Bought/Thought November 25th, 2009

[Phaedrus45]

I'm figuring no comics today, right? Anyway, as always, I have enough left from the previous week to still have to read. Here is what I've looked at today.

Immortal Weapons #5: This was a decent series, and I enjoyed it more than the last storyline in Iron Fist's last book...it's just too bad that the first issue was the best of the bunch. This one isn't so much an origin story of Prince of Orphans as it is a team-up with Iron Fist. It wasn't bad, although I found Danny to be too joking..almost felt like a team-up with Spider-Man with the corny dialogue. I really loved the secondary story featuring Iron Fist trying to help the young daughter of a man Danny put away in jail many years ago..although, the art left much to be desired. I seriously cannot think of Danny Rand ever being drawn so badly.

Secret Warriors #10: This really is the surprise series of the year for me. I was sure it was going to be bad from the start; but, it's becoming one of my favorite titles. This issue focuses on Ares and his son, filling in what has gone on since Ares first miniseries. Hickman does a great job of writing Ares, much better than the Gung-Ho, fight-before-thinking Bendis version. My only complaint with this issue would be when the son stands before the council...that went by too fast and seemed glossed over.

Days Mis5ing #4: This has been a pretty interesting mini. I only got it because for some reason, my comic shop added it to my pull list. (I wondered about that. They had a bunch of copies of the first issue...so, I was wondering if it got "accidentally added" to my box on purpose.) This comic is about an immortal man who lives beyond time and space, able to make slight changes to the past by making people (usually historical figures) aware in their subconscious of the possible disasters of their actions.

Ok, not sure if people really get what that means. The immortal is able to visit us during any time, whether it's the 1800's or today. Each time, he lets the events unfold with disasterous consequences, and after the disaster happens, goes back in time again, starting over...and, the person he is trying to effect (like, in this issue, Cortez, or in issue 2, Mary Shelly) will subconsciously remember the alternate events by having a certain sense to possible disasterous results...almost a deja vu experience.

It's a pretty interesting book. As I said, it takes moments in history, letting us believe that the true events that we know are actually the course of history the Immortal has changed. We only live because he's made sure Man hasn't destroyed himself.

 

[kguillou]

Are we really debating about whether Loeb is a hack or not cause i coulda sworn it was pretty much universal knowledge by now.

That said, who really cares if Dread calls someone a hack? This is a forum where we all ***** and complain and at the end of the day the writers aint suffering from Dread's comments. They could care less what we think so whats the harm?

 

[Phaedrus45]

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #57: This book is 100X better since Paul Tobin came on board. We don't get random fights with no real continuity involved in the writing. Tobin has created his own Spidey world with a mix of new and old characters from Marvel's past. I was afraid that Chat revealing that she know's Peter is Spidey would get long and drawn out, especially after she almost confessed last issue; but, was happy to see her and Peter come clean about their respective powers. Plus, loved seeing Emma Frost dressed up as The Silencer, just to see how Chat's boyfriend is in battle. (All this, plus an appearance by Werewolf By Night!)

I used to wait to read the Marvel Adventures titles for the very end, usually having about 5 built up; because they weren't very good. Now, this title has greatly risen in the ranks, all thanks to Tobin. I can't wait to meet him at this next Comicon and have him sign a few of these books.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Are we really debating about whether Loeb is a hack or not cause i coulda sworn it was pretty much universal knowledge by now.

That said, who really cares if Dread calls someone a hack? This is a forum where we all ***** and complain and at the end of the day the writers aint suffering from Dread's comments. They could care less what we think so whats the harm?

Nope, we're (or at least, I'm) not debating whether someone can call a writer or artist a hack....I just respect Dread's reviews, and wanted to discuss this one point to a book I just read. If almost anyone else had written that, I would probably blow it off. But, I know Dread takes some time and effort in his reviews, that they get posted at another source, and if something he said left me with a "ewwy" feeling, he wouldn't mind me bringing it up. If he did it again or in a different way, I wouldn't mention it again. But, like I said, my respect for his reviews made me want to kind of bring my feelings about that to his attention.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I know I liked the Dark Tower books, especially Wizards and Glass. As for his other novels after Rose Madder, probably my favorite was Desperation. (I did not like the companion novel, The Regulators, though.)

My favorite novels from him are Green Mile and Hearts In Atlantis (though they started out as novellas and were merged into full books later, but still.)

 

[Phaedrus45]

Ah...I forgot about Green Mile. I bought that when it first came out in the small chapter books form. I think there were two authors, Stephen King being one of them, that tried that stunt. We haven't seen it again.

And, yeah, Hearts In Atlantis was good...but, the first story was much better than the others. (It also helped that it linked in with Dark Tower, for me.)

I think the only book I've tried reading, but could never get through, was Salem's Lot. I've wanted to try it again, especially since the preacher showed up in the later Dark Tower books.

 

[Phaedrus45]

A few more comics:

Project Superpowers - Meet The Bad Guys #4: This was probably the worst issue of this mini. Focusing on the Supremacy, we meet the organization that has been treatened by the reemerging superheroes. One of them battles the Scarab, kind of a bug-version of Iron Man.

I have some growing problems with this series. One, each of the featured bad guys loses to their good nemesis. Two, beyond being a superhero or a villian, these characters pretty much have nothing else to them. Do they have regular human personas? It sure doesn't seem like it. It makes each of the characters extemely two dimensional. That doesn't mean Project Superpowers is a bad title...it's just that it doesn't go beyond that.

This issue did make me remember when I got my first job as a teen working at McDonald's. (Actually, I was first a paperboy...but, I just don't see that as a first job for some reason....it's a kid's job, or it used to be. I'm not sure there are paperboys any more.) Anyway, the head of the Supremacy wears one of those old chinese hats. (It looks like ">"...just turn that symbol on it's side, large size facing down.) I remember when McDonald's had some oriental theme for that month...it could have been introducing Sweet & Sour for the McNuggets...we had to wear those hats instead of the regular McD's ones. I still have it in a closet somewhere. Ok, that was a bit of a tangent!

Criminal #2: It took the end of this issue to finally get me into this story. I'm usually a huge fan of Brubaker; but, Criminal and Incognito hasn't done much for me. In this new storyline, we have the return of Lawless, as he goes in search of the killer of a mobster's men. The twist at the end reveals

Spoiler

it's a very young busboy who is killing these men on the order from a Priest, who calls it God's work.

That sure got my attention. While reading this issue, I was sure it was going to be a bad review; but, with just one page, my opinion can go up.

Dark Avengers - Ares #2: I was about to complain about how this issue doesn't really fit into the events I just read in Secret Warriors....but, halfway through the issue, we discover things are not exactly what they seem. Neat issue, lots of action, and this also shows an Ares who doesn't go into a battle with very little thought.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I've never read a Stephen King book. Does that make me weird or something?

 

[Phaedrus45]

Nope, not weird at all. (I take it you do read books, though, right?) It amazes me how many people never have read a book since getting out of school. I love that my daughter is so into books. Every time she brings home one of those Scholastic Book Club notices, we quickly page through it and I get her whatever she wants. We just read two very cute books, called Knuffle Bunny. If you have a young kid, check it out. It's just too cute! (Also, she's into Junie B. Jones. Those are very cute, too.)

 

[kguillou]

I've sort of drifted away from books myself. I have a short attention span when it comes to just reading text. I really should try to get back into them but i've come too accustomed to graphic novels.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Nope, not weird at all. (I take it you do read books, though, right?) It amazes me how many people never have read a book since getting out of school. I love that my daughter is so into books. Every time she brings home one of those Scholastic Book Club notices, we quickly page through it and I get her whatever she wants. We just read two very cute books, called Knuffle Bunny. If you have a young kid, check it out. It's just too cute! (Also, she's into Junie B. Jones. Those are very cute, too.)

Yeah, I read books. I just finished two over my Thanksgiving holiday. The Magicians and Waiting for Godot (a play, but I still count it).

 

[Phaedrus45]

The only problem I have with reading a book is then I greatly ignore reading my comics...and, that leads to a big comic pile-up in my Must Read box. Currently, I'm still staring at that new Stephen King book, knowing 1000+ pages is going to be a big downtime in comic reading. Maybe I should tackle it when we get our big comic delay.

 

[squeekness]

My favorite novels from him are Green Mile and Hearts In Atlantis (though they started out as novellas and were merged into full books later, but still.)

I have all of Stephen King's books. I joined his book club until I had each and every one.

The only problem I have with reading a book is then I greatly ignore reading my comics...and, that leads to a big comic pile-up in my Must Read box. Currently, I'm still staring at that new Stephen King book, knowing 1000+ pages is going to be a big downtime in comic reading. Maybe I should tackle it when we get our big comic delay.

I just finished that, lol. It was awesome and yes, I got NOTHING done the whole time. It was bigger than The Stand I think.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Well, bigger than the original version. The updated, unabridged version he released later in the 80's or 90's was about the same size, I think. So, it's a good book? I read about the first 50 or so pages, just getting to the part where the police are going to respond. I stopped at one of my biggest Stephen King Pet Peeves. I hate...HATE...when he does the old "and that would be the last time she saw him alive again." He's always doing that in his stories, and it makes me a bit pissy that he gives away that someone you are reading about is going to bite the dust.

 

[squeekness]

LOL, yes, King does that a lot. The book was good, very CLEAN in that he didn't go off on tangents as he sometimes does. I couldn't put the dang thing down for a whole week.

 

[CantThinkOfAName]

I've never read any Stephen King either, but Im hoping to start the Dark Tower whenever the comic series ends (I'm assuming all of it has been a prequel to the main series).

 

[squeekness]

Nope. The comic is going thru Roland's life in chronological order (and in greater detail) as opposed to in flashbacks in the books. The plan is to have 31 books/arcs in the comics so if you wait until that is done to read Dark Tower, you'll be waiting a LONG time. I recommend you read the books themselves alongside the comics as they come out. You'll enjoy the comic that much more, trust me.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I've just never cared enough to try Stephen King. I'm in the middle of The Shack right now.

 

[squeekness]

I've just never cared enough to try Stephen King. I'm in the middle of The Shack right now.

That was good too. Makes ya think about things in a whole new way. I was glad I read it.

 

[JewishHobbit]

That was good too. Makes ya think about things in a whole new way. I was glad I read it.

He only just reached the shack so far, so I'm not too too far into it yet. I've actually pretty much thought everything so far has been pointless, but my wife said she agreed at that point but that the rest of the book makes up for it X10, so I'm eager to finish it. Should be done within the next day or two.

 

[Phaedrus45]

I've never read any Stephen King either, but Im hoping to start the Dark Tower whenever the comic series ends (I'm assuming all of it has been a prequel to the main series).

Yeah, Squeekness said the books aren't in chronological order. The first story you get with the comic is pretty much the fourth book in the Dark Tower series...and, probably my favorite. The comic did not do it justice. If you can, read the books before the comic, because that fourth book, WIzards and Glass, really changes how you see the main character, Roland.

Now, the first book is a very quick read. It's made up of..I think...five short stories. Originally these stories were presented in some magazines (wow, remember when they used to put out magazines of short stories?), but he somewhat recently updated it to give the stories more of a flow together. Don't be too surprised if reading the first book doesn't quite hook you...it's the second book, Drawing Of The Three, that reeled me in. Then, it was the ending of that third book that made me mad! (Let me just say there is a bit of a cliffhanger, and it used to take Stephen King about 5 years to put out a new chapter of this series.)

The fascinating thing is that so many of King's books tie into the Dark Tower in subtle..and, sometimes not so subtle...ways. As I mentioned, a character from Salem's Lot actually shows up in a future book. And, Hearts In Atlantis has a pretty big tie-in, too.

 

[Phaedrus45]

He only just reached the shack so far, so I'm not too too far into it yet. I've actually pretty much thought everything so far has been pointless, but my wife said she agreed at that point but that the rest of the book makes up for it X10, so I'm eager to finish it. Should be done within the next day or two.

I haven't heard of The Shack. I might have to look that one up. What kind of book is it? Is it a creepy one??

 

[TheCorpulent1]

The only problem I have with reading a book is then I greatly ignore reading my comics...and, that leads to a big comic pile-up in my Must Read box. Currently, I'm still staring at that new Stephen King book, knowing 1000+ pages is going to be a big downtime in comic reading. Maybe I should tackle it when we get our big comic delay.

I still read comics when I'm reading books. It takes me much longer to read the books, since I tend to relegate them to my lunch hours at work, but then I'll go home on Wednesday and read all my new comics regardless of the book. Years of serialized comics and TV have given me the ability to keep tons of different stories separate in my mind at the same time.

 

[squeekness]

Yeah, Squeekness said the books aren't in chronological order. The first story you get with the comic is pretty much the fourth book in the Dark Tower series...and, probably my favorite. The comic did not do it justice. If you can, read the books before the comic, because that fourth book, WIzards and Glass, really changes how you see the main character, Roland.

Now, the first book is a very quick read. It's made up of..I think...five short stories. Originally these stories were presented in some magazines (wow, remember when they used to put out magazines of short stories?), but he somewhat recently updated it to give the stories more of a flow together. Don't be too surprised if reading the first book doesn't quite hook you...it's the second book, Drawing Of The Three, that reeled me in. Then, it was the ending of that third book that made me mad! (Let me just say there is a bit of a cliffhanger, and it used to take Stephen King about 5 years to put out a new chapter of this series.)

The fascinating thing is that so many of King's books tie into the Dark Tower in subtle..and, sometimes not so subtle...ways. As I mentioned, a character from Salem's Lot actually shows up in a future book. And, Hearts In Atlantis has a pretty big tie-in, too.

As far as I recall, the first Dark Tower book, The Gunslinger, was all one story, it just wasn't very long. I didn't think any of the DT books are short stories though some stories King has written elsewhere do tie into the Dark Tower landscape.

 

[Phaedrus45]

I'll just copy and paste from the information I found online.

The five parts that constitute the novel were originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction:

• "The Gunslinger" (October 1978)
• "The Way Station" (April 1980)
• "The Oracle and the Mountains" (February 1981)
• "The Slow Mutants" (July 1981)
• "The Gunslinger and the Dark Man" (November 1981)

I miss those old magazines we used to find at the grocery stores. Now, the magazine rack is just filled with the same old crap. I remember those old Marvel magazines too, like Crazy and Savage Sword Of Conan, being on the racks. Some things just don't get better with time.