stevetwo

May 18, 2012 7:57 pm Josh, thanks for the nice answer. I really don't know what I had against Bendis at this point. Wasn't the bald thing though. By the way, thanks to you guys for another great recommendation on the podcast: I picked up Manhattan Projects #1 and #2 and they're awesome. I found my next Chew.

May 4, 2012 2:25 pm I used to be extremely ticked and considered not buying Amazing Spider-man when they switched Todd McFarlane with a young Erik Larson in the 300's. At the time, both artists had a somewhat similar style (to me anyway). The switch seemed like a blatant attempt to continue ASM's success by subbing a "close but no cigar" amateur version of what was hot back then. Comics have done that from time to time. This was really bad. Eventually I grew to enjoy Larson's art and storytelling and get over McFarlane's poor writing. Whenever I see that jarring switch now... still disrupts the brain.

April 16, 2012 12:03 pm Ah, the mid to late-200s: a time when done-in-ones featured some really bizarre capers, editors showed they cared about readers by inviting them to solve the cases before the last page, murderous Bat villains commiting inventive crimes (sometimes eye-rolling, but still inventive), and cool deathtraps were still portrayed on the covers. Great reads and art all around.

April 11, 2012 3:00 pm No one freaked at the "Flash of Two Worlds." And the rest is history.

April 4, 2012 10:30 am As soon as you said "Ben Reilly," I remembered why I never read these: I had quit comics during this dark time (re: Reilly years). However, I do recall people talking about the battles enthusiastically. They were just plain fun as long as you didn't take them too seriously. I would be intrigued to see how today's writers and artists would repeat those two series. However, I doubt reader reaction would be as innocent since they would have the Internet in which to "share their feelings." I have to play old guy now (even though I'm not old) and say that the original meetings - the Marvel/DC Treasury Editions of Supes vs. Spidey, Batman vs. Hulk, Teen Titans and X-Men, etc., which inspired every concept of future meetings, were LEGENDARY. Talk about readers' wish fulfillment times one million!

March 14, 2012 9:30 pm The top comic movie posters have always been the ones with iconic characters using minimalist styles. People know these heroes since childhood. Just a tease or taste of them in a big poster is all they needed to get excited. Four great examples (my faves): Superman the Movie - no one had ever dreamed this movie could be done back then. The anticipation, even among non comic fans, was palpable. The flash of blue, red and yellow through the clouds with the S symbol told everyone... The world's greatest, 'original' superhero was coming to the big screen. Batman -Again, Marketing didn't need to show you anything about the movie besides the logo - Batman is coming! The logo-only teaser in black, and metallic looking, was so in-your-face, like Batman should be. People screamed when they saw this poster. I did every time I entered my room when I had it up. Freaked out the room mates every time. Spider-man - The original poster was an extreme close-up of Spidey's head and a hand clinging to a building, with all of New York in the background. Unfortunately the World Trade Center was reflected in his eyes and it had to go. The next version, the one above, was a great back-up. You didn't need to question anything about how great this movie would be, just seeing him there clinging to a building dozens of stories up. Batman Begins - Almost any BB or Dark Knight poster is great, but the first movie's poster of him with his head bowed, surrounded by bats, told the story perfectly. As said above, the photo montage of characters ruins a comic book movie poster completely. THey're just standing there, looking goofy. The Iron Man movie posters were horrible. Captain America "Avenge" poster with just Cap - good. Captain America with the cast - bad. Not even going to touch the Green Lantern movie issue.

March 13, 2012 6:06 pm Mike, you gotta get off the print doomsday rants. No offense but there are plenty of "good days" ahead of us. The reason why is the same aspect of comics that I remember most - to this day. It's the sheer joy and bright future which our comic icons have for the work they've done, what they do and what tomorrow's creators will do. Not an interview with Stan Lee goes by without someone asking about the future. He has always said that as long as we still have imagination and people want to be entertained, there will be comics, print included. Kirby, Romita, Thomas and dozens of others believe the same. Their enthusiasm then and now makes me feel awesome about my books today and everything I've read since childhood. By the way, IMO JMS didn't ruin Spiderman. As I understand it, it was editorial. Of course, if it was his idea that Gwen slept with Norman, I agree with you whole-heartedly.

March 12, 2012 2:09 pm Maybe it IS a crude move, but I feel more bored than offended. They've been pulling this type of campaign since it was an innocent and noteworthy example of attracting readers-- the "Who are the next Avengers?" silhouette campaign was incredible. Then came the Cap star poster, then the "4", and then the potshots at DC, so on and so forth. I don't care anymore. I didn't even relate it as a slam against the Shazam announcement. My first exposure to Mar-vell was The Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel. I've enjoyed his comics via Essentials since then, and understand how important this hero is (although in my opinion never seemed to mean a whole lot in his own series) in to the Marvel Universe. But as its been said above: I'll see it when I believe it. Civil War was a bad burn. I'm more excited to see Shazam! Want to let Marvel know how you feel? Don't buy the book.

March 11, 2012 7:27 pm Both Bendis and Marvel have shown BMB can and has written any number of books for both regular and Ultimate. Marvel just let him "cancel" Avengers to create yet another version, while he successfully pulled off the character switch of the century (Miles Morales) several months ago. This Spidermen could be ANYTHING. It does sound like some kind of team up book of all guys Spider-related. Sounds like it'll last 12 issues or less. However, my wildest guess? It is indeed a meeting between our Peter Parker and Miles. After all, there IS still a parallel universe in the Marvel world (where Squadron Supreme came from), as well as all those universes where the Reeds used to live. DC used to earn their bread and butter when their main characters traveled back and forth between universes. Somehow a gateway is created and the two team-up. They return a year later and the book chronicles what they did while they were away from earth(s).

March 5, 2012 11:32 am @sitara119: "i hope they play the mythology angle more like with wonder woman." Holy crap! What if Shazam turns out to be Diana's younger brother?! He's got Zeus' lightning powers (well, it's coming out of his hands in the promo art) and a lightning bolt on his chest. Just a wild theory of course, but one I would heartily accept!