Holy butt toast I have been gone. I am declaring this to be my annual since it encompasses 5 weeks of pull list reviews. Vacation took away my desire to write reviews as well as my money but now I am getting paid so I can write reviews so for this 45 issue monster edition, I welcome you back!
For this long list, I just dropped a bunch of +2s for what I really liked and there was a lot.
Amazing Spider-Man #664-666 (Hail Satanna)
#664 -
Mr. Negative revealed to the public! Wraith revealed! Spider-man hiring Peter Parker for tech! This sort of ties in a bit more to prior stories that I like but nothing too confusing though newer readers would have not been able to guess the identity of the Wraith. I wasn't.
+1
#665 -
New Avengers used in skeeball by Arcade, deals with Peter's relationship with Betty Brant. When she is held up it shows how close the Daily Bugle family is while Spider-man goes out for revenge. Eventually Aunt May calls him back reminding how he always disappears after loved ones are hurt. And then Aunt May and Jameson Sr. move out of New York because it is finally too dangerous. All in all a great character piece reflecting on the interpersonal dramas of the characters.
+2
#666 -
The Spider-Island begins with Spider-man hanging out with his teams as he is unable to notice the bigger picture, namely the Jackal giving citizens of New York Spider-man powers. Also now Spider-man is a master of kung fu. Kung fu mastery is cool. Also they brought back Kaine because they brought back Kaine. I am looking forward to seeing where this arc is going though despite the horrors I have heard about the Clone Saga.
+1
Avengers #15
What makes Avengers great with the Fear Itself storyline is that they don't explain shit so they can just have the team fighting the Hulk interspersed with the interviews between the team members that develop the character. I want to say I am tired of this whole format but damn they make some cool battles. I need to remember this for Socialfist.
+2
Avengers Academy #16
While Hank Pym faces Serpent-powered Titania and The Absorbing his students fight in New York. There is a bunch of cool stuff in this issue like Pym building a giant gate out of destroyed buildings literally by stacking them. The comic really hits though when in her fury, Veil kills one of the enemy soldiers and is forced to deal with the consequences of taking one's life.
+2
Deadpool #40
Not entirely sure how I feel about this issue of Deadpool. After his last rampage when Deadpool tried to commit suicide via the Hulk due to his realization that he had no friends, he got committed to an insane asylum in England where his psychologist has suggested plastic surgery to fix his face - and possibly his mind. This is an interesting idea but early on Deadpool's escape borders on the on the macabre more that the humorous. I am interested in where this goes though.
+1
Fear Itself #4
First off I would like to thank my friend Devin for getting Matt Fraction to sign a copy of Fear Itself #1 for me. Also thank you Matt Fraction for signing that.
This issue ramps up everything as the Serpent's fate and Thor's are revealed to be intertwined (since they are destined to kill each other). Meanwhile Captain America goes to avenger Bucky who was killed by the Red Skull and Tony Stark is forced to meet and deal with Odin. Thor gets tossed out of the Serpent's realm and comes face to face with evil-hammer powered The Hulk and The Thing. Shiny!
+2
Fear Itself: Deadpool #2
Last time Deadpool decided to throw the Walrus a bone in the form of a fake magical hammer to cash in on the whole "everyone is afraid of villains with hammers so why not give one to an idiot so I can stop them for money." The problem was the hammer was magic and Deadpool is finding out the hard way. Unlike the last issue which was a bit unbalanced the newest issue had some great laughs, especially in the form of Deadpool's biggest fan - a little girl and the bedroom of Cable's biggest fan which Deadpool sent the Walrus to destroy.
+1
Fear Itself: The Deep #2
I don't know but for whatever reason The Deep isn't really holding my interest. The battles might be too dialogue heavy. It might be that it doesn't feel like much is being accomplished. If anything it is like grinding in a video game - fighting monster after monster for more experience except they just get more and more tired. Let them punch Attuma already!
+0
Fear Itself: FF
Bunn (who also did The Deep) doesn't do much in this issue except show a bit of the psyche of the possessed Ben Grim aka The Thing. Because he is such an important villain though, nothing happens in the one-shot making it feel a bit wasted. It definitely feels more filler-y than anything and ultimately doesn't feel satisfying at all.
+0
Fear Itself: Fearsome Four
Duck yeah Howard the Dinosaur! When we last left our heroes Man-Thing had turned them all into monsters with his Nexus-y powers. As they quickly are defeated they find out that Psycho-Man is behind the Man-Thing's rage in an attempt to make a fear bomb with his emotion controlling I-pad. And then the tagline for the next issue is The Old New Fantastic Four Vs The New New Fearsome Four. Oh man, this is what a fun issue is.
+1
Fear Itself: Uncanny X-force
It is pretty easy to tell someone different is writing this issue of X-force. The characters don't mesh as well, the story is muddled and I have no idea what the goal or point is. Apparently the anti-Mutant group the Purifiers captured a mutant and plan on killing him but I have no idea what makes this so special (minus a limited number of mutants). Still, confusing, disorienting and not fun.
+0
FF #5-7
#5
Sue, Spider-man and Alex of the Power Pack face off against an evil Reed and nobody warned Sue. Seriously? Nobody thought to warn the people that there are evil Reed Richards? Dick move. And then the Inhumans returned from space. It was okay but nothing really grabbed me.
+0
#6
I have no idea what is going on in this issue. I picked up a brief recap of War of Kings which I haven't read but I guess the Inhumans control the Kree or something? Really unintelligible especially for newer readers. And then Black Bolt was back from the dead.
-1
#7
So Blackbolt returns and then is like "we gotta go and have an Inhumans meeting and Blackbolt finds out he married 4 other women including a horse. I still have no idea what any of this means. Comics Alliance, I need those annotate FF articles please! Unlike the past two though, there was some fun stuff like Black Bolt fighting a giant octopus in space.
+1
Day 2:
Herc #5
As Hectate and Kyknos (the son of Ares who hates Herc) team up to bring New York under the thrall of magic, Herc, Man-Bull and Basilisk head to The Isle of Coney to confront the foes. On a giant centipede subway. Fighting police officer bugbears on dragons. And fire breathing baboons. Nuff said!
+2
Heroes For Hire #9
While Paladin and Gargoyle (not the Gray French hammer-powered one, the Etrigan plus wings one) team up to clear Yancy Street after the Thing attacked, a drug dealer conquers his fear, mortality, and humanity becoming something monstrous. Meanwhile Shroud and Elektra (being paid extra to not kill) run into trouble in the shape of Puppeteer and Purple Man (and Purple Man's armies). Oh man this is fun stuff and I look forward to the next issue.
+2
Hulk #36-37
#36
Hulk, Zzzax and MODOK in a three way battle for problems Ross (aka Red Hulk) caused. Zzzax for the uninformed was a monster Ross controlled mentally to fight Bruce Banner way back. When MODOK 2 shows up hunting the beast Ross realizes the threat and stops MODOK by taking over Zzzax one more time to save his partner. MODOK runs away swearing revenge most likely having had absorbed the electric creature. The art and layouts in this book were great with tons of well conveyed action.
+2
#37
M.O.D.O.K. did capture Zzzax after all! As he watches below, the Red Hulk returns to fight Ben Grimm in a battle we saw a while back in the Avengers resulting in the destruction of Avenger's Tower. Meanwhile, the Red Hulk's other enemies send the Black Fog (the genetically enhanced serial killing boogeyman) to finish the job the Thing (hammer powered) started. M.O.D.O.K. decides he's going to need a front seat and oh man Jeff Parker knocks out another great issue!
+2
The Incredible Hulks Annual
Last time our Parker watched as alternate super powered (he stopped Galactus) and sort of evil Peter Parker got coma'd doing the right thing. Then Deadpool and alternate Deadpool (who was really Victor Von Doom) became friends until the alternate Wade Wilson (acting as Doom) killed his friend. Deadpool took revenge sending alternate Wade to Hell. Also alternate Bruce Banner is the Sorcerer Supreme who banished the Hulk to Hell and now regular Bruce Banner can't Hulk out. And alternate Hulk is a demon who just got let out.
So Deadpool is transfomed into Banner to act as a distraction for demon Hulk as alt-Banner undoes the banishment before sacrificing his life to kill the Hulk once and for all. Alt-Parker is then released from hell by the spirit of alt-Banner and comes back as Ghost Spider who sends the heroes back to their own world.
+2 +2 +2 Oh man. If that didn't sound awesome what is wrong with you?
The Incredible Hulks #632-633
#622
Arm'cheddon who wished for a giant war fleet in the wishing well a while back gets his turn against the Hulk with help from a captured She-Hulk and A-Bomb (Bruce Banner's cousin and best friend) who he poisons curing them of their Hulk-ability. As Arm'cheddon continues his assault he pushes the Hulk too far threatening Betty Ross (the Red She-Hulk) and leading the Hulk to kill mercilessly. Damn.
+2
#623
As Umar, lover of the Hulk and leader of the Dark Dimension steps up to bat against the Hulk, she takes him home with her ending the battle of monsters. With the Hulk as her consort she begins her conquest of the Dark Dimension but Amadeus Cho, professional Hulk fan has issues especially since Betty Ross got pulled in. Teaming up with Monica Rappaccini, Scientist Supreme (meaning she comes with sour cream and tomatoes) the world's foremost poison expert and scientist, they create a portal to send Dr. Strange, Cho and a cured (Rappaccini dealt with the poison) Jennifer Walters (formerly the She-Hulk) in after him only to find the world's magic gone and Tyrannus and Red She-Hulk bringing the ruckus. The conclusion is coming closer and it will be titanic.
+2
Journey Into Mystery #625
Oh man. So Loki is setting up a deal so Hel (of the Norse Hell) and Mephisto (of normal Hell) will team up and fight the Serpent. And Loki all the while is this little asshole who is too smart for his own good until you remember his looks are deceiving and then he kills himself to go to Limbo on his Hell Hound. The art, writing and everything else about this are fantastic.
+2
Moon Knight #3
So Marc Spector's brief history as a television producer is delved into and it is okay. It is just Marc Spector is a pretty big asshole here with the whole dressing up like Bullseye thing. And I just don't care for Echo who has a tv that can translate phone calls to text because she is deaf. Seriously I don't get how they can't fix her hearing. Moon Knight does very little for me which is sad because I wanted to really like Moon Knight. When I re-up my subs I don't think this will be on the list.
-1
Mystery Men #3
As the General gets closer to awakening his master, the Mystery Men meet some new friends in the form of The Surgeon, a surgeon burnt in a fire but left with an aftertaste...for revenge and Achilles, the archeologist hired by the General to retrieve Achille's bracelet. When the General's attempt to kill the Archeologist goes south, the bracelet takes over turning the Archeologist into Achilles. As Nix, the General's god rises though, time is running out for the Mystery Men.
+1
The New Avengers #14
Gonna drop some truth on everyone. Before I watched the new Avengers cartoon I had no idea who Mockingbird was so her almost death meant nothing to me. She came back though pumped up with super-soldier juice (ewww) just in time to see Spider-man leaving the New Avengers and for Sin to launch an assault. The issue meant more knowing and somewhat caring who Mockingbird was and I don't know, it was enjoyable and not much else to say.
+1
Spider-Girl #8
By my estimation it has been about 4 or 5 months since the last Spider-girl and with this being the conclusion of her own series, it was too long. Raven, the evil American Ninja wielding group gets beaten by the newly repowered Spider-girl, Spider-man and Red Hulk avenging her father's murder and saving the day in time for Spider-Island. This is sort of melancholy-ish for me since I really loved the series and I wish it could have run longer but it wasn't meant to be sadly.
+2
Thunderbolts #160
As the Thunderbolts B-team plans to escape, A-team goes after the hammer powered Juggernaut who is ready for a fight. Unfortunately Satanna causes Man-Thing to poof away into Fearsome Four territory so she sends in Ghost (the cybernetic man) into Juggernaut in a sort of psychic Egyptian hierogylpic landscape where they see the Juggernaut controlled by the Serpent while keeping the power of Cyttorak in check. The Serpent then casts them out of the psyche and the comic ends with a bang. Great art, great story and dialogue. Oh man this is just such an awesome book to read. If you need a new comic, pick up Thunderbolts.
+2
Ultimate Fallout #1
I am actually tearing up over this issue, it hit me that hard. The city mourns Peter Parker's death in their own way as the truth comes out. When it comes to Aunt May meeting a child who Spider-man had saved though and the two of them hug, I honestly lost it. Macho points were lost but damn this was good.
+2
(I will get 2 and 3 in a week or so, my LCBS was sold out of it.)
Uncanny X-force #12
After getting stranded in the Age of Apocalypse, the remaining survivors and the X-force team up to get the Life Seeds, the one items capable of stopping Apocalypse once and for all - and the only way to save Archangel. The problem is Jean Grey and Wolverine are getting a little too close, the Sentinels found them and the team sent to stop the big base ran into The Black Legion who may be the best alternate world villains ever including Grimm Chamber (Ben Grimm + Chamber - the mutant who is a furnace inside), White Cloak (who seems to be Cloak and Dagger), Iron Ghost (Ghost Rider in the Iron Man Armor), Zombie Sentry (self explanatory), The Blob, Orange Hulk, Manphibian, Beta Red and Demon-Ock. Oh, and the alternate universe Wolverine. Snap!
+2
Venom #4-5
#4
As Venom races against the clock and Spider-man to save Betty and stop the vibranium shipment Venom's grudge with Spider-man and the return of Jack O'Lantern spice things up with bombs and distractions resulting in Spider-man saving Betty and Flash Thompson feeling resentment towards Spider-man, perhaps leading to some shared feelings with the Symbiote....
+1
#5
From the battlefield returns the warrior to find that his home is not as it was left and his experience in the war has darkened his vision. Before Flash can reconnect with Betty, he's called to find his father, the driving force behind Flash Thompson, the unappeasable father archetype. Flash is confronted with where his anger can lead and it sobered by it before being called off once more to serve his country. Also he fought the Human Fly in a classic Venom in the bell tower battle. All together really solid.
+2
And that is all of the Marvel with the point total at +42. Wheeeew. Day 2 finished at 4:37 am.
DC
Batman Inc #7
Man-Of-Bats and Raven, the Native American Batman Inc team get their time to shine both by having a light cast on them and creating a large back history through artifacts and connections. The comic has some fun ideas in it and I do like the Bats cave but the entire feeling over the issue seemed muddled to me. Is it supposed to be joking or what. I enjoyed it but it felt middling compared to what something more focused might have been.
+1
Flashpoint #3
So I like alternate universe stories and Flashpoint does some neat stuff but it does it poorly. Exposition heavy at times, the characters sort of lack much personality and feel like they are being dragged along. Also the Flash has to electrocute himself a second time in what is a really stupid comic. Seriously ugh. I do like Superman though as the emaciated and captured alien kept from the sun but the series doesn't really change anything, especially since after this the entire universe will change. Why not have people dying? Why not do more? Not bad but lacking courage and fun.
+0
Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2
Frankenstein and his creature friends escape from the clutches of General Lane only for him to chase them down with G.I Robot and the granddaughter of their commander who had died trying to save them With grudges and parties at each other, Frankenstein discovers his next destination in Romania just in time to get surrounded. As the the creatures fight Lane's men and defeat them a new threat enters - Frankenstein's wife. Overall not as good as the first one (due to lack of Hitler killing) but still major fun.
+2
Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries
If this title wasn't a one shot it could be one of the best Flashpoint stories out there. Oliver Queen, commonly the Green Arrow is in the business of converting supervillain tech into weapons. The problem is he doesn't keep track well, his factories get attacked and people want revenge. The common people. When his base is assaulted by a mysterious intruder intent on bringing his evils (that he isn't aware of to light) Queen is hit with his legacy - the fact that he is hurting people and by meeting his daughter. The story is compact, fun and action pact like an Iron Man story and honestly, I wouldn't mind the real Green Arrow doing this.
+2
Flashpoint: Project Superman #1
A super soldier that loses humanity. That is the idea behind Project Superman. Neil Sinclair is a willing test subject in General Lane's race to make an American superhero but a disconnection from humanity and the beginning of omnipotence causes him to be feared and put on ice, seen more as a danger than a savior. The transformation and growth of powers and even the use is creatively done effectively putting you in his shoes. I need to remember to get the next issues of the series when they come out.
+2
Superman #713
Clark Kent decides Superman needs to go away and become a hidden crime fighter. The on;y thing that stops him - one of Superman's fans who reminds Clark and Superman why the world needs him. Superman does what is right for people. He defends them above all. He doesn't attempt to control anything and ultimately he cares. That is what Superman should be doing and should know in the depths of his heart. This is what the real Superman and all true heroes should know. This is what Chris Roberson shows and this is why he should have been given full command over the relaunch. Superman is the hero that makes me want to do more in my life, to be a better person and the fact that Chris Roberson can tell a good story at the same time - well that is just icing on the cake.
+2
Superman/Batman #86
If you recall I really didn't like the last issue of Superman/Batman but this one got it right. They totally absolved Batman of doing anything wrong, reminded Superman that Batman is ultimately good and dealt with the whole embezzling thing. When Batman takes tech from Wayne it is covered by insurance which is also owned by Bruce Wayne who then returns the money. The twist comes that it seems that the Joker killed the reporter and is about to try and kill Clark Kent. Oh man!
+1
Xombi #4 and #5
Xombi is a story that would do really well as a trade with everything collected and while I don't remember everything going on, there are giant floating immortal space cities and seriously, pick up the book. It is a bit confusing with breaks between releases but seriously, pick it up or wait for the trade (since DC is canceling the series after the reboot).
+2/+2
Zatanna #15
When a group of witch hunters target and mute Zatanna so she can't fully cast spells she has to use her other powers - intelligence and strength to save herself. I like the issue because Zatanna would totally be a character who would be prepared for this sort of thing. I mean not being able to use magic. Things did go macabre though when she sent the witch hunters back to Salem where they were burnt at the stake. No wonder Batman can't love you! Besides that though, this was another fun issue.
+1
DC Total - +15
Third Party Books
Hellboy: The Fury #2
As Hellboy faces the beast (I forget which one and it is late so I won't go searching) Alice goes to find out what is happening ( a bunch of witches commit suicide to escape torture). It's the apocalypse and Ragnarok all in one big Hellboy package!
+1
The Li'l Depressed Boy #5
After finding out the girl he liked and thought he was dating was actually dating someone else, LDB needed someone to lean on in the form of his friend Drew. As they hang out and trying to ignore the problems things look a little better until Drew gets arrested leaving LDB stranded out in the middle of a long highway with nowhere to go.
+1
The Sixth Gun #13
A train robbery of the corpse of the still undead General Hume, the low down dog too evil for the evil, conducted by servants of his wife who hired a necromancer to send a group of train robbing undead and a mummy to get his corpse and the 5 guns currently held by Drake Sinclair and Becky Montcrief. Big shiny train fights, plenty of shooting all rendered in wonderful color. Yes! This is a comic you should catch up with immediately. Don't let the train pass you by.
+2
Third Part Total - +4
Day 3 finished at 3:04 am.
For the totals, that is
Marvel: +42 with with 32 titles.
DC: +15 with 10 titles.
TPB: +4 with three titles.
Next week - regular review schedule.
Showing posts with label image. Show all posts
Showing posts with label image. Show all posts
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
ROUND 21: Comics For June 29, 2011 Vacation Edition
Welcome to week 1 of Vacation Comics-Athon. When I met the effluvious (not a real word) Rusty Shackles I ended up grabbing an issue I was looking for of the Rocketeer Adventures and I stopped off at the wonderful Laughing Ogre Comics in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday and along with a new Transmetropolitan volume and the Nextwave complete TPB I got a few comics I'd not seen before.
Back Rack, Meshach and Abendnego
Rocketeer Adventures #2
I will repeat that if I am aware that there is an attractive Betty Page-ish girl in a book, I will be more likely to buy it. It is the same rule that got me to finally get a copy of The Spirit #14 reviewed in Round 15 that I bought for similar reasons. So far my belief that Betty Page look-alikes in comics mean quality has stood up. The new Rocketeer Adventures is a fun blast of nostalgia with wildly different stories, brassy dames and wonderful art. And everything requires little knowledge of the world or setting so you can pick up these books.
Favorite Comic
Score: +2
Gladstone's School For World Conquerors
I like supervillains and I too have desired to conquer the world. Gladstone's is a place I would like to go fully of interesting and bright characters, storylines that are shaping up to something and a fun environment. If I had kids I'd give them this book and if I weren't going to get visited by the police I'd hand this book out to kids on the street. The book is a lot of fun so hook up a younger reader.
Score: +1
The Sandman Presents Petrefax
Petrefax came from that Sandman story World's End where he decided to leave his master to explore the worlds and this story follows the young mortician on his journey. The problem is the journey is full of tropes with confusing characters and really a lack of wonderment leaving it a very dry story, at least for me. While I found the characters interesting nothing ever felt vital or at risk and the 100 pages quickly became a bore to read through. It lacks the fun or magic of Gaiman but it is far from horrible. In the end like a corpse it is very dry.
Score: +0
Hulk-Sized Mini-Hulks
I decided to try another kids book this week because I'd see the Mini-Hulks back up feature and decided to give it a try. HSMH left me without much enjoyment. The jokes follow a painfully dull format. While it is a gag a day style strip, that in no way means it has to be dull. What could be an enjoyable book just feels like a newspaper strip with better printing qualities. I'd not give this to a kid.
Score: -1
The Spirit #14
This may be my favorite single issue ever. I reviewed it twice, I've kept on rereading it. It is a great issue of comics. BUY IT! BUY IT! BUY IT!
Score: + All The Points
IDW: +2
Veritgo: +0
Image: +1
Marvel: -1
DC: + All The Points
...and then DC got all the points for the week. See you next week internet when I pick up some comics with Joe Hunter of Changeling and then I yell at him I guess.
Back Rack, Meshach and Abendnego
Rocketeer Adventures #2
I will repeat that if I am aware that there is an attractive Betty Page-ish girl in a book, I will be more likely to buy it. It is the same rule that got me to finally get a copy of The Spirit #14 reviewed in Round 15 that I bought for similar reasons. So far my belief that Betty Page look-alikes in comics mean quality has stood up. The new Rocketeer Adventures is a fun blast of nostalgia with wildly different stories, brassy dames and wonderful art. And everything requires little knowledge of the world or setting so you can pick up these books.
Favorite Comic
Score: +2
Gladstone's School For World Conquerors
I like supervillains and I too have desired to conquer the world. Gladstone's is a place I would like to go fully of interesting and bright characters, storylines that are shaping up to something and a fun environment. If I had kids I'd give them this book and if I weren't going to get visited by the police I'd hand this book out to kids on the street. The book is a lot of fun so hook up a younger reader.
Score: +1
The Sandman Presents Petrefax
Petrefax came from that Sandman story World's End where he decided to leave his master to explore the worlds and this story follows the young mortician on his journey. The problem is the journey is full of tropes with confusing characters and really a lack of wonderment leaving it a very dry story, at least for me. While I found the characters interesting nothing ever felt vital or at risk and the 100 pages quickly became a bore to read through. It lacks the fun or magic of Gaiman but it is far from horrible. In the end like a corpse it is very dry.
Score: +0
Hulk-Sized Mini-Hulks
I decided to try another kids book this week because I'd see the Mini-Hulks back up feature and decided to give it a try. HSMH left me without much enjoyment. The jokes follow a painfully dull format. While it is a gag a day style strip, that in no way means it has to be dull. What could be an enjoyable book just feels like a newspaper strip with better printing qualities. I'd not give this to a kid.
Score: -1
The Spirit #14
This may be my favorite single issue ever. I reviewed it twice, I've kept on rereading it. It is a great issue of comics. BUY IT! BUY IT! BUY IT!
Score: + All The Points
IDW: +2
Veritgo: +0
Image: +1
Marvel: -1
DC: + All The Points
...and then DC got all the points for the week. See you next week internet when I pick up some comics with Joe Hunter of Changeling and then I yell at him I guess.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
ROUND 17: Comics For June 15, 2011
Sorry for the lateness DC Versus Marvels, I was in the semi-final Finals Crisis. The next two weeks might be shaky as I am on break but let's talk about some comics. And then check out my new web comic Changeling.
No images this week since it is almost 3 and I am pooped.
Since I no longer can read stuff off of the racks, I present my new old issue series:
Back Rack, Meshach and Abendnego
Ghost Rider 0.1
I have no familiarity with Ghost Rider besides the movie and the Deadpool Team-Up. I know he rides a motorcycle and he has a flaming skull and he kills all the demons. Other than that I believe his name is Jonathan Ghostriderson, his bike is a ghost - thus he is the Ghost Rider.
In this issue Point One that came out a week or so ago, Jonathan Ghostriderson makes a deal with a stranger so he can stop riding on ghosts. And Jonathan is like "ok" so he drives SO FAST that he turns into a normal human. And then the show a last Ghost Rider because skelebone tits sell comics.
In all seriousness though, I have a problem with heroes giving up powers and especially Jonathan Ghostriderson. I mean he got his powers from the Devil and I don't think the Devil likes regifting. And I don't understand from this issue why Jonathan Ghostriderson gives up his powers. This ain't an introduction - it's just an exiting point. Point one. BAM!
Score: -1
MADMAN: ALL-NEW GIANT-SIZE SUPER GINCHY SPECIAL!
So Niles got this a while ago but when I rode all the way out to the store again to get Superman that didn't actually come out, I picked up this series.
I read the first collection of Madman back at work, loved it but never got to the other volumes and yet I was fine jumping into the special which contains 4 super fun stories. Pick it up.
Score: +2 Best Comic (Old)
Fear Itself: Alpha Flight #1
I know little about Alpha Flight except they die a lot and they are Canadian and the Fear Itself tie-in doesn't work as well if you are not as up to date with their current history and who died and who is on whoms side. I don't know. The comic didn't sit well with me despite my Pak and Van Lente fandom. Too much inner politics and character stuff I am not familiar with. I picked up the series because of the team and I felt let down.
Score: +1
Hulk #35
So last time Red Hulk, Rulk/Thunderbolt Ross, crashlanded on an alien planet, was forced to be a gladiator and the Planet Hulked in a single issue and became the king. This issue faces him off against the enemy king while a super destructive robot searches for the Red Hulk for revenge. Then as the Rulk destroys the enermy rival king with advanced war tactics, Rulk is pulled off the planet by a Watcher. Apparently the entire plan was to trap the robot in a time loop that could only be caused by Planet Hulk happening again and... seriously Jeff Parker, this felt life a weird let down, not to mention confusing.
Score: +1
Batman/Superman #85
After a miniseries with Superman and Batman as magic future wizards it can be a tough act to follow. The first issue of the Secret is not a strong following act. I understand not everything needs to follow in town with comics but a series where Batman and Superman are fighting over secret identities and jobs and Batman making a mistake I have issues. I mean, the story starts with the reader being forced to question whether or not Batman killed someone - Batman the man who does not kill! And apparently Bruce is screwing over investors and Superman is trying to do the right thing. I love that the book has Superman using his powers and using them in fun ways but the rest of the comic sits with me wrong.
Score: -1
Avengers Academy #15
Fear Itself visits the Avengers Academy! Hank Pym tries to keep the students out of harms way only for the government to put them right back in it. Avengers Academy continues to be my favorite book and it is an easy pick for this week's Best Comic.
Score: +2
Double Flashpoint: Legion of Doom/Grodd of War
I don't know. Legion of Doom I got for the pin and out of hopes it would be good. Grodd of War I got because it was a book about a talking evil gorilla. Neither were good or intelligent or entertaining. I just put them as one title to cut down on DC's point loss.
Score: -1
Justice League: Sacked
It is a comic where football players in Hawaii team up with the Justice League to fight Black Manta and Oceanmaster to protect their Subway. And it is like 8 pages long. And it made those Flashpoint comics readable. If this were a real comic it might be my favorite because it is about footballers fighting supervillains for Subway.
Score: +1
Dungeons and Dragons #8
I feel old when my common comics complaint is I forget what is happening in the issues and storyline. The group ends up in the Feywild, they help a gnome, the gnome betrays them and then the gnomes get attacked and some elf guy is after his daughter. It meant nothing much too me. Going to reread during break.
Score: +0
Avengers #14
Rulk Vs Hammer Possessed Ben Grimm! It is a battle for the Bronx and all of New York as the Crimson Crusher faces the Ever-hating Red Eyed Hammer Possessed Thing! Plenty of action! Plenty of cracking and it brings down the entire house and possibly the Rulk!
Favorite Comic!
+2
DC: - 1
IDW: +0
Image: +2
Marvel: +3
It was a weak week for comics all around. Nothing struck me all that well especially after a few weeks of really good comics. Ennngh. Maybe today will be better. Be back later internets!
No images this week since it is almost 3 and I am pooped.
Since I no longer can read stuff off of the racks, I present my new old issue series:
Back Rack, Meshach and Abendnego
Ghost Rider 0.1
I have no familiarity with Ghost Rider besides the movie and the Deadpool Team-Up. I know he rides a motorcycle and he has a flaming skull and he kills all the demons. Other than that I believe his name is Jonathan Ghostriderson, his bike is a ghost - thus he is the Ghost Rider.
In this issue Point One that came out a week or so ago, Jonathan Ghostriderson makes a deal with a stranger so he can stop riding on ghosts. And Jonathan is like "ok" so he drives SO FAST that he turns into a normal human. And then the show a last Ghost Rider because skelebone tits sell comics.
In all seriousness though, I have a problem with heroes giving up powers and especially Jonathan Ghostriderson. I mean he got his powers from the Devil and I don't think the Devil likes regifting. And I don't understand from this issue why Jonathan Ghostriderson gives up his powers. This ain't an introduction - it's just an exiting point. Point one. BAM!
Score: -1
MADMAN: ALL-NEW GIANT-SIZE SUPER GINCHY SPECIAL!
So Niles got this a while ago but when I rode all the way out to the store again to get Superman that didn't actually come out, I picked up this series.
I read the first collection of Madman back at work, loved it but never got to the other volumes and yet I was fine jumping into the special which contains 4 super fun stories. Pick it up.
Score: +2 Best Comic (Old)
Fear Itself: Alpha Flight #1
I know little about Alpha Flight except they die a lot and they are Canadian and the Fear Itself tie-in doesn't work as well if you are not as up to date with their current history and who died and who is on whoms side. I don't know. The comic didn't sit well with me despite my Pak and Van Lente fandom. Too much inner politics and character stuff I am not familiar with. I picked up the series because of the team and I felt let down.
Score: +1
Hulk #35
So last time Red Hulk, Rulk/Thunderbolt Ross, crashlanded on an alien planet, was forced to be a gladiator and the Planet Hulked in a single issue and became the king. This issue faces him off against the enemy king while a super destructive robot searches for the Red Hulk for revenge. Then as the Rulk destroys the enermy rival king with advanced war tactics, Rulk is pulled off the planet by a Watcher. Apparently the entire plan was to trap the robot in a time loop that could only be caused by Planet Hulk happening again and... seriously Jeff Parker, this felt life a weird let down, not to mention confusing.
Score: +1
Batman/Superman #85
After a miniseries with Superman and Batman as magic future wizards it can be a tough act to follow. The first issue of the Secret is not a strong following act. I understand not everything needs to follow in town with comics but a series where Batman and Superman are fighting over secret identities and jobs and Batman making a mistake I have issues. I mean, the story starts with the reader being forced to question whether or not Batman killed someone - Batman the man who does not kill! And apparently Bruce is screwing over investors and Superman is trying to do the right thing. I love that the book has Superman using his powers and using them in fun ways but the rest of the comic sits with me wrong.
Score: -1
Avengers Academy #15
Fear Itself visits the Avengers Academy! Hank Pym tries to keep the students out of harms way only for the government to put them right back in it. Avengers Academy continues to be my favorite book and it is an easy pick for this week's Best Comic.
Score: +2
Double Flashpoint: Legion of Doom/Grodd of War
I don't know. Legion of Doom I got for the pin and out of hopes it would be good. Grodd of War I got because it was a book about a talking evil gorilla. Neither were good or intelligent or entertaining. I just put them as one title to cut down on DC's point loss.
Score: -1
Justice League: Sacked
It is a comic where football players in Hawaii team up with the Justice League to fight Black Manta and Oceanmaster to protect their Subway. And it is like 8 pages long. And it made those Flashpoint comics readable. If this were a real comic it might be my favorite because it is about footballers fighting supervillains for Subway.
Score: +1
Dungeons and Dragons #8
I feel old when my common comics complaint is I forget what is happening in the issues and storyline. The group ends up in the Feywild, they help a gnome, the gnome betrays them and then the gnomes get attacked and some elf guy is after his daughter. It meant nothing much too me. Going to reread during break.
Score: +0
Avengers #14
Rulk Vs Hammer Possessed Ben Grimm! It is a battle for the Bronx and all of New York as the Crimson Crusher faces the Ever-hating Red Eyed Hammer Possessed Thing! Plenty of action! Plenty of cracking and it brings down the entire house and possibly the Rulk!
Favorite Comic!
+2
DC: - 1
IDW: +0
Image: +2
Marvel: +3
It was a weak week for comics all around. Nothing struck me all that well especially after a few weeks of really good comics. Ennngh. Maybe today will be better. Be back later internets!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
ROUNDS 14 & 16: New Comics Reviews for May 25 & June 1, 2011
Seriously, you guys, I don't know how this blog would survive without Luke. Not only is he keeping up with the current weeks comics, he's doing it on time and he's doing it with style. Let's all make the sound of one hand clapping for the guy.
I, on the other hand, am charmingly and fashionably late. I have not one, but two weeks worth of comics I should have read and reviewed long ago. I'm giving you the super condensed version this time, along with an apology, because I've just got too much else that I have to write and I don't think it'll hurt too many people's feelings if I assign this blog as the lowest on the priority chain.
But, so that I'm not giving you nothing but apologies, here's the list of what I picked up:
May 25
American Vampire #15
Captain America #618
Detective Comics #877
FF #4
Secret Warriors #27
Uncanny X-Men #537
The Walking Dead #85
Xombi #3
June 1
Batman Beyond #6
iZombie #14
S.H.I.E.L.D. (v2) #1
Sweet Tooth #22
Uncanny X-Force #11
X-Factor #220
Absolutely everything I read was really, really good so it all gets a score of +1, but my favorites were FF #4 and Xombi #3 for the week of May 25, and iZombie #14 and Uncanny X-Force #11 for June 1. They were amazing and get scores of +2.
Again, sorry for the lack of content. On the bright side, my being too busy to post for the last couple weeks means that there's going to be new music very soon from my rap group The Remnant and my good friend Adam WarRock and myself. So stay tuned for that. Also, a big thanks goes to Luke, who is keeping this blog up to date with new reviews every week. Make sure you check out his webcomic, Socialfist. Also, check out the webcomic Let's Be Friends Again, because Curt and Chris are good dudes and their comic is the best.
Thanks for sticking with me, all. New reviews soon. I promise!
I, on the other hand, am charmingly and fashionably late. I have not one, but two weeks worth of comics I should have read and reviewed long ago. I'm giving you the super condensed version this time, along with an apology, because I've just got too much else that I have to write and I don't think it'll hurt too many people's feelings if I assign this blog as the lowest on the priority chain.
But, so that I'm not giving you nothing but apologies, here's the list of what I picked up:
May 25
American Vampire #15
Captain America #618
Detective Comics #877
FF #4
Secret Warriors #27
Uncanny X-Men #537
The Walking Dead #85
Xombi #3
June 1
Batman Beyond #6
iZombie #14
S.H.I.E.L.D. (v2) #1
Sweet Tooth #22
Uncanny X-Force #11
X-Factor #220
Absolutely everything I read was really, really good so it all gets a score of +1, but my favorites were FF #4 and Xombi #3 for the week of May 25, and iZombie #14 and Uncanny X-Force #11 for June 1. They were amazing and get scores of +2.
Again, sorry for the lack of content. On the bright side, my being too busy to post for the last couple weeks means that there's going to be new music very soon from my rap group The Remnant and my good friend Adam WarRock and myself. So stay tuned for that. Also, a big thanks goes to Luke, who is keeping this blog up to date with new reviews every week. Make sure you check out his webcomic, Socialfist. Also, check out the webcomic Let's Be Friends Again, because Curt and Chris are good dudes and their comic is the best.
Thanks for sticking with me, all. New reviews soon. I promise!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
ROUND TEN: New(ish) Comics for May 18, 2011
I could make an excuse for why these reviews are two weeks late, but I won't. I'd rather jump straight into reviewing some comics. In the interest of getting these done as quickly as possible I'm going to do another lightning round.
Here's what I bought two weeks ago.
X-Factor #219
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #158
Zatanna #13
Supergirl #64
Uncanny X-Force #10
Fables #105
Power Girl #24
Booster Gold #44
Superman/Batman #84
Deadpool Max #8
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7
Li'l Depressed Boy #4
Generation Hope #7
In case you didn't know it already, don't ever... evereverevereverevereverEVER mess with Monet. Also, there hasn't been a bad issue of this comic since it started, so... yeah.
SCORE: +1
Another series that hasn't ever had a bad issue, this one builds up to the final (?) showdown between Peter Parker and Norman Osborne. All the hype built up around the Death of Spider-Man storyline definitely works in this issue's favor, as the last panel is a cliffhanger that leans in a very specific direction. And it's not a good one. For Peter, that is. It's a good one for readers.
SCORE: +1
Brother Night is back and I'm a little surprised to find myself looking forward to what's going to happen. It doesn't hurt that Jamal Igle's art is kind of awesome. The news of DC's relaunch is a bitter pill to swallow with regards to books like this that have been consistently enjoyable.
SCORE: +1
This issue wraps up what should have been Nick Spencer's first arc and I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to be remembered (if at all): The Supergirl arc that Nick Spencer wrote a little of. The best part of this issue is that Kelly Sue DeConnick will be writing it next month. It wasn't awful, though.
SCORE: 0
I still need to catch up to this issue so no review. Sorry.
SCORE: ???
When two wind gods get together there's gonna be a whole lot of talk in the air and that's exactly what happens in this issue. Bigby and his father the North Wind have a long talk. It's a good thing this is Fables and that's exactly what this series does well.
SCORE: +1
Somebody who wrote a better review of this issue gave it a middling score because of the way it jumps around. I find that I agree with that review.
SCORE: 0
I like everything about this book. The writing and dialog are snappy and the art is stylish and has a sense of quickness to it. Kieron Gillen's and Salvador Espin have a good thing going here, and this is another solid issue.
SCORE: +1
I wrote a whole thing over at Luke's site, socialfist.com, about how much we all suck for letting this book get cancelled and reading this issue just makes it even more sucky that it's not going on past issue #12. This book is AMAZING. Read it now before everyone else figures out what they're missing and it becomes the trendy thing to do.
SCORE: +1
I'm still not caught up with this series so I didn't read this issue, either.
SCORE: ???
This isn't a spoiler anymore for two reasons: 1) it's two weeks old, so if you haven't read it by now that's your own fault, and 2) issue #11 just came out this week (making it three or four issues in a row this book has come out every two weeks) and the gang is going to the Age of Apocalypse. I have a theory regarding this book, that Rick Remender is taking everything that was terrible about 90s Marvel Comics and making it awesome. More on this later.
SCORE: +1
This was such an easy choice for Best Comic Book of the Week. Pretty much everything I read this week was really good, but this was way ahead of the pack. It's a bit heavy handed, but in the right way, if that makes any sense. Basically, it's going to make you angry because anger is the only decent and human response to the things that happen in this issue. The fill-in artist, Hendry Prasetya does a pretty fantastic Sami Basri impression, too. Just really well done all around.
SCORE: +2
Oh, man. How could a comic book called "The Li'l Depressed Boy" be this good? Does that make me a bad person? Or worse; a hipster? I don't even care. LDB is super fun even when it demolishes you like this issue did to me. This is My Favorite Comic Book of the Week.
SCORE: +2
Good gentlepeople, let us tally the scores, shall we? RESULTS!
Marvel: 5
DC: 3
Image: 2
Vertigo: 1
That was actually closer than I thought it would be. If I would just hurry up and get caught up on all my series DC might not have perished along with Image and Vertigo when their spaceship crashed landed on Earth, forcing them to seek out one worthy to carry on the mantle of Green Lantern.
Thanks for reading, everyone!
Here's what I bought two weeks ago.
X-Factor #219
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #158
Zatanna #13
Supergirl #64
Uncanny X-Force #10
Fables #105
Power Girl #24
Booster Gold #44
Superman/Batman #84
Deadpool Max #8
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7
Li'l Depressed Boy #4
Generation Hope #7
In case you didn't know it already, don't ever... evereverevereverevereverEVER mess with Monet. Also, there hasn't been a bad issue of this comic since it started, so... yeah.SCORE: +1
Another series that hasn't ever had a bad issue, this one builds up to the final (?) showdown between Peter Parker and Norman Osborne. All the hype built up around the Death of Spider-Man storyline definitely works in this issue's favor, as the last panel is a cliffhanger that leans in a very specific direction. And it's not a good one. For Peter, that is. It's a good one for readers.SCORE: +1
Brother Night is back and I'm a little surprised to find myself looking forward to what's going to happen. It doesn't hurt that Jamal Igle's art is kind of awesome. The news of DC's relaunch is a bitter pill to swallow with regards to books like this that have been consistently enjoyable.SCORE: +1
This issue wraps up what should have been Nick Spencer's first arc and I'm pretty sure that's how it's going to be remembered (if at all): The Supergirl arc that Nick Spencer wrote a little of. The best part of this issue is that Kelly Sue DeConnick will be writing it next month. It wasn't awful, though.SCORE: 0
I still need to catch up to this issue so no review. Sorry.SCORE: ???
When two wind gods get together there's gonna be a whole lot of talk in the air and that's exactly what happens in this issue. Bigby and his father the North Wind have a long talk. It's a good thing this is Fables and that's exactly what this series does well.SCORE: +1
Somebody who wrote a better review of this issue gave it a middling score because of the way it jumps around. I find that I agree with that review.SCORE: 0
I like everything about this book. The writing and dialog are snappy and the art is stylish and has a sense of quickness to it. Kieron Gillen's and Salvador Espin have a good thing going here, and this is another solid issue.SCORE: +1
I wrote a whole thing over at Luke's site, socialfist.com, about how much we all suck for letting this book get cancelled and reading this issue just makes it even more sucky that it's not going on past issue #12. This book is AMAZING. Read it now before everyone else figures out what they're missing and it becomes the trendy thing to do.SCORE: +1
I'm still not caught up with this series so I didn't read this issue, either.SCORE: ???
This isn't a spoiler anymore for two reasons: 1) it's two weeks old, so if you haven't read it by now that's your own fault, and 2) issue #11 just came out this week (making it three or four issues in a row this book has come out every two weeks) and the gang is going to the Age of Apocalypse. I have a theory regarding this book, that Rick Remender is taking everything that was terrible about 90s Marvel Comics and making it awesome. More on this later.SCORE: +1
This was such an easy choice for Best Comic Book of the Week. Pretty much everything I read this week was really good, but this was way ahead of the pack. It's a bit heavy handed, but in the right way, if that makes any sense. Basically, it's going to make you angry because anger is the only decent and human response to the things that happen in this issue. The fill-in artist, Hendry Prasetya does a pretty fantastic Sami Basri impression, too. Just really well done all around.SCORE: +2
Oh, man. How could a comic book called "The Li'l Depressed Boy" be this good? Does that make me a bad person? Or worse; a hipster? I don't even care. LDB is super fun even when it demolishes you like this issue did to me. This is My Favorite Comic Book of the Week.SCORE: +2
Good gentlepeople, let us tally the scores, shall we? RESULTS!
Marvel: 5
DC: 3
Image: 2
Vertigo: 1
That was actually closer than I thought it would be. If I would just hurry up and get caught up on all my series DC might not have perished along with Image and Vertigo when their spaceship crashed landed on Earth, forcing them to seek out one worthy to carry on the mantle of Green Lantern.
Thanks for reading, everyone!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
ROUND NINE: Comics For May 18, 2011
Oh man, another Wednesday another day of new comics. This is a good week for comics as well. A lot of fun stuff to read. A lot of powerful comics and not a negative or zero rank in site. Read on of comic fanatic. (Also, there are no off the shelf reviews this week, expect those next week!) Also I add in another feature because I just do - Dollar Deal$!
Blast From The Past (Weekly) Review:
Arkham City #1
I appreciate the desire to create multiple forms of advertising for a game and I respect that DC is creating a pretty quality book to lead up into Arkham City. I never played Arkham Asylum as a devout non-current-gen-console-haver but I like the idea and it apparently was a great game.
I do have a problem though when multiple forms of advertising end up spoiling each other.
Arkham City starts off reviewing the end of the Joker in the game and his waiting for death. Meanwhile the mayor is struggling to regain control while a mysterious doctor orders him.
A pair of twins who go by the name T and T are also taking Venom, the monster-making super drug. Batman tries to find out who is behind this, who gave them the drug and who is organizing the plan.
We know who did it though. The first teaser videos revealed it months ago. Wikipedia had the information. I'll politely leave out the name but it bothers me that the mystery is spoiled to those readers who are excited about the game.
The art itself is pretty great and the writing works but having the big mystery spoiler sits wrong with me.
Score: +1
Dollar Deal$:
A lot of comic companies are reprinting famous issues every week to get people hooked on older issues. This week we feature:
Orc Stain #1
I am a big fan of Orc Stain despite the slow release schedule. Image sent out a bunch of $1 reprints of Orc Stain #1 and it is glorious to read. It is like an immature barbarian fantasy comic colored with rainbow sherbert with a healthy dose of Superjail thrown in there. Do yourself a favor, check out #1, if you like it
Score: +1
Off The Racks:
Thunderbolts #157
Thunderbolts is a pretty great series and it involves fighting monsters so it should have been a great week for me. The Thunderbolts (the government supported team of supervillains doing good for shorter prison times) have been fighting an evil wizard with the help of Satana, Daughter of Satan (or whomever it was retconned to). Things go ary though when a demon spider awakens the fears in everyone and we see the characters and what they truly fear. When it comes to supervillains and it is done in a serious light this is an amazingly humanizing thing to have happen. My only problem is the resolution where the Juggernaut fears too much that Luke Cage, Power Man and leader of the team, wants to give him the boot. This apparently causes Cage to actually let him go. I do want to give the last issue a reread because right now this seems like it may be something they did to turn Juggernaut into a villain for Fear Itself (where we've already seen him get a hammer).We also see the start of the new lineup which has replaced Juggernaut with Mr. Hyde, the psychotic muscular villain with a death switch in his head and no care for his teammates. Group Dynamics!
Score: +1
Superman/Batman #84
Superman is magic and has a sword and Batman has a dragon. The conclusion to the Sorcerer Kings arc is pretty enjoyable. My complaint though is that it doesn't reach some of the fun magical stuff the other chapters got to and I fear that Klarion the Witch Boy getting a time shifting device from the future wont be used after this arc (it won't as far as I know). Overall though this was a great arc for me to start Superman/Batman with. When this comes out in a trade I suggest picking it up.
Score: +1
Li'l Depressed Boy #4
Oh man, I feel incredibly sad after reading this issue. It really hit me hard. I mean wow, this was like someone setting Mjolnir on your chest and leaving you trapped on the Rainbow Bridge. (I really want to see Thor again.)
Best Comic Of The Week
Score: +2
Hulk #33
I picked up Hulk a few months ago and man, it is great. They've been working on creating the Red Hulk's squad of enemies including Zero/One, a woman who is now a living computer program, and Black Fog, Zero/One's former childhood boogeyman (since he was a serial killer) who has been turned into an immortal killing machine. Oh, and if Red Hulk falls asleep nanobots will kill him. FIGHT!
Score: +1
Heroes For HIre #7
Remember when I commented I found Spider-man really annoying in the last issue of Heroes For Hire? The writing for this chapter is much better. I like Spider-man again. Also Spider-man fights Batroc, dinosaurs and soldiers with "damnunition" - demonic bullets. Thank you Heroes For Hire, thank you!
Score: +1
Herc #3
Herc is a comic about a god who lost his powers, works as a bartender and has a magic armory. Herc 3 is a comic where supervillains break out of The Raft (supervillain prison) and quote The Beastie Boys. Herc continues to be my favorite series right now. Seriously pick it up and start reading.
Favorite Comic Of The Week
Score: +2
Avengers Academy #14
This week's comic list seems to be themed around taking blows. The Avengers Academy still giddy after taking on Korvac, semi omnipotent god type guy, face off against the Sinister Six. They get swiftly beaten. It hurts for everyone, not just the reader. You know how you always think - if I had super powers I'd be able to beat these bad guys? This is what would happen in real life. It is sad, harrowing and a great issue. (if not for my love of Herc, this would get a +2)
Score: +1
Uncanny X-force #10
Remember how I was disappointed with the last issue? Bam, onto bigger and better things! Archangel, the evil side of Angel, is taking over again and the Shadow King sent pictures of the X-force not only existing but also killing soldiers. Archangel finds out, kills one person and then Wolverine is forced to stop him. The X-force realize the only way to save Archangel is to find someone who knows Apocalypse and the only true survivor... is Dark Beast. Bum bum bum! Even though the series continues to Apocalypse central, I like this idea of there being an inescapable end, that no matter what they do there will be an Apocalypse. Quality storytelling though I did miss the regular artist.
Score: +1
Amazing Spider-Man #661
Dan Slott took a break this week and unfortunately it shows. I do like a lot of Gage's other work and I like the premise and the inclusion of the Avengers Academy but something felt lacking. Spider-Man decides to take a break to return to teaching and ends up filling in at the Avengers Academy where his origin is succinctly
ripped apart by the students. I particularly loved how much thought they put into how Spider-man could have continued doing more good as a wrestler. The team heads out on patrol only to be accosted by Psycho Man and forced under his thrall. My one complaint is that this seems like a much more immature Avenger's Academy. They don't work as well as a team, they don't show respect and they don't get along. I do look forward to the next arc though and the back up comic is pretty great as well.
Score: +1
Ultimate Spider-Man #158
The clock winds down for Peter Parker as he copes with a gun shot wound. Meanwhile the remaining Sinister 5 show up at Peter Parker's house to find Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) and Bobby Frost (Ice Man). It is an action heavy issue and is overall pretty good. I just wish we weren't publicly counting down to Spider-man's death so the lead up would be more of a surprise.
Score: +1
Scores!
Marvel +9 (Favorite Comic Of The Week - Herc #3)
DC +2
Image +3 (Best Comic Of The Week - Li'l Depressed Boy #4)
Marvel continues to lead for me but I bought more Marvel than DC series so it is to be expected. Maybe Niles and I need to add up an average out scores.
Also, I am kind of hoping to see Li'l Depressed Herc now. Internet, get to it!
And maybe I need to make a competitive site for www.comiclist.com. Seriously that site is just ugh in soooo many ways.
Blast From The Past (Weekly) Review:
Arkham City #1
I appreciate the desire to create multiple forms of advertising for a game and I respect that DC is creating a pretty quality book to lead up into Arkham City. I never played Arkham Asylum as a devout non-current-gen-console-haver but I like the idea and it apparently was a great game.
I do have a problem though when multiple forms of advertising end up spoiling each other.
Arkham City starts off reviewing the end of the Joker in the game and his waiting for death. Meanwhile the mayor is struggling to regain control while a mysterious doctor orders him.
A pair of twins who go by the name T and T are also taking Venom, the monster-making super drug. Batman tries to find out who is behind this, who gave them the drug and who is organizing the plan.
We know who did it though. The first teaser videos revealed it months ago. Wikipedia had the information. I'll politely leave out the name but it bothers me that the mystery is spoiled to those readers who are excited about the game.
The art itself is pretty great and the writing works but having the big mystery spoiler sits wrong with me.
Score: +1
Dollar Deal$:
A lot of comic companies are reprinting famous issues every week to get people hooked on older issues. This week we feature:
Orc Stain #1
I am a big fan of Orc Stain despite the slow release schedule. Image sent out a bunch of $1 reprints of Orc Stain #1 and it is glorious to read. It is like an immature barbarian fantasy comic colored with rainbow sherbert with a healthy dose of Superjail thrown in there. Do yourself a favor, check out #1, if you like it
Score: +1
Off The Racks:
Thunderbolts #157
Thunderbolts is a pretty great series and it involves fighting monsters so it should have been a great week for me. The Thunderbolts (the government supported team of supervillains doing good for shorter prison times) have been fighting an evil wizard with the help of Satana, Daughter of Satan (or whomever it was retconned to). Things go ary though when a demon spider awakens the fears in everyone and we see the characters and what they truly fear. When it comes to supervillains and it is done in a serious light this is an amazingly humanizing thing to have happen. My only problem is the resolution where the Juggernaut fears too much that Luke Cage, Power Man and leader of the team, wants to give him the boot. This apparently causes Cage to actually let him go. I do want to give the last issue a reread because right now this seems like it may be something they did to turn Juggernaut into a villain for Fear Itself (where we've already seen him get a hammer).We also see the start of the new lineup which has replaced Juggernaut with Mr. Hyde, the psychotic muscular villain with a death switch in his head and no care for his teammates. Group Dynamics!
Score: +1
Superman/Batman #84
Superman is magic and has a sword and Batman has a dragon. The conclusion to the Sorcerer Kings arc is pretty enjoyable. My complaint though is that it doesn't reach some of the fun magical stuff the other chapters got to and I fear that Klarion the Witch Boy getting a time shifting device from the future wont be used after this arc (it won't as far as I know). Overall though this was a great arc for me to start Superman/Batman with. When this comes out in a trade I suggest picking it up.
Score: +1
Li'l Depressed Boy #4
Oh man, I feel incredibly sad after reading this issue. It really hit me hard. I mean wow, this was like someone setting Mjolnir on your chest and leaving you trapped on the Rainbow Bridge. (I really want to see Thor again.)
Best Comic Of The Week
Score: +2
Hulk #33
I picked up Hulk a few months ago and man, it is great. They've been working on creating the Red Hulk's squad of enemies including Zero/One, a woman who is now a living computer program, and Black Fog, Zero/One's former childhood boogeyman (since he was a serial killer) who has been turned into an immortal killing machine. Oh, and if Red Hulk falls asleep nanobots will kill him. FIGHT!
Score: +1
Heroes For HIre #7
Remember when I commented I found Spider-man really annoying in the last issue of Heroes For Hire? The writing for this chapter is much better. I like Spider-man again. Also Spider-man fights Batroc, dinosaurs and soldiers with "damnunition" - demonic bullets. Thank you Heroes For Hire, thank you!
Score: +1
Herc #3
Herc is a comic about a god who lost his powers, works as a bartender and has a magic armory. Herc 3 is a comic where supervillains break out of The Raft (supervillain prison) and quote The Beastie Boys. Herc continues to be my favorite series right now. Seriously pick it up and start reading.
Favorite Comic Of The Week
Score: +2
Avengers Academy #14
This week's comic list seems to be themed around taking blows. The Avengers Academy still giddy after taking on Korvac, semi omnipotent god type guy, face off against the Sinister Six. They get swiftly beaten. It hurts for everyone, not just the reader. You know how you always think - if I had super powers I'd be able to beat these bad guys? This is what would happen in real life. It is sad, harrowing and a great issue. (if not for my love of Herc, this would get a +2)
Score: +1
Uncanny X-force #10
Remember how I was disappointed with the last issue? Bam, onto bigger and better things! Archangel, the evil side of Angel, is taking over again and the Shadow King sent pictures of the X-force not only existing but also killing soldiers. Archangel finds out, kills one person and then Wolverine is forced to stop him. The X-force realize the only way to save Archangel is to find someone who knows Apocalypse and the only true survivor... is Dark Beast. Bum bum bum! Even though the series continues to Apocalypse central, I like this idea of there being an inescapable end, that no matter what they do there will be an Apocalypse. Quality storytelling though I did miss the regular artist.
Score: +1
Amazing Spider-Man #661
Dan Slott took a break this week and unfortunately it shows. I do like a lot of Gage's other work and I like the premise and the inclusion of the Avengers Academy but something felt lacking. Spider-Man decides to take a break to return to teaching and ends up filling in at the Avengers Academy where his origin is succinctly
ripped apart by the students. I particularly loved how much thought they put into how Spider-man could have continued doing more good as a wrestler. The team heads out on patrol only to be accosted by Psycho Man and forced under his thrall. My one complaint is that this seems like a much more immature Avenger's Academy. They don't work as well as a team, they don't show respect and they don't get along. I do look forward to the next arc though and the back up comic is pretty great as well.
Score: +1
Ultimate Spider-Man #158
The clock winds down for Peter Parker as he copes with a gun shot wound. Meanwhile the remaining Sinister 5 show up at Peter Parker's house to find Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) and Bobby Frost (Ice Man). It is an action heavy issue and is overall pretty good. I just wish we weren't publicly counting down to Spider-man's death so the lead up would be more of a surprise.
Score: +1
Scores!
Marvel +9 (Favorite Comic Of The Week - Herc #3)
DC +2
Image +3 (Best Comic Of The Week - Li'l Depressed Boy #4)
Marvel continues to lead for me but I bought more Marvel than DC series so it is to be expected. Maybe Niles and I need to add up an average out scores.
Also, I am kind of hoping to see Li'l Depressed Herc now. Internet, get to it!
And maybe I need to make a competitive site for www.comiclist.com. Seriously that site is just ugh in soooo many ways.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
ROUND EIGHT: Comics for May 11, 2011
Welcome one and all to my weekly review of the comics I bought! Every week I buy comics and then talk about them. Unfortunately, most of my friends are not readers of comics so there's only so much they can stand before they stop inviting me to parties. And now this blog is where I dump everything they can't understand.
Enough introduction... Here's what I bought this week:
FF #3
Batman, Incorporated #6
The Unwritten #25
Punisher Max #13
Daredevil: Reborn #4 of 4
Batgirl #21
Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #618
Chew #27
Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #4 of 6
Mega Man #1
Let's get judgemental!
Almost everything I bought this week was exceptional. Almost. So let's we get the worst of the week's book out of the way up front, shall we? Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #618 was a mess. Since David Liss took over writing the book and Black Panther took over Daredevil's role it's been wildly inconsistent, ranging from seven-face-kicks-in-one-issue awesomeness to not-quite-fan-fic terrible. This issue managed to be all of that without any actual face kicks. It wraps up the first arc in a flurry of unnecessary exposition of the sort where characters are explaining what they're doing as they do it. It's tough to read. But, and this is a "but" so big Too $hort wrote songs about it, the last page. Oh, the last page. Even after the trainwreck that this arc has been in parts, especially the end, the last page is perfect and makes me earnestly excited to read what comes next. The other big ol' but in this series is Francesco Francavilla. He's simply amazing and I will continue to buy this book for as long as he draws it. He's also the only reason this book didn't score a -1.
SCORE: 0
The other worst book of the week is Daredevil: Reborn #4 of 4. The best thing about this issue is that it's the last of the series. It's just not good. I'm not sure what happened. Andy Diggle is a good writer but from his first issue of Daredevil to this one, his run with the character just got worse with each new book. If you haven't already, don't buy this comic. The art is really good, but unlike Francavilla's Black Panther, Davide Gianfelice is not enough to save it. Did I say the art is really good? Because it's really good. His style reminds me a lot of Pasqual Ferry with sharper lines. But here's the thing: Matt Murdock does not look good rocking the beard-and-no-mustache look. Ugh.
SCORE: -1
SPOILER ALERT: Everything else I'm going to review was awesome. If you haven't bought these books already then you totally should.
FF #3 is great in the way that Jonathan Hickman's entire run on Fantastic Four/FF has been great. There's very little action, but it doesn't need fighting because Doctor Doom is inviting the smartest super villains in the Marvel Universe to the Baxter Building to figure out how to kill Reed Richards four times. That is objectively awesome. There is nothing you can say about that to make it any less than it is. And what it is is awesome. I mean, Doctor Doom literally sent out invitations.
SCORE: +1
In The Unwritten #25, Tom Taylor explodes out of the abstract concept of a novel into the real world via a glass of water. Other things happen as well, but I encourage you to read the previous sentence again. This book is fantastic and I would buy it every month just on the promise of getting another Mr. Bun/Pauly Bruckner issue once every year. But again, I encourage you to read the first sentence of this review.
SCORE: +1
Oops! I'm not all the way caught up with this series, so I can't review it yet. Sorry everyone. It's written by Chris Roberson, though, so I feel confident that it has earned its +1 score.
SCORE: +1
Chew #27 is a pretty ingenious idea come to fruition. The last issue to come out was #18 (it was awesome, btw) and instead of releasing issue #19 the series jumps ahead by a full year of publication to #27. Is the issue good? Well, yeah. It's Chew after all, but it still leaves all the questions from #18 unanswered while simultaneously posing a year's worth of new questions. As an exercise in making me want to keep reading, does it work? Yeah. It does. But the real question is does it make for good comics? Yeah. It does that, too.
SCORE: +1
This comic is the opening "cinematic" that you get when you wait to press start in the game. If you've ever played the games you already know everything that happens in this comic. There is literally nothing added to the story. There's no new twist on the formula. And that's exactly what it needed to be.
SCORE: +1
Look at this cover. Oh my god, it's beautiful. You can't see it on this image, but the cover for Batgirl #21 credits the art to Pere Perez. The wonderful surprise awaiting me when I opened the book was page after page of art by Dustin Nguyen. It's enough to make a fella swoon... Seriously, there hasn't been a less-than-great issue of Batgirl since Stephanie Brown took the mantle from Cassandra Cain and this one is no different. Batgirl faces the Reapers' next contestant, the Grey Ghost knows not what he does, Proxy makes a life changing decision, and Niles enjoys reading all of it.
SCORE: +1
Batman, Incorporated #6 is one of the best comic books I've ever read. It's perfect. It's just absolutely perfect on every level and from every angle. From Bruce Wayne's take on Voltaire's theology, to Batman: Message Board Troll, to "Welcome to Gotham.", to the very last page, this comic book is perfect. It's the fulfilled promise of the maximized potential of what a comic called "Batman, Incorporated" can be. If you haven't bought it already, go buy it now. If you already bought it, give your copy to someone who didn't and go buy it again. Look for this one at the Eisners next year for best single issue.
SCORE: +2
"Juxtaposition" is not a word I like to use very often. It's one of those words that, once you say it, it immediately makes people not want to be friends with you. Unfortunately, that's the name of the game in Punisher Max #13. This is My Favorite Comic Book of the Week because the juxtaposition works so marvelously well that I don't even care that I've now used the word "juxtaposition" twice. Three times. The issue picks up right where the last one left off, with Frank in prison and thinking back on the day he returned to the states after fighting in the Vietnam War. The Young Frank/Old Frank thing works so well because we realize that they're the exact same. Frank walking into his house for the first time is the same as Frank walking into the solitary confinement cell. This is my favorite issue of the book since the phenomenal Kingpin arc.
SCORE: +2
That's what I read this week, so what's say we see who lives and who dies...
Marvel: +2
DC: +3
Image: +1
Vertigo: +2
Archie: +1
Oh, man. DC and the rest of the publishers were at the park, just cold chillin' having a picnic when a mob war broke out and all of them except for DC were caught in the crossfire causing DC to swear revenge and begin a mission to eradicate crime by savagely murdering every criminal. I guess any week that two great Bat-books come out is a week where DC is going to win. It certainly didn't help Marvel that two really bad Daredevil-related books came out this week. Anyways, thanks for reading! See you next week!
Enough introduction... Here's what I bought this week:
FF #3
Batman, Incorporated #6
The Unwritten #25
Punisher Max #13
Daredevil: Reborn #4 of 4
Batgirl #21
Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #618
Chew #27
Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #4 of 6
Mega Man #1
Let's get judgemental!
Almost everything I bought this week was exceptional. Almost. So let's we get the worst of the week's book out of the way up front, shall we? Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #618 was a mess. Since David Liss took over writing the book and Black Panther took over Daredevil's role it's been wildly inconsistent, ranging from seven-face-kicks-in-one-issue awesomeness to not-quite-fan-fic terrible. This issue managed to be all of that without any actual face kicks. It wraps up the first arc in a flurry of unnecessary exposition of the sort where characters are explaining what they're doing as they do it. It's tough to read. But, and this is a "but" so big Too $hort wrote songs about it, the last page. Oh, the last page. Even after the trainwreck that this arc has been in parts, especially the end, the last page is perfect and makes me earnestly excited to read what comes next. The other big ol' but in this series is Francesco Francavilla. He's simply amazing and I will continue to buy this book for as long as he draws it. He's also the only reason this book didn't score a -1.SCORE: 0
The other worst book of the week is Daredevil: Reborn #4 of 4. The best thing about this issue is that it's the last of the series. It's just not good. I'm not sure what happened. Andy Diggle is a good writer but from his first issue of Daredevil to this one, his run with the character just got worse with each new book. If you haven't already, don't buy this comic. The art is really good, but unlike Francavilla's Black Panther, Davide Gianfelice is not enough to save it. Did I say the art is really good? Because it's really good. His style reminds me a lot of Pasqual Ferry with sharper lines. But here's the thing: Matt Murdock does not look good rocking the beard-and-no-mustache look. Ugh.SCORE: -1
SPOILER ALERT: Everything else I'm going to review was awesome. If you haven't bought these books already then you totally should.
FF #3 is great in the way that Jonathan Hickman's entire run on Fantastic Four/FF has been great. There's very little action, but it doesn't need fighting because Doctor Doom is inviting the smartest super villains in the Marvel Universe to the Baxter Building to figure out how to kill Reed Richards four times. That is objectively awesome. There is nothing you can say about that to make it any less than it is. And what it is is awesome. I mean, Doctor Doom literally sent out invitations.SCORE: +1
In The Unwritten #25, Tom Taylor explodes out of the abstract concept of a novel into the real world via a glass of water. Other things happen as well, but I encourage you to read the previous sentence again. This book is fantastic and I would buy it every month just on the promise of getting another Mr. Bun/Pauly Bruckner issue once every year. But again, I encourage you to read the first sentence of this review.SCORE: +1
Oops! I'm not all the way caught up with this series, so I can't review it yet. Sorry everyone. It's written by Chris Roberson, though, so I feel confident that it has earned its +1 score.SCORE: +1
Chew #27 is a pretty ingenious idea come to fruition. The last issue to come out was #18 (it was awesome, btw) and instead of releasing issue #19 the series jumps ahead by a full year of publication to #27. Is the issue good? Well, yeah. It's Chew after all, but it still leaves all the questions from #18 unanswered while simultaneously posing a year's worth of new questions. As an exercise in making me want to keep reading, does it work? Yeah. It does. But the real question is does it make for good comics? Yeah. It does that, too.SCORE: +1
This comic is the opening "cinematic" that you get when you wait to press start in the game. If you've ever played the games you already know everything that happens in this comic. There is literally nothing added to the story. There's no new twist on the formula. And that's exactly what it needed to be.SCORE: +1
Look at this cover. Oh my god, it's beautiful. You can't see it on this image, but the cover for Batgirl #21 credits the art to Pere Perez. The wonderful surprise awaiting me when I opened the book was page after page of art by Dustin Nguyen. It's enough to make a fella swoon... Seriously, there hasn't been a less-than-great issue of Batgirl since Stephanie Brown took the mantle from Cassandra Cain and this one is no different. Batgirl faces the Reapers' next contestant, the Grey Ghost knows not what he does, Proxy makes a life changing decision, and Niles enjoys reading all of it.SCORE: +1
Batman, Incorporated #6 is one of the best comic books I've ever read. It's perfect. It's just absolutely perfect on every level and from every angle. From Bruce Wayne's take on Voltaire's theology, to Batman: Message Board Troll, to "Welcome to Gotham.", to the very last page, this comic book is perfect. It's the fulfilled promise of the maximized potential of what a comic called "Batman, Incorporated" can be. If you haven't bought it already, go buy it now. If you already bought it, give your copy to someone who didn't and go buy it again. Look for this one at the Eisners next year for best single issue.SCORE: +2
"Juxtaposition" is not a word I like to use very often. It's one of those words that, once you say it, it immediately makes people not want to be friends with you. Unfortunately, that's the name of the game in Punisher Max #13. This is My Favorite Comic Book of the Week because the juxtaposition works so marvelously well that I don't even care that I've now used the word "juxtaposition" twice. Three times. The issue picks up right where the last one left off, with Frank in prison and thinking back on the day he returned to the states after fighting in the Vietnam War. The Young Frank/Old Frank thing works so well because we realize that they're the exact same. Frank walking into his house for the first time is the same as Frank walking into the solitary confinement cell. This is my favorite issue of the book since the phenomenal Kingpin arc.SCORE: +2
That's what I read this week, so what's say we see who lives and who dies...
Marvel: +2
DC: +3
Image: +1
Vertigo: +2
Archie: +1
Oh, man. DC and the rest of the publishers were at the park, just cold chillin' having a picnic when a mob war broke out and all of them except for DC were caught in the crossfire causing DC to swear revenge and begin a mission to eradicate crime by savagely murdering every criminal. I guess any week that two great Bat-books come out is a week where DC is going to win. It certainly didn't help Marvel that two really bad Daredevil-related books came out this week. Anyways, thanks for reading! See you next week!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
ROUND FIVE: Comics For May 4, 2011 - Luke
Hey There DC Vs Marvelers, Luke "Koltreg" the LBFA Intern and writer from the webcomic Socialfist reporting in. Were you aware that to make money I get paid to read comics? Ok, I don't really get paid just to read comics. I do have access to a comics though since I work there and you can't bag and board straight for 8 hours. I've tried and I started to become part of the Brood. I read a lot of comics and when I saw Niles doing this blog I decided to offer my hat. And then Niles gave me his hat and it got confusing because I lost my metaphorical hat and had his but there weren't any real hats and...
I'm just rambling now so let's just get on to comics reviews.
Annual Deadpool #1
The Secret Wars Annual series continues to hit it hot on the iron for me. This issue focuses on Deadpool meeting alternate Deadpool who is really Victor Von Doom and alternate Doom who is really Deadpool but with magic and evil and he had MODOK, Hammerhead, Kingpin and Bob as henchmen. Oh and Bruce Banner is the Sorcerer Supreme who banished the Hulk. The episode had me laughing and I ended up rereading it a few times (and this is Wednesday I am writing this).
Favorite Comic Of The Week. Score: +2
Avengers Academy Giant-Size #1
I'm a big fan of the Avengers Academy as well as Spider-girl who recently got chopped series wise so this special with Arcade was really enjoyable. Death traps, team up and romance?!? I really enjoyed this issue and I hope that Spider-Girl might find a family with one of these groups when her series ends.
Score: +1
Avengers Academy #13
More Avengers Academy that deals with stuff in a weird way since the 80 page special took place before the Korvac mini-arc. This issue deals with a dance for the supervillains and since the issue didn't focus on someone selling locker space for people to store coats, I have no idea if dances are like this. Drama breaks out, issues are resolved and Hank Pym gets it on making him a furry. Overall really enjoyable and everyone ends up covered in balls.
Score: +1
Weird Worlds #5
Originally I got the series to find out what the deal with Lobo is and I got knock off Swamp Thing and kinky space girl as bonuses. There's only one more issue left in the mini series and I am not sure how it will keep on going for some of the stories. The Lobo and Tanga bits are decent enough but having a guy whose nickname is Garbage Man who then becomes a man made out of garbage pushes it down a bit.
Score: +0
Heroes For Hire #6
The first arc of Heroes For Hire ended last week but the hunt to stop the drugs and such continues this week with Spider-man and Paladin teaming up. Drama occurs when Paladin reveals he is annoyed by Spider-man and his altruistic goodness as opposed to paladin working for money. I will confess though, Spider-man in this series is pretty annoying so I will side with Paladin.
Score: +0
Axe Cop #3
It has been pretty wonderful to get Axe Cop in print since it reads so much better this way and the coloring is wonderful. The story succinctly wraps up the mini-series but the ending left a bad taste in my mouth though I laughed which made it better.
Score: +1
Moon Knight #1
Niles/Tribe One/ the guy whose blog I am posting on got me into Moon Knight and sent me down a dark lonely road of hunting down toys and comics (thanks!) so when I heard Bendis was taking over I got excited. Then the ads came with Moon Knight being part Wolverine, Cap and Spider-man and I got worried. Then I got to the end and I was ecstatic and super pleased.
Score: +1
Fear Itself: Spider-man
I came in prepared to like the issue since I liked the first Fear Itself and Journey Into Mystery and I like Spider-man. This issue just stomped on my buzz though. Theres 5 concurrent stories running or so, three about people dealing with fear, 1 with Spider-man and then 1 with rats. Spider-man is freaking out and it is dismal and dreary and generally not enjoyable even in a masochistic sort of way.
Score: -1
Fear Itself #2
I've been looking forward to issue 2 and the story sets up well with Odin preparing for war and hammers dropping all over the world. The Hulk, Juggernaut, Titania and a few other people get hammers that seem to partially mind control them. Hulk is going totally berserk and The Juggernaut is full on evil which is sad since I've been enjoying his tenure on Thunderbolts as a reformed villain. Chances are though that at the end everything will be hunky dory.
And then Washington D.C. get attacked.
Score: +1
Uncanny X-force #9
Magneto knows about X-force so he has Wolverine kill a Nazi. The end. Not much team dynamics, since we see Magneto fighting them in the preview for 2 issues later it won't mean much. I will say though, I've been enjoying this series well enough that one off issue won't bug me. Niles is free to disagree on Wolverine and Nazi killing.
Score: +0
Herc #2
I've been reading through Incredible Hercules trades at work since hearing so much about it on War Rocket Ajax and I've been enjoying them. The fact that I get a new Herc series by the fathers of the new Herc, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, only strengthens the deal. Herc ends up fighting the Hobgoblin, wins the love of the people, saves the bar from the Kingpin and so much more. I am liking Herc's time away from Amadeus Cho and the fact that he is a bartender also intrigues me. Will he need to take the Bartender's Exam? Can he make a quality White Russian? I doubt these important questions will be answered unless I ask them on the Twitter. (According to Greg Pak, Herc is working as a dubiously legal bartender and he can absolutely make a White Russian.)
Best Comic Of The Week. Score + 2
So this week's scores were as follows
Marvel +7 with both Best and Favorite Comic Of The Week
DC +0
Dark Horse +1
It was pretty much a Marvel heavy week for me so they easily won. No Superman or Batman or Superman/Batman or even Brightest Day which I read for... it is free to read. I'm interested in Niles' thoughts on the comics and what his score is so we can then argue and lose our friendship over who was right and wrong (he was right, I was wrong but for the right reasons but only in an alternate dimension).
I'll see you all next week around Thursday.
I'm just rambling now so let's just get on to comics reviews.
Annual Deadpool #1
The Secret Wars Annual series continues to hit it hot on the iron for me. This issue focuses on Deadpool meeting alternate Deadpool who is really Victor Von Doom and alternate Doom who is really Deadpool but with magic and evil and he had MODOK, Hammerhead, Kingpin and Bob as henchmen. Oh and Bruce Banner is the Sorcerer Supreme who banished the Hulk. The episode had me laughing and I ended up rereading it a few times (and this is Wednesday I am writing this).
Favorite Comic Of The Week. Score: +2
Avengers Academy Giant-Size #1
I'm a big fan of the Avengers Academy as well as Spider-girl who recently got chopped series wise so this special with Arcade was really enjoyable. Death traps, team up and romance?!? I really enjoyed this issue and I hope that Spider-Girl might find a family with one of these groups when her series ends.
Score: +1
Avengers Academy #13
More Avengers Academy that deals with stuff in a weird way since the 80 page special took place before the Korvac mini-arc. This issue deals with a dance for the supervillains and since the issue didn't focus on someone selling locker space for people to store coats, I have no idea if dances are like this. Drama breaks out, issues are resolved and Hank Pym gets it on making him a furry. Overall really enjoyable and everyone ends up covered in balls.
Score: +1
Weird Worlds #5
Originally I got the series to find out what the deal with Lobo is and I got knock off Swamp Thing and kinky space girl as bonuses. There's only one more issue left in the mini series and I am not sure how it will keep on going for some of the stories. The Lobo and Tanga bits are decent enough but having a guy whose nickname is Garbage Man who then becomes a man made out of garbage pushes it down a bit.
Score: +0
Heroes For Hire #6
The first arc of Heroes For Hire ended last week but the hunt to stop the drugs and such continues this week with Spider-man and Paladin teaming up. Drama occurs when Paladin reveals he is annoyed by Spider-man and his altruistic goodness as opposed to paladin working for money. I will confess though, Spider-man in this series is pretty annoying so I will side with Paladin.
Score: +0
Axe Cop #3
It has been pretty wonderful to get Axe Cop in print since it reads so much better this way and the coloring is wonderful. The story succinctly wraps up the mini-series but the ending left a bad taste in my mouth though I laughed which made it better.
Score: +1
Moon Knight #1
Niles/Tribe One/ the guy whose blog I am posting on got me into Moon Knight and sent me down a dark lonely road of hunting down toys and comics (thanks!) so when I heard Bendis was taking over I got excited. Then the ads came with Moon Knight being part Wolverine, Cap and Spider-man and I got worried. Then I got to the end and I was ecstatic and super pleased.
Score: +1
Fear Itself: Spider-man
I came in prepared to like the issue since I liked the first Fear Itself and Journey Into Mystery and I like Spider-man. This issue just stomped on my buzz though. Theres 5 concurrent stories running or so, three about people dealing with fear, 1 with Spider-man and then 1 with rats. Spider-man is freaking out and it is dismal and dreary and generally not enjoyable even in a masochistic sort of way.
Score: -1
Fear Itself #2
I've been looking forward to issue 2 and the story sets up well with Odin preparing for war and hammers dropping all over the world. The Hulk, Juggernaut, Titania and a few other people get hammers that seem to partially mind control them. Hulk is going totally berserk and The Juggernaut is full on evil which is sad since I've been enjoying his tenure on Thunderbolts as a reformed villain. Chances are though that at the end everything will be hunky dory.
And then Washington D.C. get attacked.
Score: +1
Uncanny X-force #9
Magneto knows about X-force so he has Wolverine kill a Nazi. The end. Not much team dynamics, since we see Magneto fighting them in the preview for 2 issues later it won't mean much. I will say though, I've been enjoying this series well enough that one off issue won't bug me. Niles is free to disagree on Wolverine and Nazi killing.
Score: +0
Herc #2
I've been reading through Incredible Hercules trades at work since hearing so much about it on War Rocket Ajax and I've been enjoying them. The fact that I get a new Herc series by the fathers of the new Herc, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, only strengthens the deal. Herc ends up fighting the Hobgoblin, wins the love of the people, saves the bar from the Kingpin and so much more. I am liking Herc's time away from Amadeus Cho and the fact that he is a bartender also intrigues me. Will he need to take the Bartender's Exam? Can he make a quality White Russian? I doubt these important questions will be answered unless I ask them on the Twitter. (According to Greg Pak, Herc is working as a dubiously legal bartender and he can absolutely make a White Russian.)
Best Comic Of The Week. Score + 2
So this week's scores were as follows
Marvel +7 with both Best and Favorite Comic Of The Week
DC +0
Dark Horse +1
It was pretty much a Marvel heavy week for me so they easily won. No Superman or Batman or Superman/Batman or even Brightest Day which I read for... it is free to read. I'm interested in Niles' thoughts on the comics and what his score is so we can then argue and lose our friendship over who was right and wrong (he was right, I was wrong but for the right reasons but only in an alternate dimension).
I'll see you all next week around Thursday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)