The Alas-No-More-Atlas Bought/Thought Thread for October 6 - SPOILERS!!!

[Tron Bonne]

I've been enjoying it, too. These are my thoughts on it from another thread:

I'll admit, it did kind of prick me at first, but I've come to like the idea. I think it's fascinating that we have this universe that's so strange and filled with superpowered beings, Gods, aliens, time travel, etc., and kind of zooming out to see that it's always been a strange place filled with these things to some degree or another for forever. I can understand why it turns some off from a continuity aspect, but I'm just kind of looking at it as a 'Well, it could be...' type of deal, since I don't see any of this stuff being referenced much (if any) outside Hickman's own work

 

[Phaedrus45]

Well it seems I'm the only one enjoying it around here. And I'm really having a hard time following the logic that because Hickman is using historical figures to tell a story, he is in some way self congratulatory.

I get what he's saying. Hickman makes the reader feel like we should be lauding his talent, saying how wonderful and insightful his writing is...and, I'm sitting there at the end of the issue, just thinking, "Am I just totally missing the boat on this book, or did I just read a bunch of crap??"

Anyway, I'm glad some of you are liking it. I would like to read it again with a real "director's cut," where maybe Hickman would go indepth about some things...but, I also feel that I'd just walk away with the same feelings toward it all. I just feel four issues in, things are advancing slower than Fraction's Invincible Iron Man.

The CBLDF Presents Liberty Annual 2010

My LCS came up to me this week, asking if I wanted another copy of the CBLDF's comic; and, while none of the previous issues have wowed me, I do like to support the cause. So, I have it in my possession...and, sure enough, it's nothing spectacular.

It's nice to see some of the artists that submit some drawings for this book, but the stories that the writers present just stink. Rather than doing some story about censorship, I think this book would get more money with slightly longer stories that feature a popular..or semi-popular character..and, it doesn't have to just deal with comic censorship as the main plotline. (It was nice to have The Boys make an appearance in this book...and, at least that comic censorship story was a bit interesting.) How many more people would shell out the $4.99 price if they knew one of their favorite characters would be featured? (Could have some problems convincing the comic companies to allow them to be featured...but, I can see it happening for a good cause.)

At the very least, this book should give some current examples of where the money the company raises is used to help those in need of financial assistance. for these stories...but, for the cause.

Red Hood #5

While I enjoyed the first issue of this series, giving the reader a look at the "lost years" from the Red Hood's past, the rest of the issues have only been mildly entertaining. We simply see Jason learning his skills from bad person after bad person...and, when he learns how bad they are, he exacts his revenge in a very killing fashion. (He doesn't mind them being bad; but, he draws the line when it involves innocent people, like children.) Next issue, the conclusion to this mini, looks to spice things up, as Jason goes after The Joker.

REBELS #21

I have mixed feelings on this series lately. I still enjoy Bedard's story, but I've never been a fan of Lobo. For that matter, I'm kind of tired of reading about Green Lanterns...or Red, White and Blue Lanterns! I feel this new storyline could easily be an issue of Green Lantern Corps, and I wish things would get back to the greatness of the first 16 or so issues, when we had the absolute best Starro story I've ever read. By issue's end, though, Bedard finally gets to introduce his entire REBELS squad..which was pretty funny. I just want him to get away from the Lanterns, and let us see some of these members interact with one another.

izombie #6

I really am loving this series. While Sweet Tooth is still my favorite Vertigo title, I think this has now gone to be my #2. Allred's art just works fantastically with this book, and six issues in, I have a great feel and interest in all the characters.

That brings me back to SHIELD, and something that really stands out when comparing this book to that. In those first five issues of izombie, Robertson has introduced us to this rather large cast of characters, and I feel like I'm already invested in them. With SHIELD, I would wonder if anyone feels that way about any of them. If Leonardo..or even the main character...were to die, I don't see myself caring in any way. Beyond the story, they have no emotional impact on me.

Anyway, this issue of izombie tells the origin of the Were-Terrier character. Both funny and touching, Robertson does another excellent job; and, while I love seeing his main story advance, I hope he gives other characters the chance to be spotlighted in the future, too.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

REBELS, I think, has suffered greatly with the loss of Strata. Looking back on those earlier issues, a big part of why I loved them was because the team was pretty evenly split between a group of impressionable newbies Dox had under his thumb and a group of old acquaintances who would call him on his bulls***. None embodied the latter quite so entertainingly as Strata. Now that she's gone and the others, like Wildstar and Ciji and Amon Hakk, have taken a backseat to bigger names like Adam Strange and Lobo and random Green Lanterns, the book barely even feels like it's part of the same series.

 

[JewishHobbit]

What Green Lanterns are in the book? Are they staying on the book?

 

[Tron Bonne]

They're rookie lanterns, I don't even think they've been seen elsewhere, yet. I know John Stewart is suppose to show up soon, too.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Hmm... maybe I'll start looking into Rebels then. When's a good starting point? I don't have the cash to start from day one on the series unfortunately, but I do like the idea of supporting DC after the 2.99 price drops.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Well, the last issue (21) starts a new arc. I'd just go from there, and if there's something that isn't clear, just ask some people around here. Otherwise, you can try going back to the Blackest Night issues and build from there (they kind of do a small recap of the series thus far in those).

 

[Phaedrus45]

Hmm... maybe I'll start looking into Rebels then. When's a good starting point? I don't have the cash to start from day one on the series unfortunately, but I do like the idea of supporting DC after the 2.99 price drops.

Yeah, what Tron said. But, there might be just a bit of confusion as to the various Braniacs you'll see. (I think this only had the two, though.) If you get a chance, you'd really be amazed at how good those first 16 or so issues were. They were really epic.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I'll look into Rebels maybe next week (this week's too big of a week for me to add anything). Like I said, I really respect DC's lowering of prices against Marvel's excuses why they can't do it much so I'd like to support then how I can. If I like the characters in Rebels I may go back and see what I can find. Having GL's in the book is a good link for me to start since I'm a huge fan of the GL line. Not to mention I've been curious about what would happen with Lobo after receiving his Red Lantern Ring in Green Lantern an issue or two ago.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Yeah, this story picks right up with Lobo and the Red Ring.

I can understand wanting to support DC and their many $2.99 comics. But, ya know, when it comes down to it, I enjoy my Marvel Comics quite a bit more than the DC ones. I've probably dropped about 15 DC titles in the past few months, and I don't miss a one of them. Can't say the same if I had to cancel my Marvels.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

If you like the current arc, JewHobs, I'd strongly, strongly recommend going back and picking up the trade of the first arc. You'll have some basic acquaintance with the non-GL characters by then, so the lack of Lanterns shouldn't be a big deal. The first arc was really good.

Phaed: Same with me. I know everyone hates Marvel for being (more) capitalistic bastards lately, but their comics overall are just better than DC's to me. I could drop all of my DC series (not counting Vertigo or Wildstorm) tomorrow and I think I'd only truly miss 2 or 3, at most. Couldn't say the same of my Marvel series.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Just as a bit of interesting news in relation to my review of Neonomicon #2:

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/10/comics-a-m-the-comics-internet-in-two-minutes-196/

Tallahassee, Fla., comics store Secret Headquarters has announced it is refusing to sell Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows’ Neonomicon #2 “due to pornographic content,” and will no longer carry the Avatar Press series: “Secret Headquarters is deeply dismayed that Alan Moore continues to use his reputation as a quality comics author to promote his bizarre sexual philosophies.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Figures it'd be more idiots in Florida. I hate this state sometimes.

 

[Phaedrus45]

Hey! You guys need to get off your butts and start a Bought/Thought thread!

So sad, I won't be doing it as often anymore. I'm substitute teaching now...my previous job fell through, and thankfully I had my previous college education to fall back on. I taught Elementary for the first time today, and LOVED IT! I tried that once...waaay back 18 years ago, before I had kids. Hated it, but the fact I had no children probably played a huge factor in that. At the end of the day, one little girl ran up to me before getting on her bus and gave me a big hug. Just so sweet!

Other than that, I've been doing high school. Ya know, not a whole lot of fun. Many of those kids are rather putzy...and, I think they just see the teacher as the enemy or something. Lots of moaning and groaning, that's for sure. And, you can't get a smile from most of them to save your life. Elementary kids today were SO different. Dang, makes me wish I got an degree with Elementary instead of Secondary.