4 posts tagged “comic books”

My date went well. I think that was the first time I've ever been in a date situation that can be defined as both official and successful.

I have lost all traces of harmony within my household. My work is thwarted, my efforts are dismissed, and I have no sanctity. Truly, a new plan is needed.

Today, after I finally dragged myself out of Adrienne's bed and left her to her homework, I came home and ignored my parents. At about 3:30, I went up to Larry's place for his birthday party. I bought him a volume of Dragon Ball at Barnes and Noble. We went to Red Robin, where I ran into Laura and Jon. They're my best friends from college. I hadn't told them about failing out. That was bad of me. But it seems all is forgiven, and they look forward to my visits from time to time.

I've been somewhat trying to catch up on the various Marvel series' that have started up over that last few months. Straczynski's Thor is properly epic and respectful to the power of the God of Thunder, though since it's a Marvel book I find myself missing guest appearances. Thor has only seen Iron Man, and just to give him a righteous beatdown and stern talking-to. I would have the Son of Odin be more involved among the heroes of the 616.

I also read New Warriors. There's always a lot of back story when characters get recycled - I think I'd need to actually take a gander at New X-Men to really appreciate some of the references this book is making. It's an okay story, but it's no Young Avengers or Runaways.

Fraction's Champions The Order isn't too bad. The lead guy is a character that I think was made up to be a "I've been around awhile, you just didn't see me" kind of dude. It's surprisingly not as annoying as you would think.  But this is yet another reality tv inspired sort of thing.

I think the most depressing part of Brand New Day is that it's actually a really interesting beginning to a Spider-Man story. You know where it could have gone? THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSE. Or maybe an ongoing What If? Spider-Man title, kinda like Spider-Girl or Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. They could call it "Spider-Man Doesn't Love Mary Jane." That might be neat. But ruining 20 years of continuity, good and bad, as well as breaking the promise of no take backs on Parker's identity reveal is just a bad move.

My day, in terms of acquisitions, gifts, and sales:

Comic book sale: Cost of $41 dollars. I didn't get everything I wanted, but I made a decent dent in my needs. And I only got seven back issues, three of which I gave to Larry.

Gift: Gave Grant his speakers (not technically a gift, but it made more room in the basement).

Gift: Plastic vegetable tray and copy of Fedora 8, to Tomas. Negligible cost, plus one fewer piece of junk.

Gift: Outsiders trade paperbacks (6 books) to Matt. I wanted more room in my comic boxes, and I figure he'll love those books more than me. Plus I figure any gift worth over 60 bucks counts for next birthday too.

Gift: Firefly Companion book 2, to Alli. I got two hugs for that one.

Sold: 5 D&D books, to Steve's friend Anthony, for 50 bucks. My Paypal account is now my unofficial third bank account. As a bonus, he threw me a tenspot for my heroclix, which I really wanted to get rid of. Hell yes.

I have one more purchase to make tonight, but I can't talk about it. Overall, I think I did pretty well. I'm turning practically useless stuff in liquid assets and floor/shelf space. I am a winner.

Also, I made tacos. I am a double winner.

Sam (8:33:42 PM): hey

Me (8:33:46 PM): Sup?

Sam (8:34:07 PM): Are there going to be strippers at your birthday party?

(Blogger's note: I'm having a joint birthday party with my friend Alli. Sam is her friend.)

Me (8:34:29 PM): No. Also, no.

Sam (8:34:37 PM): Why?

Sam (8:34:50 PM): wait

Sam (8:34:53 PM): i  know why

Sam (8:35:00 PM): alli's keeping it clean

Sam (8:35:07 PM): the man is keepin you down

Me (8:35:11 PM): ...yes. That's exactly it.

Sam (8:35:12 PM): stand up for your rights, Chuck.

Me (8:35:24 PM): I'll be sure to do that, Sam.

Sam (8:35:39 PM): I mean your buddy icon is fucking black power

(Blogger's note: True.)

Me (8:36:16 PM): Damn straight. Black Power means strippers. I'm glad someone else understands that.

Sam (8:36:40 PM): No

Sam (8:36:45 PM): Black Power Stands for human rights

Sam (8:36:50 PM): You have the right

Sam (8:36:54 PM): For strippers

Me (8:37:14 PM): That's what I meant, Sam. Don't be ignorant.

Sam (8:39:00 PM): Sorry

Sam (8:39:06 PM): When I am less racist

Sam (8:39:11 PM): I'll clear it up for you

Sam (8:39:30 PM): btw, saw this new book on the shelf I may end up picking up next time im in borders.

Sam (8:39:45 PM): It's supposed to be the last book about the world of the Kwisatz Haderach

Sam (8:39:51 PM): And they brought him back to life.

Sam (8:39:59 PM): Using Nano technology or something

(Blogger's note: At this point I decided to e-mail the conversation to my friend Kurt, who does not enjoy what has been done with the Dune series and does not suffer fools gladly.)

Me (8:40:23 PM): That sounds like literary genius.

(Blogger's note: The sarcasm in that last line is in italics.)

Sam (8:40:30 PM): Look

Sam (8:40:34 PM): If you're gonna be snarky

Sam (8:40:37 PM): I'm going to go

Sam (8:40:45 PM): But remember

Me (8:40:49 PM): What, me snarky?

Sam (8:40:51 PM): When you're sitting alone

Sam (8:40:57 PM): readiny your comic books

Sam (8:41:01 PM): I will stab you

Sam (8:41:17 PM): I carry a long sword on me

Sam (8:41:22 PM): no no...

Sam (8:41:28 PM): A Bastard Sword

Marvel's Civil War is over, and the next big DC event is 56 weeks away. What's out there worth talking about?

Silent War, that's what. Have you been reading David Hine's Marvel stuff? I love it! District X was the most interesting off-team X-title of the last couple decades, in my opinion. It ended way too soon, but that story led to Son of M, which in turn caused Silent War. Plus Hine's multi-mini-series story is intertwining with my favorite ongoing, X-Factor by Peter David.

Quick rundown on Silent War: Back in Son of M, depowered Quicksilver swiped some of the Inhumans' Terrigen Crystals. The U.S. Gubment, which is made up of morons, just like the real world, ended up with the crystals and marked them WMDs. We find out in Silent War that the gubment's saying "finders keepers nyah nyah!" Obviously this was the best plan, since the Inhuman leader Black Bolt can destroy a city with a whisper. A handful of Inhumans came to New York to protest, but one of them went psycho and killed people. The Blue Fantastic Four beat them up and handed them to the gubment. Reed Richards has certainly proved himself to be the smartest guy on Earth in the last few months, hasn't he? Anyway, one of the many sadistic scientists in the gubment's employ reexposed one of the Inhumans to the mist, which was, of course, the greatest idea so far. So now Black Bolt, his creepy-but-strangely-sexy wife and her Marvel Universe bicycle of a sister are on Earth. They tried and failed to get the crystals back. Quicksilver/bicycle's little blonde girl is sort of precoggy now, so she leads them to her daddy. And that brings us to Silent War #3.

Quicksilver went for some body modifications. Frazer Irving made this very creepy act look especially creepy, and I applaud him for doing so. Black Bolt smacked Quickie around a little. Madrox and X-Factor's little blonde sort of precoggy showed up to make sure Quickie didn't die. Bad stuff is gonna happen to the Inhumans.

My thoughts: David Hine and Peter David are working together on one of the two best plotlines going through the Marvel Universe right now. (The other is Planet/World War Hulk.) Hine's story keeps me wanting more, and Irving's art is beautifully nuanced with a bit of nightmare. This was best book out this week.

The other stuff I read:

Wolverine #52: 52! 52! 52! Wait, wrong universe.

Wolverine has been having weird flashbacks. Wolverine has been fighting Sabretooth. Wolverine is mad. This is so original! I have to say that I'm only somewhat curious as to where Loeb is going with all this. Black Panther and Storm show up to show the two combatants an elephant graveyard in Africa with some suspicious skeletons. Why are they in Wakanda here but part of the Black Fantastic Four over in New York? Marvel, do me a favor and put up a recent story timeline or something.

My thoughts: Hey, if you like Wolverine snikting it up with one of his many mortal enemies no matter how many times it's happened, go ahead and buy this one. Bianchi's certainly a very fine artist.

Fantastic Four #544: Uniform color coordination! And you thought I was being racist.

Yep, Ben and Johnny are pulling a Peter Parker and wearing black to fit in with temp members T'Challa and Ororo.

What I loved about this book: Continuity baby! I love it when Big Two books talk about stuff that's happened recently. The way I see it, what's the point of 45+ years of stories in one universe without a sense of community? Flaunt that strength in numbers! In this book, McDuffie talks post-Civil War, explains what the new Marvel power couple are doing on the FF, follows up on the recent Beyond! mini, and even ties in to the aftereffects of Annihilation. I'm a happy fan.

What wasn't so great: This is a very bad jumping on point for new readers, unless you happened to have read Civil War, Beyond!, and Annihilation. Also, the dialogue was irritating. Ooh, Johnny likes burning things. That's nice. Pelletier's art is decent, but not outstanding.

Daredevil #95: The true Batman Daredevil is back!

I'll be honest with you - I don't typically read Daredevil. Some of the best writers have left their mark on him, but I could never get into the concept. But I figured I should give it a try.

Brubaker's done some fine work. Sleeper was kick-ass. His Authority run was strong. And he killed Captain America in a very respectful way, which I appreciate. So this latest arc of DD might turn out well. Murdock's getting 3 hours of sleep a night since he's working so hard fighting off an overgrowth of crime. Who's behind it? They don't say in the book, but I've got a sneaking suspicion it's the Hood. 'Cos, you know, Quesada pretty much told us that. Meanwhile, Lawyer-By-Day's latest client seems to have a case of the murders-and-doesn't-remember-it. What's going on there?

My thoughts: Wife stalking and suicidal thugs? I'm actually curious, Ed. I'll keep reading. Lark's art is consistently detailed and sets the mood perfectly.

Over in the DCU...

52 #47: Nanda Parbat must be one hell of a vacation spot.

I love the concept of 52 and I've been reading this book since the beginning. Taking a handful of B-list heroes with sizeable fanbases but who can't sustain ongoings and putting them in the limelight? Excellent thinking. Most of the plotlines have been interesting, if not downright excellent (Black Adam, Elongated Man, Steel, Heroes in Space). Some... not so much.

Why did they have to kill the Question? It would have been fine if they had killed him respectfully, like, say, in the issue where the cover showed him with a toetag. But no, they had to drag him to the edge of salvation before doing him in. Screw that. That was awful. And replacing him immediately with Renee Montoya? No. Lame.

But the thing that really irks me about 52 is this theme of "everything goes to hell without Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman." I don't buy that. We've got 5 Green Lanterns running around. Now, if they said "everything is going to hell because the Titans can't stick with a roster for more than a week and the Marvel family is having major issues, plus Batman and Robin are gone," then I'd be a little happier. But still, 5 Green Lanterns. Come on.

Anyway, onto the actual issue. Tim Drake waits. Tim Drake talks to Wonder Woman (can someone tell me what the heck is up with that face?). Manheim and his crime religion people stand around and talk. Black Adam is screaming and Doc Magnus doesn't look happy. Animal Man sees somebody touching his woman. Steelette turns down Beast Boy's offer to join up with the Teen Titans and Steel gets a little sugar (what's up with this new Steelworks thing? I'm interested). Nightwing teams up with Renee to find Batwoman. Wonder Woman gets absolution, sort of, I think. Bruce Wayne smiles.

My thoughts: This issue is an example of the one downside of weekly comics: necessity. The story is coming to the end and in order to make the last bits awesome (woo hoo Black Adam!) all the other plot threads need wrap-ups and new threads have to be firmly seeded.

Green Lantern #18: "Star Sapphire to Hal Jordan: Be my baby daddy!"

I've read the last 17 issues of this series. Geoff Johns is a pretty sturdy writer, though he occasionally leaves me with questions about details that look suspiciously like plotholes. This issue starts up a new arc with the alien crystal Star Sapphire thingy coming to once again possess Carol Ferris in order to make sweet love to Hal. But now Hal's into this new blonde chick who thinks she's a cowgirl, aptly called Cowgirl. I liked her Jem reference.

My thoughts: I'm hoping this arc gets a whole lot more interesting. But Acuna's art is fascinatingly different from typical comic art. And quite sexy. Was that some meat I saw on those hips?

Vertigo stuff: 

Fables #59: Bill Willingham regularly rocks my world with this series. This issue was just answers to reader questions - interesting for readers like me, not so great if you just started reading. The collection of artists on this book is incredible, though.

That's what I read this week. Thoughts? Is there a book I didn't hit that you want a review of? Feel free to talk back.