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Post by fanboystranger on Jul 19, 2015 0:51:02 GMT -5
It's funny how Lucifer trickled down the power scale... he started with the X-Men, then ended up working through Iron Man, Cap, even Daredevil, IIRC. That's 'cause everytime he failed, his race would downgrade his abilities. Until finally, the Dominus machine just took over his plans.
(Or at least that's how I remember it from WCA.)
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Post by terence1965 on Jul 19, 2015 11:08:03 GMT -5
I've just re-read Crisis on infinite Earths for the first time in 30 years!
In July 1985 I'd returned home from college for the Summer, and on a Saturday (can't recall which one) I'd 'gone up West' to Forbidden Planet to purchase me some of them American comics. Among them, COIE #7; I read Supergirl's selfless sacrifice while sitting in my parents garden.
Thirty years later, I booked the trade paperback out of the local library and read it in all it's entirety while sitting in my garden.
I can't say that it's held up particularly well with age; Marv Wolfman's histrionics are wearing after the first few chapters (hell, after the first few pages if I'm honest), and not a lot actually makes any sense. So much of the plotting revolves around the principle of just because, and I had to flip back-and-forth a few times just to try and figure out why some things were happening (they didn't make any sense).
But, it was undeniably powerful, and a real milestone. Earths died, and Earths lived, and it really did give a boost to some of DC's flagging properties. Unfortunately, the sense of unpredictability - summed up in the final few panels of the epilogue...
Psycho Pirate: I mean, nothing's ever certain anymore. Nothing's ever predictable like it used to be. these days...y-you just never know who's going to die...and who's going to live.
...only really lasted about 5 years.
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Post by The Cheat on Jul 19, 2015 15:25:52 GMT -5
The Unwritten I liked at the beginning, but it kinda collapsed into itself as it went on, and I ended up dropping in a little past 1/2 way through. Yeah, reading around, this seems to be a common opinion. Sounds similar to what happened with Fables, the series not really knowing when it should have stopped.
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Post by The Cheat on Jul 19, 2015 15:27:29 GMT -5
If you liked Carey's work on Lucifer, I would recommend checking out the Felix Castors series of prose novels he wrote (there are 4 or 5 of them)-Castor is an exorcist in a world where the spirits of the dead are mysteriously coming back, and one of his earliest cases he accidentally trapped Asmodeus in the body of one of his best friends while trying to exorcise him, an act that started a domino effect in Castor's life that runs through all of the novels. Sor tof a bit of Dresden Files meets Carey's Vertigo stuff, but good reads all around. -M Cheers, I might check them out, although my prose to-read pile is currently nearly as big as my comics pile, and it doesn't go down anywhere near as quickly
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Post by The Cheat on Jul 19, 2015 15:32:18 GMT -5
Read through the Annihilation: Conquest omnibus today. I always think of the original Annihilation as being the better of the two, but on re-reading both I think Conquest was actually the more enjoyable. It seemed a lot tighter as a whole, with the tie ins being of a higher quality and feeling a lot more relevant to the main plot. As for the omnibus, I understand why they put the main villain on the cover given his recent appearance in other media, but it still ruins the reveal for anyone not already in the know. Very annoying
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jul 19, 2015 16:59:32 GMT -5
If you liked Carey's work on Lucifer, I would recommend checking out the Felix Castors series of prose novels he wrote (there are 4 or 5 of them)-Castor is an exorcist in a world where the spirits of the dead are mysteriously coming back, and one of his earliest cases he accidentally trapped Asmodeus in the body of one of his best friends while trying to exorcise him, an act that started a domino effect in Castor's life that runs through all of the novels. Sor tof a bit of Dresden Files meets Carey's Vertigo stuff, but good reads all around. -M I had no idea Carey had novels... I'll definitely check those out. Thanks!
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jul 19, 2015 17:02:15 GMT -5
The Unwritten I liked at the beginning, but it kinda collapsed into itself as it went on, and I ended up dropping in a little past 1/2 way through. Yeah, reading around, this seems to be a common opinion. Sounds similar to what happened with Fables, the series not really knowing when it should have stopped. Fables is amazing for the 1st 75 issues.. that's essential the first story arc. It definitely loses it's way for a while, with only a few flashes of it's former brilliance. While the final story hasn't been particularly good, I still have hope for the ending. What's been really neat is the backups... Willingham is basically tying up every loose end, and giving each major character a 'last x story'. You could easily stop with 75 and be satisfied, though.
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Post by fanboystranger on Jul 19, 2015 21:13:26 GMT -5
Lucifer was great... I liked it better than Sandman, myself. I know it's not as deep, but I thought it was a better story overall. The Unwritten I liked at the beginning, but it kinda collapsed into itself as it went on, and I ended up dropping in a little past 1/2 way through. I think it picked up a bit when it relaunched as The Unwritten: Apocalypse, but it definitely did meander for a time after the big showdown between Tom and Pullman. Still, you had Peter Gross really experimenting with technique and storytelling almost every issue. It was still worth it for that, in my opinion. Gross doesn't get half the credit he's due.
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Post by berkley on Jul 19, 2015 22:13:58 GMT -5
Lucifer was great... I liked it better than Sandman, myself. I know it's not as deep, but I thought it was a better story overall. The Unwritten I liked at the beginning, but it kinda collapsed into itself as it went on, and I ended up dropping in a little past 1/2 way through. I think it picked up a bit when it relaunched as The Unwritten: Apocalypse, but it definitely did meander for a time after the big showdown between Tom and Pullman. Still, you had Peter Gross really experimenting with technique and storytelling almost every issue. It was still worth it for that, in my opinion. Gross doesn't get half the credit he's due. I kept buying the trades but haven't gotten round to reading the last three or four, so I think I'll wait till the whole thing is done and start over from the beginning.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jul 19, 2015 22:44:58 GMT -5
Lucifer was great... I liked it better than Sandman, myself. I know it's not as deep, but I thought it was a better story overall. The Unwritten I liked at the beginning, but it kinda collapsed into itself as it went on, and I ended up dropping in a little past 1/2 way through. I think it picked up a bit when it relaunched as The Unwritten: Apocalypse, but it definitely did meander for a time after the big showdown between Tom and Pullman. Still, you had Peter Gross really experimenting with technique and storytelling almost every issue. It was still worth it for that, in my opinion. Gross doesn't get half the credit he's due. I agree... Peter Gross is pretty awesome. The couple pages of choose your own path in the back of one of the books was amazing layout wise. (assuming that was him)
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Post by fanboystranger on Jul 20, 2015 9:38:35 GMT -5
I think it picked up a bit when it relaunched as The Unwritten: Apocalypse, but it definitely did meander for a time after the big showdown between Tom and Pullman. Still, you had Peter Gross really experimenting with technique and storytelling almost every issue. It was still worth it for that, in my opinion. Gross doesn't get half the credit he's due. I kept buying the trades but haven't gotten round to reading the last three or four, so I think I'll wait till the whole thing is done and start over from the beginning. The series finished early this year, and the last tpb was released a month or two ago.
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Post by fanboystranger on Jul 20, 2015 9:40:09 GMT -5
I think it picked up a bit when it relaunched as The Unwritten: Apocalypse, but it definitely did meander for a time after the big showdown between Tom and Pullman. Still, you had Peter Gross really experimenting with technique and storytelling almost every issue. It was still worth it for that, in my opinion. Gross doesn't get half the credit he's due. I agree... Peter Gross is pretty awesome. The couple pages of choose your own path in the back of one of the books was amazing layout wise. (assuming that was him) It was. Gross provided at least layouts for every issue of the series except for the .5 issues that gave us the various supporting characters' backstories.
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Jul 20, 2015 12:47:26 GMT -5
My last 2-3 weeks of reading ... Earth X #0-4 (First read.) Good story, and defiantly want to search out the other issues of at least this series. I really liked the introduction with Uatu and X-51, though the art didn't wow me at first. But by the end of 0 I was really ready to get into the rest of the story. By the end of 4 the art was growing on me. There's some places it works well with. For some reason his art really fit the Black Panther and Wakanda bits. The "Body Snatchers" type Hydra are a nice metaphorical take on their 616 counterpart's agenda. It also incorporates some characters, I either don't know in the 616 or if they are distinct to Earth X, like Iron Maiden. If I am thinking who the main antagonist is, that is supposedly orchestrating this whole thing, by the end of 4, it'll be probably the only time the character has hand an interesting bit.
Suicide Squad #21,22,25,31,38,55 (First read.) Really enjoyed 21 & 22, and wished I had the issues in between them and 25. I like the heavy conspiracy, espionage and black mail type stories. Of the only other previous SS issues I've read, 1-10, 10 years ago probably, Deadshot still remains my favorite. This is the series where I do like the ruthless members of the team. The counter balance of the "good" team members almost makes them come off arrogant and aloof, whether that was Ostrander's intention or not. Especially after what Deadshot did for Flag in 22.
31 gave some backstory to Waller which was gave insight into why she is the way she is, as 38 did for Bronze Tiger. 55 was pretty well out of context for me. The story was entertaining but not knowing any of the surrounding events of the 5 part story, took away from that individual issue. Though it was nice to see Geoff Isherwood doing the art. Hopefully he stuck around for a while, and something for me to look forward to with the art.
Warlord #27, 54, 58 (First read.) Nothing really stand out about these three individual issues. I am learning at a scattered pace the world of Skartaris. So I can't type here with the issues in front of me, all the names and some of the events without referencing them. I do remember 27 had to do with Atlantis and 54 had a great sorceress fight in it. I'll need to give a better opinion of these once I get home. I just rarely get peace and quiet enough to log on to the computer and home much less read, unless I sacrifice sleep.
The Incredible Hulk Annual #6 Talking to Cei-U in another thread I had forgotten about this issue, and it being the start of Her/Kismet. In this issue the Enclave under felonious cover recruit Dr Strange, as a surgeon to help them with their latest creation, Paragon. They tell the story of Him/Adam Warlock in FF #67 & 68, with their moral curve on it, in order to convince Dr Strange to help them. While Strange has a good feeling everything isn't all it appears he agrees to help, if only to see if he can stop them. He then sends a telepathic message to Hulk, who was there when the Enclave's robot abducted Strange to start, to come help him. Of course there's battle and conflict, and in the end Paragon slips away, as the island the Enclave was on sinks into the sea. Good story, the only issue I have with the timeline, is the distance and obstacles that Hulk runs into leaping halfway across the world, compared to the events in the Enclave with Strange.
Marvel Two In One #61-63 I had forgotten just how much I liked Jerry Bingham's work in these three issues. Everything is very well done, in both human characteristics, to environments, aliens, and of course Thing giving Moondragon a spanking. Haha, that was something else I had forgotten. Otherwise, a good cosmic story featuring Her/Kismet, Alicia Masters, Thing, Moondragon, Starhawk and High Evolutionary. Her (Kismet) is looking for Him (Adam) to be here perfect mate. She finds out through Alicia where Adam's dead body is, but when they get there, High Evolutionary appears to be dead and Counter-Earth is gone. This follows the events of Hulk Annual #6, where Paragon's cocoon is brought up out of the water, by dock workers, who find it, and out emerges Her.
Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #11 & 12 Since I was reading more Her/Kismet, I thought I'd give this one another read. And this is not (at least as I can tell in the timeline though I haven't read her appearances in Alpha Flight or The Evolutionary War yet) the same Her from MWIN, created by the Enclave. While the Enclave was in the story with Crucible heading it up, this Her was nothing like Kismet, and goes by Ayesha (She Who Must Be Obeyed) which seems to be the Her reference that they make on the cover. Probably why I own it among the very few I have of this series. Larroca may have got me to buy the issues I did, but Claremont couldn't keep me buying them. And reading this story again, I can see my opinion hasn't changed. I know he didn't outright call Ayesha, Kismet, but the Her reference anyone knowing or liking the character might think is Kismet back again. But this gal was ruthless bitch and nothing like Her. Maybe I am just still disgruntled I got suckered into something that didn't end up being what I thought. :-)
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Jul 20, 2015 12:59:23 GMT -5
Read through the Annihilation: Conquest omnibus today. I always think of the original Annihilation as being the better of the two, but on re-reading both I think Conquest was actually the more enjoyable. It seemed a lot tighter as a whole, with the tie ins being of a higher quality and feeling a lot more relevant to the main plot. As for the omnibus, I understand why they put the main villain on the cover given his recent appearance in other media, but it still ruins the reveal for anyone not already in the know. Very annoying Woah that would be annoying. Being a big fan of cosmic, I really liked both of them. I think Annihilation in the main series was just as good on it's own without any of the tie in issues. I did like the Heralds of Galactus issues. I think the only other one I bought was Silver Surfer. But of those I do agree that the tie ins of Annihilation weren't as good as Conquest. In fact, in some like Star-Lord and Quasar the tie ins out did the main series. The antagonists of Conquest were a good choice and all, and the climax at the end, but the road getting there to that climax was far more entertaining than the climax itself, to me. I enjoyed the roadtrip more than the destination. Still both are really good cosmic tales and proved at the time Marvel can still tell good cosmic stories. At some point I wouldn't mind going back and getting the other Annihilation tie ins and reading it all together again. Most of the time I read Conquest again more than Annihilation.
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Post by Dr. Hfuhruhurr on Jul 21, 2015 14:38:37 GMT -5
I just started re-reading a bunch of the old JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA issues #s 100-110. I downloaded a bunch of them on Kindle for my 12-year-old son to read. And of course, all the JLA/JSA cross-overs are fun. I always was a fan of Dick Dillin's art on the title. My son's comments have been pretty interesting. Among other things, he said, "Dad, Superman is kind of ... weak in those stories." And I'd have to agree. I guess it's always been hard to write Superman in the JLA (what was Thor's line in AVENGERS 150-151? Something to the effect of "I am more powerful than the rest of you combined..."), but they took it to the extreme back then. Every villain has kryptonite or magic or something that seems to take him out of play. And, for Green Lantern, every villain turns yellow. It's a little comical after awhile.
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