Today's visit to church left me feeling pretty disappointed. I've been attending this church for the past two years, and it has seen me through a messy breakup, a tough move, two Christmases, two birthdays, and three depressions. Through it all the church has been satisfactory, and there's not much else you can say about it. The fact that only one of the two main candles ever lights and stays lit during the service is one of those little details I find to be very telling. The church is a Methodist one, which reveals a lot on its own - the congregation is an eldery one, good with food and celebrations, bad with change and friendliness, and indifferent to who exactly their current pastor might be. None of this has ever touched me directly. I was invited to this church by two wonderful human beings who made me feel as welcomed as I needed on their own, and by the time they stopped attending, I had been 'accepted' by the rest of the congregation. I've become good friends with several of the members and am a member of the church's choir and finance committee, yet I've never felt a particular desire to become a full member. To date, I still am not.

Today was different. Today, I invited a friend.

He's a fellow I've known for a couple months, a fellow I've grown to learn a lot about and one who desperately needs God in his life right now. I've been slowly helping him sort out his life and while he has made definite progress, he has expressed the desire to 'feel the presence of God in his life.' He didn't feel that at church today. The congregation was cool, the welcome reserved. Of course, there is a reason. This young man is not one of this church's usual members, not one of the upper middle class, and this is painfully obvious. He doesn't wear dress clothes with frequency, the way I do. And he doesn't have my natural gift for meeting people and making good impressions. Just the same, I was hoping for a better reception than this. I was even able to persuade him to sit with me in the choir, a request he filled with great nervousness but equal heart. He sung with us, he said hello to people. He was not a wallflower. And yet, he said he observed more than one individual glaring at him, as if sending some silent message that said he did not belong.

The visit has made me question deeply whether I will continue to attend this church. If a church cannot provide a glimpse of the divine to those searching, then what good is it? Isn't it just an elephant graveyard, a place where the elderly who have been attending their entire lives go to spend their last days? This church is not believed to have a long lifespan, and I can see why. I have been telling the new pastor that Grace's only option is to attract new and young members, and if this is the kind of reception they will receive, what options does that leave them?

More to the point, if a church can no longer illuminate the path for those who seek it, does it even have a reason to exist anymore?

Figured we needed this for convenience.


Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 01 - JESSE QUICK

Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 02 - THE SCARECROW

Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 03 - SPEEDY (II)

Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 04 - WONDER WOMAN

Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 05 - BRAINIAC

Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 06 - ZACHARY ZATARA

Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 07 - CATMAN

Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 08 - SUPERMAN

Watchtower Character Challenge Entry 09 - PENDING



And a look at the other side of the pond, completed challenges written for my characters!

From Kris - AZRAEL

From Matt - BLACK ADAM

From Matt - PROMETHEUS

More than Wolverine, Batman, and Spawn - more than them combined - Clark Kent is perhaps the singular comic book character that can be said to have attained icon status. It is a label frequently applied to Superman, and not without reason - he is a character that stands on the same playing field as Mickey Mouse, Captain America, and Bugs Bunny. He is still a character in a comic book, and yet he has become so much more. He has become a symbol.

And that's why finding a good Superman player would be, I think, the most difficult task any DC gamer would ever have, and why I thank my lucky stars every day we have Sean to fill the Man of Steel's shoes. Notice how I said finding a 'good' Superman player - finding a straight player for the character would be difficult not not insurmountable. But finding a good one? A positively Herculean task.

Why is that? Simply put, it is because of Superman's fame, his status. Everyone knows his story, his powers. But how many really know him? The problem with most Superman players - and some of his writers - is that too much emphasis is placed on the 'super' and not enough on the 'man.' It's one thing to play the all-American hero who can punch any threat into submission. But unless you make this character human, make him relatable, why would I care? This has been why, for most of my life, I have regarded Superman with detached indifference. You might say my opinion was that of Leslie Willis's, with less venom: "He never has to work for everything, it's all handed to him." Who could care about a character like that?

Well, in Sean's hands, I care about that character, enough to bone up on his supporting cast and even play his opposite number, Magog. Sean gives Superman life, breathing vitality into those classic PJs and giving Clark Kent not just a face but a voice. His Clark is vintage Clark - gawky, geeky, and good-hearted - and yet he has moments where the facade unveils, and the face of the warrior can be seen. Watch 'Hereafter' and perhaps you may begin to see why I like Sean's Superman - he uniquely invokes that interpretation, a Superman who would be a hero even without his powers.

My scene with Clark and Chip Shreck was brief, but it encapsulated all the reasons why I enjoy Sean's portrayal of the character - his Clark showed compassion, concern, but firm determination, a determination that, even hidden behind those dorky glasses, was enough to intimidate the son of Shreck. Clark is a hero capable of showing compassion even to those sworn to kill him, which is why I cannot say how eagerly I anticipate Superman's eventual scenes with my chief heroes, Kid Amazo and Magog - both of whom have a dislike for the Man of Steel and way too much power for their own good but are essentially good-hearted people.

J.R. was quite right to give Sean praise for his portrayal of Superman. The Man of Steel has very heavy shoes to fill, but Sean not only fills them, he does so with the blend of Silver Age ham and Modern Age character development that is the perfect blend for Clark Kent. May he be defending the Watchtower universe from the forces of evil for a long time to come.

In a rogue's gallery that includes quite a few 'Anti-Batmen' and a Catwoman, it would be easy for a character like Thomas Blake to get lost in the shuffle. It doesn't help that he has his roots in the Silver Age, where he had a 'mystic pelt that grants him nine lives' and had a penchant for committing cat-themed crimes. In short: the kind of pun-spouting villain you might expect to see shaking his fist at Adam West.

Gail Simone dramatically reinvented the character, however, giving Catman the kind of treatment other writers previously reserved for ensemble darkhorses like Bane and Anarky. With this reinvention, Catman became a viable character again, an antihero comparable to Jason Todd and Magog. How intriguing, then, that Catman player Kobie specifically claims to shy away from Simone's interpretation, instead injecting a style all his own into Blake.

Saying that Kobie's Catman 'shies away from the Simone Catman' is a bit misleading. Kobie's Blake retains many of the elements introduced by Simone: an iron-clad badassery, the kind of body only a guy like Julian McMahon could portray, and a deft hand with weapons. However, Kobie injects other elements - his Blake is not the noble savage of Gail Simone, but rather a rough-and-ready urban predator who has made the city of Metropolis his jungle. And by turns he shouts out to the Catman of old - Blake's first run-in with Hush was downright pathetic, with a drunken Catman vicious manhandled and scarred by the scalpel-wielding madman. Their second meeting was much more satisfying for Blake, however.

Catman is an intriguing character because he operates in a twilight somewhere between cynical self-interest and genuine desire to do good. More than any other member of Infinity Inc, Blake desires to shed his previous skin (or is that coat?). Is he Justice League material? No. Catman is still a very self-centered character, glib and driven mostly by his own desires. But he also enjoys the legitimacy his new position has brought him, placing him in the unlikely company of the Riddler - Nygma and Blake have both discovered that simplest of axioms, straight crime rarely pays.

Exploring Catman's view of his employers, Kitty and Lex, and his loyalty between them, would be an interesting direction for the character. So too would a run-in with Green Arrow, who has a bit of a history with him. Kobie has expressly wanted to stay away from Secret Six stuff, and I'm inclined to agree with him, as Watchtower has a glut of 'reformed villain' teams already. In place of a bromance with Deadshot, perhaps Blake might have a begrudging alliance with Ollie Queen at some point?

How ironic that Catman was given only nine lives, when over his career he's used many more. Catman is a veritable Carter Hall, resurrecting in new and interesting fashion to stay current with the times, and this Catman has the potential to land from any situation feet first. Keep an eye on that kitty.

The weekend is finally upon us, and I for one could not be happier.

This has been a forsaken week and I am more than happy to bid it adieu. Not just for me. Michael Jackson died, Shawn got in a car wreck, and Doug found out his house has termites.

I can only hope J.R. and Paul are having better weeks.

I hate dropping plots, especially once they get going. But I kind of did it to Kobie with the whole Black Adam/Shade scene when I couldn't think of anything to ping. So I suppose it's just deserts.

Finally, Kris, you have been the bright spot in an otherwise icky, icky week. Much hugs and ♥ from me to you, dear.

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Matt's wonderful essay on my character Prometheus highlighted a theme I've been mulling on and off ever since I joined the JLA Watchtower roleplaying game, and that theme is combat. Indulge me for a bit, then, while I extrapolate until you get bored and go home. ;)

Combat is a major theme in comic books. One could argue it is the major theme in comic books. Most comic book issues feature a slugfest of some kind, and tragedies, character development, etc. usually are a prelude to some big fight. Most of the arguments between fanboys are about who could beat who, and spinoffs like Heroclix (which I am avidly addicted to) throw fuel on the fire by giving comic book fans representations of their characters with clear rankings, allowing them to personally answer 'who could beat who' questions.

The persistence of combat as the predominant theme in comic books goes all the way back to the beginning, I think, back when comic books were marketed exclusively to young kids. These days I know more adult comic book fans than children, but over fifty years of fan growth, combat remains the predominant theme. The second reason for this persistence is the inherently static nature of the comic book world: no one can ever permanently change. Batman can die, Jimmy Olsen can become a metahuman, and General Zod can become a Russian dictator. But these changes never last. Death in comic books is rarely if ever permanent; changes to the characters are cosmetic at best, and the writers and artists have their creativity shackled by both the fans and their overlords. Bear witness to Greg Rucka, who fought valiantly to give Wonder Woman a new outfit during his tenure on her book, only to be shot down by the suits. Status quo is God, indeed.

So in a world where Tim Drake will never age a day over twenty (unless it's in some crapsack future), Wonder Woman will never wear something sensible, and the Joker will never be locked away forever, combat naturally moves to the forefront. Character development takes a backseat, since character personalities are by nature of the medium static and don't change unless, again, it's motivation to make a slugfest happen, as evidenced by the Face Heel Turns of 'heroes' like Hal Jordan and Jean-Paul Valley.

So, after five long paragraphs, we come to the point: for all its predominance in the comic book world, combat is strangely muted in JLA Watchtower. And the reasons why have intrigued me ever since I came to realize it.

In the four months I have been with Watchtower, combat has been remarkably sparse. Prometheus had a brief fight with the Calculator upon my joining, but it was more of a test of skill than an actual battle on both sides. Since then, Roulette's Belles of the Brawl has been one of the few scenes to regularly feature combat, and the women fighting in the plot are simulacrums created by the Mirror Master, allowing unrestrained violence to rule the day. But aside from that? Combat threads are few and far between. Ask Matt, who has dearly wanted to do more with Metamorpho and Green Arrow, yet has been restrained from combat until very recently, when Killer Croc was kind enough to oblige Ollie. A good template is Batman, arguably the single most popular character in the DCU. A brief tussle with a vampire and more recently a shootout with Black Mask is it, really.

Simply put, Watchtower does not have a high need for combat, which sets it apart markedly from other comic book games and even from the comics themselves.

Why the change? The reason, I think, is that Watchtower is a true story, long-running and meandering though it may be. Dead characters usually stay dead - the Black Manta was killed after murdering Aquaman's son, and neither character has returned. Character changes also tend to last - Oracle and Nightwing's relationship has evolved to the point where they have a child together, and Oracle has essentially retired from crimefighting altogether in order to care for her babe.

Another reason that Matt touched upon is this: the pride factor. No one likes to lose a fight. And every player has at least one high-tier character. My very entry to the game was an example of this - Prometheus was set up to fight the Calculator, a low-tier character but one of J.R's favorites. The original setup had Prometheus losing, but J.R. and I reached a compromise, and the 'fight' ended in a draw, with Prometheus holding back the brunt of his combat abilities for the purposes of testing the limits of the Calculator's battlesuit.

Finally, a more subtle and ultimately, more telling reason, is the preference of the individual players. Some players have no interest in combat at all, while others need a regular dose of the old ultraviolence. The beauty of Watchtower is that these individual needs can be catered to, while still maintaining a cohesive, long-running story arc.

Could comic books learn from Watchtower's example? Should they?

I get that you've released a new upgrade. And I'm happy for you. Really.

But seriously? Quit shoving it down my throat.

I'm not getting it. I like the AIM I have. I hear nothing but bad news about your newest version. And I'd just as soon wait for you to iron out the bugs, thanks.

So please stop sending me messages every fifteen minutes asking me to upgrade.

Thanks.

Okay, this is just plain grotesque.

But one sentence in this article caught my eye and held it after I'd finished the rest: "Cherry's confession came after she was arrested Wednesday by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals."

So, does this mean the ASPCA has a police force? This is news to me. Odd but not necessarily bad - I've got this image of a Planeteers-style team in my mind, given carte blanche by Obama to apprehend villainous animal abusers across the nation. And where else would a malevolent caricature like 'Cheyenne Cherry' belong but in a comic book? I bet that's her villain name and her real name's "Nasty McSpendsmoney.' And when her mother spent more money on her cat than her, she swore vengeance against all felines, everywhere.

Stranger origin stories have happened!


EDIT: Look at that watch! Clearly Calculator's standards for recruitment into the Secret Society have fallen far!

In Watchtower's world, few heroes are as polarizing as Zachary Zatara. Few characters who have met the brash young magician have gone without forming some strong opinion of him, be it for good or ill. Mia Dearden is absolutely smitten with him. Tim Drake thinks he could be the next Dr. Fate. Vic Stone thinks he's reckless and violent. And Ollie Queen won't have his name spoken in his home! What did one young legacy do to provoke such strong reactions from such a wide variety of heroes, one wonders? A single scene with him is enough to find out!

Zach is the sole character of Terry, and it's clear he puts his heart and soul into him. Zach is a very layered character, with believable attitudes and mannerisms. He's played with so much realism that, aside from the mad sorcerous skillz, one could very easily meet a person in real life like him. He's a powerful character to read, and quite a bit of fun wherever he may appear!

If that last name rung a bell, welcome to geekdom! Yes, Zachary Zatara is the cousin of (in)famous magician Zatanna Zatara, and he's spent the entirety of his young life under her shadow. Unlike Zatanna, Zach has grown up with no greater magic than illusions and sleight of hand. He is a trained magician in the real-life sense of the word, and while he's become accomplished there, always he has had his cousin's sorcerous feats hanging over his head. Hundreds of hours spent practicing, reading, trying, all came to nothing.

So when the demon Neron approached Zach with an offer to awaken his abilities, how could he say no? Through the deal, Zach has become a sorceror on par with his cousin, though he is not nearly as popular. The anecdote of his tryout for the Teen Titans illustrates perfectly why: after using spells to breeze through the standard course, he was attacked by Jason Todd, and promptly set Todd aflame. The incident was so striking that every Titan now knows Zach's name, and with the exception of Robin and Speedy, they think of him as a crazy, arrogant jerk.

Zach's attitude does not help his case. Having spent years under his sister's reputation, he has now devoted himself to carving out his own name, and he is undoubtedly succeeding in that department - perhaps too well, some might argue! But for all his negative publicity, going unnoticed by all those making snap judgments is the good heart beneath the bravado. Though a showman he may be, Zach does not pass up those in need of aid, nor does he hold grudges. Beneath it all, he's a good kid.

Zach's hardest challenge will be separating himself from Zatanna in his own mind. No one puts him next to his cousin and mercilessly compares the two more than he himself does, and the fact that he spent a childhood trying, mostly without success, to have a name apart from his family. Magic runs deep in his blood, and Zach cannot seem to escape the long shadows of his forefathers and cousin - or so he thinks. In truth, he has already done that - he just hasn't realized it yet.

Zach is relied on heavily by his girlfriend, Mia Dearden, who carries too much weight on shoulders so young. But before Zach can truly help her burden, he must shrug off that 50-pound backpack labeled ZATARA he always carries around in his mind. Ironically, if Zach stopped trying to sell himself so hard, he'd be much more popular a guy. And yet, bravado is part and parcel of who Zach Zatara is.

What would I personally like to see happen for Zach? A chance to prove himself, first and foremost. A chance for him to show the world what side of the moral spectrum he really stands on. He needs villains, too - preferably sorcerous villains, as they're the only types liable to give him any trouble. Kris wants a match between Zach and my character Kid Amazo - I have to admit that would be fun, in a total powerfest kind of way. Zach joining a team would be awesome - and no, not the JSA! Methinks Zach would do better on an Outsiders-style team, or alternately, an entirely new type of team. Perhaps, given his punishment of Jason Todd, he could ally with other tough-on-villains heroes like Grace Choi and Magog.

Also, he needs to school Neron Trickster-style at some point. Make a stand for all the other guys getting their souls collected and all that. ;)

Zach can be compared to Guy Gardner superficially. Both characters can be jerks, have hearts of gold, but have a bad rap. But that's where the similarities end. Gardner is a man and the jerk is there to stay. Zach's still young, and his jerk moments are more due to overcompensation than a repugnant personality. For all his showmanship, Zach's still getting comfortable in his own skin. Once he manages to do that, it may be Tim Drake's analysis that was right all along.