Johanna Reads 7/18: Captain America, The Order, The Spirit

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Posted by: admin on July 22, 2007

Categories: Reviews

Something you’d better learn now — I suck at titles. My apologies for not being as creative as the others or knowing as many song lyrics. Captain America #28 — I think this is what’s meant by superhero comics for adults. Writer Ed Brubaker attempts to tackle weighty issues through expository conversation, even when those debating are wearing gaudy spandex. There’s the hero left behind vowing to find out what really happened to Captain America, shot dead; telepathic erasures; and a sadistically violent robbery (welcome only because it provides some red to the comic’s dark color palette). Mostly it’s talk, talk, killing time until it’s time for the next sales-spike gimmick event, which we all know will be the hero’s…  Read More…

Music for Swingin’ Muggles: Graeme looks at some Avengers-related books from 7/18

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on July 21, 2007

Categories: Reviews

This weekend, I am a Harry Potter widower. The book arrived via UPS this morning at 9am (in a box that warned muggles not to open it until July 21st), and Kate’s been reading it silently ever since. Occasionally, she sighs or pauses to tell me that “Voldermort’s a bad dude,” but for the most part, I think this weekend’s going to be all Potter all the time for her. Me, I have haircuts and laundry and writing to do. And reviews! AVENGERS CLASSIC #2: Man, Art Adams can do some nice covers. That’s really the best part of this otherwise Eh issue; the early Avengers issues by Lee and Kirby really didn’t do anything for me – I didn’t…  Read More…

Welcome to Burger King: Diana takes your Order, 7/18

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

THE ORDER #1 wasn’t originally on my pull list for this week, mostly because time hasn’t softened my opinion of CIVIL WAR and I prefer to avoid bad-crossover fallout when I can. On the other hand, there are occasions when keeping an open mind leads to unexpected surprises. This was one such occasion. Matt Fraction has delivered a first issue that is, in a way, the antithesis of Dan Slott’s AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE. Slott’s biggest hurdle, right at the start, was that none of his characters came off as appealing or intriguing; his interpretation of the Initiative is based on forced conscription into an organization with sinister undertones. THE ORDER, by contrast, seems to have been built around the concept…  Read More…

I’m serious as cancer when I say rhythm is a dancer: Jog reviews superhero comics that were on sale at US retailers beginning July 18th, 2007.

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Posted by: Joe McCulloch on

Categories: Reviews

Ok, did I do the music title thing right? Justice League of America #11: I can pretty easily recall when I really started enjoying the attention to concept that goes into Gene Ha’s art. It was his recent(ish) The Authority #1, loaded with moist, foggy color, determined to never quite allow anyone’s face to be glimpsed straight-on, dotted with gruesome blur effects right out of a 1994 issue of Spider-Man Unlimited – it did a great job of selling the sad slog of the book’s ‘real’ world setting all on its wordless own. This comic is just as handsome, beyond even the broad setup, which sees Red Arrow and Vixen stuck in a tumbled building that seems to be crushing…  Read More…

Back in the Stacks: Jeff tackles Shiga’s BOOKHUNTER, and vice-versa…

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on July 20, 2007

Categories: Reviews

Here’s a question: would you enjoy watching “The Wrong Trousers” if it was animated in the style of “The Family Guy” instead of with Nick Park’s clay animation? Or would you have enjoyed “Hot Fuzz” if the roles had been filled by the cast of “Saved By The Bell?” I bought Jason Shiga’s BOOKHUNTER back at APE and have been trying to get a handle on it since. A satire of police procedural shows and over the top action films, Shiga’s writing is more than top-notch: the story of a tough-as-nails library cop and his dedicated squad fighting against time to catch a rare book thief, Bookhunter is filled with techno-wonk babble so authentically sounding it puts all other techno-wonk…  Read More…

Said "Doc, what’s the condition? I’m a man that’s on a mission": Graeme gets the green from 7/18.

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on

Categories: Reviews

WORLD WAR HULK #2: It was interesting to see, over at Tom Brevoort’s blog, how involved what has become World War Hulk was in the initial proposal for Civil War, essentially being the final act. What’s most interesting, perhaps, is the way in which World War Hulk seems to do right what Civil War did wrong – The core series works as a story in and of itself, with action scenes that deliver and characterization that fits with the way that these characters have been portrayed for years (I particularly enjoyed Sue Storm sticking with Reed Richards even as she lets him know that she’s pissed at him, and the Thing doing the cliched “Clobbering Time” line. What can I…  Read More…

And all paths lead to a single conclusion: Graeme falls for the questionable charms of 7/18

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on July 19, 2007

Categories: Reviews

I don’t know if it’s the comics equivalent of Stockholm Syndrome or something, but is it just me, or was COUNTDOWN #41 kind of… less sucky than usual? Don’t look at me like that; I’m not saying that it was very good or high art or anything, but there definitely seemed to be an uptick in quality in this latest issue in almost every department. I mean, there was actual plot development on multiple storylines for the first time in, what, ten issues or something, as well as a sense of humor (and, because of that, potentially individual writer identity; not only was the writing in this issue funnier than usual, it also had a better sense of pacing and…  Read More…

Ponchos and Throw Pillows: Douglas doesn’t actually review a 7/18 book

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Posted by: Douglas Wolk on

Categories: Reviews , Site News

As I was waiting in line to buy my comics this week at Midtown Comics in Manhattan, the power went out for a moment, and a bunch of other customers pointed out the huge plume of smoke rising up from the explosion at Grand Central, three blocks away; I figured that whatever happened over the next few hours, I’d probably want something to read, so I paid for my comics and then went down to join the crowds of businesspeople running away from the explosion site. (It was just a steam pipe that had blown up, but we didn’t know that at the time.) Understandably, I didn’t really feel like turning immediately to a comic book about Manhattan getting smashed,…  Read More…

Speed! Speed! Speed! Just wouldn’t believe it!: Graeme gets Flashed, 7/18

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on July 18, 2007

Categories: Reviews

Johanna may have covered it on Tuesday – Goddammit, now I have competition for who’s going to get to the books first! – but I have to admit, I kind of like ALL-FLASH #1. The strange thing is, I actually have some of the same reservations to the story that Johanna did – It’s certainly a choppy read, and something that’s very much set in contemporary “Countdown” DC continuity (it ties in with the recent JLA/JSA crossover and the last Flash series), but what won me over ultimately is the haste – hey! – it has in moving away from the dark and gritty story that you expected. Waid was kind of handed a pretty dark plate when he was…  Read More…

My Life is Choked with Comics #1 – Rogan Gosh

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Posted by: Joe McCulloch on

Categories: Reviews

Hi there. My name is Jog. I will write short reviews for this site. But I will also write this. I hope you’re enjoying your evening. Or morning. Or whatever time it is. It’s about 2:00 AM here, as I type this. That is fine by me, since I can see the stars very nicely on a clear night like this, and I’ve been thinking about outer space lately. Space travel and comic books. Humor the titanic nerd for a paragraph or two. If access to the breadth of comics is like access to the eyeball-melting scope of outer space, I dare say we’re living an archetypical 1950s martini-with-your-ray-gun steel rocket dream these days. Oh, there are problems, when you…  Read More…

Okay, Game On, Let’s Do This Thing or Whatever, Says Abhay; FACE!

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Posted by: Abhay Khosla on July 17, 2007

Categories: Reviews

Finally, my writing is where it belongs– beneath the words “Ass Crap“ in letters glowing white hot, Ass Crap big as day, a warning, a promise, a taunt, a seduction. Hot damn– here we go again! Hello– for the next two or three weeks, I’m going to be writing primarily about New Avengers #32 (Marvel Comics), Supergirl & the Legion of Superheros #31 (DC Comics), and Cold Heat #1 (PictureBox, Inc.). I haven’t done this in a while so let me start slow and spend a little while on those three books, before we risk branching out. Indulge me. Hand-feed me grapes. Let me suckle from your teat. Be around until I want you to go away, but come back…  Read More…

Goodbye, Clunky Rice: Diana buries Martha Washington, 7/11

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

In an interview that took place prior to the release of MARTHA WASHINGTON DIES, Dark Horse Executive Editor Diana Schutz had this to say: “I can tell you that before I first read the script, Frank had told me that I was going to cry when I read it.” Yes, Ms. Schutz. I’d cry too if I had paid Frank Miller for this dreck. To prepare for this story, I reread the Martha Washington trilogy (GIVE ME LIBERTY, MARTHA WASHINGTON GOES TO WAR and MARTHA WASHINGTON SAVES THE WORLD). Boy, that was a waste of time. Not only does MARTHA WASHINGTON DIES fail to make any sense on its own merits (Grandma Martha turns into fireworks because… she met an…  Read More…

Believe it or not, it’s still last week: Graeme does the end of 7/11.

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on

Categories: Reviews

Day two in the Big Brother House, and we’re all still settling in and trying to work out who gets the big bedroom and who has to sleep on the couch (Jeff, I’m looking at you for that last part). But while we’re sorting things out, why not look at everything else that I read from last week? COUNTDOWN #42: Worth mentioning for two reasons only, as all the usual complaints about the scattered and uninvolving writing still apply: Firstly, artist Carlos Magno really needs to look at human proportions just a little bit more (The opening double-page spread could easily see the book renamed “Attack of the Tiny-Headed People”, and he also clearly enjoys Holly Robinson’s breasts), and secondly:…  Read More…

Johanna Runs Her Mouth: All-Flash #1

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

My second post and already I’m going back on my word. I was going to start here by talking about manga, but then DC sent me a copy of ALL-FLASH #1, their attempted relaunch of the speedster’s series. Why would someone want to try this one-shot issue? Well, for me, the only reason is the writer, Mark Waid. His first run on the Flash was considered one of the best superhero comics of its era, back in the mid-90s. (I’m astounded to note that it lasted for eight years! And it was the subject of lots of well-remembered online discussion. We’ve all learned a lot since then.) That’s not the only throwback element of this comic. The title itself was…  Read More…

Blame it on the Weatherman: Diana chases the 7/11 Storm

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

Wildstorm confounds me. It’s no secret that the Worldstorm revamp pulled a Britney and went completely off the rails. What’s shocking is that it’s been almost a year, and no steps have been taken to realign the imprint. For those unfamiliar with the plight of DC’s redheaded stepchild, here’s the Sparknotes version: WILDCATS and THE AUTHORITY were meant to be Wildstorm’s flagship titles, only neither of them got past issue 2 before disappearing. The gap was unofficially filled by GEN13 and STORMWATCH: PHD, and they ended up becoming the de facto core series. All well and good, except no one’s treating them that way. I’m no marketing expert, but when you have two books that set the agenda for the…  Read More…

Arriving July 18 2007

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on

Categories: Shipping Lists

Oh. My. God. You’d think that San Diego was THIS week, by the metric shedload of things out this this week. Apparently you’ve just got to go to the comics shop this week… (This is, for those just joining us, a list of comics arriving at Comix Experience this week — this may or may not be what YOUR local comics store has arriving; there’s generally big differences between East and West coasts, for instance. It also doesn’t include stuff I’ll receive from Baker & Taylor tomorrow…) 2000 AD #1543 2000 AD #1544 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #62 (A) ACTION COMICS #852 (CD) ALL FLASH #1 AMAZONS ATTACK #4 (OF 6) ANNIHILATION CONQUEST QUASAR #1 (OF 4) AQUAMAN SWORD…  Read More…

That old tyme music: Hibbs’ blast from the past

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on July 16, 2007

Categories: Reviews , Site News

I love Harris Miller II, attorney to the comics stars. Upon seeing my “reintroduction” to the site, he sent me this email. Obviously, from the intro, this isn’t the FIRST Savage Critic, but here’s one Harris archived from 10/6/1993! So, it’s been at least 14 years… Don’t try to email me at that address below (if it survives posting) — haven’t used it since the end of the 20th century! Look how much longer the ratings list was back then!!!! I like my new format better though…. Thanks, Harris!!!! -B ************************** From: *protected email* Newsgroups: compuserve.cs2outlookexpress.forum.CIS.COMIC To: *protected email* Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 1993 10:29 PM Subject: The Savage Critic 10/6: Because YOU demanded it! The exciting, no-holds-barred return of…  Read More…

Hello, Hello and welcome to the show tonight: Graeme reintroduces himself, thanks his wife and reviews a book that’s coming out on Wednesday.

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on

Categories: Reviews

So, yeah. I’m not sure if I have to do an introduction, being one of the old guard here – and yes, that’s pretty depressing, given my immense personal vanity and desire to think of myself as young and beautiful all the time – but, hello to anyone who came here for the first time via the press releases; I’m the one who tends to post a lot and swear. I’m also the husband of the woman responsible for the new look of the site (although I may be responsible for the green. Kate’s also the one who got everything up and running on the new URL and everything else, as mad as it drove her last night when Blogger…  Read More…

Johanna Says Hello

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Site News

I’m an early bird, so I’ll join the crew: Hi! I’m Johanna Draper Carlson. You may know me from Comics Worth Reading. Or before that, Usenet. Or before that, CompuServe… I remember those days, Brian, and I loved reading that history. I’m not nearly as creative as some of these other folks here, but I am quite opinionated, and I’m honored to be one of the gang. I’ll be starting my contributions with a look at the Del Rey manga line, since many of the guys here already cover superheroes brilliantly. (Although feedback is welcome, dear readers, if there’s anything in particular you’d like an opinion on.)

And in this corner… Diana says hi!

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Site News

Things I know: That A on his head did not stand for France. Things you know: Darkseid is. Things I’d like to know: Exactly how much Jagermeister was needed to come up with “Skrull Invasion”? Things you’d like to know: Why was Paris Hilton snubbed for the role of Kara on “Smallville”? Things I should know (but don’t): Never post ahead of the boss. (Sorry, Brian!) Things you should know (but don’t): Since I’m on the other side of the Atlantic, I’m usually up and running while the Comix Experience crew’s asleep (Do Comic Retailers Dream of Hologram-Foil-Covered Sheep?). Just think of me as your late-late-late-late-late night talk show host. Things we all know: Kurt Busiek wins!

Brian Sez: Welcome!

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on

Categories: Site News

Right, so it’s after midnight, so that makes it Monday, and, although I’m not sure all of the backstage technical stuff (and hurray for Kate McMillan, too right!)is going to let you see this the second I post this, at least I know I’ve written the introduction. So, this is the Savage Critic. I’ve been writing reviews under this name for, basically, forever. It was back on CompuServe on Doug Pratt’s Comics & Animation forum in the early 90s. I want to say ’94, but heck my memory for dates is terrible, so maybe it was as late as dunno, ’97. Either way, it’s been more than 10 years, I’m sure of that. A lot of things started there —…  Read More…