kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
Posts: 5,527
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Post by kayevcee on Nov 21, 2007 0:26:33 GMT
Why is Nextwave #9 listed among February 2008 comics? If this marks the return of the Quixotic Quintet I shall be over the moon.
-Nick
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 22, 2007 20:54:51 GMT
Why is Nextwave #9 listed among February 2008 comics? If this marks the return of the Quixotic Quintet I shall be over the moon. -Nick You- Y-you're kidding! INCREDIBLE! I see no Nextwave #9 listed there. -Ralph |
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 10, 2007 17:25:31 GMT
Unusually big haul this week:
Starlord #4: Tops end to a tops series.
Annihilation Conquest #1: Hmmm, mostly a recap issue and I can't say the new take on Warlock interests me. On the fence whether to be back for #2.
The Order #4: The plot thickens. Gets better every issue. Easily the most dense monthly book Marvel are putting out, with characters I care about. Even Tony Stark isn't a dick in this.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #8: Treading water a bit (I suspect the current storyline would have worked better as a 3-parter) but still fun.
Fantastic Four #551: Heading into the final stretch with the current creative team. If only they were staying on rather than being pulled for the upcoming Miller/Hitch hype-machine. Genuinely surprising cliffhanger.
-Ralph
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Post by legios on Nov 11, 2007 21:25:55 GMT
Owch, my wallet hurts. Unexpectedly large haul of comics this week has cost me a lot more than I was planning. May have to be thinking carefully about letting a title or two go in the longer term. However:-
Annihilation:Conquest #1: After all the set-up mini-series are done and out of the way the actual "event" mini starts, and is a bit dissappointing really. Some good set-up about what has happened to the occupied Kree empire now it has been body-snatched into being effectively a giant industrial process with the inhabitants as just raw materials. However, I found the actual meat of the issue a bit dissappointing. This may be because, like Ralph I am not bothered at all about the reinvention of Warlock. Also Phylla Vell has become less interesting to me since she became Quasar and seemingly had most of her character removed (she seems to be entirely defined as "I am Lesbian Space Superhero" at the moment. A step backwards from the situation during PAD's Captain Marvel run. The old-school Marvel fan in me did get a bit of a kick out of the revelation of who the villian behind the villians was, but I'm not sure that is enough to keep me with this series. At the moment really the only thing I am fussed about seeing is a return appearance by the "Starlord" mini-series cast. This series is on notice with me, pending further scrutiny of my budget.
Potters Field#2: Always nice to be picking up something that isn't superhero or mecha-related (need a varied diet and all that) and I have a long held liking of Mark Waid's work. Like the tone of this - very noir/gumshoe-ish, and Paul Azaceta's art is a very good match for it. Some wonderfully hard-boiled plotting and some well realised streets-level action sequences. I like this a lot - and I'm quite glad that it is a Boom Studios book. Not only because their production values are superb, but that means that it is likely that it won't be coming out on a monthly schedule which, with it being a $3.99 book, is making the difference between me picking up future issues and having to sadly rule it out.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer#8: A little bit loggy in the middle this issue. There's a whole section of this issue that the story doesn't actually need to function, and which almost feels like a bit of a side-loop. The basic structure of what's going on here - operative sent in undercover, discovers the enemy they have been sent in to kill has an uncomfortable amount in common with them - is pretty much the beat this story was inevitably going to hit. That isn't to say that it isn't well executed. However, it wouldn't have been enough for more than about a third/half an issue. It really feels like if some fat had been trimmed of the first couple of issues of this story then all this could have been moved up an issue getting a much snappier pace out of it. That said, this is still a very enjoyable title, one of the ones I leave till last in my pile (always read the best stuff last I figure) and I am enjoying it a lot.
Annihilation: Conquest Star Lord#4:
They say all good things must come to an end, and as this has been such a very good series.... it comes to a rollicking good end. Keith Giffen has done a fantastic job with this title. "The Dirty Dozen in space" is a premise that doesn't necessarily fill one with confidence, but Giffen has handled it with aplomb. There's been a light touch to this book, with it being unafraid to kindly mock the very cliches it has been trading from. Plus it has a grittily competent Rocket Racoon in it, which is always a bonus. As is traditional this final issue (I really want to say "final reel" because there has been something very cinematic about this) sees the whole team pull together to get out of the truly disastrous situation they were in at the end of the previous issue, with everyone pulling their schtick out the bag and doing there thing, all capped with an ending that sets up a classic last page. The art from Timothy Green II is great as well - his framing of some of the panels just works so in my view. This series has been an absolute joy and, although my wallet is pleased, I am sorry to see it end. I'm not sure about the overall "Conquest" event, but I would love to see these guys get another mini-series or something.
Finally, a back-issue I acquired this week:-
Legion of Superheroes in the 31st Century#6: This month, the Legion meet the Green Lantern Corp of the 31st Century. Good, breezy, all-ages stuff. It may be aimed at a much younger audience than my good self but I still have a lot of time for this book. Simple superheroics, uncomplicated by the perceived need for "depth" and "relevance" which series like "Civil War" or "Identity Crisis" drag around like luggage still has an appeal to a part of me that will remain forever eight. Also this issue features a Panda who is a Green Lantern. I'll restate this for clarity, one of the Green Lanterns is a Giant Panda. There is something about this that seems right and appropriate - also he is a great little character in his own right, to which his Panda-ness is an added bonus. Good fun stuff, think I may stick with this title a bit, see how it grabs me over the longer haul.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 12, 2007 11:04:04 GMT
Big pile awaiting me in London !
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 12, 2007 11:19:47 GMT
Annihilation Conquest #1.
The new Adam Warlock doesn't fill me with much confidence as a workable character to be honest. Didn't Marvel learn their lesson from that woeful Greg Pak/Charlie Adlard series? The stupid goatee and the male Mary Marvel costume are horrendous. And the sudden ability of his to have magical powers.
I can't fault the lineart - Tom Raney has long been a favourite of mine since I saw his work in Silver Surfer fill-ins during The Infinity Gauntlet (he always does a splendid Adam Warlock). The story itself is perfectly fine it's just Warlock's retooling sticks out like a sore thumb and continually pulls me back out from the tale. Great to see the High Evolutionary again.
One thing though this Nu-Kree business. What happened to the Kree now being the Ruul. That seems to have been cast to the wayside rather sharpish, or has it been addressed elsewhere?
Freddy vs Jason vs Ash #1
There was never any doubt that I was going to pick this up, my love of crap horror films and the Evil Dead series guaranteed it. Very little Ash in the issue (although he narrates it) and as a result, it's a fairly serious effort. Not the way to go, particularly as the Freddy vs Jason film embraced the cheesiness of the concept and despite the mayhem and gore had it's tongue firmly in cheek.
It's all set up for the first issue so I'll give it another go when issue 2 comes out and hopefully more Ash will mean a lightening of the tone.
Andy
Andy
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 13, 2007 20:36:25 GMT
As Promised.... Lots of limited series finishing
MU A-Z Update 4: More profiles.
Avengers Illuminati 5 of 5: What happened when Elektra's body got brought to show and tell. Quite a big issue, centring around the reveal of which of them is a Skrull. Stark painted in a decent light. Best issue of the series.
WWH: Gamma Corp 4 of 4: You may recall I've quite liked this series. Well this issue comes along and throws everything in the bin. All the people whose problems were caused by the Hulk ? Hulk shows them it's someone else's fault. Ruins that lovely issue showing the teams origins. Not a good conclusion, left a very bad taste in the mouth.
Super Villain Team Up: Modok's 11 5 of 5: More double crossing. A bit silly and inconsiquential as series go but it was fun how it was done.
X-Men 204: The wrap up to the marauders battle in the last few issues. Rogue's team is in ruins, Rogue herself is held by the Marauders and Cable's dead.
New X-Men 43: A bunch of scared kids who think they're going to die soon. Got trouble identifying with this book as it's yet another attempt to do Mutant kids and they always go wrong in the end. Several bits of the comic's history come up during the issue (Purifiers, Predator X) which will show up in Messiah Complex.
Astonishing X-Men 23: Of course Cyclops isn't dead. Duh. I struggle with this comic as well, feels isolated from everything else and drawn out due to the issues not shipping on time.
X-Men: Messiah Complex (MC1) OK.... A new mutant is born manifesting it's powers at birth (like Multiple Man and that recent X-Factor villain) The Purifiers and Marauders wipe out a town trying to get to it, and Predator X is tracking it. The X-Men are lagging behind somewhat....
Uncanny X-Men 492 (MC2) More Cyclops arguing with Professor X, hunting the Marauders, and they call X-Factor in. Not bad so far ....; but recent MU events have left me a little jaded so...... Need to see what happend.
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kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
Posts: 5,527
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Post by kayevcee on Nov 13, 2007 21:44:19 GMT
The events in Messiah Complex remind me of Mark Millar's early run on the Authority, which I thought at the time was an effort to make an already breathtakingly violent comic much darker and more purposefully gory than it was before.
Dear Comics Industry,
chill out on the darkness, please.
Yours,
Nick.
-Nick
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 13, 2007 22:09:59 GMT
You read X-Men and you almost feel you're back in the bad old days pre Morrison again (I'm a Morrison was the best thing to happen to the X-Men since Jim Lee was the artist on Uncanny person) Lots of stuff that you suspect is vaguely something old rehashed. I'm hoping the fortcoming reboot shakes things up a bit. Dark is good sometimes - look at Brubakers Captain America and Daredevil. The Order #4: The plot thickens. Gets better every issue. Easily the most dense monthly book Marvel are putting out, with characters I care about. Even Tony Stark isn't a dick in this. Is this wortjh reading ? Didn't like the first issue, might buy the trade if you think it's up to scratch. |
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 14, 2007 9:32:06 GMT
It's like The Avengers: The Initiative, but with characters that are actually interesting and without the jingistic tone. Also, it has rampaging zombie homeless people: Zobos.
-Ralph
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
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Post by Gav on Nov 14, 2007 9:51:42 GMT
I'm glad that 'Y the last man' has been great the last 3 months. I'd hate to see such a brilliant series end at the bottom of a year-long slump. I don't know what I'm going to do when it's over.
I've also been really enjoying 'The Initiative' a lot more than i thought i would. It reminds me of Joss Whedon, only for men. Hahaha.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 14, 2007 10:57:56 GMT
Hmmm. I quite like Avengers: Initative
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Post by legios on Nov 18, 2007 19:35:38 GMT
A light week this week, but one that has caused me to reshuffle my buying plans slightly:-
Nova#8: After a relatively lacklustre, and unfortunately rather inconsequential "Annihilation:Conquest" crossover I was strongly considering dropping this series(it hadn't been bad, just a bit mediocre and not really up to the mark it had hit before). I'm glad I stayed on for one more issue to be honest. Stranding Nova out in unknown space works very well given he is supposed to be a space policeman,and it allows for a really nice reveal this issue that works well for readers who know Marvel's cosmic stuff. It looks like the story is going to be a bit of a "space haunted house" thing, but done well those can be very enjoyable. The interplay between Nova and the Xandarian Worldmind is also back and I think that this bantering relationship is one of the things that makes this title. Also, if I wasn't already planning on sticking with this title the appearance of one of the guest stars - a telepathic russian dog in a spacesuit, who can also talk (beink talking in proper Russian akcent da?) would have been enough to clinch it. Not dropping this after all, which means that something else has to go to make room to keep it in the budget. Having not enjoyed the first issue of "Annihilation:Conquest" I'm letting that go, and Nova gets to take its slot.
Suicide Squad#3(of8): Ok, now I am confused. In honesty this issue would have made a perfectly good last issue for a miniseries - the Rick Flag/Rustam story is concluded, we get a bit of an origin story of how the two first met before they were enemies, some more backstory on the late 90's blackops "suicide squad" Flag served on(judging by this Mini-series the new status quo is that the issue of Suicide Squad in which Flag apparently died in Qumar is set three years before todays date, making Waller's Squad a creation of the new millenium. Not sure how that works for me. In honesty the whole idea feels too eighties for it to sit comfortably as that recent. Another slightly idiotic result of Super-punching of reality), the tables get turned on General Erling and Amanda Waller sets up a new Suicide Squad..... It's a decent enough read, and it is John Ostrander but it doesn't read like the third issue of a longer miniseries. In fact it reads a lot like the end of the first story arc of an on-going title - the new-old status quo has been laid out, old business from a preceeding series has been dealt with and we are ready to launch into new missions. Not sure whether I will be reporting for duty to be honest. Much as I like John Ostrander as a writer I'm not sure that this is going to work too well as a mini-series. This one goes on the "pending decision" list but may well be getting dropped.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 18, 2007 20:26:51 GMT
Trip to London to see Dad this week so I'll get last week's comics then. Expecting
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #7
NEW AVENGERS #36
WORLD WAR HULK #5 (OF 5) WWH
X-FACTOR #25 MC
for this week and
Ex-Machina 32
Captain America #32
Heroes For Hire #15 WWH
Incredible Hulk #111
New X-men #44
for next week. After which Hulk gets it, WWH is done and thus I don't need Heroes For Hire any more either.
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kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
Posts: 5,527
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Post by kayevcee on Nov 18, 2007 23:40:00 GMT
Big week for me. Real big.
Nova #8: Holy crap. One of the best single issues I've read this year.
Captain Marvel #1: Holy crap. This is awful. It's like it was written in an alternate universe where Jim Starlin was never born. The only interesting thing happens in the last three pages (Cap punches out a giant mechanical deathbot in Manhattan after it tans the Avengers), and they really should have been the first three pages. The preceding 17 pages (minus the 2 page CW recap at the start) were unbearably pretentious. This issue may go in the recycling bin.
X Factor #25: Peter David's favourite mutant detective agency is dragged into another giant, incomprehensible X-crossover. There's enough in the issue for me to pick up on what's happening and follow the story, but the previous two parts (as well as the next however-many) will all happen in other comics, so it doesn't really matter. Still, it leaves the characters in interesting places by the end and I'm looking forward to next month's installment.
World War Hulk #5: The Hulk fights the Sentry with some of the biggest, maddest sound effects I have ever seen in printed media. To quote comics blogger Chris Sims:
"I mean sure, I’ve seen people get hit hard enough to sound like “KRAKADOOM” before, but I have never seen anything that would necessitate a sound like “Sppppjjzzzzzz.” ... I have no idea what you’d even have to do to make sounds like that, and I think that’s the point: This is a fight so ridiculously insane that you’ve never seen anything like it. And, well, I got a pretty nice chuckle out of “GRGGPAKK!” too."
A slightly confused box-ticking session of an ending where all the right people come out as heroes in the end and everything can go back to normal. Until the next big crossover. In about four months. Sigh. Still, this one was fun while it lasted, and didn't require reading 18 other comics to know what's going on (see X-Factor).
Punisher- War Journal #13: In a dramatic change of pace from the recent hillbilly-nazis-in-the-desert Hatemonger storyline, and from last month's brilliant World War Frank set in post-Hulkalyptic New York, in this issue Frank tries to kill the Rhino with an anti-tank rocket and gets a stern lecture from Spider-man about his bad language. The change of art team is a bit jarring after 12 issues on the trot with a very distinctive style, but it's still great.
All Star Superman #9: Frank Quitely's glacial work rate finally squeezes out another issue, and Superman returns from Bizarro planet to find he's been replaced. By a pair of snooty Kryptonian supremacists. In the inevitable fight, they break the Moon. Yeah. Also, one of them is named after a Scottish maximum security prison. Cracking stuff. It would be unbeatable if it would just come out more than twice a year.
-Nick
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Gav
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John Travoltage!
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Post by Gav on Nov 19, 2007 8:03:51 GMT
I laughed so hard at the WWH ending. Especially the last page advert. SKARR! SON OF HULK!
He's got long hair and a Bad-Ass attitude! Grrrr! Will he have a cyber-eye? Pouches?
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 19, 2007 10:45:39 GMT
Son of - wait, no. Surely you jest.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 19, 2007 10:47:47 GMT
No. See Newsrama.
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 19, 2007 11:13:01 GMT
*reads*
Hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Didn't bother with World War Hulk #5 when I saw it on shelves and realised I couldn't remember what happened in the previous issue.
-Ralph
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
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Post by Gav on Nov 19, 2007 12:01:45 GMT
Well Duh! Hulk Smashed!
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 19, 2007 13:26:29 GMT
Obviously, yeah. And that was very entertaining for a couple of issues, but after that I really needed a plot to kick in. "Hulk smash!" is great fun from time to time, but in small doses. For me, anyway.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 19, 2007 13:43:21 GMT
Honestly ? WWH has read like a 5 year old's comic for the most part. Hulk's been a load of waffle and no action, Gamma Corp looked good but fell to pieces in the last issue, nothing happened in Front Line, WWH X-Men was silly and the only crossover worth while was Heroes for Hire (exploring the threat that's been obvious to X fans from the start)
And it's such a huge shame because Planet Hulk was one of the best things since sliced bread.
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
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Post by Gav on Nov 19, 2007 14:36:58 GMT
Totally agree with you, Payres. Planet Hulk was a fantastic romp. I thought WWH would be an attempt to add a deeper side to the Hulk. Unfortunately it just descended into one big superhero pissing contest after another. A fun book, but a ultimately a soulless affair.
UNLIKE SKARR....SON OF HULK!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 19, 2007 14:42:18 GMT
This vaguely tickles me but I'm not too sure about it. First trade to see what it's like.
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Post by The Doctor on Nov 19, 2007 14:45:13 GMT
It has the potential to either be a train-wreck or solid-gold mental fun. Not the kind of premise that can possibly fall in the middle, I think! SKARR's name should always be in capital letters though and someone must gasp in witless horror: "The SON of HULK!" while turning and running towards the reader at the bottom corner of the panel, Kirby style, at least every second page.
-Ralph
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Post by Jaymz on Nov 19, 2007 22:54:38 GMT
Punisher- War Journal #13: [snip] All Star Superman #9: [snip] Punisher War Journal #13 is my favourite issue since #4, I found the others lacking. And Grant Morrison was in my shop to check out the cover of ASS#9 last Thurs, which was nice. |
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
Posts: 2,047
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Post by Gav on Nov 20, 2007 7:30:48 GMT
You should have shouted at him:
WHAT THE F**K WAS 'THE FILTH' ALL ABOUT? SORT IT OOOUT!
I can't wait to bump into him.
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Post by Jaymz on Nov 20, 2007 22:31:23 GMT
You should have shouted at him: WHAT THE F**K WAS 'THE FILTH' ALL ABOUT? SORT IT OOOUT! I can't wait to bump into him. I remember not reading the filth past the 3rd issue, but we might get Chris Weston in for a signing next year, so I'll ask him. |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Nov 22, 2007 20:45:13 GMT
World War Hulk 5 of 5: Pow, Pow, Pow. Big fight issue. All over now. Thank the lord. Oh wait there's a hulk issue tomorrow. And the Heroes for Hire crossover conclusion and WWH:FL6 Nearly all over. X-Factor 25: (MC3) Does at least manage to be mostly about the X-Factor cast which is better than many crossovers I've read. Not gripping me especially and waaaaay down on the usual standard. Avengers Initiative 7: Find out who the Scarlet Spiders are ! See Peter Parker's last pre One More Day appearance. It's a good issue this, playing with a mystery that been running since the 1st issue, some typical Gyrich behaviour, Astro and War machine both being pushed to the sidelines. Worked for me. And putting the genie back into the bottle was well handled. New Avengers 36: What happened with the Venoms - still some way off in Mighty Avengers (when's issue due ? - I reckon 6 & 7 need to come out in the next month) Wolverine goes for a chat with Jessica and everyone goes for a chat with the Hood. Another comic that just worked for me. Captain America 32: A bit of an action issue this with the Widow and the Falcon assaulting the RAID base. Did Bucky shoot Sharon last issue ? New X-Men 44 (MC4): The NXM go to mix it with their old foes the purifiers unaware that X-Factor's Rictor has already infiltrated them.... and that the purifiers have some very powerful allies the main X-Team have met before. Thought on the street is that MC is going to end *very* badly for New X-Men Heroes for Hire 15: You just know this going to end badly when one of them is acting as a Brood incubator. And you'd be right. WWH crossover though not labeled as such. Incredible Hulk 111: Looked awful, there was some action but just meaningless. How far has Hulk fallen since Planet Hulk ? And next month  ? Incredible Herc Ex Machina 32: Lots of oddness. In a good way |
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Post by legios on Nov 30, 2007 20:17:46 GMT
Busier week than some for me:-
The Transformers: Devestation#3: Commented on elsewhere. Not going to repeat myself here you will be pleased to know.
Legion of Superheroes in the 31st Century#8: In which two of Triplicate Girl's bodies go off on dates whilst the third sits at home on monitor duty, and things go just a little wrong - but not in the way that you might expect. Nice showcase for the animated versions of Bouncing Boy and Triplicate Girl in a fairly lighthearted story which suits the primary age group this title is aimed at (but still amuses us big kids who are old enough to know better). I am hard-pressed to think of another current DC title where a Supervillian rampage could be fundamentally based on "Why won't you go out with me?". Not entirely serious but entertaininly fluffy stuff. (And I do tip my hat to whoever it was decided to give Triplicate Girls three bodies the three stock archetypes for girls in US school soaps - the popular sporty type, the party-animal and the studious nerd - the whole cast you need in one handy package :-) ). Enjoying this much more than I have a lot of DC's more "worthy" output recently. It is going to break my heart a little that I am going to have drop it because:-
Dan Dare#1: Now I haven't picked up any other Virgin Comics publications but the production values on this are fantastic - high GSM cover, fairly thick glossy paper for the interiors and minimal ads. Goes some way to justifying the price tag frankly. I had my concerns about a relaunch of "Dan Dare" to be honest - a character very dear to my heart but one very much of his time. I needn't have worried - Garth Ennis understands how to handle this very nicely. He hasn't updated Colonel Daniel MacGregor Dare - Dare's world has been updated, changed and modernised but Dare himself is the same man, he stands for the same values he did in the Hampson days. You get the feeling that this is the same man of whom the Mekon once said "Dan Dare never lies!". Somehow it works that Dan is still the same "Blitz Spirited", morally upright individual he always was, even though his world has moved on and is somewhat influenced my our present day. And the final panel image just sets the capstone on the sense of high adventure that he represents. It is a classic "big over the top idea".
The art from Gary Erskine is also wonderful - he's not felt constrained to try to ape the Hampson-created world of the original strip but has instead created something that feels like a plausible descendant of it. (The Space Fleet cruisers look a bit like a WWII destroyer with the lines of a Hampson rocket ship). Lovely to see updated versions of some of the old supporting cast as well.
Fantastic stuff - an object lesson in how to update an old strip but keeping its essence intact. If you have any lingering affection for "Dan Dare" then you'll enjoy reading this. I'm definitely suiting back up for this one. However, the budget is limited and something will have to go to make room for it. I've already given "Fallen Angel" the push to make room for "Nova" so I'm down to dropping either the "Devestation" mini or "Legion of....". Regretfully it looks like I am going to have to let "Legion" go, but in a very, very good cause.
Karl
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? Incredible Herc