Jim
Thunderjet
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Post by Jim on Dec 7, 2013 12:51:27 GMT
Jim, can you snag me a Bride of Ultron please? I snagged the only one on the shelf, but experience tells me they will have more out before long, so will be sure to keep an eye out for you. -Jim |
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Dec 16, 2013 11:22:20 GMT
Due to illnesses, lots of collection finishing lately.
Iron Man 2020 is a mixed bag - the Spider-Man annual story I thought I remembered so well is much more of a mess than I expected with some dodgy art and a decent core idea let down by uninspired writing. The Machine Man LS is of course as awesome as ever, especially on the art front, and surely deserved its own stand-alone HC release. The Walt Simonson one-shot is OK, and the modern stuff serviceable.
Doom 2099 by Warren Ellis is much more consistent, and quite enjoyable if you're in the mood for some classic Ellis (I'm not always, but this time I was). Great take on Doom's character, surprisingly political (and depressingly as relevant as ever), and some nice art in particular from Pat Broderick.
-Jim
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Post by legios on Dec 17, 2013 20:27:41 GMT
Prophet: Remission Picked up from the library on a whim because I had read the first issue a while back, surprisingly good stuff. I only know the original Prophet stuff tangentially but that doesn't seem to be an issue because this is a bit of a reinvention, and what a reinvention. The original may have been 90's Liefield Superhero stuff, but this new version barely resembles that - heck, it barely resembles an American Comic. Much closer in terms of tone and style to the sort of Space Opera comic that you would expect to come out of Europe. It feels like every page is an exercise in throwing a new, bonkers-mental, idea at the reader and building a truly strange and alien world. Indeed, the first trade even switches protagonists part-way through as it reveals that there is not a single John Prophet, but an army of clones seeded throughout the galaxy by whatever Humanity has become... Some great work in building alien mindsets and environments allows for a story that takes the reader on unexpected twists and turns. And having different artists on different arcs is a bonus rather than a handicap when they each get a chance to define their own, individual, John Prophet and the world in which that particular version finds himself.
Great fun, mental, stuff. Always like to see US Comics stretch themselves to reach the rest of the genre envelope.
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 25, 2013 0:58:53 GMT
Infinity Gauntlet Aftermath is now mine thanks to Andu.
I must now get Infinity Abyss as it has finally been traded.
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Dec 25, 2013 10:16:21 GMT
I knew you had your eye on it and the gestalt must own all Cosmic Jim (save Gilgamesh II).
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 25, 2013 11:06:21 GMT
Will also need Marvel Universe: The End and the Thanos solo series trade. The urge for more Cosmic Jim is upon me.
-Ralph
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Dec 25, 2013 13:57:03 GMT
I am currently reading Infinity Gauntlet Aftermath, a fine trade! I was previously unfamiliar with the Silver Surfer stuff, and Infinity Watch remains as entertaining as I remember from all those years ago.
Did anyone bring up the news here of the (somewhat unsurprising) Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus due next summer? No word of contents yet but it has a whopping page count, so here's hoping for lots of build-up / cross-over / aftermath stuff (most of which I probably already own anyway, but what the heck...).
-Jim
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 28, 2013 17:26:13 GMT
Saw Infinity Abyss in Waterstones. Thought: 'I'll have that'. Price was £22.50! It's only 6 issues!
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Dec 29, 2013 10:27:57 GMT
That's a disgrace.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 29, 2013 13:41:01 GMT
Indeed. My mind boggled as I checked to see if it was printed on gold paper before I put it back on the shelf.
Truth be told, I was in looking for the Covenant of Primus!
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 31, 2013 19:04:37 GMT
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Jan 1, 2014 10:39:53 GMT
Finished Infinity Gauntlet: Aftermath. As expected the Marz Silver Surfer stuff is quite a bit weaker than the Starlin stuff, but was still a pleasant enough holiday read. I must break out my old Infinity Watch issues though, would quite like to pick up where the collection left off.
-Jim
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jan 1, 2014 14:14:10 GMT
Picked up the first issue of this. Judging by the spine desin and numbering it looks like a relaunch of the previous hard back series. |
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 1, 2014 15:15:28 GMT
It pretty much is with a different focus. The last series was story focussed, this run is character/team focussed. The first one is worth anyone's money. For £2 you get the best ever Ultron story which is otherwise only in print in an expensive oversized HC this side of the second Avengers film coming out.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 1, 2014 15:32:38 GMT
Ultron Unlimited? Reprinted in 2012 as part of Avengers Assemble v2 and still available. Never really floated my boat TBH. But a good buy for just £2 |
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 1, 2014 16:04:14 GMT
Well that trade costs £14 more so still good value!
Oh, Phil. You make me sad. Embrace the glory of Ultron's ultimate victory!
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 1, 2014 17:39:34 GMT
If I see a copy of this tomorrow I will buy it and attempt to re-read.
The Busiek run in general, while highly praised elsewhere, doesn't really do it for me. Give me Stern/Shooter/Byrne any day.
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 1, 2014 17:43:17 GMT
No, Phil, no. The Busiek run was the last great run of Avengers before it morphed into the very different beast it is today.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 1, 2014 18:27:31 GMT
So the world says. My vote awards that to the Stern run.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 1, 2014 18:34:45 GMT
Speaking of Ultronn has anyone got anything to say on Age of Ultron? Comixology have it at .69p an issue so was wondering about picking it up cheap
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jan 1, 2014 19:05:35 GMT
Speaking of Ultronn has anyone got anything to say on Age of Ultron? Comixology have it at .69p an issue so was wondering about picking it up cheap Avoid. Tedious. Andy |
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 1, 2014 22:45:05 GMT
Decompressed crap.
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 2, 2014 10:52:38 GMT
Well I tried to subscribe but just got an error email back! The Universe is trying to tell me something! EDIT. One email says it is set up, one email says they did not get my payment info and is asking me to post in payment details. Looks dodgy as fook. The online account says it is set up but I am paying by cheque. Um, no, I don't use cheques. Wow, this company ain't great at setting up subs. I'll just wait and see if anything turns up in the mail in a month... -Ralph |
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Jim
Thunderjet
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Post by Jim on Jan 2, 2014 13:36:04 GMT
I only read the first issue, but it was enough to put me off Age of Ultron forever. Avoid.
I liked Busiek's Avengers, but felt it traded a lot on past glories. Would rather re-read Englehart / Shooter / Stern as it all still feels "fresher" somehow, where the ground was originally being broken. I think he balanced his love of Marvel continuity with something genuinely new and exciting much better with Thunderbolts (still surprised no Omnibus has been announced there).
-Jim
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 2, 2014 14:29:43 GMT
You have a point about Busiek's Avengers. It is a bit 'greatest hits' but for me it worked in the context of the time. Since then we've had endless rehashes of old material via Ultimate style makeovers and six million Avengers titles so it reads less fresh than it did at the time.
Stern's Avengers is tops.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 2, 2014 18:01:44 GMT
If I see a copy of this tomorrow I will buy it and attempt to re-read. Secured |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jan 2, 2014 18:07:17 GMT
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Post by legios on Jan 7, 2014 17:32:34 GMT
I received, "Thanos: Redemption" as a present this Christmas. Great Cosmic stuff from Jim Starlin and Keith Giffen, who does actually make a worthy successor when he steps into Starlin's shoes for the second story arc in this trade. Love the casual cosmic nonsense of a villian who at one point breaks the Fourth Wall to exposit at the readers in a pointed example of the fact that the nature of the villian and its scheme are not really the important thing. The important thing is Thanos attempting to mend his ways and do good in the universe, whilst still behaving in that "playing twenty moves ahead" long game thing which makes him such an infuriatingly good villian (and an equally entertainingly infuriating hero). A pair of plots of epic scope, played out in a surprisingly low-key way - this is as much "Thanos as thinker" as it is "Thanos as cosmic power" make it rather entertaining - as do some enjoyable surprise guest stars.
The highlight of the trade is probably the first half - pencilled and written by Starlin, but the team of Giffen and Ron Lim prove themselves no slouches when they take the reigns in the second half either. All told, very entertaining stuff if you have any fondness in your heart for Thanos of Titan.
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Jan 7, 2014 18:12:47 GMT
I quite enjoyed the Thanos ongoing at the time and was sad to see it go.
In other trade news, I remembered today that I had the Zenith HC from Andu and plan to start reading it tonight. I recall not thinking the strip was that amazing and have been turned off by years of internet shouting about it but will be curious to see how it reads. I am frightened to drop it though.
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jan 7, 2014 18:17:12 GMT
Chances are you drop it and you'll smash a floorboard or two!
Andy
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