Arriving 9/2/2009

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on August 31, 2009

Categories: Shipping Lists

So, Disney buying Marvel, eh? Yeah, that’s likely to be a game-changer. No real commentary from me today on that, however — Ben broke his arm yesterday, so I lost most of the day to the Emergency Room (and, let me tell you, if you have an injured kid in San Francisco, you’d be REALLY smart to take them to the new Pediatric Emergency Room at California Pacific Medical Center on California St., because those people were AWESOME, 100% kid-oriented [They have a staffer JUST to explain procedures to kids in kid-language!], astonishingly professional, and we didn’t have that wait-to-entry that I normally associate with ERs — we had a doctor to see in like 15 minutes. I’d never call…  Read More…

Claremont’s X-Men 2: How John Byrne Changed The World

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on August 30, 2009

Categories: Reviews

More Claremont retrospective! This time, the first two years of the Byrne run, wherein everything comes together remarkably quickly, and I compare John Byrne to Joe Sinnott. Or something. Ignoring the fill-in in UNCANNY X-MEN #106 (Although: Chris Claremont and Bill Mantlo together! There should’ve been much more of this), #107 starts off Claremont’s third year on the title with an important milestone: The last issue before it truly becomes the X-Men we recognize. Oh, so many things are almost there, but it’s as if Dave Cockrum was holding Claremont back from achieving full Claremont or something; as soon as John Byrne and Terry Austen appear in #108, everything clicks into place: The characters’ speech patterns, the “giving your life…  Read More…

Malthusian Superheroics: Chris reviews JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA

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Posted by: Chris Eckert on August 29, 2009

Categories: Reviews

Fellow Savage David Uzumeri is at the Toronto Fan Expo and he’s liveblogging Marvel and DC’s panels. Friday’s DC panel featured a discussion of recap pages, with Len Wein positing that “we used to work under the theory, which I don’t think is true anymore, that every issue is somebody’s first issue” and Didio affirming his anti-recap-page position. Earlier this year Didio said he thought “the writers should be able to introduce readers to the ongoing story within the issue itself.” Let’s take a look at that then, shall we? Bill Willingham, Matthew Sturges and Jesus Merino started a run last month in JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #29. JSA is a book with a sprawling cast of legacy heroes a…  Read More…

Wedding Belles

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on August 25, 2009

Categories: Reviews

ARCHIE #600: It has been a really long time since I’ve last read an issue of ARCHIE. Well, a proper one, at least — I glanced through one of those “new look” issues, but threw it across the room in disgust. So I was a little surprised as to just how much I enjoyed this first part of “Archie Marries Veronica” Some people, I guess, might object to this being an “Elseworlds” (Archie walks one night along “Memory Lane”, but decides to walk UP the path), but it seems to me that the Archie line depends on being essentially changeless (If slightly out of tune with what teems are really like), but, at the same time, moving away from that…  Read More…

Arriving 8/26/2009

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on August 24, 2009

Categories: Shipping Lists

Yay, Ben’s first day of First Grade! You’ll forgive me if I’m distracted… Big ole week of excellent comics this time through… 28 DAYS LATER #1ANITA BLAKE LC NECROMANCER #4 (OF 5) AVENGERS INITIATIVE #27BAD KIDS GO TO HELL #3 (OF 4)BARACK THE BARBARIAN #2 (OF 4)BART SIMPSON COMICS #49BATMAN AND ROBIN #3BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #8BATMAN WIDENING GYRE #1 (OF 6)BETA RAY BILL GODHUNTER #3 (OF 3)BETTY & VERONICA #243BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #7BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #1 (OF 3)BONEYARD #28 (OF 28) (RES)BOYS HEROGASM #4 (OF 6) BUCK ROGERS #3CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #5 GULACY RETRO CVR CEREBUS ARCHIVE #3CITIZEN REX #2 (OF 6)DARK AVENGERS #8 DAXDARK REIGN ELEKTRA #5 (OF 5) DKRDARK REIGN SINISTER…  Read More…

Claremont’s X-Men 1: Before They Wuz Fab

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on

Categories: Reviews

The first couple of years of Chris Claremont’s UNCANNY X-MEN (#94-105 – the book was bi-monthly back then) are really weird to look back on, knowing what came later: Len Wein had introduced the All-New, All-Different team in Giant Size X-Men without Claremont’s involvement, and so the first couple of years feels like the writer trying to work out what to do with the characters. There’s no real singular voice to the series, at this early point, probably because Claremont himself hadn’t really worked out what we’d later come to recognize as his voice; instead, everything reads pretty much like the generic late ’70s Marvel comic book that is was – Free of the expectations of what an X-Men comic…  Read More…

While We Wait For Me To Get My Act Together…

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Posted by: admin on August 23, 2009

Categories: Uncategorized

Not an official review post – Those’re coming later this week, now that I’ve finished writing Ono for this month – but if you’re looking for some Hot Comic Reviewin’ Action, go check out Chad Nevett’s heroic 24-hour Blogathon effort from yesterday/this morning, taking a look at Bendis’ Avengers and surrounding books. I don’t always agree – and in some cases, very much disagree, with what he says, but it’s well worth checking out.

This Isn’t The End, Beautiful Friend…

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on August 21, 2009

Categories: Reviews

I realized, while reading the most recent issue of THE UNWRITTEN, what it is I miss about Y: The Last Man: Endings. I’m not talking about Brian K. Vaughan’s almost unparalleled skill at managing to close each issue with a cliffhanger that was guaranteed to bring you back next month – although, really, that was something to see, and be jealous of – but instead, the idea that each trade collection would have some kind of ending, even as it continued the over-arcing story. (For those who get concerned, yes, this continues after the jump.) I’ve been enjoying The Unwritten in my own quiet way these past few months. Yes, it’s not as smart as it thinks it is or…  Read More…

We’re #1!

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on August 18, 2009

Categories: Reviews

ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #1: Well, not that you’d know that was the title by looking AT the title, which, can I say? drives me bucking fonkers. Indicia really should match title, sigh. (And, they’re not really “Avengers”, either — that word doesn’t appear to be uttered within the comic whatsoever, but whatever!) For action and sardonic wit, this picks up smoothly from Millar’s last ULTIMATES run, though I’d’ve been happier if it appeared that either Millar or Bendis even READ “Ultimatum”, because Millar has it here as “New York flooded”, which is a smidge different than “millions dead as New York is decimated by a tsunami”, but, again, whatever… As a retailer, I’m dismayed that both this and UCSM #1…  Read More…

Wait, What? ep. 4.4: Just When You Think We’re Dead…

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on August 17, 2009

Categories: Podcasts

Our final installment of the week’s podcast is almost an hour long and has it all: Tyrese Gibson’s Mayhem!, Captain America Reborn #2, Cracker, Godzilla, Aquaman…then just as it seems we’re winding down, a dose of meta and Graeme breaking out the old-school knowledge and talking Chris Claremont’s original run of X-Men. Oh, and Julie & Julia, of course. Oh, and if you get a chance, please take a moment to tell Graeme in the comments he’s a dreamboat–it’ll make my mancrush seems a little less unseemly…(or will it?) Again, our thanks to everyone who’s chimed in with comments and suggestions, and thanks to Trent Reznor, whose Creative Commons license allows us to use the most excellent Track 18 from…  Read More…

Arriving 8/19/2009

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on

Categories: Shipping Lists

OF COURSE, after last week’s brutal onslaught of a billion titles, here’s a teeny tiny week of books. *sigh* A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #107 (A)AIR #12 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603AOD ASH SAVES OBAMA #1 (OF 4)ARCHIE #600ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #18ATOMIC ROBO SHADOW FROM BEYOND TIME #4 (OF 5)BATGIRL #1BATMAN STREETS OF GOTHAM #3BLACKEST NIGHT SUPERMAN #1 (OF 3)BRAVE AND THE BOLD #26CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #13DAREDEVIL #500DARK REIGN HOOD #4 (OF 5) DKRDARK REIGN MISTER NEGATIVE #3 (OF 3) DKRDAYS MISSING #1 (OF 5) DALE KEOWN CVRDEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS #5 (OF 5)DOCTOR WHO ONGOING #2DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #13 (RES) EX MACHINA #44 FARSCAPE GONE & BACK #2FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH DANCE #4 (OF 6)GENEXT UNITED #4 (OF 5)GRAVEL #13 HELLBLAZER #258 INVINCIBLE #65JACK OF…  Read More…

My brother the ape: Douglas reads some 8/11 periodicals

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

MARVEL ADVENTURES SUPER HEROES #14: No grade on this one–I feel a little hinky about grading comics written by my neighbors (Paul Tobin, in this case)–but I will say that I enjoyed this issue immensely and wanted to call it to people’s attention. It’s a Hawkeye/Blonde Phantom team-up (what are the odds of two Blonde Phantom stories coming out in the same month?), a done-in-one detective story with a couple of action set-pieces and a lot of lively banter. It earns its “all ages” stamp: it’s a very 10-year-old-friendly funnybook, but it’s got a bunch of Easter eggs for people who’ve read a billion Marvel comics already, including a cute “Civil War” riff and, actually, the fact that it’s got…  Read More…

Tilting at Windmills #183 is up!

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on August 14, 2009

Categories: Retailing/Industry

People were asking me to follow up on the “why retailer’s conservatism hurts” bit from a month or two back, so here we go. Go read the column on CBR! Also, in the follow-up category, Percy Carey has quit as Marketing Director of Tyrese Gibson’s Mayhem! in part due to the stuff I discussed in last months column. You can read Carey’s press release here. -B

Wait, What? Ep. 4.3: Why Geoff Johns Isn’t As Bad As You Think

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on

Categories: Podcasts

Yep, the very next installment, right here already. We talk about Blackest Night, Superboy Prime, Amazing Spider-Man, and I think I finally end up making a point somehow. Long-time listeners (since, say, Wednesday) will feel rewarded. Also, extra-special this time around: annotations! You can find Laura Hudson’s terrific interview with Johns about Blackest Night at Comics Alliance here, and my 2005 FBR riff on DC crossover events here on our site. (Some of it reads almost prescient, in an ultra-smartass kind of way). Ep. 4.4 is right around the corner! (By which I mean, probably first thing Monday?) Until then, have a great weekend and enjoy the ‘cast!

Wait, What? ep. 4.2: Hey, You Asked…

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on August 13, 2009

Categories: Podcasts

I think our only regret about this installment of Wait, What is that we didn’t get to answer everyone’s questions–but we did our scattershot best. If you ask me, this one’s worth a listen just to hear us respond to the “Crying Superheroes–Threat or Menace?” question. Hope you enjoy! 4.3 will go up tomorrow (barring catastrophe) and will talk about Blackest Night. Oh, yes.

Wait, What? ep. 4.1: The Newness of Dull

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on August 12, 2009

Categories: Podcasts

We spent a long time gabbing this week, meaning you get, um, 5 podcasts? (Maybe–I’m not done editing them yet, and I can’t guarantee by the end we’re not just giggling and making dolphin noises.) As you’ll see (well, hear), it’s as much your fault as ours (and by ‘yours,’ I mean those wonderful souls who contributed questions, suggestions and comments in a previous thread.) But the first episode of the lot starts on a focused note: I respond to Graeme’s lovely recent piece about Wednesday Comics, Graeme responds, I respond to his response, etc., etc., dolphin giggles, and…scene. So hear us talking about Wednesday on a Wednesday, then come back on Thursday to hear us talk about…something else. And,…  Read More…

Arriving 8/12/2009

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on August 10, 2009

Categories: Shipping Lists

It is a brutal week for comics on the West Coast! Also, as a note for those of you who were looking during the Neil Gaiman signing, we’ve received more copies of WHO KILLED AMANDA PALMER — I *think* I am the only store in the Bay Area (comics or otherwise) who has stock of this on hand. But, I’ve hidden the rest under the jump, so we don’t scroll away too many of the recent pack of reviews… A LOT of stuff didn’t ship to the West Coast last week, and it is all here now. Sheesh, there’s over NINETY distinct and different periodical comics titles shipping this week. And that’s on top of the 51 Books/Mags/Stuff things. Cuh-razy!…  Read More…

Three Bloody Ones: This week in superhero decadence.

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

Dark Reign: Zodiac #2 (of 3): Superhero decadence! I love it! You love it! Do you love it? Do you love me? I love you! Even though I disappear for weeks at a time doesn’t mean you aren’t always in my heart! I’ve gotta follow my bliss, babe! Gimme a kiss. Right up to the monitor. Your boss isn’t watching. Or your spouse, housemate. Whatever! Where was I? Right: superhero decadence. Some say all the shared-universe cape comics are decadent, in that they’re made self-absorbed, genre-absorbed from the rigors of the shared universe, the frequent crossovers. Others identify it as superhero comics with a lot of bloody violence, and often some gross sex but never with much nudity, because that’s…  Read More…

Favorites: Squadron Supreme

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Posted by: Sean T. Collins on

Categories: Reviews

Squadron Supreme Mark Gruenwald, writer Bob Hall, Paul Ryan, John Buscema, Paul Neary, artists Marvel, 1985-1986 (my collected edition is dated 2003) 352 pages $29.99 I don’t know what it is about Squadron Supreme, but I seem to read it only during times of great personal trauma. I first read the book in 2003, during my wife’s hospitalization at a residential treatment facility for eating disorders. I have vivid memories of sitting at a nearby Panera Bread between visiting hours, slowly turning the pages. And as I reread the book over the past couple of weeks, an 11-month period during which my wife suffered two miscarriages was capped off by the news that one of my cats has a chronic…  Read More…

Wait, What?: Hope You Survive The Interactive Experience

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on August 8, 2009

Categories: Podcasts

It’s almost that time again; Jeff and I are about to do another Wait, What? podcast, and this time, we want to know what you want us to talk about. Bear in mind that there’s every chance that we haven’t read what you want us to talk about (*coughAsterios Polypcough*), but any and all requests/questions you want us to answer/whatever will be read and considered and/or nervously laughed about. Honest. You can leave suggestions in the comments here, or email us at waitwhatpodcast at gmail dot com. Do it before tomorrow at 4 PST and you too could stand a chance of having your internetscreenhandle mangled by myself or Mr. Lester on an audio podcast of your very own. Call…  Read More…

Five Weeks Of Wednesdays

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on

Categories: Reviews

We’re five weeks in, and I think I’m finally beginning to get my head around WEDNESDAY COMICS. And, when I say “get my head around,” I really mean “Write lots of random, scattered thoughts that may or may not constitute a review of what we’ve seen so far. And so, for those who are prepared to slog through them all: 25 (SEMI-)RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT WEDNESDAY COMICS. 1. It’s definitely not what I expected. I remember, when I saw the first issue, being surprised at the paper quality, and that there were less strips like Ben Caldwell’s Wonder Woman, which seems determined to pack in as much information – and as many panels – on the oversized page as possible. Something…  Read More…