Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Writer's Pull List: 06-30-10

Hey everyone. Last week was a big week, for multiple reasons, but this week seems to be a fairly light week.


Arnab:
Flash #3
Gotham City Sirens #13
Green Lantern #55

There is also the possibilty that I will be getting these titles:
Batman Beyond #1
Death of Dracula #1

Matt:
I haven't even picked up my comics from last week yet, but here goes.

Secret Avengers #2
Batman Beyond #1
Flash #3
Green Lantern #55
Wonder Woman #600

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Talk to me!

X-Men Legacy #237 **** 
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Greg Land and Jay Leisten
Cover Artist: Adi Granov
Publisher:
Marvel

We are now at the final stages of this war. This issue definitely got the ball rolling for the final two issues. The action scenes in this book were fantastic. With the X-Force fighting the Sentinels in the future and the X-Men fighting the Nimrods in the present the action is non-stop. Cable and Cypher's battle to take on Master Mold was great stuff also. And while I feel Hope's anger towards Cyclops is misguided, I imagine he'd have no problem accepting any of that anger, misguided or not. That last page was just brilliant, in my opinion. Not only does it set up for the next issue, but it definitely left me wanting more.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The Walking Dead

Photobucket

Hello everyone! So, as I expressed in a previous post, a couple of times a month I will be taking the time to spotlight a Graphic Novel or something else comic related. This week I decided to spotlight The Walking Dead series. It is one of the the best things that has been coming out in recent years and continues to be great.

If the dead rose around you, could you survive?
If the people you trusted turned on you, what would you do?
If the person you loved more than anything turned into a zombie, could you kill them?
If the world was falling apart around you, would you give up?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Writer's Pull List: 06-23-10

We didn't have too many books to review last week, but this week looks to be a very big week.

Arnab's note: Technically Birds of Prey #2 came out last week, but it didn't arrive on the West Coast. I can honestly say that this week is going to be awesome. Look at all that great stuff.

Matt's note: As much as I hate Superman, I'll pick up #700 just cause it's a milestone. I hope they handle it as well as Batman was handled.  I'm still undecided about whether I'll pick up Avengers. 


Arnab:
American Vampire #4
Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne #3
Batman: Streets of Gotham #13
Birds of Prey #2
Green Arrow #1
JLA: The Rise of Arsenal #4
Superman #700
X-Factor 206
X-Men Legacy #237


Matt:
X-Men Legacy #237
X-Factor #206
Return of Bruce Wayne #3
Green Lantern Corps #49
Superman #700
American Vampire #4
Avengers #2 ?

Monday, June 21, 2010

Win first. Cry later.

New Mutants #14 ****
Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: Ibraim Roberson
Cover Artist: Adi Granov
Publisher: Marvel

What a fantastic issue. I think that it is safe to say that this is the moment that we've all been waiting for. Ever since the day she was born Hope Summers has been hailed as the savior of the mutant race. And for years we've speculated just what this feisty gal would do to save the mutants and with this issue we are one step closer to figuring that out. The scene between Hope and Rogue was absolutely perfect. Scott's rally speech to the rest of mutant race to man up, was great. This issue was great because it gave you enough of each individual story to leave you wanting more without giving away too much. Also with this issue, the pace definitely is increasing. You can begin to feel it with the constant shift of focus, the bits of action here and there, and the hints of what's to come.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Gashapon Reviews: June 16, 2010

I skimmed through New Avengers, but I already have enough to read and I'm frankly just not feeling it.  And I bought Enter the Heroic Age #2, but those things are so difficult to write a decent review for.  More to the point, I wanted to get a review post out on time rather than a week and a half late as per my recent MO.

DC

Brightest Day #4 ***

Hmm.  Each issue here is far too jam-packed with story, with the end result that none of the story is developed especially well at any one time.  Each issue makes me more and more sure that the collected edition will be very cool (if slightly schizophrenic), but I have a hard time really getting into each issue..  Like, this week I wanted more of the Hawks debating about that gate, and less of Firestorm.  Sidenote:  Did I completely miss Black Lantern Firestorm, or did they just put him on the cover to lure in readers?  It was only a matter of time before someone came in and demanded that Deadman use his ring to bring a person back to life, I just wish it wasn't Hawk, who I hate.  At this point, my ratings are more a combination of the issue and the series, rather than just the issue, because the issue I wasn't quite feeling the 3 stars.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Gashapon Reviews: June 9, 2010

After getting away with just a few comics last week, this week was heavy.  But I managed to actually read everything fairly quickly in order to get this up.  Granted that was last week now.

Marvel

Uncanny X-Men #525 ****

So, Hope's powers are what exactly?  Does she just mimic the powers of mutants around her?  Is she like an Omni-mutant, who can manifest all powers?  Does she have both Scott and Jean's powers?  I have no idea what's going on, but I'm still digging this series.  I like that the Fantastic Four showed up, indicating just what a big deal this is.  Xavier has also finally decided to join the party.  Now that we've been the future and what X-Force has to face, there should be some great action scenes coming up.  Still a fun read every week and I can't wait to see how it wraps up in a few weeks.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Writer's Pull List: 06-16-10

Hey kids, it's time for our pull list for this week.

Arnab-note: While it is looking to be a fairly light week for me, there are some great stuff coming out this week. Suffice to say I am excited.

Matt-note: I find that as money is increasingly scarce, I care less and less about being up-to-date on everything.  Like those stupid collections of shorts that Marvel puts out for every event.

Arnab: 
Brightest Day #4
New Mutants # 14
Supernatural Beginnings End #6
The Walking Dead # 73

Matt:
Age of Heroes #2 (big maybe on that)
New Avengers #1 (Even bigger maybe.  I do not like Luke Cage)
New Mutants #14

Birds of Prey #2
Brightest Day #4

*Edit - I have no idea why I thought Batman Beyond #2 was coming out this week.

You Just Killed My Father

Uncanny X-Men #525 ****
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Terry Dodson
Cover Artist: Adi Granov
Publisher:
Marvel

The action is definitely building up again. And although there was a slight lull in the action from the last issue, I thought that this issue did have certain moments that were especially good. For one, the interaction between Hope and Grandpa Summers was handled perfectly. The X-Force in the future was a great little teaser of what's to come for that group. I do appreciate the other Marvel heroes making their own appearance outside the red sphere. In some ways I feel it legitimizes the event a little more having them present, even though it's my opinion that the X-Men are the premier group of Marvel and not the Avengers. It wasn't the best issue but it did set up the future pretty well. Now it's just a waiting game to see how Hope's powers manifest, what role Legion will play, how the X-Force handles the future, and how Scott manages to save the Mutants. 

Friday, June 11, 2010

Gashapon Reviews: June 2, 2010

 I am trying to get back on schedule with these.  If work isn't too insane I should have this week's reviews up sometime today.  It's never a good sign when it takes me this long to review three measly comics. 

DC

Brightest Day #3 ***

I really, really liked the Deadman stuff, especially him using his ring against the AntiMonitor.  I really, really didn't like the Firestar stuff, especially the angst.  I get that your girlfriend died, that sucks hard-core, but there was a Black Lantern involved.  Go see a shrink and get your shit together.  The other stuff with Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and the Hawks was interesting, and I'm interested to see where it goes, but I can't exactly say I was very moved by the story.  Well, except maybe that Gate-O-Death at the end, that looked pretty cool.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Writer's Pull List: 06-09-10

70th post, ladies and gents!

After the quiet week last week, there are a few more titles on the docket this time around.  Those of you not reading S.H.I.E.L.D. should pick up the second printing of issue 1 and give it a shot.

Arnab's List
Batgirl #11
Batman #700
S.H.I.E.L.D. #2
Uncanny X-Men #525
X-Men Second Coming Revelations: Hellbound #2

Matt's List
Batman #700 (I'm a sucker for milestones)
Astonishing X-Men #2 (God knows why)
Avengers Academy #1 (At least to see how it is)
Invincible Iron Man #27 (Clearly I'm not listing these in order of importance to me)
S.H.I.E.L.D. #2
Uncanny X-Men #525
Second Coming: Hellbound #2
Chew #11 (Yay for being current!)

Monday, June 7, 2010

Gashapon Reviews: May 26, 2010

I had my comics all read last Wednesday night, and I am just now getting to my review.  Having my boyfriend in-house is wonderful super fantastic coolness remarkable, but it slows down the blogging considerably.  Kudos for Arnab for posting stuff in my absence.

Marvel:

X-Force #27 ****

Finally I feel like the action is ramped up, and all it took was a good maiming.  Nothing like a character losing his hands to remind the reader what the stakes are in this battle.  I also appreciate that Scott is now going on the offensive.  I don't believe for one second that X-Force isn't coming back, but I do think one of them will die in the future.  My bet is Cable.  I'm now back on the edge of my seat like I was at the beginning of the event. 

War of the Supermen

My initial intent was simply to write a review for the War of the Supermen mini-series. However, my feelings are that those of you who have not kept up with the Super-titles (Action Comics, Adventure Comics, Superman, Supergirl, and the year-long series Superman: World of New Krypton) over the past two years could not entirely grasp the consequences of this mini-series. For those of you who don't have all the time in the world, I suggest you scroll down to last four paragraphs which deal directly with War of the Supermen. If not, I hope you enjoy the ride. Since I have no reviews this week, be sure to catch my DC reviews at ComicAttack.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Writer's Pull List: 06-02-10

Hey guys! This week looks to be fairly light.

Mattnote: The ones in italics are ones I might not pick up, depending on my mood.  Money is tight, I can't go reading everything.

Arnab
Brightest Day #3
Nemesis: The Imposters #4
Red Hood: Lost Days #1
Red Robin #13

Matt
Brighest Day #3
Red Robin #13
Superman Batman Annual #4
Avengers Prime #1
Red Hood: Lost Days #1
Serenity: Float Out

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

I just killed X-Force. I just killed my son.

X-Force #27      ****1/2
Writer(s): Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost
Artist(s): Mike Choi and Sonia Oback
Cover Artist: Adi Granov
Publisher:
Marvel

There had been a slight lull in the action these past couple of issues, but this issue turned up heat a couple of notches. That battle scene in the beginning was all kinds of great. First of all, it was a great use of some of the lesser known characters, such as Hellion and Surge, as well as a nice showcase of the more well known characters, such as Rogue and Iceman. That scene with Laura at Hellion's bedside just about broke my heart. Then there was the brilliant plan to send the X-Force into the future to nip the plague that is Bastion. The X-Force is a great band of mutants because of their combined abilities and that makes them quite the formidable team. And how could I review this without mentioning the scene with Hope and Cable and their heartfelt goodbyes. Those other mutants clearly have it in for Hope and personally, that's just a bunch of crap. The creative team for this book has been fantastic, superb, awesome. The writing by Yost and Kyle continues to be brilliant, especially because they are not afraid to let the artwork do all the talking in some scenes. Which is where Choi and Oback come in, and man do they bring such a presence to this book. What each of these individuals bring creates such a great book, that leaves you desperate for more. And that's exactly what you want in a comic.