Bought/Thought for 9/6/07; SPOILERS INSIDE!!

[Kevin]

I kind of sorty of partially assumed that Peter was going there to steal stuff for the money, or steal money.....

Either way....has anyone commented that this is pre WWH?...cause the tower is standing

...crap. that is a **** up.

 

[THANOSRULES]

quick thoughts

-New Warriors-Its gold right now. Finally Thrasher unleashed, Art and writing superb...Spoilers intact on NT , I've no clue who he is. Zodiac looks awesome! Team in action for the first real time. Good stuff.

-HULK- I can see the HULK diehards being split on this one, but liked the issue.

-MS.MARVEL- an underrated book right now. The plot is a little Bendis-y with puppet master and all, but I've always found him creepy..so the idea he would use his powers so sinister really IMO is making for a good story. SleepWalker UNLEASHED...man it was a good week for "cheesy" nineties comebacks.

-ASM- thought this was a good point to jump on one of my old favs, I was hoping for some Famous Bendis Spidey banter and instead we get a grimm and gritty. It was not bad, and was not dissappointed all things considered, I guess I should have known spidey wasnt going to be crackin too many jokes right now. Cover was cool and I'll probably stay onboard for a bit.

 

[DoomJester]

Captain America: The Chosen.
Okay, the art was amazing. The book read very well. I really felt for the solider we followed-- we got to know who he was and how the war affected him but when Morrel writes about the war (Afghanistan, not Iraq), it isn't the usuall hyped up political talk that a lot of writers like to do. Which I really appreciate since I don't like how a lot of comic writers treat politics. Morrel tries to put you in the soldier's place and make you want to identify with the character, and he does so beautifully. When Cap shows up-- which may or may not be a hallucination-- it is inspiring. Cap is more than just a good solider, a little faster, a little stronger. Cap is truly a super solider. Quite refreshing to see Cap in that light. The only thing that kept this book from blowing my mind (like the Sinestro Corps one shot did) was that I wasn't terribly excited reading it. The last page was interesting-- I want to know what Hype thinks-- but I wasn't excited. Maybe because there is no clear indication as to how the story will progress.

All in all I'm really looking forward to the next issues. I think this will be one of the top books coming from the Marvel/DC/Image (more or less the big three, of course it is a Marvel book don't tell me that!).

Uncanny X-men 490
Sorry. I'm am not feeling this. I don't want to drop it because I feel like something big, something noteworthy, should be coming up and I just don't know what I'm waiting for. I like the art, I like seeing Storm come back, but I'm not fulfilled, not offended either, but not fulfilled. Another thing that bothers me is that there is such a big difference in quality between this book and all of Brubaker's other books, and it makes Uncanny look worse than it really is when I compare this book to his other works.

White Tiger 6
Yes, I was actually buying the series before it was delayed for insanely massive damage. Maybe it was the delays, but I forgot what happened, suddenly didn't even feel like reading the recap! and didn't have my old issues in Miami with me, and while that may have affected my reading of it, I thought that the ending was still a little rushed, for a series that had pretty good pacing, all the pieces came together a little too neatly for the last fight. If the art was better, the massive fight would've been really exciting but for such a delayed book it felt rushed, and that hurt too.

White Tiger was still an enjoyable series, with decent pacing, good dialogue and an overall neat cast of characters-- and I still sensed much of that in this issue, but after forgetting so much, the delay hurt my reading of the last issue. If you skipped the series completely, you may want to try the trade. You could easily do worse.

Detective Comics 836
I know this is on the Marvel boards but I bought this today so I still think it's fair game. Okay, the Scarecrow get's caught. Anyone would've guessed that (it's issue 2 of 2 duh). My big problem is that last issue had some Detective work, and it was very methodical. The slow pacing gave you time to put yourselves in Batman's shoes, and in Gotham's (shiverin') shoes. Scarecrow became a credible threat. I liked that. This issue doesn't do any of that. It basically tells you that people are scared and then suddenly Batman just finds the Scarecrow and stops him. I knew he'd be stopped, but the ball just felt dropped this issue.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Ms. Marvel #19

Catfight!

Okay, so the cover this week was a little over the top (still nowhere near Heroes for Hire thankfully).

Anyway, Ms. Marvel and her team arrive at Chile and go their separate ways. Both run into trouble, with Carol ending up the worse for it.

Puppet Master is definitely up to no good. He sounds as if he's coming to some sort of end, whether this is because he's about to die or for some other reason isn't made clear. In any case, he's loading a ****load of clay so he definitely has something in the works. I've always preferred the meaner, nastier Puppet Master as opposed to the more sympathetic version so his portrayal here sits well with me.

Anya attacks Machine Man, agent Sum and Sleepwalker, the latter of which dispatches her with ease. The new supporting gallery is working out so far, I hope Anya stays to round it out since I actually found her likable in this book and it'd be a shame to see her go away again.

I liked Carol's little reference to the internet and how "Goon Squad leader" is one of the tamer things she's been called in recent months. A little subtle fourth wall breaking there.

All in all, another good issue for a good book.

4/5

Annihilation Conquest: Wraith #3

There's still a lot of problems with Wraith as a character, as Dread already pointed out, but this is issue is chock full of action so the book didn't feel weighted down by that. Wraith breaks out of prison and in the process frees the Super Skrull and his robot girlfriend and escape from prison. Along they way he hooks up with the Kree resistance and decides to ally with them for the time being.

I really liked the Super Skrull as an anti-hero the last go around so seeing him again was a distinct pleasure. Ronan looks to take on the role of villain (sympathetic as he may be), deciding to willingly work with Phalanx in order to save his race. Oh and the Supreme Intelligence is still alive, that was surprising.

Pretty much the best issue of Wraith so far, we'll see how they do next month.

4/5

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

White Tiger 6
Yes, I was actually buying the series before it was delayed for insanely massive damage. Maybe it was the delays, but I forgot what happened, suddenly didn't even feel like reading the recap! and didn't have my old issues in Miami with me, and while that may have affected my reading of it, I thought that the ending was still a little rushed, for a series that had pretty good pacing, all the pieces came together a little too neatly for the last fight. If the art was better, the massive fight would've been really exciting but for such a delayed book it felt rushed, and that hurt too.

White Tiger was still an enjoyable series, with decent pacing, good dialogue and an overall neat cast of characters-- and I still sensed much of that in this issue, but after forgetting so much, the delay hurt my reading of the last issue. If you skipped the series completely, you may want to try the trade. You could easily do worse.

Agreed. A surprisingly enjoyable read, but the delays really hurt the pacing. Good "street-level" super heroics regardless.

 

[Darthphere]

- I highly doubt J.J. would have aided Peter while on the run. This IS the same man who created Scorpian and aided in many Spider-Slayers to take care of Spider-Man. His son John may have been possible...

But he would see it as helping this poor woman who has been victimized by the actions of her selfish nephew. It wouldn't be about helping Peter, it would be about helping Aunt May. Either way, after the issue of FNSM (which will never be referenced) I'd be willing to bet JJJ would do something and be an ******* about it.

 

[PhotoJones]

But he would see it as helping this poor woman who has been victimized by the actions of her selfish nephew. It wouldn't be about helping Peter, it would be about helping Aunt May. Either way, after the issue of FNSM (which will never be referenced) I'd be willing to bet JJJ would do something and be an ******* about it.

Exactly. And then he'd run a front page article about how Peter/Spider-Man doesn't care about his family.

 

[Darthphere]

Exactly. And then he'd run a front page article about how Peter/Spider-Man doesn't care about his family.

And make millions!

 

[PhotoJones]

Robbie would quit and Urich would get fired. By the next issue, they'd be back again.

 

[Darthphere]

Robbie was fired recently. But he got his job back like 7 minutes later.

 

[PhotoJones]

Robbie was fired recently. But he got his job back like 7 minutes later.

Well, there you go.

 

[Darthphere]

That's because Peter let JJJ beat the **** out of him.

 

[PhotoJones]

That's because Peter let JJJ beat the **** out of him.

Wait, what?

 

[Tropico]

It's true.

 

[Darthphere]

Yeah, Peter had JJJ meet him in some old gym or whatever so they could talk about their feelings and what not. Specifically, Robbie being fired for defending Peter and the lawsuit. Spidey let JJJ beat the **** out of him, and took pictures of it all so he could publish it. In the end, they seemed to have reached an almost amicable resolution. Almost.

 

[IFryKids]

Wait, what?

Somebody obviously didn't read the last issue of FNSM.

 

[PhotoJones]

Yeah, Peter had JJJ meet him in some old gym or whatever so they could talk about their feelings and what not. Specifically, Robbie being fired for defending Peter and the lawsuit. Spidey let JJJ beat the **** out of him, and took pictures of it all so he could publish it. In the end, they seemed to have reached an almost amicable resolution. Almost.

So, Peter took pictures of JJJ beating on him, or the other way around?

Somebody obviously didn't read the last issue of FNSM.

Somebody obviously didn't read any of FNSM.

 

[Darthphere]

So, Peter took pictures of JJJ beating on him, or the other way around?

The former.

 

[PhotoJones]

Where was Pete going publish them? The Globe?

 

[Darthphere]

Where was Pete going publish them? The Globe?

No dude, keep up. He gave the film to JJJ telling him those pics would get him more money than any lawsuit would. JJJ destroyed the film.

 

[ImrtlLimpWrist]

ASM - It seemed pretty clear to me that Stark is paying for May via Jarvis. It is time for May to die -- people got to die, Peter. It's the Circle of Life, dude. Rent 'Lion King'.

Wolverine - gee, Logan goes on and on about what a badass he is then he gets his ass whipped. When doesn't that happen?

 

[PhotoJones]

No dude, keep up. He gave the film to JJJ telling him those pics would get him more money than any lawsuit would. JJJ destroyed the film.

Got it. Glad I never read that trash.

 

[Darthphere]

Got it. Glad I never read that trash.

Nah, it was a good issue, there nuances dude, NUANCES.

 

[PhotoJones]

Anyone else buy a book a Marvel book with the Ringo tribute? I got sad again.

 

[BrianWilly]

I was in a hurry and totally forgot about One More Day and Wraith. I guess I'll just read them next week. I'd probably just btch about the former and shrug noncommittally about the latter, anyway.


Faith the Vampire Slayer #6
Ha! On solicitations of the Jo Chen cover, she forgot Faith's iconic* arm tattoo; in the actual issues, it's been drawn on. Attention to detail = win.

Brain Kay Vaughn's first issue; how does he do? He does pretty damn good. The plot is simple yet inspired. Simple in that the whole "fish out of water...undercover!" is practically a bad cliche in its own way; inspired in that it's the perfect, perfect story for Faith. And BKV writes a pretty damn good Faith. I have high hopes for where he's taking this story.

We haven't seen enough of Genevieve for me to care one way or another about her, although so far so good. It was mentioned by Vaughan in one interview or another that she was going to be Paris Hilton as a Slayer, and I thank the dark gods that she didn't quite end up being...that. She actually ends up feeling a bit like a character you could grow to like. Maybe even on a recurring scale?

Giles' tedious expositioning got a bit much, especially when they got to the parts which flashed "RECAP FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T FOLLOW THE SERIES!" in bright glaring lime text and included some of the most stilted summarizin' I've ever read -- "For you see Faith there was one Slayer but now there are many and there were Watchers but not there are none and there was a Sunnydale that got crater'd are you following this kcool" -- but then, the act of expositioning is such a Giles thing that I'm willing to let it go. Rupey probably just wanted to give a good solid exposition after all this time cooped up with nothing to explain to anyone.

I hope we see Robin again soon; he was good for Faith, and I want him to continue being good for Faith. On the other hand, the possibility of Buffy/Xander? Ugh. No. A 'verse of no.

Jeanty's been good for this series so far, but the quality of this issue is a bit of a miss for me. His Giles is fine, but his Faith's...uh, face sometimes has a bit too much detail for his kind of style. Particularly egregious is the panel where she attacks Giles with that fork. I mean, fish-lips ahoy.

And a quick shout-out to Xander's Sunnydale Swim Team t-shirt.

*It's iconic to me, anyway.

(8.4 out of 10)


Countdown #34
I kinda started to choke on my own vomit hen I got to the part with Wally electrotorturing two wounded men, one of whom was his close friend, because...something. I'm not exactly sure why he was torturing them. Because he was mad? But they are telling him that they are innocent and that they didn't kill Bart! Even if he doesn't believe them, shouldn't he hold off on the, oh, needless physical abuse until he was actually sure? I suppose actual physical evidence is not something that heroes are particularly particular to, in the DCU? Either that, or Wally actually read the original Guggenheim-written version of events regarding Flash: the Fastest Man Alive #13, as opposed to the Countdown retcon. Maybe he just wanted information? Well, both of them were blabbing their mouths off from the first second so, no, that's not it either. Maybe it's just that every single person who appears in this comic gets smacked with the dumbass stick a couple of times? Yeah, maybe.

Jimmy's story moves along a bit, mostly just to reveal that...it's all a mystery and we don't know the answers yet. Christ. Pretty pictures, though.

Klarion the Witch Boy appears to Mary Marvel, and they do something. And Karate Kid and Una do something with Orr. I think it was Orr. Maybe it's another character now.

Next week: Kyle Rayner. Oh dear Buffy please don't hurt him too much with your dumbass stick, Countdown writers.

(4.5 out of 10)


Speaking of which...
The All-New Atom #15
I suppose I just can't help myself. I saw Kyle Rayner on that first page and was just like, ahhhh...this was a pleasant surprise. Even knowing about the crap he's been through the past several months, even dreading the direction they're taking him in Countdown, even with that godawful costume they've put him in (which, to be fair, looks remarkably decent under Norton's pencils)...seeing him anywhere is always a pleasant surprise. I will confess that I tried very hard but didn't quite succeeding in preventing the pout of disappointment from escaping my lips when I saw that he wasn't going to be in much of the issue at all. I was looking forward to seeing how Simone would tackle him.

But the rest of the issue? Makes the hell up for it. I mean, they pretty much had me at the giant Japanese Toho Tokusatsu monsters. And then Simone had to throw in quotes like "Tell my head wife I have love her head very much!" and it's just wonderful. And then lizard porn. It's utter wacky fun, and it delivers. Where else are you going to get lizard porn? Well, other than in the GL Corps.

And then the subplot of Dean Maryland or whatever and Ray Palmer comes back in, and...well, this part is not that great. I mean, this is obviously A Bad Guy. There's not a single reader alive reading this who's going to think even for a nanosecond that this guy is not A Bad Guy and that everything he says isn't pure Bad Guy talk obscuring the facts and obfuscating our hapless hero. And yet here Ryan is, listening to his Bad Guy talk...and completely, utterly believes him. Takes him at face value. I mean, he says he doesn't, but he obviously does. It's so naive as to be practically unbelievable. And it's kind of what happened during the last arc of this comic, "Jia," which is also exactly what made that arc so bad. Jia was this conniving, irritating, dishonest, weak, snivelling, manipulative, undesirable woman...and it was bluntly apparent to everyone single person in the room except for Ryan himself. Here, Dean Juneland or whatever is obviously just as conniving and manipulative and untrustworthy...and Ryan just falls for it hook line and sinker. There is such a thing as having a character trait, but something about this just takes me straight out of the story. It's the whole Genre Blindness thing.

(8 out of 10)


The Black Canary Wedding Planner
Hmm. I decided ultimately not to pick this up because it just didn't seem to have any kind of purpose. It's not bad, really; it's groan-inducing at points and passably humorous in others, but mostly I just couldn't get the point. Characterizations are decent enough, there's sort of an overall plot tying these things together...but it just didn't hit me the right way. It was just blander than it should have been. Dinah gets stressed over the wedding...and then she gets unstressed. Huh.

It's kind of unfair, in some ways; DC gets ragged for being very grim too often now and not focusing enough on lightheartedness (which is why I generally support titles like Atom and Blue Beetle as if my life depended on it), but here's a one-shot that's basically just a lighthearted short story of happy yay goody yay, and I still can't quite get into what they're trying to do. I don't really want this wedding to be very grim -- I swear to Buffy, I'm going to start throwing potatoes at people if Dinah starts to talk yet some more about how her whole relationship with Ollie is Serious Business with Serious Implications -- but I don't want a sugarcoated rendition of it either. It is possible to be lighthearted while still dealing with realistic drama, and this doesn't really do it, though it tried.

(6.9 out of 10)


Metal Men #1-2
I think this is one of those series that will grow on you. It took me a while to get into this, but I think by the fourth or fifth issue I'm going to be positively gushing over it. As of right now, I think the plot's a bit wordy and the series as a whole doesn't quite make as much use of the art -- which is charming as all fck -- as it maybe could. The best sequences are of course of the Metal Men in action, and I find myself getting bored when they're not, which is more frequent here than it has any right to be. Have I mentioned "charming as all fck"? 'Cause it is. And it's got some genuinely spiffy ideas poking through from all corners; it's just a bit hidden, currently, by stuff that's marginally less interesting.

(7.7 out of 10)


Infinity Inc #1
Not...what I expected. Milligan's doing some interesting work with the Everyman volunteers, fleshing them out in ways that do make sense and is organic. It's just his depiction of Steel and Natasha that I'm concerned about. I'll give this a couple more issues before I decide anything conclusively; right now it's literally fifty-fifty on whether I decide to pick this up. So far the 52 Aftermaths are batting a pretty good average, and I'd hate to see the streak get broken.

(6.8 out of 10)


I also bought the second trade of the current Checkmate series, and damn is it awesome. For those many numbers of you who still aren't reading Checkmate, and I know exactly who you are -- yes, I do -- right now is the perfect opportunity to start getting into this book.