Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Jessica Jones Getting Her Own TV Series

So I may be a little late to the game with this information, but I just came across the news that our favorite interracial married, journalist, gay fanboy fave super mom Jessica Jones of Avengers fame will be getting her own television series on ABC, under the title AKA Jessica Jones [via G4].
Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos, the character was introduced in 2001 as super-powered private investigator with a retconned origin loosely connected to Spider-Man's, as a woman who gains super strength, durability, and flight after a car accident that killed her family exposed her to radioactive material. However, after a less than successful stint as a costumed hero called Jewel, her present was shown as a gritty career in street clothes as owner of Alias Private Investigations. With a relationship to Marvel hero Luke Cage (who is rumored to be in the running for a movie,) that results in their marriage, as well as a stint with the New Avengers, Jessica's ran quite a gamut in just under decade. As the report describes her TV character:
"Jessica, now in her early 30s, decides to keep far away from others gifted with superpowers and to open her own detective agency. But once she settles down, she realizes she still has a drive to help people -- and finds herself assisting other superheroes."
We could possibly be in store for a show with a bad-ass female who, unlike the others we see on TV and movies, isn't all that self-assured and carries an ambivalence with which audiences might identify. While she'll undoubtedly be gorgeous and sexual, and her superpowers may be larger than life, her day-to-day problems may not necessarily be the hybrid of the plot of some Bond film and a Penthouse forum letter. In fact, Rosenberg describes her new show's character as "deeply flawed but with a biting sense of humor."
I'm really excited at the news that Jessica is getting her own series. Jones was one of my favorite characters in the early days of Young Avengers when she was a surrogate mom of sorts to the super powered teenagers (and the object of much fanboy love from Billy and Teddy). Now that she has a kid of her own, her supermom priorities have been focused on keeping her super baby safe and returning to the superhero life as a part of the New Avengers. Particularly interesting with this announcement is that Marvel is choosing to shine some focus on some of its tangential characters who aren't the big hitters of the Marvel Universe, but nevertheless have strong fan support.

Here's hoping AKA Jessica Jones is also known as a great tv show!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Superqueeros! for December 29th, 2010

Happy New Year's Eve! Hopefully you survived any family, vacations, or Snowagnaröks that came your way this past week, because we've got some winners shipping this week! Though three of the four are comics that I reported as shipping earlier in the month... Looks like comics can get held up by winter weather too!

Gotham City Sirens #18
This is the only comic I HAVEN'T previously reported as shipping, and it's also the comic with the most amazing cover art! GCS is finishing their storyline pitting Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Zatanna, Catwoman, and Tahlia Al Ghul against each other! Everyone is struggling to either find out or continue to conceal the identity of Batman, information that Catwoman has managed to convince her compatriots that she DOESN'T have. Will Selina be able to survive being the focus of the most powerful players in the Bat-verse???? Or will this be Selina's next mental derailment?

Also this week, we get:
AND

Monday, December 20, 2010

Superqueeros! for December 22nd, 2010

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND KWANZAA!!!!!! The comic book industry can sense when you're about to get gift cards to your local comic book store (call it a Spectacular Spider-Man Sense) and so they're throwing caution to the wind and inundating the market with new comics on Wednesday. I'm serious: things about the get crazy. So who's gay on Wednesday?

Wildcats #30

Did you read The Authority #29? Do you know who the new Doctor is? Are you ready for The End of All Things (Wildstorm)? This is THE ISSUE, guys! Apocalypse came to Wildstorm and it's about to be retconned, solved, or otherwise resolved as we meet the fastest Doctor ever to hold the title! Expect Rainmaker, Apollo, and Midnighter cameos, as well as EVERY OTHER WILDSTORM CHARACTER EVER. If Christmas is about family, then this is the most Christmas-y comic you'll read this month! #soexcited

New Mutants #20

TEAM UP. We all know that Karma is the most important New Mutant (certainly the most interesting), but FINALLY the universe agrees. With every other New Mutant held captive by the Purgatory Babies, Karma and Magik are going to rally Utopia and save their friends! Well, unless they're too late. Then the world is going to end. And in Marvel there's no Doctor to fix everything when your planet gets turned into a hell-dimension. #whoops!

Uncanny X-Men #531

Quarantine continues! E'erybody on Utopia is sick! Wolvie is DYING! Rockslide is... basically over? How does a psychic entity get sick again? PLOT HOLES ASIDE, Northstar is going to be KICKING BUTT this month! As one of the 5 X-men outside of the quarantine, he, Dazzler, Pixie, Angel, and Storm are going to be putting the smack down on Sublime's latest home-made mutants and, hopefully, the Collective Man! People have criticized this storyline as being, basically, exactly what Grant Morrison did during New X-Men, to which I say: New X-Men was AMAZING!!!!! Don't knock a working formula! And buy this book, even though Greg Land is doing the art!

Daken: Dark Wolverine #4

Okay, so this book is called "Daken: Dark Wolverine" but, according to the solicit, Daken is going to be forging a new identity after faking his death last issue? Meaning that this comic book is about to NOT be about Daken, since he's presumably going to be selecting a new moniker, and is DEFINITELY not about "Dark Wolverine" (sooo 2009) ? So why does it retain the outdated name? PLOT HOLES ASIDE, Marjorie Liu and Daniel Way rock at writing, so this is going to be a ball-busting issue no matter who it stars. I wonder if Daken's going to refrain from using his claws in his new identity? The cover shows him fighting the FF; will Johnny et al. be able to recognize their former friend? And what is the next step in Daken's plan for world conquest???

Honorable Mentions after the cut!
Wonder Woman #605

Diana vs The Morrigan! The solicit tells us that Diana is facing off against one of the three Morrigan, and Wikipedia tells us that there is no definitive story to that. Evidently in Latin texts morrigans are scary evil monster ladies and in Ireland it's a proper noun that refers to either a war goddess or a trio of goddesses. Does this mean that for JMS's Wonder Woman she's defending her people and her religion against the very real attacks on them by other pantheons? There are more questions than answers here, but never have I been more excited for a Wonder Woman book than this month! Irish goddesses fighting the champion of the Greeks? This is what comics were made for!

X-Men: Legacy #243

As Jason noted, Bling! is one of the X-Men within the radius of Karima's wrath, so even though this book seems to be focusing more on Hope helping Julian deal with the anger he has over loosing his arms we may get some queer cameos! Also, Mike Carey is a god amongst scribes.

X-Men #6

This is the ultimate issue of X-men vs. Vampires! It's the mutants against Dracula, perhaps one of the X-Men's most classic conflicts. But this time there's an additional element: Jubilee is among the enemy! How will the X-men save one of their own without losing any more compatriots??? And will Bling! get to do some slaying???? #ToughSkinGang

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Scarlet Betch Episode 33

Hey betches!

This week is refreshingly light! We talk about Barbara Gordon's alleged death in Gail Simone's Birds of Prey "The Death of Oracle" and also Peter David's latest chapter of X-Factor as the adventure to Las Vegas/Hell/Nordic Extravaganza wraps up.

We also have slight musings about the state of the male strip club and have a New York vs. Montreal analysis! #tangential

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Turn Off the Dark Reviewed!


My friend Nathan "Knathan" Archer saw the Spider-man musical this past weekend and he's just posted a review! Be warned, it contains MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS!

If you don't want to be spoiled then here's a summary of his review: he loved the show (whew!), there were no technical difficulties (whew!), and he sat in front of Angela Landsbury (hot!). And if Angela Landsbury came to the show, you know it has to be good!

Monday, December 13, 2010

SuperQueeros! for December 15th

I am HUGE X-men fan, so even though this week is lighter on queer characters than last week was, I'm super excited! More Anole this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus, just in time for X-mas, next week is going to be a comic book DELUGE. But until then...

X-Factor #212
Shatterstar Takes Las Vegas continues! Joined by Thor, X-Factor is preparing to confront Hela in her lair and dissent is starting to foment among the X-ranks. This is the start of a story thread that will see one member of X-Factor leave the agency: who will it be, why will it be, and what role do the machinations of the Norse Gods have to play in this decision? Just because it's the Heroic Age for Thor doesn't mean every mensch in tights has magically become super-boy scouts like Clark Kent! As usual, the awesome and angst-y X-drama starts here!!

X-Men: To Serve and Protect #2
Or, as I like to call it, Anole & Rockslide: To Snark and Pummel! Yup, we get the second issue of the X-Men's "Heroic Age" short story collection, and everyone's favorite lizard-boy is front and center. Rockslide and Anole have taken down the fringe forces of Mr. Negative's crime syndicate, which means that they've successfully tickled a sleeping dragon. Will the two teenage vigilantes be able to survive the full brunt of one of Spidey's most sinister rogues if the X-Men aren't waiting in the wings to save them?

Plus, the Stepford Cuckoos! And Spidey! #sweeeeet!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Scarlet Betch Episode 32

Hey betches!

We're back! In this week's issue Jason and Anthony review the latest in queer comic book news, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "The Last Gleaming Part III" and Batwoman #0

We also have a ton of shout outs in this episode to from the many colored X-men ranch (New Mutants, Uncanny, Legacy) to Alpha Flight's long awaited return to Canada's great white north.

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com


Monday, December 6, 2010

Sneak Peak at Outland, Aussi Gay Geek TV Show

Australian gay news publication, SX, has acquired a sneak peak photo of the cast of the upcoming Outland series that we've been chattering about here on Scarlet Betch. The show evidently features a cast of four white gay men of varying degrees of outness and a black lesbian in a wheelchair. So from left to right it looks like we've got the Boy next door gaymer, the Dungeons & Dragons (emphasis on the Dungeons) leather daddy, Oppression McGee aka Black Oracle, ChiChi LaRue meets Uhura, and Preppy closet nerd. While my problematic-o-meter is pinging like mad, I'm reserving judgement 'til we see some footage. See for yourself:


Superqueeros! for December 10th, 2010


Wow, this week is pretty slim pickings... Torchwood didn't ship last week, so hopefully it'll be in stores this week. But other than that we just have What If?'s Baby Daken (cuuuute!) and the varied and troubled cast of House of Mystery to "bring the queer" to comics this week.

What If? Wolverine Father
This issue asks, "What would Daken be like if Wolverine had raised him?" It appears to imply that a killing-machine-for-a-Dad might not be the most nurturing (or different) scenario for Baby D, but Wolvie was the best friend of all the Kitties, Jubilees, Marrows, and Pixies that were sheltered by the X-men over the years, so he might make an excellent father. What do you think? And is Daken still going to be the queer we know and love given the radically different rearing he's about to face? Only one way to find out! #buyit

House of Mystery #32
Like Dorothy from Kansas, the House of Mystery and its owner Fig were swept away from their friends and foundations to face their final foes last issue. Meanwhile, Abel re-opens the House of Secrets to quench the thirst of the lost souls who are demanding a table at which to tell their tales. Who knows if we'll see Tursig this issue (I'm assuming the House of Secrets is also located in the bazaar), but I think one of the women in the main cast may also be queer (there was this one throw-away line last issue that piqued my interest), so maybe this book has more of an LGBT cast than I thought!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Dark Wolverine writer Marjorie Liu Talks Daken, Weaponized Sexuality

Newsarama posted a great interview with Dark Wolverine writer Marjorie Liu asking about her experience writing one of Marvel's most notorious and highly billed bisexual. Liu makes some interesting points about Daken's unique powerset as a male character and his relationship, or lack of one, with his father, Wolverine. I've had a lot of conflicting feelings about Daken as a character. On one hand it's great to see writers really embrace the bisexual part of Daken, and its refreshing that recently it seems that Daken's bisexuality is more complex than it has been in the past (it seemed that whenever Daken was having sex for "fun" it would be with a woman, but sex for business/nefarious plots/leverage would be with a man). It is somewhat unique, as noted by the interviewers to see a male character use his sexuality as a weapon. Check out the interview over at Newsarama!


Monday, November 29, 2010

SuperQueeros! for December 1st, 2010

How was your Thanksgiving? Filled with comic-book AWESOME-NESS? Yeah, I thought so.

This week isn't quite as gangbusters as last week, but we have four strong titles out instead of an avalanche of limited series, and almost all of them are bringing end-of-the-year resolution to the plot threads you love!

The Authority #29
The last issue of (this volume of) The Authority! As we all know, Wildstorm is folding into the DCU (well, it's folding, and it's owned by DC. Where or when it ends up is still a mystery.), and December is the last month for its continuing series. This issue is sure to tie into the final issue of Wildcats, but the solicit is promising that the Authority is going to make it back to Earth with a Carrier full of secrets. Will one of those secrets be the solution to Wildstorm-Earth's apocalypse? And will that solution be the answer to what is about to happen to all the Wildstorm characters? Only one way to find out! #getit

Torchwood #5
It's a Gwen one-shot and the conclusion to 'Broken' in this month's Torchwood issue! I'm a Gwen fan, so I'm looking forward to this story, especially to finding out where in her timeline this story is set. Plus, Gary Russel has been knocking it out of the park with the Ianto-Jack banter in 'Broken', so I trust it will be a satisfying finish for the back-up story started way back in issue #1! It's the end of an era, so be sure to pick it up!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer#39
Speaking of eras ending, this is the second-to-last issue of BtVS: Season 8! And with no pre-released covers this month, expect the unexpected! Who will be the one to betray Buffy? Willow is facing a world without magic, Xander is facing a world with no room for humans, and Buffy is caught, unknowing, in the middle. As we've seen with Wildstorm, the Earths of comic books are not at all safe from the apocalyptic imaginations of writers. Where is Joss going to take this story?

Secret Six #28
It's the ultimate issue of 'Reptile Brain', the storyline that pitted Secret Six against Secret Six, promised a bloodbath with super-villain casualties, and delivered a bloodbath with super-villain... hugs? It also delivered a lot of shirtless Catman. So in the end everything worked out even-Steven. Since nobody died, though, how are the two Secret Sixes going to shake out post-conflict? Is this title about to become Secret Twelve, or are some people going to stay behind in Dinosaur-land? Or just head home after a hard day's slaughter? This month, we find out!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

WHOOPS: Superqueeros Correction - BATWOMAN #0


Yesterday I said that this was the best Thanksgiving EVER because of the impressive prominence of queer superheroes in this week's comic books. But I was wrong. It's the BEST THANKSGIVING EVER-EST!!! N00b-like, I missed the solicitation for the BIG KAHUNA of all superqueeros: Batwoman #0 is in stores TODAY!!!!!!!!

The premise of the issue (at least in the solicit) is that Batman is confirming his suspicions of Batwoman's identity. That means that it's through the eyes of the World's Greatest Detective that we'll review all the Batwoman mythology developed in Detective Comics earlier this year. Then, primed and ready, we'll... have to wait until February for Batwoman #1. D'oh!

But some Batwoman is better than no Batwoman, especially at Thanksgiving (THANK YOU J.H.!), and this is probably the best comic book you can buy this week ever, so #GetIt. Plus, in the politics of desire, the sweetest part is always the antici-

A Reminder to All Aussies: Outland's Pride Scene Films Tomorrow!


A reminder to all our Aussie readers in, around, or able to be in or around the Melbourne area tomorrow, November 26th is your opportunity to appear in an episode of Outland!

Monday, November 22, 2010

SuperQueeros! for November 24th, 2010

It's Northstar Week! Not only is Northstar one-half of the un-quarantined X-men in Uncanny's creatively named "Quarantine" storyline, but Sasquatch's deal with the Great Beasts leads to Jean-Paul's inclusion in an awesome revival of the original Alpha Flight line-up for the Chaos War! Also, as if that weren't enough, Lafayette tells his story in the True Blood mini, the Wildcats' penultimate issue hits stores, and one of the New Mutants falls to the Inferno Babies! Plus GCS and Madame Xanadu! This is the best Thanksgiving EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chaos War: Alpha Flight
The most awesome Northstar-featuring comic this week (imo) sees the revival of his deceased teammates as they get one issue to help bring down the Chaos King. The premise for this event's tie-in books is: every living person is asleep and defenseless, so deceased heroes have been revived to fight an onslaught of attacking gods. I'm not sure if these characters stay relevant to the storyline after this one-shot, but whether or not they do I'm excited: I've not read any of the original Alpha Flight run and now, just like Marina, Vindicator, Guardian, and Shaman, I get a second chance!

Uncanny X-Men #530
If Chaos War: Alpha Flight is the most awesome Northstar-inclusive title this week, then Uncanny X-men is the most fabulous. The "Quarantine" storyline is, essentially, that Anole and the kids get sick (ANOLE ALERT!) and Utopia is quarantined from the outside world. Meanwhile, stuff starts going down outside the island, and the sick mutants start losing their powers. Where does Northstar come in to the equation? Well there are only two mutants NOT on Utopia when the quarantine starts: Dazzler and Northstar. Yup, we're about to get a full story arc of a super-diva and her super-GBF kicking butt all over San Fransisco. Who said all the X-Gays were metaphors only? #awesome #buyit

EDIT: Okay, Northstar and Dazzler aren't the ONLY un-quarantined X-Men. But 20% gay is still very gay!

True Blood #5
Lafayette's story! It's finally here! The second-to-last issue of the True Blood mini is out this week and we finally get to hear some of what Lafayette's been hiding. If you've been missing the fabulous fry cook while TB is off the air, this is the book for you. Plus, if you like Ryan Kwanten's Jason in compromising positions this book features just that sort of tale too!

Wildcats #29
Everything ends in #30! With one issue to go before everything hits the fan expect this issue to be a game-changer. Who will be the new Doctor? Will Apollo smash more golems like a blond Hulk? And is the ship headed toward Earth the Carrier or something worse????

New Mutants #19
This is the end of "Fall of the New Mutants" but it's definitely not the end of the Project Purgatory storyline! One of Marvel's Mutants is "fallen" and "no longer a part of the New Mutants" by the end of this issue, but I have a feeling that will play heavily into our heroes' successful counterstrike next month(s). Whatever happens, however, this issue is looking to be a turning point for our heroes as they're pushed to the max to overcome the overwhelming force that is: The Purgatory Babies! #KarmaKickingButt

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Scarlet Betch Episode 31

Hey betches!

We're back! In this week's issue Jason and Anthony review the latest in queer comic book news, namely Daken Dark Wolverine (with a Mystique feature) and X-Factor.

We get a double serving of Marvel's most famous bisexuals and a whole lot of kick-assery from Shatterstar (and more naive and adorable same-sex flirting)

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com


Thursday, November 18, 2010

Clearance Sale at Class Comics! All the Catboys money can buy!

Now, we try and keep things classy, over here at Scarlet Betch, so we tend to not spend a lot of time mulling over the gay erotic comic book subculture. There are plenty of great resources on the web, but we tend to look at the queer in the mainstream content. But, I thought I'd pass along this little tidbit to our loyal readers who might want to take on this opportunity. Class Comics, the brain child of noted gay erotic comic creator, Patrick Fillion, is having a clearance sale of some of their most popular titles. If you've been looking for that perfect gift for that gay geek friend of yours to curl up next to at night... then here you go! [via Gay League]


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

SNEAK PREVIEW: Gaga One-Page in GQ by Cliff Chiang

Cliff Chiang is a freelance illustrator and artist and he's produced some awesome work from kickass comic book-reimagined 80's posters to threadless shirts, not to mention, you know, his comic book work. Chiang posted on his blog today a teaser image of a one-page comic he illustrated that will appear in the pages of December's GQ magazine featuring the one and only Lady Gaga. The preview looks hilarious and exciting. Cliff's an awesome artist and I can't wait to see more of his work! Make sure you check out the December issue of GQ! Men, Fashion, Comic books, AND Lady Gaga? Sign me up!



Monday, November 15, 2010

SuperQueeros! for November 17th, 2010

We know that queerness, like any genetically influenced trait, comes from a mutation, but it's a little "on the nose" that every gay character featured in a comic book this week is one of Marvel's Merry Mutants. I mean, I know we all have that "X factor", but not all of use have an X-gene too, okay?

(But no hate! I heart the X-Men times a million!)

X-Factor #211
It's going to be Shatterstar central this month as he, Rictor, Darwin, Longshot, Guido, and Layla (okay, maybe not central central) cause a violent ruckus to get the attention of Hela, Norse Goddess of the Underworld. Hopefully after the dust settles 'Star will help with the talking bits too. Or at least cutely screw up Norse custom? ;P

Daken: Dark Wolverine #3
So Daken has been burned to a crisp, an injury that his dad has recovered from multiple times. But according to the solicit, DarkWolvie is down for the count. And by "down" I mean in Hell. And by "for the count" I mean for this issue and possibly the next Act. (The current storyline is called "Empire, Act 1") We'll have to wait and see!

But in the meantime, Mystique fights off DemonWolverine! Hawtsome!!!

X-Men #5
X-Men gets an honorable mention this week for their inclusion of Bling! on the front lines of the vampire invasion this month. Someone once said, "The X-Men are gay black people who are straight and white," but Bling! is a mutant lesbian of color. So don't get vamped Bling!, you're too important!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Fanart Friday: Idealized Body Types and the Art of Paco Medina

We all know that idealized body types in comics can be fairly problematic, and I don't mean to imply that any artist who draws the super-idealized-not-achievable bodies of superheroes has or does not have any to all of those problems. Rather, on this Fanart Friday, I would like to perv out on spotlight the professional works of Paco Medina, specifically his depiction of Cyclops in next week's X-Men #5. To the right you can see a section of a larger panel that Marvel has released to the web as a preview from that very volume:

Wow. Woof. Am I right fellas? Definitely woof. AND, because this comic features Bling! (out lesbian of color!) as part of the Tough Skin Gang (read the preview), you can totally guiltlessly buy this comic for the queer solidarity factor and not for the pictures! Definitely not for the pictures! Let's all look to the right again:

Consummate penciling skills, Paco! Hopefully you didn't plagiarize a Photoshopped magazine to get these perfect proportions! lol, jk, flop sweat! Hopefully you used a life model. From Florida. Whose phone number you are willing to disseminate. Because I'm going to need to #marriage.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Scarlet Betch Episode 30

Hey betches!

We're back! And only after a week this time, hooray for us! We're so regular now, we should be spokespeople for metamusil! In this week's issue Jason and Anthony review what's on everyone's minds and pull lists: Avengers: Children's Crusade #3.

Heinberg and Cheung bring all the Billy/Teddy character development you've been so sorely looking for! I don't think Kate Bishop, Cassie Lang, or Vision even had a line through the whole thing! We also give shout outs to Batgirl and Dustin Nguyen for some amazingly adorable artwork. #tooc00tz!

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

BETCH ALERT: Two-timing JMS Dumps Diana and Clark for 20 Year Old Stud from Kansas

It was announced today on the official DC Universe blog that J. M. Sraczynski is going to be leaving both of his head writer positions on Superman and the current Wonder Woman reboot to work on a sequel to the critically acclaimed Superman re-imagining, Earth One. While I am excited to learn of Earth One's continuation (haven't read it myself, but intend to), I am deeply concerned over the quality of the Wonder Woman book as it continues this winding trail of increasingly cryptic retcon-a-pullooza:

Starting with SUPERMAN #707 and WONDER WOMAN #605, Straczynski will step back as the monthly scripter of both books, opening the door for two rising talents to step in and complete the books’ respective storylines using JMS’s story notes. Straczynski’s influence will be apparent in both titles – Superman’s Walk Across America continues, the mysteries surrounding Wonder Woman barrel toward a conclusion and in due time you’ll have a second volume of SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE to put on the shelf next to the first.
Read more after the jump...


AWESOME ALERT: Outland Casting Call!


The folks behind Outland saw our post yesterday and want YOU as an extra for the final episode's Gay Pride scene! The gig involves you and all your friends dressing up in your gay pride-est garb and hanging out on set until they need you to RAGE in the background! Totally awesome! Totally Gervais! The only downside is that you need to AVOID wearing science fiction costumes (think of it as a super-heroic sacrifice on your part) and, if you're paying attention to your surroundings, there will be SPOILERS (Please report them back to me!)!!!!

Oh, also, you have to be in Melbourne on the 26th?

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

New Aus Comedy About... US!


So the Australian Broadcasting Company has just announced what may be the most exciting TV news ever?


This means that we're about to get three hours of queers discussing who's hotter, Matt Smith or David Tennant, right??? Because I think I would watch that on an infinite loop! #soexcited!!

Monday, November 8, 2010

SuperQueeros! for November 10th, 2010

It's all Natalie Imbruglia up in my mind: on the one hand, the third issue of the hex-annual Children's Crusade ships this week!!!!! On the other hand, it's the only comic book out this week that features LGBT characters. So, we definitely have all our eggs of awesome in one basket. But it's a really sexy basket!

Avengers: Children's Crusade #3
The Scarlet Witch has been found! Now it's time for infighting while we get the back story of what the heck she's been doing and how she ended up with Doom! At least, I hope that's what we're in store for... The solicit just talks about Wolverine fighting Wonder Man (is that awesome? It sounds kind of awesome...), Quicksilver fighting Magneto (...why?), and the Avengers fighting the Young Avengers (again: hunh?). I understand that good-guy-only battles are a mainstay of the superhero genre, but this book only comes out once every two months. If there isn't actually a story to tell, why is it taking so long to tell it????

Counterpoint: Billy x Teddy.

Objection sustained, case rested, verdict: Avengers: Children's Crusade is #awesome. #buyit

Friday, November 5, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Line Test for New Avatar: The Legend of Korra, leaked!

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Earlier this year, Nickelodeon and Avatar creators announced a new mini-series in the Avatar world about the next avatar: a waterbender named Korra. The intert00bs have erupted with the leaking of a line test from the show, further confirmation that the production is trucking ahead, slow and steady.

Be sure to check it out for as long as the powers that be let it stay up!


Scarlet Betch Episode 29

Hey betches!

Scarlet Betch is back at it again, keeping you updated on the latest in comic book news and reviews. Thankfully we dodged any technical difficulties and we're slowly getting a handle on this whole vlogging bit. Jason and Anthony give shout outs to Bruce Wayne - The Road Home: Batgirl, Archie Comics' Veronica 202, among others and talk in depth about this month's Wonder Woman and her confrontation with the Colonel, all things Anole in X-men Legacy and X-men: To Serve & Protect, and this month's Buffy, The Last Gleaming Part III.

Let us know what you think! Plus, any comics you think we missed in our coverage let us know! Send us a tweet @ScarletBetch or by email at scarletbetch@gmail.com

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Dollhouse Goes Dark Horse; Dark Dolls?

The Whedon clan is up at it again as Dark Horse announces a new line of Dollhouse comics to come in 2011. Building off of their critical and financial success with Buffy Season 8, Dark Horse and the Whedons hope to intrigue their loyal fan base with yet another series of comic books expanding the television universe. Joss, however won't be heading this project; Rather, it will be his brother Jed Whedon who also worked on the television series.

Newsarama published an interview with the auteur about the upcoming series that's worth a read. He notes, 

"These comics will focus on the period between the present day Dollhouse timeline that we came to know and love and the future apocalypse timeline that we came to know and love more than the other timeline. But don’t tell Joss we said that."
I'm glad the writers and I are on the same page. I was always a conscientious fan of Dollhouse. There were a lot of interesting philosophical and metaphysical questions being asked, along with an interesting mythos being laid down. However, the most interesting parts of the Dollhouse mythos, isn't the near-present world of excessively elaborate whore housing, but rather it's the distinctly sci-fi post-apocalyptic future of the epitaphs. I've said for a long time, if you can't stand Eliza Dushku's wooden acting and can pass on the yummy shirtless Tahmoh Penikett, than you should really just watch the pilot, maybe the second episode to get your grounding, and then both the "Epitaph" episodes.

My love of Felicia Day even extends to her comic book avatars! I'll definitely be picking up this comic come 2011!

Monday, November 1, 2010

SuperQueeros! for November 3rd, 2010

If Halloween is "Gay Christmas" than this Wednesday is is GayGeek Boxing Day. Check out all the superqueeros this week!

X-Men: To Serve and Protect #1
In the heroic age the X-men are... cops? Vigilantes? It's a little unclear and while the title of this limited series implies the former, the preview of THE ANOLE STORY implies the latter. That's right: Anole + Rockslide, perhaps the only openly gay/straight bromance, are hitting the streets of San Fran to, well, serve and protect. But their style is less good cop, bad cop and more Leonardo and Casey Jones. Which actually makes this story MORE AWESOME. #pickoftheweek

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #39
It's the middle of the end and, if the cover is a spoiler, it looks like Joss may be going for the end-of-season main-cast-death. It appears that Dawn will be in mortal danger so... is he going for a positive or negative emotional effect? J/k, I love Dawn! But what are your thoughts? Think the Key is finally going to be put to good use? Would you miss Dawn if she were gone? Or is the cover to the right the answer to your every prayer?

The Authority #28
"Sarah Rainmaker will astonish". Okay, that was part of the solicit for this comic, so I think we all know what we need to do this week: #BuyThisComic. Also, space aliens, other characters, blah, blah, vampire emergency, blah, RAINMAKER. #SoExcited!!!!!!!!!

Secret Six #27
The girls are getting the best stories this week! Scandal gets to go head to head with Bane, her (unwanted?) surrogate father figure!!! Talk about character- AND action-driven plotting! Gail is certainly bringing her A game to this story arc: just look at the COVER! Don't miss out!

House of Mystery #31
The solicit for this issue says that the aftermath of the witches' war will be revealed, so Tursig might make an appearance. It's meant to be a stand-alone issue, though, so I'm not holding my breath.


Friday, October 29, 2010

Fan Art Friday II - Aang's Yoga Revenge

Just wanted to point everyone to the blog of my first yoga teacher. She just taught a Halloween-themed yoga class and one of her yogis rocked an Avatar Aang costume!
Amazing, right??? What are you going as for Halloween? I know Jason has some spectacular plans!

Fan Art Friday: Jason Todd

Yet another great piece by Jemma Salume. Some of the most innovative use of lettering I've seen It's really quite beautiful. I've never been a fan of Jason Todd as Robin or after, but this makes me want to read more bat books. Click to embiggen. [source]


Monday, October 25, 2010

SuperQueeros! for October 27th, 2010

X-Men: Curse of the Mutants - X-Men vs. Vampires #2
KARMA STORY! The traditional annual collection of X-Men character vignettes has rolled around to it's requisite queer story, and it's about KARMA! I've definitely been missing my monthly Karma-inclusive stories ever since New Mutants started ignoring its X-men to focus on Project Purgatory, so this is going to be like a rainstorm in the desert for me! And it's about her being in Weight Watchers (BEST NOD TO THE 80s EVER) and having a metal leg (THANK YOU FOR FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGING IT) and checking out the sexy ladies! So basically it's amazing. #getit

X-Men: Legacy #241
The conclusion to the Dubai story! Anole + Loa + butt-kicking = AWESOME. I can't wait to see what happens to Luz (is she going to become a cast member for the new book? Is she going to be an X-Ally, thereby mitigating or ending the threat of the Children of the Vault?) and how Magneto and Rogue end their trip together. I figure that they won't hate each other, given that Magneto is getting his own continuing series, but I'm also hoping they don't hook-up. Now that Rogue can control her powers she should go find some GOOD love interests! #Anole!!!

Wildcats #28
So the world is basically exploding around our heroes right now as Gaia tries to kill everything, Ladytron has resurrected a robot army to take on the Spirit of the Earth, and those not on damage control are trying to find a new Doctor quickly who can cure the planet and set things to rights. Midnighter has so far been MIA in this new storyline, but Apollo is at ground zero, fighting to keep Gaia at bay. Hopefully we'll get some character development for him this issue? #notlikely

JSA #44
New creative team!!! Obsidian isn't featured on the cover or the variant cover, so I'm not holding my breath for his inclusion in this title, but it was his last known team affiliation. Hopefully he's included and used, and the spotlight he and his father had last issue wasn't a farewell issue to placate fanboys and fangirls. #fingerscrossed

Wonder Woman #604
AWESOME! Another story arc resolution this week as JMS's first Wonder Woman tale closes out. NewDiana faces down the man who re-wrote reality and turned her world (and ours!) upside-down! I don't usually advocate misandry but, Diana, KICK HIM IN THE BALLS!

Madame Xanadu #28
It's the last of the Five Senses as Xanadu helps a chibopath (see Chew) who's starving from all the stories she's eating! MX continues to be a very entertaining read, though I'm not sure what aspect made it a GLAAD nominee last year... ALSO: next month is THE SIXTH SENSE!!!!!!!!