Friday means many things to many people. For some, Friday means movie night. For others, Friday means pure unbridled hedonism. For some, it’s both. For others, neither.

At iFanboy, Friday means it’s letter column time.

You write. We answer. Very simple.

As always, if you want to have your e-mail read on the any of our shows or answered here, keep them coming — contact@ifanboy.com

I was very jealous that Josh used the opportunity of Ron and I being away to use last week’s letters column to clear out his mailbag. So I thought I’d take this opportunity, considering that Josh is away, to clear out some of my mailbag!

I usually let e-mails pile up because I either don’t have a good answer to the question (and neither do the other guys) or because the answer is too short for our shows or for the letters column. But maybe if I string a bunch of short answers together I’ll have enough for my end of the letters column. Let’s find out, shall we?

Conor Kilpatrick

So we all know about the new Green Hornet movie coming out. There is a lot of hype behind this movie and to be honest I know literally nothing about The Green Hornet. Can you suggest any trades I should pick up to catch up on the Green Hornet bandwagon.

Carter from Pennsylvania

Can’t really help you with Green Hornet. Before seeing the new trailer the only time in my life that I had ever experienced The Green Hornet was when he and Kato (played by Bruce Lee!) showed up on the old Adam West Batman. Dynamite is putting out a bunch of Green Hornet comics but reviews are mixed. Josh really didn’t like the one issue of the Kevin Smith written Green Hornet title that he read. Matt Wagner is writing Green Hornet: Year One, and that’s probably good, and informative.

I’m a trade guy so maybe this has been answered in the single issues already…

My understanding was that Bruce Wayne was sent back in time, which explains his current absence from current events. My question is how is Bruce a Black Lantern/battery if he’s in the past?

Jakari from Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Batman that showed up in Blackest Night wasn’t actually Batman. It was a clone. That’s why he didn’t display any personality when he was resurrected.

I’m thinking about buying the Joker GN and Batman: The Man Who Laughs GN, and I’ve seen a Biography of Lex Luthor GN on eBay. Would you recommend buying any of these and, if not, what have been some of the best stories featuring these classic villains?

Scott from Orlando, Florida

Sure. They’re all good books. I like The Man Who Laughs the best of the three — it’s written by Ed Brubaker and drawn by Doug Mahnke!

I know that Conor loves Superman: The Man of Steel origin story that John Byrne did but I was wondering what your thoughts are on Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid, personally I can’t say enough good things about it. It is my favorite Superman story and if I had to be on an island and could only have one book, it would be that book. So I would just like to hear what you guys thought about it, if you liked it why or why not?

Lex Prime from Brantford, Ontario, Canada

I remember liking Superman: Birthright okay when it came out originally, but for the life of me I can’t tell you a thing about it now. Didn’t Clark go to Africa or something? Like a trip around the world before moving to Metropolis? I vaguely remember something like that. But that’s it. It didn’t stick with me at all. Meanwhile, I can describe Superman: Man of Steel chapter and verse. Clearly, that one made much more of an impression on me.

I just finished reading Teen Titans: The Judas Contract and rather enjoyed it. I’ve often heard about the controversial themes of Terra’s smoking, evilness and the very blatant underage relationship she engages in with Deathstroke, but the one thing I’ve never heard talked about and can’t really find much discussion on the internet for is Wintergreen’s sexuality.

As a reader, I felt there were some rather obvious hints that there was relationship (though possibly one-sided) between Wintergreen and Deathstroke. There were some revealing lines such as “I know his pleasures and his pains” and one or two others. So what do you think? Am I reading too much into it or is this something that readers overlooked in lieu of the more obvious and flashy relationship between Terra and Deathstorke?

Brian

You know, as much as I love The Judas Contract, I haven’t read it in forever. I need to find a trade and rectify that. Anyway, not having read it in a while I can’t comment on any sexual subtext between Slade Wilson (AKA Deathstroke the Terminator) and his loyal manservant Wintergreen. It’s certainly possible that we were all too busy being skeeved out by the sexual relationship between Slade and the underage Terra to notice any simmering forbidden chemistry between Wintergreen and Slade. Were they the precursor to Mr. Burns and Smithers, perhaps?

Conor Kilpatrick

I suppose I have to play along, huh?  Okay, here goes…

Ron Richards

I have always thought of the pronunciation of the name Thanos with a short “a” sound, because Thanos takes his name from Thanatos. However, iFanboy has agreed that it is a long a sound, and it sounds sooooo wrong!

Vichus S.

I’ll be honest with you here. I have no idea how to pronounce Thanos. I’ve heard it pronounced “THA-nos” and I’ve also heard it pronounced “THAN-os.” You could be right about him taking his name from Thanatos, but I have no idea how to pronounce that either. I figure just go with what works for you.

I was just re-reading an old Justice League trade with a Plastic Man dream sequence having the JLA playing baseball. With baseball rosters being finalized today, I was wondering what your superhero baseball team roster would look like?

Powers can be used and characters can be picked from any universe.

Elijah (ColdWarKid)

Oooh, this is a fun one. I’ve put the team together in a starting lineup with positions associated and my explanation, and obviously I have a bit of a Marvel bias, so don’t complain about that, okay?

1. The Flash — Centerfield — Obviously The Flash is clearly my leadoff guy. Get on base, be ready to steal a base or for the hit and run.
2. Longshot — Shortstop — Longshot is a natural athlete, with great acrobatics for diving to get a ball in the hole, and I’ll gladly take his luck powers in the game any day.
3. Captain America (Steve Rogers) — First Base — The captain of the team, Cap hits for a high average as well as leads on the field and in the clubhouse.
4. Thor — Right Field — Sometimes you need a big bat to knock it out of the park.
5. Superman — Left Field — Because Thor strikes out A LOT.
6. Wolverine — Third Base — I like a scrappy guy who can get on base anyway he can for the 6th spot, and I have no reason to think this, but I think Wolverine would be a great third baseman.
7. Invincible — Second Base — He’s an up-and-comer, looks like he could be a 5-tool player, but needs some big league experience.
8. Green Lantern — Catcher — Those ring constructs make for a great target for the pitcher, and he can definitely protect the plate. But what no one knows is that Hal Jordan can barely hit above the Mendoza line.
9. Gambit — Pitcher — You think he can only throw playing cards?

Rewatching the “Villains” episode. You say doing bad makes you evil. So does doing something good make you an angel?

Eric

Yes, I believe that’s how it works.

Just wondering if you have any idea of how long we can expect Manapul to be on The Flash. it seems good artists never stick around too long.

James

I hear ya James, sadly,I have no idea.  Personally, I hope he’s on for a long time, because his art is just fantastic. Sadly the reality is now that artists can’t seem to be able to to manage a monthly schedule. But, if it means that we get a fill in artist every now and then, I’m okay with that, but I definitely do hope and wish for great long runs by creative teams on my favorite books.

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That’s all she wrote folks! Have a great Fourth of July weekend in the US! Everyone else, have a good weekend!

Ron Richards