Comics are Awesome II

[Shockwave]

Wasn't that Dan "Bumblebee" Gilvezan?

[BWprowl]

I heard it--I can't unhear it.

Which is funny, because Crispin Freeman kind of sounds like the 90s Spiderman cartoon actor. Who will probably always be Spiderman in my head. (I had a CD-ROM "interactive comic book" thing in the mid-90s that was old comic back issues narrated, partially, by the cartoon voice actors. It was pretty cool for a kid, and firmly implanted that dude as Spider-Man's voice to me forever.)

This was actually partially my reasoning on it, what with Kaine being a clone of Peter and all. Because I'm with you, that guy (Christopher Barnes was his name, apparently) is my definitive Spider-Man voice. It's on the same level as Kevin Conroy and Batman.

SHOOOOOOOOOCKEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[andersonh1]

Action Comics #16:
I really feel like a chump for not having been reading this since the first issue.

I tried. This is one of the books that started out really well, but within five issues had begun to take off on rabbit trails. The plot took a break for issues 5 and 6 while Morrison went off on a tangent, then came back, then took another side trip, after which I'd had enough. If you like the book, good for you, but it was a pain to read as far as I'm concerned. Still love the first two issues though.

[Dominic]

Morrison generally keeps his work together. The apparent digressions likely come together by the end. This holds true in "All Star Superman" and was part of the point in "Final Crisis".

I will be able to write more about this in "Action Comics" when I (eventually) read the whole series.


Dom
-patience...patience.

[andersonh1]

If it does all fit together, please let me know. I'll be happy to give Morrison credit for a good storyline if it works, but I found it very frustrating to read in monthly installments.

My local comic shop is behind on ordering Daredevil for some reason, so I ended up getting caught up by getting an issue at Barnes and Noble. It cost me $1 more there, which seems weird. One of the missing issues has the all new Superior Spider Man in it, so maybe I'll get to sample the madness of that book. I haven't read either issue yet, so I'll post some thoughts this evening.

[Dominic]

Morrison does not write for single issues. I do not think that he ever has.

Did the "Daredevil" comic have the "free digital copy" offer? I think those actually do cost more...which is kinda wrong-ish.

Iron Man #1-5:
Gillen's run on this book seemed good enough (when I was flipping through it) to justify me picking it up. And, yes, it is good. This first arc of the "NOW" run of the series focuses on Stark's efforts to account for Extremis tech. Gillen plays with the idea of technology as morally neutral, having the potential to build or destroy. This sort of story generally works better in a self-contained format, (such as a "What-if....?" or an "Elseworlds") as it raises all sorts of questions about why superhumans have not changed the world more. Gillen manages to address the issue from more than two sides, giving consideration to the dangers of irresponsible use as much as malicious use. Gillen also exploits the fact that one of Stark's defining traits is irresponsibilty, which makes the lack of any real answer to the questions work more smoothly on the page than they might with a character normally portrayed as being responsible. I get the feeling that Gillen has real plans for the AI in Stark's current suit.
Grade: A


Iron Man #6:
"Iron Man.....in spaaaaaaaace!" This is the first of a 3 part arc, "God Killer". After meeting a new species of alien, (standard "old when the cosmos was young" deal, which is thematically consistent with Gillen's run so far), Stark is called out (and knocked down) for his role in taking down the Phoenix Force during AvX.
Grade: A/B


Batman Inc #8:

Spoiler

Damien Wayne is dead.

Yup.

Spoiler

Another Robin is dead.

From an editorial perspective, this would have made much more sense before the "Flashpoint" reset, if only because it would have avoided some of the problematic redefining of the timeline afterwards. At this point, it just feels like DC is sweeping a troublesome character under the rug...long after they should have made a decision.
Grade: C (Grade reflects the editorial logic more than the content of the issue.)



Dom
-notes that "Team 7" is confirmed for cancellation in this weeks CSN.....

[BWprowl]

Batman Inc #8:

Spoiler

Damien Wayne is dead.

Yup.

Spoiler

Another Robin is dead.

From an editorial perspective, this would have made much more sense before the "Flashpoint" reset, if only because it would have avoided some of the problematic redefining of the timeline afterwards. At this point, it just feels like DC is sweeping a troublesome character under the rug...long after they should have made a decision.
Grade: C (Grade reflects the editorial logic more than the content of the issue.)

Man, Bruce can't possibly be taking that one well. Has it been confirmed that

Spoiler

Damien will be staying dead

? You never know, you know?

This was only a rumor I'd heard, but I was told through the grapevine that 'Batman Inc.' technically took place before Flashpoint, and thus all the things that went on in it would be reset once that series was 'done' and the remaining characters were folded into the post-Flashpoint universe. I could be balls-to-the-walls wrong on this one though. I haven't touched anything DC since halfway through Brightest Day, aside from the New 52 Blackhawks trade.

Spoiler

This is also gonna play havoc with all that stuff Morrison wrote about Damien being the Batman of THE FUTURE or whatever.

[Dominic]

I have heard the same thing. But, that was before "Batman Inc." got re-numbered *after* "Flashpoint", arguably making part of the second wave "new 52". If it does not count towards the post "Flashpoint" setting, then obviously

Spoiler

Damien's future would be one of the many things that got over-written.

Dom
-afraid to even look at CBR right now.

[Sparky Prime]

At this point, it just feels like DC is sweeping a troublesome character under the rug...long after they should have made a decision.

I don't feel like they're sweeping him under the rug at all. The impression I get is that this was always what Grant Morrison had in mind for the character's fate. And this story would have lost its impact if they hadn't included him as part of the New 52 timeline. That really would have just swept him under the rug if they had gone that route.

Grade reflects the editorial logic more than the content of the issue.

Then what's the grade for the actual issue itself?

[BWprowl]

I don't feel like they're sweeping him under the rug at all. The impression I get is that this was always what Grant Morrison had in mind for the character's fate.

If that were the case, what about all those stories he wrote about Damien being alive and Batman in the future?