MIA, Post #4: Jeff reviews Immortal Iron Fist #19 and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen

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Posted by: admin on October 31, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Clunk. That’s the sound of me dropping the ball, I’m afraid. Today’s my birthday, I’m at work, and in my spare moments, I spend a lot of time debating how much plot I really need to describe for a review of Marvel Apes. Unfortunately, those spare moments have disappeared as the workday has heated up, so the Apes have as well–I only have reviews for two books for you today. I may or may not get some short reviews next week, depending how the birthday weekend goes and how chicken I am about diving into revisions to my novel, but someone will pick up the slack by then, I’m assuming… Behind the jump: two books, no apes. IMMORTAL IRON FIST…  Read More…

MIA, Post #3: FC: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1, Ghost Rider #27, Hellcat #2

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

Change of plans! Guess what I swapped out for Marvel Apes #1 and 2? FINAL CRISIS: RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS #1: You know, what this reminded me of, and not in a particularly good way? Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man #1. (There’s a good way to be reminded of Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man #1?) It’s trying really, really hard–too hard, in fact–and yet the only parts that really stuck with me were the clumsy bits. First off, Rage of the Red Lanterns is kinda funny, because it sounds enough like Raise the Red Lantern as to get images of Sinestro screwing Gong Li, who’s one his five wives. Second, I know Geoff Johns has had a lot on his plate these last…  Read More…

MIA, Post #2: B&B #17, Criminal #5 &6, Coraline, Crossed

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Posted by: admin on October 29, 2008

Categories: Reviews

I’m back. I’m sure many of you read this in Google Reader or Bloglines, but just in case: don’t let my senile meanderings cause you to miss Jog’s thoughts Unknown Soldier #1, below. This weekend, Edi and I put up these Ikea shelves in the bathroom–that woman likes her creams, and I require an inordinate amount of trimming, shaving and de-stinkifying just to maintain my typical appearance of a guy who looks like he spends the nights in bus terminals. But the walls in our bathroom are miserable wretched things–like they were constructed with the cast-offs from some third grade class’s first experiements with paper mache–that the second shelf proved impossible to mount, leaving us with one embedded useless screw…  Read More…

Light the Lanterns of Triumph: Jog finally bought and read a comic from 10/22

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Posted by: Joe McCulloch on

Categories: Reviews

Unknown Soldier #1 This is the newest ongoing series to come out of Vertigo, a reimagining of the Robert Kanigher/Joe Kubert concept as a saga of violence in Uganda, circa 2002. It’s bloody, tense and not a little pulpy, something a bit more bombastic than what we’ve been getting lately from the publisher. It does bring to mind an older Vertigo project, though, and I’m not talking about the 1997 Garth Ennis/Kilian Plunkett take on the same property. No, this thing really brings to mind Congo Bill, as in the 1999-2000 miniseries from writer Scott Cunningham and artist Danijel Zezelj. It was also an Africa-set revival of an old adventure comic — specifically the late ’50s/early ’60s Congorilla iteration of…  Read More…

MIA, Post #1: Jeff Talks ASM #574 and Batman #680

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on October 28, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Dude . I’d like to say I’ve been off acting as an agent of chaos which is why I’ve been too busy to post, but the fact is I’ve been a victim of chaos: since SDCC, so many oddball opportunities and possible opportunities have come my way that I’ve been almost too busy to read comics, much less review them. All the while, possible epic posts keep taking up small bits of valuable space in my brain–I’ve got this idea for comparing/contrasting Bottomless Belly Button to Chiggers stemming from the way they both use sound effects–making me balk at just reviewing the damn things and getting some entries out in the world. A real shame, because I think I’m more…  Read More…

Arriving 10/29/2008

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 27, 2008

Categories: Shipping Lists

It must be the last week of the month, here’s a ginormous shipment! A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #92 (A) AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #575AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1ARCHIE #590ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #193ASTONISHING X-MEN GHOST BOXES #1 (OF 2)ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #9AVENGERS INITIATIVE #18 SIBEYOND WONDERLAND #3 (OF 6)BLOOD BOWL #5 (OF 5) KILLER CONTRACT CVR A BOYS #24 CAPTAIN ACTION #1 MYCHAELS CVR CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR OPERATION ZERO POINTCARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #50CHECKMATE #31CHUCK #5 (OF 6)CRIMSON GASH MEETS DEMI THE DEMONESS #1 (A) CTHULHU TALES #7 CVR ADC UNIVERSE DECISIONS #4 (OF 4)DEAN KOONTZS FRANKENSTEIN VOL 01 #5 (OF 5) PRODIGAL SONFERRYMAN #2 (OF 5)FINAL CRISIS RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS #1GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS NIGHT WITCHES #1 (OF 3)GUERILLAS #2…  Read More…

Secret Invasion #7: Is There Anything to Talk About With This Issue? Abhay Flounders.

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Posted by: Abhay Khosla on October 25, 2008

Categories: Reviews

The choice seven months ago was either to do this essay series for SECRET INVASION or to do this essay series for FINAL CRISIS. With it becoming more apparent than ever that FINAL CRISIS has run off its rails or might not have been on rails to begin with, production-wise… I think it behooves me to begin this, the penultimate SECRET INVASION essay by respectfully acknowledging that I win again, suckers. Let’s just say that I picked the right series, and let’s just say that a lot of you comics bloggers didn’t, and let’s just say that means that I won at blogging about comics, everybody! I know those of you who aren’t sore losers will wave while the sun…  Read More…

FinalSecretCrisisionMachineGo!

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 24, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Two Big Events, done COMPLETELY differently. This may or may not be a fair comparison between the two, as neither are finished: SECRET INVASION still has 13% left, while FINAL CRISIS has 43% remaining, but I sorta feel like I’ve seen enough to be at least in the general neighborhood of “fair” What’s interesting to me, from the top, is that these two series are really opposite as can be: SECRET INVASION seemingly takes place in a day (or two) of the Marvel Universe, ties into each and every book (with a small handful of exceptions), while at the same time not really conveying much information in most of those tie-ins, and doesn’t really appear to have any higher theme…  Read More…

Oh Disneyland, my Disneyland

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 21, 2008

Categories: Uncategorized

It’s a field trip report for those of you who care about such things… find it under the jump… (with some cute pics, as well!) It was just Ben’s birthday, and is my wont, I took him for a trip. Theoretically, these are “father/son” trips, but this year Ben wanted Mama to come along as well, and since it’s HIS birthday, we went along with his plan. Like last year, we headed south for Disneyland (but I’m not set on this being a Disney trip every year… taking ideas for next year already, folks!), but because Mama was with us, we made it a little more of a production number than last year. Last year it was a “day trip”…  Read More…

Arriving 10/22/2008

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 20, 2008

Categories: Shipping Lists

I’m nearly caught up, honestly — and this week has both FINAL CRISIS *and* SECRET INVASION, so I think it will be time for the compare-and-contrast I’ve been threatening to Graeme for the last few weeks…. 2000 AD #1605 2000 AD #1606 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #574ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #13BART SIMPSON COMICS #44BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #6 (OF 12)BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS #11BETTY & VERONICA #238BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #165BIRDS OF PREY #123BLUE BEETLE #32BROTHERS IN ARMS #4CAPTAIN AMERICA #43CRIMINAL 2 #6 CYBLADE #1 MAYS CVR ADAREDEVIL #112DC UNIVERSE HALLOWEEN 08DEAN KOONTZS FRANKENSTEIN VOL 01 #4 (OF 5) PRODIGAL SONDMZ #35 FAMILY DYNAMIC #3 (OF 3)FEAR AGENT #24 1 AGAINST 1 (PT 3 OF 6)FINAL CRISIS #4 (OF 7)FINAL CRISIS SUBMIT…  Read More…

Tilting v3 #6 (#173) is up

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 17, 2008

Categories: Retailing/Industry

Go read the newest TILTING AT WINDMILLS on CBR! -B

Arriving 10/15/2008

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 14, 2008

Categories: Shipping Lists

Just got back from Disneyland for Ben’s 5th birthday party. Sheesh, I’m WRECKED…. and I have to spend today lifting and toting boxes of comics, hurray. I’ll have a report sometime soon, I think — I have to get through New Comics Arrival, and Selling, then I have to write a TILTING, and somewhere in there I need to sleep, too, and get caught up on email, etc (68 mostly real emails just over the weekend, ugh)… I’m getting too old for this shit! A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #91 (A) AGE OF SENTRY #2 (OF 6)AIR #3 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #573 NWDARCHIE DIGEST #248ASTONISHING X-MEN #27 MDATOMIC ROBO DOGS OF WAR #3 (OF 5)BATGIRL #4 (OF 6)BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS…  Read More…

Hooray for Cheer: Jog on a non-beginning from 10/8

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Posted by: Joe McCulloch on October 10, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Crossed #1 (of 9) I wish I was 12 again so I could beg my beloved great aunt to buy me this comic solely on the basis of its cover. She’d go “oooh, that’s a scary one,” and purchase the hell out of it, because that’s just how we rolled in that wing of my semi-immediate family. One of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics she bought me was the start of the Michael Zulli run, where Splinter is puking up mystic rock totems and having a psychic war with Shredder while the Turtles — snarling, indistinguishable monsters all — literally rip Foot ninjas to pieces left and right. Sure beat Saturday morning. But I am older now, and…  Read More…

Abhay Atones For His Sins by Reviewing The Alcoholic

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Posted by: Abhay Khosla on October 9, 2008

Categories: Reviews

THE ALCOHOLIC by Jonathan Ames and Dean Haspiel; Published by DC-Vertigo, $19.99. I. I’d like to talk about the book design, for a moment. We’re a couple years after the point where smart, contemporary design is still surprising, but—but, still, great googly-moogly, the book design for THE ALCOHOLIC is glossy. Sepia-tinted author photos. A liberal use of Futura. The pages of the comic are book-ended by dark brown paper of a heavier stock. Taking off the slipcase reveals a carving of a bottle, with the book’s title for the bottle’s label. Every other odd page combines into a map to Bluebeard’s Treasure. Bluebeard’s Treasure is friendship. And the pull-quotes: a couple are from fanboy-world luminaries like Brian Vaughan and Neil…  Read More…

Arriving 10/7/2008

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 6, 2008

Categories: Shipping Lists

Birthday parties for 20 five-year olds are amusing! But very very tiring…. Here’s what’s what for this week: 100 BULLETS #96 ACTION COMICS #870AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #25AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #2ARCHIE & FRIENDS #124AVENGERS INVADERS #5 (OF 12)BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #22BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #188BIG HERO 6 #2 (OF 5)BOMB QUEEN V #4 (OF 6) BPRD THE WARNING #4 (OF 5)CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #30CROSSED #1 (OF 9) CTHULHU TALES #6 CVR ADARK TOWER TREACHERY #2 (OF 6)DEAD OF NIGHT DEVIL SLAYER #2 (OF 4) DEADPOOL #3 SIDETECTIVE COMICS #849 RIPDRAFTED #11DRAGON PRINCE #2 JOHNSON CVR AEND LEAGUE #5ENDERS GAME BATTLE SCHOOL #1 (OF 5)FALLEN ANGEL IDW #30 FERRYMAN #1 (OF 5)FINAL CRISIS REVELATIONS #3 (OF 5)GALAXY QUEST GLOBAL WARNING #3GEARS OF WAR…  Read More…

I’ve Changed My Mind, I Take It Back: Diana Looks At Some Not-So-Fresh Starts, 1/10

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Posted by: admin on October 3, 2008

Categories: Reviews

So… does anyone remember Ye Olde Days when Issue #1 meant a start, rather than a restart? Yeah, me neither. TERROR TITANS #1: As is usually the way with DCU titles, I have absolutely no idea what’s going on here, so strictly in terms of the grade I’ll go with NO RATING. What I can tell, based on the content, is that we’re looking at more evidence of Embiggened Bloodening – teenage superheroes are abducted by teenage supervillains (who seem to be descendants of previous villains, which I’ll admit is a nice twist on the original Titans), drugged and thrown into an arena where they fight to the death. Why? Damned if I know, though it’s connected to FINAL CRISIS…  Read More…

Hibbs’ thought of the day

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 2, 2008

Categories: Uncategorized

I think one of the reasons the economy is in trouble is because banks have started calling themselves “stores”, while the financial instruments they facilitate are called “products”. -B

Some burbling from Hibbs (new business)

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on October 1, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Besides the time pressures lately (once we get used to this Kinder schedule, things should be smoother), I’ve been kind of unimpressed with most of the comics I’ve been reading lately. Its not even that I hate them or anything — that’s always worth a few inches — but just that I’ve been feeling “Meh” about most stuff I’m reading. It could be the lack of sleep, or it could just be me getting (more) jaded, I dunno. So I’m really happy that in the last week or so I’ve read two things that fill me with enough love and joy to actually sit down and write! We’ve received both of these books from Baker & Taylor, so I couldn’t…  Read More…

Some burbling from Hibbs (old business)

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on

Categories: Retailing/Industry

I’m off the school hook this morning as Tzipora is taking Ben in, so hurray I can babble for a bit! Some old business first, before I say anything about comics… 1) The Bendis/Kirkman debate thing. They’re both right (as such things usually go) — it is EXTREMELY difficult to solely do creator-owned material and make a proper living from it, but when it works, it works amazingly well. In a way, there are two kinds of comics shops, which for the purpose of this conversation, I’ll call “leaders” and “followers”. Leaders are always on the make for new voices and new ideas, and are pretty active in trying to identify new talent and to support them. Followers aren’t interested…  Read More…