What Did You Read? May 3, 2006

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

So, what did you all read this week?

I finished up two big books this week:

* ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR HC, Volume 1

Fun book - works a LOT better with Ellis/Immonen than under Bendis/Millar/Kubert. The second half really kicked into high gear. Still has one great big huge hole in it that makes it difficult to enjoy fully: Why does Sue love Reed? We never see that. We just have to assume it. The romance happens between eras. Very frustrating that we never see it, and that's why I have a tough time believing that part of the book.

* RUNAWAYS, Volume 1

Really fun book. A little slow to get going, but the last 12 issues in the book are awesome. LOVED the way it all wrapped up in time for the 18th issue.

* QUEEN AND COUNTRY #29

Beautiful art from Chris Samnee.

* FELL #4

Another very cool issue. Best value for the money in comics today.

* BOMB QUEEN #4

Great ending to a darkly fun mini-series. Trade coming in July!

* OCTOPUS GIRL

Manga from Dark Horse. I didn't real past the fifth page. Skimmed the rest. Disgusting. Hideous. Avoid at all costs.

-Augie

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Yes, that should say May 3rd.

This new forum software makes it impossible to change a thread title, though I could do anything else I might imagine. Odd.

-Augie

[torippu]

I'm still trying to decide if I am currently reading too many books or if I have had too much free time on my hands recently. Here's what I have read since books shipped on Wednesday:

Captain America #17 - Like how the 65th Anniversary special tied into this arc. Would like to have a little more Cap action, but I'm sure that will change soon.

New Avengers #18 - I'll once again say that while I poo-pooed Deodato's art on ASM, I think that he's a more appropriate fit for NA. Starting to feel that this storyline is a little padded.

New Avengers Annual #1 - even with 15 different inkers, I really like Coipel's art. I'd love to see him as the regular artist on NA, but I'm not sure that he can keep up a monthly schedule. Loved the new Adaptoid - too bad it's the first and last appearance of this character.

Civil War #1 - sucks to be a member of the New Warriors, eh? Beautiful McNiven art. Absolutely loved the Cap action sequence. This is already feeling like a big event to me.

Marvel Team-Up #20 - it was nice to see art from Andy Kuhn again. The last couple of issues have been a little dull to me.

Teen Titans #35 - nice Tony Daniel art - his stuff definitely looks better when Kevin Conrad is inking him. I don't like the redesigned Robin costume. It finally feels as if this book is moving forward again.

Infinite Crisis #7 - happy to finally get this over with. I didn't get the big finale rush that I expect from these types of events. I think that my enthusiasm was a bit tempered by the multiple pencilers on each issue and that the story was spread out among more books than just the mini-series. Instead of the Rann/Thanagar, Day of Vengence, OMAC, Villians United, Teen Titans issues acting like 0.5 issues, I would have been happier if they could have incorporated them into the mini-series and made it 10~12 issues long.

Spider-Woman: Origin #5 - ended up enjoying this more than I thought and am looking forward to the ongoing book from Bendis & Maleev in 2007.

Ultimate Spider-man #94 - when was the last time this book had an issue that I didn't like? I can't remember.

Daughters of the Dragon #4 - I'll be the first to admit, I didn't realize that that was Ricadonna in a costume until I read this issue. This has been a fun series so far.

Marshal #1 - another pleasant surprise. I'm looking forward to picking up the second issue when it ships.

Supergirl #6 - Wha-huh? What the heck is Kandor? A little explanation would have been nice. I know that DC is hoping that readers will be intrigued by the mystery of OYL, but I'll have to say that I'm a little dumbfounded by the new setting for this book and may not stick around much longer.

Checkmate #1 - Fire as a cold-blooded killer? Guess I've read too many of the Giffen/DeMatteis JL books to be happy with this characterization. I enjoy Rucka spy books as much as the next guy, but may just stick with Q&C for my spy action.

Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for Bludhaven #2 - starting to get a sneaking suspicion that this mini is going to be used to get me to read the Frredom Fighters mini coming up. If this ends with no real conclusion (like Villains Unite and OMAC), I'm gonna be pissed.

The Sentry #8 - finally, the end of a mini-series that I didn't particularly enjoy. Look for it on eBay soon!

Blue Beetle #2 - the jury's still out on this book. I'll read a couple of more issues before deciding to pull the plug.

Trip

[MarvelKnight]

New Avengers #18

New Avengers: Annual

Batman: Detective Comics #819

Team Zero #3-6

[Jaye]

Yes, that should say May 3rd.

This new forum software makes it impossible to change a thread title, though I could do anything else I might imagine. Odd.

-Augie


Hey Augie,

You can edit the title by clicking on "Thread Tools" then select "Edit Thread."

If yours doesn't look like the attachment, let us know and Matt or Jonah can fix it.

-13th

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Ah, thanks, 13th. I feel stupid now.

But, the thread title is fixed!

Thanks again,
-Augie

[dancj]

* ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR HC, Volume 1

Fun book - works a LOT better with Ellis/Immonen than under Bendis/Millar/Kubert.

Interesting - I thought the exact oppposite. I loved the first TPB, but the 2nd didn't do that much for me. Luckily, Ellis's 2nd story (in the 3rd TPB or the 2nd HC) was much better (for my tastes).

My reads:
I Can't Believe it's not Justice League - Good fun and very dense. I got a lot more readiing time for my money than I'm used to
Terminator: Burning Earth - Not bad, but very scant on - well everything really. Alex Ross's art is a long way from the stuff he does these days.
Eric Red's Containment - Even scanter. I bombed it through this space zompie yarn in no time. I'm glad I got it cheap
Bad Company: Goodbye Krool World - Classic Peter Milligan goodness from 2000ad. I've read it before in old reprint comics, but this format is nicer. (Also very dense as that seems to be my topic of the week)

Dan

[UniqueFrequency]

in addition to the weekly comics i've read

Nightwing: Year One - decent read. i really like Dick and somehow Jason really annoyed me when he appeared. but i really liked seeing Superman, Deadman and Batgirl in the arc

[pmpknface]

I read some new stuff, but I was in NYC last weekend and actually stopped by Jim Hanely's for the 1st time. I had only been to his Staten Island store until now. I grabbed Giant Monsters (Steve Niles, Dave Johnson cover - signed by both) and the Rick Geary Jack the Ripper book. Cool stuff.

I also re-read 100 Bullets vol's 7, 8, and then the NEW vol 9! Excellent!

Also - got a tour of DC Comics and met Bill Roseman as well as a bunch of other people and scored some goodies. :D

[torippu]

I also re-read 100 Bullets vol's 7, 8, and then the NEW vol 9! Excellent!


100 Bullets is back at the top of my reading pile. I'm about 3~4 Trades behind, but am thinking that I'm going to start from the beginning again - as soon as I finish reading The Walking Dead Omnibus Vol. 1.

Also - got a tour of DC Comics and met Bill Roseman as well as a bunch of other people and scored some goodies. :D
Ooh, ooh, ooh, tell us more! How did you pull this off?

[pmpknface]

I have a friend that works there. So he just told me to show up and he took me around. Cool place. They have like 5-6 floors in a building in midtown. One floor looks like Gotham City, another like Metropolis.

They had some Batman movie stuff, like the costumes worn by Chris O'Donell and George Clooney (small guys) and other stuff floating around.

Everyone was very nice. And they ALL have comics exploding all over their offices. Almost everyone's walls are plastered with posters, figures, etc... There is a place where they have pics of celebrities with copies of MAD Magazine that was teh funniest! People from Howard Stern to Jimmy Carter to Oprah. Funny stuff!

I got to talk to the 100 Bullets editor too. Nice segway into... Vol 9! Awesome read. This would make a perfect Pipeline Book Club when it finishes. I always re-read the last few before getting into a new trade. I've been going back as far as vol 5 mostly because "The Counterfifth Detective" is my fav so far, but vol 8 was insane (you learn the origin of the Trust) and the latest vol was just awesome.

I suggest you clear your "reading schedule" soon and start with vol 1 and just go nuts. You'll be smoking and taking shots of tequila by the time it's over. ;)

[UniqueFrequency]

I got to talk to the 100 Bullets editor too. Nice segway into... Vol 9! Awesome read. This would make a perfect Pipeline Book Club when it finishes. I always re-read the last few before getting into a new trade. I've been going back as far as vol 5 mostly because "The Counterfifth Detective" is my fav so far, but vol 8 was insane (you learn the origin of the Trust) and the latest vol was just awesome.
)

i re-read all of 100B up till vol.8 recently and i'm gonna buy volume 9 soon. I love how 100B reads in trade! and the Counterfifth is one of my fave arcs as well!

[pmpknface]

Yeah, the 'Fifth may be the best because you could give that to anyone and not give them a word of advice and they'd be set. It has everything that makes the series great and, although it is just a part of a HUGE story, it is a story within itself.

I couldn't believe the ending to vol 8 - :eek: And there are a few moments in vol 9 where you're all, "No friggin' way!!!" One thing I didn't like about vol. 9 (which is called Strychnine Lives) is that I felt the last issue could have been left out of this tpb and put in the next. It's a small quibble, but I just thought I'd mention it.

[torippu]

* BOMB QUEEN #4

Great ending to a darkly fun mini-series. Trade coming in July!


-Augie
Random Bomb Queen news can be found over on the Image Board (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?p=3087012#post3087012) courtesy of Jimmie Robinson. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming trade - 40 extra pages of stuff!

[pmpknface]

I almost bought Bomb Queen based on the premise and then on a few of the covers alone. By #2 I knew there was a tpb in my future and I'm glad I waited!

[De Carabas]

Thing #6
God, Slott packs alot into these issues! I wasn't paying attention to the page count, and thought I was coming to the end of the issue and then discovered I was at the halfway point. :D
Unfortunately, it was my least favorite issue so far, because of one thing: I dislike Kieron Dwyer's art. Always have and, if this issue is any indication, I always will. I don't think he's talentless or a hack; nothing of the sort. I just don't like his style. Not my cup o' tea, and it really kind of detracted from my enjoyment of this issue. :(

Superman #650
Action Comics #837
Superman #651
Action Comics #838
"Up, Up, and Away" pts. 1-4
I loved them! I'm honestly excited about Superman again. I like not just the focus on Clark, but on Metropolis itself. Busiek is making the city seem real and a part of the story, much like Robinson did with Opal City in Starman. Oh, and Pete Woods is The Man!
AC #838 also sports my favorite cover of the month.

Checkmate #1
No surprise here, but I liked it. Metahumans + Espionage = :D Eric
Like Thing, I will say that the art is not for me.
Trip, I thought Fire's face showed that she really wasn't happy with the order, but was following it out of a sense of "the greater good", which seems to be the theme of the first issue. Of course, this is the opinion of someone who never read Giffen & DeMatteis Justice League.

There's more, but I should really try and get some work done.

EM