Cooooooooooomiiiiiiiiiiiiics! (2/7)

[Jack Zodiac]

What'd you guys get this week? I had a pretty friggin' big stack to look forward to.

First of all, the minute I got into the store, I made sure Mel (my comic guy) put a copy of Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil. For whatever reason, he only ordered enough for everyone who added it to their pull list and a handful for the wall (and I got in there an hour before he closed and he only had two left). This book was fuckin' worth the five or six years we've been waiting for it.

Awesome, absolutely incredible art by Jeff Smith, and perfect writing, perfect characterization, and a perfect balance between drama and comedy. Everything about it was great and did justice to Captain Marvel- more than anyone has in years. If you don't hate comics, you'll read it. If you don't read it, you hate comics. And freedom. And America!

I also picked up the Action Comics Annual, which was cool as hell. It had a "Lost Tales of Krypton" story, a Bizarro story, gave a look into what Lex has been up to since he's gone all mad scientist again, reintroduced Mon-El, Superman's "brother," and brought back the rainbow of kryptonite from the Silver Age.

And jammed every motherfucking color into Metallo! How goddamn cool is that?

Still have a lot of books to read through, though. Lookin' forward to The Atom and Ms. Marvel, and the new Punisher. Oh! And Lone Ranger and The Other Side.

What'd you get this week?

[StoneGold]

Isanove on Lee=how God would draw.

[Sparda]

Fell 5-7
Ultimate spider-man 105
Incredible Hulk 103
Uncanny X-Men shiar arc part 9
Spider-man Reign 3
Friendly Neiborhood spidey back in black issue
Bullet Points 4
Wolverine 50 (in color cause I got the varient without knowing it was in BW)
Welcome to Tranquility 3
Midnighter 4
Sam Noir Ronin Holiday 1
X-23 Target X 3
New Avenger's 27


Spent 41 bucks this week. But those issues of comic were worth it. If I had to choose which of the comics out of my stack that I've like the most it would be Spider-man Reign and 2nd is Ultimate spidey.

Make mine marvel :)

Still gotta get scalped 2 next week though.

[Chris Nowlin]

Haven't been yet. Wednesday is the one day I week I don't have time to go to the store. And today I was too lazy to leave the house.

But I will get:

Shazam!

52
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
New Avengers (but boy am I close to dropping it)
Spider-Man and Power Pack
Spider-Man Reign
Ultimate Spider-Man
Uncanny X-Men
X-Men annual 1

[StoneGold]

Spent 41 bucks this week. But those issues of comic were worth it. If I had to choose which of the comics out of my stack that I've like the most it would be Spider-man Reign and 2nd is Ultimate spidey.

Make mine marvel :)

Still gotta get scalped 2 next week though.

Man, Kaare Andrews makes Frank Miller look positively tasteful in comparison. DKR was nine kinds of fucked up, but in Reign, changing clothes in the coffin of your dead wife whom you killed with your radioactive splooge...

[Sean Whitmore]

Lots of good stuff this week. Or, since we're all raising our game here, some good stuff and a lot of stuff I just liked. :) Shazam, Spider-Man Reign, Fell, Action Comics Annual...I even liked New Avengers.

The fact that both Shazam and X-Men: Warsong hit the stands this week is utterly bizarre. They are on such opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of quality that it's hard to believe they're in the same genre. Hell, it's hard to believe they're in the same medium.

It's like comparing a car to those shoes with the wheels in the heels.


SEAN

[Jack Zodiac]

Has Spider-Man: Reign really been that great? I heard someone say it was "Spider-Man's Dark Knight Returns," but couldn't figure if that'd be a good or bad thing. How long is it and how long before it's out in a trade?

[Sean Whitmore]

Has Spider-Man: Reign really been that great? I heard someone say it was "Spider-Man's Dark Knight Returns," but couldn't figure if that'd be a good or bad thing. How long is it and how long before it's out in a trade?

It's only 4 issues and it's on #3 now, so I'd expect a trade come May. (I expect a LOT of Spidey trades come May)

I'm gonna cheat here and say that I don't know if I'd consider it good. I'd have to go back and reread it with a more critical eye. What it is is gloriously insane, and for me, that works.


SEAN

[Chris Nowlin]

Has Spider-Man: Reign really been that great? I heard someone say it was "Spider-Man's Dark Knight Returns," but couldn't figure if that'd be a good or bad thing. How long is it and how long before it's out in a trade?

4 issue mini. Issue 3 just came out.

I'll give you an opinion when it's done.

I can't tell if it's good or bad either. It takes several pages from DKR. But it may kinda do its own thing to. We'll see.

It's weird and fucked up, though. But the trade won't be good. You need the recalled copy of the first issue where you get to see Spider-Man's package.

[Sean Whitmore]

It's weird and fucked up, though. But the trade won't be good. You need the recalled copy of the first issue where you get to see Spider-Man's package.

Hell, that should just be the trade's cover.


SEAN

[Jack Zodiac]

I'm gonna cheat here and say that I don't know if I'd consider it good. I'd have to go back and reread it with a more critical eye. What it is is gloriously insane, and for me, that works.

Gloriously insane... like Nextwave? Or gloriously insane... like Marvel Zombies? Or somewhere in between?

It's weird and fucked up, though. But the trade won't be good. You need the recalled copy of the first issue where you get to see Spider-Man's package.

Awww, fuck! I missed some Spider-dong? Goddamnit!

[Sean Whitmore]

Gloriously insane... like Nextwave? Or gloriously insane... like Marvel Zombies? Or somewhere in between?

Huh, good question. I think Zombies is the better comparison, in that it's more "Cap's head got chopped off" insane than "MODOK Elvis" insane.


SEAN

[Jack Zodiac]

Yeah, I doubt anything can be near the insanity of Nextwave. I'll check it out!

[Expletive Deleted]

FELL was pretty and had some fun narration. The plot, however, was lamer than lame. It's not a "twist" if it's something anyone who's seen an episode of LAW & ORDER can see coming.

ASTRO CITY was okay, although I'm getting a little bored with the main characters. I realize that part of the book's appeal is the "normal person" POV, but neither of them is all that interesting.

MIDNIGHTER was fun. I mean, Garth Ennis loves him some Nazi-killin'.

I can't really say anything about SHAZAM that hasn't already been said, so I'll just say it was excellent and leave it at that.

NEW AVENGERS . . . I really don't get what Bendis sees in Echo. That said, it looks like it'll be a fun lineup once everything's up and running and all this CIVIL WAR crap is over with.

Larocca's "casting" aside, newuniversal is starting to get interesting. I'll understand perfectly if it doesn't appeal to anyone else (New Universe + bad art + Warren Ellis = . . . ), but I'm really enjoying it.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN was more of the same. And I mean that as a good thing. The "Clone Saga" storyline was surprisingly entertaining, and this was a nice epilogue for it.

[Sean Whitmore]

FELL was pretty and had some fun narration. The plot, however, was lamer than lame. It's not a "twist" if it's something anyone who's seen an episode of LAW & ORDER can see coming.

I saw it coming, but I was more fascinated by the fact that Fell DIDN'T see it coming. That panel when it finally dawned on him, after he'd been so arrogant up till that point...priceless.

NEW AVENGERS . . . I really don't get what Bendis sees in Echo.

Me neither. Does he owe David Mack a favor or something?


SEAN

[Jack Zodiac]

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN was more of the same. And I mean that as a good thing. The "Clone Saga" storyline was surprisingly entertaining, and this was a nice epilogue for it.

I liked it. Really, it's one of the few books Bendis has been writing consistently well lately. Great ending, though, and I wanna' see where they take the new "Werewolf by Night" ideas.

[Expletive Deleted]

I saw it coming, but I was more fascinated by the fact that Fell DIDN'T see it coming. That panel when it finally dawned on him, after he'd been so arrogant up till that point...priceless.I get that that was the intended effect, but it rang false for me. The character is supposed to be arrogant enough to do something stupid, but this was just too stupid.

If he'd let something slip and the lawyer had pounced on it, that I would've bought. But for him to spill everything, at length and in detail, and then be shocked when it's pointed out that said explanation is somewhat exculpatory . . . Fell just came off like an idiot.

[Guitar Hero]

I haven't read the titles i bought today, but let me know what you think about em'!

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #1 (sounded like a good series)
Annual X-Men (the ANNUAL!)
Ultimate Power #1 (looks like an interesting read)
The New Avengers #27 (last issue was terrible, hope this one picks up)
Uncanny X-Men #483 (big fan of Uncanny, but i've been disappointed by the Shi'ar saga so far, maybe it'll pick up)
The Incredible Hulk #103 (i'm reading this one first, big fan of Planet Hulk)

[Jack Zodiac]

Did The Gunslinger already come out?

[Lex]

The awesomeness of Jeff Smith's Shazam! eclipsed everything else I bought... so much so that I can't recall what else I bought.

[Jack Zodiac]

It's true. Everything I read today, I though, "Man, this was good... but it wasn't any Monster Society of Evil."

This week's Atom, by the way, was incredibly fun. It had bisected scientists, superhero wars, time travel, and plenty of clacking. I love this book.

[StoneGold]

Did The Gunslinger already come out?

Yes. Hence my saying that Isanove's colors over Jae Lee's pencils looking as pretty as high class lesbian porn.

[Fabian]

I just bought trades. It's been awhile since I actually dove back into comics since I don't have as many Cronin and CBR-snob recommendations to guide me through the filth. I bought: Fables Vol 8 Wolves, Jack of Fables, 1001 Nights of Snowfall, Y: The Last Man Vol 8 Kimono Dragons, and New Xmen Omnibus

[howyadoin]

Lots of Westerns this week, relatively speaking - Jonah Hex, Desperadoes, Lone Ranger, Loveless, and I guess you could count The Dark Tower.

I've given up on Loveless, but mainly because Azzarello's writing has become so stylized it's almost impossible to read. Despite that, it's just cool to see a Western mini-revival.

[Nikita]

I've actually been looking at some of my old Preview catalogs to see what I was interested in six months ago but never bought. I'm SO glad I got rid of the Micheal Turner stuff and Firestorm series. Now I have more money for graphic novels and trades and that's where I'm focusing my energies.

I'm actually interested in getting all the trades for a few series. I'll list em' when I get em'!

[jessecuster3]

This was a hell of a week. I really don't buy individual issues any more but this week has begun the resurgence.


Shazam - exactly as great as every one said.
Fell - I love this series so much and this was a decent issue, I was a bit disappointed that all we got was some crazy preview by a writer i do not know, instead of good Ellis ramblings.
Midnighter - Thus begins my Ennis haul for the week, he's a great character and between the children and getting drunk with the "time cop" this was just plain fun
Ghost Rider Trail Of Tears - I know next to nothing about the character but Ennis was writing and the art was fantastic, why has noone told me about Clayton Crain?
Dark Tower - I have not read this yet, I never read King's books so this should be fun for me, it just looked a little intense to start reading when I tried.



I also bought Seven Soldiers Vol 4, because my store was out last week and I got DMZ book 2 I want to see where this one goes.

[General Grievous]

52-40
Shazam the monster
nightwing
sargon the sorceror
action comics annual
hyperion vs. nighthawk
detective comics
outsiders
mystery in space
midnigher
welcome to tranquility

[Justin Davis]

For a couple months, I regularly picked up numerous prose and graphic novels at Half-Priced Books, eBay, and a local comic shop. I have a shelf of unread books. Everything from the complete trade set of Sleeper (http://www.amazon.com/Sleeper-Vol-1-Out-Cold/dp/1401201156/sr=1-1/qid=1171045421/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7393272-1703363?ie=UTF8&s=books)to Anansi Boys (http://www.amazon.com/Anansi-Boys-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060515198/sr=1-2/qid=1171045523/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-7393272-1703363?ie=UTF8&s=books) to Shuck Unmasked (http://www.amazon.com/Shuck-Unmasked-Rick-Smith/dp/1891830473/sr=8-1/qid=1171045121/ref=sr_1_1/102-7393272-1703363?ie=UTF8&s=books) to Tupelo: The World's Forgotten Boy (http://www.amazon.com/Tupelo-Worlds-Forgotten-Matt-DeGennaro/dp/0943151937/sr=1-1/qid=1171045450/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7393272-1703363?ie=UTF8&s=books) to David Sedaris’ Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (http://www.amazon.com/Dress-Your-Family-Corduroy-Denim/dp/0316010790/sr=8-7/qid=1171045064/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7/102-7393272-1703363?ie=UTF8&s=books). I told myself I wouldn’t buy another book (that includes prose novels, graphic novels, and comic books) until I read all the ones I have now. The only one I think it’ll be fair to cheat on that promise with is the David Sedaris book because it’s a book full of individual stories and essays.

I think I’m going through withdrawl.

[Jack Zodiac]

Yes. Hence my saying that Isanove's colors over Jae Lee's pencils looking as pretty as high class lesbian porn.

Fuckin' Mel... I swear, it's like he purposely avoids good books sometimes. He never ordered a single issue of The Boys, and now he skipped over Dark Tower. I'm gonna' have to hit the other store again this week.

Lots of Westerns this week, relatively speaking - Jonah Hex, Desperadoes, Lone Ranger, Loveless, and I guess you could count The Dark Tower.

I've given up on Loveless, but mainly because Azzarello's writing has become so stylized it's almost impossible to read. Despite that, it's just cool to see a Western mini-revival.

This Lone Ranger was great. The art's been fantastic, the story's moving along nicely, the jokes about the previous incarnations of the Ranger are always fun. Rounding out to be an entertaining book.

Midnighter - Thus begins my Ennis haul for the week, he's a great character and between the children and getting drunk with the "time cop" this was just plain fun

The whole run's been hilarious. Midnighter's fight with the time cops in the last issue was a blast, especially when he rolled out that WWII artillery cannon on their futuristic tank. And this issue was great, between the kids and the scene in the bunker, and him getting buzzed on Nazi brandy with Bonnie. Good stuff.

Ghost Rider Trail Of Tears - I know next to nothing about the character but Ennis was writing and the art was fantastic, why has noone told me about Clayton Crain?

Isn't it great? He did the art on the Road to Damnation mini-series that preceeded Way's relaunch of the series. Ennis wrote it, too, and it was great- much better than the ongoing. This one looks interesting as hell. The art was perfect, the story was intriguing, and I liked the relationship between the two main characters. Can't wait to see where Ennis goes with the idea of Zarathos being some kind of African god, and how this Western version of Ghost Rider compares to the original Western version.

[K'Nort]

Best book of the week
Shazam

Awesomeness
Jonah Hex
Lone Ranger
Wormwood Gentleman Corpse

Still good
Astro City
Mystery in Space
Sargon the Sorceror

Why am I doing this to myself?
52
Outsiders


The art on Sargon seemed to be trying to look like Jae Lee. It wasn't particularly good, but I appreciate the effort. It's a look/trend I really like.

[Winslow]

I'm a trade reader, and don't get any monthlies.

The accolades for Shazam are wearing me down a little.

I've also put off All-Star Superman.

Yes, I'm killing "the industry."

[K'Nort]

I'm a trade reader, and don't get any monthlies.

The accolades for Shazam are wearing me down a little.

I've also put off All-Star Superman.

Yes, I'm killing "the industry."

Well if you pick up the All-Star Superman hardcover, I'm sure the industry will forgive you.

I would find the hardcover-first trend very frustrating if I were a trades person.

[Winslow]

Well if you pick up the All-Star Superman hardcover, I'm sure the industry will forgive you.

I would find the hardcover-first trend very frustrating if I were a trades person.

I've bought very few hard covers. I just wait a little longer.

I don't go to the shop much . . so compulsive buys are kept in check.

[darkkeeperjr]

I'm not picking up any books till the ultimates come out. I'll have a nice stack at the store by then.

[Nikita]

Lots of Westerns this week, relatively speaking - Jonah Hex, Desperadoes, Lone Ranger, Loveless, and I guess you could count The Dark Tower.

I've given up on Loveless, but mainly because Azzarello's writing has become so stylized it's almost impossible to read. Despite that, it's just cool to see a Western mini-revival.



That series looks really good. I've been thinking about getting it myself. I'm not much of a Western fat but I might make an exception for Jonah Hex.

[Jack Zodiac]

The art on Sargon seemed to be trying to look like Jae Lee. It wasn't particularly good, but I appreciate the effort. It's a look/trend I really like.

Scott Hampton's art is pretty static. His inking may have played up similarities to Jae Lee, though, 'cause this did look a little different than some of his more recent work. Still, all in all, decent art, and it fit Niles' story well.

And how about Steve Niles? His recent jump into mainstream comics, hero comics no less, has been pretty damn good. Gotham County Line wasn't all that great, but I though his The Creeper mini-series was seven kinds of awesome, with some kickass art from Justiniano.

And Winslow... if you don't pick up The Monster Society of Evil, you're not just killing comics... you're killing freedom, and by association America!

[StoneGold]

The art on Sargon seemed to be trying to look like Jae Lee. It wasn't particularly good, but I appreciate the effort. It's a look/trend I really like.

OK, but then you've got real Jae Lee, colored by Isanove. This very week. So why bother with imitators?

[Winslow]

And Winslow... if you don't pick up The Monster Society of Evil, you're not just killing comics... you're killing freedom, and by association America!

I thought I was already doing that by being a registered Democrat.

Ok, Ok, I'll go to the shop on Monday . . don't twist my arm anymore . . .

[Gene M.]

All I picked up this week was the Batman: Year 100 trade. Loves me some Paul Pope comics, and I especially loves me some Paul Pope Batman. The inclusion of the sketch book pages and notes, as well as the "Berlin Batman" story Pope did in '97 was a nice touch.

[K'Nort]

And how about Steve Niles? His recent jump into mainstream comics, hero comics no less, has been pretty damn good. Gotham County Line wasn't all that great, but I though his The Creeper mini-series was seven kinds of awesome, with some kickass art from Justiniano.

Creeper was fun. And I've been a Cal McDonald fan for quite a while.

OK, but then you've got real Jae Lee, colored by Isanove. This very week. So why bother with imitators?

Because it's Stephen King?

[Jack Zodiac]

Creeper was fun. And I've been a Cal McDonald fan for quite a while.

I loved all of Niles' IDW and Dark Horse work, and what he did with The Creeper was great- an awesome blend of horror and superheroics. Hope we get to see more of him.