Read this over the weekend:



Robot Dreams by Sara Varon

It is probably one of the saddest/bittersweet books I've ever read and it has almost no text or dialogue. On Amazon you can "Search Inside" and hit "Surprise Me" and it will give you a random sample of a few pages.

I read that too recently...definitely not what I was expecting. Still, I did really enjoy it.

So finally read through the Ultimate Power or whatever that crossover between the new Squadron Supreme universe and the Ultimate universe was called.

Mainly it seemed like an excuse to use every major "hero" from the Ultimate Universe, with fan service to the old Squadron Supreme fans (they even had that Skrull Martian Manhunter analog). That being said, there were a few major things to come out of the crossover, and I had a few questions (if anyone read this)



Also read the latest New Avengers hardcover. I actually like Leinel Francis Yu's art in this, though it's heavy on cheesecake at times and he sometimes draws eyes that seem really, really bloodshot. Otherwise he reminds me of John Paul Leon (what is he doing these days anyway?). I also like the paranoia, and I guess because I don't read many of his comics anyway, I still enjoy Bendis's dialog. I also like that they recognize how underpowered of a team they really are... besides Dr. Strange's do-pretty-much-anything powers, they don't really have any powerhouses.

So do you think we should start a new thread for May? I haven't been in to the shop to pick up my books since the week after Christmas. If I didn't have $75 in credit there, I'm not sure I'd even bother. Still love comics though.

Currently reading Essential Dazzler, which I had avoided for some time, but I'm finding that I'm actually enjoying it more than the other Marvel female titles of that era such as She-Hulk or Spider-woman.

I've been diggin' the heck out of Wolverine: First Class.



I think it's because the stories take place right around the time I started collecting comics and have that "feel" about them. In this issue, Kitty does her best to get Wolvie to drive her and some classmates to a Dazzler concert.

Not to be the continuity police or anything, but that cover seems a little odd... did Kitty still have that costume when Sabretooth went to that whole big upper body costume? I don't remember exactly...

what era is it depicting, anyway? The New Mutants (hence First Class)?

edit: now that I think about it, I think Jim Lee created that costume, and by that time Kitty had become Shadowcat, right?

The depiction is right after Kitty moves into the mansion. I'm not sure about Sabretooth's costume, but Kitty was Shadowcat way before Jim Lee.

I've heard a lot of good things about First Class. Just pure simple fun comic, that is a step up from the Adventures titles, but not as adult or continuity laden as the X-proper books. I might have to give them a go.

About Ultimate War, it seems odd to put the Ultimate universe through the same paces as a typical mainstream comic-verse. I would think they would want to keep those books as accessible as possible. Sure, Ultimate Spidey is pushing 120 issues now, but it's all one long story, no?

IMHO, the Ultimate Universe has long since gone past the premise of being "easy to get into." Ultimate Spidey may still be staying that course, but Ultimate X-men and FF, at least, seem filled to the brim with nods to "regular" continuity that would go way over the heads of any first time readers. And Ultimate War would just leave everyone confused (I hear the new Ultimates series is pretty difficult to read as well).

When the Ultimate universe first came about, I thought it was going to be a streamlined universe, without so many characters and crossovers and continuity, and appealing to maybe younger kids. Spidey was back to being a teenager, as were the X-men and FF. Ultimates, good as it was, seemed to turn the Universe into a much darker place. And now what's the point of it? After this whole Civil War garbage, the Avengers and superheroes are basically working for the government in the "real" Marvel Universe. "Real" Spidey no longer has the "baggage" of being married. I do seem to enjoy Ultimate FF a bit more than the "real" FF these days, but besides the Ultimates being younger, it seems like most of the stories could be done with either team.

march/april/may!

So I finally read the first HC of Mighty Avengers... I thought you guys were joking about the though balloons, but man are they annoying. And they're not used as they traditionally were, but more as a way of making a joke... which worked at times, but when it's done constantly on every single panel, it got old really quickly.

Also, when did Tony get this ultra sophisticated morphing armor?

So, Action Comics Annual #11 finally came out (the conclusion of the "Last Son" storyline that was dropped about a year ago). Can someone who's read it and has a better memory than I fill me in on the following spoilerized query?

Thanks!

Finally got my April comics in, and it's just a handful of comics, about to get smaller by next month:

Groo Hell on Earth 4: I finally get the last issue of the miniseries, and they already solicit the collection in this month's previews. On the plus side, the collection is a bit more expensive than the individual issues, and I get Groo grams in my book. I really wish they'd start making Groo Omnibus's, though.

JLA 20: Cool standalone story explaining why the Flash hasn't been around to help out since his return. Van Sciver's art, didn't look as good as it has i the past, though, I'm not sure if that's because of the inker or what.

JSA 14: There are a ton of characters in this book, but I think it adds to the charm... this ties so closely with Kingdom Come that I'm surprised they don't mention it on the cover.

Legion of Superheroes 41: Since Waid and Kitson left, they've brought this back towards the Legion of old, the problem is that it's still not the legion of old, so I'm not sure who they're trying to please... I don't think a new reader would be able to make heads or tails of what's going on.

Supergirl 28: last issue I'm buying for a while, at least. The plotholes are just too much for me to take. Let's see, Supergirl wants to cure cancer. To prove that she can't, Wonder Woman has Supergirl fly to Paradise Island to get the healing Purple Ray, punches Supergirl, and heals Supergirl, telling her that even that can't cure cancer, so why bother trying. Nowhere in the conversation is it brought up that hey, the Purple Ray may not be able to cure cancer, but it can sure cure a lot of people around the world, right? Also, part of Wondie's lecture is that she may have come on a mission to bring peace to man's world, but she didn't PROMISE anyone, let alone promise a child, so it's ok. And that's before the main plot with the Resurrection Man, of all people, and breaking an inmate out of prison. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh. Ugh.

Teen Titans 58: You know, I gave this a little longer of a leash than Supergirl, but I can't really trust McKeever on this book anymore. You need an editor's note to tell you that the events in this book take place before the previous two issues. You have Robin lecturing Miss Martian about faking identification documents for her, because, well, it's illegal, as opposed to dressing up like a vigilante and taking the law into your own hands or the hundreds of ways Batman has been breaking the law for decades.

And the collections I got this week, that I haven't read yet:

Captain Carrot and the Final Ark
Thor HC 1 (Straczynski and Coipel)
X-men Messian Complex HC (I know, I know, I'm hoping this one will actually be good)


Also, I have to pat Marvel on the back for their Secret Invasion Saga free handout (not sure how it was distributed, it came free with my monthly shipment). Sure, it was recycled art, but it was cohesive and very informative about the whole Skrull invasion, from past to present.

This book is amazing. I don't understand how I've never heard of Coipel before this, but that mofo can draw his ass off. The one shitty thing about this book I can say is that after reading it with Coipel's art, you won't want to read Thor drawn by other people. I still have yet to read issue 7 or whatever that has a different artist on it. If you'll allow me to sound like a tool for a moment, Coipel's art is so good that you can feel the dust and wind coming off the page! Now that I've sold the book so hard, watch you come back in this thread and say you thought it was just ok.

I'm one of those losers who never read any Simonson Thor stuff, and if I'm honest I probably never will, but I'm a sucker for the character now. Between the Ragnarok story by Oeming (which is awesome and totally underrated) and this new series, I am a Thor fan.

I reread the Ultimates vol. 1 last week after being in the mood from seeing Iron Man, and while I thought this was the most awesome comic in the land years ago, I don't feel like it holds up. I can't quite put my finger on what I don't like about the book now, but reading it in two sittings it just felt a bit dry to me. It still has some really cool moments, but not the all time classic (at least for me), that I once thought it was. Maybe I just think the Authority does everything this book does 100 times better? Or maybe the Ultimate Cap isn't so impressive any more since Cap proper has been fixed by Brubaker? I don't know, but it doesn't feel "special" anymore.

I've also started reading The Boys, and while this definitely isn't out Preaching Preacher, the book is kind of awesome. It's totally ridiculous and over the top, but fun all the same.

I thought Copiel was average, not bad, but certainly not great - the guy that's drawing Thor now is much better, and Simonson of course, just trounces him.

Still haven't read Thor yet, but Coipel's art has improved drastically from his Legion Lost early days. He's still not an artist that I'd pick up a book for, but he's decent. Sometimes he reminds me a lot of Jim Cheung (who I thought was a competent artist back in his Iron Man/X-Force days, but who seemed to improve in leaps and bounds with his Crossgen and Young Avengers stuff).

Who's the guy drawing Thor now?

Simonson's stuff: I can see why some people won't like it, it's pretty stylistic and sketchy, but he did amazing things in Thor. I wish he was more popular, as I think his Orion series would've lasted a bit longer if he were a bigger name with the average fan. What's he doing now anyway?

I'm now halfway through Messiah Complex: it does seem like an "old school" X-title crossover. I have no idea who any of the "New X-men" are, though it seems like the history of that book was just one massacre after another. They tried to give a good excuse for X-factor to be in it (Madrox being necessary for one mission, and Wolfsbane in the new X-force) but I still would've preferred that book to be separate. Hopefully it brought more readers to the underappreciated (and IMHO, best written) corner of the x-verse. At this point, I'm not sure that I understand why they are so convinced that Cable is out to get them (besides an excuse to resurrect X-force in a totally unrecognizable way), but I'm hoping that gets fleshed out.

Guys, you have to check out the new Batman Confidential (#17). It's a flashback to the first meeting between Batgirl and Catwoman, and it's a blast. The whole issue is essentially one long chase. Oh, and the art's by the always reliable Kevin Maguire.

I have not, but i may have to hunt it down. I <3 Catwoman.

Since I love Batgril, I picked up that issue the second I saw it on the shelf.

Is that Maguire run on Confidential a 3-issue story? Just noticed he was doing this tory in last month's Previews, which was soliciting number 19.

Yeah, it's a 3 or 4 issue long story. Which I'm sure will get collected in a handy paperback the week after the last issue comes out.

Wow, just average, really? I guess we all have different tastes, but I thought his drawing was one of the few times Thor actually had some physical character other than a generic Fabio-type. Coipel made him look distinct.

I have been less than impressed with Grant Morrison's run on Batman, but decided to give the first issue of R.I.P. a go...and I have no idea what's going on. Maybe if I read all of his issues it would be clearer, but they just weren't holding my attention. I think Grant is a great writer, but sometimes gets a pass because his fans (myself included) assume that it's all going to come together sooner or later in a big mind-fuckey way.

I always hated Oliver Coipel's art.

The first time I saw the new Thor stuff, I thought "Wow, why is Marvel still giving Rob Liefeld work? Oops, my mistake...that Coipel". Top that off with Straczynski writing, and I wouldn't touch that book if they were giving them out free.

Coipel = Liefeld?

What bizarro world is this? That Frontier(s) banner must be doing something to everyone's head.

Like I said before, I think Coipel's art has improved greatly since the nearly-unreadable Legion Lost (and a lot of the improvement came between Legion Lost and the first issue of his regular LOSH gig). I've started reading Thor, and his art is reminiscent of a low-rent Travis Charest (that's not a put down, either). Sometimes, the lines he puts on faces also reminds me a bit of Romita Jr.

However... is it just me, or didn't they just do a "find the Asgardians who are disguised as humans with no memories" plotline just a few years ago? Also, post Civil War, is it just an edict to have all writers write Iron Man as a jerk? Watching the movie (and even reading Mighty Avengers) made me forget how much I hate comic book Iron Man.