Monday, May 18, 2009

Comic Book Day 5/13/09


Action Comics #877 -- I missed the last issue for some reason, and just read two of these back to back. All of a sudden this book is kind of brutal. The awesome fight in 876 basically took up the whole issue, and even though 877 slows it down a bit, we still get the newly-blind Ursa kicking ass like Zod's woman should. Way to go, Rucka.

Fables #84
-- Soo basically, Jack (of Jack of Fables, derp) comes back to his original book in this issue, and of course causes quite the stir at The Farm, basically the last refuge for Fables in the "real world". Farm inhabitants are divided pretty cleanly between worship and revulsion. Hilarity ensues.


REBELS #4 -- I had some catching up to do on this series, too. It is basically DC's version of Guardians of the Galaxy, which means it's great cosmic action with sharp writing and strong visuals (with characters you barely know). Brainiac 2 (aka Vril Dox) is the best asshole ever, as he puts together a team of ragtag misfits (who hate him a lot) to reclaim his army of peacekeeping robot drones. The art is uniquely sketchy and realistic at the same time; Andy Clarke, I think that's the artist's name, has a great knack for subtlely realistic facial expressions. They've got a sub-in guy that's doing a decent job at keeping up the same style, but I hope Clarke comes back for the long run. Gotta say though, these covers aren't doing them any favors.

Green Lantern Corps #36 -- Even though there's a rainbow-colored Lantern explosion battle on Oa in this issue, I was more impressed by the conversation between Sinestro and his daughter. It's seriously like 8 pages of talking heads, but it's written so smartly and put together so well visually that I didn't even notice (I mean, until after I read it and wrote about it here). It's hard to think, sometimes, that this is sort of a "background book" -- there's this whole big battle for the Sinestro Corps leader, but by the time Hal Jordan gets back to him in the regular Green Lantern book, Sinestro himself will have come back, put the smack down, and reign supreme like nothing ever happened. At least I'm taking more of a shine to these characters every issue.


The Unwritten #1 -- First issues are neat and all, but they rarely give me more than what I've gleaned off of solicit info and preview pages. This book doesn't buck that trend, but it still delivers an interesting premise, which follows the son of the author of very popular Harry Potter-esque novels, as he learns that he may share more than just a name with the hero of his father's books. Looking forward to following through with the next few issues.

Walking Dead #61
-- Well, I haven't said "oh shit!" during an issue of Walking Dead in like, three or four months, so it figures it was about time. Funny, I read a fan letter in an issue about that long ago that noted that the twins weren't really doing anything but just sort of standing there. Good of you to rectify that, Kirkman.



Young Liars #15
-- This series is cancelled. Have I mentioned that? And how god-awful it is? After this mindfuck of an issue, we only have three more ass-kickings left before there's no more Young Liars. That is god-damned terrible. This series was great at the start, but really kicked into high gear in the second arc, and has blown dozens of hundreds of minds each month ever since. I feel like this is a rare Vertigo series that would be read a bit better in the monthly issues, for the sake of letting each table turned be properly digested. David Lapham really has a soft spot for this book, and he says he may someday find a way to continue it. Godspeed, you insane bastard.

Deadpool: Suicide Kings #2 -- This surprisingly-good series looks to be home to a series of big-name guest stars for Deadpool to bounce off of. I'm okay with that; while it's not laugh-out-loud hilarious like Daniel Way's monthly Deadpool book, it's fun to see DP brawling with The Punisher and Daredevil and the like.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Comic Book Day -- Catching Up Again

I'm sort of starting to wonder why I do these. I mean, I don't really have more than one or two "readers". I tell myself it's just an outlet, but I look back and all I see is the type of stuff I used to write for Nintendo fansites years ago. Still, the reason I started doing this was because I had all sorts of thoughts brewing without too many people to talk to about it. So it's sort of just me talking to myself. Like now!

Anyway.


The Literals #1-- This is just sort of an extra issue of Fables, but I'm not complaining. I've enjoyed getting to know the sadistic, bratty, god-like Kevin since this crossover event began. There's a good deal in the book that is just Kevin chatting with his creations (really, talking to himself) that's more compelling than the biggest fight scenes in the Wolverine movie. I'm going to savor this miniseries, as it ups the ante to three high-quality Fables books per month. Avengers, eat your heart out.

The Flash: Rebirth #2 -- I'm still waiting for this series to pick up steam. The whole thing is really continuity-heavy; the last-page reveal might shock and awe some, but I really have no idea what it means or why I should care. The art is still fantastic, though, and I have faith in Geoff Johns.

Deadpool #10
-- I'm tired of saying how enjoyable and funny this series is.



Final Crisis Aftermath: Run! #1 -- House of Mystery and Jack of Fables co-writer Matthew Sturges is my kind of smartass. This series, following the no-name Z-list villain who killed Martian Manhunter during the impenetrable Final Crisis, brings out his darker and more cynical side. We're given a character with no discernable redeeming qualities and asked to laugh as he fumbles around, running from capes and villains alike who want his head. I liked it, I admit, but I really hope this character has enough of an arc to last a six-issue series.

War of Kings #3
-- This mini finally kicked into gear, for me, when the talking raccoon and sentient warrior tree showed up; makes me glad I've been keeping up with Guardians. Maybe if I'd kept up with the myriad of other characters in this series throughout the years, I'd care a little more about this series. I am starting to like this Ronan guy a bit more, though. I think he's getting his own little War of Kings series?

Boys #30
-- Okay, so, we had some potentially game-changing mass murder last issue, and the payoff... more guys in suits talking back and forth. Seriously, Garth, you're killin' me here. If I wasn't attached to these characters so much (and if I wasn't a terrible Ennis fanboy), I would've dropped this book a little while ago.



Green Lantern #40
-- I don't know what it was, but this is the first issue of GL that's clicked with me in a few months' time. Before, I was tiring of the exploration of each colored Corps' origins and mythos, but I found myself pretty enthralled with the Orange Lanterns in this issue. Love that back-up story at the end, too -- I'll probably be looking to the Tales of the Corps mini for more of that.

Proof #19
-- I'm getting tired of talking about how enthralling, inventive and pretty this series is.

Nova #24
-- Whenever I open Nova, it's like sitting down to watch an episode of a consistently-good TV series. This is one of my most dependable reads. Lovin' that big Nova hardcover I just bought, too.



Rasl #4
-- God, this series is going to be over in like 20 years. Well, half that (literally). I guess a hundred pages a year of a soon-to-be-classic hard-boiled sci-fi mystery is better than none. I still get the feeling sometimes that Jeff Smith is trying a little too hard to separate this from Bone, though.

Battlefields: Tankies #1
-- I wasn't sure how Ennis could follow up the seminal Dear Billy after that last issue, but this mini is off to a strong start. It definitely helps that I was raised reading books and books of Scottish comic strips -- the dialect reads like butter for me, but I can see how it might be trouble for others. Anyone used to Cassidy in Preacher should be alright, I guess. I've often mentioned I'm a sucker for a lot of things -- a good Men on a Mission story belongs in that canon.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

More than one color at The Red House



You see, America? Everything is going to be alright.