2-13-08

Because the process of me going over every book I read every week has become way too difficult, I've changed the format up. So here's the really awesome, and the "oh god why."

Really Awesome:

American Virgin #23

This was the last issue. I cried. Not in the way that I did on the last issue of Y the Last Man, but moreso because there could have been so much more done on this series. Regardless, it ends in a way that I think Seagle probably intended originally, with the title making even more sense than I thought it originally did.

Booster Gold #0

Every month of Booster Gold is awesome. I mean, they fly in the timesphere by Extant and Parallax in the time stream. And everyone just stares at each other.

BPRD: 1946 #2

Oh man, this is awesome. I'm suddenly quite interested in what Dysart did before this. Not to mention the art is really awesome. I feel bad that I considered telling my shop not to pull this one for me.

Brit #4

BEHOLD PLATADOOM. Oh wait, it was merely another Platadoombot. What? Read this book.

Countdown to Final Crisis #11

Everything's in place. I'm super excited. The payoff is right around the corner...

Green Arrow/Black Canary #5

I really like this title, much more than I thought I was towards the end of the last issue. I don't care what that jerk over at The Buy Pile says. There's a big difference between being whiney, and being emotional.

Gen13 #17

Last issue, I was not impressed, not to mention confused. This issue was AWESOME. Simon Oliver brings the awesome from Exterminators over here, especially since Exterminators is so close to being over.

Ghost Rider #20

Jason Aaron's debut on Ghost Rider. In a book I never cared about, there is suddenly a ton of awesome. Great dialogue from Johnny Blaze, and y'know what else? Commando nurses with guns in the employ of a sadistic angel. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a buy-worthy Ghost Rider on the first issue without Daniel Way.

Gotham Underground #5

Frank Tieri and Jim Calafiore strike again! Gotham Underground has been a fantastic addition to the Batman line of books, as well as events going on in the mainline DCU. This particular issue really shows Calafiore's growth as an artist, and also really aids in the progression of the story. He has become one of the most dependable artists in the industry in my opinion, alongside Steve Dillon. 

Northlanders #3

It's official, I'm going back and buying all these issues. It's awesome. Buy buy buy.

Nova Annual #1

I don't need to talk about this book, really. You should just read it. Cause Nova is awesome. Also, Nova makes it to the Technarchy homeworld! Next issue: Warlock! I think.

X-Factor #28

Everyone is falling apart. No one handles it well. I'm excited. Peter David is writer supreme. Just imagine what happens when new characters are introduced!

And now... oh god why:

Fantastic Four #554

Mark Millar is a hack. I maintain morbid curiosity. Look here for more.

Punisher War Journal #16

Story? Awesome. Artwork? OH GOD NO, it's Howard Chaykin. AGAIN. Though granted, it's alot better than some of his other artwork recently.

Salvation Run #4

This issue was actually good except.... both Gorilla Grodd and Monsieur Mallah are no more? Noooooooo. Damn you DC! Damn you and your vendetta against the gorillas of the DCU! It's a good thing Gail Simone is fighting the good fight for the gorilla lovers of the world.

2-6-08 Part One

Abe Sapien: the Drowning #1

It seems like alot of the recent stories from the Hellboy universe lately have been set in the past. Lobster Johnson, BPRD: 1946, and now this, which is set in the 80s (at a time when Hellboy ran off the first time). First let me say that the artwork is fantastic. It's done by Jason Shawn Alexander, and that the opening bits of the story that are action with a poem superimposed over it worked amazingly well. I'm real excited to see where this story will go, exactly. 

Annihilation: Conquest #4

Tom Raney's artwork keeps getting better. I am really amazed at how good it looks compared to when he was working on Stormwatch and the Outsiders. I like the direction this is going in. This is the first chance I think I've had to talk about this book, so I'll go ahead and talk about it generally. The great thing about Annihilation, Conquest, Nova, and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy series, is that you get a good look at stuff that's going on in the Marvel universe outside of the occasional ventures off into space by the X-Men or the Fantastic Four. This is also fun because not only does Adam Warlock have a black Marvel Family looking outfit right now (eh? eh? Black Adam?), but now it seems his new powers are... of a magical nature? Oh man. Also, it seems he's remembered himself a bit better, as he's talking more and more like old Adam Warlock.

The Boys #15

I was wondering when we'd see the girl from the first story arc show up again. Most of the issue is her going through some revelatory thoughts in a church. A bit of Hughie mussing about and Butcher talking and making crazy rough sex with the director of the CIA. I imagine more story will come, but in the meantime, Darick Robertson is back! Hurrah!

Countdown to Final Crisis #12

Only a brief bit with the Challengers from Beyond in this one. We touch base with the rest of our characters to see where they're all headed to. Harley, Holly, and Mary unmask Granny on Paradise Island, and go after her through the Boom Tube. I'm rather curious as to where that's headed. Jimmy Olsen takes a shower. Seriously, that's it. And oh wait, another boom tube? That's right and it's here for... Piper? I get the feeling all our heroes will find themselves on Apokolips soon enough...

Detective Comics #841

In this issue, Paul Dini goes back to what made his run really cool in the first place: one-shot stories about Batman villains, revitalizing them in a way. This one tackles the Mad Hatter. I rather liked this one, and I'd rather not spoil anything for anyone reading. I think my favorite line in this was from Hatter in the spinning teacups. "My tea's gone cold."

Fables #69

So when this storyline started, I got bored with it real quickly, and kind of gave up on the title for a while. And then, a few months back, I decided to go back and read them all again. And this story is actually one of the best stories that Willingham has done in a while in the main Fables title. With what happened in this issue, it'll be interesting to see what happens from here.

Ms. Marvel #24

Very little Machine Man in this issue, so really the highlight was Ms. Marvel becoming Binary for a bit and destroying all the Brood. Take that Brood. Also, Tony Stark reveals to Agent Sum that he thinks Ms. Marvel is a Skrull infiltrator. But I think that's just a clever trick to bring Agent Sum, a secret Skrull agent, out into the open.

Omega the Unknown # 5

Lots of weird stuff happens. And it's really awesome. And it looks really awesome. And The Mink's severed hand not only glows in the dark, but it sprouts legs, chokes a guy, and runs off in the darkness. Also, fast food zombies get a beatdown.

Uncanny X-Men #495

At first I was a little wary about the artwork, but now I'm definitely not. Also, I have to say this is probably Brubaker's strongest issue on Uncanny yet. The only complaint I might be able to mention is possibly overdoing the scene with Wolverine coming out of the bar. Otherwise, the Colossus/Nightcrawler dialogue is very on point, and it's also nice to see Kurt using the old image inducer. Also: Cyclops has plans!

Wildstorm: Revelations #3

The girls take a trip to Tranquility, and the book continues to improve. And actual revelations occur in this issue! The secret history of the Wildstorm universe is revealed. Also, Nemesis shows some cleavage, and it's in context! As with any comic in the Tranquility community, this issue was alot of fun.

more later....

1-30-08

Oh god I read too much

Action Comics #861

Geoff Johns, you have not only made me like Superman, but you've made me like the Legion. Curse you sir, curse you.

Batman #673

kalgjkl;aj;ajfa omg crazy stuff

Black Adam #6

awww... poor Black Adam. Also, CHOCOLATE EGG CREAM! SHAKAKOOM!

Black Summer #5

Lots of cool stuff happens. Read this.

Captain America #34

New Cap. Has gun, will shoot. Blam blam. 

Crossing Midnight #15

This will be my next you should be buying this. Watch this space.

Daredevil #104

Okay, so for a bit I was worried about this title slumping a bit. But now it's awesome. I wanna see a throwdown between the Hood and Mr. Fear.

Death of the New Gods #5

Curse you Jim Starlin! Seriously, couldn't they have gotten a better writer/artist to do this?

Green Lantern #27

OMG! What've you done Guardians??? 

House of M: Avengers #4

I think Moon Knight finally got a grey outfit instead of the white one. Also, interesting choice of other gang there with the New Warriors.

Jack of Fables #19

You know what's better than zombie policemen? Nothing. "What's in a name?" "I don't know what's in a name. Is it cheese?"

Narcopolis #1

Jaime Delano has made up his own dialect/slang for this book. It's amazing stuff. It also takes a while to figure out what's going on. Also, you may be surprised by the fact that a penis appears twice (not in full blatant view, mind you), while there are no breasts or female genitalia in this comic.

Mighty Avengers #8

"::I can't be affected because my:: I can't be affected because of my ionic powers!" - Wonderman. No, you can't be affected cause you're a skrull. Skrullman.

Proof #4

Bigfoot has tea with Chupacabra, and there's a park ranger named Elvis. Do you really.need.anything.else?

The Spirit #13

Don't let the cover fool you! You shall not find Darwyn Cooke (or at least not much of him) in here!

Trials of Shazam! #11

Why is it I am actually interested in the Marvel family now? This has beautiful artwork, and is awesome. 

Ultimate X-Men #90

Sorry, but Ultimate Apocalypse is awesome.

Wormwood, Gentleman Corpse: Calamari Rising #1

This book is full of win. Also tentacles and a transexual leprechaun stripper.

Y the Last Man #60

This was a fantastic ending to the series, really tying up everything going on. The scene in the snow with Ampersand almost made me cry.

11-23-08: Highlights

Let me just run through some base things for the rest of this week, since I'm behind. We've got a fun series of Young Avengers stories that started this week. Messiah Complex ended (well, in fact). Sean McKeever hates everything I love, apparently (see: Teen Titans). Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters continued to be somewhere between superweird and completely awesome. Astonishing contains some very interesting storytelling, though leaves us with another "OMG R THEY DED?" Gotham Underground and Crime Bible continue to be consistently good.