Bought/Thought January 3rd, 2007...

[Red]

Maybe not but I'd appreciate one for Hulk...And maybe Hex.

 

[Darthphere]

I don't know if anyone cares enough to read reviews of Jonah Hex #15, Red Sonja #18 & CSI: Dying in the Gutters #5.

Personally, I love me some Jonah Hex.

 

[samurai black]

Maybe not but I'd appreciate one for Hulk...And maybe Hex.

Incredible Hulk 102

Spoiler

Great issue! In it we see the origin of the spikes (poor misunderstood creatures) and Hulk VS Red King the grand finale. Red King is easily outmatched until he decides to crack open the planet and it's up to the "Worldbreaker" to fix the planet. In the end the red king gets what he deserves and the planet crowns an reluctant king hulk.

sorry don't read hex

 

[Dread]

Definately a very book week to kick off 2007! DC ships two heavyweight books, and the much delayed CIVIL WAR #6 comes out, only to not ship to a 3rd of the country. I'm not a religious man, but first McNiven falls ill, now this? Ever hear of "omens"? Maybe Marvel pumps out so much negative that some is boomeranging? Maybe the cosmos doesn't want classic comedy heroes to become pain-enjoying freaks? Eh, probably not. Stick in there, West Coasters!

As per orders, all my spoilers are in tags. Click at your own peril. I have tagged the ENTIRE post, so if you haven't gotten your comics, don't try fishing for what is available. Just wait or be willing to be spoiled.

DREAD'S BOUGHT/THOUGHT for 1/4/07:

52 WEEK #35:

Spoiler

Coincidentally, just as Marvel ships their 6th issue of their sale-busting CIVIL WAR, 52 has an issue where the crap starts to hit the fan. Considering the series only has 17 installments left, it's about time. Interestingly, DC planned this all along and didn't count on CW being delayed twice so it came out this week. Anyway, Lex Luthor celebrates the New Year as well as tests Supernova by seemingly "shutting off" all of his "everymen" project people at the stroke of midnight, save for Infinity Inc. So they all either drop from the sky and smash objects/people, or their powers flare out and cause havoc. Seemingly, Luthor is still not convinced that Supernova isn't Superman and even so, wanted a disaster to truly challenge the one hero in Metropolis whose strings he seemingly isn't pulling. Note the last time Supernova was about to stop a major disaster, he was outdone by Booster Gold's sacrifice (which seems like an eon ago). Supernova, however, is able to save dozens of people by beaming them out of town with his light powers. Infinity Inc and the rest of DC's heroes also rise to the challenge, and despite Luthor's claim that it was an "unseen setback" to the everyman project, Natasha now FINALLY believes that Luthor is up to no good, and sets out to stop him with Skyman. Meanwhile, the Lost in Space trio realizes that Lobo has set them up to claim Lady Styx's bounty on them for himself, and all without violating his anti-violence vow by slaughtering them personally. Still, Lobo getting them to her personally may be their only shot at victory. Kind of like Nova streaking head-on towards Annihilus. Definately a better issue than a few of them and a nice dramatic way to kick off the new year. The art was also fabu. After 35 weeks, there isn't much more to say. If you've been aboard since issue #1, the series, even at it's worst, keeps you along for more, and at it's best it has flashbangs of excitement. If not, then you may have to wait for some ungodly hardcover or set of them from DC. I just wonder what sort of answer DC has for sales when this series ends. They can't count on ALL-STAR and many of their books have floundered after OYL's initial surge.

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #6:

Spoiler

The theme of the week is easily the CW books, and it should be interesting to see CW go head-to-head with ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, a book that has shipped sporatically but always been a DC top seller. Hence the dilemma with these ALL-STARS. They rarely come out, and their quality has been variable (although this is easily the best out of the two), but when they do they usually sell 200k copies or more, easy. The cover states that it's won an EISNER award, which is interesting as that apparently is due to the work quality and not how often it ships; 2006 saw a mighty 4 issues (only 3 issues less than ASTONISHING X-MEN, technically, and twice as many as ULTIMATES 2 issues) come out. And DC honestly believes on it's website that #7 will ship in 5 weeks? Right. And I'm the bloody toothfairy. Morrison is perhaps one of their most overworked writers, next to Geoff Johns. Morrison writes this, 52, WILDCATS, MIDNIGHTER, not to mention a run on BATMAN that he is taking a breather on and just wrapping on SEVEN SOLDIERS. 6+ books in a year would be a task for anyone, but keep in mind 52 likely drains all writers involved from their books to keep that weekly schedule. However, UNLIKE ASTONISHING or ULTIMATES 2, this title's narrative is more like one-shot stories with only the vaguest subplot connecting them, rather than a breakneck part 1-2-3 story. If it were, it'd have lost much of it's luster and excitement like ASTONISHING and ULTIMATES 2 have. On the downside, many have cited that they just can't get into Morrison embracing the Golden & Silver Age corniness into the book, and considering that was the outdated status quo of 30-50 years ago, it's understandable. On the plus side, they allow Morrison to be wild & wacky without being depressing or dark; super-science is in full effect, Superman is back to being almost perfect, and all is dandy. In fact, the only downer is that he seemingly is dying, a subplot that barely shows up in half the issues. This issue focuses on a time-travel storyline, in which a younger Kent is still in Smallville with Krypto deciding whether or not to live in Metropolis as a journalist, or to be a farmer with his parents. His parents, especially Pa, believe he's meant for greater things. Insert a token monster, and then insert a band time-travelling heroes sent to stop it; the Superman Squad. Hinted at in issue #2, they appear in full force, Supermans of future eras and even dimensions (such as one from the 5th dimension where Mr. Mxy hails). They sneak into Kent's farm under the guise of being farmhands, but reveal themselves as superpowered when Young Kent exposes them. They try to get him to leave the battle, but he refuses and helps them subdue the monster. It turns out they didn't want him to battle the monster not because he wasn't ready, but because doing that occupied him for the 3 minutes he would've needed to save Pa Kent from a heart attack. Naturally, Pa's death is a defining moment in Kent's life. It also turns out that a "bandaged" member of the Superman squad is in fact the current Superman, who went back in time to aid the squad as well as have a last chance to save his father as presumably one of the things he wanted to try before he dies. But if there are still Supermen in the future, does he really die, or become something more? It was interesting, like all of Morrison's work, but I've rarely been a fan of time travel, and a Superman squad may be a bit corny for me. Still, he treats it seriously and it does work out as an enjoyable little story. Eisner worthy? Doubtful. But, it's Morrison and Quietly; good or bad, you KNEW AS-S was going to be overrated. Plus it can't shake the sense that the 1976 film captured the moment of Pa Kent's death a lot simplier with a 3rd of the time and no convelution. So, a usual for ALL-STAR SUPERMAN; an enjoyable little tale, and the format doesn't leave you as frustrated with the lateness as with more serial stories like ULTIMATES 2 and ASTONISHING, but it isn't so good as to justify 4 issues a year. #5 was the best of the lot so far. It's not bad, no sir. It's just moving along much slower and less dramatically than some of the interviews around when issue #1 came out would've led you to believe. And that brings a little bit of "who cares?" into every issue. However, it is good to at least see Morrison trying to rework the old fogie elements, and it looks like he is having fun with it. The ad for issue #7 has an honest estimate on arrival from Bizarro: "This book not on sale soon!" Cute. DC hopes for 5 weeks; I say we'll be lucky if we see it before April. In the end, AS-S are solid, enjoyable, imaginative comics, but don't lack nearly enough oomph many times.

CIVIL WAR #6:

Spoiler

After endless delays, it is finally here. Newarama had to give out a warning that West Coast shipping delays be dealt with maturely, or a fanboy bloodbath could ensue. And once you read the issue itself, one thing is striking; that cardboard insert ad for EMUSIC is annoying. I mean, for F's sake, they couldn't even spare their big, #1 selling, mega event from some annoying corporate greed. The insert was in almost every Marvel book this week and kind of annoyed me. Anyway, Millar does what you'd expect, and McNiven's art is wonderful as always, but the same problems that have plagued this book continue. Nearly every relevent plot "surprise" has been revealed either days, weeks, or months in advance due to sneak previews, cover solicts, interviews, or fan debate. Sue meeting with Namor is no surprise, for instance. Neither is Punisher joining the team. However, there are some details here that weren't ruined. However, this issue mostly serves to set up the explosive fight-scene for issue #7 (and seemingly all the next tie-ins) and so it feels a bit slower than many. In a way CIVIL WAR has been hampered by some of the issues that plague a lot of Millar's work; he is so quick to score a quick BANG shocker explosion that he has less left come time for the kickoff. He already used napalm in the first half of the story, so when the finale comes, gunpowder just doesn't cut it. This is what caused a lot of his ULTIMATE X-MEN finales to be hit-or-miss, and his WOLVERINE arc to slowly peter out. It's not a bad issue, though. And it is packed to the gills and VERY busy; again, after 2005's HOM taking 4 issues to really go anywhere, it can't be stretched that it is better for an event book to try to do too much than too little.

The summary: Hank Pym and Maria Hill are training a new set of "heroes" who seem to be named after and have powers like the Greek Gods, debating about having a "second Hercules" in circulation. Reed & Co. work on fixing up Clor. Iron Man is pleased that they've gotten the crime rate so low and gets Reed to agree to the "last push" by claiming that the Pres. allowed for 12 full pardons for heroes involved in the war and that Sue & Johnny will be part of that. Meanwhile, the Punisher is working for the Secret Avengers and sneaks into a SHIELD base (backed by tech) to get data on Project 42, the N-Zone Prison where all the captured anti-SHRA heroes are kept. Spider-Man is back in his old costume and Cap plans to bust out the heroes jailed over the CW. Strangely, Tigra, who has been a pro-SHRA all along, has joined the Secret Avengers with zero fanfare. Cap is then surprised when two criminals, Goldbug and Plunderer, offer to aid his undermanned team. He seems ready to begrudgingly accept them when Punisher shoots and kills both, then takes a beating before being tossed out (seemingly).
Sue is sent to talk to Namor about helping Cap out, since they used to be Invaders teammates. Namor refuses but claims that Sue's heart may be beating for him (which he says every time they meet, seemingly). Dr. Strange, meanwhile, talks with Watcher and hopes that whatever outcome will be for the best. Cap's Secret Avengers storm into the N-Zone Prison and take out the front guards, only to be confronted by Iron Man and his pro-SHRA forces, both hero and controlled villian. Iron Man claims he planted a mole in their team, and Cap says he knew all along, who was Tigra. He also claims that he had a mole in IM's team (y'know, "oh, yeah, I did it first!"), and it is revealed that Hank Pym is in fact Hulkling in disguise. As Hulkling could copy Pym's retna patterns, he was able to free the entire mass of N-Zone prisoners and the final battle seems about to begin in issue #7.

It was nice seeing Reed almost give a damn about doing something for his family, although doing so by making deals with devils and doesn't endear him. He hardly even feels choked up about Foster's death. The Cap/Punisher sequence is easily the best part, and it was a bit awkward that Tigra, with zero fanfare, joins as a background member only for it to be a shock that she's a mole. DUH! She's only been posing for the pro-SHRA in every issue EXCEPT this one! It was cool to see Hulkling's manuver, although how long he has been Pym seems questionable (was it only this issue? Or others?) and it may or may not mangle FRONTLINE's own traitor story. 2 traitors in one team? Seems awkward. Oh, and it was cool seeing Shroud & Prodigy amung the many heroes lined up after being freed by Hulking; now if only they won't die. The big battle is up next and lord knows we won't see it until maybe March. I don't care what Marvel says, I have no faith in the next issue shipping in Feb. It also gives off the impression that Namor & the Atlantians are planning no attack, which FRONTLINE seems to contradict. It's been a thrilling ride, unfortunately now the final round of blood begins and I have to brace again for heroes becoming mortal enemies, ruthless villians seeming to be heroes, endless potential being fed into the wood-chipper, and more grim darkness. And I bet it doesn't even end. Just leaves a finale that sets up WWH, or Silent War with the Inhumans, or Fish War with the Atlantians, or Eternal War with the Eternals, or Endless Sales War with something else. On the one hand, CW is loud, dramatic, and certainly climatic. On the other hand, the grimness, explosions, and whatnot can be draining as Marvel stretches out this crossover and will likely refuse to see it end, pumping in more and more 'roids like Barry Bonds in a home-run derby. I'm psyched for the climax, if only because I love a good fight and Millar rarely disappoints. But I also dread the shattered relationships and the mangled status quo that is to come. Joe Q wants to create a world that rehashes the 60's where all heroes are hesitant enemies at best, Spider-Man is single, Mutants are fewer in number than wild pandas, and so on. Trying to merge the social references of today with the status quo of yesteryear. Least in sales, it's working.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #537:

Spoiler

JMS struggles to tie into CW while still hoping for an autonomous story on his own, and in a way he succeeds. Naturally ASM has existed to flesh out Spider-Man more than Millar sure cared to. Spider-Man dons his costume and is summoned to Cap by Human Torch, although it seems weird that the Torch can make a HUGE flame symbol in the sky to alert Spider-Man, and not ONE cape-killer was on patrol. I mean, DUH, that should have been high alert time. Let me get this straight; Luke Cage goes home, sits on his couch, 5,000 SHIELD agents. Torch, a known Secret Avenger, leaves a mile-wide sky-write for Spider-Man, who just "betrayed" Iron Man and the nation. ZERO agents. Not even a chopper in the distance. Very sloppy, at best. JMS writes a nice speach for Cap embolizing his feelings on standing up for one's rights as that is being a true American, quoted from Mark Twain (a writer far ahead of his time). And naturally Spider-Man feels great to be "on the right side again", and it feels good and all that...but after so many months "with the enemy", it just reaks of "too little, too late" in some regards. On the plus, or down side, Kingpin continues to take advantage of the CW; in WAR CRIMES he manipulated Iron Man into taking out his rivals, and now he secretly hires a hitman to ice Spider-Man (as well as any relatives in his way). It may seem strange to some newer fans who only know Kingpin from DAREDEVIL, but before he got swapped over to Hornhead, he was a major Spider-Man enemy and that is where he originated, so it makes sense that Fisk would use this change to take down his first (or second, depending) heroic rival. It ends with Spider-Man going off for his final battle in CW #7 while the sniper seemingly plants a bomb in the doorway and scopes out MJ & May. One would have expected some supervillian, and in a way that would be dramatic, but the fact that yet another Parker tragedy may happen at the hands of a "non-costumed crook" harkens back to his Uncle Ben, who was iced by a simple burglar (or, in a slight way, Jean DeWolfe, who was iced by a guy in with a shotgun and a ski mask, Sin-Eater). Will MJ or May bite it? Joe Q seems to be in a lot of doublespeak in interviews; he claims the Spider-Marriage was an 80's publicity stunt (SO unlike the "Wedding of the Century" between T'Challa and Ororo), that it did nothing good for the character, that Ultimate Spider-Man being a perennial teenager isn't enough, that he wants Spider-Man single like he was in the 70's, but by that same token, doesn't want him divorced OR a widower. Themanofbat has a theory on this (his family "almost" dies and Spider-Man has Loki erase everyone's knowledge of his ID, including his family, yet another FLASH ripoff) and it sounds plausible. But we'll have to see. I still don't thing the concept of ending ANY marriage not arranged by this EIC's tenure is a good move, and it doesn't solve the problem that being married didn't have to mean the end of his social life or supporting cast. Poor writing and generic heroic events, retcons and crossovers caused that. Despite his past innovation, Spider-Man is fast becoming Marvel's poster child as to why franchises that last beyond 40 years typically run dry. But, all in all, a decent, functional, even good issue. I like the voyage, it's just the destination that worries me.

FRONTLINE #10:

Spoiler

Unlike CIVIL WAR, Jenkin's 2nd rank tie-in has a much more intricate plot and is much better at keeping most of their secrets, 'cept the part where Speedball becomes Voldo, erm, "Penace" (and technically the 2nd or 3rd Penance). His new kinetic powers react to pain, especially with the hot lead lodged in his spine. He pardons his shooter while dedicating his life to attoning for the tragedy of Stamford, which he seems to finally believe was his fault...by giving himself as much phyical pain until he drops dead. Good LORD, you can't get more gothie emo than that. And so what once was a comedic Ditko hero who bounced about, made quips and swapped spit with the adorable Squirrel Girl has now been turned into a Marliyn Manson music video (right down to burning his old costume). It reminds me of the 1990's where the "way" to revamp someone was to make them "scary", edgy, pointier, put the name "Blood" or "death" in their name (or words that mean it), etc. Surely after FRONTLINE and CW, Speedball needed some sort of rework, I just think this is the wrong tic and it's a bit overkill into making him a masochist, emo freak who may as well paint his nails black and hang out in Grenwich Villiage "vampire" clubs. Plus, why is is working with outright villians in Thunderbolts? Urgh. On the plus side, the other half of the story has Sally and Urich teaming up to expose the OTHER traitor in Iron Man's midst. In a way it is confusing as Pym is presumably Hulkling, who lacks the knowledge to free Osborn. And CW denies the Atlantians mean any harm beyond catching Nitro, while FRONTLINE seems to make it look like they are arming for an invasion. Oh, and Typeface is the first casualty of the final battle, being killed by Venom. Good riddance (although of course Jenkins' Urich claims he was "heroic"). Hopefully the final reveal will be as climatic as Jenkins is hoping. And hey, no last few pages of Liberal Gibberish! Hazzah! So, bad move for Speedball, but the final reveal may make or break the series. If the main title could keep a secret this well, though, we may have been better off.

 

[Dread]

DREAD'S BOUGHT/THOUGHT for 1/4/07, Part II:

PUNISHER: WAR JOURNAL #2:

Spoiler

After getting off to a good start in #1, Fraction & Olivetti dive right into a CW tie-in that attempts to take plave in-between CW #6. It works for people who only read PWJ, but if you read both, a lot doesn't match up beyond the major events (killing the villians, a Cap beating) so it seems awkward. Still, Fraction understands Frank, the art is pretty and he's willing to play with some of the campier supervillian elements, which after years of gore from Ennis and fighting gangsters, it a bit of fresh air from Punisher. He's a nut, and Fraction doesn't deny it, but you relate because the concept of villians becoming heroes is something Punisher will not accept (he also says he doesn't kill cops, least those who aren't dirty). The rapport between he and Cap is also interesting, as both are soldiers of different wars (Cap in WW2, and Frank in Vietnam). Not as good as #1 to me, but still a worthy addition to the CW library, especially to someone who is hardly a big fan of the Punisher. PWJ establishes it's own identity from the MAX title and hopefully it does well once CW is over.

IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #4:

Spoiler

Finally, a breather from CIVIL WAR. The sales for this book are dropping dramatically every issue, and if it doesn't find a stable audience soon it may be dead by issue #7 like THE THING was, which is a shame because it has been an innovative way to revamp a legacy character. The Concept remains "find the absolute worst guy to fill a superhero legacy who is only a nosehair away from being a villian, and run with it". It makes a lot of DC's attempts to get new, ethnic flesh behind their masks look as generic and half-hearted as they are. And in his own jerky, lazy way, Eric O'Grady is probably closer to a typical person than many readers want to admit, at least publically. The story continues to mix between present and "3 months ago" elements, although as both flashback and present seem set to have the same climax (a battle with Mitch). In the past, Eric is called back to SHIELD a month after Chris' death and the attack, and manages to hide his armor from Mitch and finally gets to bed Veronica (and still comes off as sleazy when he does it). He spies on (what else) lady agents showering, and stumbled upon an ant colony, which he controls. And RACES them for his bemusement. Meanwhile, Pym gives Mitch an older Ant-Man suit to track down the theif with the new one; and it's your usual story; lead has raw power, antaganist has experience and know-how, and the Ant-Men meet. Quite why Pym himself doesn't go seems to smell of plot convience, but no biggie. In the present, a scarred Mitch has tracked down Eric to his date's apartment, where he reveals himself for a fight. Hester's art is spot-on and Kirkman is on his A-game here. A shame the book is not being rewarded for it. I imagine Kirkman may pace both past and present battles to seem like they are running at the same time, and it may finally end with us finished with the Flashbacks soon and into the rest of the tale, if the book lasts that long. He may be unlikeable, but he is readable, and a shame more aren't giving it a try.

NEWUNIVERSAL #2:

Spoiler

16 ads is noticeable, but not as distracting. Ellis starts to set his ducks in a row by establishing Starbrand, Justice, and Nightmask manifesting after the white event. Larroca still continues to copy the images of actors, so Justice is Bruce Willis and Starbrand is Keanu Reeves. There also is revealed a H.E.X. organization that has been awaiting the very moment when supernaturals arose, so it could kill them to maintain national security. The concept of NEWUNIVERSAL is that normal people get powers so it's more like action sci-fi than superheroics, which works well. Just another set-up issue, but it's enjoyable and interesting to read, and I could see the streamlined cast working out in a post-HEROES world. The original NEW UNIVERSE concept was perhaps 15 years ahead of it's time and so now may be the best time to rework it. Ellis keeps it interesting and with him not having any official canon characters to butcher, he is free to create and is more enjoyable. He'll probably be decompressed, but with a large cast, that is alright so long as you focus. Off to a decent start. Nothing I sweat bullets for awaiting each month, but something I don't mind reading. There is some dreamspeak gibberish, but after Mike Carey's GODWAR issues of UFF, it almost comes off readable so I didn't mind it.

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

I'll humor people with the spoiler thing, but seeing as this is a SPOILER-FILLED THREAD, it's redundant.

BOUGHT:
52 #35
AMAZIING SPIDER-MAN #537
BULLET POINTS #3
CIVIL WAR #6
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE #10
FANTASTIC FOUR THE END #4
IRON MAN HYPERVELOCITY #1
IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #4
JACK KIRBY'S GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS #4
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #23
MS MARVEL #11
NEWUNIVERSAL #2
NIGHTWING #128
PUNISHER WAR JOUNRAL #2
RED SONJA #18
SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK #3
SUPERMAN #658
SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #3
ULTIMATE VISION #2
UNCANNY X-MEN #482
X-23 TARGET X #2

THOUGHT:

Spoiler

52 #35 - Finally some progress in the Everyman story, we're getting closer to Supernova, and Lobo just revealed his true intentions. Gonna be an explosive finale, that's for sure.

AMAZIING SPIDER-MAN #537 - Kingpin's got a hit out on Spidey, and looks like May or MJ will suffer for it. Art was good, story was okay, dunno how I feel about this 'cause all it means is we're getting closer to the end of everything I like about Spidey. If the planned changes come through I'm strongly considering dropping all modern Spidey titles and dedicating that part of my budget to back issues, which said modern issues will comprise one day in the far future.

BULLET POINTS #3 - Okay, this sounded interesting when it started, but has quickly degraded into a giant "What if this character took this other character's role?" Cap never becomes Cap, but instead becomes Iron Man in armor that won't be created for 20 years in a different war. That leads to Peter Parker somehow ending up in the desert to become The Hulk. This all leads to Reed Richards becoming Nick Fury. What. The. Hell.

CIVIL WAR #6 - Cap and Punny come to blows, the traitors are revealed, and it looks like the prisoners are gonna get some payback. A lot happened in this issue and it looks like gonna be some major kick-assery in the next.

CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE #10 - Sally and Urich come to the same conclusions about Stark, and Speedball dons a new identity. If you're squeamish, the Speedball story is not for you, that's all I'm gonna say. I'll see how Ellis handles this character change in T-bolts.

FANTASTIC FOUR THE END #4 - Reed betrayed! The heroes torn assunder! Things're really picking up and I kinda dig what's going on.

IRON MAN HYPERVELOCITY #1 - ...What the hell? That's all I can really say about this one. What. The. Hell.

IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #4 - Well things are crumbling down around the ass, and we get a glimpse into the first fight between Ant-Man and another Ant-Man. Interesting to say the least.

JACK KIRBY'S GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS #4 - In case you don't figure it out, I generally don't like space stuff. This one proves a welcome exception because it's like reading a 1960s comic. It's such a perfect homage to Kirby that it boosts the cool factor tremendously.

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #23 - A good ol' fashioned Spidey vs. Sandman fight. Art was kinda blah, but was a good old style fight issue, so I enjoyed it. Let's just hope Marvel don't get TOO Sandman crazy with Spidey 3 coming.

MS MARVEL #11 - So we're back in NY as if nothing happened only to have one of Carol's old foes return. Plus, Arana! Man, I miss her title.

NEWUNIVERSAL #2 - The origins of the New New Universe continues, and it gets real messy real fast. I'll hafta pick up some more of the NU titles so I can fully appreciate and comment on the changes they're making.

NIGHTWING #128 - A new Raptor and Dick's hunting him down. Not thrilling to me, by far the weakest of all the Bats titles.

PUNISHER WAR JOUNRAL #2 - The tie-in to Civil War #6 which shows how Punny proved his usefulness to Cap. Fairly decent, still gonna take a bit of getting used to what with MAX's Punny being so prominent in my mind.

SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK #3 - Venom is defeated and used in high fashion! Purists should NOT read this issue. Venom is completely different than his 616 incarnation in so many ways. If you forget this isn't regular Marvel you'll blow a gasket. Otherwise, left off for what should be an interesting part 2. If you ain't picking up these all ages books, you're missing out on what emulates Marvel's glory days.

SUPERMAN #658 - A whole issue dedicated to that future event. Yawn. Wasn't even remotely interested. Think I'm gonna drop this one, might not even wait for the story to end.

SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #3 - Another one I'm considering dropping. It's just another Supes title. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and buy it in a trade just to see where the story goes. But, as for now, it's just not grabbing me.

ULTIMATE VISION #2 - Good art, questionable story. It's a spin-off from one of the worst Ultimate minis ever, and there have been many stinkers there. So far we got people becoming inuman and Gah Lak Tus looking for revenge. Other than that, not much of a draw for me here either.

UNCANNY X-MEN #482 - More space stuff. More meh stuff. Bru's really pushing Darwin and really, did we need the big Cloud wannabe? Not my favorite of Bru's titles.

X-23 TARGET X #2 - And proof that sequels can still suck! Two issues in, and I'm nowhere near as impressed with this as I was the first. The art is still top notch, but the story just doesn't do it for me. Maybe something different or a little less rushed feeling. Hopefully it picks up with 3 issues to go.

 

[Doc Destruction]

Wow, I disagree with your X-23 critique. I'm really enjoying it alot. She's turning out to be a better Wolverine character than Wolverine.

 

[Dread]

Wow, I disagree with your X-23 critique. I'm really enjoying it alot. She's turning out to be a better Wolverine character than Wolverine.

Now, I've said in other topics that I don't care for X-23 nor do I care enough to actively seek her out in other comics (only got exposed to her on the original X-MEN EVOLUTION cartoon, MTU, and some page flippings back when Claremont had her show up). However, some people have said simular things about her and even without reading it I can understand that feeling. Wolverine is a very different sort of character now than when he was first used in the 70's. He was a scrapper, which meant he wasn't an unbeatable A-Lister who even Namor would acknowledge. He was an underdog. And he was that dangerous, unstable sort of person that was at times as much of a danger to the X-Men as he was an asset (he once nearly hacked Nightcrawler in two for laughing at him, would provoke Colossus during softball games, and routinely threatened Cyclops or imagined a future deathmatch with him, even when he had to sometimes "consider" assisting him in battles). Now, sure, he's still a hard arse, but he's no underdog. His Weapon X dealings and "mysterious" origins have been overdevelopped and overexplained for the past 15 years. He's "Grandpa X-Man" at times, acting as a mentor to several characters (Kitty Pryde, Jubilee, pals with Piotr, Kurt, etc) and showing off his years of experience, at times being one of the few "stable" members who never left.

X-23 allows the writers to revisit a lot of those tendancies without de-ageing Wolverine, especially since even in Ultimate he's not nearly as savage as when Millar launched the book. I can understand how that would impress some readers who miss the scrappy, unstable, mysterious and tragic Logan of old and almost loathe or an unimpressed by the unbeatable, regenerating, Old Vet X-Man, in 4 books a month Wolverine whose origin has been overexposed to the point where he tracks down people who once delivered junk mail figure of today. I know my liking for Wolverine hasn't been the same as it was in high school for those reasons. I know I'd rather read some of his older reprint stories than current ones (much like with Spider-Man, another franchise who denies being out of steam of ideas with shocking actions).

Still doesn't mean I care for her, though. My first impressions with X-23 were bad. You can't overcome bad first impressions.

More Civil War spoilers:

Spoiler

For continuity buffs, the freed N-ZONE heroes boosting the Secret Avenger ranks are: Electronn, Network, Shroud, Bravestar, Living Mummy, Solo, Typeface, Lightbright, Prodigy, Cloak & Dagger (again) and Gladiatrix, including others. They're somehow all armed to the teeth, but it's possible Hulkling could have rearmed them before Iron Man and his forces arrived. IM's forces naturally include the usual pro-SHRA heroes (Mr. Fantastic, Doc Samson, She-Hulk, Sentry, Tigra, turncoats Nighthawk & Stature, along with Thunderbolts Songbird, Radioactive Man, Mach-V or whatever the hell he is now, Lady Deathstrike, Venom, Taskmaster, Bullseye, etc. However, in FRONTLINE #10, Typeface is killed by Venom, which is a little awkward considering that Reed was fixing up Clor so he wouldn't kill anyone in "the final battle" and there are supposed to be nannites inside the villians keeping them from killing, but Venom just murders Typeface and then gets to work double-teaming Daredevil with Radioactive Man (a bit of overkill if you ask me, even if DD still is Iron Fist here). So much for "not wanting to kill anyone", Stark. Of course, SHIELD likely has more authority over their villian stormtroopers than Stark in some ways so I'll bet they're not nearly as gung-ho against slaughter as Stark may be at times. I mean they belatedly told Jester & Jack O'Lantern not to murder Spider-Man, but had no qualms about a few cheap shots (keep in mind a cop can get in trouble for things like that). And considering Diamondback and Cap used to be an item in the 80's, no surprise she's a Secret Avenger. I also still find myself relating to Punisher a lot. Villians shouldn't be given a free pass just because you need grunts.

 

[Darthphere]

You can't overcome bad first impressions.

Sure you can.

 

[Dread]

Sure you can.

I can't think of too many characters that I disliked and then read and suddenly loved. ANNIHILATION doesn't count, I never disliked space heroes, just didn't seek any out.

Oh, and

Spoiler

Shroud & Prodigy better not die in CW #7, or elsewhere.

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

Doc, you misunderstand me. I think X-23 rocks fer every reason you just said, but this mini? It ain't thrillin' me like the first one did. The story telling is off.

 

[Kool-Aid]

Wow, I disagree with your X-23 critique. I'm really enjoying it alot. She's turning out to be a better Wolverine character than Wolverine.

I agree. I was funny when she was going into detail about all that stuff in front of the class.

 

[Marcdachamp]

Civil War- PICK OF THE WEEK!

Spoiler

Well, that lasted long. Frank's on the team a day or two and he manages to blow away a couple felons. I don't know which one is the bigger jerk, him for killing the idiots, or Diamondback for bringing them in in the first place. I heard some *****ing over on IGN about Cap's use of Frank to break into the Baxter building. It's "out of character", "he should've sent Sue or Vision", etc. The way I see it, Frank was expendable. If Vision was caught, he'd probably be reprogrammed and his data pilfered, and I'd much rather have Frank caught than Susan. That's just me. Anyway, the build-up is tense, and very interesting. I loved seeing Cage and Spidey acting like they do in New Avengers. Their friendship is one of the best things to come out of that title. Spidey's line to Frank about getting jealous was perfect. Another thing, I'm really impressed the way Millar's juggled such a large cast and paid so much attention to detail. I'd all but discarded Cap's line about Hulkling's assignment in Arizona from last issue. Uatu and Strange's conversation was also a highlight. As always, McNiven is well worth the wait. The Punisher's scenes are incredible. Issue #7 can't come soon enough. 10/10

Amazing Spider-Man-

Spoiler

So, is it a red herring, or is Spidey going to be in mourning soon? Either way, I love the way the set-up is handeled, even if the results could be questionable. Garney draws a perfect Captain America. The Mark Twain bit was a little overdone, but otherwise this issue was fantastic. 9/10

Punisher War Journal-

Spoiler

Fraction's done a great job of filling in Civil War gaps. I really liked seeing the behind the scenes. I'm actually considering picking this up after Civil War. One thing I didn't like was the way this issue made it look like Cap was considering some villianous assistance. In Civil War #6, it's very clear that Cap has no intention on recruiting them, but here, he almost seems to be considering it. 8/10

Irredemable Ant-Man- I'm not going to put spoiler tags, because everyone needs to hear this loud and clear. READ. THIS. BOOK. *****es. 8/10

Frontline-

Spoiler

Talk about a cover ruining the ending. Ah well, at least it's an awesome cover. Probably Speedball's first awesome cover, too. A lot of people predicted it, but I thought Penance could've been Nitro. I thought we'd actually see Robbie's face become the face of registration, possibly in the Mighty Avengers. Oh well. It just makes Thunderbolts even more interesting. I'm really ready for this Urich/Sally story to end, though. I'm sick of getting a tease every issue of something big happening before issue's end. Jenkins should've made the series a few issues shorter, dropped the Wonderman subplot, tightened the Sally/Urich sequences, and made it all one story instead of 2-3. 7/10

Uncanny X-Men-

Spoiler

It's not bad, but for a 12 issue arc, I'm not feeling anything really massive, here. Compared to Civil War, which has had so much awesome crammed into 7 issues while still having the characters get some great moments, it just feels fluffed. 7/10

 

[JewishHobbit]

Still doesn't mean I care for her, though. My first impressions with X-23 were bad. You can't overcome bad first impressions.

I never saw the cartoon or read the Marvel Team Up issues, but if Claremont's X-23 was your introduction, then I can understand your disinterest in the character. I personally think she was written the absolute worst in Uncanny X-Men. She was best in the original X-23 mini, and then I love her in New X-Men since Decimation on. She was good in NYX and in the Captain Universe mini. This current story is fine in my opinion. Then Uncanny X-Men is somewhere deep down below those others.

My opinion, if you really want to give a fair accessment on the character, read the original mini for a good read, then read some of the New X-Men stuff to really see her character. That's where she's been best.

 

[supermarvelman]

Bulletpoints is good Wolverine25th, Uncle Ben was shot by the same bullet that killed whats his name who created the SSSerum, which meant Steve was never able to take it, which means no Captain America, he dones a prototype IM suit. Because Ben died before Peter could ever meet him he never had anybody to keep him in line, besides a widowed old women, which would be very hard for a women who has lost pretty much everybody in her life, he becomes a very troubled teen, it is wierd he's in the desert, but no big deal, I think it's really cool. One bullet changes the course of history in a big way. Plus Reed and the FF never made to space to be hit by cosmic rays because Reed was helping out with the prototype IM armor, by the time he makes it, the spaceship explodes, everybody dies besides Reed, he loses one of his eyes and eventually becomes the head of shield.

Steve Rogers - IronMan
Peter Parker - Hulk
Reed Richards - Head of Shield

Things will come full circle, somebody will become Captain America, somebody will become Spider-Man and four people will become the fantastic Four. The question is who?

Tony Stark - Captain America
Bruce Banner - Spider-Man
Nick Fury - Mr. Fantastic

Who knows, I am enjoying Bullet Points very much.

 

[Dread]

I always figured from solicts that BULLET POINTS was kind of a rip-off of a mini DC did years ago called THE NAIL, a series that supposedly imagined an entirely different DCU if a "nail" in the road kept Ma & Pa Kent from finding baby Kal-El.

Those type of stories usually degenerate into a game of "which superhero identies can we swap now?" I mean many a WHAT IF issue came to that.

 

[PWN3R]

that cardboard insert ad for EMUSIC is annoying. I mean, for F's sake, they couldn't even spare their big, #1 selling, mega event from some annoying corporate greed. The insert was in almost every Marvel book this week and kind of annoyed me.

Tell me about it. That thing was so distracting. I can care less about ads, but things like this or this 3-D glasses last month in DC, it has to end.

Uncanny, Frontline, ASM, PWJ, and CW all had it.

 

[Dread]

Tell me about it. That thing was so distracting. I can care less about ads, but things like this or this 3-D glasses last month in DC, it has to end.

Uncanny, Frontline, ASM, PWJ, and CW all had it.

What I don't understand is that I could get it if some of the lessor selling titles, like ANT-MAN, or unproven titles, like NEWUNIVERSAL, had it. Heck, I could even accept it in ASM or FRONTLINE. But CIVIL WAR is a 250,000+ seller! It is literally the BEST selling comic in the industry! And not only that, it is the centerpiece of Marvel's entire 2006-2007 event that is piledriving DC in sales and boosting no end of books. Why make it more of a chore to read? That is the exact opposite of what you want to do. Don't you want to REWARD fans for supporting it past 200k sales? True, it had less ads than some books (under 10, which these days is scarce), but that cardboard one was just annoying and distracting. Not a huge deal, but if we're talking about the issue, I'd be less than honest if I didn't mention it's annoyance. I just don't understand how Joe Q can claim he wants to publish good, enjoyable comics and then in the same breath cram in distractions simply to make another paycheck.

I guess it comes from the same logic to have Bryan Hitch, already horribly behind on every issue of ULTIMATES 2, do covers for ASM, or for ULTIMATE AVENGERS videos, or even design work for ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2. It's saying that ULTIMATES 2 fans are second class citizens when it comes to the DTV audience, or pimping an event for their #1 character. And if that is the case, why should they buy ULTIMATES 2? Marvel almost dares fans to bite them in the rear sometimes in retaliation, and it will be interesting if they ever do. Or, they'll do what Marvel expects; continue to be so devoted that they'll withstand no end of abuse, from ads to late issues to doublespeak and so on.

 

[PWN3R]

What I don't understand is that I could get it if some of the lessor selling titles, like ANT-MAN, or unproven titles, like NEWUNIVERSAL, had it. Heck, I could even accept it in ASM or FRONTLINE.

Exactly, Hulk and Ant-Man didn't have the ad. Ant-Man and Iron Fist, two awesome books, are selling poorly. There is no reason for this. Not when Wolverine Origins sells over 100,000 issues. It proves people are buying books. I hate that past the first issue, you never see any more ads for a new book. They always promote the first issue than stop. Ant-Man could use it. I am really enjoying it and it's so going to end due to lack of sales. Iron Fist didn't do to hot either. It makes no sense.

 

[Kool-Aid]

That card pissed me off too. I've decided to go back and get another copy of ASM because that card messed up the pages.

Exactly, Hulk and Ant-Man didn't have the ad. Ant-Man and Iron Fist, two awesome books, are selling poorly. There is no reason for this. Not when Wolverine Origins sells over 100,000 issues. It proves people are buying books. I hate that past the first issue, you never see any more ads for a new book. They always promote the first issue than stop. Ant-Man could use it. I am really enjoying it and it's so going to end due to lack of sales. Iron Fist didn't do to hot either. It makes no sense.

I know Ant-Mans not doing good, but I think Iron Fist is. I mean, the first issue did go to second printing and a directors cut is coming out.

 

[PWN3R]

I hate when they say "XXX comic sells out".

Pretty much very comic sells out with the Diamond.

 

[Kool-Aid]

Except Ant-Man.

 

[Dread]

Exactly, Hulk and Ant-Man didn't have the ad. Ant-Man and Iron Fist, two awesome books, are selling poorly. There is no reason for this. Not when Wolverine Origins sells over 100,000 issues. It proves people are buying books. I hate that past the first issue, you never see any more ads for a new book. They always promote the first issue than stop. Ant-Man could use it. I am really enjoying it and it's so going to end due to lack of sales. Iron Fist didn't do to hot either. It makes no sense.

I never expected ANT-MAN to a major seller, but I was very saddened at seeing it slide so dramatically from issues 1-2. However, IRON FIST is also a bigger disappointment because that one was advertised, and has A-list writing (Brubaker) and art (Aja). Yes, other writers and artists co-write it, but those are the A-Listers. And Rand was supposed to be "hot" after CW. It's first issue debuted past the Top 50, and books that don't start out above or at the Top 50 usually fall from the Top 100 within 6 issues or so unless they find and keep an audience. Most books lose readers every month until they find their stable set or they get canned. For example, RUNAWAYS sells maybe 24,000 copies, which usually puts it in the bottom of the 80's-90's every month, but it has held steady there, not losing many readers, for over a year. EXILES sells only slightly better but can also claim a stable readership.

I hate when they say "XXX comic sells out".

Pretty much very comic sells out with the Diamond.

Very true. A statement like that relies on the common fan not knowing how the direct market works. Basically, stores order X amount of copies of a title, and the company prints exactly those copies. Usually they print a few extra in case of damages or missed shipments. The only way a "sellout" would mean something would be if the company printed extra copies ATOP what is directly requested and the "just in case" copies, and they actually listed that. Which they almost never do. Because ignorance makes the statement seem like it means something. If illusions weren't important, Vegas wouldn't have shiny lights (as I like to say).

 

[Kool-Aid]

Hmmm...I'd still put money down that Iron Fist won't get the boot.

 

[PWN3R]

Another thing that urked me this week, Frank. Frank has always been smart. Always. I loved Ennis' MK Punisher. Frank wasn't stupid. In Civil War #6, he just gets up and shoots those two guys? I just think that if Frank respected Cap THAT much, he'd have the common sense to not kill anyone in front of Steve. I mean it makes sense Frank killing them, it just didn't seem right in that way. Although I really did like how Frank wouldn't fight back. "Not against you." Even though Cap totally read like Ultimate Cap.