Fury of Firestorm #55-56 (January-February, 1987)

In Legends #1, the Apokolipsian entity Brimstone first erupted, and failing to contain it, former team member Firestorm enlisted the Justice League of America for a second, equally ineffective pass. Not only was much of downtown Pittsburgh left in flames, but a presidential order next banned super-heroes. Professor Martin Stein, one-half of the Firestorm Matrix, intended to respect the law and at least temporarily dissolve his partnership with former student Ronnie Raymond. However, fascistic followers of G. Gordon Godfrey launched a book burning on the campus of Vandermeer University, and against Stein's wishes, Raymond forced him into fusing to form the Nuclear Man. Ultimately, the right wing former Teen Titan Hawk took up the cause of costumed heroism on campus, while Stein finally forced the fission of Firestorm. In fact, Stein threatened to buy a gun and kill Raymond if he ever did that again, and in discussing the matter with his stepmother, Felicity Smoak equated Ronnie's act to "rape." During another escalation of violence, Ronnie visited his former teacher, who admitted to contemplating suicide with his new pistol, but eventually agreed to reform Firestorm on a case-by-case basis.

2015 Vibe Amazing Houston Comic Con Jam Sketch Detail by Brian Salinas

This piece has a complicated history. I'd originally approached Brian Salinas about drawing a picture of Superman holding a big circle that would have eventually contained the number "60" in the style of the classic DC bullet used from 1976-2005, also known as my entire childhood and primary years loving the company. This was in reference to Martian Manhunter's 60th birthday in 2015, and while I'd been playing with the idea for a while, I finally committed to it at this show when I found a low grade copy of Amazing World of Superman dirt cheap at the con. Salinas took the reference home and played with some sketches, but ultimately felt like he lacked the space and the tools to do the job right. I can't recall if I'd given him a blank 11"x17" or if a jam had already been taking form (likely the latter,) but I deferred to his judgment and thanked him for his professionalism. We still wanted to work together, so I planned to include him in the jam piece further down the line. The project snowballed until roughly an hour before the end of the convention weekend, when I wanted him to include Vibe. Paco Ramone had served on the Detroit era Justice League, but I preferred the more contemporary New 52 version of Cisco Ramone, star of his own short-lived comic and featured player on The Flash TV show. Salinas made the last contribution to the jam to date (I'm still thinking of adding a character or two, but space is limited) and the only one done in color, plus he gave me a sketchbook besides!

Brian Salinas

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2007 Vibe fan redesign by Jorell-Rivera

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Vibe and the Family Steel in Super-Team Family: The Lost Issues

Twin titans of hubris tussle! Today we'll be spotlighting the two least popular male members of the Detroit Era Justice League as represented by the fan fiction paint shop of the blogger known only as Ross! So far, Paco Ramone's only outing has been in this dance-off with the Disco Dazzler, but how about Steel? Only cameo appearances of the Heywood clan on the blog so far, and not even Detroit's Hank III, just Commander Steel and Citizen Steel in group shots...

• The All-Star Squadron and Spider-Man
• The Thing and The Justice Society of America (Modern Age)

...More Lost Team-Up Issues...

• Captain Atom @ Power of the Atom
• John Henry Irons: Steel @ DC Bloodlines
• Wonder Woman and Captain America #219 @ Diana Prince
• Captain America vs. the JLA @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

2014 "Fan-Casting DC's JUSTICE LEAGUE DETROIT" by Ryan Daly

Ryan "Count Drunkula" Daly of the Black Canary blog Flowers & Fishnets has played casting director for a Warner Brothers Justice League film, including the Motor City members! If you hit his Aquaman role sheet, you'll find Alexander Skarsgård as his Sea King. I previously went with the late Paul Walker, but truthfully feel we need to both start over again. Skarsgård would be spot on for Namor, which is the problem. I strongly agree with his Mera, though, and have suggested her myself in the past. I'm also excited by his excellent suggestion of Giancarlo Esposito for J'onn J'onzz.

Justice League Satellite & Detroit was the go-to point for our team. In Daly's selections, he demonstrated an appreciation of the cast of Game of Thrones, including Emilia Clarke as Zatanna. I may be tainted by her royal countenance on that show, but Zee seems more like a cute neighbor than a queen in waiting, which is why I offered Zooey Deschanel.

The Vixen was the single most challenging and longest delayed casting pick I've ever attempted. Tika Sumpter was on my short list, so I approve of Daly going that way. I ultimately went with Gugu Mbatha-Raw, but continue to second guess the selection.

Gael Garcia Bernel is one of the most famous Latin actors in the movie industry, and one of my girlfriend's personal favorites. Vibe is frankly beneath him, but perhaps not Jake T. Austin. I wasn't too picky about emo bohunk Steel, so Jack Reynor is as good as Robbie Amell, and more age appropriate.

Will Forte as Elongated Man? Sure, Whatever. I haven't gotten around to him myself. Much as I like his missus, I think Daly overshot for Sue Dibney. Nina Dobrev is probably too big for Gypsy as well, but I'd be happy with her, though I prefer Raquel Castro. The villainy of Despero, Amazo, Ivo and more are also represented, so go fish in the links below!

Count Drunkula Casting Department

• Superman Family
• Superman Supporting Cast
• Superman Foes 1
• Superman Foes 2
• Batman Family
• Batman Supporting Cast
• Batman Foes 1
• Batman Foes 2
• Batman Foes 3
• Wonder Woman
• Flash Friends
• Flash Rogues 1
• Flash Rogues 2
• Doom Patrol
• Firestorm Fans
• Firestorm Fiends
• Green Lantern Core
• Green Lantern Corps
• Green Lantern Cretins
• Green Lantern Corpses
• Green Arrow
• Hawkman & the Atom
• Martian Manhunter
• Shazam!
• Teen Titans
• Young Justice
• Titan Terrors
• JLA villains
• JSA 1
• JSA 2
• JSA 3

2014 DCU Movie Fan Casting: Jake T. Austin as Vibe

I'm no spring chicken, and I tend to cast a lot of older actors I've liked for many years in these "movies" designed for my mind. I practically relish throwing one middle aged name after another at my Martian Manhunter casting. However, some characters simply need to be played by the under twenty-one set, which usually requires research on my part. Seeing as I wanted to cast a Latino who would be known to English speaking audiences narrowed the field considerably. Still, based on looks and reel material I could find online, former Wizard of Waverly Place Jake T. Austin seems to fit the bill. He's even half(ish) Puerto Rican! He may fall a bit more on the New 52 side of the character, but that was actually one of its better series, so let's own it.

Diabolic Movie Fan Casting

• Donna Troy @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman
• Nightshade @ Power of the Atom
• Captain Comet @ DC Bloodlines
• Zook @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

Justice League of America's Vibe #3 (June, 2013)

Vibe stood on the top of the Gimlin Building, twelve stories up, scanning the area for signs of trouble while talking to his brother on the phone. "You can't fly, genius! If you see any 'trouble' from up there, how are you supposed to get down in time to stop it?" Also, Dante was sick of lying to their father about Cisco's whereabouts while he was out on patrol. Not sick of lying about his own whereabouts, mind, just Cisco's.

At A.R.G.U.S., Director Amanda Waller asked, "Tell me, Agent Gunn--is this kid going to bend every order we give him? Or just the ones that are matters of interdimensional security?" Dale assured her that Cisco and Dante hadn't breached their confidentiality beyond confiding in one another. Waller still believed Vibe to be "one of the most powerful super-humans on the planet," so he needed to get up to speed with her needs fast, which included manipulating the Speed Force.



Vibe was on his way home when an A.R.G.U.S. airship showed up to carry him to New York in pursuit of the "thief and arsonist" known as Kid Flash ("though his relationship to the Flash is tenuous.") Dale Gunn had to reign in Cisco's enthusiasm at visiting the Big Apple as an A.R.G.U.S. squadron was guided by Vibe into the subway system. Cisco randomly decided to engage Gunn in small talk, learning he'd been recruited out of grad school by the C.I.A., served fifteen years, then transferred to A.R.G.U.S. as soon as it was up and running. Gunn also "had a daughter. Once."

In the tunnels, Kid Flash began disarming the A.R.G.U.S. troopers. Only Vibe was able to see him, and was able to defend himself against super-speed with his vibrational powers. Vibe managed to dampen Kid Flash's speed, and pursued him alone on foot, pretending that there was interference in his communication device to ignore orders to wait for back-up. Kid Flash reengaged Vibe, causing feedback that allowed Vibe to see parts of the Kid's history, and triggering explosive energy surges all the way back to A.R.G.U.S. equipment in Detroit. Both heroes were thrown for a loop, and Vibe was nearly struck by an oncoming train.



Kid Flash declared his innocence, his lack of the personal memories Vibe had uncovered, and his unwillingness to submit to further investigation by an A.R.G.U.S. stooge. Vibe had second thoughts about that back-up, but his communication equipment was really working poorly at that point. Kid Flash had been in the tunnels to visit his point of arrival after traveling from a future he couldn't remember, and though Vibe wanted to help him, Waller aborted the mission for fear that a negative feedback loop created by further interaction could unravel time itself. Kid Flash angrily refused Vibe anyway, then fled. Waller told Agent Gunn to chew Vibe out for his insubordination, but she was actually very happy with the mass of data collected during the encounter.

Unbeknownst to Waller, there was a major complication from the instances of feedback created by Vibe and Kid Flash. The power dampening generated in the Circus had faltered, allowing Subject 24 ("Gypsy") access to her abilities. Creating the illusion that she was a guard who had been trapped in her cell, Gypsy lured another guard into freeing her and escaping.



Back at the Ramon Family home, Cisco told Dante that for a supposed "violent criminal," Kid Flash passed up plentiful opportunities to kill him and his group. Cisco was finally asking questions about A.R.G.U.S., and Dante pointed out that this "super secret government agency" had already imperiled his brother repeatedly without his knowing much of anything about them. Francisco Ramon began working out a strategy to investigate A.R.G.U.S. when a figure in purple and gold armor teleported into his room to reinforce his suspicions. "...Time for you to start asking the right questions. And if you don't... you'll die just like all the others."

"Trial by (Flash) Fire" was by Sterling Gates, Pete Woods & Sean Parsons, and Fabiano Neves. Gates doesn't quite keep up the humor of the previous writers, but he does immediately move Vibe past being a well-intentioned patsy into a more thoughtful and challenging protagonist. I've never been fond of Woods' work, so I perked up on the pages Neves drew on his own, adding a dynamism and heroic sheen previously lacking.

New 52's Day

• The Green Team: Teen Trillionaires #1 @ DC Bloodlines
• Hawkman in Justice League of America #1 @ Power of the Atom
• Col. Steve Trevor in Justice League of America #2 @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman
• Martian Manhunter in Justice League of America #3 @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

Justice League of America's Vibe #2 (May, 2013)

"You are going to get eaten! Or stabbed. Or blown up. Or erased from time. Or, if you're really lucky, just plain old-fashioned gut shot... Why else would they have you in the Justice League of America other than cannon fodder? You're the red shirt, man. They can throw you at super-villains, and while they're distracted debating on how to kill you, the JLA can swoop in and save the day." Clearly, Dante Ramon wasn't supportive of his brother Cisco becoming a super-hero, especially on a JLA "b-team" whose other members had yet to be revealed to him. Vibe was showing off the costume he'd been given by A.R.G.U.S., including the glasses that were only supposed to record his activities while on duty, but through which Amanda Waller and Dale Gunn were viewing this breach of confidentiality.

Vibe heard a call for help and went out on patrol, and in a scene paralleled in another comic, caught a little boy who had merely stolen a candy bar. "Look... um... Promise you'll never do it again and it'll be our secret, okay?" Dante questioned whether the League had confused Cisco with another, more competent Vibe, and worried about losing "the only brother I've got left." Cisco paid the shopkeeper for the candy bar. Agent Gunn was dispatched to confront Vibe about his frivolous use of power when he was desperately needed to protect the Earth from invasion, and dressed him down for confiding in his brother, a designated "unreliable factor." Vibe put Dante's question to Dale, who explained "you have a power no one else does." Dante continued to mock the "Vibe" moniker and teased tattling on Cisco to their father.



On the streets of Detroit, an odd looking alien was roaming the streets menacingly. A television in a store window discussed a terrorist situation involving the terrorist Sons of Adam taking hostages at Stagg Industries, and the alien reacted badly when possible intervention by A.R.G.U.S. was mentioned. Vibe sensed the creature's presence, and A.R.G.U.S. asked him to track it. Dale referred to it as a "breacher," referring to "interdimensional beings that breach our world." The breacher had taken a cop hostage, turned invisible, and scaled a building. Vibe used his powers to knock over a light pole and scale it to the building's roof. Vibe zapped the breacher, who promptly surrender and tried to give Cisco a document written in an alien language. Agent Gunn shot the breacher with an energy weapon, claiming it was still a threat, and that his message was a declaration of war.

At the Circus, Amanda Waller had the document, and gave it to one of her prisoners to translate. "...It has your name on it, doesn't it? Written in your language. It's a letter. Someone went to a great deal of trouble getting this to you..." The prisoner asked after the fate of the courier, and explained that the letter was a request from her father to come home. "You seem to prefer a more nomadic existence. That makes you something of a trans-dimensional... Gypsy." Waller wanted the girl to tell her father that she was safe and well cared for, but if he decided to try to take his daughter back, he'd share her "accommodations." Gypsy felt that Waller had no right to keep her, and Amanda agreed, but also noted that some of her superiors would prefer that her holding facility become an abattoir. "I want out! I'll take my chances out there! Please..."



A day later, Cisco was the first member at the new Justice League of America headquarters in Washington, D.C. In a phone call, Cisco was debating quitting before proving himself "a sucky Justice Leaguer," but Dante finally supported him. At a press conference before the Capitol Building, President Barack Obama introduced the press to Katana, Vibe, Stargirl, Martian Manhunter, and Hawkman. Cisco whispered to Courtney that he wished his brother could have been there, then Colonel Steve Trevor told him to "Can the chatter." Steve confided to Waller that Vibe was wide-eyed in awe of the spectacle, and worried for his safety in times to come. To better vet the kid, Director Waller informed Agent Gunn that she wanted to see how well Vibe could establish a connection to the Speed Force...

"Why Me?" was by Geoff Johns & Andrew Kreisberg as writers; Pete Woods & Andres Guinaldo on pencils; Sean Parsons, Pete Woods & BIT on inks. The issue felt very much like a placeholder or series of deleted scenes, weaving in and out of sequences from Justice League of America #1 & 2, advancing subplots without a true core story of its own to tell. Woods' art improved, but since he was sharing chores with so many other hands, the overall quality of the book was inconsistent. I'm not at all keen on Gypsy's new backstory, Cisco remains a calculatingly inoffensive bore, and how many reminders do we need that Amanda Waller is in a shady business?

New 52's Day

• The Atom in Justice League #18 @ Power of the Atom
• Col. Steve Trevor in Justice League of America #1 @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman
• Martian Manhunter in Justice League of America #2 @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• The Movement #1 @ DC Bloodlines

Justice League of America #1 (April, 2013)

Five years ago in London, Professor Ivo met with a mysterious figure to discuss all the "super-heroes;" the Justice League, Green Arrow, Zatanna, Hawkman; that were turning up with increasing routine. "Well, then. I guess they'll call us super-villains..."

In the present, Amanda Waller feared the Justice League itself, especially the implications of a burgeoning romance between Superman and Wonder Woman. Her antidote was a government controlled super-team designed to be capable of taking down the individual members of the six member League. She believed Wonder Woman could be checked by Katana, Batman by Green Arrow, Aquaman by Hawkman and Cyborg by Stargirl. The new Green Lantern Simon Baz could be maneuvered into seemingly canceling out Hal Jordan. Waller needed a veteran to guide the team, and former Justice League liaison (and ex-Wonder Woman boyfriend) Colonel Steve Trevor was the obvious choice, and held some strong opinions of his own. Trevor argued against Green Arrow's inclusion, suggesting that Catwoman would better confound the Dark Knight. He also had strong reservations regarding Waller's measure against the Man of Steel, the Martian Manhunter, and her plan to bring in an untried neophyte to manage the Flash, Detroit's own Vibe...



Again, five years in the past, during the Apokolipsian incursion on Earth, Cisco Ramon was caught in the event horizon of a Boom Tube. One of Cisco's brothers died freeing him from its wake, and Ramon was left "out of sync with the rest of the world." He could not be accurately photographed, and now eighteen, Vibe used his vibratory powers to defend his Detroit neighborhood from petty crime. A surviving brother, Dante, questioned the disconnect of a small-timer like Vibe being picked out from the hundreds of other people to have developed super powers. "Maybe they see potential in you that you and I don't see." What Waller saw was his potential as a "living epicenter of vibrational frequencies" to detect trespasses from other dimensions or "sever the ties that people might have to dimensional power." Steve worried that the inexperienced kid might die before fulfilling any such promise...

"World's Most Dangerous, Chapter One" was by Geoff Johns & David Finch. I dug the reversion of Ivo back to a petrified man from that swollen thug seen the last time they decided to name a book Justice League of America. I've always thought that the Secret Society of Super-Villains was a great concept, so I'm happy DC is finally embracing it (without turning it into the Legion of Doom or Injustice Gang, which should be as different as the Avengers, Defenders, and the Champions before everyone became an Avenger.) The twisted takes on some of the team members show potential, and Dave Finch's art is a hell of a lot easier on the eyes and storytelling sensibilities than Jim Lee's.

New 52's Day

• The Atom in "Throne of Atlantis, Conclusion" @ Power of the Atom
• Martian Manhunter in "Security Detail" @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Talon #1 @ DC Bloodlines
• Steve Trevor in Justice League #17 @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman

Justice League of America's Vibe #1 (April, 2013)

Elder sibling Armando Ramon was bound for college in California, set to be the first member of his family to attend. Younger brother Dante mocked him for abandoning Michigan, and figured his fortune was waiting somewhere other than academia. The junior Francisco just wanted his brother to stick around, but he was the one who literally became stuck inside the event horizon of an opening Boom Tube. Dante backed away in fear while Armando rushed to pull Cisco free from the disruption in space-time. Tragically, a Parademon emerging from the portal between dimensions killed Armando "For Darkseid!"

Five years later, Armando Ramon was remembered as the first known victim of Darkseid's failed invasion, routed in the debut mission of the Justice League. Cisco was working at an electronics store, where Dante tried to mooch off Cisco's paycheck. Cisco wasn't about to let his college money go to the casino again, and he and their dad were pretty upset that Dante had skipped the memorial ceremony that morning.



Agent Dale Gunn of A.R.G.U.S. was following Francisco Ramon on orders from Amanda Waller. Neither wanted "Subject 2" to end up like the first. Gunn talked Cisco into his car on the promise of justice for his brother's death. Ever since the incident, Cisco had developed certain abilities. He couldn't be photographed without blurring in the picture. He could generate waves of destructive vibrational force. He could detect the presence of intrusions from other dimensions by their different vibrational frequencies, even "seeing" their outlines through solid matter. A.R.G.U.S. had been formed as an offshoot of Homeland Security to defend against super-human threats after Darkseid's invasion, and now they had Francisco's number. "Your internal vibrational frequency is no longer in sync with the rest of the world." They knew he'd been using his powers as a vigilante in the neighborhood, and wanted to harness and direct his abilities for a greater good.

A parademon that had lost its Mother Box was trapped on Earth, hiding out and feeding off the homeless. Agent Gunn told Cisco it was the parademon that had killed his brother, and that he was needed to stop its rampage. "You can destroy it. The power inside you is from beyond this universe. You're tapped into the vibrational tendons that hold reality together." Tearfully, Cisco clashed with the Parademon, which was eventually caught between its own dimension and ours, tearing it apart.



Agent Gunn took Cisco to the Special Detroit Branch of A.R.G.U.S. Darkseid's incursion had thinned the walls between dimensions, leaving the city a nexus point where "creatures and debris" leaked from beyond. Someone had to police those breaches, and Cisco had the perfect power set for the job. "So basically you want me to be a... border cop?" Under the codename Vibe, Cisco would join a new heroic team to protect the world against the next Darkseid... the all-new Justice League of America. This was all hush-hush of course, but Cisco just had to tell Dante at least...

Amanda Waller didn't actually know if that was really the Parademon that killed Armando Ramon. "They all look alike to me." She just needed to motivate Cisco, and she wanted his powers under control, specifically hers. Should he refuse, he would be imprisoned in her underground laboratory dubbed "The Circus." There was already a containment cell that literally had his name on it, should he cause any problems. Subject Gypsy knew about that all too well, as she looked on from confinement as Waller continued to discuss Vibe with Agent Gunn. She wasn't the only such prisoner by a fair margin. "We need to do whatever we can to prepare ourselves for the inevitable, Agent Gunn. Because one day, it's all going to go to hell again. One day, Darkseid's going to come back... for his daughter."



"Not-So-Secret Origin" was by Geoff Johns & Andrew Kreisberg on story and Pete Woods & Sean Parsons on art. I don't recall the constitution of the Ramon family from the 1980s, other than there being sisters, but I do remember that Paco was Armando's older brother. That would be a minor point, except that there is nobody named Paco in this comic, and the only person with a personality remotely resembling the Bronze Age character is Dante. Francisco is a bland, whitewashed version of Paco Ramone, or in other words, the New 52 Vibe is actually a reboot of Reverb/Hardline. The now presumed deceased Ramone family matriarch used a different kind of douche in the New 52, so she never had any daughters, and her first son got a name previously reserved for this boring Cisco kid.

The In-Name-Only-itis doesn't stop there. I never claimed to be a fan of American Colossus Hank Heywood III, but I found that Gerry Conway had surrounded Steel II with solid trappings for a solo hero. His grandfather bestowed upon him a super-heroic legacy, but the twist of Hank Sr. inflicting the cybernetic parts on the kid was a significant twist. Heywood Industries provided all sorts of cool toys to play with, and once the kid inevitably rebelled against the original tyrannical Indestructible Man, it created a conflict of loyalties for his surrogate father, Dale Gunn. Like his new boss Amanda "Apple Bottom" Waller, Gunn has gone from an out of shape, balding and gray war vet to a young aerobicized spy with decidedly gray ethics. Gunn contributes to the homogenization of the New 52, where he was once a unique element that lent diversity to the universe. I'll save my Gypsy criticisms for next issue.



The point is that in trying to make Vibe an important representative of the Latin community, and to make up for the past sins of unintentionally comedic ethnic stereotyping, the creators have removed every bit of organic appeal from the character. They've decided that Vibe is going to be a big deal with a major role to play, then worked backwards from that intention to craft a bare bones perfunctory construct instead of a living character. Even the art seems calculatingly inoffensive, functional in a manner reminiscent of Alex Saviuk. It isn't terrible work by anyone, but it is bereft of passion or soul. I'm not sure how long I'll keep up with it, but I'm confident it'll get canceled before it tries my patience too much.

New 52's Day

• The Atom in Aquaman #16 (March, 2013) @ Power of the Atom
• Martian Manhunter in Justice League of America #1 (2013) @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• National Comics: Eternity #1 @ DC Bloodlines
• Superman Annual #1 (2012) featuring the Manhunter from Mars @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Talon #0 @ DC Bloodlines
• Wonder Woman in Action Comics #14 @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman

2013 Young Romance: The New 52 Valentine's Day Special Vibe cut-out card

"Te amo, te adoro."

Translates as "I love you, I adore you." Which is kind of lousy grammar, and needs an "y." I think I like Caleb's better, anyway. Still, it's kind of nice to live in a moment in time when Vibe gets a Valentine's card in the first place, kind of like that El Dorado number from the '70s. See the full set of cut-out cards here.

Vibe and the Justice League of the New America

As has often been remarked, the original Justice League of America brought together the few super-hero properties DC had success with in the late '50s as Julie Schwartz's revival of the genre was gaining steam. Initially denied Superman and Batman by their respective editors, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter were soon joined by Green Arrow, the Atom and Hawkman. Every one of these characters had their own solo feature, and given that it was 1960, all but one was a white male based in the U.S.A. It took nine years to add another woman, Black Canary, and that was via the bleeding heart liberal Denny O'Neil at what was arguably the birth of the Bronze Age.



That time period is well noted for progressive white men making bold, often ham-fisted attempts at developing characters of color for four-color adventures. Marvel Comics was the hipper company, and had greater success earlier on with African-American heroes like Black Panther (1966,) the Falcon (1969) and Luke Cage (1972,) Asians like Shang-Chi (1973,) and Latinos like White Tiger (1975.) At DC, John Stewart made his debut appearance as a Green Lantern in 1971, but he then went up on a shelf until 1977, and waited until 1984 to find a regular berth. Black Lightning got his own series in 1977, which was cancelled the following year, and a guest appearance in 1979 allowed Jefferson Pierce to become the first non-Caucasian to be offered Justice League membership (which he refused.) The Vixen was almost the first African super-heroine with her own book in 1978, but her unpublished introductory issue was part of a Cancelled Comic Cavalcade instead.



Arguably, the most successfully comic book example of multiculturalism was The All-New, All-Different X-Men, launched in 1975. While still majorly white, the Caucasians were at least of unusual nationality (Irish, German, Canadian, Russian,) and there were legitimate minorities in a Native American man, a Japanese male, and an African female. Two of the latter members were gone almost immediately, but Storm became one of the best known players in the group, heralded the start of what remains one of the most female-heavy teams in comics history. The success of the X-Men inspired much imitation, especially at DC, who soon found their best-selling title to be the highly derivative New Teen Titans (1980.) In fact, it would be safe to say that The Outsiders (1983) was more of a Titans wannabe, and included the aforementioned Black Lightning alongside DC's longest lived Asian heroine, Katana.



The Justice League, ailing at the tail end of the Bronze Age, jumped on the bandwagon by making the team a bunch of scrappy upstarts joining sidelined veterans. The new Justice League of America was a home for writer Gerry Conway's failed Bronze Age concepts, including the Vixen (who had finally gotten into comics via some Superman team-ups in the early '80s,) and an update of Steel: The Indestructible Man alongside Conway inductee Zatanna and frequent guest star Martian Manhunter. Only Aquaman and Elongated Man were established long-standing members. Conway also added the quasi-ethnic Gypsy for youth appeal, and DC's first prominent Latin hero, Vibe.



While black super-heroes have had their embarrassing moments, and Asians still have to take solace in manga from the sea of martial arts stereotypes representing them in Western books, I would argue that Latinos have seen some of the worst treatment of all minorities. No matter how poorly blacks were depicted in the Golden Age, they've had decades of quality champions since. Before 1984, DC's only notable Hispanic heroes were El Diablo (a Zorro riff in an old west setting) and Green Fury, a Brazilian heroine amidst the team of tokens known as the Global Guardians. Vibe represented more than Puerto Rico-- he was the first Latino on the premier super-team in comics. Unfortunately, Vibe was also emblematic of one of the most reviled line-ups in that team's history. Loud ugly clothes, a history in a cornball street gang, a thick phoney phonetic accent, liberal seasoning of random Spanish words in his dialogue, fad-mongering as a breakdancer, the revulsion of his own designer/co-creator Chuck Patton: Vibe was a complete embarrassment and a lightning rod for criticism of the group.



Across the group's two year history, Vibe's look and attitude were toned down, but he still holds the distinction of being the first member of the Justice League of America to die. After the team's break-up, Vixen went on to join the Suicide Squad, appeared in several episodes of popular DC cartoons, had a solid run as part of Brad Meltzer's League, finally received her own (mediocre) mini-series, and even took part in the New 52 launch as part of Justice League International. Gypsy hasn't shown up yet, and while her ethnicity remains a muddy issue, as a c-list heroine she's done well for herself with cartoon cameos and membership in the Justice League Task Force and Birds of Prey. Vibe's brother turned up for a while in the planned-pathetic outfit the Conglomerate under the names Reverb and Hardline, who were forgettable enough that no one bothered to kill them off. Vibe's lasting legacy to date has been appearances as a ghost/zombie amongst the few Leaguers who maintained post-mortal status, and as a reminder of how poorly Latinos continue to be treated in comics.



Since Vibe's death, little has changed for the Latin super-hero community. The very Caucasian looking Aztek squeaked by for a year in a solo series, but was killed in a minor "event." A few modern El Diablos have come and gone, one another gangbanger. The less said about the late Extraño, the better. Gangbuster never amounted to anything. Firebrand III died early and not at all well. Most of the rest were similarly "legacies" of original white characters, and most are similarly quite dead, a notable exception being the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle. While Marvel also offered "colored" versions of established white heroes, DC made it the hallmark of their ethnic outreach, and their most prominent minorities remain the "Black Superman" (Steel,) "Black Batman" (Batwing) and so on. However, Marvel has had no more success with Latin heroes, ranging from early misfires like El Águila to dual tokens like Living Lightning (gay) and Firebird (evangelical catholic) to the triple threat of bland copies of copies like Araña. When Sunspot is your #1 creation from south of the border, the unintentional comedy of Vibe is comparatively attractive.



As a Texan, I know what the future of America looks like. A decade ago, Latinos were a close second to whites as customers in my shop, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if local stores today host Latinos as a majority. Mexican and South American culture have long embraced comics in a way North America has really only begun to. We just saw our presidential election decided by the Latin vote, and as our populations blend, now is the time to offer strong Hispanic heroes if we want our preferred brand of funny book to stand a chance against the sway of anime all-stars. As much as I enjoyed the Magnificent Seven in their day, entrenched history and the expectations of the icons seem to have frozen that lot in a numbing stasis that requires a Grant Morrison to pull them off as engaging entertainment.



The newer new Justice League of America offers a good deal more story options and opportunities to surprise. Further, it is difficult to see a "Magnificent Seven" Justice League translating to live action in a way that isn't laughable. Characters like Simon Baz, Katana and a revitalized Vibe offer audiences the America to come, rather than a vision of bygone eras, and that diversity extends toward separating this lot from the very profitable and well regarded Avengers. Viewers have already rejected a Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern when they already have Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, and I can tell you from experience that Catwoman is more a role model to modern ladies than Wonder Woman. Marvel may have miraculously pulled off your father's Avengers, but how much of a chance does Warner Brothers have with a Grand Old Justice League as competition in a United States that is ever more soundly rejecting dreams of a Caucasian ruling class of godlings.



Vibe may not have a lot of cache, but at least he isn't the second version of a white hero, and his last days include some of the best and least heralded JLA comics ever produced. Vibe has places to go, potential to explore, and I'm a lot more interested in where that takes him than in the further retrograde adventures of Hal Jordan and Barry Allen. It isn't about exclusion, as Hawkman, Green Arrow and Steve Trevor are still in there, while Stargirl could be the face of the Midwest if one were so inclined to canvas for one. Justice League Detroit was a Jimmy Carter team in Ronald Reagan's America, but the morning is long past and halftime has arrived. If Motor City truly is fighting again, maybe a Detroit League finally can be done properly, and place the Justice League on the right side of history. If Vibe can be redeemed, anything else is possible.

Post-Racial DC Comics?

• Victor Stone: Affirmative Action Cyborg @ DC Bloodlines
• All The World Is Waiting For Nubia! @ Diana Prince is the New Wonder Woman
• The Atom: Big Little Man @ Power of the Atom
• Race & Mars @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu

Newsarama Ranks 2 Detroit Leaguers Among 10 Worst Ever

Technically, Graeme McMillan wrote the piece The 10 WORST Justice League Members of All Time for the comic book news site Newsarama, so I'm not sure if he's a loose cannon or offering a consensus of staff opinion. Either way, Newsarama published the result, popularizing the notion that not only are Gypsy and Vibe among the team's worst members, but one being the worst of all time. Here's what they said...

GYPSY "Introduced as one of the Justice League Detroit, Gypsy started life as a bizarro Kitty Pryde, a teen girl able to camouflage herself into her surroundings via illusion casting powers that also, apparently, allow her to project images into people's minds.

Surviving the end of that team (unlike two of her teammates), she later went on to find her family murdered by Despero, forcing her back into superhero life as member of the Conglomerate and Justice League Task Force, as well as the Birds of Prey... but whether any of that hides the fact that her main reasons to exist in recent years had become (a) to give J'Onn J'Onzz an adoptive daughter to moon over or (b) be mind-controlled and forced to fight the Justice League (which she's done on at least two different occasions) is open to question."

I think the overview invalidates the writer's own opinion. I honestly don't believe Gypsy was that strong of a character in her early appearances, owing as much to pop pandering (Stevie Nicks/Cyndi Lauper/Madonna) as to the aforementioned lil'est X-Man. However, her then-recent struggle to survive a trip to the Godhead with Zatanna and her only being fifteen at the time likely saved Gypsy from death in 1986. Likewise, as the damsel in distress during a rare serious story arc in Justice League America, Gypsy needed to survive the revenge of Despero back in 1990. What makes this relevant is that Gypsy established herself as a survivor against all odds in two of the scariest, most awesome Justice League stories ever, and that alone would set her apart from the likes of the Silver Sorceress or any given Rocket Red, who could and have been snuffed out without anyone much noticing. Like Kitty Pryde, readers root for her as an underdog amongst titans, and her human story brings out the best in others (including surrogate father Martian Manhunter, who needs all the supporting cast he can get. Meanwhile, Gypsy's time in the Justice League Task Force proved that she was no Shadowcat. Writer Christopher Priest gave her a defensive sarcasm and illuminated the dark undercurrents of the character that set her apart and above a score of lesser Leaguers (even a few who carried their own titles. I wouldn't have introduced a character like Gypsy into the JLA, but having been their and forged a very distinctive path in many strong, underrated stories, Gypsy deserves better than to be maligned in some knee jerk list. Especially one that leaves off a Gypsy wannabe like Maya. That's right-- there's an actual Gypsy knock-off.

VIBE "If one character can come to signify something greater than him or herself, it's possible that Vibe's has accidentally become the avatar for everything that was misguided with the Justice League Detroit era.

You can see the reasoning: He was a character tied to a trend that was in its death throes as he appeared (breakdancing -- his first appearance was a double-page spread showing off his moves) who had both a ham-fisted attempt at social relevance (He was trying to make a better life for himself after leaving the Los Lobos gang, with writer Gerry Conway daring to expose the connections between well respected musical groups and Detroit gang culture when others were too afraid) and inexplicable dialogue quirk (he had a fake Mexican accent that he put on around white people) at his core, as well as an amazing original costume that mixed MC Hammer-style pants with shades, soul patch and vest.

Bearing all that in mind, it's difficult to imagine what made Vibe Justice League material other than being in the right place in the right time. And yet... there's something charming about Paco Ramone's short-lived existence, whether it was his overconfidence or excitement about being a superhero in the first place. Vibe also has a particularly important place in Justice League history as being the first Leaguer to be killed in the line of duty, launching an unfortunate trend that would continue for a long time afterwards. If only he'd joined up with a different team that dealt with smaller problems, perhaps Vibe would still be with us today, and perhaps he would've evolved into a character people remembered as more than a gimmick gone wrong. Who's for a new Vibe ongoing series in the next round of DC New 52 launches?"

Vibe is an inherently silly character, an unintentional parody of ethnic stereotype super-heroics (including the old saw about how one white writer's laughable attempt at jive talk is another writer's having the hero front to conceal their inner WASP.) It's noteworthy that Vibe was not only the first dead Leaguer, but their first dead minority hero. There are scores of more famous heroes that mean nothing not already represented elsewhere, but Vibe serves a subtextual purpose in pointing out the inequities of a gutter art form typically made by and for sheltered middle class Anglo-Saxon males. He's also goofy fun, which is why he is routinely referenced and gets his own mock '80s cartoon short, whereas the JLA annals are clogged with more "proper" pointless pandering bores like Agent Liberty, Zauriel, and Moon Maiden. Controversy and longevity surely play a role in a list like this, but Vibe is low hanging fruit that reveals more about the critic than the character. Vibe isn't the best worst hero, like the Troll 2 of the League rolls, but instead a genuinely endearing character.

Vibe in the New 52 Justice League of America!

"DC Comics announced at the DC Entertainment-All Access Sunday panel at Fan Expo Toronto that a new League will be forming.

Launching in 2013, DC Comics will publish a new ongoing comic book series, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by David Finch."

"This is a very different kind of team book,” says Geoff Johns. “On first glance, people might think the heroes of the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA stand in the shadows of Superman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the JUSTICE LEAGUE, but Green Arrow, Katana, Martian Manhunter, the new Green Lantern, Stargirl, Vibe, Hawkman and Catwoman thrive in the shadows. They're underdogs who have everything to prove and something to lose. They're a team of unlikely heroes who will help one another discover they're as A-List as anybody -- yes, even Vibe. Though getting there won't be easy. Why they're formed, why each member joins, what they're after and who the society of villains is they're trying to take apart will all be clear in the first issue when it hits early 2013. David and I are really focused on delving deep into what it's like to not be a member of the big seven and why, sometimes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side."

Specifically of Vibe, Johns continued...

"The characters that are selected like Stargirl, and Vibe, and Green Arrow, they have a lot of personality. If you remember the first couple of issues of Justice League, with their larger than life personalities, and the development... This takes it to the fifteenth degree, because we’re dealing with characters that are... Like, you don’t know where Vibe is coming from. He’s recruited to the JLA by his older brother, and he says, “Why would they want me? I’m just this kid from Detroit. I’ve stopped three liquor store robberies, and one was by mistake.” His brother looks at him and says, “Maybe they see potential in you that you and I don’t see.” And he’s like, “Thanks a lot.” ...[Catwoman] is going to be the Veronica to Stargirl’s Betty... If there’s an Archie, it’s probably Steve. And Reggie is definitely Oliver Queen... [Jughead] That’s Vibe. That’s easy."

Looking forward to the start of the Vibe (and Reverb?) Age of DC Comics. Also, Martian Manhunter...

DC Nation Vibe Cartoon Short Preview Clips!

How weird is it that barely six weeks after finally publishing fan animated videos I made for The Vixen and Martian Manhunter that I'd been sitting on for six months, a legitimate DC Nation Vibe cartoon is coming out. It'll probably only be a minute or so long, and the preview spans 48 seconds, but it's still pretty chill, 'yo. Of course, there's one bit of weirdness that tops it all...

 

...the undeniable similarity between the Vibe credit sequence and our own Índice de Vibe art design, also used in a black background version for the site's banner during the April Fool's gag Vibe's Beat Street Blog...

Está loco, pero muy chido!

1984 Vixen, Vibe, Gypsy, and Commander Steel Postcard by George Pérez

One of my greatest frustrations with this blog has been my inability to acquire a quality scan of this rare piece of Detroit Justice merchandise for discussion. Muchas muchas gracias go out to Shag Matthews of Firestorm Fan and Once Upon A Geek for sending in these lovely front and back scans of his own postcard! I contrasted them up a bit to clear away a quarter century of paper jaundice, but these big bad boys are otherwise all him!

Click To Enlarge

The newest members of the JLA: Vixen... her magic amulet grants her the abilities of any animal. Vibe... a kid from the slums, he has the uncanny power to project vibratory energy. Gypsy... she's mystery personified-- with chameleon powers. Commander Steel... he's the grandson of the first Commander Steel-- with all that hero's powers, and more.

Much like the debut image of the "New Justice League of America" from the 1984 DC Sampler #2, this card was clearly put together while the concept was still being hammered out. Hank Heywood III seems to be in the final phase of his first Chuck Patton costume (which looks fantastic under Pérez's pen,) but he's being addressed by his granddaddy's rank of "Commander." I also find it funny that his description is just as a grandson of an obscure hero, as if anyone knew what Steel could do. Why not just call him the "cybernetic superhuman legacy of a World War II hero?"

Second up was Gypsy, who received a succinct description, but Pérez's detailing just brings out the ludicrous awfulness of her design. I've said it once and shall repeat, I think the JLD would have at least been Outsiders respectable if not for the inclusion of Gypsy and Vibe, who on appearance alone rendered them laughingstocks.

Click To Enlarge


Next is Vibe, who at least dropped his "Mego Molt" from the Sampler pin-up. Not even Pérez can make this guy respectable though, and his vato bandana looks more like he's a sidekick to the Duke in Hondo or something. Those dishwashing gloves have a flair that draws unwanted attention, as well.

Finally, the Vixen has dropped her one-off domino mask, but Pérez didn't get the memo that she does in fact have pupils. I don't miss the Wolverine hair, but I dug the braids, and really miss the strands of hair Patton gave her that ran parallel to her eyes (giving the illusion of cats-eyes.) It's funny to see Hank all smiles and Vixen the dour one. Still, it proves my point that Steel and Vixen projected the intensity needed to sell a hero team, while Gypsy and Vibe projected rejected extras in Angel "High School Honor Student By Day. Hollywood Hooker By Night."

Despite my mocking, this was a nifty design that incorporated the JLA shield and stars and bars. I expect I'll get my own postcard sooner or later, because this is one worth having.

DC Retroactive: JLA - The '80s #1 (October, 2011)

Steel: "Guess somebody forgot to tell them we're just the second string." A school bus had pulled up outside the Detroit League's headquarters, the Bunker.

Vibe: "So now we're giving tours to school kids?"

Aquaman: "For years the old JLA orbited the Earth in a satellite, Hank. We looked down on the world-- literally. One of the reasons I accepted your grandfather's offer of this factory was the opportunity it presented to ground our new League-- again, literally. Here in Detroit, the League is part of the community.

Sue Dibny: Back home visiting her mother.

Elongated Man: Loving the tour, and wishing his wife could do the same. "She loves kids. One of these days we're going to have a big family."

Martian Manhunter: "Children are precious among my people as well, Ralph. Still... for reasons I cannot articulate, I feel apprehensive."

Felix Faust: Taking advantage of the deep depression that choked the Motor City once the car manufacturers went elsewhere, the sorcerer used an ancient tablet to cast a spell that turned its citizens into monsters.

Lamont: A jerky kid on the tour who complained about the absence of real heroes from the League. "You guys are nobodies. Just a bunch'a losers."

Geoff: Another kid bearing an uncanny resemblance to a certain future writer/executive who came to the Detroit League's defense.



Zatanna: Offered to break the tension by showing the kids some magic, but they were blown away by the real deal when Faust came calling. The League were tossed around like rag dolls by his beasts.

Dale Gunn: Suggested the medical lab as the best position to retreat to, since it could be hermetically sealed behind a vault door. Ten hours after the start of the tour, and everyone was trapped by monsters.

Vixen: One of the few members to maintain her positive outlook. She had cheered Geoff on, and even when her planned kicking of some ass ended with a dragon's tail sending her flying, she kept it together. While trapped, she checked on the unconscious Elongated Man, Dale Gunn, and Martian Manhunter. She also caught the wounded but defiant Aquaman as he collapsed toward the end of a speech intended to hearten the troops.

Zatanna: Still on her feet to look over the fallen Vibe and Gypsy.

Steel: Tried to hold the line against the monsters, but any effort on his part ended with him flying and the locking vault saving his armored tushie. Hank mocked Aquaman's speech, and once again branded his team "light-weight wannabess. Vibe, Gypsy, me-- even Vixen-- we're not good enough to be part of your precious League."

Aquaman: Argued otherwise, but still called Hank a spoiled brat whose granddaddy's bucks gave him a sense of entitlement. Steel rushed Aquaman, who rolled onto his back and kicked Hank across the room.

Geoff: Convinced the team that heroes helped people rather than fighting amongst themselves.

Aquaman: Ordered Dale, Elongated Man and Gypsy to guide the children out of the Bunker to safety while the rest of the team ran interference. Gypsy protested, but Aquaman explained, "forgive me, but you're just a child. You deserve the chance to grow up. Just like these kids. They need you to do this. I need you to do this."

Zatanna: Determined from something her father told her long ago that Faust must have used the Tablet of Tel El-Amarna, stolen from Iraq, to conjure the monsters out of men. Beyond helping the children, Zee wanted the tablet targeted.

Steel, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter: Caught the vault door when it was finally burst in, and tossed it back at the monsters. The rest of the team fought hard and followed orders... except for Gypsy.



Vibe: Flat on his back as Felix Faust gloated over how his massacre of the Detroit League would serve to bring the real heroes into his murderous clutches. Vibe was playing possum, and spit in Faust's face while telling him "...bite me."

Gypsy: Invisibly swiped the tablet and smashed it to pieces over Faust's noggin. "For a guy wearing a pointy hat, you sure do think a lot of yourself." The monsters vanished, saving everyone's life.

Aquaman: "Gypsy, I told you to go with Ralph and Dale. You disobeyed a direct order... Good job."

Creators: "Siege" was by Gerry Conway and Ron Randall.

Whether you enjoy the team for the kitsch factor of its instantly dated fad jumping or recognize that the team starred in several of the best story arcs ever featured in JLofA volume I, there seems to be enduring affection that keeps readers and creators coming back to revisit this team. A shame then that Conway doesn't seem to share it anymore. Part of the joy of his early issues with the team was its unrelenting, meta-defensive optimism in the face of scrutiny in both the stories and the letter columns. Later writers even used that unmerited self-esteem as a means of generating poetic irony, these poor doomed fools believing they would someday earn a place among titans when most would instead die violently or fade into obscurity. Conway, in an about face, starts this story with the team unanimously agreeing that they suck and their incompetence was going to cost a bunch of innocent lives. Not only is that a downer, but in giving in after all these years, Conway seems as clueless about his team's retroactive appeal today as he was their complete unsuitability while he was writing them the first time.

The characters aren't in character and their powers are downplayed to suit an unimpressive threat. I guess Zatanna is consistent at least, since Conway never wrote her worth a damn. I'll acknowledge Gypsy as well, since she had a few occasions of playing David-out-of-a-box to the Goliath of the month in the original series. The bland art by Ron Randall doesn't do any favors, especially when the only thing keeping his Dale Gunn from being 100% Caucasian is someone failing to tell the colorist that this book would be printed on cheap stock. It was obviously meant for glossy, because the colors are uniformly murky.

DC Retroactive

• Wonder Woman - The '80s #1 (DC, 2011) @ Diana Prince
• JLA - The '90s #1 (October, 2011) @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• JLA - The '70s #1 (September, 2011) @ Power of the Atom
• The Huntress in "Trial by Fire" (October/November, 1978) @ DC Bloodlines

Vibe's Beat Street Blog

Hola vatos! ¿Cómo estás? If chu haven't been to the blog for a while, chu might not know that a few months back, we changed to a funky fresh format spotlighting the Puerto Rican b-boy sensation Paco Ramone's aniversario cuarto del siglo, the culture of su vida loca, and the chill pop-locking jams of the old skool and moderno breakdance scenes. Mi homies are gettin' our posse on Broadway to raise the profiles of all our radical blogs, so be sure to bookmark this crib, and bust a move to these tricky treats. Don't be illin', yo!

Boosterrific.com:

The Web's Number One Website of Booster Gold, the Corporate Crusader!

DC Bloodlines:

The Little Blog for the Lesser Known Universe

Diana Prince as the New Wonder Woman:

Figuring the Amazing Amazon out one "Bold New Direction" at a time.

Firestorm Fan:

The Source for DC Comics' Nuclear Man

The Idol-Head of Diabolu:

A Blog for J'Onn J'Onzz, the Manhunter from Mars

The Indigo Tribe:

Green Lantern Reviews & Commentary

Justice League Detroit:

Vibe! Vixen! Gypsy! Steel! Zatanna! Men Aquatic, Elongated & Batty!

Power of the Atom:

Sometimes the Sword of a Tiny Titan, other times saluting the Quantum Captain.

Speed Force:

Following the Flash, the Fastest Man Alive

Comments: 0

Posted by Diabolu at 12:00 AM

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Boom Box: "How ya like me now: by Kool Moe Dee

I throw my tape on
And I watch ya
Three second later
I got ya shakin' your head
Dancin' instead of sittin'
The rhymes kick
The beats hittin' you
Just like a home run
Slammin' like a slam dunk
Riding the wave that James Brown gave funk
It happened to James like it happened to me
How you think I feel to see another MC
Gettin' paid usin' my rap style
And I'm playn' the background meanwhile
I ain't with that
You can forget that
You took my style
I'm takin' it back
I'm come back like "Return of the Jedi"
Sucker MC's in the place that said I
Could only rock rhymes
Only rock crowds
But never rock records

How ya like me now (x2)

Now brothers are riding me
Like a pony
I'm no phony
I'm the only real micaroni
Playin' the mic like it's supposed to be played
New jacks,you all shoulda stayed out of the business
What is this,amateur night at the Apollo?
Get off this stage,I'm in a rage
I'm like a lion that's been trapped in a cage
I'm the real king , rap is a jungle
I never understood,how could one go
To a party,watch me,stand around and jock me
Become a rapper,then try to rock me
Scheming like a demon,you're screamin' and dreamin'
I'm from the old school,I used to see men
Dies for less,but I'm not living that way
I'll let my mic do the talkin'
And let the music play

How ya like me now (x2)

Rap is an art
And I'm a Picasso
But of course
Why else would you try so
Hard to paint a picture, and try to get ya
Self in my shoes,but they won't fit ya
I'm bigger and better,forget about deffer
Every time I rocked the mic,I left a
Stain in your brain that will remain
Stuck in the back of your brain till you see me
Again,respect,I come correct
The rhymes I select are nothing short of
Vernacular's pure and I can insure
Life od death with my breath,my voice is a cure
I heal life from the words I spread
I'll make a sick man rock on his death bed
Sucker MC's , I'll make your girl say "ow"
She's jockin'

How ya like me now (x2)

It irked my nerve
When I heard
A sucker rapper that I know I'll serve
Run around town sayin' he is the best
Is that a test?
I'm not impressed
Get real,you're nothin' but a toy
Don't ya know I'll serve that boy
Just like a waiter
Hit'em with a place of
These fresh rhymes and
Make sure that he
Pays the bill,and leave him standin' still
When he's had enough,hit him with a refil
And for dessert it won't be no ice cream
I'm just gonna splatter and shatter his pipe dream
Make him feel the wrath,beat him and laugh
Then when I finish them,I'm gonna ask him
Who's the bests,and if he don't say Moe Dee
I'll take my whip and make him call himself Toby
Put him on punishment just like a child,then ask

How ya like me now

Whip him good,then I'll make him sweat
Talkin' about battles and never had a battle yet
But if we ever did
How could you beat me
You're so petrified
Even scared to meet me
My word's the law
That's why you don't beef
You're nothing but a punk,track star,and a thief
So I'm puttin' you on punishment
Just like a child
Never touch another mic

How ya like me now (x2)

I could continue
There's more on the menu
But relax 'cos I'm so far in you
You had enough
I know you're overstuffed
If I keep going
You'll be throwin' up
Old rhymes I used to say
Back in the day
When you used to me
To my parties and pay
Nobody's ever gonna rack me
This I vow
So all I wanna say is

How ya like me now (X2)

Comments: 0

Posted by Diabolu at 12:00 AM

Sunday, March 20, 2011

How to Pop and Lock With Adam Sevani and Jon Chu

Comments: 0

Posted by Diabolu at 12:00 AM

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Barrio Review: "D.C. Cab" (1983)

I remember watching this movie as a kid at a dollar cinema in 1984. The opening "Star Wars" riffing trawl and the spooky night sequence drew me right in, until the comedy stylings of Charlie Barnett completely sold me. Further, this was the inspirational story of a Vietnam vet and his dead buddy's son turning around a bottom-feeding cab company. How could you lose with such a fantastic ensemble of luminaries like Max "Wojo" Gail, Mr. T., Paul Rodriguez, Whitman "Grady" Mayo, Bill Maher, and the Barbarian Brothers?

In 1984 with an idiot kid, you couldn't. In 2009? Big, big loss.

Written by a Joel Schumacher early in his direcing career and likely trying to recapture the magic of Carwash, D.C. Can is a monstrosity. A painfully young Adam Baldwin headlined the weak thread of a main story, while oversized TV and comedy club entertainers were expected to ad-lib their way to a funny movie. That expectation does not pan out, resulting instead in relentlessly obnoxious mugging for the camera. Falling back on the most tired of formulas, the movie drifts from one random episode into another until wrapping things up with everyone banding together to save our imperiled hero. There's lots of cursing, and an obligatory nude scene, capping D.C. Cab as the epitome of bad 1980s distractions that masquerade as humor.

All in all, the flick isn't completely worthless. Gary Busey has some good bits, while a young Marsha "Roz" Warfield offers both a solid dramatic performance and *gasp* some sex appeal. Scream Queen Jill Schoelen at 19 should have guys my age panting, and the soundtrack is surprisingly good. The movie, while still garbage, doesn't so much stab you in the eye as lap lazily against you. If you can allow yourself to passively idle on the beach along the vast ocean of 80s mediocrity, you could discard a small piece of your life with this flick. Otherwise, it should be avoided at all costs.

Speaking of the soundtrack, Irene Cara makes a cameo, and offers a memorable tune over the closing credits, "The Dream (Hold On To Your Dream...)"

Comments: 0

Posted by Diabolu at 12:00 AM

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Vibe on Justice League Unlimited

Every appearance! Word!

Comments: 0

Posted by Diabolu at 12:00 AM

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Lowrider Favoritez: "Jungle Fever" by The Chakachas

Written By: Bill Ador
Released: 1972
Album: Jungle Fever
Single?: Reached #8 on Billboard

The Chakachas were Latin soul studio musicians out of Belgium whose string of charting European singles began in the late 1950s. However, in the States they're generally regarded as one hit wonders from this funk hit.



Translated Lyrics:

Oh-- oh, what a fever.

No. No. No. Ahh-- Aiii...

Like that-- like that-- like that-- ahhhh!

Softly-- no--no-- no-- yes...

There!

Ai! No! More!

Keep going! Tell me!

No!

Softly!

Comments: 0

Posted by Diabolu at 12:00 AM

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Boom Box: "Nobody Move" by Eazy-E (featuring MC Ren)

Released: 1988
Album: Eazy-Duz-It
Single?: No.

Yo Ren, you're ready to go get this move?
[Believe that, boy]
You're strapped?
[Yeah, you know it]
Let's go do this, man, I got it all planned out
[Yeah, shoot any goober that moves]

*pow*
["Alright everybody..."]

This is a stick-up, everybody get face-down
Ren, gag their mouths so they can't make a sound
Tie em up for the fact that I'm kickin butt
I got my hand on my gat, and I'm tempted to blast
My name is Eazy, but I go the hard way out
This ain't personal, but now I'm about
to commit a crime and go thru with it
You know what, no need for shakin, because I'm used to it
Take out the security guard with a slap of my hand
Yeah, he's wearin' a badge, but he's a old fart man
Pump his bum in the head, and take his gun
so me and the punk can go one on one
Cover the lens on the TV screen
you know, so me and my gang just can't be seen
Lock the doors, and throw away the key
Close the blinds, so no interlopers could see
and smile, you know, cause I'm controllin the stuff
and no sucker ass colored persons' gonna stop the hit
Wardrobes and locs, and a Ruthless shirt
That means I'm ready to work, and rush a fool to the dirt, so

Chorus:

["Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt"] *pow*
(repeat 4X)

[Alright, anybody move and I'll blow yo fornicating head off]

Allright...
Empty your pockets, but do it slow
Take everything you got and lay it on the waxed floor
Don't make me have to set an example today
and blow one of you wild and crazy guys away
I'm in a bank, and it's a little bit funny
takin all you stupid ignoramuses' money
Peepin at a mademoiselle cause my phallus' on hard
Laughin at the dumb crumb security guard
who's tied up for the moment, not sayin' a word
I should have known it before, the poindexter's a nerd
But back to the fairer sex I'm peepin
and then untie the lady of the evening, so I can start creepin
Took her to the backroom, about to masturbate
Cold trailed the senorita, with a gun in the back
I said: "Lay down, and unbutton your bra!"
There was the biggest mammaries that a person of color ever saw
I said: "Damn", then the air got thinner
Only thought in my mind, was goin' up in her
The suspense was makin' me sick
She took her panties down and the "lady" had a penis!
I said: "Damn", dropped the gat from my hand
[What I thought was a female, was nothing but a man]
Put the gat to his legs, all the way up his skirt
because this is one homosexual that I had to hurt, so

[Chorus]

[I said get down. I want you all face-down on the floor
Anybody moves and I shoot]

Stackin up the money and there's more to collect
cause I don't give a care, I take traveler's checks
Yo, Ren, peep out the window, and tell me what you see
[Three mother loving police starin at me; what to do now?]
Hurry up and get on
Alright, tell me, who hit the gosh darn alarm?
I'm a give ya a chance, and count to three
or else five of ya folks are comin with me
[Police: Alright, Alright, come out negroids, or we're coming in
This is the only chance to turn yourself in]
Skunk you! We got hostages, and plenty of loot
and don't give a heck and not afraid to shoot
We're sendin out the hostages, all except five
and if you don't meet our demands, they won't stay alive
We want a copter, so we can get away clean
and take some vagina along, if you know what I mean
One hostage got brave, and got off the floor
but I smoked his buttocks before he got to the door
[Police: They shot a hostage, they shot a hostage!]
[MC Ren: You're a stupid poopyhead tryin' to run
now ya dead as Elizabeth Taylor tryin' to race a gun]
[Police: Alright, this is the last chance to get off your booty
or else the tear gas is about to blast]
I ran to the back and Ren followed behind
to a h-e-double-hockey-sticks of a spot that was hard to find
The bank was fritzed up, the doody was smokin
with screamin hostages, runnin and chokin
Gettin away, but I was suddenly stopped
at point blank range, by a jaywalking cop
And I hope they don't think that a lesson was taught
cause an African-American like the E was finally caught
My gat wouldn't fire, the thingy wouldn't work
So, y'all know what time it is

Chorus

[Gangster: Well I'm giving you five seconds to let us thru the gate or
I'm gonna shoot two of your guards]

[Hehe, they got me once, but they'll never get me again]

Comments: 0

Posted by Diabolu at 12:00 AM

Sunday, March 20, 2011

2001 Aaliyah Album Comic Book Ad

Added Bonus: The advertised single, "We Need A Resolution" by Aaliyah (featuring Timbaland)

Written By: Tim Mosley & Steve Garrett
Released: 2001
Album: Aaliyah
Single?: Yes-- A minor hit.



[Verse - 1]
Did you sleep on the wrong side?
I'm catching a bad vibe
And it's contagious, What's the latest?
Speak your heart, Don't bite your tongue
Don't get it twisted, Don't misuse it
What's your problem?
Lets resolve it
We can solve it, What's the causes?
It's official, You got issues
I got issues, but I know I miss you

[Chorus - 1]
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Will we remain?
You need a resolution, I need a resolution,
We need a resolution, We have so much confusion.

[Verse - 2]
I want to know: Where were you last night?
I fell asleep on the couch, I thought we were going out
I want to know: Were your fingers broke?
If you had let me know, I wouldn't have put on my clothes
I want to know: Where'd you go instead?
Cause it was 4 in the morning, When you crept back in the bed
I want to know: What was in your head?
Or what was in my head? Am I supposed to change?

[Chorus - 2]
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? And will we remain?
You need a resolution, I need a resolution,
We need a resolution, We have so much confusion.

Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? and who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Will we remain?
You need a resolution, I need a resolution,
We need a resolution, We have so much confusion.

[Bridge - Aaliyah]
Baby let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)
You'll let me know, You'll let me know (I will)

[Rap - Timbaland]
Girl holla!!
You give me bits and pieces
You tryna blame me when I don't even know the reason
I think it's just the season, Maybe the month, Maybe the building
Now tell me what's the reason? Snoop video? Looks are deceiving
So, cut the crying, Cut the coughing, Cut the weazing, Girl
Quit the blaming, Cut the naming, Cut the sleeping, Girl
I think you need some prayer, Better call the deacon, Girl
So, get your act right or else we won't be speaking, Girl
So, what's it gonna be? Freaky, freaky... Me and you?
Or is it gonna be who blames who?
I'm tired of these things, I'm tired of these scars
I think I'm gonna get me a drink, I'll call you tomorrow

Comments: 0

Posted by Diabolu at 12:00 AM

2009 Black Lantern Vibe design by Joe Prado

Click To Enlarge


Someday, there will be another DC line wide reboot, and characters like Mystek, the Yazz, and Lionheart will retroactively have never been members of the Justice League. "A golden gorilla super-hero in the JLA? Don't be daft, man!" Rest assured though, that the lameness of Vibe has been inextricably entangled in the team's DNA. Vibe was just too ridiculous... too easy of a target... to ever be forgotten. The JLA managed nearly a quarter century without a casualty... until there was Vibe. Paco Ramone opened that door, and no on has managed to keep it closed since.

On the other hand, Vibe could never suffer from the problems of the indistinct Black Lantern Steel. Burn his clothes and tear his face off-- that's still unmistakably Vibe. No other character will ever have the huevos to combine booties with a slender studded cross belt, shoulder ramps, fingerless gloves, a plunging masculine neckline, and sunglasses. Damn it, when will my googling of "Vibe cosplay" yield results?

The truth of the matter is that I can rattle off dozens of crappy '90s characters with "Blood" in their names and guns in their hands, and you can make a drinking game out of finding stupid '40s characters who simply combined a color and a noun to form a premise. Vibe isn't like that at all: undeniably '80s, but such a unique aroma of stank as to be rendered among THE BEST WURST HEROS OF ALL EVAR.

• All the designs at Bleeding Cool
• Black Lantern Geist @ DC Bloodlines
• Black Lantern Nightblade @ DC Bloodlines
• Black Lantern Wonder Woman version 3 @ Diana Prince
• White Lantern Donna Troy @ Diana Prince: Wonder Woman
• Black Lantern Maxwell Lord @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Black Lantern Damage @ Power of the Atom
• Black Lantern Breach @ Power of the Atom
• Indigo Corps Atom @ Power of the Atom