Fanboy Fodder 8.4
I have decided that this little experiment with writing about the comics I read has been a good idea. It is definitely forcing me to evaluate what I am buying on a weekly basis. I was already trying to be good about tracking how much I spend a month on this stuff, but that wasn’t cutting it. I could justify it by acknowledging the fact that I don’t spend money on much else besides comics and CDs.
Now, I have to justify the purchase on the strength of its entertainment value. I am sure I will slowly be subtracting books, but this week, I did not. In fact, I found I just had to buy Justice League of America #1 because it was written by Brad Meltzer (of the excellent Identity Crisis) and illustrated by Ed Benes (Superman/Batman). Didn’t I recently state that I hated DC books and no more new ones for me? Well, this one is an exception that you knew would happen eventually.
I did skip Heroes for Hire #1, because let’s face it, even though it is part of Civil War, there is nothing about that book that screams to me “you need to read this” other than the hotties on the cover. I’ll leave that to the fanboys.
Astonishing X-Men #16
I have already gone on about the new JLA book, but the lead for this week was this book. Joss Whedon and John Cassaday are definitely back on the top of the X-Men food chain. Right away, that Kitty Pryde cover hooks you and the way she takes down Emma Frost inside the pages was just so well done. In fact, it was reminiscent of other such events during this book’s run that defines the style both guys bring to the table. Follow that up with Logan wandering around like a scared, God-fearing child and this issue was as good as the gold on the cover. I won’t even get into the little twist at the end. My only problem with this book in general is that it does not ship often enough. I understand Whedon is probably a busy man, but with Cassaday’s simple, but excellent, style you would think this book could be cranked out on a monthly schedule. My memory isn’t so great that I remembered everything that was going on from the last issue. In that way, I guess it is good that I sometimes — okay, often — fall behind and read titles in chunks.
Justice League of America #1
I bought this issue for two reasons: it was a #1 and features both Batman and Superman. I figured it would be a one-shot deal for me, just so I could see how they assembled the new team, but I’m hooked. Meltzer is already weaving a tale on par with Identity Crisis and I will be buying this book from now until it sucks, which will most likely be when his arc is done. The first issue leaves you with some questions about exactly who is on the new team, but it looks like an interesting group and I recognize more than half of them (I’m not a huge DC guy by any stretch). I dare you to read this issue and not agree with me.
Batman #656
Getting into this one and I think Grant Morrison is doing a good job so far with only two issues in. This was another one where I couldn’t exactly remember what happened last time, but I got back up to speed by the fifth page with the main story (I did remember he was trying to re-energize his Bruce Wayne-ness). Anyway, the appearance of Talia — Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter — at the end was pretty sweet. It would seem that her past tryst with Bats produced a son — seems to be going around these days (see Wolverine: Origins) — and she leaves the boy with him for more training. I’m more interested to see how this goes than with Wolvie Jr.
Supergirl #9
Kara the bad ass huh? Well, at least at the start. There’s something so very wrong about seeing Supergirl smoking, but happily they ended that quickly. I have absolutely no idea what happened between this issue and the last with respect to Kara and Power Girl no longer being in Kandor. They have interaction between the two over it, but didn’t quite explain it to my satisfaction. I felt like I missed an issue or that they told that tale somewhere else, but I’m not that concerned. Luckily, the weak story was saved by the excellent work of Ian Churchill drawing all the pretty girls in short skirts. Higher hopes for next month I guess. I am concerned about where this book goes without Jeph Loeb.
Legion of Super-Heroes #21
Sure, they are slapping “Supergirl and the…” on the front of the title these days, but it seems too much like a marketing ploy to me than anything else. I was interested in this book from issue one because it took place in the far future and I felt with that new beginning, I’d be able to follow along much easier. It slowed down a bit before Kara showed up, so I guess it wasn’t such a bad idea. Anyway, I like books that take place in the future so that you can try to chart what happened between. I suppose it has something to do with how we wonder about the same as real-life humans. Like, what will our grandchildren’s grandchildren’s Earth be like? Will it still be here? I’m betting no, or at least humans won’t be prospering so much anymore…
Eternals #3
Neil Gaiman has me hooked with this story so far and I’m not sure if it is just because his name is there or because I like it. Three issues down in this mini out of six and I think we’ll start seeing some good stuff next issue, we’ll see. The art by John Romita Jr. hasn’t been horrible either. I wasn’t a fan for a long time, but it would seem over the last ten years he has me coming around. His style definitely fits certain books, Punisher being the best, but he’s making a decent go here.
Ultimate Spider-man #99
Brian Michael Bendis… nuff said! Well, maybe not enough, but close. I am pretty sure there was a clone saga — not to be confused with the symbiote saga — in the regular Spidey books, but I didn’t read it. This story, so far, would seem to top it as not only is Peter Parker being cloned, but Gwen Stacy and Richard Parker (his Dad) are seemingly back from the dead. One of the clones would appear to be a female version of Peter — Hello X-23 — and another was turned into the Ultimate Scorpion. Anyway, Aunt May’s reaction to all this and learning that Peter is Spiderman was priceless. Bendis at his best and I can’t wait for #100.
Ultimates Annual #2
Out of the three Ultimate line annuals so far this month, this one was the best. The story features Captain America and The Falcon dealing with racism and how it still plagues us 60 years since Cap was frozen. It takes place in the context of the clean-up following the invasion of America in the regular series. If memory serves, which I have already suggested twice earlier that it does not, they haven’t resolved that in the regular series yet. I guess the good guys win.
G.I. Joe: Declassified #2
This book is coming out bimonthly and so far has featured the origins of the original Joe team as recruited by Hawk. The book is being written by the original Joe writer, Larry Hama, and is the only reason I am buying it in addition to the regular series. The story has been interesting, but with the bimonthly nature, difficult to follow. Bimonthly books should be standalone stories, like the Marvel Unlimited books. Then again, those books usually suck, so maybe they shouldn’t do this kind of thing at all.
Also purchased this week, but not read, were: New Avengers #23, Exiles #85, Wolverine #45 and Soulfire: Chaos Reign #1. I haven’t read any of these books yet because I am behind on their predecessors or because I haven’t started in on Civil War yet.
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