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Post by String on Aug 22, 2017 17:19:20 GMT -5
Currently re-reading through the Captain Britain TPB which collects the stories by Jamie Delano and Alan Davis. This book was among some of the first trades that I ever bought, having bought it many moons ago after the debut of Excalibur (It was first released back in 1988). Being a fan of Davis' art, I was intrigued by Capt Britain. I remember reading it but initially thinking it was okay. Since these stories occur after Moore's celebrated run, mention was made often of the Jaspers' Warp and it's fallout. I had yet to read that story so my initial enjoyment of this run was limited as such. A few years later, I ended up selling the trade on eBay. Now though, after finally reading Moore's stories, I decided to re-acquire the trade to read again. I must say, I have a finer appreciation for it this go-around. Brian and Betsy trying to restore some semblance of a normal life (while Brian learning to accept his limitations and responsibilities), Meggan's full introduction, the introduction of Gatecrasher and her Technet, Roma's ascendance into her father Merlin's role, and the wide fallout of the chaos of the Jaspers Warp. Great sense of continuity throughout with some wonderful (and disturbing) characterization by Delano, all wrapped up in gorgeous art by Davis. But I've never seen a comic set out such absolute concrete dates about their characters before now. For example, The storyline is clearly dated to early spring-summer of 1984. Brian Braddock and his twin sister Betsy are born on April 23rd, 1956. Their elder brother Jamie was born in or around 1948. In 1976, Brian graduates from Thames University and works for the summer at Darkmoor nuclear energy research facility. It's a blatant disregard to the usual sliding timescale of comics but in a way, it's cool to see for a change.
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Post by String on Aug 22, 2017 16:48:04 GMT -5
The Captain
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Post by String on Aug 22, 2017 16:45:50 GMT -5
I was working though managed to borrow some glasses to see it partially (but I missed when the moon was full-on). Still, quite the awesome sight. In my area, it looked like it was near dusk, like you were wearing sunglasses but you weren't. Kinda made my eyes feel weird too.
I'm also disappointed in that such a rare occurrence as this in North America, you'd think this would've provided a cult the right energy to perform the last ritual sacrifices that would summon forth Cthulhu. Guess not...but isn't there some type of planetary alignment next month? Hm...
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Post by String on Aug 22, 2017 16:37:02 GMT -5
Found the Big Bunny the other day at Walmart too. Great figure though to me, it looks likes he has a wicked evil clown grin on his face. As if he's waiting patiently for my cat to attack him...
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Post by String on Aug 18, 2017 18:15:26 GMT -5
Best guess at the moment would be somewhere between 20-25 publishers.
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Post by String on Aug 18, 2017 17:55:56 GMT -5
DC Comics - In my area in speaking of the three LCS that I visited and I've asked nicely what are the top three books for DC Comics right now are ... Aquaman, Superman, and the Titans too. Marvel Comics - They are as follows: The top 3 are ... Doctor Strange, Mighty Thor, and Daredevil ... coming on strong the X-Men is closing the gap. I'm referring to the sales receipts of the three stores that I go to. For myself ... I occasionally read Aquaman, Titans, and Doctor Strange. The X-line has gotten remarkably better after their relaunch. Having overcome the decade-long dread of possible extinction, they've injected more familiar tones like family, school, and soap opera dynamics. It almost feels like old times again. Also, apparently anything Al Ewing writes for Marvel as well. Uncanny Avengers is as trippy as ever and Ewing is re-establishing what looks like a mostly new cosmology for Marvel in the Ultimates title.
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Post by String on Aug 18, 2017 17:47:31 GMT -5
I don't know that they have become more violent in terms of counting acts of violence, but I certainly think they are willing to display it more graphically, i.e.: Superboy punching Pantha's head off in Infinite Crisis, or Sentry tearing Ares apart (with bones and guts flying out at the reader) in Siege. Edit: Oh, and Black Adam obliterating Psycho Pirate's head (brains and eyeballs flying out at the reader), also from Infinite Crisis. Geoff Johns isn't afraid to show the gore unfortunately. I think it was early into the weekly series 52 that saw a new Terra-Man committing a crime in Khandaq. He got caught by Black Adam who later ripped him in half in front of news reporters as a warning against crime in his nation. For me, the worst offense was in Green Lantern in the prelude to Blackest Night. Black Hand was home on Earth eating supper with his family and all the gripes and tension of his childhood and life crept into the dinner conversation. Finally, he took out his weapon and killed himself, blew a hole in his head. This was the last page of the issue, full page spread of the look on his face and the blood and gore flying out of the side of his head. Did they really need to show that? Really? A full-on display of suicide. I didn't think that level of display was appropriate to that particular story for there's something to be said for hinting at an action (even off-panel) and letting a reader's imagination fill in the blanks.
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Post by String on Aug 17, 2017 18:26:00 GMT -5
I really need to rewatch Mask of the Phantasm to rank it properly. I haven't watched it in well over a decade. Same here. The re-release on blu-ray sounds sweet cause lord knows where my VHS copy of this film is at right now. Till then, my favorite Batman animated film is Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. The tragedy that Tim Drake endures plus the examinations of the relationship between Joker and Bruce & then Joker and Terry really help to elevate the drama and tension.
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Post by String on Aug 17, 2017 18:18:58 GMT -5
It's strange hearing Tennant as Uncle Scrooge but he's a great choice for the character.
Good start though, channels the spirit of the original rather well I thought.
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Post by String on Aug 17, 2017 18:14:34 GMT -5
Here's the difference for me.
Back then, my brother bought Wizard frequently for awhile. When he would let me borrow the latest issue, I would read it in about 2 hours or so, from cover to cover. It was o-kay.
After discovering Comic Buyer's Guide though, it would usually took me about 3 days to read one issue of that, from cover to cover. Just because of the in-depth articles, the great historical perspective, the reviews, the classifieds, the opinion columns, and the letters page.
The gap in depth between the two was eye-opening.
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Post by String on Aug 17, 2017 18:06:49 GMT -5
Hickman, really??
We'll get all sorts of BIG IDEAS but how much actual characterization?
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Post by String on Aug 17, 2017 18:03:41 GMT -5
I was surprised to see this character appear at the end too. I'm not sure how that will play into all this though.
This first issue was o-kay though I enjoyed the prequels more. The bits with Carter, the Blackhawks and such was interesting (though I didn't know the Blackhawks had been appearing in All-Star Batman). I'm just not sure about this overriding story with Batman and this Bat-mythic creature or whatever.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that Synder has been hinting/building up to this reveal about this creature in his previous Batman run. Is that correct?
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Post by String on Aug 17, 2017 17:57:29 GMT -5
I love me some Bill Sienkiewicz... One of the few issues I own of this title, great cover.
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Post by String on Aug 17, 2017 17:55:37 GMT -5
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Post by String on Aug 15, 2017 18:01:13 GMT -5
Crimebuster
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