Episode 649 Talkback: Off the Rack, Usagi Yojimbo 121, Detective Comics 854, Rasl, Secret Six Options

[Bryan Deemer]

What are you reading?

Listen here

Bry

[Apreche]

Quarters in the jar bitches!

It's UsaGi with a HARD g.

When reading romanized Japanese g is always hard and j is always soft. Don't overthink it.

Also, there are only 5 vowel sounds in Japanese.

A - Ah
E - Eh
I - Eee
O - Oh
U - Ooo

There is obviously more to Japanese pronunciation than that, but if you follow those simple rules, you can keep your quarters out of the jar 90% of the time.

Also, usagi means rabbit and yojimbo means bodyguard. Rabbit bodyguard, very straightforward.

This post has been edited by Apreche: Jul 2 2009, 01:58 PM

[Bibliomike]

Enjoyed the discussion. I wish our society were at a point where Batwoman didn't always have to be qualified with "she's a lesbian." Not that you guys were doing this; in fact, I think you share the frustration. Maybe they should've done like J.K. Rowling could have done with Dumbledore, and reveal her sexual orientation later. As it is, in mainstream media at least, the only thing you learn about her is "she's a lesbian."

[Supertom]

Why does selling a sketch automatically make you a douche? I got a sketch from Erik Larsen when I was young and he was a total dick to me. I held onto it for years but the only memory I had with the sketch was him being an ass to a little kid. So when cleaning out my collection I finally sold it about a year ago.

I also have a Ren and Stimpy sketch from Bill Wray who was also a total ass. I wish I could sell that but it has "To Tom" written on it. If there's another Tom out there who loves Ren and Stimpy Ill give it to you for $10, the same amount I paid for it. Ah hell, Ill give it to you for free.

I've also thrown out a bunch of signed Rob Leifeld Heroes reborn stuff. hehe whoops.

[Flintlockjaw]

Enjoyed the discussion. I wish our society were at a point where Batwoman didn't always have to be qualified with "she's a lesbian." Not that you guys were doing this; in fact, I think you share the frustration. Maybe they should've done like J.K. Rowling could have done with Dumbledore, and reveal her sexual orientation later. As it is, in mainstream media at least, the only thing you learn about her is "she's a lesbian."

Why? She's a lesbian. No big deal. If they slowly revealed she's a lesbian it would have been cheap.
And I don't understand why there was any backlash over it.

[Merchant Mariner]

As it is, in mainstream media at least, the only thing you learn about her is "she's a lesbian."

At least it gets mainstream media coverage...you think you'd hear about her at all if it was just "she's a wealthy socialite"? That's been done...overdone actually. That DC hasn't gone overboard themselves with marketing the character as "Our First Major Lesbian Superhero!!!" is a good thing. As it should be with any good character, Batwoman's sexual orientation is just one aspect of the character's life.

[nacho]

As it is, in mainstream media at least, the only thing you learn about her is "she's a lesbian."

To be fair, when most of those stories broke before she appeared in 52, that actually WAS all that we knew about her. If we get 18 months into her stint on Detective and that's still all the media focuses on, then I think there will be more room to complain.

This post has been edited by nacho: Jul 3 2009, 01:52 AM

[Devyn Rodriguez]

The great thing about Usagi is that it is fun and straightforward, but very stupid or unintelligent. Its light, but not kiddy in the negative connotation.

I disagree with Brian when it came to J.H. Williams III's artwork. I fully understood the storytelling in the artwork and I thought it didn't feel stiff at all. But at the same time I am a total fanboy when it comes to his work, so I may be bias.

This post has been edited by Devyn Rodriguez: Jul 3 2009, 06:54 AM

[The Pamp]

It's funny, because I never read any Usagi Yojimbo before and a week or so before this episode I picked up Usagi Yojimbo Book 1: The Ronin. It's a really good read do far.

[spid]

It is interesting that the Dini Batman books did not work for Peter because for me those books are all I need from Batman. They are really easy for a casual Batman fan to pick up and read while giving a flavor of the rest of Gotham. After reading Streets of Gotham I am happy that I only need to pick up that and Gotham Sirens to scratch my Batman itch for the foreseeable future.

[Brett Jensen]

Detective 854:

In a recent "Word Balloon" podcast Rucka more or less said they have retconned the background they laid out for her in 52. as there where continuity problems with it. That's why all the stuff with her dad seems so out of left field. The reason they screwed it up before is they felt they had to rush her debut because of all the media furor surrounding the "Lesbian superheroine" in the main stream press. IIRC they will be doing her origin in a few issues.

Personally I was blown away by the issue.

Gotham city sirens:

IMO, it was just ok. I thought the story was decent though it didn't really grab me. I have to disagree with Jamie, I didn't like the art very much, the problem is that for a book like this they really should have went with an artist who can do sexy cheesecake stuff, something in like an Ed Benes' vein. I found the character designs in this pretty unattractive.

Usagi Yojimbo:

Apreche is right about the Gs

[The Darth Knight]

Hey do you guys think that Batwoman's father's rank of Colonel was determined because the symbol for Colonel is an eagle...which is a bird...and he is her support, kinda like...Robin? Or am I reading WAY to much into it? Rucka will be in town next weekend, should I ask him or do you think I will look like a complete idiot? (Please refrain from the "You don't need that to look like an idiot" comments. I do have a mirror)

[Brett Jensen]

Hey do you guys think that Batwoman's father's rank of Colonel was determined because the symbol for Colonel is an eagle...which is a bird...and he is her support, kinda like...Robin? Or am I reading WAY to much into it? Rucka will be in town next weekend, should I ask him or do you think I will look like a complete idiot? (Please refrain from the "You don't need that to look like an idiot" comments. I do have a mirror)

You may well be reading too much into it, but it is an intriguing observation. I say ask him there are a lot worse things in life than looking like an idiot

[popcornsamurai]

Thanks for the talk on Usagi. I can't wait for September when I get the hardback from DCBS. It will come near my birthday. What a great present.

[Hassan T]

I thought Detective Comics was just amazing. Almost perfect comic book. I think the writing is some of Greg Rucka's best work and the art is just phenomenal. I am really excited about this series.

Overall the Batman Reborn titles have been a success in my eyes. I agree with Peter that Paul Dini's first year on Detective was ok, but I thought it got a lot better in his second year. That said, I felt the Dini's Batman books (Streets of Gotham and Sirens) were the weakest of the bunch and if I have to drop any titles, it would be those two. Obviously, my favorite title of the bunch is Batman and Robin, which is not only my favorite Batman comic right now but my favorite comic book period. It is followed by Detective and then Batman. Although that may changed. I saw the preview art on Mark Bagley's run on Batman and it looks amazing. I never thought that Bagley would make a great Batman artist but just looking at the preview art, my opinion might have changed.

As for Richard/ Dick being Batman. I agree with Peter that Batman is not a legacy character. That said, if Batman can not be Batman then the only choice is Grayson and no one else. He is Batman's first and best partner and a better leader than Bruce can ever be since he has learned from both Batman and Superman (pre-Crisis and post IC). I am interested in reading Grayson as Batman. I think Morrison is going to give us a Batman that is similar to Denny O'Neil's Batman from the 70s, which was dark but not unhappy. Heck, there is a famous Christmas story that O'Neil did with Adams where Batman is singing Christmas Carols!!!

Besides, without Dick being Batman we could never get this awesome future cover.

[Bibliomike]

To be fair, when most of those stories broke before she appeared in 52, that actually WAS all that we knew about her. If we get 18 months into her stint on Detective and that's still all the media focuses on, then I think there will be more room to complain.

Fair enough. I haven't been reading her, so I guess I have no room to say either way. :-)

[Peter]

Show notes:
http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/episodes/com...k_speak-845.php

[rainbowcloak]

Show notes:
http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/episodes/com...k_speak-845.php

Btw in Secret Six..

Mockingbird is coming...