Pipeline #538

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

This week:

* A review of Comic Book Lover, the ultimate digital comics reading application. Only for the Mac.
* My review of Greg Rucka's new novel, PATRIOT ACTS.
* Image's STEVE NILES' STRANGE CASES #1.
* Various thoughts on other recent comics, including CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE CHOSEN #2, CRIMINAL #9, and BAD PLANET #3.

Next week: Buying digital comics.

-Augie

[torippu]

This week:

* My review of Greg Rucka's new novel, PATRIOT ACTS.

-Augie

Interested to see what you have to say about it. For the time being, I think that I have decided to wait for the MMPB.

[Hoss]

Spoilers about Patriot Acts












I really enjoyed the way Atticus struggled with killing the (was he a lawyer?) in the end of the last novel in the series. It nicely showed Atticus wrestling with the morality of his actions. One of my favorite things about the Kodiak novels is that Atticus and crew have always had to deal with the fall out of their choices.

Patriot Games has Atticus making the leap to becoming an assassin. And not only an assassin, but one who is willing to kill a good man (a willing accomplice to his own death) just so he can get close enough to kill a target. I truly hope that this isn't the new direction of the character. I hope that Rucka is setting up Atticus for a devastating character fall. Similar to the female PI who spiraled back into addiction in order to solve a crime a few books back.

Auggie compared the new Atticus to Jason Bourne and that seems apt. And really, Rucka has already given us Tara Chace. While I'll stick with this character change because I'm a reader of habit, I'd much prefer if it weren't permanent.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I was also concerned that the usual favored political causes weren't included in the book, until the last third of the book added in a thinly-disguised Halliburton stand in to be picked apart and made evil. So close, and yet so far. ..

You are kidding aren't you Augie?

I know your too the right in political thinking, but honestly, even you must know that one doesn't have to pick apart and 'make' halliuburton evil - they simply are.
(Of course I reject Dikto like ideas of ultimate good and evil, but they are a corporation who has shown, repeatedly, that they will do anything to make a buck, and do not recognise the law of the land - like many other companies. Unfortunately for them, in one sense, they used to employ your VP, and he likes to throw a lot of work their way, so the 'evil' they do is reported on quite a lot, and as such, makes it's way into popular culture.
But to accuse the author of politicizing his work to portray them as bad, that's just willful ignorance - to make them anything less would require a mass rewrite of their current practices.)

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I'm not going to get into a long political discussion here, but there are two sides to every story. Sadly, you've read only the one the mainstream media the left wing blogosphere has chosen to run with.

I've read both.

Halliburton is one of those straw men that've been created for certain factions to take pot shots at. I'm not saying I'll defend everything, but it's hardly to overwhelming one-sided thing that one would walk away with from reading The Usual Suspects.

-Augie

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I'm not going to get into a long political discussion here, but there are two sides to every story. Sadly, you've read only the one the mainstream media the left wing blogosphere has chosen to run with.

I've read both.

Halliburton is one of those straw men that've been created for certain factions to take pot shots at. I'm not saying I'll defend everything, but it's hardly to overwhelming one-sided thing that one would walk away with from reading The Usual Suspects.

-Augie

Where did you read both?

The right-wing blogoshpere?

FOX news?

(oh and it's just the 'mainstream' American media, it's the international media as well - media can get biased, and ignore things for too long, but when everyone is reporting on it, and no one's gotten sued...)

As for a strawman that was created... rubbish - there's nothing strawman about them when showing what's wrong with the current American mindset. Their old boss, an elected official, gives them no bid contracts, paid for by tax-payer money, on areas outside their specialty (heck, on damn near everything), they were/are involved in a heck of a lot of scandals in Iraq, who their old boss helps sweep away, and they've moved head offices to Dubai - home of the most trustworthy businesses in the world (Honest!).

Complaining about them being used as a villain in a novel, as it is unfair, is just playing ostrich.
Complaining because it's been done before/is getting old, I could believe, but other than that, I say fair game to Rucka!

Oh, you should totally read John Le Carre's 'Absolute Friends'.
Cracking spy novel, and with a third act that will send you insane!
(oddly though, it was written before Iraq even started - just as war on terror was starting - and it pretty much lays out what many see as happening today: the people in power set it all up, and are profiting in every way).

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I'm not getting into a political tussle.

And I didn't call it unfair. I just said that the author used one of his "favored political causes." In the past, it's been abortion clinics, the tobacco industry, and I'm blanking on the moment at who else. I was waiting to see which typical left-wing straw man was going to "get it" in this book. And there you have it -- Halliburton it was!

I'm surprised he hasn't done one against the oil industry, the financial markets, or the modern day classic straw man every good left-winger likes to beat up on, FOX News. And it's really funny to me that the Democrats are suddenly afraid of Rush Limbaugh again now, after years spent belitting him and saying that he has none of his audience or power anymore. (I thought they had moved on to Glenn Beck.) Now they can do Senate Resolutions. It's actually funny and pathetic all at the same time.

OK, I'm shutting up now before I venture off into other territories. . .

-Augie

[Lester C.]

1. Your review of Patriot Acts was spot on.

2. Are you the same Auggie that is a legendary Savage Dragon letter hack?

[dancj]

2. Are you the same Auggie that is a legendary Savage Dragon letter hack?
How did you get to 13,000 posts without knowing about that?

[Lester C.]

How did you get to 13,000 posts without knowing about that?

By mostly staying in Yabs and avoiding the columns. To be honest I only read the most recent one because I recognized Auggie's name from my recently acquired Savage Dragon collection.

[kevhines]

2. Are you the same Auggie that is a legendary Savage Dragon letter hack?

lucky for you the extra g is for good-natured!

[Lester C.]

lucky for you the extra g is for good-natured!

I'm sorry about misspelling Aguie's name. I should have double checked the spelling before accidentally insulting the man in his own forum. That said since he is an Erik Larsen fan he should be used to kind of thing by now.;)

[pmpknface]

As mentioned in this week's column, the previews podcast is delayed. However I thought I'd list what I'm getting and maybe point out a few items:

(remember, I get a few things from the shop already: ASM, Hulk, New Avengers, 2 core X books, Wolvie...)

# / Title / Retail / Disc / Price
38 Bags and boards per book for August books (with BCW ProBags and New Boards) $0.10 n/a $0.10
1 30 DAYS OF NIGHT BEYOND BARROW #2 $3.99 35% $2.59
1 AFTER THE CAPE II SEASONS IN CHANGE TP #1 *Special Discount* $2.99 50% $1.49
1 AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #14 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #1 *Special Discount* Limit 2 at 75% off $2.99 75% $0.74 - YES! It begins HERE!
1 AVENGERS INITIATIVE ANNUAL #1 $3.99 40% $2.39
1 BLACK PANTHER #32 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 BLACK SUMMER WRAP CVR #4(M) $2.99 35% $1.94
1 CABLE DEADPOOL #47 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 CAPTAIN AMERICA CHOSEN #4 $3.99 40% $2.39
1 CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 *Special Discount* Limit 2 at 75% off $2.99 75% $0.74 - If you don't get it now, at least tell me you're getting the HC.
1 CASANOVA #11(M) $1.99 40% $1.19
1 CONSTRICTOR MINI BUST $60.00 25% $45.00 - HELL YEAH!
1 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN PREM HC *Special Discount* $24.99 50% $12.49
1 DOKTOR SLEEPLESS WRAP CVR #5(M) $3.99 35% $2.59
1 FRANKLIN RICHARDS FALL FOOTBALL FIASCO $2.99 40% $1.79
1 HELLCAT MINI BUST $58.00 25% $43.50 - Oh yes!
1 HOWARD THE DUCK #2 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 IRON MAN DIRECTOR OF SHIELD ANNUAL #1 $3.99 40% $2.39
1 JACK KIRBYS GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS HC *Special Discount* $24.99 50% $12.49 - My Kirby Fascination continues. FYI - they are reprinting the JK Collector #1. Look in the Mag section.
1 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #39 $2.25 40% $1.35
1 MADAME MIRAGE #5 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 MARVEL ATLAS #1 *Special Discount* $3.99 50% $1.99 - SO psyched for this!
1 MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #3 $3.99 40% $2.39
1 MIGHTY AVENGERS #7 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 MOON KNIGHT ANNUAL #1 $3.99 40% $2.39
1 MS MARVEL #21 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI #5 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 NEW WARRIORS #6 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 NOVA #8 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 OMEGA FLIGHT ALPHA TO OMEGA TP *Special Discount* $13.99 50% $6.99
1 OMEGA UNKNOWN #2 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 PANTHEON VOL 1 WELCOME TO THE MACHINE TP $19.95 30% $13.96 - How did this Bill Willingham collection go so unnoticed!?!?!?!
1 PENANCE RELENTLESS #3 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 PREVIEWS VOL XVII #11 *Special Discount* Includes a FREE Marvel Previews * Limit 1 per customer $4.50 75% $1.12
1 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #13 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 SALVATION RUN #1 *Special Discount* Limit 2 at 75% off $2.99 75% $0.74 - I'll give it a shot.
1 SATCHEL PAIGE STRIKING OUT JIM CROW SC $9.99 25% $7.49 - Looks good, and I loves me some baseball!
1 SHE-HULK #23 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 SILVER SURFER IN THY NAME #1 *Special Discount* $2.99 50% $1.49
1 SPIDER-GIRL PRESENTS WILD THING CRASH COURSE DIGEST TP $7.99 40% $4.79
1 SUB-MARINER #6 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #5 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #47(M) $2.95 30% $2.07
1 THE ORDER #5 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 THOR #5 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 THUNDERBOLTS BREAKING POINT $2.99 40% $1.79
1 TREASURY VICTORIAN MURDER VOL 4 FATAL BULLET NEW PTG $9.95 30% $6.96 - One of the few I don't have. This and the Borden Tragedy one.
1 ULTIMATE ORIGINS #1 *Special Discount* $2.99 50% $1.49
1 Weekly shipping for August 2007 orders inside the US $8.00 n/a $8.00
1 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #19 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH $3.99 40% $2.39
1 X-FACTOR #25 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 X-MEN DIE BY THE SWORD #3 $2.99 40% $1.79
1 X-MEN EMPEROR VULCAN #3 $2.99 40% $1.79


Also - I was GOING to order the Captain Victory HC, but it's delayed. (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=131437)

[Hoss]

[QUOTE=Augie De Blieck Jr.;5574203] Now they can do Senate Resolutions. It's actually funny and pathetic all at the same time.

OK, I'm shutting up now before I venture off into other territories. . .

Almost as funny as the resolution against "the irrelevant, extremist at Moveon.org that don't have any support from anyone but George Soros"

It is kind of funny when the right tries to take the high ground on these kinds of things. Have the intellectual honesty to admit that both sides build straw men and use feigned outrage to score points. Your post make it seem like you actually believe that the right is somehow morally superior when it comes to political gamesmanship.*


*PS- This isn't a slight to your conservative views. It is a slight on what seems to be a fairly biased view of the political game. Come one - for every post against Fox there are a million attacks on CNN and the "liberal media elite." It is all Kabuki.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Hoss - I wasn't defending that resolution, either.

And, for what it's worth: I'm a conservative, not a Republican. There's a lot of things the Republicans have done in Washington in the last decade that royally piss me off, too. It's probably why I don't pay much attention to it anymore. My side has lost. The country slides further to the left every year, even when the Republicans are in charge. It doesn't matter anymore. And it's not like moving to Canada or the U.K. is an option -- they're already further down that road.

So, yeah, I skip the politics these days and enjoy tech and comics blogs. Sadly, those are dominated by people of the opposite political persuasion. ::sigh::

I'm doomed.

-Augie

[Hoss]

I didn't leave the Republican party, the Republican party left me.

Hey man, sometimes a crash is what is needed to get things back on track.

But the US has been trending to the left for alot more than the past 8 years. We've been trending to the left since 1932. The only real move we've made to the right has been lowering taxes. I can't think of any other move to the right. Especially since I don't buy that a strong national defense is a conservative issue. Heck, in 1972 Bob Dole was railing against the warmongers in the Democratic party because to that point the Dems had gotten us into every way we'd participated in in the 20th century.

Bush's neocon ideology has its roots firmly in the liberal school of thought and was born from folks who believe the liberal cause left them. The anti-war movement has more in common with Pat Buchanan/Ron Paul classic conservative isolationalism than with the historical Democratic/progressive movement.

Don't know why I just wrote all that. Maybe because I can relate to the feeling that my ideology isn't really reflected anywhere in DC.

[dancj]

The country slides further to the left every year, even when the Republicans are in charge.
I didn't leave the Republican party, the Republican party left me.
Wow! Speaking as a complete outsider with not that much knowledge I thought it was the opposite. Maybe what I'm really seeing is a slide towards the more authoritarian which of course isn't really a left/right thing at all.

Over here in Britain we've seen the Labour party (traditionally the left wing party) move to the right of the Liberal Democrats (traditionally the middle ground party) and snuggle up with the Tories.

[Hoss]

Wow! Speaking as a complete outsider with not that much knowledge I thought it was the opposite. Maybe what I'm really seeing is a slide towards the more authoritarian which of course isn't really a left/right thing at all.


I think you hit that dead on... Both parties in this country seem to have a strong belief in the right of government to control and micromanage our lives. The level of freedom that a fully emancipated American citizen enjoyed at the beginning of the 20th century has been greatly eroded over the past 100 years. I think many people believe that because we've made such substantive gains in equality that freedom has somehow increased. The opposite is true. Today, the average American believes that the government's job is to give/curb our rights instead of defending the freedom given to us by our creator.

I couldn't imagine frontiersmen willingly giving up their land so that a rich merhcant could build a supply depot near a railroad.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I'm not getting into a political tussle.

And I didn't call it unfair. I just said that the author used one of his "favored political causes." In the past, it's been abortion clinics, the tobacco industry, and I'm blanking on the moment at who else. I was waiting to see which typical left-wing straw man was going to "get it" in this book. And there you have it -- Halliburton it was!

Why are they all straw-men and why all left?

I'm surprised he hasn't done one against the oil industry, the financial markets, or the modern day classic straw man every good left-winger likes to beat up on, FOX News.

Well to be fair, a left-wing person beating up on FOX News is just self-defence - that's one right wing agenda driven channel.


And it's really funny to me that the Democrats are suddenly afraid of Rush Limbaugh again now, after years spent belitting him and saying that he has none of his audience or power anymore. (I thought they had moved on to Glenn Beck.) Now they can do Senate Resolutions. It's actually funny and pathetic all at the same time.

OK, I'm shutting up now before I venture off into other territories. . .

-Augie

I'm going to just go with what you said further down (from the post I quoted, above from this one)... I'm left-wing, but I'm not a democrat (not only because I'm not American, but because they aren't very left-wing either), so... yeah... not sure what to say about that one.

My side has lost. The country slides further to the left every year, even when the Republicans are in charge. It doesn't matter anymore. And it's not like moving to Canada or the U.K. is an option -- they're already further down that road.

So, yeah, I skip the politics these days and enjoy tech and comics blogs. Sadly, those are dominated by people of the opposite political persuasion. ::sigh::

I'm doomed.

Give in to it man, you'll feel better, and more progressive once you do!!! AND, you'll be able to read more Vertigo books!