Elektra - One Last Hunt - Ryan K. Lindsay

5 Panels

PANEL ONE

Thin red bar panel across the top of the page, with two floating talking balloons in them. The balloons should have kinda straight edges, be rough, like what Wooton is doing in DEADLY CLASS.

Rand: I think I’m dying.

Elektra: No better time to live.

PANEL TWO

Elektra kisses Rand, it’s hot, bodies pressed. They are inside an office in Rand Corp’s tower, there’s a wall behind Rand, and littered in the room around them are dead Hand bodies/uniforms.

Rand is bleeding from his side, near the kidney, and the blood presses against Elektra’s side. There’s no doubt Elektra is the dominant person in this kiss, she holds his face/head in one hand, the other holding him to her from around the high waist.

Most importantly, their chests are pressed together, because this means she’s blocking the tattoo, or drawing from it.

NO COPY

PANEL THREE

He pauses, looking at her, his face and eyes clearly say ‘wow.’

Rand: That...tingled.

PANEL FOUR

She pulls a sai out from her waistband. Rand is now leaning back against the wall that was behind him. He’s confused, and touching his slightly glowing chest tattoo, looking down, as he talks.

Rand: What just happened?

Elektra: You are dying.

Elektra: Goodbye, Danny Rand.

PANEL FIVE

She launches out the window in a long profile shot with two glowing sais leaving a yellow trail against the dark sky. She has some of the Iron Fist power in her right now.

Elektra: If I fail, I’ll see you soon.

Why Elektra? - Ryan K. Lindsay

Because she’s a character I would love to write one day. She’s mean, and broken, and quiet, and so goddamn deep. There are so many ways to still take Elektra and I’d love to have a run at it.

Plus, she’s got a killer visual that despite being one of those costumes that isn’t enough, it still looks amazing. Maybe because she carries it so well. Or probably no one would ever mess with Elektra, or even waste her time discussing fashion choices.

If you’ve ever read Elektra’s first appearance, you’ll see she was kinda a damsel at heart. Frank Miller writes an insane romance comic, with romancey internal thoughtballoons, and she’s not exactly the strongest or most independent character. She’s very much Matt Murdock’s first love. And yet now, when I think about Elektra, which happens often, I find I don’t think of Elektra like that at all anymore. She’s had amazing growth since her inception.

Through to the conclusion of Miller’s Elektra Saga, our lady in red just went from strength to strength. Icing that informant in the cinema from behind Ben Urich is still one of my favourite scenes of all time. After that we had ELEKTRA: ASSASSIN and ELEKTRA LIVES AGAIN and suddenly independent mythos was born. She is no one’s girl, she’s this insane killer bad ass who can carry her own, and her own book. Or story. At least for a little while.

She was supposed to be put away once Miller let her be, an agreement with Jim Shooter that lasted right up until it didn’t. Resurrected, she’s been used ever since and to varying degrees. For me, it all started to really pull up out of a nose dive when Zeb Wells wrote her Dark Reign mini. That story, terse, violent, perfect, really helped solidify who Elektra was now. Quiet, deadly, brutal: a force of nature. That mini is maybe the best Dark Reign thing to exist.

Recently, we just wrapped an 11 issue run of ELEKTRA by Mike del Mundo and W. Haden Blackman and it’s one of the best comics of the past few years. It started strong but really charted upwards right until the end. A shame it came to an end but I’d rather 11 tight issues than a bloated 24 which peter out. Get in, get out, seems to be the Elektra way.

So because when she’s done well she’s usually done perfectly, and because we can all always practise writing our fantastic female leads, here she is, my favourite lady, Elektra Natchios.

- Ryan K. Lindsay

D4VE - Self Improvement Is Masturbation, Now Self Destruction Is The Answer - Ryan K. Lindsay

PANEL ONE
Establishing shot of D4VE's garage.

SFX: TUNK

SFX: plink

PANEL TWO
Shot of D4VE, mood lit from above, whiskey bottle nearby, inside the garage. We cannot see his hands here.

Caption: ...

PANEL THREE
D4VE raises a gnarly hammer above his head with his left hand.

D4VE: Fuck you.

PANEL FOUR
D4VE smashes the hammer down, we don't see what on.

SFX: TUNK

PANEL FIVE
D4VE takes a sip of his drink with his left hand.

D4VE: ugh

PANEL SIX
D4VE puts a new metal hand into the end of his right wrist.

SFX: plink

PANEL SEVEN
D4VE flexes the hand in front of his face.

D4VE: Fuck you.

PANEL EIGHT
We cut across to a pile of mangled hands in the corner of the garage.

D4VE (op): Fuck all you.

PANEL NINE
Black panel.

SFX: TUNK

Why thoughtballoons? - Ryan K. Lindsay

Because you aren't ready, but you're ready to try. Because there are steps to finally getting where you want to be. Because you gotta do your 10k due diligence.

I made thoughtballoons because I love to write and it seemed like it would be fun. I also created thoughtballoons because I wanted and needed the practise and I knew a cause would put me on the right track, different ideas would keep me interested, the one page length would make it feasible, a deadline would keep me honest, and the feedback would help.

And I was right.

I wrote at least one page of script a week from high action to quiet family moments, and I didn't miss a week for two whole years, and in that time I improved. Without a doubt, I improved. I got to see what worked with a captive audience, and what landed flat. I got to experiment, I got to consolidate, I got to write comics and do it purely as a learning exercise. No wasting an artist's time because I suck, no putting it into print when I wasn't ready. This is writing as training, this is what you need to do.

I loved those two years. I would not be where I am today without those two years. I miss those two years. Because writing for love of the game is the fun times. And slowing yourself down to learn the lessons is the important stuff.

- Ryan K. Lindsay

Rainbow Dash - The Plot Thickens - J.D. Coughlan

Following his retirement, Ryan K. Lindsay joins forces with Rainbow Dash for some wacky adventures!

Panel 1: A slummy crime den. The criminals, up to no good, react with surprise as Ryan K. Lindsay kicks the door in. Rainbow Dash should be visible behind him, if possible.

RYAN: Freeze! Ryan K. Lindsay, comic book writer!

Panel 2: Ryan has the perps against the wall, and is handcuffing the last one. Rainbow Dash checks a stack of papers on the table.

RYAN: You punks make me sick.

DASH: My gosh! Ryan, this goes further than we thought.

Panel 3: Ryan looks over at Dash. She holds up the papers frantically.

RYAN: What's that, partner?

DASH: They were planning on unleashing a virulent strain of writer's block on your old pals over at Thought Balloons, thus nullifying their inescapably awesome talent!

Panel 4: Close up on Ryan, grinning and looking right at us.

RYAN: Heh. Guess I'm still looking out for you boys...

Panel 5: Ryan presses one of the perps up against the wall, hard. Dash's speech bubble should be blocking his last word.

RYAN: You think you'd get away with it, you sons of [blocked]

DASH: Language!

END OF PAGE

Congratulations!

In news that surprise none that know him, former(?) Thought Balloons head honcho Ryan K. Lindsay has his first big commercial comic release in March.  My LIttle Pony: Friendship is Magic Miniseries is the first of many projects you can expect to see from Mr Lindsay, and everyone here at Thought Balloons is proud of our team mate.

Be sure to pick up this book when it drops in March.  Ryan is an excellent writer and you may be surprised with how much you actually like a book about friendship and ponies.

RKL - Into The Sunset - Ray Wonsowski (the American Zombie)

Panel 1 - The Old West.  An prairie lined by a wooden fence.  Fire orange and pink sky, wispy cotton clouds a pastel blue.  Open wooden gate with a wrought iron arch, a stylized brand of "TB" at the top.  A brown and white horse with a blanket and saddle with bags tied to a fencepost by the reins.  A cowboy slides a shotgun into the blankets.  His face is shadowed by his wide-brimmed black hat.  He is wearing an Indian poncho over his denim shirt, jeans, and boots, Colt revolver on his hip, and smoking a cheroot in his teeth.

NO COPY

Panel 2 - P.O.V. over the cowboy's shoulder, as he grabs the pommel of the saddle to mount his horse.  He's looking at a little boy in tattered work clothes, his long-ish hair blowing in the afternoon breeze.  He is holding a tattered issue of a pulp adventure in his hands: Adventures of the Squared Circle Gang.

KID:  Mister?

KID:  Think you'll ever come back someday?

Panel 3 - From the Kid's P.O.V., looking up into the face of the cowboy on his horse.  It's RYAN K. LINDSAY, adjusting his hat over his eyes, squinting like Eastwood, cheroot still in his teeth, a knowing smile on his face.

RYAN K.:  I don't know, kid.  Ranch is in good hands, I reckon.  Maybe someday.

RYAN K.:  But if and when I do...

Panel 4 - Foreground, we see the Kid sitting on the fence, pulp adventure rolledup and in his back pocket, waving goodbye to our hero.  RYAN K. is framed by the ranch gate, riding away, silhouetted by the setting sun, sitting tall in the saddle.

RYAN K.:  I'm bringing all Hell riding with me.

CAPTION:  Vaya Con Dios, Amigo.  Gracias.

El Fin

RKL - The Final Chapter - Niel J. Jacoby

Full Splash: Ryan riding his horse into the sunset, the viewpoint behind him and the sky in full, beautiful view.

Caption: AND WITH THAT, RYAN TOOK HIS LEAVE FROM THOUGHTBALLOONS.

Caption: HIS WORK LAY ELSEWHERE.

Inset Panel 1: The horse freaks out, and Ryan falls on his ass.

Caption: NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, BUT RYAN KNEW HE WAS BOUND FOR GREAT THINGS.

SFX: BONK!

Horse: NEIII-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-IGGGHHHH!

Inset Panel 2: Ryan is getting up, watching his horse run away. He's not injured, but he's definitely a little sore.

Ryan(thoughtballoon): MAYBE THIS WASN'T THE BEST WAY TO MAKE MY DRAMATIC EXIT...

Caption: BUT WHATEVER AWAITS, THE WRITERS AND READERS OF THOUGHTBALLOONS WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE NAME RYAN K. LINDSAY.

Ryan K. Lindsay - Thought Balloons Central - J.D. Coughlan

Imagine it drawn in the style of Michael Lark.


Panel 1: Ryan's office in Thought Balloons HQ. Ryan sits behind his desk, stern expression on his face, fingers steepled. JD sits across from him, still the cocky new hotshot.

RYAN: As you know, Coughlan, I announced my early retirement recently...

JD: A tragic loss to us all, sir.

Panel 2: Small. Close on Ryan. No-nonsense.

RYAN: Can the ass-kissing, kid.

Panel 3: On JD. His facade slipping a little, showing the nervousness underneath.

RYAN (OP): You'll be among the last batch of new recruits I personally hand-picked for this unit.

Panel 4: Over JD's shoulder. Ryan leans forward intensely.

RYAN: There is a reason for that.

Panel 5: Outside Ryan's office, the "bullpen" area. The other Thought Ballooners work frantically at their desks. We can still see Ryan and JD's silhouettes through the glass. Ryan is gesturing to the others.

RYAN: (Through the glass) I need you to keep an eye on my boys and report back to me, in secret...

Panel 6: Small. Very close on JD. He is stunned, completely breaking his facade.

RYAN (OP): One of them is not who he appears to be...

END OF PAGE

Ryan K Lindsay – No Copy, Just Lindsay – Shaun Richens.

One Page.

Two rows of panels three in each. Panel 7 and 8 are page wide panels. 8 being just a strip across the bottom of the page.

1. A werewolf perches on top of a roof in New York. A beautiful young woman rests her hand on the beasts shoulder. They are both looking right out towards the horizon.

         NO COPY

2. A devilishly handsome brute of a man parries the sword stroke of an enraged Troll. The man bares a striking resemblance to our Mr. Lindsay. The warriors cloak flows in the breeze as he does battle with the monster. He makes the task look easy as a playful smirk plays across his face.

         NO COPY

3. The rain pours down on a figure in the shadows. His trench coat is dripping wet but on he stands on the street corner waiting and searching. His cigarette eerily casts shadows over his face.

         NO COPY

4.  Sand stretches as far as the eye can see. Riding out across the plains is a sheriff on horseback, a rifle at his back and a six-shooter at his side; a whole lot of lawless miles ahead of him.

         NO COPY

5. A devil may care star ship captain sits facing us in his command chair. Alarms are going off all around his ships deck but he looks cool and calm, a sly grin on his face, as he is about to save the day.

         NO COPY

6. A domino mask wearing young superhero is roundhouse kicking a black-cloaked villain through a glass window.

         NO COPY

7. An older and slightly graying RKL stands with his beautiful wife Jess at his side. They are looking upon their Son, now a grown man with happiness and pride in their eyes, as he introduces them to the girl he loves.

         NO COPY

8. A black panel.

         CAPTION (All in white)

         Here’s to all the stories you have yet to tell us.

Ryan K Lindsay – The Secret History of ThoughtBalloons OR ThoughtBalloons: Year One – MK Stangeland Jr.

(6 Panels)

(All panels should be done as if from a first-person perspective of the individual that the captions are coming from.)

Panel 1: A door is open just a crack.

CAPTION: I thought I locked this door.

Panel 2: A dimly lit writing room, complete with a single lit desk lamp sitting on a desk at the far end. The desk’s chair is turned so the back is to the reader, and while it is clear that there is SOMEONE sitting in it, we are unable to tell that the individual in the chair is RYAN K LINDSAY.

CAPTION: Hello?

RYAN: I hear you’re a writer. A good one, too.

Panel 3: Same basic panel, but with the POV closer to the desk.

CAPTION: What’s the meaning of this? What’s going on here?

RYAN: More importantly to me, I hear you’re a fan of comics, would like to write for them yourself, and committed to the cause.

Panel 4: POV is standing near the desk. The chair has turned so that RYAN is facing the reader, but he lighting of the room obscures his face so that we can’t yet tell who it is.

CAPTION: Who do you think you are and what do you think you’re doing breaking into my house?!

Panel 5: RYAN reaches out and turns the angle of the lamp so that the light passes by his face, revealing his identity. We see that he’s also wearing some kind of fancy-looking high-tech eyepiece over one eye.

RYAN: Ryan K Lindsay, operator of the Weekly Crisis.*

SFX: (From the lamp) *rrEeIe*

Panel 6: RYAN has stood up, but in such a way were the light still make it so that his identity is visible.

RYAN: I’m here to talk to you about the ThoughtBalloons initiative.

(END PAGE)

*(Important Writers Note: Normally, I prefer not to edit scripts after they have gone live. However, in this case I've made an exception since this line originally said "Ryan K Lindsay, founder of the Weekly Crisis", which is was written based on an incorrect assumption. The line has since been changed in order to prevent this incorrect presumption being passed on to others.)

RKL- A Certain Point Of View- Dan Hill

This was one of those scripts where I had a million and one ideas. But in the end I just went with what came first. There was hardly any redrafting with this one. I just went with what came into my head. It's all gut (no German pun intended). I hope it does the man justice.


Panel One

CUT TO a CLOSE UP of an almost blank document, displayed on a computer screen.

The only text present on the page is the legend ‘Page One, Panel One’ in bold font.

CAPTION:  We live our lives through the things we write. 


Panel Two


CUT TO a CLOSE UP on a blog creation screen on Blogspot. The only thing filled out so far is the blog's title-- THOUGHT BALLOONS.


CAPTION:  Application forms, letters, emails, Facebook, Twitter.


Panel Three



CUT TO a CLOSE UP on the logo of ‘The Process’, again being displayed on a computer monitor.


CAPTION:  But for some of us the written word is so much more--



Panel Four



CUT TO a CLOSE UP on an email subject line. The line reads ‘Re: Ongoing’.

 
CAPTION:  -- a means to put ourselves out into the world.



Panel Five



CUT TO a CLOSE UP on a blog post in progress on Blogspot. The text is taken straight from Ryan’s post announcing his exit from Thought Balloons.


CAPTION:  To make our mark.



Panel Six



CUT TO an exact copy of Panel One-- the almost blank document, the text ‘Page One, Panel One’ and a flashing cursor blinking. The cycle is complete.

 
CAPTION:  To tell our stories.



CAPTION:  To inspire others.



Panel Seven



Wide panel. CLOSE UP on the computer screen. It’s off now. The work is done. In the reflection of the monitor we can see RYAN walking away (sorry, no view of the beard), ready to start the day, ready to start all that other stuff that isn’t writing.



But he’ll be back. He always is.

 
NO COPY

Ryan K. Lindsay – There’s No ‘I’ in Ryan - Rol Hirst

Panel One.

Close on the Riddler, his hands clutched to his face, shaking, gabbling, unintelligible. This is a man in deep shock.

Riddler: There’s no ‘I’ in Ryan, there’s no ‘I’ in Ryan, there’s no ‘I’ in Ryan…

Panel Two.

Pull out to show that the Riddler is sitting on a chair in a cell, being watched through a plexiglass window by Batman and Commissioner Gordon.

Gordon: He’s been like this since we brought him in.

Batman: And you’ve no idea who did this to him?

Panel Three.

Close on Gordon, looking grim.

Gordon: The way we found him – all trussed up and hanging from that lamppost – we were convinced it was you.

Panel Four.

Close on Batman, looking grimmer.

Batman: I’ve been out of town. League business. Only got back this morning.

Batman: So you think this has something to do with that missing writer?

Panel Five.

Gordon holds up a photograph of Ryan K. Lindsay. Batman leans in to examine it. Behind them, a small window shows a starry night and the Gotham skyline.

Gordon: Ryan K. Lindsay. Australian comic book writer. Big noise in that scene. Special guest at the Gotham Comicon.

Panel Six.

Outside Gotham Central. On a nearby rooftop, a shadowy figure stands watching through the window we saw in the last panel. He’s holding a directional microphone and listening in on the conversation inside.

Gordon (from inside): No one’s seen him since Friday night…

Figure: And they’ll never seen him again, Commissioner. Because Ryan K. Lindsay is no more…

Panel Seven.

(Or, if I'm allowed to break the rules once, for my final script - Page TWO, splash panel...)

The figure leaps off the rooftop, towards us, in a big heroic pose. He’s wearing an all over face mask (black, featureless) and a long flowing detective’s mac that trails behind him like a cape. The logo on his black top features four symbols shaped like typewriter keys – N O I R…

Noir: And the night belongs to NOIR!




Thanks for the opportunity to be part of the best comics blog on the net – with the friendliest and most encouraging team of creators. Ryan K. Lindsay, I salute you!

Ryan K. Lindsay - Soon Enough - Grant McLaughlin

1 - A young girl (maybe 12 or so) stands in a comic book store in front of a shelf full of comic book trades.  She looks somewhat intimidated (think "deer in the headlights").  A clerk is shelving books nearby.  No dialogue.

2 - The girl turns to the clerk.  The clerk leans forward on her knees, moving herself closer to the girl's height.

GIRL (quietly): E-excuse me?

CLERK: Yes?

3 - The girl is gaining some confidence.  The clerk puts on a pensive look, pondering the question in an attempt to come up with the most appropriate suggestion.

GIRL (1): I want to read comics, but I dunno where to start.

GIRL (2): Can you help me?

CLERK: Hmmm.

4 - The clerk has a clear "aha!" moment.  She has a look of pleased satisfaction on her face at what she's thought of.

CLERK: I think I have just the thing.

5 - The clerk grabs a book off the shelf.  No dialogue.

6 - The clerk holds out a comic book.  She wears a big smile.

CLERK: Have you ever heard of Ryan K. Lindsay?

Squared Circle – The Quickening – Ryan K Lindsay

Click to see whole strip

1. Those two announcers are talking to us. I don’t know their names, you do, draw them.

Announcer 1: Wow, I cannot believe Moneyshot Lindsay is stepping back into the ring for this bout.

Announcer 2: It is for The Quickening, [insert name here if they have names], there’s no way he’d let 3-Star Rosenthal take it without it getting physical.

2. 3-Star Rosenthal stands in his corner ready to go. Here’s the fun, let’s make Ben a wrestler. I’m thinking denim overalls, with the ass flap open revealing pink underwear, maybe some sort of lame mask or hat. You hate him as much as I do, let’s tear him apart.

Caption: “This. Is. Going. To. Be. INSANITY!”

3-Star: I wonder why they call him--

3. Insert sneak attack SFX panel with MONEYSHOT written vertically. Should homage the old Batman POWS, y’know? Panel is only about 1cm wide or so.

4. 3-Star has been blown back, he is tangled up in the ropes, he’s upside-down, his pert little ass is facing us. An announcer is standing at the side of the ring. I don’t care which one (pick your favourite) and I don’t care exactly where he stands.

Announcer ?: Wow, he really took that right across his chest like a champ!

autobiographical - ryan k lindsay

1. Wide panel. Ryan sits hunched at a desk, his desk. His head is down, his eyes are focused.

Caption: I'm writing.

2. The exact same panel.

NO COPY

3. The exact same panel.

NO COPY

4. The exact same panel.

NO COPY

5. The exact same panel.

Caption: It's not exactly a spectator sport.

Caption: Sorry.

Two Years Writing Scripts

I'm very proud of this site. thoughtballoons has been running for two years and that means I've dropped over 100 scripts without missing a week. Over a hundred scripts is no mean feat. Some of them have been terribly average, maybe even a few just plain terrible, and then there are some of which I am incredibly proud. But quality aside, I've been proud to just hit the deadlines, and I've been really happy to always have a reason to have the creative juices flowing.

That's what thoughtballoons is about - keeping you writing, keeping you wanting to write. Some weeks it can be hard but those weeks are worth it for the scripts that absolutely sing. If you write then you know exactly what I'm talking about. That moment where you look at a script, and in your eyes it is perfect, you feel just...godly. There really is nothing better - and to have a weekly opportunity to crest this mountain, it's just fantastic.

I have appreciated the community that has built here over 104 weeks. The feedback channels and bonds built are the sort of things I love best about the comics community. I have friends for life, future collaborators, and people I can laugh with. I do this site to learn, about the craft, and I do it because it's fun. It fun to intact and to not be writing in a vacuum.

It feels like there isn't much more this site can do, if I'm to be honest. And that's fine with me. I'm happy if it just keeps on keeping on. Perhaps it never needs to get any larger. I'd prefer it to just mean something to the people who do come here. I'd prefer to look back in another 8 years and see 500 of my scripts available for anyone to see. I think that would be one hell of a mean feat.

I have to take this soapbox to thank my fellow tenured writers. I passionately adore each of them and it's nice to know they've got my back. I can run silly ideas past them, or help them out with their needs, and that sort of thing is invaluable in what we do. If you look behind the curtain, you will find people passionate about writing. We all have other irons in the fire and seeing the slew of comics and pitches and one-shots and ideas flowing from this crew is astounding. The future of comics is right here just waiting to sieze their chance - or they already are siezing it right now.

I also want to take this moment to announce our new tenures. We've picked some new blood from the little writer's challenge we ran during our Avengersthon a month ago. Please welcome to the fold:

J.D. Coughlan

Niel Jacoby

and

Ray - the American Zombie!

These guys really wowed the tenures with their dedication, hard work, and sheer skill. It's a pleasure to have them on board.

Now, to you, the constant readers, I thank you for turning up. I hope each time you come here you find something inspiring or interesting that makes you want to go off and write. I very much see this as a site by writers for writers and this shared process is always fun for me.

I don't want to stop doing this. That is my intention. What is yours? What does this site mean to you, and what would you like to see us do?

Thanks, and here's to hundreds more.

Tony Chu – Beats – Ryan K Lindsay

1. A wide panel showing hands close together, they are in cuffs. The hands have a reddish/purple stain right up them, they have been rubbed with beets and their juices.

NO COPY

2. A man sits in the back seat of a police car. We see most of his skin is stained this reddish/purple blotch. If we can squeeze the corner/side of Tony’s head in the side/corner of the panel as he drives the car, that’s cool, if not then the balloon with point to off panel toward the driver’s seat.

Tony: I can’t believe you thought that would work.

3. Tony’s police car drives toward the police station.

Tony: Behind the cibopath headlines, I’m still a really good cop.

Criminal: Sorry.

Tony: Shut up.

Caption: "Earlier..."

Animal Man – Hunted – Ryan K Lindsay

PAGE 20 – 2 PANELS

1. Wide and thin panel atop the page. Mid-shot. Animal Man lies face down in the mud, he is in pain. He is shirtless with the pants, his usual look this past year. Rain pours down and all is dark; it is night and only the moon casts a faint light through the canopy of the rainforest.

Animal Man: …uugghhhh…

2. Wide shot. This panel is the rest of the page. Animal Man is still down in the mud, at the bottom of the page, and we can now see behind him all of the rainforest lit up by a lightning strike. Standing proudly in the rainforest, reading to pounce from his perch, is Kraven the Hunter.

Credits

Hunted: Part 1

Written by Ryan K Lindsay

Caption: Next month: EXTINCTION!

Why Animal Man?

Because he’s so hot right now. No, seriously, the guy languished for years and then suddenly he reappears in the DCnU 52 and he’s one of the best titles of the past year. Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman, with friends, have made Animal Man a must read title once more. That’s surely no easy feat.

I must admit, I wasn’t previously an A-Man fan – even the nickname gives me the willies. I hadn’t read any of his books and I didn’t think he could actually be that cool. But, he kind of is. He isn’t A grade and he knows it. He’s just a guy who can channel the abilities of animals around him and he thinks quick to use these. I like the simplicity of it all.

I also dig that it's now this funky horror comic. And that Buddy baker is pretty much exclively shirtless. And they kept the kid's mullet. Anyway, now I'm gushing.

If you haven’t dipped into Animal Man then think about getting in with the first trade of the Lemire/Foreman run. Then get your hands on what Grant Morrison did with him. Then enjoy yourself.

Now I just hope no one gives him the power of the human centipede.