The New Diamond List for July 8th, 2010

[Phaedrus45]

Ok, new pet peeve! Since Marvel and DC and screwing us with so many $3.99 comics...we now have to pay $4.99 for "double-sized issues." Plus, if Marvel re-orders a comic, like X-Men staring over at #1 this week...you KNOW they will up the price to $3.99!!! Bastards!!!!!!

DC COMICS

AUTHORITY #24 $2.99
BATMAN AND ROBIN #13 $2.99
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #46 $2.99
BATMAN ODYSSEY #1 (OF 6) $3.99
BRIGHTEST DAY #5 $2.99
BRIGHTEST DAY THE ATOM SPECIAL #1 $2.99
GREAT TEN #9 (OF 9) $2.99
GREEK STREET #13 (MR) $2.99
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #27 (MR) $2.99
IZOMBIE #3 (MR) $2.99
JONAH HEX #57 $2.99
RED HOOD LOST DAYS #2 (OF 6) $2.99
RED ROBIN #14 $2.99 - (This book is on the brink of being dropped. I was going to do it last month...but, forgot. We'll see this week if I tell my shop to end my misery.)
SECRET SIX #23 $2.99
SPARTA USA #5 (OF 6) $2.99
SWEET TOOTH #11 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

BRIGADE #1 $3.99 - (Is this based on the old series from the early days of Image?? If so, I might have to check out the first issue for nostalgia's sake. I really loved how these old comics put out those Issue 25 comics....but, they never quite made it to that number. Supreme might have been the only one that did.)
WALKING DEAD #74 (MR)$2.99

MARVEL COMICS

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #636 GRIM $3.99 - (Fantastic storyline! I really think it might be my favorite in the last five years.)
AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #1 (OF 9) $3.99
AVENGERS ORIGIN #4 (OF 5) $3.99
AVENGERS THOR CAPTAIN AMERICA OFF INDEX MU #3 $3.99
CASANOVA #1 (MR) $3.99
DARKSTAR AND WINTER GUARD #2 (OF 3) $3.99
DRACULA #3 (OF 4) $3.99
ELECTRIC ANT #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #32 $4.99
HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #2 $2.99
HERCULES TWILIGHT OF A GOD #2 (OF 4) $3.99
HIT-MONKEY #1 (OF 3) $2.99
IRON MAN LEGACY #4 $2.99
MARVELMAN FAMILYS FINEST #1 (OF 6) $3.99
ORSON SCOTT CARDS ENDER IN EXILE #2 (OF 5) $3.99
RAWHIDE KID #2 (OF 4) $3.99
SCARLET #1 (MR) $3.95
SHADOWLAND #1 (OF 5) SL $3.99
SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (OF 4) $3.99
STAND HARDCASES #2 (OF 5) $3.99
STEVE ROGERS SUPER-SOLDIER #1 (OF 4) $3.99
TAILS OF PET AVENGERS DOGS OF SUMMER $3.99
THANOS SOURCEBOOK $3.99
THOR AND WARRIORS FOUR #4 (OF 4) $2.99
THOR MIGHTY AVENGER #1 $2.99
VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #10 $2.99
X-FORCE #28 XSC $2.99
X-MEN #1 $3.99
X-WOMEN #1 $4.99
YOUNG ALLIES #2 $2.99 - (What a great first issue. Plus, this comic is reasonably priced.)

COMICS

BOYS #44 (MR) $3.99
IRREDEEMABLE #15 $3.99
JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES STORM FRONT VOL 02 #2 (RES) $3.99
SIXTH GUN #2 $3.99 - (This book came out on Free Comic Book Day, and was fantastic! Can't wait to check out the second issue!)

 

[CConn]

Red Robin is a good book though.

 

[JewishHobbit]

It's not bad. I dropped it though. Victom of the $4 price jumps.

 

[Tron Bonne]

RED ROBIN #14 $2.99 - (This book is on the brink of being dropped. I was going to do it last month...but, forgot. We'll see this week if I tell my shop to end my misery.)

Hey, if you do drop it, you should pick up an extra copy of Casanova

BRIGADE #1 $3.99 - (Is this based on the old series from the early days of Image?? If so, I might have to check out the first issue for nostalgia's sake. I really loved how these old comics put out those Issue 25 comics....but, they never quite made it to that number. Supreme might have been the only one that did.)

Yeah, I believe it is

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Red Robin is a good book though.

It appears to be getting a lot better under Niceiza. I didn't care for Yost's first couple issues, so I dropped it early on. But I picked up Niceiza's first issue last month and really enjoyed it. Tim feels like Tim again.

 

[Tron Bonne]

BATMAN AND ROBIN #13 $2.99 - Frazier Irving!
SECRET SIX #23 $2.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #636 GRIM $3.99
AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #1 (OF 9) $3.99
SCARLET #1 (MR) $3.95 - maybe, I havent decided if I want to trade-wait on this
SHADOWLAND #1 (OF 5) SL $3.99 - yummy
STEVE ROGERS SUPER-SOLDIER #1 (OF 4) $3.99

I happened to notice you expressed interest in Casanova in the thread about the series earlier this year and thought I should let you know that this issue of Casanova is actually the series from the beginning, not just the third volume. So, you should forget that Scarlet **** and go for that instead

 

[CantThinkOfAName]

Oh, I didn't know that. Well in that case I'll probably pick it up. I'll pick up both probably.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I actually don't have a clue what that Scarlet thing is, but I saw doubt, so I had to hone in

 

[CrimsonMist]

Hellboy: The Storm #1 - With the revelations in The Wild Hunt, this should be god damn EPIC!!!

Batman & Robin #13 - Thinkin' about dropping it, as after reading the first 12 in one sitting, i thought it was just Grant Morrison going "LOOK AT ALL MY CRAZY COOL CONCEPTS THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER FIVE YEARS FOR AN EXPLANATION!!! YOUR MIND IS BLOWN!" There's nothing to keep me occupied with this.

Batman: Odyssey #1 - From the sounds of it, it's everything and more I want seen done in a Batman comic, a series that goes into the history, mind, and workings of the character without relying on stupid cosmic concepts that seem random or reboots to avoid continuity(i'm looking at you Earth One).

iZombie #3 - This is just pure win.

MarvelMan Family's Finest #1 - I'm put off by the 4 dollar price tag for a black & white comic. i'll also have to be sure to go through my Eclipse Comics reprints of the 50's stories to make sure that Marvel isn't just putting those out again.

Steve Rogers Super Soldier #1 - this looks pretty damn cool

 

[Phaedrus45]

Thank GOD I'm not the only one who hasn't been so impressed with Batman & Robin. While the stories have not been bad, I do not see the big appeal of this title. Just as people are expected to bash Bendis and Loeb, so must people go ga-ga over Morrison.

 

[CantThinkOfAName]

I actually don't have a clue what that Scarlet thing is, but I saw doubt, so I had to hone in

It is not something you would like

 

[Tron Bonne]

Thank GOD I'm not the only one who hasn't been so impressed with Batman & Robin. While the stories have not been bad, I do not see the big appeal of this title. Just as people are expected to bash Bendis and Loeb, so must people go ga-ga over Morrison.

Well, if means anything, I haven't been all that impressed with it, 'cause I haven't been reading it.

It is not something you would like

I looked it up, it seemed like it could be interesting, but something I'd wait for the word first probably. Though, yeah, it's not something that makes my mind explode in joy or anything

 

[cthulhu]

Thank GOD I'm not the only one who hasn't been so impressed with Batman & Robin. While the stories have not been bad, I do not see the big appeal of this title. Just as people are expected to bash Bendis and Loeb, so must people go ga-ga over Morrison.

Yeah what is the big deal with Morrison? I really dont get it Ive tried a number of his projects and while there are some good ideas the exection is nearly unreadable IMHO (I do think his idea for Frank Quietly's name coming from Quite Frankly is quite clever)

 

[JewishHobbit]

I'm like that with Brubaker. Everyone goes gaga over him and I swear I've barely read a thing by him that I liked. Immortal Iron Fist was the only thing that I LOVED. Captain America bored me and Captain America Reborn was even worse. Deadlly Genesis ticked me off big time and wasn't well done and Uncanny X-Men was just kinda okay. Secret Avengers has already gotten off to an 'eh' start.

And Fraction's the same way. I never read the Order, but I loved his Immortal Iron Fist. I got bored of his Iron Man. His Uncanny X-Men is just kinda bleh.

 

[CantThinkOfAName]

All of you are the worst.

 

[Tron Bonne]

And Fraction's the same way. I never read the Order, but I loved his Immortal Iron Fist. I got bored of his Iron Man. His Uncanny X-Men is just kinda bleh.

Well, outside The Immortal Iron Fist, I haven't really cared much for Fraction's Marvel work either. His best works have been his independent work, specifically Casanova and The Five Fists of Science

Coincidentally, Casanova will be starting up again this week from the beginning. Check it out

 

[Dread]

I've never been ga-ga for Grant Morrison since his "New" X-Men days. There, I liked some of his ideas, but not a lot of his execution. Plus, like JMS on WW, he seemed to go out of his way to insult the franchise in interviews and in general sound like a know-it-all schmuck. I gave his BATMAN about four issues during the Kubert art run, and I thought it was very silly (and that was BEFORE the era of seeing Bruce Wayne as a pirate, or a caveman).

I usually enjoy Brubaker's work, but I know he's had his duds. DEADLY GENESIS was rather bad, and uselessly killed Banshee (one of my favorite X-Men; if I made a Top 10 list he'd probably be there at #8 or #9 at least). While I've liked his CAPTAIN AMERICA run, REBORN was probably one of his worst arcs on it, which was a shame because it was supposed to be a climax.

Matt Fraction's not perfect, either. He and Brubaker on IMMORTAL IRON FIST were gold, and Fraction's overall batting average on INVINCIBLE IRON MAN is above average, with some great issues there. Unfortunately, he pads that run out with a lot of slow paced and at times borderline boring issues to pad an arc an extra issue or two. I swear I read the second chapter of his DETROIT STEEL arc and the beginning was so similar to the prior issue that I thought I'd accidentally bought a reprint for the first few pages - it can be THAT bad.

Even Dan Slott, a writer who I absolutely adore on just about everything I read of his, had some elements of his MIGHTY AVENGERS run that I didn't think were quite up to snuff. I still enjoyed it a lot overall, though. I just always thought he missed some potential with U.S. Agent (especially having seen Jeff Parker use him so well in THUNDERBOLTS), and that fight against the Fan Four always seems a bit off to me.

Still, what usually counts a lot with a writer for me is consistency. Every writer will have a story or stories that are worse than some prior ones, or have a batting average of work, with some grand slams and some strike outs. What separates the "must follow" writers to the "oh, god, not again" writers is how well that overall average is to me. And naturally that is very subjective; we all have our own measuring sticks. But I must say that I'd follow, say, Jeff Parker or Christos Gage, two writers who are great but don't get enough publicity, farther than I'd follow Brian M. Bendis, JMS, Grant Morrison or even to a degree, Matt Fraction.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Well, I like Grant Morrison overall, but unlike some of his other more devout followers, I can easily see where some people don't like him. His stuff is always skating that line of being too bizarre and strange for most. He's a lot like David Lynch in that aspect. He can hit that middle mark between strange and standard that resonates with more or less everyone, but when he's 'let off the leash' so speak, it's too much for some. I actually think that's one of the reasons a lot of his creator owned work hasn't sold very well. I'm usually fine with it myself, like Lynch, but I can't really belittle people for not enjoying it, because it's simply not something a lot of people enjoy.

 

[CrimsonMist]

Well, I like Grant Morrison overall, but unlike some of his other more devout followers, I can easily see where some people don't like him. His stuff is always skating that line of being too bizarre and strange for most. He's a lot like David Lynch in that aspect. He can hit that middle mark between strange and standard that resonates with more or less everyone, but when he's 'let off the leash' so speak, it's too much for some. I actually think that's one of the reasons a lot of his creator owned work hasn't sold very well. I'm usually fine with it myself, like Lynch, but I can't really belittle people for not enjoying it, because it's simply not something a lot of people enjoy.

It's not that I find his stuff too bizarre and strange. As a comics fan, a horror fan and a sci-fi fan, it all comes with the package. There's no denying that, and I actually really like his concepts. But my problem with Morrison is that his entire run consists of concepts, and the story suffers because he's too busy trying to be mind blowing than making me actually care about the characters. There's no emotional connection to anything going on. It's cool if you want to have all sorts of crazy time travel, back-up personalities and all other sorts of cosmic craziness in your story. But if you can't make readers connect to the story through everything else that goes into writing a story, people won't read it.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm like that with Brubaker. Everyone goes gaga over him and I swear I've barely read a thing by him that I liked. Immortal Iron Fist was the only thing that I LOVED. Captain America bored me and Captain America Reborn was even worse. Deadlly Genesis ticked me off big time and wasn't well done and Uncanny X-Men was just kinda okay. Secret Avengers has already gotten off to an 'eh' start.

And Fraction's the same way. I never read the Order, but I loved his Immortal Iron Fist. I got bored of his Iron Man. His Uncanny X-Men is just kinda bleh.

Trying Fraction's Invincible Iron Man three times now and failing to remain interested for more than an arc (not even that this last time) has me pretty worried about his Thor run. I'm sure it'll sell well because he seems to have mastered that "talking heads magnetism" thing that Bendis does, where people will always buy his boring-ass comics filled with characters doing nothing but talking for page after page after page; I just hope I'm still personally able to enjoy it.

 

[imdaly]

MARVEL COMICS

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #636
AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #1
AVENGERS ORIGIN #4
CASANOVA #1
DARKSTAR AND WINTER GUARD #2
DRACULA #3
ELECTRIC ANT #4
FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #32
HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #2
HERCULES TWILIGHT OF A GOD #2
HIT-MONKEY #1
IRON MAN LEGACY #4
MARVELMAN FAMILYS FINEST #1
ORSON SCOTT CARDS ENDER IN EXILE #2
RAWHIDE KID #2
SCARLET #1
SHADOWLAND #1
SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC FOUR #1
STAND HARDCASES #2
STEVE ROGERS SUPER-SOLDIER #1
TAILS OF PET AVENGERS DOGS OF SUMMER
THOR AND WARRIORS FOUR #4
THOR MIGHTY AVENGER #1
VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #10
X-FORCE #28
X-MEN #1
X-WOMEN #1
YOUNG ALLIES #2

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