Blog Under Construction

I’m trying to work on the site layout so you may see a lot of changes going on.  Not sure what I’m going to do with it yet.  I’m also starting physical therapy this week so we’ll see how that works out for me.  I think I have something like a dozen or more doctor/dental/optometrist appointments this month between me and my son, not to mention Thanksgiving so it’s looking like it’s going to be a busy, busy November this year.

I’m feeling pretty enthusiastic about comics at the moment so I do plan on making some posts if I can find the time.

Also I ended up purging all the images from my sites so you may notice that.  I don’t know if I’ll go back to old posts and add images back in or not.  Probably will just start fresh.

October 2018 Preorders

It’s that time again, when I finally have to commit to making my monthly preorder of comics.  So, anyway I ordered:

Batman #60 & #61
Batman And The Outsiders #1
Batman Annual #3
Batman Who Laughs #1 (of 6)
Freedom Fighters #1
Green Lantern #2
Martian Manhunter #1 (of 12)
New Talent Showcase 2018 #1
Nightwing #54 & #55
Shazam #2
Suicide Squad Black Files #2 (of 6)

I didn’t see a solicit for Heroes in Crisis or Doomsday Clock this month.  I realized when I was going over my orders that I actually forgot to preorder Batman #58 & #59 last month.  Derp-de-derp!  Now I’m going to have to run out and look for those.

I keep going back and forth about Batman Who Laughs, Freedom Fighters and Martian Manhunter but I ended up ordering them anyway.  If the first issues don’t impress I’ll just dump them and move on to greener pastures.  I’m finding it much easier to break up with bad books these days.  🙂

So what did you just have to have?

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Monday Meme [10/29/2018]

I decided that I would try posting a superhero meme on Mondays.  This one had been around for a long time.  I can remember using it back on the old defunct DC Message Boards years ago.

Happy Halloween ComicFest 2018!

Happy Halloween Comicfest.  I got a few freebies today and hit the buy 1 get 2 free sale at my LCS.  Also picked up all four of the Walmart #4’s… However, now I have parts of mini series that I’m going to have to put on my fill list so I can get the missing parts.

Tomorrow I will be carving pumpkins with my son, and after that I think I’m going to order pizza and veg out with the TV.  Hope you are all having a lovely weekend, whatever you may be doing.  🙂

Defenders [2017-2018] #1-10

Reading Format:

Marvel Unlimited App

Story […very briefly.]

This story is written by Brian Michael Bendis.  The Kingpin has gone legit. [Yeah, right.]  Who will be the new Kingpin?  It’s up to the newly formed team of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Ironfist [Because you know, netflix show lineup.], to find out.  Also why are believed dead villains comming back to life? [Don’t hold your breath for a good explanation.]

Art [Just IMHO.]

David Marquez artwork is on point.  Too bad the story isn’t.

Other Notes [???]

Ok.  This story.  Ummm, it started off really strong but in the end it didn’t really go anywhere.  In the beginning we have this really interesting lead in with Diamondback, who everyone thought was dead showing up and this new street drug that he’s distributing through the city.  It’s a really good mystery set up but it never delivers a satisfying stopping point.  Every issue pretty much ends with a shocking cliffhanger, even the last one.  In these ten issues appearances are made by Night Nurse, The Punisher, Daughters of the Dragon, Black Cat and Deadpool, to name a few.

The dialing and friendly banter between the characters, works well and carries the story along.  The art is consistently good throughout.  Unfortunately the story meanders in the end; with a poorly thought out wrap up.  It feels very much like an unfinished work.

These issues are also collected in the two trades titled Defenders Vol. 1: Diamonds Are Forever and Defenders Vol. 2: Kingpins of New York.

In Other News! [For Fun.]

Netflix has canceled Iron Fist after two seasons.  Which is disappointing for me as I actually really liked the show and the second season had a really interesting tease at the end of it that I was really hoping to see play out.  Oh, well!  Maybe we’ll get to see the characters in on of the other series.  Here’s a link to one of the many articles about it.

https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/10/13/iron-fist-canceled-netflix-kills-first-marvel-series

The Flash #62-65 – Born to Run!

Reading Format:

DC Universe App

Story […very briefly.]

Origin Story of Wally West and his transformation from Kid Flash to The Flash.

Art [Just IMHO.]

These issues have excellent pencil work by Greg LaRocque.  The art is just somewhat dated by the coloring techniques used at the time, but otherwise is the strongest aspect of these issues.

Other Notes [???]

I have to be honest.  I did not like this story.  It was four issues long and could have [and probably should have] been condensed to one issue.  It’s kind of bland, and Mark Waid does a pretty good job of making Wally come across as exceptionally whiney.  If this had been my first exposure to Wally West I would probably never have given the character another glance.

These issues are also collected in the trade titled The Flash: Born to Run.

Don’t Forget! [For Fun.]

The premiere of the Flash season 5 airs tonight on the CW!

SWAMP THING’S HALLOWEEN HORROR GIANT #1

Walmart had the Swamp Thing 100 page giants out today when I dropped in to pick up some snacks.  Still no sight of the issue #4s of Superman and Justice League of America.

The Swamp Thing giant would make a great stocking stuffer or gift because all of the stories in it are self contained.  Did I mention; the whole thing has awesome art and the colors are super vibrant; even those 1970’s comics look amazing.  This book had eight stories in it, all of which were new to me because I didn’t own any of the original print issues.

1. Hollow by Brian Azzarello and Greg Capullo. Basicly Swamp Thing vs these little goule things out in the woods. [New]
2. The Pumpkin Sinister by Dan Didio and Ian Churchill.  Enchantress and Blue Devil vs. a pumpkin monster summoned via pet sacrifice. [DC Universe Infinite Halloween Special #1][2007]
3. Taert Ro Kcirt by Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen. A tale of drug laced candy. [DC Universe Infinite Halloween Special #1][2007]
4. Strange Cargo by Steve Niles and Dean Ormston.  Superman vs. Zombies. [DC Universe Infinite Halloween Special #1][2007]
5. The Ballad of Jonathan Crane by Mike Way and Mateus.  Sort of a retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  [DC Universe Halloween Special #1][2008]
6. Night Gods by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  Underwater horror is always a bit extra freaky to me.  [The Brave and the Bold #32][2010]
7. Night of the Reaper by Denny O’Niel, Neal adams and Dick Giordano. This one’s got vintage Batman and Robin with all the trappings.  Bonus points for managing to work Nazis in there.  [Batman #237][1971]
8. Swamp Thing by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson.  The classic origin story. [House of Secrets #92][1971]

Art Samples:

 

 

 

 

September 2018 Preorders

I’m running a bit late putting in my September preorder.  As in, I waited around to the last pea in the dish as my daddy likes to say.  I’m trying to keep my preorder books under 10 books a month these days so I have to think really hard about what books I actually want to get. So, anyway I ordered:

DC Nuclear Winter Special #1
Doomsday Clock #8 (of 12)
Green Lantern #1
Heroes In Crisis #3 (of 7)
Nightwing #52
Nightwing #53
Shazam #1
Suicide Squad Black Files #1 (of 6)

Of these I’m not sure what I’m anticipating the most.  I’ve gotta see where the current story in Nightwing is going.  I’m just not sure if I’m going to like it or not.  I think the Grant Morrison Green Lantern book is either going to be glorious or unreadable.

I’m anticipating that Geoff Johns Shazam is going to be really good, based on his Shazam! Vol. 1 (The New 52): From the Pages of Justice League.  Which was, IMHO, one of the only really great books published during the New 52.  I’ve actually started reading The Power of Shazam on the DC Universe App and am getting pretty pumped to see The Big Red Cheese on the big screen.

So what did you just have to have?

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Action Comics #866-870 – Brainiac

Reading Format:

DC Universe App

Story […very briefly.]

Geoff Johns reimagines the story of the shrunken city of Kandor; that was stolen from Krypton by the alien  Brainiac.  Supergirl also features in this story.

Art [Just IMHO.]

Lovely art by Gary Frank.

Other Notes [???]

Geoff Johns is one of my favorite comic writers.  I think that most of his work can be described as poignant, yet also hopeful; and always heroic.  The ending of this story is one of the most memorable Superman stories I have ever read.

I’m pretty sure that I have these issues in my collection but I reread them on the DC Universe App.  They can also be purchased in the trade collection titled Superman: Brainiac.

You Might Also Like [For Fun.]

This wikipedia article about Kandor.

 

Action Comics #855-857- Escape from Bizarro World

Reading Format:

DC Universe App

Story […very briefly.]

Remember that time that Bizarro kidnapped Jonathan Kent and took him off to this square planet where he got this funky power from it’s blue son that let him spawn Bizarro versions of people he knew back on earth… from his eyes?  Nope?  Me either but this little jem was written by Geoff Johns & Richard Donner.

Art [Just IMHO.]

Eric Powell did the art for these issues and to make it triple Bizarro the cover art and inks are also done by Eric Powell.  It’s quite fun, really.

Other Notes [???]

This story was… almost cute?  It’s a short fun read for when your stuck waiting somewhere.

Out of Context Panel [For Fun.]

Hmmm… this image kind of sums up my feelings whenever one of my older relatives starts ranting about politics in a public space.