This week:

Ultimates #13. I really can't say I was disappointed because it's not as if there was going to be some huge revelation in this issue or a turning point for this series. However, this book just didn't have enough momentum for a bi-monthly. It's just not gripping enough for readers to wait 2 years to see the conclusion of this story.

Batman #665. I really do love Grant Morrison. This is Batman on pop culture steroids, and oozes creativity. It's a shame there can't be a better artist on this book with him. The Kuberts are just way too spandex superhero for his ideas to flow well.

Local #9. This issue really pulled at my heartstrings. One of the best indie-yet-not books out there.

All-Star Batman and Robin #5. Millar is either on drugs (which I dont' doubt) or he's enjoying lambasting how badly the DC universe has been written the past few years.

About ASS Batman & Robin. Color me purple, but I actually like it now. It is just SO insane, there is no way it is supposed to be taken seriously(and maybe that's a broader mistake -- taking funny books too seriously). Reading the first five issues back to back I realized there wasn't a second I was bored or not fully entertained. I still don't actually "get" the point of the story yet (as thin as the story is), but I'm definitely curious to see where it goes.

It isn't DKR or Year One, but it sure as hell is fun and relentless in its craziness. I want more.

Also, I really love how Alfred and Dick are written in the series. That is one thing that is absolutely right in the book.

Regarding mainstream comics as a whole, I hate to join the chorus, but something in me broke in the last few weeks and I find myself not really caring about DC (not Vertigo or WS) or Marvel that much. I still have my favorite books at each company, but I'm caring less and less about trying to keep up with the goings on of the universes.

But maybe I will be singing a different tune when WWH starts up and this totally-over-my-head Legion story on JSA and JLA is over.

Just finished Captain America #26 and all I have to say is....>WTF is going on here?

Other than being being late I didn't see anything obviously WTF-ish - what did I miss?

Okay, I have to rant a little here, and take one step closer to never picking up a comic in monthly form.

Decided to pick up the Eternals series by JR jr and Gaiman because hey, those are two of my favorite comic creators. Six issue limited series. Never mind that I wouldn't read through it until I had all the comics, I thought what the heck, I"ll support it.

Went to finally read it yesterday, and looking at the covers, what do I find? First issue is marked as 1 out of 6. Up to the fifth issue, which is marked as 5 out of 6, until the "last" issue, which is 6 out of 7??? So they extended it an issue but didn't realize it until issue 6? Now I'm missing issue 7, have to hike down to the LCS and hope they still have it (I think it came out in Feb). Most likely I'll have to just pick up the freaking trade anyway.

On a side note, is the series any good? Haven't seen a single person talk about it on this board...

Also finally started reading my first tpb of the new Blue Beetle series. Ugh. Giffen writing teenagers again... either I'm too old to appreciate this, or he's doing a terrible job. I can't even understand what these guys are talking about most of the time. And this isn't only the teenagers, I had a hard time figuring out who Guy Gardner was talking to in the first issue...

Anyone else underwhelmed by Countdown so far after 3 issues? I'm giving it 2 months of issues before I decide to stay on or jump off, but I just don't have a good handle about what it's about that will maintain my interest (seems like just more multiverse intermingling, and I'm just not all that entertained by this new development in the DCU at this time.

I liked it quite a bit. I recall reading the Kirby original stuff when it came out (fuck, I'm old! ) and wasn't impressed with a lot of the stuff Kirby was doing at the time. I think a lot (okay, a few) of Kirby's ideas were good, and become better when given to other writers to expand/evolve.

I agree with you on the screw-up with the numbering, but took it to mean that the idea was pitched as a 6-issue thing and Gaiman needed to stretch it out after getting too far into it. Although I relate to you pissed-offedness about having to track down the 7th part, I appreciated that the story wasn't a rushed clusterfuck in the 6th issue.

I was all set to read it a while ago, but as it came out I just felt like "...meh". I think I'll be just as happy reading what goes down in posts and such.

Fantastic Four #456 - Sorta undid the most enjoyable part of the previous issue. Feels like I got dealt some bait-and-switch. Makes me feel like these last two issues were pointless and the important stuff should have just been about four panes in an issue. There goes my $6.

I'm not disliking it but haven't wet myself over it yet either. I kinda got to enjoying the weekly format of 52 so this I'm waiting to see if Countdown is still in 'set up' mode for whatever they're counting down to.

A question about the 3rd issue, spoilerized for those who may be behind on this and 52:

As usual I'm behind on my comics but as far as Countdown goes, I was never happy about seeing the Multiverse return. If they want to wrote stories out of Cannon then jsut use the "Elseworlds" title and be free. I mean while I think it's cool to see things like a Wildstorm Earth(E 50?) and Kingdom Come Earth(E 22?)acknowledged in 52 and the Captain Atom mini, the idea of the multiverse just seems like a nice way to further screw up continuity and nice way for the writers to cop out on plots.

Plus, I predict Countdown, much like 52, will draw things out over the year and never really resolve anything important like this whole "you shoulda died in teh Crisis" bullshit Nightwing and a few other characters.

Reading through it now, after my LCS came through and still had Eternals number 7. Of course, buying it at full retail made me realize how freaking expensive these things are. I guess when it's buried in a large monthly order full of discounts, it's not too bad, but geez this was 3.99 an issue, stretched over 7 issues. 2 bucks more and I could've gotten the hardcover for retail. And multiple covers too?

Also clearing my backlog, I'm getting around to reading Wonder Woman. I know that this title has more writers than Supergirl, but is it just me, or did they jump ship in the middle of a story, then reboot the story after a oneshot?

So I went to a comic store today for the first time in about 6 months... Not knowing what to get, I just pick up some titles that I used to read. Reading through this thread looks like I should have just stayed away as everyone is more down on the medium now then they were a year ago.

There are some bright spots like New Universal, but for the most part comics do suck right now.

I made the decision yesterday to drop all my books. I have to save money somewhere, and I realized that paying $3 - $4 for a "meh" book every month in the hopes that it improves is just stupid. There's only a few books I'll miss (New Universal, Buffy, maybe a couple others), but I can follow what's going on both in here, on Wiki, and by leafing through the books when I go to the store.

The sad thing is that, as I have said in the past, Marvel and DC won't notice anything. The one getting screwed will be my LCBS, which is losing a customer even though they haven't done anything wrong.

Yeah, half the reason I'm still reading comic books isn't even for the books themselves, but as a way to support my local shop, who's owner is a great guy.

I'm all for supporting the little guy, but I don't understand the point of pissing money away to help someone out. Surely there's something at the store that you want/will enjoy that won't amount to basically throwing your money down the drain. I understand that you say your only "half" enjoying your books, because I've felt like that before. At that point, I start buying different books until I find something that I do enjoy 100 percent.

Well, I found a good spot to quit on the following titles:

Supergirl and the Legion of Super Heroes (now that Kitson is gone, and the long Dominator arc is basically finished.)
Birds of Prey (once Gail Simone's run is done)
Strangers in Paradise (after the last issue comes out in June)
Justice (done with the last issue, #12, that is due out in June or July)
Y The Last Man (in the home stretch of the last arc, so once it's done, I'm done)

Was going to quit:
Action - but Gary Frank is going to be doing the art, so I'm onboard.
Superman - I'm ambivalent about Busiek's run so far.

These are iffy:
Hulk - after G Frank's run is done, but I might stick around if the story for WWH is good.
Supergirl - probably give it a couple more issues, but if it gets really bad, I'm Audi 5000.
Runaways - also giving it a few more issues for Whedon to win me over on his take of this cast of characters.
Mighty Avengers - lovely Frank Cho art, but Bendis's writing is just not up to snuff in the 3 issues I've read so far.
Countdown - gets another 5 issues before I decide to pull the plug on it.
Gen13 - not quite feeling it this go-round. Just not as hip or fun, plus the artwork isn't as good as I'd hope for.

Still bullish on these titles for now:

Astonishing X-Men - can't make myself quit Cassaday books.
Captain America - Epting's artwork is making me look into his past run on this titles, plus Brubacker is fast becoming a writer I like.
She-Hulk - fun title, still.
Young Avengers - hopefully with Jim Cheung still doing the artwork.

Batman - onboard as long as Morrison is writing it.
Detective - onboard as long as Dini is writing it.

Wonder Woman - still need to catch up on the Picoult run, looking forward to Simone's run.
Brave and the Bold - just good to see Perez doing a monthly again.
Justice League of America - Like Benes' art, Metzler is overwriting it a bit.
JSA - consistently an enjoyable read.
All-Star Superman - Morrison/Quitely - 'nuff said.

Jack of Fables - Jack's antics and attitude still entertain me.

The Authority - wish it came out on a regular basis, but loved the 2nd issue.
Stormwatch: PHD - fun comic, dialogue is a strong point.
Grifter/Midnighter - grimly dark and twisted at times.
WildCATS - one and done? A casualty of over-extension by Morrison and Lee.

Stray Bullets - not sure if it's still being published by Lapham, buy it out of habit.
Optic Nerve - also buy it whenever it shows up.
Buffy - hasn't quite made the transition from TV to comic format well, but I'm willing to give it a year to find its footing.

I'll probably re-post this list in the June thread, with some additions/corrections after catching up on some of the titles in question.

Couldn't disagree more. Maybe Marvel and DC suck for you right now (can't really argue that point), but that blanket statement...yeah, I don't see it. Lots of good stuff is coming out. Ok, maybe I should say lots of stuff that looks interesting is coming out from other publishers (as I haven't read it yet).

Cannot wait for Flight Vol. 4 in July. Those anthologies are so perfect.

The indy stuff might be good, but I gave up on most indy publishing a long time ago for primarily two reasons:

1. Deceitful advertising in Previews. I can't tell you how many times I looked at a solicitation in Previews and thought "ok, the story sounds decent, and the preview art looks good" only to order it and find out that the publisher paid an artist $100 at a convention to do a cover, and that was the preview art. The actual art looked like complete shit drawn by an 8 year old.

2. Unreliability. People complain about Marvel and DC being late, but that's nothing compared to most indy publishers. I quickly tired of buying the first issue of a title, waiting 3 months for the second monthly issue, 2 or 3 months for the 3rd issue, and then having the book disappear without ever resolving the story. It was sort of like being a fan of Miller's All-Star Batman book.

I used to spend about $40 or so a month on independant books, but I just got tired of the unprofessional conduct exhibited by many of the publishers.

Those two reasons is why I go for "mainstream indy" books. They have a decent publishing schedule, the art/storyline is always great, and the book doesn't up and leave without notice.

I'm so glad some one else felt the way I did. They talked everything up which didn't make a whole hell of a lot of sense in the first place. Then 3 panels went by and we're done. Yay?

I'll continue a few more issues but if this style keeps up I'll be dropping FF4.
___________

A June topic hasn't been made yet but:

Silver Surfer: Requiem. The art is amazing. The written is very nice, imo. And my going theory is this is future 616. Some stuff that is said in the first issue (which is abnormally small it seems, page wise) doesn't match up with current 616. This seems to be going interesting places.

Grabbed Hulk 106 2nd print on accident. My LCS sold out in a day so I'm thinking everyone made the same mistake as me, thinking it was the newest issue (107) since the cover is really.. misleading. So, two copies of this issue. :\

Not a whole lot came out this week. Picked up the last 5 issues of Loeb's run on Wolverine, SS:R as already stated, and Illuminati #3 (don't be mislead, issue 1 and 2 were the same issue). Only read SS:R, trying to finish up Ronan's Annhilation run before reading any new stuff.

Pretty much. They'll be finishing up that initial story in a one-shot that'll be coming out later this year (er, hopefully).

There's one now.
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=502464

I put in an order for Black Gas 2 #2 last August. It shipped this past month. And I just noticed that my Black Gas 2 #3 was cancelled in my order for September, so now I don't have that one coming. Thanks delays.

I love my LCS for how they handle this situation - They always put a tag stating "2nd print" and that has kept me from accidentally grabbing a lot of issues I would otherwise think were new.