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Bought/Thought May 3rd

Darthphere said:
I get you, I just remember Ellis talking about Nextwave and how he was going to change the characyters because HE didnt like the way they were. Im sure Nextwave is a great book, but I refuse to buy it.


Doesn't that imply writers can't try to improve characters though? After all no matter what a writer says they can only write them the way they think they should be written.
 
gildea said:
Doesn't that imply writers can't try to improve characters though? After all no matter what a writer says they can only write them the way they think they should be written.


Theres improving and then theres totally changing them. Big difference.
 
gildea said:
Doesn't that imply writers can't try to improve characters though? After all no matter what a writer says they can only write them the way they think they should be written.


like JMS on Spider-man
 
Y'know, I've always found that I like Marvel's books individually and like DC's big event crossovers more. This is the first Marvel crossover since Onslaught that I'm excited about. Now that IC is over, the only DC books I seem to be collecting is Robin, Justice and I'm patiently waiting for Justice League of America and the new Flash book.

Oh yeah and waiting for someone competent to take over Nightwing.
 
A very late edition of the BOUGHT/THOUGHT because I had a lot of college work to do. Plus, I had to chase down an issue that my LCS, under new management, underordered. The second time in a month they've underordered a title that, by all means, is foolish to underorder. The free boards are nice but I am getting frustrated.

It is a small week, but a month where Marvel and DC's events are clashing, so let's get started.

DREAD'S BOUGHT/THOUGH FOR 5/3/06:

INFINITE CRISIS #7: DC's big event comes to a close, about a month behind schedule, and leads into their new event, "One Year Later". As well as 52, to explain the gap with weekly comics, which seems an ungodly thing to pull off on time for 6 months, much less an entire year. Anyway, the big showdown comes this month (and preluded by VILLIANS UNITED SPECIAL), and like any issue of IC, you get a lot of things happening at once with a lot of characters fighting and whatnot. Still, it's unabashed, unashamed over-the-top superheroics at its very finest, something that DC does very well when they want to (moreso than Marvel, which prides itself on "relateable, fallible heroes"). The villians clash against the heroes in Metropolis, and like with any issue, if you don't know who some of the random C and D listers are, some of the effect is lost; Bane broke the back of someone, for instance (I think Judo-Master), but since I really don't know the character, I care not. Once the "big leaguers" arrive, though, the situation is resolved far too quickly (a tussle between Deathstroke, Batman, Nightwing, and Robin is OFF PANEL!? For shame!) and it appears that Superboy's heroic sacrifice last issue was someone pryic, as while they stopped the destruction of the universe, Alex Luthor and Superboy-Prime are still alive, with the latter being the breakout villian of the story. Supermen young and old, as well as seemingly what's left of the Green Lantern Corps finish off the baddie in slobberknocker fashion through space and red sun's! A very classy, very efficient finish. What we are left with, though, is "one earth" yet again, with continuity that seems to be altered in some cases (Batman's parents killer has been caught, much like in Pre-Crisis, for instance), and this is where it gets muddy. DC's continuity has always been a nightmare, and many attempts have been made to "fix" it, and they usually fail. DC would do best to keep moving ahead rather than to get stuck mending fences forever. Plus, it appears that the "speed force" is finished, which may irk a lot of FLASH fans who seemed to really enjoy that extra-dimensional energy force that explained the Flash's speed and aided to the legacy (I'm sure not a fan, and I sure liked it). Still, with IC over, DC may find itself in a rut like Marvel, forced to make one event after the other. Still, while I am not a DC fan, I'm still getting some DC books; JUSTICE, both ALL-STAR's, BEETLE, and the upcoming SECRET SIX, 52, and Matt Wagner's sequal to BATMAN & THE MONSTER MEN. I also may give Morrison & Paul Dini's Batman books a look (especially on the latter) later on. Still, INFINITE CRISIS has been a great success, delivering on some awesome superheroism in a way that makes one excited and proud to be a fan, and to see your favorite heroes, and some new faces, rise up to the challenge and overcome it in an inspiring way.

CIVIL WAR #1: Marvel's much ballyhooed event for this year, and they've improved their game from HOM, after seeing DC pretty much rock their socks for over a year. Instead of going with a "whoops, Wanda's insane again", they've spent a few months building this up in PRELUDE installments, are using some bits from the past year or so, and moving foward with their big story. The biggest quibble is that Marvel's still not found the art of surprise, as the major spoilers for this issue have been leaked, previewed, predicted or revealed a few times by this point. The final battle of the New Warriors? Well, that's old news. The massacre? Same. The battle lines drawn between Iron Man and Cap? Well, it was leading there inevitably, especially after "Mr. Parker Goes to Washington" in ASM (plus, a bunch of covers showed themselves slugging at each other). Even the registration plot (superheroes will have to officially register with the U.S. government to recieve juristiction, training, pay, and accountability, and if not they'll be hunted down and subject to arrest just like Dr. Octopus or Absorbing Man are) is, again, nothing new. The story does succeed in dialogue, action, and on moving foward at a reasonable pace given 32 pages. McNiven's art is incredible and Millar's not nearly as extreme as he is on ULTIMATES 2 (his talking point title against the evils of the Bush Administration), and his story is all the better for it. And in a way, the story does deal somewhat realistically with a very realistic sort of situation. Despite the fact that, while the New Warriors were using their "reality show" brand of justice from their last unsuccessful mini-series (which Millar had no part of, and their consistant bungling was not his fault), it was Nitro who chose to explode by a school instead of surrendering, it is very common in American society for one's heroes to be unappreciated and picked at with the slightest provacation. It is still a shame that such classically bungled characters seem to be sacrificed to make the story have an opening salvo, but at least one of them survives (WIZARD spills the beans on Namorita's death, so the only one who could have physically lived was Speedball. Although if Bucky could get blown up while atop a missle and only lose an arm, why not Night-Thrasher at some point in time?). The heroes gather to talk about it, and it is good to see some C-Listers like Bill Foster there. It does seem strange that the Fantastic Four seem to cavalier about the situation, given being "public" has caused them no end of problems (and since Johnny is presumably put in the hospital before or during the meeting). The heroes siding with the government are Pym, Iron Man, and Reed Richards. I sort of dislike the idea of Richards being a government stooge until the end, especially since he got his powers by STEALING a rocket with his best pal, girlfriend, and her kid brother. The one problem with this story in that in its zest to relate to modern sensabilities, it may lose sight of something INFINITE CRISIS got; being satisfying to the reader. Most readers don't want to see Cap and Iron Man beat each other to death. They want to see them beat some nasty villian. Having the Marvel Universe divided and punching each other may not result in the sort of finish that doesn't leave you feeling ugly, or that Marvel has a point of return (if Spider-Man reveals his identity, short of a massive mind-wipe, that is irreversable). Still, it is a very promising premise and opens up doors for other ideas. Apparently, Wolverine and Namor are going after Nitro, but what about Rage, who was Thrasher's legal "son"? What about the rest of the New Warriors (Nova's in space, Justice & Firestar are in college, Turbo and Richochet are in LA, Silohette may be hanging around Bandit still). And considering Speedball could be efficient when used properly in MTU and MASKED INTENTIONS, I'm not sure I agree with Joe Q's zeal to make the "character" suffer, as if "he" has something to answer for. Still, it is a set up and Millar delivers usually on set-ups to arcs. Agent Hill comes off as pretty typical of a government nemesis without being, well, Ultimate Cap. And Captain America naturally gets a nice sequence of action (if Bendis had written it, he'd have just talked to a wall for about 18 pages). Looks to be better than HOM was by any stretch of the imagination, but that's hardly saying much. The story itself is interesting, I just fear it may leave a bad taste in one's mouth to see so much deconctruction, and considering how Marvel's never stuck with many major decisions longer than 2 years, they would be wise to not burn ALL of their bridges behind them.

MARVEL TEAM-UP #20: A bit of an odd issue that kicks off the 5-part Freedom Ring story, which introduces a new hero. Mainly, THERE IS NO TEAM-UP. The title hero is introduced and his origin given, and off on the side, Cap loses the "cosmic ring" and fights some MODOK SQUAD rubes, but that is about it. This was more like "FREEDOM RING #1, guest starring Capt. America", which may be Kirkman's intention (and a sign of how hard it is to launch any new characters these days). The main hero finds a ring that can enable him to alter reality within a short distance, which is pretty much the same as Kirkman's OTHER original character in ULTIMATE X-MEN, which automatically makes the newbie feel a little boring. His "unique quirks" seem to be that he's openly homosexual (although Kirkman does leave it as sort of a "guess" until the end; surely if Norman Osborn can carry a purse and not be labeled "gay" solely because of that, why not anyone else), which isn't a big deal to me. Meanwhile, Titannus is about to make his return and solicts imply that "alternate Iron Man" may as well, so Kirkman may be wrapping up his run on MTU for all we know. Its a great book, but sells horribly, and it is amazing that Marvel's publishing more issues at this rate; maybe they figure they "owe" Kirkman for MARVEL ZOMBIES. Not as good as some of the latter issues, but I'll wait to see Freedom Ring in action. Still, hopefully Kirkman can make both characters unique without making them ciphers, because "reality warping", especially after the past year with Wanda and Wiccan, is REALLY starting to get old (much like "claws and psychics" were by the end of the 90's). The art, though, is a mixed bag; the artist seems better at masked costumes than on drawing faces and civilian scenes, but it could be worse. Such a shame, though, to see more prolific artists seem to "flee" a sinking book.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #94: Finishing up DEADPOOL with an action packed finale, Bendis helps redeem himself on the title a bit, improving from the SABLE arc and managing to make a farely sufficient actioner, something he's not known for (he's known for 4 issues of jabber, and then in the finale, a fight inconviently breaks up the jabber). True, while Spider-Man does help turn the tide of battle and is fairly efficient, he's become something like Eric Foreman from THAT 70'S SHOW; a meek youth who needs his girlfriend to fight and win his battles for him. While this makes for great comic relief, one wonders how long this can last before it gets predictable. Oh, wait, Bendis has never feared being predictable. Anyway, Deadpool is played straighter than he has been in 616 for quite some time and comes off as an efficient "hitman with a dark wit", which isn't nearly unique to anyone who watches action movies or anime (hell, Vash the Stampede and Lupin the 3rd have battled dozens of bums like him). Plus, there are some minor concerns: Why does Spidey mention "paying attention to his sense" to save them from DP's "Xavier fakeout" (which I called last month, and was glad it played that way, it was great), and then not sense that he is being sniped? Why does Kitty not think to phase through the sea of cyborgs until after Spidey is shot? Either she's a battle-efficient X-Woman and that is why she wins all of Spidey's battles, or she's a teenage girl stuck playing spandex; she can't be both, and she needs to pick one. It sets up the upcoming "Ultimate Clone Saga", but first we get Ultimate Morbuis. Time to place your bets on the next time Spidey loses his mask. Still, an entertaining arc.

WIZARD #176: Finally got this, and it is chock full of previews for the summer, including 52, CW, etc. Joe Q shows his disdain for the Peter/MJ marriage and his inability to grasp modern comics on one bit; he compares Peter again to Archie. Dude, YOU DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO RELATE HIM TO ARCHIE. Archie comics never move, and they sell ABYSMALLY. At least he grasps the lack of a suppporting cast as a problem, but he only laments the old and dead instead of pushing for, gasp, one of the Spidey writers earning 5 figures to write each issue to actually make up some new ones, now that Pete is a teacher (a plotline Joe ignored). Wizard also spills some beans about CW, especially who lives and dies on the New Warriors. Still, Morrison and Dini on Bat-books looks promising, and the issue was full of a lot of stuff I am looking foward too. WIZARD's become a pandering cheerleader, but at least they do it well.
 
Thats 7 maybe 8 DC books you're gonna get and you still don't consider your self a DC fan? Thats more then me and I consider myself one. LOL Are you gonna try out the new Flash book?
 
Dread said:
Joe Q shows his disdain for the Peter/MJ marriage and his inability to grasp modern comics on one bit; he compares Peter again to Archie. Dude, YOU DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO RELATE HIM TO ARCHIE. Archie comics never move, and they sell ABYSMALLY. At least he grasps the lack of a suppporting cast as a problem, but he only laments the old and dead instead of pushing for, gasp, one of the Spidey writers earning 5 figures to write each issue to actually make up some new ones, now that Pete is a teacher (a plotline Joe ignored).

LMAO I got Wizard today and laughed when he compared him to Archie. Its like come on Joe move on from the past. Isn't that what you got Ultimate Spider-Man for? Why can't the kids pick that stuff up? Even the Ninja Turtles have aged. What the hell do ya pay your writers for man.lol
 
Darthphere said:
Theres improving and then theres totally changing them. Big difference.

Yes but some characters benefit from it. (not all, some as pointed out you can't mess with someone like spider-man).
 
JesusOfNazarath said:
Thats 7 maybe 8 DC books you're gonna get and you still don't consider your self a DC fan? Thats more then me and I consider myself one. LOL Are you gonna try out the new Flash book?


which books do you get?
 
Yeah, they didn't get their shipment, Dread. Was all stuff from their other store. They hadda special request two books fer me. But, it's not just them...one time th' old store got their stuff sent to North Dakota, so it happens. Plus they gotta find their groove yet.
 
Lackey said:
which books do you get?


I get Batman, Detective, Superman, Action and Green Lantern. I gonna get Flash and Secret Six. I'm thinking about getting Wonder Women.
 
WOLVERINE25TH said:
Yeah, they didn't get their shipment, Dread. Was all stuff from their other store. They hadda special request two books fer me. But, it's not just them...one time th' old store got their stuff sent to North Dakota, so it happens. Plus they gotta find their groove yet.


What books did they have to special order for you?
 
Spidey Unlimited and Underworld. Hadda ask fer them from th' other store. Hopefully guy remembered to bring 'em over.
 
Underworld? As in the movie but comic form? I hate having to special order books. I had to do that for some indie titles called Dead@17 and Black Harvest. I've been goinig to another shop now cuz they get everything in.
 
No, as in newly released gangster in a world full of super powers.

And as I said, their order got screwed up. They only got two books in.
 
Bought

Exiles #80 - Great, ish, too bad about Morph though. But, you never know, maybe he's not as gone as folks might think?

Teen Titans #35 - excellent issue. Doom Patrol's lookin good. And Ravager is a freak!

JSA #85 - Decent issue. Good to see Good ole Golden Age Bats, kickin ass.

Supergirl #6 - Still a b***h, but, I got a feeling PG will get through to her eventually.

Annihilation: Silver Surfer - Good issue. Seems they're trying to confront SS with his past deeds as a Herald. How can all the destruction and death caused by the Annihilation Wave be so shocking to one who has done the same thing on a much larger scale? Plus, Thanos and Annihilus?!?! And Seeing Stardust again was cool also.

Outsiders #36 - Really liked this ish. Grace, always getting it in the face. Good to see Boomer Jr. show them what he's made of. Plus we get a well written Nightwing. Whats not to love?

Max Punisher #33 - Man, what a brutal fight. This Barracuda guy ain't no hoe. Too bad he's probably gone die at the end. Frank almost never leaves his villains alive.

Action Comics #838 - Really loving this Up Up and Away arc. Supes gets his powers back, and exactly what Lex is up to continues to be a mystery.

Marvel Team-Up #20 - This was a decent issue. Not much team up, but we got a new character. Really wanna see where this is going. Plus, the return of Titanus.

Detective Comics #819 - Loving this crossover as well. James Robinson is one of my favorite writers. Batman's back to being the relatively nice guy we know and love. (Still a jerk, but not a colossal *****e that he's been over the last five or six years.) I also dig this new Jason Bard character. Detective Comics should always have the back up stories of other less known detective characters like maybe the Question, Ralph Dibney, or Slam Bradley.

Civil War #1 - Good set up. Already read the preview, so I knew about the New Warriors. But that scene with Cap was great. Gotta love Cap.

*Pick of the Week* Infinite Crisis #7 - It all comes to a close. Man, this was amazing. So much, so awesome. Words can't describe. Should have sent a poet.
 
Darthphere said:
Jason Bard aint new fool!

Okay, so I'm really loving this old character who I never heard of until now......fool.
 
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY UPDATE: 5/6/06:

Today of course was FCBD, where comic book stores give you a bag full of free stuff. I hopped to my LCS before work to snag my bag. I was especially looking foward to X-MEN/RUNAWAYS, and overall was not disappointed. Some other noteables.

X-MEN/RUNAWAYS: Basically this was an 11 page short story by Vaughan and Scottie "I ruined New Warriors" Young. A simple story that introduces the team and has them meet/fight the X-Men, while still being true to continuity and being relevant to readers of both. Plus, given the decompression of modern stories, telling a complete story from beginning to end in 11 pages is lost art these days. Basically, the Runaways are looking for Old Lace, who's run away from the Frogger for plot convience, and meet the X-Men, who have swooped in to collect Molly for their school (given that she is a mutant minor without parents, like about half their students). The Runaways refuse and basically give them attitude, and a short brawl ensues. Highlights include Vaughn's banter, and Colossus being unfazed by Molly tossing a car at him. Downsides include the utterly cheeseball way Cyclops was "punked", and that he has to be talked into being more passive by EMMA FROST of all people. Beast and Chase also have an amusing interlude. In the end, Old Lace is found and the X-Men leave, and Gert has a short chat with Kitty, who both have something in common (not being combat junkies, and having pet lizards). Nothing groundbreaking, but definately entertaining. As for the art, well, you get what you pay for. Also includes some other stories that I didn't have much interest in.


SUPERMAN/BATMAN: reprints the first issue of their series, which continues on trade. Wasn't bad at all, made me almost regret not buying it when I could (and when it was good). Oh, well.

CONAN: THE SPEAR: A short Conan tale that I found myself liking more than I expected. I was never big on barbarians and sorcery stuff, but maybe I just hadn't found the right character.

Bongo Comics: More SIMPSONS goodness with a lot of fun jabs at the comic industry, especially Marvel. Would Bendis write ARCHIE DISASSEMBLED? You bet he would. And it would sell in the Top 10. They also have some fun at the Heroes for Hire.

ARCHIE'S 65TH ANNIVERSARY: Worth mentioning because of one recent development. In both Joe Fridays and in WIZARD, Joe Q has bashed the Parker/MJ marriage, claiming that it takes "away" from what made Peter great "in the day", which was him being single and being involved in endless love triangles. Nowadays with him married, well, apparently he can't have a supporting cast that is either out of college or that he can't sleep with. Never mind the fact that Peter's connection to MJ has been made clear for the past 20+ years, in every animated incarnation since 1994, and in two hit feature films. No, apparently, "new fans" can't handle it, although we'll have to take Joe's word for it, because I have yet to hear much from these "new fans". Or even meet one who was under 18. I bring up ARCHIE because it was your standard formula, and pretty much as I would expect Archie since I last read a digest maybe 16 or so years ago. But one thing did change; Archie has some new permanent supporting cast members to reflect the times. At least 2-3, not including Sabrina or Sheryl Blossum. I bring this up because apparently, Joe Q wants Peter Parker to become like Archie, forever stuck in some state of pre-adolescence and single, and yet ARCHIE has done something ASM hasn't managed in YEARS; add some relevent, permanent supporting cast members. The void felt after the loss of Harry, Gwen and so on wouldn't be so bad if Spidey writers could create new characters for Peter to talk to in his civvie life (which should always be at least as important as his life as Spider-Man; if one or the other is dominant, you have issues and he gets boring), especially since being a HS teacher aught to be a goldmine. And yet, ARCHIE comics sell terribly, probably because that "neverending, predictable schtick" is formulaic after you get out of 2nd grade and you want a story that, in some way, moves. So, I just found it amusing that while ASM shouldn't be like ARCHIE, that ARCHIE managed something ASM hasn't in nearly ten years.
 
Seriously, am I the only person in the world who liked New Warriors and dig Skottie's art??

LOL
 
PWN3R RANGER said:
Seriously, am I the only person in the world who liked New Warriors and dig Skottie's art??

LOL
Probably not. I just don't care for it.
 
Just had to throw in my two cents about the X-Men/Runaways crossover.

Both Runaways and Astonishing are books I look forward to when they come out, so combining them seems like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, there's the usual fight between the two groups, and I cringed about it until I realised that Vaughan was using everyone. Even Chase. Just to put a bet out on the table, I'm guessing he's listened to fans when they say they all love his work except for the spotlight fights, and used this little story to get his feet wet. Now, I realize that what makes Runaways great is the characters, much moreso than other books that make the claim to be character-based, but it's also a fledgling-superhero book. There were multiple shots being fired in the last issue, and hopefully it's just a taste of what's to come. The whole team, fighting all at once.

"I stole Cookie Monster's glasses."
 

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