Bought Thought June 16, 2010

[Themanofbat]

I think people should buy comics of characters that they like instead of being negative (like Dread) about it's potential demise... if people reacted like Dread does, then no new comics will ever survive beyond 12 issues.

While I haven't read the Black Widow, if it's a good book, hopefully, people will start picking it up in spite of a few narrow-minded views (that will be defended as being "realistic views" ).

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It is pretty silly to not buy a series because you expect it to be canceled. You're just contributing to a self-fulfilling prophecy that way. I mean, I have no reason to believe Atlas will sell well enough to keep getting published any longer than Agents of Atlas did before it, but I'm still buying it because I like the Atlas characters and setup and Parker tells some damned fine stories with 'em. So even if it gets canceled down the line, at least I can say, "I loved those characters and I did my part to support them." Can't expect more of any average reader, but we certainly shouldn't expect any less.

 

[Dread]

The average reader is a moron. I think we've all established this.

And I mentioned ATLAS. The only difference between me and the rest of fandom is I admit I am a hypocrite at times, and no one else does. Hypocrisy is something like selfishness; at some point everyone is selfish, or will be selfish. The question is to what degree, how often, and whether they are aware of it.

I've never been a fan of Black Widow, anyway. And for $4 for a debut issue, it literally has to be the best thing in existence for me to invest that for a franchise I've never read before. That's just the reality of the wallet. If I don't have some invested interest in the character, or the creators, then it is very hard to go in blind and throw your money down the toilet for something new when you already buy X amount of books that get more and more expensive.

Hell, I'm a Dan Slott fan and I never bothered with She-Hulk, because she never interested me. I know Corp has chosen never to bother with Daredevil for similar reasons. It happens.

I honestly think $4 debut issues, especially for characters who are not household names, is a bad idea. If BLACK WIDOW #1 was $3, or, heaven help us all, $2.75, would I have been more willing to try it? Yes. Debut issues should be seen like investments or advertisements, and made as cheap as possible. Sales analysis is showing that VERTIGO's new practice of selling debut issues for $1 is paying off in the long term more often than it is flopping. Granted, Vertigo has lower and saner sales expectations. Image's recent $1 reprint of WALKING DEAD #1 sold over 50,000 copies; far better than many Marvel or DC comics. There is a market out there for cheaper titles.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I've bothered with Daredevil before and found his comics all rightish. But these were comics from the Bendis and Brubaker runs, which are supposed to be revelatory experiences that make people fall in love with Daredevil all over again in every issue, and I only found them all rightish. So I figure the character must not interest me all that much.

That said, Black Widow's one of thsoe characters that never really struck a chord with me either. She's always just been there. She was supposedly the leader of the Avengers during Harras' run, but I found his run focused a hell of a lot more on the Black Knight, Crystal, Sersi, and the Vision than anybody else. Moving her out of pure superhero mode and back into super-spy mode was an improvement, but I think I get enough of her in Captain America and Secret Avengers, so I'm not really fussy to find more. Gotta keep an eye on the finances, too.

 

[Dread]

Exactly. I read CAPTAIN AMERICA and SECRET AVENGERS too.

 

[Phaedrus45]

The average reader is a moron??!!?? I don't think I'd ever say that. Everyone likes different stuff, and to say that makes you sound a bit snobbish and elistist. There are so many comics for different tastes; and, there are times I want a different kind of comic at different times. It's like with movies. How many times do I see critics blast a movie, just because it's aimed at a particular audience? Scooby-Doo got blasted by Ebert and Roeper, I remember...yet, they both admitted never to having seen the original cartoon. Every kid I knew LOVED that film. Yes,the dog was cheesy looking...yes, the story was too. But, it's not meant to be compared to, say, The Hurt Locker. Heck, I loved Prince Of Persia and had a great time with that...yet, critics would say I was a "moron." Frankly, give me Prince Of Persia over Precious any day! (Now, Precious was a good film....but, THAT is the type of movie where you have to really be in a mood to watch.)

Ok, I'm going off an a tangent. I just think it's not nice saying people who like popular comics are morons.

Onto a few reviews.

Dark Tower: The Gunslinger - The Journey Begins #2

Well, I thought this new series of Gunslinger adventures would be starting with Book 1 finally...but, this second issue is all new material. (At least, I believe so...I'm not sure if the Billy-Bumbler vs. Slow Mutants ending wasn't done before or not.) While we got the surprise that Aileen was still alive in the burnt corpses of her friends, that joy is very short lived. We know she gets killed eventually...or, at least any casual reader of the Dark Tower books knows she doesn't show up in them...but, her death comes by the end of this issue. Arising from the mountain of the dead, she knows she is fast dying from her wounds. Her last request is to be buried with her loved ones back at Gilead. It's a touching tale, even made more so by our first glimpse at a very cute and friendly billy-bumbler. (Looks very much like a white raccoon.) Loved this issue, and I really love all the new material we're getting to read.

Lockjaw And The Pet Avengers Unleashed #4

This was a cute follow-up to the very popular first series; but, nowhere near as good. It's an extremely quick read, and the interaction between the pets almost gets ignored in the final two books. (That really was the highlight of the first volume.) Heck, some characters I hardly remember seeing, like Lockheed. The main focus is Frog Thor and Ms. Lion...with a bit of Hairball thrown in for comic relief. The rest are just bit players to a mediocre plot. Still, for the amount of chuckles I got and who this comic is aimed towards, I give it a solid .

Incredible Hulk #610

Good issue which has me very excited for the next chapter. Seems like lots of b-and-c-list Marvel characters are getting offed recently; and, this comic adds to that growing list. Bye-bye Doc Samson...Hello, the return of The Original Hulk! I cannot wait for the showdown of Skaar vs. Hulk; but, I am happy to see the Hulked-Out-Heroes come to an end. (I H.A.T.E.D. that part of this story the most. And, seeing Amadeus Cho Hulked-Out was even more ridiculous.)

Deadpool #24

For me, this is really the only Deadpool comic that I'd get if I decided to limit my amount of Marvel Comics. The storylines are always decent, and Way does a good job with Deadpool's humor. I love that we get more Weasel, and best of all, these stories aren't dragged out that much.

 

[Phaedrus45]

OH, and I'm loving Black Widow, too....just haven't gotten around to reading her latest issue yet. I really like that they dropped the price.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Prince of Persia was a very paint-by-numbers Hollywood action movie to me. There were good moments, but overall everything seemed so transparent. Gemma Arterton doesn't seem to be a very good actress, either.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Yep...but, it was a lot of fun. We even saw it with the new D-Box format, which made it even more of a great experience. (In fact, it probably added quite a bit to the movie.) I really think I liked that movie more than Iron Man 2; but, that's because I was expecting more from that movie than it delivered...while, I expected zippo from Prince Of Persia.

Can't wait to see Toy Story 3 tomorrow. Sounds like another hit for Pixar. They've probably wrapped up another Oscar. (I think Coraline should have won over Up, though. My daughter and I have watched Coraline probably 20 times, while I still haven't watched by DVD of Up.)

 

[Dread]

I just think it's not nice saying people who like popular comics are morons.

It's not nice that good books die because of the silent majorities' tastes, or that said tastes tend to make Marvel feel empowered to do any stupid or silly or backwards or downright wrong decision because they know that the masses will never just abandon them.

Fine. They're not morons. They're "taste challenged".

Of course, some could say I am because I buy Marvel books and not, oh, SCOTT PILGRIM.

I admit it was blunt. Probably too much so. In the end I think a lot of fans have more of a sense of reality than some of the bigwigs at Marvel or DC do.

 

[kguillou]

I think people should buy comics of characters that they like instead of being negative (like Dread) about it's potential demise... if people reacted like Dread does, then no new comics will ever survive beyond 12 issues.

While I haven't read the Black Widow, if it's a good book, hopefully, people will start picking it up in spite of a few narrow-minded views (that will be defended as being "realistic views" ).

In all fairness, i think part of it is fans being realistic and not wanting to get invested in something they know will not last. For example, I love this Black widow book specifically for Marjorie Liu's writing and Acuna's art. As soon as they leave, which is after #5, i'm dropping the book. It sucks because i've already grown attached to how this creative team works and now that htey're gone, so am I, and i suspect there will be a general drop for other people who happen to be the reading the book. I know, i'm being a bit unfair, and i should probably give the new creative team a shot, but lets be honest, creative teams make the book these days, not so much the actual character.

 

[runawayboulder]

I'll stay on past #5 for Black Widow and give it a shot. The series has been great thus far.

 

[JewishHobbit]

It's not nice that good books die because of the silent majorities' tastes, or that said tastes tend to make Marvel feel empowered to do any stupid or silly or backwards or downright wrong decision because they know that the masses will never just abandon them.

Fine. They're not morons. They're "taste challenged".

Of course, some could say I am because I buy Marvel books and not, oh, SCOTT PILGRIM.

I admit it was blunt. Probably too much so. In the end I think a lot of fans have more of a sense of reality than some of the bigwigs at Marvel or DC do.

I'll agree that Marvel doesn't quite have reality figured out yet at times, but I think you focus too much on personal tastes and not on anything else. Unfortunately, personal tastes create no basis to focus a majority opinion on, such as them being morons or whatever, because it's objective and there's no right or wrong there... just opinion.

Personally, I enjoy things you dislike such as Bendis's Avengers titles, X-titles, X-23, Secret Warriors, etc. That doesn't make me a moron, I just enjoy things differantly than you. Same goes that you're not a moron for enjoying Captain America, Hercules, Atlas, or any other title that I don't find interesting. Granted, Phaedrus45 is a moron for liking post OMD Spider-Man, but hey, he's 'special' so it's acceptable

The only morons that I could see are people like me at times who buy crap they don't want and don't like for completionists sake, weather it be for a story or a title, and just fill Marvel's wallets without actually wanting the books I'm paying for... but I'm working on that. See... that's a physical and stupid thing... not a matter of opinion, but a deed.

 

[squeekness]

It's been said before and but it needs to be said again: there was nothing wrong with Luke "purchasing" the Avengers Mansion for $1. Bendis actually knows what he's talking about here. According to U.S. Real Estate Law and Tax codes, land/property CANNOT simply be given away. So, while Tony may have just wanted to GIVE Luke the mansion, for ownership to change, a monetary exchange was necessary. And $1 is the lowest amount allowed by law. Land for parks or charity is donated this way all the time.

As for New Avengers #1, I felt it was just okay. a 3/5 at worst. I do agree with the complaints about team-members pulling double duty. Having 4 members of the NA on the Avengers is absolutely ridiculous. At this rate, Marvel should have just canceled NA and shipped Avengers twice a month. What's the point in distinguishing titles, except that NA has far better art.

End Rant.

I agree. I like Wolvie and Spdy but not enough to buy two Avengers books to get them. Of the pair of relaunched Avengers books, I liked the NA much better and I won't be continuing with the other.

Prince of Persia was a very paint-by-numbers Hollywood action movie to me. There were good moments, but overall everything seemed so transparent. Gemma Arterton doesn't seem to be a very good actress, either.

I thought PoP was meh at best. I was hoping it would be of the same quality as the Pirates movies, but alas, it wasn't. About halfway through, I was ready to be done. The only thing I really enjoyed was all the parkour work Jake was doing, jumping around on all the buildings and all that. But it wasn't enough to sustain my interest.

 

[Dread]

I'll agree that Marvel doesn't quite have reality figured out yet at times, but I think you focus too much on personal tastes and not on anything else. Unfortunately, personal tastes create no basis to focus a majority opinion on, such as them being morons or whatever, because it's objective and there's no right or wrong there... just opinion.

Personally, I enjoy things you dislike such as Bendis's Avengers titles, X-titles, X-23, Secret Warriors, etc. That doesn't make me a moron, I just enjoy things differantly than you. Same goes that you're not a moron for enjoying Captain America, Hercules, Atlas, or any other title that I don't find interesting. Granted, Phaedrus45 is a moron for liking post OMD Spider-Man, but hey, he's 'special' so it's acceptable

The only morons that I could see are people like me at times who buy crap they don't want and don't like for completionists sake, weather it be for a story or a title, and just fill Marvel's wallets without actually wanting the books I'm paying for... but I'm working on that. See... that's a physical and stupid thing... not a matter of opinion, but a deed.

By "average reader", I usually mean the majority of readers who do NOT post at message boards. We here at Hype are a minority of a minority of comic readers. All posters on SHH combined, including dead or phantom accounts, don't even total the full readership of an issue of VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT. So I don't actually mean to call out or insult anyone on the forum. The people who write at forums like this care a bit more about comics than fans who don't, because they put in the extra time. Thus, they usually tend to have at least slightly better taste.

I will say, though, as someone who used to read some comics I hated just out of some reason such as completism, it is a bad trap to get into. I read Bendis' NEW AVENGERS and even USM for a while for just that reason, and it was a waste. When you finally cut off the books you don't like, man, it is liberating. You almost never miss them. Trust me. I say, read a book you enjoy, not just a book you feel is "important".

 

[Phaedrus45]

In regards to Black Widow, I pretty much think most every comic that centers on a woman lead character is doomed to be cancelled eventually. I don't think buyers are not getting them because they figure they'll die out and get cancelled. I think it's because the character is a female lead.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Yeah, you're probably right to a degree. Most comic book readers, and most people, aren't interested in female heroes outside romance stories (and even then, they're basically just damsels in distresses, just being told from their viewpoint).

 

[Dread]

Hey now, I read and enjoyed NOMAD: GIRL WITHOUT A WORLD. That was only a mini, but it's sales were way, way, WAY below what BLACK WIDOW debuted at.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Nomad would have sold a little better if Marvel had done it during Heroes Reborn. I love Nomad and all her adventures; but, I remember that character with fondness. I'm not sure other people remember or care that much.

Ultimate X #3

Great third issue of Loeb's new mini that's bring together the next generation of Ultimate mutants. This one focuses on the new Angel, who is the opposite of the 616 version. Instead of being rich, he's poor. Instead of being white, he's black. And, like Spider-Man, he's misunderstood, mainly because he's a mutant. Can't wait for the next issue. It's my favorite Loeb work in years!

Atlas #2

I like this comic; but, I have to admit it's one that I just don't clamor to read. It's always at the bottom of my "must read" pile. I also figure that around issue #12, it will end up being cancelled. The art looks fantastic...Parker's writing is reallly good, and you can tell he loves these characters...but, there is a boredom factor with them. Maybe it's because they are extremely two dimensional. The humanity in this comic is severely missing.

Avengers: The Origin #3

This is one of the most boring comics Marvel is producing right now. I struggle to remain interested in this retelling of the Avenger's origin. Nothing new is really brought to light, and for the most part, we get a whole lot of talking and not much action. This issue focuses on the time that Hulk was a clown in a circus (though, now he's a robot). Some retellings are done very well...this one isn't one of those.

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #12

Good thing this series is ending next month; because it's drastically gone downhill since the first storyline ended. I did not laugh once this issue, as we see Deadpool and gang trying to escape the zombie universe. The best thing about this comic are the covers. Aside for that, it's now the worst Deadpool comic out there. Hard to believe, because issues #1-6 were some of my favorites.

Black Widow #3

Another great issue of Black Widow. Do I believe this comic is going to survive much past issue 12? Nope. Black Widow is best done in minis, I think. Still, I'll enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts. Liu is doing some really good writing, and the art is pretty darn swell, too. As the cover shows, we get a Black Widow vs. Elektra fight...I kind of like seeing that, even though it's a draw, Elektra comes out more of a victor. I do find it funny that the Avengers get very surprised that Black Widow has been keeping information on them. Black Panther did this many, many years ago during his Marvel Knights series, if memory serves correct. And, who doesn't believe that Tony Stark has that same kind of information. (In fact, isn't that what Norman Osborn was trying to get from him a year ago?)

Anita Blake: Circus Of The Damned #2

Good second issue. I love seeing the return of Jean-Claude...he was missed in the previous story. As usual, don't expect this story to advance very fast issue to issue. Marvel does a great job in adapting the books to comic, and they don't leave much out of the retelling. (For this reason, I think I'm hesitant in reading the Anita Blake novels. I like the surprise element get each issue. I'm more inclined to read them after I've finished the full story.) The second half of this issue featuring Anita in a fight for her life against a jealous female was done nicely, too.

 

[squeekness]

Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #12

Good thing this series is ending next month; because it's drastically gone downhill since the first storyline ended. I did not laugh once this issue, as we see Deadpool and gang trying to escape the zombie universe. The best thing about this comic are the covers. Aside for that, it's now the worst Deadpool comic out there. Hard to believe, because issues #1-6 were some of my favorites.

Sounds like I bailed at the right time, lol. I only dropped it at number 6 because I didn't want to buy two Deadpool titles.

Anita Blake: Circus Of The Damned #2

Good second issue. I love seeing the return of Jean-Claude...he was missed in the previous story. As usual, don't expect this story to advance very fast issue to issue. Marvel does a great job in adapting the books to comic, and they don't leave much out of the retelling. (For this reason, I think I'm hesitant in reading the Anita Blake novels. I like the surprise element get each issue. I'm more inclined to read them after I've finished the full story.) The second half of this issue featuring Anita in a fight for her life against a jealous female was done nicely, too.

When Guilty Pleasures first came out as a comic, I didn't have the patience to wait for the rest of the comic books to come out, I loved it too much, so I bought the actual book and I've been reading them all ever since. These comcis have been PERFECT as far as capturing what's in the novels, even down to the annoying bits. I find that in a lot of the books you have these constant out of the blue confrontations, like the jealous female vamp in this last issue. Most of them are attempts by Jean Claude or some other baddie to get Anita to do what they want. like in this case trying to make Anita admit that she is his human servant. It can get tiring but yet, never enough for me to want to stop reading. I think if you like the comics, I think you might like the actual books because they are consistant with each other, at least so far. I am curious how many of these Marvel will do as the books get smuttier and they will be forced to drop content. If you have an eReader, just about all of the Anita books are available for download and eBooks are often cheaper than paper books. You will have to read them in order or you will be lost, lol.

 

[Themanofbat]

Is it really fair or even nice to call someone a "moron" because they happen to enjoy post OMD Spider-Man?

 

[Alastor]

Its neither. I just take solace in the fact that they are angry, and I'm happy. I can go pick up Amazing and more than likely, thoroughly enjoy it, while they get to sit at their computers complaining, tears dropping all over their keyboards, as they watch Peter have premarital sex with Black Cat.

 

[Phaedrus45]

I think....Wait! Did TMOB just insult me??!!??


Anyway, Happy Father's Day to all the Hype daddies out there. And, to those who find this day a bit tough to get through for whatever reason, bigger love to you guys.​

 

[Themanofbat]

I think....Wait! Did TMOB just insult me??!!??


Anyway, Happy Father's Day to all the Hype daddies out there. And, to those who find this day a bit tough to get through for whatever reason, bigger love to you guys.​

Nope.. I certainly would not... you're aces in my book...

And my child did not even call me today.. so yeah... it's been a rough day... but I can blame that on his mother.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yep...but, it was a lot of fun. We even saw it with the new D-Box format, which made it even more of a great experience. (In fact, it probably added quite a bit to the movie.) I really think I liked that movie more than Iron Man 2; but, that's because I was expecting more from that movie than it delivered...while, I expected zippo from Prince Of Persia.

Can't wait to see Toy Story 3 tomorrow. Sounds like another hit for Pixar. They've probably wrapped up another Oscar. (I think Coraline should have won over Up, though. My daughter and I have watched Coraline probably 20 times, while I still haven't watched by DVD of Up.)

I am a huge fan of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time game. It was witty and charming in a way that I didn't really think video games could accomplish at the time. So I went in hoping the movie could live up to that but expecting it not to and, in the end, the movie erred way closer to my expectations than my hopes. Though, in its defense, it wasn't as bad as I thought it could be. At least they didn't try to mimic Warrior Within's eyeliner-and-heavy-metal tone.