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I know that series get canceled. There are very few comic books that will run indefinitely. But that doesn't make me feel any better when a comic I like gets the axe.

This time around, it's Freedom Fighters. I knew Freedom Fighters wouldn't last forever, of course. But I did hope that it might last longer than nine issues. As it is, that's only one more issue than the previous two Freedom Fighter mini-series ran. And since the first (and now only) arc was an eight issue story anyway they might as well have made it another mini-series to begin with.

Still, I feel like they could have given Freedom Fighters a little longer to find its legs. The book had some great story (no surprising given the writing team) and some really stellar art. The same cannot be said of books that have lasted longer -- things like Azrael or Magog.

I'm not happy about this, but I doubt it means that the Freedom Fighters will disappear. That is one of the great things about the shared comic book universe concept. After all, I was similarly bummed when Shadowpact got canceled... And look who's showing up in Superman/Batman this week.

Let me guess: you're not reading Freedom Fighters. That's okay; I forgive you.

But you really should be reading Freedom Fighters. Somehow over the past few years Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti have turned into some of my favorite writers. I don't know how it happened. But I'm glad it did.

Anyway, Freedom Fighters is shaping up to be a really fun book. And "fun" is something we don't find nearly as often as we should in our comics these days. Not only does the book have some delightful fight scenes and some fantastic dialogue -- "I am a God killer!" -- but it's got a fun mystery as well.

I love the concept of "The Hidden History of the United States" as a hook for Freedom Fighters. There's a lot of really great material to mine there, and our humble hosts seem ready to hit the ground running. Why, in the most recent issue the mystery villain was revealed to be this guy:

And we find this out in the second issue. Let me tell you, that's a hell of a lot more satisfying than waiting some six issues to find out that the mystery villain is Solomon Grundy in a suit.

So, to sum up: Freedom Fighters is shaping up to be pretty awesome. Go read it.

I had no classes last Friday. As such, I thought last Thursday was Friday. The result?

I missed the Thursday Night Thinking.

That's pretty unacceptable, and I have to make sure it never happens again. In the meantime, here's a picture of Black Condor punching a Confederate Nazi in the face:

Oh yeah. I can't wait for the new Freedom Fighters.

And... We're back! I had a good week off, but I'm happy to be diving back into the world of blogging. It's become a semi-daily routine for me, and being without it for a week has left a strange, empty feeling inside me.

You know what else has left an empty feeling inside me? A lack of Freedom Fighters comics. I really enjoyed the two Freedom Fighters minis that Palmiotti and Gray put out a few years ago. And I really wish there could be more.

What's that you say? A Freedom Fighters ongoing has been announced? Why, that's exactly what I want!

In all seriousness, I was really surprised to see the new ongoing announced. There hasn't been a Freedom Fighters comic since the last mini, and that was quite a while ago. I enjoyed them a lot, but I just figured that there wasn't enough buzz to warrant another mini-series -- let alone an ongoing.

But then, maybe there wasn't. DC these days seems to like throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. Nobody was clamoring for a Magog ongoing. The new direction of Titans isn't something people seem all that excited about either. And let's not get into The Rise of Arsenal.

Still, I'm happy to see the book. Uncle Sam and his motley gang of patriotic heroes are a lot different from most of the characters in the DC Universe. I feel like there is a place for them, and I hope this ongoing is it.

Kalinara brought to my attention something very important. In skimming the new DC solicitations, I failed to notice this one for Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters:

UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #4
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art by Renato Arlem
Cover by Dave Johnson
The Doll Man War begins! Plus, Red Bee’s daring escape from a government lab. And if that’s not enough...the return of Neon the Unknown!
On sale December 26 • 4 of 8 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

You see it, don't you? The Return of Neon the Unknown!!

My love for the Unknown is no secret. In fact, back during the first Freedom Fighters series I practically begged Justin Gray over on a message board to put Neon in.

It seems that the fates have conspired to make at least one of my weird, twisted dreams come true. Only about 200,000 to go...

Not much of a post today. I was too busy out celebrating!

It's hard to find a good time on the 4th of July in Japan. Here they treat it like it's just any other day. But it's not just any other day.

Happy 231st birthday you fabulous, infuriating, amazing, confusing, astonishing, fantastic, incomparable nation. I don't know where I'd be without you....

Been a busy week... Looks like it's only going to get busier. So all you get is a single panel. Savor it.