BOUGHT/THOUGHT May 30

[Themanofbat]

Ok, is anybody going to review something?

 

[PhotoJones]

Ok, is anybody going to review something?

Sure, why don't you start?

 

[CaptainCanada]

Green Lantern #20

In a complete reversal of how the last two issues of the "Mystery of the Star Sapphire" arc, the main story is fun, interesting, and has an unexpected twist, while the backup "Sinestro Corps" story is dull and dishwater. I wasn't expecting that at all. However, the backup story continues to have much better art; Acuna has a lot of energy, but his faces range from being really inexpressive on average to having really exaggerated cartoony expressions. Anyway, in our main story, Hal continues to fight to preserve his right to not have sex with Star Sapphire, and Carol and Jill meet. The Star Sapphire continues to be used as a metaphor/outright-plot-device for Hal having to choose between Jill (Cowgirl) and Carol, culminating in the Sapphire and the Zamorans demanding that he do just that; Hal's solution to the situation is quite inventive, the first time the main story surprised me. The Zamorans leave, and we get a bit more insight into their role in the upcoming war, although I'm hard-pressed to say what they're planning. And Hal finds out that Carol is divorced, so the triangle will keep on going, I'm sure. One other note about the art here: the state of Carol and Jill's clothing throughout is continuing mystery; after Carol removes the Sapphire, Jill's vanish, which makes sense, but then Carol's Hal-supplied uniform is gone too, and they somehow put on robes of some kind whose origin is never explained. In the backup, we meet Bedovian, who is a big alien crab or whatever; he's not scary or interesting at all. And Amon Sur discovers that his greatest fear is Hal Jordan. Probably the best issue in the "Star Sapphire" arc.

New Avengers: Illuminati #3

After some minor delays (really, Jim, is it that hard to keep a bi-monthly schedule? If so, you should stop doing all those covers for other comics), the third installment of New Avengers: Illuminati has arrived in stores. For all you Iron-haters, you'll be glad to here he's not in this issue, since none of the other members know where he is (I'm not at all sure when this is set, or familiar with 80s Iron Man continuity, but Reed is in his Byrne-era costume); so it's Reed, Charles, Stephen, Namor, and Black Bolt this issue. Professor X convenes the Illuminati because he has sensed the Beyonder nearby, and, due to some information he acquired during the original "Secret Wars", he believes the Beyonder to actually be an Inhuman mutant who was utterly transformed by the Terrigen Mists; Black Bolt has no memory of any such child, but they decide to go check it out anyway, using the Skrull ship they acquired in #1 (which Reed and Tony had kept without telling the others, to Namor's annoyance, since he assumes they're strip-mining it for technology and getting rich off it). They find the Beyonder in an asteroid belt, having created a version of New York City (complete with heroes) to play with (this series has great visuals). The Illuminati's plan is more or less to confront the Beyonder and (in Namor's words) make him kneel before his King (ie, Black Bolt). This is more or less what they do, with the Beyonder seemingly confirming Xavier's view of him, but, as the Illuminati leave, Black Bolt reaffirms (and Xavier confirms) that Black Bolt has no memory of any Inhuman vanishing in the Terrigen Mists; and the final page shows that the Beyonder hasn't obeyed Black Bolt at all. From this, it seems clear to me that the Beyonder is just playing a game to amuse himself (much like all the scheduled events in "New York"), and that this isn't his actual origin. From a thematic standpoint, the main goal of this issue is when the Beyonder points out that the Illuminati also interfere in the world, much as they accuse him of doing; they respond that it is there world, while the Beyonder's existence is unnatural. We also see the existence of the Tony/Reed clique within the clique, which will eventually be all that remains of the group. Cheung's art continues to impress. And Doctor Strange's fantasy (as granted by the Beyonder) is hilarious (I don't recognize the dark-haired chick). This series continues to be a lot of fun.

 

[Red]

Sweet Christmas, reviews!

 

[TheCorpulent1]

The difference I guess, is that I'm not willing to wade throught all that to try and find a good story. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something. But I think I read a pretty diverse group of comics to make up for whatever I may be lacking in The Boys.

I will say that that book does something I typically do not like, but it does it in a charming way. I'm refering to Simon Pegg being in the book. I hate when artists base a character on a real life person, but for this book, it works. It's more like basing the entire character around the actor that would portray him in a movie. I don't mind that as much.

I didn't even realize it was based on Simon Pegg until I saw Hot Fuzz, which was well after I started reading the comic. I tend to hate it when artists put actors' likenesses into comics too. But you're right, having seen Hot Fuzz, Wee Hughie is based more on Simon Pegg's screen presence than the actor himself, so I can deal with the likeness.

I guess you're not missing much by not reading The Boys that you couldn't get somewhere else, but you could argue that you wouldn't be missing much if you skipped The Immortal Iron Fist and read Wolverine: Origins instead. They cover the same ground--guys in tights fighting other guys in tights and learning about their origins--but one just does it a lot better than the other. Like I said, I think Ennis does what he does well and in a pretty entertaining way, and that's enough for me right now. The only reason I'd really drop The Boys at the moment is for budgetary reasons, and I have enough money to buy all the comics I want right now.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

Bashing Wolverine: Origins, eh?

Don't blame you.


But seriously, it's based on Pegg? I gots to check this out to see JUST how like him it is.

 

[SouLeSS]

I'm about halfway through Teen Titans, and I gotta say, Robin is awesome.

JHe strait up does the Beavis (from Beavis and Butthead) kick right to Jason Todds crotch.

 

[PhotoJones]

I didn't even realize it was based on Simon Pegg until I saw Hot Fuzz, which was well after I started reading the comic. I tend to hate it when artists put actors' likenesses into comics too. But you're right, having seen Hot Fuzz, Wee Hughie is based more on Simon Pegg's screen presence than the actor himself, so I can deal with the likeness.

I guess you're not missing much by not reading The Boys that you couldn't get somewhere else, but you could argue that you wouldn't be missing much if you skipped The Immortal Iron Fist and read Wolverine: Origins instead. They cover the same ground--guys in tights fighting other guys in tights and learning about their origins--but one just does it a lot better than the other. Like I said, I think Ennis does what he does well and in a pretty entertaining way, and that's enough for me right now. The only reason I'd really drop The Boys at the moment is for budgetary reasons, and I have enough money to buy all the comics I want right now.

The only Ennis book I'm reading right now is Wormwood. I like that one a lot. It's not that I think The Boys is awful stuff, because it's not. I've just reached my limit with monthly books right now, and I'm not dropping anything to pick that book up.

But seriously, it's based on Pegg? I gots to check this out to see JUST how like him it is.

I thought it was fairly obvious.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

I haven't read "The Boys".

 

[PhotoJones]

I haven't read "The Boys".

Have you seen any cover art/interior art?

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

No.

 

[Darthphere]

I'm about halfway through Teen Titans, and I gotta say, Robin is awesome.

JHe strait up does the Beavis (from Beavis and Butthead) kick right to Jason Todds crotch.

This is the Beechen issue right? Everybody will hate it.

 

[PhotoJones]

This is the Beechen issue right? Everybody will hate it.

Who is this Beechen guy and what has he written besides this? Now I'm curious as to how bad he is.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It's not so much that he's a bad writer overall as it is that he utterly annihilated Batgirl's character at least twice now.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

He hates her. Badly.

 

[Darthphere]

Who is this Beechen guy and what has he written besides this? Now I'm curious as to how bad he is.

Beechen writes the Robin title. OYL, DC, Didio and probably Johns came to him and told him "LOLZ, make Cassandra Cain evil" and he did, in a really crappy way. So now, he's a horrible writer forever.

 

[PhotoJones]

Beechen writes the Robin title. OYL, DC, Didio and probably Johns came to him and told him "LOLZ, make Cassandra Cain evil" and he did, in a really crappy way. So now, he's a horrible writer forever.

Got it.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

See Dodge, I woulda said, "Because I said so you sick (long censor bar)."


Or...


"Because he sucks. So says Darthphere."

 

[Darthphere]

Got it.

Also, he co-wrote the horrible Titans East arc on Teen Titans with Johns, and that involved "LOLZ, Nightwing kicked her in the head" so the hate grew more. And more recently, he wrote her again, in one page of the last issue of Robin as "LOLZ, I snipered his ass for you Tim". And the hate grew more. Beechen, is a good writer, he just needs to stay away from Cassandra Cain.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

"Because he sucks. So says Darthphere."

Actually, Darthphere wants to marry the guy. Leaguer and I are the ones who've been very reasonably pointing out that Beechen is worse than the stuff that pondscum finds disgusting.

 

[Darthphere]

See Dodge, I woulda said, "Because I said so you sick (long censor bar)."


Or...


"Because he sucks. So says Darthphere."

I don't think he sucks though, he just needs to stop writing Cassandra.

 

[Darthphere]

Actually, Darthphere wants to marry the guy. Leaguer and I are the ones who've been very reasonably pointing out that Beechen is worse than the stuff that pondscum finds disgusting.

That's a stretch.

And he's so dreamy Corp, you'd want to marry him too if he didn't have that restraining order on you.

 

[PhotoJones]

Also, he co-wrote the horrible Titans East arc on Teen Titans with Johns, and that involved "LOLZ, Nightwing kicked her in the head" so the hate grew more. And more recently, he wrote her again, in one page of the last issue of Robin as "LOLZ, I snipered his ass for you Tim". And the hate grew more. Beechen, is a good writer, he just needs to stay away from Cassandra Cain.

Hmm...I don't really get down with those characters anyway. Is he like, Daniel Way bad? Like maybe Way could be a good writer if he had more control over the stories.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

Actually, Darthphere wants to marry the guy. Leaguer and I are the ones who've been very reasonably pointing out that Beechen is worse than the stuff that pondscum finds disgusting.

Where is Leaguer. I miss him. And Tropico.

I don't think he sucks though, he just needs to stop writing Cassandra.

Agreed. Or stay away from Johns.

That's a stretch.

And he's so dreamy Corp, you'd want to marry him too if he didn't have that restraining order on you.

But wouldn't the restraining order come from Corpy's desire to marry him?

 

[Darthphere]

Hmm...I don't really get down with those characters anyway. Is he like, Daniel Way bad? Like maybe Way could be a good writer if he had more control over the stories.

Oh no, he's the opposite of decompression. Look, I like Beechen's Robin, but he's nowhere near great. His plots are predictable and his stories have a been there done that feel. But he's nowhere near as bad as Leaguer or Corp might make you believe.