I actually just started getting that about 2 months ago. One month after Giant Sized X-Men #3, IIRC.

I read Batgirl for the first 15 or so issues. It really felt like a fanboy book at first, kinda like "oh look at this uber cool Batgirl!!! she made batman cough up blood! then I started hearing really bad things about the book...don't know if the same creative teams around around (probably not), but I was never really hot for the post-crisis Batgirl. I always though Huntress should have gotten her own book...

Batman/Outsiders is steadily getting worse. In fact, Batman went from actuall being readable in the monthlies a few years back to now being another dagger in the heart of fans everywhere. Creators are working their asses off trying to make Batman a respectable property again (Batman Begins, Ed Brubaker/Greg Rucka), and it only takes a few months of this tripe to fuck it all up. Outsiders is a really mediocre book that's only filled with "cool" moments and jokes and no real plot/character development. Also, the whole Metamorpho thing is really stupid and should never have happened.

Flash is really getting panned lately. I don't know why, the writing is actually much better than it was at the beginning, I think most people just miss Kolins. I didn't enjoy "Ignition" honestly, but the Rogue War storyline is typical Johns quality. I also like how Johns stops every so often and reminds everyone who these characters are; they obviously don't have the star-status of other rogues to be totally visible yet are still recognizable. It's a great way to attract/build a healthy audience for a book. Accessibility is probably John's #1 quality as a writer.

Green Lantern I felt was a "business as usual" GL story, something that I felt should not be happening with this book at this stage, and something that's really already troubling me. Issue 1 had the typical retrospection but that was perfectly fitting given that it's starting from scratch - or at least somewhere close to there. Once the hype dies down, this book really needs to able to carry it's own weight or else it'll just suffer the same fate as before.

OMAC I haven't touched and I'm wondering: do they ever explain WHY Batman decided to put a spy satellite up? was he even behind it? or did he just commandeer it?

Planetary is a comic book about comic stories. It's a great book that makes you appreciate the history of the comic universe.

Seven Soldiers is a great series, although the issues are coming out too slow for me. I want more!!! the whole series is supposed to wrap up in 2006! given delays, it'll probably be done late 2006/early 2007. The Klarion series is my favorite so far.

Is WW still written by Rucka? I was going to pick it up but I already have so much to read. That and WW is an extremely limited character to begin with. I had heard in early interviews that Rucka was going to explore homosexuality (or at least lesbianism) on Paradise Island...how did that pan out?

Captain America rules. THIS is the Cap I wanna see, not that impotent stuttering ponce in Bendis' Avengers and not the Bastardly Jock in Ultimates.

F4 has only had two issues with the new creative team and I can already see JMS doing the same stupid crap he did with Amazing. He's ALREADY re-writing the team's past and their origin. Given that it was set one way perfectly fitting with the Silver Age mentality of "fantastic scientific progress that will kill us all" (cosmic radiation) then altered in a subtle, cool, and more believable way (induced mutation), this story is already headed in a worse direction that the Spider-totem pole or whatever.

Of course, who can miss Runaways?

X-men I assume you're buying out of some weird obigation as a fan or a desire to have a complete set of X-men issues. You're obviously not buying it so you can read the book. Unless you enjoy reading really crappy stories.

Young Avengers is the "Teen Titans" of the Marvel Universe, only more fun and not as depressing.

Sessa, did the variant to Cap #6 really ship this week? If so, I'll be upset. Every time I order a variant, my shop never seems to get it for me. Those blimey bastards!

As far as having an online photo, you have a few weeks to get one.

I am SO glad I dropped all of my spider-man books months ago. Why can they not make a good Spidey book?!?? I'd rather go back and fill in my gaps of old issues of the pre 90's Amazing and Spectacular then give money to support this new crap. It would probably be cheaper too.

All right, now I'm intrigued. What is the basic gist of "Runaways" and what makes it so good?

Runaways - a bunch of teenagers find out their parents are supervillains. What's good is that it's not a typical superhero series and stuff actually changes. It's not the same focus or the complete cast of characters it was in the beginning.

There's a cheap trade out there:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...299736-6429646

That is a a perferct description of that book. When it was announced I swore up and down that I wouldn't read it as it sounded so damn stupid, but I am happy that I was very wrong. I also like that it's a teen book that isn't so heavy on the angst. But I'm saying though, when can I get my Runaways/Young Avengers one off special?

For Sessa and other fans of Shaun and Spaced, check this out:
The 99p Challange! It's a British radio show in the same vein of Who's Line. Comedic gold. Check out the shows with Simon and Nick (but they're all really funny). The files go down a lot so it will be a pain in the ass to get them, but it's worth it.

We really destroyed the previous record for number of posts in a comic-book thread this month!

ytrez, if you want, I'd be willing to send you the first three trade digest editions for cheap. They were originally $7.99 each (I think). I'd send them all for $15 shipped (as new condition). (I ended up getting all of the back issues)

Let me know if you're interested....

? Wasn't the next volume of Essential X-men just solicited in last month's Previews?

Also, for other people wanting to get into Runaways:

Last month's issue of Previews also solicited the Runaways hardcover, coming out 8/18 or so. It's 18 issues collected for 35 bucks, which seems like a decent enough pricepoint. That's how I'm jumping on board, at least.

Yes, so far we know why. His reason reminds me of the "Tower of Babel" storyline.

Yeah, but then why didn't he disclose it when the team was reunited? ugh. Sounds like ANOTHER regurgitation of the "Don't-Trust-Us League".

Um, Batman isn't new to trust issues. So saying "not again" is like saying the sky is blue. It was rampant all throughout Murder/fugitive story arc and all over War games. Batman is exactly that. an untrusting fella.

question to those who provided the HC/Trade online store links....do they charge your card when you place the order? or when they ship it?

thanks!