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Post by The Doctor on Feb 2, 2008 23:16:17 GMT
I was the lone voice in the wilderness.
*sob*
But seriously, I hope the characters at least do not slide into oblivion. And yes a mini down the line if trade sales are ok would be nice.
-Ralph
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
Posts: 2,047
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Post by Gav on Feb 3, 2008 12:20:09 GMT
If there's a well written Namor in there, i'll be getting the trade.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 5, 2008 13:12:07 GMT
Paul Grist's Jack Staff Special #1 finally arrived at Turnbull Towers a week after buying it on ebay but never mind. Well worth the wait.
This is quite simply the best superhero series you aren't reading. Set in the UK featuring some fantastic homages to UK comic characters and constantly switches focus to different particpants as the overall story unfolds and has the best ending to a potential alien invasion threat I've read in a while.
Also the communications device is not too disimilar to the classic Tardis console (sans Time Rotor).
Well worth picking up.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 18, 2008 21:43:00 GMT
Some postal shenanigans meant two weeks worth of books came at once.
ClanDestine#1 - charming book from Alan Davis and co. Sadly the printing seems too dark especially in the first few pages. Probably not enough to hook someone who isn't either a fan of Alan Davis or ClanDestine as it is aimed at someone who has read the original series.
Project Superpowers #0 - the latest public domain superhero update, this one from Jim Krueger and Alex Ross. It's just there. Nothing great but nothing arse-clenchingly awful either.
Futurama Comics #35 - decent enough read but lacking some of the energy of the show.
Fantastic Comics #24 (Image Comics Next issue project) - a mixed bag with some splendid work and some not so splendid work. Jim Rugg's Captain Kidd and the Joe Casey/Bill Sienciwicz stories standing out. Ashley Wood's effort is bollocks though.
Fantastic Four: The Lost Adventure - Stan and Jack madness. Well worth picking up. Even if it is a wee bit pricey.
Jack Staff #14 - best superhero comic on the market right now. Paul Grist's effortless weaving of multiple protagonists and story threads make for an engaging book.
Countdown Special: Omac - Kirby reprints, Starlin reprints and a Len Wein/George Perez team up with Superman. The first page from Kirby is the most disturbing opening page I've seen in a while. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.
Andy
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Post by legios on Feb 18, 2008 22:13:21 GMT
Some postal shenanigans meant two weeks worth of books came at once. ClanDestine#1 - charming book from Alan Davis and co. Sadly the printing seems too dark especially in the first few pages. Probably not enough to hook someone who isn't either a fan of Alan Davis or ClanDestine as it is aimed at someone who has read the original series. That was my impression as well. It is decent stuff, with a little bit of that sense of fun and adventure that Davis does so well. I guess it boils down to a book that folk who liked the first series will like, anyone who disliked the first series will dislike and which will simply pass other folk by. Indeed, some of it is quite enjoyable. A bit variable though - some of it seems to verge a bit too much on the deconstructionist for my tastes, but when it is good it does a good job of recreating the sense of energy of the golden age stuff. Glad to see I wasn't the only one who went "what?" about Ashley Wood's piece though. I was re-reading it this morning and wondering if I would get anymore out of it if I spoke German. I was inclined to say probably not though. A bit steep on the wallet true - but how often do you get a chance to pick up a never before seen Stan Lee and Jack Kirby "Fantastic Four" story? A worthy purchase for anyone who enjoys Stan and Jack FF quite frankly. Karl |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Feb 18, 2008 22:30:01 GMT
Uncanny X-Men 495: Basically the X-Men take a holiday following Messiah Complex. Not a bad issue but not an outstanding one either. I may come back to the subject of what X-Men is doing elsewhere
New Avengers 38: The Cage family have an arguement. That's about it. Oh and Carol lets Luke go for the 3rd time in 3 weeks.
X-Factor 28: One time lost member, one member co-opted onto a covert ops team, one up the duff by another. All good fun here now we're post X-over.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Feb 22, 2008 21:43:28 GMT
Ex Machina 34: Good solid issue again charting the interaction between Mitchell and his police chief.
Mighty Avengers 9: Good issue this, nice art, decent fight story. 3 consecutive double splash pages might be a tinsy bit over doing it.
Sadly my comic shop had sold out of the most awesomely titled comic book ever so you'll have to wait to hear what I think of Orson Randall and The Green Mists of Death
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Post by jameso on Feb 23, 2008 0:45:43 GMT
X-Force #1 - pretty decent, gorgeous artwork.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Feb 26, 2008 22:00:30 GMT
Orson Randall & The Green Mists of Death (Immortal Iron Fist one shot)
Firstly is this not the greatest comic book title of all time ?
Secondly: Wow this is a good comic. If I don't say this is the best thing I read in 2008 ask me why not. We have the history of the feud between Orson Randall and John Aman - The Prince of Orphans - in 4 short stories. Each drawn differently, each reading like a different comic style. And in the process of which we get some more stuff weaved into the bigger picture: how many gateways Orson's father built, the importance of the coins (hinted at in IIF issues), Wendall's desire to be Iron Fist, and how The Prince of Orphans comes to be siding with the Thunderer.
It's sheer poetry this book. A great read if you like old comic styles, and essential if you get Immortal Iron Fist (which I assume you all do after I raved about it so much)
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Feb 26, 2008 23:28:25 GMT
I have seen this and will get round to picking it up but from what I've read of it both here and elsewhere the trades are on the to buy list.
Andy
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Post by Philip Ayres on Feb 27, 2008 4:16:58 GMT
Yes. Get Trade 1 as soon as. It's great.
And this issue even makes you think Hang On about a minor detail in the first trade....
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Post by legios on Mar 1, 2008 18:03:24 GMT
Dan Dare#4: As of this issue the Mekon is no longer a candidate for "universes best megalomaniac", he is simply awaiting his coronation. Fantastic stuff, good solid action adventure with heroic heroes and villianous villians. Also love the title "The Fighting Temeraire", a wonderful high art reference which actually manages to be germain to the story. Wonderfully paced, with a real sense of lots of stuff happening each issue. One of the most enjoyable comics I am reading at the moment.
Legion of Superheroes in the 31st Century#11: I've been enjoying this on-an-off for a while now. Good soli superheroics aimed squarely at the all-ages market. However, this is the first story that has really missed the mark with me. A story of the young Supeman encountering Martian nationalist terrorists when he gets lost in the 31st Century public transport network doesn't seem entirely suited to the tone of the book. By the necessity of the format of the book it is dealt with in an extremely simplistic manner - effectively the nationalists are a misguided bunch who want Mars for the Martians and see sense once they accidentally destroy a statue of J'onn J'onzz.... Trivialises the issues by even attempting to address them in honesty. An unfortunate misfire.
Legion of Superheroes#39: On the other hand Jim Shooters run on the regular Legion book continues apace. A writer of the old-school shooter crams a fair amount of incident into this issue. He really shines when dealing with a large cast (he's done it before in vol 1 of the Legion and hasn't lost his touch), - advancing an on-going plot about unknown alien attacking the solar system, a plot related to the Legion's new headquarters, and the on-going comedy/tragedy of Lightning Lad's leadership of the Legion. And that isn't even the meat of the issue... The main meat of this issue is a character plot as Projectra, formerly royal princess of Orando, tries to deal with her sudden fall from fabulously wealthy nobility to homeless, penniless orphan following the destruction of her homeworld. It is a nice beat to play with the character, who hasn't been much more than one-dimensional wealthy arrogance up until now. A good mix of action and character stuff that feels like it manages to juggle more balls successfully in the single issue format than most modern comics. Definitely doesn't feel as if it has been written with an eye to how it will work in a trade, which is rather refreshing.
The Order#8: The real highlight of the weeks comics this. Another single issue that is full of things going on, both on a plot and character level. We find out what is going on with the mysterious Man From S.H.A.D.O.W, a number of the sub-plots start to show how they converge and there are some genuinely unexpected developments with some of the characters. All this and The Order get to demonstrate once again that they are smarter than their boss, Tony "Iron Man" Stark. Great stuff. This title may have been cancelled but it certainly seems to be planning on going out in fine style. at this rate.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 1, 2008 19:25:29 GMT
There's rumblings that what's been done in the Order will continue in the new Fraction/Larocca Invincble Iron man.
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Post by legios on Mar 1, 2008 20:20:53 GMT
There will definitely be some connection to the two - the solicits for the first issue of the Fraction/Larocca run make it inevitable. At least one story thread will definitely go forward to the new title.
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 1, 2008 22:12:01 GMT
Increases the odds of me giving the Fraction Iron Man title a shot then!
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 2, 2008 17:41:09 GMT
Dan Dare #4 was the dogs bollocks.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 7, 2008 21:52:44 GMT
Captain America #35 Good issue again, things go from bad to worse as New Cap goes into action again
X-Men: Legacy #208 Interesting premise: using the past to tell of the battle in Xavier's head. JrJr on the flashback art.
Young Avengers Presents #2: Hulkling Lovely, lovely issue. If anything better than the first. much improved art. Hulkling seeks out his dad - Captain Marvel - newly returned to life. Written by the Captain Marvel LS writer there's a hint about where it's going at the end.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 17, 2008 17:30:21 GMT
Mighty Avengers 10 Lovely retro style art and page notes make this quite fun as Doom, Iron Man and Sentry try to get home. Nice soloution to the problem too !
Avengers Initiative 10 More rampage killing here...... The old New Warriors show and we get a hint at the identity of Mutant X. just not a very big one.
Uncanny X-Men 496 This issue worked. Don't know how, just did. The San Francisco appears but takes a back seat compared to Piotr, Logan and Kurt in a bar. Queue memories of UXM 183 etc. Nice enjoyable read.
X-Factor 29 Good as ever. Madrox fails to get what Siryn's trying to tell him as X-Factor blunder into a trap set by an old X-Men villain (who I thought was dead.....)
Good set this week. And It's Iron Fist time on Thursday ! Huzzah !
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 20, 2008 21:24:15 GMT
Immortal Iron Fist 13 (7 Capital Cities of Heaven Round 6) Pure love as ever. 3 different art styles signifying outside, K'un Lun and Flashbacks help delineate the 3 plot strands. Corker of a final page reveal. Super super super stuff. Last Defenders 1 Bought on a whim cos it's had a good write up this week. Lots going on - almost too much. I couldn't work out the link between the SHIELD agent and Nighthawk which seemed crucial to Nighthawk's motivation. Probably wait and trade the rest. EDIT: The shield agent is somehow tied into an old Defenders story. See Last Defenders Q&A @ Newsrama
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Post by legios on Mar 26, 2008 23:01:47 GMT
The Order#9: With only one issue to go before then end of the run things have taken a definite turn for the grim for our heroes. I have half expected things not to end too well for the cast of this series and this issue certainly reinforces that feeling, with The Order out-thought by an opponent who doesn't even really care about them. The Order isn't the target, they are just the means to an end. But what marks this title out is that I actually care what happens to these characters. Matt Fraction and Barry Kitson have made them into very rounded people who I can identify with. I'm not sure whether things are going to end well or not for The Order but in the best possible way Matt Fraction has created proper superheroes - ones that are super because they are heroes, not heroes because they are super. I'm going to miss this book one its gone.
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 30, 2008 18:42:06 GMT
I'm becoming suspicous that sales may not be the only thing behind the axing of this book.... and wonder if it's anything to do with the X-Men moving to San Fransisco (and possibly becoming the California sanctioned super team ?) But while we're on the subject Fraction on Invincible Iron Mananyway.... Captain Marvel 1-4 CM is a hero that's never really done it for me, and I wasn't impressed with his blink and you'll miss it odd sounding resurection in Civil War. But encouraged by a recent Brian Read interview on Newesrama and his YA Presents (see reply 74) I tracked down the issues of the recent Captain Marvel series. Rather good it is too. He's somewhat amnesiac but obsessed by a painting in the Louvre. Various villains he's never met and should be dead are trying to kill him. Need another read and I'll come back with a few more words on it. |
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Post by legios on Mar 30, 2008 20:47:27 GMT
Dan Dare#5: I've spoken about this elsewhere on the Hub, but this is one of the best monthly series doing the rounds. Written first and foremost as a monthly book, Ennis and Erskine have created a tremendous pacing for the series. Lots happens in each issue, and the last page of each issue makes the reader anxious to see what happens next. Unapologetically old-fashioned British heroism, in space. If you have any affection for the legacy of British action comics then you should be reading this. Even if you don't you should probably be reading it anyway, just because it is good.
Legion of Superheroes#40:-
Another title that is reading very well as a monthly book at the moment. In Jim Shooters hands it is taking on the sense of pace and incident that marked his first stint on the title, more years ago than I would care to mention. The characters still feel modernised and relevant but the style of the book harks back to the days when it was felt important that enough happened in each issue - before you could get away with fiddling around because it would "read ok in the trade". He's going to some interesting places with the characters, and definitely still has the chops to handle the large cast which is the Legion's stock-in-trade. Good solid superheroics. No doubt doomed to cancellation and obscurity (I'm a Legion fan of long standing, I know how this works), but fun reading whilst he remains on the book.
Marvel Atlas#2:
Why do I do this? I told myself I wasn't going to bother with this, bearing in mind that I still haven't read most of the entries in#1. I still managed to come out of the comics shop with this. And true to form I have read some of the entries, put it down and have no real sense of wanting to go back and read the others. That's not to say that it is in anyway bad, it does what it sets out to do very well. It's just that if it hadn't sneaked into a blind spot of some kind I would never have bought it.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic#25 & 26: Now I know I said I had gone to trades on this book, but I thought I would pick up #25 as it was a start of a new story arc, just to see what the book was doing at present. Having done that I found myself picking up #26.
Karl
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Post by legios on Mar 30, 2008 20:54:16 GMT
Dan Dare#5:
I've spoken about this elsewhere on the Hub, but this is one of the best monthly series doing the rounds. Written first and foremost as a monthly book, Ennis and Erskine have created a tremendous pacing for the series. Lots happens in each issue, and the last page of each issue makes the reader anxious to see what happens next. Unapologetically old-fashioned British heroism, in space. If you have any affection for the legacy of British action comics then you should be reading this. Even if you don't you should probably be reading it anyway, just because it is good.
Legion of Superheroes#40:-
Another title that is reading very well as a monthly book at the moment. In Jim Shooters hands it is taking on the sense of pace and incident that marked his first stint on the title, more years ago than I would care to mention. The characters still feel modernised and relevant but the style of the book harks back to the days when it was felt important that enough happened in each issue - before you could get away with fiddling around because it would "read ok in the trade". He's going to some interesting places with the characters, and definitely still has the chops to handle the large cast which is the Legion's stock-in-trade. Good solid superheroics. No doubt doomed to cancellation and obscurity (I'm a Legion fan of long standing, I know how this works), but fun reading whilst he remains on the book.
Marvel Atlas#2:
Why do I do this? I told myself I wasn't going to bother with this, bearing in mind that I still haven't read most of the entries in#1. I still managed to come out of the comics shop with this. And true to form I have read some of the entries, put it down and have no real sense of wanting to go back and read the others. That's not to say that it is in anyway bad, it does what it sets out to do very well. It's just that if it hadn't sneaked into a blind spot of some kind I would never have bought it.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic#25 & 26:
Now I know I said I had gone to trades on this book, but I thought I would pick up #25 as it was a start of a new story arc, just to see what the book was doing at present. Having done that I found myself picking up #26. Thankfully the book remains extremely accessible - even having missed about six months worth of issues I was able to just quickly read the "story so far" bit and not feel too at sea. One of the few Star Wars comics that really emulates the feel of the first film, in that you can just jump in in media res and catch up as you go. The main plot is some sort of odd crossover idea where the story arc will run through all Dark Horse's Star Wars comics. But it feels more like something that happens around our heroes and sweeps them along with it - and in this case that is a good thing. It seems to be a running thread through the title that whereas most main characters in Star Wars media make history, Zayne Carrick (least competent Jedi Apprentice in history) and his sidekick/employer have history happen to them and muddle along as best they can. Relatively light in tone, and with a strong sense of high adventure this is probably one of the best "Star Wars" tie-in series, and certainly one of the best "Star Wars" things since "Return of the Jedi".
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 30, 2008 20:57:20 GMT
(Captain Marvel continued) Other concepts that appealed to me:
Captain Marvel dimly recalling things that have happened but with the picture overlit and some of the dialogue obscured.
The Cult set up worshipping the super hero who came back from the dead.
The emphasisec point that lots of people have been coming back from the dead recently.
Yeah it's good. Happy with my purchase. Marvel Atlas 2 and All Star Superman 10 en route.
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Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
Posts: 2,047
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Post by Gav on Mar 31, 2008 11:01:52 GMT
Just caught up with the latest issues of Captain America and 'The Incredible Hercules' - both amazing books!
The latest Cap has a few twists and turns and a cliffhanger which can only be described as 'destined to be anti-climactic'
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kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
Posts: 5,527
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Post by kayevcee on Apr 4, 2008 12:30:39 GMT
The only comic I buy that came out this week was Punisher: War Journal. The start of a 6-part storyline featuring one of Frank's few surviving recurring villains, Jigsaw. Now, I don't mean to sound like a prude, but one thing I cannot accept in comics is people being stabbed in the eye on-panel. I almost chundered right there on the bus when I saw it, and the recurring images of the stabbed character as he screams into his ball-gag for mercy that will certainly not come it just made things worse. The humour and drama that kept me reading so far was totally absent, and I've found the stories getting progressively more grim of late so f**k it. I chucked this in the recycling bin when I got home and will not be buying any more.
-Nick
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 4, 2008 16:30:39 GMT
Ex Machina 35 Another one shot issue charting how Mitch first met his deputy set against a background of Mitch being haunted !
X-Men Legacy 208 That took quicker than I thought to wake Xavier up. No JMS art this time. Lots of Magneto.
Captain America 36 More of the same as usual. Sharon finds something interesting in a tube at the end.
Young Avengers Presents 3 Wiccan and Speed. The twin offspring of the Scarlet Witch seek their mother and run into one of her old foes...... They make a big fuss about looking for Mum but I don't recall either mentioning being on the sam,e team as a youthed version of their Dad !
New Avengers 39 Wolverine doesn't trust Echo so follows her as she goes to see Daredevil..... excep0t that the DD she finds isn't DD.
Mighty Avengers 11 What the rest of the team did while Tony and Doom swanned around in the past.
Secret Invasion 1 Several Skrull reveals - some rather clever - lots of damage, and a huge reveal at the end designed to mess with peoples minds. On the one hand very good. On the other ..... well you know already that most of the returnees will turn out to be Skrulls so .... OK start, need to see where it will go from here.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 10, 2008 20:44:01 GMT
All Star Superman 10 OK nearly 2 weeks old, but I had to mail order it and haven't had time to review it.... Like Iron Fist this is a joy to read with a slowly developing plot thread - in this case Superman's going to die. Beautiful Quitely Art. Get the first trade.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 17, 2008 14:42:14 GMT
Captain Marvel 5 We get answers. They may not be the answers we like but we get answers. The simple answer to the question is "Claremont did that 2 years ago" but that isn't all of it by a long shot. Because the answers in turn pose more questions. About identity, about what is the real thing and then posts some clues about Secret Incasion and lays some themes down for you to go away and have a think about. Good comic, great LS, well worth buying the trade when it comes and
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Apr 21, 2008 8:27:11 GMT
I might give it a shot. I avoided this simply because of the appallingly bad job done on bringing him back to the MU by Paul Jenkins. I liked Captain Marvel both in the Cosmic Jim era and in the latter stories illustrated by Pat Broderick.
Andy
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