That sucks, MBoyd. I hope this doesn't mean bad service coming all across the board. Keep us posted on what happens.

The Escapist #2 - it took some finding, but I got it. It was great. Anyone notice that the robber looks just a litttttttle familiar?...

Now, an ode to my favorite book of all time - Y: The Last Man. For some reason, each issue seems more and more exciting than the last. It's a book that's been building for 4 years now and now that it's paying off, it's paying off in spades. Who said delayed gratification wasn't possible, and that decompressed storytelling can't be fun? I also have to say that the way these characters interact is by far the best aspect of this book. It's real. Re-reading early issues, you can sense the constant tension, mistrust, and their general ignorance of each other. Now they don't ask stupid questions, they ask deep ones. They look at each other and smile and don't say anything, because they already know what the other person is thinking.

Running with that, it shows everything that's right and wrong with the comic industry. You can have a good ensemble cast of characters that grow and mature and have decent dialogue that isn't padded. But at the same time, it requires strict creative control without interruption, and it's limited to a monthly (if we're lucky) format. And it's gotta be in a world of it's own, because time is a factor. I only realized this by the third storyline, but Y: TLM takes place in real time. That is, when a storyline is over and a new one starts, it's been however long it took the story to finish. There have been a multitude of adventures so far but an added layer of excitement has been the adventures that we didn't see. Utah consumed by a forest fire. Obtaining ATVs. Trading motorcycles and canned goods and so on and so forth. It brings a real depth to the world and it's characters, because as much as we are involved with these characters, there's only SO much of them that we can see, and it's done in a manner that makes us want more stories so that we're literally thirsting for them. But perhaps they're best left untold, and the reader must use their imagination to fill in the gaps with what few details are given us. And that is the book's greatest strength, is that in a medium where almost everything is given away to the reader, he must use his imagination and creativity to fully understand and fill out these character's lives. It's truly a remarkable book.

I recently came into the majority of the issues for these series extermely cheaply. Which should I read first?

Ex Machina
Fables
Nextwave Agents of H.A.T.E.
Planetary
Preacher
Runaways
Sandman
Transmetropolitan
Y The Last Man

I've only read a bit of Planetary and the first 2 trades of Transmet in the past. I've also recently read the first trade of Y.

They're all sooooo goood.....so just go alphabetical like how you listed them.

Quake, though Superboy is correct I would suggest starting with either Ex Machina, Fables, Runaways. Reason being is they are all still going and you can catch up pretty quickly and continue buying the current issues if you like what you read.

Planetary and Y are still going too, but they both will be over so soon I'm personally waiting on both. So I can sit down on a lazy afternoon and read them straight through.

Sandman, Preacher, and Transmet will always be Sandman, Preacher, and Transmet.

I'd say that either Fables or Runaways would be the most accessible, if not the most enjoyable. Y and Ex Machina are titles that you want to take your time with as there is so much going on at once that it can be a lot to absorb. The payoff is so worth it, though, as the plot is so amazing for both. Can't wait to see how Y finally finishes up next year.

Actually I would recommend Preacher first. It's the most offensive. But if you like it, you'll be laughing your ass off the whole time.

I would say Y, Ex Machina, and Runaways, just because of BKV...The run out and get Pride of Baghdad.

Seconded

I would own it already if I could find the damn thing .

Just ask your local retailer to order it for you. There are plenty in stock in the Diamond system, there should be no reasons for it to be hard to find.

My previous suggestion still applies, they have it in stock.

Arhghghghg!!!

Catwoman...

So they're saying the Father is I knew they would pull this crap!!

Birds of Prey...

[jerry seinfeld] Whoooooo is this Bat-guurrl, and whyyyyy is she in jeeeeans?[/jerry seinfeld]

Anybody else see the Legion of Super-Heroes pilot on KidsWB....erm....The CW over the weekend?

A strange collection of Legionaires. I know they can't have them all, but Bouncing Boy?!?

In saw it. I missed the beginning but it wasn't bad. Mind you, I've always HATED "Superboy"( I liked Con-El) and I never cared for the Legion so that's saying something for me. I must admit I don't like all the pastels and light colors. But I guess it's geared towards kids.

Also, I know none of you are watching The Batman but they introduced Robin last Saturday. Kevin Conroy was the voice of Robin's Father.

LOSH was really weak, but it's a little early to judge the show. I'm honestly not looking forward to future episodes. Just like with "The Batman", I think this show is more geared towards selling toys than anything else.

Wow, no bump for new comics this week yet?

Only read a few so far.

52: WEAAAAAAAAAAAK issue. Of all the issues so far, this is the one that most felt like filler.

Amazing Spider-Man: Meh. Not like we didn't see that one coming a mile away.

Ultimate Spider-Man: All I can guess is that Bendis is trying to take the old Clone Saga and make it suck more in fewer issues.

Civil War Frontline: This one was OK, but I wish they'd present a more balanced view of Speedbump. They keep portraying him as this poor little kid that swears he's done nothing wrong, and there's never anyone there to point out exactly how this was all his fault. They also need more continuity - In Amazing Spider-Man, Peter takes a tour of the detention facility and it's set up so that the cells are comfortable. When Speedbump is taken out of the facility in Front Line, the cells are pretty much what you would expect to be used to cage animals.

For whatever reason, it always seems like the monthly thread starts dying out in the last week.

True, but I figured that since this forum is full of Marvel fanboys (at least according to some ), and with the Civil War stuff shipping last week and this week, we'd be seeing some discussion.

Ultimates #12 was fun enough, but just felt like a bit of a retread of the previous story-line - though #13 promises to be a diffrent enough resolution. Actually since #12 was extra-long, I didn't even know there would be a #13 - I guess it should come out sometime next year...

52 was yet another weak issue. I'm very close to dropping this, especially with the news that series editor Stephen Wacker just left DC to work at Marvel. That is what really worries me the most as he was responsible for keeping the title on track as well as handling anything related to continuity.

Ultimates #12 was amazing, IMO. It had almost nothing in it to advance the plot but the action sequences were just to die for. I'm so glad that Thor will be back next issue, but I must say that I'm disappointed he hasn't come back before now as he's my favorite character in The Ultimates. I'm also a little sad that issue 13 will be the last issue I will buy of The Ultimates as I do not intend to read volume 3 of the series with Jeph Loeb at the helm. Instead of working on monthly titles he desperately needs to collaborate with Tim Sale on another book.

Captain America #22 was also a very solid issue. I was wondering how Ed Brubaker would work Civil War into the book and he does it in a way I didn't expect - through Sharon Carter. It was almost a Carter-central issue but great in the way of character development, which is what Bru seems to do best. I'm looking forward to seeing where Bru goes with the whole Doctor Faustus infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D. storyline.

I cant believe that Wacker wouldnt finish out a historic comic series like 52. Something must have gone down.

I have been too busy with HD DVD to post much this month. LOL

And my DCBS order FINALLY got straightened out after I sent that email. I've been assured that my orders will now arrive at my new APT # and ALIAS was received.

The Walking Dead this week ruled as usual.

Grant's Batman is entertaining, but the book reads weird to me. Like I don't think Batman would act that way. Not even in this new Earth/post asshat Batman world.

HAH!!! The proof is in the postings...