The Comic Book Discussion Thread

[Sven]

Rep to the first with the name of the comic this is from:

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

[Grouchy]

1602?

I'm just throwing something. It looks like Kubert.

[Acapelli]

looks like deodato

probably wrong, dark avengers?

[megladon8]

Just got an e-mail from Kickstarter with links to download the first issue of "Occupy Comics".

Looking forward to taking a peak at those tonight!

[EyesWideOpen]

The eye makes me think it's Leinil Yu.

[EyesWideOpen]

I added a couple more books to my pull list. I'm now getting:

Mind MGMT (Matt Kindt)
Fury Max
Adventure Time
Saucer Country
Saga
Fatale
The Manhattan Projects
Secret
Rachel Rising
Mind the Gap

[Sven]

Finally read Snyder's preboot Detective Comics. Overrated, sadly. Good setup marred by overplotting/undertheming. People were right when they said it needed a few issues to develop and breathe. Francavilla's Gordon stuff is medicinal after Jock's starker Batman action.

I do think that Snyder, in general, is too erratic with exposition. Scene to scene, his verbal rhythm is lopsided. Individual sequences, though, he lands beautifully.

[number8]

FF 18's twist ending was a pretty fun way of restoring the expected status quo. Me like.

[ledfloyd]

Finally read Snyder's preboot Detective Comics. Overrated, sadly. Good setup marred by overplotting/undertheming. People were right when they said it needed a few issues to develop and breathe. Francavilla's Gordon stuff is medicinal after Jock's starker Batman action.

I do think that Snyder, in general, is too erratic with exposition. Scene to scene, his verbal rhythm is lopsided. Individual sequences, though, he lands beautifully.
it's unfortunately very clear in the last issue or two he was forced to cut the run short to make way for the new 52. up until that point it's pretty excellent. i really like the way what seem to be unrelated short stories end up coming together in the end.

his twist on the mr. freeze origin in annual #1 is subtle but effective. it makes him a significantly more interesting character in my opinion. unfortunately the animal man annual is kind of a throwaway.

FF 18 was fun, it looks like hickman still has something in mind for franklin. only... what? 5 issues of each title left? wolverine and the x-men this week was unfortunately hampered by AvX.

cracking open the walking dead right now.

[number8]

Oooh. This is exciting. The upcoming issue of FuryMAX will follow Fury to Vietnam and see him...

meeting Frank Castle for the first time.

[megladon8]

Ugh.

I have so been looking forward to the "Stay Angry" story line, but what a disappointment.

That is honestly some of the worst art I have ever seen. Some of it looked like bad fan art.

[Sven]

Heftily disagree, meg. Not only is the writing terrific, but Dillon's stark, balanced style makes it all the more hilarious. And there are several exciting bits of action, which he always delivers with catchy, punctual rhythm. I will admit that Dillon's become a bit of a cult curiosity. He cycles through roughly three or four facial expressions, and while he's never been one for detailed environment rendering, these days his books are practically black box theater. See his and Aaron's PunisherMax for some great examples of exquisite sequencing in virtually empty space. But I think he's efficient and blocks well.

"Bad fan art" is not a relevant pejorative in an industry that enables hacks to use the title of "professional" on as widespread a basis as it does. Not in an industry that regularly cuts checks to Ian Churchill and Tony Avina.

[sevenarts]

I like Dillon's Hulk, even though he's basically Dillon's Kingpin colored green. Meg, have you really never seen Dillon art before? Sven's right, Dillon's become something of a formalist with a very distinctive, stripped-down style, and I really love it. I much prefer Dillon's simplicity to the army of inkers and pencillers who have been working on the series previously; some of these issues have had enough artists to field a baseball team.

"Stay Angry" was the best Hulk issue Aaron has done yet, and suggests that this series is finally going to start living up to its promise.

[number8]

Dillon is one of my favorite artists. He's nigh untouchable when it comes to sequential blocking.

[megladon8]

I love the art in "Preacher" and "Skreemer".

But even after returning to this first issue of "Stay Angry", I cannot see the appeal.

[Sven]

Dillon only inked Skreemer. Brett Ewins is the primary artist on that one.

[megladon8]

Dillon only inked Skreemer. Brett Ewins is the primary artist on that one.


Ah, well, that explains that then.

I'm sorry guys, I just cannot get on board with the love for his art, at least not as it is in this issue.

The poses of the characters looked very un-dynamic, the facial expressions (as someone mentioned earlier) seemed to be recycled endlessly, and there was at least one instance where it seemed Hulk was missing a limb.


However, I hope Sven is happy with me for just acquiring volume 1 of Matt Fraction's "The Mighty Thor"!

[Sven]

However, I hope Sven is happy with me for just acquiring volume 1 of Matt Fraction's "The Mighty Thor"!

I am. Unfortunately, after the first arc, the quality takes a nosedive. It gets all embroiled with Fear Itself and becomes a snoozefest.

[megladon8]

I am. Unfortunately, after the first arc, the quality takes a nosedive. It gets all embroiled with Fear Itself and becomes a snoozefest.


I really need to start catching up on all the Marvel events that have gone on.

The last one I really followed was Civil War. I have absolutely no clue what took place in the Siege or Fear Itself story lines, nor do I have any idea what's going on with Avengers vs. X-Men. I don't even know why they're fighting :lol:

Hey have you any of the "Thor: The Mighty Avenger" stuff by Roger Langridge? Apparently it's all-ages awesomeoness and some of the best Thor stuff in years.

[Sven]

Siege - Norman Osborne tries to take over Asgard. Punch, punch, punch.

Fear Itself - Thor's uncle tries to take over the world by distributing power hammers to villains. Punch, punch, punch.

AvX - Phoenix is returning to Earth. Avengers wanna stop it, X-men want to usher it. Punch, punch, punch.

I haven't read the Langridge/Samnee Thor, but I've wanted to for a while. They're both high quality people.

[number8]

I have. It's very, very cute. Lots of focus on the Thor/Jane romance. Reminds me of Mary Jane Loves Spiderman.

[megladon8]

Those were some pretty great synopses, Sven :lol:

[Sven]

David/Keown's Incredible Hulk: The End just may be the best Hulk comic I've read. Wow, was not expecting it to be that good.

With this and the identically subtitled PunisherMax issue illustrated by Richard Corben, I'm digging on this apocalyptic "What if..." concept. Are there anymore good ones that anyone can suggest?

[number8]

They did a whole bunch of those The End stories. You read the best two. Claremont did the X-men one but good god, it went on for like 20 issues. Really unnecessary.

[number8]

Have you read Ruins? It's Warren Ellis' take on Marvels.

[Sven]

Have you read Ruins? It's Warren Ellis' take on Marvels.

I read the first few pages a couple of years ago. I think I have it on my shelf somewhere. Gonna have to fish for it.

Also, looking at the Wiki page, I am reminded of the apocalyptic nature of the Earth X saga, and have made a mental note to finish that series as well.

[megladon8]

David/Keown's Incredible Hulk: The End just may be the best Hulk comic I've read. Wow, was not expecting it to be that good.

With this and the identically subtitled PunisherMax issue illustrated by Richard Corben, I'm digging on this apocalyptic "What if..." concept. Are there anymore good ones that anyone can suggest?


YEESSS!!!! I love this one! While I'm hardly well-versed on Hulk, David has by far produced my favorite stuff so far.

"The End" was sublime.

[Acapelli]

there's not a lot of love for millar here, but i really liked "old man logan"

[Kurosawa Fan]

The number of people confusing the fact that Green Lantern is now gay with Ryan Reynolds is now gay is staggering. I sincerely hope, although it isn't really much better for my outlook on society, that these are just really, really lame jokes.

[Sven]

The number of people confusing the fact that Green Lantern is now gay with Ryan Reynolds is now gay is staggering. I sincerely hope, although it isn't really much better for my outlook on society, that these are just really, really lame jokes.

One of the many Green Lanterns is gay. Pay these people no mind.

And again, baffled that the Midnighter/Apollo relationship isn't even getting mentioned, and their team has already interacted with at least two other books.

[Sven]

YEESSS!!!! I love this one! While I'm hardly well-versed on Hulk, David has by far produced my favorite stuff so far.

"The End" was sublime.

We can agree that it's better than Aaron's recent #8. :)

[Sven]

there's not a lot of love for millar here, but i really liked "old man logan"

I liked the first issue, then I thought the rest was boring, typically cynical filler. He doesn't deserve love, as Millar himself does not espouse love for anything. He's a hater of humanity, pissing on virtue and intent on grinding the occasional fine concept into meaningless dust.

I still do like his Authority story, though.

[number8]

And again, baffled that the Midnighter/Apollo relationship isn't even getting mentioned, and their team has already interacted with at least two other books.

Mentioned how? DC has a bunch of gay characters, and those two have been around for a long time. Why would they be talked about?

[megladon8]

We can agree that it's better than Aaron's recent #8. :)


Did you just read "The End", or did you also read the "Future Imperfect" storyline by David and Perez?

That one is also sublime, and has some incredible art. Probably some of Perez' best, and that says a lot.

[EyesWideOpen]

I decided to drop Saucer Country. Three issues in and I'm still not hooked.

[Grouchy]

Well, someone told me Green Lantern was gay yesterday night and my first thought was also that Reynolds had come out of the closet.

I don't know a whole lot about Alan Scott, but the fact that he was at one time married and had a daughter despite being homosexual might provide interesting storylines.

[Sven]

Mentioned how? DC has a bunch of gay characters, and those two have been around for a long time. Why would they be talked about?

Even if all the brouhaha isn't essentially just a competition with Marvel over which is the more gay-friendly publisher, even if it is a heartfelt attempt to reach out and diversify, I haven't read anything putting this announcement into a larger context of the current status quo.

Basically, I'm just annoyed that gayness is being played like an event.

In related news, I reread the Morrison JLA story Crisis Times Five and was amused at how totally gay this panel is:

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

[Sven]

Did you just read "The End", or did you also read the "Future Imperfect" storyline by David and Perez?

I've read Future Imperfect. It's quite nice, but a bit less meaningful than The End. A neat time travel concept, but it's kinda irrelevant. And I'm not as interested in eloquent Hulk. I like broken, brutish, boorish Hulk. The artwork is, I agree, very impressive.

[Sven]

Now I've just reread Morrison's JLA: Classified story. Ultramarine Corps. Still one of my favorites. Some surprisingly awesome abstraction from Ed McGuinness.

[number8]

Terry Moore is doing a sequel to Strangers in Paradise, but in novel form instead of comics form. His reasoning is kind of sad:


There are several reason for that: I have too much story to draw. I want to write novels, and more specifically, I want SiP to be my first novel. I don't want to make another series that suffers from my usual low orders in the comic book direct market. It's crazy for me to keep making mainstream fiction and then release it only in stores catering to Marvel-DC iconography. My orders are the same today as they were in 1996. The message is clear: that is all I can do in the comics market. If I want SiP to grow, I'm going to have to add on another market. The SiP novel will be my crossover book.

[ledfloyd]

The Unwritten issue #17 was not made to be read on a tablet.

[number8]

Was that the Choose Your Own Adventure issue?

[ledfloyd]

Was that the Choose Your Own Adventure issue?
yeah.

[ledfloyd]

i've been enjoying The Unwritten quite a bit. i have some qualms with the Illuminatiness (is that a word?) of its villains as that seems to be an overused trope these days. but the "On to Genesis" arc really takes things to the next level. i especially like how they tied comics tendency over the years to drive the zeitgeist and disenfranchise the creator to the Cabal. i tend to respond positively to stories about stories and this is hitting the same spot things like Sandman and Prometheus did. the story with Tom, Sinbad, Baron Munchausen, Pinocchio, Jonah et al. stuck in the belly of a whale reminded me of Fables a bit but seemed better in execution and deeper in meaning than anything that book has ever done. also, Yuko Shimizu's covers are gorgeous, the consistency reminds me of Dave McKean's covers for Sandman and James Jean's for Fables.

[megladon8]

CBR actually gave that "Legends of the Dark Knight" #1 issue by Damon Lindelof a 5 star rating.

I know number8 hated it.

[number8]

The idea of

Alfred arranging a brutal beating of Bruce that desecrates the memory of the Wayne murders to win a $1 bet and teach him a lesson in humility

is absolutely asinine.

[Grouchy]

The idea of

Alfred arranging a brutal beating of Bruce that desecrates the memory of the Wayne murders to win a $1 bet and teach him a lesson in humility

is absolutely asinine.
I'd need some context, but... yeah. Completely out of character.

[number8]

I'd need some context, but... yeah. Completely out of character.

Here's the story in its entirety:

Batman is on patrol and for some reason being kind of a smug asshole, narrating about how he's prepared for everything so he's king hot shit compared to the criminal element, when suddenly he sees a couple and a little boy being mugged in an alley by a man with a gun. He flashes back to his parents' murder and goes all ridiculously "NOOOO NOT AGAIN" and jumps down to beat up the mugger, but turns out the little boy is actually a midget who knocks him from behind, and then the four people start beating the shit out of Batman. Batman suddenly realizes it's a set up (no shit, detective), but who? Who knows that he's Bruce Wayne to set up this trap?

Then it goes into a flashback of Bruce being a drunk asshole in the Wayne Manor kitchen (he insists it's an act, but no one besides Alfred is around so apparently he's actually drunk) talking about how pathetic the Justice League are because he knows each and every one of their weaknesses. Alfred says he has a weakness, too, and Bruce is all, "Nuh uh, I bet you a dollar you can't tell me what my weakness is." Alfred just walks away and Bruce just smiles like a smug dick saying, "That's what I thought!" He might as well have added "bitch" to that line.

Back to the alley, Batman is lying there on the ground a bloody pulp when Alfred suddenly shows up, opens Batman's utility belt pouch and takes out $1 from it, then taunts Batman, "Everyone has a vulnerability, yes?" and Batman with a split lip humbly says, "Yes." The end.

I did not make any of that shit up.

[Sven]

It's quite terrible.

I'm not surprised CBR gave it five stars. They have terrible taste, are Lemire apologists, and their reviews are just as incoherent.

[Acapelli]

It's quite terrible.

I'm not surprised CBR gave it five stars. They have terrible taste, are Lemire apologists, and their reviews are just as incoherent.
you know lemire didn't write it, right?

your dislike for him is so immense, you're even misattributing others' bad comics to him :P

[Sven]

He drew it, sucka. And the CBR review mentions his name more than it does Lindelof's.

[Sven]

Though I do acknowledge that Lemire is a much better illustrator than he is a writer. I was being a little cheap.

[ledfloyd]

i started sweet tooth and am loving it. long live lemire!

[Acapelli]

Though I do acknowledge that Lemire is a much better illustrator than he is a writer. I was being a little cheap.
just busting your balls a bit

seeing all the advertisements for the superman vs the elite dvd reminded me of how great "what's so funny about truth, justice and the american way" issue of superman

have you read it sven? it's kelly and mahnke

[Sven]

have you read it sven? it's kelly and mahnke

Of course! I own every Doug Mahnke comic (minus New 52 Green Lantern), and nearly every Joe Kelly book. Have you read the follow-up, Justice League Elite? I included it on my list of favorite comics a while back. Would still make the cut, because it's utter brilliance.

[number8]

Yeah, that's one premise that reeeeally could have gone very wrong, but they pulled it off just right. There have been similar concepts to that story, and most of them are not very good.

[number8]

By the way, the screenplay for that Superman vs The Elite adaptation is actually written by Kelly himself.

[ledfloyd]

happy brian wood day. four books!

[megladon8]

Man, "Stay Angry" is really, really dumb.

Part of me kind of loves it. It's just...so very dumb, that it's almost fun for its complete disregard for any kind of depth, quality of story/character, etc. It's hilarious.

Can't say it's really driving my interest to read the rest of Aaron's "Incredible Hulk" run, though. At least, not if it's all like this.

[Sven]

I love the emerging story of Bruce's master plan. But yeah, like you said, it's really really dumb. The whole extreme hammerhead shark cannons, Mexican dog drug dealers, Russian space bears thing is starting to feel too much of a pander. It's Snakes on a Plane, Robot v. Ninja, Cyborg Lava Pirates territory. I'm tired of it.

And it seems Ferry's verve is disintegrating. Maybe he's getting old or bored.

I'll stick it through this arc, because I did like that Dillon issue. We'll see if Raney can sell Space Hulk.

[Sven]

Robert Kirkman, Jason Aaron, and Darick Robertson added to MorrisonCon.

Sigh.

There goes my chance to meet Peter Milligan. For now.

[megladon8]

"Hulk vs. Mer-Hicks!"

[ledfloyd]

Robert Kirkman, Jason Aaron, and Darick Robertson added to MorrisonCon.

Sigh.

There goes my chance to meet Peter Milligan. For now.
Kirkman seems like a weird choice (these are all people handpicked by Grant right?) Aaron too but his name doesn't stick out as much to me.

[number8]

Kirkman seems like a weird choice (these are all people handpicked by Grant right?) Aaron too but his name doesn't stick out as much to me.

Yeah. I mean, Jim Lee sounds weird too but at least he actually worked with Grant on some stuff years ago. Why Kirkman and Aaron?

[Acapelli]

well you can tell by aaron's work at marvel that he really reveres the stuff that morrison did there. just see dark reign: the list - wolverine for evidence of that, which are basically the most meaningful appearances of noh-varr and fantomex since morrison wrote them up to that point

edit: that's probably an exaggeration, but dude definitely loves him some morrison

kirkman is completely out of place though. and he's shit

[Sven]

My guess is it's related to Grant's new comic at Image. Maybe they met and clicked.

I think Robert Kirkman is actually a pretty talented comics writer. The problem is that he's too shackled by genre. His ambition is more in scope ("how big can I make this zombie story?") than ideas. His dialogue usually possesses terrific rhythm, and his humor lands. I was delighted by the unpredictable plotting in the first seven trades of Invincible (which I read years ago). Definitely indicating the touch of a skilled storyteller. Just wish he wasn't so genre-y. And would much rather it have been Peter Milligan. Or Joe Casey.

Jason Aaron I like too. PunisherMax is legit, Scalped (only three trades in) is the bomb, and I always forget he did the Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine which is one of the best damn funnybooks I've ever read. But I would much rather it have been Peter Milligan. Or Joe Casey.

[Sven]

Paul_Cornell ‏@Paul_Cornell

Good to meet Patrick, who ran over to intercept me, and I was glad to add to Erin's fear of scary rabbits.

That's me he's talking about! Delightful chap.

[Acapelli]

My guess is it's related to Grant's new comic at Image. Maybe they met and clicked.

I think Robert Kirkman is actually a pretty talented comics writer. The problem is that he's too shackled by genre. His ambition is more in scope ("how big can I make this zombie story?") than ideas. His dialogue usually possesses terrific rhythm, and his humor lands. I was delighted by the unpredictable plotting in the first seven trades of Invincible (which I read years ago). Definitely indicating the touch of a skilled storyteller.
guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. can't stand his writing

haven't read the first 7 volumes, and i don't know what issues they encompass, but i did read from 42 (was supposed to be a good jumping on point for new readers) till about 51 and found nothing there to like

[slqrick]

Batman 10 - :eek:

[Sven]

Batman 10 - :eek:

This was my response: :rolleyes:

Totally teetering on the precipice of a Starlin binge. Gotta keep myself in check. Recently read Batman: the Cult, which floored me, and am now partway through Rann-Thanagar Holy War, which is interesting.

[ledfloyd]

Batman 10 - :eek:
sven and i both voiced our displeasure with it in the new 52 thread.

[Ezee E]

So I like comixology a lot. I just have no idea what current runs to get involved with...

[ledfloyd]

The Massive : DMZ :: Conan the Barbarian : Northlanders

or so it would seem. it's still early for The Massive. both have the potential to be his best work to date.

[Sven]

Starting a new biweekly feature at this blog, Earth 616.

Here's the first entry. I'm sure future installments won't be quite so directionless.

http://earth616.wordpress.com/

[Ivan Drago]

So is anybody here reading Before Watchmen, or are we treating it like S. Darko and pretending it doesn't exist?

[Sven]

Surely sevenarts is dipping in. I'm already reading too many monthlies. Maybe library rentals in a year or two.

[ledfloyd]

the first issue of minutemen was fantastic. i was less impressed with silk spectre but it was alright.

[sevenarts]

Yeah I read both issues so far. Wasn't crazy about either, actually. The art was good in both, especially Cooke's art in Minutemen. But the stories and writing were nothing special, and the limitations of this kind of prequel are all too obvious. Moore already hinted at a lot of this backstory in the original work, so seeing it all spelled out like this just feels unnecessary. This is especially true of Minutemen, which is barely a story, more like an appendix to the original book.

I did love the art in Minutemen, though. Those first couple of pages, especially, with the compositional repetition from panel to panel, are stunning. I just wish it was in service to something more substantial-feeling.

[megladon8]

I think I'm going to give "Saucer Country" one more issue to woo me. I was enjoying the first couple in a "seems like a neat premise - can't wait to see where this is going!" way...but it still hasn't gone anywhere.

It's quite boring, frankly. If it doesn't pick up, I'll be done with it.

[EyesWideOpen]

I think I'm going to give "Saucer Country" one more issue to woo me. I was enjoying the first couple in a "seems like a neat premise - can't wait to see where this is going!" way...but it still hasn't gone anywhere.

It's quite boring, frankly. If it doesn't pick up, I'll be done with it.

Yep. It's the only series I've dropped out of the 10-12 books I'm reading.

[megladon8]

happy brian wood day. four books!


Speaking of, what's the consensus on Brian Wood 'round these parts?

I really haven't touched anything of his. His "DMZ" title seems to have a lot of acclaim.

[ledfloyd]

Speaking of, what's the consensus on Brian Wood 'round these parts?

I really haven't touched anything of his. His "DMZ" title seems to have a lot of acclaim.
i'm quite a big fan without really being able to point to one of his books and shout "Read this!" actually, i'm not sure if that's true. Local is really good, and in retrospect, probably the book that got me into him. Demo is in a similar vein, and while Volume 1 didn't do much for me (Local is kind of a refinement of what he did on the first run of Demo), when he and Cloonan returned to it for Volume 2 there were a couple issues that just knocked me out.

DMZ is indeed a good book, but it's most impressive as an example of world building. which isn't to claim the characterization and plot is lacking, it's not, but Wood's thorough examination of the environment is probably its defining characteristic. otherwise it's just a very good vertigo book.

i like Northlanders a lot as well, for some reason i think it would really appeal to you. you seem like a guy that can appreciate some viking action. as I mentioned above Conan is in a similar vein, and after just 5? issues is looking like it has the potential to be his best book to date. Cloonan has really stepped her game up for it as well.

[ledfloyd]

words can't express how much i enjoy the physical act of reading Saga every month.

[sevenarts]

Actually really enjoyed the first Comedian issue. The JFK thing has been done over and over again, but the issue boasts some typically sharp Azzarello dialogue, and there's undeniable pleasure in seeing his words come out of some famous mouths like this. I expected I'd enjoy the Azzarello Before Watchmen stuff best, but this one may surprise me by actually being a good, worthwhile comic in its own right. Unlike the Cooke issues, which seem to be merely filling in some modest gaps in Watchmen's backstory, it seems like Azzarello's intent on telling his own largely independent story with this character, and I hope he does something similar with Rorschach, another character who's a natural fit for his sensibility.

Saga's so good. Really loving this series more and more.

Best moment this week was probably the last page of Punisher. Very powerful stuff, I love that Rucka's stint on this series has been as much about the great new character Rachel as about Castle.

[ledfloyd]

honestly, i closed Comedian when Jackie O ordered him to kill Marilyn Monroe (not really a spoiler, so don't sweat it.)

[Sven]

Best moment this week was probably the last page of Punisher. Very powerful stuff, I love that Rucka's stint on this series has been as much about the great new character Rachel as about Castle.

The last pages of this week's Secret Avengers (especially), Journey into Mystery, and Daredevil were all on the money.

[D_Davis]

Who here has read Carla Speed McNeil's The Finder?

[number8]

Me.

[D_Davis]

Me.

Did you like it?

I just ordered the first giant volume. Sounds amazing.

[number8]

Yes. You'd like it. You like magical realism, right?

[D_Davis]

Yes. You'd like it. You like magical realism, right?

Yep.

Is the whole thing 3 volumes?

[sevenarts]

Finder is fantastic. Amazing world-building, where you get the sense that she's plotted out every corner of this fascinating world and we just occasionally get glimpses of small parts of it as the story dictates. It starts out a little rough, but her art just keeps getting better and better too; in the later stories, she's become one of my very favorite comic artists. Dream Sequence (which is in volume 2 of the Library) is probably my favorite story, but it's all quite good.

The whole thing so far currently seems to be collected in the 2 Library volumes (which collect a bunch of smaller books that she'd previously published independently) plus Voice, the latest story. I'm sure there will be more eventually, too. The nice thing about it is that it's not a finite narrative at all. Each of the old books told a complete story in itself, and different stories focus on different characters and leap around in the chronology a lot.

[D_Davis]

Sweet. It looks like the first volume of the Library has been remaindered, so you can pick it up on Amazon for less than $1 plus shipping - just in case anyone wants to grab it.

[sevenarts]

I have all the old books that McNeil released herself, but I'd highly recommend the new collections to anyone else. At $1, it's a steal since each Library volume seems to contain 3-4 complete books.

[ledfloyd]

The last pages of this week's Secret Avengers (especially), Journey into Mystery, and Daredevil were all on the money.
daredevil was fantastic.

[EvilShoe]

Probably mentioned before, but is that new comic by Brian K. Vaughan any good? Y: The Last Man is a favorite, and Ex Machina is quite good (bumpy ride, though).

[ledfloyd]

Probably mentioned before, but is that new comic by Brian K. Vaughan any good? Y: The Last Man is a favorite, and Ex Machina is quite good (bumpy ride, though).

i would refer you here. (http://match-cut.org/showpost.php?p=427423&postcount=4586)

[megladon8]

So I am officially back to no Marvel titles on my pull list.

[Acapelli]

wait, why? what were you picking up?

[megladon8]

wait, why? what were you picking up?


I had "Incredible Hulk" and "Fantastic Four".

The former I gave up on due to crappiness, the latter I am just sticking with 'til Hickman's run is over.

[Acapelli]

so you're still picking up fantastic four? no ff?

did you ever give daredevil, punisher or winter soldier a shot?

[megladon8]

so you're still picking up fantastic four? no ff?

did you ever give daredevil, punisher or winter soldier a shot?


Not yet on "Daredevil" or "Winter Soldier". I absolutely hate jumping on to a title in the middle of a run/arc, so those are ones I'm waiting to check out in trade form.

"Punisher" I was getting from issue 1, but three issues got missed by my comic book store (3, 4 and 6) and they weren't going to be able to get them in, so I said fuck it.

Again, I'll check it out in trade.

[Acapelli]

i see. i remember you writing about your punisher problems. those 3 books along with the two hickman ff books are my favorite marvel books atm

[megladon8]

i see. i remember you writing about your punisher problems. those 3 books along with the two hickman ff books are my favorite marvel books atm


Yeah, unfortunately I'm a completionist to a fault.

I know I could have just read the "Punisher" issues in digital...but I went to the trouble of putting it on my pull list from issue 1 on for a reason, damnit :frustrated:

[number8]

Holy shit! Fantastic Four and FF were both incredible. FF was really funny.

[number8]

Also, meg, dropping Hulk means you missed out on the Soviet cannibal astronaut who fucks grizzly bears in space.

[dreamdead]

Knocked out the first volume of Rachel Rising this morning. Man, I've missed Terry Moore's linework. Initially I doubted the story, but I'm finding myself thinking back on it still, which suggests that there's something interesting in the narrative even if Moore is going slow on reveals right now.

Sarah and I are committed to this, Locke and Key, Saga, Batwoman, and Dial H. That's about it, though.

[number8]

Whaaaa? So Marvel's next big event with that "This is war" tagline that people thought would be an Ultron War crossover turns out to be centered on... The Punisher?

http://x.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/a/30/4fede4a981883/detail.jpg

[megladon8]

Also, meg, dropping Hulk means you missed out on the Soviet cannibal astronaut who fucks grizzly bears in space.


No, I got that issue.

I have the title dropped once "Stay Angry" is complete.

'Cause I'm OCD like that.

[megladon8]

So the alien in "Resident Alien" may be one of my favorite new characters.

It's very sad that this is such a short run.

We need more ongoing series' with new characters.

[number8]

Hey, by the way, how come no one's said anything about the final chapter of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol III? No thoughts? I thought it was an interesting critique of culture, but narratively perhaps the weakest of them all.

Given that almost all of the references this time are from movies and TV show, I probably recognized more of them than any other League books. Gotta admit, though, it's incredibly weird seeing them run into things like Torchwood, Jack Bauer and Tracey fucking Jordan.

(And what the hell are Stringer Bell and Slim Charles doing in London?)

[Sven]

I recognized more of the references in 1969, furthering the notion that I was born 20 years later than I should've been.

2009, though: Best. Deus ex machina. Ever.

I, too, am surprised at the relative silence about such a monumental work. The Minions of the Moon is just about my favorite writing Moore has done (and Galley-Wag his best creation). Have to admit that I didn't really care about Allan Quartermain enough as a character for his death being used as the story's conclusive gesture to carry significant dramatic weight.

[Acapelli]

Hey, by the way, how come no one's said anything about the final chapter of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol III? No thoughts? I thought it was an interesting critique of culture, but narratively perhaps the weakest of them all.

Given that almost all of the references this time are from movies and TV show, I probably recognized more of them than any other League books. Gotta admit, though, it's incredibly weird seeing them run into things like Torchwood, Jack Bauer and Tracey fucking Jordan.

(And what the hell are Stringer Bell and Slim Charles doing in London?)
i'm waiting to re-read the whole shebang before tackling 2009

[number8]

2009, though: Best. Deus ex machina. Ever.

And makes absolute perfect sense, too. This is the hardass book version, not the friendlier movie version.

Wikipedia sums it up best:

Mary Poppins in P.L. Travers' books is strict and no-nonsense, asserting her unusual brand of discipline over the four (later five) Banks children in her charge. Mary is very vain and is always admiring herself in the mirror and other reflections. She constantly scolds the children for their "bad" behaviour, especially when they point out the magical things she does, for she constantly denies she is anything but a prim and proper lady.

...

Some characters, most notably an impudent jackdaw seen in the first two books, call her "The Great Exception," meaning, among other things, she is the only human being who has retained the magical secrets infants possess (such as the power to communicate with animals) until they grow up and forget about them.

[number8]

Uncanny Avengers: (oct 2012) written by [Rick ]Remender. It is going to be the new flagship marvel title and will have among others Cap, Thor, Wolvy, Rogue and Havok in it and both sides will still have some AVX tension.

Avengers (dec 2012): Bi weekly with more then 18 avengers on the team. Written by [Jonathan] Hickman with one shot stories and longer galaxy spanning multi-issue arcs

X-men: (nov 2012) hold on to your hats...... Bendis!!! about the original five x-men time-travel two the present in a pleasantville style story and who are not going to like what they see once they are in the present and will find it unacceptable. Bendis says the time travel aspect of the story is not as important as the character based drama.

I haven't bought a single issue of The Avengers in I don't know how long. Hickman may finally change that.

[Sven]

with one shot stories and longer galaxy spanning multi-issue arcs

So basically exactly what he did with FF. Excellent.

[number8]

So basically exactly what he did with FF. Excellent.

Yuuup. The large roster points to that, too. It's going to be more of an organization than a team, like FF.

[number8]

Also, I don't know if you guys have heard, but Marvel is doing a sort-of relaunch too. Not a reboot like DC, but between October and Feb, they're going to debut one new title every week while periodically cancelling others.

Those three are the only new titles confirmed so far. They'll all start with #1.

[megladon8]

Sounds cool, but who wrote those synopses?

"the original five x-men time travel two the present"

:|

[Sven]

Also, I'm interested to know if Remender will get as ambitious with the scope of Uncanny Avengers as he is with U. X-Force. I'd like to see him apply the same MO of tapping into whacko concepts from the Avengers' history.

[sevenarts]

Yes, I can read Avengers again! Gave up on Bendis' run so long ago. Really excited for Hickman on Avengers. Remender, too, to a lesser extent, but basically with him what I most care about is that whatever else he's doing, he stays on X-Force. The fact that Jerome Opena is joining him on Uncanny Avengers may mean that their X-Force run will be wrapping up, unfortunately. Remender's Secret Avengers has been good, though, probably the best part of AVX so far (not that that's saying much) so I look forward to seeing what he does with the new book. Interesting that he's the one put on the Avengers title described as Marvel's flagship book.

That Bendis X-Men thing sounds terrible.

I've also heard that Matt Fraction is taking Fantastic Four from Hickman. Fraction has so much potential, but his Marvel universe books have been so spotty. Here's hoping he finally does something else as good as Casanova.

Also, Kieron Gillen and Greg Land on Iron Man. If anyone cares.

[Sven]

The fact that Jerome Opena is joining him on Uncanny Avengers may mean that their X-Force run will be wrapping up, unfortunately.

It's not like he hasn't been using tons of other artists on this book, you know.

[megladon8]

When did it become cool to hate on Bendis? He was like the wonder-boy among comic book fans (MC members included, though pre-MC) several years back.

Now he seems to have the same rep among hardcores as someone like Geoff Johns.

I just got the first omnibus of "Ultimate Spider-Man" and it's still fantastic.

[sevenarts]

It's not like he hasn't been using tons of other artists on this book, you know.

True. I just love Remender on that book and hope he's not done with it. I'm probably worrying for nothing.

Bendis lost his luster long ago now. I used to love him, like everyone else, and Alias is still one of my very favorite comics. But his Avengers got old fast and dragged on way too long, and his style has become largely tiresome rather than enjoyable. He's still capable of good stuff, though, I really liked his recent and sadly cancelled Moon Knight series. I'll certainly give his X-Men a shot, but that premise is not promising.

[Sven]

I have still only read about three issues of Bendis's work. Don't know where to start, but I don't really feel the need to hurry about it.

[sevenarts]

I have still only read about three issues of Bendis's work. Don't know where to start, but I don't really feel the need to hurry about it.

Really? That's easy, start with Alias. The only problem is it'll make you super-excited to read the rest of his work, and he's never done anything to match it.

[Acapelli]

Sounds cool, but who wrote those synopses?

"the original five x-men time travel two the present"

:|
that's rich johnston for you

[Sven]

By the way, it's Opena with Hickman. Remender will be working with Cassaday. Nifty.

And I'm actually kind of digging the concept of the X-Men pitch, despite initial revulsion. The idea that what the characters have become over decades of conflicting development in the hands of a multitude of different writers and artists is unacceptable to the original incarnations is kind of a fun riff on the dialogue happening now around a creator's original vision and intention for their company creations.

I probably won't read it.

[number8]

Really? That's easy, start with Alias. The only problem is it'll make you super-excited to read the rest of his work, and he's never done anything to match it.

Daredevil is better.

[number8]

When did it become cool to hate on Bendis? He was like the wonder-boy among comic book fans (MC members included, though pre-MC) several years back.

Now he seems to have the same rep among hardcores as someone like Geoff Johns.

I just got the first omnibus of "Ultimate Spider-Man" and it's still fantastic.

Why do you assume it's the fans that changed instead of him?

[number8]

Also, speaking of Fraction, I'm more interested in his Hawkeye book than FF. Mainly for the David Aja art, but Fraction did so well with Immortal Iron Fist and this looks to be in the same vibe.

[Sven]

New post. (http://earth616.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/comic-capsules-the-thousand-faces-of-thor/)

[megladon8]

Why do you assume it's the fans that changed instead of him?


Because particularly on comic book forums like CBR and the like, people who once touted his works like "Alias" and "Ultimate Spidey" as being brilliant, now hate them simply because it's Bendis, and now it's cool to hate him.

At least sevenarts still likes the stuff he liked before Bendis work apparently started to lack.

Retroactively disliking someone's once loved work is super lame.

[megladon8]

New post. (http://earth616.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/comic-capsules-the-thousand-faces-of-thor/)


Absolutely loving these write-ups, Sven.

Great work.

[Grouchy]

His Daredevil was great. And so was Ultimate Spiderman, at least the first four volumes.

Haven't read anything else.

[Sven]

What defines Bendis?

[number8]

Because particularly on comic book forums like CBR and the like, people who once touted his works like "Alias" and "Ultimate Spidey" as being brilliant, now hate them simply because it's Bendis, and now it's cool to hate him.

At least sevenarts still likes the stuff he liked before Bendis work apparently started to lack.

Retroactively disliking someone's once loved work is super lame.

I'm glad I've never once ventured into the CBR forums then, because I've talked to plenty of people who used to be Bendis fans and now hate him, but not one of them would dare say they now hate his early works too. That doesn't even make any sense. Usually the haters would just say that he "lost it" or that he keeps writing the same story/dialogue over and over ala Aaron Sorkin. Justifiably so, too.

[megladon8]

I actually find the whole "retroactive hate of works I once loved because they're not trendy anymore" to be a pretty common practice in comic book fandom.

It's a big reason why I keep my discussion to MatchCut now.

I got blasted on CBR a few years back because a guy I had known on there for quite some time and who had actually gotten me into the Geoff Johns "Flash" stuff, suddenly decided he hated Geoff Johns (including the "Flash" books he had once whole-heartedly recommended to me). I quoted before and after posts with him loving then bashing the work, and he actually accused me of fabricating posts.

So yeah...MC is now my comic book learning about...place....

[number8]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=39534

Marvel goes into more details about their plan. Bottom line: not a reboot or a relaunch of sorts, but more like a TV show's "new season." AvX wraps up all the loose ends of the past decade of big Marvel stories, and they're gonna be starting a "new era" within the same continuity with all these new titles.

Interesting bits:


One of the big concepts that will be explored in the first wave of titles will be the idea of mutant and human relations.

"This is a world where people don't make quite the same distinctions between mutant super hero and scientifically endowed super hero or between them and a hero who is from another planet. The gap between theses three hero archetypes isn't going to be as big as it was before,"


"Back in 'AvX' #1, Captain America and Cyclops had a pointed conversation before fists started flying about how, whenever a threat to mutants has arisen, the Avengers have seemed pretty remote. Cap articulated his position -- but in the fallout from 'AVX,' Cap and the Avengers, having gone through a bunch of stuff and having walked a mile in the X-Men's shoes, are feeling like there's some truth in what Cyclops had to say," Brevoort told CBR News. "So the Uncanny Avengers squad is being put together as a direct response to that, as a proactive attempt to provide support of the civil rights of the world's mutant citizens, and to provide physical and superhuman aid in those circumstances where either mutants are threatened by non-mutants, regular humans are threatened by mutants, and every other iteration in-between.


"We're not ready to tell you any more about it, but Jonathan will also be writing 'New Avengers' as well as 'Avengers. I mention that because the second thing you need to know is that, like 'Amazing Spider-Man,' 'Avengers' is going to be shipping twice a month. So there'll be three Hickman-written Avengers comics coming out every 30 days -- two issues of 'Avengers' and one issue of 'New Avengers,'" Brevoort explained.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


"So we'll be fielding a very large core team comprised of 18 or so characters -- spanning the key players in the 'Avengers' film, mainstays of the current team such as Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) and Spider-Woman, classic Avengers of the past such as the Falcon, some established Marvel characters of note that have never been Avengers before, and a number of completely new, though familiar, characters as well. And we'll be keeping things in motion--not every hero will be featured in every issue--there'll be smaller groups tasked to deal with rising situations as they crop up."


A large number of titles will be part of the Marvel NOW! initiative, but that doesn't mean that every book Marvel publishes will be restarted with a new #1 issue. "Anything that has a story hook tied into this initiative will be branded Marvel NOW!" Alonso explained. "So there will be a lot of new #1 issues including 'Thor' #1, an 'Iron Man' #1, and a 'Captain America' #1, but there might be some other titles, like 'Daredevil' for instance, which won't go through a creative change or have a new #1.

Honestly, this seems quite smart so far.

[ledfloyd]

this will be the... third? cap #1 brubaker has written?

[number8]

this will be the... third? cap #1 brubaker has written?

Brubaker is off Cap in like 3 issues. He's leaving Marvel to do creator owned stuff and movies. The only thing he'll write for Marvel is Winter Soldier.

[number8]

Actually, next issue (#14) will be his last. Starting #15, Cullen Bunn will do the actual writing with Brubaker as co-plotter for 4 issues, and then he's off completely.

[sevenarts]

Brubaker will apparently be coming back for #19 to wrap things up after the Bunn arc.

[number8]

FURY is so good.

[megladon8]

This is my current pull list:

Action Comics
Batman
Batman Arkham Unhinged
Batman Incorporated
Batwoman
Captain Marvel
Demon Knights
Detective Comics
Dial H
Earth 2
Godzilla: Half Century War
Hawkeye
I, Vampire
Justice League
Justice League Dark
Resident Alien
Saucer Country
Space Punisher
Superman
Swamp Thing
Wonder Woman


Any arcs starting in the coming months that I should get on?

I'll probably add all 4 of the new Marvel titles coming starting this fall.

[Sven]

Space Punisher


The preview pages for this were off the hook. Can't wait.

I'll likely get Hickman/Remender's Avengers books. Those two are brains I trust.

Wonder who's gonna be on Thor...

[megladon8]

The preview pages for this were off the hook. Can't wait.


I know, right?!

I thought it looked wicked-cool! I'm surprised there isn't more hype for this one. Looks totally gonzo awesome.

[number8]

I love the idea of a symbiote brood.

[megladon8]

So, any recommendations for upcoming titles or arcs starting in the coming months?

[EyesWideOpen]

Based on your pull list you really need to be reading Saga.

[megladon8]

Based on your pull list you really need to be reading Saga.


Yeah, I'd like to, but again it's a title that doesn't seem like it'd be friendly to someone just jumping in in the middle of things.

It's one I may wait to check out in trade.

[number8]

There's only been 3 issues...

[number8]

Also they reprinted the first two issues like 5 times. I don't think it'd be hard to find copies.

[megladon8]

OK I'll fire an e-mail to my LCS and see if they can get them for me.

"Spaceman" is one I kicked myself for not getting. That trade will definitely be mine.

[Sven]

Anyone got some thoughts on the 6-series Infinity Gauntlet comic? The one that debuted in 1991 because I understand there's been a more recent makeover as well.

Yo, Morris. I just read this, as I'm slowly branching into Starlin. I love how he routinely compromises the power and intellect of superheroes, and seeing how he distends that fallibility onto the cosmic scope of fantasy comics is utterly compelling. It's got great art and colors, pages zooming from ten-panel pages to double-page spreads with the right combination of playfulness and purpose. And Thanos is an awesome, awesome character.

[Thirdmango]

Gotta agree with Sven. Infinity Gauntlet was actually one of the first comics I ever read so when I was buying trades I went out and got this one right away. Thanos is a total badass.

[sevenarts]

"Spaceman" is one I kicked myself for not getting. That trade will definitely be mine.

This will read much better in trades anyway. It's pretty tough to follow month to month, I'm looking forward to it ending so I can do a re-read and actually make some sense of it.

[megladon8]

I was flipping through this book being released in trade in August called "Monocyte".

Looks fairly typical of that type of dark fantasy graphic work (like stuff by Brom, many of the comics by Gaiman post-"Sandman", etc.) - visually dazzling, but completely shallow, uninteresting story telling.

[number8]

Marvel titles confirmed to be ending. 9 so far:


CAPTAIN AMERICA #19
ED BRUBAKER (W) • STEVE EPTING (A&C)
Final Issue Variant Also Available
END OF AN ERA!
• Steve Epting returns for the grand finale of Ed Brubaker’s EPIC RUN on Captain America, and the end of an era!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

THE MIGHTY THOR #22
MATT FRACTION (W) • BARRY KITSON (A)
Cover by PASQUAL FERRY
Final Issue Variant Also Available
END OF AN ERA!
EVERYTHING BURNS AFTERMATH • THE FINAL ISSUE…!
• After all the blood and thunder that’s rocked the nine realms someone has to pay.
• It will probably be Thor – the only Asgardian brave enough to face…THE DOOM RING.
• Who dares judge a god? Just wait and see who shows up…
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

INCREDIBLE HULK #15
JASON AARON (W) • JEFTE PALO (A)
Cover BY ED McGUINNESS
Final Issue Variant Also Available
FINAL ISSUE!
• HULK: UNITED concludes!!!
• HULK VS. DOOM-BOTS!!! EEEE-NUFFZZAID-00011001010BOOM!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #527
MATT FRACTION (W) • SALVADOR LARROCA (A&C)
Final Issue Variant Also Available
END OF AN ERA!
• Who lives? Who dies? Who wins? Who loses?
• More importantly: what’s next for Tony Stark and Iron Man? You won’t believe it until you read it!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #611
JONATHAN HICKMAN (W) • RYAN STEGMAN (A&C)
Susan G. Komen Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Final Issue Variant Also Available
FINAL ISSUE!
• Jonathan Hickman’s groundbreaking run comes to an end in this climactic issue!
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99

FF #23
JONATHAN HICKMAN (W) • NICK DRAGOTTA (A)
Cover BY KALMAN ANDROSOFZSKY
Final Issue Variant Also Available
FINAL ISSUE!
• Jonathan Hickman wraps up his tenure as Old Franklin teaches Young Franklin “How To Be A God!”
32 PGS./Rated T …$2.99

UNCANNY X-MEN #20
KIERON GILLEN (W) • CARLOS PACHECO (A&C)
Susan G. Komen Variant Cover by DAVE MARQUEZ
Final Issue Variant Also Available
• The fallout of AVX is here!
• We can’t tell you anything without spoiling AVX!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

NEW MUTANTS #50
DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING (W) • TBD (A)
Cover BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
FINAL ISSUE!
• It’s time to raise a glass to Dani Moonstar, Sunspot, Cipher, Warlock, Sunspot and X-Man in this series-ending issue!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

X-MEN LEGACY #275
CHRISTOS GAGE (W) • DAVID BALDEON (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
Final Issue Variant Also Available
THE END OF AN ERA!
• Last issue, Magneto made Rogue a daunting offer. In this FINAL ISSUE of X-MEN: LEGACY, Rogue faces the repercussions of her decision!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

[Sven]

Anyone read Gillen's Uncanny X-Men? I flipped through an early issue and it looked pretty strange.

I have a hard time getting into the X-Men. I've encountered too few X-Men books that are interested in more than their plot.

Warren Ellis's Astonishing X-Men was a surprisingly huge disappointment for this reason. However, the minis work, Xenogenesis mostly for Kaare - Ghost Boxes for its witty and dour "What If...?" musings.

I'm almost done with his Thunderbolts run and it is wonderful.

[megladon8]

My very favorite X-Men books are almost all from the Chris Clarement era. "Dark Phoenix Saga", "Days of Future Past", etc.

I also really dug Grant Morrison's "New X-Men" (beautiful omnibus of it coming in August), and Joss Whedon's "Astonishing X-Men" was great fun.

[megladon8]

Has anyone been reading Brian Wood's "The Massive"?

Sounds awesome.

[number8]

I just read Anthony Bourdain's Get Jiro.

It's awesome.

[megladon8]

I just read Anthony Bourdain's Get Jiro.

It's awesome.


Awesomely terrible? Or is it actually good?

[number8]

Huh? Why would it be terrible?

[megladon8]

Huh? Why would it be terrible?


It didn't sound very good.

[Sven]

Hm. New Parker book is too crisp. Gone is the atmosphere and texture of the previous two books. In their stead, clean lines and cartoony expressions. Hm.

[EyesWideOpen]

Has anyone been reading Brian Wood's "The Massive"?

Sounds awesome.

I was gonna pick it up today but every store by me was sold out of issue #1. I also still haven't been able to find The Manhattan Projects #2 anywhere by me even though it's been reprinted. I have every issue but #2. Looks like I'll have to go online.

I did pick up a new Image book called Revival today. It's written by Tim Seeley and drawn by Mike Norton. The cover looked interesting and the blurb said it's a "rural noir" so I figured I'd give it a shot.

[megladon8]

"Space Punisher" was frickin' great. Everything "Stay Angry" should have been.

[EyesWideOpen]

I was gonna pick it up today but every store by me was sold out of issue #1. I also still haven't been able to find The Manhattan Projects #2 anywhere by me even though it's been reprinted. I have every issue but #2. Looks like I'll have to go online.



I managed to get Manhattan Projects #2 and 4, The Massive #1 (signed by Brian Wood) and #2 and Secret #2 for $19 shipped from midtown comics. Not too bad.

[Sven]

Holy $#!*. Gaiman/JH Williams III reviving Sandman.

[dreamdead]

Holy $#!*. Gaiman/JH Williams III reviving Sandman.

Sarah is quite excited about this announcement, as she's a huge Gaiman fan. I suspect that means that Williams' next illustrated arc for Batwoman will be his last, which is kinda sad, but I love that he continues to work with the top-tier writers.

[Acapelli]

"die curious"

so. fucking. bad. ass.

[Sven]

"die curious"

so. fucking. bad. ass.

???

[Sven]

Sarah is quite excited about this announcement, as she's a huge Gaiman fan. I suspect that means that Williams' next illustrated arc for Batwoman will be his last, which is kinda sad, but I love that he continues to work with the top-tier writers.

I think, too, that of any contemporary mainstream comic artists, his style fits most suitably with the visual ambitions of the original series. Though it would have been a real kick to see modern Sam Kieth get the gig.

[Acapelli]

???
rucka's punisher

[sevenarts]

"die curious"

so. fucking. bad. ass.


made me grin from ear to ear. best marvel series now that hickman's ff is winding down.

[Sven]

Did you read his Neil Young graphic novel?

I've been trying to find it at a store so that I don't have to order it online, but with no luck. I'm gonna cave soon.

Finally got it. Only ten/fifteen pages in, but the operative descriptor so far is lovely. It's a terrifically lovely book. Has already established a warm atmosphere and alluring languor.

[Morris Schæffer]

Yo, Morris. I just read this, as I'm slowly branching into Starlin. I love how he routinely compromises the power and intellect of superheroes, and seeing how he distends that fallibility onto the cosmic scope of fantasy comics is utterly compelling. It's got great art and colors, pages zooming from ten-panel pages to double-page spreads with the right combination of playfulness and purpose. And Thanos is an awesome, awesome character.

Hey, just read this. Thanks for the feedback.:)

[megladon8]

Jen's comment about having recently read the entirety of "Crossed" (from Ennis's stuff on) made me laugh.

"The first issues were good, but it got too repetitive. I mean, how many ways can you rape someone to death? A lot, apparently."

[Sven]

I want my library to carry Crossed. Because I want to read them, but I don't want to own them.

[Grouchy]

Hahah. Ennis.

[number8]

Finally got it. Only ten/fifteen pages in, but the operative descriptor so far is lovely. It's a terrifically lovely book. Has already established a warm atmosphere and alluring languor.

Yeah it has a very warm voice throughout. The two page spread of her going into town at the beginning is, you said it, so lovely.

[number8]

I grabbed all three available Shade the Changing Man trades brand new for less than $25. Gotta love conventions.

[Sven]

New entry.

http://tiny.cc/11jlhw

[Sven]

I grabbed all three available Shade the Changing Man trades brand new for less than $25. Gotta love conventions.

I got the trades, read them, realized they were never going to collect the rest of the series, bought the remaining 50 issues and devoured them with relish (meaning pleasure, not shredded pickle). One of the best books out there.

[number8]

I got the trades, read them, realized they were never going to collect the rest of the series, bought the remaining 50 issues and devoured them with relish (meaning pleasure, not shredded pickle). One of the best books out there.

Yah, they're being tools. I was hoping that his reintroduction in the New 52 would mean some more, but now he's gone again so phoo. Still, I saw those in the bin and couldn't resist the price.

[megladon8]

Got a crazy good deal on all 4 volumes of this Vertigo title "Unknown Soldier".

I know nothing about it but it sounds great, and I couldn't pass up the price.

[EyesWideOpen]

Finally read through the first four issues of The Manhattan Projects. This book is SO good.

[megladon8]

Did anyone else check out "Captain Marvel" #1 today?

I dug it. The writing left a little to be desired but felt like it could improve as issues go on. The art was fantastic, though. Beautiful, paint-like colours and some dynamic action.

Looking forward to continuing with this one.

[sevenarts]

Anyone read the first issue of the new Image series Revival? Really great stuff, a mix of sci-fi, horror, "rural noir" and family drama, and it's really well-balanced and self-assured right out of the gate. Gorgeous Fargo-esque atmosphere from artist Mike Norton, and a fascinating, very original and well-crafted premise from writer Tim Seeley. Can't wait to see where this goes from here.

Kinda strikes me as instantly hitting the tone and mood that Saucer Country has been fumbling at.

[Ezee E]

Any Walking Dead readers? Checked out issue #100 as my first issue and dug it a lot. I don't know at all what's going on, but it's definitely something I'd like to get into.

And looks like the Bourdain comic isn't available on comixology. Darn.

[Sven]

After re-reading the whole thing, I would rank them thusly:

1 1900
2 Black Dossier
3 Vol 2
4 2009
5 Vol 1
6 1969

1969 is considerably better than some of the better books I've read, which should indicate the degree of esteem in which I hold this magnificent work. I would like to see an installment set in the future.

[megladon8]

Continuing to really enjoy "Unknown Soldier". I'll try to read a few more issues tonight.

So I ask again, anyone else read "Captain Marvel" #1 this past week? Thoughts?

[Sven]

anyone else read "Captain Marvel" #1 this past week?

I flipped through it and wasn't compelled.

[EyesWideOpen]

Continuing to really enjoy "Unknown Soldier". I'll try to read a few more issues tonight.

So I ask again, anyone else read "Captain Marvel" #1 this past week? Thoughts?

I'm glad to see they're doing something progressive with a big two female character but I'm done with their superhero books at this point.

[megladon8]

Well that's too bad because you're missing (and going to miss) lots of great stuff!

[megladon8]

Does anyone here have experience with Rick Remender's "Fear Agent"?

Looks and sounds really cool. Flipped through a few pages and I think I may have to check this one out.

[EyesWideOpen]

Well that's too bad because you're missing (and going to miss) lots of great stuff!

You're always going to miss great stuff. No one can read everything. I'd rather give my money to comic publishers that aren't DC and Marvel.

[number8]

I think that's noble. They are being dicks. I wish I could muster up the same conviction.

[Sven]

Checked three volumes of American Vampire out from the library. Read the first one this morning. It is cliche-riddled slop. Hopefully it gets better.

[Sven]

Hopefully it gets better.

It does not.

[number8]

:lol:

[dreamdead]

Ever since some blog deconstructed the typical Snyder opening (chronic voice-over opening about relative that pays off on the splash page three or five pages in), I've been unable to convince myself to try American Vampire. Sarah's read the first two volumes and likes them well enough, but the only thing that really sustained my interest was his reboot of Swamp Thing, and I don't even follow that anymore.

[Sven]

He's certainly formulaic, which is a strike. One thing I do like about Snyder is that he's always reaching to reflect his characters against their settings, which is one of my favorite narrative designs. Unfortunately, he usually only skims the surface before switching over to genre thrills, which is a total diffusion. He also stoops to swoops of convenience way too frequently: counterintuitive withholding of information, deus ex machinas all over the place, etc.

King's story in the first volume is much better than his (though I wish Santolouco illustrated it!).

[sevenarts]

King's story in the first volume is much better than his (though I wish Santolouco illustrated it!).

Hahah I thought exactly the opposite, the King story was so flat compared to Snyder's.

I thought the WW2 story arc (in volume 3 of the trades) was fantastic. Love a lot of what comes after that, too, especially the most recent few arcs.

But then I don't think we've ever agreed about a comic ever. :lol:

[number8]

Bought Captain Marvel. I've always really liked Carol Danvers, and I echo what Eyes said about female characters and female creators, but this did nothing for me. There's literally nothing new or interesting in the first issue. Also the art sucks.

[Sven]

Does anyone here have experience with Rick Remender's "Fear Agent"?

Looks and sounds really cool. Flipped through a few pages and I think I may have to check this one out.

I didn't see this post, meg, and my guess is now you are gone (:sad:). I really want to hunker down with Fear Agent, but I read the first trade and was unimpressed. Tony Moore's monsters are satisfying, as they always are, but the story was too basic and meatless. I trust it gets more complicated as it goes, and I'm one to give Remender the benefit of the doubt.

It's going to be coming out in slightly oversized omnibus volumes soon. Dark Horse is still A#1 for beautifully printed collections, so it may be worth it.

[number8]

Where did meg go?

[Sven]

Where did meg go?

There was some frustration in the Dark Knight Rises thread that has been deleted. I think he may be taking a self-imposed leave of absence because of it.

Conjecture.

[Ezee E]

There was some frustration in the Dark Knight Rises thread that has been deleted. I think he may be taking a self-imposed leave of absence because of it.

Conjecture.
Never understood why people delete their avatars as their means of "temp leaving." Seems like unnecessary work.

[number8]

Never understood why people delete their avatars as their means of "temp leaving." Seems like unnecessary work.

That happens automatically when you're banned, I believe. Maybe he asked a mod to ban him.

[Grouchy]

Heh. I guess meg is a sensitive soul when it comes to Nolan/Batman.

He should just cut the bullshit and return to posting... which he'll do anyway sooner or later.

[Kurosawa Fan]

That happens automatically when you're banned, I believe. Maybe he asked a mod to ban him.

I believe if he had been banned, it would say so underneath his username. Pretty sure his exile is self-imposed.

[Ivan Drago]

Has anyone read Neil Gaiman's The Black Orchid? If so, is it worth a buy?

After I found out about it, I've been looking at random panels online and it looks incredible. Dave McKean of Arkham Asylum fame illustrating it only piques my interest.

[ledfloyd]

Has anyone read Neil Gaiman's The Black Orchid? If so, is it worth a buy?

After I found out about it, I've been looking at random panels online and it looks incredible. Dave McKean of Arkham Asylum fame illustrating it only piques my interest.
it's gaiman and mckean, you already know it's worth a buy.

[sevenarts]

Has anyone read Neil Gaiman's The Black Orchid? If so, is it worth a buy?

After I found out about it, I've been looking at random panels online and it looks incredible. Dave McKean of Arkham Asylum fame illustrating it only piques my interest.


It's not my favorite Gaiman/McKean collaboration, but it's still good. Mostly for the art, which is absolutely *gorgeous* of course.

[Sven]

Neato burrito. Looks like DC is finally releasing (in February) a collection of Milligan's Animal Man run, one of the best comics ever. Highly recommend you add it to your wishlist.

[D_Davis]

Has anyone read Neil Gaiman's The Black Orchid? If so, is it worth a buy?


It's very good. A long-time favorite of mine.

[sevenarts]

Neato burrito. Looks like DC is finally releasing (in February) a collection of Milligan's Animal Man run, one of the best comics ever. Highly recommend you add it to your wishlist.

Oh great news, I love those issues, and never thought they'd be collected. Some of the craziest, most surreal mainstream comics imaginable.

Now if only they can finish collecting Shade the Changing Man. And maybe follow up with Jamie Delano's Animal Man, which isn't as good or as consistent as the Morrison and Milligan issues, but still has some great ideas and cool arcs.

[Sven]

Uncanny X-Force and FF both just smacked me in the face and called me unworthy.

[Sven]

Little bit of insomnia this morning: re-read Ellis's Secret Avengers. Impossibly excellent.

Also, started a re-read of Earth X a few days ago (resolved to get through Paradise X this time) and am impressed anew. This time I've actually got some track time with the characters and know a thing or two about the Marvel U. Though it's actually not too bad as a primer. John Paul Leon, man. Every damn page has some detail that knocks me over.

[number8]

Got a sudden itch to re-read all of Ennis' Punisher MAX work starting with Born.

[Ezee E]

Uncanny X-Force and FF both just smacked me in the face and called me unworthy.

Thanks for the rec on Uncanny X-Force. Great issue despite knowing nothing of what's gone on previously.

[Sven]

Great issue despite knowing nothing of what's gone on previously.

Oh wow. That was your first issue? Awesome that it worked. If you liked it, definitely prioritize the rest. This issue is a direct address of the 20+ issues before it, wherein Deathlok's new MO is established, the team's attitude toward righteous violence is explored, and the Fantomex/Psylocke psychodrama gathers emotional dimension.

Dean White, the guy who colors the series, ties all the disparate illustrators together (quality ranging from Jerome Opena to Billy Tan, basically a 1 to 10 showing), unifying Remender's massive, complicated vision. It's one of the four genuine masterpieces running right now.

[number8]

Grant Morrison at Batman premiere. Awesome purple suit.

http://media.dcentertainment.com/sites/default/files/photo.JPG

[Sven]

Aaron/Ribic's Thor: a guarantee for the artwork, but what to expect from the writing...

I could see Aaron pulling off a hard-edged mini, but I don't see him as a cosmic kinda guy. Then again, Fraction, who IS that kinda guy, kinda bombed. Fingers crossed.

[Acapelli]

have you read his astonishing spider-man & wolverine mini? while not exactly cosmic in scope, he does an amazing job with something that could be considered similar in scope (time travel), and some pretty great big concepts

[Sven]

have you read his astonishing spider-man & wolverine mini? while not exactly cosmic in scope, he does an amazing job with something that could be considered similar in scope (time travel), and some pretty great big concepts

First thing I read of his and still my favorite.

[Acapelli]

yeah, mine too

[Sven]

Waid/Yu on Hulk. Okay.

[number8]

Sooo... Despite the title, X-Treme X-men is actually pretty awesome.

[number8]

Brian Posehn is writing new Deadpool series. Huh.

[Sven]

Hey, 8, did you ever read Violent Messiahs? I just finished it. Never read anything like it.

[Sven]

It's one of the four genuine masterpieces running right now.

Haha. This was gin/coke night. I may have been overselling it a bit. It's really good, though.

[number8]

No, I never realized they re-released it. Cool.

[number8]

I googled for it and found this clip from 90210. Wat.

v8gxvIFC94M

[Acapelli]

so i just came across matt seneca's anti-morrison screeds and was wondering what you guys think about them (i guess sven especially)

http://mattseneca.blogspot.com/2012/05/1-november-16th-2005-september-17th.html
http://mattseneca.blogspot.com/2012/05/life-on-earth-q-love-childhood-and-all.html
http://mattseneca.blogspot.com/2012/05/life-on-earth-q-love-childhood-and-all_18.html


Grant Morrison was never a marginal figure, or even an “alternative” one, having done the overwhelming majority of his work for DC and Marvel, the two largest publishers of comics, and the rest of it for companies whose products share shelf space and genre with them. He never self-published a comic, never put his own work together by stapling Xerox printouts into pamphlets, never crowdfunded a project or took out loans to finance one, never had to face the task of distributing his own work to comics retailers, never did an unpaid job for the love of the medium. Morrison’s public image is all but certainly the one to have benefitted most from the low visibility of and difficulty of access to avant-garde, non-corporate comics in America -- comics by people who actually do all the things listed above. Morrison capitalizes on a culture that discourages innovation and progress by telling a captive audience that his own staunchly unadventurous work represents those very values.

[Sven]

so i just came across matt seneca's anti-morrison screeds and was wondering what you guys think about them (i guess sven especially)

Seneca's a reactionary that I think is protesting too much in an attempt to catapult his reputation in the arts community by distancing himself from his interest in corporate goods. I've read these before and they are buffoonish in their broad swipes and hoity tone.

[number8]

It's not even surprising, really. He's always displayed open animosity for contemporary mainstream comics creators. Dude publicly attacks Marvel and DC editors on Twitter, including Stan Lee. Of course Morrison would be high on his shit list.

[EyesWideOpen]

Now I remember why I had switched to DCBS for my books back when I was buying a bunch.

I went in to my LCS today to pick up my books for the month and out of my six books that came out that were on my pulllist they only had three for me. The guy tells me sorry they under ordered and are sold out of them. But they did have two books for me one which I cancelled two months ago and one which I cancelled last month. He tells me I need to pay for them or I can't get my other books since the way the preorder system works is that they preorder three months out. I told him yes if the preorder system was working I would have no problem paying for those two books but since you guys aren't getting me my books why should I be the only one following the pulllist procedures. So I had him cancel my box and left with no books.

[Grouchy]

That guy's bashing of Morrison only makes sense if Morrison himself claims to be an independent or avant-garde creator.

But, never mind what people or critics can write about him, I think Morrison would only be too happy to admit that he writes mainstream superhero comics for the Big Two.

[number8]

This is pretty good. 2000 AD now available on iPad as a subscription. Same day and date.

http://www.2000adonline.com/news/06-08-2012/2000_ad_goes_day_and_date_digi tal_on_your_ipad/

[Sven]

This is pretty good. 2000 AD now available on iPad as a subscription. Same day and date.

http://www.2000adonline.com/news/06-08-2012/2000_ad_goes_day_and_date_digi tal_on_your_ipad/

Do you know if they'll be making back issues available? That's the only way I'd consider it.

[number8]

Do you know if they'll be making back issues available? That's the only way I'd consider it.

Probably only the ones from the past 10 years. It is a weekly magazine, after all. I would assume that such a catalog would be a huge undertaking.

[Sven]

Oof. Ultimate verdict on Stay Angry is a thumbs down, sadly. This series is one of the bigger letdowns.

Fantastic Four was brilliant, however. [/redundantredundant]

[number8]

Kind of a waste that this store (http://bookriot.com/2012/08/08/bam-a-comicbook-store-that-looks-like-a-comic-book/) is not much of a comic book store.

[Sven]

James Stokoe's visualization of Godzilla's roar is brilliant.

[Sven]

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

[Ezee E]

Nice. I like it a lot too.