The Comic Book Discussion Thread

[number8]

Lapham is one of the greats. You should check out Young Liars.

[Grouchy]

Read The Book of Genesis by Robert Crumb. Something of a masterpiece.

[Sven]

Lapham is one of the greats. You should check out Young Liars.

Got the first half. Waiting to collect the whole before digging in. Can't wait. I read the Detective Comics run he did, City of Crime, and it's on par with the best Bat stories I've read. Eloquent and horrific in equal parts. Almost unbearably tense; grimy poetry and fantastic intrigue.

[number8]

Got the first half. Waiting to collect the whole before digging in. Can't wait. I read the Detective Comics run he did, City of Crime, and it's on par with the best Bat stories I've read. Eloquent and horrific in equal parts. Almost unbearably tense; grimy poetry and fantastic intrigue.

Yeah, City of Crime is amazing. Basically a Stray Bullet story starring Bruce Wayne.

I think meg and EWO hate it, IIRC.

[Sven]

I think meg and EWO hate it, IIRC.

Friend I work with, despite being a Lapham fan, also does not like it. Totally baffling. He's kind of an elitist, though. Got me on some great books, no doubt, but he rejects nearly all of the Big 2's output sheerly on brand basis.

[EyesWideOpen]

I don't hate it I just don't think it's anything special.

[Sven]

I just don't think it's anything special.

I hesitate to press on, because I know how infrequently our ideas of Batman are synchronized, but this sentiment is genuinely head-scratching. The book is staggering--inarguably singular. The scope and prose alone put it well above the typical Batbook. Which is saying nothing about its illustrative prowess, ingenious concept (say what you will, its plot, mired in murder, mindwarps, and metaphysics, is so far from rote that it's almost a shame it was issued under the "Detective Comics" banner instead of being its own series), and impressive functionality as a comic book. Lapham's knack for collision and sequence, action and atmosphere, is, to put it mildly, intense. Saying it aint special is nerfing the jags and scrags and sweeping style that would define any artist's attempt to sidestep the generic. I mean... check it out!:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/iosos/Comic%20scans/dc-i801p7.jpg

What an intro! It's a beautiful, uncompromising portrait of a decaying city as much as it is a black odyssey of unanswerable mysteries.

[EyesWideOpen]

I haven't read it since it came out which was what 4 or 5 years now so I honestly couldn't remember much specifically to say about it. I remember the first half of it came out in Detective and then it was delayed so they had a few months worth of fill-in stories and then the second half came out. I remember that annoyed me.

[Acapelli]

i really love his deadpool max book

plus, incredible art by kyle baker

[megladon8]

Yeah, I kinda hated "City of Crime".

The book's first pages with all that "in the dark..." stuff were pretty bad, layering the oppressive, grimy-ness on so thick it almost becomes comical.

And I didn't think the book improved much from there. Actually, that was my main complaint with the book as a whole - I found Lapham tried way too hard to make it so dark, so gritty, so disturbing and nightmarish that it does the exact opposite, falling into near self parody.

Instead of feeling like a tragic tale of a city and its people rotting from the inside out, it felt like an over-written "Sin City" starring Batman.

[ledfloyd]

i agree with meg here. i really struggled getting through city of crime. it feels incredibly overwrought.

[Sven]

Umbrella Academy--okay. Ba introducing Risso to Mignola... crackling results, Dave Stewart mixing a mean fuckin' palette. Gerard's weirdnesses a little mechanical, but the amateurishness lends to it a palpable, fervent energy.

[Sven]

Gaiman/Romita Jr's Eternals. Read it years ago and didn't get it. Read it last night and didn't get it. Terrific art, big celestial stuff. But there is zero character, zero intrigue, the dense plotting mattering only to itself. And there are some surprisingly amateurish turns of narrative, where points are hit out of nowhere. A disappointment that I wish weren't.

[Sven]

i really love his deadpool max book

plus, incredible art by kyle baker

I got the two HCs gifted to me, which is awesome. On issue five now. It's terribly interesting.

[Sven]

Patrick Zircher is making me growl, he's so good.

[Sven]

Read Iron Man Extremis last night. For a landmark series, I found it entirely underwhelming, sadly. I was _really_ distracted that Stark was Tom Cruise. At least Larroca tweaks his photo references a little. And Granov's pages in general just felt kind of... empty. His Iron Man looks cool, and in the back of the Director's Cut issues, there is some great exploration of process. But the book was too minimal. Ellis script was okay, navigating his patented balancing act of high concept sci-fi, cinematic action sequences, and smartassery. But he didn't do much to explore many big ideas. Smart men make things go boom.

Five posts in a row!

[number8]

Yeah, I don't like Extremis all that much.

[megladon8]

I liked "Extremis" well enough. Not among Ellis' most tittilating work, but a good, fun action comic with gorgeous artwork.

And yeah, Tom Cruise Tony Stark is distracting in hindsight, but the story came out at the time when he was cast in the film.

But is it really any worse/different than Tommy Lee Jones Norman Osborn?

[Sven]

Ellis writes a gnarly Ultimate Tony Stark, though. Armor Wars is terrific, and Ultimate Human has tons of heart.

[megladon8]

Ellis writes a gnarly Ultimate Tony Stark, though. Armor Wars is terrific, and Ultimate Human has tons of heart.


Have you read "Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E."?

Great fun.

[Sven]

Have you read "Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E."?

Oh yes. It's one of the guaranteed hand sells at my store.

[number8]

First pieces of art from the Watchmen prequel minis.

Nite Owl book will be drawn by the Kuberts.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/watchmen-night-owl-625x985.jpg

The Comedian mini will be drawn by JG Jones.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/watchmen-comedian-625x948.jpg

The other two are said to be Rorschach by Darwyn Cooke and Silk Spectre by Amanda Conner.

[Sven]

Gotta admit: as wary as I am of the project, those are all just about the most perfect choices they could get. Do we know who's writing?

[megladon8]

While I maintain that "Watchmen" is overrated (read: still fantastic, but overrated nonetheless) I am interested in this book.

Particularly in the Darwyn Cooke Rorschach bit.

[Grouchy]

It's depressing that this is happening after all, but I'd be lying if I said I won't read it. I just won't pay for it.

[ledfloyd]

i usually find myself agreeing with cbr's year end lists. but this year they have paying for it, echo, congress of the animals and the walking dead all ranked #84 and up. locke & key is #69 and last of the innocent is just inside the top 40. i'm really curious to see what their top 5 will be come friday. it's obvious big numbers and habibi will be in the top 25, probably celluloid as well, and a few new 52 titles. other than that i'm kind of clueless. all the books i listed above are among the best i've read this year and i'm kind of shocked to see them burnt off so low.

[ledfloyd]

well, big questions, casanova, both of scott snyder's new 52 books, wonder woman, aquaman? and action comics showed up today.

also, apparently sevenarts isn't crazy and i need to read garden, and green river killer and anya's ghost are popping up on a lot of these lists. i should check those out at some point.

looks like daredevil and batwoman will make the top ten, can't remember if ultimate spider man has showed up yet or not, animal man still hasn't appeared either.

[sevenarts]

Not a bad list so far. Lots of my favorites appear lower than I would've placed them, but it's starting to look like Animal Man and Love & Rockets will be towards the top, so that's great. Surprised that Criminal and Ganges were so low.

Their list also reminds me that I forgot there was a pretty enjoyable Finder book this year. I love Carla Speed McNeil, she's such an interesting artist, quietly mining her own idiosyncratic universe.

And no, I'm not crazy hahaha. Yuichi Yokohama is one of the most unique and innovative artists in comics. His book Travel would have to be in my top 10-20 comics... ever. Garden is also excellent.

[sevenarts]

And the rest of the CBR list was pretty good. Love & Rockets (my own #1, easily), Batwoman, Animal Man, X-Force, and Snyder's Detective Comics are all great and well-deserving of even more attention.

Surprised to see Daredevil topping the list. I like it a lot but that seems a bit excessive. Maybe I'm just cooling on it slightly since the most recent issue was pretty weak. Still, it's a fantastic series and a really fresh take on the character.

[Sven]

CBR's editorial staff is in desperate need of razing. Most of those blurbs are embarrassing.

[number8]

Here's Amanda Conner. The only costume change so far.

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/659/amanda2t.jpg

[dreamdead]

Very Amanda Conner-ish, to be sure, but it's hard to reconcile her appearance (costume and colors) against the noirish world that Moore and Gibbons created. Almost has a Sandman (Jill Thompson) vibe, which is almost cool.

[megladon8]

I hope I'm not alone in thinking "Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne" is pretty ballin'.

Loving it.

[Sven]

It's wicked cool. I need to reread it, though--I've only had one go-through as it was coming out, and it's still pretty tangled in my mind. A recent re-read of the entirety of Batman Inc offered infinite dividends. My favorite issue is the Lee Garbett illustrated #6, Garbett being one of the better conventional illustrators, too unsung.

[megladon8]

More and more I'm loving writers and artists who aren't afraid to go a bit gonzo with their writing, particularly with characters like Batman and Superman of whom we've seen the same stories told over and over.

Morrison has done some pretty wild stuff with the Bat-verse since '08. Even the stuff that hasn't quite worked has been admirably ballsy.

[Sven]

My latest flavors have been David Lapham, as has been mentioned, and David Hine, who has an incredible knack for writing stories that linger. That reminds me, thought I'd holler to those in earshot my feelings of the overall excellence of the Radical Studios publishing house. Link:

http://radicalpublishing.com/

I have read five of their titles so far, and all five have been tremendous. Their focus seems to be science fiction with occultist slants propped with computer graphics, though Arthur Suydam's Cholly and Flytrap is refreshingly analogue in both style and appeal. I have read titles from Radical by Hine, Lapham, Pugh, and Peter Milligan and they are, in a word, stimulating. Highly recommended.

[number8]

How is it that Hickman can make FF and Fantastic Four so separately epic simultaneously? So awesome.

[Sven]

How is it that Hickman can make FF and Fantastic Four so separately epic simultaneously? So awesome.

You see that he's doing another Image book with Pitarra? The Manhattan Projects. Sounds just like a Hickman.

[Sven]

Been slowly picking at Spider-Man Noir which, I'm into the second book now, is very good. Also taking a break from the second Terror Inc MAX series to collect and read the first one. If it's half as good as its successor, and it ought to be w/Zircher on pencils, it'll be a new favorite.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Anyone here read Habibi?

[ledfloyd]

Anyone here read Habibi?
i did. it's thompson, so the impeccable draftsmanship goes without saying. the construction, integrating ornate arabic caligraphy and even incorporating islamic theory into the very form of the book, is mindblowing as well. i didn't connect with the story as immediately as i did blankets, even finding myself feeling somewhat detatched from it for long periods of time, but the emotional impact some of the climactic scenes had on me really took me by surprise. it snuck up on me if you will, and i realized i was a lot more invested in it than i thought i was. i haven't had a chance to revisit it yet but i'm curious to see how my experience with it will change. definitely one of the major works in comics last year and well worth reading.

[number8]

Cameron Stewart just answered my question for him on Reddit. Cool.


I'm always trying to improve everything but I really appreciate artists that can capture subtlety - one of the reasons I love Frank Quitely. Nuance in body language, expression, and design is something I want to improve, always.

I also struggle with drawing loosely and more expressively, rather than technical precision. My layouts are often very energetic and loose and I think I lose something when I tighten them up. I'm always terrified that if I do a drawing that isn't precise or clean, people will think I can't draw. Sin Titulo was an attempt to address this (although if you look carefully you can see the drawings become tighter over time) and I'm really going to draw BPRD: Exorcism loosely, in the vein of the amazing Guy Davis.

Some other great answers.


Yes, in the script the teachers were explicitly described as Madonna, Gaga, etc. In fact they were named "Miss Gaga, Miss Perry, etc" until the final script when they were given other names. We did run into a bit of legal stickiness, which is why Gaga's hair is red instead of the platinum blonde and Beyonce was deleted entirely!


It was just a weird mess - the issues were supposed to come out long before the reboot but were delayed for various internal reasons not worth speculating about. Then the reboot was rushed into play and suddenly I got a script but was told that it had to fit into the new 52 continuity, so Batgirl was now Spoiler. I drew the layouts with the Spoiler costume but then I was told that, after much debate, it was going to revert back to the original plan of using Batgirl. Fortunately my layouts are simple enough that it didn't require too much redrawing.

There was one crazy week when I was informed that the issues weren't going to be released at all, either combined or seperate, and they would instead be included as "bonus" material in the Batman Inc hardcover, but thank god they came to their senses and didn't do that.


I am 100% in support of digital comics. When I do buy comics these days, I always check to see if I can purchase it on my iPad first.

Piracy is, I think, first and foremost a service problem. I think Apple has proven quite conclusively that if you provide the goods cheaply and delivered efficiently, people will buy them. I think Louis CK and NIN/Radiohead have also demonstrated that providing content that's cheap and easy to procure will also sell instead of being pirated.

Services like Comixology are providing convenient delivery, but in many cases the prices are still too high. I have about a 50/50 chance of buying a 1.99 digital book. 2.99 and above, for a 22-page comic, is out of the question.
The comics industry is not in great shape, and I would rather that the publishers made some kind of concerted effort to actually exploit the potential of digital, which I think is significant, instead of creating awkward and inefficient compromises so as not to spook retailers. I don't want comic shops to close, I don't want anyone to lose their jobs or their livelihood, but in a cold, Darwinian sense, this is progress. Ford Model-Ts rolled off the assembly line and replaced the horse and buggy. MP3's replaced the CD. Technology evolves, and I think it is in everyone's interest to learn how to run with it instead of fighting it.


I think Grant likes working with me because I "get" him - I think I usually understand and share his influences and so am approaching the work from a similar mindset, and I think I can intuit what it is that he wants to see on the page. Some other artists maybe aren't on the same page and have a clash with their overall approach to the material. I can't really speculate on why some others don't work as well with him but it could be a combination of other external factors (Igor Kordey got a lot of shit for his New X-Men work but from my understanding he did a hero's job on it, drawing those books inhumanly fast to pick up the slack when the series fell far behind schedule). Some are also probably just "jobbing" artists - doing the work on time to earn a paycheck with no particular investment in the material. God knows I've been there.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

i did. it's thompson, so the impeccable draftsmanship goes without saying. the construction, integrating ornate arabic caligraphy and even incorporating islamic theory into the very form of the book, is mindblowing as well. i didn't connect with the story as immediately as i did blankets, even finding myself feeling somewhat detatched from it for long periods of time, but the emotional impact some of the climactic scenes had on me really took me by surprise. it snuck up on me if you will, and i realized i was a lot more invested in it than i thought i was. i haven't had a chance to revisit it yet but i'm curious to see how my experience with it will change. definitely one of the major works in comics last year and well worth reading.

Right on, I got it as a Christmas gift and am finally getting around to it this week. Looking greatly forward to it.

[number8]

Ennis is currently wrapping his series The Boys at Dynamite, and is returning to Marvel's The Punisher with a new MAX series illustrated by Goran Parlov that has yet to be publicly scheduled.

:eek:

[Sven]

:eek:

Whoawhoawhoa!

He's also apparently doing a new Shadow series at Dynamite, which could be groovy.

[number8]

Yeah I read that bit in an article about his Shadow.

[sevenarts]

I don't know, I feel like Ennis has probably said what he has to say with the Punisher, I'm not sure how much new he can bring to that at this point. Jason Aaron's current Max series is not bad but is pretty much just channeling the Ennis vibe anyway. Greg Rucka is the one who's currently doing something really exciting with his non-Max Punisher series, which is amazing.

On a related note, has anybody been reading the Boys? I feel like it's a lot of Ennis' worst impulses, just pure shock value, but I've still been reading it from the beginning and at this point I'm just waiting to see how he ends it. I never thought it was amazing but it used to at least entertain me, now I just find it kind of predictable and boring.

[Grouchy]

No, I love The Boys. Maybe it goes for shock value too often for some people, but it's a series about superheroes being rich assholes doing drugs and orgies 24/7. That's to be expected. I've read up to Herogasm, which is a bit of a low point after the awesomeness that came before, and I can't fucking wait to go further along with the story.

[number8]

I'm liking The Boys a lot more in this second half of the run after it got a lot more serious and more about politics than superhero debauchery. Then again, I've always preferred Ennis' serious side to his humor.

I gotta say, though, the Hughie and Butcher minis were both leagues better than the main series.

[Dukefrukem]

can someone here comment on Elephantmen? I downloaded issue #1 and it seemed kinda neat. Wondering if i should continue with it or not.

If not, can you recommend something for me? I need something other than Walking Dead (which is really getting good lately).

[sevenarts]

I gotta say, though, the Hughie and Butcher minis were both leagues better than the main series.

The Butcher mini was so damn boring and predictable. The Hughie one was not bad, though.

[sevenarts]

If not, can you recommend something for me? I need something other than Walking Dead (which is really getting good lately).

Loving Walking Dead lately, this whole community storyline is fantastic. The series has been going on so long that it's pretty much taken for granted now but Kirkman has been killing it.

I haven't read Elephantmen, but if you want new ongoings to follow, you can't go wrong with the current runs of Uncanny X-Force, Punisher (the Greg Rucka-written one), Animal Man, and Rachel Rising.

[Dukefrukem]

Loving Walking Dead lately, this whole community storyline is fantastic. The series has been going on so long that it's pretty much taken for granted now but Kirkman has been killing it.

I haven't read Elephantmen, but if you want new ongoings to follow, you can't go wrong with the current runs of Uncanny X-Force, Punisher (the Greg Rucka-written one), Animal Man, and Rachel Rising.

The only reason I know about Elephantmen is because an issue was stuffed in between one of the digital copies of Walking Dead.

IS Rachel Rising fairly new? Looks like they’re on issue 4.

I’d also like to try some new DC stuff.

[sevenarts]

Yeah, Rachel Rising is a new series by Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, Echo). It's creepy mystery/horror, and really fantastic so far. Beautifully drawn too:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z43/sevenarts/comics/rachelrising02.jpg

The best DC series right now are Animal Man, Batwoman, Swamp Thing, Wonder Woman, Demon Knights, The Flash, All Star Western, and Batman, in roughly that order. There's another handful that I'm still reading and enjoying (I read the entire 52 titles for the first month and then trimmed it down from there) but those are the best ones.

[number8]

It's Terry Moore. Of course it's beautifully drawn.

[Dukefrukem]

Where do you guys typically get your comics from?

Couldn't find Rachel Rising so I picked up the new 52 of Animal Man. First issue wasn't very interesting IMO. Poorly written too.

Also for some reason Issue #93 of Walking Dead didn't download to my Kindle last night. :-/

[Sven]

... I picked up the new 52 of Animal Man. First issue wasn't very interesting IMO. Poorly written too.

Major rep for you.

[Dukefrukem]

Where do you guys typically get your comics from?


bump

[number8]

....The comic book store?

[Dukefrukem]

....The comic book store?

We don't have very many comic book stores around here. It also feels like you read more comics than it seems possible.

[number8]

I feel like you play more video games than it seems possible.

Seriously, though, it's my favorite hobby, more than movies, so I don't know. When I was a college student with no money of my own and had nothing to do, I would spend all day at the library or Borders (remember those?) reading trades.

I buy on average about 20 titles a month, maybe 25 when a miniseries is going on? Very easy to go through in that time.

[Dukefrukem]

Understood. Hey we still have Barnes & Noble, at least for the time being. I always felt their lounges were better than Borders.

So the three series I will be putting effort into are;

Batman
Elephantmen
Walking Dead

I still would like some input on the new DC 52. One or two more series would round out nicely.

[megladon8]

8 - could you give me some Star Wars comic recc's to check out?

[number8]

I don't follow any regularly. I just pick up random ones I've come across, or if I know who the writer/artist is. I've read some of the 80's Claremont ones from Marvel, which was meh, and a few of the Dark Horse series Star Wars Tales (which appealed to me because it's an anthology series and you get something different every issue, and you don't have to get every issue), and some manga, and some random collections I don't even remember were DH or Marvel. I remember there's a pretty good adaptation by Chris Sprouse of the Splinter of the Mind's Eye novel (if you don't know what that is, that's the novel published in '78 by Alan Dean Foster and Lucas that was intended to be the sequel to Star Wars, before Lucas decided to turn it into a trilogy). I probably haven't read that many all considering.

All of my favorites are from Star Wars Tales. The Vader vs Maul story was by Ron Marz. Garth Ennis was on two issues, one with a very Garth Ennis story of a Stormtrooper's boyhood and how he came to join the Empire, and the insane boot camp for it, and how regret all of it; and the other is the telling of that fateful card game where Lando lost the Falcon to Han. Another fun one was a story by W. Haden Blackman (who writes Batwoman now) about Han and Chewie crashing the Falcon in the jungle on Earth and later encountering Indy and Short Round. Sort of.

[Ezee E]

Duke, there's like five comic book stores in Metro Denver Colorado, and they are godawful. They are in weird areas, rundown, and not worth my time. I just do the online comics. I wouldn't collect them anyways. There's so many printed these days that I don't think there's any worth to them unless you have a varient.

[megladon8]

All of my favorites are from Star Wars Tales. The Vader vs Maul story was by Ron Marz. Garth Ennis was on two issues, one with a very Garth Ennis story of a Stormtrooper's boyhood and how he came to join the Empire, and the insane boot camp for it, and how regret all of it; and the other is the telling of that fateful card game where Lando lost the Falcon to Han. Another fun one was a story by W. Haden Blackman (who writes Batwoman now) about Han and Chewie crashing the Falcon in the jungle on Earth and later encountering Indy and Short Round. Sort of.


Wow, these are all from the "Star Wars Tales" title?

I gotta check that out. Sounds like a lot of fun.

[megladon8]

Duke, there's like five comic book stores in Metro Denver Colorado, and they are godawful. They are in weird areas, rundown, and not worth my time. I just do the online comics. I wouldn't collect them anyways. There's so many printed these days that I don't think there's any worth to them unless you have a varient.


Or unless you get the first five issues and all their variants, all signed by both the writer and artist.

/bragging

[Dukefrukem]

Duke, there's like five comic book stores in Metro Denver Colorado, and they are godawful. They are in weird areas, rundown, and not worth my time. I just do the online comics. I wouldn't collect them anyways. There's so many printed these days that I don't think there's any worth to them unless you have a varient.

Online comics?

I've been buying them on my Kindle but I think the issues are delayed. 8 says they're on Batman #5 but I can only get up to #3.... do they delay digital comics?

[number8]

It's officiaaaaaaaal.

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/01/dc-entertainment-officially-announces-%E2%80%9Cbefore-watchmen%E2%80%9D/


BEFORE WATCHMEN includes:

RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

[number8]

Here are the covers.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/before-watchmen-rorschach-300x220.jpg

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/before-watchmen-minutemen.jpg

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/before-watchmen-comedian.jpg

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/before-watchmen-dr-manhattan-625x960.jpg

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/before-watchmen-nite-owl.jpg

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/before-watchmen-ozymandias-625x960.jpg

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2012/01/31/Before-Watchmen-cover_156.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

Time to give Watchmen a re-read.

[dreamdead]

http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2010/11/1/20038320-a9a2-4a47-8d81-537d35764cf1.jpg

Dammit, Jim Lee. This is what's wrong with the industry:


“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”

And Moore's response (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/books/dc-comics-plans-prequels-to-watchmen-series.html?_r=2&ref=arts).

[Dukefrukem]

“I don’t want money, what I want is for this not to happen.”

Wow.

[number8]

Alan Moore must be sick of reporters constantly calling him to get quotes whenever WB/DC does something with his creation. He's been giving the same fucking answer for 15 years now.

[number8]

Brian Azzarello, a comics author who is writing the mini-series for the Watchmen characters Rorschach and the Comedian, said he expected an initial wave of resistance because “a lot of comic readers don’t like new things.”

LOL

[dreamdead]

LOL

Yeah, that quote made me giggle. Maybe he is bitter about Spaceman sales, and forgot how he's doing Wonder Woman and other un-new things. I like his work generally, but really would be interested to know if any creators were contacted and turned down the offer out of respect to Moore...

[Sven]

Had Watchmen been executed with the Charlton characters (who already possessed their own continuity) as originally desired, I doubt this would have come up. Similarly, I wonder if Moore gets annoyed when DC uses any of the other characters he's created. Not just big ones like Constantine, but supporting Corps members and the like.

[number8]

Had Watchmen been executed with the Charlton characters (who already possessed their own continuity) as originally desired, I doubt this would have come up.

Well, that would just mean that Watchmen would've been another story canceled out by Crisis, no? Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Question, etc. are still running around, and they all have newish origins that were established post-Crisis.


Similarly, I wonder if Moore gets annoyed when DC uses any of the other characters he's created. Not just big ones like Constantine, but supporting Corps members and the like.

I don't think so, because when you create a character under work-for-hire on an already established title, there's not really any grey area as to who owns them. DC has owned Green Lanterns for decades before Alan Moore made his contributions; he didn't have any delusions about owning Rot Lop Fan or Mogo. He was adding to an already rich universe. Of course, that didn't stop him from insulting Geoff Johns for rehashing his old story in Blackest Night.

He didn't have a problem with Hellblazer. In fact, he was offered the job, but didn't want it and recommended his friend Jamie Delano instead. He's also praised other people's runs on it, including:


"Judged by the stark, sure-footed portrait in Hard Time, Brian Azzarello and Richard Corben clearly have John Constantine down, cold and to the life. Azzarello's grasp of pacing, character and situation resonates through every scene with a black crystal clarity that's short of masterful, while Corben contributes what is, perhaps, one of the most darkly expressive pieces in a long, already-legendary career."

DC pasted that on the cover of one of the trades as a selling point. I'm sure he was mildly annoyed by being used as marketing.

The only time I've read him be dismissive about Constantine is when they made the movie and DC tried to give him money. He took his usual approach and told them to take his name off the film and split his share equally with Delano and the artists.

[Winston*]

“As far as I know,” he said, “there weren’t that many prequels or sequels to ‘Moby-Dick.’ ”
Well, you could kind of call League of Extraordinary Gentlemen one.

[Ezee E]

Online comics?

I've been buying them on my Kindle but I think the issues are delayed. 8 says they're on Batman #5 but I can only get up to #3.... do they delay digital comics?
Don't think so. Are you using the app? I just go to the website, and they are all there.

[Acapelli]

ugh, they should really go back to the old school bullet logo for these minis, it just doesn't look right with the new logo

[megladon8]

I think I would be less inclined to call Mr. Moore's reaction(s) "jerk-ish" if he didn't come across as so damn arrogant.

I still believe if he spent half as much time giving constructive input instead of holding onto 30 year old grudges - maybe even *gasp* taking part in and legitimizing some of these projects he hates so passionately - maybe he'd turn out, and in turn help others turn out, some really great work.

His ideal comic book industry is unattainable, and his reluctance to accept that is tiresome. Like countless other writers, filmmakers, musicians and artists of every ilk, he needs to learn to adapt to the way the industry works and make it work for him. Stop expecting everyone to change for you because you sit in the corner grumbling.

[Ezee E]

So, Leviathan Strikes one-shot. How many issues does that contain of Batman Inc?

[Sven]

So, Leviathan Strikes one-shot. How many issues does that contain of Batman Inc?

It's the last two issues, which were never released singly. The first half is "issue 9", the second half is the conclusion/segue into the new 52's Batman Incorporated, nee Batman Inc: Leviathan.

[megladon8]

So...wait...first I find out there are decent "Star Wars" comics, now I find out there are also some pretty great "Transformers" comics??

I feel like I've entered topsy turvy land.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Transformers. They're some of my favorite toys. And "Beast Wars" was a helluva show. But I never really thought they were a franchise that represented some bastion of incredible story telling.

Apparently some of the comics are pretty freaking' great.

I gotta get on top of these.

[number8]

Fuck yes, the Jae Lee GI Joe vs Transformers mini was a thing of beauty.

[Ivan Drago]

It's officiaaaaaaaal.

http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/01/dc-entertainment-officially-announces-%E2%80%9Cbefore-watchmen%E2%80%9D/

I. . .but. . .how. . .

This is like making a prequel to the Bible. Watchmen is so self-contained, what else could there be to tell?

[Dukefrukem]

Don't think so. Are you using the app? I just go to the website, and they are all there.

It's a bug. Gotta be. I downloaded the app on my phone and they all show up fine. So I can buy them through my phone and then it auto-syncs to my fire.

A little annoying, but at least I get same day releases...

[Grouchy]

taking part in and legitimizing some of these projects he hates so passionately
What? Why the fuck would he do that?

[number8]

Grouchy, if you've got an ex-girlfriend you were in an abusive relationship with for years who you finally dumped after she cheated on you and tried to frame you for rape, and even now, years later, your friends and family keep asking you how you feel about her, surely you realize that the best course of action is not to tell them that she's awful and you don't associate with her in any way anymore, but to go back to her, give her another chance and try to change her behavior? After all, most people are used to knowing you as her boyfriend anyway. Why fight it?

[Sven]

Zingeroonie. A bit strong, but point made. Also, I don't know how unattainable a fair, creative comics industry is, which is the only ideal I've heard Moore express. Seems only reasonable to not want to have to deal with leviathan publishing houses with a history of ridiculous, unjust business practices.

[megladon8]

So, what a second...there's a title called "Transformers: Infestation", which is basically Transformers vs. Cthulhu and the Elder Gods?

Why was I not informed of this?

EDIT: Looks like it's just "Infestation 2" that involves Cthulhu, and the other Infestation storyline was about zombies.

*sigh*

[Ezee E]

Read Batman Inc #1. If the series goes this route, I'll be reading the whole series. Great first issue.

[Sven]

Read Batman Inc #1. If the series goes this route, I'll be reading the whole series. Great first issue.

Radness, but I'd keep your expectations in check. By issue 5, the series becomes a massively tangled mystery, replete with experimental narrative technique and purposefully oblique sequences. That Japan opening, though, is ballin'.

[megladon8]

I really liked Batman giving Mr. Death to the Japanese government to be launched into space.

[number8]

Butch Guice's art on Winter Soldier #1 is gorgeous. Somebody smart gave him the perfect colorist.

[number8]

Frank motherfucking Quitely.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1327674007.jpg

[number8]

Oh shiiiiit.

Alan Moore said there will be a new LoEG comic after Century finishes. It stars Captain Nemo, it takes place in the 1920s, in Antractica, and that Lovecraftian myth will be a major part of it.

Pretty easy to guess what it is about, right?

[number8]

It's from this if anyone's interested. He chatted with fans online for two and a half hours.

http://vimeo.com/36211102

[Dead & Messed Up]

Oh shiiiiit.

Alan Moore said there will be a new LoEG comic after Century finishes. It stars Captain Nemo, it takes place in the 1920s, in Antractica, and that Lovecraftian myth will be a major part of it.

Pretty easy to guess what it is about, right?

Just read about this. I haven't read any League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. But I'm about to. Because fuck yes.

[dreamdead]

I suppose this news is cool and all, but since the series has thus far been about synthesizing a variety of British literary sources together and having fun with the postmodern play that that provides, why would he suddenly switch to an American "source text"?

I worry this is a narrative leftover from Neonomicon, which was fairly lackluster, and won't do much for the series...

[number8]

I suppose this news is cool and all, but since the series has thus far been about synthesizing a variety of British literary sources together and having fun with the postmodern play that that provides, why would he suddenly switch to an American "source text"?

I worry this is a narrative leftover from Neonomicon, which was fairly lackluster, and won't do much for the series...

It's never been strictly confined to British works. Captain Nemo was created by Jules Verne, who is French, after all.

LoEG Vol 2 took a lot from Edgar Rice Burroughs. The book even opened with John Carter. Then there's dozens of references to American characters in Black Dossier and Century.

I think it's more due to the side effect of most of the great classic sci-fi/adventure novels being British, rather than a conscious decision on Moore's part.

[Sven]

Only guarantee so far is that if it's Kevin O'Neill, I'm there.

[Acapelli]

just got this in the mail

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/9525/img20120206213059.jpg

i love mike allred so much

[Sven]

My mother in law has promised that book to me for Christmas. Hopefully I see it soon. I still haven't read any Madman, though, except for the three-issue Superman crossover, which I don't need to defend.

[number8]

http://i.imgur.com/Fg2VY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9AnJE.jpg

[Grouchy]

So cool.

[megladon8]

Read and really enjoyed "Terror, Inc." Probably the best thing I've read from Lapham so far, combining the tongue-in-cheek obscenity of Garth Ennis with the crazy fantasy/occult vibes of a Peter Milligan or Paul Cornell.

Loved the artwork, too.

Anyone else dig this character / series?

[number8]

Is that the MAX version?

[Sven]

Love Terror Inc. I made a post not too far back about it.

[megladon8]

Is that the MAX version?


I wasn't aware that there was a different one?

I thought it was just a MAX title.

[number8]

I wasn't aware that there was a different one?

I thought it was just a MAX title.

Terror/Shreck has been around since the 80's. He fought and teamed up with Ghost Rider and Wolverine and shit.

[number8]

Anyone a fan of Adventure Time? The new comic series that came out today is written by Ryan North. You know, of Dinosaur Comics. So awesome.

[EyesWideOpen]

Anyone a fan of Adventure Time? The new comic series that came out today is written by Ryan North. You know, of Dinosaur Comics. So awesome.

It's only the greatest cartoon ever created. I haven't bought a comic in almost a year now but I will buy this one.

[number8]

LOL look at this shitty pose.

http://i.newsarama.com/images/before_watchmen_rorschach_02.j pg

[sevenarts]

Reminds me of:
http://icanhasinternets.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/haters.gif

[megladon8]

Freaking "Severed".

Man, I have all the individual issues, but I'm totally buying the hardcover in April.

That was an awesome mini.

[dreamdead]

So is Fatale going to verge this close to cliche, or is it expanding and developing its world? I've only read #1, which is decent enough, but it feels like an amalgamation of lots of different noir series without any overt horror element yet.

[sevenarts]

Fatale is awesome so far. But then I would read any Brubaker/Phillips comic if only for the art. Issue #2 definitely makes the horror/supernatural elements a little more obvious than in the first issue, which played it straighter. So far, I don't know if it'll be as good as the best of Criminal, but it's certainly good. The Josephine character seems like she would've been right at home in Sleeper.

More stuff from this week and last:

The end of Severed was fantastic. So creepy. All the slow build-up definitely paid off in a big way.

The end of PunisherMAX was also quite good. I hadn't realized going in that it was the end of the series, so I was really taken by surprise. Makes sense in retrospect, though, it seems as though Aaron took this particular approach to the character as far as it would go. I'm kind of glad I can now focus totally on the very different tack that Greg Rucka is taking in the non-MAX Punisher.

Journey Into Mystery has been so much fun lately, the kid Loki character is great and now that Fear Itself is over Kieron Gillen has been freed up to tell his own stories about the continuing fallout, and it's really a blast.

The latest issue of Locke & Key, which finally reveals some of the history of these characters and previous generations, is one of the best yet. The last few miniseries of this have been so great, I can't believe it's getting so close to the end.

[number8]

Marvel's dick move of epic proportions. This makes Alan Moore's problem with DC's bastardizing of Watchmen seems small in comparison, but it's also exactly the reason why Moore hates the comic book industry.

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/09/ghost-rider-creator-lawsuit/


Gary Friedrich, the creator of Marvel Comics' demonic motorcyclist Ghost Rider, has been ordered by a judge to renounce his creator credit and pay $17,000 in damages to his former employer following a court battle that began in 2007 disputing legal ownership of the character.

...

As CBR sums up, in 2007 Friedrich sued Marvel and pretty much everyone else involved with the first Ghost Rider movie for using a character whose copyrights had allegedly reverted to him for his work on Marvel Spotlight #5 (Ghost Rider's first comic appearance) since Marvel failed to register the issue with the U.S. Copyright Office. Marvel countersued in 2010 and sought damages against Friedrich for selling Ghost Rider merchandise of his own creation to the tune of $17,000.

[number8]

Jesus Christ.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/walking-dead-war-creator-robert-288671


Robert Kirkman, the famed comic book writer who helped create AMC's hit zombie series The Walking Dead, has been sued by a childhood friend and collaborator who claims he is entitled to as much as half the proceeds from the lucrative franchise.

Michael Anthony ("Tony") Moore, a fellow comic book artist, filed suit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. In the complaint, a copy of which was obtained by THR, Moore says he was duped into assigning his interest in the material over to Kirkman, who has since gone on to fame and fortune. Moore, on the other hand, has received very little compensation and has not be able to access profit statements from properties including Walking Dead, he says.

[Acapelli]

So is Fatale going to verge this close to cliche, or is it expanding and developing its world? I've only read #1, which is decent enough, but it feels like an amalgamation of lots of different noir series without any overt horror element yet.
i don't understand your complaint?

are you looking for an outright horror series? because brubaker's/phillips thing is noir, and i don't think they'd want to blow their load so early by bringing the horror element to the forefront so quickly

[dreamdead]

i don't understand your complaint?

are you looking for an outright horror series? because brubaker's/phillips thing is noir, and i don't think they'd want to blow their load so early by bringing the horror element to the forefront so quickly

It just feels so classically noir that I felt no surprise in the first issue. And as someone who's not read any of the Brubaker/Phillips work, I expect to feel some sense of surprise or intrigue in the beginning, rather than giving it the benefit of the doubt and hanging around for several issues.

[Sven]

It just feels so classically noir that I felt no surprise in the first issue. And as someone who's not read any of the Brubaker/Phillips work, I expect to feel some sense of surprise or intrigue in the beginning, rather than giving it the benefit of the doubt and hanging around for several issues.

This was my complaint as well. I felt like every page hit a comfortable beat, with little beyond its genre formalism to entice. I'll probably check out the trade.

[Sven]

Kristen has not been too enthusiastic about many of the comics she has read, but she just finished the Milligan/Ormston book The Eaters and liked it tons.

[megladon8]

I'm really enjoying "Secret Six".

[megladon8]

This whole schtick of trades going out of print mere months after going in to print is getting really old.

[Watashi]

When does Runaways go downhill? After BKV left?

[Acapelli]

When does Runaways go downhill? After BKV left?
pretty much. wasn't a fan of whedon's run at all, but some people do like it

didn't really hear any good things about the terry moore run, but have about the kathryn immomen one

[EyesWideOpen]

When does Runaways go downhill? After BKV left?

Yep. Just stick with BKV's run. There is zero reason to read any of the rest.

[number8]

I know BKV intended for them to be around in the Marvel U, but I honestly think it should have been a standalone series. There's a reason why they're so sporadically used. Their purpose kind of disappeared after their initial story wrapped.

[number8]

Really interesting FastCompany article (http://www.fastcocreate.com/1679856/alan-moore-on-watchmen-s-toxic-cloud-and-creativity-v-big-business) about Before Watchmen that focuses a bit more on legalities. Most interesting bits:


More recently, Moore says some lawyers involved with another of his projects offered to review the Watchmen contract he’d signed nearly three decades earlier. “It was a nostalgic moment seeing it after all these years,” he says. “There was a clause that essentially said that, if in the future, there were any documents or contracts that I refused to sign, DC was entitled to appoint an attorney to sign them instead. [The lawyers] said it was the most creator-hostile contract they’d ever seen.

“I thought about it for a while--I could perhaps sue, although I suspect DC would be very comfortable with that,” Moore adds. “They have a whole battery of lawyers who could continue to fight this case for decades. And it’s not like I’m after money. It’s always been about the dignity and integrity of the work. I just want them not to do something. There’s no point in wasting resources for decades, when effectively, if there’s a legal case, I’d be prohibited from speaking about it, which DC is more worried about.”


“With these types of companies--meaning companies who deal extensively in creative product--much of a company’s value is based upon the intellectual property in hand, so they need to do everything they can to secure and protect those assets,” says Michael Lovitz, a Beverly Hills intellectual property attorney specializing in the comic book, gaming, and graphic-novel industries. “However, the concept of a creator retaining certain moral rights to their work is a very European perspective. That’s why they have a droit moral (moral rights) segment of the copyright law that grants the creator certain moral rights to their work with respect to artistic integrity and reputation, to not have things done to or with their work that they don’t want done. In Europe, even if you transfer all of your IP rights, you cannot transfer your moral rights. That is not something that is well-known or widely recognized in the U.S., and in fact was excluded from the revised U.S. Copyright Law, and thus does not have quite the same weight in the U.S. that it seems to have with European creators.”

I really think that a historical timeline documentary specifically about Alan Moore's relationship with DC Comics and Warner Bros since he left the company in the late 80's would be very, very interesting, at least to comic fans, and may help quell some of the misconceptions. His falling out with Dave Gibbons in itself is a very divisive issue.

[Sven]

Whoa. Kaare Andrews is supposed to be directing a Cabin Fever prequel. Interesting.

[Sven]

I'd resolved to drop The Incredible Hulk, but Aaron's talking about the next arc made me resolve to pick it right back up.


...The new arc will be a five issue story, relatively self contained with different artists. Aaron hinted each issue would see the Hulk in different locales. "All along the way, he has to stay angry in order to survive."

Aaron also spoke to his creative process with "PunisherMAX" collaborator Steve Dillon. "To have him jump on the Hulk is a crazy shift of gears. That's the kind of stuff that gets me excited. His issue is the Hulk story you could imagine Steve Dillon drawing," he said. Dillon's issue is like "Hulk wandering into an issue of 'The Preacher'" and will feature The Punisher. Other guest stars in the arc will include Wolverine, Kraven the Hunter and some new characters including "whacked out Mexican drug dealers, Atlantean mobsters, lots and lots of bigfoots [and] Russian super soldiers."

...

Aaron also likened "Stay Angry" to the "Crank" films. "Imagine if you took the 'Crank' movies and put the Hulk in them and every five minutes, cut a segment out of them. … That's what this is. I'm trying to make this the most frenetic and crazy thing I've ever written, just barreling ahead 90 miles per hour."

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37015

[number8]

That is a brilliant, brilliant idea.

[megladon8]

That does sound pretty great.

What issue does it start on?

[sevenarts]

That does sound good. The opening arc hasn't been too exciting, but now I'm looking forward to that. Aaron's doing some good work lately, between the fantastic conclusion to his PunisherMAX series and his addictively fun new Wolverine & The X-Men.

[number8]

How many of you read Dave Jonhson's cover blog?

[dreamdead]

I just googled it and read the write-ups. So much win in the criticisms; they reveal a lot about how little consistency there are in these designs.

I find the Jock Joker cover (his cover of 2011) a little boring, but that's me. The expertise demonstrated throughout it make it a highlight I'll have to bookmark.

[number8]

Cool. Yeah. He's not a good writer at all and doesn't articulate his criticisms that well, but what he points out are almost always spot on. That's why I love going to that blog. That and the habit of just seeing comic covers as pieces of standalone art.

[EyesWideOpen]

I've mentioned before that I haven't read comics for awhile now but I think I'm gonna go start a 5 title pull list down at my LCS. So far I've got:

Fatale
Saga
Adventure Time
Saucer Country

Any rec's for the 5th? I'd like something not big two superhero-y and either a new book or one that's only been going for a few issues.

Edit: I'll also be adding Mind the Gap when it comes out in May.

[sevenarts]

I mention it every time something like this comes up, but check out Rachel Rising! It's a great horror book from Terry Moore (the creator of Strangers in Paradise and Echo), really beautifully drawn, creepy and mysterious. There's only been 5 issues so far, and it's one of my favorite new series.

[EyesWideOpen]

I mention it every time something like this comes up, but check out Rachel Rising! It's a great horror book from Terry Moore (the creator of Strangers in Paradise and Echo), really beautifully drawn, creepy and mysterious. There's only been 5 issues so far, and it's one of my favorite new series.

I'll check it out. I really dug Echo.

[megladon8]

Reading volume one of "Secret Six" (as well as "Villains United") was a revelation.

I think I've found a new title to sit in my all-time favorites list.

[number8]

I bought the new Glory and the new Prophet. Fucking Rob Liefeld. So shitty at everything he does, except finding good writers to mine the potential of his shitty creations and turn them into diamonds. Damn.

[number8]

I think it's hilarious, though, putting a Rob Liefeld cover on a Ross Campbell book. You end up with a character who looks like this on the cover:

http://images.imagecomics.com/c/2012/IMG120074A.jpg

And this inside:

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz3hbvyeZo1qgf3oqo1_500 .jpg

[sevenarts]

I haven't read Glory, but the first issue of Prophet was surprisingly good. A really inventive and richly realized sci-fi world, with some great concepts and gorgeous visuals.

[number8]

Same funny juxtaposition with Prophet, though much less clashing than Glory's. This dude:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A8ezcBDBujY/TyIM6du0mRI/AAAAAAAAZrI/qli_2lgwF_k/s1600/Prophet_no1_p07_ltr_low.jpg

Looks like this on the cover:

http://images.imagecomics.com/c/2012/IMG120007A.jpg

[dreamdead]

I used to be a Liefeld fanboy back in 97-00, and some of my printed letters (unfortunately) attest to Glory, Avengelyne, and Kid Supreme interest. I don't understand my younger self anymore. :lol:

I'm kind of excited that he's getting the talent together to transform those knockoff titles, but yeah, the covers totally make me want to avoid texts that otherwise could be interesting.

[megladon8]

I don't understand...does he not have reference material? Is he unaware ofhow the characters look?

How were those covers even printed?

[number8]

It's his own imprint, and he created those characters. He could've had the covers be a picture of his face covered in radioactive jizzum. It's his call.

[Kurosawa Fan]

What the hell is going on with the right hand of Prophet on that cover? Does he have a club hand? Some sort of deformity?

[number8]

At least he's not missing any limbs like Liefeld's usual drawings. Did you guys see this TPB cover for The Infinite?

http://www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/infinite_vol1_web_72.jpg

[megladon8]

So if "Stormbringer" is any indication of the title(s) as a whole, I don't know that the "Transformers" comics are going to really be my thing.

There's way too much technical jargon. In fact, that's pretty much all the dialogue is.

"Tell Optimus that the sound wave modifiers have to be boosted to 0.9672 and then we must overload the mainframe matrix with 10 gigawatts of dark energon."

Stuff like that is how all the characters speak, which is not only mind-numbingly boring, but gives absolutely no personality to any of the characters. They're all completely interchangeable.

The art's really nice, but just 3 issues into the story I already feel like I have no idea what happened in the previous 2 issues, because the overly tech-obsessed dialogue makes it hard for much (if any) of the narrative to sink in.

[EyesWideOpen]

I went to three different comic book stores in my area today. None of them had even a single issue of any of the three books I wanted in stock (Adventure Time #1, Fatale either #1 or #2, Rachel Rising - no stores had even a single issue of this which already has 5 issues released). No wonder they can't bring in new readers.

[Ezee E]

I went to three different comic book stores in my area today. None of them had even a single issue of any of the three books I wanted in stock (Adventure Time #1, Fatale either #1 or #2, Rachel Rising - no stores had even a single issue of this which already has 5 issues released). No wonder they can't bring in new readers.
Haven't heard of either of those three, but comic book shops should also stop looking like a hole in the wall. At least in Colorado, all that I've been into have little to nothing on their walls. No dedication to a nice presentation, and the sales dudes aren't exactly excited to see someone new.

[number8]

I went to three different comic book stores in my area today. None of them had even a single issue of any of the three books I wanted in stock (Adventure Time #1, Fatale either #1 or #2, Rachel Rising - no stores had even a single issue of this which already has 5 issues released). No wonder they can't bring in new readers.

Depends, what kind of stores did you go to?

Fatale has been selling out at the stores I know, so that may just be a case of you being late since it's been over a week since #2 came out. You'll have to wait for a reprint.

Adventure Time is published by Kaboom!, which only publishes kids comics. You'll have to go to a more mainstream, family-friendly store for them.

Rachel Rising is, like Terry Moore stuff, independently published by himself. It's gonna have to be specially-ordered.

[megladon8]

Sorry to keep coming back to this, but I'm just wondering if there is any reason behind trades going in and out of print quite quickly? Or why you'll have cases where every book in a series is available except for one volume being mysteriously OOP?

I could understand if it was a rights issue between artist and publisher or something, but often it seems that's not the case. They just disappeare for no reason.

Case in point - Secret Six volume 2, "Depths". It's the only volume of the Secret Six trades that is unavailable (not counting the 6-issue mini "Six Degrees of Devastation").

Why is this? From what I can see in my research, there was no legal battle or distribution problem of any kind. Yet it is the only volume from the series to be out of print.

[number8]

Book publishers (not just comics) don't just print books continuously. They print a certain amount based on sale expectations/retailer orders, and if they sell out, they might print more. That's why you see terms in the publishing industry like "second printing," "third printing," "going back to press," etc. After a while, there's no longer a demand and a book becomes out of print, and the copies you can buy are just whatever's left in stock. You work at Lowe's, so I'm sure you understand how that is with items that are no longer manufactured. Same deal. Secret Six Vol 2 came out two years ago. It makes sense that it's OOP.

[megladon8]

Book publishers (not just comics) don't just print books continuously. They print a certain amount based on sale expectations/retailer orders, and if they sell out, they might print more. That's why you see terms in the publishing industry like "second printing," "third printing," "going back to press," etc. After a while, there's no longer a demand and a book becomes out of print, and the copies you can buy are just whatever's left in stock. You work at Lowe's, so I'm sure you understand how that is with items that are no longer manufactured. Same deal. Secret Six Vol 2 came out two years ago. It makes sense that it's OOP.


To be honest, not really. At least, in appliances where I spend 90% of my time, most appliances are readily available until the "new model" comes out. It's rare, if ever, that something is just no longer manufactured, regardless of demand. That happens in the case of something being flawed or a potential fire hazard or whatever.

But yeah, I understand what you're saying. It's just weird to me that only volume 2 is unavailable.

[Ezee E]

Think of it as a 2006 refrigerator. You ain't gonna find that anywhere except for used areas.

[number8]

That's what I meant, actually. When they have new models, they stop manufacturing older models, right? Well, with trades, DC has new comics roll out all the time, so they stop printing older books, unless there's a high demand to bring it back, renewed interest from movies, or they're Batman.

I just checked and it looks like aside from the final trade which just came out last month, all the Secret Six trades are OOP. Amazon only has a handful of copies left.

[number8]

Ideally, this is exactly what the digital comics revolution is for.

[EyesWideOpen]

Depends, what kind of stores did you go to?

Fatale has been selling out at the stores I know, so that may just be a case of you being late since it's been over a week since #2 came out. You'll have to wait for a reprint.

Adventure Time is published by Kaboom!, which only publishes kids comics. You'll have to go to a more mainstream, family-friendly store for them.

Rachel Rising is, like Terry Moore stuff, independently published by himself. It's gonna have to be specially-ordered.

I've been reading comics for a long time I realize how the system works. Every store I went to carried these comics they were just sold out and my point was that that's not a good business model to bring in new customers when they hear about a book go in to get it and it's sold out. These people aren't going to wait three weeks for a reprint (if the book gets one). They're going to say fuck it and move on.

I went to a store called Gotham City Comics today and while they didn't have any of the books I wanted in stock they looked like a cool store so I started my pull list there. They don't charge a deposit, they give you 10% off your books, and they are also a coffee shop so you get a free drink everytime you pick up your books.

[number8]

I don't understand. If an item is sold out then it's sold out. What do you propose the stores do?

[EyesWideOpen]

I don't understand. If an item is sold out then it's sold out. What do you propose the stores do?

I propose that an industry which is rapidly dying would be better served having their product available for purchase.

[Acapelli]

I propose that an industry which is rapidly dying would be better served having their product available for purchase.
so instead of trying to actually sell what they get, they should just order massive amounts of stock just in case they get new customers who want to check out the latest indie books that only people whlo consciously follow comics are aware of?

ok

[EyesWideOpen]

so instead of trying to actually sell what they get, they should just order massive amounts of stock just in case they get new customers who want to check out the latest indie books that only people whlo consciously follow comics are aware of?

ok

I'm saying if there is a new comic based on one of the most popular children's shows on television it might be a smart move to get more than 3 copies in the store.

[megladon8]

Errr...an industry that is rapidly dying?

I was under the impression comics were selling pretty damn well right now.

[EyesWideOpen]

Errr...an industry that is rapidly dying?

I was under the impression comics were selling pretty damn well right now.

DC had a huge bump when they did their big reboot but the sales quickly took a nosedive and that's not something they can get away with doing again anytime soon.

[Ezee E]

It's not exactly cost effective. The demand is low overall. They'd probably lose $ if they reprinted.

[number8]

Oh shit oh shit, there might be a third Phonogram? Woot!

THANK YOU, X-MEN MONEY.

[Sven]

Saw the solicit for Ennis & Parlov doing another Fury Max, rather than Punisher.

[Grouchy]

Saw the solicit for Ennis & Parlov doing another Fury Max, rather than Punisher.
I literally can't wait for his take on The Shadow.

The CBR articles on his upcoming mini made me realize that I'm not the only one who loves Howard Chaykin's version. I remember reading it as a kid and being completely mesmerized by all the sex and violence.

[number8]

Check this out. Mark Waid has been experimenting with digital comics and trying to figure out how the experience differs from print comics and making it a strength rather than just clunky ports like the way Marvel and DC are doing it, without resorting to making them "motion comics."

Looking at this demo, I think he's got something here.

N9F1jdjuWzo


After a 25-year career in the print comics industry, my passion for the ink and paper of my youth is waning. Storytelling through comics’ unique alchemy of words and pictures is still my first love, and it’s probably the thing in the world I’m best at—but as print costs continue to rise and profitability drops to unsustainable levels for smaller publishers who aren’t backed by media juggernauts like Disney and Warner Bros, I no longer see designing for print-first as viable.

http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.o rg/imr/2012/02/21/truly-digital-comics

[Sven]

Interesting. I'm not sold on the experiential stuff at this point, like the appearing word balloons and panel animations. One of the many neat things about comics is that it's all right there all the time.

[megladon8]

I like that a lot. I've always found motion comics kind of lame, but that's neat.

Not sure what the consensus is on Waid around here, but he'd probably make my "all-time greats" list. He can write one hell of a Superman story.

[number8]

Interesting. I'm not sold on the experiential stuff at this point, like the appearing word balloons and panel animations. One of the many neat things about comics is that it's all right there all the time.

It's certainly diverting from what makes comics comics, but when you think about it, this has already been a trend in the past decade anyway. If you look at the works of modern writers like Warren Ellis, Robert Kirkman and especially Brian Michael Bendis, there is a clear effort to dictate the reader's pacing. With Bendis it's extremely glaring, with him telling his artists to repeat panels with only changes in zooming, or two duplicate panels in which the captions/balloons appear only in the second panel, to indicate a momentary beat. Interestingly enough, Waid's approach seems to just be using digital technology to do the same thing more economically.

[dreamdead]

Not sure what the consensus is on Waid around here, but he'd probably make my "all-time greats" list. He can write one hell of a Superman story.

Waid is solid. I remember enjoying his Kid Flash run in the nineties a lot.

But I can't really identify any one series or arc and maintain that it's the epitome of great (mainstream) comics. Moore, Gaiman, Busiek, Ellis, Morrison, Vaughan, Ennis (despite my ambivalence toward his work in general), and maybe John Layman have all impacted the way contemporary comics "work." Waid, to me, perhaps has Kingdom Come, but after that its' kinda of just solid work.

[megladon8]

"Superman: Birthright" was top tier.

[Sven]

But I can't really identify any one series or arc and maintain that it's the epitome of great (mainstream) comics.

Daredevil has definitely elevated his rep.

[number8]

Waid is solid. I remember enjoying his Kid Flash run in the nineties a lot.

But I can't really identify any one series or arc and maintain that it's the epitome of great (mainstream) comics. Moore, Gaiman, Busiek, Ellis, Morrison, Vaughan, Ennis (despite my ambivalence toward his work in general), and maybe John Layman have all impacted the way contemporary comics "work." Waid, to me, perhaps has Kingdom Come, but after that its' kinda of just solid work.

Good point. Even Kingdom Come was more of a reactionary piece of the times, really, rather than a real move forward, and honestly would not have been as long celebrated without Ross' art. Waid's a very reliable go-to guy for superhero comics because he knows the foundations so well, which is why a lot of his most acclaimed runs (Flash, FF, Daredevil) had been him being put on a series that went off the rails and then bringing some traditional lighthearted good-versus-evil stories to fix the title into "solid."

[megladon8]

I don't know if I agree with the idea that "changing the way comics work" is what makes someone a top writer or artist.

When I think of the best Superman titles I've ever read, Waid's "Birthright" would be in the top 5.

I don't think a writer (or artist in any medium) needs to reinvent the wheel in order to be considered one of the greats.

[Grouchy]

I'm kind of anal with superhero comics sometimes. Even while I agree Birthright is well written and would make a fine Superman movie, I automatically hated it for being a pointless retcon of Byrne's The Man of Steel. I know, I know.

[number8]

Don't worry, five years later, Geoff Johns' Superman: Secret Origins did the same thing to Birthright what Birthright did to Man of Steel. And now Morrison's Action Comics is rewriting it again, of course.

[Sven]

Speaking of Byrne, I just read his OMAC which was a massive surprise. It gave me the same feeling that reading things like Doom Patrol and Enigma did. That thrill of reading something utterly unique. And the art was unbelievable.

[megladon8]

I love the thinking behind all the "Jennifer Blood" covers and their variants.

"Okay, so we've got this really cool, moody cover for the story. Predominant use of green, with Jennifer herself in black and white. Very noir-ish. I think it really sells the mood of the book. Any ideas for a variant?"

"Tits."

"Done!"

[Sven]

Two issues in, I'm in love with the new Secret Avengers. It's making me really regret not getting on Uncanny X-Force from the beginning. Look at the prices on the first ten issues. Yikes.

[megladon8]

Anyone else following "Infestation 2"?

I'm enjoying it. It's a lot of fun. Can't wait to see the TMNT issues.

[megladon8]

Any Peter David fans here?

Reading his Hulk story "Future Imperfect" and really digging it. It may also be the best work I've seen from George Perez.

[Acapelli]

Any Peter David fans here?

Reading his Hulk story "Future Imperfect" and really digging it. It may also be the best work I've seen from George Perez.
x-factor is probably one of my favorite books on the stands right now. he knows the characters so well

the most recent storyline, "they keep killing madrox", is great stuff. plus the name is a homage to the torchwood episode "they keep killing suzie"

[megladon8]

Any other Locke & Key fans here?

I'm halfway through volume 3 and this series may be some of the best stuff I've ever read.

[dreamdead]

Sarah and I are only reading the collected volumes, so we're still oblivious to what happens post-volume four, but it's excellent serial storytelling. And I'm a major fan of creators not stretching out a plot to ten volumes. The Bill Watterson homage in the first issue of volume 4 is so endearing. I wasn't hot on Gabriel Rodriguez's artwork at first, but it fits seamlessly.

Anyone read Phonogram? I'm thinking of buying the first two volumes after reading someone who raved about it elsewhere, but I want affirmation from people here...

[number8]

If by somewhere you mean this thread, that was me.

[Sven]

Finally got my act together and read Black Dossier. Even more amazing than I'd hoped. A bit obvious, but I love the Lovecraft/Jeeves & Wooster mash-up.

[dreamdead]

If by somewhere you mean this thread, that was me.

Ah, I see your praise when I search the word in these forums. But what do you like about it? I'm confused about its themes and content. Does it engage (British) culture in any way (and if so, how?), or are the pop album things the furthest the comic goes toward articulating an engagement...

[number8]

Are you familiar with the premise? It's much more about pop music than it is about British culture. The simplest way to explain it is that it's a literal interpretation of the idea that pop music is magical. So the characters are troubled phonomancers who use pop songs to conjure spells, depending on what genre they specialize in, so the more familiar they are with pop music, the more powerful they are. Think of it like Hellblazer meets High Fidelity.

I think a lot of people misunderstood the first volume as a tribute to Britpop, when really it just so happens that the main character is a phonomancer whose powers are tapped into Britpop magic (when you finish the story, you'll get the narrative reasoning behind it). The second volume gets the idea across better, since it's about seven different phonomancers from seven different music genres.

[megladon8]

Ffuuuu...Locke & Key is so damn good.

Just finished volume 3, and I feel like a crack addict needing more. More. MOOOORRRRREEEEE!!!

[megladon8]

"House of Mystery" is kind of neat. It's refreshing to see Bill WIllingham doing something other than "Fables", which I enjoyed for the first several volumes but definitely grew pretty stale over time.

It doesn't feel like much of a departure, though. I'm not really versed in Willingham's work (obviously) but I'd be curious to see how he handles something other than re-telling fairy tales.

[EyesWideOpen]

House of Mystery was really great. Willingham is only really involved in those first few issues and then he writes a short story here and there but Matthew Sturges is the lead writer on the series.

[Sven]

All about League these days. I haven't done the research, so of these books' receptions and reputations I can only speculate. But it is plainly clear to me that they get better as they go. Ranked:

1 LoEG: Century: 1910
2 LoEG: B. Dossier
3 LoEG v.2
4 LoEG v.1

v.2 is one of the best books I've read, so that should give you an idea of the way I feel about the other two.

[number8]

Stop ranking and go read 1969.

[Sven]

Stop ranking and go read 1969.

Stop ranking? Doesn't compute.

But seriously, 1969 is sitting right there, on my coffee table, waiting for me to straighten the house a little first.

[number8]

Word of warning from David Mazzuchelli.


DC just sent me this book last week, and I really hope people don’t buy it. I didn’t even know they were making it, and I don’t understand why they thought it was necessary — several years ago, DC asked me if I’d help put together a deluxe edition of Batman: Year One, and Dale Crain and I worked for months to try to make a definitive version. Now whoever’s in charge has thrown all that work in the garbage. First, they redesigned the cover, and recolored my artwork — probably to look more like their little DVD that came out last year; second, they printed the book on shiny paper, which was never a part of the original design, all the way back to the first hardcover in 1988; third — and worst — they printed the color from corrupted, out-of-focus digital files, completely obscuring all of Richmond’s hand-painted work. Anybody who’s already paid for this should send it back to DC and demand a refund.

[Sven]

Yeah, I'm really not down with the shiny paper trend. Have you seen the new prints of any of the Loeb/Sale books? It demolishes his inks. Nasty business.

[Sven]

I feel I need to put this out here onto the etherwebs, because I've been reading a lot of grumbliness re:Grant Morrison lately. It's largely in reference to his bolstering of the establishment, embracing his role as a DC man, his Supergods book and Rolling Stone interview being self-serving and maybe too offhandedly dismissive about creators rights.

Well I was sorting through my Seven Soldiers issues and felt a renewed sense of awe at his talent. I won't speak to his role as a businessman and marketeer, but dude's got a rep as one of the best writers for a damn fine reason. I still love the man for pleasuring my gray matter.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/iosos/Comic%20scans/7sold.jpg

[Sven]

I didn't like 1969 more than 1910, so the trend is broken. It's definitely the one with the most flow disrupting reference-dropping. Still, love Carter, and Galley-Wag is the best. The moon story is some of his best work, I think.

[megladon8]

Hadn't heard of Paul Cornell's upcoming Vertigo title "Saucer Country" until today.

Needless to say, it was promptly placed on my pull list.

[Sven]

Hadn't heard of Paul Cornell's upcoming Vertigo title "Saucer Country" until today.

Needless to say, it was promptly placed on my pull list.

You may also be interested in Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse's upcoming Resident Alien, published by Dark Horse. They're talented dudes, google it.

[megladon8]

You may also be interested in Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse's upcoming Resident Alien, published by Dark Horse. They're talented dudes, google it.


Cool, will do!

I assume you'll also be checking out "Saucer Country"?

[Sven]

I assume you'll also be checking out "Saucer Country"?

Yeah, Cornell is good, so I'm interested.

To answer your question in the other thread about Uncanny X-Force, I will be reading the first half very soon.

[Sven]

Alright, a list of five Big 2 characters that, if gun held to my head, I would call "my favorite":

Doctor Strange
Black Bolt
The Punisher
Big Barda
Plastic Man

[Winston*]

his Supergods book

Is this no good?

[Sven]

Is this no good?

Lots of people thought it was too rambling and unfocused. Also that he props himself up a lot in it. Also that he rewrites a little bit of comics history. Also that his attitude about Siegel & Shuster is comparatively insensitive.

As a fan, I found much to like. Anecdotes, gossip, his perspective on properties that he's never touched, etc. But I also don't disagree with any of aforementioned criticisms.

[megladon8]

I find an opinion I disagree with but is presented in a compelling and informed manner to be just as (if not more) respectable as something I agree with wholeheartedly.

Not saying this is the case with "Supergods" (I haven't read it). But saying something I don't agree with is hardly a dealbreaker.

[number8]

I want a poster of this. :frustrated:

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/326/a/d/catwoman___chat_noir_by_rafael albuquerqueart-d4gxqy8.jpg

[Sven]

The comic I've seen more people reading in public than anything else is The Boys.

[Sven]

I reread Bulleteer, which was by far my least favorite of the Seven Soldiers series. Am happy I did, because it's deceptively good. Such ordinariness couched within a slew of outre and epic adventuring, but the focus on human foibles hits with a more resounding gravity than some of the crazier stories. And where I once found the cheesecake distracting, this time I was more familiar with the novelty, so I met it with chuckles instead.

[megladon8]

Added both "Resident Alien" and "Saucer Country" to my pull list.

Nice to have a few non-DC titles on my list now. Those two (yeah, I know "Saucer Country" is Vertigo), "The Incredible Hulk", "Infestation 2" and "Fantastic Four".

[number8]

Don't tell me you only get Fantastic Four and not FF?

[megladon8]

Don't tell me you only get Fantastic Four and not FF?


Umm...

*blushes*

You sure look great today, number8. Are those new cords?

*runs away*

[Sven]

Speaking of Black Bolt, FF has a great two-part Inhumans story drawn by Greg Tocchini, who is fast becoming one of my current favorites.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/iosos/Comic%20scans/ff.jpg

FF, meg, by the way, is essential if you want to follow the story Hickman started in Fantastic Four.

[megladon8]

Yes I know, I just didn't add "FF" to my list because I couldn't catch up on all the back issues.

Now that they're coming out in TPB form, I may add it.

[number8]

It's because beginning with Fantastic Four's return with issue #600, Hickman has been splitting the story into two books, shipped simultaneously. I just don't see why anyone should bother getting Fantastic Four if they're not gonna read the other half of the story in FF. How could you get the full picture?

[megladon8]

It's because beginning with Fantastic Four's return with issue #600, Hickman has been splitting the story into two books, shipped simultaneously. I just don't see why anyone should bother getting Fantastic Four if they're not gonna read the other half of the story in FF. How could you get the full picture?


I added "Fantastic Four" to my titles on a whim when everyone was talking about how great issue 600 was.

I never bothered adding "FF" because, as I said, the comic store said there was pretty much no chance of getting the back issues I needed.

Now that a lot of the stuff is becoming available in trade, I may pick those up, add "FF" to my list, and get caught up.

[number8]

Oh shit, Moebius died.

[Sven]

Absolute (G-Moz's) Batman and Robin.

Dammit, but I need to be richer.

[number8]

Ennis has been hitting the high points with The Boys these past couple of arcs. The newest issue was intense. These last remaining issues are going to be epic.

[megladon8]

That first arc in Hickman's "Fantastic Four" (it's the first 3 issues in volume 1 of the trades) gets me every time.

That is such a fantastic piece of sci-fi.

[number8]

New miniseries, Conan vs Groo. I can't decide if this is awesome or really fucking stupid.

http://images.darkhorse.com/covers/600/15/15632.jpg

[Grouchy]

That's some shitty way to draw an arm - the Conan one, obviously.

[Sven]

I'm actually a little bummed that Hickman is staying on Fantastic Four for a few more months. This was the perfect ending. There was a little whimper in my breath.

[EyesWideOpen]

I finally got all the books I was trying to get. I now have Rachel Rising #1-6, Fatale #1-3, Adventure Time #1-2, Saga #1, and Saucer Country #1. Now I just have to start reading!

[sevenarts]

Man I'm still loving Rachel Rising, each issue has at least one sequence that makes me laugh with twisted delight.

Fatale is great too, although it's so layered and complex that I feel like I have to re-read the previous issues after each new issue. This is going to be a great one in the eventual collected edition.

[sevenarts]

This was the perfect ending. There was a little whimper in my breath.

Holy crap yes. I got chills. It all tied together so perfectly, stretching all the way back to the classic "Solve Everything" arc. Brilliant stuff.

I both can't imagine what Hickman will do next and can't wait to see it. Is he only sticking around a few more months?

[Sven]

I both can't imagine what Hickman will do next and can't wait to see it. Is he only sticking around a few more months?

Says he'll end his run on both FF's in October. He's got a few things coming out with Image. He's one of the, like, six writers on the AvX books.

[dreamdead]

So Brian K. Vaughan's new series Saga has an interesting little narrative. I find some of the television head stuff utterly bewildering, and a few of the transitions are too on-the-nose ("Deeper" into a sex scene? Seriously?). But I quickly took to these characters. Their relationship has a Y: The Last Man feel to it, with these characters replacing Yorick and 355, and that's something that I'm happy to have. Few things have been more devastating than that series' ending with them, so I'm comforted to see Vaughan playing with that same dynamic. I'm in on this one for the foreseeable future.

[megladon8]

"Saucer Country" was kind of "meh" to be honest. I hope the story really picks up, because as it is it's a fairly typical story of an abductee with false memories. The only wrench thrown in the formula is that she happens to be running for presidency, which again, I hope they do more with in the coming issues.

Art is fairly by-the-numbers as well.

Kind of disappointing, considering the concept and the talent involved.

[Dukefrukem]

anyone read? Yay/Nay?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51w4nF5Fb0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Sven]

I assume you've never read any Brubaker noir. In which case, I'm sure you'll quite love it.

[Acapelli]

huge "YAY"

everything brubaker/phillips is a yay for me

[Sven]

I'm more in it for Phillips than I am for the Brubs. I like him, but I find his hard-boiled voice gets a bit samey after a while. The easy comparison is to Rucka, whose Gotham Central stories I found much more creative.

[megladon8]

Yeah, I'd love to collect all the "Gotham Central" stuff. That was a brilliant series.

And I'll throw in another huge "yay" for "Criminal". Superior in every way to the much more widely known "Sin City" by Frank Miller.

[sevenarts]

Big, big yay for CRIMINAL. Phillips is one of the best artists in comics and Brubaker's a great crime writer. I have that Deluxe Edition hardcover and it's gorgeous; can't wait until the second one comes out.

If you like that, follow it up with SLEEPER, also by Brubaker/Phillips, which is more gritty noir/crime/spy stuff, this time with a superhero twist. Their current series, FATALE, is also great so far.

[EyesWideOpen]

Ok so I read everything I bought except for Rachel Rising and I really enjoyed all of them. I loved Adventure Time. It's a great representation of the cartoon. Also loved Saga. The art is amazing. Saucer Country was good but I'll need a couple of issues to really get into it and Fatale was the usual Brubaker and Phillips greatness that I expected.

[sevenarts]

I just read the first issues of Saga and Saucer Country too. Saga was great, I'm already hooked on that one. Love the art, love the premise, and I love the sense that this is a really well designed and very deep world that's been well thought out both visually and in terms of history and narrative. That was a pretty perfect example of a first issue laying everything out and sucking in readers.

Saucer Country I'm not sold on yet. Seems like it could be interesting and I'll definitely be reading for a while. The art was just OK though, and at this point it's just a promise that it could be good rather than actually being good right out the gate.

[Sven]

Loving, tons, Uncanny X-Force (up to issue 13, and now I have to wait until I can locate the rest cheaply). The biggest hiccup is the frequency with which a narrative fast one is pulled vis-a-vis Fantomex's illusioning powers. It's too easy and has started deflating tension. Otherwise Remender's plotting prowess is probably at its peak here, and that he's working with some of the best pencillers in the industry (Opena, Brooks, and Ribic... and the colorist Dean White is Godlike in his abilities, making even Billy Tan's artwork look stunning) ensures that even in the more esoteric moments (which are plenty, as Remender is tapping into years of lore), the visuals are always at least sumptuous.

Can't wait to get to the Otherworld/Tocchini stuff.

[Acapelli]

dean white is probably my favorite colorist

it amazes me that, even as good as laura martin is, jrjr's stuff doesn't look half as good without white and janson along for the ride (this is in reference to his avengers vs. x-men stuff)

[megladon8]

I'm on volume 4 of the Jonathan Hickman "Fantastic Four" stuff and his amazing ideas continue to...err...amaze me.

I just wish I had a little more background information on events he references that must have taken place in the Fantastic Four-verse before his run. There's a repeated image of Reed, Doom and a few others hooked up this machine (by their heads) with them all screaming, and Val tells Dr. Doom that he has suffered brain damage, but I don't really have any clue what happened.

Similarly, I wish I knew more about the Nu-World stuff.

[number8]

That wasn't from a previous run. That happened in the Doomwar crossover that was going on at the time.