Like Josh, I once served time working in a tiny comic book shop. And most of what I know about Extreme Studios was learned there through osmosis; the goddamn books were everywhere, scattered throughout the store, every place I looked. Even the ones I never read left an impression burned into my brain. At school, I had to force myself not to spell the word “strike” as “stryke”.

I remember Glory more than most of them. Aside from her own series, she had specials and minis and teamup books with Avengelyne and Violator and guest appearances in Brigade and Supreme…I was completely surrounded by books with Glory on the cover, like poorly-drawn softcore wallpaper. Never read a one.

But the new Glory, picking up the numbering of the old series while heading in a completely modern direction, is really quite good. The story hits the ground running, filling you in on everything you need to know to enjoy it. I have no idea how much continuity is left intact from the old series, and I couldn’t care less. I’m almost tempted to pick up the similar relaunch of Prophet, another series I remember from name only (and those damn “SPLATT!” signatures). And I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the return of Alan Moore’s Supreme (kinda sorta almost).

Quotable quotes from the world of comics:

“You see, they spend time on dialogue explaining to us that Johnny Blaze can’t control the Rider…the Rider will torch you for Jay-Walking as well as for watching TEEN WOLF…and then you never get a payoff of the Rider wasting someone he shouldn’t have, and Blaze remembering it. That’s a key thing to the tortured soul – don’t forget to torture him.”
Harry Knowles, Ain’t It Cool News