Ask Me About DC Comics

◉◉maru

Jaffe Congrats. Is it going to be a year-long, weekly podcast? That would make 52 episodes.

Jaffe

We’re working out the details! We’re shopping the show to networks and have multiple formats prepared.

DaveedNoo

Noice! I will listen!

◉◉maru

Hey @Jaffe what’s your view on Rob Liefeld and what would you say is the most interesting work he has done for DC? I thought this was a pretty interesting and nuanced take on the character.

Jaffe

◉◉maru My view is that his ability as a stylized artist is overshadowed by the fact that he’s kind of a huge jerk in real life! It’s fun to make fun of him sometimes not because he is an inherently poor artist, but because he is a dude with regressive ideas who is very shitty to other people in the industry.

I’d say his most interesting work for DC is his Hawk & Dove and Deathstroke comics in 2011-2012 which somehow managed to be the worst part of an already controversial publishing initiative. It really lays bare how badly his shtick had aged in 20 years.

Aizen

Besides Rock of Ages, what Darkseid stories would you recommend?

Jaffe

Aizen Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Saga still rules. New Gods, Mister Miracle, and Forever People all from the 70s.

The best to ever do it after Kirby was Walt Simonson, with his Orion series from 2000. Issue 5, which is just one long gladiatorial combat scene between Orion and Darkseid, is an all timer.

For a more recent book, Tom King and Mitch Gerads really nailed how we perceive Darkseid today in the 2018 Mister Miracle series. The book is not perfect, but their Darkseid Is.

Aizen

Thanks. I’ll check those out. Darkseid is one of my favourite DC villians

Mnemogenic

I’ve been reading the New 52 Captain Atom and I’m kind of obsessed with Freddie Williams II’s art for this book. I saw he got an Eisner for a Mister Miracle series; is there anything else I should check out from him?

whatsarobot

Hey @Jaffe. Very specific one here, but, around 2003, I really enjoyed Gotham Central, Batgirl, Plastic Man, Hawkman, JLA, and The Flash. But my favourite book at the time was either Powers (Image Comics) or Blue Monday (Oni Press). I also was really into Daredevil, but I don’t know if we’re allowed to talk about Marvel in this thread, or ever.

Since then, I’ve mainly only read manga. But none of the weird shit. Only good manga, honest.

Based on that, is there a current DC book you think I could pick up and immediately enjoy? Looking for cape or cape-adjacent shit in particular, with DC lore appeal.

Jaffe

whatsarobot You can talk Marvel in this thread if you want, but do not expect me to have any expertise in that area at all.

If you enjoyed those, and we’re talking DC’s CURRENT current lineup, like what’s being published this second, you’re gonna like SPIRIT WORLD for the Cassandra Cain factor, JOKER: THE MAN WHO STOPPED LAUGHING for the comedy, and for the deep lore stuff, everything Mark Waid’s putting out right now. Particularly BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST and SHAZAM!

A new HAWKGIRL series is also starting literally today, and my good friend Jadzia Axelrod is writing it, so I would suggest checking that out too.

whatsarobot

Jaffe Awesome! Thanks very much. Will give those a try.

EDIT: Just sampled all of them on Comixology (because DC Universe Infinite is not available in my region!), and the Mark Waid stuff especially is really hitting the spot.

Jaffe

whatsarobot Mark Waid is back and better than ever. Really missed that guy.

whatsarobot

Jaffe I don’t know where he went, but I’m glad he’s back! I enjoyed his work with Mike Wieringo on Fantastic Four.

Jaffe

whatsarobot Let’s just say it’s not coincidence he returned very very shortly after Dan DiDio was fired

Jaffe

Just recorded the pilot episode of “52 Pickup” with Gita Jackson. @esper is on the boards. If you’ve ever wanted to listen to a podcast where I talk as much as tim usually does on an insert credit episode, this is the one.

whatsarobot

Jaffe This is very exciting news! Jaffe and Gita talkin’ DC? Yes please.

HeavenlyHalberd

So I am interested in getting into some American comics. I would like to try Shazam because the idea of the mind of a kid who gets the powers and body of a Superman-esque superhero and has a bunch of powers of mythology gods sounds like a lot of fun. Which run/series should I start with?

Jaffe

HeavenlyHalberd Any of the original Fawcett Comics stuff you can get your hands on from the 40s still holds up really well. Jeff Smith, the Bone guy, did a stand-alone graphic novel worth checking out called Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil. For a more modern take, try Jerry Ordway’s Power of Shazam! from the 90s, or even the Shazam! series by Mark Waid and Dan Mora that just started a couple months ago.

HeavenlyHalberd

Jaffe Very much appreciated! Thanks so much!

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