tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49979695226231751262024-02-19T15:09:21.933-08:00Why Comic Books SuckWell they don't always - Sometimes Great and sometimes notJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-47597410772157854062015-08-22T08:03:00.001-07:002015-08-22T08:03:16.155-07:00The Ruination of The Big Two or Why Marvel and DC Comics Suck Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Where I continue to bitch, whine and moan like the curmudgeon
I have become. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next up is the lack of continuity. This is related to
no cohesive universe but also different. One example is what Marvel is doing
now by playing fast and loose with what survives Secret Wars and what does not.
Add in an eight month jump when restarting their books and you have the New
DCU. Remember DC said they were not resetting everything after Flashpoint, but
they did and were constantly adjusting things on the fly. Now Didio has stated
continuity is not important only telling a good story. Which would be great if
they were producing books like All Star Superman, New Frontier, Dark Knight
Returns, Alan Moores’ Swamp Thing. Instead what this has come to mean is that
when a new creative team comes on a book expect a restart of continuity. If
doesn’t tie into what came before, don’t worry just enjoy the great story. This may work at times, but for me it is too
jarring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I read a series I get invested in the characters.
Starting over and make jarring changes causes me to lose a sense of the
character’s identity. If I lose interest that I stop caring about their
continuing adventures. Maybe I’ll buy a trade of a good arc down the road, but
why invest in the continuing series. DC really screwed up by introducing a lot
of stuff in the back up stories during the Convergence disaster (or event).
When I tried out a series or two I was already not starting at the beginning as
eight pages had happened as a backup story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It doesn’t help that the characters never grow older
so the incredible weight of the amount of back stories is impossible to handle.
The writers are forced to pick and choose what is important. So fifty plus
years later Peter Parker matronly Aunt May is still around and had more
adventures then Indiana Jones. Marvel writer’s supposedly have a sliding scale
that everything happened in last ten years, but that means Captain (Steve
Rogers) America was thawed out in 2005. It doesn’t work, the characters are not
creations of 2005. They are creations of 1960’s. Worse even the replacements
Marvel has shoved in the character roles are still old creations. Sam Wilson
and Jane Foster are old as dirt. At least Ms. Marvel is a fresh face. With both
companies any investment you make into a
character or a series will be unceremonious dumped at one point and what “made”
the character for you may now be gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another issue with many comic books is the casting of
characters into roles as opposed to paying attention to established
characteristics. It used to be that characters were so well defined that when a
writer placed them in certain situations you would know how character “A” would
react. The comics almost wrote themselves was what some writers said at that
time. If a character reacted in a different manner then established some
reasoning would be given. I think I first noticed the casting of characters
into roles with Marvel’s Civil War. In order for a Civil War to occur you
needed the characters to act a certain way. The characters were cast into roles
to fit what story the writer wanted to tell. Characters acted less heroic and
very out of character. No rhyme or reason was given. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This has led to more and more the writers coming in who
wanted to tell their story. Often they will just use any character and ignore
long standing characteristics and relationships. So Wolverine and Cyclops
decide to hate each other. Wolverine becomes a professor at the mutant school.
Hal Jordan loses his mind and kills the Green Lantern corps. Of course part of
this problem is companies’ inability to allow characters to age and have a new
generation under the mask. With a character that has been around for 50 years
these are often the only way some writers can manage to introduce some drama
and excitement. Or the dramatic retro-con, where we find out previously unknown
relatives or revelations about a characters past. Still I feel that way too
often a writer wants to tell his grand story (often a rehash of a Shakespearian
play) or editorial mandate that Avengers will fight X-Men and then they cast
the roles. So Juliet will be Sue Storm and Romeo will be Spider-Man, makes no
sense, who cares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the same vein I believe way too many writers want
to make some social or political point. Now we all have a world view (except
maybe Kim Kardashian) so I get that you may try to slide in your POV here and
there. That is all well and good, but it is like being beaten with a sledge
hammer anymore. A recent example was in Thor, now a woman. She is Thor for five
seconds and is being lauded as a better then the former Thor. Male bashing was
in abundance in that book. I have no issue with trying to diversify and
represent other groups but you don’t raise up anyone by beating down on someone
else. I have worked with people who felt tearing down others was the best way
to make themselves look good, I disagree. What gets lost in pushing your agenda
in an overt manner is that the writers and companies are not writing stories
for the characters. It seldom feels like writers are coming onto a book with a
vision of who the character is and try to make that happen. Grant Morrison is
perhaps the last writer that I can remember who really did that with X-Men and
Batman. He actually cared about the characters and wrote stories to advance the
characters. If he dropped in his world view here and there, that is fine, but
the story should come first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Remember you can buy the single issues of this column
and also get the variant covers. We have the A, B, C and D covers that were all
produced at the same rate. Next are the E, F & G covers that are rare,
rarer and rarest. Of course we also have the retailer incentive cover, which is
the same cover where we just drop the coloring and made it black and white.
This is even more rarest and we call it the Virgin Art cover, because it sounds
sexy. Coming soon Part 3!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-42267985084620323162015-08-18T16:51:00.000-07:002015-08-18T16:51:09.767-07:00The Ruination of The Big Two or Why Marvel and DC Comics Suck Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It is becoming harder and harder for me to be able to
actually be critical of Marvel and DC because I read less and less of their
books. I’m only getting one Marvel comic. That is the Jeff Lemire Hawkeye books
scheduled for only eight issues I believe. With DC I have dropped so many books
recently and find it hard to even read what I get. I know I’m sticking with JLA
by Johns because he has ignored the newest DC reset. I can also say that I get
zero books under the Batman family or Superman family. In total I might be getting
six or seven books from the big two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are a number of reasons for this and it has lead
me to conclude that Marvel and DC are currently at a creative nadir. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the major reasons is the editorial mandates
that are controlling way too many books. Dan Didio at DC has been notorious for
changing direction on the fly and making one decision and then another.
Re-writes being called for and not paid for was a persistent rumor about DC as
creators fled in what seemed like droves at one point. Didio finally get
complete control of things at DC after Levitz and Jeanette Kahn left management.
One of his first things he did was the new DCU. Those in one fell swoop he
mandated the destruction of all the past history of the company. One of the
core elements of DC was its legacy and now it was gone. He also hired Bob
Harras as his EIC, who by all accounts failed at Marvel in the same role years
ago. We are already on a second revamp
with the DC You crap. I personally can’t read 90% of what DC produces because
none of it has any staying power as Dan and Bob will force a change in
direction in a New York minute. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Marvel is just as bad since Disney has taken over more
and more I feel like the stories are being given a strong push by management in
the direction they are going. Death of Wolverine was a prime example of
something the company decided they wanted to do and therefore Wolverine died.
Now with the mandated eight month jump in time as Marvel does their half ass
reboot after Secret Money Grab, eer War – we have odd variations of characters
being advertised as All New All Different, yet just the same (or so Marvel
tries to promise). There has always been editorial interference and direction
being pushed from above in comics. The difference was before I felt like a lot
more was allowed to occur a little more organically. At least some of the ideas
percolated up to management for approval as opposed to being mandated strictly
from above. It takes the heart out of
the books as you can feel the stories have no impact and the characters are
serving only to advance some plot that does not always fit them or what has
gone before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another reason that the big two are dying is a lack of
a cohesive universe. One can make the argument that this happened a long time
ago and that is true to a large degree. It is worse now. Even going back to
Morrison’s run on JLA, he had to acknowledge the shifts that occurred to major
characters. When Superman was Superman Blue, he was in JLA. Now Johns JL has
Superman and Batman like we know them to be for the most part. Yet in their books
Superman is depowered and has a buzz cut and Batman is Jim Gordon with a robot
body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Marvel does a little better as changes to Captain America and Thor were
recognized rather quickly in the Avengers while I was still reading their
books. Again though the cohesion is not really there with Marvel. This is most
evident with the Avengers books. There is no way I have ever seen how
Remender’s Uncanny Avengers ever tied into to the Hickman Magnum Opus. Trying
to make the X-Men books fit into that mess is even more of fool’s errand. I
don’t need all of this stuff to tie 100% together like Marvel did in the
beginning, but I like to think I’m reading about one universe. At this point I
was often taken out of stories when internal logic fell apart. Hell even within
titles that star the same characters there is no rhyme or reason as to what is
going on in another title until a cross-over and then we get a jam sandwich.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m planning this as a multipart post (maybe 3) and
then of course we will do a collected hardcover version, then release a trade
paperback version and in three years if it sold well a deluxe version with
previous pieces of scrap paper we found on the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-88768938641073897252015-06-23T06:20:00.001-07:002015-06-23T06:20:03.254-07:00My Open Letter to DC Comics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear DC Comics,<br />
<br />
The new half page ad in your comics is destroying any enjoyment I was getting out of your books. I have had issues with enjoying the books since the New 52, but this is even worse. I have never enjoyed the ads through out the comics, but have come to accept those. Half page ads are annoying, but often in older books it was at the end of the story or one page full art and one page half ad/art. This two page half ad double page spread absolutely destroys the flow of the story.<br />
<br />
I have tried to remain a fan as I enjoyed the characters for decades now, but I think that time has come to end. Even with a better price point that Marvel or most independent comics the story flow is now horrendous. I have tried and cancelled after one issue 8 of the 10 re-launched series.<br />
<br />
I have been a long time fan, a comic book retailer in the nineties and ran a blog for awhile (Comics And...). So it is with a heavy heart that I have to say the New 52 and now this recent slate of books and the ad stuff is all becoming too much.<br />
<br />
I have dropped Marvel comics (except for the odd collection) and feel like I may drop all DC for now soon. I know as an older fan (59) I'm not the target market but I do think the line needs a course correction and an up and down re-evaluation to build a long term success and not a constant mode of re-launches and gimmicks.<br />
<br />
Thanks for your attention.<br />
<br />
PS - Please reschedule the Captain Comet Archives - I always wanted to read that material. </div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-54000913669612857662015-06-06T10:17:00.000-07:002015-06-06T10:17:15.566-07:00Marvel Comics Rapes Their Fans and They Like It – An Outsider’s View<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay I’m not a 100% outsider. Still since I just
recently declared myself Marvel free a little while ago maybe I can claim an
outsider status. So I finally jump ship and then I read the BIG news out of
Marvel. It made me sick to my stomach. All New All Different WE Want All Your
Money Marvel. At least Marvel has made my decision to zero out any books from
them a lot easier and they even cancelled the only title I was getting from them
with issue #8 I believe (the Lemire written Hawkeye). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So the All New All Different Marvel Universe is
talking about launching around 60 new #1 issues. It all starts after the end of
Secret Wars and has an eight month time jump. A total reboot, right? No, not at
all. <i><span style="color: red;">Alex Alonso, Marvel’s Editor in
Chief, states “</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i><span style="color: red;">This is not a reboot. We are not
erasing our history, or throwing away any old stories; we are building on our
history. The Marvel Universe that greets readers in "All-New,
All-Different Marvel" is going to be the Marvel Universe that you know and
love -- and recognize -- but it's also going to include some new stuff -- new
characters, new places, new things, new artifacts of great importance -- that
should make it even more interesting.” </span></i>Good try Mr. Alonso, good try. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Marvel is desperately trying to do a
re-launch of their entire line up of comics, as DC did a few years back. They
are also trying to avoid the calamity that befell DC as DC threw away the
legacy aspect of the DCU. A major strength of DC was flushed down the toilet in
a grab to shake things up. Change just to change is never a good idea. Marvel
is being smart by campaigning that even though Secret Wars will have an impact
on some characters and may make some continuity changes they are not wiping out
their history. Yes the All New All Different Marvel Universe is all bright
shining and new, but it is still the same Marvel Universe you love. Selling
these two points at the same time is creating some of the greatest cognitive
dissonance in comic book history. Yes Bruce Banner is now Catilyn Banner, but
she is still the Hulk. Yes Old Man Logan is now in present day, but he is still
the original Wolverine. Yes Iron Man is now Pepper Potts, but she is still the
armored Avenger. It is a clever marketing ploy, but one, that for me, is a
stinking heap<span class="apple-converted-space"> of cow dung.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Where
all this becomes egregious is when you realize what type of impact this will
have on the actual business of selling comics to the fan base that still
exists. First and foremost you are making comic books stores bet the house. My
guess is there will be some heavy promotion discounts if you order enough books.
My worry for the retailers is there will not be returns allowed. If, as I suspect, most of these #1s are $5
price points that means an increased risk for a retailer. Granted there is
increased reward in more profit. Still many stores are small operations that
could go under with a few bad months or even one bad month. If a retailer
orders 100 issues of every new number one (use 60) that is an investment (at
50% discount) of $15,000. Meaning to just break even on his invoice from Marvel
he will need to move 3,000 books. Too often a retailer will get caught up in
the hype from Marvel and not look at their overall sales to realize those type
of numbers have never happened for their store; so why should it happen now.
Another hidden cost of this type of launch is unsold copies of books from other
companies. If a customer can only spend $50 and goes all Marvel, that means
anything else he was normally buying goes unsold on the retailer’s shelf. It is
a dangerous game that the retailer has to play and I hope Marvel gives support
in the way of a return program of some sort. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
other retailer problem is how you order for a new #1 issue of a comic. Maybe a
book like the All New All Different Spider-Man you can base on sales of the
prior ASM books, but the All New All Different Red Wolf (or whatever) is a
major crap shoot. Of course Marvel will push as hard as they can to make fans
feel like they have to try all the titles and the first couple months could be
a great success. The problem is having a new toy immediately ends the next day
as it is no longer new. I’m sure there will be variant covers all over the
place and the “rare” ones will be on Ebay as soon as the store gets them from
Diamond or even before as a pre-order. As an ex-retailer the idea of relying on
Ebay to make my store profitable is a scary proposition. If my store is stable
and doing well, Ebay as supplemental income is great, as a source to make it work,
it is like going to Vegas. Remember only the winners’ brag about how they did. When
the speculators wake up and realize they have wasted their money that variant
market could disappear in a heartbeat. None of this is made easier when DC has
just crapped out 24 new #1s or something close to it and Image is rolling out
#1s like hotcakes at an IHOP. Strong stores will survive and many will even
thrive, the smaller stores are going to possibly go under trying to guess what
to order. It can be just as deadly to not have the book your customers want as
it is to have too many. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Of
course there is the actual fans themselves. Now a fool and his money is soon
parted, so Marvel is hoping to find around 50,000 fools per book would be my
guess. Marvel has always pushed the price point of books depending on the
inelasticity of demand that comic books have often demonstrated. If Marvel
moves all of their books to five dollars, even for just the first issue, I
think that could be the final straw. For me the five dollar price point is the
line in the sand, we will only go this far and no further and other statements
to that effect. The supposed inflation rate over the last few years has been
relatively insignificant if you believe government reporting. Even if you don’t
a jump from $4 to $5 is a 25% increase in price. For $11 bucks or less I can
see a 2 hour movie, buy two on demand movies and purchase at least one digital
book. All of these alternatives give me way more than the maximum 10 or 15
minutes entertainment that two comic books may give me. The bang for the buck
is not there when a comic cost $5. Sure you might be able to re-sell some of
the books on Ebay or elsewhere, but that is just normally recouping some of
your cost and never a guarantee. Also I believe there is only a certain level
of spending that the fans will make towards comic books. So any success that
Marvel has could well come via reduction of sales for other companies. Let’s
face it that is what competition is all about. It may seem unfair, but it is
the nature of the beast. The stores have to invest in Marvel for fear of
missing out and therefore may order less of other books in some cases. That means
that the books from other companies will not be on the stands. Of course an
aggressive play by another publisher to push lower discounts on their books
while the re-launch of Marvel happens could offset that disadvantage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Sadly
Marvel seems to have an unshakeable hold on the market and they can generate
excitement for the All Retread All Marketing Ploy Marvel Comics Now. I’m just
glad to be out of the picture and have no desire to jump back in. I guess the
fan base is recycling faster than ever. Personally I would find it hard to
truly get invested in a character who is going to be reset every year or two or
gendered or race swapped at the drop of a hat. New times, new market, it will
be interesting to watch from the sidelines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-60229629914445702922015-06-03T13:20:00.002-07:002015-06-03T13:20:41.871-07:00Why Marvel Comics Lost Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a 59 year old white heterosexual male I understand
that I am no longer a target market. Heck at this point I’m sure my opinion
means less to a major corporation then almost any other point in
my lifetime. Still why Marvel lost me is at least an intellectual exercise for
me to put a rationale on what is at the end of the day an emotion decision. The
emotion is due to a parting of ways from characters that inspired my love of
comics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I think first and foremost it is price point. Every
Marvel book is now at least $4. The trend to making more and more titles $5 is
frightening. Due to a discount structure and the way I buy my books I have
never felt the full force of the $4 price tag. I have felt the creep in overall
cost. I make a good wage and have an indulgent wife, so how much disposable
income I can drop on comics is for the most part at my discretion. A $100 a
week in books is not too much. Still I want a bang for my buck and Marvel no
longer delivers. The $4 price point “gives me” a “free” digital version of the
comic. Problem is I don’t like digital comics and could care less about having
a free digital version. I gave away my digital books to a friend of mine. So
the extra $1 is a total waste of money. As Marvel is the highest price point of
the bigger publishers dropping 5 Marvel books coming out next week reduced the
retail price by $20. Image has some $3 and many $3.50 books and DC still has
many $3 books. Plus Marvel is pushing that $5 envelope very hard with Secret
Wars and Old Man Logan clocking in at $5. So if those five books are a savings
of $25. That means I could try 8 DC $3 books for the same price of 5 Marvel
books or 6 $4 books from an independent company. Pure dollar and cents make
Marvel the easiest to drop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next up is the convoluted never ending stories. I love
a great epic storyline. Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli is
the best Daredevil story ever done and one of the top ten storylines ever done.
I have the Artist Edition of the story and recently re-read it. It still holds
up as one of the best stories ever done. What we have gotten to in many modern
comics is the never ending epic and a cast of characters to make Game of
Thrones seem like a small cast. The biggest offender is Jonathan Hickman and
his Avengers / New Avengers run. These two books both had around 40 plus issues
meandering all over the place with a cast of at least 100 different people.
This all lead up to the highly convoluted Secret Wars, which after two issues I
gave up. I have a decent IQ, my retention for comics is decent, but the story
was not even making any coherent comic book sense. Worse is all the run up to
get us to Secret Wars seem to have no ending or basis of impacting anything. I
understand that trying to comprehend the Rise and Fall of The Roman Empire can
take a lot of time, study and reading to just begin to comprehend all the
elemnets. The same with the rise of Nazism in Germany. There are myriad amount
of elements that allowed this to happen in a country of rationale people. I
should not have to be that involved to try and understand this story line.
Worse is that many elements are left on the wayside and scattered like so many
Chris Claremont X-Men sub plots. I just ask that Marvel entertain me. What they
are doing instead if expecting some cool concepts and pretty art to make it
work. It doesn’t work. As educated and literate as many of today’s writers are,
the stories told my Miller, Byrne, Shooter and Claremont were far superior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another element that has pushed me over the edge is
the seeming progressive liberal agenda being pushed in comic books. My personal
politics are libertarian with probably a slight left tilt, as I’m very liberal
on social issues, fiscal conservative, less government when possible and for
getting us the heck out of the Middle East. That is a preamble to the fact that
if you want a transgendered hero, more female heroes, more racial differences
in your heroes, that is all well and good, but do not do at the expense and
denigration of the heroes that had been there before. I think Thor might have
been the one that drove me over the edge. Female Thor shows up and she is
better than the old Thor. Not only that but it was a lot of male bashing. You do
not build yourself up by dragging others down. I for one have always wanted
change, so change is good, but change just to change is crap. I think DC, prior
to New 52 had the right idea. Mr. Terrific from the golden age had been
replaced by a new black Mr. Terrific in the modern age. Michael Holt had a
great back story, was a genius and was every bit of the hero. In other words
the next generation of the hero. Batman letting Dick Grayson take over and his
son be the new Robin was a great change. In fact Batman had a great history and
having female iterations of the characters and did a bang up job with a lot of
those characters. Heck the FF could have done a great job by letting Valeria
grow up and run the next generation of the FF. Iceman could have had a son and
he could have been gay. But artificially making Thor unworthy and obviously
trying to force fit retroactive personalities on characters who have decades of
back story does not work for me. I feel like it is an agenda to diversify. Making
the characters look different, but all have the same voice is not
diversification. Diversify the voices telling the stories, bring in other
writers with different viewpoints and let the stories be more organic. I know
from reading a lot of different articles that the color of the writers and
editors is lily white and the voices inside would make USC Berkley proud. So
whether there is a true agenda or not, who knows, but I feel like who I am is
not valued as a customer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally, and perhaps this is the most telling the
characters are dead. By never allowing characters to age and move on, the
million stories told about the characters have made them dried up worthless
husks. Stories are told with no regards for who the characters are, they are
told to tell some story either the writer or editorial staff comes up with. The
lack of imagination is astounding as writers are apparently unable to writer
older heroes, married heroes or whatever the case maybe. Instead gimmicks and
time jumps are used to artificially make an event or story. The Cyclops, Reed
Richards, Sue Storm, Tony Stark, Storm of today are unrecognizable after the
many stories have been told about them over the years. In fact most of the
characters have few defining characteristics that are stable. No one is who
they were and often it changes from comic to comic. There was a time where I
felt the characters were so strong that no matter what writer was telling a
story you knew how a character would react to a situation because you knew
them. Now, it feels like this are just exactly what they are drawings on a
piece of paper with words inserted into their mouths by whoever is the current
writer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of that has led me to leave Marvel behind. My
wallet thanks me and I have my collection of great stories to re-read at some
future time. As Disney moves to make Marvel more of a licensing publisher
operation I’m sure financial success will continue. For me the fun and desire
to read the current stories is dead. Sadly something of my love for these
characters has died also. I guess we will always have Amazing Spider-Man 31-33,
as opposed to Paris. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-32384476134406311122015-06-02T12:27:00.002-07:002015-06-02T12:27:57.108-07:00I'm Back <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well I will be in a day or so.<br />
<br />
Not going to be publishing regular at all and I get that this blog almost does not exist, but I wanted to put my thoughts out there is why I have dropped Marvel comics.<br />
<br />
Need to do an edit and should be good to go in a day or so.<br />
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-65809130582463410822013-11-30T09:39:00.001-08:002013-11-30T09:39:15.255-08:00Infinity by Hickman vs Uncanny Avengers #14 by Remender<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Marvel has become the king of the epic story telling. No
longer are they content with decompressed six part stories and writing for the
trade, Hickman now writes stories for the Omnibus. The Game of Thrones success has
probably emboldened writers to go for the epic. The Odyssey is now the standard
for short stories. The difference is that as I read Game of Thrones (on book 4
at this point) characters die and they are not coming back in the next issue.
Once Ned Stark is beheaded his story is over. In comic books a death is just
something to mark the occasion as it were. It can be a big climax scene, a precursor
to future stories, but we know in a year or three when the character is needed
they will be revived in some way shape or form.</div>
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This week Hickman’s Infinity mini-series came to a close,
bringing to a conclusion parts of some story lines and in the same week in
Uncanny Avengers #14 three old time Marvel characters bit the dust. In my view
the single issue of Uncanny Avengers #14 was a lot better then Hickman magus
opus. </div>
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Infinity ends and the Avengers and many others beat back the
Builders who were destroying the Universe. They then come home to Earth and are
being beaten by Thanos. That is of course until his son beats him and then
flies off to be the next generation of Thanos; his son Thane. Thane (sound like
saying Shane with a lisp) apparently will be worse then his Dad. After 10
issues or more of Avengers, about 6 issues of New Avengers and six issues of
the actual mini-series what exactly happened. Well the characters Hickman
introduced when he took over Avengers are now defeated and some are back to
work rebuilding all the worlds destroyed. All the former Empires in the Galaxy are
back up and running and Earth is saved. Except in New Avengers Earth is still
in danger of being wiped out as Black Swan laughs off what the Avengers
accomplished as next to nothing. And wait, the Inhumans have loosed the
Terrigen Mist on earth.</div>
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Okay so for about $100 retail, essentially nothing happened
and it is all setting up the Inhumans. Apparenty they are the next set of mutants
because Marvel does not own the X-Men for the movies and need a franchise to
use as surrogate X-Men for the movies. No explanation that I picked up (and
granted I’m reading a ton of stuff and do not follow the Avengers in great
detail) made sense for why all of a sudden we have branches of Inhumans all
over the Earth or why Black Bolt decided to loose the mists worldwide. Also the
entire battle against the builders is already been shown to be a thing of the
past and no repercussions even in comic book terms happened. Worse the real menace
is still building as Hickman drones on and on in New Avengers. I can’t follow
this guy anymore at Marvel. I was unable to hang on to Secret Warriors,
Fantastic Four and now have to kick Avengers to the curb. Hickman has some
great ideas, some very cool moments and is now being blessed with top tier artists,
but the books are a mile wide and an inch deep. What happened that changed
anything? All stories do not have to have some game changing moment, but a $100
epic should.</div>
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On the other hand Remender, who is guilty of the long long
story form also, manages to make a single issue in his epic stand out as a
great stand alone issue. Oh the deaths are not super important as they will be
fixed down the road or next issue, but it was about Wanda, Wonder Man and
Rouge. The characters and the way they feel were front and center in the midst
of telling a greater story. Hickman never builds his characters as it is about
the ideas and not the people. All stories have to be about the people and
Remender made me feel like he actually cared about the characters.</div>
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A small side bar to end this column, back Remender with
Black Science and Hickman with East of West are doing their best stuff with
creator owned books at Image. I get that the Marvel check is important and a great
job for these guys, but for my money these books are more fun. </div>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-72597015675343953142013-11-23T06:55:00.001-08:002013-11-23T06:55:36.850-08:00Why DC Has Killed The Love of Comic Books<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I asked both Gwen and Jamie to give me their thoughts on
what has happened in general to their love of comic books as both of my
daughters are now grown and have started families of their own. I waited and
waited but Gwen’s schedule never allowed her to be able to give any input to
me. Jamie managed to squeeze out the time to give me her feedback. </div>
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My continual rants about how the new DCU has pushed me over
the edge with super hero books may sound like a one note complaint, except for
the fact that both of my daughters have lost interest also. So the fifty plus
crowd losing interest maybe one thing the 24-34 year old market is another.
With further ado or prelude Jamie’s thoughts on the matter.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The first book I
ever remember reading was a comic book. I don’t remember what issue, but I do
remember some of the details. It was a Detective Comics book and Joker
(surprisingly) was attacking Batman. I found the issue in our basement and I
remember being delighted that I could figure out the basic words on my own. It
must have been familiar to me, as my father regularly read us Batman comics as
bedtime stories. The pictures were exciting and the voices he used to reflect
the various characters compelling captured my sister and my intent interest. Is
it any wonder we both grew nostalgically attached to the DC Universe. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Yet, this wasn’t the only reason for
the attachment. I was born in 1986, and for those that remember DC universe
history this was a huge period for character development and epic story arcs. I
was born the same year the Crisis story arc came to completion. I worked in my
father’s store during the build-up and fall-out of Zero hour. I worked in my
father’s store during the Death of Superman. I worked in my father’s store when
Batman’s back was broken. I saw the story of the speed force completely revamp
the nature of DC’s speedsters and change them from individuals to a family. I
fell in love with the golden age heroes as they returned from the parallel
world they had been sent to and were given a mini-series that still reigns as
an all-time favorite. I even wrote my
first letter to DC at the age of seven after being devastated by the death of
Doctor Midnight. I am the avid fan, I am the loyal reader; so how is that I now
dread opening a DC comic. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> If I was going to mark the beginning
of this dramatic shift in DC’s stories, I would have to focus on the death of Elongated
Man’s wife (Identity Crisis) and then his death (52 Series). I believe DC was
concerned about the rising interest in edgier realistic comics. They wanted to
show the dark side of the heroes, the realty that may couple this extreme power
and intense lifestyle. DC missed the mark. Sure, many readers were interested
in this arc, at first; after all it was different, new and it explored the
characters we knew so well in a fresh light. But in the aftermath, the whole
adventure tainted the images we had. Wonder Woman a murderer, Batman a traitor
to his friends, and another Robin an orphan. When it dawned on DC that its
readers went to vertigo and independent comics for the darkness and came to
them for the hope; they scrambled to get back the former glory of “wonder
years.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> The return and replacement of Hal
Jordan and Barry Allen was intended to reignite the love of fans with their
former heroes; however, the loyal fans who had continued to read the series
through the next incarnation of these heroes were left wondering why. Why did
we commit ourselves to embracing the alterations in the story arcs and the
growth of the next generation if they are so easily replaced? Why did we become
interested and involved in storylines that will simple be erased when the death
of a hero is no longer convenient? How can we trust the people in charge of our
favorite stories when they have no respect for continuity? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> And it didn’t end there. The age of
rebirth and convoluted story arcs that crippled Marvel in the late 80s and
early 90s has found its next victim. The twenty seven years I have spent
devoted to characters in the DC universe has meant nothing, we are supposed to just
accept that beautiful stories will be corrupted by the hands of the now artless
DC creators. When people used to ask me why I read DC over Marvel, I never
hesitated… I said, “DC focuses on the character development and story arcs;
whereas Marvel, is all about the action and the quick buck.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now I say
nothing, and wondering where poor Wally West went. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And so it goes as the DCU now is a place that any
pre NEW DCU fan feels alienated from. Now none of us eagerly anticipate any of
the stories as the characters we know are not who we know. They have the same
names, but with their history changed the characters are just names and not
characters we care about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-40439058084918702222013-11-06T14:12:00.001-08:002013-11-06T14:12:30.782-08:00Handle with White Gloves!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHVRTsBMjDtXIon2dsvC0xYS4IHjlo2b2pQPFcMqDWeODBtShe5_xBw-eEbYNPEY-fMyjWK8E3J1b-I639AcxhahlfdVojqSdAQNN1aTX5e1RmeNBr15SK3PpHXU-l117ynaw0oEzKHMj/s1600/blog_Amazing+X-Men+%23001+thumb+print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHVRTsBMjDtXIon2dsvC0xYS4IHjlo2b2pQPFcMqDWeODBtShe5_xBw-eEbYNPEY-fMyjWK8E3J1b-I639AcxhahlfdVojqSdAQNN1aTX5e1RmeNBr15SK3PpHXU-l117ynaw0oEzKHMj/s640/blog_Amazing+X-Men+%23001+thumb+print.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
How do you like this variant cover? Check out the ultra-rare one-of-a-kind thumb print! How did I get such a special issue. I made it myself! Accidentally of course. My hands were not wet in the least -- this simply happened from body heat and I've got a lite touch! It's a good thing I liked the issue so much, because I would never be able to resell it now. The other problem is that the digital code sticker stuck. For a big time outfit like Marvel, they sure do skimp on the printing!!!</div>
Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-67365182885929851402013-11-02T08:29:00.000-07:002013-11-02T08:29:18.135-07:00November Books I Looking Forward To Getting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Posting only on rare occasions and on a blog I never pushed
or developed means this is going out to only a few parties. Of course I never
worried about audience as it is not like I’m running for political office
(yet). Plus it gives me a list of what
I’m looking for every month. </div>
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I plan to have another write up on what the new DCU has done
for many fans. I hope to have both of my daughters’ views as young adults who
have also been turned off comics in general and DC in particular. I feel that despite the current sales success
that house of cards that is the new DC is primed to collapse. </div>
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Alright on to the list, the first company I want to check
out is Image.</div>
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A new book by Rick Remender is coming out called Black
Science. I love most of Rick’s work but it often falls apart as he gets too
convoluted in some of his story telling. I loved Fear Agent, X-Force and have
enjoyed Uncanny Avengers so this book is a definite yes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAPT9CpL9oPRN2mALbVvFqwnmJJTd-U_r2SbdgfVzndlfvCg_s7aP9F1CrEN2DIiGBdgvZ6y2Rs9cOSa9jJNVoDsdA64zqcTCJ4Whdx4qyBt-l47xLRkoyCfiY77BgYAJTCai1jsXq3U/s1600/blackscience01_coverA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAPT9CpL9oPRN2mALbVvFqwnmJJTd-U_r2SbdgfVzndlfvCg_s7aP9F1CrEN2DIiGBdgvZ6y2Rs9cOSa9jJNVoDsdA64zqcTCJ4Whdx4qyBt-l47xLRkoyCfiY77BgYAJTCai1jsXq3U/s320/blackscience01_coverA.jpg" width="210" /></a><i><b><span style="color: yellow;">BLACK SCIENCE #1 — GEM OF THE MONTH</span></b><br />
story RICK REMENDER<br />
art MATTEO SCALERA & DEAN WHITE<br />
NOVEMBER 27<br />
32 PAGES / FC / M<br />
$3.50<br />
Grant McKay, former member of The Anarchistic Order of Scientists, has finally
done the impossible: He has deciphered Black Science and punched through the
barriers of reality. But what lies beyond the veil is not epiphany, but chaos.
Now Grant and his team are lost, living ghosts shipwrecked on an infinite ocean
of alien worlds, barreling through the long-forgotten, ancient, and
unimaginable dark realms. The only way is forward. The only question is how far
are they willing to go, and how much can they endure, to get home again?<br />
Join writer RICK REMENDER and the superstar art team of MATTEO SCALERA &
DEAN WHITE for this face-melting science fiction epic spanning the lifetimes of
a cast of dimensional castaways lead by the man who caused it all.</i></div>
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With this type of story I’m starting to think that I want
about 3 issues in hand before I start reading it.</div>
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Next up is a book called Alex & Ada by Jonathan Luna and
Sarah Vaughn. I have enjoyed some stories by Luna and have no clue about Sarah
Vaughn. The big selling point is the premise. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbgWGejhwP453gb3wU8gbcM0tjlwvO7qWvRVX9QnejprY8T6BsHa1_qhtiRnCo4W1r29rFMHi1F-Sj_DQ5aFGr4d0sDT1YKFt8FXCr1_075jIL8VRDewbcAPTTKU8pHHQ1NGgZrxPIJM/s1600/AlexAda-01-0b-web72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbgWGejhwP453gb3wU8gbcM0tjlwvO7qWvRVX9QnejprY8T6BsHa1_qhtiRnCo4W1r29rFMHi1F-Sj_DQ5aFGr4d0sDT1YKFt8FXCr1_075jIL8VRDewbcAPTTKU8pHHQ1NGgZrxPIJM/s320/AlexAda-01-0b-web72.jpg" width="213" /></a><i><b><span style="color: yellow;">ALEX + ADA #1</span></b><br />
story JONATHAN LUNA & SARAH VAUGHN<br />
art / cover JONATHAN LUNA<br />
NOVEMBER 6<br />
32 PAGES / FC / T+<br />
$2.99<br />
From JONATHAN LUNA (GIRLS, THE SWORD, Spider-Woman, ULTRA) and SARAH VAUGHN
(Sparkshooter) comes ALEX + ADA, a sci-fi drama set in the near future. The
last thing in the world Alex wanted was an X5, the latest in realistic
androids. But when <st1:city w:st="on">Ada</st1:city>
is dropped into his life, will Alex keep her?<br />
This will be JONATHAN LUNA’s return to comics after three years off since the
end of THE SWORD!</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I liked the Sword. I like the science fiction theme and it
reminds me of the movie coming called “Her” with Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.
It is a movie where a guy falls in love with a “Siri” type operating system.
How humans attach to objects is interesting and when you make the object more
human it becomes even more interesting. I’m onboard for an issue or two.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now this book is something very different so I’m gambling on
unknown creators 100% based on the premise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0zr7l6nkL5ENO0d0CHNtQPCXfoVPjXbj3SQ08q6OC9imojuo8RJHSI4f_w078XFZo7J5LX8oZv8g4NWovkQBU-Fj212MdWdv7c7qIoCXcqf1hTwuwx0L7ov9AaaFZYgrov6rZVZW88U/s1600/manifestDestiny01_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0zr7l6nkL5ENO0d0CHNtQPCXfoVPjXbj3SQ08q6OC9imojuo8RJHSI4f_w078XFZo7J5LX8oZv8g4NWovkQBU-Fj212MdWdv7c7qIoCXcqf1hTwuwx0L7ov9AaaFZYgrov6rZVZW88U/s320/manifestDestiny01_cover.jpg" width="210" /></a><i><b><span style="color: yellow;">MANIFEST DESTINY #1</span></b><br />
story CHRIS DINGESS<br />
art / cover MATTHEW ROBERTS & OWEN GIENI<br />
NOVEMBER 13<br />
32 PAGES / FC / T+<br />
$2.99<br />
In 1804, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark set out
on an expedition to explore the uncharted American frontier. This is the story
of what they discovered lurking in the wilds…<br />
Skybound’s newest original series unveils the monsters of the western frontier
in the adventure of a lifetime by writer CHRIS DINGESS (Being Human) and
up-and-coming artist MATTHEW ROBERTS.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lewis and Clark as monster hunters is an oddball item. Half
historical and half “Proof”, a series I enjoyed about all the monsters of myth.
It is something that will have to be a very good first issue or I could be
tearing it up and causing a minor stir on the internet (see Pretty Deadly
reviews). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next up is the newest JMS comic; Mr. Straczynski is a
prolific writer. He has written a ton of comics over the years, <st1:city w:st="on">Babylon</st1:city> 5, movie scripts
and more. He is the definition of a professional writer. I’m always willing to
try out a book by JMS. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntjUzTGEb8SD9ntZhwCjHXOZsG1yroZ5VFlRN5GUTN4okyCSlEXKJQKmV49tRR_m6ppzhxBhUIX19NVdt_naCG3oV6H3ZSgWOQKRR1Pe5ShOaK0PNB4UPK_vVgQ5AqR5yGY1OAovtrZY/s1600/protectorsinc01-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntjUzTGEb8SD9ntZhwCjHXOZsG1yroZ5VFlRN5GUTN4okyCSlEXKJQKmV49tRR_m6ppzhxBhUIX19NVdt_naCG3oV6H3ZSgWOQKRR1Pe5ShOaK0PNB4UPK_vVgQ5AqR5yGY1OAovtrZY/s320/protectorsinc01-cover.jpg" width="208" /></a><i><b><span style="color: yellow;">PROTECTORS, INC. #1</span></b><br />
story J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI<br />
art GORDON PURCELL & MIKE ATIYEH<br />
NOVEMBER 6<br />
32 PAGES / FC / M<br />
$2.99<br />
Protectors, Inc.: Heroes in a world without super-powered bad guys. Heroes with
corporate sponsors and far too polite rivalries and sporting franchises. Heroes
without anything or anyone to fight...until one of them is murdered in ways
that could only have been accomplished by someone with equal powers.<br />
Solving the mystery falls to Lieutenant Detective John Riley, an ordinary man
whose investigation takes him into a strange and dangerous world light years
beyond his abilities to understand and very likely far beyond his capacity to
survive. The trail leads to a fifty-year-old secret that could threaten the
very existence of Protectors, Inc., an impossible love affair, and a serial
killer whose work is not yet finished.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The detailed premise is almost turning me off the book. The
last line saved it for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Image has one more new series I’m going to be checking out,
Drumhellar #1 by Alex Link and Riley Rossmo. I’m getting it based on Rossmo’s
art whose work I have enjoyed on Proof, Cowboy Ninja Viking and other books. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmf5bvBxhZ5smQF9bkzBjGJYTRMZnRHurm6OkO6GHjtTv7prVBp673YR5e0D9CDabdmTmqhOk9T8JedxhJd5XWoAXnYlNdla6PEWLCKzy4_tnFEU3n_8nTerkZjWDfxxP2FGXT7HPGTg/s1600/strangeways_01_coverA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmf5bvBxhZ5smQF9bkzBjGJYTRMZnRHurm6OkO6GHjtTv7prVBp673YR5e0D9CDabdmTmqhOk9T8JedxhJd5XWoAXnYlNdla6PEWLCKzy4_tnFEU3n_8nTerkZjWDfxxP2FGXT7HPGTg/s320/strangeways_01_coverA.jpg" width="210" /></a><i><b><span style="color: yellow;">STRANGEWAYS #1 (now DRUMHELLAR)</span></b><br />
story ALEX LINK<br />
art RILEY ROSSMO<br />
NOVEMBER 6<br />
32 PAGES / FC / M<br />
$3.50<br />
When shock-induced visions drive a detective specializing in the paranormal to
a small town in South Dakota, he finds himself up against flesh-hungry bog-men,
his ex-girlfriend, their mutual ex-girlfriend (did we mention she’s a
werewolf?), and a demon that’s stolen his arsenal of psychedelics. Then things
start to get weird. We live in strange times. They call for strange ways!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now the title was originally Stangeways and has been changed
to Drumhellar, I’m guessing Strangeways was a copyright infringement or
something as Drumhellar sucks as a title.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So Image has a great line up of new material coming out in
November, time to check in on Dark Horse. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ghost #1 by Kelly Sue DeConnick & Chris Sebla as writers
with Ryan Sook on art is a winner for me. I enjoyed the mini-series and why I
was not blown away with it, I did enjoy it. Adding Ryan Sook as the artist is a
huge plus, count me in. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxiyySjsAH-447b-8oUOiONdbu_gtyFqQC94P3Rr3sQhkOHCLpYDZuFqbwsVKZkGTP2HCZNSH8WafRU0X9J1Ogl02OaQ8Tke-pM_UwHE_HcWrv-ajLi-e5BE4h7R-IgeVzy48HiiPKOQ/s1600/Ghost_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxiyySjsAH-447b-8oUOiONdbu_gtyFqQC94P3Rr3sQhkOHCLpYDZuFqbwsVKZkGTP2HCZNSH8WafRU0X9J1Ogl02OaQ8Tke-pM_UwHE_HcWrv-ajLi-e5BE4h7R-IgeVzy48HiiPKOQ/s320/Ghost_1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b><span style="color: yellow;">GHOST #1</span></b><br />
Kelly Sue DeConnick (W), Chris Sebela (W), Ryan Sook (A), On sale Nov 6<br />
FC, 32 pages<br />
$2.99<br />
Ongoing<br />
Ghost, the hero trapped between two worlds, fights to protect <st1:city w:st="on">Chicago</st1:city> from extradimensional demons
disguised as humans. When a familiar stranger destroys an el train, Ghost makes
a deal with a devil for the chance to uncover her own mysterious past. The
perfect issue to join this action-packed superhero title!<br />
• Ryan Sook on interiors!<br />
• Cover artist Terry Dodson!<br />
• Chris Sebela (High Crimes) joins the fray!<br />
• Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel) continues her hit run on the Dark Horse
hero.<br />
"DeConnick has a strong sense of dialogue and the rhythms that sound
right; the end result is a script that isn't just natural but hard to pull
yourself away from."–Comic Book Resources</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s it for Dark Horse for me, they have a couple other
books launching, but nothing that was making me want to try it out. I really
want to keep getting the Creepy and Eerie collected editions but I have almost
30 volumes and have yet to re-read one of them in its entirety. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok time to move on to IDW and see what, if anything they
have for November. IDW strikes out this month. I like the quality of IDW
products but they are more into the licensing side of comic books. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay next up is to check in on Dynamite Entertainment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay they have a three number one issues and one I was
thinking about, but I have burnt out on Shadow and other similar stuff from
Dynamite and need to pass on Noir #1. That means Dynamite is another bust for
November.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay time to check on DC, only for the Vertigo material to
see if anything new and exciting is coming out. Once again we have a clean
miss. I think that Vertigo needs to have one new book a month coming out. The
line up is sparse enough and with the recent announcement that Fables has only
a year left I’m worried that Vertigo has no strong series holding it together
anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next I will check in on Marvel, which only has Marvel
Knights and Icon as anything I would consider for this column.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally we have another book to talk about, Marvel Knight
X-Men #1 by Brahm Revel. I’m a huge Brahm Revel fan, have interviewed him, backed
a Kickstarter, own some artwork of his, huge fan. This is a no brainer even if
it is X-Men.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHJ0xn-aRoDKtiWsB155_i8iJi4RlwGV7_U_rnSE4AM-HxAi72hPBE8Qsk45GQ7yULxDs077DCF5mnQ_qw0Pqw1Pf8YFLsfWqCrkMdwViVDspcNLaMLr4Ylu4AFhNcbKVStdKw0ibf4U/s1600/MKXMEN2013001_COV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHJ0xn-aRoDKtiWsB155_i8iJi4RlwGV7_U_rnSE4AM-HxAi72hPBE8Qsk45GQ7yULxDs077DCF5mnQ_qw0Pqw1Pf8YFLsfWqCrkMdwViVDspcNLaMLr4Ylu4AFhNcbKVStdKw0ibf4U/s320/MKXMEN2013001_COV.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b><span style="color: yellow;">MARVEL KNIGHTS: X-MEN #1 (of 5)</span></b><br />
Brahm Revel (W) • Brahm Revel (A/C)<br />
Marvel Knights presents Brahm Revel’s thrilling and dark X-Men adventure that
asks: what happens when your past comes back to kill you?<br />
Wolverine, Kitty & Rogue set out on the road to rescue new mutants from
being murdered. But their help may not be welcome in this backwoods town--and
the murderer may be closer to them than they think.<br />
A gritty murder mystery told by the talented and new to Marvel creator, Brahm
Revel (Guerillas).<br />
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay so the big two got one book onto my list. For the most
part I’m done with Marvel and DC, but that doesn’t mean I will pass on a book
because it is from them, just means they are not my main source of
entertainment with comics anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to check on a few more publishers for new books, next
up is Avatar, which is a miss for anything new. Uber is the book that made me
start re-looking at Avatar. As a publisher it seemed to be a company whose
philosophy was the more gore and shocking the better. Between God is Dead,
Absolution and Uber the content of the story is improving.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boom is interesting as it has been a company in search of an
identity for a long time. I still think they are looking, but with the purchase
of Archaia they now have some cool projects under their banner. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I may try out Protocol #1 by Michael Alan Nelson and Mariano
Navarro. Nelson has written some good stories and I have no clue about the
artist Navarro but the premise has some promise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqAtuC272SkiL-X4jWM_WVwot7wbqXGzC7vY2M5Qn58gTKgEc9Kd-TTWDDTYk_LpaSUQRdh2XIPvUHJknT-6XYlM7z95up6LK6kW6vXFPHI5bd8wlpWu8tl6_3bvdtbQ-QK8D-9k_O10/s1600/Protocol_01_CVR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqAtuC272SkiL-X4jWM_WVwot7wbqXGzC7vY2M5Qn58gTKgEc9Kd-TTWDDTYk_LpaSUQRdh2XIPvUHJknT-6XYlM7z95up6LK6kW6vXFPHI5bd8wlpWu8tl6_3bvdtbQ-QK8D-9k_O10/s320/Protocol_01_CVR.jpg" width="210" /></a><i><b><span style="color: yellow;">PROTOCOL #1</span></b><br />
Price: $3.99<br />
Author(s): Michael Alan Nelson<br />
Artist(s): Mariano Navarro<br />
WHY WE LOVE IT: Written by Michael Alan Nelson (SUPERGIRL, HEXED) and drawn by
newcomer Mariano Navarro, PROTOCOL is an action-packed espionage series with a
compelling cast of young characters struggling with their transition into
adulthood.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT:PROTOCOL is a tense thriller perfect for
fans of fun spy fiction like TV’s Alias or <st1:city w:st="on">Mission</st1:city>: Impossible.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Grabbed up by the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> government and thrown into
training camps, orphans around the country have been raised to become <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>’s next
generation of superspies. Now, as adults, they live amongst us, ready for ‘the
family’ to call them back into action.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The solicitation is actually annoying, just tell me the
premise and let me decide. Not 100% sold I will be picking this up, but
included as a maybe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last up in my search is Valiant Comics. I recently dropped
Quantum and Woody with Archer and Armstrong probably to follow. If it wasn’t
for Peter Milligan coming in Shadowman I would have bid failure to that book
also. So curious to see how Unity shakes out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMCtBQBbs0yALNgAIQLo9WqOFrM98NDcO53qi5N7NBIsasDtMC4H5UnzRJNQqDoTUnNUHjDeKNdfTjUV4Hydfbi1Fmtn686oz6kBdvvp4vkNLf_HoX1YJ9zDo8zCvIAqWrIXLh0INfDQ/s1600/UNITY_001_PULLBOX_HITCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMCtBQBbs0yALNgAIQLo9WqOFrM98NDcO53qi5N7NBIsasDtMC4H5UnzRJNQqDoTUnNUHjDeKNdfTjUV4Hydfbi1Fmtn686oz6kBdvvp4vkNLf_HoX1YJ9zDo8zCvIAqWrIXLh0INfDQ/s320/UNITY_001_PULLBOX_HITCH.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><b><span style="color: yellow;">UNITY #1</span></b><br />
Written by MATT KINDT<br />
Art & Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE<br />
To kill a king, he has created an army.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The world's most dangerous man, Toyo Harada, has been struck
by the one thing he never thought possible – fear. Halfway across the globe, a
new power threatens to topple modern civilization and, to preempt the cataclysm
that is to come, Harada will unite the most lethal, most volatile, most
unforgiving team the world has ever known – UNITY. Their mission: defeat the
warrior king armed with the universe's most powerful weapon. Kill X-O Manowar!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Be here when New York Times best-selling </i></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>writer Matt Kindt
(Justice League of America, Mind MGMT) and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite
(Justice, Journey into Mystery) launch Valiant's first-ever superteam into the
landmark comic book event of the year with an all-new ongoing series in UNITY
#1.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>You've heard the buzz, you've seen the reviews. If you still
haven't jumped onto Valiant Comics, the time is now! This November, UNITY is
the perfect entry point for new readers.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>$3.99/T+/32 pgs.<br />
ON <st1:city w:st="on">SALE</st1:city>
NOVEMBER 13th!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I dropped the text about the 14 billion covers that are
having for the book. I hate that sales gimmick, but no one is going to stop
doing it until it does not pay off. Still that is a lot of money to spend to
get artist like Neal Adams and Bryan Hitch to do a cover. It is also a little
surprising that this is an all new ongoing series. I had to laugh seeing Matt
Kindt as the writer. I love his work, so it is a plus but talk about busy, this
guy is writing for Dark Horse, Marvel, DC and Valiant. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is a wrap for this month. One final comment I have a
goal for 2014 to be almost comic book free by the end of next year. One reason
why, I have tons of stuff to read that is sitting on my bookshelves. Another
reason is that I’m constantly behind on my new comic reading with over 50 books
waiting for me to read. I have started to purge series. I have targeted DC and
Marvel. This week I’m only getting one Marvel book, the Marvel Knights
Spider-Man. Actual DCU stuff is way down also. I’m playing out Infinity and
Forever Evil and will then probably cut even more. One thing I did this year is ignore the
ancillary series attached to the events and that has helped and not impacted
the story at all. I have cut back on Valiant, Dynamite and have gotten more
discriminating on other companies. Still to really get down to brass tacks I
have to make harder and harder choices. I don’t want to abandon comics but just
look for what I find to be excellent work and corporate comics offer very
little in that category. I’m enjoying looking for newer voices and artists.
Which all leads back to why this list is important for me. It is time to say
goodbye to Avengers and Justice League and look for books with a more singular
approach and story line. </div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-60647506654755379002013-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:002013-10-31T00:01:01.186-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIxW8ImOZpYsgJzrW46j4Vys0XsBGemwlPSsLO1RCAeOhy0YygJ8cO2xQ_-OMzutM19cFAwjsi_vrYiGAeGcUdERROb7-jfhD06lStzckO7z3JCCyrUalYCs0AsxyjCt7b8ViCmVbo1qr/s1600/blog_Daredevil+%23032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIxW8ImOZpYsgJzrW46j4Vys0XsBGemwlPSsLO1RCAeOhy0YygJ8cO2xQ_-OMzutM19cFAwjsi_vrYiGAeGcUdERROb7-jfhD06lStzckO7z3JCCyrUalYCs0AsxyjCt7b8ViCmVbo1qr/s640/blog_Daredevil+%23032.jpg" width="408" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I hate it when they end a good series (finishing with #36). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!! </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That's is one wickedly BAD (a.k.a. AWESOME) cover!</span></div>
Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-72626700728846773462013-09-28T08:58:00.001-07:002013-09-28T09:07:03.303-07:00Goodbye to the Guardians of the Galaxy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmByTXKM9W_K0GkxdGBDrJfNTymmpaJLcFyUcK6pdhCiOoHK774x0bQIKs55nNdhsl7q3wIR5wcxZu4LPJ-rGJG7RJhxkBUj3rYXmUojVbTLlviS3qZ9nG9pqE9zNhm3rGXIkJkS1X_Ls/s1600/GOTG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmByTXKM9W_K0GkxdGBDrJfNTymmpaJLcFyUcK6pdhCiOoHK774x0bQIKs55nNdhsl7q3wIR5wcxZu4LPJ-rGJG7RJhxkBUj3rYXmUojVbTLlviS3qZ9nG9pqE9zNhm3rGXIkJkS1X_Ls/s320/GOTG.jpg" width="213" /></a>I just read my last issue of this comic. I love Rocket Raccoon, Groot and all the rest of the crew. I was not thrilled with Iron Man being in the group but managed to over look his part in the book. Then Marvel decided that adding Angela to the book was a great idea. I know it is some sort of thing they are giving to Neil Gaiman to curry favor with him or something of that ilk, but now she is the central focus of the book. I think it was funny that Gaiman won in court over McFarlane who at times appears to be a colossal ass, but that does not make me care about a character that I never followed. Now she is the big bad ass of the book and it is all the scary crap because Earth heroes have broken time and blah, blah, blah. For $4 this book will have to sit on the shelves. This is a little disappointing because crazy adventures with a flying squirrel and moose is something I miss ( I mean Raccoon and a tree)<br />
. </div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-1594155769005612052013-09-24T10:57:00.001-07:002013-09-24T10:57:02.125-07:00DC Villains Month – Fail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Granted I did not get every single book from DC’s villain’s
month but I got around 20 of the books, so I think that is a fair sample size
even without reading this weeks books yet. </div>
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The reasons I think it was a fail is due to the content of
the books. It felt like almost every book was a fill in issue. They were not
origin stories for the most part, they were not character defining moments and most
had limited tie-in to the over all theme of what is going on with Forever Evil.
They were often just a stand alone story about the character. Clayface is a
good example, he is in the middle of a job with a crew, goes nuts and kills the
crew. Next he finds out the world is taken over by bad guys. He tries to
impress the new leaders and fails. What was the point?</div>
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For me, that was the problem, the point was the covers. Heck
I find the covers to actually be garish. On one level they are neat and maybe I
should hold onto one or two to give my grandsons when they get older as a
novelty item. But that is all they are, a novelty item. </div>
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Worse then that it has caused an extra month lag in the
story lines that I’m still following with DC and therefore loosing even more of
my interest in the entire line. I hope that Green Arrow will be back on track
and I’m guessing Green Lantern is not impacted as they are all off world.
Batman has cleverly side stepped the whole thing being set in the past for an
over long arc. I’m not sure if Swamp Thing or Animal Man are impacted by all of
this stuff. </div>
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Heck even with writers that I love it felt like many of
these stories were phoned in, Of course I’m blaming that on the direction that
was given out. I have to assume given how DC appears to be run that the list of
villains was chosen and direction was given as to what was to be done and often
it was to tell a Clayface story or something of that ilk.</div>
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As I sit here typing this and thinking about October for the
regular DCU nothing jumps to mind as something I’m dying to read anymore. That
one month gap lets me know I can drop even more books as time goes on. I tried
Superman/Batman, but that has to go after the first arc is over. Maybe I will
check out Matt Kindt on Suicide Squad as I’m a fan of his work. Even with Soule
on Superman/Wonder Woman I can’t say I’m looking forward to that title. Soule
has Letter 44 coming out from Oni (and I forget to mention it last post) and
that is what I’m truly looking forward to reading from him. </div>
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The final part of what made this marketing gimmick so bad is
that it proves how empty the new DCU is and how little they know of how they want
to fill it. It could have been a chance to give a ton of writers the chance to
write origins for 52 Villains and let them strut their stuff; instead I read a
lot of the stories and got nothing. Correction I got that these are no longer
the villains I remembered and I got the feeling many writers were not sure who
these villains were supposed to be either. </div>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-44334765070961173032013-09-21T11:57:00.002-07:002013-09-21T11:57:41.565-07:00What Looks Cool For October <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Okay as before I’m ignoring anything from DC proper (meaning
I will add Vertigo if appropriate) and Marvel proper, which allows Marvel
Knights and if Icon ever has another book to be included. </div>
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Very few post lately as I have been super busy with going to
Balto-Con and then a stay-cation when my brother and his wife visited (lots of
fun) that I have over 80 books yet to be read. I have stayed current on some
stuff. I tried to hit what I wrote up on the September version of this post. </div>
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First off some commentary on the current state of what the
Big Two are doing. The DC Villains month is a disaster. Oh sure I have managed
to sell almost all of them on Ebay and have made a buck or two, but man did
these books reek of fill in material. Not origins, not setting up anything per
say, just place markers featuring the villains. Plus the bloom will be off the
speculator rose on the prices of those books quick. The Infinity saga by
Hickman is ambitious and overdone. He has too many plates spinning with way too
many characters, so far I would call this an expensive fail. I could be eating
my words when it is done but right now it is too much. The <st1:city w:st="on">Battle</st1:city> of the Atom is fun and exciting. I
love Bendis on the X-Men and have three different groups of X-Men from three
times is an amazing amount of fun. Now it is onto the main attraction.</div>
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Ok from September:</div>
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I missed mentioning <b><span style="color: red;">God is Dead #1</span></b> from Avatar and Hickman, a great
opening issue as the gods of old have returned to Earth and it is not a good
time for Mankind. </div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Hit #1</span></b> from Boom was a great opening as a
sanctioned Hit squad during LA in the 50’s is already in a lot of trouble. </div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Brain Boy #1</span></b> from Dark Horse is a must read. Van
Lente gave us a highly enjoyable picture of a government super hero who is an
arrogant prick, but just a damn good book. </div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Buzzkill #1</span></b> was also a lot of fun as the concept
is crazy. Our hero needs to be high to have powers and he is trying to get
straight and going to AA. All is not what it seems for our “hero?”. </div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Codename Action #1</span></b> was another good book. Think
James Bond from 1960 teaming up with James Bond from 2013 and a awesome plot to
start a World War and you have the start of a good mini-series (I believe). </div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Kings Watch #1</span></b> which is a team up of The Phantom,
Flash Gordon and Mandrake the Magician should be a disaster, but Jeff Parker
made this opening chapter a lot of fun. All introduction type stuff and the
story has yet to kick in, but I liked it. </div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Reality Check #1</span></b> was another winner. The concept
is a comic book writer/artist is struggling to have a hit and his character
comes to life. A lot more to it then that, but it works and it worth checking
out. </div>
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Sadly I have not read any other of the new number ones as of
this writing. </div>
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Ok for October the fun starts with Dark Horse, so let’s pull
up those solicitations.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfr-2hY8hGrXENiCdJ0ITWuIVQ_5lJ7S99uJPJ79kTdktmC72mupYg1mpHkNxBaMjx3iR9TVisC4gxIwiy5N56Hqvg9DeJ-AZj68qUlw8MVej7IuyxZ24DK3c41nszZ9VBd87nRc6j4g/s1600/Bloodhound_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfr-2hY8hGrXENiCdJ0ITWuIVQ_5lJ7S99uJPJ79kTdktmC72mupYg1mpHkNxBaMjx3iR9TVisC4gxIwiy5N56Hqvg9DeJ-AZj68qUlw8MVej7IuyxZ24DK3c41nszZ9VBd87nRc6j4g/s200/Bloodhound_1.jpg" width="130" /></a>First up is <b><span style="color: red;">Bloodhound Crowbar Medicine #1 (of 5)</span></b> by Dan Jolly
as writer and Leonard Kirk as artist. This
book has a strange pedigree as it was a DC book that Jolley managed to retain
the rights too. Dark Horse republished it with a few succinct edits to
eliminate any reference to the DCU. This is a follow up to that part of the
story I believe. Jolley’s projects always show hard work and love for what he
is doing and Kirk can have a superior art style. The copy for it says<i><span style="background-color: black; color: red;">“<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Travis Clevenger may not have
superpowers, but he can put a beatdown on anyone who does! Consulting with the
FBI in exchange for release from prison, Clev is getting his life together when
a rogue superhuman’s destructive rampage and a scientist’s response shock the
nation, leading to Clev’s biggest case yet!”</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiXil04nRcn-6dJWFccnfThHviWZUhuwxvCoNjja4V3sOASJJhxOt1sV-LbQsN5CbYhreZHE-yRuBpfP0_75XEKvjgcnDdXUC7YtaEYiq_CnHbnh7alXygOT0JnCLo_KfbdQaqPI3M2Y/s1600/ShaolinCowboy_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiXil04nRcn-6dJWFccnfThHviWZUhuwxvCoNjja4V3sOASJJhxOt1sV-LbQsN5CbYhreZHE-yRuBpfP0_75XEKvjgcnDdXUC7YtaEYiq_CnHbnh7alXygOT0JnCLo_KfbdQaqPI3M2Y/s200/ShaolinCowboy_1.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="background-color: black;">Next up is <b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Shaolin
Cowboy #1</span></b> by Geof Darrow.
One day someone needs to publish all of the Shaolin Cowboy stuff as a high end
hard cover. I have missed this book and glad to see it finally getting back
onto the stands. Just a crazy mash up of whatever Geof wants to do with the
central character being a Shaolin Cowboy. The marketing hype goes like this </span><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: black;">“The
Shaolin Cowboy returns, but nowhere in sight is there a dead Robin, any infinity
gauntlets, or a single conquering Ultron—just flat-out action, intrigue, and
plenty of roadkill. Geof Darrow’s slow-talkin’, kung-fu-gripping hero proves
once again, in this brand-new new series, that the only thing that can stop a
bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a chainsaw!”</span></span></i><span style="background-color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJlyudKj45GZqU6HlvBSl3WIG0cHUfoLS-7L7SIzDzkyFTiFo21v_mzNxKqjQUtlYZQe12VUgsiGOvwfmBfZ22Zilk3A8zLlevNYVfjJQ5WiUyP__GXZ2LLZTbAiTt_LajMLSzO-eEWQ/s1600/SHOOTFirst_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJlyudKj45GZqU6HlvBSl3WIG0cHUfoLS-7L7SIzDzkyFTiFo21v_mzNxKqjQUtlYZQe12VUgsiGOvwfmBfZ22Zilk3A8zLlevNYVfjJQ5WiUyP__GXZ2LLZTbAiTt_LajMLSzO-eEWQ/s200/SHOOTFirst_1.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="background-color: black;">Alright this one
for DH is something I’m just going to take a chance on, <b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">S.H.O.O.T.
First #1 (of 4)</span></b> by Justin
Aclin writer and Nicholas Daniel Selma on art. The first two I’m buying based
on having read both series before, so I know what I’m getting for the most
part. This is one where artist and writer are unknown but the premise and hype
is good <i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">“The Secular Humanist Occult Obliteration Taskforce—defending
humanity from angels, demons, and a bunch of other crap S.H.O.O.T. doesn’t
believe in. Justin Aclin (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Twisted ToyFare Theatre)
and Nicolás Daniel <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Selma</st1:place></st1:city>
(Tomb Raider: The Beginning) take aim at the supernatural in an all-new
big-action, big-ideas sci-fi adventure! • Original, irreverent, and controversial!<span class="apple-converted-space">” </span></span></i><span class="apple-converted-space">The
sci-fi in the premise was the final selling point and Dark Horse produces
quality material.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: black;">Not a bad start from Dark Horse, let’s check on IDW next. And
after scanning the listing we get a zero. Damn, I love the quality of IDW work,
but wish they had more new stuff coming out, maybe next month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: black;">Let’s move onto Image, which is fast becoming the go to place
for most creator owned material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaG93hmKFVuVP26nEhWa-2us1UBCybqm0feM7kYoXATgM12QjEBAnUfTAqIFPqk0Ge38j6r8yU0NduSdIUxNw9_i_naW80LDt46-CToZVByIr4STl9Jl83I1lKdQyxmAc7MghoI9PYKA/s1600/VELVET1_COVER_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaG93hmKFVuVP26nEhWa-2us1UBCybqm0feM7kYoXATgM12QjEBAnUfTAqIFPqk0Ge38j6r8yU0NduSdIUxNw9_i_naW80LDt46-CToZVByIr4STl9Jl83I1lKdQyxmAc7MghoI9PYKA/s200/VELVET1_COVER_600.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="background-color: black;"><span class="apple-converted-space">First up is a slam dunk for me, <b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Velvet #1 </span></b>by Ed (Fatale) Brubaker writer and Steve
Epting as artist. The level of artist talent that is coming onto these projects
now is amazing. A few years ago many of the bigger names were not coming onto
creator owned projects. Not sure if part ownership is the incentive or if the
writers have the wherewithal to pay the artist up front or what is going on,
but the talent level is incredible. The premise is <i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">“</span></i></span><i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">When
the world's best secret agent is killed, Velvet Templeton, the Personal
Assistant to the Director of the Agency, is drawn off her desk and back into
the field for the first time in nearly 20 years... and is immediately caught in
a web of mystery, murder and high-octane action. Sexy and provocative, with a
dark twist on the spy genre, this EXTRA-LENGTH first issue by two of the
industry's best-selling creators will knock you out!”</span></i> Okay we are getting lot’s of spy type
stuff, but well done is well done and the twist is a good one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVD2WREm0vfjGomfbnZ4JHU2vzp9-v5I8xXbYdJTxA_j6KWz6lKMGOaxhZqhbAWZU8ooKnzFbm9P3ZMERmB6rkiD3S73Kg-MeUApB99qGNKsFWRfBd6FiHPGXmAkAORDD4Zl0cQsK2W0o/s1600/Pretty-Deadly-COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVD2WREm0vfjGomfbnZ4JHU2vzp9-v5I8xXbYdJTxA_j6KWz6lKMGOaxhZqhbAWZU8ooKnzFbm9P3ZMERmB6rkiD3S73Kg-MeUApB99qGNKsFWRfBd6FiHPGXmAkAORDD4Zl0cQsK2W0o/s200/Pretty-Deadly-COVER.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="background-color: black;">Next up is <b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Pretty
Deadly #1</span></b> by Kelly Sue
DeConnick as writer and art by Emma Rios. Why does the big two struggle to get
female creators when the industry has this level of talent? I have been growing
to like Kelly Sue’s work more and more and Emma’s work at Boom was very good.
But neither is a slam dunk for me to try a new book, the premise is what made
my decision an easy one. It <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">is <i><span style="color: red;"> “an all-new ongoing series that marries
the magical realism of Sandman with the western brutality of Preacher.
Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her
face bears the skull marks of her father. Her tale of retribution is as
beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage.”</span></i> Sounds like it could be promising. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA02DqkazjHKQEIHs5Vbkl4h1TAhNz8afNWIaPvarzujltR-4so2LeqnWn8lH44WTBF52eH6RMJdWBq9rS_pPvhqQLYuaekr6EPgVKhxVbHAIqwogkLTPxmUTPc3O7hAritMZGoWFT-co/s1600/rocket-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA02DqkazjHKQEIHs5Vbkl4h1TAhNz8afNWIaPvarzujltR-4so2LeqnWn8lH44WTBF52eH6RMJdWBq9rS_pPvhqQLYuaekr6EPgVKhxVbHAIqwogkLTPxmUTPc3O7hAritMZGoWFT-co/s200/rocket-girl.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Next is <b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Rocket
Girl #1</span></b> by one of my
favorite artists Amy Reeder with the writer being Brandon Montclare. They did a
Halloween one shot and the premise sounds great <i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">“A teenage cop from a
high-tech future is sent back in time to 1986 <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place></st1:city>. Dayoung Johansson is
investigating the Quintum Mechanics megacorporation for crimes against time. As
she pieces together the clues, she discovers the “future” she calls home – an
alternate reality version of 2013 – shouldn’t exist at all!Blast off with
the new ongoing series by BRANDON MONTCLARE (Halloween Eve) and Eisner Award
nominee AMY REEDER (Batwoman, Madame Xanadu).”</span></i> Now I backed the Kickstarter for this
book and will be getting the first issue that way, but I’m all in for this
book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQQa7eWn3d2VA8pvUKofwFb_DXH8y06yJVyu4HE2ZVTatYOL3mFy48TiXAprPIWPhB6HhLNhPEgfdcjqO8pqlX1bdBYJc6XtOWAfXC-XZnv3kJ4x-ONT2wknNJHTHACe5AH-g2nVctKE/s1600/THREE.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQQa7eWn3d2VA8pvUKofwFb_DXH8y06yJVyu4HE2ZVTatYOL3mFy48TiXAprPIWPhB6HhLNhPEgfdcjqO8pqlX1bdBYJc6XtOWAfXC-XZnv3kJ4x-ONT2wknNJHTHACe5AH-g2nVctKE/s200/THREE.cover.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="background-color: black;">The last new
series from Image I want to try out is <b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Three #1</span></b> by writer Kieron Gillen and art by Ryan
Kelly. The premise is <i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">“When a member of the Spartan ruling class
visits an isolated homestead of Helot workers, a brutal massacre is only the
beginning. KIERON GILLEN (PHONOGRAM, Über, Iron Man), RYAN KELLY (<st1:placename w:st="on">Saucer</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype>,
Local) and JORDIE BELLAIRE (THE <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">MANHATTAN</st1:place></st1:city>
PROJECTS, NOWHERE MEN) unite to tell the heroic story of three slaves and their
desperate attempt to escape 300 of the finest warriors who've ever lived.” </span></i>It feels like Kieron is perhaps wanting to
show another side of the Spartan life which was glorified by the 300. Not sure
that I thought anyone had a great life back in those days. Sometimes it is nice
to believe the legend and stop showing everyone having clay feet, but the other
side of the coin is that perhaps it also shows that we can all be heroic even
with our faults. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Now onto check
and see if Boom can offer any new October titles I want to try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETnRtbgHwwgqKzN_oMKdPgYznDB0hKcw0k9b9IbdCTn5hNsRwpYJ8uodtgPl-wStMPSrXuOWSudlhvv8Oby6EFhTdE1JMLD8fSGmUWB4ilPYnjg-WRwu8D1z-yjdIcXkXIyMmbx3sGY0/s1600/imagineagents1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETnRtbgHwwgqKzN_oMKdPgYznDB0hKcw0k9b9IbdCTn5hNsRwpYJ8uodtgPl-wStMPSrXuOWSudlhvv8Oby6EFhTdE1JMLD8fSGmUWB4ilPYnjg-WRwu8D1z-yjdIcXkXIyMmbx3sGY0/s200/imagineagents1a.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Imagine Agents #1</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> by Brian Joines writer and art by Bachan.
The title says no to me, the creators are who and who to me, but the
solicitation copy says </span><i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">“</span><span style="color: red;">Ever try to
wrangle an illiterate, 30-foot tall rock monster away from his 5-year-old best
friend? Or calm down a 400 pound muscle-man rag-doll during her daily
temper-tantrum? For Dave and Terry, it's all in a day's work. As agents for
I.M.A.G.I.N.E., they are responsible for keeping your imaginary friends
in-line...Little do they know that six-year-old Elliot and his best
bear-friend, Furdlgurr, are about to be entangled in a plan to change
everything!”</span></i> It sounds like it could be a
lot of fun and maybe a neat book to pass onto a younger reader. So this book
gets a one issue try out. I’m not sure if this is a KaBoom book or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;">So a one and done for
BOOM, next up is Avatar. Avatar is a zero, not surprising as they are a smaller
publisher and are not going to have new projects every month. Let’s look at
Valiant for October. Again we get a big fat zero. Valiant is being very
cautious about adding books so no new titles is a good thing. Onto Dynamite to
see if they have anything new in October. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyGvP4Jv1sYRyokux2Mr6YpWnkwUVmInGorFC9ysMIwj0Qe5srC_dAK4zUzmdp9TsqS37kHhG5WdcKu27yRZjJhdnDcmovXIu_VYRm9OM-945hRFTu7-PYCwtJbjUNXhKO1SOrwQAHJ4/s1600/shadownow1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyGvP4Jv1sYRyokux2Mr6YpWnkwUVmInGorFC9ysMIwj0Qe5srC_dAK4zUzmdp9TsqS37kHhG5WdcKu27yRZjJhdnDcmovXIu_VYRm9OM-945hRFTu7-PYCwtJbjUNXhKO1SOrwQAHJ4/s200/shadownow1a.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;">This is a new series but
iffy as it is a continuation of Dynamite exploiting The Shadow as much as
possible. <b><span style="color: red;">The Shadow Now #1</span></b> by writer David
Liss and artist Colton Worley. I dropped the Spider by these two as the art was
too computerized for my taste. Still I like Liss’ writing and the concept is a
good one, so I will give it a go. The premise <i><span style="color: red;">“<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Having spent decades
in the east to rejuvenate himself, the greatest pulp hero of them all, The
Shadow, returns to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>
in modern times. Lamont Cranston seeks to resume his old life, and his heroic
alter-ego is ready to stand once more as an enemy to evil. But while he was
gone, his foes have remained vigilant, and the most dangerous man The Shadow
has ever faced prepares to rise once more. It's the shocking beginning to a new
era for The Shadow!”</span></span></i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
Of course The Shadow has been moved into the present before but always nice to
see a different take. Also the last time was back in the eighties I believe. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;">This is
it from Dynamite, now let’s turn to Vertigo. An imprint I thought was dead, yet
is struggling to regain some life. A quick remark, I know Sandman: Overture #1
by Gaiman and Williams is coming out, but I’m skipping this as it will be a
deluxe hard cover in no time and I see no need to spend $30 for the mini-series
which is going to be bi-monthly. With all that I read it is too difficult to
follow a story that comes out every other month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStuLaUPJbiWG39KSc-zN1UwVFMREGsjaEVBBJzNHfWUyfXbB89UK2iqdvhISuxWvX-LvljTKbkveRyRd5JKhSLQw17fpeuVDlfz7P9LJLR24pTvZ1FrmUAEu4KJhzOSytbljZcj1LXlI/s1600/COFFIN_Cv1_VAR-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStuLaUPJbiWG39KSc-zN1UwVFMREGsjaEVBBJzNHfWUyfXbB89UK2iqdvhISuxWvX-LvljTKbkveRyRd5JKhSLQw17fpeuVDlfz7P9LJLR24pTvZ1FrmUAEu4KJhzOSytbljZcj1LXlI/s200/COFFIN_Cv1_VAR-2.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Fist up
from Vertigo is </span><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Coffin Hill #1</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> by Catlin Kittredge as the writer and art
by Inaki Miranda. Neither name is one I recognize. The premise is </span><i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">“COFFIN
HILL stars Eve Coffin, a rebellious, teenage lowlife from a high-society family
with a curse that goes back to the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Salem</st1:place></st1:city>
Witch trials.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Following a night
of sex, drugs and witchcraft in the woods, Eve wakes up naked, covered in blood
and unable to remember how she got there. One friend is missing, one is in a
mental ward—and one knows that Eve is responsible.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>After a stint as a <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city> cop that ends in a bullet wound and
unintended celebrity, Eve returns to Coffin Hill, only to discover the darkness
that she unleashed ten years ago in the woods was never contained. It continues
to seep through the town, cursing the soul of this sleepy <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:state> hollow, spilling secrets and
enacting its revenge.</span><span style="color: red;"><br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Set against the haunted backdrop of <st1:place w:st="on">New England</st1:place>, COFFIN HILL explores what people will do for
power and retribution. Noted novelist Caitlin Kittredge, author of the Black <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city> series, brings a
smart, mesmerizing style to comics. Artist Inaki Miranda (FABLES) brings his
dynamic storytelling to COFFIN HILL, following an acclaimed run on FAIREST.”</span></span></i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> Well I’m not excited as it sounds like
the Sleep Hollow TV series and/or a little like Rachael Rising, but I will try
it out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkrjvhn9v22nDp4BnpU3WJR2z1tuan81zUaNIHJMR3CtnP707ayUJCQCwC9ECATVkWS6P35GYZmrDUOkiy3LV2n7v2JshxAUKhgetwsEkiimZbHFhQFdRMILGq4BhBVzgKUV6X_kHzj4/s1600/HINT_Cv1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkrjvhn9v22nDp4BnpU3WJR2z1tuan81zUaNIHJMR3CtnP707ayUJCQCwC9ECATVkWS6P35GYZmrDUOkiy3LV2n7v2JshxAUKhgetwsEkiimZbHFhQFdRMILGq4BhBVzgKUV6X_kHzj4/s200/HINT_Cv1.jpg" width="129" /></a><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Next up
is </span><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Hintertkind #1</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> by Ian Edington on words and art by Francesco Trifogli. I read Ian
before but nothing that I can recall and the artist is a total blank to me. The
premise is </span><i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">“Men go and come, but Earth abides.”— Ecclesiastes 1:4</span><span style="color: red;"><br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Decades after “The Blight” all but wiped out the
human race, Mother Nature is taking back what’s hers, and she’s not alone…The
Hinterkind have returned.</span><br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">From the last, lost corners of the world they
come, a myriad menagerie of myth and magic...but these aren’t childhood
fairytale creatures. They are flesh, blood and passion, and they have a
long-simmering hatred for those who drove them into the shadows: The human
race!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">After her grandfather disappears, Prosper Monday
must leave the security and seclusion of their <st1:place w:st="on">Central
Park</st1:place> village to venture into the wilds to find him, unaware of how
much the world has changed. Or how hungry it has become…”</span></span></i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
Sounds like the mix of post apocalypse with fairy tale creatures and
humans fighting it out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Both
books are benefiting from my love of the Vertigo imprint and I’m willing to see
if Shelly Bond can right the Vertigo ship that was almost sunk by Didio. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;">So that
leave Marvel Knights and or Icon imprint to see if they have anything worth
trying out in October. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ruRA9nwfJQjn-KWLPoMt28f9e8tpIEb3soGnkeFw6x1WboyfCmrEqPhh8M3fWsbaaxQLT-anHFUw1iNZBGMU7CwoMxDY87nA7M4aYyBLVh-YeHUHIePqWPsolJqqApMsK6_gUBj407k/s1600/MKSM2013001_cov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ruRA9nwfJQjn-KWLPoMt28f9e8tpIEb3soGnkeFw6x1WboyfCmrEqPhh8M3fWsbaaxQLT-anHFUw1iNZBGMU7CwoMxDY87nA7M4aYyBLVh-YeHUHIePqWPsolJqqApMsK6_gUBj407k/s200/MKSM2013001_cov.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Low and
behold </span><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Marvel Knights Spider-Man #1 (of 5)</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> by a favorite writer of mine Matt Kindt
with art by Marco Rudy. The hype is </span><i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">“From the haunted heights of a mysterious
castle to the dizzying depths of the deep seas, the Amazing Spider-Man has to
take on not one, not six, not twelve – but ninety-nine of the Marvel Universe’s
deadliest villains to save the lives of countless innocents! A defining hour in
the life of the webbed wonder in a race against time and a battle against
evil.”</span></i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> This would be a
pass for me but for Matt Kindt. Of course Rudy is a solid artist. This should
be fun and I believe it is Peter Parker as Spider-Man. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black;">That
wraps up October, but a ton of great stuff to look forward to. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-31396455555524278642013-09-04T12:23:00.001-07:002013-09-04T12:23:12.336-07:00Why Marvel and DC are Stale <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like bread left out too long Marvel and DC are stale and I’m
starting to see some mold on the sides of the slices. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay I’m about to take some vacation time and part of the
trip I will be in <st1:city w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:city>
and attending Balto-Con. I have decided that I NEED to stop getting all Marvel
and DC books and will try and set a target date of six months from now. I will
make up to ten monthly exceptions and Vertigo will not count.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My problem is that Marvel and DC refuse to modify their
approaches with the characters and that the characters no longer work because
you cannot continuously publish a character for 50 years and still maintain
continuity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One problem I believe is with both companies is the lack of
new characters. There is no real money in it for the creators to create any new
characters. Why add a new villain into the DCU or Marvel or a new hero and
watch them become the next Wolverine. Do you think Len Wein and John Romita Sr.
(who designed him) are living off the riches this character has generated for
Marvel and the movies? If you honestly believe that those two guys are now fats
cats living off their millions from that creation I can sell you part of a
bridge in <st1:place w:st="on">Brooklyn</st1:place>, cheap. To the best of my
knowledge neither Marvel nor DC is paying for new characters and I’m sure it is
work for hire. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heck this problem could be solved with some creative
thinking. Lease the character for five years with a fixed payment and then
reopen negotiations or have options built in for both sides. Lots of stuff gets
optioned and nothing every happens, but at least this way creators could
maintain a financial interest in the success of the character and the company
can exploit the character in agreed ways. Let’s say I create Kinetic Man and I
lease the character to Marvel for five years for $50,000 with additional
payments if they market him into cartoons, t-shirts whatever. Of course the
problem is that neither Disney nor Warner Brothers want to exploit something
then do not own lock stock and barrel. This means that creators are going to
hold back new ideas and try to do something new with a creator owned project.
It also means that consciously or unconsciously the creators are not putting
their best effort into these books. They want to do a good job, because it is a
good paying job for most of them, but it is a job. Ownership in a process
creates a better product (usually). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Specific to Marvel comics is the problem that their
characters are too much a product of their times. I think Fantastic Four, Iron
Man, Spider-Man and other characters are truly tied to the sixties. If those
characters were created today they would be radically different at least in
their approach. The problem is that you have characters that have been
continuously published for 50 years and they are still the same people. Instead
of Val and Franklin running the FF, they are children forever. With too few new
characters being added it is just an endless recycling of using the same
characters over and over and over again. No matter how many events and gimmicks
you try it is till Reed Richards, Sue Richards, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm. Any
growth is wiped out with the next writer. When you look at the origins of the
characters they no longer make any sense which is why the movies desperately
try to update the material. So we get Thanos and Sentinels as the villains for
the current events – wow that is different. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Specific to DC comics is the issue of lost continuity. When
they launched the new 52 they threw the baby out with the bath water. There is
no legacy and the history of the characters is a blank slate that we have to
guess at, but have no basis for our belief. Issues like how did Nightwing has a
relationship with Starfire with out having a Teen Titans, if Hal never went
crazy (which I’m convinced is the case now) why is Kyle a Green Lantern? You
start to push on any continuity or history of the characters it all falls
apart. I would have preferred a brand new start from the beginning instead of
this squishy mess of continuity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another point is that now the actual stories have been
devalued, not only from a collector or resale standpoint, but from the
standpoint as a reader. On Ebay selling pre 52 stuff is giving away the books.
The interest is very low in the more recent books. As a reader when I re-read
the stories something is lost knowing that a favorite story no longer is “in
continuity” for a character. I know many stories are that way and over time
I’m sure I will just enjoy what I have. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course that is the point; I think it is time to just
enjoy what has gone before. I can pick up stuff like Wonder Woman, Batman,
Hawkeye and a few others. I can keep my finger on the pulse of good stuff from
the big two via the websites. I can indulge myself with more and more of the
indy titles and enjoy Todd the Ugliest Kid, East of West, Uber, Suicide Risk,
Bloodshot, Red Team, Mind Mgmt, Wild Blue Yonder and other books. Time to leave
the big two behind for the most part and to hope that maybe they can help
maintain the fan base to keep the industry alive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think one solution for the big two is to so screw
continuity and just tell the best stories then can or they can. Or they can
continue their event driven marketing stunts to cover up the fact that both
companies are stagnant. If they drop continuity at least the writers are free
to tell their best story about a character. Look at Daredevil Knights by Lee
Weeks and the old Batman black and white stuff, just iconic type stories. No
worriers about what is in continuity or what is not. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
My final thought is that I was talking with a friend about
how long print comics will last as the next generation will not give a damn
about print. The new generation will be happy to read their comics on a table
style computer. I said that they will still be a niche market and then I
realized that with a successful comic only needing to sell 50,000 issues in a
country of 350 million, comics are already a niche market. It is the fact that
they have been so integrated into the main stream via movies, cartoons and
apparel that we tend to forget the actual product is a very small market. </div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-39739664444259599842013-09-01T16:12:00.001-07:002013-09-01T16:12:25.720-07:00Marvel You Are Boring Me <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
So my last post was of a positive note and I had even
forgotten a book like <b><span style="color: red;">Overtaken #1</span></b> from <st1:place w:st="on">Aspen</st1:place>
comics, a promising science fiction book and the first issue was only $1. It came
out last Wednesday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course in order to continue to explore new series I need
to chop away some dead wood and Marvel has grown a little too bloated in the
buy category. I always need to be aware of the creep factor with Marvel. Marvel
comics are usually the fastest reads of any book so I often forget to
critically evaluate kicking some books to the curb. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcEmSIWbkf_RdbTRBab9Aj_acL3nUJqqWLnZhnA-MOisFWs1P0KwxP4wwnO_8MEPjNrZCUTPM4U3QlvfWTjnwWlmrqBKbwPK7k0Y0XomVHM7ZiaBYYbfbKitoAo7ksNzKNVTLFcUur0I/s1600/cap10-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcEmSIWbkf_RdbTRBab9Aj_acL3nUJqqWLnZhnA-MOisFWs1P0KwxP4wwnO_8MEPjNrZCUTPM4U3QlvfWTjnwWlmrqBKbwPK7k0Y0XomVHM7ZiaBYYbfbKitoAo7ksNzKNVTLFcUur0I/s320/cap10-cover.jpg" width="211" /></a>This week the first kick to the curb is <b><span style="color: red;">Captain America</span></b>. I love Rick (Fear
Agent) Remender as a creator but he often gets lost in trying to bring his
story to a conclusion. This “epic” was 10 issues long and the retail price (I
get a decent discount from my store that saves my ass) is $40 and often plus
tax in many states. For this we got a story that <b><span style="color: red;">(SPOILER ALERT)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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kills off Cap’s girl friend Sharon Carter for no apparent
reason. In Remender’s back matter, I think the time shift is the bigger deal
with Captain <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>.
Rick apparently felt that the time lost warrior theme was missing with Captain <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>. The
fact that ten years or more passed for him in Dimenson “Z” while no significant
time passed for the “real Marvel universe” brings back that time lost factor. This
is too subtle of a change and will be ignored by every other writer and does
not have the same impact of being out the real world for decades to only come
back into a brave new world. Plus with Marvel’s sliding scale of time Captain <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>
apparently was unfrozen in 2004, which means he missed almost 60 years. That
idea or element is never brought up much at Marvel because it creates way too
many problems with character that are all 50 years old. We are pretending they
are not. Just think if the USA every gets out of being at war in ten years Iron
Man will have to be injured in a mining accident or something and create his
armor there or something as stupid. This of course is the problem with comics
that want to be continuity based but are being continuously published forever. </div>
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The bottom line is that the story was not that great and
while I’m happy Romita is off the book I have no interest in paying $4 for
another epic. Captain <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>
is boring. Heck I see him in Avengers all the time anyway. Finally Remender
never invested us in the relationship with <st1:place w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place> and relied on past history to make her
death seem like anything. Then he added a cornball Nomad thing in Dimension Z. Add to that Romita’s work turns into crap
after a few issues and by the end of this he apparently is barely sketching an
outline and it was an easy drop. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAYpH_25GOfeHzxacPJZTMTNesE4HtMJ4ApLw0YIMWmAEn8QQghe0_5QCSfhs0s933TeapWd5pF1uuHSt1wU1SSWqm81Nv36CiQVQT0xlWlvAA2XsuaO_8yMgDcK5d9P99ptIaIs-wpo/s1600/SB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAYpH_25GOfeHzxacPJZTMTNesE4HtMJ4ApLw0YIMWmAEn8QQghe0_5QCSfhs0s933TeapWd5pF1uuHSt1wU1SSWqm81Nv36CiQVQT0xlWlvAA2XsuaO_8yMgDcK5d9P99ptIaIs-wpo/s320/SB.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Next up on the drop parade is <b><span style="color: red;">Thor.</span></b> After an 11 issue epic story
that was enjoyable and had terrific art we get a $4 fill in issue that focuses
on an old character now having brain cancer. Ugh. Heck even the epic had a one
shot of Gorr’s origin as a middle fill in book. Thor is by Jason Aaron, who I
like and the art by Esad Ribic was great, but it was not worth $40 retail
price. Heck most states are at 6% so it is $42.40 in reality. Would I pay $40
for this story as a graphic novel ($44 with the bad guy origin). The answer is
no. Plus the design of floppy ear Gorr was something I never liked. So I save
$4 a month and can spend it on Jason Aaron’s new Image series coming out called
<b><span style="color: red;">Southern
Bastards</span></b>. This is a win/win in my book. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLQFLIkRnhdGEpTz1R4cI0pLYbc-SCYLkTqjCKgwxywDc9Sc_kju229IPAbrk7uCEIpSON1mFYSvJpZZMMa7E3K4RvKCxz25pN-YZaPsMYqFuRAidrCWiizzMVvXbAk7_SoftBdFHEz4/s1600/FF11-610x9251-300x454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLQFLIkRnhdGEpTz1R4cI0pLYbc-SCYLkTqjCKgwxywDc9Sc_kju229IPAbrk7uCEIpSON1mFYSvJpZZMMa7E3K4RvKCxz25pN-YZaPsMYqFuRAidrCWiizzMVvXbAk7_SoftBdFHEz4/s320/FF11-610x9251-300x454.jpg" width="211" /></a>Next up on the elimination parade is <b><span style="color: red;">FF</span></b>. With issue #11 Matt Fraction
continues doing a little bit of homage to the original FF run on many issues.
If you go back to the Lee/Kirby stuff issue #11 had the Impossible Man as does
this issue. The problem is again the forever story. This group who is filling
in for the FF has been fun in some aspects and with Allred’s art guaranteed to
be quirky but nothing is moving forward. The old Torch story line has languished,
the Doom story is going nowhere, characterization is being spread among a ridiculous
large cast. You only have 20 some pages a month and therefore with a large cast
you either ignore some people or move every character a tiny step each issue. I
would rather read Fraction’s mini-series from Image. Another book I have to
leave is Fantastic Four, but let’s face it 11 issues in and we are getting
nowhere. Plus Fraction feels Inhumans series is more important and is leaving
the script writing to others to finish out his story. Why should I invest if
Fraction is not investing? </div>
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So that is four books off my list.</div>
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This week Marvel bored me even more with their mini-event, Battle
of the Atom. At least is almost self contained as it includes the two Bendis
books, the two part book end pieces and 2 issues of Wolverine and the X-Men as
the entirety of the event. But the prelude is in Uncanny X-Men and who is
attacking them Sentinels. Oh boy that is something different. We haven’t seen
Sentinels as the big bads in X-books only all the fucking time. Oh wait a
mysterious person is behind it – yawn. These books may have to go soon. </div>
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We also got another chapter in Infinity along with the last
issue of Thanos Rising. My god this is really boring, I can eliminate three series
in one fell swoop. I will probably follow the whole thing because I thing
complete arcs sell better on Ebay. </div>
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And that is why MARVEL IS BORING THE CRAP OUT OF ME. </div>
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Make Mine IDW, no Image, no Valiant, no Dark Horse, no
Dynamite, no Boom, if only we had some alternatives to check out.</div>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-24618000702388248502013-08-24T11:50:00.000-07:002013-08-24T11:51:41.157-07:00September New Series to Check Out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Since the Big Two suck let’s see what else is coming out.</div>
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Let’s start with <b>Boom
Studios</b>. I don’t get a lot from them but they don’t publish a lot of books
either. Still they now have George Perez as an exclusive artist, Mike Carey and
Paul Cornell onboard as writers and they just purchased Archaia. They are a
company that appears to be moving up. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNpyK6iewRDUlvr1FXXGekvsfKtmndJWr9DgrMevsCwRNNOdWSPpAYDko14yNi6FgUvld-KOdB5AQxGx-IR4ayCmzy9U1JILdtjX7Hbh-E9wRneWVR1qZmo6-VOMYrvYVoFq5MA8ezuE/s1600/Hit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNpyK6iewRDUlvr1FXXGekvsfKtmndJWr9DgrMevsCwRNNOdWSPpAYDko14yNi6FgUvld-KOdB5AQxGx-IR4ayCmzy9U1JILdtjX7Hbh-E9wRneWVR1qZmo6-VOMYrvYVoFq5MA8ezuE/s320/Hit.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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In September that have <b>Hit
#1</b> coming out by Bryce Carlson (w) and Vanesa Del (a). I have no clue about
either one of the creators, but it is just a four issue mini-series and the
cover looks awesome so I will give issue #1 a shot. The premise <span style="background-color: black;"><i><span style="color: red;">“<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Los Angeles</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">. It’s 1955. It’s dark; it’s sexy. It’s dangerous. Everyone
has an angle. And while infamous gangster Mickey Cohen rots in a prison cell, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> ignores the
blackest parts of the city’s heart…where clandestine groups of LAPD detectives
moonlight as sanctioned hitmen knows as “Hit Squads.”</span></span></i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Sounds
a little Red Team and is territory that has been done before, but I want to see
if this team can make me interested in their version. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Next let’s look at <b>Dark Horse</b>. Dark Horse has been a solid
publisher over many years and recently they have restarted the super hero books
they once did. This time they are rolling stuff out slowly and doing limited
series to start some books. Plus they have not abandoned other type of
material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElAfyJA0r_PaqgAHfuN0WPyp7PSFk3OOLoh4QnfRniIsZbgCM77or9tye3kUmNkVI_rhdnAvrTe3Q8YTakRhEDv1TAdFY-v8qU5NysmpW81FH64M4r0PCoBkVcqaAdRwQ-7MQO4q3d3s/s1600/BrainBoy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElAfyJA0r_PaqgAHfuN0WPyp7PSFk3OOLoh4QnfRniIsZbgCM77or9tye3kUmNkVI_rhdnAvrTe3Q8YTakRhEDv1TAdFY-v8qU5NysmpW81FH64M4r0PCoBkVcqaAdRwQ-7MQO4q3d3s/s320/BrainBoy1.jpg" width="210" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">For September they have <b>Brain Boy #1</b> by Fred Van Lente (w) and
RB Silva (P). This is a mini-series and is taking an old Dell comic character
and updating him for today. This just sounds like crazy fun. The premise <i><span style="color: red;">“When the United
States Secret Service needs to stop an assassination before the killer’s even
decided to buy a gun, they call the world’s most powerful telepath: Matt Price,
a.k.a. Brain Boy. But when the secret agent that can read anyone’s mind finds
that a powerful psychic network has been hidden from him, Brain Boy begins to
wonder whether he knows everything or nothing at all!<span class="apple-converted-space">” </span></span></i><span class="apple-converted-space">Van Lente will always hold a special place in my
heart for his work on Action Philosophers and he has done good stuff for Marvel
and Valiant comics. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvQIrLPRlyaod3jhdYm88W1wrVCBrq0A5hjogpd-yo3rem_z7_FMe3JNezni72KDtdvqkspv4OfbvNZ9V6Zg-z7tMd3hDMiQ3RtnJo3r1Dn-sZ4wtv9KhxMDS5jb0lXh8qkmHB_n6Gf0/s1600/Buzzkill1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvQIrLPRlyaod3jhdYm88W1wrVCBrq0A5hjogpd-yo3rem_z7_FMe3JNezni72KDtdvqkspv4OfbvNZ9V6Zg-z7tMd3hDMiQ3RtnJo3r1Dn-sZ4wtv9KhxMDS5jb0lXh8qkmHB_n6Gf0/s320/Buzzkill1.jpg" width="207" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Next up is <b>Buzzkill #1</b>,
another mini-series by Donny Cates & Mark Reznicek (w) and Geoff Shaw (p).
I’m unfamiliar with the writer and only have a vague recollection of the
artists, but I need to try the first issue due to the premise <i><span style="color: red;">“</span></i></span></span><i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">Ruben
is not your average alcoholic; he's an unstoppable superhero who derives his
powers from imbibing MASSIVE amounts of alcohol. After all the disasters it's
caused in his personal life, he's ready to get clean . . . and the
city's supervillains couldn't be happier!” </span></i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">That type of over the top odd ball premise will at
least get me to buy issue #1. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Also Dark Horse has new mini-series
for <b>Resident Alien</b> and <b>Baltimore</b> (Mignola’s early 1900’s
Vampire Hunter). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Dynamite</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> is
an interesting company. They almost have a house style and seem to try and
exploit characters in the public domain or those with less cache or utility for
licensing deals. Still they have made great strides and boost a talented writer
line up. They are producing a lot of very good books with original material as
well as licensed work. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzItMPSNvvZhRFvBXHs7erWhinGTWFZSzUtYkms-YCIDLld_np6ReClk-Way0zt7VykcYokEWMXuv6Gtit_R0GllWOlzTJOsLQJTp1aiBjEOaEzUQAgPn2ApPt-4bZWFMCml7s7zUMmpQ/s1600/TNKingsWatch01CovLaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzItMPSNvvZhRFvBXHs7erWhinGTWFZSzUtYkms-YCIDLld_np6ReClk-Way0zt7VykcYokEWMXuv6Gtit_R0GllWOlzTJOsLQJTp1aiBjEOaEzUQAgPn2ApPt-4bZWFMCml7s7zUMmpQ/s320/TNKingsWatch01CovLaming.jpg" width="213" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The first book that has my
interest is <b>King’s Watch #1</b>, a
mini-series by Jeff Parker (w) and Marc Laming (a). I have no clue about Laming
and Dynamite is usually weak on art. What has me most exciting is Jeff Parker.
I have loved his work from Marvel (Agents of Atlas, especially), but he never
became a name at Marvel. If it was not for his name on the credits I would have
passed on this oddball team up of Flash Gordon, The Phantom and Mandrake the
Magician. The premise <i><span style="color: red;">“Panic spreads across the world. Strange phenomena fills the
skies. Millions have nightmares of wild lands filled with horrible creatures...
then wake to find the monsters are real. What are three men willing to
sacrifice to save us all?<span class="apple-converted-space"> “ </span></span></i><span class="apple-converted-space">If anyone can pull this bizzaro shit off it is
Parker. Of course expect multiple covers as only Dynamite can deliver. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROuS1y0qPB9lIvpRHTJ8uREnLDkSicRlcKLp-W1rpBS5Vss-I7YSG9DAcalmGSHIHzwisUcv3fJnMbh15I2nG4rgrT1AhqJDyFizladQOgn1bqQtrqyeT3X5ZAor96VuMWNx0yZqajX4/s1600/CodenameAction1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROuS1y0qPB9lIvpRHTJ8uREnLDkSicRlcKLp-W1rpBS5Vss-I7YSG9DAcalmGSHIHzwisUcv3fJnMbh15I2nG4rgrT1AhqJDyFizladQOgn1bqQtrqyeT3X5ZAor96VuMWNx0yZqajX4/s320/CodenameAction1.jpg" width="213" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Next up is <b>Codename Action #1</b>,
another mini-series. I appreciate that Dynamite does these books mainly as
mini-series. Otherwise I would be less likely to try them out as unlimited
series. This is by Chris Roberson (w) and Jonathan Lau (a), both are quality
creators. Roberson has my admiration for willing to speak out about what was
going on at DC and of course probably burned that bridge forever. Lau’s art is
solid and sometimes excellent. The book is about the old Captain Action
character that DC once published as a licensed deal and the character was a GI
Joe like doll for boys back in the old days. The premise <i><span style="color: red;">“</span></i></span></span><i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;">During the height of the Cold
War, unknown forces scheme to heat up a global conflict. As key officials on
both sides of the Iron Curtain are replaced with doppelgangers, the
infiltration threatens to disrupt the precarious state of world affairs. The
security of the Free World depends on a young secret agent, one assigned to
shape the world's masked heroes into a force with singular purpose and
unyielding resolve!” </span></i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The mix of
creators and premise make this a book that I want to check out. Again Dynamite
does not skip on producing a host of variant covers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;">Okay so now we need to check in on <b>Image</b>. Image seems to be the place for new projects from many
people. Can’t believe the company founded by artists is more of a writers’
haven today. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6WchftkOms9k8I85saYtQqaRCANhYHqFTlD5R4eLYIEfND5DrZfe7BsVwZnoIZflke8hKxCRb0QnQiMApxafvAxZXuS-l6RWI_HeCgIaaZ7Z_04p-hZ2zyaRhzOpuoYxYPx2G6IZ3Yo/s1600/sexcriminals1_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6WchftkOms9k8I85saYtQqaRCANhYHqFTlD5R4eLYIEfND5DrZfe7BsVwZnoIZflke8hKxCRb0QnQiMApxafvAxZXuS-l6RWI_HeCgIaaZ7Z_04p-hZ2zyaRhzOpuoYxYPx2G6IZ3Yo/s320/sexcriminals1_cover.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;">The first one that I’m going to try out is <b>Sex Criminals #1</b> by Matt Fraction (W)
and Chip Zdarsky (A). Fraction I’m well aware of and Zdarsky I have no clue
about his work. Fraction is a decent writer, but I worry that he often is
trying too hard to be the cool kid and does not trust himself enough. I say
that because of the Hawkeye series, where he often changes the order of the
pages to make a story non-linear. The stories have been good enough and with
most of the artists being strong the book has done well. So the writer is a
yes, I do not judge the artist until I see the book. The premise <i><span style="color: red;">“<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Suzie's a normal girl with an extraordinary ability:
when she has sex, she stops time. One night she meets John... who has the same
gift. And so they do what any other sex-having, time-stopping, couple would do:
they rob banks.”</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">It is being labeled as a comedy and I would guess a
raunchy comedy. I’m buying number one, but no guarantee I will be buying
another issue. This will be a hard premise to pull off. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdSDsRlMdrzY_ylOlvM9W0Yiyo45Y1uVBkMsnNE61X3WPnK3RDfmF88IAIcZwBwuBxUlYXHocG5csC3tdAHR6pu_HfLdxkuZIc1Ykd9cFaYeD_KDz36pKfmKxqt243TzzRkhNVducGGc/s1600/RealityCheck01-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdSDsRlMdrzY_ylOlvM9W0Yiyo45Y1uVBkMsnNE61X3WPnK3RDfmF88IAIcZwBwuBxUlYXHocG5csC3tdAHR6pu_HfLdxkuZIc1Ykd9cFaYeD_KDz36pKfmKxqt243TzzRkhNVducGGc/s320/RealityCheck01-cover.jpg" width="210" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Another book I want to try
the first issue of is <b>Reality Check #1</b>
by Glen Brunswick (w) and Victor Bogdanovic. I know Glen from New Jersey Gods
and have no clue about Victor. The premise is very convoluted <i><span style="color: red;">“A struggling
artist, Willard Penn, scores an unlikely hit with his new comic. The story
centers on a hero more concerned with his libido than serving justice. After an
unexpected sell out, Willard can't recall anything about his story. That night
the book's hero shows up outside Willard's window refusing to return to the
comic until he finds true love. Exasperated, Willard is forced to help the
lovesick hero meet the perfect woman. But he'll need to hurry because the
book's villain, a homicidal maniac, has entered his world as well.”</span></i> This either works well or will be a total disaster.
Let’s say this, that the first issue better be good or else this book crashes
and burns. It may crash and burn anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z5pOj7bNZdguLDjwn8QeHNEdePO_EMBPPucWFIkyU7cFoSiH23k0FTxzuW5t7-7ci7Yd4HS9nTILgFtNuZInbKlWe8Vvo1gPb7RhItNout4uLAb3wtPiP0UA8Vv85bWzlKAlFquZPeg/s1600/Zero01_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z5pOj7bNZdguLDjwn8QeHNEdePO_EMBPPucWFIkyU7cFoSiH23k0FTxzuW5t7-7ci7Yd4HS9nTILgFtNuZInbKlWe8Vvo1gPb7RhItNout4uLAb3wtPiP0UA8Vv85bWzlKAlFquZPeg/s320/Zero01_cover.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The last number one from
Image for September I want to try out is <b>Zero
#1</b> by Ales Kot (w) and Michael Walsh and Jordie Bellaire (a). Again the
writer I know from Suicide Squad and the art is unfamiliar. Ales had a good
vibe on Suicide Squad. The premise <i><span style="color: red;">“Edward Zero is the perfect execution machine – a spy who
breaks the rules to get things done. When a stolen device appears in the center
of a long-running conflict, Zero comes to retrieve it. The problem is, the
device is inside a living, breathing, bio-modified terrorist and there's an
entire army after it.” </span></i>It sounds like a good premise and if the art
is decent this could be a hit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Also in September the former
mini-series, <b>Todd The Ugliest Kid #5</b>
is due out. This was one of the funniest books I have read in years and the
premise and characters are fantastic. Finally this month is almost light in
what Image has planned to roll out in the coming months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Next up is <b>IDW</b>. Let’s check in and see if they
have any new series that are of interest.
And after scanning and scanning the answer is no, which is fine as IDW
has many books that I get and enjoy and I do not need new series from every
publisher every month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Next up to check in on is <b>Valiant</b>. This restart has been hit
after hit for me. A little hyperbole but every series has been readable and
enjoyable and I have yet to drop a title. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kWrw1Kjt6d2kgAxMzWtBemltr-rBC2ct8mCD1QoC04rHwYpDBD2K2VGewCnu8V_lEI5TqcgxH4s-rTXB2_fIUBZLQMXRiB5s6R9j4GDwXbJlWQYAVnTUuWOIE3lmtMU6y7ZICRALWtg/s1600/EW_001_COVER_CRAIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kWrw1Kjt6d2kgAxMzWtBemltr-rBC2ct8mCD1QoC04rHwYpDBD2K2VGewCnu8V_lEI5TqcgxH4s-rTXB2_fIUBZLQMXRiB5s6R9j4GDwXbJlWQYAVnTUuWOIE3lmtMU6y7ZICRALWtg/s320/EW_001_COVER_CRAIN.jpg" width="206" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The first and only new series
is <b>Eternal Warrior #1</b> by Greg Pak
(w) and Trevor Hairsine (a). Greg is somewhat hit and miss for me with his
work. So that is both a negative or a positive, Trevor’s art is usually above
average and the preview pages have looked nice. The other big plus is Valiant’s
EIC seems to have a good mix of building a cohesive Universe but letting the
writers be the best they can be inside the structure. The premise <i><span style="color: red;">“Across ten
millennia and a thousand battlefields, Gilad Anni-Padda has traversed the
darkest, most mysterious corners of history. But the horror and bloodshed of
constant warfare has finally taken its toll on the man myth calls the Eternal
Warrior…and he has abdicated his duties as the Fist and the Steel of Earth for
a quiet life of seclusion. But when a blood vendetta from the distant past
suddenly reappears in the modern day, he must decide if he will return </span></i><span style="color: red;">to the ways of war…for the child who betrayed him thousands
of years ago...</span>” </span>The premise allows for stories to be told in
modern day or the past, could be fun. I like the slow roll with how Valiant is
adding titles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Ok the final place to check
is the <b>Vertigo</b> Imprint under DC. I
hate the new DCU but always have hope that Shelly Bond can keep Vertigo alive. Checking,
checking and no we have a miss for Vertigo this month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: black;">So that is it for the new
number ones I’m looking for in September, join in and try a few to avoid
lenticular Villains at DC and event mania at Marvel.</span></span></div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-84635734697058518472013-08-21T14:13:00.004-07:002013-08-21T14:14:39.152-07:00Variant Covers / Specials Covers – Who Gives A Damn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Let’s hit variant covers first. I recently read an article by
<a href="http://comicsbeat.com/nearly-50-of-the-comic-book-market-consists-of-variant-covers/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">The Beat</span></b></a> about variants being almost 50% of the market. This type of crap reporting is
what I would expect from some other sites, but not The Beat. The near 50% is on
items offered and has noting to do with actual numbers. So item one could be
New Book #1 and item #2 would be the 1:100 variant. Meaning the actual items
percentage for variants are 1% of the market, not 50%. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway I had a store back in the mid-nineties and variants
were all the rage at that time. It did hurt the market and almost turned comic
books in baseball cards with a market dominated by collectors and re-sellers
and not by actual readers. Today the variant stuff is stupid and amusing, but
it is not as bad as ruining the market place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What variants are doing for the companies is a way to try
and inflate the sale numbers on books. The idea being that the retailer, who is
ordering 75, may get daring and order 100 to get the variant hoping he can sell
the variant on the secondary (EBAY) market and make his money back. Since
direct market books are non-returnable the retailers who are gambling like this
will not be around for long anyway. They will lose their shirts when the book only
sells 25 copies and the variant only went for 5 times cover price. Still the
companies continue to offer them since it does jack up the sales on certain
books.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be fair some companies, like Dynamite offer 4 different
covers on each comic but fill them with the regular order. They are true variants and not chase variants.
They still have the limited variants, phantom variants (stupidest thing ever)
and some now have subscriber variants. The only person this really preys upon
is the collector who feels the need to own every cover of a particular issue. I
feel bad for that collector who continues to but all four covers of the Shadow
series every month. That person is paying $16 for a decent story by Roberson
with some so-so art work. I could care less about what I get whatever cover my
store shoves in the box for mail order is fine by me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So are variant covers a problem? I don’t think so. My store
gets variants just based on their normal orders. Eventually what they can’t
sell week one for $10 they try and sell the long box worth of variants for
cover price or less as a special on occasion. <i>(Short aside: I always wonder if the variant cover is better, shouldn’t
the company being using that as the cover?).</i> The stores that order too many
books to get a variant will not be in business for long. As the demand
decreases the companies will slow it down. The only inherent problem I can see
for variants are companies maybe basing their business plan on jacked up sales
as opposed to trying and make the best book possible. The market has both
readers and collectors. In order to cater to both I believe as long as print is
here we will still have the occasional variant to garner attention and maybe
boost the sale of a certain book.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bigger problem is the special cover and DC I believe may
have solved that problem with the 3D books coming out in September. They have
pissed off readers and retailers alike so that while it will be a sales
success, it will cause a nasty backlash against publishers doing this type of
stunt again. Of course I’m kidding as long as the fans lap it up and the sales
are thru the roof they will come back and f**k the fanbase again – because they
liked it. Hell I’m hoping to Ebay any of that 3D stuff I get and make my money
back and maybe a little more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The special covers have their place, when DC wrapped extra
cardboard around the Death in the Family books; I thought that was a great way
to give the tie in books a trade dress. As a retailer I wanted that type of
help, especially when the cover price is not raised. But jacking up prices by a
dollar on every book to just get a special cover is not what I would want as a
retailer. Shorting the orders is ever worse. Now the retailer disappoints the
customers who want it and they end up trying to save face with their base of
customers. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are special covers a problem? Yes, because it is a gimmick
and a device so over used by publishers that it no longer provides any merit.
Will they go away? Nope, as long as something sells it will continue. The big
two are corporate comics. We will see great stories at times from great
creators and often get some very cool moments, but do not mistake the fact that
this is not about trying to tell the best stories, this is about selling the
most books. The only way it becomes about telling the best stories or when the
best stories are the biggest sellers. </div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-77999668059714521002013-08-20T10:04:00.001-07:002013-08-20T10:04:51.889-07:00Epic Stories – Please Stop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is almost funny that with the advent of so many epic
stories coming out from the big two that I find I almost miss the decompressed stories
of just six issues. It was all about writing for the six issue trade. That epidemic
just occurred a few years back. Heck I’m now longing for the days of the Jonah
Hex series that was actually set in the West when most stories were one and
done. Alas that is not to be at this time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead we get the 11 Part Zero Year from Scott Snyder on
Batman. We are only two years into his run and this is after the epic length
Court of Owls and Death in the Family story lines. Worse Scott is going over
the same territory that has been trudged on by many many others. I know he is
bringing in new elements and that we have great art work by Capullo, but it
still is not as exciting as going forward. Worse DC is constantly trying to
piggy back off the success of this series by adding tie in books to the nth
degree. After the horrendous Death in the Family added books deluded what was a
decent story I will only buy the books I normally get this time around. The
problem is that a story that takes a year to unfold loses any immediacy. Take
the Joker’s Five Way Revenge story by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams as an example
of what can be delivered in a single issue story. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hickman I have beaten up for the epic story telling before.
I will try to not belabor the point on Hickman too much except to say that it
appears that all the preliminary work he has laid in over 24 issues of the
Avengers and New Avengers is almost treading water as he built up to Infinity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Worse, with Marvel all the build up is almost more about a
lead up to launching new series. The jaw dropping, nothing will every be the
same consequences fade into memory after just a few months. Civil War, Secret
Invasion and other events had “impacts” that are already long gone. Infinity, which
remember has been building with 24 Hickman books and will encompass a few other
series, seems to now just be a prelude to the Inhumans series, which of course
threatens to change everything we have ever known.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The writer of said series Matt Fraction was winning me over
to be a pure fan of his work with Hawkeye. Although I thought he gimmicked the
time jumps too often and did not trust that his story was good enough without
tricks. Yet Matt also succumbed to the siren call of the epic story with both
FF and Fantastic Four. We are a year in with no resolution in sight. Worse, as
his writing assignments grew past his ability to be able to handle all of them
he has had to let FF and Fantastic Four go to other writers to conclude his
story. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeff Lemire, whose work I normally love, is used to telling
a story with a beginning middle and an end. This means that stuff like <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Essex</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
Sweet Tooth and Underwater Welder were great stories, but Green Arrow has that
epic scale to it and I’m not a fan of the 50 issue super hero story. Longbow
Hunters was not as long as the story Jeff has mapped out with the various
different mystical branches and houses involved in this current story. Plus
Jeff’s GA does not line up with the JLA version of the character at all. Not a
bad thing, just a general trend that is starting to take shape. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is not to say that an Epic story line can’t be a good
thing. Matt Kindt’s Mind Mgmt. is telling us a long form story; Saga is
advertised to be a long form story. Of course with independents that story can
be long form as we get to watch the characters grow and change. In the spandex
set it is not the same. The change is artificial and due to be re-written the
next time sales need to be goosed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Variety is the spice of life and comics need to understand
that. We need more Hawkeye comics and less of the Odyssey. It is not that some
of the epics are not well done, but even the recent Thor 11 part sage could
have benefit from a quicker pace and a tighter plot. I enjoyed it, but Gorr was
a poorly designed bad guy (the floppy ears made him seem like a humanoid bunny)
and the pacing was very slow. It reminds me of many movies I have seen over the
last few years, you think we have reached the climax of the movie and then it
continues and you think this is the climax and then it is the next scene
instead. By the time you get to the end of the story you forget why you ever
cared. </div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-71461639791245260622013-08-16T10:27:00.000-07:002013-08-17T05:44:47.961-07:00Why DC Needed A Black Female Flash – Or The New 52 Sucks Part 14<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">So it just
occurred to me as I'm reading the Flash Annual (I’m behind on my reading) on
the way DC really screwed everything up. When they did the Flashpoint reboot
they tried to have their cake and eat it too. That was a huge mistake. Making
Barry Allen and Hal Jordan the Flash and Green Lantern again is not real
change. They just made them younger and destroyed any legacy they had. Instead
they should have restarted it in a bolder way and one that makes more sense in
today’s market. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">It would've been cool if perhaps the Flash was
a black female character to give us a little diversity and have the character
have a different perspective. Heck make Hawkman a Hispanic man instead of what
now feels almost vaguely racist in today’s world with Vibe being the Hispanic
hero. Also why not have a Japanese America as Green Arrow or a Native American.
Instead DC got wrapped into making everything the same yet strangely different. They have alienated old time fans like me and lost a chance to make the DC
Universe more reflective of today’s society. Hell we shouldn’t have to limit
ourselves to just a few characters or any race or gender either. Instead of
trying to force fit Cyborg into the JL as a black character get bold and have
this Earth’s only Green Lantern be black. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">DC and Marvel
have to learn (and Marvel is learning with Potto Parker) that the super hero
name is important. Secret identities are almost passé in today’s super hero
books so why not go the whole nine yards and be bold. Fans would reward
boldness but having Carter Hall as the Hawkman was just boring. Oliver Queen as
Green Arrow is only marginally better since Lemire took over and got rid of the
Bruce Wayne type Green Arrow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
It makes no sense to<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> destroy the legacy if
you're if you're not going to build something new. Instead DC is building the
same thing but the twist is that instead of Flash having Iris Allen as his
girlfriend it is now Patty. Man what a shocker, Barry switched one white girl
for another white girl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">While the
Silver Age was started Flash was not Jay Garrick, Green Lantern was not Alan
Scott and the list goes on and on. Outside of Superman and Batman, everyone
else can be a different person and have a different background. In some ways
James Robinson was doing his best to reinvent the Golden Age characters in
Earth 2 and was willing to vary the cast with Alan Scott being gay and Dr. Fate
and Hawkwoman are not white characters. The new 52 left everyone being
essentially the exact same. Of course since it is a new “universe” DC gets to
play fast and loose with their continuity so no one know what is the background of any character.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">It reminds me of the illusion of change that
Marvel always produces where they shake things up but nothing really changes.
Peter Parker is still Spiderman Reed Richards, Susan Richards Johnny Storm and Ben
Grimm are the Fantastic Four and Steve Rogers is still Captain America, Clinton Barton is still Hawkeye and on and on.
These characters are 60+ years old. The stories have been done over and over and
over again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
Listen just because I put on a green t-shirt and shave my head, it does nothing
to change whom I am. That is what DC has done with the new 52. I read that Marv
Wolman wanted to change things up with Crisis on Infinite Earths and DC said no
at that time. That was 1985 in 2011 you thing that using a bold stroke to make
changes would have been a smart choice. Why not open up comics to being more in
tune with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>
as it exists today and not the one I was born into in 1955. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-69428676071818614432013-08-13T15:18:00.002-07:002013-08-13T15:18:41.035-07:00Why I Continue to Hate DC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGd-VPWt9re435SwWl8YBy-zs124n2aLiQoGoA5b2HCK64KukQxQap9f-EOPji1Efr3FanDmcuTGWAld-KXRRRedfJGW2lezyqDZ1SnEZwxbUihkQ4qnXVWF1sFqIriBRckwviCJbsEA/s1600/BM_Cv25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGd-VPWt9re435SwWl8YBy-zs124n2aLiQoGoA5b2HCK64KukQxQap9f-EOPji1Efr3FanDmcuTGWAld-KXRRRedfJGW2lezyqDZ1SnEZwxbUihkQ4qnXVWF1sFqIriBRckwviCJbsEA/s320/BM_Cv25.jpg" width="207" /></a>Another rant, it has been a little while since I have
slammed DC, but thought that it was time again to crucify my ex-favorite comic
book company.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was inspired by the November solicitations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It starts with the Batman Zero stuff. When this 11 issue arc
started I thought, at last a Batman arc that is not going to be cheapened by
endless add on books. What the fuck was I thinking? Snyder and Capullo are
sales gods for DC and since DC can’t get their act together anywhere else let’s
make it market driven. So we get Action Comics, Batgirl (not written by Gail
Simone), Batwing, Birds of Prey, Catwoman, Nightwing, Detective, Flash, Green
Lantern Corps, Green Arrow and Red Hood and the Outlaws are all Zero year
tie-in books. As an extra special fuck you they are all also $4. My answer is
fuck you DC I will buy only the titles I normally get anyway. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After that we get the Forever Evil series part 3 of 7, which
essentially is linked to all three JL books and 3 Forever Evil ancillary mini-series
as well as Suicide Squad and Teen Titans. At least a few of those books are
just $3. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This month also brings us Tom Taylor taking over Earth 2,
which felt like a very personal vision of James Robinson. I’m not sure how this
book will fare in my eyes going forward. The rest of the solicitations contain
so many lackluster series that I hardly feel they are worth mentioning. I like
that Soule is writing a bunch of books, but I know often it is not his vision,
as much as he is just writing the screen play for the editorially mandated
story. Specifically I’m speaking of the Superman / Wonder Woman book which is unappealing
to me at this point. I will give it a try out based on Soule being the writer.
We do have Wonder Woman still off in her own world and I have modest hopes for
the Harley series but otherwise it is a bunch of pabulum. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The solicitations are also notable for the lack of a solicitation
for Justice League 3000. How many times is DC going to push the new creative
team or book and have it fall apart before we even get an issue? The Kevin
Maguire debacle, preceded by the Joshua Fialkov mess, the Andy Diggle Action
Comics, the Jim Zub Birds of Prey, the etc, etc, etc. This is inexcusable in my
mind. As a publishing company you do not need to make an announcement until you
have everything well in hand. You have not only looked the fool, but you have unnecessarily
dragged creators’ names in the mud or somehow perhaps tarnished them. Of course
a DC snub may now be considered a seal of greatness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also of late I have read Jon Layman espousing that he writes
Detective Comics like a jazz piece, ready to move and groove to what ever has
to be done. Keith Giffen was spouting off crap about how great it is to get
Howard Porter on JL 3000 as he (hopefully) unintentionally pissed on Maguire. I
know people need to eat and I know you have to swallow some pride to get along
in a corporate environment but this stuff reeks of DC telling people to go out
and talk up the great stuff about being here or else. Hell Didio and Lee
interviews are a fucking joke, what do you expect the captains of the ship to
say but double speak. It is a shame because a little honest and an occasion
admission of screwing up can go a long way to generating some good will with
the fan base. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I like it when Didio says it is just the internet crowd,
look at the sales numbers guys, we are the bulk of your audience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So many things make DC seem like a ship of fools. The 3D
cover fuck up, which hopefully will allow me to sell some DC books for decent
money, the renaming of Collider, the canceling of some Archives and no
communication about when, if ever, it will be re-solicited. Even inside the comics there are flaws all
the time in the new continuity. I was reading Detective and this guy is dealing
with Bruce Wayne and he wants to buy the tech that Wayne Industries makes for
Batman. Bruce says why would you think I have anything to do with that? How
about because of the whole Grant Morrison Batman Inc. storyline? It is just incredible that Grant had to
reshape his story to fit the new 52 and now it appears that it is already being
wiped from continuity. Of course DC has no real continuity anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A company that was built on legacy no longer has one. When
you tear down the foundation you need to rebuild from the ground up. DC started
on the third floor with nothing underneath of it. At this point they have
become an easy target and a sad testimony to marketing versus quality. Hey it
has saved me money as the three DC books I’m getting for August 14 are Batman,
JLA and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Astro</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>. In hindsight I believe this is
what Didio has always wanted. He wanted comics driven by events, marketing and
if a good story gets made now and again, great. It may work sometimes but DC is
a house of cards that could collapse any day. Johns has no pizzazz anymore and is
living off reputation and the power he wields being CCO. Snyder is their one
star. I think DC has some great talent, but I think a lot of that talent is
making bank while they can. I think Layman, Lemire, Kindt, Venditti and Soule
would all be doing fantastic work if they were allowed to tell the stories they
want to tell, but I do not begrudge they taking DC’s money. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It will not change until Didio, Lee, Harras and maybe even
Johns are kicked to the curb. Hell I’m not even sure how you fix this piece of
crap.</div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-90385271951091617352013-07-31T03:00:00.000-07:002013-07-31T04:09:02.801-07:00Jonathan Hickman’s Amazing Never Ending Avengers Story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYHVaLu8LCEon4Fl58OTJO0FdUbhTeLteVSgiEY6B0VKwH91EUedKzWNeMo6-StGwnim0Am52-IqNlEtNPm_vLfNS6fXdcJAjkbCqaIoEMkhmxqEvxLK3uvCQZ_ul4QGIDnZXFnSp_Xg/s1600/photo+(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYHVaLu8LCEon4Fl58OTJO0FdUbhTeLteVSgiEY6B0VKwH91EUedKzWNeMo6-StGwnim0Am52-IqNlEtNPm_vLfNS6fXdcJAjkbCqaIoEMkhmxqEvxLK3uvCQZ_ul4QGIDnZXFnSp_Xg/s320/photo+(16).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">24 Issues over 240 pages and we are<br />
just getting to the prelude? WTF</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jonthan Hickman and the Marvel Universe is a match made in
Omnibus heaven because his muther f**king stories will need Omnibus treatment
to try and collect one story in it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hickman’s Fantastic Four story went on forever and I can’t even
remember much about the conclusion, except future <st1:city w:st="on">Franklin</st1:city> saved the world or universe. By the
time we got to the end I had cancelled the title and then picked up a trade or
two to catch up and the story still had not ended. He managed to add the Future
Foundation and tried to age Johnny a couple of years. Johnny already is being
written by Fraction like that never happened. The bottom line was after four
years or what ever the impact to the title was minimal. Some great ideas as
Hickman always has been a forgettable experience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now we have Hickman on Avengers. His current Avengers run is
about 16 issues (and what 10 on New Avengers) in and we have the Builders, the
New Universe characters involved, endless worlds being destroyed, the Black
Swan, various parts of the globe changing and now it is all leading into the
big Infinity event. Come on man, can’t you just tell us a story or two in a six
issues. At this point by the time you get to the grand finale I will not even
remember why I was reading this story. Hickman has these wonderful grandiose
ideas that make Morrison seem like the only drug he has used is caffeine. The
problem is it makes the characters into bit players in his drama. I see Hickman
as almost being too diffused and unable to focus enough to get in and get out
with his story. Every damn story does not have to be involved as Games of
Thrones.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EXDyKIVplBxkS5kZBsuCpnqt11u_enbrZ8zblAP3ajT3JXua6kEAXm_rdmHApMA7Z8e-8Zf9XkBdSVidODwBBJqaFZSK4ERD1PxLXqR8jnCSv9H6PP5egrHxeEbIE0UMU3DH7qCRHC4/s1600/3041316-infinity_1_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EXDyKIVplBxkS5kZBsuCpnqt11u_enbrZ8zblAP3ajT3JXua6kEAXm_rdmHApMA7Z8e-8Zf9XkBdSVidODwBBJqaFZSK4ERD1PxLXqR8jnCSv9H6PP5egrHxeEbIE0UMU3DH7qCRHC4/s320/3041316-infinity_1_cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guaranteed to be launching the<br />
Inhumans series and at least one<br />
more book by the time it ends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Avengers work
when you have the great team dynamics and fighting some cool villains or
impossible menace but Hickman has them handling crisis or some many fronts even
as a reader I can’t keep it all straight. Worse they try and tie the continuity
together by explaining how Reed Richard and Tony Stark are doing what they are
doing in other books and still finding time to be in the Avengers and/or the
Illuminati. Now we find out it is just building up to a new Infinity event. It
makes me long for the dragged out six issue Daredevil arcs under Bendis. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even worse it seems like Marvel just uses one event to
launch new books to go into the next event. Age of Ultron was a disaster that
just set up story arcs. This never ending story may end the same way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s face I’m willing to commit to books and give writers a
chance by Hickman seems to be living up to his full potential on East of West,
while at Marvel he has so many great ideas and he decided to use them all at
once. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Story – beginning middle and end, it should not take 24
issues to get to the prelude of the event you are writing.</div>
<br /></div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-26822669366747201132013-07-30T12:24:00.001-07:002013-07-30T13:31:40.732-07:00Kyle Rayner is TOO DAMN YOUNG as is the rest of the DCU<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKDEl6AKphBLaiumZ5FuagWPx2x-sY0wBXGsTnutFFynjF0A9X_xg896PO5ntF_1sa5NQPbk3Q8uBCM2c8YZPgEJpPppFnnuuSQpcd-WV46AlR0g0KGaOcXS4dvPHsVGfBfAcyZCS64M/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKDEl6AKphBLaiumZ5FuagWPx2x-sY0wBXGsTnutFFynjF0A9X_xg896PO5ntF_1sa5NQPbk3Q8uBCM2c8YZPgEJpPppFnnuuSQpcd-WV46AlR0g0KGaOcXS4dvPHsVGfBfAcyZCS64M/s320/photo+(12).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre the New 52 Kyle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tm42Ia41jDNeW6m6j2IAh-XSm8daVzpjRyRd8CbjoDwe19TW6xMwLq_g-lx7oBBOp6T4J3vkc8CyLcH12ZBtNihO2TLggCkZsecdLhBq8NX1csDeRj9phDJHMzE3DhX57LgbBePaGB0/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tm42Ia41jDNeW6m6j2IAh-XSm8daVzpjRyRd8CbjoDwe19TW6xMwLq_g-lx7oBBOp6T4J3vkc8CyLcH12ZBtNihO2TLggCkZsecdLhBq8NX1csDeRj9phDJHMzE3DhX57LgbBePaGB0/s320/photo+(14).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Kyle in the New 52</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The new DCU has made all of the characters so young that
there is no way any of them have any gravitas to them anymore. Check out Kyle
Rayner in this picture he looks like he is 14 years old at best. It is just ridiculous to assume that Batman
has only been around six years, has had at least three Robins and done all that
he has in that short of a time. Before we were able to just think it may have
been years or never know the exact timing, but since Batman appeared to be in
his 40’s at this point (or late 30’s) we could at least think the story had
some level of comic book believability. Now Green Arrow and the rest all look
like kids and could be in the teen titans. Also, almost half the characters
look the same Steve Trevor, Aquaman, John Constatine and a few others could be
doppelgangers.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4RfUDiLyXJaYsWA1sq_Nxo8f1bbGTcs1SSQ6D_RH2eFMMFHmnkxefUUyDmp9Zo6eBjR-ncCQK2yJOULBzRXdCjR5H2iNLsHLgDJ4E-b4jiIP4FbVK-x73Rn3MQ2hk9J_oHoUjTg4c7c/s1600/photo+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4RfUDiLyXJaYsWA1sq_Nxo8f1bbGTcs1SSQ6D_RH2eFMMFHmnkxefUUyDmp9Zo6eBjR-ncCQK2yJOULBzRXdCjR5H2iNLsHLgDJ4E-b4jiIP4FbVK-x73Rn3MQ2hk9J_oHoUjTg4c7c/s320/photo+(15).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New 52 Kyle - Can't Buy a beer yet. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppJ1g1G8_77a1kYE8ScTpbv4GG1REWxD-mBWcuxkm4gXHy_3Pd8kc5jW0OrnnUp9ZCD0Qr3t9cyc9o4XkRqZYZlKmEVRfy8W1ta1ybjGudMEcy1Y9nkIxdui84ejt7BpyL7EVgEq04-8/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppJ1g1G8_77a1kYE8ScTpbv4GG1REWxD-mBWcuxkm4gXHy_3Pd8kc5jW0OrnnUp9ZCD0Qr3t9cyc9o4XkRqZYZlKmEVRfy8W1ta1ybjGudMEcy1Y9nkIxdui84ejt7BpyL7EVgEq04-8/s320/photo+(13).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Face Steve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-58004395451705898612012-01-17T07:28:00.000-08:002012-01-17T07:34:43.776-08:00Why The New DCU Is Not Floating My Boat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">So last time I excoriated Marvel, this time let’s see why the DC New has created problems for me.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
First point is what I have already canceled. Static Shock, this was a function of the character. I never enjoyed the character and the first issue did nothing for me. Men of War, I went in with high hopes and it added super hero stuff almost from the jump. It felt like it was a book that had no real direction. Next up is Hawk and Dove all that needs to be said is Rob Liefeld but we can add the de-aging of the characters. Captain Atom, they killed him and my interest in the book with issue #2. Savage Hawkman by Tony Daniel was all I really needed because Tony has good ideas but is not a solid writer from what I have seen. Still I tried three issues and Daniel needs a co-writer to help smooth out his work or at least a strong editor. Fury of Firestorm was just a horrible story that was all over the board and the art was weak. Deathstroke was over redesigned and his armor and sword were a joke, he is a great character and this was a waste of the characters potential. Also the writer played the mysterious game with a briefcase that bored me. The character knows what is in the briefcase, let me know. If your idea is good let the reader know. Blue Beetle felt like a rerun. JLI was so generic I could have written it. OMAC was just too much Kirby homage and not enough willingness to give us a straight story. Legion Lost was a bad idea. LOSH is too much Levitz. This is the new DCU, let’s get started anew and get a fresh voice. Red Hood and the Outlaws was apparently a comedy book. Batwing was tied to Batman Inc, that does not seem to exist in the new DCU or it does but it is a confused mess. Green Arrow was too new; Mister Terrific and Blackhawks were aborted by DC.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All in all Snyder, Lemire and Tomasi are producing great books and others have some hits with Batwoman, I Vampire, Supergirl and some others, but the underlying issue is that this was too hard of a break from what come before and I no longer have a bond with the characters. When you break that bond it becomes easier for me to drop a book. The characters are familiar and unfamiliar all at the same time. Well written and strong art books like Suicide Squad has hooked me back in, but except for Deadshot and Harley Quinn Adam Glass is not using familiar characters. You could say Amanda Waller is, but she is now Angela Bassett and the hard break from the fat body style of before tells us this is a different universe. The other side of that coin is characters like Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon and Tim Drake all have a totally different vibe and I was bonded with those characters. Marvel over the years destroyed all the love I had for the characters and stuff like One More Day cut all loyalty I had to Spider-Man, this break has severely damaged the bonds I had with the DCU characters. It has not broken my bond with Batman 100% like OMD, but it has hurt it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">DC thought it would be fun to do a soft reset by changing some things and leaving others alone. The problem is that as a long time reader I have expectations about these characters and you can play with my expectations by taking the familiar and changing it. Bart Allen is Kid Flash, but is he Barry’s time lost grandson – who knows. At this point I say who cares. Red Hood is not the same. How can Roy Harper have been Green Arrow’s sidekick when Green Arrow is so young? Barbara Gordon appears to have never been Oracle and is very much a rookie again, how does that jibe with what else of the old DCU is gone. Barry Allen is in the middle of his career I thought but is still adjusting to his powers, over in JL they said it was five years ago. I think in five years Barry should have adjusted. Nothing is lining up and there is almost zero consistency from title to title. I think Bob Harras and Dan Didio are a bad combination to be running things.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This leads to the biggest problem with the DCNu and that is starting everything in the middle. I have no clue what is what and who is who. I read 100 plus series during the month and can usually follow stories no matter what. Since the norm is starting with action and then flashing back and then coming back to where we started, I can follow stories from the middle, but not every damn one. It is sensory overload and it is like I reading about 52 new universes at once because there is no real coherence between the books. DC should have started from ground zero if they wanted to make a solid break or they should have taken their time to map out what the history of their universe was before starting it over so fast. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I think we will eventually see an insider story down the road of how fast this was done and we will get more information on why this failed. DC thought they were going to generated new readers and for the massive ad campaign and retailer incentives they did managed to get a sales spike of gargantuan proportions and get some new people to check out their books, but I don’t think any of the number one issues told a complete adventure. I know you are trying to bring them back for next issue, but also people are going to be pissed that they did not get a story for their purchase. After the thrill you are left with the regular comic readers and maybe a small group of new people. The problem is that I no longer have the affinity I had for the characters and I could easily drop a lot of the titles.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let me end on a semi-positive note. I love Batman, Batman and Robin, Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Suicide Squad, All Star Western, Action, Wonder Woman, I Vampire, Frankenstein Agent of Shade, Batwoman, Supergirl and Birds of Prey so DC is still producing some excellent books. I still follow a lot more titles then those listed, but all of the rest could be cut and even what I love is not quite what it once was to me. </div></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997969522623175126.post-19901281398767906652012-01-08T14:59:00.000-08:002012-01-08T14:59:12.221-08:00What Bugs Me About Comics Lately<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowPropertyChanges/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--><div class="MsoNormal">I’m gonna complain about Marvel. Again I hope to get more regular with my posts on this blog in the next month.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Marvel is absolutely killing me with the maintenance of their $4 price points, their insane numbering and point one books and now the continuation of event after event after event. Marvel seems to want me to drop the entire line, since every time I get into a book I’m forced and dragged into buying other books.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s take each point in order. First up is the continued proliferation of $4 books, even a cool little mini-series like Legion of Monsters is a $4 book. Captain America (a $3) becomes Captain America and Bucky and they launch a new Captain America and it is a $4 book. The Uncanny X-Men gets cancelled as it is re-launched after X-Men Schism (a $4 book) into Uncanny X-Men and Wolverine and the X-Men, one $3 book becomes two $4 books. The entire Ultimate line, which is only a few books, are all $4, but as a result I only get Ultimates as the other two series where not worth $4, but maybe worth $3.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Next up is the ridiculous Point one stuff from Marvel. When it was first introduced it seemed like a nice idea to give readers a clear jumping on point, now it is just an excuse for another issue of the comic. The last Uncanny X-Force point one was a launch for Age of Apocalypse, the one before that has never been followed up on. Instead of thinking these are books I want to buy I avoid them like the plague as I know seldom will they have any impact on what I’m reading. The only book that meant anything was after Fear Itself when 7.1 was about how Bucky never died, which is insane that it was not put in the regular continuity book. I no longer have the time or desire to have to read all the press releases (covered as news by most comic books sites) to figure out how to follow a character. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally let me finish up with a rant about all the event crap. Let’s start small, I’m enjoying Daredevil, but now I have a cross-over with Spider-Man at issue #7. I don’t want to read Spider-Man, but I think the creative team is doing both books, so it is tough to not want to pick it up. I may instead skip that Daredevil issue. I want to read Daredevil. Spider-Island made me drop Spider-Man and the Venom series because it was too much crap and not just the adventures of who I’m trying to follow. Spider-Man has another event starting in March, glad I’m off that book. Now comes Avengers vs X-Men as Marvel is pulling out all the stops which I assumes means that the Avenger titles and few X titles I follow will be dragged into it as well. I may be dragged into following this series, heck I was curious about the Cable mini-series which is a precursor to this series, but skipped the $4 book. If I do get dragged into this book I can guarantee you that I will drop a bunch of ancillary titles. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So good job Marvel, while I don’t buy a ton of Marvel the next two weeks have over 14 Marvel books on them but Thunderbolts, Moon Knight, Uncanny X-Men, Incredible Hulk, New Avengers and others could be easily dropped. </div></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.com2