Justice League 3000: Reviewing issues 1-9

This is a spoiler-free review, so make yourself comfortable.

We've all heard about the imminent return of BLUE BEETLE & BOOSTER GOLD, yes, the real ones, the pre-New 52 ones (at least the ones I consider to be the "real" ones). They're supposed to appear in Justice League 3000 #12 and I just couldn't help it and had jump into the series from #1.

I remember reading the first issue back when it was first published, but it had a sour aftertaste since Kevin Maguire had been dumped from the book and the entire first issue got pencilled all over again by Howard Porter, who happened to be the one who actually designed these new characters. The creative team that reunited the original writers (Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis) and penciller from the classic 80s-90s Justice League was simply gone. This whole mess turned into a deep dislike of what I read in the first issue at that moment.

Now, with a different perspective in sight, and realizing that the "New 52" tag had been removed from the series starting with issue 9, I had a better vibe towards this book. So, I went on reading. And whoa, what a reading, I enjoyed every bit of it. The characters are dead on and they're definitely not our regular Justice League. From an obnoxious Superman to a bloodthirsty Wonder Woman, and add an ironic Batman, a shy Green Lantern and a tragic Flash, we have quite a set. I mean, I don't love the idea of a bloodthirsty Wonder Woman (I hate her regular book), but this whole thing has a giant joke behind. Yeah, I think they're doing their best to recapture the sense of humor comics these days are so much lacking.

Yeah. Shake in your seats. This book is bringing humor back to the fold.

Who would have thought? After the entire mess of the New 52 that there was this book that was really doing its best to build a different tone, and it was going unnoticed! News and company politics threw most of us out of the door and didn't let us give this book a chance. Well, now it comes with my biggest recommendation.

My only complaint is the pace. Nine issues into the series and the first story-arc is still incomplete. But it will be coming to an end with issue 10, so, I will have to wait just a bit. (There's nothing I can do about the pace since that's the regular thing these days in the comic universe). But at least this is an enjoyable series. I even grew to like Howard Porter's style, which is quite rich and hast its own merit. Comparing it with Kevin Maguire's may be a problem and not exactly fair. DC kinda forced the comparison, too bad.

So, what do you think? Will you give this book a chance? If a DC book from their core line, without the "New 52" tag does succeed, it should mean something, uh? What do you think?

Spoiled!

It was a regular morning, while Jaime Reyes was slacking at home.  There were home chores to get done, homework that needed finishing, a dog that needed to get walked.  But what did he do?  He slacked in front of his computer wasting time in Facebook.

He learned his lesson well.

The Blue Beetle is back!

Ever since the Infinite Crisis started, the Blue Beetle has been dead but hasn't rested in peace.  He's been doing the unthinkable to make his great return, he has called in favors, he has contacted important people, he has thrown a few tantrums.

It looks like he finally made it.

Sorta.

Such Friends: Sidekicks - Part 2: All About Bats

Previously, on "Such Friends":
"Sidekicks" Part 1

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The "Such Friends" photo-comic continues. I won't make any promises because my schedule is a little tight, but the plan is to release a new episode every Monday. Wish me luck!

Such Friends: Sidekicks - Part 1

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Finally, the first run of photo-comics featuring the original Justice League International has just kick started. As I grab hold of the tools, expect things to improve. In the meanwhile, Comics All Too Real really expects you enjoy the strip!

The DC Universe According to South Park

A Very Important Message!

The entire team of "Such Friends" is here, you better pay attention to what they have to say!



Comics All Too Real proudly presents their first video ever!  Yes, it's the first, the very first one, and it came right on time for the holiday season.  We will play some more with the lights next time, but for now, this will do.

We want to thank you for visiting and sharing this space that is devoted to things that are fun, shiny and super-heroic, if we made you smile just once, our mission is fulfilled.  Here's a big cyber hug on our part (me and the toys, yeah!), wishing you a very joyful Christmas by the side of the people you love and a New Year devoted to all things that make you happy.

Cheers!

Such Friends: The Toys Are Home!

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Almost two months late, the JLI action figures finally got home, just in time to get the photo-comic started with some amazing adventures and stories that--  that at CATR Central we still have to figure out.

What new thrills will our heroes face?  Stay tuned for some not-so-epic battles and some unbelievable plot twists, as Batman's headaches reach some all-new all-different levels and G'Nort realizes what a wonderful place the world is without a Guy Gardner.

Wallpapers All Too Real: Such Friends

Because no on asked for it, we bring you the official wallpaper for your new Comics All Too Real's segment called "Such Heroes". If you're wondering, no, we still haven't got the action figures, but we can still do some warm up.

In four different sizes, choose the wallpaper that works best for your computer.

Such Heroes
1280 x 1024
1280 x 960
1280 x 800
1024 x 768

Want more Wallpapers All Too Real? Click here!

Such Friends P2: Big Heroes!

Continuing with the prequels for the "Such Friends" new segment, we're giving you some Superman and Batman insight on what's to come. Courtesy of Geovanny's birthday gift (the Batman and Superman action figures) and some other stuff I also got on my special day.

Click to enlarge.

This is my first "photo-comic", so any imput will be welcome. I'm also playing with the settings of my camera and fighting with Illustrator. All in all, it took me long hours of fun and a little frustration when things didn't turn out right.

The cardboard that was the entire background (the Blue Beetle thingy revealed in the last frame) was part of my birthday party. My couple and some friends put their heads together to surprise me and they did! They also made this giant Booster Gold cardboard. Both will be stuck in my bedroom's walls! Thanks, guys! It's no wonder the Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are some of my very favorite characters!

Soon, the two Justice League International sets that have already been released will be arriving. Which means 8 wonderful action figures to play with. So, wish me luck!

The New Year Resolution of the Super-Heroes!

Just like all of us, super-heroes are also quite sensitive about the New Year that's just getting started. Some promises are meant to be broken, but they will do their best to hold onto their New Year Resolutions.

Huntress and Catman

Wolverine

Supergirl

Medussa

Kingdom Come Superman

Spider-Man Noir

Blue Beetle

Hawkeye?

Hawkeye!

Robin

And what's your New Year's Resolution?

The Blue Beetle's Returned Gift

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

ELF: North Pole Central. What can I do for you?

BLUE BEETLE: I have a complaint about a gift. You work in the Costumer Service department, right?

ELF: Yes, I do. What can I help you with?

BB: I wrote a letter to Santa a couple of weeks before Christmas in which I specifically asked him for a "Life Certificate" and I didn't get any.

ELF: What's your name?

BB: I'm the Blue Beetle.

ELF: Let me see-- Jaime Reyes?

BB: NO!

ELF: Dan Garret?

BB: (DEAD SILENCE)

ELF: Oh, there's another one. Ted Kord.

BB: Yeah, that one.

ELF: You did write a very long letter to Santa--

BB: Yeah, I had to make a point--

ELF: "Certificate" should be written with a "C", not an "S". Not that I care, of course.

BB: Look, I specifically asked Santa for this "Life Certificate" because I'm job hunting and everyone thinks I'm dead. I need proof that I'm alive, but no one believes me.

ELF: This doesn't make much sense. Tell them you're alive and that would be it.

BB: No one believes me.

ELF: You have credibility issues.

BB: Blame that Didiot!

ELF: **giggles**

BB: What?

ELF: He got no presents this year.

BB: Anyway, now that we're on the same page. I got this Mortal Kombat vs DC videogame instead of my certificate and I don't even have a PS3.

ELF: That's a cool game!

BB: I'm not in it!

ELF: But it's still cool. Everyone wants it.

BB: I don't!

ELF: Jeez!

BB: Look, Mr. Customer Service guy, I do really need that certificate. Is there any way I could give you this game back and you--

ELF: There's a crisis out there, Mr. Kord.

BB: Yeah, the Final Crisis, but I hear it kinda sucks. Some like it, though, but it's a divided opinion. Just do some Googling and you'll see. You ask me, I'm not even following it. It's kind of over dramatic and depressing and, well, there's no bwah-haha in it, you know--

ELF: No, a real crisis, as in no money, no jobs, no complaints.

BB: What you mean?

ELF: Santa implemented a new policy this year. We're really sorry but we're doing no refunds this time and gifts aren't exchangeable. We did our best to make everyone happy with their presents--

BB: But this is nothing like what I asked for.

ELF: Any kid would be happy with Mortal Kombat vs. DC, it has Superman, Batman, The Joker. God! It even has Deathstroke. It has the coolest characters.

BB: Deathstroke is dead. I think. Unless I didn't read well that Special--

ELF: I hear they did test the characters before choosing the most popular ones. It's a win-win game. Plus it has the most popular Mortal Kombat characters as well. Sub-Zero is my fab. Everyone loves this game.

BB: I know.

ELF: Then, that would be it. Enjoy your game and Merry Christmas!

BB: Wa-wait! Can I speak to your boss? This is really important. Dead people can be brought back. The Spoiler is back, Hal Jordan is back, even big no-no Barry Allen is back! I mean, "no-no" as in editorial never wanting to bring him back, he's a good guy, a little dull, tough, but a good one. I'm more of a Wally person myself. Look, all I need is five minutes with Santa, he'll understand.

ELF: Mr. Claus is taking a nap. He'll be up in 362 days.

BB: But it's an emergency! I can't wait that long! Look, I know people, I can get you a Madonna autograph, a date with Wonder Woman, a trip to the Batcave, just ask whatever you want. I can even bring you Booster Gold to show you your own birth! I'm in the know, you know.

ELF: Get me a date with the Wasp.

BB: Uh-- well-- Did you read the last issue of Secret Invasion? She's-- uh-- she's kinda dead.

ELF: And so are you. Good evening, Mr. Kord.

BB: Wait! I know an elf, I can introduce you to Nightcrawler-- Hello? Hello?


BB: (TURNING TO THE CAMERA) Ohhhhh, this is so not over! If you think I'm giving up so easily, you're so mistaking me with some loser like Aquaman!

AQUAMAN: Hey!

BB: I mean, my point is that I'm not giving up at all!

AQUAMAN: Show more respect, I'm a King.

BB: Yeah, yeah, whatever.

AQUAMAN: Whatever.

BB: It's just that I want to get a job and this is just so freaking frustrating! I'd kill to be in a TV commercial or something.

AQUAMAN: I've done some.

BB: Are they any good?

AQUAMAN: Well-- Let's have some sushi.

BB: Sushi? Wouldn't that be a little cannibalistic for you?

AQUAMAN: Shut up.

Who Watches the Blue Beetle?

After his failure at getting the role of Spock at the newest Star Trek movie, the Blue Beetle got contacted by a new agent, Willie Shaftum, who offered him the role of the Owl in the upcoming Watchmen movie. We don't know the details, but certain promo ads are already out just like the one above. It looks like the Blue Beetle is finally succeeding at something.

We caught a little conversation that we include next:

INTERVIEWER: Is it true that you got a part in the Watchmen movie.

BLUE BEETLE: Yeppers!

I: Which role is it? A cameo appearance? A super-villain? A damsel in distress?

BB: Nope! I'll be playing the Nite Owl.

I: Are you sure? We know for sure that role has already been cast.

BB: (DRAMATIC PAUSE) Who watches the Blue Beetle?

I: Certainly, I won't.

The Green Beetle Sues the Blue One

Comics All Too Real's sources informed us of a relative of Ted Kord's that lives in the United Kingdom. You must have seen him briefly in his cameo appearances at the "No Heroics" TV show.

"I cashed heavily on my cameo," admitted the Green Beetle, "the producers stalked me for days until I agreed on making a guest appearance. It was a candid quick shot, but still, my fans are pleased." It looks like the British counterpart of the Blue Beetle suffers from the same delusions of grandeur, because not even locals ever heard about him; and we did ask around. He claims it’s a result of some villains brainwashing, but we didn't buy it.

"Anyway, we've heard about a lawsuit you threw against your Blue Beetle counterpart. Is that true? What are the charges?"

"He's been using my beetle costume for ages without permission! It doesn't matter if he changed the basic color, it's still mine!" The Green Beetle really started to bloody loose it. "I trade marked it both my costume and color variants for my name, you know, Green Beetle, Red Beetle, Pink Beetle, and obviously, Blue Beetle, and it turned out that he stole it and has been breaking the copy right laws! I'm suing him for everything he has!"

"We've know for sure he has nothing."

"It doesn't matter! I'm fighting for what's rightfully mine!"

We approached the Blue Beetle for comments about his cousin's lawsuit but he made so little sense. Ted made a lot of noises, fumed a lot and cursed a lot, we tried editing the curses out of his sentences but there was so little left that we couldn't even publish it.

Expect more of this news as it unfolds.

Blue Beetle, the Vulcan!

After blowing his interview at DC Comics, Ted Kord decided to go where no Blue Beetle has gone before and visited the producers of the upcoming Star Trek movie. Wearing blue, as usual, and some very thick eyebrows, he ran into JJ Abrahams depicting a very emotionless aspect of himself, he was in character we must add.


"Look, Mr. JJ, Sylar is not that good for this movie. He's stuck at his role as a villain and people won't be able to see him as the one true real Spock. Take me, for instance. I failed as a super-hero. They shot me. They replaced me with a younger version of me that had nothing to do with me. No one will remind me! Besides, I'm a very good actor. Want to see my reel?"

By the time Ted noticed, JJ Abrahams had already left the room.

With an emotionless tear in his eyes, he just said "Live long and proper", making a "V" with his hand, as he walked out of the room.

Blue Beetle's Job Interview

INTEVIEWER: Name?

BLUE BEETLE: Blue Beetle.

I: Jaime Reyes?

BB: No, not him. Ted Kord. >:(

I: You're supposed to be dead.

BB: Ma'am, this is comic books we're talking about. I can be back from the dead whenever that Didiot says so.

I: Excuse me?

BB: Didio. I meant Mr. Didio-- Darn Freudian slip--

I: You already got fired by the company. Why should we hire you again?

BB: For once, the new Blue Beetle book just got axed. Obviously the public is claiming for me. Not some random kid with an extraterrestrial bug in his back. They want the original thing.

I: You're not the "original thing". You're Blue Beetle number 2.

BB: You don't have to be so picky. To many fans I'm the ONLY Blue Beetle there will ever be.

I: Did they support you when you were alive? Your solo series didn't last long.

BB: That's because my part in the Justice League book was huge. That one was kinda my book, you know.

I: No, it wasn't.

BB: Well, I did get back in shape. Look at my stomach. Funny tummy no more!

I: I can't see the abs.

BB: They're here. Look.

I: There's no abs.

BB: All I need is a quick plastic surgery. I can do it in no time and be ready for work. We live in the age of Nip Tuck, you know, bwa-hahaha!

I: Hmph!

BB: I mean, it's not as if you have to give me my own monthly right away. You can hand me a mini-series, the Year One treatment! I mean, even Ambush Bug got one. Or you can get me back in the Justice League to warm things up a little.

I: The Justice League is a serious book.

BB: I can be deadly serious! I'm like Batman, only in blue.

I: You're not.

BB: Ma'am, please! Cut me some slack! My pals really miss me. And it's not as if a quick guest starring in Booster Gold's book was enough. People want more. Look. Batman is gone all R.I.P. right now, who's going to fill his shoes now?

I: (Deadly stare).

BB: Okay, okay, I might be aiming too high, but I do have fans.

I: Name one.

BB: Booster Gold.

I: He doesn't count. He's a glitch in time and continuity.

BB: Well, Wonder Woman. She always had a thing for me, you know XD

I: Pity doesn't count.

BB: Oh, my freaking God! You're making this real hard for me. Is there no soul within you.

I: This is business, Mr. Kord. If you didn't succeed when you were alive, we'll just use you as dead stock in the Cameo Department. It did work for Hal Jordan, Olliver Queen and all of those heroes that were dead for a while.

BB: It's not fair! I want to live!

I: I'm sorry, Mr. Kord.

BB: I hope a red storm of Final Crisis clouds multiplied by Anti-Life Equation falls on top of you and destroy all of your 52 parallel-selves!

I: Your such a geek. Next!

The Blue Beetle When He Was A Kid!

Thanks to Evegazu for handing us this never-seen-before video.

Blue Beetle in No Heroics?

It was said that he was dead, but our secret sources found out that a very healthy and living Ted Kord got contacted by the executive producers of the British show "No Heroics" and he's been offered a spot in the sitcom.

"The Blue Beetle is just the perfect candidate this show. He has a natural talent. He will be my sidekick", said co-star The Hotness. While some other heroes might take this offer the wrong way, we found out Ted Kord was incredibly happy about it. Will this deal come true? We'll let you know.

In the meanwhile, Comics All Too Real highly recommend this ITV show. Just be careful. It's not for kids!

The Blue Beetle's Take

Things to Come!

Click on the picture to enlarge it.