love what you're doing in here sven
love what you're doing in here sven
Oh thanks. Maybe when it's done I will write something greater than just these bites. Until then:Quoting Acapelli (view post)
Old Man Logan remains one of the essential minis. Sorrentino's command of splash and spectacle is equal to Bendis's rhythm as a storyteller, and the fusion of character to concept is made even more seamless with this issue.
Thors, though, I dunno... the overt COPS riffing is very distracting. So great to see Sprouse back in action, and its overt address of the new world dynamic is scratching that itch for novel fantasy world-building that this massive corporate imperative has surprisingly produced. I have a feeling I'mma reread all this in three or four years and it's gonna really click.
Squadron Supreme is decent entertainment. Kinda like Morrison/Quitely's Earth 2 book, with Hyperion as an Ultraman proxy. Guggenheim seems a fine storyteller, with this iteration's Nighthawk (Batman?) duly subterraneous in characterization and motivation. I wish Marvel'd let Pacheco take his time. Man is capable of astounding renderings, but always seems rushed when dealing with supes...
Last edited by Sven; 06-18-2015 at 04:40 AM.
You know, I think this sort of writing has largely gone out of style, but I really appreciate how all of Al Ewing's Marvel stuff is full of references, callbacks, or teasers to something in a particular issue from the past or currently on the stand. Not in the deconstructive and easter egg way that Grant Morrison works in Silver Age stuff, but more in the old school way of "Let's have the characters talk about something that happened in issue such and such to explain why they think this way now." Except Stan Lee and co used to do that for stories that are maybe 6-8 issues ago. Ewing is doing it with issues that are sometimes decades old. Every issue of Loki and Mighty Avengers has at least 4-5 "* For more, see ____" editor caption boxes. The cool thing is, with the digital era (and especially the Marvel Unlimited library), fans actually can just load up that issue they're referring to. It's kinda cool. Maybe the next step would be to turn those caption boxes into hyperlinks.
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Yeah, Al Ewing I've decided is pretty much the best. Well, he's up there. Why can't more writers be as simultaneously stylish (but not showboaty) and emotional (but not melodramatic)? His Last Days issue of CAatMA nearly wrung tears from these icy cubes I call eyes. I love that there was pointedly no moment of grand revelation or heroism. Ewing's is a virtue rooted in ensemble. All of his stories are about the interrelationships of constituent parts, which is pretty much the functionality of comics narrative, and it doesn't matter if victory is achieve so long as collective harmony is achieved. I have the first volume of his Loki book waiting for me at the library.
I've never read any of the Runaways, but my cursory knowledge of the greater Marvel U made the Battleworld Tie-in work. I imagine confused faces at the Cho/Skaar pairing, or the significance of Valeria, but I could follow the story and the dramatics were entertaining. I dug Rauch's palette mostly, I think, in terms of the artwork, which seemed a little like Skottie Young, a little like Jeff Stokely, but not as committed as either. Plus, comics about groups of teens in high school have quite an uphill climb in terms of visual intrigue. Buncha young'ns sitting around yapping. Still, not bad.
Also, hmmmm... to issue 2 of Armor Wars. It's nice to see something through that I would have ordinarily written off (though I'm pretty sure I'm going to be finishing very few of these X-men-based minis), because this second issue definitely helps develop the perspective and voice of the story, which the first issue didn't develop too terribly well. Issue two though was a nice pace quickener, and features some impressive artwork and quirky beats. Still wouldn't call it great, but definitely not the disaster that it suggested it would be.
Part of it is probably because it's his own art style done better. He honed his writing skills with that type of art that he did himself in Jinx, Goldfish and Torso.
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Update! Update!
Age of Ultron v Marvel Zombies is so much more awesome than I anticipated. I love this relegation of the U's most volatile hostilities, and the promise of intriguing consequence. Giving Ultron the foil of a 19th century Pym is perfect, and I adored the percussive splashes detailing the zone's history. Definitely overshadowed some of the clumsier colloquialisms in the dialogue.
And how about E for Extinction? Love the popping colors, and it's deliciously weird. Cyclops and Emma are hysterical. Burnham must've finally tapped into that Moz-mojo, because his Batman Inc issue was definitely not this good. Still, though, not the best X-book tie-in, which would be Gugg'/'domenico's X-Tinction Agenda.
Infinity Gauntlet 2 is a tiny step down from the surprise of the first issue. Watching a hero family bond over discovered super dynamics has never really been an interesting trope for me. Still hella well illustrated, of course (Dog Nova is gnarly). And the modest infusion of villainy so far is refreshing.
I tried reading X-Men 92, but bailed. I'll try again sometime soon.
A few more thoughts -
MODOK Assassin is now one of my favorite ancillaries. The second issue was rambunctious but clear, and never less than hysterical. Some choice panels. Also, its interwoven Battleworld functionality is quite creative.
Planet Hulk, on the other hand, is even worse with the new issue. Lurching and confused, and Doc Green's dialogue is really leaden. Shame, cuz the artwork is cool, but this is one to veer far from.
Korvac Saga was fine. A little redundant in that there's not much here that other titles aren't doing, but there's some intrigue with this iteration of Wonder Man...
All new Marvel titles post-Secret Wars have leaked. I perused. This will be an opportune time to quit Marvel. The highlights, and the only titles I may compromise and purchase, are Karnak by Warren Ellis, Contest of Champions (which looks like space gladiators overseen by the Maestro) by Al Ewing, and Dr. Strange by Aaron/Bachalo. I'm moderately miffed that they gave Old Man Logan to Lemire, but at least I won't have to read it.
Yup, I'm actually seeing this as a good ending point for all the Marvel titles I'm reading and will be dropping them. I won't have any Marvel on my pull list after the "Last Days of" issues and the final Hawkeye issue.
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I'm interested in Waid's Avengers and Soule's Daredevil. Also A-Force. And Wilson's Ms. Marvel, natch.
Curious to see what Zdarsky will do with Howard the Duck.
Is Fantastic Four over?
I'm the rare fan of the Zdar that does not like Sex Criminals.* His comedy writing is fabulous. I'm a huge Kaptara fan.
*I've only read the first arc
I like quite a few currently, Ms. Marvel and Howard the Duck including (the latter has been REALLY fucking funny). I think I just want to take a break from following Marvel and DC for a bit and they gave me the perfect opportunity to do so.
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I don't understand why they'd have an Ultimates title without an Ultimates. It looks like it's gonna be pretty much Al Ewing's Mighty Avengers but taking the name of a defunct alternate universe's team name. Kinda weird.
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I dunno about post Secret Wars Marvel, but I'm loving the culmination of Hickman's General thesis on the nature of Marvel and yada yada. Incredible work from Ribic, too.
Working on something a bit more thorough than my blurbies, so I will not be so sweeping with them anymore, but I do feel compelled to mention that Soule/Yu's Civil War tie-in is $%&#in' brilliant, and intertwines perfectly with Hickman's crux.
Pretty much all of the bad ancillaries have been X-Men books. Why's there got to be so many of them? And how do they all exist in this Battleworld.?
Although Gage/Diaz did bring a whole new level of boring to their Spider-Island outing...
One thing I really love about Marvel Unlimited is the "Events" feature where you select a story and they list you everything that's tied to it in chronological order. Makes it really easy to be a crossover completist. I'm current re-reading World War Hulk, but this time, with all the Hulk, Iron Man, Frontline, Avengers, X-Men, etc tie-ins. Even the completely inconsequential Ant-Man and Ghost Rider tie-ins.
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I got a Marvel Unlimited subscription. I've been reading a lot of early Lee/Kirby stuff that I never read. Early Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, and others. All awesome stuff. Dated for sure, but there is some stuff that packs a punch. I love on certain issues they still include all the fan letters at the end of the issue. Reading fan letters from young black readers praising Lee for creating Black Panther is timeless and really emotional to read.
Sure why not?
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (Rian Johnson) - 9
STRONGER (David Gordon Green) - 6
THE DISASTER ARTIST (James Franco) - 7
THE FLORIDA PROJECT (Sean Baker) - 9
LADY BIRD (Greta Gerwig) - 8
"Hitchcock is really bad at suspense."
- Stay Puft
I'm finally digging down into Matt Fraction's Iron Man run. I think it was more interesting than I (and many) gave it credit for.
It made me think of a new yardstick to measure against, and that is, how self-contained can a run feel like when you're reading it almost a decade removed from when it was published, even though it did not disassociate from the continuity at the time? This book cuts through many crossovers, and it's about a character who is absolutely central to all those events, so it had to link directly with them, and yet when taken out of those contexts today, it still reads like its own ongoing story.
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Awesome! I got it right. I've always liked that one, and am constantly flipping back through it for great moments. The Doc Ock arc is probably my favorite part.
Secret Wars finale felt kind of off. Enjoyed it, though. What are the best "all new" series now? I've been avoiding them all.
the vision
Holy shit, this is good. I'm sure this will only get a 12 issue run before its canned.
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