Precinct1313’s Top Ten Favourite Comic-Book Covers Of All Time: No.02 – Starfire #1 – Amanda Conner

Salutations my charming comic collecting cohorts, and welcome once more to our continuing countdown of cherished comic cover classics. In our previous post we presented to you the decidedly dazzling drawing dynamics of the delightful Darwyn Cooke and his tremendous take on Teen Titans #5. This impeccable instalment illuminates the absolutely astounding art of Amanda Conner and her sassy and sumptuous Starfire #1 cover.

We have written in length about the astonishing artistic auteur that is Amanda Conner, and over the many, many years that I’ve been an avid comic collector I have encountered hundreds of fantastic artists that have regaled my geeky self with some utterly sublime scribblings, and though I am indebted to all these iconic illustrators for their glorious work, a number have really stood out as favourites – talented individuals such as the great George Perez, Neal Adams, Brian Bolland, Norm Breyfogle, Phil Jimenez and Nicola Scott, picking a fave amongst these would would always prove to be an insurmountable challenge. That was until I discovered the amazing art of Amanda Conner, from that point anybody enquiring as to whom my favourite artist was, would not be able to shut me up as I enthused and rhapsodised over her dreamy drawing delectations… quirky, zany, and instantly recognisable, for me personally Amanda will always be the greatest!

 

Amanda’s creative career began in the late 1980’s working for companies such as Archie Comics, Marvel and Harris’ Comics on their Vampirella series (which is where I first discovered her phenomenal oeuvre) But it was her work on the sundry female DC characters that led me to fall in love with her adroit artistic endeavours, especially her work with Starfire, Harley Quinn and Power Girl, which all remain (and always will) my absolute favourite versions of those iconic characters. 

I love the character of Starfire, have been a huge fan since her inaugural introduction by her colossal creators, George Perez and Marv Wolfman in DC Comics Presents #26 in 1980. Since then I have rallied to read every one of her exciting escapades, with my favourite take on the character being the 2015, 12 issue maxi-series by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, with this post’s feature cover being my most treasured. In fact, I love it so much, I have three copies of it (one framed, one in the collection and one to read… yeah I know – GEEK!) Not only that though, I also purchased the extremely limited (and rather expensive) DC Collectables statue based upon this iconic illustration, and even did my first ever YouTube unboxing video on said stunning sculpture, which you may partake in right below (yep, that’s my disembodied hands of unrivalled unboxing!!)

Why Not Join Us Again Next Time On Our Continuing Chronicle Of Cool And Crazy Comic Cover Collectables…

Precinct1313 Recommends: Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey #1

Welcome fellow fans of fantastic fiction to an eclectic, eccentric and exceedingly effervescent episode of Precinct1313 Recommends! That’s right, our beloved DC Comics have daringly deigned to deliver upon us hapless Harley fans this week, not just one but two titanic and terrific takes on our absolute favourite mischievous minx of mayhem – one Ms Harleen Quinzel.

Not content with ably assaulting our senses (in the absolute best possible way, of course!) with the recently released ‘Birds Of Prey And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn’ (which was Quinn-tastic by the way, review coming soon) they throw all caution to the wind with this bombastic Black Label release – Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey, a brand new mini-series by Harley gurus and dynamic duo of comics, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti.

Harley and Ivy enjoying a desert island getaway together… or are they?

When we first catch up with our hellacious hellcat of hi-jinks, she has fallen on hard times, local loan sharks have burnt down her hotel and beat her friend Big Tony so badly he ends up in intensive care, her relationship with Poison Ivy is on the rocks, and her Gang of Harleys, now homeless because of the hotel’s inconsiderate incineration, have temporarily moved into Harl’s place. To combat this Harley hatches a plan to leave her Coney Island home and return to Gotham to gain the funds she needs to rebuild her hotel. Unfortunately, waiting back in Gotham for Harley’s eventual return is her ex Puddin’, The Joker, and let’s just say he ain’t gonna be waiting for her with open arms… nope, more likely Smilex gas, a ton of dynamite and a killer smile (emphasis on killer, of course!)

The Power Girl/Harley meet up is worth the comic’s admission alone… it’s bowel achingly funny!

Once again the titanic team up of Conner and Palmiotti deliver the gleefully gung-ho goods, their wit and wonder is seemingly unbound! Using DC’s mature Black Label imprint for Ms Quinn’s brazen adventures is essential, because this book contains so much toilet humour, overt violence, sexual innuendo (stuffed Beavers ahoy!) and fantabulously offensive material that it probably shouldn’t be read by anyone… well anyone without a sense of humour that is, the rest of us should dive on in to one of the most fantastically funny comics EVER! The dynamically delightful and dazzling artist/writer team of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti once again prove that as far as comedic story-telling in comics is concerned they are unequivocally the virtuosi of the art!

“Watcha mean ya didn’t pre-order my new Black Label comic, ya mooks!”

Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey #1 is available at your local comic-book emporium right now, head on down and secure yourself a copy, you don’t want Harley to find out you didn’t, right?

 

Precinct1313’s End Of The Decade Geekstravaganza

Well hi there fellow agents of Precinct1313, and welcome to the majestic mansion of mystery’s infamous Comic Crypts. I hope you didn’t have too much trouble finding your way down through the Precinct’s convoluted and ever changing hallways and chambers, that’s the problem with running a comic blog from a supernatural entity posing as a resplendent residence, oh and the fact that we are located at the edge of  existence also doesn’t help with navigation, as most Sat-Navs don’t appear to cover that… surprisingly!

And yet here you all are, so welcome, to Precinct1313’s End Of The Decade Geekstravaganza! That’s right, the decade draws itself to a close and we’re here to steer you through some of our favourite geeky moments from the past ten years, so pull up a tombstone (these are the comic crypts after all) and let’s all relive our favourite things of the past decennium…

Our Favourite Comic-Book Series: Mister Miracle 

Masters of the miraculous – Tom King and Mitch Gerads deserve every bit of praise thrown their way by their peers, critics and fans for this superlative series, a groundbreaking, emotional and touching 12 issue maxi-series that took one of DC and Jack Kirby’s most beloved second tier characters, and thrust him headlong into the deserving limelight. We wrote a review on this tenacious tome recently, so we shall leave you a handy dandy link right here .

Starfire 

 Though we feel that Miracle was without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest Superhero story released since Watchmen (really!) we couldn’t leave this particular post without mentioning our other comic-book love from the past ten years – Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti’s tantalising and terrific take on our absolute favourite orange hued alien princess, sizzling Superheroine – Starfire! Conner and Palmiotti are a dynamic duo of some renown in the wonderful world of comic books, a husband and wife team with a wild and wacky sense of humour that light up any character they get their talented hands upon, from Power Girl to their award winning run on Harley Quinn, everything these terrific twosome touch is utter comic-book gold, especially their 2015 maxi-series -Starfire.

Endlessly endearing and wonderfully witty, Starfire’s 2015 series is a gift that keeps on giving, Conner and Palmiotti (along with the series’ fantastic artist – Emanuela Lupacchino) have bestowed upon us humble comic fans, the greatest take on Tamaran’s lost Princess since she was first unleashed in 1980 by her superstar creators, George Perez and Marv Wolfman. An origin tale, a laugh out loud stranger in a strange place fable, Starfire is a beguiling and winsome take on a beloved DC character. Quite possibly the funniest and most captivating series from DC in many a year, the Precinct unequivocally recommends this touching and hilarious series.

(Favourite Comic-book series runners up – Doomsday Clock, Supergirl: Being Super, Wonder Woman: Rebirth)

Our Favourite Comic-Book Movie: Wonder Woman

Can you believe it took seventy five years to finally get one of the most popular, significant and important fictional characters of all time onto the big screen, a primary reason for this according to some producers, directors, movie studios and overall decision makers (all of whom were talking nonsense, of course) was that a female led Superhero movie stood little chance of success… well, I’m pleased to say that those negative naysayers were completely wrong in their assertions, because Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot’s 2017 Wonder Woman movie most assuredly was an exquisite example of, not just a top tier translation of character to silver screen, but a film that also carried a compelling message of love, hope and empowerment.

Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins more than made up for Diana’s seventy five year cinema snub by giving us, not just a superlative and accurate representation of the Themysciran Titan, but also THE greatest Superhero movie of… all… time! 

(Favourite Superhero movie runners up – Batman v Superman, Aquaman, Shazam)

Our Favourite Comic-Book Artist: Amanda Conner

I have been reading, collecting and immersing myself in comic-book worlds since the mere age of six, my first dalliance with a Superhero was the Batman, from there I went on to discover the thrilling tales of the Themysciran titan Wonder Woman and have, over the decades become a devoted stalwart of DC Comics. Not being content to just absorb these wonderful stories of heroism and emancipation, I was also always interested in the compelling creational process behind the formation of these thrilling and titanic tales, from the literary scripting and especially the wonderful artistic endeavours.

From an early age some of my very favourite artists included such luminary delights as – Neal Adams, Brian Bolland, Nicola Scott, Emanuela Lupacchino, Norm Breyfogle and Adam Hughes. Picking a favourite from these amounted to an impossibly herculean task… that is until I discovered the astonishing art of one Amanda Conner. From that point on anyone enquiring as to who my all time fave artist was would not be able to shut me up as I enthused and rhapsodised over her astounding artwork. Quirky, zany, fun and instantly recognisable, Amanda’s incredible artistic style (for me) stands head and shoulders above her peers.

(Favourite Comic-Book artist runners up – Emanuela Lupacchino, Stanley Lau, Nicola Scott)

Our Favourite Non DC Comics Movie:

Mmmmm, now this is a difficult one, I mean sooooo many great movies have been released over the past ten years, how in the name of Zeus’ beard are we able to pick just one? We can’t, so here (in no particular order) are a few of our fave non DC Comics based films of the past decade…

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets:

A tremendous movie conversion of the classic French comic-book ‘Valerian and Laureline’ that was first published in 1967, created by the talented duo of Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres. Stunning effects, decent acting (though Clive Owen, who is usually great, was rather uninspiring in this one) and an engaging, wild and zany plot make this definitely one of our top fave films from the past ten years.

Alita: Battle Angel:

Another comic-book classic given the silver screen treatment, Alita is originally a manga series created by the great Yukito Koshiro in 1990. A post apocalyptic, cyber-punk stylised story that was brought to vivid life at the talented hands of Robert Rodriguez.

Groundbreaking visual effects bring android Alita to the big screen through some jaw-dropping motion capture of the movie’s phenomenal lead actress – Rosa Salazar, who puts in an outstandingly impassioned performance, and with a back up cast that includes such thrilling thespians as Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Maershala Ali, and Jackie Earle Haley, Alita is more than deserving of your free time.

Franklyn:

British cult movie ‘Franklyn’ is a genre defying delight, part superhero saga,  noir thriller, romance, and horror, it takes great pleasure in flouting any kind of atypical filmic categorisation.

Franklyn is a visually rich movie, set across the dual dystopian parallel dimensions of Meanwhile City and contemporary London. It is within these dark, ethereal realities that we encounter four protagonists, each a lost soul, and on an intertwined and fated path to ultimately affect each others lives, be that for good or ill.

Unfortunately, as is the case with a large number of movies emanating from the UK, Franklyn never achieved the audience or status that it truly deserved. With a standout cast that includes Eva Green, Bernard Hill, Sam Riley and Ryan Phillippe, Franklyn is a film the Precinct heartily recommends. We reviewed the movie at the time, so if you find your interest piqued, then a link to our review is right here  

(Non DC Comics movie runners up: Dredd, Halloween 2018, Super, Solomon Kane)

And there you have it, fellow fans of fantastic fiction, I mean we could go on, but then this post would end up novel length, and I only have so much time to get it published before the end of 2019! With that, may I just say a big thank you to all of the Precinct’s followers and readers for the likes, comments and visits to the site over the past five years, it really is so, so appreciated. Happy New Year to you all!!

Oh, and as ever… Make Mine DC!

Women In Comics Presents: The Astonishing Art Of Amanda Conner…

I’ve been actively reading and collecting comic-books since I was a mere six years of age, my first ever encounter with a Superhero was through the dark and surly one himself – The Batman. From there I became a superfan of the Themysciran Titan – Wonder Woman, and eventually over the decades became a devoted stalwart of DC Comics and their menagerie of costume clad heroes and villains.

Not being content to just absorb the wonderfully fantastic stories wrought from the fevered minds of the various comic creators over the years, like most things I love in life, I was also heavily into the creative process behind the formation of the thrilling and titanic tales brought forth by said tomes… especially the diverse styles of the sundry artists who have regaled us with their wondrous takes on classic characters.

From an early age my favourite artists included such talented individuals as Neal Adams, George Perez, Brian Bolland, Norm Breyfogle, Adam Hughes, Phil Jimenez, Nicola Scott, Emanuel Luppachino and many, many too numerous to mention. Picking a favourite from these would always prove to be an insurmountable challenge… that was until I discovered the astonishing art of one Amanda Conner, from that point on anybody enquiring as to who my fave artist was, would not be able to shut me up as I enthused and rhapsodised over her awesome artwork. Quirky, zany, fun, and instantly recognisable… for me personally, Amanda will always be numero uno!

Amanda’s creative career began in the late 1980’s working for companies such as Archie Comics, Marvel and Harris’ Comics on their Vampirella series (which is where I first discovered her phenomenal oeuvre) But it was her work on the sundry female DC characters that led me to fall in love with her adroit artistic endeavours, especially her work with Starfire, Harley Quinn and Power Girl, which all remain (and always will) my absolute favourite versions of those iconic characters. 

On May of this year at the Comic-Con Revolution event in California, Amanda was honoured as the recipient of the Joe Kubert Distinguished Storyteller award, a prestigious achievement given only to the most outstanding comic-book creators, who exemplify both Joe Kubert’s artistic talent and commitment to the nurturing of the comic-book community. And long may she reign…

Precinct1313’s Retro Revivals…

“Aah, welcome fellow agents of Precinct1313, you’re just in time to follow Eldritch (the precinct’s resident carrion crow of woe) and myself down to the infamous ‘Scrying Chamber’  Within this portentous room stands a single stone tablet upon which sits an ominous black crystal ball that not only has the power to decipher the future, but also, recreate the past through vivid evocation.”

“As we wend our way down through the ceaseless and interminable depths of this magnificently malefic mansion of mystery why not take in the various sites as we descend… such as the astounding ‘Ancient Amazon Archives’ or the colossal ‘Comic Crypts’  Just coming up on your right you’ll notice the magnificent ‘Movie Mausoleum’  and a couple of floors down you’ll hear the hearty cheers from the hallowed ‘Halls of Quaffing’  “

“And, we have arrived, please approach the sphere of prevenience carefully and gaze deeply into it’s sanguine depths until something from the Precinct’s posting past begins to take shape… “

“So how about we relive the pestiferous pairing of Hellacious Harley Quinn and the Main Man himself – Lobo, from this portentous post from the past, first published 3 years previous… “

“Feetal’s Gizz” why didn’t anyone think of this pernicious pairing before now (OK, I admit, it didn’t even cross my mind until I saw the previews for this latest issue) but the Main Man and the Mistress of Mayhem teaming up is a match made in heaven (actually, in their particular case, Hell) That’s right my DC Comics’ loving compatriots, Harley Quinn and Lobo are together at last, and it’s as unpredictable, chaotic and crazy as you could imagine… which is great!

Now I’m sure that by now, even if you aren’t a huge fan of reading comics (tell me that ain’t so) you all know who the hellacious Harley Quinn is, but maybe you have never crossed paths with the invincible, space biking Czarnian psychotic Lobo, well never fear… the Precinct is here, and you can read up on the Main Man’s troubled history right here… phew! are you still with us after that briefly violent respite into Lobo’s malevolently malign backstory, you are!? In that case you will love this delectably dangerous duo’s teaming, and there is also icing on this deliciously depraved cake in the form of artistic auteur Simon Bisley!

British artist Simon Bisley is the person most people think of when referring to Lobo, thanks to his stellar work on the character throughout the 90’s, alongside Keith Giffen they made Lobo a household name to comic book aficionado’s across the globe. ‘It’s good to be bad’ was pretty much their mantra, and Lobo is so bad, he makes Harley seem (almost) angelic in comparison!

This book contains so much toilet humour, sexual innuendo, extreme ultra violence and offensive material that it probably shouldn’t be read by anyone… well anyone who is offended by such things, the rest of us should just dive on into a fantastically funny comic brought to us by that dynamically delightful writing duo Amanda Conner (who also drew the classic cover) and Jimmy Palmiotti, once more showing us that as far as comedic storytelling in comic books is concerned, they are the unequivocal vituosi of the art.

Simon Bisley’s Awesome Variant Cover Is Fraggin’ Fantastic!!

“Lobo’s back, the main man and Harley Quinn have a lot in common – motorcycles and mayhem for starters, so it’s long past time they found each other! This could be the start of a fraggin’ beautiful friendship… or they could destroy the planet. Or both! it can be two things!”

Harley’s Little Black Book #6 is available at your local comic book emporium right now. Brought to you by – Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti and Simon Bisley… go and fraggin’ buy it, you don’t want Lobo to find out you didn’t!!

Precinct1313 V-Log: Amanda Conner – Starfire Statue Unboxing

Welcome fellow agents of Precinct1313 to our first ever V-Log, that’s right, the Precinct’s infamous sacred sanguine sofa shall bear witness to an unboxing of epic proportions (well… it’s definitely an unboxing, epic may just be a little too grandiose, but hey!)

But before you dive into the video itself, a couple of things should be noted…

1. My hands are in no way, shape, or form professional actors! In fact if they were to star in a movie it would more likely be some terrible B movie nonsense from a company like Full Moon or something! (Please note: we love B movies and especially love and own virtually all the movies released by Full Moon!)

2. Whilst preparing the camera for the unboxing, my colleague and I said: “Why don’t we go all bohemian and idiosyncratic, and do it all in one take!?”  Mmmmmm, then again, it may just have been the fact that we had rather a large amount of untouched beer and a brand spanking new copy of Batman and Harley Quinn on Blu-Ray to indulge in after we finished the filming… Ok, Ok, it was the second reason!! (which is to say – the video was done in one take, so please forgive any inherent amateurism on my part. Though the camera work and audio by my colleague Pete is rather fabulous!)

Enjoy…

 

Thanks for watching fellow agents, and if you’re not already, why not follow us on our official Facebook page for fun and profit – (Oh Ok, there’s no profit, but we do guarantee some fun!)

All of the stunning statues in this vid were purchased from my very favourite UK based comic book emporium – Final Frontier.

Starfire, Wonder Woman, and Killer Frost are copyright: DC Comics.

Comic Cover(s) Of The Week: Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special #1

That’s right fellow fans of fantastic fiction, hellacious hellcat Harley Quinn turned twenty five this month… which obviously means that this weeks calculatedly celebratory commemorative comic collection of ceremonially charming and cheerful covers (phew! alliteration avalanche!!) is dedicated to the mischievous minx of mayhem.

“Jeez Loweez Harley Give Us A Chance, We’re Writing The Post As Quickly As We Can!”

Welcome my comic collecting compatriots to an extra special instalment of Comic Cover Of The Week, celebrating Ms Quinn’s quarter century turn as one of the medium’s most beloved and zany characters. After (just) surviving our recent up close and personal interview (which you can read right here) with the crazy clowness of crime we would be rightfully remit if we didn’t offer up this week’s episode to our favourite psychedelic psychopath, and hoo boy do we have an awesome set of covers to share with you. Beginning, of course, with our favourite of the bunch, from astounding artistic auteur Amanda Conner:

The recurring team of Amanda Conner and her hubby and co-writer Jimmy Palmiotti kick off this quad tale anniversary special by recounting Harley’s adventures in Las Vegas alongside her Gotham Siren buddies Catwoman and Poison Ivy. Amanda not only delivers another outstanding cover image but also lends her impressive artistic talent to the tale contained within, proving once again that she is one of the most adroit and skillful creators in the wonderful world of comic book craft.

Her artwork portrays eloquently expressive characterisation, and her writing talent showcases her always exemplary comic timing, Amanda Conner is THE jewel in DC’s crown of comic book composers!

Alongside Amanda’s sterling cover are a host of other variant issues, with our next fave from DC Comics’ Co-Publisher and incredible illustrator Jim Lee:

And this magnificent masterpiece from Terry and Rachel Dodson:

‘Celebrate twenty five years of Harley Quinn with this collection of stories by some legendary Harley talent and some who have never drawn her before! How does Harley manage her insanely jam packed life on Coney Island? What haven’t we seen from her past with The Joker? And can even Harley’s psychological acumen crack the twisted mind of Robin: The Boy Wonder? Find out with the Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special #1, available at your local comic book emporium right now!

Ancient Amazon Archives Revisited – Act VI

Our effervescent expedition through the ancient Amazon archives continues apace as we descend yet another level into what is a seemingly infinite array of chambers and corridors, with each and every recess literally crammed with untold millennia of encyclopedic knowledge pertaining to the deific Amazon race.

This new tier though appears more majestic than the three previous floors we negotiated, the palatial surroundings are bathed under an ethereal light that transcends even the anterior archives in elegance. Diaphanous silks drape across the walls, and each turn of the interminable passageways present us with an exquisite effigy of one of the founding Gods of Olympus, layered in gold and precious stones that denotes their importance to the noble race of warriors and artisans.

The hellenic architecture of the passages give way to an extraordinarily large Propylae gate that forms the entrance to an elegant repository that house the largest collection of tomes and parchments we have yet seen in our ongoing odyssey. One wall though contains a single volume, bound in leather and embossed in gold leaf this intricate book shimmers under the luminescent glow of the nearby torches. Carefully opening the tome, our eyes alight upon the magnificence of the interior narrative, an elaborate exposition that can only be translated through… ‘Classic Wonder Woman’  Precinct1313’s comic cover countdown to the 75th anniversary of Diana Prince.

A scintillating six hundred issues into the astonishing adventures of the amazing Amazon, and DC merge the previous three volumes and return Diana’s foray into man’s world to its original numbering. This oversized anniversary special brings together a legion of tantalising talent to create a commemorative comic of epic proportion.

The cadre of comic-book composers gathered together for this illustrious issue include – George Perez, Amanda Conner, Gail Simone, Phil Jimenez, Jock, Adam Hughes, J. Michael Strazczynski, Nicola Scott and many, many more. Plus, an incomparable introduction by stunning seventies superstar of the original Wonder Woman TV series, the lovely Lynda Carter!

The anniversary issue comprises five different tales of the Themysciran Titan, with the highlight for this fevered fan being the short tale written and drawn by the amazing Amanda Conner. We find Wonder Woman teaming up with Power Girl and one time Batgirl Cassandra Cain to battle the inexplicable Egg-Fu! It also touches upon a power we rarely see used by Diana, her innate ability to empathise and to some extent converse with animals, as she gives Power Girl a look into why her pet cat is out of sorts in a heartfelt and amusing tale.

Join us again next time for more ‘Classic Wonder Woman’ my adventurous Amazonian associates!

Comic Cover Of The Week: Harley’s Little Black Book #6

“Feetal’s Gizz” why didn’t anyone think of this pernicious pairing before now (OK, I admit, it didn’t even cross my mind until I saw the previews for this latest issue) but the Main Man and the Mistress of Mayhem teaming up is a match made in heaven (actually, in their particular case, Hell) That’s right my DC Comics’ loving compatriots, Harley Quinn and Lobo are together at last, and it’s as unpredictable, chaotic and crazy as you could imagine… which is great!

Now I’m sure that by now, even if you aren’t a huge fan of reading comics (tell me that ain’t so) you all know who the hellacious Harley Quinn is, but maybe you have never crossed paths with the invincible, space biking Czarnian psychotic Lobo, well never fear… the Precinct is here, and you can read up on the Main Man’s troubled history right here… phew! are you still with us after that briefly violent respite into Lobo’s malevolently malign backstory, you are!? In that case you will love this delectably dangerous duo’s teaming, and there is also icing on this deliciously depraved cake in the form of artistic auteur Simon Bisley!

British artist Simon Bisley is the person most people think of when referring to Lobo, thanks to his stellar work on the character throughout the 90’s, alongside Keith Giffen they made Lobo a household name to comic book aficionado’s across the globe. ‘It’s good to be bad’ was pretty much their mantra, and Lobo is so bad, he makes Harley seem (almost) angelic in comparison!

This book contains so much toilet humour, sexual innuendo, extreme ultra violence and offensive material that it probably shouldn’t be read by anyone… well anyone who is offended by such things, the rest of us should just dive on into a fantastically funny comic brought to us by that dynamically delightful writing duo Amanda Conner (who also drew the classic cover) and Jimmy Palmiotti, once more showing us that as far as comedic storytelling in comic books is concerned, they are the unequivocal vituosi of the art.

Simon Bisley’s Awesome Variant Cover Is Fraggin’ Fantastic!!

“Lobo’s back, the main man and Harley Quinn have a lot in common – motorcycles and mayhem for starters, so it’s long past time they found each other! This could be the start of a fraggin’ beautiful friendship… or they could destroy the planet. Or both! it can be two things!”

Harley’s Little Black Book #6 is available at your local comic book emporium right now. Brought to you by – Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti and Simon Bisley… go and fraggin’ buy it, you don’t want Lobo to find out you didn’t!!

World’s Finest – An Exclusive Interview With Starfire

Welcome fellow agents of Precinct1313 to the inaugural episode of “World’s Finest”, this series will be introducing you to our favourite convocation of comic-book characters, of, all, time!

Every episode we will cast our celestial spotlight on one of our most treasured Superheroes, Supervillains, Costumed Crimefighters, Dimension Dwelling Demons, oh and… Super-Pets (because everyone loves Krypto, right!?)  

Who’s a good boy then Krypto, but it’s not your turn just yet.

So let’s begin our passionately personal preference of peerlessly popular paragons with… Princess Koriand’r of Tamaran, or more popularly known as “Starfire“.

Behold the scorchingly sizzling Superheroine, Starfire!

So take your seats fellow fans of fantastic fiction and let’s acquaint ourselves with this episode’s extra special guest star…

“Interview Me!? Really?… I’m Assuming Wonder Woman Wasn’t Available…”

Precinct1313: Hi Koriand’r, and thanks for joining us at Precinct1313 for our first ever episode of World’s Finest!

Starfire: Thanks so much for inviting me, it sure is an impressive structure.

Precinct1313: It surely is a marvellous mystery of malevolent and majestic mansions.

Starfire: Uh, do you often talk like that?

Precinct1313: It’s a, uh, thing I do, alliteration is king here.

Starfire: Well I’m all for individuality, I am an alien to this world after all.

Precinct1313: You are indeed, from the planet Tamaran, I believe.

Starfire: That’s correct, a beautiful peaceful planet, that is, up until it’s destruction by The Blight.

Precinct1313: An awful tragedy, yet you seem to have found your feet here on Earth.

Starfire: I have always had my feet, they weren’t here on your planet but at the end of my legs.

Precinct1313: Uh, it’s sort of like a saying, you know, an aphorism…

Starfire: Aphorism? Ooooh, are they like related to the Aphorians from Quaxxel 7?

Precinct1313: I have literally no idea what you are talking about.

Starfire: Sigh… yeah, that happens a lot, did I mention I came from another planet.

Precinct1313: Yes you did, anyway can we start by asking actually who, in DC’s pantheon of creators was your particular favourite chronicler of your amazing adventures?

Starfire: Oooooh, we’re really breaking that fourth wall here huh, I would say,by far, the astonishing Amanda Conner, such an amazing talent.

Precinct1313: Agreed, she really is fantastic. Now, your initial introduction to the world of DC was in 1980 in – DC Comics Presents #26, did you feel nervous during your debut?

Starfire: Mmmmm, not really, I mean I was lucky to have been created by two of comicdom’s most prolific architects, marvelous Marv Wolfman and glorious George Perez.

Precinct1313: Ah yes indeed, they really are comic book royalty, if I can maybe get a little more personal, during your tenure with the Teen Titans, you were engaged in a rather passionate liaison with fellow member Nightwing, also known as Dick Grayson, former Robin to the Batman. Do you miss those halcyon days from your past?

Starfire: I do and always shall love Nightwing, he was my first real relationship here on your beautiful blue planet, but I don’t lament what was, I celebrate what is.

Precinct1313: Mmmmm, profound. You recently starred in a 12 issue series by the aforementioned Amanda Conner and astounding artist Emanuela Lupacchino, it has actually become one of my favourite comic book runs of all time, and was a particular hit with your fans, to what do you attribute it’s success?

Starfire: Mainly down to Amanda’s peerless writing talent, I find she knows me better than most creators, I mean, it’s almost like, she’s inside my head.

Precinct1313: Well, she sort of is…

Starfire: Oh yeah, ha ha, of course, comic book character and all. Sorry, it’s not too often I have to breach that fourth wall, it takes some getting used to.

Precinct1313: I understand, well Koriand’r it’s been fantastic having you as a guest on World’s Finest and we wish you all the best for your future in crime fighting capers and planet saving escapades.

Starfire: It’s been a literal blast, uh, how do I get back to my reality from here again.

Precinct1313: Yours is the second universe on the left.

Starfire: Ooooh, *hugs*.

In our next episode we shall be joined by the azure avenger, Ted Kord more popularly known as the second hero who has held the mantle of The Blue Beetle. Until then.

Comic Cover Of The Week: Justice League vs Suicide Squad #3

Welcome my comic collecting cohorts to another instalment of ‘Comic Cover Of The Week’ and this week’s illustriously illustrated issue is brought to you by the astonishing Amanda Conner. Conner is, and always shall be one of our favourite artists here in the depths of the Precinct’s colossal comic crypts, her peerless mastery of pen and pencil is almost unmatched in the industry, her alluring artwork always oozes emotion and style, and her character’s facial expressions are worthy of the great Keith Giffen himself.

Justice League vs Suicide Squad is the first major storyline event since DC’s Rebirth relaunch, with the titular team up of the world’s greatest superheroes finally discovering the existence of Amanda Waller’s Task Force X (Suicide Squad) the government sponsored team of supervillains and disgraced superheroes who perform covert black ops missions off the radar, and are kept under control through an implanted micro explosive lodged in their brains.

Issue #3 finds the Justice League imprisoned in Belle Reve penitentiary by Amanda Waller who delights in telling the captured Leaguers of the crisis revolving around them. The Joshua Williamson penned mini-series has been a delight thus far, and the interior visuals by Jesus Merino are fantastically well realised and at times spectacular to behold. It’s also awesome to see the return of some of my very favourite villains including Maxwell Lord, Killer Frost and the Main Man himself Lobo!  This really is required reading.

Justice League vs Suicide Squad is available at your local comic book emporium right now.

Classic Wonder Woman: Wonder Woman #600

Our effervescent expedition through the ancient Amazon archives continues apace as we descend yet another level into what is a seemingly infinite array of chambers and corridors, with each and every recess literally crammed with untold millennia of encyclopedic knowledge pertaining to the deific Amazon race.

This new tier though appears more majestic than the three previous floors we negotiated, the palatial surroundings are bathed under an ethereal light that transcends even the anterior archives in elegance. Diaphanous silks drape across the walls, and each turn of the interminable passageways present us with an exquisite effigy of one of the founding Gods of Olympus, layered in gold and precious stones that denotes their importance to the noble race of warriors and artisans.

The hellenic architecture of the passages give way to an extraordinarily large Propylae gate that forms the entrance to an elegant repository that house the largest collection of tomes and parchments we have yet seen in our ongoing odyssey. One wall though contains a single volume, bound in leather and embossed in gold leaf this intricate book shimmers under the luminescent glow of the nearby torches. Carefully opening the tome, our eyes alight upon the magnificence of the interior narrative, an elaborate exposition that can only be translated through… ‘Classic Wonder Woman’  Precinct1313’s comic cover countdown to the 75th anniversary of Diana Prince.

A scintillating six hundred issues into the astonishing adventures of the amazing Amazon, and DC merge the previous three volumes and return Diana’s foray into man’s world to its original numbering. This oversized anniversary special brings together a legion of tantalising talent to create a commemorative comic of epic proportion.

The cadre of comic-book composers gathered together for this illustrious issue include – George Perez, Amanda Conner, Gail Simone, Phil Jimenez, Jock, Adam Hughes, J. Michael Strazczynski, Nicola Scott and many, many more. Plus, an incomparable introduction by stunning seventies superstar of the original Wonder Woman TV series, the lovely Lynda Carter!

A Gilded Gallery Of Awesome Art By Some Of The World’s Most Prolific Illustrators Forms Part Of The Anniversary Issue

The anniversary issue comprises five different tales of the Themysciran Titan, with the highlight for this fevered fan being the short tale written and drawn by the amazing Amanda Conner. We find Wonder Woman teaming up with Power Girl and one time Batgirl Cassandra Cain to battle the inexplicable Egg-Fu! It also touches upon a power we rarely see used by Diana, her innate ability to empathise and to some extent converse with animals, as she gives Power Girl a look into why her pet cat is out of sorts in a heartfelt and amusing tale.

Join us again next time for more ‘Classic Wonder Woman’ my adventurous Amazonian associates!

Comic Cover Of The Week: Harley Quinn #28

Copyright: DC Comics

Welcome, my comic collecting cohorts, to another instalment of Comic Cover Of The Week, and let me say right off the bat that the Innuendo is strong in this one…                 This is yet another fantastic entry into the ongoing misadventures of Ms Quinn. Red Tool (a thinly veiled parody of Deadpool, I mean look at the costume) has fallen in love with our favourite mischievous minx, and having gone to the trouble of kidnapping Harl’ and tattooing his phone number on her derriere, has now arranged a rather elaborate wedding ceremony.

Harley, of course, is none too happy about the scenario and decides that Red Tool is just that, a tool, and sets about doing what she does best – kick arse, chew gum and assault her foe with her seemingly endless array of world class wisecracks.

Yet again the amiable Amanda Conner delivers the goods, her cover illustration is, as ever, outstanding and her writing, along with her husband Jimmy Palmiotti goes above and beyond even her usual stratospheric prowess with a fantastically fun, innuendo laden issue. The interior art by John Timms is good, but I long for the days when Amanda Conner illustrated Harley’s adventures personally as, to me, she will always be the definitive artist of the Clown Princess Of Crime.

As for the antagonist Red Tool, the whole premise really is rather meta to be honest. You see Red Tool is an obvious parody of Marvel’s Deadpool, who in turn was originally created as a parody of DC’s Deathstroke, a perfect loop of satirical caricature creativity!

Harley Quinn #28 is available at your local comic book emporium right now. Written by: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti. Art by: John Timms. Cover by: Amanda Conner.

Comic Cover Of The Week: Harley’s Little Black Book #3

Once again we peruse the local comic book shelves in an attempt to pick out the greatest comic cover in a sea of masterful illustrations. And, as ever, it’s tough, with so many fantastically drawn covers appearing each and every week how on earth do you go about choosing just one? For me the choice is always easy whenever one of my favourite artists, Amanda Conner, provides the gateway image for a comic, and it also helps that she always seems to be the lead cover artist on some of my favourite characters from the DC Comics’ Universe.

And lo, what do we see before us but yet another Conner cover masterpiece, intertwined with two of DC’s greatest female protagonists, Mistress of Magic – Zatanna and everyone’s favourite Mischievous Misfit – Harley Quinn.

Harley’s bi-monthly team up book continues its successful march onwards, and this month unites her with, arguably, DC’s most powerful character Zatanna. Also along for the zany ride are Harley’s new best buddies, a cast of awesomely odd British Superheroes with fantastic names such as Big Bad Ben and The Pub Crawler (being British myself and having gone on many a pub crawl in my time – this name certainly resonates with me. But for all the beer I drank, I never gained superpowers… maybe I just need to consume more!!) 

Whilst Harley accommodates her British buds from the London Legion of Superheroes, she also becomes the unwitting host to a group of ghosts, who move into Harley’s Hacienda after their haunted mansion in Coney Island is demolished. Luckily Mistress of Magic Zatanna is booked at Big Tony’s cabaret nearby and agrees to help Harley convince the ghosts to move on to the next world… what could possibly go wrong!?

Harley’s Little Black Book #3 is available at your local comic book emporium right now. Written by: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti. Interior art by: Joseph Michael Linser. Cover art by: Amanda Conner.

Comic Cover Of The Week: Supergirl (Vol 1): The Girl Of Steel

(DC Comics, 2016)

Welcome my comic collecting cohorts, to another instalment of “Comic Cover Of The Week.” This week our spotlight of the superb falls upon – ‘Supergirl (volume 1): The Girl Of Steel’ technically a trade paperback (or Graphic Novel, if you prefer) rather than a single issue comic, but the highlight falls upon this particular tome because of its stunning Michael Turner cover illustration

I have always loved Michael Turner’s artwork, having first discovered his outstanding talent on Top Cow’s Witchblade series. From this early work, he went on to create his own series for Top Cow, the amazing “Fathom” which initially ran from 1998 to 2002, when the series was suspended after Michael Turner was regrettably diagnosed with cancer.

Magnificent Michael Turner Artwork From “Superman/Batman: Supergirl”

Michael left Top Cow shortly after his diagnosis in 2002 to found his own comic book publishing company – Aspen. It was 2004 that Michael started producing cover art for DC Comics, mostly for The Flash and the seven issue mini-series Identity Crisis. His greatest work for me though was his illustrating of the entire six issue Supergirl arc in the monthly Superman/Batman series. His unique style really brought to life some of my very favourite Superheroes, especially his versions of Wonder Woman, Batman, and of course the titular Girl of Steel herself.

Michael unfortunately passed away on June 27, 2008 from the pre-diagnosed cancer, leaving the world of comic book creators a much poorer place. This instalment of Comic Cover Of The Week is dedicated to his fantastic talent.

Supergirl (vol-1): Girl Of Steel, is available right now at your local comic book emporium. This terrific tome comprises 144 pages and brings together writer Jeph Loeb’s classic run from Supergirl #0-10 and #12. With artist contributions from Amanda Conner, Ian Churchill, Ed Benes, Norm Rapmund, and the aforementioned captivating cover from Michael Turner.