TheCorpulent1 said:
Yeah, I hope he gets to keep going on the series. I'm actually curious what the sales are like, since that's the only thing that will determine that. Where's Dread when you need him?
Sheesh, am I the only one who checks sites like ICV2? At any rate, X-FACTOR's sales have seen a spike from it's technical crossover with SECOND COMING, even if it wasn't part of the event properly. It sold just shy of 41k in June, in the Top 40 comic sellers list (albeit at #40). That's only about 800 copies less than it sold in May. X-FACTOR's sales are up over 32% within the last year and up over 10% over the past 3 years. Historically, X-FACTOR has managed to sustain some sales spikes from various promotions longer than other books tend to. It's been a consistent midcard X-Men book for a while and I don't see it hitting the skids immediately.
Another week, another half dozen comics, including a few at $4, and at least one dead book walking. As always, full spoilers ahead. And also as always, reviews are up at my Examiner link first.
Dread's BOUGHT/THOUGHT for 7/21/10:
BATMAN BEYOND #2: Part two in this six issue mini that revisits DC & WB's fan favorite Kid's WB cartoon that went off the air about a decade ago. Paul Levitz wrote a story set in this world in this week's SUPERMAN/BATMAN annual, but I didn't know about that and to be frank I may not have wanted an extra $4 book this week anyway. Amazing how DC can actually still sell some mini series at $3 an issue, while Marvel apparently feels their entire company would be sucked into a vortex to Dimension X if a fan DARE got a break on a mini series? I digress. Adam Beechen continues on his attempt to capture the tone of the TV show, with Ryan Benjamin on art (with John Stanisci on inks and David Baron on colors). There are some differences; Old Man Wayne doesn't have his cane, and in this issue, the TV news reporters look like people, not the colored holographic talking heads of the show. Another difference is there seems to be less reliance on the characters from the show and more on inserting characters from the standard DCU. For instance, Amanda Waller only showed up in the Beyond universe in one episode of JLU (which sought to appease the 'Net Nerds who always hated that the "new Batman" wasn't Dick Grayson's son or something, which provided a needless complication to the mythos that I still think wasn't a wise move), yet here she's shown up more than, say, Terry's mother or Maxine or even Dana. On the flip side, Beechen at least seems to have captured the banter between Terry and Wayne quite well, which is the main thing.
Apparently, a serial killer is targeting any old enemies of Batman who are still alive in the year 2040. He already killed former Z-Lister Signalman and almost killed the elderly Mad Hatter before Terry stopped him. At first suspecting it to be an elderly Harvey Dent, all evidence seems to point to this being Hush, Wayne's former best friend turned bandaged villain. While he'd in theory be an old man, Wayne's final confrontation with Hush was vague enough that it could be possible this is an original, or simply a well informed copycat. In this issue, the New Hush targets a villain from Terry's rogues gallery, Armory. Terry spends a good chunk of the issue fighting a thief who claims she is Catwoman, although for less than obvious reasons as her costume doesn't look feline at all. My guess is she's someone who's Spliced and looks like a furry. Splicers, in the continuity of Beyond, were people who got themselves genetically modified to have animalistic features, and it was part of the pop culture of Beyond at one point.
This also ignores a point of the show; while Terry had some interactions with villains that were similar to Wayne's, they never bore the same name. Terry's version of a Catwoman like adversary was Ten of the Royal Flush Gang, who always had romantic tension with him. Beechen seems to be shoehorning more official future versions of DC characters rather than being as original as the show was, which mostly avoided stuff like "Vulture 2099" or "Venom 2099" that the SPIDER-MAN 2099 series relied on. Part of me is a little disappointed that an official comic attempt at a TV show is proving far less imaginative in some ways. Any one off the street could have just inserted Catwoman 2040 into the show; it took real genius to come up with Ten.
Aside for that, though, the comic does capture some of what the cartoon did. The mystery is decent enough, and at least Hush and Terry will get to fight at least once before issue six. The pace is pretty good. While I may have quibbles with about 35% of what Beechen is doing here, that still leaves 65% of it good to me, and I don't regret trying this. The first issue of this sold over 35k, just shy of the Top 50 sellers list, and should hopefully finish up no worse off than what TEEN TITANS or SECRET SIX averages, so DC should be pleased and there could be more in the future after this mini. Trying to capitalize on nostalgia for the show a decade after it ended may seem like a bit too late, but at least initially it's doing better than some other DC stabs in the dark. The magic of the Multiple Earths format is there's no reason why the Batman Beyond world CAN'T be included.
DYNAMO 5: SINS OF THE FATHER #2: Apparently the gap of time between DYNAMO 5 #25 and the start of this mini series telling the next arc (for all intents and purposes, this may as well be DYNAMO 5 #27) was worth it, as the mini seems to have managed a monthly schedule. The ongoing series at best became a bi-monthly for the final stretch, and I am liking getting this series more regularly. One could argue slapping Invincible on the cover as a ploy for sales, as INVINCIBLE sells better than D5 ever did, but Invincible's been part of "the Jay Faerber Universe" since NOBLE CAUSES, and it fits well with the story. Not exactly happy with the $3.99 price, but unlike a lot of Marvel titles, this one actually sells low enough that I can actually buy the theory that a high price is needed to make up for losses by selling low. Besides, Marvel has been the first company to demand higher prices for regular comics since the 1970's, and are usually the company that increases prices line wide due to it. But, I digress. This arc is about a threat from the past of Captain Dynamo as well as other Image heroes coming home to roost for the next generation, namely Dynamo 5.
It's actually somewhat of a simple threat, but what makes it work is how it is executed and how the threat is dealt with. Apparently, an alien came down to Earth to face it's champion before taking it over, DBZ style. Capt. Dynamo, Omni-Man, Supreme, the elder Firebird, Doc Noble, and even Savage Dragon all had to unite to stop him, and it ravaged Delta City. This time, that alien's three children have decided to restore his honor by going to Earth and getting a win. The threat, of course, being that if it took Image's greatest heroes to stop even one of them, the kids are doomed having to face three. This issue actually shares good continuity with INVINCIBLE, in which it showcases that D5 barely met him, and when they did, it was one of his evil alternate universe versions from INVINCIBLE #60 (which fits). Maddie had hoped that this threat would never return, but you know what they say about best laid plans. D5 assembles, along with Hector's girlfriend, the younger Firebird, and Invincible himself (at some point between when he added yellow back into his suit, and before he left Earth) to face off against the alien trio. Judging by the cliffhanger, it won't be easy. In this issue, the explanation of the threat seemed to take charge over sheer characterization, but there are still bits of it, such as Spencer adjusting to his new powers, and Hector (along with Bridget) adjusting to having lovers and their own lives. This series simply doesn't bog itself down in characterization so that nothing else happens like many other comics do.
I am really liking the artwork here. While it's always nice to have co-creator and former regular artist Mahmud Asrar doing the covers, his obligations to Marvel have been increasing of late so he really couldn't do ongoing art for this series again. Julio Brilha's artwork is very good, and he's apparently one of the rare artists who can ink his own work and it still turns out good; many pencilers are better off leaving their inks to professional inkers (see Khoi Pham). Ron Riley, of course, always handles the colors well.
In fact the only downer about this series is how low it sells. I have to often chase it down all over Brooklyn or Manhattan because even large chain stores may only order it in SINGLE DIGITS. I swear I have an easier time finding ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN, and that's hardly Robert Kirkman's best seller. It does get frustrating because DYNAMO 5 is a very clever series with an excellent premise, good design work and enjoyable characters that provides the sort of superhero action and soap opera storytelling that fans of the superhero genre claim to love, and flock to in larger numbers even for middling attempts at this from DC or Marvel. This is a series that wishes it could sell 20,500 copies a month like POWER GIRL does at the bottom of the Top 100 sellers list, and honestly deserves to sell at least that well. But so does INVINCIBLE, and a slew of other books. On the bright side, DYNAMO 5 would probably be more doable for a film or TV franchise than INVINCIBLE, and if that ever happened, expect this franchise to rise up like WALKING DEAD has.
This series can be one in which the very feat of tracking down an issue may be worthy of a superhuman ability, but it is always worth my time. The trade collections are very reasonably priced (especially the first at under $10) and anyone who buys some Marvel or DC title out of nothing but obligation should at least give D5 an honest try.
ATLAS #3: This is a dead book walking, as Jeff Parker has admitted online that issue five will be the last. He's cited low sales and an unwillingness to do a mini series event tie in with the series as reasons; but with sales dipping below 20k, his editor would have pulled the plug anyway. On the one hand, Marvel has given ATLAS (and AGENTS OF ATLAS) a decent court press over the past year. The 2005-2006 mini stood alone for years; occasionally there was a one shot story in SPIDER-MAN FAMILY or SECRET INVASION: WHO DO YOU TRUST, but mostly nothing until Marvel took a stab with it in the middle of DARK REIGN with an eleven issue ongoing series. Considering many ongoing series these days don't even last eleven issues, some could have said that was fair enough. But Marvel gave the franchise two mini's with big names like the X-MEN and AVENGERS on them, as well as a back-up strip in INCREDIBLE HERCULES. Perhaps the most exposure the team got was when Jeff Parker hopped onto THUNDERBOLTS and wrote them in the first arc. But neither fans or retailers bit on this in sustainable numbers. One supposes the only think Marvel didn't try was a back-up strip in NEW AVENGERS, but considering Bendis can't even make a SPIDER-WOMAN series last beyond six issues, that may not have helped.
If one wanted to delve deeper, it could be claimed that the failure of this franchise to catch on is part of the market that Marvel and DC have made for themselves. Marvel in particular did not rely on an line wide crossover event format until 2004. Before then, books rose and fell based more on creative teams than on whether they were "important". But in the years since, Marvel and DC have made very clear signals that neither quality or even many creative teams are worth investing in; all that matters is the "importance" of a book. Naturally, Marvel and DC will solicit every book as important, but no one is gullible enough to buy that. Clearly, JMS on SUPERMAN or WONDER WOMAN is more important to DC than him being on BRAVE AND THE BOLD, which is why those first two series saw a sales spike and the latter didn't budge. Just as clearly, Bendis doing the same old thing on an Avengers book is clearly more important than this, or YOUNG ALLIES. But Marvel editorial is an editorial that takes no responsibility for their own actions, and never acknowledges any fault. Even an old timer like Tom DeFalco can poke holes in their illogical editorial strategies without even trying. Marvel's success over DC I continue to feel is not because they are smarter; it is because they are merely less incompetent, because Marvel is Moe and DC is Curly. Even Moe, the smartest of the Three Stooges, was hardly brilliant. He was merely less stupid than the other two.
I digress. At the very least, ATLAS can finish it's first arc and to fans who wanted more after that initial six issue mini in 2005-2006, this has been a dream come true. And even if Marvel did create a market in which no creative ideas that aren't "important enough" sell, even their own, at least the impression is they genuinely wanted this franchise to catch on, and not expire into the abyss.
In this issue, the new 3-D Man continues to investigate his mystery attackers alongside the Agents of Atlas. They appear able to possess anyone who isn't Delroy Garret himself, and have already slain one of his mentors, and in this issue, his current girlfriend. He's the only one who can spot them, which creates a problem. In this issue, these enemies start to possess people in the Atlas Foundation headquarters, and the issue ends with them picking quite a potent host to utilize. Gabe Hardman puts in the usual exceptional pencils with Elizabeth Breitweiser handling the color work. The interaction within the team is, as usual, the highlight. There also is a back-up strip also written by Parker with art by Ramon Rosanas, which features more embellishment on the origin of M-11. The last time he got any hint at an addition to his origin, it was in the original mini, and unlike Ken Hale, Bob Grayson or even Namora, M-11 likely couldn't sustain even a one shot, so a back-up strip is a good idea. It's a well written little piece, covering how M-11 got where he is and who he is without needing him to talk much, since he doesn't often. Despite the fact that he barely talks, M-11 is actually one of my favorite members of the team, so this was an added treat for me. I am liking how Parker is writing Delroy here and it is a shame this will be the last arc, since he seems like a solid addition to the team. Parker's entire ATLAS work will make quite a handsome OMNIBUS hardcover someday.
Additionally, we get the majority of the issue devoted to the Martian Manhunter, who's been sorely neglected so far. He gets a fun, spooky mystery that appeals to his oft-forgotten detective side, which I like. The creepy Martian conglomerate thing looks to be the mysterious villain behind J'onn's troubles, but I don't know what to make of him/her/it/them just yet, except that he/she/it/they apparently like beheading people. J'onn's segment also features cameos by Oracle and Superboy, both favorites of mine. And it ends with J'onn finally in the same room as Miss Martian, which I've been waiting to see since Miss Martian was introduced and I found that she wasn't as utterly obnoxious as all of the other characters in Teen Titans at the time. Granted, M'gann's not in great shape, but I'm pretty sure she'll pull through. She's slated to appear in a cartoon pretty soon, and DC likes cross-media synergy as much as anyone.
On the other hand, if they're not, the retcons to Mera's past aren't really as damaging as they could've been. I am in wait-and-see mode.
I love PAD's humor and can't wait to see where he takes these guys next.
