A little late to the game, but wow was IC #4 good.

Did anyone else think the art in IC4 was better than the previous 3 issues? Maybe it's all in my head, but everything just felt tighter to me for some reason.

I also found it odd that

I noticed the art improvement as well. The first three issue art credits list Jimenez and Lanning, issue #4 added Perez and Ordway.

I think we have our answer.

I thought it was Jimenez, Perez and Reis doing the pencilling, and a bevy of inkers on #4.

An update for me regarding Infinite Crisis (I asked what I need to read to get caught up in last month's thread). I read the 80 page Countdown one-shot and have been working my way through the four countdown trades (still have Rann-Thanagar War to go). The trades do a great job of summarizing (or even including) issues related to the ongoing story. Coming in pretty much clueless about the state of the DCU over the last couple of years, I feel very caught up. Bottom line is if you're looking to get into Infinite Crisis, but don't know where to start, just pick up the trades (the Countdown one-shot is even included in the OMAC book).

Didn't Giantrobo ask a question about spider-woman? He must have gotten scared to admit he read a Marvel comic.

http://www.marveldirectory.com/indiv...iderwomani.htm

Nope. i just deleted it when it seemd no one gave a shit about my question. But I'm used to that in the Comic Threads.

Anyway, thanks for the link Graftenberg.

Question for anyone who knows: picked up Ultimate Extinction, but I'm not familiar with the set up on page 1. I currently have been reading Ultimates, Ultimate FF, and am reading X-Men in trade paperbacks. I've also picked up a few other things here and there. I'm thinking the prolouge to this book was in something that was previously published. Anyone know?

There were two other mini-series, both in trades now. ULTIMATE GALACTUS BOOK 1: NIGHTMARE (which I kinda liked) and ULTIMATE GALACTUS BOOK 2: SECRET. And I guess there are the Ultimate Vision back-up stories in the Ultimate titles for the past 2 months. And I think this Ultimate Galactus story takes place between Ultimates Vol 1 and Vol 2.

Don't know if that helps any, I haven't seen Extinction yet.

I know that this was brought up last month but can we have two different thread on comics, one for those who get them from a mail order company and those who get them from a comic shop as they come out? About the last two pages has been talk of IC #4 and I still haven't even read IC #3. Looking at a full page of black boxes is'nt a lot of fun, but I do thank you for keeping the spoilers hidden.

I can only guess that Secret was a huge waste of time. I've read Nightmare, the short back-up stories and Ultimate Extinction #1, and I couldn't tell that I'd missed any background.

I don't think that'll fly. We'd need a thread each for people who get them at the store, people who get their shipments weekly, people who get them biweekly, people who get them monthly.

I think the way we have it, "no untagged spoilers at all" is working pretty well.

Perhaps a compromise would be for everyone to indicate where the spoiler is from before the spoiler. Most already do this. I personally don't mind the spoilers as I am mostly a tpb buyer, so I read the spoilers nad later experience the book.

Anybody care to comment on the Alias series as a whole? I'm trying to decide if I want to get the new hardcover collection.

This thread always dies away at the end of the month. Maybe you'll get your answer next month?

Maybe the new month's thread needs to be started a week early? Sorta like putting a 2006 car out in mid-2005?

Thanks!

I've only read the first 23 issues, but they were all excellent. The reviews I saw for the trades on Amazon were also very favorable. I just wish I hadn't ordered the trades five minutes before I heard about the new book.

at first, i didn't like alias much and the artwork was a bit sub par for me. however, the more i read it the more i liked it. the omnibus is a great idea, especially for only $35 at DCBS.

Anyone here collect original comic art?

Spending money on monthlies takes enough out of my budget.

I'm thinking maybe if I go all trade, I can buy some art.

I've got a few pieces and I love 'em. Then again, I love monthlies. And trades. And hardcovers.

One other thing I have to say on this in addition to the cost: My bedroom screams 40 Year Old Virgin as it is.

Picked up my books for the week, including the new Previews. Christ, has Marvel gone from the yearly crossover to having a constant one? House of M to Decimation to Annihilation to Civil War...

Speaking of House of M, what the hell is with New Avengers? During the talk Carol Danvers has with Captain America, she mentions "House of M" several times. All but one mention is struck out with a red line. Looks like an editorial change that was supposed to be made, but someon forgot about.

The Spider-Man crossover is done, thank god. Now let's just hope that the new suit goes away quickly. I may be wrong, but it looks like they're separating continuity in the titles, as only Amazing Spider-Man advance solicitations talk about the new costume.

The highlight of the week for me was the new Offical Handbook of the Marvel Universe. I was collecting when the first series came out all those years ago, so it's a sentimental favorite.

So I had a quick question about all the "official handbook" stuff:


The new one: I preordered them every month so far, but are these still the flimsy comic-book sized ones, or are they at least a little thicker?

The essential ones: Didn't I just preorder an Essential Marvel Handbook Vol 1 in December? Now they have another Essential Vol. 1, and even resolicit the old one? What's the difference?

I know, I know, this kind of stuff is impossible to keep up to date and usually very wordy, but I always liked it as a kid, because no way was I able to keep up with every single comic, and I found a lot of obscure heroes/villains I would otherwise never had heard about. Now where's my new Who's Who, DC? My binder's still a bit empty...