Bought/Thought for 10/10/07: HEAVIEST OF SPOILER ALERTS!!

[TheCorpulent1]

On certain things. I don't think it really fits for the Punisher, personally.

 

[PhotoJones]

Ah well. At least I know I'm not alone in my grand appreciation for Lee Weeks, Steve Epting and Mike Perkins and JRJR.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

JR Jr.'s is still the Frank I think of when I think of the Punisher.

 

[PhotoJones]

I think of Mike Zeck's Punisher. His or Andru's.

 

[Themanofbat]

Stupid Canada....no Comics for me until tomorrow.

Here in the waaaaay outer reaches of Eastern Canada, we got our comics on Wednesday.

You must be living in the stupid part of Canada...

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I think of Mike Zeck's Punisher. His or Andru's.

Most people seem to think of Zeck's. I loved JR Jr.'s Punisher, though. He looks grim and angry, like he's only a tiny step above the trash he hunts.

 

[Themanofbat]

Did anybody get Simon Dark #1?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It looked stupid to me. How was it?

 

[PhotoJones]

I got it. I read it. I liked it.

Most people seem to think of Zeck's. I loved JR Jr.'s Punisher, though. He looks grim and angry, like he's only a tiny step above the trash he hunts.

Yeah, JRJR's Frank is killer, too. His Punisher/Batman story was awesome.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, it was. Probably my favorite of the crossovers over the years.

 

[Phaedrus45]

I did; but, haven't read it yet.

 

[GNR]

Punisher War Journal #12 - Simple story that doesn't get caught up in all the details of the WWH storyline.Lots of over the top madness here,either you love it or hate it.I personally loved it.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Some DC Thoughts:

Countdown #29: Like I said last week, my problem with this title is two-fold: One, certain characters I could really give a rat's patootie about, especially Jimmy Olsen; second, like with 52, readers know that all they really have to read is the first few issues and the last few and they'll understand everything else in between. The rest is just filler. It's like the complaint people have with Lord of the Rings...it's just a lot of walking around until you get to the end. At this point, DC has turned into a one-trick pony. They have their weekly Countdown title and they have their Crisis events. 5/10

Green Arrow & Black Canary #1: Ok, where to start....picking up a month after the events in the Wedding Special, Black Canary is convinced that Oliver Queen isn't the man she killed in her honeymoon bed; of course, every other hero is telling her that it's him and she should move on. (Obviously, the events in Justice League Of America are over and everything turns out alright there. The DC Universe is really jumping all over the place now, as events in Green Lantern with the Sinestro Corps War are before events currently in Countdown, and events in Countdown are a month behind events in this title. Add to this the fact that the Amazons show up, and they are supposed to be exiled away at the end of Amazon's Attack, the DCU is really a screwed up place lately!). This is an extremely quick read, and the art still stinks as bad as when Green Arrow had his solo title. I'll read this first story arc; but, then I'll drop this title. 5/10

Wonder Girl #2: Stemming from events in Amazon's Attack, comes Wonder Girl! (Yeah, who was really begging for this??!!??) Anyway, DC really makes this comic cartoonish in art and story. (DC has some of the worst art in their comics. Titles like Green Arrow, Nightwing, Robin, Teen Titans, and Wonder Girl really kiddy up their comics to the point where it's a complete turn-off.) Just like with the very bad Supergirl comic, Wonder Girl is trying to fit in with society; so, what does she do? She tries to act like a normal teen and wears glasses. The comic even makes fun of Wonder Girl putting on glasses; but, to me they are just pointing out this extremely lame DC technique that gets used waaaay too frequently. This is just another very bad DC comic, and after reading two issues, I'm done with it. (Thankfully, it's only a six issue mini.) 3/10

Wonder Woman #13: This issue starts out saying, "The war is over...the Amazons are no more..." Obviously, Wonder Woman isn't reading Green Arrow and Black Canary. This issue is the "clean up" issue we always expect after a big event, and not much really happens. People still fear the Amazons, many still adore Wonder Woman, and that's about it in a nutshell. 4/10

Simon Dark #1: Hmmmm...how to explain Simon Dark...I guess it reminded me of The Crow a bit. This is a dark comic, and the art works very well with the story. (Of course, it's Gotham, so it's gotta be dark.) Basically, the part of Gotham where this takes place knows of Simon Dark through a kid's rhyme that goes, "Lurks in the shadows. Hides in the park. Simon. Simon. Simon Dark. If you're good he'll stay away. If you're bad, he'll make you pay. Lurks in the shadows. Hides in the park. Simon. Simon. Simon Dark." (Very Freddy Krugerish with kids skipping rope while chanting that.) The opening scene is great, with Simon using some type of cord to behead a bad guy; and, we are lead to understand that Simon doesn't know who he is and is quite a recluse. The people of that part of the city know about him and accept him; but, they don't talk about him, especially with others. They know he keeps them safe, and they remain mum. I'll definitely pick up a second issue. Sure, it's a rip-off of various other types of stories; but, it's a whole lot better than something like Wonder Girl. I'd recommend running out right now and getting it from your LCN...this might be a surprise hit that you'll be sorry you didn't pick up when the first issue's price skyrockets. 9/10

 

[PhotoJones]

Yeah, I dug Simon Dark, too. I just wish the first issue would've been double sized.

 

[Dread]

What works for PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL I guess is I was never a "serious" fan of The Punisher so I don't mind some sort of tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top mega-violent story with him. Ennis has been doing that in his MAX series for years. Fraction's makes it a little goofier for a non-MAX audience, true, but includes more superhero elements. He rescued Rampage, a former CHAMPIONS foe for chrissakes, from obscurity.

And like photojones2 has said, Frank Castle himself is acting like himself. He is out to kill criminals. When he can, he tries to help the innocent. But it mostly is about killing criminals. And he has contempt for the law most times, which he sees as allowing the criminals off the hook or too many chances. Granted, Frank Castle probably has a screw loose, and Fraction doesn't ignore that. But, realistically, so would Brock Samson, and this issue reminded me of a VENTURE BROS. sort of story. He isn't Deadpool because he's less goofy personally, and he actually can defeat people. It is some of the situations he gets into that are wacky. Like his first meeting with Stuart Clarke, when Punisher groans about "out of all ways to die, I am about to be killed by tiny robot toys" or something like that.

I guess I've had enough uber serious urban thrillers or "Mafia vs. Punisher" stories, and these are sort of refreshing. I'm not sure it would make a good tone for a film, but it definitely would make a video game more fun. Some moments reminded me of one.

P:WJ doesn't usually work unless you remind yourself not to take it all seriously. Like an 80's action film.

 

[Phaedrus45]

I will say after reading those terrible DC books, my grading of that issue probably goes up a point or two. It always seems like a lot of DC books really do come up with a new level of bad. And, the cartoonish art makes me think the art is Graveslinger is actually better than I first thought.

 

[Dread]

I will say after reading those terrible DC books, my grading of that issue probably goes up a point or two. It always seems like a lot of DC books really do come up with a new level of bad. And, the cartoonish art makes me think the art is Graveslinger is actually better than I first thought.

DC's sure havin' some problems, huh?

I still like BLUE BEETLE, BOOSTER GOLD, and Cooke's THE SPIRIT.

And Dini DETECTIVE issues, although I will be skipping the crossover ones.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Booster Gold #3

There's been comparisons made between this book and Quantum Leap and I'd just like to say they're spot on. This month Booster drops in on Jonah Hex on a mission to save Superman. The writing is sharp and the art is beyond solid. Its hard to point out highlights in this issue just because everything was so spot-on. I wish I could say more but the book really speaks for itself. Seriously, if you read DC at all and you're not picking this book up, pick it up now.

5/5

Nova #7

Its the end of the Conquest tie-in and Richard manages to do the impossible: break free of the Phalanx. We've seen this type of story before and this issue hits all of the familiar beats, but hell, you sure as hell can't say they didn't do a great job of it. The confrontation inside Richard's mind was definitely the highlight of the issue(the Pokemon Nova was cute), especially the end:

"Why aren't you screaming?"

"I am!"

"Attaboy."

The book's now going to stand on its own two-feet, no more Initiative and no more Conquest. Nova's now lost, outnumbered, outgunned and hunted by Drax and Gamora. Another must-buy book.

5/5

New Avengers #35

Maybe its me but I was pretty bored with this one. The beating of Tigra, the organization of the villains, the hit on the Baxter building, all of it was designed to establish the Hood as a major force but I couldn't help but feel skeptical. Maybe I'm just being cynical but he's such a new, and relatively underpowered character that I find his rise to power hard to buy. Granted, its the thinkers that are the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe (Doom, Red Skull, Mandarin), not the super powered ones, but the Hood hardly seems as clever or intelligent as the aforementioned rogues.

There's a little tie-in to Mighty Avengers (that's undercut by its lateness) but other than that, not much else happened.

2/5

I've still got to get through Black Adam and I've already read Green Lantern but I'll write up a review for that when I do the former.

 

[Dread]

Like I said, it's either one of two extremes. Either the female character totally pwns the male character to pieces, or she's brutally raped/beaten.

I can see that, too. Granted, Frank Miller did it first.

But, really, Bendis is all about extremes sometimes. Either USM can effortlessly beat down a C-Lister or be unmasked, defeated, or humiliated by anyone remotely competant. Either Dr. Strange can pull some spell out of his arse to test one's immortal soul for anything negative, and teleport people across countries/dimensions, but is unable to duck katanna swings or teleport people from a falling plane. Bonkers.

Bendis can't just be all the way good or all the way suck. He goes from both extremes, many times in one issue, and it becomes extra infuriating.

 

[Not Jake]

I dug New Avengers

 

[Dread]

I dug New Avengers

Ignoring the continuity errors, I did like the Hood Mob stuff. That is Bendis' bread and butter, really. Urban crime stuff. Anything else he seems to have contempt for.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Tigra especially.

 

[PhotoJones]

Ignoring the continuity errors, I did like the Hood Mob stuff. That is Bendis' bread and butter, really. Urban crime stuff. Anything else he seems to have contempt for.

Coming from a blue collar background, I could totally get behind the Hood's "unionizing" of the super-villian community. I'd join if I were I bad guy. **** Iron Man.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Poor Iron Man.

 

[CaptainCanada]

Booster Gold #3: Jonah Hex's part in this is actually pretty minor, relative to the plot, but he has some fun scenes with Booster, and it's a good idea to vary the interactions Booster has with the guest stars, rather than just "Booster fights _____" every issue; next issue looks to be a team-up with Barry and Wally. Anyway, this continues to be a very pleasant book, with fun art, and there's always that little hint of how Booster caused history to turn out properly by accident (this issue's was unexpected and hilarious).

Gargoyles #6: It almost never comes out (seriously Runaways fans are blessed by comparison), but it's pretty good when it does. And I love any opportunity to see more of the unconcluded story arcs from Gargoyles, a show that went way before its time (and I want the second half of season two on DVD already). This issue is mainly a flashback tale that retcons another adventure into the "Avalon World Tour" that dominated the middle of season two, in this case, encountering Coldstone living in Tibet with some Buddhist monks. Good characterization, and I can hear the actors speaking every line.

Green Arrow and Black Canary #1: So, I decided to check out the opening arc, just to see what happens with Green Arrow, and because Chiang’s art is great. On the art front, Chiang (or his colourist) scores a double-victory by giving Speedy II an emblem, not a boob window, and by colouring Green Arrow II to actually look Asian, instead of Caucasian. Anyway, the Queen is not dead, not that anyone seriously believed that, and is being held by Granny and her Shamazons on Themyscira (doesn’t Hippolyta supposedly still live there?), and, by issue’s end, Black Canary is on to them. I’m still not totally sold on Winick’s Black Canary, but this issue has Batman holding a chainsaw, so I won’t complain too much.

Green Lantern #24: The war comes to Earth, and we get brief appearances by the Justice League (Batman fights Manhunters with his fists) and the Justice Society, but the focus is mainly on freeing Kyle from Parallax. It’s a good fight issue, although by now there must have been approximately eighty instances of a massive force of Lanterns turning up to rescue somebody from the SC, and sneaking up behind their backs, as happens here again. At issue’s end Kyle is free and a normal GL again, and our Four Musketeers are off to "save the universe." Johns can write a good fight, no doubt about it, and Reis is one of the best artists in the business.

Runaways #28: You may or may not care at this point, given the typical Whedon delays that have hobbled this series since the third issue, but the story is actually quite good, which makes it that much sadder that delays have robbed the story of all momentum. Whedon’s story is actually pretty epic, a sort of steampunk superhero story; and there are a bazillion new characters here, including two new groups of super-powered types, and two candidates for Who Wants To Be A Runaway?: Klara, an abused child-bride, and Lily, the music/flying chick (who’s pretty cool). It’ll probably take five months to resolve this story, but it’s quite good.

X-Factor #24: The latest story arc comes to conclusion, but much like both X-Men’s "Blinded By The Light" and Uncanny X-Men’s "The Extremists", it concludes inconclusively, with ominous hints about the "Messiah CompleX" crossover that kicks off in three weeks. David is putting this whole Isolationist character (who has an interesting power-set and motivation) on the back-burner for the time being, but I imagine we’ll hear from him again. Layla has a pretty cool moment. Meanwhile, in "Endangered Species," I’m still waiting for something to happen; in this issue, we see Beast fail across the whole span of alternate realities (with art by Andrea Divito).