It's like Previews. I mean, what's the deal with that? I have to pay $$ to get an advertisement for upcoming books? Good grief.

I used to love Wizard back in the day. Pretty pictures, goofy humor, and news bits that I couldn't find anywear else. Now magazines have to be really well crafted for me to bother reading them. I get a bunch of free gaming magazines thanks to the "Hot Deals" forum and I read a few magazines at work, but I don't bother with Wizard anymore. I don't have that blanket of hate that a lot of comic fans seem to have for the book, but all of their news is usually dated and their features aren't really that interesting. They might have an interview with a creator I'm into, but that same creator probably has his own blog/message board/or has done multiple online interviews to push whatever he has coming out. Still good for people who don't read about comics online though.

About Bendis - I like him, shoot me. I've only read his Alias (which I thought was fantastic), some of USM, the first Powers trade, and New Avengers, but all those books were fun enough and well done enough for me. I don't like him because I was told to do so or for fanboy pursuits, I just think he writes pretty good comics from what I've sampled. I plan on trying his Daredevil sometime down the line.

Just an FYI my fav comic writers are Kirkman, Johns (Mr. DC), and Vaughn at the moment.

Wizards problem is indeed that they have their hand in the cookie jar. With the whole CGC crap and their conventions and keeping the peace between writers and hyping a lot of their own little items. There's no room for anything besides fluff. its been like that for a long time now.

Wizard owns the CGC now? HA! Now that whole concept is something I have nothing but disdain for.

Ahh, it's good to have Astro City back.

Two points on the latest JLA: Classified (#8, I think):

Those Claremont/Byrne X-Men stories were good. Period. The problem with Claremont is that he only knows about three stories and he keeps retelling them over and over.

I don't think so. I do think they are 'in bed' together, though. Meaning, they have teamed up for all sorts of promotions.

Dammit! I haven't read #8 yet. Arrghghghghgh!

I'm so used to spoilers in the TV forum, yet not here. I need to be a lot more careful. Sorry.

Of course, now that I've edited my post: the quote's still sitting out there.

I fail to see the spoiler. Cover art would be viewable when purchasing the comic and your second comment was on an artists abilites. No actual spoilers appear to be present.

It is a pretty minor spoiler, but talking about certain characters who appear in the issue (especially the second one) and the adjective used to describe them can be when you don't know any details going in.

Yeah, guess I hadn't thought of that. Better to be safe than sorry usually anyway.

Yeah, I'm not sure that Wizard owns CGC (that would be really shady), but they are definitely in bed together - Wizard runs all sorts of CGC "deals" for upcoming books and is certainly responsible for most of the CGC hype (fueled by their "price guide" for CGC books).

About Bendis, I have liked most of what he's written in the past. I love Torso, Powers (haven't read the relaunch), Goldfish, Fire, Fortune & Glory, his earlier stuff on USM, and most of the Daredevil arc. I think he's spread himself too thin lately tho - I haven't enjoyed his recent books as much (and his run on Avengers was crap, apparently just set up to lead into the House of M stuff).

just so you know you didn't cause any problems.

One of the big drawbacks of ordering through online shops: you never really know what you're going to get. You can't page through it and check out the content or artwork.

Case-in-point: Giant Sized X-Men #3. For the $4.99 coverprice, all we get new is an 8 page story by Whedon and the rest is reprints. Had I known, I wouldn't of spent money on it.

doesn't that Marvel place have an "official site" like the awesome got their shit together comic company DC?

I see my comic store's weekly e-mail, I check the DC list while ignoring the Marvel list , and anything I'm not sure about I check it on DC's official site. I've saved a few bucks by seeing stuff at their site and deciding it wasn't for me. Just yesterday I almost ordered some Lobo/Authority book coming out but I checked it at DC's site and I realized it was a follow up form a previous book I hadn't read. So I skipped it.

Pardon the interruption:

Chew, do you want to be the "fan" for the next Party of Five?

Sessa, you're slated to be the "retailer" for #4.

Now, back to the regularly broadcast thread talk....

My answer depends entirely on how much I know about the topic.

Chew, the next question will be completely opinionated, something along the lines of "If you were stranded on a deserted island, would you rather be stuck with Jessica Alba or Chewbacca?"

OK, I'll give it a try.

Whew! Glad I put this one back. I thought it might be a reprint (and I didn't really feel like paying $5 for yet another comic anyway)

Oh, great, look. More crossovers.

It's funny because I almost bought Giant-Sized X-Men because of the reprints. Ultimately, I decided not to because the only one I don't already have in one form or another is the Spidey team-up, and hopefully we'll get the next volume of Essential Uncanny X-Men one of these days (hint hint, Marvel!)

Cool, but I don't have an online picture of myself, it looks like you have pictures of everyone.

Here is what I picked up today. . .

Batgirl #65 - This was one of my favorite comics for the first 25 issue or so, then it become one of the worste comics on the stands for about 25 issues, & now it is one of my favorites again.

Batman #641 - Please oh please somebody break Winnicks hands so he can't write anymore.

Batman Allies Secret Files 2005

Flash #223 - I just may cry when Johns leaves this book.

Green Lantern #2

Hellblazer #209

JLA Classified #9

League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen The Absolute Ed Vol 2 Oversized HC - OH MY GOD!!! I love these Absolute Editions. These are the greatest thing since DVDs.

Losers #25 - Such an awesome book, can't believe it is on 25 already.

OMAC Project #3

Outsiders #25 - See Batman.

Planetary #23 - Finally, the new issue of my favorite comic of all-time.

Seven Soldiers Shining Knight #3 - Diggin' the hell out of SS.

Solo #5 - BUY THIS BOOK!!!! My pick of the week. The single greatest talent in all of comics is Darwyn Cooke.

Wonder Woman #217 - One of the most underrated books on the market.

Shaun Of The Dead #1 - Hope this is good, it had Simon & Nick's approval

Pact #3 - If Invincible is in it, then it is a must buy

Captain America #6 Ltd Ed Variant Cvr- B/c this book should be supported in all forms.

Fantastic Four #528 -Straczynski (sp?) has sucked on this so far.

New X-Men Hellions #2

Runaways #5 - Best comic Marvel publishes

X-Men #172

Young Avengers #5- Awesome book, don't let the name fool you

Mr T #1 . . just kidding, wanted to see if anyone actually reads my posts

And of coarse the new Previews Catalogue. I'm one of the few people that actually doesn't look at all this stuff online.

I guess I just don't see the point of the Shaun Of The Dead adaptation since this has been on DVD for months. Several people were going ape for it at the comic shop today. Is it going to be an ongoing series? Or just a 4 issue re-telling of the film, which I enjoyed of course.