by Gary Scott Beatty, Owner and Production Manager, Aazurn Publishing

Just clearing my mind of some miscellany today.

SAVE SPIDER-GIRL - This is an item from Mark Allen, who helps Michael Vance with his Suspended Animation column, visible on Comic Artists Direct. My own daughter is one of the younger readers he's referring too, and a female to boot, so saving Spider-Girl is a concern in the Beatty household.

"This mini-review is a 'shout-out' of sorts to the worth-while site, www.savespidergirl.com. With a crash course on who Spider-Girl is, the character's history with Marvel, (including a scrapped-before-it-was-tried marketing plan through retail giant Wal-Mart) testimonials of the comic by industry professionals, a message board and much more, this is both a chronicle of comics history in the making, as well as an effort to save a worthwhile publication which could bring in new, younger readers."

DC RELAUNCH - I have taken part in several DC relaunch campaigns in the past, but for some reason this summer's series' rebirths have given me a chance to draw a close to my collecting of several great DC superhero comics. I guess this is the opposite of what the editors and marketing reps were thinking when they said, "Let's start everything over again," but the freed up money gives me a chance to subscribe to several great "independents" I should have been collecting right along.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not angry about anything. When written well, I love relaunches.

I went for the whole ride when Hal Jordan went bonkers (way too abruptly), redeemed himself with his death in "Final Night," searched his soul as the Spectre (J.M. DeMatteis, writer extraordinaire), and fought that damned yellow impurity monster-thingy. The artwork and writing on the newest series is top notch. I enjoyed the entire thing, years in the telling, with all its highs and lows.

I went bonkers for Post-Crisis (See my "Brief History of Illustrated Stories" on the home page of Comic Artists Direct). George Perez' "Wonder Woman" rocked. Mike Grell's "Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters" pulled a second banana hero into reality. Timothy Truman's "Hawkworld" brought political intrigue to comics. Denny O'Neil and Denys Cowan's "The Question" was a throwback to film noir, but still an update from where comics were. One of my favorite runs is Keith Giffen's on "Legion of Super Heroes," continuity be darned.

I AM excited about one, major event involved with the post-Infinite Crisis relaunch. DC has launched a weekly comic called "52." WEEKLY! This, my friends, is a major event. Why? Editors are actually thinking about changes to distribution and product. Think about it. What about a weekly Batman title, instead of the, what, four titles now running monthly? Major innovations like that are what will keep the comics we love from going stale and disappearing (Again, see my "Brief History of Illustrated Stories" to the right).

It doesn't hurt that Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid and the aforementioned Keith Giffen are involved with "52."

MORE HAPPENING THAN HOUSE OF M VERSUS INFINITE CRISIS - I understand the competition between this summer's big events, House of M and Infinite Crisis. But the fight that heated up around Marvel versus DC's big crossovers seems to have pulled some attention away from another event. Those who appreciate tight scripting and variety in crossovers should look to Grant Morrison's "Seven Soldiers" books.

What's fun is seeing how versatile Grant is writing different genre. "Seven Soldiers of Victory" #0 started out as a team book that turned upside down by the end. "The Manhattan Guardian" is straight forward Kirbyesque superhero (with a strong, nonstereotyped black hero). "Klarion" is gothic horror. "Zatanna" is one of the "if magic existed in our world" books. And "Shining Knight" is sword and sorcery. These books are really blowing me away. Those who have been put off by Grant's strangest stuff like "The Filth" can rest easy here. All the books are, of course, strangely interesting, because it's Morrison, but the plotting emerges coherently and the characterizations - even in people that only appear briefly - are a pleasure to read. "Mister Miracle," "Bulleteer," and "Frankenstein!" finish up the lineup.

The artwork is different in each and each is excellent in its own style (Simone Bianchi in "Shining Knight" is just phenomenal).

I haven't had so much fun reading a series in a long time. Now that I've taken the hit buying the "pamphlets" you-all can enjoy the collected series. "Seven Soldiers of Victory" Vol. 1 is now available, more than 200 pages for $14.99. Enjoy.

- Gary