PhotoJones
Avenger
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2005
- Messages
- 24,050
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
and that's cool. that just means you'll like dark tower more than i will.
Bought/thought 02/07/07
- Thread starter hippy fascist
- Start date
and that's cool. that just means you'll like dark tower more than i will.
Marcdachamp
Sidekick
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2004
- Messages
- 3,366
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
To each their own. I was a big fan of 1602 and Origin.
PhotoJones
Avenger
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2005
- Messages
- 24,050
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
i hated everything about 1602. it's probably the only thing gaiman's ever done that i didn't like.
and origin was okay, i suppose...again, i'm not a fan of isanove's liberal uses of yellow, oranges and purples.
colorists i DO like:
laura martin - she's the best in the biz, imo.
morry hollowell - really makes mcniven's artwork even better
matt milla - i really his work on asm
Marcdachamp
Sidekick
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2004
- Messages
- 3,366
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
Oh, Hollowell is FANTASTIC. His Civil War work has been great.
1602 wasn't for everyone, but I thought it made a beautiful trade.
Kevin
Doug not so Funny
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2005
- Messages
- 11,535
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread!
DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!!
Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread!
DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!!
DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!!
Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread! Dread!
DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!! DREAD!!
samurai black
Mighty Dark Avenger
- Joined
- May 22, 2006
- Messages
- 1,007
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
That's why i check out this thread.
Sebastos
le professionnel
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2006
- Messages
- 20,255
- Reaction score
- 377
- Points
- 73
New Avengers #27: I really thought this issue was great. And personally will be getting this over Mighty Avengers. I thought everything that happened in this issue was awesome. So the New Ronin shows up and he says "Yo". Really questions who he could be....All in all the art, and writing was kickass. I like the team alot and I think this first glimpse of them was cool.
And the plus side, Iron Fist's first scenes as a New Avenger was awesome. Not only was it cool, but he should what he could do with this Iron Fist power. That mini earth quake that he did was badass.
Def can't wait for the next issue.
And the plus side, Iron Fist's first scenes as a New Avenger was awesome. Not only was it cool, but he should what he could do with this Iron Fist power. That mini earth quake that he did was badass.
Def can't wait for the next issue.
Dread
TMNT 1984-2009
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2001
- Messages
- 21,788
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
Today was a rather bad week. I was expecting two crap books, and aside for IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN, there were really no books I "hungered" for. Some I liked, sure, but none of the ones I usually anticipate. Or maybe it's this cold I am fighting that has me in a dimmer mood.
I would have gotten X-MEN: PHOENIX: WARSONG #5 to put that bloody crap to bed for good, but my LCS ran out and I seriously have to wonder whether I feel like going back or travelling to another shop simply to see the finale of a story that has long since turned to crud for me just to finish a run. Besides, it is a blessing I missed it, because I didn't expect DETECTIVE this week and I can only swallow so many mud pies at once, and that always goes to ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN.
As always, no spoiler tags in this thread from me. I'm lazy. I also have a cold, so I may be harsher than usual.
DREAD'S BOUGHT/THOUGHT for 2/7/07:
52 WEEK #40: There are officially 12 weeks left as of now (as in 3 months) of 52 left, and naturally over the past month or so this title has really been kicking it into overdrive. Having stuff happen, rounding out plot-threads, and having daring confrontations between good and evil, or hell, amung character A and character B (I mean, Suicide Squad vs. the Black Marvel family; who're actually "heroes" there?). This one all but wraps up the Lex Luthor arc, and seemingly sets up his fall from the "successful business man who pulls Metropolis' strings" and back into the "Donner-film aping supervillian monkey" from OYL Superman stories. Truth be told, both roles have been done to death by Luthor, but that is the problem when franchises run for over 60 years, new angles can be incredibly difficult to pull off. Anyway, this issue has a sequence that Marvel has all but abandoned in most of it's recent major "events" save for the excellent ANNIHILATION that just ended; a hero triumphing over a villian against all odds. Marvel thinks that's not realistic, cynical, or emo enough most times, so they dance around it, have the villians be manipulated as pawns, look for any excuse to have superheroes brain each other, etc. All except for Giffen & the ANNIHILATION crew. If this was a Marvel story, Luthor would have won, Irons or one of the Teen Titans would have been gratituiously murdered and then some editor or Joe Q would gush on Newsarama about how yet another gut-wrenching tragedy "just sets up more goodness to come", which usually is gut wrenching tragedy. You take enough pain and you get dull to it. Anyway, I am digressing terribly. Here, Luthor uses Natasha (who he throttled last ish) as bait to lure out Steel (quite why I am not sure, malice? Arrogance?) to dare him to try to stop him after all his atrocities, and Steel comes packing, with full armor and the Teen Titans backing him up (or at least Raven, Beast Boy, some chick and Plastic Man's son, who almost looks dumber than his father). Luthor cleared his building and is expecting a fight, now that his "everyman" debacle has made the phrase, "look, up in the sky" mean something horrible. They fight past Infinity, Inc, Steel sacrifices his armor to kill Hannibal, and has his showdown with Luthor. Okay, okay, I know the realist in us says, "Man, Luthor either had to be REALLY pulling his punches or not as strong as he thought" to not have killed John Henry Irons without that armor, even if he is some kinda cyborg (he had an explosive fake hand; what, is everyone aping 90's Aquaman now). And the "arrogant to the point of stupidity" villian does get mighty tired. But this time it fooled me because I liked seeing Irons refuse to quit, even when his body was being broken to pieces by Luthor. And yes, maybe it was incredibly plot convient that Natasha is able to reconfigure Irons' hammer to short out Luthor's new powers (which would have killed him in 6 months anyway). But it allowed her to be more than a damsel here and reaffirm her place with John; "earning" things with her brains vs. wanting quick fixes. It was very cool seeing Irons & Nat victorious in the end, after all the manipulations and angst between the two, and after Luthor's whole scream. I like how they kept the last bit off panel, letting the reader imagine the final blow. Unrealistic? Sure. But I have newspapers for that. I read comic books to read about heroes I wish existed fighting villians who sometimes come close to real, and unlike in real life, they win. DC seems to understand this, and I hope ANNIHILATION isn't a fluke and after CW is done with, Marvel gets it too.
DETECTIVE COMICS #828: Another issue of Dini & Kramer's one-shot Batman mysteries, with the only subplot linking 'em being Riddler becoming a legit P.I. and constantly getting in the hair of Wayne & Batman. And while I enjoy these stories immensely, I can understand why it isn't selling like it should. Like BLUE BEETLE in a way (although don't get me wrong, Dini's DETECTIVE run has beaten out BLUE BEETLE at it's worst, IMO), there us no sense of "urgency" that it appears modern fans seem to want. I mean look at how each episode of HEROES, LOST or 24 ends. DETECTIVE doesn't have that, and while I personally enjoy the breather, most fans seem to want some desperate cliffhanger hook or obvious, beating-you-over-the-head 3-6 part arc to jazz 'em. I could have missed this issue or some of the last and not missed much in general, aside for a good solo story. In today's market, that won't get you anywhere near the Top 25, sadly. So maybe there is a sense of "the Big Two just reacting to the market" sometimes. Anyway, as usual, it is another Dini Bat-mystery, and it is a bit good, although the mystery this time, like some episodes of CSI, comes across a little contrived and Batman & Riddler almost trip over themselves pulling clues out of thin air, but as we never knew any of the suspects before this issue, it sort of feels like, well, CSI, where Grissom or whoever goes, "You left your DNA on the monkey paw and I traced back the paw to Madagascar where you were a transvestite hooker named Bibbo who then smuggled his way into Florida disguised an a rhino and then--" etc and you just nod at it all. I mean I never would have guessed that Wayne's one-and-done friend was killed by some guy with ancient artifact weapons, because I was never given the chance to connect the dots (even if, of course, the girlfriend was involved). I mean it all made sense and wrapped up nicely, and Batman & Riddler had some great chemistry trying to one-up each other in both deduction and defending each other in battle (the fight sequence was actually pretty cool), but I sensed a lack of "oomph" here. Still, though, a very enjoyable story and despite not having those obvious hooks and flares, Dini's Batman is a true Dark Knight Detective, and I recommend them to anyone tired of a Batman who dons armor and fights parademons with the JLA. Next issue looks to be another "Robin saves the day" story, and Dini'll have a tough time topping his Joker tale. While I didn't care for Morrison's BATMAN arc enough to return, it did have that urgency that DETECTIVE lacks, and that, along with the obvious namepower, likely explains why it sells 2-3 times better. I still recommend Dini's run, though, and personally prefer it.
IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #5: Unlike ULTIMATE X-MEN, where Kirkman at times seems utterly lost on what he wants to do on that book, ANT-MAN here has a full purpose, if you can bare with the conveluted story (it takes place both "months ago" and "in the present, sorta", which can take some drama out of the suspence for past scenes, as you know Eric or Mitch can't die). But it's another fun romp from Kirkman & Hester with their unabashed U-Turn of a legacy hero concept. Most "legecy heroes" in a way quickly spit-shine themselves to "replace" their previous mantle bearer, or at least are made to be likeable so earnestly that they risk becoming generic, as the new Blue Beetle and Atom face (even Bart was warped a bit to become Emo Wally Lite as The Flash). Kirkman decides to brake the mold and try something new, and is rewarded with low sales and almost no advertising; y'know, the usual. Eric O'Grady is an jerk and almost unashamedly so; while not a ruthless criminal or monster, he's like that jerkwad in every class or office who lies a lot and weasels through life, only now he's stumbled upon a super ant-suit. Turns out that Mitch, in an older Ant-Man suit, encounters Eric in the SHIELD airshaft and beats the snot out of him, before Eric's pet ants attack him and he makes an escape. In the present, Eric escapes his date's apartment and steals a ride on Mitch's "holy snap I ripped off 2099" hovercar. Back in the past, Eric is slowly brushing off Veronica with the "just not into you" routine, and she emotionally breaks down, especially after taking a pregnancy test and presumably being positive. Mitch also makes a "lucky guess" that Eric is the Ant-Man, but can't prove it to anyone and has no proof. While Eric is naturally an oppurtunistic sleaze, neither he or Chris would have been in the position to interfere with that suit if not for Mitch's involvement, so as Kirkman has sais, "no one's hands are clean" here, except maybe Verionica, who'd been lied to all along. The shift from past to present is annoying but Kirkman manages it with a light style that stays current in continuity (the agents play poker and discuss DECIMATION) and on assumptions about SHIELD agents (not all of them fly in jetpacks). In this title, Kirkman's done the impossible; taken a franchise that to my memory has never had an ongoing before that wasn't an anthology like TALES TO ASTONISH or whatever, at least not for the past 20 years, and make it a rivetting cult hit. It's THE SHIELD only with, erm, SHIELD and ANT-MAN. The deadbeat father routine (Eric is SO not going to stick around for Veronica's pregnancy and childbirth, least not at this point in his life) is pushing the barrier a little far with whether one can keep reading without loathing the character enough not to pay $3 for it, but hey, if Cyclops can bounce back from it, ("Honey, I'm going to leave you and our son now to go play with my resurrected true love and best friends for about a year, thanks!"), Eric's not the only one. Besides, soap operas and even Dennis Leary's firefighter drama have implied outright rapes and people still watch. Anyway, Kirkman's on a roll here by going completely against type and casting Ant-Man III as a total opposite of what most heroes usually are, and into a figment of what most cynics believe many men really are. Loved how he assumed he'd eventually become an Avenger. Hey, if Venom and Bullseye can become government soldiers, Eric's a bloody saint in comparison. He's an oppurtunist liar, not a killer. Ant-Man may be "iredeemable", but the book is unstoppable. Pity it won't last a year if sales don't hold steady as it dips way past the Top 100. I hope to enjoy the rest of the arc and Kirkman's run while it lasts. It's been a fun ride.
NEW AVENGERS #27: Y'know, for all the understandable misgivings about the new New Avengers line up (the fact that anyone expects us to care about them being reorganized after barely being assembled for a year's worth of issues is laughable) with random rosters and whatnot, this issue was a lot better than #26 was. It still irked me in ways, but it was a huge improvement from more Hawkeye/Wanda/HOM shipping. Much like Bendis' successful CW issues, it spends most of it's time focusing on one character, Echo. Now, it tells me something when a writer on a team book seems to constantly score when he writes a solo hero but flounder when they all share a stage. It would tell me to keep him on solo's. But what do I know? This is the #1 book of the industry so apparently Bendis is very good at what he does, which is have the Avengers fight ninjas. And yes, the full "new team" arrives, complete with Ronin 2.0, Black Costume Spidey, Iron Fist, and Dr. Strange (along with Cage, Drew, & Wolvie). Right off, seeing Dr. Strange fighting ninjas is bizarre and stupid; couldn't one spell just banish, beat, freeze, etc. them all? I mean imagine if you made Orion one of the Outsiders and expected him to not clobber Penguin's Henchmen by himself if the Outsiders fought them. By all accounts don't make Strange a demi-god, but this should not be a fight. But before that, Bendis is left to pick up where Echo left off, or more to the point, continue his storyline after CIVIL WAR so rudely interupted it. So he has Echo explain her rationale for being Echo and naturally it works, although Bendis gets in a good dig at Internet debaters who engaged in Ronin guessing by calling them "idiots". Got to love that new Marvel mantra, rile the fans, take them for granted, all but cheat them every month, insult them, and count on their passion and gullibility to keep the sales comin', and I guess it works. Everyone has had their guess as to who Ronin 2.0 is, my bet is still on Cap or Hawkeye, but I was wrong before and I don't care about being wrong now, because I don't care about Ronin. The schtick was done once before and twice in less than 12 issues is pushing the hell out of it, not to mention the upcoming USM. Claremont can at least be forgiven for cannibilizing his own work incessantly after 10-20 years; Bendis hasn't been in the majors for that long yet so he has no excuse. So, I don't care if Ronin is Century or Slapstick or Kong for all I know. Make it Cap or Hawkeye or Bucky or Gwen Stacy's Clone or whatever the hell, I really don't have the energy to foam at the mouth and play guesswork again. It barely was worth it the first time. And besides, we're "idiots" who do that, right?
Oh, and I love the cover; if Ronin moved just a little to the left, all the ninjas would collapse on each other and smother Elektra. Speaking of art, for half of it Yu was fine and then the action started and he got very sketchy. Either the inker or something is not the best or maybe he was rushed, or maybe he's not as awesome as many claim, but some of that battle looked like sketchy 90's art from MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS. Oh, and for those who care, apparently Echo sent an email to "Daredevil" in case of her disappearence, as she is killed by Elektra (who kills her just as Bullseye killed her, homage and all, and then goes on about the noble warrior part, I just don't GET how anyone can like this stale cliche of a femme fatale machine, she's like a bad message board RP'er's attempt to play a female character who gets everything wrong but the breasts) and then immediately revived by the Hand to become their warrior, which explains why she stabs Strange in leaked promo art for next issue. So, better than #26, but really not spectacular. Okay, but not great.
NEWUNIVERSAL #3: Ellis is actually doing pretty well here, with a new universe to play with and no characters to butcher, and the pace is at a reasonable rate considering the amount of characters and the proximity apart. One art delay and he's screwed, though, because a 2-3 month gap and I'd completely lose interest. This book is good, but not so jaw-droppingly-fantastic that I would miss it much. It's a slow burn so far, although Justice ices the gang scum who put a bullet into him, which was a fantastically paced sequence. Nice to see someone other than Millar can really kick it with a violent exchange. The rest is more ducks in a row; the archeologists (who resemble Depp, Nicole Kidman and Gene Hackman) discover proof of past superhumans as the fed people devise a plan to start to mobilize attack units, as two sides argue over which theory to the metahumans to take. It's all interesting readable stuff, actually. Maybe in another issue or two if the book starts to really kick it into overdrive, my excitement will improve. Waiting for the trade on this wouldn't be so bad though. But good so far. I don't regret it. Definately a timely revamp of the concept in a post-HEROES market. Much as with CW and the political climate, timing works in Marvel's favor.
I would have gotten X-MEN: PHOENIX: WARSONG #5 to put that bloody crap to bed for good, but my LCS ran out and I seriously have to wonder whether I feel like going back or travelling to another shop simply to see the finale of a story that has long since turned to crud for me just to finish a run. Besides, it is a blessing I missed it, because I didn't expect DETECTIVE this week and I can only swallow so many mud pies at once, and that always goes to ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN.
As always, no spoiler tags in this thread from me. I'm lazy. I also have a cold, so I may be harsher than usual.
DREAD'S BOUGHT/THOUGHT for 2/7/07:
52 WEEK #40: There are officially 12 weeks left as of now (as in 3 months) of 52 left, and naturally over the past month or so this title has really been kicking it into overdrive. Having stuff happen, rounding out plot-threads, and having daring confrontations between good and evil, or hell, amung character A and character B (I mean, Suicide Squad vs. the Black Marvel family; who're actually "heroes" there?). This one all but wraps up the Lex Luthor arc, and seemingly sets up his fall from the "successful business man who pulls Metropolis' strings" and back into the "Donner-film aping supervillian monkey" from OYL Superman stories. Truth be told, both roles have been done to death by Luthor, but that is the problem when franchises run for over 60 years, new angles can be incredibly difficult to pull off. Anyway, this issue has a sequence that Marvel has all but abandoned in most of it's recent major "events" save for the excellent ANNIHILATION that just ended; a hero triumphing over a villian against all odds. Marvel thinks that's not realistic, cynical, or emo enough most times, so they dance around it, have the villians be manipulated as pawns, look for any excuse to have superheroes brain each other, etc. All except for Giffen & the ANNIHILATION crew. If this was a Marvel story, Luthor would have won, Irons or one of the Teen Titans would have been gratituiously murdered and then some editor or Joe Q would gush on Newsarama about how yet another gut-wrenching tragedy "just sets up more goodness to come", which usually is gut wrenching tragedy. You take enough pain and you get dull to it. Anyway, I am digressing terribly. Here, Luthor uses Natasha (who he throttled last ish) as bait to lure out Steel (quite why I am not sure, malice? Arrogance?) to dare him to try to stop him after all his atrocities, and Steel comes packing, with full armor and the Teen Titans backing him up (or at least Raven, Beast Boy, some chick and Plastic Man's son, who almost looks dumber than his father). Luthor cleared his building and is expecting a fight, now that his "everyman" debacle has made the phrase, "look, up in the sky" mean something horrible. They fight past Infinity, Inc, Steel sacrifices his armor to kill Hannibal, and has his showdown with Luthor. Okay, okay, I know the realist in us says, "Man, Luthor either had to be REALLY pulling his punches or not as strong as he thought" to not have killed John Henry Irons without that armor, even if he is some kinda cyborg (he had an explosive fake hand; what, is everyone aping 90's Aquaman now). And the "arrogant to the point of stupidity" villian does get mighty tired. But this time it fooled me because I liked seeing Irons refuse to quit, even when his body was being broken to pieces by Luthor. And yes, maybe it was incredibly plot convient that Natasha is able to reconfigure Irons' hammer to short out Luthor's new powers (which would have killed him in 6 months anyway). But it allowed her to be more than a damsel here and reaffirm her place with John; "earning" things with her brains vs. wanting quick fixes. It was very cool seeing Irons & Nat victorious in the end, after all the manipulations and angst between the two, and after Luthor's whole scream. I like how they kept the last bit off panel, letting the reader imagine the final blow. Unrealistic? Sure. But I have newspapers for that. I read comic books to read about heroes I wish existed fighting villians who sometimes come close to real, and unlike in real life, they win. DC seems to understand this, and I hope ANNIHILATION isn't a fluke and after CW is done with, Marvel gets it too.
DETECTIVE COMICS #828: Another issue of Dini & Kramer's one-shot Batman mysteries, with the only subplot linking 'em being Riddler becoming a legit P.I. and constantly getting in the hair of Wayne & Batman. And while I enjoy these stories immensely, I can understand why it isn't selling like it should. Like BLUE BEETLE in a way (although don't get me wrong, Dini's DETECTIVE run has beaten out BLUE BEETLE at it's worst, IMO), there us no sense of "urgency" that it appears modern fans seem to want. I mean look at how each episode of HEROES, LOST or 24 ends. DETECTIVE doesn't have that, and while I personally enjoy the breather, most fans seem to want some desperate cliffhanger hook or obvious, beating-you-over-the-head 3-6 part arc to jazz 'em. I could have missed this issue or some of the last and not missed much in general, aside for a good solo story. In today's market, that won't get you anywhere near the Top 25, sadly. So maybe there is a sense of "the Big Two just reacting to the market" sometimes. Anyway, as usual, it is another Dini Bat-mystery, and it is a bit good, although the mystery this time, like some episodes of CSI, comes across a little contrived and Batman & Riddler almost trip over themselves pulling clues out of thin air, but as we never knew any of the suspects before this issue, it sort of feels like, well, CSI, where Grissom or whoever goes, "You left your DNA on the monkey paw and I traced back the paw to Madagascar where you were a transvestite hooker named Bibbo who then smuggled his way into Florida disguised an a rhino and then--" etc and you just nod at it all. I mean I never would have guessed that Wayne's one-and-done friend was killed by some guy with ancient artifact weapons, because I was never given the chance to connect the dots (even if, of course, the girlfriend was involved). I mean it all made sense and wrapped up nicely, and Batman & Riddler had some great chemistry trying to one-up each other in both deduction and defending each other in battle (the fight sequence was actually pretty cool), but I sensed a lack of "oomph" here. Still, though, a very enjoyable story and despite not having those obvious hooks and flares, Dini's Batman is a true Dark Knight Detective, and I recommend them to anyone tired of a Batman who dons armor and fights parademons with the JLA. Next issue looks to be another "Robin saves the day" story, and Dini'll have a tough time topping his Joker tale. While I didn't care for Morrison's BATMAN arc enough to return, it did have that urgency that DETECTIVE lacks, and that, along with the obvious namepower, likely explains why it sells 2-3 times better. I still recommend Dini's run, though, and personally prefer it.
IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #5: Unlike ULTIMATE X-MEN, where Kirkman at times seems utterly lost on what he wants to do on that book, ANT-MAN here has a full purpose, if you can bare with the conveluted story (it takes place both "months ago" and "in the present, sorta", which can take some drama out of the suspence for past scenes, as you know Eric or Mitch can't die). But it's another fun romp from Kirkman & Hester with their unabashed U-Turn of a legacy hero concept. Most "legecy heroes" in a way quickly spit-shine themselves to "replace" their previous mantle bearer, or at least are made to be likeable so earnestly that they risk becoming generic, as the new Blue Beetle and Atom face (even Bart was warped a bit to become Emo Wally Lite as The Flash). Kirkman decides to brake the mold and try something new, and is rewarded with low sales and almost no advertising; y'know, the usual. Eric O'Grady is an jerk and almost unashamedly so; while not a ruthless criminal or monster, he's like that jerkwad in every class or office who lies a lot and weasels through life, only now he's stumbled upon a super ant-suit. Turns out that Mitch, in an older Ant-Man suit, encounters Eric in the SHIELD airshaft and beats the snot out of him, before Eric's pet ants attack him and he makes an escape. In the present, Eric escapes his date's apartment and steals a ride on Mitch's "holy snap I ripped off 2099" hovercar. Back in the past, Eric is slowly brushing off Veronica with the "just not into you" routine, and she emotionally breaks down, especially after taking a pregnancy test and presumably being positive. Mitch also makes a "lucky guess" that Eric is the Ant-Man, but can't prove it to anyone and has no proof. While Eric is naturally an oppurtunistic sleaze, neither he or Chris would have been in the position to interfere with that suit if not for Mitch's involvement, so as Kirkman has sais, "no one's hands are clean" here, except maybe Verionica, who'd been lied to all along. The shift from past to present is annoying but Kirkman manages it with a light style that stays current in continuity (the agents play poker and discuss DECIMATION) and on assumptions about SHIELD agents (not all of them fly in jetpacks). In this title, Kirkman's done the impossible; taken a franchise that to my memory has never had an ongoing before that wasn't an anthology like TALES TO ASTONISH or whatever, at least not for the past 20 years, and make it a rivetting cult hit. It's THE SHIELD only with, erm, SHIELD and ANT-MAN. The deadbeat father routine (Eric is SO not going to stick around for Veronica's pregnancy and childbirth, least not at this point in his life) is pushing the barrier a little far with whether one can keep reading without loathing the character enough not to pay $3 for it, but hey, if Cyclops can bounce back from it, ("Honey, I'm going to leave you and our son now to go play with my resurrected true love and best friends for about a year, thanks!"), Eric's not the only one. Besides, soap operas and even Dennis Leary's firefighter drama have implied outright rapes and people still watch. Anyway, Kirkman's on a roll here by going completely against type and casting Ant-Man III as a total opposite of what most heroes usually are, and into a figment of what most cynics believe many men really are. Loved how he assumed he'd eventually become an Avenger. Hey, if Venom and Bullseye can become government soldiers, Eric's a bloody saint in comparison. He's an oppurtunist liar, not a killer. Ant-Man may be "iredeemable", but the book is unstoppable. Pity it won't last a year if sales don't hold steady as it dips way past the Top 100. I hope to enjoy the rest of the arc and Kirkman's run while it lasts. It's been a fun ride.
NEW AVENGERS #27: Y'know, for all the understandable misgivings about the new New Avengers line up (the fact that anyone expects us to care about them being reorganized after barely being assembled for a year's worth of issues is laughable) with random rosters and whatnot, this issue was a lot better than #26 was. It still irked me in ways, but it was a huge improvement from more Hawkeye/Wanda/HOM shipping. Much like Bendis' successful CW issues, it spends most of it's time focusing on one character, Echo. Now, it tells me something when a writer on a team book seems to constantly score when he writes a solo hero but flounder when they all share a stage. It would tell me to keep him on solo's. But what do I know? This is the #1 book of the industry so apparently Bendis is very good at what he does, which is have the Avengers fight ninjas. And yes, the full "new team" arrives, complete with Ronin 2.0, Black Costume Spidey, Iron Fist, and Dr. Strange (along with Cage, Drew, & Wolvie). Right off, seeing Dr. Strange fighting ninjas is bizarre and stupid; couldn't one spell just banish, beat, freeze, etc. them all? I mean imagine if you made Orion one of the Outsiders and expected him to not clobber Penguin's Henchmen by himself if the Outsiders fought them. By all accounts don't make Strange a demi-god, but this should not be a fight. But before that, Bendis is left to pick up where Echo left off, or more to the point, continue his storyline after CIVIL WAR so rudely interupted it. So he has Echo explain her rationale for being Echo and naturally it works, although Bendis gets in a good dig at Internet debaters who engaged in Ronin guessing by calling them "idiots". Got to love that new Marvel mantra, rile the fans, take them for granted, all but cheat them every month, insult them, and count on their passion and gullibility to keep the sales comin', and I guess it works. Everyone has had their guess as to who Ronin 2.0 is, my bet is still on Cap or Hawkeye, but I was wrong before and I don't care about being wrong now, because I don't care about Ronin. The schtick was done once before and twice in less than 12 issues is pushing the hell out of it, not to mention the upcoming USM. Claremont can at least be forgiven for cannibilizing his own work incessantly after 10-20 years; Bendis hasn't been in the majors for that long yet so he has no excuse. So, I don't care if Ronin is Century or Slapstick or Kong for all I know. Make it Cap or Hawkeye or Bucky or Gwen Stacy's Clone or whatever the hell, I really don't have the energy to foam at the mouth and play guesswork again. It barely was worth it the first time. And besides, we're "idiots" who do that, right?
Oh, and I love the cover; if Ronin moved just a little to the left, all the ninjas would collapse on each other and smother Elektra. Speaking of art, for half of it Yu was fine and then the action started and he got very sketchy. Either the inker or something is not the best or maybe he was rushed, or maybe he's not as awesome as many claim, but some of that battle looked like sketchy 90's art from MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS. Oh, and for those who care, apparently Echo sent an email to "Daredevil" in case of her disappearence, as she is killed by Elektra (who kills her just as Bullseye killed her, homage and all, and then goes on about the noble warrior part, I just don't GET how anyone can like this stale cliche of a femme fatale machine, she's like a bad message board RP'er's attempt to play a female character who gets everything wrong but the breasts) and then immediately revived by the Hand to become their warrior, which explains why she stabs Strange in leaked promo art for next issue. So, better than #26, but really not spectacular. Okay, but not great.
NEWUNIVERSAL #3: Ellis is actually doing pretty well here, with a new universe to play with and no characters to butcher, and the pace is at a reasonable rate considering the amount of characters and the proximity apart. One art delay and he's screwed, though, because a 2-3 month gap and I'd completely lose interest. This book is good, but not so jaw-droppingly-fantastic that I would miss it much. It's a slow burn so far, although Justice ices the gang scum who put a bullet into him, which was a fantastically paced sequence. Nice to see someone other than Millar can really kick it with a violent exchange. The rest is more ducks in a row; the archeologists (who resemble Depp, Nicole Kidman and Gene Hackman) discover proof of past superhumans as the fed people devise a plan to start to mobilize attack units, as two sides argue over which theory to the metahumans to take. It's all interesting readable stuff, actually. Maybe in another issue or two if the book starts to really kick it into overdrive, my excitement will improve. Waiting for the trade on this wouldn't be so bad though. But good so far. I don't regret it. Definately a timely revamp of the concept in a post-HEROES market. Much as with CW and the political climate, timing works in Marvel's favor.
PhotoJones
Avenger
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2005
- Messages
- 24,050
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
no dark tower?
you missed out on the book of the week.
you missed out on the book of the week.
Dread
TMNT 1984-2009
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2001
- Messages
- 21,788
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
Not saying Yu is terrible, just some of that fight scene looked really sketchy and awkward to me.
Anyway, onto the onslaught.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #105: And so Part 9, NINE, of the Ultimate Clone Saga is behind us. I would be dishonest if I said this issue wasn't an improvement over the past 2-3 issues. It's what Bendis does best; lots of talking, and reusing words (I swear I read "Oh my god!" at least three times in less than 2 pages; F "realism", it makes the lines sound boring). The issue is more of a collecting of breath after the last few issues of crapitude, ahem, "anguish" for our hero. Although I think Peter Parker is more a damsel-in-distress than a hero at this point. I can't remember the last time he defeated the main antagonist in his own storyline without being carried by some superior figure in some way. Not a grunt, the MAIN THREAT. Peter thinks over "taking the Anti-Oz spray" to negate his powers, and then visits May, who knows who he is now and seemingly accepts him (no DUH. Now if she disowned him, at least that would have been original). Now there is officially no one in Peter's core social life who doesn't know who he is, and thus the burden of not being able to relate to people is gone. He now has MJ and May to talk about his Spider-troubles with, JUST LIKE IN 616!! Wow, Ultimate sure isn't feeling pointless. And just like in 616, the clone mess was a failure, leaving us husks of characters as wasted time. "Richard Parker" was just a wasted red herring. So was the tease of Gwenage. Scorpion was a random fight. The others were just plot conviences. And Jessica Drew is Bendis' fetish character, but much like with Claremont & Storm, when a writer not only goes beyond "loving" a character, but fetishizing them, they usually write some god aweful crap. Making Spider-Woman Peter's clone who Bagley draws EXACTLY like Kitty Pryde does not help her. In fact it makes her just an awkward detail of Peter. It is part of the modern writer's obsession with being "realistic" ; No, two people with spider-powers is unrealistic, they say, let us clone 'em to have it "make sense", but then it becomes CRAP. Like in CHAPTER ONE when Bryne tried to "sew up unreasonable plot-holes" and instead made jargon. So Drew leaps off, likely to save USM's ass like a female Tuxedo Mask whenever the storyline sees fit, and Peter gets back with MJ, totally dimissing Kitty as if she didn't exist (although to be fair, considering the ordeal and the history it's not impossible). Nick Fury reveals his reasons for building the Spider-Slayers at the drop of a hat (he always felt Peter would soon snap and become the next villian), and now finally accepts him, but that doesn't even work because Fury fails to see HOW HIS OWN ACTIONS COULD HAVE MADE PETER SNAP, THUS FULFILLING HIS OWN WRONG PROPHECY! It is what you call, counter-productive, or at best blindlingly cynical. "No way that kid doesn't snap, so let me provoke him into doing so!" Guess he learned nothing from Banner, who they used to push around.
So, to recap, CLONE SAGA failed for many reasons in my eyes. It was way, WAY too long; past 6 issues is rarely defensable, and past even HOM's length is criminal. It has way too much time-wasted on pointless crap like Gwenage and Richard that meant nothing, stupid "Ultimizations" and wasted oppurtunities with Spider-Woman and Scorpion, some downright sketchy art from Bagley at times, and above all it leaves USM a worse title than it was before. The innovative Kitty/Peter romance is finished back to the status quo sooner than we thought. The dilemma of Peter not being able to tell just anyone in his life about his hero troubles is completely gone, and he doesn't have the luxury of dating an X-Man as an excuse. MJ knows, May knows, Harry knows (and is locked up), and anyone else isn't a friend. Much like in 616, the line between Spider-Man and Peter that made him KEY is now gone. There is no line, no seperation of lives. It's not living in an ivory tower and being an Avenger, but it's almost worst because USM was free of 40 years of baggage, and Bendis dragged all that potential to hell simply because his ego will never allow him to admit that he's long past his peak on this book and it is time to call it a day. It may be "his baby", but he's smothering it to death. I know, terrible imagery, and I apologize. I don't buy that SHIELD could "cover" this entire incident from the media & public and it's left us with a she-male Spider-Woman clone, Gwenage, a wasted Scorpion, and an MJ who, if Bendis stays on another 100 issues, will shift into the Demon Were-Gerbil again. This story should not have been approved and there should have been some editorial imput as to what USM was supposed to be about, besides "what Bendis wants", because I thought it was supposed to be about doing classic Spidey in modern times, not reviving the worst convelution from the 90's downfall in less than 8 years. What a waste of time, money, effort, and time.
I can't think of any level where this story really succeeded, other than to bring Peter's romance back to it's default status in the most contrived and awkward way bloody possible, and to make USM mirror 616, again awkwardly, by having May learn the identity (JMS was far more subtle, a tactic this story abandoned from part 1). I'm actually annoyed with myself that I actually was fooled for about 3 issues until the end of #100 when Gwenage showed up. This makes HOUSE OF M look like ANNIHILATION. It makes SUPERPRO look like Eisner worthy reading. At least that is so laughably bad that it's just cheese-tastic. This is just so bad that it's garbage. I'm sure there is worse, but it was easily the worst story I read all year. Not just due to content, but from the arrogant assertations that "this time, it will work", and it won't leap over 5 sharks in a row while landing atop a dead horse, and so on. It makes any mischaracterization of Reed Richards by Millar in CW look like sheer brilliance in comparison. It makes me yearn for Liefeld.
Yes, I WENT THERE. Least I can laugh as he draws Capt. America with Pam Anderson breasts or some overly detailed shoulderpadded freak with veins and capes that always looks like some model on steroids & crack, at least I can laugh at that.
That all said, don't even bother with this crap in trade, don't even touch it. Officially, all my excuses for continuing on USM are gone. The arc is finished. Any reasonable fallacy that leads me to believe that Bendis can rebound, can produce another miracle with ULTIMATE KNIGHTS despite the second annual being good after knowing that Ultimate Ronin is showing up in a second title in a row is sheer insanity. I hate this book. It does little but annoy me now, making me wish for what could be, what a better writer could do with such fertile ground that Bendis is burrying toxic waste in. But I'd still say it's a 50/50 chance I'd give the next arc a try and go "one last one" and then keep making excuses, over and over. I hated that in other fans, and now I may have become one. I have to be firm and remember the time where I went 2 years before giving this title a try via trade, and it was a far better & fresher book then. Have to hold firm...
"In brightest day, in blackest night...please get Ultimate Spider-Man from my sight.
Let those who disbelieve that I am right...
Beware this series...IT IS TRITE!!"
Sebastos
le professionnel
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2006
- Messages
- 20,255
- Reaction score
- 377
- Points
- 73
I loved that book.
Dread
TMNT 1984-2009
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2001
- Messages
- 21,788
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
samurai black
Mighty Dark Avenger
- Joined
- May 22, 2006
- Messages
- 1,007
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
Superb reviews as usual Dread.
Dread
TMNT 1984-2009
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2001
- Messages
- 21,788
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
I used to like your reviews Dread, but your killing-me-softly whining about how much Marvel "hates" their buyers is almost as aggravating as listening to Good Charlotte ***** about rich people while driving their $75,000 cars.
Dread
TMNT 1984-2009
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2001
- Messages
- 21,788
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
To each their own. I did like IRREDEMEEMABLE ANT-MAN and NEWUNIVERSAL this week. And NEW AVENGERS #27 was better than the previous issue. ANNIHALTION F'ing rocked, and Marvel still does put out some good books and has some good ideas. I'm a cynic by trade so I usually go on about the faults more than the strengths, but I do try to acknowledge Marvel stuff when they do it well. I am a Marvel Zombie at heart, albeit a jaded one.
Oh, and as a random side topic, you do know that "whining about rich people while driving $75,000 cars" describes about half of all Democratic politicians? I mean, hell, the Repubs are the "rich people" so they're no better. Just sayin'.
After a night of drama, I've told my previous LCS owner who's been "forgetting" at least a book a week for the past two and a half months, claiming that they "didn't come out" only to turn around and order them, and mutter something about "they'll come in next week". The next few months will be hit and miss about whether I get what I want from week to week, but at least I'll get my books after the initial phasing period. So, finally, bringing all of this nonsense to an end took a long time and I've only read a couple books so far, ...
Ultimate Spider-Man 105: I'm not for Bendis-bashing. His dialogue is usually pretty worthless, and a lot of his ideas are equally worthless, but for whatever reason, going into the Clone Saga knowing that by the end, everything was going to wind up nicely, I had a chance to somewhat enjoy this. Ben Grimm had some decent exchanges with Fury, and while everything returning to a status quo was expected, I'm not going to claim it is anything near as awful as Dread makes it out to be. I think I may have actually, ... liked it? Maybe? Hmm, ... Also, I'm ready for Bagley to get off this book. I thought Gwen was standing around the hospital room until Peter kept calling her "Ms." and "Doctor" Storm every other bubble.
Supergirl 14: Mr. Kelly, even the Outsiders have days where people don't get attacked, villains come out of shadows, and cryptic messages are explained. Why can't Supergirl? I like the interactions with her and Power Boy, and if that's gonna be your main focus of the next few issues, then by all means, please drop the plot involving Kara being sent to subjugate Earth. It's been going on forever. We get it. You need to address the issue, and then move on to other ideas, because this one is just holding you back. Also, the art is pretty.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 17: This art does not have me hooked at all. It's the same guy, but it looks like it took a drastic step down. I really wanted Ringo on this title, too. The story, ... well, it seems like David has been forced to write a tie-in to the movie, and Ben's death doesn't feel as important a second time. There were too many ideas that could have been really great to just drop the guy so quick. The book's supporting cast is what sells the stories, and this issue only featuring three characters, plus being in the middle of an as yet unexplained cross-promotion leaves it with an unwelcome aftertaste.
Ultimate Spider-Man 105: I'm not for Bendis-bashing. His dialogue is usually pretty worthless, and a lot of his ideas are equally worthless, but for whatever reason, going into the Clone Saga knowing that by the end, everything was going to wind up nicely, I had a chance to somewhat enjoy this. Ben Grimm had some decent exchanges with Fury, and while everything returning to a status quo was expected, I'm not going to claim it is anything near as awful as Dread makes it out to be. I think I may have actually, ... liked it? Maybe? Hmm, ... Also, I'm ready for Bagley to get off this book. I thought Gwen was standing around the hospital room until Peter kept calling her "Ms." and "Doctor" Storm every other bubble.
Supergirl 14: Mr. Kelly, even the Outsiders have days where people don't get attacked, villains come out of shadows, and cryptic messages are explained. Why can't Supergirl? I like the interactions with her and Power Boy, and if that's gonna be your main focus of the next few issues, then by all means, please drop the plot involving Kara being sent to subjugate Earth. It's been going on forever. We get it. You need to address the issue, and then move on to other ideas, because this one is just holding you back. Also, the art is pretty.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 17: This art does not have me hooked at all. It's the same guy, but it looks like it took a drastic step down. I really wanted Ringo on this title, too. The story, ... well, it seems like David has been forced to write a tie-in to the movie, and Ben's death doesn't feel as important a second time. There were too many ideas that could have been really great to just drop the guy so quick. The book's supporting cast is what sells the stories, and this issue only featuring three characters, plus being in the middle of an as yet unexplained cross-promotion leaves it with an unwelcome aftertaste.
Kevin
Doug not so Funny
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2005
- Messages
- 11,535
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
I used to.
Not Jake
Superhero
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2004
- Messages
- 8,381
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
Probably less than you think. The man constantly scores when he writes a solo hero, yeah, (or a "partners" deal, like Cap & Falcon, Cage & Jessica, etc). You said this part! You thought about it, and you said it. But the thing about a team book is that there are many characters, and with so many, he can write numerous "solo" stories, focusing on different characters all the time, and as such, not run into the staleness that you so often berate him for on his solo books. Which, by the way, you totally rip him for. So basically, in your posts in this thread, you're arguing that Bendis should be REMOVED from team books, though you compliment New Avengers for being well-written, and KEPT on solo books, even though you hate USM. I think, good sir, that you are confused.
Kaka Barfsex. (to lower this post to my usual standard.)
Frico
The Man Without Fear
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2006
- Messages
- 9,065
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 31
Why I'm thinkin' Clint is Ronin:
1. Bendis said he'd have a new costume, and that we'd all love him for it
2. It's someone who's been in the MU for a long time, and has changed ID's before, for his own "mental state" Talkin about when he switched to Goliath
3. he just got back from the dead, what's his purpose now as Hawkeye since he's back? Someone already took the name (Kate from YA), so that means he won't have a motive anymore, like Bendis said about the new Ronin
4. Clint is a skilled martial artist
I had more reasons, but I'm blank now, dammit
1. Bendis said he'd have a new costume, and that we'd all love him for it
2. It's someone who's been in the MU for a long time, and has changed ID's before, for his own "mental state" Talkin about when he switched to Goliath
3. he just got back from the dead, what's his purpose now as Hawkeye since he's back? Someone already took the name (Kate from YA), so that means he won't have a motive anymore, like Bendis said about the new Ronin
4. Clint is a skilled martial artist
I had more reasons, but I'm blank now, dammit
