Comics are awesome.

[Dominic]

Mega Man (Megamix) volumes 2 and 3:
I am not a huge fan of manga, especially of the "printed backwards like the original" sort. But, "Megamix" is good enough for me to make an acception on that front. Hitoshi Ariga's love-letter to the franchise manages to stay true to the tone of the original games without being a slavish adaptation. As with volume 1, there are points that are "not what I would have done", but that is to be expected with this type of project. Oddly, while most of the 3 volume series does not sync with the games, the "Mega Man 6" story in volume 3 adheres fairly closely, though not precisely, to the game. Volume 3 would have been improved if it had a definitive ending. But, if Ariga can guarantee this level of work on future stories, then it is probably for the best that there be a chance for a sequel. Grade: B


Mega Man The Complete Official Works:
This is an art book featuring control and concept art from the original "Mega Man" games and later spin-offs. While the price tage is a bit high, ($40), there is enough art and commentary to justify the cost of the book, assuming one is a fan. I also picked up the "Mega Man X" volume, but have not gone through it yet.
Grade: A


New Avengers #7:
This is a pretty standard "catch-up" issue. A few thing about the status-quo are changed or clarified, but nothing really major happens. While Bendis' weaknesses are on display in "Avengers Prime", his strengths are on display in "new Avengers", especially in this issue.
Grade: B


Dom
-has not even started "Batman Inc" yet.

[Sparky Prime]

Mega Man The Complete Official Works:
This is an art book featuring control and concept art from the original "Mega Man" games and later spin-offs. While the price tage is a bit high, ($40), there is enough art and commentary to justify the cost of the book, assuming one is a fan. I also picked up the "Mega Man X" volume, but have not gone through it yet.
Grade: A

I've been thinking about getting the Mega Man X book myself. As one of my all time favorite video games growing up, I'd love to see the concept art and commentary behind it.

[Onslaught Six]

Mega Man (Megamix) volumes 2 and 3:
I am not a huge fan of manga, especially of the "printed backwards like the original" sort. But, "Megamix" is good enough for me to make an acception on that front. Hitoshi Ariga's love-letter to the franchise manages to stay true to the tone of the original games without being a slavish adaptation. As with volume 1, there are points that are "not what I would have done", but that is to be expected with this type of project. Oddly, while most of the 3 volume series does not sync with the games, the "Mega Man 6" story in volume 3 adheres fairly closely, though not precisely, to the game. Volume 3 would have been improved if it had a definitive ending. But, if Ariga can guarantee this level of work on future stories, then it is probably for the best that there be a chance for a sequel. Grade: B

To be fair, I prefer right-to-left if only because reversing it can sometimes do horrible things to the artwork. (Goku is persistantly drawn with his hair a certain way, mirroring the image is just wrong.)

Anyway, glad to see this is pretty good; I'd heard lots of stuff about it and have the first volume on my Amazon wishlist. If I could find it locally, I'd probably have already bought it.

Also, I think he's already done at least one story for Mega Man 9, but that might be a different author, I dunno.

Mega Man The Complete Official Works:
This is an art book featuring control and concept art from the original "Mega Man" games and later spin-offs. While the price tage is a bit high, ($40), there is enough art and commentary to justify the cost of the book, assuming one is a fan. I also picked up the "Mega Man X" volume, but have not gone through it yet.
Grade: A

The price is always what keeps me away from things like this. It's why I couldn't recommend the Watchmen book of similar type; it was just way too expensive for what it was (and it was really really big; it still doesn't properly fit on my shelves) so I couldn't recommend it. Luckily, a relative bought it for me for Christmas last year, avoiding that problem.

-has not even started "Batman Inc" yet.

/co/ is actually going pretty nuts for this, and I have to say--as much as I dislike the core concept, it *doesn't* look terrible. Jiro Osamu looks like he's actually an interesting character, the changes to the costume are minimal but still recognizably different to Regular Bats. Also, LORD DEATH MAN!

[Sparky Prime]

Green Lantern #61
I always find it interesting when the title character doesn't appear in their own comic. In fact, there is no Green Lanterns at all in this issue. The focus is instead totally on Atrocitus, the Butcher (Entity of the Red Lanterns) and the Spectre. It's an interesting dynamic as all represent Rage to some degree, yet each has their own views on what to do with that rage and justice. In fact, Atrocitus is actually responsible for saving a man's life saying "Eye-for-an-eye is a fallacy". With this issue, we've officially been introduced to all of the Enities now. It'll be good to get back to the Krona plot next issue to see how this will effect events there.

[andersonh1]

Green Lantern #61
I always find it interesting when the title character doesn't appear in their own comic. In fact, there is no Green Lanterns at all in this issue. The focus is instead totally on Atrocitus, the Butcher (Entity of the Red Lanterns) and the Spectre. It's an interesting dynamic as all represent Rage to some degree, yet each has their own views on what to do with that rage and justice. In fact, Atrocitus is actually responsible for saving a man's life saying "Eye-for-an-eye is a fallacy". With this issue, we've officially been introduced to all of the Enities now. It'll be good to get back to the Krona plot next issue to see how this will effect events there.

It wasn't a bad issue, but I'll be glad when the whole "entities" storyline has run its course. It's been interesting, but the book doesn't feel like Green Lantern right now, despite the title. I've seen all I care to see of the other lantern corps and their emotional entities for awhile.

[andersonh1]

The Flash #8
This was an interesting issue. It's the secret origin of the reverse-Flash, Eobard Thawne. The most fun thing about it is that Thawne keeps changing his own past whenever things don't go his way. Not happy with his little brother? Reverse Flash shows up and kills him, erasing him from the timeline. Beat out for a professorship at the Flash museum? Reverse Flash shows up and erases the professor from the running. It's amusing to see a character rewrite his own life over and over again, and yet he's still the same selfish, miserable lunatic he always was. This is one villain who is never sympathetic, even as a young child. He's always unlikable, and honestly, that's refreshing. I get tired of every villain having a sympathetic side to him. Finally, one that doesn't.

Justice Society of America #46
I gave Guggenheim three issues, and he still doesn't get the concept behind the team or the characters that make up that team. To be honest, this issue addresses a few problems that cropped up in the last two (such as the fact that Alan should be able to just will himself whole since he's made up of the green lantern energy), and isn't as bad as either of those, but it's not enough to save the book for me. When Jay Garrick/The Flash screams in rage at a villain and is willing to kill a baby because "it's war and we have orders", that's a clear sign the writer doesn't have a clue about the character. When the Justice Society, which is clearly based on legacy heroes related to the Golden Age, has characters like Blue Devil added to it just because the author likes them, it's clear he doesn't understand what makes the Justice Society distinct from the Justice League.

I'm done with the JSA until a new author comes on board. Three strikes and you're out, Guggenheim.

[138 Scourge]

It wasn't a bad issue, but I'll be glad when the whole "entities" storyline has run its course. It's been interesting, but the book doesn't feel like Green Lantern right now, despite the title. I've seen all I care to see of the other lantern corps and their emotional entities for awhile.

It still seems to be selling, and Johns seems to be pretty invested in the Rainbow Corps, and he's pretty high up in DC now. So I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for these stories to stop anytime soon.

[Sparky Prime]

It wasn't a bad issue, but I'll be glad when the whole "entities" storyline has run its course. It's been interesting, but the book doesn't feel like Green Lantern right now, despite the title. I've seen all I care to see of the other lantern corps and their emotional entities for awhile.

I'm still intrigued by the whole concept of other Lantern Corps and their entities personally. I don't mind the title taking the time to focus on, explore and develop these new concepts. It's what I've been looking forward to since the idea was introduced back around the Sinestro Corps War. And even still, there are mysteries they have yet to fully cover particularly with the Indigo Tribe.

But anyway, the next storyline is "War of the Green Lanterns", so we'll be seeing plenty of Green soon enough.

[Dominic]

Okay, I actually read some comics over the break....and will not be posting about them on MySpace. (More on this later.)

Avengers #8:
Bendis brings back the Illuminati from his earlier run on "Avengers". And, it is a safe bet that this will be the group's last outing. (I am not expecting any sort of fall out to last for more than an issue or two of the "Avengers".) Red Hulk shows up, and uh....apparently something is happening with the Infinity Gauntlet.
Grade: B/C

What If? #200: Ah, weird legacy numbering. The "200" assumes that every issue since the late 70s has been consecutively numbered. The first story is a pretty standard "apocalyptic ending to the last event" story, with the Void destroying the world post-"Siege". The second is a Stan Lee written story focusing the first appearance of Galactus. (It tries to compliment the first story, and does a better job than one might expect considering the writer.) There is also a reprint of Miller's answer to the question about what if Electra had lived.
Grade: A/B


Mega Man X (the Official Complete Works):
This is largely an art book focusing on character designs for the "Mega Man X" video game series. All told, it is very similar to the "Mega Man" volume. Howerver, it definitely feels a bit lighter in terms of content. This may have to do with the fact that there are fewer "Mega Man X" games, and (as indicated by creator comments in the book), the series went wrong more quickly. Worth looking into if one is a fan however.
Grade: B/C


Dom
-gonna read "Batman Inc" soon...honest.

[andersonh1]

It wasn't a bad issue, but I'll be glad when the whole "entities" storyline has run its course. It's been interesting, but the book doesn't feel like Green Lantern right now, despite the title. I've seen all I care to see of the other lantern corps and their emotional entities for awhile.

I'm still intrigued by the whole concept of other Lantern Corps and their entities personally. I don't mind the title taking the time to focus on, explore and develop these new concepts. It's what I've been looking forward to since the idea was introduced back around the Sinestro Corps War. And even still, there are mysteries they have yet to fully cover particularly with the Indigo Tribe.

But anyway, the next storyline is "War of the Green Lanterns", so we'll be seeing plenty of Green soon enough.

I'm interested in them, but not enough to see them dominate the book at the expense of traditional Green Lantern adventures. Maybe I should be reading GLC as well, not that I want to put money into another monthly book.