Quarter Bin #1 "DC Grab Bag"

One of the things I best like about comics is how random it can be to find and read back issues. There are so many years, so many creators, so many stories, it’s much more difficult than with books or movies to always have at least an idea of what to expect, and so many ways to search. Only music really compares. But this is not a music site. It is a comics site. And this particular column will detail my adventures with back issues, some of them coming from actual quarter bins (because there’s a certain thrill associated with those), others from any number of other origins, some that I specifically sought out. So this will be a pretty eclectic column.

The inaugural batch comes from a random assortment bought from Midtown Comics, a grab bag of DC titles, because DC happens to be my publisher of choice. Without further adieu, and in no particular order:

THE OMAC PROJECT: INFINITE CRISIS SPECIAL (DC)
From May 2006, there’s not a lot to say about this except that it was a special that was put out after the initial mini-series that helped launch INFINITE CRISIS. Written by Greg Rucka during his period of greatest influence with the company, it helped launch the modern Checkmate, which has since become a subplot for the resurrected Max Lord.

RANN-THANAGAR WAR #2 (OF 6) (DC)
From August 2005, this was obviously a companion series of the one that resulted in the above comic, from Dave Gibbons and Ivan Reis, during the period where DC really didn’t know what to do with Kyle Rayner after Hal Jordan’s return. Eventually, of course, Jade is sacrificed, which opened the door…to her recent return.

INFINITE CRISIS SECRET FILES & ORIGINS (DC)
From April 2006, this special was anchored by an account of how Earth-3 Alex Luthor tricked Earth-2 Superman and the soon-to-be eeeevil Superboy-Prime into causing Infinite Crisis, thanks to Marv Wolfman, Dan Jurgens, and Jerry Ordway. Whatever happened to these Secret Files specials?

NORTHLANDERS #13 (Vertigo)
From February 2009, this is a comic I never read on purpose, and I guess I don’t really care to, even with this sample, even though it’s had good buzz. I saw nothing in this issue to change my opinion, anyway.

TINY TITANS #12 (DC)
SUPERGIRL: COSMIC ADVENTURES IN THE 8TH GRADE #3 (OF 6) (DC)
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM! #3 (DC)
SCOOBY-DOO! #139 (DC)
DC SUPER FRIENDS #10 (DC)
Ranging from February to April 2009, I guess for some reason Midtown either thinks these grab bags are being bought for family consumption or they really think the persons purchasing them want a complete survey. Either way…

MIRROR’S EDGE #3 (WildStorm)
Based on a video game, but not really that bad.

STORMWATCH: PHD #18 (WildStorm)
From March 2009. The recent shuttering of WildStorm caused a few people to unleash some laments about how little the studio was appreciated, especially because of that period where it was responsible for a whole slew of comics inspired by SQUADRON SUPREME (not that they were ever described that way), and Gen-13, which was extremely popular for about fifteen minutes. Otherwise, WildStorm really was just responsible…for another superhero universe. I would wager to say no real loss.

BANG! TANGO #1 (OF 6) (Vertigo)
From April 2009, this was a Joe Kelly project that was somewhat hyped by Vertigo at the time. My verdict? If Howard Chaykin had provided more than just the covers, it probably would have been relevant.

WONDER WOMAN #26 (DC)
From January 2009, this was the start of Gail Simone’s “Rise of the Olympian” storyline, which was the beginning of a very swift decline in quality for her work on the title. It was basically a very, very uninspired version of “Doomsday.” I honestly don’t know what she was thinking. Or perhaps what Aaron Lopresti was thinking, assuming he designed the horribly designed villain. Lopresti is usually better than that. But at least Simone is finally off this book.

100 BULLETS #98 (Vertigo)
From February 2009, this was one of the final issues of this acclaimed series. Personally, I didn’t really see the point of it.

THE WINTER MEN WINTER SPECIAL (WildStorm)
From February 2009, this was pretty interesting. I remember reading it when I originally got this random collection, but it is definitely worth revisiting, so I will probably do that. That, ah, means it’s probably worth looking at in general.

SUPERMAN/SUPERGIRL: MAELSTROM #4 (OF 5) (DC)
From February 2009, aside from a terrible title and a worse logo, is part of the strong push Supergirl got into being a legitimate member of the modern Superman franchise, from Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, with art by Phil Noto.

SCALPED #24 (Vertigo)
From February 2009, the conclusion to the “Gravel in Your Guts” storyline. I was a semi-regular and then a regular reader of this Jason Aaron book (his best work in comics to date), but I got a little tired of things pretty remaining status quo indefinitely, like a bad TV procedural. I’m not saying this series isn’t worth reading, because it truly is one of the best comics being published today, but that it’s simply not something I can read on a regular basis.

52 #31 (DC)
From the week of December 6, 2006, a series I followed religiously when it was originally published, and still contend is a seminal work of modern comics. This particular issue centers on the horrors of Lady Styx, who admittedly didn’t really develop into anything special, but does feature the grizzly end of Captain Comet. Captain who? Well…exactly. That’s why that particular character was sacrificed during this series.

DRAGONLANCE #15 (DC)
From January 1990...based on a role playing game.

HAWK & DOVE#15 (DC)
From August 1990, and the married Kesels, who for years tried to make some incarnation of this DC duo relevant. Hey, so at least one version is technically relevant in the pages of BRIGHTEST DAY…

That’s the twenty comics included in the grab bag, and thus concludes this inaugural edition of this new incarnation of my Quarter Bin column, which if you were wondering if the origin of the “QB” in the QB50 ranking from last week. From here on out, I’ll be alternating between talk on new comics, spotlighting (as currently planned) one title or creator per week, and new editions of Quarter Bin. This is the only Midtown grab bag I’ve gotten so far, but as always, because that’s how I am with back issues, it may not be the last…