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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 3:06:30 GMT -5
Our library had the hardcover collection of Hickman's Secret War-I'll just say I was a bit underwhelmed. It felt like it was a 3 act story, but each act could have been told in 1 issue, yet it stretched to 9 issues and dragged way too much without any apparent benefit to story or character development. The art was decent in terms of aesthetics, but the visual storytelling was uneven at best-likely because it was using a narrative that was needlessly stretched too thin.
I scratched the curiosity itch and it didn't cost me a dime, so what the hey, but not a story that needs revisiting.
-M
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Post by berkley on Apr 9, 2016 9:25:49 GMT -5
I've just been looking at Marvel's current Hercules series by Dan Abnett and have seen enough that I'll probably read the first collection when it comes out. I haven't been impressed by much of Marvel's recent efforts with their own MU Greek mythology but I think this one might be worth a closer look. We'll see.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 9, 2016 11:32:12 GMT -5
Re-read the first two and read the third trade of The Fade Out. I'm pretty sure at this point that Brubaker and Phillips can do no wrong. I absolutely loved the non-Hollywood ending of this tale of Hollywood.
If you love history or noir or both you need to read this book.
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Post by hondobrode on Apr 9, 2016 14:54:41 GMT -5
Just picked up the third 3 trades FBP (Federal Bureau of Physics) and Effigy from the Comixology Vertigo sale. I've read the first issue of FBP and liked it.
Currently reading Valiant's team book, Unity, and loving it. It, like all the other Valiant titles, are intertwined and it does help if you've read the others, though the recap page at the beginning of each issue gives both a character overview and what leads up to the issue in your hands.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 9, 2016 22:48:37 GMT -5
I've just been looking at Marvel's current Hercules series by Dan Abnett and have seen enough that I'll probably read the first collection when it comes out. I haven't been impressed by much of Marvel's recent efforts with their own MU Greek mythology but I think this one might be worth a closer look. We'll see. I've really enjoyed Herc so far... cool theme, uses history without being handicapped by it, and a good story. The only down side is that it's a BIG story, that feels like it could end in a company crossover someday (soon). I actually stuck with Doctor Strange a couple issues longer than I probably wanted to in case it tied it (seems like it should) Among other things, read the Venus mini... too bad it's a mini. If it was an ongoing, it could have developed really nicely, but as is, it ended horribly and suddenly, with FAR more story left to tell. |
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Post by Spike-X on Apr 10, 2016 7:10:05 GMT -5
I've been steadily making my way through that biiiiiiiiig East Of West HC collecting the first fifteen issues. Great stuff!
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 10, 2016 11:56:32 GMT -5
I've been steadily making my way through that biiiiiiiiig East Of West HC collecting the first fifteen issues. Great stuff! I've tried twice to get into East of West and have failed both times. It seems like it should be up my alley, but I cannot get into it. I really don't know what I'm missing in it. On the other hand, I appear to be the only SF fan who has ever hated Dune. So what do I know? |
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Post by Dizzy D on Apr 10, 2016 12:02:50 GMT -5
Black Panther #1 had a lot of promise, I especially likes the design notes in the back, but my favourite of the week was The Fix. It has everything Superior Foes was doing (apart from the supervillains, the characters are just regular criminals) and it hits a lot of story beats in just one issue: we get introductions to three characters (especially the early part of the issue that explains why crime is not paying these days, unless you are in digital crime is very good), one attempt at robbery, one meeting with internal affairs, a meeting with the boss and the hook for the next issue. I don't know if the twist of the criminals Roy and his partner was given away in previews (it's something most writers would put at end of issue 1 and it's like 10 pages in) so I'm not giving that away, but it had me hooked on the series for the long run.
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Post by The Captain on Apr 10, 2016 13:36:16 GMT -5
I've just been looking at Marvel's current Hercules series by Dan Abnett and have seen enough that I'll probably read the first collection when it comes out. I haven't been impressed by much of Marvel's recent efforts with their own MU Greek mythology but I think this one might be worth a closer look. We'll see. I've really enjoyed Herc so far... cool theme, uses history without being handicapped by it, and a good story. The only down side is that it's a BIG story, that feels like it could end in a company crossover someday (soon). I actually stuck with Doctor Strange a couple issues longer than I probably wanted to in case it tied it (seems like it should) Among other things, read the Venus mini... too bad it's a mini. If it was an ongoing, it could have developed really nicely, but as is, it ended horribly and suddenly, with FAR more story left to tell. I've reviewed the last two issues of Hercules for another website, with my main takeaway being that I have been massively disappointed by it. They tried to recreate the Hercules/Amadeus Cho "buddy comedy" vibe from The Incredible Hercules, replacing Amadeus with Gilgamesh, but it just hasn't clicked the same way. As well, they took three issues trying to convince the readers that the villains, the Uprising Storm, were formidable opponents, but their reveal was quite underwhelming; they seem like '90s Image leftovers. While issue #4 was at least passable, issue #5 was horrible, IMO, as it was 16 pages of nothing but punching and kicking. I read somewhere that there was supposed to be a major crossover with Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch, but the sales figures for Hercules have been putrid, issue #7 has not been solicited yet, and Dan Abnett has moved on to the Aquaman Rebirth series, so I don't see the crossover actually happening. They may do a one-shot issue to tell the Hercules portion of the story, because it doesn't seem like the series has any future. |
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Post by Spike-X on Apr 10, 2016 20:04:53 GMT -5
I've been steadily making my way through that biiiiiiiiig East Of West HC collecting the first fifteen issues. Great stuff! I've tried twice to get into East of West and have failed both times. It seems like it should be up my alley, but I cannot get into it. I really don't know what I'm missing in it. On the other hand, I appear to be the only SF fan who has ever hated Dune. So what do I know? The first time I read the first East Of West tpb, it didn't grab me at all. But everyone was raving about it, so I gave it another chance, and this time it clicked and I really dug it. |
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Post by Dizzy D on Apr 11, 2016 2:52:10 GMT -5
I've really enjoyed Herc so far... cool theme, uses history without being handicapped by it, and a good story. The only down side is that it's a BIG story, that feels like it could end in a company crossover someday (soon). I actually stuck with Doctor Strange a couple issues longer than I probably wanted to in case it tied it (seems like it should) Among other things, read the Venus mini... too bad it's a mini. If it was an ongoing, it could have developed really nicely, but as is, it ended horribly and suddenly, with FAR more story left to tell. I've reviewed the last two issues of Hercules for another website, with my main takeaway being that I have been massively disappointed by it. They tried to recreate the Hercules/Amadeus Cho "buddy comedy" vibe from The Incredible Hercules, replacing Amadeus with Gilgamesh, but it just hasn't clicked the same way. As well, they took three issues trying to convince the readers that the villains, the Uprising Storm, were formidable opponents, but their reveal was quite underwhelming; they seem like '90s Image leftovers. While issue #4 was at least passable, issue #5 was horrible, IMO, as it was 16 pages of nothing but punching and kicking. I read somewhere that there was supposed to be a major crossover with Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch, but the sales figures for Hercules have been putrid, issue #7 has not been solicited yet, and Dan Abnett has moved on to the Aquaman Rebirth series, so I don't see the crossover actually happening. They may do a one-shot issue to tell the Hercules portion of the story, because it doesn't seem like the series has any future. Agreed, if you want to read a Marvel Hercules story, the Van Lente/Pak run was not that long ago. I like Dan Abnett, but Hercules has been a bit disappointing, even though I like the idea of new gods replacing the old (American Gods, anyone?), it's execution just isn't there. |
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Post by Batflunkie on Apr 11, 2016 9:04:32 GMT -5
On the other hand, I appear to be the only SF fan who has ever hated Dune. So what do I know? While I like the ideas that Dune presents, let's be honest, it's too horrendously long and drawn out for it's own good |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 11, 2016 15:52:17 GMT -5
Huh, See, I thought the focus was on Herc re-inventing himself to be a hero in the modern world, and Gilgamesh was simply there for contrast..he's just sorta resting on his laurels. I didn't see it as trying to re-create the old series at all. The story seems alot like Gaiman's American Gods, but in the Marvel Universe.. and done so it actually is coherent and makes sense  . This story (with the old gods/magical creatures dying) could very nicely tie into the 'last days of magic' over in Doctor Strange, but neither has mentioned the other, so maybe they changed their mind. As far as cancelling goes, it's getting re-titled for Civil War, and Abnett said in an CBR issue it was continuing after, FWIW. No idea what the sales figures are like. That said, I don't think I have #5 yet (which you said was horrible) so maybe I'll be less impressed. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 11, 2016 15:53:13 GMT -5
I've been steadily making my way through that biiiiiiiiig East Of West HC collecting the first fifteen issues. Great stuff! East of West LOOKED really interesting, and I read, oh, maybe 7 issues before I realized I hated Hickman and nothing is ever really going to happen anyway. |
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Post by String on Apr 11, 2016 16:55:09 GMT -5
I've been steadily making my way through that biiiiiiiiig East Of West HC collecting the first fifteen issues. Great stuff! East of West LOOKED really interesting, and I read, oh, maybe 7 issues before I realized I hated Hickman and nothing is ever really going to happen anyway. My problem with Hickman (and it really surfaced in his Avengers run) is that sometimes he lets the BIG IDEAS technobabble supplant any real characterization. That may be fine with a book like FF where Reed is supposed to have Big Ideas but in his Avengers run, it interfered with the team chemistry. Tony and Steve sometimes came off looking as if they just joined forces instead of being long-time teammates. (Contrast with Remender's brilliant characterization in Uncanny Avengers Vol 1 at the same time frame as Hickman began his Avengers run. Steve and Janet looked, acted, and felt like long-term teammates with history) Because of the hype of EoW, I tried it as well, read the first 10 issues or so. The characterization was decent but just wasn't interested enough to continue with it. I think it's odd that looking over the majority of his independent work, Hickman seems to have a fascination with alternate histories/timelines. |
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