Last time we looked at Dixon's Crimson Lightning, which very much has its own identity, publishing schedule, and so forth. Where I find Kelson's Speed Force a Wally West flavored blog from the name down, Crimson Lightning feels like Barry Allen's blog, from its emphasis on science to its just-the-facts approach, and even its occasional tardiness factors into that.
Three months after Crimson Lightning arrived, Rob Kelly's The Aquaman Shrine came along. It proved not only a very popular blog, but also highly influential, as for many people it showed the way toward doing character-specific blogging "right." From this blog to Adama's Dispatches from the Arrow Cave, to Damian Maffei's The Tiny Titan, to Luke's Being Carter Hall, you can feel the Shrine's influence. From the general layout, post types, schedules, and even the Blogger/Blogspot hosting, there's a vestigial "Robness" to all our blogs. Even in instances where Rob himself was influenced by our efforts, it feels like we all share a bloodline, while Dixon's earlier launch allowed him a greater sense of independence.
One of the things I love about Anj's Supergirl Comic Box Commentary is that, like Dixon's work, it's character blogging done extremely well, while lacking the faint incestuousness of other post Shrine blogs. It saw its initial post on Thursday, November 29, 2007, although a second wouldn't arrive until Tuesday, April 29, 2008, with regular posting finally commencing on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Most of us start out trying for daily/several-times weekly posts that sometimes spread out into inactive months, but Anj went the opposite way, slowly becoming nigh-daily. While doing so, Anj maintained a distinct look, a broad range (pretty much anything remotely related to the Superman family gets covered, without ever sacrificing the Maid of Might's focus,) and unique features (like monthly sales analysis and objective critical reviews.) Where some blogs are relentlessly sunny (hi, Shag!) or ceaselessly dour (me,) Anj strikes a good balance between noting weaknesses and praising strengths in each book. Anj sees the best in the many incarnations of the Girl of Steel, without turning a blind eye toward missteps, showing a welcome maturity to the writing that reads especially well. Like the Shrine, Anj does a favorite character proud, and does it so gracefully it calls for emulation.
Recent Highlights:
"Supergirl: The First Fifty Years" Library Display
Back Issue Box Review: Action #324 - The Fire Falls
Back Issue Box: Action Comics #304
Review: Superman Secret Origin #1
Review: Cry For Justice #4
Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. Annual #1
Review: Superman Secret Origin #2
Back Issue Box: Superboy #80
Ethan Van Sciver's Supergirl As Indigo Lantern
Review: Cry For Justice #5
Review: Adventure Comics #4
Review: Superman Secret Origin #3
Back Issue Box: Superman Family #171
Review: Adventure Comics #5
Review: Supergirl #48
Happy Holidays - Justice League Unlimited #162009 In Review And the Top Ten Supergirl Comic Moments
Who's Who In The DC Universe
Supergirl In The 90's Who's Who
Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. #12
Bullet Review: Outsiders #26
Brainiac 5 and Supergirl: The Levitz Years
Back Issue Box: Legion Of Super-Heroes #301
Review: Justice League: Cry For Justice #6
Review: Supergirl #49
Review: Superman Secret Origin #4
Review: Superman World Of New Krypton #12
500 Posts So ... Back Issue Box: Action Comics #500
Supergirl and Stargirl In JLU
Review: R.E.B.E.L.S. #12
Review: Supergirl #50 Part 1
Good fill someone in on and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you as your information.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is such a rube.
ReplyDeleteSupergirl Comic Box Commentary is easily my favorite of the blogs I've discovered through yours. I'm not sure if I started reading the current Supergirl run before or after reading his blog, ( I think it may have been the impetus) but I have become a big fan of the Maid of Might now, so heck yeah!
M.C., I think Anonymous has multiple personality disorder, or maybe just a substance abuse problem. I can't tell you how Anonymous will be from one day to the next.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, I reject a lot of spam comments in moderation, and I've seen this exact reply before, but I let it slide this time for no good reason.
I've always kind of liked Supergirl, but her comics of the 70s and 80s were pretty terrible. Even the early 90s stuff was no great shakes. I came on in a big way at the start of the David/Frank & soon Kirk run, and stayed until nearly the end, but I'd lost interest once the Earth Angel plotline wrapped in #50. I understand the desire to return to Kara Zor-El, but Loeb poisoned that well for me initially, and the three Gates/Igle Superwoman issues I read were just alright. So far, I'm letting SCBC keep me up on things, but I may try again in the future.
Though I like the character, I've hardly read any of her appearances. I'll have to take a closer look at Supergirl Comic Box Commentary--from what I've seen it's a great blog. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for the kind words (again!) Frank. You're doing a great job here, as well.
ReplyDelete