Man, not only did I slack on picking up my books yesterday, but it's only a 2 issue week for me (Northlanders #8 and Joker's Asylum: Two Face.) What the heck?
The Floronic Man is totally pwning me.
-AR
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Justice Society of America, Annual #1
When we last left the JSA, they were in the middle of dealing with a Gog that wasn't exactly acting like the villain they had been told he was. This version of Gog appears to be less troublmaker and more peace bringer. He's has been traveling across Earth fixing all the worlds probelms and the superheroes aren't left out of this equation. Dr. Midnite has his eyesight returned to him, Starmans bad case of the crazies is cured and Power Girl is transported back to the alternate Earth she had orginally arrived from.
JSA Annual #1 deals with Power Girl's return to Earth-2 and her interactions with her former teammates. Naturally, it's a confusing situation for both Power Girl and the JSA (named the Justice League Infinity here), but everyone seems pretty happy and excited to have her back. Parts of this end up being a fascinating read. It's always nice to see the multiverse come into play somewhere outside of the big epic DC events (ie. Countdown, Final Crisis, etc). On Earth-2, Batman is no longer alive and Huntress (who happens to be Bruce Wayne's daughter here) has dedicated her life to following in her fathers line of work. Dick Grayson is still Robin and there are a few nice tense moments between him and Huntress where you learn that they are ex-lovers who never really got over each other. Huntress teams with Power Girl to take out a geriatric Joker who, now confined to a wheel chair, is still somehow the main threat to the superhero community.
The story then starts to meander a little bit when another Power Girl shows up and calls foul on the identity of the recently arrived one. Our Power Girl is now on the run from a JSI who has been convinced that she is some kind of imposter. Starts to become a teensy bit lame at the end. Not sure where Geoff Johns is going with this, but this story is continuing into JSA #18 so fingers crossed that it all ends up making sense. Johns has done an excellent job with this relaunch thus far, so I'm on board for the time being.
- TFM
JSA Annual #1 deals with Power Girl's return to Earth-2 and her interactions with her former teammates. Naturally, it's a confusing situation for both Power Girl and the JSA (named the Justice League Infinity here), but everyone seems pretty happy and excited to have her back. Parts of this end up being a fascinating read. It's always nice to see the multiverse come into play somewhere outside of the big epic DC events (ie. Countdown, Final Crisis, etc). On Earth-2, Batman is no longer alive and Huntress (who happens to be Bruce Wayne's daughter here) has dedicated her life to following in her fathers line of work. Dick Grayson is still Robin and there are a few nice tense moments between him and Huntress where you learn that they are ex-lovers who never really got over each other. Huntress teams with Power Girl to take out a geriatric Joker who, now confined to a wheel chair, is still somehow the main threat to the superhero community.
The story then starts to meander a little bit when another Power Girl shows up and calls foul on the identity of the recently arrived one. Our Power Girl is now on the run from a JSI who has been convinced that she is some kind of imposter. Starts to become a teensy bit lame at the end. Not sure where Geoff Johns is going with this, but this story is continuing into JSA #18 so fingers crossed that it all ends up making sense. Johns has done an excellent job with this relaunch thus far, so I'm on board for the time being.
- TFM
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Thor #10
Loki is trouble.
And she shows it here. The issue picks up in the middle of the conversation we were in at the end of #9: Loki explaining to Balder that he is a son of Odin and a half-brother to Thor.
Turns out during one of Odin's victory orgies back in the day, he impregnated one of his supple bedmates (her name is Frigga- learn more here). After the birth of Balder, Odin has unsettling dreams about his newborn son's future death in a battle for all of Asgard. He seeks out the meaning to this and learns that Balder is the key to the continuation of his lineage. The catch is Balder must not die before the coming of Ragnarok or all bets are off. Therefore, Balder's familial situation is kept a secret from him.
Until Loki spills the beans. This is all under the guise of the "new face" of Loki: kind, gentle, helpful, truthful. She urges Balder to ask Thor for the truth. Turns out she's not lying.
The issue ends with Loki asking Balder, in return for her good deed, that he allow her to counsel and advise him on his new position as a Prince of Asgard. The last panel easily conjures up one of the strongest feelings of uneasiness from a comic in recent memory.
Well done JMS and team. If you're not reading this, kick yourself in the ass and get with it already.
- TFM
And she shows it here. The issue picks up in the middle of the conversation we were in at the end of #9: Loki explaining to Balder that he is a son of Odin and a half-brother to Thor.
Turns out during one of Odin's victory orgies back in the day, he impregnated one of his supple bedmates (her name is Frigga- learn more here). After the birth of Balder, Odin has unsettling dreams about his newborn son's future death in a battle for all of Asgard. He seeks out the meaning to this and learns that Balder is the key to the continuation of his lineage. The catch is Balder must not die before the coming of Ragnarok or all bets are off. Therefore, Balder's familial situation is kept a secret from him.
Until Loki spills the beans. This is all under the guise of the "new face" of Loki: kind, gentle, helpful, truthful. She urges Balder to ask Thor for the truth. Turns out she's not lying.
The issue ends with Loki asking Balder, in return for her good deed, that he allow her to counsel and advise him on his new position as a Prince of Asgard. The last panel easily conjures up one of the strongest feelings of uneasiness from a comic in recent memory.
Well done JMS and team. If you're not reading this, kick yourself in the ass and get with it already.
- TFM
What The Floronic Man Got (07/30/08)
All right, ya bastards. Time to experience some jealousy for my amazing taste in comic books.
Here's what I picked up (in descending order of awesomeness):
Thor #10
Spider-Man: With Great Power... #5 (of 5)
Justice Society of America Annual #1
Narcopolis #4
Newuniversal 1959 One Shot
Wolverine #67 (Part II of Old Man Logan)
Batman Death Mask #4 (of 4)
Joker's Asylum: Two-Face
Wolverine Origins #27 (not sure why I still buy this)
That's it. I gots some readin' to do.
- TFM
Friday, July 25, 2008
The New Avengers #43
Everybody wants to be Captain America.
If you have been reading Ed Brubaker's Captain America you know what I'm talking about. The New Avengers #43 introduces us to yet another wannabe Cap. But this one's a muthafuckin' Skrull.
Bendis has been doing a pretty bang up job in both Avengers titles with filling in some Secret Invasion blanks. As time goes on though, each one seems to move the story less further along. Here again, BMB stresses, the Skrulls will go to "any lengths" to conquer the superhero community and takeover the Earth. This means taking a dedicated Skrull volunteer and transforming him so convincingly into Captain America that even he doesn't know any different. The great part of this issue though is seeing a ship full of Skrulls posing as heroes crashing into the Savage Land. They all seem to be pretty oblivious to the fact that they have any kind of evil mission to accomplish. As far as they know they are just a group of honest, hardworking superheroes trying to make it home.
In the end not a bad story. Just a smaller piece to the overall puzzle.
But next month: The Real Secret of the Illuminati!
- TFM
If you have been reading Ed Brubaker's Captain America you know what I'm talking about. The New Avengers #43 introduces us to yet another wannabe Cap. But this one's a muthafuckin' Skrull.
Bendis has been doing a pretty bang up job in both Avengers titles with filling in some Secret Invasion blanks. As time goes on though, each one seems to move the story less further along. Here again, BMB stresses, the Skrulls will go to "any lengths" to conquer the superhero community and takeover the Earth. This means taking a dedicated Skrull volunteer and transforming him so convincingly into Captain America that even he doesn't know any different. The great part of this issue though is seeing a ship full of Skrulls posing as heroes crashing into the Savage Land. They all seem to be pretty oblivious to the fact that they have any kind of evil mission to accomplish. As far as they know they are just a group of honest, hardworking superheroes trying to make it home.
In the end not a bad story. Just a smaller piece to the overall puzzle.
But next month: The Real Secret of the Illuminati!
- TFM
Thursday, July 24, 2008
War Heroes #1
Story by Mark Millar and art by Tony Harris? Why the fuck not, right? Let's do this!
Millar has been exploring a similar theme lately- superheroes in the "real world" - with 1985 and Kick-Ass. This new series from Image continues the trend.
Set in the not too distant future, War Heroes begs the question: How do you face an increasingly hostile world of wars and terrorism when you've scared any potential military recruits away by showing them just what their job entails on every available news staion?
The answer: give them super powers.
America is going through a tough time. There have been several additional terrorist attacks throughout the country (including one in downtown L.A. - a little too close for comfort for Amy Racecar and I!). The U.S. response is to invade Iran. It doesn't take a political scientist to figure out that this situation isn't exactly a cakewalk. The government rolls out a gameplan to supply 500K troops with pills that give them superpowers. Increased strength, speed and there's even some talk of a supplement on its way that will allow people to fly.
The story then introduces you to a young solider, Jay Pierce, who has returned to his San Diego community and is hailed as a hero. You see him casually flexing a car over his head, while his family and neighbors look on in awe. You then learn about his little brother Calvin, who has been inspired by his brother and is giving up his hopes of being a football star to follow in his footsteps and join the war effort. They sit on the porch and drink beers and Calvin gets excited by his brothers stories. Jay tells him "The old Army was hard, but this is like playing video games."
The rest of the story gives you bits and pieces of other characters that are looking to play a major role in the remaining five issues. Somehow they are all tied in with Calvin, as one of them mentions him by name, along with a few other people you are shown brief glimpses of. It appears as if that they are cooking up on helluva scheme and they will be using the free gift of these new military powers to set it in motion.
Bottom line: cool concept, setting up to be an interesting tale, Tony Harris is still drawing like Tony Harris (that's good).
If you like what Millar is doing on 1985 or Kick-Ass, or you are just a general fan of his work- pick this up!
-TFM
Millar has been exploring a similar theme lately- superheroes in the "real world" - with 1985 and Kick-Ass. This new series from Image continues the trend.
Set in the not too distant future, War Heroes begs the question: How do you face an increasingly hostile world of wars and terrorism when you've scared any potential military recruits away by showing them just what their job entails on every available news staion?
The answer: give them super powers.
America is going through a tough time. There have been several additional terrorist attacks throughout the country (including one in downtown L.A. - a little too close for comfort for Amy Racecar and I!). The U.S. response is to invade Iran. It doesn't take a political scientist to figure out that this situation isn't exactly a cakewalk. The government rolls out a gameplan to supply 500K troops with pills that give them superpowers. Increased strength, speed and there's even some talk of a supplement on its way that will allow people to fly.
The story then introduces you to a young solider, Jay Pierce, who has returned to his San Diego community and is hailed as a hero. You see him casually flexing a car over his head, while his family and neighbors look on in awe. You then learn about his little brother Calvin, who has been inspired by his brother and is giving up his hopes of being a football star to follow in his footsteps and join the war effort. They sit on the porch and drink beers and Calvin gets excited by his brothers stories. Jay tells him "The old Army was hard, but this is like playing video games."
The rest of the story gives you bits and pieces of other characters that are looking to play a major role in the remaining five issues. Somehow they are all tied in with Calvin, as one of them mentions him by name, along with a few other people you are shown brief glimpses of. It appears as if that they are cooking up on helluva scheme and they will be using the free gift of these new military powers to set it in motion.
Bottom line: cool concept, setting up to be an interesting tale, Tony Harris is still drawing like Tony Harris (that's good).
If you like what Millar is doing on 1985 or Kick-Ass, or you are just a general fan of his work- pick this up!
-TFM
The Immortal Iron Fist #17
Ok! Not bad!
I really wasn't completely sold on this issue until the final panel where the new baddie is standing over Kwai Jun-Fan (aka The Iron Fist circa 1878) and reveals that he's the killer of Iron Fists. I thought it was a great reveal, even though it may have been an obvious one for many (it wasn't for me).
The issue starts off with a flash forward to a K'un-Lun 10 years into the future, where we find Misty Knight and what we are led to believe is her child with Daniel Rand. The young kid storms into his mother's chambers and demands to know how his father really died. Not really the biggest fan of this type of storytelling, as I feel like it has a good chance of either painting future writers into corners or just making for an otherwise lame story down the line when someone has to write their way out of it to change it. Not a huge qualm, but it did make me flinch a little.
Overall, I think Swierczynski crafted an overly acceptable story and takes the reins from Fraction / Brubaker with hardly a hiccup. I thought his dialogue was well done and the story was a breeze to navigate.
Foreman's art wasn't amazing nor insulting. It was just kind of there and that's plenty fine.
Very interested to see how this shapes up in the next few issues and this new creative teams arc overall.
- TFM
The Immortal Iron Fist #17
So! Despite my apprehension about the creative team switch on Iron Fist, it wasn't bad! It wasn't the bestest ever, but I'll definitely keep reading.
When we last left Danny Rand in #16, he had just come to the realization that only one Iron Fist has lived past the age of 33 and, surprise, today is his 33rd birthday! What's a guy to do? Try to ignore it while his friends throw him a party, I guess.
Danny's made headway into retooling the Rand Corporation, and he's hired a feisty new COO. Danny and Jeryn give the new guy a run down on Rand Corp's...less than conventional enemies.
Also in the issue is the ever popular (with me, at least) past Iron Fist flash back. It takes us to West Texas in the late 1800s, where the current IF is trying to alleviate the hardships of his Chinese brethren. After getting his ass kicked by some not-so-innocent townspeople, he runs into a spooky guy who tells him, "I am a servent of the Ch'i-Lin. I am the one who kills The Iron Fist." Dun dun duuuun!
And, what do you know, this fuckin' guy turns up at a park in NYC decades later to beat Danny Rand to the ground. Oh nos!
Sooo, yeah. Story is good, dialogue is tIIF appropriate mix of funny/serious/mystical, and the art isn't too shabby, either. I don't like it quite as much as David Aja's stuff, but the action shots are still seriously kick ass.
Recommended!
-AR
When we last left Danny Rand in #16, he had just come to the realization that only one Iron Fist has lived past the age of 33 and, surprise, today is his 33rd birthday! What's a guy to do? Try to ignore it while his friends throw him a party, I guess.
Danny's made headway into retooling the Rand Corporation, and he's hired a feisty new COO. Danny and Jeryn give the new guy a run down on Rand Corp's...less than conventional enemies.
Also in the issue is the ever popular (with me, at least) past Iron Fist flash back. It takes us to West Texas in the late 1800s, where the current IF is trying to alleviate the hardships of his Chinese brethren. After getting his ass kicked by some not-so-innocent townspeople, he runs into a spooky guy who tells him, "I am a servent of the Ch'i-Lin. I am the one who kills The Iron Fist." Dun dun duuuun!
And, what do you know, this fuckin' guy turns up at a park in NYC decades later to beat Danny Rand to the ground. Oh nos!
Sooo, yeah. Story is good, dialogue is tIIF appropriate mix of funny/serious/mystical, and the art isn't too shabby, either. I don't like it quite as much as David Aja's stuff, but the action shots are still seriously kick ass.
Recommended!
-AR
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tomorrow's Haul - (07/23/08)
Time to see what goodness I have in store for tomorrow:
Definitely:
Justice League of America #23
Madame Xanadu #2
Immortal Iron Fist #17
New Avengers #43
Black Summer #7
Dan Dare #7 (of 7)
Gravel #3
Maybe:
Jokers Asylum: Scarecrow
Two Face Year One #1
Not too bad. We have a double dose of W. Ellis, the finale of Garth Ennis' war-in-space mini and a new Immortal Iron Fist.
On the topic of Iron Fist, I share my blogging partner's trepidation with the staff changes on this book. It's rather baffling why Marvel would take one of its hottest titles and reshuffle the creative team at this point in time, especially with a relative newcomer. A quick Google search for new writer Duane Swierczynski shows that, while he does have some crime novel writing experience, his work in the comics medium has been limited to a few issues of Cable, a Punisher one shot and a Moon Knight annual. Talk about being thrown into the deep end.
It will be very interesting to see what tomorrow brings.
Nitey nite.
- TFM
Definitely:
Justice League of America #23
Madame Xanadu #2
Immortal Iron Fist #17
New Avengers #43
Black Summer #7
Dan Dare #7 (of 7)
Gravel #3
Maybe:
Jokers Asylum: Scarecrow
Two Face Year One #1
Not too bad. We have a double dose of W. Ellis, the finale of Garth Ennis' war-in-space mini and a new Immortal Iron Fist.
On the topic of Iron Fist, I share my blogging partner's trepidation with the staff changes on this book. It's rather baffling why Marvel would take one of its hottest titles and reshuffle the creative team at this point in time, especially with a relative newcomer. A quick Google search for new writer Duane Swierczynski shows that, while he does have some crime novel writing experience, his work in the comics medium has been limited to a few issues of Cable, a Punisher one shot and a Moon Knight annual. Talk about being thrown into the deep end.
It will be very interesting to see what tomorrow brings.
Nitey nite.
- TFM
What Tomorrow Holds - (07/23/08)
My pull list for tomorrow:
Daredevil #109
Immortal Iron Fist #17
Two Face: Year One #1
Joker's Asylum: Scarecrow
Secret History of the Authority: Jack Hawksmoor #5
Definitely excited for Daredevil, as per usual. Super apprehensive about Iron Fist, though. No Fraction, no Brubaker? Dumb dumb dumb. I'm not sure if the two quit the book or they were replaced by these no-name fellas, but either way I'm pretty peeved. We'll see.
A pretty light week, but that's probably for the best (for my wallet.)
-AR
Daredevil #109
Immortal Iron Fist #17
Two Face: Year One #1
Joker's Asylum: Scarecrow
Secret History of the Authority: Jack Hawksmoor #5
Definitely excited for Daredevil, as per usual. Super apprehensive about Iron Fist, though. No Fraction, no Brubaker? Dumb dumb dumb. I'm not sure if the two quit the book or they were replaced by these no-name fellas, but either way I'm pretty peeved. We'll see.
A pretty light week, but that's probably for the best (for my wallet.)
-AR
Friday, July 18, 2008
Scalped #19
As my buddy The Floronic Man was saying yesterday, this issue starts to delve into the past of Chief Red Crow's daughter, Carol. Up until now, Carol has just been an annoying, unsympathetic junkie whore. Harsh, but true. After seeing what she deals with every day (grab-handsy patrons at the greasy spoon where she waitresses, a deadbeat abusive husband who she only married to piss off her dad), a peek into her past (she was pregnant and about to escape the rez, but it looks like her baby daddy got killed by Red Crow), you can understand a bit more why she spends all her money on cigarettes and black tar heroin.
It's nice to see her character being fleshed out a bit. Scalped has been pretty good so far making all of the main players multidimensional and deep (though it took Aaron until this past story line to get to Dash, which is strange as he's ostensibly the main character.) I'm excited to see where this story arc's going.
Scalped is up for an Eisner for Best New Series this year, but it's some stiff competition. Immortal Iron First, Buffy, Infinite Horizon, and Johnny Hiro are all in the running. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I'd be happy with a win for either Scalped, Iron Fist, or Infinite Horizon (I read Buffy, too, but it's just not as a good a book as the others.)
-AR
PS. Plus, check out Tim Bradstreet's super hot Frank Miller-esque cover:
It's nice to see her character being fleshed out a bit. Scalped has been pretty good so far making all of the main players multidimensional and deep (though it took Aaron until this past story line to get to Dash, which is strange as he's ostensibly the main character.) I'm excited to see where this story arc's going.
Scalped is up for an Eisner for Best New Series this year, but it's some stiff competition. Immortal Iron First, Buffy, Infinite Horizon, and Johnny Hiro are all in the running. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I'd be happy with a win for either Scalped, Iron Fist, or Infinite Horizon (I read Buffy, too, but it's just not as a good a book as the others.)
-AR
PS. Plus, check out Tim Bradstreet's super hot Frank Miller-esque cover:
Thursday, July 17, 2008
What I Got - 07/16/08
Checkmate #28 (Why isn't Rucka writing this right now?!)
The Joker's Asylum: Penguin
Scalped #19
Captain America #40
Ghost Rider #25
Marvel 1985 #3
Mighty Avengers #16
Punisher #59
Sky Doll #3
Universal War One #1
Thank God Amy Racecar bought Hard Boiled because if she hadn't I would have been forced to and as is I spent enough.
Scalped was great, as per usual. The start of a new storyline and we're starting to learn more about the past of Red Crow's daughter Carol. I won't go into further detail right now. The whole point of this is to spoil it for you, dear nonexistent blog reader, and not for my blogging partner.
More posting after I read more comics.
- The Floronic Man (for now) formerly Captain Awesome
What I Got - 07/16/08
Scapled #19
Joker's Asylum: Poison Ivy
The Mighty Avengers #16
Omega The Unknown #10 (last of the mini series)
Marvel 1985 #3
The Walking Dead #50
Hard Boiled (pretty fucked up Frank Miller series from 1990)
Pretty exciting haul. Hard Boiled was sold as a set in my shop, and after skimming through the first issue I had to have it. Beautiful artwork, great pre-hack Miller writing. Can't wait to finish the 3rd and final part. Also, as an added bonus and pleasant surprise, I noticed that on the inner front cover of each issue is artist Geof Darrow's signature (including one sketch) and, in one issue, what looks like Frank Miller's signature. Between that and The Watchmen trailer being leaked early today (which gave me a total lady boner) today was like nerd Christmas!
-AR
Joker's Asylum: Poison Ivy
The Mighty Avengers #16
Omega The Unknown #10 (last of the mini series)
Marvel 1985 #3
The Walking Dead #50
Hard Boiled (pretty fucked up Frank Miller series from 1990)
Pretty exciting haul. Hard Boiled was sold as a set in my shop, and after skimming through the first issue I had to have it. Beautiful artwork, great pre-hack Miller writing. Can't wait to finish the 3rd and final part. Also, as an added bonus and pleasant surprise, I noticed that on the inner front cover of each issue is artist Geof Darrow's signature (including one sketch) and, in one issue, what looks like Frank Miller's signature. Between that and The Watchmen trailer being leaked early today (which gave me a total lady boner) today was like nerd Christmas!
-AR
Captain Awesome To The Rescue
I've arrived and I will be known as Captain Awesome until I come up with a better identity. Even though Captain Awesome pretty much explains me to a T.
Anyways- I only read Scalped yesterday and the first few pages of Mighty Avengers.
Since we're all about spoilerz, I'm going to spoil it for you Amy Racecar......
"There were boobies."
Consider yourself spoiled!
I will spoil more once I have more spoils to offer.
Anyways- I only read Scalped yesterday and the first few pages of Mighty Avengers.
Since we're all about spoilerz, I'm going to spoil it for you Amy Racecar......
"There were boobies."
Consider yourself spoiled!
I will spoil more once I have more spoils to offer.
is this thing on
Hello! Amy Racecar here. Seth hasn't chosen his ultra cool blogger name yet.
I don't know who I'm talking to, no one knows this thing exists yet. I guess that's for the best, since I haven't read any of my book from yesterday yet.
I don't know who I'm talking to, no one knows this thing exists yet. I guess that's for the best, since I haven't read any of my book from yesterday yet.
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