Bulleteer Madness Week 10 – Last 2006 Column 
 

      Hey everyone! This is Raph with the very last Bulleteer Madness of 2006. What a year! So much I want to cover this week. I'm going to do my Silver Bullets and my Ranty, but I will also have my 1st annual Golden Bullet Awards! Plus, a somber memorial to a departed friend. Let's just get into this. There may be some spoilers, so if you haven't read one of my Silver or Golden Bullets, SHAME ON YOU!, unless you're waiting for them to come in the mail. That's ok then... now for the... 
 

SILVER BULLETS OF THE WEEK 
 

  • The “YeahBuhWha???” Bullet: Superman/Batman #31 – The aliens vs. humans storyline continues. We don't know who's behind it all, but we find out that Luthor is a cold hearted mofo, Batman has regrets and Supergirl has a weak will, which we also see in Supergirl #13. It's ok Kara, I'll still be here for you... want a hug?
 
 
  • The “Obituary” Bullet: 52 Week 34. Yes, Black Adam's family gets attacked. Yes, Luthor is up to no good. I don't care. Charlie's dead... I knew it was going to happen... but damnit, I wasn't ready. Most heroes, they die in a big battle. Superman, Wonder Woman, Thor... Captain Mar-Vell died of cancer... that was just so different. It hit you harder. Charlie never had superpowers, he may never have had a successful solo series (in recent memory), but damnit, he was a good hero. He never backed down from trying to find the truth, the answers to all different kinds of Questions... I'm going to miss you Charlie. I didn't know who you were before 52, well I saw you on the JLU, but I didn't know you. Luckily for me, you're a comic book character, and you're entire history is in trade paperback, if it isn't I will find every single back issue. You had to kill him DC? ... I'd rather see Lex Luthor buried, especially for what he did as the ball dropped. Good bye Charlie, we'll all miss you. Thanks for the memories. RIP Charles Victor Szasz aka Vic Sage aka “The Question” 1967 – 2006... he didn't even make the New Year.
 
 
  • The “Bang for the Buck, Comic Mooch Pick it Up” Bullet: (tie): 52 Week 34/JLA #5/Justice #9 – You know why you have to pick up 52. If my words didn't move you, then at least let the creative power of Mark Waid, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka and Grant Morrison spur you to buy the last adventure of Charles Victor Szasz. Justice League of America is building up to a huge fight between Grundy, Amazo and the JLA, can't wait to see 6!! Justice #9 topped it though. What an incredible ending to issue #9... those sets of armor... Braithwaite's pencils... Ross' watercolors... GEEK DROOL MOMENT!!!
 
 

Raph's Ranty Part 1: 2006 Retrospective Part 4: October – December 2006: The Age of Podcasts begins! 
 

      Forget comics for a second. Just a second. Comic book podcasting defined not only my comics involvement in this period, but my entire life. I'll start with the origin.  
 

      I got my iPod in May of '06. I listened to my music and watched my videos on it all the time. Eventually, I got bored. I decided to check out some podcasts. The first two I ever listened to were SuperTalk!Concern and Comic Shop News Insider. SuperTalk! Is the podcast for the Superman Returns fan page bluetights.net. I was already a frequent visitor of that site, and I frequented their forum every now and then. Comic Shop News Insider I learned about from the weekly free newspaper that my LCS guy would give me. I had a 3 hour gap between classes on Wednesday and Thursday so I decided to give it a shot. CSNI has since stopped producing much of anything and SuperTalk! Is a monthly podcast. I needed more...

      I went on iTunes and I looked under recommendations while getting back episodes of SuperTalk! I discovered Raging Bullets. I gave them a shot on the way home from school one night... it was Episode 25 part 4... I had no idea what they were talking about. I hadn't read Watchmen, but Sean and Jim spurred my interest. I didn't finish that episode, I decided to go back when I had a chance... I never got that chance.

      I started with Smallville, and I got as giddy as they did. I was so excited about the season premiere, and Sean and Jim shared in my enthusiasm. For the first time in ages, I found people who shared my interests. I didn't jump onto other podcasts initially, but right now I'm listening to about 17 podcasts. I try to keep up, but it's hard. It's because of Sean and Jim I write this column and it's because of them I may be starting my own podcast soon. Still working on that.

      Great comics, great film and tv moments, and great new friends. 2006 has been a terrific year. I can't wait for 2007: NY Comic-Con, Geeks Unite! Launching, graduating college, 52 ending and possibly going to CGS 300. All I got to say to that is a quote from the Sensei of the What-Not: “Out. STANDING!” 
 

Raph's Ranty Part 2: the Bulleteer Madness 1st annual Golden Bullets.

Gold Series: 52 
 

Gold Writer: The DC Beatles: Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. 
 

Gold Artist: Ed Benes: Superman and the JLA looked great in his hands. 
 

Gold Inker: Sandra Hope, JLA. I met her, she's nice. She does great work on Justice League. 
 

Golden Superhero: Superman: a movie, a great series in Up Up and Away and Richard Donner writing him. 'Nuff said. 
 

Gold Miniseries: Secret Six. BRING IT BACK! 
 

Golden Moment of the Year: Superman of our Earth showing Superboy Prime the pimp slap and telling him what a true hero is. (Infinite Crisis #7) 
 

Golden non comic media event: (TIE) Superman beating up Darkseid in the JLU finale/ Superman Returns 
 

Golden single issue: Justice Society of America #1 
 

Pot of Gold discovery (New breakout talent): Alex Sinclair, great work on 52 and Superman. 
 

Raph is a 22 year old Hunter College student. His column, Bulleteer Madness, can be viewed at the Raging Bullets webpage, www.ragingbullets.com. He is also attempting to get a podcast started, and has a webpage dedicated to it and to his comics endeavor, the Wraythverse. That can be seen at http://www.freewebs.com/comicgeeksunite/

He will also SHAMELESSLY PROMOTE anything he finds enjoyable. You can contact him at ComicGeeksUnite@gmail.com 
 

OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER: Raph's rants and insanity do not reflect the opinion, beliefs or goals of Raging Bullets as a podcast. Any opinions, words or strange sounds coming out of Raph are completely his own, and shall be treated as such by anybody with sue-happy lawyers. Oh, and if you're actually going to sue me, get a life, I'm not really here to trash anyone, just spreading the comics love.