gailsimone:

I AM SO FRICKING FORTUNATE IT’S RIDICULOUS

Seriously.

Okay, well, if you read the news on Bleeding Cool, I unfortunately have the sad duty to confirm that it’s true.  As of Wednesday of last week, I was informed by an email from  my new editor that I am no longer the writer of Batgirl.

I cannot express my disappointment at this. I think everyone is aware how important Barbara Gordon is to me, and how important it is to me that her stories be told with respect and care, both for the character and the readers.

We tried our very best to do that, and it was an honor to write Barbara for these many years.

I have to thank the previous editors, the intelligent and classy Bobbie Chase, and the absolutely wonderful Brian Smith. I want to thank the rest of the bat-office writers and artists who never failed to be supportive and inspiring to work with. In particular, Scott Snyder has made a Herculean effort to support me, Batgirl, and the entire Bat-line, and I am proud to call him my friend.

I am in debt forever to the magnificent artists I’ve gotten to work with telling these stories. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Ardian, Ed, Daniel, Vincente, Admira, Stanley, and all the rest of you wonderful people I am too scattered right now to name. You guys have no idea how much joy your talents and craft have brought me. It’s absolutely humbling to work with people like you.

I want to thank DC for giving me the opportunity to write Barbara. When the new52 was announced, I was terrified that telling early stories of Barbara would mean completely invalidating her story as a disabled icon. We tried our best never to forget that, even when putting her back in the suit. 

Very few writers are ever lucky enough to get to work in the bat-offices, it’s a rare honor and thrill and I absolutely loved it and will miss it terribly.

I am probably sounding a little bit maudlin right now, as I feel a genuine sense of loss. This wasn’t just another assignment to me. 

When this was announced just a little while ago on bleedingcool.com, I confirmed it, and when I came back, my twitter feed was completely flooded by incredibly kind words.

So, while I am very sad right now and I won’t deny it, I have to say, I’m sure this sounds corny, but I feel very, very fortunate.

I have been lucky enough to live a dream that was too big for me to even think about as a child. I got to write  Batgirl. When I was just a little kid, she was the first superhero I’d ever seen. A redhaired smart girl who could kick ass?  It changed my life. And I grew up and got to write her. I wouldn’t be any happier if I’d won the lottery.

I still understand that not everyone was happy with the changes to her in the new52. But if it was going to happen, I wanted it to be done with honesty and care.  And we produced a book that was a critical and commercial success. Twice in the past year we got raves from the New York Times. We had many sell-out issues. In short, I am very, very proud of what we’ve done.

But the reason I feel fortunate right now is you guys. Here’s where the corn level goes nuclear.

You guys have NO IDEA, no CONCEPTION AT ALL, how much you mean to me. The support on Twitter in the past hour was almost more than I could take, I had to stop reading because I was getting too choked up.

You guys have supported me and said kind things when I was low, and you let me know that fighting for things to get better was important and worth the effort, you made me laugh too many times to count, and you have added so much to my life I can’t even explain it.

Yes, I know this sounds corny, but it’s true and I can’t help it.

I thought I was going to be just hearbroken giving this news, and I definitely am, but the support from you guys and from the pro community is something very very special and I will cherish it.You guys made a rotten week much, much more bearable.

Thank you so, so much. And I wish the next team on Batgirl the very best of luck.

Gail

midtowncomics:

RIP Joe Kubert

September 18, 1926 - August 12, 2012

Love the new armor!

PLEASE bring Thomas Jane back as the Punisher, he is so perfect in the role!!!

• May 3, 2013 — Iron Man 3
• November 8, 2013 — Thor: The Dark World  
• April 4, 2014 — Captain America: The Winter Soldier
• August 1, 2014 — Guardians of the Galaxy

     In 1986 DC Comics launched a MAJOR event known as the Crisis on Infinite Earths. This event was the first time ever that DC Comic relaunched their entire universe, the era from the 1930-1986 was erased and a new universe was born. This relaunch of course didn’t come without its major changes. We saw the death of Barry Allan, Wally West becoming the new Flash, the (First) retelling of Superman’s origins aka The Man of Steel, the first appearances of a couple of new superheroes, and a nice up to the times DCU. I’m positive there were a lot more changes but we’re not here to talk about the changes we’re here to talk about the old DCU.

     I mention all the time on my comic book reviews and videos how much I miss the old DCU and a lot of newer readers who just jumped on to comics post Flashpoint relaunch don’t even know what the old DCU was like and they say “I wish I could have had the chance to read a bit of it” or “I’m going to go back and buy some of the older books”. So for those of you that don’t know the old DCU here we go I’ll give the best through the ages I remember, mind you that I was a Superman fan though out most of this time so I really am not to knowledgeable about things that have happened to other heroes save a few major events.

     When I first read “Superman: The Man of Steel”, which was the first ever retelling of Superman’s Origins, I was HOOKED. The Kent’s being alive to help nurture Clark into becoming Superman, the mother actually making the suit, the 80’s feel all around the beginning of the book AH it was just pure awesome. Then the first meetings of Batman, Lex, Lois, the Daily Planet, Jimmy…it was just an amazing mini that then became an ongoing title.

     During this era we also saw the epic “Death of Superman”, “The Reign of the Supermen” which brought us 4 new characters in the DCU. Batman being Paralized, “the Killing Joke” which changed Batgirl’s life forever. Panic in the sky, Hal Jordan going crazy and becoming Parallax which then lead into “Zero Hour”, the electric Superman, 2 new Robins, more death and rebirth, Blackest Night, and many-many more amazing stories.

     In this universe you had amazing heroes to look up to and aspire to be like. The DCU was bright, even when they did the epic cross over with Marvel DC’s universe shined brighter then Marvels and actually made Marvel’s Universe look dark. The old DCU gave you that warm feeling inside like no matter what the super heroes were actual super heroes, regardless what people thought or the fact that too good is boring.

     Towards the end though you could see DC giving up on its own characters all through out most of 2011 I felt like Superman was dragging…even before then the series was just stalling at times. I think DC just gave in and threw away tradition to literally pervert their own universe post Flash Point…I fear that even years from now when they try to undo the reboot the damage will have already been done and the old DCU I grew up with and loved for 11 plus year will never return or be the same again. Which is sad because it was one really amazing universe!

First Official picture from Iron Man 3!!!

IRON PATRIOT IN IRON MAN 3!?!?? Woot