Comics are awesome.

[138 Scourge]

I dunno, maybe a dedicated comic thread, since we seem to be going all apeshit about 'em in a bunch of other threads?

Wednesday Comics: I was gonna pass, because the last couple of weekly comics that DC's had going have done nothing for me. And since Countdown (or 52? I forget) had Keith Giffen and Grant Morrison on it, that's saying something. But the format intrigued me, so I picked up the first issue, and thus, paid four bucks for something the size and composition of a free weekly newspaper. Hi, I'm 138 Scourge, and I'm a huge sucker.

Still, for the most part, this thing delivers what I want out of comics. Fun stories, pretty artwork, no need to slog through a bunch of book's worth of continuity to get one story, the Metal Men, Walt Simonson...and more besides.

So far, I'm liking the Metamorpho story a lot. Mike Allred's art is amazing, and Gaiman's seems to be going with an adventure-book theme here, so I'm okay with that. The Metal Men strip has the Metal Men in it, so that's almost all I need. Also, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez art rocks ever so hard, and I love the 70's-ish style of things in this strip. The Supergirl strip is a lot of fun, too. Admittedly, so far, all she's done is chase around her rampaging super-pets so far, but on the other hand, she's chasing around her rampaging super-pets. Y'know something I like? Rampaging super-pets.

Actually, that Supergirl strip's exactly what illustrates my point perfectly. I've read a few issues of Supergirl's regular book lately, and it's just completely joyless. Same deal with all the Superman books...just so friggin' DULL. I don't know 'bout you guys, but I read comics for fun, and a boring story arc's four times worse when it's drrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaagggggggggggeeeddd over four titles. This Supergirl strip, on the other hand, kicks right the hell off with the action.

Of course, the Superman strip in the same series is exactly what I don't want out of comics. Superman whining about how he's an outsider on Earth. You're friggin' Superman, you're loved all over DC Earth, shut the hell up, emo alien.

Oh, and Catwoman and the Demon is written by Walter Simonson. This is the only time in 33 years where I have said to myself, "Yes, I very much wish to read this Catwoman-related thing". So there's that, too.

Anyone care to join in, here?

[BWprowl]

I've read the first two issues of this, and I'm mostly impressed. I'm digging the very different format, results in some entertaining experimentation on the parts of the writers and artists. Of course, this means that some end up not working so well. Some, like Metamorpho, Metal Men, Kamandi, Deadman, and Adam Strange really have the whole "Weekly One Page Strip" format down, and make this work in serial format. And while those examples are good, Flash is absolutely NAILING it. Seriously, Flash is probably the most well-executed strip in this thing so far, it's *exactly* what I wanted/expected when I heard about this series. Others...could be better. I'll get Wonder Woman out of the way now: I friggin' hate this comic already. Caldwell is very clearly trying to cram more-or-less full-length comic book stories into one oversized page, and the result is a cramped, blurry, rushed mess. Maybe this would be worth it if the story was worth something, but while it's kinda promising, so far both strips have just been "I'M DIANA! I'M ON AN ADVENTURE! OH NOES DANGER! OH IT WAS JUST A DREAM OR WAS IT?!!" Grr. Sgt. Rock is the opposite problem. The Kuberts are decompressing the hell outta this thing, to the point that the story has actually gone *backwards* a bit in only two strips. Some of the others (Batman, Demon/Catwoman, Supergirl, Teen Titans, and Green Lantern) are pretty good, but don't seem to quite have this format *down* yet. Maybe in time. I love the hell outta the art in the Teen Titans and Demon/Catwoman strips, at any rate. Superman's something of a write-off so far, and I'd probably like the Hawkman strip more if it didn't seem to be focusing so much on making Hawkman as HARDCORE as possible.

[138 Scourge]

Well, Hawkman is a dude that flies around and solves problems with a mace, so that's already pretty hardcore. Which Hawkman is this, anyway? I'm not sure if I can tell, thanks to the whole screwy nature of the character. Actually, I don't care if it's Carter or Katar, it's Kyle Baker Hawkman, that's the important thing.

And I can't believe I forgot Wonder Woman. Yeah, that first one was painful. I haven't managed to read the second one yet. The art's pretty, from what I can tell. Someone let the colorist know what the limitations on newsprint colors are, srsly.

I also can't believe I forgot the Teen Titans thing. The art is SO pretty in that, it's ridiculous. And I loved the lil' line in Robin's monolouge in the second part "Thanks, Nightwing. Dick." That is the most impressive bit of sneaking something past the censors I have ever seen, when it's viewed in context. I really want Static to show up in this strip, if they're gonna go ahead and use current members of the team. Even if I don't like how they're treating Static in the proper book, I just want this dude to draw him.

Just to throw things open even further than they usually are in our threads...what other comics you fellas getting? What rocks, what's horrible?

[Dominic]

Kudos to Scourge for starting this thread, though he is way off on the title.


Right now, I am reading scattered DC books for train-wreck value, And I have a large stack of unread compilations. Right now, I am re-reading "All Star Superman". As good as it is, there are a few moments when it feels like Morrison is flipping readers off.


For the record, I checked (based on eventory sheets visible on the local comic shop's shelves), the numbers for TF books.

AHM: 7 or 8 copies an issue. Selling through. Maximum Dinobots: 5 to 7 copies. Not selling through.
Spotlight: 4 copies, not quite selling through.

No single issues available for earlier books. I did not see movie books, and ignored the UK reprints.

(picking the "Ultimate" debate up in this thread):

If one started reading the "Ultimate" books at 14, that is about as close to perfect a place to start as one is likely to find. But, starting after several years of baggage, especially if one does not have somebody to lead them through the trivia, is another situation.

I still do not think it is fair to blame Loeb for "Ultimatum". Most likely, he is writing based on a directive, not any desire of his own to destroy the "Ultimate" line.

Why JQ would want to cancel the "Ultimate" books, especially if they sell as well as Sparky is saying, is beyond me. But, such a decision, inexplicable as it might be, would be consistent with the way Marvel has been run these past few years.

[138 Scourge]

The Ultimate stuff's not being cancelled so much as restarted. Ultimate Comics: Avengers and Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man are starting up in a month or two.

Seems like the big thing about the Ultimatum story was to show "This isn't the regular MU, anything can happen", which I guess it has. Out of morbid curiosity, I looked this stuff up on the Wikipedia, and it sounds pretty bad. See, Dom, that's how you handle morbid curiosity, it's not necessary to buy the books you don't like.

Kudos to Scourge for starting this thread, though he is way off on the title.

The comic's I'm reading are awesome. Maybe the "Wednesday Comics" isn't the most awesome of 'em, but also, "Incognito", "Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers", "Incredible Hercules", and the soon-to-be-deceased "Captain Britain and MI-13" sure earn the name. I've been collecting all of the FF Essentials by Lee and Kirby lately, too, and if those aren't awesome, then the word has no meaning.

[BWprowl]

Just to throw things open even further than they usually are in our threads...what other comics you fellas getting? What rocks, what's horrible?

Well the other week, based on your recommendation, I picked up that Dazzler issue of Wolverine: First Class. And well...how many other issues of this has Gurihiru drawn? Because I think I need to track down ALL OF THEM. The story's a'ight (though Logan is in top form. I love him when he's a sarcastic asshole with a heart of gold instead of a wangsty loner), but this art, man. It's a tad bit more angular and 'grown up' than their Power Pack work, but dayum. These guys don't do enough comics.

Speaking of Gurihiru (I hope) when/what's the new Power Pack series coming out? They gonna continue with that "Eternity's Children" plot thread they layed down in the Skrull mini? Who's writing it? *Crosses fingers for Van Lente*

[138 Scourge]

Sadly, haven't heard anything about a new Power Pack series. I'm hoping for Power Pack/Punisher, myself, but I don't think it'll happen. And I hope to hell Van Lente stays with it, too. Whatever happens with that, my local comic store knows to save all Power Pack stuff for me, even the employees I don't know. I kinda chuckled when I walked in during PP/Wolverine and the kid behind the counter was like "Hey, are you the guy that gets this?" and handed me the latest issue.

Anyhow, I have no idea if Gurihiru's done any other issues of First Class, because I normally don't have much interest in Wolverine. That one just stuck out because I do have interest in the Disco Dazzler, y'see.

And the art is, like, almost the best thing going anywhere right now. It's just perfect, really. You picked up the oversized collection yet? Stuff looks even better when it's huge.

138 "Also would be okay with Power Pack/Luke Cage, or Power Pack/Legion of Monsters" Scourge.

EDIT: Just tried to add Mr. Van Lente as a friend on Facebook, so maybe I'll just ask him 'bout the Power Pack stuff. Here's hoping...

[BWprowl]

Well the Power Pack comics seem to mostly be based on whatever other Marvel hero has a movie out at the time. So the next one would be...Power Pack/Ant Man? I could go with that. A Captain America team-up would seem likely as well, eventually. But that's pretty far off. Maybe they will get another solo book. Especially with that "Eternity's Children" thing. They can't just set that up and have it go nowhere, right? Right?

Also, because it's awesome, check out what I found on Gurihiru's web site:


Wonder Girl is adorable.

[138 Scourge]

Well the Power Pack comics seem to mostly be based on whatever other Marvel hero has a movie out at the time. So the next one would be...Power Pack/Ant Man? I could go with that. A Captain America team-up would seem likely as well, eventually. But that's pretty far off. Maybe they will get another solo book. Especially with that "Eternity's Children" thing. They can't just set that up and have it go nowhere, right? Right?

Man, I'd hope not. I wanna see what else happens with that.

And Power Pack/Ant Man would be great. I'd so be in. If it was Hank Pym, it could be a different alter-ego every issue! And another team-up with Cap would be OK in my book, too.

The Young Justice stuff is very cool. If they'd been drawing that book, it'd likely still be around.

[Dominic]

Prowl, given that half those DC guys are being ruined, you sure you want that artist near "Power Pack"?

As for buying comics I do not like, some wiki summaries do not convey the full impact of a bad comic. Really, "Countdown" would lose something as a wiki summary. That kind of performance art needs to be experienced to be understood. (Why one would want to understand it though.....)

Dom-so, Spidey is in CSN now.....