It only ran for 27 issues, but I absolutely loved every bit of it. I was pretty disappointed when Marvel didn’t keep it going.

But no more! It appears that Marvel is bringing back Danny Rand this coming December. Word around is that we’ll learn more details at the Fear Itself panel at SDCC.

I know I’ll be reading it.

As someone raised pretty religious (Catholic, for the record), I find it interesting to see the level of detail that different characters religious backgrounds play into who they are. It also raises a few questions. Is this written explicitly in the characters? Definitely in some cases. X-Man Nightcrawler, a devout Catholic, comes to mind. Iron Fist is Buddhist.

But in as many cases, it seems to be more inferred by the contexts that various writers and artists have put them in. The way events which have a religious component are represented reflect how the creative team pictures those events more than the characters themselves. Weddings come to mind, but more often in superhero comics – funerals.

What language is used in services, what religious passages are read, and what garb is worn tells you a lot if you care to pay attention. Edward Blake, the Comedian from Watchmen, receives a burial service that includes a prayer that is used in many services. Among them a number of fairly non-denominational Christian services used by various militaries around the world (including the United States and Australia), but more interestingly (I think) Anglican services.

The fact that Alan Moore (the writer of Watchmen, in case you’re one of the 12 people who haven’t read it) is English means he probably has some background experience with the Anglican Church – despite his own self-proclaimed status as a magician, and his “complete hoax” set of religious beliefs.

To me, the religion of a superhero says more about the writers than the character. Hell, even Seigel and Shuster (both Jewish) creating Superman (who is widely regarded as being Christian) tells you a lot. To me it just reinforces the themes of being an immigrant and trying to fit it in America – something that has been a parallel of Superman and the American Jewish Immigrant experience since his rise in popularity in post-war America.

No point in all of this, just my thoughts on the links I’m sharing.

(and thanks to tumblr user nerviosismo for the above image)

Notable nominees (in Ian’s book):

• Y: The Last Man (Best Continuing Series)
• Immortal Iron Fist (Best New Series)
• The Infinite Horizon (Best New Series)
• Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 and Winter 1152 (Best Publication for Kids, and Best Graphic Album Reprint for Fall 1152)
• I Killed Adolf Hitler (Best U.S. Edition of International Material)
• Ed Brubaker (Best Writer for Captain America, Criminal, Daredevil, Immortal Iron Fist)
• Brian K Vaughan (Best Writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ex Machina, and Y: The Last Man)
• Ben Templesmith (Best Painter or Multimedia Artist (interior art) for Fell, 30 Days of Night: Red Snow, and Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse)
• Jim Lee (Best Cover Artist for All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder, and World of Warcraft

Found via Comic Foundry.

My votes after the jump.

Immortal Iron Fist. I never expected to get so into something that I always thought of as a Kung-Fu comic. Good work, Brubaker.

Mouse Guard. I love this book, if you haven’t noticed.

I Killed Adolf Hitler. This great, weird book about a time-traveling assassin who loses his time machine, and still goes after Hitler. The art is really different, and the style of storytelling is unique.

Brian K Vaughan. If for nothing other than Ex Machina, I vote for Vaughan over Brubaker.

Ben Templesmith could do it. The paintings for Fell are great.

Jim Lee. How can you not love this guy? And everything about All Star Batman… is great.

The Sword. I love the Luna Brothers. The latest issue delves into how people perceive what’s going on with the titular Sword. Dara is captured by the government, and everyone is just as freaked out by her as you think they would be.

What I’m even more excited is the prospect of the next issue (or next several) actually giving the back story of the Sword and of Dara’s father, who may or may not have been several thousand years old when he was finally murdered.

Gotham Underground. I’m starting to really like this book. They finally are giving some much-needed background on several characters, introducing a mystery villain (her face was replaced by a missing puzzle piece all issue), and exactly how Bane is playing his cards is starting to come to light. I guess this all makes sense now that we’re about halfway through the miniseries, but still. Oh, and I’m even starting to tolerate Matches Malone

Batman Confidential. Another solid story arch from this book. If you’re looking for a good jumping-on book, Confidential is still a good bet. Each arch lasts a few issues, and you don’t have to have any idea what’s going on within continuity. A new arch just started, so now’s a good time to pick it up.

Ultimate Human. Still going strong. I really hope Warren Ellis keeps up the pace on this miniseries. His computer crashed nearly a week ago, so here’s hoping that doesn’t put him too far behind. He seems to be doing okay with Freak Angels…

Wolverine Origins. Deadpool still isn’t my favorite, but I liked this issue more than the last one. Please keep getting better, guys.

The Immortal Iron Fist one-shot. Subtitled “Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death”, its explaining Randall’s history with the Prince of Orphans, John Aman. This is now coming to bear in the main Iron Fist storyline, but this thing can stand alone as a revisiting of the classic character. Even a lot of the art is right out of the golden age. Oh, and Son of Frankenstein is in it. Awesome!