reds8n wrote: Killed by poor toy sales ? Seems a bit odd.
Ah well, least there's the animated DVDs, Dark KNight returns part II is out soon IIRC.
Came out yesterday, actually, which I realized is when you posted this. Got my copy at 11am. Also already picked up season 2, part 1 of YJ, and I'm sad it won't be continuing. Toy sales? Bloody hell. Kids watch the shows and buy the toys to reenact "cool" battles, adults watch the show for the story and the character interaction. I don't see 'toys' listed as a reason for adults. They cancelled Earth's Mightiest Heroes, they cancelled Wolverine and the X-Men (right before the AoA story arc!!! There aren't enough censored faces to say how mad I was), and they cancelled Spectacular Spider-Man-art is different, but the story was great. Ugh, all the good stuff leaves, and we get left with next to nothing. Sigh, might as well go watch "adult" shows...
Comic related, I just started reading the current Age of Apocalypse story arc (issue 12 is coming out soon), and it's an interesting read. Weapon X has become the new form of Apocalypse, a servant of the Celestials. They EVENTUALLY go into how he transforms, but it takes a while. Jean, Sabertooth, Magneto, Rogue and Gambit end up teaming up with William Stryker, Donald Pierce (they redid him from his classic AoA self), Graydon Creed, and a few other misfits to stop Logan. There are deaths along the way, and there are some previously dead mutants that Dark Beast and Sugar Man cloned back into parodies of their former selves, completely subservient to Logan. It's...interesting. But nowhere near as good as classic AoA. The story begins in the Uncanny X-Force, issues 8-19 and 19.1, and then moves into AoA 1-12 so far. This is the arc where AoA Nightcrawler stayed behind in the 616 to hunt down a traitor from the X-team and Blob, and joins up with X-Force. Yeah, I'm a bit late to the party on this, as it started over a year ago, but it's still pretty decent.
Anung Un Rama wrote: Can you tell me what is happening in Death without spoiling too much? The Joker's back and targeting the whole Bat-bunch. Is that it?
Yup, idk how it's affecting the other bat-series, but it's basically Joker says that all of Batman's "family" will be dead within 72 hours and that Batman will be the cause of it. His reasoning is that Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Robin, etc... are making the Bats soft and that he's helping Batman become the Batman he was in their first encounters.
Idk about the other series, but in Batman, Joker has turned Arkham into a "castle" for Batman, the King of Gotham, with the guards and inmates acting as the royal court, with Two Face as the Kingdom's Judge/Justice System, the Riddler as the general of his armies (due to his sharp intellect keeping the Bats on his toes), the Penguin as like the one in charge of his finances, and the Joker as the court jester. If you're just reading Batman, it's an interesting arc, though I could see how one would come to be bored of it if you're reading like 6 titles a month about it...
Also Alph, it's a 23 issue arc... so... we're gonna be stuck with it for a while.
potatosack wrote: any fans of the preacher comic books on this thread? If not i am severely disappointed.
I find the Saint of Killers amusingly OP, but that's about the limit of my Preacher experience.
Each character in the series was amusingly OP. The Jesse/Cassidy fight was amazing.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Picked up the Manhattan Projects. I'm still enjoying it, but this
episode had the FDR AI going after the project and it was
kind of meh. I'm waiting to see what happens next there.
Masks #1 was a fun read. I never followed any of those
characters before (Green Hornet, Shadow, Spider, Zorro?)
and it was a joy to see them painted by Alex Ross.
I'm trying to read the Hollows, but there's way too much
exposition going on in those pages. I don't think I'll make it
to issue number 3.
Mark Millar/Darick Robinson's Happy is still a fun read. The
revelation in issue 3 make the hallucinogenic experience
a bit more plausible and a bit more entertaining.
Still waiting to hit up the rest of my stack (Mara, Fables, etc.)
Anung Un Rama wrote: Can you tell me what is happening in Death without spoiling too much? The Joker's back and targeting the whole Bat-bunch. Is that it?
Yup, idk how it's affecting the other bat-series, but it's basically Joker says that all of Batman's "family" will be dead within 72 hours and that Batman will be the cause of it. His reasoning is that Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Robin, etc... are making the Bats soft and that he's helping Batman become the Batman he was in their first encounters.
Idk about the other series, but in Batman, Joker has turned Arkham into a "castle" for Batman, the King of Gotham, with the guards and inmates acting as the royal court, with Two Face as the Kingdom's Judge/Justice System, the Riddler as the general of his armies (due to his sharp intellect keeping the Bats on his toes), the Penguin as like the one in charge of his finances, and the Joker as the court jester. If you're just reading Batman, it's an interesting arc, though I could see how one would come to be bored of it if you're reading like 6 titles a month about it...
Also Alph, it's a 23 issue arc... so... we're gonna be stuck with it for a while.
I know!
23 issues of this stuff... wow.
The latest round are all ending with the same 'cliffhanger' too:
Spoiler:
The Joker's got something nasty, ready to reveal to Batman - and it certainly is implied that it is someone's severed head.
I don't hate the entire tie-in, but it does seem bloated. And at this point, it'd almost feel like a copout if a major character didn't die. So who wants to take bets?
IMO, Jason is the most expendable, but he's "been there, done that." Babs, kind of the same thing, even if she didn't actually "die" at the hands of the Joker. Alfred and Gordon seem like copouts...we're kinda expecting the Joker to off one of the costumed folks. So I think I'd be pretty nervous if I was Tim Drake. He seems like the next most expendable character anyway as long as Damian's around to be Robin.
Apparently the characterization of the Riddler in the latest Batman is setting up a Riddler arc. Which could get things back on track nicely.
I little bit more space since some of the spoiler is still showing through... There, that should do it... -Alf
Spoiler:
I don't hate the entire tie-in, but it does seem bloated. And at this point, it'd almost feel like a copout if a major character didn't die. So who wants to take bets?
IMO, Jason is the most expendable, but he's "been there, done that." Babs, kind of the same thing, even if she didn't actually "die" at the hands of the Joker. Alfred and Gordon seem like copouts...we're kinda expecting the Joker to off one of the costumed folks. So I think I'd be pretty nervous if I was Tim Drake. He seems like the next most expendable character anyway as long as Damian's around to be Robin.
Apparently the characterization of the Riddler in the latest Batman is setting up a Riddler arc. Which could get things back on track nicely.
Spoiler:
Tim Drake has also gotten some gak during the Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker mini movie where the Joker kidnapped Tim and started to brainwash him to be a little Big J Junior, a "son" for Joker and Harley. This was used as a way for the Joker to return long after his actual death... I really liked this mini movie, and I believe the Batman Beyond tv show was canon in some regard.
Edit: Probably not canon now that I think of it, since Barb becomes the police commissioner rather than Oracle.
KamikazeCanuck wrote: It's time for me to read Preacher I reckon. My plan was to wait until I finished his Punisher run which I've done so now I've got no excuse.
KamikazeCanuck wrote: It's time for me to read Preacher I reckon. My plan was to wait until I finished his Punisher run which I've done so now I've got no excuse.
Hehehe, I want a full account here.
I've already read the first TPB a while ago. I don't know if I'm a wussy but just in the first book
Spoiler:
a guy get's his face cut off and his balls cut off iirc
So I thought "Oh boy, that's just the first book. Where's he going to go from here?"
KamikazeCanuck wrote: It's time for me to read Preacher I reckon. My plan was to wait until I finished his Punisher run which I've done so now I've got no excuse.
Hehehe, I want a full account here.
So I thought "Oh boy, that's just the first book. Where's he going to go from here?"
Ennis and robertson are both sickos.
At the core of the book is a hero's journey, a tale of friendship and of love.
KamikazeCanuck wrote: It's time for me to read Preacher I reckon. My plan was to wait until I finished his Punisher run which I've done so now I've got no excuse.
Hehehe, I want a full account here.
I've already read the first TPB a while ago. I don't know if I'm a wussy but just in the first book
Spoiler:
a guy get's his face cut off and his balls cut off iirc
So I thought "Oh boy, that's just the first book. Where's he going to go from here?"
... I'll be intrigued to see what you make of Jody and TC......
Want a new Graphic Novel and a good workout? Look no further! Wolverine: Adamantium Collection is just what the doctor ordered, coming in at over a foot tall and weighing 16lb.
Ahtman wrote: Want a new Graphic Novel and a good workout? Look no further! Wolverine: Adamantium Collection is just what the doctor ordered, coming in at over a foot tall and weighing 16lb.
I don't even...how much is that thing going to COST?!
Today I got around to read Venom: Circle of Four, which I was really looking forward to since the first time I saw a picture of the Venom Rider Hulk. Wasn't that entertained though. I never read a story with X-23 in it (only know here from X-Men Evolution) but neither she or the new Ghost Rider were very interesting. Venom didn't get a lot to do, though he had some nice character moments. All in all, not quite as fun as I was hoping for.
I' ve gone over to the dark side. Reading comics on my phone with comixology. I've been waiting for months for the Guardians of the Galaxy TPBs to go back into print and they just don't want to do it. On the bright side comixology is a great way to read comics actually. Makes you slow down and appreciate each frame.
Me too. I downloaded the DC App for the Injustice comic and the panel by panel view really helps the reading flow. Nothing like a good TPB, but there's just so much stuff I can't buy like that.
btw. how's the new 52 Hawkman?
Automatically Appended Next Post: So I was at the local comic shop, skipping through the previews, when I read something dissapointing. I knew there was a new Thunderbolts team and I loved the set-up and characters. Rulk, 'Pool, the new Venom and Frank? Hell Yes!! Written by Daniel Way? Woohoo! So who's doing the pencil work? Steve Dillon?! Nooooo!
I just don't like the guy. He can draw like, one male face. And it's really weird when Wolverine and Captain America look like the Punisher.
Anung Un Rama wrote: Me too. I downloaded the DC App for the Injustice comic and the panel by panel view really helps the reading flow. Nothing like a good TPB, but there's just so much stuff I can't buy like that.
btw. how's the new 52 Hawkman?
Automatically Appended Next Post: So I was at the local comic shop, skipping through the previews, when I read something dissapointing. I knew there was a new Thunderbolts team and I loved the set-up and characters. Rulk, 'Pool, the new Venom and Frank? Hell Yes!! Written by Daniel Way? Woohoo! So who's doing the pencil work? Steve Dillon?! Nooooo!
I just don't like the guy. He can draw like, one male face. And it's really weird when Wolverine and Captain America look like the Punisher.
I'm going to say this so that you don't waste your money. Do not buy Thunderbolts
It's kind of okay for the first issue, but even then it's largely exposition, and then 2 and 3 are both awful. Unnecessary characters get introduced just to make sure you know just who the bad guy is, then killed off, the action scenes consist of you seeing one person holding a gun and firing, then a couple of panels later seeing someone dead on the other side. It's just boring.
Really? Oh man! I was so looking forward to this! Well, at least now I know it's not worth waiting for the German release. But I might still check out the digital version nonetheless.
Injustice is still pretty cool. Can't wait for the last issue. It sets the stage for the new fighting game and we get some great character moments.
Automatically Appended Next Post: In spite of Chanuck's warning, I gave Thunderbolts a shot and read it in the Marvel App. The first issue... wasn't that bad. While I love dissing Dillons artwork whenever he's drawing something that's not ultra violent crap starring Frank Castle, fact is, he can draw that pretty well. And I got more interesting characterisation from Ross than I got from every other story I've read with him so far. Deadpool was quite toned down for a Way-story and I have no idea who the purple-haired woman is, but I'm probably giving it another shot.
There are a lot of the new 52 books that don't get published in Germany, but now there was a special trade for Night of Owls which included all the stories from the other titles which don't get a regular release. This is probably quite weird for some readers who don't follow the English releases as well.
In there I got the Owls-stories for Birds of Prey, Jonah Hex and Red Hood among others. I still found Birds quite boring, I don't get the team dynamic. I like Black Canary in animation but here she doesn't do anything for me.
Red Hood was better than expected. I assume they already changed some of the stuff people didn't like about Starfire but it wasn't as bad as I heard so far.
All-Star Western was terrible. I had no idea what was going on and it seemed like they were changing artists every other page.
Automatically Appended Next Post: So... this is a thing. Appearantly:
Hyperion Books and Marvel Entertainment today announced plans to partner and publish novels that focus on some of their most popular female characters. The first two books, "Rogue Touch" and "The She-Hulk Diaries," will hit shelves in June. Check out the cover art below along with the official synopses.
She-Hulk, Marvel’s much-beloved comic book heroine who shares her cousin Bruce Banner’s ability to transform into a hero of incredible power, comes to life in a page-turning novel. In The She-Hulk Diaries, Jennifer Walters, aka She Hulk, juggles climbing the corporate ladder by day and battling villains and saving the world by night—all while trying to navigate the dating world to find a Mr. Right who might not mind a sometimes-very big and green girlfriend.
The second novel, Rogue Touch, features one of the most popular X-Men characters, Rogue, a young woman trying to navigate the challenges of everyday life and romance—except that her touch is deadly. After accidentally putting her first boyfriend in a coma, she runs away from home where, she meets the handsome and otherworldly James and sparks fly. Like Rogue, however, James’ life is hardly simple. To elude his mysterious and dangerous family, James shaves his head, dons all black. Stealing a car, they head out on the highway and eventually, Rogue has to decide whether she will unleash her devastating powers in order to save the only man alive who seems to truly understand her.
The announcement was made by Hyperion’s Editor-in-Chief Elisabeth Dyssegaard. Of the deal, Dyssegaard says, "Marvel has had tremendous success with recent hit movies and we think it’s a great time to explore what happens to super heroines when they are dropped into traditional women’s novels."
"It’s exciting to see Hyperion bring two of our most beloved female super heroes, Rogue and She-Hulk, to life in ways you’ve never seen before," said Ruwan Jayatilleke, Associate Publishers/SVP, Marvel Entertainment. "Whether you’re a long time fan of Marvel or new to our Super Heroes, these novels deliver exciting stories that will capture your imagination."
She-Hulk, Marvel’s much-beloved comic book heroine who shares her cousin Bruce Banner’s ability to transform into a hero of incredible power, comes to life in a page-turning novel. In The She-Hulk Diaries, Jennifer Walters, aka She Hulk, juggles climbing the corporate ladder by day and battling villains and saving the world by night—all while trying to navigate the dating world to find a Mr. Right who might not mind a sometimes-very big and green girlfriend.
The second novel, Rogue Touch, features one of the most popular X-Men characters, Rogue, a young woman trying to navigate the challenges of everyday life and romance—except that her touch is deadly. After accidentally putting her first boyfriend in a coma, she runs away from home where, she meets the handsome and otherworldly James and sparks fly. Like Rogue, however, James’ life is hardly simple. To elude his mysterious and dangerous family, James shaves his head, dons all black. Stealing a car, they head out on the highway and eventually, Rogue has to decide whether she will unleash her devastating powers in order to save the only man alive who seems to truly understand her.
My first impression is that they really shouldn't have called the hero of Rogue Touch James. There's already one version where Rogue runs away from home and tags along with a guy named James (James Howlett a.k.a. Wolverine), so having her run away from home and tag along with a different guy named James is just going to confuse matters.
So I just picked up Hack/Slash Compendium 1 off the interwebz and should be at my door when I arrive back tomorrow. Anyone else read it? Thoughts or opinions?
Pretty much just picked it up as I like the idea of the storyline and the art looks pretty up my alley, so hoping it's good.
Aye none of my current DC issues got culled, and only two have been so far..Voodoo which I was considering cancelling when it happened anyway, so let the last couple of issues come through, and Grifter.
Which I tried after Voodoo to see if her story spiced up if she was with Grifter and then found out it was only for one issue.
So i pretty much read all of Hack/Slash in one sitting. Awesome, awesome book. Highly recommended.
Deep thinking book its not, but it's really well written, the different art styles are really cool (shades of Sandman: Endless Nights in the amount of variety) and I think I'm in love with Cassie Hack. She hasn't edged out Psylocke for top spot mind, but overall I'm very happy with the purchase. Just a fun book overall.
I really should avoid spoilers like these, but it's hard with the internet and everything at your fingertipps. So when the Death of the Family-finale hits, just put in spoilers if this is really what I think it is.
Reading Guardians of the Galaxy. It's pretty awesome actually. Not only does it have Rocket Racoon but Cosmo the Russian psychic, super-dog, Cosmonaut!
Reading all that Anihilation stuff paid off.
CDK wrote: Already did it! Thanks for posting. I didn't think of it. Make sure to share in your face book too.
I second the thanks. I just went there and signed too. I'd love to see the show stay. Wasn't big on part one of season 2 at first, but once the story came full circle, I was blown away at how grown up and involved the show was. It's built so kids can enjoy the action and bright colors, but adults can enjoy the intrigue and multi-leveled story. I'm 27, and I find it one of the better shows on tv right now. Sadly I generally don't have time to watch on cable, but I buy the DVD collections as soon as they come out. You guys keep doing your part, watching it on tv, and I'll do mine by buying it!
The digital prequel comic to Injustice: Gods among us took an unexpected break from the cliffhanger in the last issue and gives some very nice character moments between Harley Quinn and Green Arrow. I can't wait for the next issue and the story mode in the final game.
GotG is probably the favorite of my TPBs in my collection.
Aniahalators and The Thanos Imperative are also good ones to read after that too.
There is a reason I am putting a Star-Lord costume together for DragonCon.
Ya, Nova is good too. I'm around the whole War of Kings storyline. From what I can tell from random people on the internet the reading order seems to be GOTG #1, GOTG #2, War of Kings, War of Kings Ascension, some Darkhawk thingy, Nova #5
KamikazeCanuck wrote: Ya, Nova is good too. I'm around the whole War of Kings storyline. From what I can tell from random people on the internet the reading order seems to be GOTG #1, GOTG #2, War of Kings, War of Kings Ascension, some Darkhawk thingy, Nova #5
Thanks for the clarification. I was gonna look it up online.
KamikazeCanuck wrote: Ya, Nova is good too. I'm around the whole War of Kings storyline. From what I can tell from random people on the internet the reading order seems to be GOTG #1, GOTG #2, War of Kings, War of Kings Ascension, some Darkhawk thingy, Nova #5
Thanks for the clarification. I was gonna look it up online.
Oh, I was just kind of putting it out there for someone to confirm. I hope that's right...
There was some really good dialogue between Harley Quinn and Green Arrow n the last issue of Injustice but t his was my favourite. I haven't read a lot of Green Arrow comics though but I feel like it really fits:
Spoiler:
Automatically Appended Next Post: I keep ignoring the warnings and read Thunderbolts #2. And yes, it's not really good but still enjoyable. I actually enjoy the Red Hulk here, but I'm not so sure about Venom. He's a lot more violent than he's in his own books.
Manchu wrote: Babs doesn't need to be imprisoned in a wheelchair when other heroes aren't stopped by death. I despise the special interest group argument that DC needs to keep her in the chair to show that "handicapped people can be superheroes too." As Oracle, Babs was basically a high powered secretary -- NOT a superhero (unless you count comic adventures that occurred purely in virtual reality). If DC or anyone else was actually serious about depicting handicapped people as superheroes they would handle the topic with an A-lister rather than putting another B-list or lower female character "in a refrigerator" and pretending the result is poignant. That's WTF.
The problem is that Babs was a bland Mary Sue put in as a tv show tie-in who only became an interesting character after Ostrander wrote her into Oracle in Suicide Squad. The new 52 throws one great Batgirl and one half-decent Batgirl under the bus so Babs can go back to being a bland Mary Sue.
The new Batgirl comic somehow managed to be the worst comic of the New 52 in a line that had two different comics written and drawn by Rob Liefeld.
Ouch. I don't care much for the new Batgirl, but that is one harsh statement.
"Bland Mary Sue"? Are you saying that in your opinion she was bland because she was a Mary Sue or was she bland as a separate matter? I mean, if Batgirl can be considered a Mary Sue then Batman is the king of all Mary Sues -- but does this mean you would consider him bland? Or is Batman by contrast an interesting Mary Sue?
For the record, Babs is neither bland nor a Mary Sue. But even if she was either or both, the idea of for that reason using her as fodder to illustrate the Joker's depravity is still extremely problematic (even moreso considering the iconic "cripple the bitch" tone of the decision). But let's roll with the further problem of saying this "bland Mary Sue" only became interesting as Oracle. Keeping in mind that Batman must be a Mary Sue if Batgirl is (and to a more severe degree), then by your logic Batman could only be interesting if he was violently incapacitated and rendered permanently crippled in a world where death is temporary.
The trick here is noticing why the "fans" think it's perfectly acceptable to do this to Barbara Gordon but cannot even conceive of doing this to Batman. What's the difference between them? Well, there are a few. Batman is the pater familias of this franchise. He drives the whole market and every other character is just a spin off resulting from his popularity. Is that possible from a wheelchair? DC and its customers obviously vote no. So that's one issue. Second, and more obviously, Batgirl is not Batman. The correlation between being the victim of gruesome violence with permanent consequences and being female in comics is, or at least was, axiomatic. But you can't make a feminist website wryly named "Women in Wheelchairs" for obvious reasons. Therein lies the evil genius of Yale and Ostrander: the redemption of violence against women as identity politics. "Cripple the bitch" becomes "differently abled." It's the alchemy of inequity.
Back to my puzzlement with the characterization of Babs/Batgirl as a "bland Mary Sue." Again, employing this obviously low threshold of insult, how is Oracle not a "bland Mary Sue"? The whole ideological thrust of the character is that her biggest (or at least most obvious) weakness is actually a strength. The Joker shot her in the spine and -- inexplicably considering the constant miracles of the world in which Babs lives -- there is no recovery for her. But never fear, now she's smarter and cooler and more confident than ever before! It doesn't get any more 1990s than portraying a handicap as a super power. Forget all that computer stuff, Oracle's real super power is The Moral High Ground.
So how dare she be allowed to walk again. Let's focus in on the "be allowed" part. This is a fictional universe with no fixed parameters of realism. Unlike actual handicapped people, Babs was handicapped and stayed handicapped because writers and editors decided she would be. There was literally nothing else to it. In real life, we carp on about "the God who allows [whatever] must be evil" but Kim Yale, John Ostrander, and Gail Simone are praised for being tolerant and sensitive -- because they, among others, imposed and kept imposing this handicap on this character. As if the character hadn't been through enough in the brutal (and also praised) hands of Alan Moore!
To the extent that comic book characters have a God, we're it. The creators and the fans arbitrarily decide what fate befalls these paper-and-ink people. And what cruel Gods we are: Babs came before the throne of God and was pronounced a "bland Mary Sue." Our judgment was "cripple the bitch." She would be shot in the spine, tortured, and paralyzed for the rest of her theoretically infinite life (i.e., "for eternity" in the language of us Gods). Our power could heal her at any time but we would purposely withhold it, using it instead to keep her wheelchair-bound. Even worse, we justified all of it by calling it "tolerance" and "diversity." As cosmic jokes go, this is pretty pathetic.
God mostly changed his (and her) mind on this one, twenty odd years later. It was not only the right thing to do; it was the only morally sane thing to do. And yet some of us are still sneering. She can walk again. She can jump from rooftop to rooftop along with the rest of her family. So now she's just a "bland Mary Sue" again. Yeah right.
KamikazeCanuck wrote:@Anung You reading the the new one or the old one?
The one from Dan Abnett, which starts with the battle on the spaceship that looks like something straight out of 40k.
Ya, they're also fighting some Empire powered by Faith that seems kinda Imperium like. Anihilation and Anihilation Conquest are the lead in but I guess all you need to know is like a Bazillion people died in some wars.
I don't suppose anyone could recommend me any good Green Lantern Graphic novels? I've read most of the Blackest Night story and want to expand my reading
Any recommendations for Nightwing stories would also be good
KamikazeCanuck wrote: Ya, Nova is good too. I'm around the whole War of Kings storyline. From what I can tell from random people on the internet the reading order seems to be GOTG #1, GOTG #2, War of Kings, War of Kings Ascension, some Darkhawk thingy, Nova #5
Thanks for the clarification. I was gonna look it up online.
Oh, I was just kind of putting it out there for someone to confirm. I hope that's right...
So that wasn't quite right. It's still GotG #1 and #2 first. Then War of Kings Darkhawk. Then War of Kings, War of Kings Ascension and Nova #5 are all simultaneous you just sort of read one issue at a time.
Anyway War of Kings itself isn't really a must read event unless you're really into it. Probably wouldn't bother with it if it didn't involve to GotG and Nova and Darkhawk.
So I just finally got around to reading Batman 17, finishing up Death of the Family. Anyone else keep up with the arc? Thoughts? Feelings? Continuing desire to misuse the term Mary Sue?
Spoiler:
I'm hoping they spend more time allowing the rifts to grow between the Bat family before it starts to get repaired. No one died, but there are certainly some barriers between the group and Batman that weren't there before. I'm sure they will still aid each other, but spark is gone.
Do you think Batman actually figured out who the Joker's real name, or do you think he was messing with him?
Yeah, followed the whole thing, even added the two sets of story issues for two comics I'm not collecting, Teen Titans and Detective Comics.
Spoiler:
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Just making sure no one can see into the spoiler bit.
The overall story was pretty good, it was certainly a Joker story, and not it was obvious his goal was to hurt the family rather than wipe it out, with his old 'you complete me' philosophy he has going with Bats.
In my mind, it was not a classic story, but like you I am hoping to see where they take it from here. Especially with some interesting sounds coming from DC preluding to Batman Inc.
I still found it semi amusing that during all the chaos with Joker, Batwoman was not involved, and the majority of the Batcrew seem to have missed this whole Leviathan thing going down on their doorstep.
However in general there was little chance DC was going to kill a major character and that turned out to be correct.
A bit like my reaction to the news Marvel is planning to kill Wolverine next year.
I'm fairly sure that no one of consequence died, and the whole thing seems to have been set up so that the Bat Family could now be a bit more grumpy and not as trustful of Batman.
Oh, and there was a cliched 'fall of the cliff and he's certainly got to be dead now' moment for the Joker.
Ugh.
A shame really, as before this current mega story line, the Bat Books were amongst the best of the new 52. Hopefully they can get back there.
I was thinking for some time on how to best describe it, but now I think I got it. The exciting intrigue, the strong characters, the at times devasting cliffhangers...
I'm fairly sure that no one of consequence died, and the whole thing seems to have been set up so that the Bat Family could now be a bit more grumpy and not as trustful of Batman.
Oh, and there was a cliched 'fall of the cliff and he's certainly got to be dead now' moment for the Joker.
Ugh.
A shame really, as before this current mega story line, the Bat Books were amongst the best of the new 52. Hopefully they can get back there.
Yeah, unfortunately...
Spoiler:
...DotF became a lot of buildup for a lot of nothing much. But I guess Snyder was due for a miss with a story arc. I believe the Riddler is going to be a focus in an upcoming arc, and I have high hopes for that.
I'm fairly sure that no one of consequence died, and the whole thing seems to have been set up so that the Bat Family could now be a bit more grumpy and not as trustful of Batman.
Oh, and there was a cliched 'fall of the cliff and he's certainly got to be dead now' moment for the Joker.
Ugh.
A shame really, as before this current mega story line, the Bat Books were amongst the best of the new 52. Hopefully they can get back there.
Yeah, unfortunately...
Spoiler:
...DotF became a lot of buildup for a lot of nothing much. But I guess Snyder was due for a miss with a story arc. I believe the Riddler is going to be a focus in an upcoming arc, and I have high hopes for that.
Spoiler:
how was it not a lot of nothing? Considering how temporary death is in DC and Marvel, surely someone dying would have just ended up with people going "ugh, they'll just bring them back in a couple of months".
The fact that a storyline not having any deaths means that it is "a lot of not of nothing much" seems kind of silly, especially due to the fact that the metaphor of "The Family" has died, hopefully resulting in a large change in the dynamics between the bat families.
@reds8n: You don't think that this is what has happened, albeit gradually?
This is a god sent to Earth not to suffer and die but to live and inspire and change the face of the galaxy by his deeds and reputation.
This is the main thing I think they will never be able to (successfully) accomplish. This physically invulnerable man is still open to the existential pain of the spirit. Superman has become as much about pathos as power -- in fact, that's the essential balance that makes him heroic to begin with. He's not just a bully on behalf of the weak; he truly feels the pain of the poorest. This is why Superman breaks under Luthor's tremendously well-written question in Red Son.
Wow. I love how the Mobster guys are like If we drive into Superman it will result in a horrible crash for us. Oh well, let's try anyway! Not to mention their incredible Catapult construction abilites and Catapault firing accuracy!!!
I'm fairly sure that no one of consequence died, and the whole thing seems to have been set up so that the Bat Family could now be a bit more grumpy and not as trustful of Batman.
Oh, and there was a cliched 'fall of the cliff and he's certainly got to be dead now' moment for the Joker.
Ugh.
A shame really, as before this current mega story line, the Bat Books were amongst the best of the new 52. Hopefully they can get back there.
Yeah, unfortunately...
Spoiler:
...DotF became a lot of buildup for a lot of nothing much. But I guess Snyder was due for a miss with a story arc. I believe the Riddler is going to be a focus in an upcoming arc, and I have high hopes for that.
Spoiler:
how was it not a lot of nothing? Considering how temporary death is in DC and Marvel, surely someone dying would have just ended up with people going "ugh, they'll just bring them back in a couple of months".
The fact that a storyline not having any deaths means that it is "a lot of not of nothing much" seems kind of silly, especially due to the fact that the metaphor of "The Family" has died, hopefully resulting in a large change in the dynamics between the bat families.
Spoiler:
Do you think that story arc required 23 issues across multiple titles?
Don't you think it's reasonable to say that given the end of Death *IN* the Family, another series titled similarly might be expected to have a more dramatic conclusion, whether or not a death is involved?
Don't you think that -- as Alpharius said -- the Bat-Family being grumpy with each other is even easier to write over than a character death? Especially since you can't easily detach the secondary characters from Batman (they'll almost certainly be appearing together again in comic panels soon)?
I don't think there needed to be a death, and I don't think the critics of the story arc are saying that. I think their criticism is that the arc feels like 22 issues of buildup to a climax that falls flat. It didn't need to be "THE STORY THAT WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING," but I expected more than minor developments coming out of it.
Are you kidding me! What was this crap I just read? I think it was the Legion of Super-Heroes but it neither looked like acted like it. I tell you Giffen (horrible artist) wants nothing other than to kill the Legion! Not only did we have his horrible art where everyone looks like they have skin disease but we have to have the death of a character! In a horrible way? If they wanted to create some talk about the Legion how about having some good stories! He even gave Cham a uniform that looks like it was from the 5year gap BS back in the 90's. And how many issues do we need of setting up for a big fight? We've been waiting for the Fatal Five for how long? I am soo mad right now!
Kanluwen wrote: I'm not sure why my post is gone, but I suggested "The Longbow Hunters".
Remember folks, a double post usually will fix itself without needing removal!
I couldn't find Longbow Hunters in the App. Can you tell me anything about these:
Archer's Quest
Crawling from the Wreckage
Sounds of Violence
Seeing Red
I think sounds of violence is with that weird villian who only speaks in noises? I thought he was funny in that one Batman story Kevin Smith didn't feth up quite so badly as his other one. Seing Red sounds interesting.
CDK wrote: Are you kidding me! What was this crap I just read? I think it was the Legion of Super-Heroes but it neither looked like acted like it. I tell you Giffen (horrible artist) wants nothing other than to kill the Legion! Not only did we have his horrible art where everyone looks like they have skin disease but we have to have the death of a character! In a horrible way? If they wanted to create some talk about the Legion how about having some good stories! He even gave Cham a uniform that looks like it was from the 5year gap BS back in the 90's. And how many issues do we need of setting up for a big fight? We've been waiting for the Fatal Five for how long? I am soo mad right now!
Apparently Giffen really hates that character in question, because that's twice that he's killed him. *shrug*
Edit: At least this one was fast, if gruesome. The last time it was slow and gruesome.
Oh yeah. Not sure how he got thrown in the "doomed to die in every incarnation" pile. He was a highly drama-free character for the first 30 years of his existence. And was my fave Legionnaire as a kid. :(
Although note that I am a fan of Giffen's "5-year gap" run.
I actually quit the Legion with the 5YG. I later got it as a completest but I thought it was awful. Killing left and right, changing names, adding in bad characters, etc.
Anung Un Rama wrote: I was never really interested in the Legion. Though I recently learned there is a cartoon. Is is any good?
While I liked it because it was Legion, I felt they went a little to young and cartoony with it. It went only two seasons and you can only find the first on DVD. If they had made it serious like Young Justice I think it would have done better.
TBH, I think the Legion kinda defines young, naive, cartoony superheroism. Which is why I enjoyed Giffen's 5-year gap run as a gritty deconstruction of the whole thing. Although I understand why some longtime LSH fans would hate it.
gorgon wrote: Which is why I enjoyed Giffen's 5-year gap run as a gritty deconstruction of the whole thing. Although I understand why some longtime LSH fans would hate it.
William Moulton Marston wrote:"This, my dear friend, is the one truly great contribution of my Wonder Woman strip to moral education of the young. The only hope for peace is to teach people who are full of pep and unbound force to enjoy being bound ... Only when the control of self by others is more pleasant than the unbound assertion of self in human relationships can we hope for a stable, peaceful human society ... Giving to others, being controlled by them, submitting to other people cannot possibly be enjoyable without a strong erotic element.
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
And Grant Morrison wants to do this book, you say???
I thought I'd give Superior Spider Man a try.
To be honest, I'm quite enjoying it.
The way things are going, I can see Peter Parker regaining control.
I've been reading Ultimate Spiderman as well.
Miles Morales is interesting.
I like the way things seem to be going.
All on my ComiXology App.
As I've said before, it's astonishing how much of a "special interest" character WW is, and how it goes unnoticed by so many people. I think maybe it's so blatent that people just miss it...corset, rope that makes men comply, loss of power when bound, bracelets/shackles, "Amazon" origin, etc. And somehow she's a role model for girls. Yikes.
I somehow missed that Morrison had an upcoming WW project. Wow. Dunno where that will end up.
I'm one of the Morrison fanboys here (along with reds8n), but even I feel like he missed the mark in Action Comics. My feelings about his Action Comics run are a lot like my feelings about some of Radiohead's recent work -- very interesting stuff, but I'm not sure if I actually *like* it. The non-linear narrative in that book was really an interesting approach, and it kinda helped build a lot of depth for the New 52 Superman in a fairly condensed timeframe (although looking at the run in retrospect, it feels rushed). But I'm not sure that it ultimately was a particularly interesting story, or that it was the New 52 Superman: Year One that readers wanted to see, or the one that suggested in issue #1.
I finally read volume 1 and about 2/3 of volume 2 of Eastman's IDW TMNT. And I was thinking "um, I need to compare notes with Anung Un Rama."
First, the art is pretty indifferent -- and not in the punky way from the 80s. Second, the dialog seems very generic to me and that's odd because these characters have such distinctive and well-established voices. Third, the origins story is ... definitely a new take
Spoiler:
A company called Stockgen is developing bioweapons for the mysterious General Krang, including armor based on turtle genes and something-or-another based on rat genes. Stockgen gives the rat injections that provide human-level intelligence. The rat realizes that he is a reincarnated ninja master from feudal Japan and the turtles are his reincarnated sons. As usual, the mutagen transforms these animals into anthropomorphic characters -- and the story's present takes place only 18 months after this event. The mutated animals all seem to already know martial arts and the rat has vivid memories of feudal Japan.
When Donatello asks Splinter why they were reincarnated as animals, Splinter just says "I dunno." Apparently, Splinter's past incarnation did not study much on the religion he fervently holds? I'm not generally to critical about the origins story for various incarnations of TMNT. It doesn't need to be "realistic" or anything for me to enjoy it. This one just strikes me as odd and a little lazy although I can see and appreciate the story potential of Donatello wanting a better explanation than Spinter can give.
The action panels are okay. Nothing has really grabbed me yet but they're pretty serviceable. There are a few moments where I really enjoyed the characters: when Donatello is arguing with Leonardo, I thought -- wait, isn't that Raphael's job. I generally consider Donny to be adverse to confronting Splinter or Leonardo but in this series he doesn't have that issue. It's an interesting take on the character and it makes me wonder what this new spin for Donny will imply for Raphael.
It seems the real protagonist is Casey Jones, which is okay. They do a good job reinventing him and his emotional characterization is very thoughtful even if it verges on Marty Stu-ish at times. I'm waiting for him to actually screw up so I can see him as more three dimensional. At this point, he's just a long-suffering good guy.
April is a huge weak point in the series so far. She's mostly a plot device. I really don't know anything about her. The best word I can use to describe her personality is "generic."
The villains are also weak. Hob is visually appeal -- it's good to have mutants fighting mutants -- but it's like Waltz is clearly acknowledging that he's merely a plot device. Stockman is another non-person like April. She is generically good; he is generically bad. Krang is the worst of them. He's generically bad at a higher volume. He doesn't come off as creepy or otherworldly at all.
Of course I just waiting for Shredder to appear and steal the show.
It's not kiddish but it's not even close to as dark as Batman's been lately. I think there is a little bit of blood but it is very, very little indeed.
Wow. Really Manchu? That sounds... harsh. I'm a bit busy and haven't read vol 1&2 in a few months but here goes:
First off, you have to know that I'm probably the biggest TMNT-fan on this board. It was a major part of my childhood and the 2003 series reignited that passion I had for the characters back then.
What I like most about the IDW TMNT is, that it's a great mix of 3 different kinds of TMNT. It has some (not all though) of the grittiness of the original comics. Vol. 4 especially, since it really deals withhow the Turtles actually want to live a peacefull life, but won't be able to, as long as the Shredder is alive. It's a great new take on it, since in the original comics, they were Splinter's personal assassins. The "science"-part is less pulpy and more thought out, a bit like in the 2003 series. And it has a great Shredder, who was always a tough villian to take seriously, because of the way the classic cartoon handled him. And then there's the simple fact, that the comic takes a lot of things from the old cartoon, like Krang, dimension X and a few more classic characters, and makes them intimidating. All while not losing the lighthearted-ness I enjoy about the characters so much.
Vol. 4 has a new artist whom I don't like at all, but the art before that works great. Especially Splinter and Mikey are captured really well.
Both Casey and April get more stuff to do in their micro series. Which are essential for the overall plot btw. I like them both, though I can see what you don't like about April. Then again, she's at least a better character than she was in the old show.
I love all the villians, even Hob. A mutated alley cat just makes so much sense in this new setting and he works as a decent threat but on a whole other level as Shredder or Stockman.
I've been following this franchise a lot in the last 10 years and I can honestly say, that these new TMNT are at least my 2nd favourite incarnation.
I picked up some of that X-Men stuff. Cyclops is my second
favorite character after Ellis's take on Nate Grey, so I was
intrigued by the idea that he had gone "dark."
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem all that interesting yet.
Which storylines feature Scott as a master tactician? I really
like those kinds of things.
I have also been on and off with X-Men over the years and you know it's hard with ongoing comics to pick a starting point. If you want to go way back House of M is the beginning of the current age of X-Men. Everything that happens in X books is just fallout from that event.
As for other important Cyclops reading "Scism" is a good lead in to AvX.
I was being very consciously gracious, to be honest. In blunter terms, volumes 1 and 2 have been a snoozefest. I bought the main book after reading the rather excellent micro-series TPB and so far Eastman and Waltz have fallen far short. But more as it comes. I already have volumes 3 and 4 so I'll report back after getting further in.
Oh -- and so far as being a fan, I was squarely in the target demographic during the apogee of turtledom. I slept on TMNT bedsheets in TMNT pajamas, ate TMNT breakfast cereal, took a TMNT pencil case and folders to school along with my TMNT lunch box filled with TMNT gummies, all whilst wearing a TMNT pullover or tshirt, only to get home and watch the show, play with the toys, or visit a friends house to play Turtles in Time (didn't have SNES myself til much later), and finally falling asleep with the latest issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures from Archie Comics. I know what it's like to be a fan after the fact (for me, Star Wars)1 but I went through TMNT in real time with no lag or translation. And even though in hindsight I think most of that parent-impoverishing product stream amounted to mostly loud and constant noise, I have managed to retain a special fondness for the heroes in a halfshell. I think that's why, even looking at this afresh and as much as possible on its own terms, this book seems kind of flat. I mean, I know it can be done better. The latest TV series, for example, is much better.
malfred wrote:I picked up some of that X-Men stuff. Cyclops is my second
favorite character after Ellis's take on Nate Grey, so I was
intrigued by the idea that he had gone "dark."
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem all that interesting yet.
Which storylines feature Scott as a master tactician? I really
like those kinds of things.
Have you read Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men? It's one huge arc and comes in 4 thick TPBs. Everyone gets stuff to do, but Cyclops was particularly awesome in it.
I was being very consciously gracious, to be honest. In blunter terms, volumes 1 and 2 have been a snoozefest. I bought the main book after reading the rather excellent micro-series TPB and so far Eastman and Waltz have fallen far short. But more as it comes. I already have volumes 3 and 4 so I'll report back after getting further in.
I really have no idea what you're talking about. I loved every panel.
And speaking of the new show, I made a thread for it. but nobody was interested.
Well I got through half of Volume 3 last night -- interesting things actually start to happen. Well, an interesting thing: Shredder finally appears. But he just stands there for pages on end while his prisoner Splinter fights and defeats everyone else in the room. On the one hand, this is a nice build-up to the ultimate badass showdown fight. On the other hand, every panel that goes by lets the reader know this will NOT be the ultimate badass showdown fight because Splinter will be too tired for that. So it's kind of a mixed message, which sums up a lot of what I thought about volumes 1 and 2: long of tease, short on delivery.
What I am really interested in at this point is, what's going on with this reincarnation business? Leo and Donnie exchange some more barbs on this issue and the appearance of the Foot Clan shakes up their debate, which really drew me into these characters in a new way. I think this new origin story, as bizarre as it initially seemed, has a lot of leverage on character development. Volume 3 seems like the payoff. Is it good enough to justify anyone who doesn't like TMNT generally buying the series?
Seriously, how could they even CONSIDER canceling Young Justice. Just watched the last episode and it was so good. Again. Like every time. And the foreshadowing. They haven't been talking about Apokalips tech this much since season 1. I want to see te Team fight Darkseid.
Well, I hear there's a thing about buying up as many of the toys you can find to give to charity. Maybe it could help. I would love them myself. Unfortunately I think the show just hits an age bracket that doesn't really want toys unless they are collectors.
I finished volume three of IDW's TMNT last night, read the second batch of micro series, and got through half of volume four. By the beginning of volume four, I felt really engaged -- the not-so-thrilling plot points of volumes one and two finally paid off and they pay off in a big way.
As far as I can tell, the general theme of the title is the meeting and melding of realism and the fantastical. Donatello's argument with Leo about reincarnation is the preeminent example. But there's also Casey's non-reaction to meeting Raphael the first time: a guy who is regularly beat up by his own father easily accepts that a bipedal talking turtle exists. April ends up being the touchstone in this regard: in a book about ninja fights, where extreme violence is just a given, she encounters it like a real person. When she almost gets killed in volume 1, it really shakes her up -- it kind of ruins her life, like you might expect almost being murdered would actually ruin your life. And so, although meeting the turtles is overwhelming (like it would be to a real person), she get involved with this fantastical world because it helps her deal with the trauma of encountering real violence.
In that sense, I think this is a very self-reflective comic book.
Well, the first screenings for Man of Steel have taken place. Not sure if it really means anything, but the reviews/comments have been really good. You can get more detailed info out there, including some spoilers, but I liked this guy's bullet-point summary, even with the obvious hyperbole.
-Imagine a Nolan story with Snyder effects/action.
-It's the best movie of the year.
-There's TONS of action with Superman kicking all kinds of ass in his suit.
-The cape is CG'd most of the time so it can look awesome.
-They have intentionally left out most of the the Super action in trailers to save it.
-It's not nearly as dour and serious as the trailers suggest.
-The movie is complete, minus the 3D post-conversion, which is currently taking place.
I reckon I'll do some turbo reviews of Before Watchmen as I've read it all except the last issue of Comedian which isn't out yet. Basically it went contrary to what you would think. Most of the best series are some of the least popular characters and vice versa.
Silk Spectre: Surprisingly this is one of the top minis in the Before Watchmen event. She's just more relatable to than the other characters.
Minutemen: This may be the best one. Like Silk Spectre the key seems to be characters that are not fully fleshed out in Watchmen are easier to play around with for another writer. I suppose we know most of what's going to transpire here because of the prose portions of Watchmen but Cooke just did a good job overall fleshing it out and adding in his own dramatic turns.
Rorshach: Below average mini in my opinion. This is one where I realized that you just can't do anything more intersting with Rorshach than what is already written in Watchmen. There's a lot of Rorshach in Watchmen. When you think about it his entire life story is in Watchmen from his early troubled childhood to his bitter end and all the important events in between.
I will say the art was great and makes Rorshach look way cooler than he's supposed to. Rorshach is actually a weird guy who wears a trench coat with a broken clasp and purple striped pants not to mention he purportately smells very bad. They gave him cooler pants to make him look cooler in every frame and I'm sure he smells great too.
Dr. Manhatten: Suffers from the same problem as Rorshach. There is an issue in the original Watchmen that is the Dr. Manhatten isue. It shows the universe through the eyes of Dr. Manhatten especially the unique way he perceives time. He exists in and experiences all time at once but can not alter it. It's one of the best individiual comic books written in my opinion.
Well, this mini is the same thing but stretched out over 4 issues! It adds some kind of quantum observer wrinkle that I don't care for and basically this work adds nothing and would have been better off not being written at all.
Nite Owl: Bucking the trend this ones pretty good I think. It's just a solid comic book story as it should be. Nite Owl is the most earnest of the "superheroes" or "masks: in the Watchmen world and that works to the benefit of this mini. There's some cheese in here but I guess cheese kind of suits Nite Owl II.
Moloch: Just a short 2 issue mini that actually ends of in the middle of the pack quality wise for the overall event.
Comedian: As can be expected this is an extemly violent and cynical tale. I mean what can I say? It accurately captures what the Comedian is about. He's a deplorable human being but he's not an unintereting one and we get to see him doing his thing in Vietnam.
Dollar Bill: What the hell was the point of this? I am so mad that I actually had to pay for this. I just asked my comic book guy for the "Before Watchmen" stuff. Little did I know I'd get a Dollar Bill comic in there. Dollar Bill's story is covered in Watchmen. It is then covered again in great detail in Minutemen. It is then covered again for some reason in his own dedicated book! He's a guy who got his cape stuck in a revolving door and then got shot! That's it! The End! That's the whole thing.
Ozymandias: Going by my theory that less fleshed out characters make good stories I was hoping for good things here. This is the worst one (except Dollar Bill). This was a real missed opportunity. I think they should have done a tail of some old fashioned superheroing by Ozymandias here. Perhaps show how he was once a great hero that lost his way. No, it turns out Ozymandias was always a jerk. This is a play by play recreation of The Watchmen but just from Ozymandias point of view. He's literally just talking at us like it's a directors commentary on movie. "And this is where I read some books to get ideas, and this is where I watched some sci-fi Tv shows for ideas, and this is the part where I got my secret Antartic fortress" and so on. I hated this peice of crap.
In summary, if you want to read some learn fom my mistakes. Don't just get them all, they vary greatly in quality. Also, don't just go for the charaters that you may have liked in The Watchmen.
Alpharius wrote: I enjoyed Ozymandias quite a bit - but I'll also admit it might have been due to the fact that Jae Lee's art was amazing!
It was good, the faces are so simple but all the historical figures look like who they're supposed too. Only issue I have is Ozymandias looks so evil. Like even as a little kid he looks so pompous. Sure, we know he's malevolent now but he doesn't actually look so menacing in Watchmen. He had a somewhat innocent look to him that was juxtoposed to his actions. Anyway, I'm sure that direction was a choice and he did accomplish what he was trying to convey.
I personally love a couple of Australian Orientated series:
The Soldier is a good read
Changing Ways as well
But my favourite by far has got to be the Walking Dead Comics, the best comic book I've ever read, though really different to the movies in almost every form.
Digging The new Uncanny X-Men too. That Cyclops has a lot on his plate. He views the Avengers as his new oppressors and they seem like a lot more credible threat than guys like Senator Kelly and giant robots.
Also like mutant lord of the flies Ultimate X-Men. Lots of good X titles lately.
Picked up a fair few comics over the past couple of weeks, the current arc on Deadpool just ended with a new one about to start next issue hopefully (they had to put a filler issue in because they weren't able to sort out the next story issue properly, involving him trying to get Iron Man drunk again during the Devil in the Bottle arc)
X-Men Legacy is as weird and wonderful as ever, a fair amount of action, some decent humour, slightly worrying enemies and amusing scenarios, even if the artist struggles to draw smiling or blushing faces that aren't creepy.
Superior Spiderman is going well/badly with a new arc about to begin (I think), well for the readers, badly for the characters. And seems likely to be about to get really fun.
Uncanny X-Men is fun, it covers some interest ideas whilst retaining a sense of humour, with the art being a very fun style which always helps.
Morbius the Living Vampire is okay, the pace is going a bit iffy as it seems to have slowed down significantly, which isn't good for a once monthly comic, other than that its fun though.
Savage Wolverine is as fun as always, with some decent action, though at the moment Amadeus Cho seems to be getting more limelight than the titular character (not that that's a bad thing).
I picked up the first issue of Age of Ultron, and haven't picked one up since as it wasn't to enjoyable and reviews have said it doesn't get any faster, so I'm not going to spend what little money I have on it.
Been reading IDW's Godzilla lately. The Swierczynski books, not Kingdom of Monsters. I really like Simon Gane's monsters:
The story is ... well, writing kaiju stories is really hard because the audience is there for the monsters but the monsters are only good because you sublimate the human characterization onto them. So the story kind of struggles along. As usual, I thought the second volume was better than the first -- probably just because I was more into it after pushing through the exposition in volume one.
I also read Godzilla Legends, which is a collection of five one shots centered around Anguirus, Rodan, Titanosaurus, Hedorah, and Kumonga respectively. The Rodan story (illustrated by Gane, see above) is fantastic -- it nails the kaiju themes perfectly. I think it was written by Jonathan Vankin, who was a long time senior editor for Vertigo. I wish Vankin would write a whole Godzilla title.
I also read the first volume of Star Wars Dark Times. There are so many alien characters, I kind of felt like I was reading about the Muppets.
FWIW, the story lives up to the title. We start with a straight forward rescue quest and it gets ... really, really dark by the end.
Spoiler:
One of the main character's daughter is kidnapped and sold into slavery. When they finally track the girl down she has been killed and eaten by a wealthy human who apparently does this just because he can.
... shudder ...
Meanwhile, Darth Vader is moping around wondering what he'll do with the rest of his life. It's a good question that I never really gave much thought to -- for Vader, after screaming NOOOOOOO, what's next? I always just assumed he went straight to hunting Jedi. This title explores that question more deeply -- and also more slowly.
I really liked the first volume of Dark Times and am really looking forward to getting into the second, which -- per usual -- I will likely enjoy even more.
I downloaded a bunch of books when Marvel was giving away #1s for free. Finally gave me a chance to check out some of the Marvel NOW stuff.
What do you guys think of A&X so far? I loved the first issue, or to be more specific, the image of Red Hulk in the Oval Office and I want to see how it contiues. It was way more entertaining than Avenging Spider-Man.
Cable and X-Force was interesting too. I never was a big Cable fan, but he seems cool here and I like Colossus. I'd give it another shot when I can.
All New X-Men was definetly my favourite so far. And the team-up doesn't even start until the next issue. The set-up is awesome and I'm really looking forward to it, even though I never followed the X-Men that much.
Both Cap and Iron Man were off to a good start. Iron Man was good fun but I might stick with Cap just for Romita's artwork.
I read volumes 2 -5 of Star Wars Dark Times as well as Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison. Mick Harrison (a.k.a. Welles Hartley, a.k.a. Randy Stradley) wrote volumes 1 - 4 of Dark Times and volume 4 (as well as volume 3, the second part of the Vector crossover) contains the best Star Wars writing I've encountered outside of Empire. If you want to get the full impact of Vol. 4, you need to at least read Vol. 1 -- put I've found the series so enjoyable that I would easily recommend it to any SW fan who reads comics. The Ghost Prison book was also pretty good, dealing with the same time frame and themes as Dark Times.
Actually there was a bit of something like this before. DC's Booster Gold had sponsoring and wore logos like this. He was used in Smallville the same way.
malfred wrote: Oh come on, have none of you seen Mystery Men?
Google Captain Amazing.
I've seen it, but it was when I was 11 or 12 I think so I can't remember much about it other than a guy who could telekinetically control cutlery and someone who could turn invisible, but only when no one was watching.
Also, got a midnight viewing of Iron Man 3 tonight, following a marathon of iron man 1, 2 and the Avengers
I'm collecting Age of Ultron. It's ok I guess. I think its basically supposed to be an Age of Apocalypse for the Avengers. Because it's an obvious alternate timeline I'm having a tough time caring what's happening because I know it's going to be undone in the end anyway.
KamikazeCanuck wrote: Because it's an obvious alternate timeline I'm having a tough time caring what's happening because I know it's going to be undone in the end anyway.
I get tired of comments like this. When nothing happens people complain that nothing changed. Then something changes people complain that the change is bad, or that it's just going to go back the way it was.
Comics are about the status quo. I thought we would have all accepted this by now? What's old is new again, and then will be old, and then new. It's a cycle.
No, some comics are about the status quo. Many have dynamic ongoing stories or even an end. Even the big 2 which have the most status quo have titles like that.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Besides I wasn't even talking about that but rather AoU's irrelevance in relation to the main Marvel universe. It seems more like an extended "what if" story than an "Event".
KamikazeCanuck wrote: Because it's an obvious alternate timeline I'm having a tough time caring what's happening because I know it's going to be undone in the end anyway.
I get tired of comments like this. When nothing happens people complain that nothing changed. Then something changes people complain that the change is bad, or that it's just going to go back the way it was.
Comics are about the status quo. I thought we would have all accepted this by now? What's old is new again, and then will be old, and then new. It's a cycle.
I don't accept it and I don't buy comics that do.
Not all comics lack dynamic characters. In fact, what made those characters
interesting in the first place was their change from one thing to another.
Marvel's entire mutant franchise is based on an adolescent coming of age
storyline where you wake up one morning and have hair in places you
never had before.
Manchu wrote: The distinction is not between static and dynamic characters. It's more about the difference between "hard" and "soft" continuity.
I know "soft" continuity is what keeps superhero comics in business, but I
got tired of it after awhile. I don't see the appeal anymore and now follow
books if it looks like they will have "hard" continuity (and a potential finale).
My favorite comics fall along this line, Transmetropolitan, Invisibles, 100 Bullets.
Anung Un Rama wrote: Any word on when Spidey will change back? Can't be that long now.
Hehe.
Spoiler:
Based on the ending to #10 it's going to be a long time till anything happens.
Also, I picked up the first 4 issues of Cable & X-Force, which is quite enjoyable at the moment. I need to get to the comic shop to pick up #5 onwards, but it seems fun at the moment.
Deadpool Killustrated finished, which was quite amusing, if a bit of a dark ending.
Picked up Thanos Rising #1 and #2, which are actually doing rather well to fill out his backstory and make him somewhat less of a flat out "evil" character, twisted and deranged maybe, but not entirely evil.
My younger brother got convinced by me to try comics, and he picked up the TPB of All New X-Men #1-5, however I've no idea whether he's even read it yet as we're about 150Km away from each other at the moment.
I also got lent AvX in exchange for lending a freind X-Men Legacy, and I have to say that I rather enjoyed it. It was quite interesting seeing characters that I am currently reading, where presently they may be damaged or broken or angry, and seeing the events that led up to where they are now.
HAs anyone gone back to a comic they read as a kid thinking it was awesome and then read it and gone meh?
I just did this with grendel (christine spar) i got about 3 in assorted comico grab bags in the 80sish. I ordered the collection of that storyline recently, and well, i think my fascination with it must have pretty much come down to one awesome panel.
Big
BIG
letdown.
It's okay, it's nothing that you MUST read as JD fan or otherwise. I subscribed to the JD Megazine for a couple of years recently and I like IDW's monthly better than it.
Young Justice has launched its crowdfunding campaign.
SMGO.tv is seeking $10 million to fund a third season of the cancelled DC Nation show.
The '#YJ - Let's prove them wrong' campaign launched yesterday with an extended 82-day window. The average Kickstarter campaign lasts either a month or 60 days.
The extras include various special edition DVD sets of the series should it be made.
SMGO.tv previously reported that DC Entertainment had refused its plans to crowdfund Young Justice and its fellow cancelled show Green Lantern: The Animated Series, before revealing that it had been given the go-ahead to attempt one campaign.
The campaign has currently raised $24,550 - 0.2% of its goal.
The defunct Veronica Mars television show recently became Kickstarter's most successful project when it gained funding for a movie sequel.
At a Warner Bros Burbank event to celebrate Grant Morrison’s work at DC (including Action Comics biscuits, right), he talked about the upcoming Multiversity series. And how it is intended to turn the reader into a superhero.
Oh balls, I’m just going to cut and paste and bold out some rather intriguing bits from MTV’s report…
Discussing the structure of “Multiversity” and its forty-page nine issue run, Morrison says the first and last issue, ostensibly bookends, act as an “80-page giant DC super-spectacular story, in between which we have seven comics, each of which come from a different parallel universe, so they all have a slightly different trade dress…a different storytelling approach…each one is drawn by a different artist.” Briefly discussing the history of the DC multiverse, wherein each alternate reality vibrates at a frequency slightly out of phase with the other earths, Morrison gushes over the idea of “comic book universes as music”, a concept he played with in Final Crisis. “When you hear them all together they make the most beautiful music you’ve ever heard, and you can choose whatever [music] you want that to be.”
Going back to the classic multiverse-introducing “Flash of Two Worlds”, wherein Barry Allen could read about Jay Garrick’s adventures in comic books, so too will that meta-structure return for “Multiversity” in order to highlight what Morrison calls “the most terrifying threat anyone’s ever created in a comic. I don’t do hyperbole,” he laughs, “BUT. This is the one. We’ve discovered, what I think, is actually a technology…it’s like hypnosis…this is a new thing we are doing” that will highlight the increasing threat over the course of each issue, as one world has to pass portents of doom along to the next. “Something is bringing down the structure of the multiverse.”
“Like I said, we have seven different books dealing with this,” he continues. The initial story will feature a multiversal Justice League, with Calvin Ellis, the black President Superman from Final Crisis and Action, as the protagonist. The second story will be a pulp adventure tale, using both old pulp characters and repurposed characters who could easily fit the mold, including an Indiana Jones by way of John Constantine “Doc” Fate. Also present will be Lady Blackhawk, the Atom and the Immortal Man in a story set in the year 2013 after a world war has decimated the human populace down to two billion people. Following that will be “The Just”, taking place on Earth-11, showcasing the return of the Super-Sons and the children of other superheroes. Surprisingly citing The Hills as an inspiration, the disaffected super-kids will be introduced in ways similar to that program, and the utopian world brought on by their parents will be echoed by their dull, meaningless, “shallow” conversational patterns. We’ll also see the remnants of a bored Justice League, filled with nearly-forgotten 90s characters with nothing to do but superhero/supervillain battle re-enactments. When asked who would be appearing, Kyle Rayner will be the Green Lantern featured in the book, but Guy Gardner will be present. Other 90s characters set to appear include Bloodpack, Bloodwynd, Anima, Walker Gabriel and, yes, Wally West, amidst a host of other legacy characters introduced in the era, hinting at appearances by Azrael and the “replacement” Supermen. Knowing that it would always come back to the most iconic versions of the characters, such as Bruce Wayne, Barry Allen and Hal Jordan, Morrison wanted to give these heroes “a world they did inherit, but they didn’t inherit anything” worthwhile.
Next up is “Pax Americana”, Morrison’s long-awaited take on the Charlton heroes, such as Blue Beetle and Captain Atom, that Alan Moore’s Watchmen was based on. His take on Watchmen itself, Morrison has altered that series’ famous nine-panel grid into an eight-panel grid for “Pax Americana” in order to drive home the concept of “the musical harmonics that kind of underpin the whole series. It’s all based on the number eight, which becomes really important.” He refers to the artwork as “beyond what most people in comics are doing”, claiming it’s the next stage in Frank Quitelty’s continued artistic evolution. He firmly believes it’s the “best thing” that he and Quitely have yet accomplished in the world of superhero comics. “Thunderworld” will be in an all-ages style and will immediately follow “Pax Americana”. After that, readers will be due for a trip to Earth-10 (formerly Earth X in the pre-Crisis world) home of the Nazi superheroes that helped defeat the Allies in World War II. The issue, which Morrison gleefully revealed “opens with Hitler on the toilet reading Action Comics” and yelling about Superman. Morrison reveals that in this world, Superman’s rocket landed in 1938 in Nazi-occupied territory and Hitler raises the child. Everything in the story (which Morrison compares in scope to Shakespeare and HBO epics) will evolve from that point, with Superman realizing, in his twenty-fifth year of life, the precise nature of Hitler’s evil and realizing “who the baddie is”. Deciding instead to take down the Nazi regime and create a utopia, Superman won’t stray too far from how he’s been raised, with Morrison promising sweeping Wagnerian architecture and a melodramatic world. He promises the story will delve deep into Superman’s inner conflict; he’s created a Utopian society that looks perfect but “is built on the bones of the dead” and has to come crumbling down. At this point in the story, in 1956, Morrison will re-introduce the Quality characters known collectively as The Freedom Fighters, this time making them both literal and figurative enemies of Hitler. Uncle Sam, the last remaining vestige of America, will again form and lead the team. Quoting Emma Lazarus (“Give me…your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”), Morrison teases a team featuring a version of Dollman who’s a Jehovah’s Witness, a homosexual Ray, a gypsy Phantom Lady and an African version of Black Condor in what Morrison calls “the return of the oppressed.” Thematically, the story will deal with a society under siege by terrorists who are in the right, and the regime they’re striking against knows it.
“Ultra Comics” will be a story set in the real world and involves the technology Morrison had mentioned earlier, which he refuses to talk about before the issue is released because “it will blow your mind. This comic will possess you. This comic is haunted, is all I’m going to say.” He promises to “make a superhero in front of” the reader in our own world. Morrison also promises a guidebook to the Multiverse will accompany the series, which he calls his magnum opus.
Once upon a time, Grant believed he could use the complexity of the DC Universe to literally make it a sentient being. Now he wants to make the reader into a superhero when they read it.
Don’t know about you but that’s one hell of a cover gimmick.
Grant Morrison is an original, that's for sure. I'm not even sure where to start with all of that.
Wait...yes, I do. Super-Sons FTW!
Regarding Avengers, that entire franchise has scared me off for the last couple years. It all seems too confusing, with too many books. Marvel's gotten less and less of my money lately.
Regarding Avengers, that entire franchise has scared me off for the last couple years. It all seems too confusing, with too many books. Marvel's gotten less and less of my money lately.
I've dropped Avengers for the first time in many years. I'm just not digging Hickman's style. All of the Avengers have lost their personality suddenly for some reason.
Sticking with New Avengers for a while longer. It's a bit better and I've got a bit of soft spot for Black Panther for some reason. I'm hoping he can make a breakthrough as an A- lister.
Avengers Arena shouldn't even be called that. It's got nothing to do with anything Avengers related. It's it's own self contained story that must come to a conclusion some time.
Marvel Now is finally reaching Germany. I already read All New X-Men as English trade, but I want to support my local store a bit more. Can you tell me if X-treme X-Men and Cable & X-Force are any good?
Anung Un Rama wrote: Marvel Now is finally reaching Germany. I already read All New X-Men as English trade, but I want to support my local store a bit more. Can you tell me if X-treme X-Men and Cable & X-Force are any good?
I'm enjoying Cable & X-Force. It's good, has some fun actiona scenes, quite an interesting plot, and what is possibly my favourite cover so far (the "Daddy's Home" issue).
KamikazeCanuck wrote:I can't. I've been reading Uncanny X-Men. It's like the companion comic of All-New X-Men, telling the other side of the story.
I've read the first issue of Uncanny Avengers. Not a big fan of the team, but I like the "Red Skull stole Xavier's brain"-part. I'm not sure which series is Uncanny X-Men at the moment. How does the all-female X-Men series fit into this?
Goliath wrote:I'm enjoying Cable & X-Force. It's good, has some fun actiona scenes, quite an interesting plot, and what is possibly my favourite cover so far (the "Daddy's Home" issue).
I really liked the first issue and Colossus is one of my favourite X-Men. Like Cable's new look as well.
KamikazeCanuck wrote:I can't. I've been reading Uncanny X-Men. It's like the companion comic of All-New X-Men, telling the other side of the story.
I've read the first issue of Uncanny Avengers. Not a big fan of the team, but I like the "Red Skull stole Xavier's brain"-part. I'm not sure which series is Uncanny X-Men at the moment. How does the all-female X-Men series fit into this?
You're not sure which series is Uncanny X-Men? Do they have very different titles over there or something? Don't know about any all-female X-women....
I'm reading Uncanny Avengers but I just dropped it. It's not bad but I'm always looking to rein in the number of titles I'm getting and I guess this one just didn't make the cut. Red Skull using Xavier's brain was pretty cool though.
KamikazeCanuck wrote:I can't. I've been reading Uncanny X-Men. It's like the companion comic of All-New X-Men, telling the other side of the story.
I've read the first issue of Uncanny Avengers. Not a big fan of the team, but I like the "Red Skull stole Xavier's brain"-part. I'm not sure which series is Uncanny X-Men at the moment. How does the all-female X-Men series fit into this?
You're not sure which series is Uncanny X-Men? Do they have very different titles over there or something? Don't know about any all-female X-women....
I'm reading Uncanny Avengers but I just dropped it. It's not bad but I'm always looking to rein in the number of titles I'm getting and I guess this one just didn't make the cut. Red Skull using Xavier's brain was pretty cool though.
So far I just didn't notice Marvel Now had an Uncanny X-Men series. I recently loaded a load of #1 issues when Marvel did the digital promotion, but I must've missed that one. What's happening in Uncanny X-Men?
Speaking of X-Men. How's the (not savage) Wolverine and A+X? I missed out on Wolverine during the promotion, but the first issue of A+X was pretty fun. I hope they go back to the President Rulk thing.
I believe the all female team is due very soon, but not out yet? I've had it on my subs for about four months, so just waiting for it to reach my pull list.
I did notice Bleeding Cool was using an ad for it as their throw around banner the other day. So it must be incoming.
Can't wait, Rogue, Storm, Phoenix II (Or whatever Rachel calls herself these days) Psylocke, Jubilee and Shadowcat all in one book.
Oh just checked its still the wrap around at Bleeding cool.
Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote: I believe the all female team is due very soon, but not out yet? I've had it on my subs for about four months, so just waiting for it to reach my pull list.
I did notice Bleeding Cool was using an ad for it as their throw around banner the other day. So it must be incoming.
Can't wait, Rogue, Storm, Phoenix II (Or whatever Rachel calls herself these days) Psylocke, Jubilee and Shadowcat all in one book.
Oh just checked its still the wrap around at Bleeding cool.
"X-Men" is the name of the series, and it should be released today.
Yes, I was reading some Wolverine Origins and a Deadpool trade, I think it was, concurrently a few years ago and coincidently they both featured Bucky as a stone cold killer in WWII doing those kind of things when Cap wasn't looking. He was boarding on psychopathic at times. It was pretty cool and I actually liked it when he took over for Cap after his death.
I've been drifting away from Marvel recently-they're not releasing much that's gripped me. I'm liking Deadpool as ever, and Thanos Rising is a pretty good read so far, but aside from that there's not much in their line that I would recommend to a friend, for example. If anyone knows of any good titles that would change my mind, i'd like to know.
Been enjoying a few New 52 titles (Batman's 'Death of the Family' arc was ace), and most of all, fallen in love with Bedlam. Easily my favourite comic series to date.
KamikazeCanuck wrote: Yes, I was reading some Wolverine Origins and a Deadpool trade, I think it was, concurrently a few years ago and coincidently they both featured Bucky as a stone cold killer in WWII doing those kind of things when Cap wasn't looking. He was boarding on psychopathic at times. It was pretty cool and I actually liked it when he took over for Cap after his death.
I have the wolverine omnibus of all his comics from the main story line.
sooo awesome when he goes berzerk on sheild.
good old canucklehead
all the stories about logans time in the wars are pretty cool too.
if it wasnt for punisher and wolverine, especially the MAXX series, I doubt that marvel would get a penny of my $.
I recently got back into comics so I quite behind right now I'm working my way through Avengers Disassembled and in between that I'll be reading the new X-O Manowar from Valiant.
X-O was a great series I read as a kid in it's original version so it will be exciting to see how this one is. Would like to see some old story lines return while updating them for present day.
Avengers Dissessembled is a good place to start because you could argue its the beggining of the entire current Marvel Universe storyline/timeline. Though I must admit I haven't read it myself.
Baron Butcher wrote: I've been drifting away from Marvel recently-they're not releasing much that's gripped me. I'm liking Deadpool as ever, and Thanos Rising is a pretty good read so far, but aside from that there's not much in their line that I would recommend to a friend, for example. If anyone knows of any good titles that would change my mind, i'd like to know.
Been enjoying a few New 52 titles (Batman's 'Death of the Family' arc was ace), and most of all, fallen in love with Bedlam. Easily my favourite comic series to date.
Madder Red certainly is an interesting character.
And I'm not reading a single Marvel title for the first time in a long time. I've dropped some New 52 books, but the ones I'm still reading are holding my attention much better than Marvel.
I finally picked up last week's books today. I have high hopes for Superman Unchained, so we'll see how it goes.
WarAngel wrote: I recently got back into comics so I quite behind right now I'm working my way through Avengers Disassembled and in between that I'll be reading the new X-O Manowar from Valiant.
X-O was a great series I read as a kid in it's original version so it will be exciting to see how this one is. Would like to see some old story lines return while updating them for present day.
I really enjoyed many of the titles from the first run of valiant back in the 90s. I have one copy of every single Valiant issue from the first incarnation. One of my favorite pieces of comic collectibles is the small poster announcing the Magnus Robot fighter series which launched Valiant. I was a big fan of the original series when I was a kid and that drew my attention to the Valiant line from the start. Which was lucky because those first issues sold out fast and had low print runs.
gorgon wrote: I've dropped some New 52 books, but the ones I'm still reading are holding my attention much better than Marvel.
What's the deal with Red Lantern? I thought that was just made up for an episode of Fringe.
JWhex wrote: I really enjoyed many of the titles from the first run of valiant back in the 90s. I have one copy of every single Valiant issue from the first incarnation.
Nice to see another old Valiant fan.
KamikazeCanuck wrote: Avengers Dissessembled is a good place to start because you could argue its the beggining of the entire current Marvel Universe storyline/timeline. Though I must admit I haven't read it myself.
Good to know. I started out with collecting Civil War because that seemed interesting. Then the Wikipedia entry said it took from Dissembled, House of M etc. so I figured just start there.
Angela from Spawn is now a part of the Marvel universe? WTH?"
That totally came out of no where.
I swear that was announced ages ago? They worked out the issues with the rights to use her, and said that they would be introducing her during AoU?
In other news, the amount of Superior:__________ comics coming out over the summer upsets me, as it means I'm gonna have to decide between Superior Carnage and Infinity.
In other other news, Cable & X-Force is becoming very very fun, though I'm starting to regret not getting Uncanny Avengers, as they're popping up here, there, and everywhere these days.
Angela from Spawn is now a part of the Marvel universe? WTH?"
That totally came out of no where.
I swear that was announced ages ago? They worked out the issues with the rights to use her, and said that they would be introducing her during AoU?
In other news, the amount of Superior:__________ comics coming out over the summer upsets me, as it means I'm gonna have to decide between Superior Carnage and Infinity.
In other other news, Cable & X-Force is becoming very very fun, though I'm starting to regret not getting Uncanny Avengers, as they're popping up here, there, and everywhere these days.
I get all my comic book news from DakkaDakka so the Angela thing was a total surprise for me.
What's up with Superior Carnage? Is it just Cletus Cassidy?
I have mixed feelings about TPBs. I really believe monthlies are the engine that drives the comic industry and that it's actually important for comic collectors to buy them. On the other hand TPBs do get people to read comics who wouldn't bother otherwise and are a better reading experience usually.
Baron Butcher wrote: I've been drifting away from Marvel recently-they're not releasing much that's gripped me. I'm liking Deadpool as ever, and Thanos Rising is a pretty good read so far, but aside from that there's not much in their line that I would recommend to a friend, for example. If anyone knows of any good titles that would change my mind, i'd like to know.
You been reading Thor: God of Thunder? Thor's current run?
JWhex wrote: Does anyone else think that trade paperbacks have hurt comic collectors?
There are two sorts of collector. One wants a thing for its own sake. The other wants a thing to get rid of it. The former wants the same thing I want: to experience an enjoyable piece of art. The latter wants other people to not experience an enjoyable piece of art, because doing so drives down the value of their "investment". So if reprinting comics and making them available to second-wave fans hurts them, I don't sympathise.
The German Spider-Man books finally reached ASM #700 and... damn, that was awesome. It probably would've been a a lot more shocking if I didn't know about the body swap for over a year now, but the writing and art was incredible. I can't wait to start reading Superior Spider-Man.
Also, Justice League Dark is boooooring. I bough the first trade because of all the talk from Guillermo del Toro making a movie with the team, but damn, I was bored. Zatanna is nothing at all like her old self and there was a distinct lack of Etrigan.
Finally got a new Batman Beyond book and the first Justice League beyond trade. Loved them both. Batman again captures what made the show so fun and yet does some very evil things with established characters and the Bat mythos. I can't wait for the next one.
Justice League Beyond was probably the most epic JL thing I've read in years, but I don't want to spoil anything. It has Terry McGuiness in it as is drawn by Dustin Nguyen. What could you possible want more?
... and you thought you were feeling old before eh ?!
What is that guy basing that on?
The age of Franklin Richards, which apparently was recently said to be 7.
It doesn't even say that. It says Franklin seems like he's 7 or 8 to him therefore Reed fought in the Gulf War I guess. Therefore Magneto is a member of Al-Quada. It's breaking "news" some guy pulled out of ass.
I dont think a sliding continuity is any worse than all the other contradictions, retconns and cross overs that are an inevitable consequence of the comic book format and the way the market drives the industry.
If a decent team puts together a good story arc or consistent run of a few years on a title thats about the most you can hope for.
Trying to enjoy the Marvel or DC universe in a wholistic way does not work because it is simply not created in that way.
The chaos of comic book universes is kind of an argument in favor of the GW approach of a timeline perpetually stuck at one minute until midnight. Now obviously this method is not suitable for the vast majority of comic books, I just mention it as an alternative.
For me, the fewer super heroes in a title the better. This is why I liked titles like Hellblazer, Preacher, Spectre (Ostrander run), Jonah Hex, Turok, Magnus Robot Fighter etc. These titles tended to have a rather tight timeline as well.
JWhex wrote: Does anyone else think that trade paperbacks have hurt comic collectors?
There are two sorts of collector. One wants a thing for its own sake. The other wants a thing to get rid of it. The former wants the same thing I want: to experience an enjoyable piece of art. The latter wants other people to not experience an enjoyable piece of art, because doing so drives down the value of their "investment". So if reprinting comics and making them available to second-wave fans hurts them, I don't sympathise.
Well to the comic company, old comics are worthless. They can't make money on them so they need to keep coming out with something to sell. Years ago they would just do second prints but not many bought them because they were the same as what they already had. So they came out with the collected format and it took off. It's a great way to make money out of something you already had.
I would like to see Trades that are actually new content but comes out quarterly or something.
Since the Man of Steel thread seems to be as dead as a certain Kryptonian, I'd like to say here that I saw the movie a second time and liked it even more.
My buddy and I had the exact same first reaction walking out -- the fight sequences in the last part of the movie moved *much* faster with the second viewing. I understood the criticism about the fights being too drawn out after my first viewing, but I recommend that you see it a second time if that's your main criticism. I don't know why it seemed so much faster, but the effect was very noticeable. In fact, I'd now argue that the pacing of MoS in general seemed much better than that of The Avengers or The Dark Knight Rises.
JWhex wrote: Does anyone else think that trade paperbacks have hurt comic collectors?
There are two sorts of collector. One wants a thing for its own sake. The other wants a thing to get rid of it. The former wants the same thing I want: to experience an enjoyable piece of art. The latter wants other people to not experience an enjoyable piece of art, because doing so drives down the value of their "investment". So if reprinting comics and making them available to second-wave fans hurts them, I don't sympathise.
Well to the comic company, old comics are worthless. They can't make money on them so they need to keep coming out with something to sell. Years ago they would just do second prints but not many bought them because they were the same as what they already had. So they came out with the collected format and it took off. It's a great way to make money out of something you already had.
I would like to see Trades that are actually new content but comes out quarterly or something.
For a time it seemed like the new content in trades came in the form of
concept art, alternate cover designs, and famous writer introductions. I
don't think they do that any more.
CDK wrote: I would like to see Trades that are actually new content but comes out quarterly or something.
I like this idea. While collected issues in one book help someone like me catch up it would also help the market in general and comic fandom as a whole.
I'm hating how currently with comics it takes about 5min to read. They used to have so much mores story and dialog. Now they expand things out and give you more splash pages of artwork. Great art sometimes but also boring! I want a real story for my $2.99 or $3.99 an issue. Why spend that when I could buy a novel for $8.99 and read it for weeks! I know, no cool artwork, but my imagination isn't that bad either.
Just a quick query for those who have been in about comics for a long while and might be able to point me in the right direction.
Fan art of comics, for sale all over eBay, Comic art fans sites etc, is that illegal and Marvel/DC just don't bother hunting down individuals making money off their characters, or is is deemed something else, maybe some weird cross over as its original art inspired by other folks work?
Just wondering how folks who seem to mass produce commissions and a lot of stuff they then sell are getting away with it, or is it really not an issue.
Oh and yes their is an ulterior motive for this question, just wanted to know before my better half attempts to try and sell stuff in the future.
Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote: Just a quick query for those who have been in about comics for a long while and might be able to point me in the right direction.
Fan art of comics, for sale all over eBay, Comic art fans sites etc, is that illegal and Marvel/DC just don't bother hunting down individuals making money off their characters, or is is deemed something else, maybe some weird cross over as its original art inspired by other folks work?
Just wondering how folks who seem to mass produce commissions and a lot of stuff they then sell are getting away with it, or is it really not an issue.
Oh and yes their is an ulterior motive for this question, just wanted to know before my better half attempts to try and sell stuff in the future.
Whether they can stop you selling fan works is still a legal gray area, but just because they can doesn't mean they will. Some companies are actively supportive of fanart and selling derivative works, while others are jerks about it, even when the fanart does not compete with their own product and is thus little more than free advertising.
Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote: Just a quick query for those who have been in about comics for a long while and might be able to point me in the right direction.
Fan art of comics, for sale all over eBay, Comic art fans sites etc, is that illegal and Marvel/DC just don't bother hunting down individuals making money off their characters, or is is deemed something else, maybe some weird cross over as its original art inspired by other folks work?
Just wondering how folks who seem to mass produce commissions and a lot of stuff they then sell are getting away with it, or is it really not an issue.
Oh and yes their is an ulterior motive for this question, just wanted to know before my better half attempts to try and sell stuff in the future.
Whether they can stop you selling fan works is still a legal gray area, but just because they can doesn't mean they will. Some companies are actively supportive of fanart and selling derivative works, while others are jerks about it, even when the fanart does not compete with their own product and is thus little more than free advertising.
I think in this case, it often times boils down to subject matter too. I mean, if a guy is selling a picture of Wolverine doing the nasty with another X-men character, then Marvel will have a problem. Beyond that sort of instance, I think that many companies realize that the physical paper copies of graphic novels are an endangered species, and so will take most any advertisement they can.
Ensis Ferrae wrote: I think in this case, it often times boils down to subject matter too. I mean, if a guy is selling a picture of Wolverine doing the nasty with another X-men character, then Marvel will have a problem.
I don't think so. I mean, it's Wolverine. They have no problem with him being butt naked on occasion, and he's had a ton of lovers canonically.
One off art, meaning there is only the original that you own. Is not illegal. It's when you start making prints and selling them it's a problem. Hence why you can go to a convention and ask any artist to draw anything for a fee.
So what's everyone's favorite title right now? What are you most excited to see in your pile when you pick them up at the friendly neighborhood comic book store?
KamikazeCanuck wrote: So what's everyone's favorite title right now? What are you most excited to see in your pile when you pick them up at the friendly neighborhood comic book store?
KamikazeCanuck wrote: So what's everyone's favorite title right now? What are you most excited to see in your pile when you pick them up at the friendly neighborhood comic book store?
X-Men Legacy, closely followed by Deadpool
I am definitely loving Deadpool, but feel that unless you get Marvel Max Deadpool, you're doing yourself a disservice.
Cheers for the replies, that seems to be what I could dig up about it as well. Its not technically legal, but as long as its original works and not dozens of prints they'll give some leeway. Partially as its complicated with previous artists being allowed to do it, and also because it seems more than one artist found his or her way into the tent of the big two thanks to this kind of work.
On a side note I finally got around to watching Amazing Spiderman the other night, was surprised that I really liked it after all the negativity I've seen around.
Picked up the 'killing joke' from Forbidden planet the other day, was a pretty good read and the illustration quality is top notch. < Contemplated picking this up a few times a while back but never got round to it, just saw it the other day while browsing and thought: "hey! why not?" and bought it.
Also watched Dredd 2012 a few weeks ago, and was so taken with it I decided to get into the comic books and buy the 1st and 2nd case files books which I'm really enjoying reading at the moment.
I've only just got into comic books again for the 1st time since I was a kid but I'm really obsessed at the moment, started out as just giving myself something to do when the internet went down but I'm glad I did now because I think I've found a new passion.
I first got into it partway through season 3 (at the ripe old age of 14 I think), then got every box set so I could see it all. Season 2 was screwed up due to the writers' strike, but because I got into it at a point where it was in my opinion brilliant, I knew that season 2 was the anomolous bit (The original idea for where season two was going to go was actually really cool, and involved the vial of shanti virus being shattered and the world coping with the plague that followed) Early season 3 was a bit iffy, but by the end of season 3/start of season 4 I think it was very close to getting back to the giddy heights of season 1 (if not already there in a few episodes).
Also, I would recommend to anyone here to check out the Heroes Wiki, because they have archived links to PDFs of every issue of the Heroes Graphic Novel that NBC released, that massively expands on the history and backstory of the Heroes universe. (also, you know, Comics)
GAH!!!!!! A friend informed me that Harley Quinn will have her own monthly title again starting later this year. I can not wait, and hope I can afford to purchase it regularly at that time. Also hope its good.
Anyone heard of it or the writers? I guess its the same couple that does Powergirl and something else.
This video contains spoilers for "Arrow" season 1's finale, but also preview clips for season 2 which will have the first episode titled "City of Heroes" premiering in October.
I liked the Arrow series overall, and I'll be watching season 2.
So regarding the big event going on at DC...
Spoiler:
Is this the first appearance of The Outsider since pre-Crisis? I think it has to be, right? They've obviously ditched the cratered moon look and made him look more like an albino Alfred. Which suggests that this new version hasn't dropped the Alfred connection. As someone who remembers the old pre-Crisis Outsider well (and how weird those stories were), I'll be very interested to see where this goes.
Has anyone read the Idolized mini series by Aspen comics? I am considering buying it as I like the concept and would like to hear if anyone liked it. For that matter are any Aspen comics good?
I just started looking into comics again and am quite chuffed by the amount of smaller (independentish) titles.
Marvel and DC don't quite seem to be doing it for me even though I read them as a kid, I dunno I want something more meaty , plus the art in some marvel titles I've looked at is shiteful.
Also even though zenoscope has cheesecake covers the action inside bears little resemblence to the covers. Most of it whilst showing flesh is quite dark in tone. I dled a few to check them out and have been pleasantly surprised.
Bullockist wrote: Has anyone read the Idolized mini series by Aspen comics? I am considering buying it as I like the concept and would like to hear if anyone liked it. For that matter are any Aspen comics good?
I cant say for the rest of Aspen, but I have immensely enjoyed Lady Mechanika, if you can still find decently priced copies... and if the authors and crew ever get round to finishing the story out.
75 years of Superman. Let that sink in for a minute if you will.
Superman has been with us through World War 2, Vietnam, 2 wars with Iraq, the creation of the computer, the internet, microwave ovens, the civil rights movement, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the assassination of JFK, Elvis AND the Beatles, Batman, man landing on the moon, the hippies, the comics code, etc. Who could have possibly forseen that this hero could survive for so long, and adapt to so many different changes in culture? Yet, here he is 75 years later standing tall for Truth, Justice, and the American way. He’s been the role model and influence for men in trenches, minorities standing up for their rights, and explorers jumping into the unknown.
To celebrate this epic occasion, a panel was formed comprising of some of the biggest names in Superman history, with the sole purpose of spending an hour reflecting about what it is that makes this character so important and why we still love, admire, and emulate him in our day-to-day lives. The panel’s guest were as follows: Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen from the original Superman series), Paul Levitz (writer and artist), Dylan Sprayberry (teenage Clark in “Man of Steel”) David Goyer, Dan Jurgens, Molly Quinn (the voice of Supergirl, Castle’s daughter), Tim Daily (Animated Superman voice actor), Grant Morrison (you know who this is), Henry Cavill (Superman himself), Jim Lee.
For an hour the guests discussed what everything from what the character of Superman means, to which one of his superpowers they would each choose if given the chance. Jack Larson’s answer of standing up for “Truth, justice, and the American way” rung true to a lot of the fans, who stood and cheered at his declaration. Cavill joined his fellow actor in stating that he would take the superpower of “unbreakable spirit,” an aspect that he himself had to develop when undergoing the nauseating diets and backbreaking physical training required to play the role.
They also took turns speaking on which comic they would all recommend to fans looking to learn about Superman, with Jim Lee tipping the hat to Grant Morrison’s “All-Star Superman,” one of my personal favorites. Amongst the titles being recommended was the newly released “Superman Unchained” by Jim Lee and Scott Snyder. Morrison, of course, recommended the humorous but shining example of character “Superman vs Muhammad Ali,” stating that “it’s so Superman” for Clark to get in the ring and learn how to box from the best, showing his thirst for humanity in a way only Superman can.
Tim Daily, who voiced the animated Superman character for many years explained how voicing the Superhero is now a family tradition, as his son has begun to voice the character in the newest Superman animated movie.
A few key moments came during the audience questioning section of the panel, where the meaning of Superman and superhero comics and what they represent in our society really griped me, reminding me how what we as fans and creators are doing and supporting really matters. It was this section of the panel that made this a 75 year anniversary panel, because it was a chance for the fans to tell us what they have learned from the character.
One woman stood in line, waiting patiently to declare proudly that she was and 80-year-old woman who learned to read from the original Superman comics when she was a very young child who had gone ill and spent all of her time in the hospital. People would come to visit her bearing funny books, and slowly she became literate to the sound of Clark Kent’s voice. She thanked the panel for keeping the myths alive, and encouraged them to continue doing what they do.
Firemen, kids, and people dressed as Supermen one-by-one approached to panel to ask about all sorts of things relating to the character. One person who asked Goyer about the “scene which shall not be named” at the end of “Man of Steel,” was answered by being told that Clark hasn’t fully formed as Superman yet, and the consequences of his actions in the movie are going to be dealt with heavily in the sequel, putting to rest my issues with the movie. They also mentioned something about a little old movie coming out in 2015 with Batman and Superman either fighting or working together.
To join in on the celebration of our favorite alien turning 75, check out the Superman “real hero project,” an online tribute to the character, where fans from all over the world can record short videos explaining what Superman means to them, expressed through spoken word and personal stories. Henry Cavill has already uploaded his video, which can be seen right now at www.realheroesproject.org
Great post, red. Sounds like that was quite the event.
Regarding the "scene-that-is-not-to-be-named," IGN had a recent article about it. Apparently Nolan balked at first, then agreed after he saw where Goyer and Snyder intended to take it. Which is that it forms the basis of his code against killing. He essentially killed off the last traces of his species in order to protect the people of Earth (at a larger scale with the Phantom drive trick, and at a smaller scale with the unnamed scene). How would that make someone feel?
IMO that goes right to what I've been saying about MoS being a smarter film than people are giving credit.
And back on comics proper, I read that Clark and Diana are getting their own book together. Didn't see that coming...I figure they'd break those two lovebirds up sooner rather than later. But it's an interesting editorial decision to explore that relationship -- something that's been toyed with in past incarnations but never fully explored -- over a long-term period. I really like that they're not in a rush to get Clark and Lois together.
Update: During his presentation at the TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour today, CW president Mark Pedowitz confirmed The Flash is being developed, revealing "Dr. Barry Allen" will be introduced as a recurring character in Arrow: Season 2 and "we're planning an origin story."
Original story follows.
More DC heroes look to be coming to The CW, as the network is developing The Flash -- simply titled "Flash" it seems -- as a spinoff of Arrow. Deadline reported the news, revealing Arrow’s Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg and director David Nutter are working on the project, along with DC’s Geoff Johns. The current plan is to introduce Flash on Arrow this coming season to set up the spinoff series. Berlanti and Kreisberg would run the series with Nutter – whose many pilots include Smallville and Arrow -- directing the pilot, written by Berlanti, Kreisberg and Johns. Berlanti and Kreisberg’s fellow Arrow EP Marc Guggenheim will not be involved in Flash, staying focused on Arrow.
This past year, The CW was developing a Wonder Woman series, Amazon. While that project didn’t turn into a pilot this spring, the network said in May they were still developing it. However, Deadline says the network “has hit the pause button” on Amazon, yet another frustrating delay for Wonder Woman fans hoping to see a new live-action version of that character.
However, with Arrow a hit for The CW, the network – co-owned by Warner Bros. – clearly wants to get more DC Comics adaptations on the air, as the network’s overall lineup turns increasingly to genre projects.
It will be interesting to see how Flash is incorporated into Arrow’s world, which so far has had no characters with superpowers appear. Many of us hoping to see DC build a bigger cinematic/live-action universe have wondered if they could tie Arrow into Man of Steel, indicating Arrow takes place in the same world as that film and opening the door to super-powered characters existing.
It’s still unclear if that will occur, but Flash’s introduction certainly would be interesting and raise questions about whether we’re meeting members of a potential Justice League movie cast on TV as well as film, as the Batman vs. Superman movie nears in 2015.
We can all agree that there's no way that WB DOESN'T want their own superhero universe/team franchise after seeing the payoff for The Avengers, right? Therefore, all things related to JL characters going forward probably should be viewed as part of a universe-building effort. They surely want the money, so they must have a plan to get that money.
So figure you develop Flash and GA on TV while Supes/Bats establishes those characters and relationship and sets the scene for JL. Then in the JL movie, they can treat Green Lantern just like Marvel did with the Hulk. "Yeah, okay, he's not technically the exact same guy from the other movie, but he's still green, still the same character, and you get the general idea, right?" You introduce Wonder Woman in the JL movie, tying her in to the main plot. Figure she's an emmissary and warrior sent from Themyscera (with the Amazons and Greek gods operating much like the Asgardians in the Thor movie) to warn us of the danger of X.
And voila, there's your Justice League movie cast and multiple TV and movie franchises. Note that Marvel is moving into TV with their SHIELD series, which just underlines how the barriers between those two mediums aren't what they once were.
And suddenly my hopes for he rumoured stand alone Venom movie are much higher than they probably should be.. unless of course they hire this guy and go with the idea.
Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/31/this-is-how-you-make-a-venom-movie-truthinjournalism/
And suddenly my hopes for he rumoured stand alone Venom movie are much higher than they probably should be.. unless of course they hire this guy and go with the idea.
I've only seen three of the things he's worked on (Dredd, Dirty Laundry and this), but they've all been great stuff. I'm definitely looking forwards to that ensemble action movie he wants to make starring Gina Carano.
Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/31/this-is-how-you-make-a-venom-movie-truthinjournalism/
And suddenly my hopes for he rumoured stand alone Venom movie are much higher than they probably should be.. unless of course they hire this guy and go with the idea.
I kind of liked it, until you actually "saw" Venom, at which point it seemed kinda dodgy.
On the other hand, I did like the cameo by bullseye.
