Diamond Shipping List April 22, 2009

[Colossal Spoons]

Indeed, the guy is loyal to his bank account alone. I always thought he'd make a good Thunderbolt anyway.

 

[CantThinkOfAName]

DETECTIVE COMICS #853 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99 - finally
EX MACHINA #41 (MR) $2.99 - yay! its been a while, my love
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #592 $2.99
ASTONISHING X-MEN #29 $2.99
DAREDEVIL #118 $2.99 - sex
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #128 DKR $2.99
KICK ASS #6 (MR) $2.99
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #5 (OF 6) $3.99 - i havent started reading this yet, im waiting for all the issues to come out. Kind of wish I waited for the trade
NEW AVENGERS #52 DKR $3.99
SPIDER-MAN 2099 TP VOL 01 $29.99 - one day

I was at one point thinking about picking up Thor cuz I read teh first six issues and I did thoroughly and surprisingly enjoy them. Thank you, 3.99 price tag, for cementing which way I was gonna go on that decision.

 

[imdaly]

MARVEL COMICS

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #592 - "24/7" Part 1, Can't wait!
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #23 - Always a great series
DAREDEVIL #118 - niiiice
DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #2 - LOVED #1
FANTASTIC FORCE #1
HULK #11
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #128
KICK ASS #6 - IT'S ABOUT FRIKKIN TIME!!!
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #5
MIGHTY AVENGERS #24
NEW AVENGERS #52 - Sweet
SECRET INVASION CHRONICLES #2
SKRULL KILL KREW #1
THOR #601 - Wow. Did we really not get this issue yet?
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #14
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #35
WOLVERINE WEAPON X FILES

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, I wondering if the "big reveal" is that Taskmaster was somehow on Osborn's payroll all along and does something for Norman's favor. He's all about the paychecks, after all.

I don't think he was always on Osborn's payroll. Frankly, as you just pointed out, that's a bit more Machiavellian than Taskmaster tends to get, since he's only after a paycheck. But I'm sure he'd accept a position training villains just as easily as he did training heroes.

 

[venom892]

BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL ARKHAM #1 $2.99
DETECTIVE COMICS #853 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
DAREDEVIL #118 $2.99
GHOST RIDER #34 $2.99
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #25 $2.99
SPIDER-MAN 2099 TP VOL 01 $29.99-Not this week but sometime

 

[trodge]

dc comics

azrael deaths dark knight #2 (of 3) $2.99
batman battle for the cowl arkham #1 $2.99
detective comics #853 (note price) $3.99

marvel comics

daredevil #118 $2.99
dark reign elektra #2 (of 5) dkr $3.99
marvels eye of camera #5 (of 6) $3.99
skrull kill krew #1 (of 5) dkr $3.99
ultimate wolverine vs hulk #2 (of 6) 3rd ptg var $2.99
wolverine anniversary $3.99
wolverine origins #35 dkr $2.99
wolverine weapon x files $4.99
x-force #14 xmw $2.99

 

[Kraven]

Detective comics #853 (note price) $3.99
thor #601 $3.99

 

[Mr. Green]

Hmm... There sure are a lot of 2nd printings...

DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #2 -- First issue rocked, look forward to this.
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #128 -- My second favorite comic at the moment.
NEW AVENGERS #52 -- One of my favorites as well.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #24 -- I wonder what's next for our Mighty Avengers?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Seems like Quicksilver trying to find his sister, judging from the end of the previous issue and the cover of this one. He may possibly be wondering when he developed such terrible fashion sense, too.

 

[Dread]

Indeed, the guy is loyal to his bank account alone. I always thought he'd make a good Thunderbolt anyway.

Probably. Taskmaster's worked on both sides of the fence, after all. The U.S. government happily paid him to train John Walker to fill in for Captain America, after all. He's been at the game longer than Osborn has been in a way, just isn't the mastermind type. Unfortunately, he should come off as pragmatic; instead many writers and readers see him as a bit yellow because he knows when to cut his losses and split. I guess it all depends on attitude.

I don't think he was always on Osborn's payroll. Frankly, as you just pointed out, that's a bit more Machiavellian than Taskmaster tends to get, since he's only after a paycheck. But I'm sure he'd accept a position training villains just as easily as he did training heroes.

Well, Taskmaster may not have known the intentions, but that wouldn't have stopped him from being in bed with Osborn or Hood, if that is where they are going. They could have simply paid him for information or whatnot.

Of course, it could be as simple as Osborn asking Taskmaster to train all the villains he is handing badges too, but that doesn't strike me as "dramatic" enough to justify a "everything changes" type tagline. Granted, Marvel solicts are frequently dishonest, at times to the point of bait-and-switch.

Seems like Quicksilver trying to find his sister, judging from the end of the previous issue and the cover of this one. He may possibly be wondering when he developed such terrible fashion sense, too.

That again? Quicksilver's always had a terrible fashion sense. He always gets these weird designs and can't just follow a simple color scheme of two colors with the same shade. Least his latest one is less embarassing than many of the others. It doesn't have elf booties, it isn't baby blue, and it doesn't think it is a brilliant idea to have one shoulder be a different shade of blue than the other shoulder, or even the rest of the costume, for no bloody reason. Quicksilver is like a worse case akin to Justice; he's ALWAYS had either terrible or generic costumes, just some are less terrible or less generic than others. Justice at least has settled on a suit that works, even if "non-masks" simply scream 1994 in bold type.

If Marvel ever had a bit where superheroes attended meetings to get over terrible fashion senses, call it BAD COSTUMES ANONYMOUS, it might be fun to see who showed up. Luke Cage could be a sponsor, since he managed to eventually surrender his tiara and yellow woman's shirt after many years. Spider-Man could lead the "Say NO to Armor!" flyers and Cyclops could comment on the pain of finally surrendering his pirate boots. Dan Slott could make that bit work.

A fitting 15,000th post, I guess.

 

[Cosmic]

SUPERGIRL #40
DAREDEVIL #118
FALL OF CTHULHU NEMESIS #1 (of 4)
NEOZOIC TP VOL 01

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #40
Invincible #61
Mighty Avengers #24
Thor #601

 

[Watchman]

Detective comics #853 (note price) $3.99
jack of fables #33 (mr) $2.99
scalped #28 (mr) $2.99
thor #601 $3.99

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Of course, it could be as simple as Osborn asking Taskmaster to train all the villains he is handing badges too, but that doesn't strike me as "dramatic" enough to justify a "everything changes" type tagline. Granted, Marvel solicts are frequently dishonest, at times to the point of bait-and-switch.

Switching the Initiative from War Machine and the Gauntlet training the heroes of tomorrow to a camp for the Hood's army of villains to be trained so they're even more dangerous seems like a dramatic enough shift without Taskmaster having to do anything to contribute to it. Personally, I'd love it if the Hood's people take over and Taskmaster drops his weapons and is like, "if you can match their pay, I'm on your side." It's a perfectly Taskmaster thing to do, and it'd be a bit ironic because it'd go against the standard melodrama comics are known for. That's always been Taskmaster's charm: pure practicality in the face of all the larger-than-life nobility and megalomania pervading the Marvel universe.

 

[Dread]

Switching the Initiative from War Machine and the Gauntlet training the heroes of tomorrow to a camp for the Hood's army of villains to be trained so they're even more dangerous seems like a dramatic enough shift without Taskmaster having to do anything to contribute to it. Personally, I'd love it if the Hood's people take over and Taskmaster drops his weapons and is like, "if you can match their pay, I'm on your side." It's a perfectly Taskmaster thing to do, and it'd be a bit ironic because it'd go against the standard melodrama comics are known for. That's always been Taskmaster's charm: pure practicality in the face of all the larger-than-life nobility and megalomania pervading the Marvel universe.

Ironically, if Taskmaster was more of a megalomaniac or a sadist, he probably would be more popular with the masses than he is, akin to Deathstroke the Terminator, who came out at the same time and has gotten a lot more fame and rep. I mean, Deathstroke can take down the entire Justice League en masse'; Taskmaster can't even beat Moon Knight or Deadpool these days. I agree with you about liking those traits to Taskmaster, just commenting that it is a shame that they don't prove memorable with fans or some writers. That bit where Taskmaster practically wets himself facing KIA really won't win over anyone who doesn't already like him. You have to make his practicality look cool and efficient, not him seeming like a wuss.

I suppose that would be a shift, although I do like many of the characters in A:TI and I wouldn't want to see them dumped just to focus on yet another villain book. Marvel already has a few.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Deathstroke can't take down the entire Justice League. Brad Meltzer smokes crack.

 

[Phaedrus45]

DC COMICS

AZRAEL DEATHS DARK KNIGHT #2 (OF 3) $2.99
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL ARKHAM #1 $2.99
DETECTIVE COMICS #853 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #32 $2.99
OUTSIDERS #17 $2.99
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #5 (OF 6) $2.99
SHOWCASE PRESENTS LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES TP VOL 03 $16.99
SUPERGIRL #40 $2.99
TRINITY #47 $2.99
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #12 (OF 12) $2.99
WILDCATS #10 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

FRANK FRAZETTAS NEANDERTHAL FRAZETTA CVR A (ONE-SHOT) $3.99

MARVEL COMICS

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #592 $2.99
ASTONISHING X-MEN #29 $2.99
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #23 DKR $2.99
DAREDEVIL #118 $2.99
DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #2 (OF 5) DKR $3.99
FANTASTIC FORCE #1 (OF 5) $3.99
GHOST RIDER #34 $2.99
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #13 $2.99
HULK #11 $3.99
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #25 $2.99
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #128 DKR $2.99
KICK ASS #6 (MR) $2.99
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #47 $2.99
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #5 (OF 6) $3.99
MIGHTY AVENGERS #24 DKR $2.99
NEW AVENGERS #52 DKR $3.99
SKRULL KILL KREW #1 (OF 5) DKR $3.99
THOR #601 $3.99
WOLVERINE ANNIVERSARY $3.99
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #14 $2.99
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #35 DKR $2.99
WOLVERINE WEAPON X FILES $4.99
X-FORCE #14 XMW $2.99
X-MEN TIMES AND LIFE OF LUCAS BISHOP #3 (OF 3) $3.99

COMICS

C E MURPHYS TAKE A CHANCE #4 $3.99
GEORGE R R MARTINS WILD CARDS #5 (OF 6) HARD CALL (RES) $2.99 - (This was a long time coming. I think the last issue must have come out over six months ago.)

 

[Paradyme]

DC COMICS

AZRAEL DEATHS DARK KNIGHT #2 (OF 3) $2.99
BATMAN BATTLE FOR THE COWL ARKHAM #1 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #592 $2.99
NEW AVENGERS #52 DKR $3.99
THOR #601 $3.99
WOLVERINE #71 2ND PTG MCNIVEN VAR $2.99

Yup.

 

[Dread]

Deathstroke can't take down the entire Justice League. Brad Meltzer smokes crack.

Smokes crack or not, it happened. Just like Batman donning Michael Turner armor and punching Darkseid in the kisser in BATMAN/SUPERMAN. He's beaten countless metahumans he should have no chance against

Taskmaster needs some impressive wins and a bit more of a mean streak to make more of an impression with the "casual" reader, or at least more of an attempt to not make his practicality seem like being a bit yellow. Having him avoid a needless fight with KIA is fine, but does he have to almost wet himself? Stuff like that. Gage is flying solo now, though, so hopefully this improves.

Considering how similar both are, it always annoyed me that Deathstroke was overpowered to the point of near-Batman level ridiculousness (and to be fair, at least Batman usually needed prep-time and a gadget to defeat God Himself most times), while Taskmaster often has become a little underpowered.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Deathstroke's more powerful than Taskmaster, though. He's developed his own fighting style, first off, so he's not using borrowed moves against their originators half the time, plus Deathstroke's body and mind are enhanced to superhuman levels. Taskmaster can pull off some superhuman moves but he's still a baseline human in power level. Probably doesn't help that he's gone back to weighing himself down with a thousand weapons instead of using that sweet hologram tech he had before.

And, as you mentioned, Deathstroke is overpowered to ridiculous levels, as illustrated with that JLA scene.

 

[Dread]

Taskmaster is "peak" human, only he got there with hard work, rather than steroids and/or radiation.

To be fair, I don't mind Taskmaster using some actual weapons. The holographic thing was good for stealth and functionality, but it didn't look as dramatic as a distinct shield or Hawkeye-style arrows. I think both the UDON design and stuff from his mini, and his classic design could have been merged better, rather than just going all the way back to the 80's hole hog.

Considering how martial arts works in Marvel, Taskmaster should be far, far, FAR more potent than he is. Both Elektra and Shang-Chi can kick down thick metal doors like nothing, and neither are superhuman. Kraven can knock a raging gorilla on his ass with a specific "nerve punch". There even are some martial artists who, without any sort of power or magic spell, had a blow that was lethal (such as the OTHER Steel Serpent, who masted the "Delayed Death Touch" I believe, which Iron Fist reversed back in the 70's before Davos showed up). How many people has Daredevil overwhelmed with martial arts and agility that he shouldn't have been able to? Hell, Captain America has been able to knock Eternal-level opponents down with his shield. If anything, Taskmaster should be able to PWN Wolverine butt naked in the snow. But he won't. And that irritates me.

Taskie needs some wins, yo.

 

[Dread]

((double post))

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I agree, he does need some wins. I'm just saying he's not quite the identical counterpart to Deathstroke that you made him out to be. Deathstroke's beyond peak human. He's actually superhuman. He has the strength of ten men, according to bios, and his other physical stats are similarly superhuman. Plus his mind is far more advanced than a normal human's mind.

Personally, I don't really like the idea of Taskmaster being superior to the really great martial artists anyway. Against most people, sure, he should be a shoe-in. But against the likes of Captain America, Black Panther, Shang-Chi, Iron Fist, etc., the odds should be against him. The greats usually have something that sets them apart from the norm anyway--Cap's got his ridiculously amazing tactical mind, Black Panther and Shang-Chi have extremely potent martial arts training, Iron Fist has the mystical chi from Shou-Lao. Even Elektra has mastered certain mystical ninja skills. It kind of cheapens that if Taskmaster can duplicate them by basically just going through the motions, especially since a lot of those special, quasi-mystical powers are an extension of the person's soul or some mumbo-jumbo like that. They require spiritual dedication as well as physical, the former of which Taskie obviously lacks since he just steals s*** from others.

 

[Dread]

I agree, he does need some wins. I'm just saying he's not quite the identical counterpart to Deathstroke that you made him out to be. Deathstroke's beyond peak human. He's actually superhuman. He has the strength of ten men, according to bios, and his other physical stats are similarly superhuman. Plus his mind is far more advanced than a normal human's mind.

Personally, I don't really like the idea of Taskmaster being superior to the really great martial artists anyway. Against most people, sure, he should be a shoe-in. But against the likes of Captain America, Black Panther, Shang-Chi, Iron Fist, etc., the odds should be against him. The greats usually have something that sets them apart from the norm anyway--Cap's got his ridiculously amazing tactical mind, Black Panther and Shang-Chi have extremely potent martial arts training, Iron Fist has the mystical chi from Shou-Lao. Even Elektra has mastered certain mystical ninja skills. It kind of cheapens that if Taskmaster can duplicate them by basically just going through the motions, especially since a lot of those special, quasi-mystical powers are an extension of the person's soul or some mumbo-jumbo like that. They require spiritual dedication as well as physical, the former of which Taskie obviously lacks since he just steals s*** from others.

Deathstroke become more superhuman over time, as he grew popular. Had Taskmaster gotten more popular I doubt he would be wimpering in fear to Moon Knight and Deadpool now. I mean, everyone beats Deadpool.

I specifically didn't say that Taskmaster should be able to copy chi or mystical powers (although, I must say, Spider-Man was technically able to perform a spell just by standing in the right spot and talking in Latin in OMD), but there are PLENTY of martial artists who can smash through bricks/steel in comics, or topple giant animals like nothing, without chi or magic or armor. Shang Chi is also not mystical in any way; he is simply the "master" of Kung Fu. He's decapitated robots with kicks, practically. There are plenty of other moves that Taskmaster should be able to duplicate from Punisher, Moon Knight, Daredevil, etc. that don't involve that stuff.

It just is hard taking him seriously, or as seriously as he should be taken, when he never beats anyone decent. Seriously, name me ONE notable opponent Taskmaster has defeated in the last decade. You can't, because he has had none. The best thing he did was in TASKMASTER #1, he tossed Iron Man on his rear a few times. That was about 6 years ago.

Character malaise breeds apathy, apathy breeds underwhelming performances, and these things cycle down. Taskmaster needs some moments. I mean for chrissakes, Bullseye can kill Galactus at this point, almost.

(Taskmaster could probably ape some of his moves, too. Not all, but some.)

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Well, hopefully with his growing role in A:TI, he'll get some better moments.