Hmm... my graphic novel tastes tend to skew mainstream superheroes and manga. For mainstream superheroes, I think Marvel's doing a great job with their Visionaries line: Byrne's FF, Simonson's Thor, Miller's Daredevil, David's Hulk are all classics. I admit, I'm not as enamored with the ones that tend to skip around, and some of the stories are pretty basic (the Perez FF one not only skipped around to just the issues he did, but had some pretty bad stories). I'm not sure how they're doing in the market, but I hope they're doing well enough.

I don't hear all that much about ABC anymore, but I've been picking up Tom Strong lately (I love Sprouse), and catching up on Promethea. Top Ten was great.

In non superhero stuff, I still enjoy Usagi Yojimbo, even after all these years. Speaking of Sakai, I'd buy any new Groo collections they came out with...

So...i'll start. Small week [thank god]. Picked up [but haven't read]:

• Wildsiderz 1 - I'm thinking issue number 2 will be out sometime next year.
  
• Stupid Comics 3
  
• Detective Comics 809
  
• X-Men Unlimited 10
  
• Marvel Team-Up 11
  
• Justice 1 [Both gorgeous covers]
  
• Superman 220
  
• JSA 76
  
• Firestorm 16
  
• Marvel Adventures Spider-Man 6
  
• Ultimate Spider-Man 81
  
• Uncanny X-Men 463
  
• New Avengers 8

How is Firestorm lately? I dropped the title after the first five issues, but I've always liked the character and I like ChrisCross. How did that whole crossover with the original Firestorm work?

I just discovered this thread last month so thanks for the info. Right now I'm still sticking with the trades just because I don't trust my self-control and have cash-flow and storage-space issues.

I'm still reading it. I like it.

At first Jason(FS's new host) couldn't become Firestorm unless he combined with another person. Ronnie, who was killed by The Shadow Thief in IDENTITY CRISIS had somehow come back and they shared Firestorm for a few issues. They could become The NEW Firstorm controlled by Jason with mental access to Ron, and they could switch to the OLD Firestorm with mental access to Jason. Firestorm had different abilites under each host. Jason could apparently do some new things that Ron had never been able to do. Ron was guiding Jason in his new Hero path.

Well around issues 11 - 13 a character called Cliff Carmicheal led an attack on FS with two other metahumans(DC superbeings) and by issue 13, Ron's spirit had begun to disappear and by the end Jason was on his own. Jason ended up going to Ron's parents to tell them what happened so they could have closure to Ron's death.

Now, out of respect for Ron, Jason has incorporated aspects of the original costume into his Firestorm persona( the flared shoulders, original colors, etc)and now it's easier to become FS and he doesn't have to combine with anyone to do it. But he's still learning about his new powers....

I hope that made sense. i'm kinda going off of memory.....

well i just got a big box of books from DCBS so here's what i have read so far:

Superman/Batman: Absolute Power-not too bad but not as good as the previous two.

Captain America-Winter Soldier-really good read. if they end up bringing you know who back i will be shocked but i can't imagine them really doing it. i think.

all star batman and robing #1-nice jim lee art with vicky vale but otherwise pretty blah. if i would've paid full price for this i would've been pissed. i will wait for the inevitable trade for the rest.

Y the Last Man vol. 5- once again, a great read. not as good as some of the previous ones, but still good. i am not sure if the supposed explanation for yorick surviving is true, but if it is it seems kinda lame.

i also haveThe Invinciblesto read too so that should be good.

I like it too. Somewhat.

Firestorm was one of the very first comics I started reading, so i'll always have a soft spot for Ronnie. When they brought him back after IC, I was hoping he'd be sticking around. As far as Jason's concerned, he's okay and reminds me a lot of Kyle Rayner.

Oh, and Chriscross hasn't been on the book for a couple of issues. Igle's art is similar and just as good, though.

Yeah, Firestorm has always been on of my faves too. Plus, Ron may be back but who knows. He did imply that his leaving Jason may not be the end...

I also hope things change for Jason in terms of him becoming more confident and more of a hero. I also hope that someone in the JLA will take him under their wing because they're very much aware of him and are currently "monitoring him" according to what Batman and Martin Manhunter told him early on.

"JUSTICE" #1 related...not sure if it's a spoiler but I wasn't sure so I did just in case.

Wait! Wait! Wait! You mean to tell me....

giantrobo: It's been revealed before, see here:

http://www.eskimo.com/~tegan/aqua/bios/manta.html

I always thought he just had an enormous Stewie-like head or something...

Hey! Quick question: Do you know who is taking over Wolverine after the current Millar/Romita run???

I'm thinking of dropping it. THANKS.

I forget...but two chimpanzees, a hippopotamus and an elephant could probably write a better story than this whole HYDRA mess [keep JRJR, though].

And 'robo, besides being a BROTHA, he likes thick women too!

Nobody picked up my buddy Alex Robinson's new book, Tricked?

Has it been released? I have had it on order with my local shop and they didn't have it when I stopped by today.

James I'm about to send you an email.

Been down the beach for the past couple of weeks, so I haven't read too much, but here is what I picked up this week.

First off the single best comic of 2005 came out & I haven't even seen a mention of it, which is very dissapointing.

Top Ten: The 49ers Original Hardcover Graphic Novel - An absolutely flawless, perfect comic, which believe me, is something I rarely say. Top Ten is my favorite thing Alan Moore ever did, & this prequel shows again, IMO how it just can't be argued that Moore is the greatest writer the industry has ever seen. Nobody can write a comic with the depth & layers Moore does, and put so much personality into each & every character. There is SO much going on in this book, it is lighthearted, yet complex, so much subtlety in the humor, a great mystery yet also a romance & like Top Ten you just care so much about every character because the dialogue is so amazing. And the art by Gene Ha is the exact same way, like Top Ten there is just so much going on in the art, you just won't see a better looking comic all year, it truly is a thing of beauty.

And the rest of my haul on a pretty light comic book week . . .

Serenity #2 - All 3 covers just to support anything Firefly.

Aquaman #33 - Yup, I am actually the only person in the world that reads this.

DC Special The Return Of Donna Troy #3 - Worth it just for the art.

Detective Comics #809 - War Games sucked in all kinds of ways. Pretty pissed that one of the best Batman stories in years is interupted for this.

Gotham Central #34 - Favorite DC comic.

JSA #76

Superman #220 - Lovin' the new creative teams.

Secret Files Batman Rogues Gallery Mr Freeze Action Figure - B/c I'm a big dork & love the way this Freeze figure looks.

Shaun Of The Dead #2

Artxilla Tasty Treats 2005 One Shot - I love art, & this has some kick ass sketches. Great book.

Marvel Team-Up #11

New Avengers #8

Uncanny X-Men #463 - I haven't been reading House of M b/c the first 2 issues sucked to much to stand anymore, so I'm pretty confused here. But Uncanny has been near unreadable for quite some time anyway.

Crap! That was this week??? I forgot to ask my shop to get me a copy! I guess I'll go out hunting for it this weekend.

To be honest I had never paid much attention to Black Manta. I knew him from the Superfriends cartoon but that's it. Thanks for the link.

Yes, Black Manta is one of many Blaxploitation comic characters.

Anyone else really like Superman/Batman? it's probably my favorite mainstream superhero book out right now. Nothing else really compares.

Walking Dead 20 = Just moving along

Day of Vengeance 4 = Oh she is evil now didn't see that coming riiiiiight.

Rann-Thanager war 3 = I like it, not sure why but I like it.

Breach 7 = Best of the bunch this month. I kind of wish it wasn't in the same universe as the other DC titles.

Superman/Batman 21 = Wasn't bad but the art still sucks. Its like a cartoon or something. Yeah I know its a comic but still.

Invincible 24 = Man i wish it was longer. I've been reading TPB and back issues and taking in big chunks of the story. One comic leaves me wanting more

Forgot about Frank Miller batman and robin. Might get it tomorrow.

Superman/Batman #20 seemed confusing for the sake of confusion, and after flipping through #21, the arc seems even moreso (I'm not a fan of Bizarro or Batzarro).

Yeeeeeee haw! Newsarama has confirmed Brubaker and Lark on DAREDEVIL. I'm already giddy.

Plus, Gail Simone on Gen 13. I love this woman.

i just finished reading the invincible hardcover and while not as good as the walking dead, it was still entertaining. lots of humor in the first 4 or 5 issues that made me laugh out loud. i especially like the little in jokes, like reginald vel johnson high school and mark going to twin pines mall.

Good news about Brubaker on daredevil! I am very curious to see where they go with the character. FINALLY my life will be Bendis free, not that I dislike his daredevil, but I am just sick of him in general, especially after the vomit that is New Avengers.

Finally went to my comic shop today, I only had like 6 books in my pull box after 3 or 4 weeks absense.

GLA #4 - I love the Great Lakes Avengers! This series has been pretty good stuff.

WOLVERINE #30 - part 5 of 6! one more issue and I can drop it! I liked Millar's run. i think it may have had more to do with jrjr.

HULK #84 - I love hulk but I hate house of m. So I remain loyal. At least firestorm is ont the cover, ooops thats pyro.

DAREDEVIL #75/455 - This decalogue has been kinda interesting. Its not really going anywhere though.

ASTONISHING X-MEN #11 - Loved this book throught 1st arc but its been weak. high chance of heading to the dropped list.

FANTASTIC FOUR #529 - Not bad. I'm loyal to the FF so unless Straczynski completely funks them up like he did ASM, I'll stick wth it.

Also, my comic book guy was trying to push invincible on me. Gave me one of those 50 cents #0 issues to try out. i don't know, the art doesn't do much for me and Kirkman's non zombie work has yet to impress me. I might pick up the first trade sometime.

If you get the single issues they're loaded with fanmail from people who notice these things. Also, the Principal of the school is named Carl Winslow...

Brubaker/Lark on DD? that's great. It'll be a post House of M world (meaning that nothing that happened in the x-over will matter really) and it's good that it's coming from a team that has to leave behind a book that WILL be affected by the post-Infinite Crisis x-over. Although I still stand behind Bendis on that book. When you consider how low it's sunk...it's almost as if the reader was Born Again.

I haven't bought a comic in a year or so. What's Infinite Crisis and House of M?