The Intimates

[JimmyDee]

So, who's jumping on to "The Intimates?" I read Joe Casey's interview yesterday and he convinced me to pick up the first issue. I can't say this is a commitment at this point, but I definitely am interested in seeing what Joe, Jim and Cammo are up to. The good news is this doesn't sound like your typical super hero team comic. Considering how rare it is for me to pick up and commit to a new, monthly mainstream book these days, I'd say half the battle has been won by Wildstorm.

[Jake V]

I'll support ANY attempt to do something new with the genre, and Casey is one of my favorite writers, so I'm in.




I still wish he was still doing Wildcats 3.0 though. :(

[Ivan Isaacs]

So, who's jumping on to "The Intimates?"

Me, me, me!
I'll buy everything that Camuncoli draws and after a little chat with him last sunday I think that this series will be great. Hell yeah, I'm so looking forward to it and can't wait till it arrive.

[choisez]

I love the covers by Jim Lee & Rian Hughes. I wish Rian did even more covers, actually.

And Jim's thoughts on the character designs were interesting too. I like how he gives props to both Joe Casey and Cammo for their own strengths as collaborators.

-Eddy
Art of Jim Lee (http://groups.msn.com/artofjimlee)
Art of Travis Charest (http://groups.msn.com/travischarest)

[GeorgeG]

I'm getting it.

[Bolo Musashi]

I'm in - I loved what I saw/read in the 'Getting Closer' article.

[noh-varr]

Very much picking this up. Looks great, I'm up for anything Joe Casey writes.

[Sean Whitmore]

I'm gonna pick it up, for selfish reasons. I like some of Casey's stuff, so this could be good, but that doesn't matter to me so much.

I've had my own idea for a "super hero high school" comic on the back-burner for a looooong time, so I'm getting Intimates mainly to see which jokes and plots I can officially no longer use. :)


SEAN

[JimmyDee]

Sounds like people are angling to give this series a try. Sure, I know Jim Lee's on the book, but the real draw for me is Joe Casey's writing. He seems to always be trying to find a new way to attack super hero comics and I certainly appreciate that.

I'll check back in tomorrow once it's been purchased.

[noh-varr]

I just finished reading the first issue and I must say I'm impressed. One of the most in depth, and longest reads I've had for a single issue in a long long time if not ever. The book flowed well even with the info stream on the bottom of each page. Speaking of which, it's great that the little tidbits of info aren't essential to reading it, and nearly vica versa, plus little teasers like rip wildcats 3.0 (damn I miss that book) and read sleeper were good. This was a good first issue introduced us to everything. Though I am wondering what if any role majestic will play seeing how he popped up on the final page. I am enjoying the instructors esepecialy the sgt slaughter look alike pe teacher, what did everyone else think?

[JLarson]

Damn, that was a cool comic.

Makes me all excited for a good, healthy run for the title. Spread the good word!

[Bolo Musashi]

Look forward to picking it up tomorrow.

[the Monitor]

Like others, the interviews hyping this series intrigued me enough to pick up the first issue. I read it last night and I was amazed at the density of information in this book. It took more time to absorb than just about any other single issue book I've ever read.

All in all, I really enjoyed the book. Like someone else said, the info stream flowed nicely in this book. It does concern me a little for future issues. This issue being mostly a character and situation set-up issue, the main panels were easily set up as short vignettes, a series of rapid-fire scenes. I wonder how well the info stream will work when the stories start to contain more plot oriented stories.

After reading it though, I have faith that Joe Casey knows what he's doing and I'm sticking around for a while.

The art, like Pascal Ferry on Adam Strange, is a vibrant, integral part of the book. The design, color, lettering...all of it is really important in this book. Comparing it to American Flagg wasn't off at all; it really reminded me of the first time I sat down with that book.

Just a great job all around, in my opinion.


Edited to add: Of course I don't know why I even assume the info stream will be in every issue. No doubt, Casey has a wealth of data information tools in mind for us.

[David Bedlam]

This book was so wonderfully different than anything else on the stands right now that I couldn't help but like it. :) The data streams were a master stroke, with all that irrelevent data does nothing at all but gives us just that extra bit of depth which would have taken several more pages to do any other way. Good stuff.

[The Xenos]

Well I'm a Joe Casey whore. He one of those writer where I see his name on teh cover and just grab the book. "R.I.P. Wildcats 3.0" indeed. The pacing could have been a bit better, though I see what he was trying to do there, but I really enjoyed the book. Oh and the $tranger$ ref was nice. They were invented in Kafka, right? They haven't been anywhere else since have they. Also, what is it with Casey and the National Park Service?! Ha. I love that idea. Really, shuld we trust an organization that says they sit aorund looking at trees?

Those text scrolls at the bottom of the pages and these flashback and information pop-ups are interesting though abit much. Man, I don't know if Casey is embracing, using, or just making fun of the whole webpage/MTV/CNN throw as much information at the reader as possible style. Likely it's a mixture of all of them with embracing it just to experiment with it. This, like many of Casey's work, is certainly an experimental comic. At the same time it's Casey going a bit mainstream and going wiht what kids these days jive with (or what ever the lingo with kids these days are). Meh. He's just using mainstream conventions and trends to screw around with things. Anyway, these text things and pop-ups didn't make the book easier to read, but it certainly was interesting.

A few of those comments were funny as hell too. The mourning of Wildcats and the plus for Sleeper was nice. "Punchy doesn't collect comics, he reads them." Nice.

My favorite line was, "Spending time on the internet can improve typing skills." Ha! I think message boards turn people into the typing equivilent of Da Ali G. It annoys the hell out of when kids, I am noticing more bad typing among younger posters, just don't care about grammar, punctuation, or even capitalization and haing a dman sentence. u know wot im saying there? . (http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2002-10-11&res=l)

I really like Punchy's punching nun puppet and the whole design and concept of it. It reminds me of something out of Japanese comics, at least in that it's an odd idea I wouldn't expect to find in normal superhero comics.

And when did Sgt. Slaughter takeup Yoga? Please tell me I'm not the only person who thought that.

Oh and I just got the Empty Vee pun. Duh. Not sure why it sounds like MTV or if I'm just seeing things. It is nice to see girls like that who don't fit the normal superhero look in comics.

This is a really crazy and enjoyable book.

-Xenos

[mgs]

haha! :)

this was a really good comic. Yeah, the cbr article really got me interested in this and lee and the italian guy are drawing some excellent stuff! ;)

[Sean Whitmore]

Good opening issue. Very cute. (And most important to me, completely different in both style and content than my own proposed "superhero school" idea, so yay me!)

I think the book does itself a disservice by being part of the Wildstorm "Universe", a term I use loosely. The tone of the book is almost Simpsonesque-level slapstick, and it's hard to imagine it taking place in the same world as the Wildcats or Sleeper. Hell, while we're on the subject, it's almost impossible to reconcile Sleeper and Authority being in the same universe, or Authority and Planetary for that matter.

"Parents can legally serve alcohol to their own children." Heh. The info bars are a great gag, especially by getting rid of exposition without messing up the flow of the story (by going the route of. "as you know, I have super strength...").

Punchy seems legitamtely insane, and is really the only character I like so far. (Despite my crossover reservations, I love that he slept with the Engineer and discovered his power by playing with a Midnighter doll) I already hate Destra, and the rest of the class hasn't had enough spotlight yet to judge.

The scene with Punchy at his computer screen seems oddly storyboarded. So Punchy was typing with his left hand and playing the game with his right. Who did he ask "how d'ya like me now" of, the game, or the message board? And why the closeup on the boxing nun at the end? Was the nun up to shenanigans all on its own? Lord, I hope so.

Sgt. Stomp started out as a pretty toothless gag, until Punchy got him started on his "last mission". And I think I attribute that gag more to Punchy than Stomp himself.

What the hell was that scene with Majestic supposed to be? Is Sykes a telepathic peeping tom or something? Although it was worth it for nod to the late, lamented Mr. Majestic series ("covertly rearranged the entire solar system", ha!).

I'm correct in assuming Kefong the transfer student is a new character, right? The ending was almost played up as ominous, as if it were building up to something dramatic or some big twist, and then the last panel is someone I don't recognize. Weird.

I'll give it a solid B. I think that grade will go up as does Punchy's exposure. Maybe he'll soon realize that he doesn't need those four sidekicks and go out on his own. Punchy in the Authority by 2006! Start the petition! :D



SEAN

[MikeVic]

I picked this up as well, since I saw it being advertised in those Comic Book News things you always get with comics...

I have never read a Wildstorm comic before, so I hope backstory of the universe isn't needed in future issues. I absolutely loved this comic, with part of the reason being it took me quite awhile to read.

Look forward to the next issue!

[The Xenos]

I find it funny that Midnighter has authentic and personalized codpieces he gives away to fans.

-Xenos

[Huh?]

I got it, and liked it for the most part, but I am not sure I 100% understood the scrolls at the bottom of each page. Some of them made sense, but others had me saying "what in the hell is he talking about?" All in all, though, it was pretty good so I'll be around for a while longer. Did anyone else find some of the info in the scrollbars nonsensical?

[Mr. Jip]

omigaaaaaaaaaawd i gotta get it~~~~~!!!!!!!

i LOVE Casey!!! (despite his first 2 crazy X-Men stories.. )
WILDCATS was so wicked!!!!!

[Gandt]

I thought the scene with Sykes and the guy in his skivvies doing his yoga was The Duke, and not Mr. Majestic. I think that in the scroll at the bottom it talkes about how Duke met Majestic at a young age, and there is also a Mr. Majestic poster on the wall. I assumed it was Duke. I may be wrong, though.

[Sean Whitmore]

I thought the scene with Sykes and the guy in his skivvies doing his yoga was The Duke, and not Mr. Majestic.


Y'know what, you're absolutely right. I have no idea why, but I just for some reason assumed Duke was blonde. :o



SEAN

[Karl J. Barnes]

Just read it and will have to read it again, since the lettering in white made my eyes hurt trying to read them. Still, the book has promise, a sort of Gen13+ a really strange high school melodrama.

[discostu]

explosive fingernails, eh? magical punching nun puppet? I guess I'll give #2 a try.

[Dave Cote]

Quirky in a weird in an enjoyable way. I can't wait to see more of Punchy! :D

[Hatter]

In this age of Marvel's (especially Bendis') paced-for-the-trade, ultra-compressed comics, it's so refreshing to come across a new title that prides itself on information overload. I've never read a WildStorm title, and I wasn't particularly anticipating it this one, but something about the cover just intrigued me. It had such a sense of neon-lit stylem which Lee's designs suited perfectly.

I was compelled to try it, and it turned out to be one of the most original books I've read lately. It's definitely on the top of my reading list. Teenage superhero comics are nothing new, but this book takes that idea off into a hyper-futuristic, edgy yet fun universe. The ingenious "scroll bar" reads like a Seventeen magazine from Brave New World, advocating a teenage lifestyle that's obviously satirical and humourous, yet not terribly far-fetched.
Some have complained that the characters are "unlikable", but I think that's part of their charm. So many comics focus on do-gooders; what's wrong with another book full of self-absorbed teenagers?

I also just love the look of The Intimates. The art is like Lee's own work, with the unique, outline-heavy style of Leinil F. Yu mixed in. And Randy Mayor's superb colours steal the show. It's colourful and futuristic, but not outside the realm of believability. Same with the technology that these kids have access to - since it's all mostly real-world (albeit cutting-edge), it creates a fantasy that's entertaining because it could very well be real.
This isn't some old-money Upstate NY mansion like Xavier's. This is the school for the wild, excessive heroes of the WS Universe.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

"The sooner you start having sex, the quicker you will get better at it".

Hilarious.
(If false - doesn't seem to matter how much people get as teens, everyone I know agrees that once you hit 19/20 there's a sudden improvement with your skills - with no other noticable factor other than you past an imaginary age barrier, but anyhoo)

I thought it was alright.
I'm a big Casey fan, and maybe I had my expectations too high or somthing, I dunno.

Maybe it's cause I normally buy trades and haven't brought a single issue in ages....

but whatever, the book showed potential - though I may wait for the trades (but then again, I said that with Wildcats V3 after I missed a few issues on the stands - I'm still waiting for that particular Godot)

There didn't really seem to be a story in this issue, just character introductions and people occasionally, and for no reason, blowing things up...

but hell, I'll still end up getting more of the book... Casey managed to do a better job than Moore on Wildcats, and automatic Kafka is/was the awesome, so I know I'd be missing out if I didn't.

[kurt wagner]

i absolutely loved it. the first thing that got me interested was jim lee's name being attached to it, but i read a bit about it and decided it was worth a shot. i agree with everyone saying that it was a breath of fresh air and very different from most super hero comics nowadays. i'll suggest it to anyone that asks.

[Bolo Musashi]

Finally got around to reading it the other day - really enjoyed it and look forward to the #2 and beyond.

Just read it and will have to read it again, since the lettering in white made my eyes hurt trying to read them.

Yeah, I had problems with the white font as well.

[Dizzy D]

I really liked this issue. Casey should definitely do most of his work at Wildstorm instead of Marvel and DC, his style is much better suited to them (Mr. Majestic, Wildcats etc.)

A lot to absorb in this issue, I have a good feeling about Kefong (who is going to be a new character in the book if you read the lines above the cover: Sykes! Kefong! Duke! Empty Vee!). Another Karate Kid-type hero is always OK in my book. I have no clue about what Sykes is seeing near the end, but I like the looks of him (indeed of most characters). Punchy is so far my favourite as well.

The white on yellow made the info-messages hard to read, they should use the black on yellow for all of it.

So what rumor about Ms. Klanbaid dark secret is your favourite? I'm all for the post-op transsexual former boy sidekick.

[DOVETAILS]

I hope next issue the information at the bottom thins out.. That got kind of annoying. If it's in every issue it'll get old real quick.

[mgs]

I dunno, while I felt that the bottom scrolls were distrubing and annoying in the first issue, I really kinda got used to them this time around. I like the misc facts all over the place and got me thinking about constipation and laxatives. :D

But again, I think they can cut them dow, a tad, and I think the story is flowing nicely and the art remains very strong.

The series probably is selling average, but I think it's one of the best right now, and certainly the best thing WIldstorm has put out in quite some time.

[soulsolid]

I'm definitely feelin' the funk in this series. The art is on point, the dialog is pretty interesting (I only got down with issue #2 so far). The cover to issue #2 is tight and creative (as if you were scopin' the schools weekly journal-zine or something). The splash banners at the bottom are right on time and hilarious. The funk flows well and I am ready to get down with issue #3. (Poor Vee, why can't that chick stay on the visible flavor 24/7!) The boxin' nun puppet is bulliptious! I love it! Wildstorm is big league'n everyone with this series. What will they hit us upside the head with next?

[Huh?]

I have decided to stop reading this title. Issue #2 was impossible for me to read. I tried a few times, but kept putting it down to do something else. I don't care for the story and the running commentary at the bottom of each page is distracting and difficult for me to understand. Maybe I'm in the minority, but this just didn't appeal to me.

[Sean S]

I'm really impressed with this book. While I always feel discouraged when a good writer with new ideas applies them to a superhero book, in the end, I can't knock a solid read.

The first issue was dense and all over the place...and I mean that in a good way. It was an incredible amount of information. And funny, which most definitely not the norm when we're bombarded like this with information. In theory, this would seem to put the book at odds with itself, but Casey makes it work.

The scrolling text at the bottom is certainly interesting. That combined with the asides and flashbacks within the panel-ing makes this certainly one of the most modern approaches to comics storytelling this side of We3. A comic for the MTV generation. And totally appropriate for the story he's trying to tell.

Also, a subtle touch, but in the first issue, the scrolling test was mostly random, and only sometimes directly commenting on the story. Whereas in the second issue, it actually foreshadows a joke, removing the weird randomness that might have been present otherwise. Very well done.

Good comic overall. I can't say it's one of the best, but it's certainly doing new things and doing them very well. In a medium so clung to the past, this is not only commendable, it's a relief.

Sean

[Karl J. Barnes]

We've had two issues and I think that we've had enough set up, now I want a little action. Just finished reading #2 and though it was cute, not much really moved forward. Duke and Punchy seem to becoming friends, which is cool. But I need some action, not necessarily superhero action, but something more than consipation worries and breaking curfew.

[Apathy Boy]

Finally read the first issue. It was certainly the longest read I've had from a comic book, but I'm not sure if quantity is enough to get me hooked. While I like the character designs and love the book design, there just doesn't seem to be a lot happening. I'd like to see some semblance of a plot, but this very much has the feel of a series where everyone just hangs around and stuff.

It's also a tad disingenuous to have Jim Lee's name plastered on the cover.

[Dizzy D]

For those who are annoyed by the scrolling texts at the bottom of the page: they disappear halfway through the second issue.

And I'll give Casey some time, the first issues of Wildcats 3.0 also little happened.

I really like Punchy, but Kefong may become my favourite character: "speaks 4 languages including the international language of love."

And it was good to see Desmond, only wonder how Casey's final storyline in Majestic (that he mentions here: Majestic evolves and becomes a universal guardian and member of a pantheon of godlike beings) will fit with the upcoming Majestic series.

[MikeVic]

I'll continue to buy it, but I too want more action soon. If it wasn't for the fact that the first two issues have occupied so much of my time to read, I wouldn't continue buying.

I'm interested in the characters' powers, and how they'll be used. Hopefully they do something with them soon. The Powers of the characters is really what has gotten me interested in this book.

[mgs]

The Powers of the characters is really what has gotten me interested in this book.their powers are nothing new that hasn't been done in comics before. for me, it's just how the story moves along, and right now, it's very enjoyable.

[Nocturne]

their powers are nothing new that hasn't been done in comics before. for me, it's just how the story moves along, and right now, it's very enjoyable.
Exploding fingernails and superhero hand puppets have been done before? That's what i like about this book, it's just so random. How can you have an issue where 1/3 of it is dedicated to superhero laxitives. Brilliant.

[mgs]

Exploding fingernails and superhero hand puppets have been done before? That's what i like about this book, it's just so random. How can you have an issue where 1/3 of it is dedicated to superhero laxitives. Brilliant.it's out there, somewhere. ;) trust me, just like most ideas, almost every superhero idea has been done before, including these ones, maybe not specifically in this way, but exploding parts of body and psyinduced owers into an inaminate object -type ideas most certainly have.

just for re-clarification, I am really enjoying this book, though. :)

[MikeVic]

I like the art for the characters, and I like the exploding finger-nail girl and the hand-puppet guy.

Is Duke's power just that he's strong?

[Captain Blitz]

Read issue 1...nice. :)

I liked the annotations at the bottom of each page. Makes it a totally different read than your average super-hero book.

[GeorgeG]

I tried it, but it just hasn't grabbed me. The entire intro issue was boring. The white on yellow was a bad choice--don't know how that got through editorial. New titles need to grab me at the get go, this just didn't.

[For the Good of X]

I've enjoyed the first 2 issues of this series. Nothing groundbreaking or mind-boggling. It's entertaining, witty, filled with great art. It bursts with info - random or otherwise. The crawl is very CNN/MTV TRL and the characters very...au courant. There's little to say on the pacing thus far. We've not learned much about any of the characters, despite the obvious info deluge. Casey is taking his time and why not.

Did I mention the art?

The crawl needs to be easier to read though.

[burningstar04]

im loving this. like many people have said, it is definately the longest read i have in forever. i read some of the bunch i get each week on the way back to college, and this was the first time ever i hadnt finished a comic before i got back. i usually get 2 down at least. its so in depth and enjoyable.

Punchy is a legend.

[Huh?]

I tried it, but it just hasn't grabbed me. The entire intro issue was boring. The white on yellow was a bad choice--don't know how that got through editorial. New titles need to grab me at the get go, this just didn't.Definitely agree, the first issue was a bore. I had my hopes really high for this one. I picked up the second issue and didn't even get 10 pages in before I stopped reading. Just not for me.

[The Xenos]

Solcits for Intimates 5 today.

-------------------------------------
THE INTIMATES #5
Written by Joe Casey
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli & Sandra Hope and Jim Lee
Cover by Lee & Rian Hughes
Hivejournal.com is the preferred online diary for the super-powered teenager. But what secrets are hidden within the pages of a certain student's angst-filled - albeit anonymous - entries? Plus, the introduction of the newest Seminary student: Dead Kid Fred!
On sale March 2 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

cover: http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/preview.php?image=solicits/dc032005/big/IntimatesCv5.jpg
-------------------------------------

Man, Dead Kid Fred sure looks familar. Do i sense Bucky/Jason dead sidekick bashing ahead? I sure hope so. Heh heh.

-Xenos

[mgs]

cover: http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/preview.php?image=solicits/dc032005/big/IntimatesCv5.jpg

- gah!! deeeed!!

Man, Dead Kid Fred sure looks familar. Do i sense Bucky/Jason dead sidekick bashing ahead? I sure hope so. Heh heh.

- haha! I had not picked up on that until I read your comment here. :D

[mike rok lok]

i have been really digging this series. nothing groundbreaking buy lots of fun. i`m a sucker for anything joe casey does so...

p.s wildcats 3.0 rip indeed. a small tear roled down my cheek when i saw that j/k.

[Darkbadger]

Can someone explain The Intimates to me i was it at my comic book store and the cover really cuaght my eye.

[The Xenos]

The Intimates basically features a high school for superhero teens. Now normally I never really dug teen high school dramas even when I was a teen in high school, but I am relaly enjoying this book. It defiantley is eye catching inside as well. Quite a fun and unique read. Not a huge Wildstorm universe fan either, but this has a nice niche in that universe. Oh and they got some really interesting characters and superpowers in it. I especially like Punchy, who has superpowers through one opf those punching nun hand puppets. It seems a lot of other people enjoy this interesting character as well.

-Xenos

[Darkbadger]

The Intimates basically features a high school for superhero teens. Now normally I never really dug teen high school dramas even when I was a teen in high school, but I am relaly enjoying this book. It defiantley is eye catching inside as well. Quite a fun and unique read. Not a huge Wildstorm universe fan either, but this has a nice niche in that universe. Oh and they got some really interesting characters and superpowers in it. I especially like Punchy, who has superpowers through one opf those punching nun hand puppets. It seems a lot of other people enjoy this interesting character as well.

-Xenos

I just picked it up today and it was really good, it wasn't awsome but the art was great and the characerts are hillarious.

[ElijahS23]

Loved Iss 1, Iss 2 left me like, "Ummm... anything else?" I'll give it one more effort, if not then the "intimacy" ends and we're just friends... :confused:

[ElijahS23]

Hm. Read #3 and enjoyed it enough. Nothing spectacular, liked the ending though, pretty sad for Empty Vee. Just seems to be too much jumping around in each ish to the point that you don't get acquainted w/ all of the characters, e.g. we don't know much about Kefong and Sykes, but I guess each will get their turn to shine. ...Well, I'm still on board the Intimate shuttle... :o

[The Xenos]

Gosh damn. Now I hate Punchy. What a jackass. The whole situation kinda reminds me of something I went though, but I sure hope I handled things better than that jerk.

-Xenos

[mgs]

yeah! i agree with xenos!

I hate you punchy! that was sooo mean!!! grrr...

:(

[Sharcque]

I don't know if this has been speculated at here before, b/c I didn't read the entire thread. But what if the little info bar at the bottom of every page isn't just info for the reader, but what if this stuff is being subliminally programmed into the students' heads? Just a thought.....

[MikeVic]

I find the characters interesting, and like their powers... the stories have been ok through the first three issues... however, does anyone know if they'll actually fight or anything?

Or is this series just about the school and these six people?

[Michael Brogan]

I read the first two issues, and while it was interesting, I find it a chore to read and I've chosen to stop. The white text in a yellow background was a bonehead move. Why deliberately make a comic hard to read? While I like the whole idea of having these interesting pieces of information delivered in a ticker format, the choice of colors just pissed me off. No, I won't strain my eyes for any comic. What happened to comics being accessible? This comic deserves to fail. I don't WANT it to. They're doing interesting things and I wouldn't advocate cancelling any comic because every comic is loved by some fans. But, c'mon, how about avoiding such obvious problems.

Mike

[Mr. Jip]

The random info on every page felt a bit contrived at first, but then i got used to it, & even enjoyed it after i read it again.
It felt like, WOW, continuity~~~~!!~~~
...for a NEW book with NEW characters! WHeeheeheee. Hooo~~!

CRAP gag about the constipation (NO bland pun intended) but it was quite entertaining.
Loved how it took me more than 5 minutes to go through it.

Hate Destra's clothes. Retarded & uncreative design.
SOOooo not trendy or avant-garde, whatever it's trying to be.
She needs to glam it up & be more of a diva byatch.
Punchy is a jerk & i don't quite get his pretentious wannabekewl jargon.
Still, he's supposed to be a jerk so i'm enjoying his character because i totally loathe him as a jerk.
Duke's cute in a nice, straight boy sort of way. :p
LOVE Empty Vee.
Sykes is very intriguing.
Kefong, i HAVE PROBLEMS WITH.
He might turn out to be an awesome character & i love the concept of him being some sort of postmodern homage to Bruce Lee a la Kill Bill, but i'm simply not thrilled with his "Chinese" name or those little (faulty) hints of his Asian heritage/ethnicity.
We'll see what freaky fun stuff Joe Casey &/or Jim LEE (for God's SAKE, CHECK WITH YOUR ASIAN MATES) come up with for his cultural background in the near future.
At least "Kefong" is not a total atrocity like "Xorn".

"Master Chen Ray Guhn", though, has UTTERLY FAILED.
UUUGh~~~
Hodgepodge romanization.
Is 'Chen' the family name or is it 'Guhn'..?..
Chen is a pretty common Chinese last name, but if it was the LAST name, shouldn't it be Mater Ray Guhn Chen in English Word order...
So OK, this master might have a Mandarin last name in Pinyin, 'Ray' which sounds like English & looks nothing like any Asian language, & 'Guhn' which might be an approximation of a Korean syllable romanized by a confused F.O.B. immigrant.
Maybe it's extraterrestrial.
Yeah that's it.
There's that's the only rationalization ..yeah maybe it's Kheran.

Oh nevermind.
This character resides in a ficitonal world where SHEN is actually thought to be a Tibetan name. Oh haha haaahaa heh HUH.
Silly me.
End rant.
Takes tranquilizers.

[Dizzy D]

The random info on every page felt a bit contrived at first, but then i got used to it, & even enjoyed it after i read it again.
It felt like, WOW, continuity~~~~!!~~~
...for a NEW book with NEW characters! WHeeheeheee. Hooo~~!

CRAP gag about the constipation (NO bland pun intended) but it was quite entertaining.
Loved how it took me more than 5 minutes to go through it.

Hate Destra's clothes. Retarded & uncreative design.
SOOooo not trendy or avant-garde, whatever it's trying to be.
She needs to glam it up & be more of a diva byatch.
Punchy is a jerk & i don't quite get his pretentious wannabekewl jargon.
Still, he's supposed to be a jerk so i'm enjoying his character because i totally loathe him as a jerk.
Duke's cute in a nice, straight boy sort of way. :p
LOVE Empty Vee.
Sykes is very intriguing.
Kefong, i HAVE PROBLEMS WITH.
He might turn out to be an awesome character & i love the concept of him being some sort of postmodern homage to Bruce Lee a la Kill Bill, but i'm simply not thrilled with his "Chinese" name or those little (faulty) hints of his Asian heritage/ethnicity.
We'll see what freaky fun stuff Joe Casey &/or Jim LEE (for God's SAKE, CHECK WITH YOUR ASIAN MATES) come up with for his cultural background in the near future.
At least "Kefong" is not a total atrocity like "Xorn".

"Master Chen Ray Guhn", though, has UTTERLY FAILED.
UUUGh~~~
Hodgepodge romanization.
Is 'Chen' the family name or is it 'Guhn'..?..
Chen is a pretty common Chinese last name, but if it was the LAST name, shouldn't it be Mater Ray Guhn Chen in English Word order...
So OK, this master might have a Mandarin last name in Pinyin, 'Ray' which sounds like English & looks nothing like any Asian language, & 'Guhn' which might be an approximation of a Korean syllable romanized by a confused F.O.B. immigrant.
Maybe it's extraterrestrial.
Yeah that's it.
There's that's the only rationalization ..yeah maybe it's Kheran.

Oh nevermind.
This character resides in a ficitonal world where SHEN is actually thought to be a Tibetan name. Oh haha haaahaa heh HUH.
Silly me.
End rant.
Takes tranquilizers.

I don't think Kefong is his real name (all other students are using codenames so why not him.)

And Master Ray-gun is just a bad pun.

[Mr. Jip]

I don't think Kefong is his real name (all other students are using codenames so why not him.)

And Master Ray-gun is just a bad pun.


Is Jim Lee very white-washed?
That is SUCH a bad pun.
One should be able to come up with cooler puns than that using Asian names.


And is "Kefong" supposed to be a pun too..?..

[Dizzy D]

Is Jim Lee very white-washed?
That is SUCH a bad pun.
One should be able to come up with cooler puns than that using Asian names.


And is "Kefong" supposed to be a pun too..?..

I have no clue. I guess not (goes to google Kefong to see if something comes up).

Edit: found so far:
1) Australian-born filmmaker/writer/actor Christopher Doyle is known as Du Kefong in Asia where he made most of his movies.
2) A company in Maleysia
3) A type of projector?? (Can't read the site it is in a language and type of characters I don't know.)
4) A Kristin Fong did visual effects on the Emperor's New Groove.
5) Lots of K. Fongs around.
I doubt it's a reference to any of the above, but if it is one, the first seems to be the most likely (being quite a bit less obscure than the rest.)

And if you ever get down with Chinese characters having bad names, just think about this: I had to deal with Ulysses Klaw as sole dutch comic character for years and his name is about as dutch as the Great Wall of China. *insert smiley for correct emotional emphasis*

[Mr. Jip]

I have no clue. I guess not (goes to google Kefong to see if something comes up).

Edit: found so far:
1) Australian-born filmmaker/writer/actor Christopher Doyle is known as Du Kefong in Asia where he made most of his movies.

I doubt it's a reference to any of the above, but if it is one, the first seems to be the most likely (being quite a bit less obscure than the rest.)


OH

MY

GAWD. :eek:
LMAO~~~~~~~~~~!!!~~
Now WHY didn't i think of that???!
Chris Doyle!!!~~
He is a friend of mine.
We prowl & terrorize the streets of Soho HK together. :cool:
i didn't know he romanized his Chinese name as "Kefong".
It's Mandarin in a hybrid romanization.
In Cantonese it's Hofung, so i didn't think of it as Kefong.
In official Pinyin romanization, it should be 'Ke Feng', the [e] being a schwa sound.
i usually just call him Chris & he usually calls me "slut"....
:rolleyes: :evilsmile
Then i call him "bitch~!" & he always says, "Takes one to know one~~~!"

Omigawd i have GOT to show Chris the comic!!~

Mr. Doyle is way crazier than Mr. Jip coz he's intoxicated 24/7 & he's led the lifestyle since the um, 60s..?..
Amazing artist though.



And if you ever get down with Chinese characters having bad names, just think about this: I had to deal with Ulysses Klaw as sole dutch comic character for years and his name is about as dutch as the Great Wall of China. *insert smiley for correct emotional emphasis*


LOL.
They couldn't just name him Johannes Vermeer or something..?..

[Dizzy D]

OH

MY

GAWD. :eek:
LMAO~~~~~~~~~~!!!~~
Now WHY didn't i think of that???!
Chris Doyle!!!~~
He is a friend of mine.
We prowl & terrorize the streets of Soho HK together. :cool:
i didn't know he romanized his Chinese name as "Kefong".
It's Mandarin in a hybrid romanization.
In Cantonese it's Hofung, so i didn't think of it as Kefong.
In official Pinyin romanization, it should be 'Ke Feng', the [e] being a schwa sound.
i usually just call him Chris & he usually calls me "slut"....
:rolleyes: :evilsmile
Then i call him "bitch~!" & he always says, "Takes one to know one~~~!"

Omigawd i have GOT to show Chris the comic!!~

Mr. Doyle is way crazier than Mr. Jip coz he's intoxicated 24/7 & he's led the lifestyle since the um, 60s..?..
Amazing artist though.

I'm just using the way they spelled it in an interview with him. IMDB does use the Kefeng-spelling though (hence my double-spelling).
But you personally know him? I just saw him once in Rotterdam at a movie festival and that was more like "that guy over there made this movie". "Ah, right."

LOL.
They couldn't just name him Johannes Vermeer or something..?..

Because the Vermeer-estate would SUE. *insert smiley for a wink, with a bit of diabolical sarcasm and a hint of a selfsatisfied grin... ok tons of self-satisfied grins.*

[Mr. Jip]

I'm just using the way they spelled it in an interview with him. IMDB does use the Kefeng-spelling though (hence my double-spelling).
But you personally know him? I just saw him once in Rotterdam at a movie festival and that was more like "that guy over there made this movie". "Ah, right."

Yes, i know him. We party & go to fashion shows together. :cool: :p
He flies around a lot and he DRINKS a LOT more.
Chris Doyle is a PHENOMENON.

[JLG]

So, who's jumping on to "The Intimates?" I read Joe Casey's interview yesterday and he convinced me to pick up the first issue. I can't say this is a commitment at this point, but I definitely am interested in seeing what Joe, Jim and Cammo are up to. The good news is this doesn't sound like your typical super hero team comic. Considering how rare it is for me to pick up and commit to a new, monthly mainstream book these days, I'd say half the battle has been won by Wildstorm.

I'm in. I really enjoyed the first three books, although I will admit to being lost on the references to other Wildstorm books. Looking forward to the next issue.

[mgs]

oh man, on this last one, some of the bottom scrolls had me LOL!!! :D

still, one of the best damned books out there right now!

[Mon-el]

Ok in a rampant buying spree this week(even though this week was big) I decided to try a wide range of stuff. So I bought Issues #1-4, and I agree each Issue takes a good deal of time to read which I thought was a major plus that I haven't experienced in quite some time. The first few Issues the bottom text I strained my eyes to read the white subtext, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the quips. I am glad they decided to change the color of them in the next issues. I am therefore hooked on this series, I enjoyed each comic to the fullest.

Most of you have said best points that I found that I liked about the series. So far my character is Destra, even though she's a tough nail trying to get kicked out, she has a soft spot. Issue #4 really had me surprised when she asked Duke to dance. I cannot wait to read this next weeks Intimate with the introduction of Dead Kid Fred.

[Gandt]

So far my character is Destra, even though she's a tough nail trying to get kicked out, she has a soft spot. Issue #4 really had me surprised when she asked Duke to dance. I cannot wait to read this next weeks Intimate with the introduction of Dead Kid Fred.

I agree, Destra is a great character. But so far, I have to say that I am enjoying Punchy the most. However, I think that may change with the introduction of Dead Kid Fred. Something about Joe Casey toying around with the dead teen sidekick will be great, I just know it.

[Mon-el]

I agree, Destra is a great character. But so far, I have to say that I am enjoying Punchy the most. However, I think that may change with the introduction of Dead Kid Fred. Something about Joe Casey toying around with the dead teen sidekick will be great, I just know it.

You know I was liking Punchy alot, but I could see once he found out that it was Vee that was text message romance that it would turn out bad. I would like to see different range of classes from time to time. What really surprised me about Destra choosing Duke in the dance is that I see a hint of her liking Kefong.

[Mon-el]

Ok I just read Issue 5. It took me quite a long time to finish it I think I spent about 45 minutes reading it (I LOVE IT).

Spoilers:






I felt this Issue was kinda preachy with the Teenage Superhero Sex, and the throws of Teenage Superhero Suicide those aspects reminded me of a afterschool special episode. I felt so bad for Dead Kid Fred to be alienated from the rest of the Seminary. Here I go to disliking Punchy and Bam 2 seconds later I find that he actually does care.

Ok Hightlights for me include:

Kefong making Sgt Stomp his bitch.
Punchy playing up to the Janitors
Dead Kid Fred
Mr Baal(bah hahahahahah the name says it all) being the sex ed teacher and going off on everyone.
Dead Kid Fred
I wonder why Destra is taking Vee's Process Food Squares? I am sure this will be addressed further with it already being mentioned past several Issues.
Dead Kid Fred

So anyone else have any thoughts or opinions on Issue #5?

[Turd_Ferguson]

I felt the whole Superhero Sex plot was supposed to be Ironic. It's not the type of thing that Joe Casey would serously believe, IMO, judging from the dozens of interviews and columns, and hundreds of books of his I've read.


It's spoken by a discredited character. In the way the books are structured, the protagonists are the students, and the Superhero Sex lecturer is immediately discredited through the eyes of the protagonists, something that should clue us into how the author intends us to view him.

Literature usually works this way, although there are notable exceptions. One example in the Wildstorm universe would be sleeper. Where we have a character we're not sure whether or not we should sympathize with in Miss Misery, due to her relationship with the protagonist. However we know that in the current storyline that the protagonist has kept information from this character, but is in love with said character. Also, we know that due to the nature of Miss Misery, that she is forced by her own body to do thins that are considered evil. What we don't know is what she is doing right now that is satisfying that need, screwing over her boss, or screwing over her lover.

Back to the intimates, I'm really starting to get into this issue. It took a little while for me to catch the pacing of this series, but I'm really liking it. It's nice to be reading a series where there's actually one story in every issue again.

[mgs]

I wonder why Destra is taking Vee's Process Food Squares? I am sure this will be addressed further with it already being mentioned past several Issues.
Isn't it obvious, she likes Duke. He gobbles those things up! (or, she is setting him up for something)

what about the Hivejournal being the Livejournal of the book? Very cool.

Man, this was one great read! That whole Deak Kid Fred thing was very touching, and I was emotional at that last page.

This book rocks!

Punchy, to the rescue!

[The Xenos]

Dead Kid Fred, so Emo it hurts. Heh. Seriously, I loved the guy. He's that cliche angsty goth or emo kid in the highschool drama. Rather, he's a serious parody of that. I gotta admit I walk the line of that cliche alot myself, maybe even more now in college. Plus his resemblance to certain dead sidekicks is hilarious. PLus the whole zombie aspect adds the hilarity zombie can ensue. Sans the brain eating of course. (Then again who knows what's in thsoe school lunches.) Oh and the way his oggly bulging open eyes and dropped jaw just add to the hialrity underlined with the character's sadness. I can't wait to see this guy again somewhere.

The sex ed teacher was hialrious. "Are you ready for me to bring ut my female genitalia?" Haven't had a good laugh like that from a book in a while.

The Hivejournal.com was also nice. Despite being superheros, these character are very realisitc to actual highschoolers and their poorly spelt blogging and text messaging. Acutually, what amde it even funnier is that on the inner cover, opposite the first page with the Hivejournal.com, is a real Sprint ad fearuting high school kids text messaging each other. Dear crap this IM addicted generation is kinda annoying. Even college kids my age are into texting and crap a bit too much. It kinda bugs me.

I think this was the best issue so far. Of course it focusing on the crazy character of Dead Kid Fred certainly helped.

-Xenos

[Adem]

I'm going to pick up the latest issue,maybe some old ones if I can find em, on Wednesday and was just wondering if the newest issue is a good jumping on point. Thanks for your time.

[Tobias March]

Any word on a trade of this coming out soon? I've missed all the previous issues.

[JLG]

Any word on a trade of this coming out soon? I've missed all the previous issues.
Nothing mentioned in the most recent Previews pub.

[Andy S.]

I just picked issues 1-3 up yesterday, and I'm making my way through them. Although I enjoy the artwork and most of the dialogue, I'm a bit annoyed by the running commentary on the bottom of the pages. Not only does it break up the storytelling, but it contains meaningless pop drivel comments on how teens should behave. Is that supposed to be funny? Because it comes across as obnoxious. "Teens-have sex with lots of people so you'll be better at it"-"Question all authority figures, especially your parents." and blah,blah, blah.

If this "advice" is the attitude of the writers, then I might just have to stop picking up this title.

[Stagier]

i find it better to read the story complete without bothering with the side bar, and then go back and pick through it, think of it as commentary on a dvd. its optional.

[mgs]

i find it better to read the story complete without bothering with the side bar, and then go back and pick through it, think of it as commentary on a dvd. its optional.
that's definitely how i did it.

in the beginning, it is really stupid and hard to get used to, but with this latest one, I think it finally grew on me. :)

[mgs]

:confused: I hvae no words for what I just read in the new issue......

[Karl J. Barnes]

:confused: I hvae no words for what I just read in the new issue......

Me either. But I'll give it a shot. It seems that Sykes is the next step in human evolution and his containment field to keep others from being effected by his evolving. The story forced a few truths out of some characters , like Punchy and Duke. This was a more introspective issue than the others, less of the hip and lip and more soul.

[mgs]

Me either. But I'll give it a shot. It seems that Sykes is the next step in human evolution and his containment field to keep others from being effected by his evolving. The story forced a few truths out of some characters , like Punchy and Duke. This was a more introspective issue than the others, less of the hip and lip and more soul.true. true....I'm just so.....confused.... :o

[Z-man]

Me either. But I'll give it a shot. It seems that Sykes is the next step in human evolution and his containment field to keep others from being effected by his evolving. The story forced a few truths out of some characters , like Punchy and Duke. This was a more introspective issue than the others, less of the hip and lip and more soul.

Listening to the talk in his brain, and the savage ape, I do believe he is actually a devolved human

[Z-man]

Anyone else notice that, in addition to Kefong, the Devon squares were uneffected? Makes you wonder why Duke got caught.

[Sekhemket]

It sounded more to me like Sykes was both devolved and evolved at the same time. His brain was simplified by by making a greater connection between both halves of his brain (the bicameral surgery and experiments) so that he could operate on a baser level (hence "devolving his brain"). However, by doing this his mind is able to see and hear things that we would not normally pick up. His dead dad stated "I always wondered if evolution somehow robbed us of a world of unseen visions and heard silences." I guess Sykes, through the simplifying of his brain, is able to see and hear things in more ways than others (hence making him an extremely powerful telepath). When he was riding that whale, did anyone else notice that he had a slight smile?

The whole "Uncle Alvin" thing was creppy as hell. Did he actually molest Sykes, or was he trapped in Sykes' mind after he killed his parents? This issue was hella confusing.

[Emerald Ghost]

The whole "Uncle Alvin" thing was creppy as hell. Did he actually molest Sykes, or was he trapped in Sykes' mind after he killed his parents? This issue was hella confusing.

I do not know. Both are very creepy thoughts to have such a jerk do that to a kid and perhaps be stuck in their head.

Very confusing iss. But in good way! I want to think sometimes and figure puzzles out.

[Sekhemket]

Check out the background of the room Uncle Alvin and the primitive man came out of... both had that same pinkish glow of Sykes' null field, which makes me think he got trapped in his mind as he tried to molest him (even as a kid Sykes had a null field around him). I guess as he grows his field becomes wider and his brainpower more powerful, causing him to be able to manipulate things within his null field on a molecular level. Once he reaches full maturity, he may be able to spread his null field over the entire universe and truly become a god. Maybe that's why there was an insurance policy taken out in order for him to go to school as well as the complex science that went into inhibiting his abilities.

How's that for crackpot theorism?

[Mon-el]

Everyones talked about the good stuff. I finally got around to reading the Issue.

Kinda Bizarre, but any Issue with a naked Dead Kid Fred in it isn't half bad.(love that guy)

I kinda wish it was revealed later what exactly was Sykes origins. I kinda read this faster than I normally do. I really want to know the extint of Kefong's powers. I dunno if we'll get to see that since the end of the school year is coming up.