Godzilla's Lesson

Whether it’s anime, manga, video games, movies, music, technology, or television it’s hard to deny Japan’s influence on the nerd culture that we at Ret-Conned HQ hold so dear. From the other side of the world, it’s difficult for us to comprehend the full impact of the last week’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Still, it doesn’t mean that we can’t find some way to help out our friends in the land of the Rising Sun. When we heard about the Comics for Japan effort, we knew we needed to say something too. The Comics for Japan site wanted us to specifically mention Second Harvest Japan, a Japanese food bank, and the American Red Cross sites, but where you donate doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you did donate. Whether it’s through the web, phone, text, iTunes, or in person, to one of these charities or another one that you know of or care about, think about giving something to help out. After all, without everything that Japan has offered us the world would be a little less nerdy and a lot less awesome.

Travis, what’s on your pull list?

• Batman #708
• Darkwing Duck #10
• Knight & Squire #6 - This mini series turned out to be very different than I was expecting, but it was also very good.
• Red Robin #21 - The Unternet arc dragged on a little bit longer than it needed to. I’m glad it’s over. However, I’m very intrigued by the possibilities presented by the ending.
• The Unwritten #23 - Tommy’s finding his way in the belly of the whale and my inability to identify the Hibernian sailor with an accordion named Jenny is driving me batty. Every issue I spend more time messing around on Wikipedia looking up references. Love it! PICK OF THE WEEK.
• Xombi #1 - While I’m not a fan of Frazer Irving’s monochromatic full-page-image-showing-multiple-points-of-time-in-the-same-panel art style, the concept behind the series is intriguing. As anything I experiment with, I’ll give it a full arc to see if I’ll stick with it.

Kris, what’s on your pull list?

• Adventure Comics #524 - This book just feels like it’s expanding the Legion universe beyond it’s ability to support itself. I’m caring less and less for these characters.
• Batman #708 - This is Azrael #19. It’s an okay book, but it feels too far removed from the current goings on in Gotham.
• Brightest Day #22 - This story in finally running non-stop. I have no clue where it is going, but I’m excited.
• DC Universe Legacies #10 - What a weird ending! The Blue Beetle back-up is really depressing.
• Power Girl #22 - I love Winick writing Power Girl. This is just continuing her in a post Generation Lost world.
• R.E.B.E.L.S. #26 - Too much Lobo, not enough Dox. The little girl Starro was insanely creepy.
• Red Robin #21 - Finally, we are finished with the Unternet arc. It just drug on for too long.
• Superman #709 - UGH!
• T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #5 - What a twist!