November 2007 Solicitations

[PhotoJones]

It's not as bad as TheCorpulent1 burning you for switching THE ORDER with THE OTHER via spelling, which is like confusing Jessica Alba for Rosie O'Donnel.

Ouch.

 

[Darthphere]

Y'know, I always hate that excuse. "Oh, it's not so bad, it's just the last guy was so phenominal that your expectations are too high." Baloney. There is a difference, and a huge one, between a decent writer who manages to pull off a B following an A+ grandmaster run, and a writer who produces absolute crap. Semi-Reasonable fans know this difference, and even ones who don't likely do, deep down.

All taste is subjective, but still...

Yeah, it's a lame excuse, but I've seen it far too many times. By now, everyone should be aware by how bad a writer he is, just look at his Spider-Man issues Pre-The Other.

In comics, ULTIMATE started planting the seeds before LOST essentially made it a complete rip-offable fad. But, in a way, comics have always done this. Hell, the snowstorm that trapped the Kents after they found Kal even had a comic explaination (it was caused by Manhunters I believe). LOST just made this trend into something that may possibly hit overkill.

That's been one of my problems with the Ultimate Universe. It's been set up, set up, set up from the beginning, and we never got a pay off. I guess Origins and Ultimatum might change that. One thing that stands out to me is the whole When Spider-Man turns 18 thing. We won't see that plot pop up for maybe 10 years.

I expect Slott to back away from that and get back to the character in a way that isn't a perpetual tragedy.

I sure hope so. I'm giving them a shot. I hope they can make me a Spidey fan.

That is because ANNIHILATION came out of nowhere, especially against CIVIL WAR, and offered a lot of what that event wasn't. Unified heroes, an outright villain, competant writing, and amped up characters. This time, CONQUEST is a sequal. We have expectations for it that are loftier because of the success of the first. And WORLD WAR HULK is better than CW was so it has steeper competition.

True, very true. I hope Star Lord pops out as Conquest's Nova. You know becoming popular, maybe getting an ongoing.

Didn't know you had a fetish. Jokes aside, I wonder if he'll be allowed to smoke stogies under Joe Q's ludicrious, "wholeslate slaughter and T & A is wholesome, but smoking may be a bad example for children, who make up .000000000000000000000000001% of our audience" policy. Hey, I had a grandfather who was mowed down by a drunk driver (on the mother's side), that doesn't mean if I was head of a company I'd fire anyone who drinks after work or something.

Well Dan Slott got away with a lot of pot shots at the big two in his GLA stuff. I don't think it will be a problem.

I never read UJ, but what little of Gage I have read has always been better than it had a right to be. He definately needs more meaningful work, before DC sees a chance and nabs 'im.

Read Union Jack ASAP. It's great, and the supporting cast is equally as awesome. Arabian Knight and Sabra we're very poignant as well.

That really stinks. He was Kollins, man.

Yeah it does. Hopefully WHEN Omega Flight becomes an ongoing they get a good replacement. Maybe Divito, since he's doing the Weapon Omega stuff in MCP.

That is easy to understand. Hulk has fought heroes before. Hulk has been impossible to TKO before. And no matter how well paced or drawn, it amounts to a large green man punching stuff, which he has been doing for 40 years. I'm enjoying it, but I also can sense the monotomy. I originally was going to pass on it 'till I read some good reviews here.

Eh, I'm hoping last issue's cliffhanger makes things a lot more interesting.

Agreed. Unfortunately, Marvel never quits with a franchise when they are ahead. They wait until it has been totally overexposed and milked of every last cent of profit before it is left in the sand to curl up and be forgotten. Once upon a time, any X-Book sold in the Top 10. Now Marvel can't even keep a GAMBIT title afloat for over a year.

Gambit is bringing sexy back.

That is cool. Come to think of it, it's felt like forever since the last MOON KNIGHT book. Timely issues, not crossovers, will make him impactful on the MU.

LOL! I hadn't noticed the lack of Moon Knight either. Wow, and it's one of my favorite books. Getting some Moon Knight guest appearances in other titles can't hurt either.

Slott is doing it in AVENGERS INITIATIVE (and SHE-HULK), and Fraction is doing it in THE OTHER. It can be done.

Yes, but it takes talent to do that. And it's the second time I heard someone call The Order "The Other".

Claremont is still given any X-book and usually two. And I don't think I can take another decade of Bendis-*******-licking until that happens. Still, at least we have some other writers being pumped up who weren't a few years ago; Slott, Fraction, possibly Jeff Parker, and who knows down the line Gage, etc.

Yeah, but Claremont is given some book only hardcore fans would read. He's utterly irrelevant at this point. He's not even invited to those creator summits they do.

A-List talent brings sales. I mean way back VERTIGO was some of the hottest writers having a ball with their best work of their careers. Marvel's MAX line hasn't had that yet and needs it badly if they ever want to add some artistic cred to their financial domination. Marvel may kick DC's ass on the charts and make it look easy, but they've never delivered a PREACHER, or an ANIMAL MAN, or a TRANSMETPOLITAN.

Ennis Punisher sells well, but yeah I agree, they need a couple of huge hits. Terror Inc and Foolkiller are as good a shot as ever. But the other problem is, that Marvel has ICON, so that kind of impairs any creator owned Mature books like a Transmet or Preacher.

I also concur.

Agree with me is the new black.

 

[Dread]

Yeah, it's a lame excuse, but I've seen it far too many times. By now, everyone should be aware by how bad a writer he is, just look at his Spider-Man issues Pre-The Other.

Indeed. Hudlin is teh suxx.

That's been one of my problems with the Ultimate Universe. It's been set up, set up, set up from the beginning, and we never got a pay off. I guess Origins and Ultimatum might change that. One thing that stands out to me is the whole When Spider-Man turns 18 thing. We won't see that plot pop up for maybe 10 years.

Considering how helpless and ineffective Bendis has been writing USM for the last 1-2 years, he may as well allow him to join the Ultimates anyway. He can essentially be like Robin in Superfriends, the sidekick to somone else who swings through windows.

I sure hope so. I'm giving them a shot. I hope they can make me a Spidey fan.

I'm hoping they can make me a HAPPY Spidey fan.

True, very true. I hope Star Lord pops out as Conquest's Nova. You know becoming popular, maybe getting an ongoing.

That'd be cool.

Well Dan Slott got away with a lot of pot shots at the big two in his GLA stuff. I don't think it will be a problem.

Potshots at the big two are one thing...smoking has become the ultimate PC sin, right next to a white person using the N word.

Read Union Jack ASAP. It's great, and the supporting cast is equally as awesome. Arabian Knight and Sabra we're very poignant as well.

I may look for it.

Yeah it does. Hopefully WHEN Omega Flight becomes an ongoing they get a good replacement. Maybe Divito, since he's doing the Weapon Omega stuff in MCP.

DiVito would rock.

Eh, I'm hoping last issue's cliffhanger makes things a lot more interesting.

Hopefully. Although I am very tired of Sentry. Now that Thor is back he serves even less purpose.

Gambit is bringing sexy back.

I used him as an example. I never liked Gambit.

LOL! I hadn't noticed the lack of Moon Knight either. Wow, and it's one of my favorite books. Getting some Moon Knight guest appearances in other titles can't hurt either.

That wouldn't hurt either.

Yes, but it takes talent to do that. And it's the second time I heard someone call The Order "The Other".

And after I just threw it into photojones2's face from the B/T thread. Man, He is so going to PWN me now, and I so deserve it.

Yeah, but Claremont is given some book only hardcore fans would read. He's utterly irrelevant at this point. He's not even invited to those creator summits they do.

Good point. Again, that sort of stuff takes 20-30 years, and I am not sure I can take that much longer of Bendis being their loudest voice.

Ennis Punisher sells well, but yeah I agree, they need a couple of huge hits. Terror Inc and Foolkiller are as good a shot as ever. But the other problem is, that Marvel has ICON, so that kind of impairs any creator owned Mature books like a Transmet or Preacher.

ICON really needs to be reworked. TERROR, INC is good and hopefully FOOLKILLER too. Marvel just has to take a risk on something.

Agree with me is the new black.

I figured you'd like it.

 

[PhotoJones]

Slott is doing it in AVENGERS INITIATIVE (and SHE-HULK), and Fraction is doing it in THE OTHER. It can be done.

And after I just threw it into photojones2's face from the B/T thread. Man, He is so going to PWN me now, and I so deserve it.

Consider us even.

 

[Norman Osborn]

Indeed. But not as good as the first one. I don't know but that's how I feel about this mini. It seems that I just hold the first one on a pedestal.
.

Right where it belongs

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm not about to quote Dread's huge chop-o-rama post, but regarding Gage: DC's already "stolen" him, if you want to call it that. He's writing Stormwatch: PHD for Wildstorm, and it's awesome. He's also going to be writing a bunch of Wildstorm specials and stuff in the coming months. He and Simone seem to be trying to keep the Wildstorm titles afloat single-handed.

 

[Darthphere]

regarding Gage: DC's already "stolen" him, if you want to call it that. He's writing Stormwatch: PHD for Wildstorm

Was writing it. You can't write a book that doesn't exist.

What I'm saying here is, they canceled that *****.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

For which DC and Wildstorm have earned even more of my eternal rage. But he's still writing other stuff for Wildstorm.

 

[Darthphere]

For which DC and Wildstorm have earned even more of my eternal rage. But he's still writing other stuff for Wildstorm.

Yeah, but that's a free lance thing. Remember, this guy was/is a tv writer.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

His Marvel work is a freelance thing, too.

 

[Darthphere]

His Marvel work is a freelance thing, too.

Exactly! So it's not really a case of DC stealing him away. Marvel has some projects lined up for him, DC does too, and I think he's doing some other stuff.

 

[Dread]

By "stealing Gage away", I mean an exclusive deal. Both Marvel and DC are quick to do that to lock away key talent for a while. I'm saying, if Marvel has the chance to sign Gage exclusive, they should, and they need to get him on better, more impactful books, before DC offers one such book to him. McKeever was a solid Marvel writer getting C Level stuff to write and then DC offered more. It'd be a shame if Marvel lost more notable talent that way.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It'd be a shame for Gage to waste his time on the mess that is DC's line of titles, too. I think signing with Marvel would be a better move for him than signing with DC. Marvel seems to be giving him better books, whereas DC just canceled Stormwatch: PHD.

 

[PhotoJones]

It'd be a shame for Gage to waste his time on the mess that is DC's line of titles, too. I think signing with Marvel would be a better move for him than signing with DC. Marvel seems to be giving him better books, whereas DC just canceled Stormwatch: PHD.

Wildstorm seems to be trying to go the Vertigo route on a few books. Which is stupid. Because there's Vertigo...right over there. *points*

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Ex Machina has been published under the Wildstorm Signature imprint for the duration of its run, and The American Way was Wildstorm as well. So clearly they've got the chops to potentially stand up to Vertigo. Current Vertigo, anyway. They just need a few more titles.

I don't know why some creators go to Wildstorm rather than Vertigo for their mature series. Maybe Wildstorm Signature is better with creator ownership or something.

 

[Darthphere]

Shazam!

 

[PhotoJones]

Ex Machina has been published under the Wildstorm Signature imprint for the duration of its run, and The American Way was Wildstorm as well. So clearly they've got the chops to potentially stand up to Vertigo. Current Vertigo, anyway. They just need a few more titles.

I don't know why some creators go to Wildstorm rather than Vertigo for their mature series. Maybe Wildstorm Signature is better with creator ownership or something.

I'm not sure about Wildstorm, but I know that Vertigo offers page rates on all their books.