Scott Pilgrim

This is a long overdue post I've been meaning to make. Granted, most of you that read this are most likely people who actually know me, and therefore have heard me rant about this being my new favorite comic. Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim series was something I checked out entirely at random. I had read a bit of the 3rd volume, and before getting very far, I realized I immediately needed to read the first two before continuing on.

This comic is just amazingly good. It's humor based, but there is action in it, as our hero Scott Pilgrim has to fight 6 (or 7) evil ex-boyfriends to date his new girlfriend. It's set in Canada, which for me is rather uncharted territory, but you know, I hear things. Mostly from people who watch Degrassi. So my immediate reaction was to suggest this to people I knew that watched Degrassi. Additionally, Scott is about 23 or so, and if you were born in the range where the video games close to your childhood heart are original nintendo game (but especially Mario 3), and the original transition into Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis, then there's lots of references here just for you.

For example, his band's name  is "Sex Bob-omb." Don't know what a bob-omb is? Either you've never read any of the guide books that came with your Mario games, never saw the movie (in which it is screamed multiple times), or you're just too lazy to go look it up on wikipedia. 

Regardless, various other video game references are scattered throughout the books, without losing any part of the story. 

The books come in a manga size, and are often hidden in the manga section of the bookstore. Now, I know some of you regular comics readers shun the manga format or the average manga as if it were an unbelieving unicorn. And I understand that position. Scott Pilgrim is not manga though. Yes it's in black and white. Yes, the eyes are huge. But I'd hardly say it's manga-styled art in anyway, and is read left to right. In fact, one of my favorite parts of is the last page of the 4th volume, where Scott's gay roommate Wallace informs us that this is, indeed, THE BACK OF THE BOOK. "What do you think you're doing? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

I'd tell more about the book in general, such as things about Scott's group of friends. Or the leadup to him meeting this girl in the first place. But I personally the reader gains more by meeting these characters on their own. So go. Do it. 

05-07-2008

Most of the time I forget to post, or am to busy to get around to it. And by the time I sit down, ready to go, I've actually forgotten alot of what happened. So this will be updated periodically through the day.

The Man With No Name #1

Honestly, this didn't live up to my excitement about the title. I guess the artwork doesn't quite live up to what I would expect, mostly. Don't get my wrong, I love Wellington Ares. His work on Nova has been great. But I feel like the art for this should have a ton of sand poured on top of it before it gets scanned off. A grainy sort of feel, constant dust in the air. Additionally, he seems to be unable to capture the facial expressions, which to me are the most important characteristic involved in the Man With No Name's decision making process. However, the story does appear to be going in an interesting direction, and Gage has done okay at getting the shortness of the characters speech.

The Boys #18

With this issue, finishing up the current story arc, it seems that Ennis is making his way towards a wrap-up of the storylines thus far, leading us into the confrontations we've seen develop over the course of the series. The main thing is that apparently The Boys had some surveillance set up in The Seven's base...

Secret Invasion #2

Since I missed last month's Secret Invasion stuff, let me go ahead and get it all out here. I was very unsure about the initial issue, and the second New Avengers issue tying into Infiltration was kind of disappointing. Especially with the end of that first issue, I wasn't sure where it was going to go from there (I hope Dugan's alright). Anyway, the Mighty and New Avengers tie-ins to Invasion regular have been awesome. And this issue was a pretty good follow-up, after learning some of that info. However, it looks like we'll spending alot of time waiting on this next issue to tell us... well, anything at all.

Action Comics Annual #11

So I'm sure your main question is... was it worth the wait for this to finally come out. And it's hard to tell. It really is. The artwork is great though. In fact, there is an absolutely amazing 2 page layout towards the end of the story. All in all though, Johns and Donner's Bizarro story was much better. I do like that this has allowed more room in the Superman mythos for Zod, Ursa, and Non, as well as Mon-El. 

Detective Comics # 844

Here we have one of the last Dini revamps to the Batman rogue's gallery. At least, until Hush shows back up. Anyway, really liking Nguyen' s artwork, and Dini has done a great job of writing the post-52 Batman (aka, less tortured Batman). Real curious as to whether more will come of the Batman/Zatanna thing, but I guess to maintain some coherency with the Batman titles currently, that's not really an option.

more later...