Bought/Thought 03-12-08

[Anubis]

Well, sometimes, people gotta die, and sad as it may be, the C in C-List stands for Cannonfodder. (Yeah, I made it one word, wanna fight about it?)

 

[Egotastic]

No, I was pretty annoyed that Constrictor's now armless, too. It's really the circumstances of the deaths and maimings that annoy me. I've never liked seeing characters killed off for killing's sake.

Yeah, Slott made he and Bengal a pretty badass team during WWH. I'm not worried, though. I'll bet if anything that Constrictor will get a sweet pair of bionic arms and a nice power upgrade out of this.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

That's what I figure. After my initial anger over Constrictor suddenly being a maimed loser instead of the fun character he'd been to me since his stint in Deadpool's comic, I remembered that the Initiative has SHIELD backing it. They've got prosthetics and stuff.

I totally agree about tarene, but when the dust settles we'll see what's actually going on. See I could make this same arguement about MVP in issue #1 but as we see that was actually done to bring the character more into play with bigger plans, so all I'm saying is we should wait and see before passing that judgement. Maybe he is just notching up the body count, but I think there's other matters going on. The aftermath will tell, but so far I've been pretty happy with these characters and their interactions as well as the sequence of events used to bring them into the spotlight. I just don't see slott crapping on other creations strictly for shock value, though it wouldn't be the first time I overestimated a writer's ability, hopeless optimistic that I am.

Eh, MVP I didn't mind as much because he's Slott's character. Killing off characters you've created is one thing; killing off characters that have been around for a while is another, unless you've got a decent reason for it.

 

[Blader5489]

I read Avengers: The Initiative at lunch. Decent issue, but I'm kind of getting annoyed at the level of shock-and-awe I'm seeing. According to the recap page and this issue, Yellowjacket, Tarene, one of the Scarlet Spiders, and someone else I can't remember are dead, Constrictor and Crusader are now maimed, and the actual New Warriors (as opposed to the ex-X-people who'v co-opted the name) are about to get into one of those fights over a misunderstanding that comic fans purport to hate so much in crossovers. Yeah, we know Yellowjacket, at least, is coming back and Von Blitzschlag just pulled a random new power out of his butt to save himself in this issue, and Constrictor and Crusader could both get prosthetics, but it all just seems like too much. This is the kind of thing I'd expect to see in a Millar issue or one of Bendis' few action issues. Is it endemic to writing a big comic at the center of the Marvel universe or something? Slott used to be better than this.

But we knew all of this going into the story. The arc is calling Killed in Action. Slott said that the major purpose of the story was to thin out the cast.

And on top of all of that, Slott has said that he doesn't like to kill off characters that aren't his, so I think heroes like Constrictor and Thor Girl will be fine in the long run.

 

[Aristotle]

BPRD - 1946 #3--Mike Mignola is awesome. Someday, when comics aren't as trendy as they are right now, when everyone forgets about Steve Niles and the other undeserved hotshots, DC will realize that if they wanted a pointless horror comic in their universe, the least they could have done is hire Mignola to write it. Hellboy and BPRD have NEVER failed to give me a fun, macabre, terrible, wonderful tale, whether it's a tiny little six-page backup or a long-form collection of miniseries. BPRD 1946 continues the excellence. Mignola never runs out of new and exciting ways to reinvigorate the folkloric traditions of the entire world. 9/10.

Batman Confidential #14--I might be the only one who feels this way, but this is the story arc I looked forward to the most this year. Part of that is that the previous arc in this book was so awful. More of it is that I love the Wrath, and I'm so excited to see him back in action. Bedard's doing a wonderful job (as usual) with it, really bringing the "Player on the Other Side" dynamic into the new age of comics. When the original one-shot came out, a lot of the thrust of great writing in comics was in the storytelling and plot development, so the similarities and differences between the Wrath and Batman were generally developed that way. Today, great writing shows up in dialogue, style, and narrative detail, and Bedard delivers the same things, in that vein, in this issue, that the original one-shot delivered over twenty years ago in its own way. One problem: Bedard seems to have just retconned the circumstances under which Jim Gordon came to Gotham. Year One is out. 9/10.

The Last Defenders #1--Meh. I picked it up because I heard Colossus was in it and wanted to see an explanation for that. But all we get is the same old boring "The X-Men are no more" tripe, which we all know is ********. The X-Men are clearly still operating, and Colossus seems like a really random choice to just show up in the Defenders, and the entire purpose of the book seems to be, "Hey, here's another superhero team, and it's called the Defenders, and you should read it." The book shifts scenes like a channel-surfer, and it goes way beyond "setup issue." This is either setting up 5000 plot threads, or it's just a really weak plot. Neither one of those sounds good. I'll stick with the book for a couple more issues, probably, to see if it gets good. The art is kinda weird, too, and not in the good way. Blazing Skull looks like a fatass middle-aged couch potato, and She-Hulk looks like...well...not like a man, exactly, but kinda like a man. Basically, everyone just looks ass-ugly. On the other hand, I really like the Kirkmanish writing. "Defenders Defenestrate" is one of the coolest damn battle cries ever, just behind "Spoon!" 6/10.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto #1--The art on this book is ugly, but I think it's ugly in that way that some people like, so apparently it's deliberate. Personally, I think this is the kind of art (like the art in the Joker BatCon arc) that might be enjoyable in another context, but for comic books, the people who should be drawing are the people who can deliver comic book art. Darick Robertson, Jim Lee, Rags Morales, etc. Page 8 is a perfect example. It's a full-page shot of a guy attacking the Lone Ranger from behind, and in the hands of almost any comic-book artist, it would look at least a little dynamic. Here, however, the attacker looks like he's strolling casually, and the Lone Ranger looks like he was mildly startled in the middle of a prayer. As for the writing, it's a fun Western, but not good enough. It delivers a very trite message about the death penalty. It's trying to be Jonah Hex but it doesn't have the balls. In the end, it's just a grim'n'gritty take on the Lone Ranger, and that rings a little bit hollow. 7/10.

Simon Dark #6--Yeah, so I'm still picking it up. I am interested to see how the story turns out. But I still don't like it being in the DCU, and certainly not in Gotham. It's still a Hellblazer story without Constantine. The art is jerky, disconnected, and distracting from the story. The story is also jerky, disconnected, and distracting from the story. Basically, Simon is some weird dark magicscience creation, there's a shadowy cabal of creepy guys in suits that are lifted from just about every Vertigo horror comic ever, and some kind of ridiculous plot involving soap. You know, I always said Steve Niles was a ****ing hack, and this comic just hammers the point home. He sucks balls. 2/10.

 

[Egotastic]

Steve Niles has written some pretty cool stuff. Criminal Macabre comes to mind. I agree with you about Simon Dark, though. It's pretty awful. I tried to stick with it because the art is so pretty, but I can't.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I read a couple issues of Criminal Macabre but I couldn't really get into it.

 

[Egotastic]

I liked it. Mostly I liked the Templesmith artwork, but I liked the stories for what they were.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

The Criminal Macabre mini I read had art by Kyle Hotz. He's good, but I imagine Templesmith's art would create a much creepier atmosphere.

 

[Egotastic]

Oh, I've never read the Hotz drawn issues. I've only read the first mini with Templesmith. I do like Hotz, though. He draws a pretty great Super Skrull.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Indeed.

This is a bit of a tangent, but since we're talking about horror comics anyway, I read volume 1 of The Damned recently and found it to be all kinds of awesome. That was basically the perfect blend of horror and noir for my tastes.

 

[Egotastic]

Indeed.

This is a bit of a tangent, but since we're talking about horror comics anyway, I read volume 1 of The Damned recently and found it to be all kinds of awesome. That was basically the perfect blend of horror and noir for my tastes.

That's good to know, actually. I've been seeing ads for it in the back of my Resurrection and Wasteland issues and I've been thinking of getting the back issues. Pretty much everything I've read about it has been positive.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I went into it expecting a decent, quick read, but it exceeded my expectations in every way. I'm really looking forward to volume 2 now.

 

[Egotastic]

Awesome. I just ordered it.

And speaking of Wasteland, does snyone know if it shipped this week? If it did, I totally missed it.

 

[Max J Power]

Fantastic Four #555
I bought #554 two weeks ago on a whim because Millar and Hitch were on it. It might have had a little too much set-up and not enough progression of the plot, but it kept me intrigued. In this issue, the main story gets going and the result is very good. Hitch's art is about on The Ultimates level, if not a tiny bit weaker (there have been a few panels where faces looked a little weird). But if it keeps the book's release on time, then it's not a big deal.

 

[Egotastic]

Call me crazy, but I like Hitch's art a lot better on FF than on Ultimates. It's a little more simplified, but in a good way and the paneless borders against the white paper makes for beautiful pages. Credit goes to Neary and Mounts, too.

 

[Dread]

I've gotten a bold new job in RL that is sucking up most of my time while providing me with more funds (I hope). As such, those who got used to my long-ass reviews within 24 hours from now on may be disappointed. Still, I support the B/T thread and am glad to see a lot of good reviews here before me. In some ways they say what I would, just in slightly fewer words. Still, this was a pretty big week and overall a good one.

And no, I still didn't get around to seeking out END LEAGUE #2. I will try at some point.

Self Statement: Spoilers on Full Power.

Dread's Bought/Thought for 3/12/08:

BOOSTER GOLD #7: Which comes AFTER Booster Gold #0, which itself was after issue #6. Basically, if you never read the issues and had to catalogue them for a shop or something, you're almost bound to get it wrong. But that really is the only quibble in this great feel-good time-spanning superhero tale from Johns & Katz, with fantastic art as always from Jurgens & Rapmund. Seriously, Jurgens is a legend and it has to be great for him to return to Booster Gold on so cool a product.

The big storyline is naturally that Booster Gold has disobeyed Rip Hunter and effected a piece of "sold time", i.e. some past DC event that the editorial board would never dare undo for sake of dollars, such as losing Oracle in BIRDS OF PREY to make her Batgirl again, or revive Blue Beetle (Ted Kord). Yes, Ted is back now, but hardly anyone feels this is going to last and this issue makes it more obvious, because apparently without Kord's death, Max Lord was almost to cover the Earth with OMAC's, basically kill the Justice League, and has Superman under his control. In a way it seems odd, as supposedly the rest of the world was supposed to believe that Kord was at least MIA if not dead even with the rescue, even if Lord knew the truth (kinda). It didn't hit me years ago during OMAC project, but when Johns & Katz basically go over them again, I was reminded that they are basically a complete rip-off of Prime Sentinels from Marvel, and that was done during the 90's in the Jemas era. Rip Hunter, meanwhile, gathers Booster's ancestors to try to fix things as Booster's rotten father is plucked from Dino-Time by the villains, and I still wonder why one of them is a Golden Age version of Despero, rather than the more popular (and dangerous) modern version. The "Future Beetle" is also the Black Beetle (and as a twist, isn't African American; usually the only heroes who call themselves "black-ANYTHING" are, uh, black. At least after the 60's) and he is allied with the villains, having tricked Booster. I kind of saw that coming, as rescuing Ted seemed too easy, but obviously Johns & Katz are expecting this to read as it is and have a direction, so it is fine. Even Ted is starting to realize that removing his death from the time-stream has messed things up, and he may have to talk Booster into letting him die. Booster's act of saving him and refusing any option to see him go, even if it meant all of time, is in character so that works, too, without Booster seeming like a ******. Contrast that with OMD, where Peter doing something drastic to save a loved one from fate became a total nightmare. Seeing Hawkman & Green Arrow as the "resistance" in their 90's costumes was pretty cool, too. There is a footnote to 52 WEEK 18, back when it sold in the Top 10, but it doesn't much matter. The banter between Booster & Beetle is always enjoyable and part of me actually wishes that it wasn't a complete given that Kord would have to go on and die.

I know some people hate resurrections no matter why or who, but some characters were so ignored for years that death is the only focus they got and then they then have missing potential that becomes more obvious and desired. I mean, dying for 4 years did WONDERS for THOR's sales. No one gave as much of a damn about Hawkeye or Colossus before they died (or at least were as vocal). I know it can't last, but I wish Beetle could here. And that means the story and writing are working when I feel that way, that despite the semi-predictable story I can still be made to eagerly turn the page wondering for an alternate solution, and that is what good books do. One of DC's treasures at this point, next to BLUE BEETLE and to a smaller degree, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN.

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #5: Feels like forever and this is only the 5th issue; bi-monthly schedules will do that. The story isn't such that it seems abysmally slow, like ASTONISHING X-MEN, but the schedule does take some momentum out of the story. Which is damn good, the usual Kirkman wackiness as he blends genres together, in this case superhero stuff and supernatural horror.

Zech fills in Gary about what an "elder brood" is, and basically it means he is the direct creation of an elder werewolf, and thus more powerful. It also means he likely was not "cursed" at random and some elder werewolf wanted Gary into the fold. There are quite a bit of Kirkman-character cameos, such as Vault, Kid-Thor and Red Devil (as well as allusions to "the night shift") from CAPES, which is a fun trade if you like Kirkmania. Wolf-Man manages to win the newspapers over after saving them from a menace, and Gary's money woes may be solved by a potential stint working for Capes, Inc. He even has ordered a device to strap into in order to protect his family and the public from his one night of "full moon rage" a month, a fact that still horrifies his daughter. The Actioneers are out for blood, but they are keeping a lid about the murder of their own so they can get Wolf-Man themselves, which is a good angle to maintain the premise of Wolf-Man as a hero to the public, at least for now. This is a different superhero story than INVINCIBLE or CAPES and that is why it works. Jason Howard's art is great, just a shame he can't draw faster. Granted, INVINCIBLE struggles to put out 10 issues a year, but that's more than 6 under Wolfy's schedule. It can't be helped, though, and at least a cameo in INVINCIBLE will add a double-dose of Wolf-Man for a while. What I like about Kirkman is how he can take a simple premise that may some generic for some, like a zombie story or a werewolf superhero, and really make 'em fly. He can be hit-or-miss with Marvel, but on Image he's gold. But, if you are reading this, you probably read INVINCIBLE and know that.

ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #5: I know a lot of people are grumbling about this not being as good as Giffen's original ANNIHILATION and I won't argue that. It is a sequel that so far doesn't surpass the original, and in fact struggles to match it. But that said, it still is incredibly entertaining and is providing a far better space threat than I EVER will expect out of SECRET INVASION. I mean, this issue literally brings it home for Ultron, reminds us of his motives, origins, and even makes sure to include his MIGHTY AVENGERS appearance to make things all connect together, and blue blazes, I like that sort of thing.

Ultron (now "Great Ultron") is making an army of genetic super-soldiers and has already amassed countless Phalanx and Select, and he wants to invade Earth. I'd be a million times more jazzed if the Marvel Universe had to unite against this guy. But, no, instead we have to have another "heroes can't trust no-one and are overly paranoid and beat themselves" junk-pile from Bendis. This issue fleshes out Ultron even more and establishes this thing as less of a gimmick and more of an evolution of the villain, refusing to back down after every defeat and managing to return bigger and badder every time. In a way, the Mighty Avengers caused it by hurling Ultron into space so the Phalanx could find him. In the meanwhile, Groot manages to sacrifice himself (while still spouting his dumb line) to enable Mantis, Rocket, and Bug to save Peter Quill, but we knew that because of the cover of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, we know who lives. Aw, well. It was interesting noting Korath as Ultron's first select (a great way to eliminate the "zero willpower" of past robot take-over attempts) because Korath was naturally killed by Ultron for failing at the end of the first issue. We now see why Adam Warlock's costume was different in the covers; that is the costume Ultron designs when High Evolutionary manages to DL Ultron into "the perfect organic specimen", and Ultron has plans for the rest of HE's soldiers, too.

Really, THIS is a threat worthy of Earth's Mightiest heroes, but because they're too busy pissing their booties over little green men, the space cowboys will have to do the job for them. AGAIN. Raney's art is good for the most part and the colors rock. I just never thought Ultron could become more of a bad-ass, and he has. The lesson of Nova; leave earth for space and you automatically get cooler. DnA have taken a story that Bendis basically botched and made gold with it. No, it isn't Giffen's epic, but it is still damn good. ROCKY II wasn't as good as ROCKY but it was still a damn good ride, and that is what AC is to me. And that cover is bad-ass. I know Warlock survives in GOTG but I wonder in what form. Will he be like Cyclops, Post-Apocalypse merge, effected forever by the union? In a way that would make him like Phyla, who has Annihilus' essence in her Quantum Bands (sure, Wendall removed it, but for how long?). I can't wait for the finale, which is just as it should be. Some many bemoan the fact this is a Grade B+ compared to the original mini's A, but I don't. Good is good, especially compared with the "terran" Marvel event.

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #10: The KIA story chugs on and this title is FULL of characters and action; this and THE LAST DEFENDERS are almost the cure for decompression. The recap implies that Thor-Girl, Trauma, and Yellowjacket have "fallen", but until we see sheets over corpses, nothing is absolute, and even then, who knows?

This story is about the chickens coming home to roost, and c'mon, when KIA goes after Gyrich and Gauntlet, blaming them for his death and for throwing away innocent lives to their military machine, you can't really argue the point. THEY created this monster because of the overreaction to Stamford, and the longtime desire of Marvel's Fed to create their own robotic super-heroes, who have no free will and just exist as walking weapons. KIA is everything they wanted, just aimed at the wrong target. The cover is technically right; one of the Scarlet Spider's is beheaded, but they all blend. Constrictor also has his arms sliced off above the elbow. Mutant Zero seems capable of high speed antics and "willing" something to happen in her environment, such as making KIA ignore them despite his space-weapon, and I got the bizarre theory that Mutant Zero is Wanda Maximoff, and the one in Wundagore who exists to mope and **** random strangers is a clone. Granted, it is unlikely because that would mean stepping on Bendis' toes and while Slott is bordering A-List (and Gage is moving on up), few can go over Bendis' dome without being thrown to DC. But a bigger subplot is Justice reforming the ACTUAL New Warriors, or at least the ones who are left, Ultra-Girl, Rage, Slapstick, and Debrii. Slott also fleshes in the point in time where UG and Slappy became official members. It is odd seeing Slapstick be his same goofy, funny self after #6 when he pummeled Gauntlet, but I still approve the angle, gives the funny fluffy guy a dark edge without just making him into Emoball, which is too far in the other direction. Slapstick is basically Freakazoid, only if Freakazoid every now and then beat someone bloody if they got too close to his RL friends.

Still, I get why some readers are put off. Slott got his cult status from works like GLA that basically mocked "big writers/events" that told stories in which C-Listers are randomly slaughtered for effect like a drum-beat and the tone is grim and dark, and A:TI basically IS one of those stories. To me, I like A:TI because, yes, it is Slott doing "one of THOSE stories" but in his own way and in a way I like, a way that has ties to continuity and can still have a fun quip moment (Taskmaster & Ant-Man? Priceless!). Personally, I didn't want to see Trauma and Thor-Girl die. They had something interesting and to lose both seems like a waste, especially when JMS could have used Tarene in the future is he was so inclined. I like Hardball & Komodo's little thing together, though; she brings out the best in him, while he brings out the sensitive side of her.

As for the finale? Well, I am unsure of the NW's are going to win and basically disprove the entire Gyrich angle, or they will lose or cause damage and justify it. Slott I figure personally would believe the latter. But this is a big-company story and The Initiative is the company angle. There could be a compromise, a mix of both. And it is a shame War Machine is still apparently transporting Dragon-Man to jail (a purple baddie who is beginning to get around as often as the Wrecking Crew, Rhino, Grey Gargoyle and Mr. Hyde). But maybe he'll show up for later issues. KIA's just the kind of baddie to drive home the bits of the first year, though, and even after his defeat, hopefully the planners of The Initiative will be forced to rethink things. And naturally, no one does this book as well as Caselli, who's launched it.

FANTASTIC FOUR #555: Okay, I get it. KICK-ASS is Millar's usual story that is dark and cynical, and this one is when he is in the mood to be somewhat more upbeat. The second arc of the soon-to-be-overrated-even-if-it-IS-very-good Millar/Hitch run kicks off and the mood of the story is still very low key; no major shocks or whatnot yet, just watching the family go about their very bizarre business. In a way it feels like it was working off a Morrison guideline, as Millar is running with the super-science and isn't too cynical about it.

The only bit of potential "leftie ire" is the fact that "Mrs. Fantastic" and her hubby's Nu-Earth is basically a replacement for the now-inevitable demise of the planet via "climate change", which they peg as happening within a decade. Naturally, the angle of "climate change" has became almost a religion for some people, mostly Liberals, who believe it to be THE issue and refuse to hear any evidence countering it or even seeking to test their theories (if the Earth is getting warmer, why are some areas of the world actually getting MILES of NEW ice? Why does the global warming jargon always vanish during a cold winter? Why does no one mention the "global cooling" hysteria of the 70's-early 80's?). And then there is Nu-Earth, which is supposed to be super-perfect because smart caring people build it from the ground up, the economy is controlled via a socialist demigod device and weapons will be banished. But even these aren't presented in as ham-handed a way as stuff in ULTIMATES 2 and plus, well, these bits have been done before so you could argue they are all part of the "try to make a perfect world" angle. Reed is asked to leave the Four to work on the planet, all the while Thing believes that Alyssa is just trying to get her hooks into Reed romantically.

Johnny also falls for a super-villain girl who appears to have the ability to talk to invisible allies and has telekinesis, at least from the artwork. Hitch's art is great and not as dark and leathery as his Ultimates stuff, although he still obviously is incapable of rendering costumes that aren't in Ultimate house style.

In fact the only "over the top" bit is the CAP robot that Alyssa builds to be Nu-Earth's defender, which naturally goes on the attack so now we can have heroes facing a Big Bad Menace that is in U.S. Red, White, and Blue. But, again, this work isn't cynical, so to really bemoan it seems to be stretching. This isn't Ultimates because the story isn't as dark and it isn't trying to be terribly political. He is simply trying to write a good Four. Yeah, it sucks that Millar has forgotten Alicia and has Thing dating a random teacher, but you could blame JMS & McDuffie for ignoring her for over a year and thus seeming to prove she doesn't exist anymore (I mean, it was big enough of Millar to bother doing research into Moy herself; expecting anyone from Ultimate's founding to reduce themselves to researching a short B-book like THE THING is like pulling teeth). Millar is yet another writer who confuses Johnny being "immature" with being dumb, but that is how many writers write him, and at least his Johnny is funny. Still, after 60 years, you'd think he could grow up. But then again, you'd think Spider-Man could, and here we are.

Despite the Millar-ranting, I like FF and his run is off to a great start. I always felt his UFF run was underrated and at least this will put that to bed. He's having a ball here and so am I.

Coming in upcoming reviews: THE LAST DEFENDERS #1, MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #7, & NOVA #11.

 

[Egotastic]

Wow, for someone who's apparently spot on with recognizing "leftie ire," you sure do turn a blind eye to your own conservative spinfest.

 

[deathshead2]

Anyone else getting tired of Kirkman. I'm getting pretty bored of the walking dead, and wolf-man.

 

[CaptainCanada]

(if the Earth is getting warmer, why are some areas of the world actually getting MILES of NEW ice? Why does the global warming jargon always vanish during a cold winter?

The polar ice caps are melting and disrupting existing climate patterns, quite apart from threatening massive global flooding; certain areas get cooler as a result because of how it affects things like the currents.

People stop mentioning it because either they mistakenly associate global warming with universal heat increases, or because they're just tired of explaining the difference; hence the use of the more effective term "climate change".

 

[Docker2.0]

.
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #5: I know a lot of people are grumbling about this not being as good as Giffen's original ANNIHILATION and I won't argue that. It is a sequel that so far doesn't surpass the original, and in fact struggles to match it. But that said, it still is incredibly entertaining and is providing a far better space threat than I EVER will expect out of SECRET INVASION. I mean, this issue literally brings it home for Ultron, reminds us of his motives, origins, and even makes sure to include his MIGHTY AVENGERS appearance to make things all connect together, and blue blazes, I like that sort of thing.

Ultron (now "Great Ultron") is making an army of genetic super-soldiers and has already amassed countless Phalanx and Select, and he wants to invade Earth. I'd be a million times more jazzed if the Marvel Universe had to unite against this guy. But, no, instead we have to have another "heroes can't trust no-one and are overly paranoid and beat themselves" junk-pile from Bendis. This issue fleshes out Ultron even more and establishes this thing as less of a gimmick and more of an evolution of the villain, refusing to back down after every defeat and managing to return bigger and badder every time. In a way, the Mighty Avengers caused it by hurling Ultron into space so the Phalanx could find him. In the meanwhile, Groot manages to sacrifice himself (while still spouting his dumb line) to enable Mantis, Rocket, and Bug to save Peter Quill, but we knew that because of the cover of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, we know who lives. Aw, well. It was interesting noting Korath as Ultron's first select (a great way to eliminate the "zero willpower" of past robot take-over attempts) because Korath was naturally killed by Ultron for failing at the end of the first issue. We now see why Adam Warlock's costume was different in the covers; that is the costume Ultron designs when High Evolutionary manages to DL Ultron into "the perfect organic specimen", and Ultron has plans for the rest of HE's soldiers, too.

Really, THIS is a threat worthy of Earth's Mightiest heroes, but because they're too busy pissing their booties over little green men, the space cowboys will have to do the job for them. AGAIN. Raney's art is good for the most part and the colors rock. I just never thought Ultron could become more of a bad-ass, and he has. The lesson of Nova; leave earth for space and you automatically get cooler. DnA have taken a story that Bendis basically botched and made gold with it. No, it isn't Giffen's epic, but it is still damn good. ROCKY II wasn't as good as ROCKY but it was still a damn good ride, and that is what AC is to me. And that cover is bad-ass. I know Warlock survives in GOTG but I wonder in what form. Will he be like Cyclops, Post-Apocalypse merge, effected forever by the union? In a way that would make him like Phyla, who has Annihilus' essence in her Quantum Bands (sure, Wendall removed it, but for how long?). I can't wait for the finale, which is just as it should be. Some many bemoan the fact this is a Grade B+ compared to the original mini's A, but I don't. Good is good, especially compared with the "terran" Marvel event.

I agree with this. I think that had Ultron invaded Earth with these perfect specimens, it would have been a much better story than the skrull storyline. I don't think any of Marvel's main heroes has had a space story since the Infinity Gauntlet, which is something I hate since Joey Q has taken over. I don't think the skrull invasion will sux but I don't think it will equal the original Annihilation story. Again, I think had they been allowed to invade Earth, this would have been a much better story.

 

[Anubis]

Anyone else getting tired of Kirkman. I'm getting pretty bored of the walking dead, and wolf-man.

Nah, that's just you and possibly some other person with mental problems.

 

[Egotastic]

Exactly. The Walking Dead is like crack to me, Invincible is literally the best superhero book on the market and Wolf-Man is a fun combination of the two.

 

[DBM]

Indeed.

This is a bit of a tangent, but since we're talking about horror comics anyway, I read volume 1 of The Damned recently and found it to be all kinds of awesome. That was basically the perfect blend of horror and noir for my tastes.

I was pleasantly surprised by this comic when I read it too. I wasn't expecting much but it turned out good.

Speaking of horror/noir blends, I'd highly recommend the graphic novel, The Supernaturalists written by Patrick Neighly with art by Jorge Heufemann. It's published by Mad Yak Press, one of the more obscure comic publishers, but really rocked my socks when I read it. I liked it so much, I bought everything else Mad Yak had published. Sadly Mad Yak Press is not publishing anymore.

Link, with preview, though it only seems to work about half the time. http://www.madyakpress.com/super_gn.php

 

[Kent]

This is hardly the place for this discussion, but because you had to bring it up...

if the Earth is getting warmer, why are some areas of the world actually getting MILES of NEW ice?

Increased temperatures cause increased water evaporation. In some places where it's below freezing the evaporated water can turn into ice.

Even if more ice necessarily meant colder (which it doesn't), it's called "Global warming" not "Local warming". No one is claiming that every single point of the Earth will be getting warmer at every single point in time. Local cooling trends will occur according to current Global warming models.

Why does the global warming jargon always vanish during a cold winter?

Vanishes where? In the media? Media wants to sell mags and whatnot. Joe Schmoe doesn't buy mags with headlines like "Global Warming getting worse!" in the middle of winter. So what?

Why does no one mention the "global cooling" hysteria of the 70's-early 80's?).

What hysteria? Seriously, you might want to check up on your sources there. Every time someone actually references something from that time it ends up being from some news mag looking for a dramatic article to publish, or quoted out of context, etc. There was no "global cooling" hysteria. At least not among scientists/climatologists.

Just for ****s and giggles though:

Scan of a National Geographic on Climate from 1976.