Welcome to the Sunday Stash. I’m Kenny “Saint Superkick” Sanders, and while I was ready to blast the Stash with the swiftness of Shawn Mike, I got my ass handled by…
Schnap! Not that Ricky & Morton, you say? Or Ricky Morton, or Rick Morty, or whatever the fluff they be? Either way, my twin-blasting Stash has no other choice but to WALK THAT AISLE — and present a pair of iconic comics that simply deserve your attention.
SECRET ORIGINS #1
Oh, Superman. Will they ever get him right? So far, Greg Pak (Batman/Superman, Action Comics) has done the Big Blue Boy Scout no injustice in 2K14, so there’s no other reason why he can’t fine-tune his origin either.
In Secret Origins #1, readers will experience a triplet of short-stories from three differing creative teams on some of DC’s most iconic figures — none more harrowing than the Man of Steel himself. Harrowing, I say, because over the years — and there has been a lot of them — we have revisited the dude’s origin countless times. You figured Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Secret Origins would be enough. And while some may feel this is the same cookie cutter, Pak’s stroll through young Superman Lane is just as compelling.
But here’s the deal: while the story hits all the right emotional beats and the “baby pictures” from Lee Weeks (storyboard artist on Superman: The Animated Series) appear just as adorable on paper, this Saint would like to see an origin story where Superman is a complete ass and has that sense of arrogance that he is a superior being. Oh, okay, so I guess something like Superior, but with our Clark Kent. So whenever Supes got pissed, he’d thrust someone in the balls “Nature Boy” style. Whoo! Then as he gets on with his career (you know, jet flyin’, limousine ridin’…), he’d learn the lesson of being a true hero — not merely a God among the common man.
The second of the Secret Origins stories is Nightwing scribe Kyle Higgins‘ fall of Dick Grayson and rise of Robin. As we see the Boy Wonder begin as a member of the Flying Graysons to being Batman’s right hand man, there’s a couple of clutch situations that I need not spoil. And just a side note: Grayson (who has his own spy-thriller ongoing coming soon), is my favorite Robin. Even more so than that funny Mr. Williams dude. Finally, the last origin features Supergirl. I’m not going to lie: I was bored. Tony (Blue Beatle) Bedard‘s story does show some of Kara’s early life on Krypton, though.
- My second reading was Original Sin — and not quite original and not quite a sin. The #0 issue, from Daredevil scribe Mark Waid and stunning layouts courtesy of Jim Cheung (Young Avengers), Paco Medina (Ultimate Comics X-Men), and a swap-meet of colorists, is centered around Nova — Sam Alexander Nova — and The Watcher, Uatu. Though cameos from Iron Man and Captain America add more spice to the flavor, the overall prequel story to Marvel’s big summer blockbuster event ran a little slow. The story centers around…
- …or, at least those were the beats swirling around my head for the majority of this comic. While the #0 does appear to aim for too many stars (with a heavy load of Nova-narration), the natural focus remains on my man The Watcher and why he is the Watcher. It is pretty revealing, actually. But, really, my own interest sparked on this comic solely on the strength of the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy flick. Still, Waid’s story got me more familiar with Uatu as well as more interest for the upcoming big event. And damn if this comic ain’t pretty as hell. 3.5/5.