"Metal Men" #3

[bert]

Really?

a mini series called Metal Men, and appearing to star the team, yet 3 issues in, and they aren't appearing that much.

in issue #3, they appear on ONE page.

and DON'T use their powers.

and pretty much all of the dialog by them concerns Lead and Gold changing colors.

I'm done with this.

Grade: F

(what's really sad, is that if this was called "The Adventures of Will Magnus". .it'd be a damn spiffy little story. But it's not, it's called Metal Men, and I expect to see the team the series is titled for starring in it).

[ultramandingo]

.........clown time is over , human

[CYOTI]

in issue #3, they appear on ONE page.
.They actually appear in a quite few pages and that is excluding their phase i and death metal models.

[bert]

They actually appear in a quite few pages and that is excluding their phase i and death metal models.

actually, no they don't.

I'm talking about recognizable : Gold, Mercury, Iron, Tin, Platinum, and Lead (I'd even count Copper).

they show up in thier recognizable form on ONE page.

and they do not demonstrate thier powers.

I say again, if this were called "the Adventures of Will Magnus" ? Ok. . but not "Metal Men"

[CYOTI]

I'm talking about recognizable : Gold, Mercury, Iron, Tin, Platinum, and Lead (I'd even count Copper).
Please pay attention they do show up on more than one page despite your insistence otherwise.

[bert]

Please pay attention they do show up on more than one page despite your insistence otherwise.

We'll agree to disagree then, because I left it on the shelf in the shop.

[Jinxer]

We'll agree to disagree then, because I left it on the shelf in the shop.

Well then you're hardly the expert to decide what's where in that issue.

[UniqueFrequency]

has anyone else bought this and would care to comment? i found myself losing interest after #2, and judging by this one post, i may not be picking up #3 either.

[Cayman]

Really?

a mini series called Metal Men, and appearing to star the team, yet 3 issues in, and they aren't appearing that much.

in issue #3, they appear on ONE page.

and DON'T use their powers.

and pretty much all of the dialog by them concerns Lead and Gold changing colors.

I'm done with this.

Grade: F

(what's really sad, is that if this was called "The Adventures of Will Magnus". .it'd be a damn spiffy little story. But it's not, it's called Metal Men, and I expect to see the team the series is titled for starring in it).

You're done free-reading the book in the shop? I'm sure DC will be mortified.

[Cayman]

has anyone else bought this and would care to comment? i found myself losing interest after #2, and judging by this one post, i may not be picking up #3 either.

This issue was a bit hard to follow but still pretty good, and the art remains beautiful. Chemo looked fantastic.

[bert]

You're done free-reading the book in the shop? I'm sure DC will be mortified.

I'm done hoping for it to be what I was truly wanting it to be: a Metal Men book.

so basically, I'm done torturing myself every month (and Cay, you know (at least I think you do) what a huge Metal Men fan I am, so you can imagine how much I hate not liking this).


oh. .and since you apparently bought it, can you please relate how many pages the Metal Men actually show up in this issue? Because other than that one page where Gold/Lead have changed color (and thier heads on the engine, where they say "it hurts" basically), I didn't see them in this book. . which apparently makes me a 'liar'

[Tom]

I didn't see them in this book. . which apparently makes me a 'liar'Don't put in quotes something that wasn't even implied.

[bert]

Don't put in quotes something that wasn't even implied.

I was told to "please pay attention"

and that I'm

"hardly the expert"


am I not allowed to feel that I was being called a liar?

didn't see that in the rules anywhere. . .

[Tom]

I was told to "please pay attention"

and that I'm

"hardly the expert"


am I not allowed to feel that I was being called a liar?

didn't see that in the rules anywhere. . .

Who said anything about rules? You can "feel" whatever you like, but when you put quote marks around something that was never said, then you're being inaccurate.

Besides, I have no idea how "please pay attention" and "hardly the expert" sounds to you like you were being called a liar. It sounds to me like you were being told you were wrong.

[Ryan Day]

(what's really sad, is that if this was called "The Adventures of Will Magnus". .it'd be a damn spiffy little story. But it's not, it's called Metal Men, and I expect to see the team the series is titled for starring in it).

So it's actually a good book, but because it has a bad title you're not going to read it?

[The Batman]

Apparantly. What is that they say about books and covers?


Loved issues #1 and #2, hopefully I'll pick this up this weekend. Great series, nice to see Rouleau again. I'd lost track of him for a while.

[bert]

So it's actually a good book, but because it has a bad title you're not going to read it?


nope, that's not what I meant.

I meant it's not a book I'm interested in reading.

I've heard "Mouse Guard" is a good book too, but it's not one I'm interested in.

but this is solicited as a Metal Men book. . and it's not.

It would be like the latest issue of Detective -- where it's a Batman book (he's right there on the cover), but he's barely in the issue. It's a Harley and Riddler story. . nothing wrong with that, but it's only one issue.

not 3 issues in w/ barely any Metal Men in them.

but as I said in earlier threads, at least i have last week's Showcase to keep me happy.

[bert]

Who said anything about rules? You can "feel" whatever you like, but when you put quote marks around something that was never said, then you're being inaccurate.


Grammer misundertanding then. . as I wasn't trying to do an exact quote.

[bert]

Apparantly. What is that they say about books and covers?


if the cover says the book is titled "Metal Men", I think it's fair to judge how much the characters appear in said book.

[The Batman]

From what everyone that's read the books is saying, the characters appear in the book more than you say they do.

[Aaron King]

I really liked the book. I loved Doc Magnus in 52 and this seems to be picking up on the mood. I, too, wish there were more Metal Men moments, but since the series isn't even half over, I'm willing to assume that the second half of the mini will have more Metal Men.

I love the art and the color (from someone I've never heard of) and the zipatones. The writing is good and I was expecting average. The plot is still a little confusing, but it feels like it'll read perfectly on a back-to-back re-read. Consider me in for the long haul.

[Jinxer]

if the cover says the book is titled "Metal Men", I think it's fair to judge how much the characters appear in said book.

Yeah the Metal Men are on the cover. You know who else is on the cover? Doctor Magnus standing more prominently than his Metal Men.

[Ender]

I do agree with his sentiment. They really haven't been the stars since issue one. I love the Metal Men and I wanna support a book with them, I'm just not sure this is the book I want.

I love the art, but really would prefer a more whimsical take. Which is a rare thing for me to say.

[Joe Rice]

Great, great Metal Men book. Beautiful art, interesting use of the robots (that, yes, are throughout the book), and fascinating stuff with Magnus(es). (Magni?) Proud to have paid for this book rather than stealing and complaining.

[Jared H.]

Great, great Metal Men book. Beautiful art, interesting use of the robots (that, yes, are throughout the book), and fascinating stuff with Magnus(es). (Magni?) Proud to have paid for this book rather than stealing and complaining.

Seconded. I was never a big Metal Man fan before 52, but Will Magnus' portrayal in that series piqued my interest. For me, this series is excellent. No shortage of cool concepts, and there's a lot going on in each issue.

And bert, the Metal Men were in this issue more than you think. The Death Metal Men were actually the Metal Men transformed by Morrow.

[bert]

And bert, the Metal Men were in this issue more than you think. The Death Metal Men were actually the Metal Men transformed by Morrow.

yep, and that's why I clarified to say in thier recognizable forms.

[Kid Omega]

I love this book.

It's a ton of fun, has lots of great ideas, and the characterizations of the MM are funny and charming.

I LOOOOOVE the Death Metal Men. Too funny.

[Ed Cunard]

Great, great Metal Men book. Beautiful art, interesting use of the robots (that, yes, are throughout the book), and fascinating stuff with Magnus(es). (Magni?) Proud to have paid for this book rather than stealing and complaining.

I think it would be Magnuses, because Magnus is a proper noun. Let's not turn it into a big argument, though--I'd hate to see you cry when I demonstrate how wrong you are regarding making plurals.

[Jamie]

Leaving aside the personal attacks and recriminations -- this issue was the best of the three, I think. The storytelling has settled down a bit; while it's still jumping around in time, the multiple storylines are becoming clearer, and resolving themselves into individual threads that you can follow.

The comic book science is great fun -- alchemical-chemical transformations turning the Metal Men evil! Lead turning into Gold! A robot brain forcing its organic body to survive deadly radiation!

I was unsure about the first two issues, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it really seems to have turned the corner in the third issue.

[Cayman]

I'm actually waiting for the trade on this one, and I figure there will be one because it's a spin-off of 52. The art is freaking gorgeous in a crazy, frenetic way.

It sure is. Duncan Rouleau has really wowed me so far.

[Jared H.]

It sure is. Duncan Rouleau has really wowed me so far.

Also agreed. This is the best work of his I've been exposed to(although honestly, I don't recall much from him outside of Alpha Flight and X-Men Unlimited previously).

[Matt Algren]

Crap, I didn't know Metal Men was out this week. I'll have to go to the store next week. Looking forward to it, though I hope the art is a little better than the first two issues.

At which point I'll actually pay to read the issue instead of using it and not paying for it. That would be wrong, regardless of the silly excuse I come up with.

Obviously.

[Justin D.]

It sure is. Duncan Rouleau has really wowed me so far.

Also agreed. This is the best work of his I've been exposed to(although honestly, I don't recall much from him outside of Alpha Flight and X-Men Unlimited previously).

If you're digging the art on Metal Men, you might want to pick up Superman: Infinite City (http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=2969) if you don't already have it. The artist is Carlos Meglia, but he has a similar frenetic style to his art. Meglia also did the art for Action #799, which I think is one of better single-issue Superman stories to come out in the last few years.

[Jack Zodiac]

I've gotta say, for this being the first exposure I've had to Duncan Rouleau (in comics, at least, because I love the hell out of "Ben 10"), he's wowing the !@#$ out of me. While the plot may have been pitched by Grant Morrison, Duncan's bringing a similar kind of craziness to this story in a way that makes sense, so you can understand what the hell is going on when a mad scientist starts using alchemy and technology to talk to elements. Or when another mad scientist created a demiurgic furnace to turn benign robots into hulking, radioactive juggernauts.

The characterization is perfect, and the dialogue is fan-!@#$ing-tastic. From the crazy-impossible explanations for the far-fetched science right down to Doc Magnus trying to express his feelings without his girlfriend having to break open a thesaurus, every line in this book is great. And the art is amazing. Stylistic, I love it because it's cartoony and fun with lots of energy in every scene, even scenes where characters are just standing around talking; but what's surprising me more is the absolutely incredible panelwork that makes every page just flow. I love reading a comic where the panels on the page don't stand out, but melt together into one moving image, and Duncan's pages do just that. He's quite a bit away from being as amazing as J. H. Williams III, but considering how high of a benchmark a guy like Williams is, that I'm even considering the comparison says a lot.

Very fun book. And the plot, which I thought was incredibly scattered in the first issue, started coming together in the second issue, and is now falling into place. Most importantly, though, every book is packed with enough humor, action, and drama to entertain me enough to wanna buy the next issue anyway, but every issue has also ended in a way that's left me not just wanting to read the next one, but needing to.

[MartinRedmond]

You're done free-reading the book in the shop? I'm sure DC will be mortified.

If someone flips the book in the shop and can't see any action scenes featuring the hero of the book, then yes they're entitled to their judgement because DCs failed at delivering a product for their targeted audiance.

I bought issue 3 cause I kind of liked the artwork. I dislike that he only apes Bachalo's faces and doesn't make it his own faces though which make it annoying despite the lay outs being really exciting.

[Joe Rice]

If someone flips the book in the shop and can't see any action scenes featuring the hero of the book, then yes they're entitled to their judgement because DCs failed at delivering a product for their targeted audiance.



Thankfully, this isn't true for Metal Men 3.

[Jamie]

Thankfully, this isn't true for Metal Men 3.

I realized something while talking about this mini elsewhere -- this is a series about the Metal Men, even if it isn't technically starring the Metal Men. It's about their creation, their origins, their fates; Doc Magnus is the protagonist, but the Metal Men are the raison d'etre.

[Joe Rice]

I realized something while talking about this mini elsewhere -- this is a series about the Metal Men, even if it isn't technically starring the Metal Men. It's about their creation, their origins, their fates; Doc Magnus is the protagonist, but the Metal Men are the raison d'etre.

That's a cool way of looking at it. They're thematic, really.

[matt_hatyber]

its just building up to the end of the story, thats why theres not alot of them. but i bet, the lat issue will be like a 22 page battle with the metal men in it. so dont complain about them not being it it.

[Alex A Sanchez]

Also agreed. This is the best work of his I've been exposed to(although honestly, I don't recall much from him outside of Alpha Flight and X-Men Unlimited previously).

X-Factor. He was either the final artist or one of the final artists on the 90's X-Factor run.


In regards to Metal Men #3- the art is amazing, and I'm loving every minute of it. I ahve to admit that the story is complicated and requires one to reread preview issues. If you are looking for a quick, straightforward read, then this is not your book. Otherwise, I'd recommind hanging on for a few more issues, as things have been getting interesting. Like it was said above, the high action is looming.

[Xevious]

Before this series I had no idea who the metal men were. I vaguely remember them from Crisis, 52, and being kind of sad when a few of them died in the early arc of JLA. That said I'm enjoying this little series so far. I think I'm starting to make sense of everything with this past issue.

[bert]

yep, and that's why I clarified to say in thier recognizable forms.

not to beat this dead horse, but when I was in the shop today to pick up this week's books (Dynamo5 issues 1-7 for $10 ??? what a hell of a deal!), I looked again thru last week's Metal Men #3.

I stand by my statement:

the Metal Men -- in thier recognizable forms -- appear on ONLY 1 1/2 pages inside the comic (the Furnace page, and the "lead, why are you made of Gold?" page), and on the cover. And do not utilize or showcase thier powers at all.

[Jack Zodiac]

And you're right, but as much as they don't appear in their superheroic forms, this book is still all about them. Doc's just the agent through which their story's told. It would've been unfair to call this book The Adventures of Doc Magnus or Metal Men: Year Zero, because while it seems like it's both of those, that isn't all this story is about; but then, we're only three issues in. If you were looking for just the Metal Men in the classic incarnations, then yeah, you're obviously disappointed, and that's a shame; but in the meantime, a very entertaining story with a lot of possibility is being told, and that's more than enough for me to keep buying it.

[bert]

And you're right, but as much as they don't appear in their superheroic forms, this book is still all about them. Doc's just the agent through which their story's told. It would've been unfair to call this book The Adventures of Doc Magnus or Metal Men: Year Zero, because while it seems like it's both of those, that isn't all this story is about; but then, we're only three issues in. If you were looking for just the Metal Men in the classic incarnations, then yeah, you're obviously disappointed, and that's a shame; but in the meantime, a very entertaining story with a lot of possibility is being told, and that's more than enough for me to keep buying it.

Well said.

I still have given up on this, but you have understood completely why I'm having an issue w/ the mini. . . it's basically not what I'm looking for

(I've said it, but you said it much better).

[Simon Garth]

This is the first issue of this series that I've managed to pick up. I love the concept of the Metal Men, though, in the past, the execution has often been less than great.

I couldn't make head nor tail of this issue - the art was very pretty, but the storytelling wasn't great - I couldn't tell what was happening half the time, and after reading the issue, I have absolutely no idea who half the characters were (particularly the robotic figures in chapter 8).

Don't think I'll be back for more.

[Jack Zodiac]

Considering it's a mini-series and you missed the first two issues, what did you expect?

[Simon Garth]

Considering it's a mini-series and you missed the first two issues, what did you expect?

I expected some basic competent storytelling, like establishing the characters, recapping what's gone before... DC books seem to work on the premise that you read every issue of every damn book in the line.

[Jack Zodiac]

Most comics don't recap anymore, and certainly not mini-series. When something's advertised as a limited series, it's pretty logical that you won't be able to pick up on everything going on in the series midway through. Very few ongoings even bother to recap anymore. Marvel does it, but outside of Deadpool and to a lesser extent Ant-Man, all you get is a paragraph blurb describing the preceding events, and almost nothing about the characters, who are supposed to establish themselves throughout the story itself.

I can understand that you didn't like it, because I'd be pretty disappointed if I started reading a limited series three issues into it and didn't have a clue what was going on, but your criticism is invalid because of that fact. You not liking the one issue you read at random out of an eight issue mini-series isn't the fault of the writer if your only complaint is, "I didn't know what was going on. I'm so confused."

If you want to judge this book with any semblance of validity, dig up the first issue.

[Simon Garth]

Most comics don't recap anymore, and certainly not mini-series. When something's advertised as a limited series, it's pretty logical that you won't be able to pick up on everything going on in the series midway through. Very few ongoings even bother to recap anymore. Marvel does it, but outside of Deadpool and to a lesser extent Ant-Man, all you get is a paragraph blurb describing the preceding events, and almost nothing about the characters, who are supposed to establish themselves throughout the story itself.

As you say yourself - Marvel does it, at least enough to give you a a clue what the hell is going on, and who some of the characters are. And, erm, if Marvel does it, that means about 45% of the market are doing it - so not "most", but a hell of a lot.

I can understand that you didn't like it, because I'd be pretty disappointed if I started reading a limited series three issues into it and didn't have a clue what was going on, but your criticism is invalid because of that fact. You not liking the one issue you read at random out of an eight issue mini-series isn't the fault of the writer if your only complaint is, "I didn't know what was going on. I'm so confused."

If you want to judge this book with any semblance of validity, dig up the first issue.

Yes, god forbid anyone should miss an issue of something and then expect to have a readable & intelligible comic - I'll certainly be coming back for more. Remind me again why DC's sales are so disastrous?

The big problem with this (and many other DC series) for the casual reader, is that even if you have some familiarity and affection for the characters (as I have for the Metal Men), because of DC's repeared relaunches / reboots / crises, you have no idea how much of the stories you have previously read are in continuity any more, so you can't bring that knowledge to bear. Consequently, if you miss an issue of something, you might as well give up on the rest of the series, because DC just don't see to care whether the books are accessible or not, regardless of whether they're a mini series, or a continuing book (eg the Legion book, where the same "WTF is this?" factor applies)

[Jack Zodiac]

As you say yourself - Marvel does it, at least enough to give you a a clue what the hell is going on, and who some of the characters are. And, erm, if Marvel does it, that means about 45% of the market are doing it - so not "most", but a hell of a lot.

Barely enough. I tried jumping into PAD's X-Factor recently, and even the paragraph blurb wasn't enough for me to pick up on what was going on or who some of the new characters were. And while he did an alright job of recounting what some of the older main characters wee up to, I still had no idea what the hell this sleazy little girl was doing with them and why some shadowy figure was following her around.

See, even ongoings don't cater to casual readers anymore.

Yes, god forbid anyone should miss an issue of something-

Oh, Jesus Tapdancing Christ. !@#$ this. I'm done trying to talk to you logically. Don't read it. I'm sure the writer will be !@#$ing devastated and DC will go bankrupt.

[Simon Garth]

Barely enough. I tried jumping into PAD's X-Factor recently, and even the paragraph blurb wasn't enough for me to pick up on what was going on or who some of the new characters were. And while he did an alright job of recounting what some of the older main characters wee up to, I still had no idea what the hell this sleazy little girl was doing with them and why some shadowy figure was following her around.

See, even ongoings don't cater to casual readers anymore.

Well, I was able to drop out of comics for 20 years, come back in and pick up Avengers, She-Hulk, Ms Marvel, and some others without being totally turned off. I was able to pick up Powers and Planetary, coincidentally both in the late-teens of their runs, and be intrigued enough to want to find out more

Oh, Jesus Tapdancing Christ. !@#$ this. I'm done trying to talk to you logically. Don't read it. I'm sure the writer will be !@#$ing devastated and DC will go bankrupt.

You just don't get it do you? Amazingly, not everyone can get in on the start of every series: consequenly, as a bare minimum, every issue should assume that some reader(s) are starting with that issue*, and should provide enough interest and intelligible plot for them to be intrigued enough to either stick with it, or to chase up the back issues if they're available. This did neither, despite me having an innate interest in Metal Men, and wanting to like the title - at the end, I have no idea what is going on, and haven't been captured enough to stick with it to find out.

In your fanboy dreamland, where everyone never misses an issue of anything, and in any case, back issues of every title stay in the shop for ever, this might not be a problem. In the real world, it means that the series loses readers, and maybe as a consequence doesn't get an ongoing to follow the mini-series.

(* though given the state of DC's sales, this is probably wildly optimistic)

[jv2k]

You just don't get it do you? Amazingly, not everyone can get in on the start of every series: consequenly, as a bare minimum, every issue should assume that some reader(s) are starting with that issue*, and should provide enough interest and intelligible plot for them to be intrigued enough to either stick with it, or to chase up the back issues if they're available. This did neither, despite me having an innate interest in Metal Men, and wanting to like the title - at the end, I have no idea what is going on, and haven't been captured enough to stick with it to find out.

(* though given the state of DC's sales, this is probably wildly optimistic)
You could read issue 1 without reading anything else, and you could read issue two without having to read issue 1 but issue 3 was a direct continuation of the previous issue which ended on a cliff hanger. Do you get pissed off when you walk in on a 2 parter of a tv show and have no idea whats going on, or when you walk in at the turning point of a movie and don't know the characters? The complaint can be said about ANY comic that is in a story arc.

Did you walk in on Civil war or Anihilation on issue 6 and understand anything? The little blurbs on the front of marvel books are good for reminding you what happened if you forgot what happened in the last issues (it can be several months between issues if delayed and if not a month is still a long time) but I know personally that it doesn't help if you are new to the comic.


You just don't get it do you? Amazingly, not everyone can get in on the start of every series: consequenly, as a bare minimum, every issue should assume that some reader(s) are starting with that issue*, and should provide enough interest and intelligible plot for them to be intrigued enough to either stick with it, or to chase up the back issues if they're available. This did neither, despite me having an innate interest in Metal Men, and wanting to like the title - at the end, I have no idea what is going on, and haven't been captured enough to stick with it to find out.

In your fanboy dreamland, where everyone never misses an issue of anything, and in any case, back issues of every title stay in the shop for ever, this might not be a problem. In the real world, it means that the series loses readers, and maybe as a consequence doesn't get an ongoing to follow the mini-series.

(* though given the state of DC's sales, this is probably wildly optimistic)
I see two problems with your argument.
The first is that the series is on ISSUE THREE! This isn't issue 900 of the metal men saga it is only three issues in! Sure picking up a random book is common comic practice but it makes little sense to do so when the book is so early in it's run. I could understand if you read detective comics and Dini referenced a story from issue 50 with little context as finding it would be near impossible, but finding this would be easy.

Of course only a fanboy could believe that everyone could keep up with a comic that has three issues that came out in the span of three months.

The second problem is that you act as if metal men is some live tv show. You don't have to wait for the rerun to air weeks from now like you would an unpopular tv show. If you miss and issue you can catch up by reading the previous issue. The last issue came out last month. Your local comic shop should still have issues of it, and maybe this is just me living in my crazy fanboy world but it doesn't seem all that unreasonable to expect someone to pick up the previous issue if they missed it.

[End of Time]

I have never read Metal Men in my entire life, prior to this mini-series. I haven't even read that much DC, and it's mostly Vertigo when I do. I went in because I'm a fan of Rouleau, and it would've been just an added bonus if there was a story worth being told, or so I reasoned when I picked up #1.

I must say, with damn near zero-knowledge of the DC-universe (didn't read 52 or crisis or whatever I had to read beforehand) I'm find this title frustratingly difficult to get into and at the same time very intriguing.

I know who's who, but not just quite...

The Metal Men thus far haven't really left an impression on me, they're very much archetypes at this point, big lummox, fast hothead, ditzy blonde, leader-type, thinker... etc. etc.

the technobabble gets confusing at times, to the point where I'm just plain lost in a sea of words and concepts that don't make any sense to me.

... but the story is still interesting enough. I know what's happening, and I think I know why it's happening... it's just that the details and the nuances and the characters tend to become a bit burdensome, they don't much provide clarity.

[matt_hatyber]

The big problem with this (and many other DC series) for the casual reader, is that even if you have some familiarity and affection for the characters (as I have for the Metal Men), because of DC's repeared relaunches / reboots / crises, you have no idea how much of the stories you have previously read are in continuity any more, so you can't bring that knowledge to bear. Consequently, if you miss an issue of something, you might as well give up on the rest of the series, because DC just don't see to care whether the books are accessible or not, regardless of whether they're a mini series, or a continuing book (eg the Legion book, where the same "WTF is this?" factor applies)



if u have affection for the metal men, why didnt you pick it up on number 1?

and its a 8 part mini series, so that meens its 1 story running through 8 issues. not each issue being a different story. so oyu shouldnt pick it up half way through.

[The Batman]

I've got little to no experience with the Metal Men and until not nothing that I'd call fondness for them. I don't know much about their history and I don't think I've read anything that's featured them as more than a cameo. I picked this up because of Duncan Rouleau.

I've found each issue so far to be fairly accessible. Not to mention fun and entertaining. I haven't had a single "but how come?" moment - I feel that Rouleau, and Morrison, have provided me with everything I've needed to know about the characters to enjoy this story so far.

Then again I'm someone who is as interested in the journey as I am the destination when it comes to stories so I'm willing to let the information take it's time coming out. I don't need everything answered right off the bat.

[Simon Garth]

If you miss and issue you can catch up by reading the previous issue. The last issue came out last month. Your local comic shop should still have issues of it, and maybe this is just me living in my crazy fanboy world but it doesn't seem all that unreasonable to expect someone to pick up the previous issue if they missed it.

I will say this AGAIN, for the hard of undestanding (that's mostly Jack Zodiac), my comic shop doesn't have the previous issues; I don't get to the shop every month, or the same time every month - I didn't see the previous issues when they were new, or know that the series had even started - I knew it was coming, but not when.

[Paul Newell]

Second strike.

If I have to delete posts a third time in this thread, then a-closing we will go.

[Jack Zodiac]

I will say this AGAIN, for the hard of undestanding (that's mostly Jack Zodiac), my comic shop doesn't have the previous issues; I don't get to the shop every month, or the same time every month - I didn't see the previous issues when they were new, or know that the series had even started - I knew it was coming, but not when.

That sucks, but so you understand, it isn't DC's problem that you missed the first two issues. Your agonizingly tragic inability to comprehend the third issue isn't Duncan's fault, and it isn't DC's fault. It's yours. It isn't even your local comic shop's fault. You didn't understand the one issue you bought because of a failing on your part.

[The Batman]

That sucks, but so you understand, it isn't DC's problem that you missed the first two issues. Your agonizingly tragic inability to comprehend the third issue isn't Duncan's fault, and it isn't DC's fault. It's yours. It isn't even your local comic shop's fault. You didn't understand the one issue you bought because of a failing on your part.

Well, I don't think it's completely unreasonable to accept SOME level of accessibility from a book. Not even for the sake of new readers but for existing readers who might not remember completely the details from issue to issue.

Thing is, Metal Men #3, to me at least, had that level of accessibility. Even if the big picture wasn't completely evident, there's enough information in there to piece together what's going on well enough to enjoy the story. I think the frustration isn't coming from not understanding the issue itself, but rather from that big picture not being immediately viewable.


Never underestimate the fan need to know EVERYTHING and know it IMMEDIATELY.

[The Batman]

The big problem with this (and many other DC series) for the casual reader, is that even if you have some familiarity and affection for the characters (as I have for the Metal Men), because of DC's repeared relaunches / reboots / crises, you have no idea how much of the stories you have previously read are in continuity any more, so you can't bring that knowledge to bear. Consequently, if you miss an issue of something, you might as well give up on the rest of the series, because DC just don't see to care whether the books are accessible or not, regardless of whether they're a mini series, or a continuing book (eg the Legion book, where the same "WTF is this?" factor applies)

It sounds more like you've got a continuity concern than an accessibility concern.

[Rio_de_Janeiro]

The OP probably would have skipped the frog-Thor issues, or the wolfman-captain-america, or the fighting-thunderbolts, or anything GL post-Alan Scott, ad nauseam.

Not getting #3 because the characters are in a different visual/narrative moment?

just get a poster instead. the characters will be easily recognizable whenever you look at them. or maybe... reread the stories where they appear recognizably.

cheers,
rio.

[jv2k]

I will say this AGAIN, for the hard of undestanding (that's mostly Jack Zodiac), my comic shop doesn't have the previous issues; I don't get to the shop every month, or the same time every month - I didn't see the previous issues when they were new, or know that the series had even started - I knew it was coming, but not when.
Then you'd just have to sit it out. It's bad writing if you can't understand a story midway through.

[matt_hatyber]

Then you'd just have to sit it out. It's bad writing if you can't understand a story midway through.

its not bad writing. what are you talking about. its bad writing if you dotn understand the story in the frist and second issue. if you start half way through and dont understand. thats because you never picked up the other ones.



I will say this AGAIN, for the hard of undestanding (that's mostly Jack Zodiac), my comic shop doesn't have the previous issues; I don't get to the shop every month, or the same time every month - I didn't see the previous issues when they were new, or know that the series had even started - I knew it was coming, but not when.

OK Then. stop bitching about it and wait for the trade then. dont whine about not understanding it when you start oin issue 3 because you cant pick up issue 1 and 2.

[Pixie_Solanas]

I love the art and premise, but damn if I don't have to re-read each issue to get WHAT IN THE HECK Rouleau is trying to do...

Still, lavishly illustrated and any book with scripting this detailed deserves all the audience it can get.

[blackphoenix]

I gave up on this book with issue #2. I can't follow it. I wish they would have used the format for the book that was set up in 52( Doc Magnus' struggles with mental illness, Plutonium as an arch nemesis...) and I wish they would get back to the humor of the original series(remember the Gas Gang? How the hell does a gas robot even exist? And how can a Nitrous Oxide robot(??) make other robots laugh?), as well as Magnus and Platinum's obvious affection for one another.

[ultramandingo]

Still, lavishly illustrated and any book with scripting this detailed deserves all the audience it can get.

........yeah too bad an editor or some one didint help work out the script