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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2017 19:45:19 GMT -5
I only got one book this week (go on, guess which one), and I agree mostly with md62 's assessment of it. The story was fine as it reestablishes the real Steve Rogers in the Marvel Universe and it, as it did for him, did leave me feeling as though I probably should dust a little more in my house, because there is no way a comic book could elicit actual emotions out of a grown man, could it? Captain America has always been about doing what is right, protecting those who cannot protect themselves, and being a symbol that better is possible, and Waid hit all of these notes in the opening issue of the new series. As a long-time fan of his writing, I'm excited to see where he goes with this book. This is my most anticipated book this week, I can't wait to get to the shop so I can sink my teeth into it!Ah! Now I know why some of my back issues have teeth marks on them. They were yours! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 2, 2017 19:53:18 GMT -5
This is my most anticipated book this week, I can't wait to get to the shop so I can sink my teeth into it!Ah! Now I know why some of my back issues have teeth marks on them. They were yours! Ha, you guessed it! Sometimes I just can't help it.  |
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Post by String on Nov 3, 2017 13:32:57 GMT -5
I have to agree with the opinions so far on the new Captain America direction. This was the book I was expecting back when Steve was made young again under Spencer and instead got 'Hail Hydra'. The morals displayed show how well Waid gets the heart of Steve's character and I love the insight into the general populace perception of him (especially love the vendor's conspiracy theory comments to Steve about being trapped in ice). Samnee delivered some great art as usual, love his style. 8/10
Also, I had kinda dropped out of the new Peter Parker Spider-Man title but after glancing over some articles about it, read it and yeah, that was very heavy, personal, and great. The references to all their various disputes and fights and consequences was very good and the ending was surprising. A very strong issue. 8/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 5, 2017 9:04:22 GMT -5
Mr. Higgins Comes Home Written by Mike Mignola Art by Warkick Johnson Cadwell Summary: It's Walpurgis night and all the Vampires have come home to roost leaving only two fearless vampire hunters and a reluctant werewolf to bring them all down.
Plot: This just may be one of the best books Mignola has ever put out, and certainly his best work in the last few years. While it may not be as complex and emotionally layered as something like Hellboy in Hell or the Conqueror Worm it was pure fun from start to finish. In the dedication Mignola says it's a tribute to all those wonderful Hammer Dracula films and he certainly captures that feel perfectly; this story is a perfect love note to those exciting 60's horror films. It has the action, great characterization, the fast pace and the fun twist at the end; it's just a perfect thrill ride that I think will forever be a halloween classic for me. If there's one non-Hellboy story that needs a movie, it's certainly this book.
Art: I was originally a little disappointed that Mignola wasn't doing art duties as well but Cadwell's cartoony look really matched the energy of the story well. I haven't had any experience with his work before but I really started to fall in love with his style by the end of this so now I'm going to have o go and seek out Helena Crash which seems right up my ally.
Grade: 10/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 5, 2017 9:32:17 GMT -5
Darth Vader #7Written by Charles Soule Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli Summary: Vader begins his training of the newly informed Inquisitor unit and his first mission is to hunt down the Jedi archivist: Jocasta Nu.
Plot: I had nearly given up on Soule's tale of the early adventures of the newly minted Lord Vader's first days but the introduction of the inquisitors from Rebels peaked my interest and it paid off. I loved their inclusion in the show and the highly aggressive way Vader begins training them here really adds to their story. In addition to that I really like the characterization of Jocasta Nu; a character seen briefly in the Jedi archives in Episode II. She's not a character that ever struck me as someone who absolutely needed to be fleshed out more and given a life outside her few scenes but sometimes it's what you haven't thought to ask for that is most rewarding. Her mission is intriguing and while we know it most likely fails it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. That said it's still missing a little in regards to Vader's development; I know he works best as an unreadable and unstoppable ominous presence but I'd like just a little more in his development into that persona.
Art: I really love the warmth that Camuncoli brought to his rendering of Jocasta. She comes across as serene and frail but there's a strength to her gaze that speaks of inner strength. That's a lot to convey visually but he does it perfectly and it really draws you into the story.
Grade: 8/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 5, 2017 10:40:32 GMT -5
Deadman #1 Written and Illustrated by Neal Adams Summary: After all these years Boston Brand has picked up the trail of the Hook; but Batman allows the Hook to escape.
Plot: I love Deadman, and back in the day there were few who did him better than Neal Adams so I was really pumped when this was first announced. Unfortunately, that initial excitement didn't carry through to the end of the book as what started out as a book that felt like a classic Deaman issue with ties to the classics from the 70's quickly became a dense, muddled mess. There's a lot going on in this one issue and while I find a compressed narrative refreshing there simply isn't enough time spent on developing each plot element making it feel rushed and confusing which is really disappointing.
Art: Surprisingly the element that I was initially the most leery of, the art, was the one saving grace. In his latter years Adams' style has become increasingly grainy and rough and while I didn't enjoy that in some of his previous outings it fit really well with the world of Deadman. Ultimately though I don't think it's enough to really make me want to continue picking this up.
Grade: 5/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 5, 2017 11:35:58 GMT -5
I only got one book this week (go on, guess which one), and I agree mostly with md62 's assessment of it. The story was fine as it reestablishes the real Steve Rogers in the Marvel Universe and it, as it did for him, did leave me feeling as though I probably should dust a little more in my house, because there is no way a comic book could elicit actual emotions out of a grown man, could it? Captain America has always been about doing what is right, protecting those who cannot protect themselves, and being a symbol that better is possible, and Waid hit all of these notes in the opening issue of the new series. As a long-time fan of his writing, I'm excited to see where he goes with this book. My only quibbles about the book (and they're minor): 1. With the way Waid has set it up, 10 years of "comic book" time have passed since 1962. I get why they do it, as they don't want to make it seem like the things that happened in the 60's were "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away", but that timeline seems a little TOO compressed to me. 2. I don't really dig Chris Samnee's art. There's nothing wrong with it and I can understand why it gets the acclaim it does, but it just doesn't do anything for me. Having grown up on Colan, Trimpe, Byrne, and Perez, this is just a little too minimalist for my tastes. I loved how unashamedly, wide eyed, optimistic this book was. In a time where dark and gritty seems to be the norm it was fantastic to see a book that reveled in being bright and hopeful and that is a perfect tone for a hero like Captain America. While I think a more detailed, realistic look firs a lot of stories I really felt Samnee's more cartoony style really fit the tone of the book. I just can't imagine this issue being as emotionally powerful as it was if it was done by someone like Steve Epting(whom I previously loved on Cap). My only real complaint, and it's a small one, was that I was originally confused by the cold open. I didn't follow the Cap as a Hydra agent story so I had no idea how it ended so when no one knew who Captain America was I thought it might have been a One More Day kind of thing where the whole Hydra thing was erased from reality and he was allowed to start off as if it never happened and was just breaking out onto the scene. While I didn't love that idea I was just starting to warm to it when we got the text saying ten years later and we saw that everything before was a flash back. I'm not disappointed to learn that there wasn't some reality warping shenanigans going on but I think it could have been clearer from the start. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Nov 5, 2017 17:12:47 GMT -5
Gravediggers Union #1 Written by Wes Craig Art by Toby Cypress Summary: Ghost Storms kill hundreds, zombie hoards are on the rise and vampires strike out from the forests...leaving the members of your local gravediggers union to save the day!
Plot: I've never really read anything by Wes Craig before(though I've heard Deadly Class is really good) but his subtle, unobtrusive world-building is just incredible. Through a series of news snippets and an awesome supernatural version of the 2001 Apeman opening you get a real organic sense of place that just draws you into this story. This could easily feel like yet another team of supernatural defenders but that sense of reality and the great character building that goes with it that lets you know exactly why this series is going to stand out amongst the seeming hoards of other supernatural stories on the shelves today.
Art: Cypress’s art is super detailed and expressive. What was really fun though were designs for the Zombies and the Junk Golem they were utterly terrifying to see with just the right amount of gore, and it’s a visual feast to see them be decapitated by shovels and pitchforks. At times the coloring can be a little muddy obscuring some of the action and I'm not sure what the use of the red mist through out the story was supposed to signify but other than that it was a treat.
Grade:8/10
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Post by Jesse on Nov 6, 2017 18:11:53 GMT -5
I was kind of disappointed in The Jetsons #1 in that I was expecting it to hit the tone of the comedy as well as Mark Russell did with The Flintstones #1. Even though the Steve Pugh art style is so different from the original it still worked really well. The comedy for The Jetsons just wasn't there but while the tone is a bit more serious with a fun adventure vibe instead there are some interesting threads of plot going on particularly with the Jane and Elroy storylines. The grandma's brain in the Rosie robot is a little creepy though. It wasn't a bad book by any means although I felt the art could have been a little better. I think I will check out the next issue or so to see where the story leads.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 18:53:31 GMT -5
I was kind of disappointed in The Jetsons #1 in that I was expecting it to hit the tone of the comedy as well as Mark Russell did with The Flintstones #1. Even though the Steve Pugh art style is so different from the original it still worked really well. The comedy for The Jetsons just wasn't there but while the tone is a bit more serious with a fun adventure vibe instead there are some interesting threads of plot going on particularly with the Jane and Elroy storylines. The grandma's brain in the Rosie robot is a little creepy though. It wasn't a bad book by any means although I felt the art could have been a little better. I think I will check out the next issue or so to see where the story leads. I read into a little differently. I didn't expect the same vibe as the Flintstones. I felt Palmiotti introduced a lot of different plot points to deal with over the next 5 issues. I didn't mind the darker tone although I don't like George's Mom being Rosie. That feel weird. |
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Post by Paste Pot Paul on Nov 7, 2017 17:24:41 GMT -5
 Written by Mark Waid. Art and Cover by Chris Samnee. He's Back! The REAL Steve Rogers! Not Hydra Cap...and Mark Waid is back again on what looks to be another classic run on Cap. So how was this issue? My eyes got a little misty. It was so great to read a Capt America story where he is true to himself. One of his quotes: "The strong protect the weak". Corny? Nope, it is everything I want a super hero to be. The story starts out 10 years ago in Burlington, Nebraska. Cap is visiting & takes down a cult of villains calling themselves Rampart. In the present day Cap goes back to Burlington, now named Capt America, Nebraska where they are holding a festival dedicated to Cap. Many stand up & talk about how Cap rescued them or inspired them when Rampart strikes again! Coincidence? No. Cap was there on an intelligence tip to stop them. After he stops Rampart the people tell him how much they admire him. So what does Cap do? Tells the people why they inspire him to do his job. This is uplifting. This is what I want to escape to...to get away from all the crap in the real world for just a little while. Chris Samnee turns in his usual beautiful art. He is a true artist & storyteller conveying the action well. So thank you Marvel, Mark Waid & Chris Samnee for restoring Capt America. To the Cap I want to read about. To the Cap we could really use in the real world right now. Keep up the good work. Keep letting Capt America inspire us to want to be better people. Best This Week. 10/10.I wholeheartedly agree with this. I loved that Waid got back to the essence of the character so quickly and with one line captured what Ive admired most for all these years.  Written by Mark Waid. Art by Audrey Mok. Cover by Jen Bartel. Another issue this week written by Mark Waid. And another issue that is awesome. Riverdale adjusts to the new normal of Betty being in a wheelchair. Archie is still classic Archie. Clumsy. Trying to do the right thing but somehow messing up. Jughead is the loyal friend that somehow manages to fix the situations that Archie messes up. And Waid somehow manages to re-establish the old Archie-Betty-Veronica triangle. We also see Reggie in jail. Mok's art is beautiful & perfect for this arc focusing on Betty. A well written title with beautiful art featuring timeless classic characters. 10/10.You guys have converted me to an admirer of this run,I havent got it all, but every issue Ive read has been excellent. A nice place to go when Im feeling cape burnout. Well told, poignant stories with just the right amount of humor and I love that they work for adults as much as teens, unlike the traditional books(well IMHO that is). Hugh huge huge reveal is Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man #6 this week that honestly has been 60 years in the making. Just wow I can't believe they did that. One of the few interesting issues in what has been a genuinely underwhelming run so far. Spidey fans I highly recommend you do not miss the shocking ending of "My Dinner with Jonah"!  Very surprised by how much I enjoyed this issue. Im a big fan of Amazing, but the other Spider titles have been hit or miss for me of late. This though, was well done. |
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