually evolved into this place, the Gotham Lounge.

I've always maintained that after one year, I'd go from there and decide what to do next. Would I continue blogging? Or would I just close shop and move onto other things? And for the time being, I've decided to take a break. Doesn't mean I'm gone for good, or that the Lounge is suddenly going to fade away into the mists of time, just means that I want to devote more energies to other endeavors. Change is good, after all, and 2006 promises to be a year a major changes for me. (Incidentally, I do plan on updating the Secret Files Blog whenever new issues are released. So I'm not completely abandoning blogs altogether.)

Thanks for reading, and have a Happy New Year.

Cheers.

Blowing Up Like a Bob-Omb

2005-12-28T08:06:00.000-08:00

Dude, Scott Pilgrim's on MySpace, and he's got, like, over 500 friends. Dude's blowing up like a Bob-Omb!

Wonder if Knives is on there....

Do it for Martha "Dumptruck" Dunnstock

2005-12-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

I've been politely reminded to plug the Comic Bloggers' Poll 2005, designed and managed by Chris Tamarri of Crisis/Boring Change fame. I've already voted, and if you run a blog of any kind, one with a particular focus on comics, you should as well. Because if you don't, you get kicked out of the clubhouse, and, well, that's no fun. And you want to be one of the Heathers, don't you? Or do you prefer being a Veronica?

Meanwhile...

Entertain yourself with "The Challenge of the Southpark Friends." It has Timmy as Aquaman!

Now Playing

2005-12-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

Dangerdoom. Nerd rap. Rawk.

Now Playing

2005-12-21T08:29:00.000-08:00

The Fading Collection is a local electronica band here in Seattle, and they've got something good going on. Check out the "Audio" section and download a few full-length tracks off their four albums for a nice sampler of the group. Personally, I recommend "Windshield," so there you go.

And no, your eyes are not deceiving you, the album art was done by James Jean.

The Lettermen

2005-12-19T07:34:00.000-08:00

New mix.

The Lettermen

Rise - Doves
Ms. Fortune - Injected
Shame (Way Out West Mix) - BT
Out of This World - Bush
Come Undone - Duran Duran
Safer Hands - Olive
At the End (Sat & Lee Howler Reprise) IIO
Firestarter - Jimmy Eat World
I Know - Jude
Communication - The Cardigans
Creature of Comfort - Olive
No Difference - Everything But The Girl

Fired Up

2005-12-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of FIRESTORM came out yesterday –- issue #20 -- and after reading it, I suddenly realized that, hey, this is now my favorite ongoing super-hero book. It's just that damn good! Month after month, Stuart Moore and Jamal Igle have just done such a great job of turning around a book that, for all intents and purposes, was dead in the water. Because let's face it, the reaction a lot of diehard Firestorm fans had to a new character assuming the title role was not that of excitement. And it probably also didn't help that the first few issues written by Dan Jolley lacked any real punch to them. They were all right for what they were, but for a new character, assuming a fairly popular super-hero mantle? It just didn't have that spark necessary, and consequently I dropped the book after the fifth issue. From there, I figured it was just a short time until cancellation, which was unfortunate, but there's little patience nowadays for books with fairly decent expectations that don't meet them.

But then Kevin Church had to go off and do a brief review of a black & white preview he received from DC of Moore's first issue. Since I like Kevin, and his taste in comics (and beavers), I figured I'd give Moore's first issue a shot. So I did, and the rest as they say, is history.

So for the last seven months, I've been a loyal FIRESTORM reader and I'm damn proud of that fact. Moore's really injected the title with a great sense of adventure, with dashes of humor, action, drama, and just a touch of romance. What Moore has managed to do is turn a comic produced in 2005 into a comic that feels like it should have been produced back in the '70s, or early '80s. Back when comics were comics, and you knew going into it you were getting a good time with good guys fighting the bad guys. You won't find any hints of decompression here. What FIRESTORM reminds me of are those early issues of THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, where you'd have a one or two issue story arc, but still have these ongoing plot threads woven throughout. You could jump in virtually in any issue and not be totally lost as to what's going on. None of those six-part story arcs that usually just wastes time and space for those quiet, deer-in-the-headlights moments that certain writers are fond of these days. Whether that's intentional or not, I have no idea, but I'm so glad it's happening, because we need comics like this. I'm not suggesting that all comics go this route, but it's nice to have a handful that do. Makes life interesting, you know?

Something else Moore has managed to handle quite nicely has been the crossovers. DC is in the middle of crossover rampage with INFINITE CRISIS, and Firestorm has been right in the thick of it. So far, the book has had tie-ins to VILLAINS UNITED, OMAC PROJECT, and now several issues devoted to INFINITE CRISIS itself. It seems like a lot, and truthfully, it is which can be a major turn off for new readers, but Moore has really made all these issues accessible. You don't have to read the INFINITE CRISIS miniseries to understand what's going on. Everything's covered. I'm not kidding either. It's great, because quite often writers get trapped by these crossovers, and usually end up fumbling the ball -- hard. Stories start to go down the tubes, and soon the book you once enjoyed just don't have the same appeal any longer, and the recovery just isn't helping. Yet FIRESTORM has escaped all that thus far.

Then there's Igle's artwork, which is just awesome. I remember when Igle started doing fill-in issues during Judd Winick's run on GREEN LANTERN and thinking he had a nice, clean style that was very appealing and perfectly suited for a super-hero book. Now he's on FIRESTORM and just blowing all my expectations away. Fight scenes feel like fight scenes. There's no static posing going on. And the facial expressions are always dead on; you know when a character is joking around, or on the verge of tears, upset, angry, scared, the whole range of emotions -- Igle's just at the top of his game! He just rocks.

But do you want to know what the coolest thing about FIRESTORM is? Footnotes. Yes, footnotes. FIRESTORM actually -- and I swear to god, I'm not making this up. I would never fool you -- has footnotes. In every issue! Yes! It's so awesome. Granted, the footnotes aren't all over the place, but they're there, usually letting the reader know about something that happened in a previous issue, or in another title. Do you know how many books nowadays use footnotes on a regular basis? I can't think of any other than FIRESTORM. I know, it seems crazy, but it's one of the cheap thrills a fan can get is seeing a footnote and knowing that there's other stuff going on. None of this assuming the reader already knows everything and everyone in DCU. So yeah, that's pretty rocking.

Currently, there are no trades planned for Moore/Igle run on the title. Now, that may change, especially with FIRESTORM having so many tie-ins to INFINITE CRISIS (which seems to be a deciding factor in collecting some material at the moment), but right now it looks like trades aren't in the cards. Thankfully, the crossover issues have boosted salesa bit, so maybe, just maybe, that'll be enough to get at least one trade scheduled. So if you do want to check out this book, I strongly encourage you to not wait-for-trade in this instance. Just go out and pick up at least one issue, and if you like, ask your retailer to order you the previous issues. Many of them should still be in stock at Diamond.

I'm really fired up about FIRESTORM, in case you hadn't noticed, and I just wanted to share that with the world. This is what super-hero comics should be all about. Good times, thrills, chills, and nuclear man action. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

Oh! In this week’s issue, Firestorm teams-up with Animal Man! In space! Against a whole bunch of Hawkmen! Is that not just completely porno, or what?

UPDATE: It must be Firestorm day, because Newsarama has just posted a new interview with Jamal Igle about a change in look for the Nuclear Man, and what's to come "One Year Later."

Now Playing

2005-12-12T08:58:00.000-08:00

Now Playing

2005-12-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

KEXP is a Seattle-based radio station that is listener supported, i.e., survives via public/corporate donations. What you get in exchange for your donation is some of the best-played music anywhere in the country -- perhaps even the world. From indie rock, hip-hop, electronica, country, jazz, whatever, you name, they likely play it. But don't go be expecting the latest from those Top 40 chart toppers, oh no, KEXP isn't about that. What KEXP is about is giving a voice to those artists and musicians who normally wouldn't have a voice thanks to major corporations such as Clear Channel controlling what people listen to.

Screw that.

What KEXP has to offer is this: live streaming of all their broadcasts, 24/7, including an online playlist that is updated every few minutes; a terrific archive of live, in-studio performances from bands such as Zero 7, They Might Be Giants, Iron & Wine, Interpol, and so many more; and KEXP now offers several podcasts available for download from iTunes filled with great music, local and otherwise.

So go forth and listen to some great music. That's an order.

I Betcha Think This Song is About You

2005-12-06T07:08:00.000-08:00

Please, just shut up. You think you're so smart? So witty? That you know it all? That you know what you say is the definition of everything? Think again.

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

You write, and write, on a near daily basis. You think just because you can write well, know how to spell and apply grammar correctly, that it puts you above it all? Think again.

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

Don't bother trying to mask your contempt. I see right through it. Stop looking down at those who happen to enjoy something you don't. Yeah, you may have some "insight" into things, but that doesn't make you an expert. Think again.

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

Get down from your high horse. Fall flat on your ass and learn a little humility. It'd do you some good. Because humble you are not. Think again.

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

It doesn't surprise me that you love the sound of your own voice. Everything's always about you, you, and of course, you. God forbid someone else has an opinion. Because it's all about you, after all. Think again.

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

That chip is getting pretty big. Bigger and bigger with each passing day. And you do nothing but make it worse. But what's sad is that you think you don't have one. Think again.

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

You don't know me. Don't even try to act like you do. Try to pigeonhole me into one of your little "categories" won't work. Because I'm not one of your labels. Think again.

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

Just because you have a blog doesn't mean you're important. Think again.

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

It's not what you say. It's what you do.

Just ask Carly Simon.

Because you're all so vain.

Clouds in your coffee.

For Free: Legion of the Damned/Legion Lost

2005-12-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: The issues have been spoken for. Thanks for playing. No lovely prizes for the non-winners. Except this piece of lint. It's from my jeans. Pretty!

Over the weekend I discovered I still had my copies of LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #122-125, LEGIONNAIRES #79-81, and LEGION LOST #1, 2... which made up the entire "Legion of the Damned," and "Widening Rifts" arcs, along with the first two issues of the now hard-to-get LEGION LOST mini-series.

Well I have no real desire to read or keep them now -- been there, done that -- so I'm offering these issues, for free, to anyone who wants them. Just drop me an email with an address to send them to and POOF! they're yours. First come, first served, however. And who knows, you may get a few extra comic goodies along with those issues!

Oh look... it's snowing

2005-12-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

More snow
Originally uploaded by hovy.

Absolute Need

2005-12-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

For the last week, I've found myself totally obsessed with DC's Absolute line of books. Those lavish, oversized hardcovers of some of the best material in the DC vault; dressed up in only the best in designer clothing, bling flowing from the fingers, just ready to hit all the top night spots with the clear intention of making everyone stop dead in their tracks to make sure they notice how ghetto fab Absolute is, so that by the next morning, every blog, gossip column, and social circle is talking about Absolute with absolute scorn and envy. Yeah, those Absolute books. It's starting to freak me out though, because I now have this serious urge to blow a ton of cash on every Absolute title available. I already own ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY VOL 1, bought that when it originally came out, but that's been it thus far. I really hadn't paid much attention to the others, because, frankly, I had more important books on my mind.

Frankly, I blame this urge on Barnes & Noble. See, on their website, they have their annual Holiday Gift Guide up and running, spotlighting books they recommend as gifts. As I was browsing the Graphic Novel section of the guide last weekend, I noticed that they had that Paul Dini/Alex Ross WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER-HEROES edition at 40% off (technically, yes, WORLD'S isn't an Absolute, but it's in the same family). Not a bad deal, I thought, when you also factor in the $10 B&N gift card that I needed use, and, well, paying $20 for something I wouldn't have spent $50 on seemed like a great deal. But now having purchased that particular book, I have this urge to own all the others in the line -- especially the WATCHMEN and CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS editions.

Now I wouldn't mind owning either WATCHMEN or CRISIS -- especially the former title. I hear the production values on it are fantastic and I suspect I'd probably re-read that version of the book a lot more frequently than my softcover edition. And I originally had intended to order it, but got caught up with other stuff, and eventually figured I'd be fine with just my regular, plain old softcover copy -- but I'm really not sure if I should be ordering them now. Do I give into this urge, and spoil myself rotten with these elegant books? Or do I let rational thinking dictate the situation and pass each book up... with the logic that the money could be better spent elsewhere? It's a tough decision, especially when you factor in that DC doesn't seem to have any intentions on keeping any of the Absolute editions in print. Once the first print run is gone, it's gone, and many of the Absolute titles are already out-of-print. But then again, I don't exactly have the space at the moment for a series of oversized hardcovers, and tracking many of them down sounds like a real hassle, not to mention likely expensive since dealers will want an arm and a leg for certain titles.

Shit, I don't know. Stupid impulses. Maybe I should just spend the money on beer. Because beer is good.

I will say this. The instant DC announces an Absolute Edition for NEW FRONTIER you better believe your ass I'll order it. Which will probably trigger this whole cycle of urge and impulses thing all over again. Damnit, I think I need to take up a new hobby, like stamp collecting, or stalking. Something less expensive.

Wednesday Morning Roundup

2005-11-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday, even though I think it's Tuesday because I didn't work on Monday, so now I'm all screwed up in the head (more so than usual). I can't think of very much to blog about (which is kind of stating the obvious), so I'm going to go with old reliable and fallback to simple link blogging.

- Beck has posted four previously unreleased tracks on his new website. Just click on the "Discobox" link, and then "Next" to listen. [PopCandy]

- Arjanwrites.com is streaming the entire Brokeback Mountain soundtrack. The movie opens in theatres next Friday. [PopCandy]

- This week's "Musical Monday's" is up over at Silly Pipe Dreams (and has been since Monday, natch), with downloadable MP3s of various songs from last week's episodes of Grey's Anatomy, The OC, and Veronica Mars. [Silly Pipe Dreams]

- DC is releasing SHOWCASE PRESENTS: SUPERMAN FAMILY VOL 1 in March. It'll contain JIMMY OLSEN #1-22, and SHOWCASE #9 (first Lois Lane solo story). Later volumes will continue to collect SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN, along with LOIS LANE, and SUPERGIRL. [Marvel Masterworks Board]

- Speaking of DC in March... the second volume of Grant Morrison's SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY looks to be coming out as well. [Barnes & Noble.com]

- Can't get enough of Madonna's newest song, Hung Up? Then go watch the video and dance, dance, dance. You know you want to. [Virgin.net]

Now Playing

2005-11-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

Now Playing

2005-11-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

It's all Bryan Singer's fault.