wednesday

New Comics Wednesday (3/18/20)

Eric P. I.Leave a comment

Happy New Comics Wednesday!

Go here for a complete list of comics releasing this week.

What are you getting this week?

My comics

  • X-RAY ROBOT #1 – I love me some Allred
  • STARSHIP DOWN #1
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE #43
  • ROBIN 80TH ANNIVERSARY Special – Robin (Dick Grayson) is my favorite comic book character, so I’m happy to celebrate his 80th.
  • TREES TP VOL 03 – Can’t wait to read the conclusion of this story.
  • UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #5
  • VALKYRIE JANE FOSTER #9
  • ARTEMIS & ASSASSIN #1
  • DRAGONFLY & DRAGONFLYMAN #5
  • MONEY SHOT TP – It sounded interesting but not enough for me to buy the singles. But I heard enough positive things about it that I ordered the trade.

Other comics

  • IMMORTAL HULK TP VOL 06 – Didn’t order it but should have.
  • MARVELS 25TH ANNIVERSARY HC – But is it worth $50?
  • SPIDER-WOMAN #1
  • ARCHANGEL 8 #1 – I almost ordered this one. Maybe I’ll get the trade.

What are some other comics I missed that I should buy?

 

 

New Comics Wednesday (3/11/20)

Eric P. I.Leave a comment

Happy New Comics Wednesday!

Go here for a complete list of comics releasing this week.

What are you getting this week?

My comics

  • JOIN THE FUTURE #1 – I forgot to mention this last week.
  • KNIGHTS TEMPORAL TP – I also forgot to mention this one last week.
  • GREEN LANTERN SEASON 2 #2
  • HAWKMAN #22 – I’m loving the Pasarin art!
  • SUPERMAN #21
  • DECORUM #1

Other comics

  • ALL MY FRIENDS ARE GHOSTS ORIGINAL GN – A younger readers book that sounds like a fun read.
  • JUST IMAGINE STAN LEE CREATING THE DC UNIVERSE TP BOOK 01 – I’ve read a few of these issues and was not wowed by them, but it’s an interesting piece of history.
  • STEALTH #1 – I almost preordered this, thinking if I hear some good buzz about it I’d get the trade. Let me know how you like it, yeah?
  • HISTORY OF MARVEL UNIV TREASURY ED TP – I so very much want to read this, but I’ll wait for the trade paperback.
  • DAIRY RESTAURANT GN – I totally missed this before, but now I’m intrigued. This is an example of the power of comic book/graphic storytelling knowing no bounds!
  • NICNEVIN AND BLOODY QUEEN GN – This book was on my short list, but I ultimately passed on it.
  • SWEET HEART #1 – Another book I seriously thought about ordering.

What are some other comics I missed that I should buy?

Best comic I read recently

JUSTICE LEAGUE #40 by Robert Venditti, Doug Mahnke, Richard Friend, David Baron, Tom Napolitano, Andrea Shea, and Alex R Carr, with cover by Bryan Hitch and Jeremiah Skipper

Justice League returns to my pull list because Robert Venditti is writing it. I dropped this title shortly after the Rebirth relaunch because I just don’t really care for Scott Snyder stories. But Venditti is awesome, and he’s got Doug Mahnke visualizing the story, so there’s a great team here. I understand that this story takes place prior to the story Snyder and company were telling that ended (for now) in issue 39, but it does occur after recent events in the Superman and Batman titles (i.e., Superman having revealed his identity to the world and the death of Alfred), so that’s not confusing. I don’t particularly care for yet another Eradicator story, but I do like the interaction between the characters, especially the conflict between Batman and Flash. Even better, Madame Xanadu makes an appearance, though it’s a different take of the character than the one shown in Hawkman last year, but I don’t mind the apparent incongruity — continuity isn’t that important to me anymore. I heard Venditti on a podcast explain that DC wants him to tell shorter stories, so I’m looking forward to where he takes these characters.

New Comics Wednesday (3/4/20)

Eric P. I.Leave a comment

Happy New Comics Wednesday!

Go here for a complete list of comics releasing this week.

What are you getting this week?

My comics

  • KING OF NOWHERE #1 – I usually avoid stories whose descriptions include “has no memory of how he got there”, but the cover image of the guy holding a balloon fish and the other part of the description (“Lovable drunken lowlife Denis awakens on the outskirts of a mysterious village called Nowhere, home to a friendly populace of deformed, mutated, just-left-of-normal citizens…”) had me intrigued enough to buy it.
  • WYRD TP – Finally!
  • DREAMING #19
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE #42
  • STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 – Looking forward to this.
  • MARKED #5
  • BLACK WIDOW WAID/SAMNEE COMPLETE COLLECTION TP – I got the first few issues of this, dropped it, and regretted that decision.
  • DRYAD #1 – This was the sort-of-like Saga book that I decided to try.

Other comics

  • FLASH #750 – Should I have bought this? I love milestone issues, but the Flash, especially Barry Allen, just doesn’t interest me.
  • ROBIN YEAR ONE TP NEW EDITION – The original release was a fun read.
  • EMBARRASSMENT OF WITCHES GN VOL 01 – I can’t decide based on the solicitation if this is something I want to read, but I am intrigued.
  • MARVEL #1 – I’ll get this when it’s collected.
  • POWER PACK CLASSIC OMNIBUS HC – I almost ordered this.
  • STRANGE ACADEMY #1 – Another book I’ll read in trade eventually.

What are some other comics I missed that I should add to my Buy list?

Best comic I read recently

STAR TREK: YEAR 5 V1

Episode One writing and art by Jackson Lansing, Collin Kelly, Stephen Thompson, and Charlie Kirchoff

Episode Two writing and art by Brandon Easton, Martin Coccolo, and Fran Gamboa

Episode Three writing and art by Jody Houser, Silvia Califano, and Thomas Deer

Letterer: Neil Uyetake and Cover Artist: J.J. Lendl

Star Trek Year 5 v1

What a fantastic adaptation and continuation of the live-action sci-fi series that I have loved since I was five! The artists actor likenesses are great but not appearing photoshopped, and the various styles mesh well between the episodes, giving us a visual continuity. Also, they all draw the Enterprise very well, something not all artists who have worked on Star Trek comic books can do and is something I demand, dammit!

I like how these collected six issues involve elements from the original series (Tholians, a return to the “A Piece of the Action” planet, and an unknown alien presence), as well as introducing or expanding on new elements. Uhura is shown as more integral to the bridge crew and a leader. The banter between Sulu and Chekov about Spock was a fun twist on the humorous aspects of the franchise. And we get to see more of the crew — in fact, this Enterprise is full of personnel, as it should be.

I may do a spotlight podcast episode on this trade in the future, but if you are a Star Trek fan, you should read this comic book!

New Comics Wednesday (2/19/20)

Eric P. I.Leave a comment

Happy New Comics Wednesday!

Go here for a complete list of comics releasing this week.

What are you getting this week?

My comics

  • JUSTICE LEAGUE #41
  • LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #4
  • UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #4
  • VALKYRIE JANE FOSTER #8
  • FIVE YEARS #8

Other comics

  • MARVELS VOICES #1 – “Inspired by the acclaimed podcast series!” I don’t know anything about this podcast, and now there’s a comic inspired by it? Has anyone listened to this podcast who would like to sell me on it? (Yes, I know I can go listen to it myself, but what’s the fun in that?)
  • STAR #1 – I’m always on the lookout for new Marvel or DC characters and Star sounds like something I’d be interested in. Waiting for the trade, though.
  • WOLVERINE #1 – Snikt!
  • ARCHIE MEETS B-52S #1 – Look, I enjoyed “Love Shack” as much as the next person, but why does this musical group have such staying power in the pop culture zeitgeist?
  • DOCTOR TOMORROW #1 – I almost tried out this series.
  • GODKILLERS #1 – Same. Maybe waiting for the trade.
  • PLOT #1 – And a third almost ran where I might get the trade.

What are some other comics I missed that I should add to my Buy list?

Best comic I read recently

VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #7 by Al Ewing, Jason Aaron, Pere Perez, Jesus Aburtov, Joe Sabino, and Mahmood Asrar and Matthew Wilson (cover)

Valkyrie Jane Foster 7

The best Marvel comic you’re not reading continues with the Marvel Medics treating Death herself! The plot is pretty simple (the medics journey to Death’s realm to prevent her from dying and have to face some uncomfortable situations along the way [a la the Hero’s Journey]), but the execution of the scene with the portraits, Jane’s conversation with the Death of Death and her soliloquy as she answers Its question (“Do we need Death?”), and how the final page connected all of what came before was so great.

 

New Comics Wednesday (2/12/20)

Eric P. I.Leave a comment

Happy New Comics Wednesday!

Go here for a complete list of comics releasing this week.

My comics

  • BATMAN PENNYWORTH RIP #1
  • THE GREEN LANTERN SEASON 2 #1 – More Grant Morrison and Liam Sharpe Green Lantern goodness.
  • HAWKMAN #21
  • SUPERMAN #20
  • 20XX #3 – I recently talked about issue 1 in glowing terms, but after reading issue 2, I’m now questioning my initial reaction to the series and also wondering if I will continue with it. Issue 3, you have a lot riding on you!
  • DRAGONFLY & DRAGONFLYMAN #4

Other comics

  • ANIMAL MAN BY GRANT MORRISON TP VOL 01 – If you’ve not read this series, do yourself a favor and get this.
  • BILLY BATSON AND MAGIC OF SHAZAM TP BOOK 01
  • HARLEY QUINN & BIRDS OF PREY #1 (OF 4) – In case you enjoyed the movie (I haven’t seen it yet)?
  • ZATANNA AND THE HOUSE OF SECRETS TP – Another of the DC Kids OGNs that I wish I’d ordered.
  • STAR TREK YEAR FIVE VALENTINES DAY SPECIAL – I now wish I’d ordered this.
  • AERO TP VOL 01 BEFORE THE STORM – I’m keeping an eye on this as a future InStockTrades purchase.
  • COTTONS SC GN VOL 01 SECRET OF WIND – I totally missed this in Previews. I want to read this book now.
  • DOCTOR MIRAGE TP VOL 01 – Same as with Aero.
  • HOPE TP – Another book I’m interested in getting.

Best comic I read recently

NEAR DEATH v1 by Jay Faerber, Simone Guglielmini, Ron Riley, Charles Pritchett, Tom Coler, and Daniel Freedman

near death v1

Some time last year, probably during an Image sale on Comixology, I bought both volumes of Near Death primarily because I’m a fan of Mr. Faerber’s comic books. That and I am a sucker for the “bad guy” attempting a shot at redemption. In this case, hitman Markham dies briefly and finds himself being haunted by all of the people he’s killed. He comes out of the experience not wanting to end up in that place again, and so decides he needs to balance the scales. He does this by helping people and, with a few missteps, not killing anyone in the process.

One thing I enjoy about this premise is that Markham’s motives aren’t altruistic and he has no compunction about killing again, but he chooses not to. It reminds me somewhat of the Rockford Files but edgier. Guglielmini’s art is sufficiently noirish and moody, but I’m never confused about where my eyes should scan across the pages and who I’m looking at, which, surprisingly, is a lot more of a problem in other comic books I’ve read than you’d think. And after reading both volumes of this title, I can now read the recently released OGN Over My Dead Body!

What are you getting this week?