Gashapon Reviews: March 10, 2010

Arnab tells me that March 17 is a big day for comics, so I figured I'd better focus on getting these reviews out of the way sooner rather than later. Final Fantasy XIII has been slowing me down.

Marvel:

Cable #24 (****)

I give this issue four stars not because it was great, but because I would tell my fellow comic book readers to read this issue and no others, as it sums up in one issue all the ridiculous water-treading of the last four or five months of Cable. Some think Hope is the savior of Mutantkind so Cable takes her into the future to keep her safe. Bishop disagrees so he tries to kill her. Wrap up the chase with a four page montage and we're set. Everything after Messiah War could quite frankly have been a one-shot if you ask me, and if it were, it would look like Cable 24. I'm very glad this ended, as I've been waiting for Second Coming for months now. Is Hope really what they've been, err, hoping she would be? Now we get to find out.

Gashapon Reviews: February 3rd, 2010

You'd think with the disgustingly awesome amount of snow we got this weekend, I'dve been able to finish this even remotely on time. You would be wrong.

P to the S, I am still reading the Buffy comics, but seeing as they're almost over I was going to do just one giant review article once it's finished. I enjoyed this week, and more to the point enjoy that this 'Season 8' is wrapping up, as it's been going on for like 3 years.

DC

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #3 (***)

So, I love Diana. Wonder Woman is probably my favorite superhero of all time (although Green Lantern has certainly been giving her a run for her money lately). But all this "Love" stuff makes me a little ill. It feels a bit like a giant Sailor Moon episode compressed into a non-manga-comic form. The art didn't bother me (although I could always do with less boob on my heroines) and I've stated numerous time I love the use of color. I'm just not sure I can ascribe to the Love conquers all mentality. I enjoyed the shot of Bruce and Diana, also.

Marvel

Cable #23 (**)

I almost gave this issue three stars because it ended with the words "To be concluded." Watching Hope kick ass is fun, but not enough fun to overcome the painfully obvious stalling that the writers are forced to do. It's the same plot over and over and over, and it's honestly not a plot I was particularly interested in after Messiah War ended. I think I'd really just prefer that Cable had taken a sabbatical until Necrosha and Nation X were over, because these issues are just a waste of good trees, and more importantly my time.

Siege #2 (***)

I was talking with Arnab while reading it, and I had two things to say: "Ewwwwww" and "Holy F&#%!" Now do you see why having the Sentry around is such a terrible huge colossal mistake? I'm enjoying the action, and I enjoy seeing the Avengers coming out of the woodwork to kick ass. I'm curious to see what the fall-out will be with Sentry, and I'm still waiting to figure out how Daken stabbing Osborn fits into the storyline. You can't end an issue with the big baddie getting stabbed, and then have said big-baddie running about in a separate issue.

Siege Embedded #2 ()

I have this open on desk, but I just can't bring myself to read it, no matter how much I like the fat god. I will get to it eventually, but are any of you really holding your breath in anticipation?

Ultimate Comics X #1 (**)

I don't believe the Ultimate universe should really exist (although go them for making Northstar and Colossus gay with each other...before Northstar died (again) that is). I spent a lot of time learning the back-story of all these characters, only to have that back-story completely ignored in favor of rebooting the system to get new fans. Which I don't even think worked. As regards this issue: It's the story of Wolverine's son. Which might be a spoiler if the three claws didn't give it away on the cover. Seeing how big a fan I am of Wolverine, does this sound like the type of story I'd like? And then this kid "Jimmy" is miraculously able to cover his own claws with metal. *Insert blank stare* While I hate Wolvie, half of what could make him interesting was that he was betrayed and experimented on by the government agency he swore to serve. I'm not sure I care to read a story about how a mutant with Wolverine's powers would act if he didn't have Wolverine's past. I shall not be reading any more of this series.

Gashapon Reviews: January 6, 2009

Starting the New Year with a new event: It's Siege time ladies and gents (or should I say lady, as I can only count one who reads this). And looks like it's good timing, as the DC universe is decidedly quiet this week. Not that quiet is bad, as last week was quiet with one of the best comics I've read ever.

So let's get on with the comics of 2010!

Marvel:

Cable #22 (**1/2)

I don't know what to say about this. I find with the Cable books, I keep coming back to "It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I'll say again that I'm just ready for this stupid story to be OVER and for Hope to start doing shit in the universe. Also, I hate her current costume something fierce. And how can I forget that STUPID book that shows a picture of Cable and Hope fighting in the Revolutionary War. Some artist took enough notice to randomly include them in a picture? I know what they were going for, but it was weird. And how do they even know what Hope looks like now? Lame.

Gashapon Reviews: December 16, 2009

With Christmas, it was impossible for me to keep up. So I've got another one of these puppies to write later.

DC:

Green Lantern Corps #43 (****)

Dude...

To recap: Guy was dual-wielding power rings, Kyle is back because of some Violet mojo, and Lantern Mogo is a fucking PLANET (maybe everyone knew that last part, I did not). I'm not sure what to say other than I love this Spectrum shit because the colors are gorgeous, and that I love Blackest Night because it continues to be great storytelling. The one thing I'm not sure I like is Kyle's resurrection, just because I'm tired of death not having any permanance. Like, I love Kyle and was very upset that he had died, but part of me wants to be upset by it. Otherwise it's just a cheap shock factor at the end of an issue, and I don't like to have my emotions toyed with like that. At least we get to see how Kyle takes on Guy the Christmas Lantern. Seriously, if you read this and you are NOT reading Blackest Night, get your shit together.

Books I Follow

I should throw in an "As of November 19th, 2009" since this changes on a regular basis. But it will help me to set-up the tags from the beginning, which speaking from experience is a pain in the ass to set up later. I'm including the current events in each list, even though they won't last forever.

So, divided among publishers:

Marvel
Astonishing X-Men
X-Men Legacy
Uncanny X-Men
New Mutants
X-Force
Cable
X-Factor
Deadpool (just started this one)
Necrosha
Nation X
Dark Avengers
Dark X-Men
The List (various titles here. I've read X-Men, Avengers, and Wolverine, and will read Punisher and Spiderman)
Anything remotely relating to Jean Grey or Phoenix in any way, shape, or form.

DC
Green Lantern
Green Lantern Corps
Blackest Night (including the tie-ins for the major other characters, namely JLA members)

Dark Horse
Buffy Season 8

On my 'to-catch-up-on' list is Wonder Woman, and Arnab has been pushing me to read Batman forever. I'm a little sketchy on books that don't fit into the canon easily, but I've always loved Batman. I'm also contemplating getting into another Marvel book, either Avengers or Spiderman, although my hearts not really in either endeavor. I'm thinking especially about Young Avengers purely because there's a gay storyline there.

I'm fairly up-to-date on all of these titles, although there is a chunk of the X-Universe that I skipped over (Manifest Destiny and Divided We Stand, and all the Emperor Vulcan stuff after Rise and Fall). I will catch up on that, but right now my goal is just to stay current.