Review: The Sentry

The great heroes of Marvel have been established for decades.  Spider-Man, The Avengers, The X-Men.  Creating a new character and garnering enough popularity with that character to join the big boys (and girls) in main storylines and events can take years.  For instance, the character Deadpool was introduced to Marvel in 1991, and is just now coming into prominence in the Marvel universe.  So what do you do when you want to skip that whole process?  The Sentry holds the answer.

Quickie: DC Comics Covergirls

Louise Simonson's intricately researched and beautiful coffee table book takes readers on a tour of the lives of our favorite DC heroines and femme fatales.  With chapters dedicated to fan favorites like Wonder  Woman and Catwoman, as well as the lesser known Vertigo girls and supporting cast like Lois Lane, this book was thoroughly fascinating.  It also profiles the masters of cover art, ranging from the 1930's to today, using hundreds of images, many in their full sized glory.  There is something here for everyone, whether you're interested in comics history or evolving gender roles and their reflections in art.  There is also a very witty introduction written by the brilliant Adam Hughes, master of the pin-up comics cover girl.  If you like your heroes with a little bit of feminine wiles, this is the book for you!

Review - The Question: Zen and Violence

As a long time fan of The Question as he appeared in the fantastic Justice League Unlimited television series, I have always been curious about the character's origins.  Dennis O'Neil began writing the character in 1987, and Zen and Violence is the first collection of his work on the character, documenting his leap from ruthless investigative reporter to martial artist vigilante.