On The Shelf This Week – 06.27.07
ON THE SHELF THIS WEEK
by Craig Reade
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Order any of the below titles by clicking here!
JACK OF FABLES #12, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC/Vertigo.
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges ; Art by Tony Akins and Andrew Pepoy; Cover by CLASSIFIED
Not totally sold on the mystery cover artist gimmick – seems like maybe they just didn’t have one in mind when they wrote the solicit. And the cover artist rarely sells an issue (I mean, if Steve Ditko was doing the cover, I could see this kind of treatment, but this seems like over hype for almost anyone short of him).
Whatever the motive, the cover doesn’t matter. The issue does – and on that count, it has been a heck of a year for Jack of Fables. This series has successfully dodged the spin-off stigma and has become a strong title on its own merits. Even the characters in the story are original – outside of Jack himself, this book hasn’t drawn from the mother-title at all for key characters and storylines, which is a real accomplishment.
This issue is the twelfth, the big first anniversary issue. Business as usual for the story though, which is as it should be. Might not be the best issue for the new reader, but with a title like this, it is often better to just dive in and take a couple issues to get caught up. It is well worth the effort.
SHE-HULK #19, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel.
Written by Dan Slott, Art by Rick Burchett, Cliff Rathburn and Dan Kemp.
With the announcement of the new creative team for this title following Dan Slott’s departure, it does indeed seem that the end is neigh for the fans of Slott’s work on this book. Even if you are a fan of Peter David’s work, he has made it clear in some interviews about his upcoming runs that he is going to take this book in a different direction, and the “Jen Walters, Attorney at Law” chapter of the She-Hulk saga is going to be done and over with. So this really is the beginning of the end of an era. But, all good things really do have to end eventually.
These next several issues should see the culmination of just about every major plot thread Slott has left untied since he started his run, which means these next three issues shouldn’t be missed, especially if you have been following his run since the beginning. This issue find’s Jen’s lawfirm defending Hulk-foe The Leader, which will no doubt be a source of tension. Will this be the last straw, the final insult that leads to She-Hulk’s departure from the firm? Should be an exciting read.
SUPERMAN BATMAN #37, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics.
Written by Alan Burnett; Art and Cover by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs.
A brand new creative team, and a brand new story arc – this would usually be a very good place for a new reader to jump aboard. This issue should be no different. Paul Dini’s work on Batman has been fairly well received, so why not bring in another creator of a popular DC animated property? Alan Burnett is know for his work on Batman Beyond and also the New Batman Superman Adventures – so this title is right up his alley. The solicit for this issue is fairly vague (Superman and Batman fighting for their souls – not exactly much to set this issue apart), but that really isn’t the selling point here, it is Burnett’s reputation. This should be a good issue to try out, especially if you are one of those readers that have faded away since this series first got started.
WONDER WOMAN #10, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics.
Written by Jodi Picoult; Art by Paco Diaz ; Cover by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson
This Amazons Attack tie-in issue marks the end of Picoult’s run, and credit has to be given where it is due – she has really stepped things up over her run. She has improved so much since her first issue that I can honestly say that I wouldn’t mind seeing something else from her sometime in the future.
After this, we will be getting a couple of fill in issues, highlighted by Will Pfeifer’s solo issue next month, then we are all waiting patiently for Gail Simone’s highly anticipated start. Also, Wonder Woman Annual #1 was finally announced for the end of September, in which we will finally get the end of Allan Heinberg’s story.
It was a rough initial run, but it finally looks like things are on course for this title.
WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #1 (OF 6) , $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel.
Written by Paul Jenkins, Art by Ramon Bachs.
The creative team behind the Civil War Front Line series are back to “cover” the World War Hulk event. Like Civil War Front Line, this series probably isn’t required to really enjoy the event itself, but will add some interesting tidbits from the rest of the Marvel Universe.
In many ways, this series has a lot more potential than its Civil War predecessor. For starters, there is really something here for an investigative reporter to sink their teeth into. The very idea of the Illuminati opens the doors to so many potential stories that no reporter worth their salt would ignore that angle. This mini will be shorter too – eleven issues was a bit too long, this one being streamlined into six. A stronger plot and a tighter series should make this a much better read than the last Front Line.
WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #1 (OF 3) , $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel.
Written by Christos Gage, Andrea Di Vito.
This series could go wither way, but hopefully it is exciting. A Professor X/Hulk showdown would be the ultimate in brawn vs. brain – granted, this fight would be a lot more interesting of Professor X still had his telekinesis (unless I missed him getting it back), but being a three issue mini there is probably a lot more to this than the fight itself.
Christos Gage has gained a lot more credibility with me in recent months. When I first saw his name as a byline, all I could think of was Teenage Caveman, and that was good for a snicker. But after reading some of his work (especially the recent Heralds of Galactus issue), his stock has risen considerably. And artistically – when is Andrea Di Vito not a treat?
Professor X wasn’t one of those who sent the Hulk off, but his connection to the Illuminati makes him a target all the same. Should be interesting to see what Gage has in mind for this series.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL #1, $4.99, 64 Pages, DC Comics.
Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Ethan Van Sciver and Dave Gibbons; Cover by Van Sciver
This is nothing short of exciting. In the DCU, there isn’t a stable of titles more exciting than the Green Lantern books. Granted, the idea of resurrecting Hal Jordan was met with a bit of scorn (well, save for separating him from the Spectre), but there can be no denying that Rebirth started a real renaissance for the line. After all these months, it was ready for something big, and Sinestro certainly fits that bill. The lead up to this issue has really helped drive the hype – I mean, who didn’t like the yellow ring choosing Batman?
This is going to be a packed issue, most of which looks like original material dealing with Sinestro’s assault on the Lantern Corps, and a 6 page back-up retelling the origin of Sinestro (key for new Green Lantern readers who have only come aboard in recent times). If you are going to splurge on anything this week, this would be the issue to pick up.
DARK HORSE COMICS
HELLBOY DARKNESS CALLS #3 (OF 6), $2.99 Now: $2.59
DC COMICS
AMAZONS ATTACK #3 (OF 6), $2.99 Now: $2.59
BLUE BEETLE #16, $2.99 Now: $2.69
CLUBBING, $9.99 Now: $2.69
COUNTDOWN 44, $2.99 Now: $2.59
DEADMAN #11, $2.99 Now: $2.59
GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL #1, $4.99 Now: $4.39
JACK OF FABLES #12, $2.99 Now: $2.69
JSA CLASSIFIED #27, $2.99 Now: $2.59
NINJA SCROLL #10, $2.99 Now: $2.59
SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #31, $2.99 Now: $2.59
SUPERMAN BATMAN #37, $2.99 Now: $2.59
TEEN TITANS #48, $2.99 Now: $2.59
WONDER WOMAN #10, $2.99 Now: $2.59
MARVEL COMICS
BLACK PANTHER #28, $2.99 Now: $2.69
CABLE DEADPOOL #42, $2.99 Now: $2.89
CRIMINAL #7, $2.99
DAREDEVIL #98, $2.99 Now: $2.59
FANTASTIC FOUR #547, $2.99 Now: $2.59
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #6, $2.99 Now: $2.69
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #14, $2.99 Now: $2.59
SHE-HULK #19, $2.99 Now: $2.59
SILENT WAR #6 (OF 6) , $2.99 Now: $2.59
SILVER SURFER REQUIEM #2 (OF 4) , $3.99 Now: $3.49
THUNDERBOLTS #115, $2.99 Now: $2.79
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #43, $2.99 Now: $2.59
ULTIMATE X-MEN #83, $2.99 Now: $2.59
ULTIMATES 2 VOL 2 GRAND THEFT AMERICA TP, $19.99 Now: $15.99
WOLVERINE BLOOD & SORROW TP, $13.99 Now: $11.99
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #15, $2.99 Now: $2.59
WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #1 (OF 6) , $2.99 Now: $2.59
WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #1 (OF 3) , $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-FACTOR #20, $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN #200, $3.99 Now: $3.49
X-MEN FIRST CLASS #1, $2.99 Now: $2.59
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
BOYS #8, $2.99 Now: $2.59
FLASH
It really isn’t a secret that the core DC books have suffered somewhat post-Infinite Crisis. Several of the biggest sellers have been plagued by delays and strange plots that left fans scratching their heads. The Flash wasn’t bad – it started off a little weird, and slowly improved over the last few issues. Well, at the recent conventions, DC announced the return of Mark Waid to the Flash, the end of Flash: Fastest Man Alive at issue #13, and the brand new All Flash #1 hitting shelves in September. This basically amounts to DC hitting the reset button on their Flash relaunch, and despite the improvement of the current Flash book, it is probably for the best. It still wasn’t coming close to the standard Geoff Johns set during his run, and The Flash is just one of those titles that just has to be outstanding. Mark Waid is doubtlessly up to the task once again.
ANTHOLOGY!
Anyone who has read my articles over the last few years know that I have lamented the lack of real superhero anthology books from either of the major publishers. Well, I probably can’t take credit for it (but I’d be more than happy to), but Marvel has announced the brand new Marvel Comics Presents monthly series. This anthology book will feature 4 eight page stories in each issue that will be divided fairly equally between serial stories and stand alones. This is cool on so many levels. This is the perfect outlet for cult-favorite characters that have been left to gather dust, and a great chance for creators to try their hands at popular characters they wouldn’t normally be involved in. And what better breeding ground for new characters? This book deserves a whole ton of support from everyone who has any kind of love for this medium.
NOTE: Opinions here may not reflect those of X-World Comics LLC or it’s staff and are solely the opinions of the writer.Want to comment on this week’s newsletter? Give your feedback here!
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June 25, 2007
The Gamer’s Quagmire #47: Alert: Zombies Invade Manchester
Everything you wanted to know about gaming, and less.
by Jamison DeLorenzo
One does not necessarily beget the other, but in this case I thought it was particularly amusing that the time it took to put my next mini-rant here together, while it felt like an inordinate amount of time, was still microscopic in comparison to the amount of time it took the Church of England to file suit (or at least threaten to) against Sony. For those of you not in the know, suing Rockstar has become much too passé.In the Resistance: Fall of Man PS3 game the Church of Manchester was a setting for one of the many in-game battles. Naturally this serves as grounds for a lawsuit because that area of England is plagued with gun violence. Now that the game has sold over a million copies worldwide it’s time for a baseless lawsuit against a company for a successful game. The wide array of specious reasons include bad taste complaints from anti-gun campaigners (because pixelated guns are always evil and promote actual gun violence) and slants against Christianity (because the gaming industry is always anti-Christian but pro-Islam and Judaism).
Using bad taste as a reason to complain about something is the current mechanism for professing an inability to deal with reality. That statement is probably far too discourteous but using that type of language is my way of saying that people really need to come to grips with reality and accept that certain forms of expression in the artistic world can be ignored. Just as most people can ignore an infrequent web article they can also ignore a video game that they will almost assuredly never play. Everybody can name something that greatly annoys them and wishes it would go away. Debra Messing is still around and I can cope with it. If you are unable to deal with differing forms of expression then there’s nothing this world can offer you.
We have been dealing with this long enough to realize that as long as a problem exists in the real world its depiction in video games is always cause for concern. Video games are the next major form of entertainment and society is going to struggle with dealing with this new entity for a long time. Stand up comedy had its era of ridiculous censorship and movies had it too. It should not be that surprising that people don’t know how to deal with gaming rationally yet. I understand what gun violence can and does do to a community, so my aggravation towards this situation is not out of a slanted view against those people in Manchester. The problem here is that people want to be protected from reality in almost every aspect of life. Video games have been a popular target for a while, so when game artists and designers were able to research and create a very impressive digital representation of the Manchester Cathedral their efforts had to be picked on.
Undoubtedly the anti-gun people would have been upset no matter what because the game is a shooter, so there’s not a whole lot that can be done there (other than ignoring people that are always going to be against gaming anyway). It’s not important that the guns are being used to take down aliens (because every living thing has rights- except vegetables and carbon, the basis of all life). What’s important is that people think that the game developers are trying to make some high-arcing statement by using Manchester as a setting instead of some fictional world. Personally I always love how people feel the need to tell writers how to tell a story. Critics are often fond of telling writers how they should have told a story. In some cases people do have a point, but when taste is criticized instead of pointing out legitimate potholes the criticism becomes nothing more than self-promoting babble (to some this is known as The O’Reilly Factor).
In a game that is centered around the fall of mankind, which, by definition, requires that the game involve humans on Earth, the developers needed to pick a place that would allow gamers to suspend belief without going too far. Why England? I really don’t care. The developers could have hit England on a world map with a dart when making a decision about the story. In a couple different fictional stories, England has been the spawning point of dragons that almost wiped out human life (Reign of Fire), the land where zombies were attacking humans in another apocalyptic world (28 Days Later), the primary schoolyard for some of the world’s most powerful and evil sorcerers (Harry Potter), and the foundation of a horror story involving a relatively young woman (Bridget Jones). Fire-breathing dragons, cannibalistic zombies, and necromancy get free passes, but killing aliens is out of the question.
You figure it out.
Regardless, my point is that this lawsuit is just another pathetic attempt at trying to gain attention to a cause by using everyone’s current favorite whipping boy (video games). Aside from the massively delayed reaction to complain about the game (it does take a long time to research all Bible passages to see if some doctrine is violated by the execution of aliens in a video game), it becomes difficult to comprehend what the Church hopes to gain by making this statement against Sony. Maybe they feel Sony is too pre-occupied with other lawsuits or maybe they’re sweating over getting the PS3 to become a marketing success like the Wii. Such things can be quite difficult to understand, but one thing I can tell you with certainty is that believing that video game violence can cause more harm than real violence is far more dangerous to real victims than video games themselves could ever could.
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June 20, 2007
On The Shelf This Week – 06.20.07
ON THE SHELF THIS WEEK
by Craig Reade
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Order any of the below titles by clicking here!
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #4, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics.
Written by Mark Waid; Art by George Pérez and Bob Wiacek
On the whole thus far, this series hasn’t been too bad. The biggest weakness has been Supergirl – but once you get past that, it is really fun.
Speaking of Supergirl – have you seen any of the character sketches from Renato Guedes for the upcoming Tony Bedard-penned run? See, that is what a teenage girl is supposed to look like! If the rumors that they are finally backing off of the spoiled-brat Paris Hilton-style Supergirl, and more towards the realistic teenage girl, then the character might suddenly be worth caring about.
But, back on target, the main focus of this issue looks like it will be Lobo and the current, less appealing Supergirl. The thing with this series is, though, that the team-up of the month isn’t all you get – so far the story has checked in on just about everyone involved with the plot each issue, so those of you who enjoyed the Blue Beetle/Batman interaction will likely get a small taste this issue as well. Thus far this series shows some promise – eager to see where the next arc takes us.
HIGHWAYMEN #1 (OF 5) , $2.99, 32 Pages, DC/Wildstorm.
Written by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman; Art by Lee Garbett; Cover by Brian Stelfreeze
An interesting formula – a pair of old, retired partners with bad blood between them must reunite for one last job. Sounds like a generic action film. Thing is, Wildstorm seems to do a lot of minis that sound generic that end up being something more.
This series looks like it is going to be a testing ground for Entertainment Weekly editor Marc Bernardin – the man who was responsible for the press comic have gotten in that publication in recent years. Hey – if the price of mainstream coverage is giving the man a chance to tell a comic story, who isn’t up for giving the man a chance?
The preview pages look pretty decent – this series does have the potential to be fairly fast-paced and exciting. And with an action book like this, the more like a formula action movie the better – too much depth can drag an action story down. It is possible to tell a great character story and not get too bogged down in depth, so the lighter the better here.
This is a great place for Bernardin and Freeman’s debut – now let’s see what kind of chops they have!
INCREDIBLE HULK #107, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marve.
Written by Greg Pak, Art by Gary Frank, Jon Sibal, and Chris Sotomayor.
This just seems awesome – a pro-Hulk team forming in anticipation of his arrival? That is the great thing about the Hulk. The Hulk is on his own side, and probably couldn’t care less about Angel and Hercules. He wants his revenge, and is going to get it his way. I just can’t see him slowing down to allow for the opinions of “team-mates,” especially those who aren’t among his Warbound.
Annihilation has gotten loads of praise, but one thing it didn’t have was anticipation. It was a fantastic event, but no one saw it coming. Marvel hasn’t built an event this well in a long time, and the anticipation of what will happen is almost enough to get us all through this with smiles and thumbs up.
The event itself is off to a decent start – I must admit that I enjoy the art crew on this title much more than the event series itself. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed Romita Jr’s art – I could get past the Stretch-Armstrongness of his characters if it weren’t for that facial expression they all seem to have. I am still suffering from event fatigue, but Marvel has put together a decent line-up this summer. Should restore a lot of faith in the line if these are successful.
IRON MAN #19, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel.
Written by Christos Gage, Art by Roberto De La Torre, Jonathan Sibal, and Dean White.
A big Iron Man week – this issue, the last issue of Hypervelocity, and the second issue of the Marvel Adventures series!
For those of you following World War Hulk (but not getting all of the crossover issues), this is one tie-in you may want to pick up. Heck, if you are someone who just flat out despises the man that Tony Stark has become in the aftermath of Civil War, you want to buy this issue just to see the Hulk clean his clock.
It looks like Tony’s empire is going to start crumbling in this title, and this issue is the catalyst. Stark has become hated – not at all heroic – and looking at this issue, it might not have been as accidental as some thought. As despised as Stark is, seeing the Hulk run through him might be just enough to get his biggest detractors interested in what comes next on this book.
REPO #1 (OF 5) ,$3.50, 32 Pages, Image.
Written by Rick Spears, Art by David Ahn.
This one looks like it could be a fun little mini – a pair of repo-men sent to repossess the beating heart of an escaped clone. I don’t think that quite fits the definition of repossess, sounds more like bounty hunting to me, but that is probably splitting hairs.
This team was pretty popular on their Teenagers From Mars series, and Spears’s Pirates of Coney Island was pretty entertaining, if a lot twisted. Spears is on a pretty good streak right now, and there is no indication that he is slowing down any time soon.
SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #38, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel.
Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Art by Lee Weeks, Scott Hanna, and Dan Kemp.
So this story only came about because of the latest Spider-Man movie. That doesn’t mean there still isn’t a good Eddie Brock story to tell. And this one does have potential.
Eddie doesn’t need Venom to hate Peter Parker – and this story should test exactly how deep that hatred runs. He is weak, but in the very same hospital as an even weaker Aunt May, will the temptation be too great to resist? Will he be strong enough of will to actually carry out the act if he goes down that road?
These next two issues will no doubt be dark, a little disturbing, and a lot tense.
SPIRIT #7, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics.
Written by Kyle Baker, Jimmy Palmiotti and Walter Simonson; Art by Kyle Baker, Jordi Bernet, Chris Sprouse and Karl Story.
Special fill-in issue this week featuring a trio of Spirit shorts. The lack of Darwyn Cooke might be a little bit of a let down to those of you who don’t like fill-in issues, but it is almost always better to give a hard working creator a month off and let someone else do the issue rather than delaying things. Besides – Cooke has done something special with the Spirit here, and it is totally understandable that some other creators would want to give it a whirl. Especially Kyle Baker – this kind of thing is right up his alley.
The Spirit continues to satisfy every single month with great storytelling and outstanding art. It has been said by others, but I am really digging the single-issue stories Cooke has been churning out. I have talked about single-issue stories at length when discussing Jonah Hex, and between that and The Spirit, there is almost hope that the single-issue story will become much more commonplace in the years to come.
Cooke deserves more credit than he could possibly get for telling a contemporary Spirit story that is both entertaining and something Eisner would probably actually approve of. His fans need not worry – he will be back for next month’s issue.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
ANNIHILATION CONQUEST PROLOGUE, $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel.
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Art by Mike Perkins and Guru-EFX.
The sequel has arrived! Scary! One of the bad things about a runaway hit is the eventual sequel. The first Annihilation was pretty well under the radar for Marvel, and it almost seemed like they were shocked at how popular it was. Will they be more hand-on with the sequel, or will they just let Abnett and Lanning tell the outstanding story we all know they can tell?
There was one glaring blemish last go-around for Annihilation, and that was the Prologue issue. The story was decent, but the art was horrific. It took a lot longer to sell people on the amazing story being told when the very first issue was such an eyesore. Thankfully, that will not be a problem this time. Mike Perkins is more than capable. His work will be immediately familiar to some – his art on Captain America has been outstanding. Others might recall seeing him way back in the waning days of CrossGen on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, an ok title (not great) that was really helped along by his work.
I can say with some confidence that this Prologue issue will not find artistic commonality with the previous effort – so on that note, readers will rest easy. Looking forward to another awesome event!
DARK HORSE COMICS
STAR WARS 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION VOL 5, $24.99 Now: $18.99
DC COMICS
AQUAMAN SWORD OF ATLANTIS #53, $2.99 Now: $2.59
ARMY @ LOVE #4 (MR) , $2.99 Now: $2.69
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #4, $2.99 Now: $2.59
CATWOMAN #68, $2.99 Now: $2.69
CHECKMATE #15, $2.99 Now: $2.69
COUNTDOWN 45, $2.99 Now: $2.59
EX MACHINA #29 (MR) , $2.99 Now: $2.69
FLASH THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #13, $2.99 Now: $2.69
HELLBLAZER #233 (MR), $2.59 Now: $2.69
HIGHWAYMEN #1 (OF 5) , $2.99 Now: $2.69
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #10, $2.99 Now: $2.69
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VAR ED #10, $11.99
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #3, $2.25 Now: $1.99
ROBIN #163, $2.99 Now: $2.59
SHADOWPACT #14, $2.99 Now: $2.59
SPIRIT #7, $2.99 Now: $2.59
IMAGE COMICS
REPO #1 (OF 5) , $3.50 Now: $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #541, $2.89 Now: $2.69
ANNIHILATION CONQUEST PROLOGUE, $3.99 [/strike] Now: $3.49
CAPTAIN AMERICA #27, $2.99 Now: $2.69
CIVIL WAR: FALLEN SON – SPIDER-MAN, $2.99 Now: $2.69
GHOST RIDER #12, $2.99 Now: $2.69
HEROES FOR HIRE #11, $2.99 Now: $2.79
INCREDIBLE HULK #107, $2.99 Now: $2.84
IRON MAN #19, $2.99 Now: $2.69
IRON MAN HYPERVELOCITY #6 (OF 6), $2.99 Now: $2.59
MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #2, $2.99 Now: $2.59
MOON KNIGHT #11, $2.99 Now: $2.69
SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #38, $2.99 Now: $2.69
SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC FOUR #3, $2.99 [colore=red]Now: $2.59[/color]
THUNDERBOLTS GUARDIAN PROTOCOLS TP, $10.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #110, $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN ENDANGERED SPECIES ONE-SHOT, $3.99 Now: $3.49
IDW
TRANSFORMERS MOVIE ADAPTATION #3 (OF 4), $3.99 Now: $3.49
Hello Stranger
Marvel has finally let the cat out of the bag regarding the future of Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. As many of you know, long-time Mary Jane writer Sean McKeever is moving on to DC shortly after signing an exclusive contract. Most readers feared that Marvel would just turn around and axe a bothersome title (for them), or that some hack would take over the title, causing the story to wither and sales to plummet, resulting in the same. It is a safe bet now that this book isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
Enter Terry Moore, the man behind the popular and recently completed Strangers in Paradise series. Honestly – who thought of him when considering potential replacements on this book? And why is that number so low – the man is perfect for it! It doesn’t look as if he will be handling the art chores – sad, but that would probably lead this title to be less than monthly, which would not be good.
As it stands now, the current title would end with McKeever’s final issue, followed by a brand new #1 three months down the road with Terry Moore and the yet-to-be-announced artist. A long wait – but one that is well worth it. Mary Jane fans can finally breathe easy!
NOTE: Opinions here may not reflect those of X-World Comics LLC or it’s staff and are solely the opinions of the writer.Want to comment on this week’s newsletter? Give your feedback here!
Post your comments in the Forum!
June 4, 2007
The $40 Pull List – June 2007
If this is your first time reading the $40 Pull List, I invite you to see how it works by reading the first edition. Therin you will find all the rules governing the list, and the selection of titles. It isn’t too complicated, though, so just dive right in if you don’t feel like reading back issues! In addition, this column contains Spoilers, so if you are waiting for the trade, read at your own risk!
This was a really long but packed month for the budget reader. With 5 Wednesdays, there were a few weeks where there wasn’t much of anything at all to pick up at the comic shop. However, with Free Comic Book Day, you should have had plenty to read on those light weeks.
Highlights this month included the long awaited latest issue of Rex Libris #8 and Nova #2. We also had two surprising downers this month in Silent War #5 and Buffy #3. Want the details? Read on -
Rex Libris #8, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due out 05/09/07. ON TIME
Ah, the wait was just too long! Light and intelligent rarely go so well together as they do in Rex Libris. Issue #8 was funny and filled with outstanding one-liners. As difficult as it is to get a copy of this title, it really needs to be excellent to continue to be worth the effort. Thankfully, it is. I love the humor in this title – it is very multi-layered. This book is definitely not for the limp-minded. The issue had a ton of references to classic monster movies, which will be a real treat if you are an aficionado of old-school horror. A recap page might have helped this issue just a hair (considering the wait between issues), but this was far from a fatal flaw.
Status: SAFE
Silent War #5, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 05/30/07. ON TIME
One of the most frustrating things about David Hine is his politics. While he doesn’t usually stand on a soap-box and force his views down your throat like Chaykin might (I give him a lot of credit for being subtle), it does influence his work. And that was really apparent this issue. The US Government is just a hair too evil. The Marines just a tad too bloodthirsty. Actually, in all honesty it didn’t bother me too much until that last splash page with the “Kill! Kill! Kill!” I guess when it comes to presenting our soldiers as monsters, I am a little touchy. I am sure most of you didn’t even notice it.
Something was bothering me last issue though, and what that was really came into focus this issue. Hine isn’t telling the right story. The real meat of this story has to be what is going on with Medusa, Luna, and Maximus. But that seems like an aside. The bulk of this issue centered on the Sentry’s unwillingness to fight, fearing what Black Bolt would unleash. A legitimate fear, but you are telling me that SHIELD hasn’t at least tried to come up with a way to contain his power after all these years? They had no countermeasures at all that they were willing to at least try? The result was a fight with no oomph. Maybe we will see Black Bolt cut lose more next issue, but if I am not mistaken, it is the last issue. So as it stands now, Hine intends to cram in a climactic battle, and potentially resolve the Maximus story (which has a lot of ground left to cover) all in one issue.
Still an ok read, but as this story winds to a close, it seems this story relied too much on potential, and forgot to deliver a payoff. We should have been at this point in the narrative after the third issue, leaving the epic retaliation battle for the fifth issue, and the Black Bolt/Maximus throwdown for the final issue.
This late in the game, I want to see how the story ends, so we will finish it out. But I am feeling quite a bit disappointed by how this story is turning out. Hine can do better.
Status: SAFE
Buffy The Vampire Slayer #3, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due out 05/02/07. ON TIME
This is one of those decisions that you have to be really careful about. I mean, Whedon has so many fans. And this book has certainly won its share of solid reviews. And Buffy – who didn’t like Buffy when it was on TV?
After much thinking and rereading – I have to finally conclude that this title is probably one of the most overrated books on the market. The art is nothing special. In fact – it is more than a little confusing. It is darned near impossible to tell who is in the panel sometimes. The plot makes almost no sense – and the structure itself comes off like Whedon has never written a comic book before. You can’t just stop in the middle of a scene and go on to something else in a print medium – that might work on TV, but not in a comic!
Of course, the character’s voices are right. That is one thing you expected Whedon to get right though, and I suspect that is what most people are responding to when praising this book. But in every other way, this is a below average book. Time to move on to something a little better.
Status: DROPPED
Wyrms #4, $2.99, Marvel/Dabel Brothers. Due out 05/16/07. ON TIME
Last moth I complained about the way the Cranning Call was presented- I wanted some kind of graphic interpretation, just so we could see the beckoning. Well, we didn’t get that, but we did get a great sequence after Patience had the mindstone implanted in her head. That was very well done – and almost exactly what I was looking for when we first had the Cranning Call explained to us.
I get the feeling this comic is still more entertaining to those who have actually read the novel. Since it is one of my very favorite Card books, I am probably biased, but I am really enjoying this series. Looking forward to #5.
Status: SAFE
Hellblazer #232, $2.99, DC Comics/Vertigo. Due out 05/23/07. ON TIME
With a couple strong issues out of the way, Diggle seems to have teken a step back this issue to do a little set-up. Which is perfectly fine – you need a few issues like that on occasion. There was a lot in this issue that would probably appeal to long-time readers of this title, so it was a little slow for the rest of us. Still – entertaining and well written, and worth continuing. Hopefully things get a little more meaty next issue though.
Status: SAFE
Noble Causes #29, $3.50, Image Comics. Due out 05/02/07. Released 05/09/07
This sucker finally came out! Issue #30 is still late, but that was kind of expected. We should be seeing that sometime – still can’t find a date for it yet, though. Noble Causes is an Image title, so some tardiness is to be expected. I just hope that the new artist, as outstanding as he is, isn’t holding this title up too much. I would hate to lose Noble Causes to the two months late rule.
This issue was another solid one. We finally have an interesting turn in the feud between the Blackthornes and the Nobles, which is a real step in the right direction. While it is interesting to have them as adversaries, this book is a lot stronger when the Nobles’ worst enemies are themselves. They have been getting along too well ever since the Blackthornes were introduced, and hopefully this is a sign that is changing.
Still going strong, but if this lateness problem continues, things might not be so secure.
Status: SAFE
Spider-man Loves Mary Jane #18, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/02/07. ON TIME
Ah, angst is well and good, but if you always have the same sort of angst – well, that can get a little tired. Interesting developments between Mary Jane and Harry do promise some explosions later down the road. Harry is proving to be an adept manipulator, something which is no doubt going to continue. The side-plot with Spider-Man and Firestar was a little too brief, I do get the sense there that McKeever is rushing through some things in order to wrap everything up before he departs.
Still good – I can’t imagine not continuing this title at least until McKeever takes his final bow.
Jonah Hex #19, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 05/02/07. ON TIME
Another decent done-in-one for Jonah Hex this month. A little confusing though, it seemed like they could have tied these two stories together a little bit better. It seemed like there was more to this story, and that there could be some stronger ties between the two “bounties,” but that might have required a little more room than we had in a single issue to tell.
Could have been a little better, but they all can’t be totally awesome. Looking forward to a better issue next month.
Status: SAFE
Nova #2, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/09/07. ON TIME
Best part about this issue? Nova slapping Diamondhead around without even breaking a sweat.
I was a little concerned about this issue, but it does seem like my fears were a little unfounded. Nova didn’t cower before the might of Iron Man like I feared – in fact, it was almost the reverse. And in fact, just about all the characters acted exactly as they should in that situation.
This has the makings of a great series. I can’t wait to see what they make of S&M Man (Speedball, Penance, whatever his name is now). I’ll say it again – it is a good time to be a Nova fan.
Status: SAFE
Superman #662, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 05/02/07. ON TIME
In all, a pretty decent issue to start on. It was very much an entre’act, a solid recap issue that introduced some ongoing plotlines and got the ball rolling on the stories to come. I don’t think we could have picked a better issue to jump onboard.
My one complaint is a small one, but it was so glaring that it disrupted an otherwise solid story. What the heck were they thinking with Zatanna there? She has always had a somewhat skimpy costume, but it was appropriate to the character. I can see her out of costume, but you would think she would at least throw on some PANTS before Superman came over. There was no reason for that whatsoever.
I think this was a positive switch, not having to wait for months on end for the next installment will make this a more enjoyable read.
Status: SAFE
The Exterminators #17, $2.99, DC Comics/Vertigo. Due out 05/07/07. Released 05/02/07
I have a feeling that I picked the wrong issue to start on. This issue wasn’t too steeped in continuity to be sure, but it was a little bland. I am sure to someone who has been following this title for a while it was probably a great deal more interesting than it was for me, who has absolutely no idea who these characters are. As it was, it just seemed like a pretty predicable turn of events – not much real meat to the story.
Based on past reviews, I am not ready to give up on this book yet. It did show promise, and the art was pretty solid. Hopefully it will be more enjoyable as I get into it a little more.
Status: SAFE
—
LATE OR UNRELEASED PULL LIST ISSUES
Noble Causes #30, $3.50, Image Comics. Due out 05/16/07.
-=MAY PULL LIST:=-
Titles carrying over:
Silent War #6, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 06/27/07.
Superman #663, $2.99, DC Comics. Due out 06/06/07.
The Exterminators #18, $2.99, Vertigo/DC Comics. Due out 06/06/07.
The Brave and the Bold #4, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/20/07.
Wyrms #5, $2.99, Marvel/Dabel Brothers. Due out 06/20/07.
Hellblazer #233, $2.99, DC Comics/Vertigo. Due out 06/20/07.
Noble Causes #31, $3.50, Image Comics. Due Out 06/13/07
Rex Libris #9, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due out 08/07.
Spider-man Loves Mary Jane #19, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 06/06/07
Jonah Hex #20, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 06/06/07.
Nova #3, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 06/13/07.
New Titles:
Fear Agent #1, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due out 06/13/07.
VERY much looking forward to this one. Fear Agent is to sci-fi what Jonah Hex is to the western – hope that the genre can still produce good stories in this superhero-dominated market. This title, like most Dark Horse efforts, is going to be a series of minis, but considering the shipping schedule of the book at Image, that probably means it is going to be a lot more regular.
We aren’t going to pick up where things left off in the last issue of Fear Agent until the next story, instead Remender is going to give us an origin story for Heath Huston. Which makes it a perfect time for a new reader to jump aboard and get to know this character before the story starts up again. Hopefully this one lives up to expectations.
World War Hulk #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 06/13/07.
Seems like a good time to give the event mini a shot. For most readers on a tight budget, these events are a real quandary. You want to get the main event itself, but the way they build in all of the tie-ins to force you to buy other books to really get the full story, is it possible to enjoy something like World War Hulk without cancelling half your list to accommodate the tie-ins? Well, let’s find out, shall we?
TOTAL: $40.89
Budget = $40.00 + $2.28 (Banked) + $3.77 (LATE books) = $46.05
$46.05 (Budget) – $40.89 (May issues) – $3.17 (tax) = $1.99 banked for May
As always, I have made a list to print out a list to take with you to the store: Here you go! Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the file – I am sure most of you have that though. If not, you can download the latest version for free at Adobe.com.
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