What did you read 4/10/06

[dancj]

It's been another slow couple of weeks - life keeps getting in the way of reading. I've really got to get my priorities in order:

Castle Waiting - I can blame this book for the shortness of my list. It's 450 odd pages and not decompressed. This book was quite a good series of stories set in a fairytale world. The art was appealing (and certainly better than the art Linda Medly did in Giffen's JLA), and the story was quite witty, but it never seemed to quite go anywhere. I think the problem for me was that Medly spent too much of the book giving flashback's of the characters' lives and not enough on the current ongoing stories. When the book ended it just sort of stopped without any kind of an ending.
Exterminators v1: Bug Brothers - This was enjoyable and had good art. I'm definitely on board for future TPBs
Full Moon Fever - Joe Casey doing werewolves on the moon. It's pretty much what it is, competently done but with nothing to make it stand out from other similar books.
Buzzboy: Trouble in Paradise - This was a good bit of snappy superhero fun set in a world where the world's premier, and only surviving (or is he....) superhero has declared martial law and taken over the world. I enjoyed it.
The Supernaturalists - a good twenties vampire/crime story. The story kept me interested til the end and the black and white art had a very nice European feel to it which I couldn't place until I read Steven Grant's blurb on the back which compared it with Hugo Pratt. That one's spot on.

[pmpknface]

Let's see...

Last night I re-read Walking DeadVol 4 and then got into Vol 5 - FINALLY! Some really great moments in here. I hope I don't have to wait as long for the next installment because just about everyone here is left in a world of hurt and I gotta know what happens! I read this before I went to bed last night, and I swear I ended up dreaming about zombies too.

I also read Justice League Unlimited #25 with the Blue Devil, which as usual was a cool little story. Usually the type of thing that is reserved for the Martian Manhunter but still good.

Claws #2 with Wolvie and Black Cat was much better than #1 and really gave me my $'s worth. Cover to cover action that finally made me feel like a "most dangerous game" story was finally worth reading.

Lady Death: War of the Winds wrap cvr #3 was pretty cool. LD finally cuts loose w/ the magical powers, but against the humans.

I've got Daughters of the Dragon and Justice Vol. 1 w/ me today. I have to figure out if I want vol. 2 because I've gotta order it soon!

[jclaus]

I've got Daughters of the Dragon

I bought that trade over the weekend and read it on Monday night. It definitely made for a great read in one sitting. Palmiotti and Gray seem to be a little hit or miss with writing (Battle for Bludhaven # 1 was a miss), but Daughters of the Dragon was a hit. Misty Knight and Colleen Wing are two very strong female characters that can stand with any male character in the Marvel U. Good sense of friendship is portrayed through their sense of humor and when Colleen reaches out to Misty in one scene. The writing conveys how much the two really care for each other on many levels. While the story is nothing incredibly inventive (main villainess has something every other bad guy/group wants so hold a secret auction that the heroines eventually crash), JP and JG keep with the action/kung fu/popcorn movie feel. There are some striking (or should I say revealing) pictures of Misty, Colleen and Ricadonna (main villainess). Overall, I would grade the artwork at a strong B+. Although, there is one scene where Misty jumps on top of a moving police car and the next panel definitely looks anatomically uncomfortable with some body parts at odd angles.

Daredevil #89 was an interesting switch in stories. We are switched from a year of prison stories to the first part of a European arc. This issue might read better as a part of the whole arc because it really is just a set up. It does make perfect sense on why Matt would be a great Texas Hold 'Em player.

Civil War # 4 and Amazing Spider-Man #535 were decent reads, but I am struggling to see how Iron Man could possibly be redeemed as a hero after this. I just think Clor/Thone is a bad idea. Plus, I feel that Millar's political leanings are playing too strongly into the story. The dialogue between Peter and Tony was well done in ASM. Garney did a great job of facial expressions to portray how each character was reacting to the other.

[pmpknface]

The recent Iron Man arc, which just finished a week or so ago, gave a little more insight as to WHY he's doing this. Couple that with the woman who lost her son, and you've got IM on a mission. I know what you're saying though... especially after what we see in ASM #535 it REALLY puts Tony in a bad light.

[goman]

I read a lot just last night. There was the ACTOR Comics Presents, VOL 1. For an anthology book, all I can say is there were only a few stories I didn't love, and they were merely great. Buy it if only for the Mark Waid and C.B. Cebuliski (I think I murdered that) convention stories. Plus, 10 bucks going to a great cause. Buy it if you can find it.

Also finished Doug TenNapel's Creature Tech, which is probably the TenNapel story I like best. When you see a giant Preying Mantis sitting on a toilet, you can't really un-see that. Just a hilarious book. Pick up any TenNapel stuff if you haven't already.

Read Black Harvest by Josh Blaylock. Eh. Wasn't bad, but felt a little rushed in the story. Art was pretty good. I'd never read his work before but it's not too bad. I think I signed up for the Dead@17 ongoing which I thought was supposed to be out by now. I look for it when it comes out though.

Got through Crying Freeman Vol 2 & 3. Again, not bad, but I don't know why I buy it. I may have pre-ordered vol 4, if I did, I'll stop with that. If I didn't order, I'm done with it.

And yes, I did read the last four pages of Civil War:Frontline #6 last week. I pretty much just flipped through it and didn't pay much attention. And did they have to photo reference Lee Harvey Oswald's death for the Speedball story? I mean, geez, was that really nessesary? I liked his walk to the court right up to that point.

[pmpknface]

I thought the "last pages" of CW: Frontline this week were the BEST "last pages" so far. During a superhero battle of that size you always lose something and the Nighthawk scenes were very cool!

ALSO - I read Ninja Scroll #1. I got it as kind of a test because I LOVED the anime to death. Anything other than the main flick was a crap shoot, but that movie was key, and so was this issue. Lots of fun!

[torippu]

life keeps getting in the way of reading. I've really got to get my priorities in order:

I'm in the same boat right now as well. This whole "do real stuff first before you read your comics" crap is for the birds!

Exterminators v1: Bug Brothers - This was enjoyable and had good art. I'm definitely on board for future TPBs

Did it read better collected? I got issue #1 and was completely turned off on the series. If the buzz keeps on building, this may be something that I pick up at a later date.

[torippu]

Palmiotti and Gray seem to be a little hit or miss with writing (Battle for Bludhaven # 1 was a miss), but Daughters of the Dragon was a hit.

Exactly! I'm trying to figure out why I loved the hell out of Daughters of the Dragon but then thought that the Bludhaven & Uncle Sam (so far) mini-series have stunk to high heaven.

Civil War # 4 and Amazing Spider-Man #535 were decent reads, but I am struggling to see how Iron Man could possibly be redeemed as a hero after this. I just think Clor/Thone is a bad idea. Plus, I feel that Millar's political leanings are playing too strongly into the story. The dialogue between Peter and Tony was well done in ASM. Garney did a great job of facial expressions to portray how each character was reacting to the other.

I've never been a big Thor fan, so Clor didn't really rub me the wrong way like it did some people. I'm going to read the whole storyline before I rush to judgement. Like a lot of people, I do find that I am having a hard time understanding the motivations behind the pro-registration side of MCW. I will admit that I don't read FF or IM (money doesn't grow on trees you know?) so this may have something to do with it. I thought that the explanation from Reed in the most recent ASM was well done - although would the character sacrifice everything (wife, friends, etc.) just to do what is right?

ASM has been on a roll since Ron Garney come aboard as regular penciler. The art is definitely more to my liking. I don't recall his art being this strong back in Cap days - the addition of Bill Reinhold as his inker is the key ingredient?

Trip

[jclaus]

I've never been a big Thor fan, so Clor didn't really rub me the wrong way like it did some people. I'm going to read the whole storyline before I rush to judgement. Like a lot of people, I do find that I am having a hard time understanding the motivations behind the pro-registration side of MCW. I will admit that I don't read FF or IM (money doesn't grow on trees you know?) so this may have something to do with it. I thought that the explanation from Reed in the most recent ASM was well done - although would the character sacrifice everything (wife, friends, etc.) just to do what is right?

I have never been a huge Thor fan either (although Walt Simonson's run was quite good and Jurgens/JR jr's recent run was well done as well), but the idea of Clor/Thone just seemed to take away from the return of Thor concept Quesada seemed big on at cons and interviews.

I am trying not to rush to judgment either on CW too early, but Millar is making that a little tough. There are still 3 issues left and things could change around (hopefully not in a reset button way). I think the thing that bugs me the most is the timing inside the story. It seems like Cap/IM went from fighting Ultron at 11:59PM to fighting each other at 12:01AM (along with their supporters). Even the real life Bush administration took some time to implement the TSA, DHS, etc. And exactly how much time has passed? How exactly did the Neg Zone prison of that size get built so quick? I can waive some sense of disbelief in comics, but CW seems overly exaggerated to me for the sake of the story.

I also understand the "cold scientist" part of Reed's personality, but he is definitely bordering on "mad scientist". And this from someone who violated international law by invading and taking over a sovereign nation(Latveria) and violated the sanctity of Heaven itself to save a friend. Now, suddenly, laws matter?! He also seems way to dismissive of Sue. He knows passion and family love are two of her greatest strengths and to so quickly ignore her in the current matter just seems too forced in order to advance CW as a story.

[pmpknface]

Finished Daughters of the Dragon last night. Funs stuff! I love the oddball MU characters, and this mini had plenty!

Read BATMAN: Dark Detective by Engelheart & Rodgers/Austin. Friggin' amazing. Makes me want to get the tpb of their 1st run.

Then, I moved back on to my ETERNALS HC. I'm now in issue #6 with plenty more to go. It's gettin' good tho!

FYI - (I may reply to the CW stuff above in the other CW thread)

[goman]

ALSO - I read Ninja Scroll #1. I got it as kind of a test because I LOVED the anime to death. Anything other than the main flick was a crap shoot, but that movie was key, and so was this issue. Lots of fun!

I got Ninja Scroll #1 yesterday and thought it was pretty good as well. My excitment for it did ramp up about halfway through when you realize who's coming after him. And that last page is pure anime nerd-gasm. Now I can't wait for #2.

[pmpknface]

I got Ninja Scroll #1 yesterday and thought it was pretty good as well. My excitment for it did ramp up about halfway through when you realize who's coming after him. And that last page is pure anime nerd-gasm. Now I can't wait for #2.

On eof the best parts about the anime was how well it was animated, and I was surprised how well the comic captured the motion. Tessai's sword throw was a little confusing for a second, but I thought they did a good job overall.

[goman]

Totally. Ninja Scroll still holds up today. I'm thinking I'll have to watch it this weekend. I thin after the bees and the snake showed up, I knew what was going on and could tell what the effect for Tessai's sword was supposed to be. It might be more confusing for someone who ahsn't watched the anime.

[pmpknface]

Ya know, I've known of Ninja Scroll for so long it never occurred to me that there are people out there who don't know what it is.

If any of you out there have no idea what we're talking about, GO OUT AND WATCH IT TODAY! You won't regret it! :D

[goman]

What pmpknface said. Join us. JOIN US!!!!!

Yeah, it's been out for so long, and so much has been released since that's it's kind of lost it's place at the top. So much anime released now is for a younger or wider audience that stuff like Ninja Scroll and Akira are being forgotten.

Okay, we have officially entered tangent territory.