What Did You Read? May 10, 2006

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I didn't make it to the comics shop last week so I only just picked up CIVIL WAR #1 last night.

Ouch. The review I did of the book last week was from a PDF file sent over by Marvel. The print copy is not nearly as pretty looking. Once again, everything printed out too darkly, and almost muddy-looking. I think if I had read this book in its print format first, instead of PDF, I'd have had a completely different review of the art for it.

This might be the best argument for the digital distribution of comics: modern computer coloring techniques. They're beautiful on the screen. They're too often completely lost in print.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

How much of the "darker" look do you think was done on purpose? Do you think the colorist (I forget who did CW) is somewhere kicking him (or her) self or do you think they are pleased with it?

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I'll have to give this a thorough look when I get home tonight, but it's an interesting mix of color changes. I happen to have CIVIL WAR #1 with me at work today, so I can glance over a couple of quick pages -- but dare not push it past that. . .

The blues sink into the page. But the oranges (Thing's hide) look much brighter on the page. Skin tones pop a little more, but the darker colors sink into the page. It looks like some things were either recolored between PDF and printed page, or the printing process changed them completely. Luke Cage's pants in the open two page spread, for example, look blue on the PDF, but are grey/brown on the printed page. On the same page, Cap's colors are brighter and pop more. They're not neon, mind you, but they do separate themselves from the background browns and grays much better.

I need to look into this more. The reds are popping, the blues are sunken.

I don't think these are changes the colorist meant to happen, though.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

HHhhhhhmmmmmmmmm..........

....the plot thickens.... :rolleyes:

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Read WOLVERINE: ORIGINS & ENDINGS tonight. Took about 10 minutes, 15 tops. Wow.

It's bad enough to pay the full $20 price for a book that only has five issues in it instead of five, but when each averages about ten words per page, it really stretches my patience. There is an entire page dedicated to someone answering the phone, for instance. The art is nice and the writing is a nice teaser, but a teaser shouldn't last five issues. Daniel Way gives the reader something to chew on in the last two issues, but it's too little, too late.

Saltares and Texeira's art works today as well, if not better, than it did on GHOST RIDER lo those many moons ago. That was nicely done.

But I have to join the anti-deconstructionist bandwagon for this book.

-Augie

[Maukingbird]

52: I LOVE BOOSTER GOLD SO MUCH!!! :D

And Skeets!

Great first issue just giving the slightest hint as to where they'll be going at the start of this series and totally whetting my appetite!

I'm sure Booster and The Question will remain my favorites throughout! Then again, there's still 51 issues to go and who knows where stories and characters will turn! ^_^

[CURSD BLADE]

It was a slow week for me with only eight books (its quite painful on my wallet when eight books is what I consider as a "light week"), so I spoiled myself with a TPB.

1) She-Hulk #7---Dan Slott is the perfect escape to all the 'decompressed, grim 'n gritty, realistic, deconstructionist, crossover' workt hat is being done in comics today. I like the current atmosphere of mainstream comics, however I like to get something different, and this title, much like The Thing and Marvel Team-Up are just the thing. Light, hilarious end to the two-parter dealing with Starfox's sexual harassment suit.

2) X-Men: Deadly Genesis #6---Being relatively young (19), I never grew up on Claremont continuity, thus I wasn't all that upset at the retcon done in this mini (nor do I get upset at retcons period-they are needed IMO). However, I did feel this mini was paded out too long and could have been done in four issues. Still, #6 was a nice wrap-up with strong character moments. Bru really understands the dramatic tension that makes this team so interesting. Hairsine's art was suffering though, due to being paired with an inker.

3) American Virgin #3---My favorite non-superhero title, #3 further added to the testing of Adam's faith as we begin to see his perfect life and religious resolve begin to crumble around him. Not much happened in the issue but there were so major revelations in regards to his GF's death and a possible affair on her part. Great Becky Cloonan art and an intelligent look at the relationship between sexuality, violence, and religion by Steven Seagle.

4) Captain Atom: Armageddon #8---This mini had been consistently great. The issue was basically an extended fight scene between Grifter & Captain Atom and Apollo & Midnighter of The Authority. Still had some nice character moments and plot advancement, and Camuncoli's art was just stunning. This mini has definitely done a great job of displaying the differences between the more reality-based and grim WSU and the charming, wonder-filled DCU.

5) 52 #1---Won't read it until I get all four of the first issues together. I know its not meant to be read that way, but I want large chunks of this together.

6) Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #25---nice, old-school, sci-fi superhero fun with Firestorm facing off against the genious pairing of Mr. Freeze and Killer Frost. Stuart Moore is great with crafting nuances between characters, and the scientific descriptions of how FS and Frost's powers work were great. The team up between two villains of similar powers was a nice harkening back to old-school superhero titles. Batman's cameo was also nicely done.

7) Nightwing #120---Dick awkwardly struts down a catwalk and Jason moves in on Nigthwing's girl in Bruce Jones' latest attempt at turning this title into a superhero sitcom. Sloppy, oddly colored art and a grossly mischaracterization of the title character turns this title into a joke.

8) Superman #652---This is the best Superman tale I have read in years (granted I have only been reading comics regularly since 2002). Busiek and Johns capture the classic, iconic feel of the characters while giving it a contemporary twist by actually grounding the character of Clark Kent. A newly repowered Superman takes on five villains hired by Intergang to take him out, and Lex Luthor's grand scheme is revealed. Touching moment between Lois and Clark in the beginning and the panel where Jimmy Olsen smiles upon seeing Superman back almost brought a tear to my eye. Pete Woods' pencils just get better with each issue.

9) I Can't Believe It's Not The Justice League TPB---I was born the year the Giffen/DeMatties/Maguire Justice League launched, so I missed the boat. I finally got around to picking up the (only) TPB of their initial run and loved it so much, I ran back to the comic shop that day and picked up Formerly Known As..., again it so I picked up last year's sequel. Giffen and DeMatties' focus on the character interaction and their relationships with each other, mostly with a humorous spin, is the heart of these tales, with the plots just being a springboard for the next gag...and I love it. Its the antithesis of Grant Morrison's plot-driven, high concept oriented JLA run, which I liked but sorely missed charactization. The B-List team deal with Guy Gardner and an ex-C List villain open a bar next door to the old-JL's new headquarters and hijinks and hilarity ensue. Very wordy, but never a problem with "The Master of Talking-Head Panels" Kevin Maguire, who has a mastery over the facial expression of characters, often using their expressions to aid in the selling of a gag. I sooooooooooo highly recommend this, especially to those who are a bit burned out of the current climate of the DCU.

[torippu]

7) Nightwing #120---Dick awkwardly struts down a catwalk and Jason moves in on Nigthwing's girl in Bruce Jones' latest attempt at turning this title into a superhero sitcom. Sloppy, oddly colored art and a grossly mischaracterization of the title character turns this title into a joke.

And this is the exact reason why my Nightwing run just ended at 119 issues and it was removed from my pull list. I flipped through the issue and the art/coloring looked absolutely horrible - and that's saying a lot because I couldn't stand the Trevor McCarthy experiment near the end of Dixon's run!

For now, the current status quo for this book is nothing that interests me in the slightest. I know it's a pipe dream, but I'm holding out hope that someone at DC will realize their mistake, throws boatloads of $$$ Chuck Dixon's way and have him come in and right the ship. This book is a mess! And if he drags along Rick Leonardi as the penciler, you won't hear a peep of complaint outta me! :D



Here is what I read this week:
52 Week 1 - Decent introductory issue. The Joe Bennett art was solid, although not as good as I remember it being in BOP. A result of the Giffen breakdowns? Different inker? Deadline pressure? Of the ongoing storylines, I'm most interested in the Booster Gold & Steel ones. If the majority of my comic collection wasn't back at my folks house in Georgia, I'd probably be flipping through my JLI and Reign of the Supermen issues right now.

Ex Machina #20 - With this issue, I have decided that I'm going to transition to trades going forward. I think that BKV reads better in large chunks.

Trip

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Trip - I think Rick Leonardi is scheduled to be at the comic convention this weekend. I'll have to ask him about what he's working on. . . Now, if only some DC editors would be there, too. heh heh

-Augie

[dancj]

For me...

Lucifer vol 8 - The Wolf Beneath the Tree - Okay, but hardly vintage Lucifer. I picked up volume 9 and the convention on Saturday, so hopefully it'll improve.
Exit (Nabiel Kanan) - Annoying poetry (but so is all poetry except Spike Milligan), good story, sublime art. It fell apart on me, but from what I gather all copies of this book do.
Desperadoes: Banners of Gold - Decent enough cowboy stuff
Hellblazer: The Horrorist - Dissapointing old Hellblazer story.

[torippu]

In addition to my monthly books, I've read this as well:

The Walking Dead Omnibus, Vol. 1 - I get the monthly book, but decided that I couldn't pass up having TWD in the oversized format. I am so glad that I plunked down the $$$ for this book as I think that TWD reads better in arcs. It's a shame that I'm going to have to wait 2+ years for the next volume.

100 Bullets Vol. 1 ~ 5 - trying to catch up on this series. The last book that I had read was the Counterfifth Detective so I'm a good 2~3 years behind. Reading this book in one sitting (as opposed to months apart) has helped me keep all of the major players apart and what their role is in the conspiracy (ok, I'lll admit, I'm keeping a cheat sheet this time around). I never noticed the change in colorists to Patricia Mulvihill before, but the book definitely looks more vibrant now that she's on board. Can't wait to get home today and start in on Vol. 6!

[pmpknface]

100 Bullets Vol. 1 ~ 5 - trying to catch up on this series. The last book that I had read was the Counterfifth Detective so I'm a good 2~3 years behind. Reading this book in one sitting (as opposed to months apart) has helped me keep all of the major players apart and what their role is in the conspiracy (ok, I'lll admit, I'm keeping a cheat sheet this time around). I never noticed the change in colorists to Patricia Mulvihill before, but the book definitely looks more vibrant now that she's on board. Can't wait to get home today and start in on Vol. 6!

Really? That's cool! We should start a 100 Bullets thread and you could put some of your notes in there for us! (See how I volunteered you for that?) :D

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Someone would have to post a cheat sheet to get me back to the book. I've read the first five trades a couple of times now, and I just get more and more lost the more I try to figure out what's going on. ::sigh::

The series started out so strong, and then crumbled (to my eye) under the weight of the conspiracy and mythology.

-Augie

[torippu]

Really? That's cool! We should start a 100 Bullets thread and you could put some of your notes in there for us! (See how I volunteered you for that?) :D
Actually, it's not all that exciting. Kind of looks like this (but scratched onto a piece of paper):

Trust ---> Megan Dietrich, Benito/Augustus Medici

Mr. Shepard (liasion)

Minutemen ---> Agent Graves, Lono, Cole Burns

Received attache:
Dizzy Cordova
Mr. Branch
Loop Hughes
Milo Garrett

Wylie Times - not sure I'll see him again.

For me, I'm still a little confused about what both Agent Graves and Mr. Shepard's agendas are. For example, I thought that Graves was recruiting Dizzy to be a Minuteman, but then she shows up in Paris at the behest of Mr. Shepard and then is down in Texas with Shepard. Graves and Shepard aren't working together, right? If I've read through Vol. 5, has this already been explained (and I just completely missed it)?

[pmpknface]

This is my opinion....

The series thru the first 5 or 6 volumes is all about "waking up" the Minutemen. Most of the details ARE fuzzy, but they slowly get filled in later. After that most of the players are on the board so the agenda start flying and the $hit really hits the fan.

No, they aren't working togather. And Dizzy is a Minuteman in training. (Yes, I'm trying to be a little cryptic here.)

I know Promethea was gonna be next, but anyone up for a 100 Bullets book club or is it too early?

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Here's my stupid admission: I had a hard time keeping Shephard and Grave separate. I'm an idiot, but it confused me just enough to be annoying.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

HA! That's one of the reasons I've re-read the early vol's so many times. I found a GREAT fansite (http://www.100bullets.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/100bullets.htm)that recaps the "premise" quite well (although I'd stay away if you aren't up to date and are afraid of spoilers):

Much has been said of 100 Bullets, crime fiction, espionage thriller, conspiracy theory. 'Gritty' is a word that's used, as is 'Noir'. It is very dark, and mysterious. Dark because that's how it's drawn, mysterious because, although there's a big picture, we haven't seen it all, though there have been glimpses of it. All stories need a premise, and the basis of 100 Bullets is excellent. The wider picture becomes evident as the series develops, as suited up, gnarly old bastard Agent Graves approaches ordinary citizens who's lives have hit rock bottom and offers them an opportunity to exact revenge on the person, or persons, that ruined them. He gives his clients an attaché case containing irrefutable proof of the deed, a gun, and 100 bullets. These bullets will never be traced. He guarantees his clients carte blanche for all of their actions, including murder. Any investigation will be dropped once the bullets are recovered. This poses a few questions. Who is Agent Graves? Agent of what? A Government? The Secret Service? The FBI? We don't know, but we do find out that he's no agent of any recognised Agency. Why does he pick these seemingly random people, to give them a gun and the chance to even the score? Again, no idea, as some cases seem to have a higher purpose, but some appear almost meaningless.

Throughout the series we learn a little at a time about Agent Graves, his counterpart Mr. Shepherd, the mysterious Minutemen and the all powerful Trust. We see the beginnings of a significant incident in Atlantic City, but we don't know who it involves or why it happened. Seemingly worthless characters hang around the periphery of the story, awaiting their moment with the attaché case. Former allies of Graves and Shepard are introduced, and occasionally get themselves killed. The relationship between Graves and Shepherd is never transparent, but what we do know is that the Trust, a syndicate of thirteen families, created the Minutemen to police their actions, and then betrayed them when they felt that they were no longer useful. Graves, as head of the Minutemen, wants revenge for this. Shepard is seemingly an agent of the Trust and therefore an enemy, but is the reason Graves is still alive. Not all of the Minutemen are gone though. They lead hidden lives as 'sleeper agents', awaiting a post hypnotic keyword to wake them from their inactivity. Double-crosses are many, mystery follows the main protagonists around. Betrayal and death feature heavily. Through it all, the theme of the attaché case and Agent Graves remain the only constant, and even then, you have to doubt his motives.