The MBoard

Just thought since I'm such a big comic book fan and I see at least one other person who seems to be comic fan/reader on the site it'd be good to have a thread where anyone can talk about what they've read or ask a question about current or old comic stories.

I thought about it too but I'm not sure if there's a whole lot of interest. Either way I'm in. I mean, I work at a comic store...

Ah you do? That's interesting. I shop at a few different comic shops in New York cause each is good at having certain stuff. Some have a wide selection of back issues, others have really limited back issues but have so many current issues you can bet they'll have what a customer wants etc...

One comic I downright loved this week  was The Hulk #1, with the appearance of the brand new Red Hulk.

I only collect one Comic Book.

Invincible! :D

I actually have the Complete Invincible Library Volume One sitting next to me as we speak.

I think the only people that will be in this thread regularly will be the three of us.

And I thought Hulk was kind of... Dumb.

I mean ooooh [spoiler]Rick Jones[/spoiler], and he has a GUN!

Also, Shulkie seemed unnecessarily bitchy. And Doc Damson... He seemed too ready to start a fight with the Russians.

I don't know, that just might be my whole "Jeph Loeb, stop writing comics, you jerk" bias talking.

What I DID like however was Nova, which you can never go wrong with. I love that series so much.

The Twelve is off to a very good start, though I thought it would be about WWII era Superheroes fighting Nazis.

Ghost Rider was good, and I am so glad it's not getting canceled like I thought it was.

Mighty Avengers was... Eh. And I take back what I said about Bagely's art being horrible, since he can actually draw Venom well.

And the new B.P.R.D. series has a good start, and I can't wait to see where they go with it.

I also, through alternative methods, I read the new Amazing Spider-Man (without having to pay for it), and wow. That was terrible. I mean, Marvel is going WAY out of their way to make this comic completely unlikable.

I wanted to read a SPIDER-MAN comic, not "Peter Parker is a penniless, 30 year-old, loser who lives with his mother figure".


Ah well, I'm just gonna read me some Goon.

I only collect one Comic Book.

Invincible! :D

I actually have the Complete Invincible Library Volume One sitting next to me as we speak.

Ah Invincible. I've started to read it as well. I bought from 45 and on d read the previous stories via trade paperback in my library.

I do love how willing he is to poke fun at Spiderman and Batman in that one issue and one Marvel issue crossover they had.

I think the only people that will be in this thread regularly will be the three of us.

And I thought Hulk was kind of... Dumb.

I mean ooooh [spoiler]Rick Jones[/spoiler], and he has a GUN!

Also, Shulkie seemed unnecessarily bitchy. And Doc Damson... He seemed too ready to start a fight with the Russians.

I don't know, that just might be my whole "Jeph Loeb, stop writing comics, you jerk" bias talking.

Mighty Avengers was... Eh. And I take back what I said about Bagely's art being horrible, since he can actually draw Venom well.

I also, through alternative methods, I read the new Amazing Spider-Man (without having to pay for it), and wow. That was terrible. I mean, Marvel is going WAY out of their way to make this comic completely unlikable.

I wanted to read a SPIDER-MAN comic, not "Peter Parker is a penniless, 30 year-old, loser who lives with his mother figure".

I found it pretty interesting. We know Rick isn't dead from WWH now and is burning angry. Though one must wonder what triggers Ricks transformations cause Rick doesn't get angry easily. Shulkie being annoyed with the very people who shot her cousin into space or willfully attack him countless times seems to make enough sense.

Liked Mighty Avengers but hey anything with Spiderwoman, Ms. Marvel and Sentry is something I'd read, ooh, and SKRULLS. Kinda annoyed they're gonna have an issue for the Venom virus outbreak which we already pretty much saw from Luke Cages angle in New Avengers.

As for Amazing Spiderman I'm trying to focus now on the current story and not the crapfest it was caused by and I liked it enough. I am interested in seeing Jackpot now.

I found it pretty interesting. We know Rick isn't dead from WWH now and is burning angry. Though one must wonder what triggers Ricks transformations cause Rick doesn't get angry easily.

Also, why the hell he has a GUN.

Shulkie being annoyed with the very people who shot her cousin into space or willfully attack him countless times seems to make enough sense.

Which makes you wonder why she was even there, and why Samson seemed to intent on annoying her more. Seriously, Samson has been kind of a dick lately.

Liked Mighty Avengers but hey anything with Spiderwoman, Ms. Marvel and Sentry is something I'd read, ooh, and SKRULLS. Kinda annoyed they're gonna have an issue for the Venom virus outbreak which we already pretty much saw from Luke Cages angle in New Avengers.

I don't know, Wasp pisses me off, and Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel are eh to me. It's a shame that Bendis doesn't know how to write the Sentry. In fact, the only person who seems to be able to write him is Paul Jenkins.

As for Amazing Spiderman I'm trying to focus now on the current story and not the crapfest it was caused by and I liked it enough. I am interested in seeing Jackpot now.

Again, I was hoping to read Amazing Spider-Man, not "Peter Parker is a jackass regressed by about 30 years". Seriously, I cannot stand Peter Parker anymore.


Also, Invincible is a great book.

Yeah the gun was all kinds of "Wuh?" to me. But it does mean someone knew what Rick became and supplied him with it. Or of course they're only assuming he had a gun so far. It might've simply been some sort of energy blast this new Hulk can use.

That's even more ridiculous and gay if he has energy blasts.

You know what? I think that's exactly what Loeb was hinting at in this issue.

God damn him and his crappy writing.

My dad's still a comic book fan after so many years, and even had the chance to buy a Amazing Fantasy #15 when he was younger (but didn't because he though Spider-Man looked lame, XD). My dad's an old enough comic geek that he actually owns a few comics that sold for 5 cents.

He's been a Spider-Man fan since he actually decided to pick up an issue, though. He also reads many other comics at the same time too and knows just about every super hero (such as weirdos like Flaming Carrot o_O).

Been meaning to get into Flaming Carrot.

Having read and collected American comics for nearly a decade, I can say without a doubt, Manga is so much superior you can't even compare the two.  I still keep up on some of the Marvel and DC stuff, but I have no intrest in buying or reading it at all anymore.  One More Day, House of M, Civil War - all good examples of the kind of crap that exists in American comics that just turn me right off.

Manga is a bit tedious for my tastes, and really draw of American comics, for me, isn't just Marvel and DC.

I LOOOVE creator-owned work, like Hellboy, or Invincible.

Their are some great series to read in Marvel and DC but they're pretty few these days. I recommend the current Blue Beetle to anyone.

My dad told me about this one Spider-Man comic one day in Toronto where Spider-Man beats up and almost kills King Pin for putting Aunt May in the hospital.

It sounded pretty cool. :(

Toronto? Spiderman was in Toronto? Or your dad was?..

My dad and I were. We were driving on the street and we suddenly started talking about his comic books.

We live 16 hours away from Toronto, though.

Damn, where do you live anyways? Cause I live in th GTA of Toronto.

We live on top of Lake Superior, in a very small town called Schreiber.

There closest known city is Thunder Bay, and that's two hours away.

My dad told me about this one Spider-Man comic one day in Toronto where Spider-Man beats up and almost kills King Pin for putting Aunt May in the hospital.

It sounded pretty cool. :(

Back in Black Arch, which took forever and a day to finish. Spider-Man takes out his black costume, and goes all punish-spider on the criminals, trying to find out who ordered the hit. Breaking hands and what not. All this build up to face down the Kingpin in prison.

So all the inmates stand around for his fight with the Kingpin, and for it, he's topless and mask less. And he proceeds to beat the ##### out of him, and... Then he says "If she dies, so do you hurr hurr hurr".

So all that build up, for nothing. And then One More Day happens and the comic becomes real #####.

I feel bad for JMS (The writer), who tried to take his name off the last two books, since they were editorialized into something completely different than his intent. The same thing happened with the Sins Past arch, and I think he didn't want to catch ##### for something he didn't do, AGAIN.

Hence my not reading it now.

Ah but there are still some GOOD series, like Thor, Ghost Rider, Punisher MAX, Incredible Hulk, The Twelve, Avengers Initiative, Cable and Deadpool, Captain America, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Immortal Iron Fist, Marvel Zombies 2, Nova, Omega the Unknown, She-Hulk 2, X-Factor, Ult. Spider-Man, Ult. Fantastic Four, Ultimate Iron Man II, etc etc, to keep me satisfied on the Marvel side. Oh, and the avengers books, which I'm considering dropping. ALso some other titles.

As for DC, it's a little lighter, with just Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, and Justice Society of America.

Then there's Image, Darkhorse, and other misc. independent companies with comics I follow...

Yeah, I'll survive without Amazing Spider-Man.

Well, my dad HAS been buying Amazing Spider-Man since he was a kid. >_>

And it's his favourite comic series... though he does read the other comics too. Sometime I wonder where he keeps all of these comics...

You don't wanna' know.

Damn, ASR, get outta my house!

I have a cavernous butthole.

Okay guys, spoiler tag stuff. I decided to skim this thread after a while since there seemed to be some spoilers for this week's Avengers. I read New, Mighty, and Initiative. They are 3 of my main books (the books I actually buy) along with X-Men (just regular, except I'm buying the others for Messiah Complex), Astonishing X-Men, Green Lantern/Green Lantern Corps (in trades), The Immortal Iron Fist (in trades), and others. But even on books I don't buy I don't really want to hear spoilers...

While I get to read a lot of comics for free because it's my job, I don't get to read them until Fridays.

Anyway, outside the superhero stuff I'm really into Fables (am reading vol. 3 as I type this) and Y The Last Man (waiting on vol. 10) right now. Gonna read Pride Of Baghdad when I get the chance.

I'll get back to you tomorrow, when I've read my comics for this week/caught up from last week.

Okay guys, spoiler tag stuff. I decided to skim this thread after a while since there seemed to be some spoilers for this week's Avengers. I read New, Mighty, and Initiative. They are 3 of my main books (the books I actually buy) along with X-Men (just regular, except I'm buying the others for Messiah Complex), Astonishing X-Men, Green Lantern/Green Lantern Corps (in trades), The Immortal Iron Fist (in trades), and others. But even on books I don't buy I don't really want to hear spoilers...

While I get to read a lot of comics for free because it's my job, I don't get to read them until Fridays.

Anyway, outside the superhero stuff I'm really into Fables (am reading vol. 3 as I type this) and Y The Last Man (waiting on vol. 10) right now. Gonna read Pride Of Baghdad when I get the chance.

I'll get back to you tomorrow, when I've read my comics for this week/caught up from last week.

I highly recommend getting Walking Dead for the non super-hero genre.

Vol. 1-7 are out now, but be warned, after volume 1, it changes artists, and so the art took a dive in quality, but it's still solid in the writing department. Basically it's about this small town cop waking out of a coma, to find a huge Zombie outbreak, and it is really #####ing good. Of course it's Kirkman, so it's quality.

Oh, and I think you'd like Fell. It's sort of like a Detective series, but it's really addicting. It's Ellis, so of course it's great.

And if you're into the battle armor, fighting space aliens, thing, pick up Tech Jacket. To best describe it, it's Invincible meets Guyver.

My dad is really interested in getting volume one of Lost Girls.

He tells me its because of the guy's writing style, but... I couldn't #####ing buy it for him for Christmas because its for adults only.

I read Lost Girls, and I SO SO SO wanted to like it because, hell, it's Alan Moore. Alas, ugly art, and kind of boring story made me not like it.

He was trying to turn porn into an art form, or so he said.

I'll stick to my copy of Watchmen.

Okay I read like all my comics today from this week and since weather was horrible business was slow so I got caught up on what I had left over from the busy week last week. Short impressions GO;

--MARVEL.

HULK
#1 (Red)-?
 Eh. Okay. Not bad, but nothing happens. Naturally, it's an intro issue so of course nothing happens, but it felt shorter than even Countdown (which always feels short, rightly so). But, I've liked Doc Samson ever since I saw him in...

THUNDERBOLTS
 #118 (Caged Angels Part 3)
Was an alright issue. I found the Osbourne, Penance/Samson, and Venom parts were pretty boss, but I wasn't a fan of Swordsman. But who is? Still well written and drawn since I started reading it during Civil War.

AMAZING
SPIDER-MAN
#546 (Brand New Day)
Errrrrrrrrrgh. The writing wasn't bad, and I love McNiven's art, but I'm still hating the fallout of One More Day. I actually rather liked the crap that Peter was under after Civil War, and now it seems like nothing is going anywhere. AND OH JEEZ i WUNDR WHU JACKPOT IS?!?!?/1/1

... God.

MIGHTY
AVENGERS #7 (Secret Invasion)-?
No complaints, as usual (mostly), other than the fact that because Bendis (who is like my favourite Marvel writer right now) takes like ~10 issues to tell the story of ONE day, his Mighty Avengers are playing catch-up to events that happened to the New Avengers in like October/November. But I'm cool with that, in the end.

PUNISHER WAR
JOURNAL #15 (Hunter/Hunted)
Matt Fraction still can write. Scott Wegener still can't draw. Not that the drawings are necessarily bad, but PWJ isn't the kind of comic to give a Jack Kirby/Bruce Tim style to.

X-FACTOR
#27 (Messiah Complex chapter 11)
Still strong. Messiah Complex is probably my favourite Marvel U thing going on right now. Not only because it's going across the entire mutant spectrum and all the X-books (which they haven't done in a LONG time, and no House of M doesn't count) and because there's a new chapter every week, but because it's just been good from the get-go and is still keeping it up. Solid writing from the entire staff and a good artist in each different book.

--DC.

COUNTDOWN (To Final Crisis)
16  and counting...
Countdown has stayed interesting the entire time and the year is almost over. I don't understand how NAZI Superman got into the fray since he was never mentioned or seen in Countdown: Arena, but if he met up with the "Challengers" when they were on the search for Ray Palmer I've forgotten him. Not that he matters at all. All you need to know is Countdown is LOADS better than 52, which reportedly got bad fast. Like really, no one gives a ##### about Renee Montoya and Batwoman. Pfft.

And not much of my DC came out this week, I skipped Superman for some reason but I'll hopefully get to read it next week. Last week I had a bunch of DCs to read and few Marvels though.

--Misc

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (Season Eight)
#10 (Anywhere But Here)
Good. As usual. Really didn't need to hear about Dawn. As usual. Finding out some stuff about Willow and what's been up was good though.

SIMPSONS SUPER SPECTACULAR
#6
Didn't read it but I put it away so I could later. Basically I know it's good because Lenny and Carl are back in uniform as "Nuclear Power Man and Iron Foot" again.

Monarch recruited the Earth Crime Society in Countdown to Adventure 2 I believe. Forerunner single handedly defeated most of the Crime Society in one battle. Tripped Flash, cut Hawkmns harness off, stabbed Nazi Superman with Kryptonite daggers etc...

I'm just waiting for Monarchs combatants from Arena to join the fray.

I let the Mighty Avengers slide with the whole long day because it was their opening story arc.


I was wondering their was a comic a few years back, it was an alternate universe Star Wars story that played out what if Luke died on Hoth and Leia trained under Yoda as a Jedi. Anyone know its name?

Edit: Found it. Star Wars Infinities.

Most of the stuff that I read are Golgo 13 and Judge Dredd comics. I also like The Punisher and War Machine stuff, but I haven't really kept up with them for the last few years.

This year I'm taking a Race & Graphic Novels class (it is an English/History class). We're reading: The Essential Luke Cage, Maus Vol. 1, American Born Chinese Vol. 1, Green Lantern / Green Arrow Vol. 1, and La Perdida. I've already read Maus before, and I figured that we'd be reading Luke Cage (aka Power Man), however, I've never read any of the other stuff.

Luke Cage Essential vol.1 is awesome, in my opinion. I'm still on vol. 2 because I don't have a whole lot of time on my hands.

And Maus is good, naturally.

Monarch recruited the Earth Crime Society in Countdown to Adventure 2 I believe. Forerunner single handedly defeated most of the Crime Society in one battle. Tripped Flash, cut Hawkmns harness off, stabbed Nazi Superman with Kryptonite daggers etc...

I'm just waiting for Monarchs combatants from Arena to join the fray.

Didn't read Countdown to Adventure. But I think some of Monarch's Arena recruits were in Countdown this past week, like that Flash that won.

Didn't read Countdown to Adventure. But I think some of Monarch's Arena recruits were in Countdown this past week, like that Flash that won.

Wait, I meant Monarch recruited the Nazi JLA (JLAxis) in Countdown to Adventure.

I didn't really understand in Arena why he had Johny Quick fight since he already had him join in Countdown when he recruited the Society.

Well the Crime Society they showed in Countdown didn't have Johnny Quick with them, so maybe that's why. Also there's probably a reason he needs a Flash, a GL, etc. etc. specifically. It's notable that with the people he had fighting for him in Countdown were just those other recruits that he got at random and crap, and he didn't care who or how many died. Where as the ones from Arena probably hold more weight for his plans.

: Mikero  16 January 2008, 00:59:21

Didn't read Countdown to Adventure. But I think some of Monarch's Arena recruits were in Countdown this past week, like that Flash that won.

Wait, I meant Monarch recruited the Nazi JLA (JLAxis) in Countdown to Adventure.

Yeah I figured out what you meant.

Huh I could've sworn Johny Quick was with the CSA in Countdown when they were recruited.

Comics this week were great.

In particular Booster Gold #6 and yes, even Countdown.  Also part 12 of Messiah Complex has left us with an interesting three way fight.

---

Newsarama has some previews for Wednesdays comics.

I feel horrible about the Miss Martian plot in Teen Titans.

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Jan08/previews/23rd.html

My dad saw me reading Manga and told me that I'm better off with comics.

He reccomends The Watchman. Should I go for it?

"My dad saw me reading Manga" makes it sound forbidden.

And funny. Was it an embarrassing sort of manga focusing heavily on large breasts?

No, it was Death Note.

Well, that one's not even all that bad.

IT'S A DEATH NOTE, ASR. THAT'S LIKE, A NOTEBOOK OF DEATH.

WHOOOoooOOOOooOOOOooooOOOO

The Watchmen is like the epic comic but it is thiiiiiick. I got a headache reading it over a year ago and haven't been able to finish it. But it is quite good, just dialogue heavy.

I forget what comics I read this week other than Messiah Complex and Spider-Man, both were good. I don't understand it but Spidey is still good even though the change sucks.

I don't read previews but it was pretty obvious a Miss Martian plot was on the way.

My dad saw me reading Manga and told me that I'm better off with comics.

He reccomends The Watchman. Should I go for it?

Do it. Watchmen is an absolutely amazing book.

Watchmen is good...up until the end. It's weird...it's like the author came to a point where he said "#####, I've built up a really, really great story with awesome characters...how the hell can I finish it?" and came up with that...unsatisfying but it was still okay.

Watchmen is good...up until the end. It's weird...it's like the author came to a point where he said "#####, I've built up a really, really great story with awesome characters...how the hell can I finish it?" and came up with that...unsatisfying but it was still okay.

Unsatisfying? Really?

It was supposed to be a realistic take on Superheroes.

Did you really think [spoiler]someone as smart as Veidt would wait for the other heroes to come and stop his plan before it could see fruition?[/spoiler]

#####, even when I first read it, that was a shocking, but interesting twist. Though I am sad that [spoiler]Rorscach died[/spoiler], it still came together really well.

Last weeks New Exiles was pretty good.

I've never actually read The Watchmen. I only know Rorsnarch and Dr. Manhattan.

"Rorsnarch", hahaha.

Watchmen is one of the greatest comics of all time, and- oh my god, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is set to play the Comedian in the film adaptation! :O

Oh hey, has anyone read Atom Eve (Invincible)? It basically just expands upon her origin story that we've already read.

I have, it's pretty good so far.

"Rorsnarch", hahaha.

Oh hey, has anyone read Atom Eve (Invincible)? It basically just expands upon her origin story that we've already read.

...What that's how I thought it was spelled...

I heard of it. I always assumed she was born with the powers but I'm probably wrong eh? I'll take a look at it.

There is no n in Rorscach.

I read one of those small manga sized Marvel books they put out (like the ones I read of Runaways) of Scorpion on friday. Not the Scorpion from Spider-Man but the current one who is a girl who's arm has an overdeveloped thingamajigger in it so she can absorb and release toxins. She appeared in Heroes For Hire to fight Paladin for a while during/before World War Hulk, if anyone read Heroes For Hire (which I liked a lot). I'm almost finished the little Scorpion book, which is basically origin story. It's pretty good so far but I have to wait for friday to finish reading it.

Also, it's pronounced like "Raw Shark".

Scorpion first appeared in the Incredible Hulk, around House of M, and has made appearances in Spider-Man Family and Amazing Fantasy.

Yes, yes she did.

Huh, we pronounce it Roar Shack here.

And what ever happened to Runaways? Stopped reading it after the first volume.

You're pronouncing it wrong.

It went on for a while into the second volume, then Whendon took over at issue 25 last year. There have been maybe two, or three, issues since then.

Whendon = Delays

The next one comes out in Whendonland, on Whendonsday, Whendonvember.

Personal experience and google tells me it's: Raw/Roar + Shock/Shack

Hahaha, so it's not worth getting back into Runaways then.

I'm just getting into Runaways now, so I'm far behind. That said, just 'cause Whedon delays like every book he writes it doesn't mean they aren't good. Buffy Season 8 has been good, Astonishing X-Men is great, and Runaways is probably awesome too.

Runaways is... OKAY.

It's not as good since he took over.

Haven't read that far, honestly. The Young Avengers/Runaways Civil War crossover was good though (but I read that because of the Young Avengers and then it peaked my interest in Runaways so I went back and started reading).

As far as I am in Runaways right now;
[spoiler]They just got the Ultron kid and the fat girl hasn't died yet.[/spoiler]

Haven't read that far, honestly. The Young Avengers/Runaways Civil War crossover was good though (but I read that because of the Young Avengers and then it peaked my interest in Runaways so I went back and started reading).

As far as I am in Runaways right now;
[spoiler]They just got the Ultron kid and the fat girl hasn't died yet.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]All Mexicans are robots.[/spoiler]

Yeah, same with me, 'Cause I like me some Young Avengers.

Incidentally, pick up YA: Patriot, Brubaker wrote it, and it is fantastic.

Was planning to. Tomorrow. Patriot is my favourite YA considering that I love the whole Truth: Red, White and Black thing. Although the MGH ##### was a relatively annoying half-hazard approach to newifying a strand of the idea of Cap getting his power from a drug.

Countdown has reached a hell of an interesting point. Hopefully the war story on Earth 51 will be continued next issue too.

[spoiler] Superman-Prime is about to fight Monarch because he thinks Earth-51 is the perfect Earth he's been looking for (Earth Prime), Solomon lied to Prime and told him such. [/spoiler]


Personally IronLad is my favorite YoungAvenger member because of him being potentially Kang.

Not gonna lie, I miss the days when it was just Superman beating the crap out of people who beat their wives or throwing cars at people. None of that "Superman-X from Earth-3947 fights Batman from Planet Butthole" bull#####.

But Batman from planet butthole is SOOOOOOO cooooooool!

Was planning to. Tomorrow. Patriot is my favourite YA considering that I love the whole Truth: Red, White and Black thing. Although the MGH ##### was a relatively annoying half-hazard approach to newifying a strand of the idea of Cap getting his power from a drug.

I dunno, I liked the MGH sub-plot.

Personalkly, I like Speed, even if he is one of Wanda's hand-babies.

Countdown has reached a hell of an interesting point. Hopefully the war story on Earth 51 will be continued next issue too.

[spoiler] Superman-Prime is about to fight Monarch because he thinks Earth-51 is the perfect Earth he's been looking for (Earth Prime), Solomon lied to Prime and told him such. [/spoiler]

Personally IronLad is my favorite YoungAvenger member because of him being potentially Kang.

Potentially? No, he IS Kang the Conquerer.

Not gonna lie, I miss the days when it was just Superman beating the crap out of people who beat their wives or throwing cars at people. None of that "Superman-X from Earth-3947 fights Batman from Planet Butthole" bull#####.

Seconded.

: Mikero  25 January 2008, 00:26:38

Was planning to. Tomorrow. Patriot is my favourite YA considering that I love the whole Truth: Red, White and Black thing. Although the MGH ##### was a relatively annoying half-hazard approach to newifying a strand of the idea of Cap getting his power from a drug.

I dunno, I liked the MGH sub-plot.

Personalkly, I like Speed, even if he is one of Wanda's hand-babies.

You know, it's been so long since any YA content that I forgot Speed even existed and today was wondering how Young Avengers Presents was a six part series. But I think he's alright, so far.

I think the MGH thing is a good story and all, but when I looked back on it I found it felt a bit "Black kid is on drugs" and the reason I like a lot of Black characters is because they send up stereotypes rather than enforce them. That story could have been done with any character later in the series, even though I did like it and it helped round Patriot out.

And yes, YA Presents Patriot was awesome. I thought it was incredible actually from one of the first line "Sometimes I find it hard not to hate this country". I actually bought the issue (I don't have to) and decided to add YA to my books so I also got the first trade even though I've read all their stuff already. Might as well, since I already buy the other main Avengers books (New, Mighty, Initiative). I realize part of me is a whore for the "Black" issues that some of my favourite characters go through, but that's just 'cause it's where I come from and it was good to see Patriot having to deal with Cap's issues of what America stands for combined with what it is to be an African American.

: Lunchebox  25 January 2008, 07:49:52

: Mikero  25 January 2008, 00:26:38

Was planning to. Tomorrow. Patriot is my favourite YA considering that I love the whole Truth: Red, White and Black thing. Although the MGH ##### was a relatively annoying half-hazard approach to newifying a strand of the idea of Cap getting his power from a drug.

I dunno, I liked the MGH sub-plot.

Personalkly, I like Speed, even if he is one of Wanda's hand-babies.

You know, it's been so long since any YA content that I forgot Speed even existed and today was wondering how Young Avengers Presents was a six part series. But I think he's alright, so far.

I think the MGH thing is a good story and all, but when I looked back on it I found it felt a bit "Black kid is on drugs" and the reason I like a lot of Black characters is because they send up stereotypes rather than enforce them. That story could have been done with any character later in the series, even though I did like it and it helped round Patriot out.

And yes, YA Presents Patriot was awesome. I thought it was incredible actually from one of the first line "Sometimes I find it hard not to hate this country". I actually bought the issue (I don't have to) and decided to add YA to my books so I also got the first trade even though I've read all their stuff already. Might as well, since I already buy the other main Avengers books (New, Mighty, Initiative). I realize part of me is a whore for the "Black" issues that some of my favourite characters go through, but that's just 'cause it's where I come from and it was good to see Patriot having to deal with Cap's issues of what America stands for combined with what it is to be an African American.

Mike, I don't thjink it had anything rto do with Patriot being the black kid, and to be fair, with any other character... Well, you just can't do that story. And to be fair, it was because he wanted to be like his Grandpa, not because he wanted get high or something.

He did something wrong to do something good, in the end.

And yeah, that's part of his development, his blossoming maturity. He was a young guy, and frankly, he kinda #####ed up.  He was so angry all the time, he didn't know what to do. Now he's calming down, and and actually thinking beyond "They #####ed up my Grand-dad".

Hell, at least they didn't make him a junkie, like Speedy.

Well no ##### they didn't do that BECAUSE he's Black, that's not the point. The connotation is always going to be there, intentional or not. I'm not saying they should never do a story where someone Black has drug issues, I'm just this one was cookie cutter wether he was Black, White, Asian, or Constapatise.

You can do that story with anyone, a kid feels weak and takes MGH to make himself strong. That's it, that's the whole idea, anyone can do that and he didn't want to be like his grandfather as he totally bitched him out right before it. His motive had nothing to do with being like the first Captain America at the beginning, he became Patriot to be like Isaiah but he took MGH in the first place just to be strong enough to avoid getting bullied.

Actually I think I read an article online from this guy who totally hated that part. I kind of like it but it just seemed a bit too typical and easy.

Actually though I never read any of the Speedy stuff, I think it's cool. I like him about an incalculable percent more than I like Green Arrow (I don't like him at all, or his wife), so that helps. But the fact that it happened after he was well established is a bit better. I mean Eli kind of just started with a ##### up.

Lunche I say potentially because Kang tried to force his young self into being a villain and its what caused the exact opposite to happen, with him becoming a hero. So he's  struggling knowing that he could potentially grow up to be Kang, but he's also killed his future self and thus altered his own timeline meaning he doesn't HAVE to be Kang.




In other comics talk I read the Earth X TPB. It was superb and I recommend it, unless you don't like reading too thoroughly cause boy was there alot of text/story.

It doesn't seem like you read ALL of the first Young Avengers volume, SF. Because if you did you'd know that he very much DOES have to become Kang.

Are we talking about Time Travel in comics again? How futile.

Lunche I say potentially because Kang tried to force his young self into being a villain and its what caused the exact opposite to happen, with him becoming a hero. So he's  struggling knowing that he could potentially grow up to be Kang, but he's also killed his future self and thus altered his own timeline meaning he doesn't HAVE to be Kang.




In other comics talk I read the Earth X TPB. It was superb and I recommend it, unless you don't like reading too thoroughly cause boy was there alot of text/story.

If i could, I would slap you and call you a silly bitch.

Read the damn trade again, because in the end he DOES have to become Kang, in order for Disassembled to happen, for Jessica to have a baby, etc etc.

Also, so the world isn't a living hell.

So I checked out Chapters but it turns out they don't have Watchmen anymore.

Next time I go uptown (which will be in two weeks or so) I'll check out another shop. If they don't have it, I guess I'll just never read it.

My dad did offer to let me read the original comics that he owns, but I'm afraid I'll wreck them somehow so I declined.

You can go to your local Bookstore chain. Like Barnes and Noble. they'll have it.

There is no Barnes and Noble here. There are no bookstores anywhere here. The closest place I can get them is "Uptown", which is slang around here for another city (called Thunder Bay) which is two hours away.

I checked out Chapters. Didn't have it. I'm going to check out Coles next time, because the computers at Chapters says that there's still one copy left there.

I'm just going to have to hope that that copy doesn't sell.

I didn't really enjoy Lost Girls, but it wasn't bad.

I read the first two Fables -- the first murder mystery one and Animal Farm -- and eh. It's the kind of thing I usually like, but I didn't like the storytelling. Too jumpy.

I find it absolutely hilarious that they [spoiler]killed off Aslan, though.[/spoiler]

Lost Girls is the most boring and ugly porn comic I've ever seen.

... Well, not EVER, but Alan Moore should stick to writing everything else.

Being sick I can't be at work today so I can't read this week's comics and I'm now realizing that I might miss out on some of them next week if they sell out.

Pout time.

Anyway 'cause I'm stuck here like a child, I've been reading Fables vol. 3 (Storybook Love). So far so good, naturally.

I also have a Flash (Bart Allen's short run as the scarlet speedster) trade I can read even though I've read all the issues anyway.

Haven't had a chance to be on really lately but last weeks comics were great.

In DC
Action Comics: Continuing the Superman and Legion of Superheroes story we learn more about the situation and why the suns in the galaxy have been turning red.

Black Adam The Dark Age: It's final issue, we learn the final fate of Isis and how Black Adam learned what his word of power was changed to, quite a shocking reveal.

Countdown: The battle between the two unstoppable DC characters Monarch and Superman Prime starts and ends here with a shocking ending. A great action issue.

Green Lantern: We get to learn what the Alpha Lanterns actually are and damn if it won't shock you.

Issues I disliked: The latest Death of the New Gods and Countdown to Adventure. Though with Adventure it was only Forerunner's story that I loathed.

In Marvel:
Avengers The Initiative: A great issue. A secret comes back to kill the team. A few characters have possibly been killed off but if they have been I'll be quite angry given my love for two of the possible casualties. Ooh and a member on the team is a Skrull but don't worry we've known he was a Skrull since Marvel Team Up a while back so nothing Secret Invasion related here.

Captain America: A new Cap has been born. You should know who it is given what happened last issue but I won't spoil it. A great issue over all.

Captain America The Chosen: A weird kind of non ending but aside from that  a great issue and great series.

Fantastic Four: A great issue but I now loathe Marvel's time travel rules and paradoxes even more now.

Mighty Avengers: Showing the Mighty Avengers side of the New York symbiote invasion shown in New Avengers a while ago. Good issue but nothing really new so meh.

New Avengers Annual: A great issue. We learn why Strange's magics haven't been working consistently and the team loses three people this issue.

Ultimate Spiderman: Alright, Spidey and his Amazing friends. Iceman and Firestar and more as lots of characters show up to talk at least one who almost blows Peter's cover. We also learn who the Ultimate Universes Firestar is. Great issue.

---

If i could, I would slap you and call you a silly bitch.

Read the damn trade again, because in the end he DOES have to become Kang, in order for Disassembled to happen, for Jessica to have a baby, etc etc.

Also, so the world isn't a living hell.

Yeah I've now read it all and must say I'm more perplexed with this than ever.

I have to read the first six issues of Luke Cage, Hero for Hire and then hold a class discussion on it Monday night. I've read through the first issue, seems like it should be okay. Don't know about the class discussion though.

I missed some comics from last week 'cause I was sick, so I won't read about/comment on some of the Avengers stuff until I get those ones.

Speed; Those stories are good, his origin is cool and how he starts his new life is interesting I found. Also it gets better once the first actual super villain (who is my favourite Marvel villain ever) appears in his 2-issue story.

I have to read the first six issues of Luke Cage, Hero for Hire and then hold a class discussion on it Monday night. I've read through the first issue, seems like it should be okay. Don't know about the class discussion though.

'Kay, what class is this? 'Cause I'm pretty sure I'll need to take it.

: Speed Racer   8 February 2008, 04:25:42

I have to read the first six issues of Luke Cage, Hero for Hire and then hold a class discussion on it Monday night. I've read through the first issue, seems like it should be okay. Don't know about the class discussion though.

'Kay, what class is this? 'Cause I'm pretty sure I'll need to take it.

Race and Graphic Novels. It's offered at my college, Misericordia University. Yes, I realize that there's "university" in the name, but 4 out of the 5 years I've been here it was College Misericordia.

I think the only really good Marvel comic I read out of the past couple weeks was New Avengers Annual #2. Everything else was pretty meh, and that sucks 'cause I generally like Marvel more. Marvel is just weird right, thanks Quesada.

Omega The Unknown is pretty good.

May Solicitations have now been released for Marvel and DC.

I'm definitely looking forward to Gotham Underground and Robin, though mostly to find out if this new Spoiler running around is indeed a revived Stephanie Brown.


Back issues I'm reading. Some of the Tangent Comics which I'm reading for the first time. Tangent Joker's great.

I bought the Marvel MAX trade of The Hood because that character has been awesome for the longest time and I thought I should read his damn OG story finally. So far so good.

The Hood was awesome in his mini and in Beyond.

Now Bendis is writing him, and he stopped being as cool.

I think he's still as cool it's just harder to get his as badass without having to slap the MAX label on the book.

Like the difference in The Punisher and Punisher War Journal.

Before either Civil War or at least the initial fallout of Civil War ended (before Initiative at least) I read an interview with Bendis where he gave out spoilers (making sure to tell the interviewer to hide these parts in spoiler tags so people wouldn't have to read it) about who the new New Avengers villain was going to be and why.

Obviously it was The Hood but his reasoning and his direction with the character is really good stuff. Basically he wants to turn The Hood into something like The Kingpin only even bigger. The Hood would be kingpin of super-villains in the way that The Kingpin is kingpin of regular villains. That's pretty cool.

I meant that Bendis is writing him somewhat out of character. When Beyond ended he seemed like he was on his was to be a hero.

And now, out of nowhere, he's the Kingpin?

My knowledge of The Hood is sparse to say the least. All I know is he works similarly to Cloak I hear.



I've started reading some of the Tangent comics series. I've managed to buy The Tangent Superman, Atom, Joker and Sea Devils. I honestly love it so I'm now stoked for this Tangent Supermans Reign mini coming up.


Also, Death of the New Gods and Countdown are definitely picking up toward their conclusion.

My knowledge of The Hood is sparse to say the least. All I know is he works similarly to Cloak I hear.

Then you heard wrong.


As for Death of New Gods, I can hear Jack Kirby spinning in the grave, breaking the #####ing sound barrier.

I meant that Bendis is writing him somewhat out of character. When Beyond ended he seemed like he was on his was to be a hero.

And now, out of nowhere, he's the Kingpin?

Ah I see. The interview seemed like he was taking it right from the mini, which I haven't finished yet.

Well, he's resourceful in the mini, but he's no criminal genius.

And to see him become one in New Avengers is very... Well, sudden.

Ah, I now looked up The Hoods bio. He can turn invisible while holding breath, walk on air and has some kind of electrical discharge ability, pretty interesting.


As for Death of the New Gods, I don't think it'd make Kirby spin in his grave. Decent explanations have been given for why it's happening.

Ah, I now looked up The Hoods bio. He can turn invisible while holding breath, walk on air and has some kind of electrical discharge ability, pretty interesting.


As for Death of the New Gods, I don't think it'd make Kirby spin in his grave. Decent explanations have been given for why it's happening.

His abilities to do so are limited, such as, if he's weighed down, he can't float, and the invisibility doesn't extend to anyone else.


And I read Death of New Gods, and you know what? It's #####. And stupid.

Who here read the Seven Soldiers of Victory series (from 2005 I think it was)?

I'm currently buying back issues of it and liking the story.

It's an interesting concept for a series, a team of people who never meet (except for a few who do at the very ending) and stop an invasion from the future because of their apparently predestined actions.

For one I love the Sir Ystina character though I do wonder where the other Shining Knight dissapeared to. I haven't seen him since Identity Crisis and the Firestorm mishap.

I had to read and present on a bunch of Luke Cage, Power Man issues yesterday. I really liked that Security City issue; plenty of parallels you can draw between that and the Green Lantern/Green Arrow comics that were coming out in that decade.

I had to read and present on a bunch of Luke Cage, Power Man issues yesterday. I really liked that Security City issue; plenty of parallels you can draw between that and the Green Lantern/Green Arrow comics that were coming out in that decade.

I read some of the Green Lantern/Arrow stories in a trade from my library once. Wasn't their team up series mostly about getting people aware of social problems around the world and the like?

: Speed Racer  27 February 2008, 02:02:11

I had to read and present on a bunch of Luke Cage, Power Man issues yesterday. I really liked that Security City issue; plenty of parallels you can draw between that and the Green Lantern/Green Arrow comics that were coming out in that decade.

I read some of the Green Lantern/Arrow stories in a trade from my library once. Wasn't their team up series mostly about getting people aware of social problems around the world and the like?

Yup. What I always found interesting is that they would defeat the bad guy of the issue, and then move on, never helping the people rebuild their lives. Perhaps a message to people that if they want to make an impact, they're going to have to do it themselves and not expect higher-ups to help.

Or with the Green Lantern representing the government, saying that the American government doesn't mind meddling with the affairs of people until they believe that everything is "fixed", and then they'll leave those left behind to pick up the pieces of their lives after the government's so-called "reform".

I love Green Lanter but I hate Green Arrow (and his stupid wife) so I don't think I'll ever read GL/GA.

But the whole thing about never helping people rebuild... Was it deliberate? Like did they actually show them REFUSE someone in the comic? 'Cause if not that might just be oversight. Like how the Avengers didn't follow up on jack ##### after defeating the bad guy until New Avengers.

I had to read and present on a bunch of Luke Cage, Power Man issues yesterday. I really liked that Security City issue; plenty of parallels you can draw between that and the Green Lantern/Green Arrow comics that were coming out in that decade.

Security City was awesome. Those two issues were a big deal at the time too. Another 'big deal' one was (in Essential vol.1) when that guy dies because Cage didn't save him in time or whatever. Basically the guy goes "Cage... you... you son of  a..." and then the last panel is just a silhouetter of Cage leaving the room looking depressed as hell. Apparently that struck a cord or something.

Cage is the #####en' baoumb.

But the newest New Avengers pissed me off sommat.

Yesterday I picked up some Graphic Novels.

Among them was B.P.R.D. Vol. 7: Garden of Souls, I killed Adolf Hitler by Jason, and Preacher Vol. 1.

Garden of Souls I read already, but didn't own, and like everything else in the B.P.R.D. series, it was excellent.

And like everything Jason seems to do (Norse Writer/Artist), I Killed Adolf Hitler was great, trippy, but great.


But Preacher... I heard it was a good, and I like Garth Ennis' work, so I picked up vol 1.

It was absolutely great.

Damnit, I've been reading back issues of Azrael and damn it all I wish DC hadn't gotten rid of him.

Aside from that the best comic out without a doubt is Blue Beetle 24. Use of his entire cast, a great tribute to the prior Blue Beetles and even an in joke about Amazons Attack.

God damn I love Blue Beetle, that book is awesome.

The writer of Blue Beetle comes into my store to buy Blue Beetle.

Why? Because he wants to see what the final product came out as.

Don't they send it to him for free? Yes, but by the time it gets to him it's way far behind from when it actually came out so it's not important anymore. So he comes into our store and buys the issue when it comes out and then just writes it off on taxes.

That's actually not a bad idea.

Also, that's pretty cool, do you ever just talk to him for a while?

Not really but I've seen him and kind of met him. My assistant manager (and I guess manager) knows him. I only ever work with my assistant manager unless he's sick or I'm working a saturday.

Actually a lot of different writer's buy comics there. Not all comic writers. One guys writes for movies and worked on Transformers. Charles De Lint has a special sub box and I've met him a couple times. I'm not familiar with his work but I girl I know from high school freaked out when she found that out.

Actually, there's a guy who hangs out with a lot of comic book writers and artists all the time, they're his friends or something. It's weird 'cause he'll be like "Oh yeah I was hanging out with Ed" talking about Brubaker and stuff like that. But he doesn't name drop or dick ride,, those are just his friends so it comes up.

Olivier Coipel came for a day, but that a promotional thing and my friend Sonia (who works there too and is in class with me) forgot to remind us he was coming and my friend Shawn (also animation) and I slept that day away as it was the day after our summer camping trip.

Holy #####, ED BRUBAKER?!

I need to become friends with your friend.

Woah hold your horses bud, really I just picked one of the big names off the top of my head. I'm not sure if he actually hangs with Brubaker (but he probably does).

Seems like I'll get the ball rolling again. DC this week shocks us with the return of a character who died in a controversial way in Robin 172.

Brave and the Bold 11 was a fun read having Ultraman(Anti Matter Universe) and Superman start a team up. Though Superman erroneously stated that Ultramans power comes from the sun. He actually gets it from Anti-Kryptonite but I'll let it slide.

Countdown: I feel robbed by the entire hinted origins of Kamandi's universe being ignored as the Morticoccus unleashes itself.

Death of the New Gods, JLA and Tangent Supermans Reign felt like boring filler. Though Death of the New Gods angered me with the death of two more well known New Gods.

Actually it was Ultraman who said that Superman's powers come from the sun. Pretty sure.

Morticoccus was always the main story of Countdown anyway.

I still love the Megaman series. I have all.... 4 issues. Best ending ever.

"Sure, we didn't beat Wily, but WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE CAN HOLD!"

ie- Nobody bought it but me.

Yeah, so The New Guardians series from the 80s is full of fail and AIDS. Literally and figuratively.

A lot of 80's comics were pretty bad. And I can't stand how they were all into in the heavy inks and many lines back then. Like.. Look at Image back in the day, urrrrrghnnn.

I think New Universal starts again soon, can't wait.

A lot of 80's comics were pretty bad. And I can't stand how they were all into in the heavy inks and many lines back then. Like.. Look at Image back in the day, urrrrrghnnn.

I think New Universal starts again soon, can't wait.

Yep. newuniversal starts again May 14. I can't wait either.


I've also been rereading my Exiles trades. The series seemed to be great until just around Mimic died. Just felt off after that. The current New Exiles story seems kinda eh. But it might be getting interesting again with the lasts issues cliffhanger of that worlds Black Panther. Also, I hope they resolve the whole Proteus issue soon.

I never really liked Exiles other than Rogue and sometimes Morph. And, of course, Longshot, who is the #####en man. Also Psylocke but I don't know what her story is with all that.

Psylocke joined after New Excalibur and the Exiles (in the crossover X Men Die by The Sword) fought against Mad Jim Jaspers I believe (never was a big Excalibur reader) and almost all of the Captain Britain Corps is annihilated. The 616 Captain Britain is saved by two of the Exiles and taken to their Crystal Palace and is saved with the help of alternate universe doctors Psylocke calls in with the Palace's systems. In the end after the whole war since the Army is wiped out it's up to the Exiles to oversee the Omniverse now and Cap Britain entrusts Psylocke to help the Exiles or somesuch.

Hmm, which Rogue do you mean in Exiles? The one on the team who just joined?

Yah I read Die By The Sword, but I wasn't sure if she'd stayed on the team.

The Rogue in the red with the shoulder length hair. Pretty much every Rogue is awesome anyway. Especially 616.

Yeah she's around. The Black Atlantean Gambit is making passes at her in New Exiles right now.

So basically, every Gambit and every Rogue have some sort of thing. That's quite dry.

It's amazingly silly if you type it out yes. Well at least they had the Weapon X Gambit and Storm as a couple before they died due to dangerous mission and King Hyperion. That and Magneto and Rogue who had Magnus as a son, sadly he didn't last...

Exiles has killed off lots of characters when you think about it. Some in quite gruesome ways. IE Mimic possessed by Proteus and turned into pretty much a mummy.

'Cause they can always find another one.

Marvel's Omniverse is unlimited, where as DC's is [currently] confined to 52 Universes.

That's one thing I dislike. The Captain Britain Corps and now the Exiles are the Gaurdians on the OMNIVERSE which means any alternate reality anywhere including DC, Marvel, Image,Dark Horse, real life, etc... but we know they'll never have a crossover with another company in it, except maybe Image like that one Marvel Team Up issue with Invincible.

I will always complain about Magnus' death, way too quick.

As for DC that'll likely be fixed in Final Crisis given Rip Hunters mention of the Megaverse in 52.

Omniverse doesn't inclue DC, Image, etc. The Omniverse encompasses all the alternate universes of Marvel only. As with DC's Omniverse containing the 52. Both would be then contained by some otherverse.

Image crossovers with other companies all the time. And DC and Marvel amalgamated into Amalgam Comics for a while back in the days of Marvel Vs. DC. Amalgam Universe was a series Marvel and DC did together, merging their two omniverses for a while. Characters were merged to create things like The Iron Lantern, Dark Claw, and Super Soldier, and had limited series'.

Nope nope there's only one "Omniverse" DC, Marvel, Image and any other universe of Multiverse is a part of the "Omniverse" since Omni means all. Or so I've been led to believe.

But let's see this week was great. Action comics and it's Superman and the Legion of Superheroes story has a grand finish and an even grander teaser for an upcoming Final Crisis mini/tie-in.
[spoiler]The Legion of Three worlds which will have Superman-Prime and the Legion of Supervillains and of course 3 of the incarnations of the Legion.[/spoiler] Strangely I wonder if the 5 years later Legion will ever appear again?

I feel a bit disappointed in Young Avengers Presents #3 as I was hoping we'd see the Scarlet Witch at least a bit.

Secret Invasion stirs things up with at least three confirmed Skrulls.

Countdown was alright but I was hoping that [spoiler]Mary was going to stay good, so I suppose this means she'll be evil during Final Crisis and during her fight with Supergirl.[/spoiler]

New Exiles was a bit too wordy for my taste this time around.

Supergirl features the return of [spoiler]Resurrection man[/spoiler] I don't think I've seen him since DC One Million.

I don't know what the hell you guys are talking about half the time, but I will say one thing:

I don't believe you're talking about some crazy (but possible, I suppose) theory where there's a parallel universe to ours where superheroes exist, you're just talking about companies and their separate stories, each having their own fictional representation of what the Omniverse actually is.

So in this instance, you can't say that Marvel's multiverse and Stephen King's multiverse and Harry Potter's universe are part of one big Omniverse, but you could say, for example, that in Stephen King's Omniverse, there may very well be worlds where Harry Potter actually exists, and others with Spider-Man and all that crazy junk, but they can't be directly involved in his plot. Instead, you see things you'd identify from Marvel or Harry Potter in his stories (The Dark Tower, specifically, a part of which is actually made into a comic book series by Marvel, coincidentally) and they're rather "echoes" of other worlds than direct contact between them.

Anyone every read Captain Atom: Armageddon? It was actually a pretty sweet mini series, that was a nice break from the standard DC and Marvel universes. Plus the Wildstorm Captain Atom rocks what DC's looks like.

Anyone every read Captain Atom: Armageddon? It was actually a pretty sweet mini series, that was a nice break from the standard DC and Marvel universes. Plus the Wildstorm Captain Atom rocks what DC's looks like.

That was the DC Captain Atom. After that run he vanished and came back into the normal DC universe during Infinite Crisis got a new suit and suddenly became a bad guy.

I knew they were the same, I was just saying that design owned the silver, blue and red one. Woah, the villain thing surprised me, but I guess I can see it happening, he has a habit of complaining how all the popular heroes like Superman kept getting all the credti, and that he was just shoved under the rug. He's kind of bitter.

He's pretty much been totally gaybar until Countdown anyway.

I said I didn't like the first two Fables earlier in the thread, and I still don't, but the later books that I've read (Storybook Love, March of the Wooden Soldiers) shaped up to be pretty good. I still think the storytelling is too jumpy, though, as in, it goes from point A to D without mentioning B and C much if at all.

It also over-expositions at times. [spoiler]Each character will remind and reremind the audience that Sleeping Beauty's curse involves sleeping and Bluebeard kills womens. It doesn't happen with the more obscure/made up stuff like Bigby's background, and a relatively unknown character from folklore like Reynard the fox doesn't get any introductory text at all. Weird.

For one thing, if they're all immortals that have lived with each other for so long, why would they need to remind each other of what they are? And if the main cast are well-known fairy tale figures (Snow White, Big Bad Wolf, Briar Rose) why would the audience need to be reminded who they are? Granted, Bluebeard's a little more obscure, probably since Disney would never make a movie out of him. Too bad, since I like his story. They'd probably design him to look like Jafar and make him a wicked sorcerer, though.[/spoiler]

Whoo boy. I went to the New York Comic Con today only day I can attend this week. My god it was great. Sadly I should've cut class since I was not able to get to the line for Alex Ross signings fast enough and wound up carrying many comics around for no reason. That and no one for Dynamo 5 comes in until Sunday. Sigh.

Starting to read All Star Batman and Robin.

Everyone either seems to love it and hail Miller as a god, or hate it with fiery rage and call for him to be burned and cut into pieces.

I'm leaning to the first camp, but I've still got a ways to go.

I think you can only hate it if you try to take it seriously. Which I don't think you should ever do with the Dark Knight Returns universe. I'm only a bit annoyed with it because of how craptacular Batman and Robins relationship becomes in the future.

LET ME TAKE YOU TO SCHOOL, SUCKERS. IN CHEMISTRY.

Yeah, I agree that you can't take it seriously.

Let's see. This weeks releases were decent.

Hulk #3 was a fun read since I dig the whole "who's the new Hulk" aspect of the story. And by now from what I infer the new Hulk's been narrowed down to either being [spoiler]Doc Samson or General Ross, though there's always a possibility for a surprise twist I hadn't planned on[/spoiler]

Countdown has finally ended and left me with a bit of a did anything really happen feeling since only Mary was really affected, not counting the New Gods dieing which was its own seperate thing.

The Birds of Prey finally get back on friendly terms and the team's getting ready to relocate.

Death of the New Gods 8 certainly left me reeling a bit since it somewhat makes the battle in the previous weeks Countdown make some sense and less sense now.

We're reading American-Born Chinese for that class that I have. I really like that one, as opposed to La Perdida that we had to read last week.

Countdown ended with a whimper instead of a bang. That's annoying.

Hulk was good. Ms. Marvel was bleh. Uncanny X-Men was good. X-Force was good. Thor was good. Young Avengers Presents was good. Mighty Avengers was interesting and OK.

I just realized I missed Power Pack Day One #2. But whatever, that's just a random I picked up for no reason in the first place really.

Today I also finished Runaways Vol. 7 and Cable Deadpool entirely (with Deadpool vs. The Marvel Universe just coming out this week in trade). I started Fables vol. 4 which is really good so far.

Ah Countdown, at least you made Buddy Blank into OMAC again. Good enough.

Alright let's kick this thread into a Lazarus pit and continue the talk.

Booster Gold #9: If you ever liked the characters from the Justice League International this is one great issue. You'd think alternae timelines would get annoying but Booster Gold makes them fun.

The Titans #2 is also out. Giving some more info as to why Trigon's started attacking the Titans is given. No one has yet found Tempest.

Amazing Spidergirl #20. Clone Saga Take Two, maybe. This could be interesting.

Guardians of the Galaxy #1: While I've heard great things about Nova and Annihilation I've never really been into Marvel's space stuff though I did pick up Annihilation: Conquest from the start. Honestly the teams and it's semi existent dynamics are great andeven without the endings teaser I'm definitely gonna keep reading.

Wolverine #65: Wolverine and Mystique continue brawling virtually killing each other. The ending felt awfully forced but I guess it's to be expected as there was never a real chance of Mystique getting killed off.

My top three of the week in order of greatest to not as great but still greater than the rest is...Booster Gold, Guardians of the Galaxy and Wolverine.

"Pigeons From Hell"

Sounded interesting, so I checked it out. And it is:

MySpace Comics Pigeons From Hell Preview (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=92159514&blogID=404478058)

The art looks like it came from Venture Bros.

You know, I wanted to talk about Incognito, Ed Brubaker's new book.

And I thought of this thread.

Which you all let slip by into page 3.

Shame on you all.

Incognito is very good, and is making me consider picking up trades of Criminal.

I can't wait for Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #2 to come out next week.

Invincible feels a little weak lately.

Captain America and Punisher War Zone are good.

And I can't seem to stop reading Ultimate Spider-Man.

And after many delays, I got to read Kick Ass #5.

I wish Mark Millar stopped writing so slowly, because I know it's not John Romita Jr. delaying the book.

I have a metaphorical boner for Geoff Johns' writing.

My favourite DC books right now are Green Lantern, Action Comics, and JSA.
When someone can make Superman relatable without making him a complete wad (Smallville) or an illegitimate father (Superman Returns) they are clearly doing something right.

That said, I'm worried about Blackest Night. It's more of a premise issue than anything.

Before buying JSA I bought and read read Kingdom Come for the first time (for obvious reasons if you've been reading JSA since "The Next Age"). It's very good, as promised.

In Marvel stuff, I'm still surprised at how Spider-Man continues to be good. I need to drop X-Factor, and half the other X titles.

I never finish my stack of comics to read on Fridays at work. Never. I just add to it weekly and get through what I can. I had to drop Punisher War Journal (it was sucking anyway) and some other stuff.

I'm about to read Skydoll, which was leant to me. The name only serves to remind me that I really need to read more of the Flight books.

I started reading Criminal for the first time a couple weeks ago, and that was amazing. Got Hellboy... Last week, I think, and I'm really digging the Wild Hunt, same for B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess, and I can't help but think the whole Hellboy universe it beginning it's climax...

Walking Dead continues to be interesting, some how, and Invincible... I dunno, I really like it, but at the same time, it bugs me, no idea why. Kick Ass continues to be a fun read, and Captain America continues to be fantastic (is there anything Brubaker can't write?).

Yeah Cap is great.
Still loving New Avengers, but I'm not sure if I'm gonna actually be BUYING Dark Avengers since Mighty Avengers was never as good anyway. I'll definitely read it though.
I read too many X-blahblah books, I need to drop some since they're sucky (X-Factor in particular) but X-Force and Cable have been great, along with some others. Young X-Men is up and down. I'm probably gonna stop reading Wolverine after Old Man Logan is done.
Spider-Man And The X-Men has been a surprisingly fun read, and Amazing Spider-Man continues to lock my interest.
Deadpool is Deadpool and thus wicked.

Skydoll was good. It's published by Marvel in America but it's actually from France or some silly place where they make interesting things. It's actually by Soleil, but apparently the rest of their stuff isn't as good.

In DC, the latest Final Crisis was good, which makes 2 out of all of them good in my book. And it's finally starting to actually be lucid with what's going on. Trinity is going downhill after a strong start. Titans is still pretty good, but I'm not keen on where Teen Titans is going. Flash (Wally West) is done, and I'm not decided if I'm gonna pick up the new book which will be focused on Barry Allen. I've dropped The Brave And The Bold since it's been boring for a while.
I dropped a lot of titles recently because I just don't have time to read them at work and they're not good enough to buy. I have some Green Lantern trades to catch up on, I can't wait for JSA: Thy Kingdom Come part 3 to come out in hardcover, and Action Comics continues to rock leading me to confirm that Geoff Johns is my favourite DC writer right now.

I got a book of James Jean's covers for Fables, which is beautiful.

I could probably say more but I don't really care.

I have all three issues of Marvel's translation of Sky Doll. It's okay.

I recently, out of financial need, dropped most of my books. I dropped about all the books from the big 2, since I wasn't enjoying them as much lately. Secret Invasion was lack luster, so I didn't buy it. Final Crisis is... I don't know, I don't think I like it.

And Daniel Way Deadpool is sort of okay... But I wish he would ut the whole "Deadpool vision" crap.

There's more translations coming. Secret Invasion was a lot better and more consistent than Final Crisis has been, but with Marvel events you really need to be reading 90% of the tie-in issues to get an honest feel for how big it all is, especially with Secret Invasion. I've got no complaints in Deadpool, and the most recent issue was great since we're clear of Skrully tie-in stuff.

So...wow. Been quite a while since I was on the site for anything. Umm...I liked Trinity, anyone else?

It was.... Alright.

I think it was too long. Since I was reading for free at work, I missed a couple issues, but yeah. It took a long time before all that stuff with Konvict became relevant to the universe changing things. It felt too much like they only had enough story for a bit less than 52 issues, and had to make it work.

That said, it was pretty good for a weekly. Better than 52 and Countdown were by far. And at times, I thought it was more epic than Final Crisis (which was going on at the same time, suckily) was.

---

(http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs41/i/2009/055/1/b/Blackest_Night_by_sinccolor.jpg)
Blackest Night is upon us.

I'm decidedly absolutely loving this #####ing #####. I was iffy at first, there are still concepts I'm iffy on, but in all I'm into it. I'm into big GL events, but so much has been leading to this for the past four years it has more scope in the whole DCU than past GL big ones (like 2007's Sinestro Corps War). I guess it's DC's big summer event, so it SHOULD take in the whole DCU, but the Sinestro Corps War was pretty light on stuff that didn't have to do with usual GL business, so it's nice this is already thick with non GL characters. But I love anytime the Green Lantern Corps mixes with everything.

http://www.amazon.ca/Ultimates-Millar-Bryan-Hitch-Omnibus/dp/0785137807

I've ordered this. I read volume 1 already and, having thoroughly enjoyed it, I guess I have no problem paying for it.

I'm not a big Ultimates fan.

In that... I haven't liked anything I've read from Ultimate universe. I started The Ultimates (the first one) but I didn't really get into it. I really don't like Cap in it at all.

Ultimate X-Men supposedly gets better after the first volume but it's UP TO the first volume to get me into it so that didn't work.

Ultimate Spider-Man is done by one of my favourite Marvel writers but... It's really weird.

I'll be able to compare them once I start moving on. Ultimate Spider-Man was what I started with. I like it despite everything that I don't like about it. I can imagine the main continuity might be that much better to get into, but with more effort.

Thanks to my girlfriend, I've been reading a lot of graphic novels as of late. For Christmas I got/bought:

-CBGB: OMFUG
-Kevin Smith's Green Hornet Vol.1
-Scott Pilgrim Vol. 2
-Serenity: The Shepherd's tale
-Tron: Betrayal

And these are the graphic novels/manga I bought last week/this week:

-Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Vol. 1
-G.I. Joe vs. Transformers III: The Art of War
-Ghost Rider: Vicious Cycle (Vol. 1)
-Ghost Rider: The Life and Death of Johnny Blaze (Vol. 2)
-Hellblazer: The Family Man
-Hellblazer: Chas - The Knowledge
-Midnight Mover
-Pathfinder
-Siege (some Marvel series - the comic book store that my girlfriend and I go to was offering a 50% off special for getting it the day it came out)

Midnight Mover is some Oni series from 2004. I thought it was okay, but the first half reminded me too much of Sin City: The Hard Goodbye, and the second half was...odd. Like the writer couldn't figure out how to end it.

Check out Chew. Trust me.

...I think my girlfriend's been reading that. I had received a stack of "Free Comic Book Day" comics because I'm a librarian, and she picked out an issue of that (I think) and The Guild. She steals my comics  :(

You can pick up the paperbacks for pretty cheap. Really funny, original stuff. Kind of have to read it in order, though, so I wouldn't start at a random issue.

No Chew books at the comic book store, unfortunately.

Today I bought:

-Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America
-Planet of the Apes: Old Gods (I had picked up Planet of the Apes: The Human War years ago and wanted to see where the series went).
-Whatever issue of Fantastic Four it is where one of the members dies. First run. I'm not going to open it up from the bag.

I picked up Black Cat & Wolverine: Claws for my girlfriend for Valentine's Day.

Edit: I picked up some new stuff today. (2/12/11)

I bought the latest issue of Walking Dead Weekly for my girlfriend.

For myself, these graphic novels:

-Best of Marvel '95 (wtf? Collection of various issues of comics Marvel put out in 95. They should do this more often)
-Captain America: Deathlok Lives
-Spider-Man: India

INDIA

I always wanted to check the series out; I heard that it was pretty good.

I heard it wasn't.

I'm almost done with it; I wish that there was more than four issues to the series.

I'd love it if Marvel gave the company that made "Robot" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot_%28film%29) $40-50 million and have them make a Spider-Man India flick. It could be pretty sweet.

---

I picked up various graphic novels yesterday:

Moon Knight: God & Country
Spider-Man: Election Day
Squadron Supreme: The Pre-War Years
Squadron Supreme: Power to the People
Squadron Supreme: Bright Shining Lies
Star Trek: Debt of Honor
Wolverine: Origins - Seven the Hard Way

I also picked up:

The Amazing Spider-Man #656
(http://popculturezoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ASM_656_cov.jpg)

Power Girl #22
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TYxRCPUjmJE/TYKYhzxKEFI/AAAAAAAACWg/N7Mf41mXf5c/s400/peege0001.jpg)

I mean, seriously, what's not to like? It's Superman and Power Girl beating up on dinosaurs?

Star Trek: Captain's Log - Harriman
(http://img.trekmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/harriman_tn.jpg)

I've always found the character of Captain Harriman from Star Trek: Generations to be an interesting character, so I was looking forward to this comic.

---

Future Foundation (which replaces the Fantastic Four) #1 came out today. Anybody get it?

(http://www.dcuosource.com/forum/download/file.php?id=2666)

---

I picked up Future Foundation #1 today; pretty interesting twist at the end. I want to get the other variant covers later on.

I also picked up:

Superman #709
(http://st2.speedforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Superman709.resized.jpg)

This issue is special to me, because it makes a fun reference to the Super Dictionary - a kid's dictionary from the 1970s featuring various DC Comics characters. The backstory in this issue makes the "Lex Luthor stole forty cakes" thing (which at this point is considered a meme) canon.

(http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/RHFIYPTV43ICN3ONZYVT6CUIG7QFOOPX.jpeg)

Aaaaaaaaand I also picked up Venom #1

(http://www.hypergeek.ca/wp-content/gallery/15/venom_1_cov.jpg)

I should get into comic books again, these covers are awesome.

Since I couldn't fall asleep, I read Future Foundation #1, Venom #1, and Star Trek: Captain's Log - Captain Harriman.

Both FF and Venom have the potential to be pretty interesting series; especially with the twist at the end of FF #1.

I enjoyed the Captain Harriman comic, but I felt that it was too short. Definitely did some work to redeem the character and helped get inside the character's head. I highly doubt that they'll make any new comics featuring that character; I think IDW had shipped a ton of those out to comic book shops to get rid of them, as it was being sold as new even though it was published in April 2010.

Well, I bought my first ever comic... FF#1.

I want to buy more. @_@

I know this is probably going to stretch the page out, but hush - this is awesome.

I picked up this variant cover set of Fantastic Four.

(Image deleted so people would stop bitching)

I picked up these two comics the other day:

Deadpool Team-Up #883. Galactus is adorable when he's munching on planets.

(http://i.newsarama.com/images/dpteamup883_cov_col_02.jpg)

Deadpool Team-Up #883 Variant

(http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljt5wot4OR1qe0y5zo1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1303157410&Signature=IJkb12iJJmgkwCBb2udsHhjLicc%3D)

Oh deadpool, he so silly.

I picked up the "Deadpool: I Rule, You Suck" (I think that's what it is called) graphic novel the other day...#####ing hilarious. Exactly what I needed to cheer me up.

I'm mega behind on comics, but it's a good thing because a lot of them are just pissing me off. I plan to get back into it a bit more but lately I'm just catching up on old stuff that's proven awesome like Planetary, and The Sandman. It's just better since I'm all over the place these days and barely get a chance to read or even pick up issues.

FF, which I guess is called Future Foundation? It seemed like they were gonna call it First Family originally, so I thought it would be really stupid. I might check it out if you guys say it's good.
Still keeping up (well, I'm behind but I still order them) with Avengers stuff, which is a MIXED bag, quality-wise.
I'm thinking about getting back into Spider-Guy and X-misc, but otherwise for Marvel I don't really know what to look at anymore. I think most of what I read before is done or I don't care about it at this point. For DC, I have Green Lantern stuff to catch up on but I think I'm gonna limit it to that for a bit, maybe finish what I was reading in Superman titles before checking something new out.

A lot of the writing in superhero comics is getting stale to me, so this time-out is probably worth it.

Can't wait to read the new volume of Fables though.

If you think it's getting stale, check out the new Dark Horse comic Axe Cop.

Chew, you guys.

Axe Cop got a publishing deal? THIS IS BEYOND COOL.

They've seen with Dark Horse for a while, Dr. McNinja has joined them too.

For those who do not know: Axe cop is written by a 7 year old and drawn by his 30 year old brother. It's zany and neat.

For clarification, I'm talking about regular universe Marvel, DC, Image, etc. and not internet comics that've been turned into series, contained graphic novels, events, or side-reality things.

Freshest take on what I'm talking about in a while  that I've read has been Invincible, but I'm started to worry about it. I keept forgetting to check out Irredeemable.

I wanted to check out Invincible. Seems like I'd like it, plus I love The Walking Dead. It's the same guy, right?

Yes, and it's probably very different but probably equally as fresh. I think you'd really get into it.

I'll check it out as soon as I'm done navigating this stretched thread.

I picked up The Pulse: Thin Air and something called The Gunwitch: Outskirts of Doom. Some sort of Oni Press thing. Looked neat.

Pulse was great but not as great as Alias, which introduced the character and was a MAX series. I would check that out if I were you. I just got my girlfriend into it and she seems to like it.

I'm REALLY digging The Pulse, so I'm gonna check out Alias as soon as I can.

---

Hooray! It's time for "Holy Fruits, Let's See What Speed Bought Today!"

Brightest Day #24 - Why the crap not? They brought in MOTHER#####ING SWAMP THING!

(http://mycomicpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Brightest-Day-24-00a.jpg)

Action Comics #900 - Superman disowns America! Faux News commentators throw a #####fit!

(http://www.dccomics.com/media/product/1/7/17547_400x600.jpg)

Future Foundation #1 2nd printing - Nifty homage to Fantastic Four #1

(http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FF_1_MCGUINNESS_SECONDPRINTINGCOVER.jpg)

Venom #2

(http://i.newsarama.com/images/VENOM_2_Cover_02.jpg)

Future Foundation #2

(http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/3/38780/1786400-ff_2_super.jpg)

The Mighty Thor Saga - How else do you promote an upcoming movie but with a NIFTY free comic?

(http://covers.cbrd.info/78cfeaf4b95bd11d7b8e40232eb301ac_xl.jpg)

---

I picked up Future Foundation #3. That issue was lacking, but it's building up to something big.

Middle Thor looks like he got shot through the chest.

My dad just told me that he may give me his entire comic book collection (although he might hold on to his Tarzan comics). Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeet.

I believe I may already have started it here but I'll say I'm reading comic books now.

I've decided I'll follow the FF series, Batman: The Dark Knight, Venom, and MegaMan.

FF started off slow but always had a twist at the end. FF#3 however things got crazy and I am now heavily interested.

Dark Knight drew me in instantly. I really like the artwork too.

Venom seems interesting. I don't know too much about the Flash Thompson character but I'll continue reading it unless it gets boring.

MegaMan is rather obvious, I would think. Even if it did get bland I think I would continue to follow it.

You could probably just link the covers instead of posting them every time. Anyone interested will click and/or already knows what the cover is...

This thread is a big ass eyesore right now.

Two of my favorite comics right now (or one's I'm fully looking forward to) are Megaman and InFamous. Guess the gamer in me won't die.

Anyone here read Locke & Key? I just got caught up and... holy hell. It's amazing. One of the best-written comics I've seen, and the art is right up there with it.

My girlfriend is a big fan of it. She was highly disappointed that Fox didn't pick up the show.

So, who's been reading Flashpoint?

I have friends reading Flashpoint but they say it's not all that and my favourite quote was "What's the #####ing point?" as they are just relaunching DC soon anyway.

I dunno, I'm really digging it - perhaps because I haven't really read anything recent by DC in a long time. The Abin Sur miniseries is pretty cool; not sure about the Kid Flash one.

I'm behind on everything (which I kind of like, since superhero comics and I have been at odds recently) but I'll definitely check it out SOMEDAY since I've loved Geoff Johns' stuff for a long time.

I'm really enjoying FF but man that last issue... I did not understand anything. It was just pure filler. :/

Venom seems like it's got potential, but it's like one issue is good and then the next leaves me kind-of bored. Last one was good as was before that, though.

And of course I'm enjoying MegaMan. I also picked up the Sonic Genesis part 1 of 4 arc of the Sonic comic, it's kind-of like a reboot. I only intend on reading the four though, I'm not too interested in the world and characters of the comic.

IDW's Duke Nukem mini-series is fun.

---

Last night I decided to read one of my graphic novels that I've yet to read, a 1950s/1960s manga called Black Blizzard. Two convicts escape a train derailment in the middle of a snowstorm...fairly decent. I could see a B-movie be made out of it.

---

Flashpoint #5 and Justice League #1 are out today!

Apparently DC has already sold out of Justice League #1's initial first printing of 200,000 copies.

---

So here's my thoughts on the "New 52" as I posted on my LJ:

As of late I've been reading the new DC Comics titles, as everything got "rebooted".

But it didn't.

DC didn't want people using the word "reboot" to describe everything post-Flashpoint, because they said that it wasn't going to be a straight-up reboot.

Clark Kent is still Superman, Bruce Wayne is still Batman, and we have a bunch of guys running around as the Green Lantern.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how this new universe is supposed to work, not only because of some titles taking whole reset button seriously (like Justice League and Action Comics), but the whole idea of being able to introduce new readers to these characters.

Take for instance, Green Lantern Corps which is a title that involves two of the four human Green Lanterns - Jon Stewart and Guy Gardner. In issue #1, they've already got their rings and they're going into action to beat...something. Where was the introduction? How did they get their rings? If you're new to the comics scene, you won't have any idea who these guys are (okay, so they say that Stewart was originally an architect) or how they got their powers. It just automatically assumes that you've been reading various Green Lantern titles for years. Same with Green Lantern, which introduces us to Sinestro first, and then talks about his previous crimes. Oh really? What were they? And why is Hal Jordan without a ring? Much less, why should we give a damn about this Hal Jordan character?

I haven't picked up an issue of Green Arrow in years, but I did two weeks ago. If this is supposed to introduce new readers to the series, they left out two important things: 1) Who the hell is he? 2) Why is he so good with the bow and arrow?

Batman and Robin seems to be a pretty cool title. But when did Bruce Wayne have a kid? How does it fit in to this new timeline?

Meanwhile, the first issue of the new Justice League introduces us to a world that is just discovering all of these superhuman, aliens, robots, what-have-you. The first issue apparently takes place six months after the first discovery of all of these meta-humans. And frankly, it kicks ass. We've got Batman being shot at by the cops, only to be saved at the last minute by Green Lantern (possibly Hal Jordan, but it isn't made clear).

The main problem with this new "52" (52 being the number of series being released in September with this relaunch) is that it isn't the introduction/relaunch that we've all been reading about. Some titles are willing to hold new readers by the hand (Justice League, Deadman, Blue Beetle), others aren't taking time to let you know what they're about (Green Arrow, various Green Lantern titles). I can understand why wanted some of the old stories to still be canon (after all, what's the point in reading 70+ years of comics for all of it to go down the #####-can in September 2011?), but some of this stuff confounds me. Some of these titles don't seem to be a fresh start for these characters, and now suddenly I feel like I need to read Blackest Night, Brightest Day, and War of the Green Lanterns, just so I have an idea of what the hell they're talking about...which is the exact opposite of what DC advertised.

Which now makes me pretty sure that DC doesn't know what the hell it's doing with this reboot and is aimlessly throwing stuff at the wall and hoping it'll stick. Granted, I'm pretty impressed with the writing thus far, and only have one series that I'll probably never check out again.

------------

My update to this: So after talking to my professor, it turns out that the best-reviewed ones are the ones that are actually taking the reboot seriously. Meanwhile, people are complaining that Green Lantern #1 should actually just be Green Lantern #56, because Johns didn't feel like erasing all that he's written.

Which now makes me mad - this whole relaunch is a sham. If DC was serious about this, they would have wiped it clean across the board. I may be ditching a number of my subscriptions/holds in the coming months because of this.

I'm also not impressed with IDW's new Star Trek series (based on the 2009 movie) - they're redoing the original series pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before" with the new crew in September/October, with "Galileo 7" being the November (and possibly December) issue. I thought we'd be getting NEW, ORIGINAL stories out of this. If I wanted rewrites of old material, I'd watch the first three seasons of Star Trek: Voyager.

At least Mega Man doesn't suck. I've been very impressed with the series.

Yeah I've been following The Dark Knight because it was a new series... but when they decided to reboot that alongside the original Batman, I was like "Okay"

But both The Dark Knight and Batman show us that all of the same villains are still there, and that Bruce Wayne has a bunch of other bat-themed friends... It really pisses me off, actually. I was really hoping it was a real reboot.

All Star Western is OK. I will probably stop picking it up once the Jonah Hex story is finished. I loved Catwoman, even though it also isn't a reboot series.

Apparently Aquaman was really, really good. Same with Batgirl. They're both hard to find now.

With the New 52, the ones that I have subscriptions to are:

Action Comics, All-Star Western, Blue Beetle, Deathstroke, The Flash, The Fury of Firestorm, Green Arrow, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Justice League, Red Hood and the Outlaws, and Red Lanterns

But I'm keeping an eye on (as in, buying the issues to see where they're going before getting a subscription):

Aquaman, Batwing, Captain Atom, Catwoman, DC Universe Presents (Deadman), Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, Mister Terrific, The Savage Hawkman, Supergirl, Superman, and  Voodoo

---

Due to a research paper that I had to write for my Senior Seminar class (about how The Crow comics and movies were inspired by Batman, Ghost Rider, the Punisher, and Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven, yet through accepting modern gothic culture, makes The Crow being the only one who can actually deal with his problems), I've got a huge #####ing backlog of comics to read that I've only been able to start reading now.

So within the last week, I've managed to clear through All-Star Western to The Lone Ranger.

Honestly, I think that All-Star Western and Justice League are DC's best-written comics. Justice League is one "holy #####" moment after another.

I'm disappointed that Mister Terrific is getting axed after issue #8; I've been enjoying the series so far. I'm probably going to pick up the rest of Blackhawks, Men of War, and Static Shock just so I can have a complete run of those titles (I was able to pick up issue #1 for each of those when they first came out), even though I didn't really like them. However, I've already put in subscriptions for World's Finest, Earth 2, and Dial H. Dial H is the one I'm looking forward to the most, as it just seems awesome. Dude hops in a phone booth when there's trouble, dials a phone number, and gets a random-ass super power.

I'd really like to check out Dynamite's various Kirby: Genesis series. I have yet to read a single issue, but Alex Ross' cover art really makes me want to check it out. Each cover that he does looks #####ing sick. Speaking of Dynamite, Garth Ennis is writing their new series for The Shadow. #####. Yes.

Because of the backlog, I ended up having to read 4 or 5 issues of FF. Halfway through read, I was thinking about killing my subscription, but I'm glad that they've focused on the kids now instead of all of this weird backstory ##### that I have no #####ing clue what they're talking about. I wasn't crazy about the new art, but I'm getting used to it.

---

Also, I really dug this G.I. Joe cover. Nothing great, but using action figures for a cover is fun.

(http://www.comicbooknewbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/gi_joe_snake_eyes_8_covA-428x660.jpg)

---

I think I would give my left nut for the original of this:

(http://www.majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-Shadow-Alex-Ross-Cover-1.jpg)

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Don't forget that this Saturday (May 5) is Free Comic Book Day!

---

So yesterday was Free Comic Book Day. I got everything (except for The Avengers comic, which my girlfriend stole from me), along with a bunch of graphic novels on the cheap:

7 Billion Needles: Volume 1
Batman: Gates of Gotham
Batman Beyond: Industrial Revolution
Black Widow (Marvel Knights collection)
Doc Savage: The Silver Pyramid
The Incredible Hulk: Ground Zero
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Fear and Loathing
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Son of Man
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Red Sepulchre
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Stations of the Cross
John Constantine, Hellblazer: The Gift
Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers
Winsor McCay: Early Works II

I also won a big stack of DC Comics back issues from one of the nearby comic book stores!

The comics I keep up with are:
-MegaMan
-FF
-Fantastic Four
-Venom
-All-Star Western
-Batman: The Dark Knight

I love MegaMan, the original arcs are especially great. ASW is decent... I don't care or Jonah Hex much but Dr. Arkham is pretty cool. I am enjoying the Nighthawk and Cinnamon arc a lot too. Much more interesting dynamic than Hex and the Doctor. Good thing too as I hated the last western story arc. Batman is always good, I find. Not excellent but not bad.

I have yet to catch up to FF, Fanatstic Four and Venom, however. While I was at school my dad picked up all of the incomming issues and I have a lot with those 3 (especially Venom and the Hell arc, holy crap). I caught up with everything else though.

The last thing I read was from DC Universe Presents, with their relaunch of Challengers of the Unknown. I wasn't terribly impressed, but I also had no clue that it was a series from the 1950s and 1970s. I liked the idea of them being a part of some reality show, but otherwise it felt rushed. Like...why should I care about them?

---

G.I. Combat #1 was way better than I expected it to be, but then again, how can you go wrong with a comic book that has dinosaurs vs. tanks?

Also, there is a series of Marvel one-shots starring Franklin Richards that I really dug, mainly because the artwork is reminiscent of Calvin & Hobbes.

---

I'm not sure that I liked the Justice League Dark/I, Vampire crossover (at least on the Justice League Dark side; I've never read an issue of I, Vampire). The ending felt rushed and I'm not sure if I like the new team members that they've introduced.

Dynamite's The Lone Ranger is still a pretty solid series.

---

I'm not digging the Red Lanterns' new direction with the introduction of the human character "Rankorr", who is the first one to be able to make constructs (like the Green Lanterns do). If the series keeps this up, I'll be dropping this series soon.

Voodoo is still pretty neat, although I think that ending the series in September is the right decision to make.

Even though it kind of sucks because I'm always playing catch-up, I like being able to read 5 or so issues of a series at a time. Plots seem to flow better, and I don't have to keep track of as much crap at a time.

---

I could've sworn that I had posted about this before, but Barnes & Noble's websites, BN.com, is running a "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" sale on select graphic novels. It runs to 7/20. I picked up:

Catwoman Vol. 1, Detective Comics Vol. 1, Justice League Vol. 1, Mister Terrific Vol. 1, Suicide Squad Vol. 1

Non-superhero stuff: Daytripper, complete FLCL, and The Push Man and Other Stories.

Also, it's pronounced like "Raw Shark".

Scorpion first appeared in the Incredible Hulk, around House of M, and has made appearances in Spider-Man Family and Amazing Fantasy.

My best character is Hulk and I was interested in Marvel for it's good appearances.

I just read Batman: Earth One. I liked this reimagining, although I think I prefer Superman: Earth One more.

Caught up with the various Before Watchmen series. I highly recommend them if you haven't checked them out yet. All of them are great; Silk Spectre seems to be the weakest of all of the storylines, but even her series is pretty good. Definitely going to collect the graphic novels when they come out.

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I've finally ordered everything that I think I'll be needing for my Punisher paper. I still need to find a conference (the Terror and the Inhuman Conference turned down my paper), but I'd like to have a rough draft done by the end of the month, which is when the Fall 2012 semester starts.

Here's what I've bought in terms of graphic novels, including a bunch of non-Punisher stuff:

The Alcoholic
Area 10
Batman: Heart of Hush
Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story
Gangland
The Prisoner: Shattered Visage
The Punisher - Essential Vol. 3 (also put down an order for Vol. 4 coming in October)
The Punisher by Greg Rucka - Vol. 1
Punisher Max: Frank
The Punisher: War Journal - The Resurrection of Ma Gnucci
The Punisher: Widowmaker

I've been reading a manga.

It's about a guy with a birthmark on his ass; when women see it, it makes them want to have sex with him uncontrollably.

Hijinks.

So an update on my Punisher paper: it got accepted to the Southwest/Texas Pop Culture and American Culture Association Conference, which will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I got the school to pay for around $350 worth of Punisher graphic novels, and soon I'll be booking my flight and hotel for it.

As a result, I'm months behind on my regular comic reading, which I hope to conquer over Christmas break. When I need to take a break from Punisher, I've been reading the run of Zatanna from a year or two ago.

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You guys definitely need to check out the Superman: Earth One series (there's only two volumes, so it's a great way to spend an afternoon). I got Volume 2 for Christmas, and it was great - the art is incredible, the plot is cool, and I really like the more philosophical take on Superman.

Congrats on the paper, man!

Currently reading: Starman Omnibus vol.1, Cinderella: Fables Are Forever (Fables spinoff), Rocketeer, Alan Moore's Swamp Thing vol. 1, Locke & Key vol. 1, Essential Power Man and Iron Fist.

Just finished: Saga vol.1, bunch of Avengers stuff from the past few months. Not sure if I'll be reading anything from Marvel NOW! after this. Kind of sick of most superhero books that are coming out right now.

Currently hyping: Ultimate Spider-Man (Miles Morales).

Upcoming: Spidermen, and more of the above, I'm sure.

So I moved in with my girlfriend, and there really isn't a lot of room for my comic books. I'll be making the jump to graphic novels sooner than I thought, and what's awesome is that the guy I buy comics from is okay with doing a swap for graphic novels. For some titles, he's willing to do a straight swap (whatever issues are covered in the graphic novel, he'll swap for that graphic novel), other's it'll be a 10 comics per one graphic novel swap.

So that'll be nice. It just means that I have to figure out what I'm willing to part with and what he'll trade.

That makes sense, the issues could IN THEORY end up being sold for a higher price than you bought them for and graphic novels/trades will never be worth more than retail. It's still a gamble and most shops wouldn't bother doing it, since most places are trying to get RID of back issues. That's pretty cool.

I'm applying for a job with Marvel Entertainment in their Brand Assurance department. Hold on to your butts.

That's pretty darned flippin cool.