Pick of the Week
What did the
iFanboy
community think?
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Story by Bill Willingham
Art by Mark Buckingham
Inks by Steve Leialoha & Andrew Pepoy
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Published by Vertigo/DC Comics | $2.99
I know that some of you are thinking, “It’s about damn time,” and I must say that I agree. As you know, I read a lot of comics, and I think I can honestly say that Fables is one of the top books out there, if not the best book on an ongoing basis. It comes out every month, with an exceptional quality of writing, steady and interesting artwork, and perhaps most importantly, every issue shows me something original. That’s all the more impressive when you consider that this book is made up of public domain characters whose stories have been told over and over again.
For some reason, I wasn’t dazzled by this book when it first came out. And within the first year, I stopped reading it. Then, about 6 months ago, I went back and dug out the issues I had, and gave them another chance. I did this largely because readers on this site convinced me that it was better than I’d remembered it. You were very right. I read the issues I had, and quickly caught up to the current issues with trades and some back issue hunting. By the time I got to the Homelands story, I was hooked, but Blue’s story in that book blew me away. Since then, I’m convinced that no one is making better comics than Willingham and Buckingham.
The last issue took us through the doomsday scenario for the Adversary’s destruction of Earth and those who live on it. It was imaginative and scary, and frighteningly well thought out. This time, we’re taken through how the humans would respond. Surprisingly, Willingham threw in a curve-ball, and painted the human race as competent and fierce fighters, who could even stand up to magical hordes. And this was the part that really made me like this issue. It would be so easy to say that humanity would be crushed by all these magical beings, but this book actually suggests that our own weaponry and technology would do pretty well against the Adversary’s armies. More importantly, the writer didn’t take the cynical approach, which would also be easy to do, and suggests that an invasion from an alternate world would only unite humanity (not unlike Independence Day really, but with less Robert Loggia and Bill Pullman), but it would bring us together. I’ll grant you that it is a simple notion, but I enjoyed reading it, and that he gave us some credit. If nothing else, Willingham impresses with his skill at imagining what would really happen in such a scenario, in vivid detail. I’m always impressed when a writer so fully renders the world he is creating. Reading this title really makes you feel like a lot of thought and care has gone into writing this book, and that the author truly loves playing in it.
I feel almost as if it often goes unsaid that the art on this book is a major factor in its success. From the unique page layouts with the side panels, to the range of tasks Buckingham is asked to portray, the pencils in this book deserve just as much credit as the script. In one book, there are impressive drawings of a modern army invasion, as well as tender moments between characters. He’s all over the map, but one bit is as good as the other. The facial expression work on Blue and Rose Red, in particular is incredibly expressive, and just so well done. Then he also draws a great A-10 Warthog, and very nice piles of rotting human corpses. The damn book has everything!
So I suppose that this is nothing new, and it’s been said many times before now, and by better reviewers than me, but Fables is a damn good book, and you’d be hard pressed to find anything out there which has been as consistently engaging, interesting, and entertaining as this title.
Did you read Fables #55? Add a comment and tell everyone what you think about this week’s comics!
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Feh, overrated.
Phonogram #3 was excellent this week!
Whoa, whoa, whoa… hold up here…
You mean Conor and Ron don’t read Fables at all? Or do they just not read it in the monthly format?
If it’s the former, I don’t know if we can be friends, guys.
Wait wait wait wait Did You just call Fables Overrated? Man you need to get your head examined
Geat review Josh, couldn’t agree more.
Great that you choose this one!
I have been wondering on Fables for a while, since many around the many boards suggest is good. I bought that .25 cent issue a couple o’ weeks ago and that did it, will get the tbp 1 as soon as my store gets it. Your review just seals the deal!
Bullet Points and Y are fighting it out as my pow so far. Have to read more tonight.
Fables is really great. I’m reading the trades though
The new Fables was fuckin awesome.
wait for it
FOR ME TO POOP ON!!!!!!!!
Reading the trades for Fables as I can afford them. What you said about not being dazzled by it at first is how I felt too. I think that first trade just wasn’t that good, especially for a first, because once you get past it, the book gets better and better! These current issues sound interesting.
I was going to complain about the lack of Y love, but I guess after looking through the past POWs, it’s been picked pretty often. Still, I hope the last issue is picked, because every month it seems to hit dead on.
And my dirty secret is I’ve been picking up Annihilation, and it’s silly but so much fun.
Phonogram #3 has the sole honor of being the first comic book to ever get a song stuck in my head.
Y’s had plenty of love. There’s hadly a book receommend more. But I thank for you checking the backlog. It’d probably get picked more, but the other two read it in trade. That being said, I’m not sure what happened in this issue. Was that the explanation for the gendercide? I really feel like most of the issues for the past year have been part of a whole, so the individual issues don’t stand out as much as they used to, making me less likely to pick them.
And let’s hand it to Ron (who really needs to make use of the smiley) for dumping on something he’s never read.
Why is Annihilation a dirty secret? It is a hell of a lot of fun and why else do we read comics other than to have fun? It isn’t a story about a deeply personal struggle against one’s inner demons, but a story with superheroes struggling against alien bugs. That can be well plotted and well written too. Don’t be snobs. There are comics that can be considered good writing and there are comics that are written well. For a scifi epic with alien bugs, exploding planets, and cosmic villains, Annihilation has been a great comic book and there is nothing wrong with an action story that titillates. As long as you balance it out with deep stuff somewhere else.
Dave’s right about Annihilation. Let your dork flag fly dude. Nothing wrong with fun. Only if it sucks.
Fables suffers for being as consistently good as it is; it’s one of those things everyone will take for granted until it’s gone. But not here!
I started reading Fables in the #40s but stopped when obviously significant things were happening that I wasn’t getting because I’d never heard of Bigby before. The first trade has been in my bag for a month now… and now everyone here is saying I have nothing to look forward to until #2 or so.
Is the Annihilation trade available for preorder yet? I’m going to ignore the fact that every character in the books is either unknown (Quasar) or boring (ugh, Silver Surfer, why?) to me. The book’s street team of advocates have done their job.
What a dissapointing week. 🙁
The thing about the start of Fables is that there’s a lot of legwork to be done. There are many many characters, and a lot of explaining to set the rules for the world. It can get a bit tedious, but I will say that the book really shines after you get a feeling for the characters. It just takes a little while to get there. After the fact though, it’s extremely satisfying.
So this Fables thing… its pretty good? Is there a trade or specific issue I could sample that would give me a good feel for the book. I’ll probably pick up thise issue, next week. It sounds like something I would like.
On the flip side of the fairy tale/fantasy coin, I picked up Wisdom this week and I did not enjoy it at all. It was quite random and I found it difficult to follow.
Dave
I think the general consensus on Fables is that you need to start at the beginning. I’m into setup and backstory so I thought the first trade was good. Apparently I’m in the minority. You really will have a hard time with the story if you don’t read it though. It’s really good. I wanted to dislike it because of the subject matter but I couldn’t. Yes I am an ass like that sometimes.
Yes, start from the beginning and go in order.
Love Fables!!
Glad to see it here on ifanboy. It has to be one of the best books out there.
Yeah, I can tell you this much: when I was a kid, obviously I couldn’t start Spider-Man and the X-Men from #1 and work my way forward, so I just jumped right in and figured it all out as I went along. I attempted to do that with Fables; I gave myself a year; at the end of that year I was enjoying it and getting the general idea, but there were still large chunks where I understood “what” but not “why.” My last issue had a wedding in it that I could tell was a huge payoff for some storyline from three years ago but which to me was just some guys doin’ some stuff. So I’m starting from scratch.
In many ways, I had this same problem with Invincible, which is also excellent.
None of this should be taken as anything other than an endorsement of the book. Fables is good. I’m Jimski, and I approved this message.
Okay, the Fred and Jimski seal of approval has sold me. The next trade I get will be the first Fables one. However I bought the first Invincible trade and it didn’t do anything for me so I didn’t go for the second one.
My last issue had a wedding in it
Ahh spoiler. Is it snow and bigby? don’t tell me i don’t want to know
Dave I was actually thinking more about the jumping on point and I asked myself if someone could read 1001 Nights of Snowfall without reading anything else and I’m going to say yes if you’re open minded. It’s a great story. Lots of origin and backstory type of stuff in there. BUT it is a little cutesy and if you are predisposed to not be into that and the actual maxiseries hasn’t worn you down and made you love it by then, you might not enjoy it. After trade #7 though no one that has made it that far wouldn’t enjoy 1001. Also it does feel better I think to have some mysteries solved after they’ve been around for awhile.
So I’m going to disagree with myself disagreeing with myself and say: start at 1 you’ll love it.
that was very life of brian. I apologize to anyone who cannot appreciate men impersonating women impersonating men
I bought the first Invincible trade and it didn’t do anything for me so I didn’t go for the second one.
I haven’t read any of that yet either. I’ve heard such good things. It really isn’t that great?
are they a big furry family now? dammit nevermind I don’t want to know
You see that’s an indication of how good this book is. I love spoilers. I always want to know. If somebody was like hey Fred I just read Civil War 7, do you want to know what happened? I would say hell yes. With Fables I stick my fingers in my ears and say ‘la la la’ because I want to see how they get there not just where there is.
I haven’t read any of that yet either. I’ve heard such good things. It really isn’t that great?
It’s the best book there is.
See, I was worried about Fables being cutesy, which I don’t like. I think the book seems like it will be cutesy, but then it’s really not. It can be quite gruesome.
I can’t understand why you didn’t like Invincible, but you’re not in the majority. Best superhero book being done today. Perhaps we built it up too much?
Finally, I get what you’re saying about just jumping on, but ongoing comics from the big 2 are not the same as many modern comics, which are built to be one big story doing reveals over time. I remember picking up Preacher #49, and just thinking, this is stupid. It’s that episodic TV thing.
that’s exactly what I mean. Conor, and many others, say it’s the best ever and Dave, and many others, says its eh
what’s the deal with it? I’m not even sure I have much background on the concept or anything. I live under a rock where only news reports about strange girl, impaler, and (look for it soon) drain permeate.
Not everyone can like everything. Sometimes you just have to take a bite for yourself.
Finally, I get what you’re saying about just jumping on, but ongoing comics from the big 2 are not the same as many modern comics, which are built to be one big story doing reveals over time. I remember picking up Preacher #49, and just thinking, this is stupid. It’s that episodic TV thing.
That’s completely true. I’ve had this conversation many times with people about why superhero books are good and why ‘other/indie style(even if they aren’t really)’ type are good.
I think that the strength of the superhero book is that there are many stories told over an infinite timeline. For example, Wolverine has had 250 or so of his own book if you add up all the different volumes.(This of course says nothing of the 5 other books a month he sometimes appears in) It’s not really that important where you jump on. Of course some spots are better than others but there is enough backtrack and exposition that you usually can get that he’s a mutant with a healing factor and razor sharp claws. It’s not important that you read the Frank Miller mini from ’82ish, although you should because it does kick ass.
In contrast, the other style of book usually lasts a certain number of issues over a finite timeline. This is good because they can use it to tackle one or two good stories and possibly because of the focused nature say something concrete about life. This is kind of harder in superhero books where stories that last longer than 12 issues get the love that the clone saga does. The thing that superhero books have over them is that in 20 years there still will be Wolverine to read and it will likely be monthly. The same can’t necessarily be said about Speedball or anything but I think we should only compare the higher ends of each anyway. The other way that they have it over on the other book is that you usually have to read all of the run of an ‘other’ book from the beginning because of the nature of the number of stories that they will tell.
It really for me is probably 6 on one and half a dozen on the other but they are definitely different in approach and accessibility.
I felt Invincible was good, but not great. I already read a lot of comics I think are good and more at that level isn’t attractive to me. I might pick up the second trade if it is at a library near me or if it is marked down at a Con. There are too many trades I want to buy and I am not going to stick around on something that doesn’t really impress me. However if you guys desperately need more money from Kirkman, maybe I’ll buy the second trade as much for the site as for myself.
Let your dork flag fly dude.
Like how you put it, Josh. I’m not saying I’m ashamed of Annihilation. It’s just in light of what everyone’s saying about how great Fables is, it’s not even on the same level. It’s just pure fun, like an action movie; it’s not going to win any awards, but I’m still going to throw down full price for it.
I skipped over all the stuff about Fables for fear of spoilers, but I saw something about furries. Is someone considered a furry if they knock boots with a fictional anthropomorphic animal? I guess what else would you call it? And why did that catch my eye, of all things?
“I felt Invincible was good, but not great”
Invincible is the one ifanboy recommendation that has missed for me. I read the first trade and really didn’t think it was anything special at all. Honestly, I finished it so quickly and it was so light that I had felt like I didn’t get my money’s worth.
I remember us talking about how Vertigo was in a slump only like six months ago, but I still love Y and Fables, and now I’m hooked on DMZ. But since I read them all in trade, I tend to forget about them. Has anyone read Exterminators? I hear lots of good things about that and American Virgin. Y’know, with Becky’s art.
As for superheroes this week, I loved Batman. Morrison’s take on him in JLA was my favorite, and I like the big, bombastic superhero take on him here. All Batman comics should be so fun to read. 52 had some great moments, too. I’m kind of sad about the Question. And the Ralph/Jean Loring confrontation was one of those things I didn’t even know I thought had to happen, but it was well written.
My pow, though, would have been Dr. Strange. BKV at it again. I liked the flirting with Night Nurse, the retelling of the origin (man, was Dr. Strange an ass!), and the cute Ditko/Otkid type references to the past. I’ve some people get down on the art, but I loved it. I thought it was dynamic, particularly the “camera” angles. Sometimes the facial expressions are a little on-the-nose, but works with the tone of the story.
Fred, I agree with what you said about superhero vs. “other” books, and I think that it’s a big part of the problem with other types of books becoming popular in comics today. Superheroes lend themselves to the monthly issue format, whereas others, like Fables, Sandman, Y, and such, have to be read as part of a greater story. I’ve heard that Vertigo mainly sells through trades, which is good, but when the life of your book is determined by monthly sales, this can be a huge problem. Really great series are cancelled before they can even see the light of day. And sometimes even trades aren’t enough to see the true scope of a book. As a result, such stories have to give way to the tried and true episodic superhero books. It’s an issue that is slowly being addressed, but I’d be interested in seeing books with true potential maybe going straight to trade or even as a larger collection. However, from a commercial standpoint, I don’t know how viable this is for companies.
If nothing else, Vertigo is very good at letting a series go on long enough to see how well it sells in trades before yanking the plug. The thing is, we’re lucky that there are both kinds of books out there. I really dig the long involved stories, but I recognize, they’re not too full of “jump-on” points.
I can’t fathom the Invincible dislike! I don’t remember where the first trade left off, but I do know that the story gets very intense down the road, and I can’t put it down.
But to each their own.
American Virgin. Y’know, with Becky’s art.
American Virgin is great. DMZ is also great. Y and Fables yet again are great. I have yet to read the Exterminators. Loveless is a piece of dump, I dropped it after 9 or 10. The first 4 or 5 were good and then completely sucked. 100 Bullets I dropped but I’ll probably pick trades for the rest of it as it doesn’t lend itself to the monthly format.
“See, I was worried about Fables being cutesy, which I don’t like… but then it’s really not.”
This is one of the things that impresses me most about Fables – it’s a premise that could very easily be over-indulgent, playing on sight gags and all the surface-level fun that can be had bringing these characters together. Like, say, Shrek 2. But instead, it just uses what we know about the characters as a starting point, and then develops them into different and, most importantly, three-dimensional characters.
I do think it is the best book going. I read it in TPBs (vol. 7 should be arriving today, in fact) and I loved it from Volume 1.
I think the POW from my measly stack would be Bullet Points. It was a pretty light week for me so it’s easy to stand on top, but I really did enjoy it. The art was good, and I really liked the characterization of Steve Rogers.
I’m also reading Y in trade form, so I can’t wait for the next one to come out.
Great review! I’m always looking for reviews that sell me on a book, and while I did read FABLES when it first came out I stopped, too. I’ve picked up the first two trades and picked up the recent hardcover (still haven’t read it though) and I can’t figure out why I ever stopped. I don’t think this is a series that needs to be picked up from the first issue, but it doesn’t hurt. I think its a good idea to ease yourself into this series though. If you’re curious about the series, pick up the first two trades.
As far as other books this week, I think ANNIHILATION #4 is a good read. Its one of about 3-4 Marvel books I’m reading. If you’re into the cosmic aspects of Marvel I’d be sure to pick this series up.
Other books of note – STORMWATCH PHD #1 is a good book. I’m not sold on it yet, but of all the recent relaunch/revamp Wildstorm books I’d rate this one around the top (higher than WILDCATS and GEN13). I missed PHONOGRAM #3 at my local shop so I’ll be hunting for it around town, but this is a suprise hit for me. I don’t normally read books like this and I’ve really enjoyed it. I either heard about it for the first time here or one of those “other” comic podcasts. Glad I did though.
“what’s the deal with it? I’m not even sure I have much background on the concept or anything.”
Fred, I’m with you – Invincible is one iFanboy recommendation I haven’t taken because I don’t have a sense of what is good about it, and hence, whether it’s something I’d like or not.
Hmmm…this might make a good podcast question…
Fred, I’m with you – Invincible is one iFanboy recommendation I haven’t taken because I don’t have a sense of what is good about it, and hence, whether it’s something I’d like or not.
I’m not even sure that I know any of the background on it, it’s not even like I haven’t heard enough of what’s good about it, I’ve only heard that it’s good. What is the story about? Who writes it? How many issues? I can’t answer any of these questions and I was just kind of fishing hoping that somebody would fill me in so that I could decide to try it or not.
I think the POW from my measly stack would be Bullet Points.
I’m right there with you. I thought it was great and the way it tied in all of the previous existing events with new characters was awesome. I don’t want to ruin it for anyone but
BULLET POINTS SPOILERS
****************************************
having steve rogers turn into ironman was really cool because it said something about steve rogers. Basically I took from it that Steve Rogers became Captain America because he was Steve Rogers, not because he had the serum. Sure the serum made it possible, but Steve made it happen. Know what I mean? Like they could’ve injected the Super Soldier Serum into 500,000 troops and they still would’ve only gotten 1 Captain America because Steve had the heart and the sense of duty that seperated him from the rest.
Also cool but maybe not as profound, was Peter Parker seemingly becoming the Hulk. This was really cool because the hulk and spoder-man have seemingly parallel genetic mutation types of power origin and it was like fate drew him into it. It was like jms was saying that if he hadn’t been genetically altered by a spider then something else would’ve done it because it was to be his role in life to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
Basically what I took from it as a whole was that jms was saying that all of the heroes of the marvel u are special for one reason or another and that mere circumstance wouldn’t stop that. He could take it even further and make tony stark, who wasn’t always a fascist asshole, become another of the great heroes. For instance, Stark Industries rediscovers the super soldier serum and he becomes captain america.
Have I just ascribed way too much meaning into a glorified what if mini? Maybe but I think I’m right.
very long winded today
Fred, do you have a job?
I hadn’t realized we’d been so spotty with Invincible. Perhaps we’ll do a refresher course.
yes i’m there now
I’m a computer programmer so I spend the whole day on the computer. Whenever I need a brief break I pop in and talk some random shit about whatever’s in my mind at the time.
When I started from scratch with Invincible (again, I gave it a year before finally going, “All right, who the f### is that girl? Am I supposed to know that guy, or is he new? I surrender”) I read the hardcover. I suspect that’s why I liked it so much: I have a feeling the first trade probably ended before the pulse-pounding, senses-shattering shock twist that I’d already ruined by reading #24 first.
(Did you ever actually read “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”? In the original book,the fact that they’re the same guy is the surprise twist ending. History has, oh, let’s say diminished its impact somewhat.)
What impressed me about Invincible was the way Kirkman and Ottley told the story. It was amazing to me how they’d manage to get from point A to point C within the span of one chapter without leaning heavily on exposition. I kept thinking, “Wow, a lot just happened… and it built from here to there without even calling attention to itself.”
I smile every single time I read the phrase “Stormwatch PHD.” Worst postgraduate program ever.
I was amused by the Stormwatch PHD title too. How the hell did they come up with that? I’ve been burned by Wildstorm too much lately to read it and find out myself. Maybe they were like Stormwatch hmm needs an acronym. Then they wrote a bunch of acronyms on pieces of paper and taped them to a dartboard. Stay with me. Then they sharped jim lee’s head and tossed him at it and he landed on phd. which is good because it probably is better than stormwatch std or stormwatch nambla
So glad to see Fables as the POW. Such a deserving book. It is my favorite monthly book at the moment.
I love Vertigo books. For my money, they are the best thing going. There is no way they are in a slump right now. My current pulls from Vertigo include:
Fables – plenty has already been said
Jack of Fables – If you like Fables, you’ll like Jack. Same feel and similar art, just focusing on Jack. The first arc just finished and it was awesome.
YTLM
DMZ – My favorite Brian Wood book
Exterminators – started out slow but I’m loving it now – the art is awesome
100 Bullets – Definitely reads better in trades but I can’t wait that long
Loveless – I can see why people don’t like this book. It is very confusing as it jumps around in time like mad and it is difficult to tell what is happening now vs. in the past. Nevertheless, I like it.
The Other Side – Not totally sold yet but I am still on board
American Virgin – Great concept and great art. The storylines haven’t quite lived up to the promise yet, although they are still pretty interesting. It is still good enough to buy for now
Testament – A little confusing a la Loveless but very intelligent stories. Great art too.
Not to mention one of my favorite books of the last 5 years – Losers. The story has ended but the trades are still out there. Andy Diggle and Jock were perfect on this book.
OK, switching gears. I am kind of ehh on Invincible too. I bought the 1st HC that had the first 12 or 13 issues and blew through it in a day. It was fine, but it didn’t make me want to rush out and buy volume 2. I didn’t have any particular problems with it – the art was cool and the story was OK. I just wasn’t that blown away.
And now Annihilation. I am super bored with this book. But I think that is more because I don’t dig the cosmic stuff. I thought I did, but I am realizing that I don’t. The series is packed with action and battles, but I find myself very uninterested in the whole thing. I’ll finish it, but I’m not expecting too much.
Yeah, vol.1 of Invincible TPB is not a great trade to read to get a feel for the series; it is all set-up, and the pay off doesn’t come till vol. 2. I’d reccommend reading the Hard Cover, vol.1 of the TPB is basically half an arc.
Glad other people agree that Bullet Points was a great read, hopefully one of the ifanboy trio picked it up.
I get no love for stormwatch nambla? Come on, that’s just funny
Actually, from the little I’ve read of Authority, “Stormwatch NAMBLA” sounds almost appropriate. It didn’t, like, out-Preacher Preacher or anything (I don’t get to use that one nearly often enough) but it was definitely “edgy.”
i don’t think i read one bad book this week. even stormwatch std was pretty enjoyable.
It didn’t, like, out-Preacher Preacher or anything
Well then I’m out. I only want to read things with orgies, drug use, and anal sex.
Fred:
I totally agree with you about everything you said about Bullet Points. They really showed that it’s Steve Rogers that makes the hero, not the serum.
I’m excited to see what other permutations they come up with.
Part 2 of Jim Lee interview posted months early
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=90535
they kind of hammer him again on the lateness thing. Worth checking out it’s kind of amusing.
Bullet Points was really good and you know I almost didn’t buy it. It wasn’t on my list it was a gametime decision
also on the jim lee thing
the interviewer pretty much calls him out on how much all star batman sucks with specific examples
Okay, I know this is old by about a week or so, but I picked up Justice League of America #3 and I thought it was really good. Better than the second one, even.
My question then is why does nobody like this title? Am I missing something here? Was there bad characterization (sp?), or something? What?
POW: Batman #658, no questions, having received a subscription to this book, I probably shouldn’t have even bought it, but the cover and the sheer appeal of owning the last part of Morrison’s first arc just wouldn’t let me wait the week or so it�ll take DC to get it to me(in really bad condition I might add.)I also grabbed Criminal #2 (amazing) Dr. Strange: the Oath #2 (gotta love the BKV cliff-hangers) and Annihilation #4 (Drax the Destroyer is the coolest cosmic Marvel character, hands down!)
All and all, this was an amazing week.
Oh yeah, Michael, I’m totally with you on JLA, I think that it flat-out rocks and now that the “Big Three” are done chatting things can only get better. But why do people dislike it? If I had to guess I’d say that it’s the novel;-esque slow build, frankly I could care less. (The art is great too!)
I’m enjoying JLA as well – but as for this week, it’s been pretty underwhelming. I guess I’m in the minority in thinking Bullet Points was just okay. I dig Edwards’ art and the Steve Rogers characterization was good, but the framing devices and writing was cloying in parts – the opening fluff about bullets, overplaying the historical angles and that “timing is everything” cliche. I’m on the fence for picking up #2.
Batman also left me flat. I don’t even know why I’m still reading the Eternals – it just kinda happened.
52 would be my PotW, the Montoya/Question story was great as always, and even a little poignant. Plus a religion of crime is, like, the coolest idea ever. Next best was a tie between Dr. Strange and the Dr. 13 back-up in Tales of the Unexpected – this guy needs his own ongoing, comic book or animated. Absurdly fun.
Fables?
I’m reading Queen & Country.
“Has anyone read Exterminators? I hear lots of good things”
Exterminators is the best book vertigo have done in a long time. Its hard to believe that this is Simon Oliver’s debut in comics its so well written and Tony Moore’s art is absolutely fantastic. I think the best thing about vertigo is there ease of access to new readers. Almost all of the first trades are low priced giving you a perfect chance to see if the series is really for you and now you can also read every first issue out of vertigo online for free http://www.dccomics.com/news/?nw=6186 I haven’t read my books yet this week. On my way to the comic in a minute.
Fables?
I’m reading Queen & Country.
So, just the one book then?
i love you, josh. i really do.
you FINALLY PICKED FABLES.
you are so sexy.
i also have to agree with daved. exterminators is REALLY REALLY GOOD.
but its no fables.
GOD JOSH YOU FINALLY PICKED FABLES YOU ARE HOT
Alan Moore is doing an episode of the Simpsons
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=90598
Fables is excellent story telling. It is also the book that got my wife to start reading comics.
I know its been mentioned before, but I highly recommend checking your local library for trades. I just got back into comics this year. I read all the trades of Fables and Invincible with the exception of the recent ones from the library. Had I not become so hooked on the stories, I probably could have waited for the latest trades to reach the library before buying them, but the stories are so good that I had to have them immediately.
This is the degree to which I extol the virtues of Fables. I usually have my hold list at the library full of trades. That means for the last six months I’ve read dozens of trades for free from the library. Fables is the only series I read that I want…rather need…to own so I can reread at any point.
As a dropped the latest issue of Batman next to the toilet where I sat, I thought, chin pressed to hands, elbows in lap, “this is for sure the pick of the week.” A surprise, then, that I see Fables in the top right corner. Fables is one of my favorites, though I only read it in trade.
I bought Gen13 2 just to spite you guys, and, let me tell you, vengeance is never a good reason to buy a comic. While it’s not bad, (The dialogue has a nice tanginess to it)I swear I’ve seen this plot 864 times before. It doesn’t offer me anything new. Yawn to the fourth power.
I was actually surprised by Stormwatch: DAP, although I could have used more Winter and Fuji and less Micah Wright rejects. Plus, they killed Blademaster! Effers!
–Always off-topic—
But Ron was right…Jim lee is going down and is making sure he takes Frank Miller with it.
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=90408
‘haven’t read fables. I usually try everything you iFanboys recommend (even some goofy DC stuff). But I have read exterminator though. It is good. Toney Moore was doing the art on fear agent as well. Although exterminators is good, Fear Agent is better to me. I think Toney want The Exterminators to succeed more because he gets more change for it. Just a guess.
Well when I dropped Batman #658 by my toilet, I was wondering why I just didn’t drop it in. What THE F happened?? This was the conclusion of this story right? Can you imagine how pissed off you would be if you bought a trade paperback of this arc and this is what you got? I guess I just had it built up way too much! I read Fables in trade as I’ve noticed a lot of people doing, so I just ask that the podcast not give anything away on this one. I really enjoy JLA and I can’t believe anyone would disagree. Ok thanks I’m done.
iFanboy
I would disagree about JLA. This book has no teeth! People laugh about Batman & Robin spending an entire arc in the Batmobile in ASB&R, and they should be doing the same thing about the Big Three sitting at a table for DCs biggest launch of the year.
Yeah, but Meltzer is a novelist. This is a 12 part story. We’re still in act one. This might not be your taste, but I can assume the action is coming, but he’s building towards it. And that doesn’t bother me for some reason, although I realize I’m the minority.
Okay..
Fables. Start in the forties because of the hype. And read it in chunks of three of four books up to current. Sure it is fine. But damn, it has taking me this long just to get into it. Still not to excited about it. I prefer DMZ over Fables, in the sense of war and its cost. I just don’t feel the weight of it all in the fairy tale land. But I do so much enjoy the killing of witches. Whatta a bad ass that Hansel is.. ha.
Exterminators.
Great book. I gotta hand it to the ol’ Lao Tzu quoting shotgun-toting vegetarian and the losers. I have liked this book from the start plus the art is great. A fun ride.
And now I have to say this:
Deadman. I need to state, “I am not a fan of Donnie Darko.” But this book is like donnie-deadman. If you enjoyed Memento and like David Lynch, and can over look some markered up coloring over simplified art it may be worth reading. I just read the first three issues this morning. I enjoy the hell outta it. You may just need to read it in the lot like that.
And also you need to take this from someone who grew up on Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing. Yeah, I said it.. I grew up on that. It wasn’t Spidey, or Supe’s. But Alan Moore’s Swampy. My comic shop kows that, and gives me there apologies every week.. ha.
That is my Veritgo rant.
“100 Bullets I dropped but I’ll probably pick trades for the rest of it as it doesn’t lend itself to the monthly format.”
Dropped it once myself, but picked up a trade for a plane ride. Now I can’t wait for the new trades. I think it can really only be read in trade. I find that book more about mood than anything else, and once I’m in the Azzarello-Risso universe, I am captivated.
“Yeah, but Meltzer is a novelist. This is a 12 part story. We’re still in act one. This might not be your taste, but I can assume the action is coming, but he’s building towards it. And that doesn’t bother me for some reason, although I realize I’m the minority.”
I can’t believe this isn’t the most popular book out there. It’s exactly what I wanted from a JLA book. Each of the characterizations seems dead on to me. I really like how Meltzer seems to be taking bits and pieces from the best of all the other JLA runs and tying them togther. I’m not a big fan of the Benes art (to over-drawn), but the story blows me away. I don’t think I’ve ever read a superhero team-book where the writer immediately captures the voice of the characters so distinctively. I don’t even need the colored background in the narration to know who is speaking. Just awesome.
Still working on my stack, but I just finished Bullet Points. Best one so far. And holy hand-lettering! Haven’t seen that in a mainstream book in a while. And I really enjoyed the art.
One beef I had with it–on the opening page, when it’s talking about a bullet, it includes its casing in the description, as if it stays with the projectile once the round is fired. Just thought it was more than just a slight inaccuracy.
Rundown of what else I’ve read: 52 was very good as always, with bringing back up Jean Loring and whatnot. The first half of GL looked really good (the Bosnia flash back part), but I was less intrigued with the cliffhanger. We’ll see. Batman was good (of course we can’t be convinced that his son and Talia are dead, can we…), but I enjoyed Superman more. I didn’t think I would for most of the book, but 1) Pacheco kicks my ass, and 2) the cliffhanger was great. And what else have I read so far?
Anyway, looking forward to the podcast. I tried Augie’s “Box Office Poisson” joke to my girlfriend, but it took too much explaining (and not enough French). Go read more Duck books.
Hey guys, thanks for talking up Phonogram again. I wasn’t going to make any prints of the covers, but people keep going ON and ON and ON at me about it, so maybe, geez, I dunno, I might.
The artist on Ultimates 3 will be Joe Madureia (however it’s spelled), Ed Mcguinness doesn’t start until Ultimates vol. 4 I think.
Okay, I have been completely against starting up on Fables, I have no reason for why, just that it is what it is and I have not had an interest in these ‘Fables’ since I was knee high to a V Bottle, something about them being based in ‘reality’ made no sense to me…. but I keep hearing good things about it, and still nothing. Every time I go into my comic store I see the same aging dusty comic-condom covered trade with the the pealing price tag that is Fables – Ledgends In Exile $49.95….
Today, after listening to Conor and Ron completely dismiss it for the same reasons that I have yet to pick it up really struck a chord, I have been pety, biased and above all a hypocrite. Here I am, a comic enthusiast in a country so full of artistic talent yet 99% hate the idea of a comics (at least openly), trying to tell people to pick up comics and give them a go, here I am saying these things…. yet I have been completely against picking this up…
Today I am borrowing a car, putting some fuel in it, ringing my comic store and telling them to put this decaying pile of pages wrapped in plastic aside for me, then I am driving an hour and a half to pick up this comic, this Trade Paper Back… I will put aside my malingerer ways and read this comic, because I have seen what I sound like when people recommend this too me, and it is not pretty…
This had better be good. 😉
It’s Madureira. And I KNEW that it wasn’t McGuiness! We need a fact checker! Thanks Chris.
I can’t believe that that blood bath that was my review of Fables got a new reader. Like I said, it does take a while to get invested in the characters, but then, BAM, you can’t get enough. It happens very suddenly. You’ve got to get through like 2 years worth to get there though.
Not sure if it was the review, or the complete defiance of them to give it a shot…. but I’ll be leaving as soon as a car arrives for me, and then I’ll see what it’s like…
Not sure if it was the review, or the complete defiance of them to give it a shot..
Just so you know, it wasn’t so much irrational defiance of the book on the show this week. It’s mostly just pushing Josh’s buttons, which is fun to do. 😉 I’d read it.
Misanthropes unite. I hope by all that is good. Luke it works out. And that means you can make up your mind how it was. Let us know….
Because that is how I feel about the the book. By I was taken in and decided to check it out. Of course starting in the late numbers I don’t have the build-up to the current arc. So I am less than enthused. Interested… yes. Excited.. not too much.
Hey guys, thanks for talking up Phonogram again. I wasn’t going to make any prints of the covers, but people keep going ON and ON and ON at me about it, so maybe, geez, I dunno, I might.
Jamie – I can guarantee that if you did, I would probably buy the complete set.
email me if you do. 🙂
Okay, so I’ve only had a chance to read the first 2 issues, but so far it is rather interesting, I really like the line art, but so far the colouring isn’t catching my eye too much, very bland colouring and just seems ‘slightly’ off :/ Really well written and I feel like there is a huge and rich history with the characters, they way they talk and interact with eachother is really well done, nice basic cliff hangers in those first 2 aswell, that have me wanting to read the next one, but I still feel as thou I could drop it and not have lost anything.
Anyway, I’m enjoying it so far, and hopefull the rest of the tpb will be more enjoyable; I’ve borrowed the 2nd and 3rd tpb’s from my mate who works at the comic store, so if I enjoy those I’ll order in some new and the next ones when I return them.
Prince Charming is a Royal Dick.
Just to stress that the only reason I was listening to Shatners rather than the original was that I was writing THOSE scenes in a place where there wasn’t a copy of Pulp’s to hand.
(My parent’s internetless house in Stafford, to be precice, when I was last visiting)
I like ’em both, but clearly Pulp’s is superior.
Thanks for the chat, gentlemen. ALSO! Read Fables. Really, when it gets into gear – circa March of the Wooden Soldiers, it’s about as good a fantasy story as you can wish for.
Could do with some early Shed Seven B-sides though, obviously.
KG
Great episode, despite any tech difficulties. I’d blame Ron for throwing everything off…
I’m really enjoying Phonogram as well, even though I have almost no connection to Britpop. The characters just remind me of people I know that are into all different kinds of music and act the same. And I really like how McKelvie adds the glossary to explain references so that ignorant people like myself can gain the full experience. I really like how the book creates a whole new experience for the comic book reader and uses something like music in a way that I don’t think any other visual medium could. The last scene was the funniest I’ve read in a while!
Incidently I kind of feel that people who think the book is about showing how “cool” Kohl is, or we are, are bringing their own prejudices to it. We’d rather people use the book to discover new music and share our experiences, than throw it up as a barrier that divides “us” and “them”.
Also, anyone who thinks we think Kohl is “cool”, hasn’t really read the book. 😀
And I really like how McKelvie adds the glossary to explain references so that ignorant people like myself can gain the full experience.
Jamie McKelvie’s the artist. Kieron Gillen’s the writer.
Also, anyone who thinks we think Kohl is “cool”, hasn’t really read the book. 😀
Having not read the whole story yet, I don’t know if it’s possible for us to know who is supposed to be the hero yet. I was tending to think of Kohl as a jerk, but still the protagonist of the story we’re supposed to root for. It’s also possible that some of the subtleties of the text are more obvious to a British reader than an American one. Just a thought.
Josh, way to hang in there while Ron and Conor took it to you for picking Fables. Don’t you think that it’s worth mentioning that anyone who likes Hal Jordan and/or Aquaman (sans Boston accent), or who picked X-Men: The End:: Men and X-Men #1 have forfeited the right to mock others tastes? 😉
Okay, I thought the first trade of Invincible was blah, but you guys have convinced me to try the second. I just checked and it is at my local library. I have books that need to go back this week. I will pick up the second trade then. That means I will have to go into the “teen” graphic novel section, but I don’t think I am as creepy as Conor sounds so I shouldn’t get any weird looks.
I knew I was going to regret passing on Bullet Points. What was I thinking picking up Wisdom instead?
… and/or Aquaman (sans Boston accent)…
It’s a Maine accent. It’s different!
Having not read the whole story yet, I don’t know if it’s possible for us to know who is supposed to be the hero yet. I was tending to think of Kohl as a jerk, but still the protagonist of the story we’re supposed to root for.
Oh, absolutely. But none of that makes him “cool”. He’s a very flawed human being.
Ah, forgive the ignorance.
Imagine how much better Superfriends would have been if Aquaman had a Maine accent! Speaking of SF, you guys ever seen these?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mhbxlz_wrI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdZ4JgGm2p4
Jamie McKelvie’s the artist. Kieron Gillen’s the writer.
I’m happy to take all the credit, it’s not like Kieron deserves it.
Oops, sorry about the jacked-up post.
Fixed.
Eddie VanHalen, Jimi Hendrix, and TOM MORELLO?!
Eddie VanHalen, Jimi Hendrix, and TOM MORELLO?!
Name me a more sonically innovative electric guitar player from the last 10-15 years! And I mean a mainstream artist, not some innovator no one has heard of.
Hey
You can tell if a book is in the Wildstorm universe by the logo on the book. It’s really confusing because they all pretty much look the same but they have the text of the different categories incorporated into the logo. There is Wildstorm, Wildstorm Universe, and Wildstorm Signature. Regular titles like Ninja Scroll and Nightmare on Elm Street are on Wildstorm. Gen 13, Wildcats, etc are on Wildstorm Universe. Ex Machina is on Wildstorm Signature. What makes something signature as oppossed to Wildstorm? No idea. The Wildstorm U designation is pretty obvious though.
Tom Morello is definitely in that list.
Ron called us on that Wildstorm thing immediately when he heard what happened without him. It’s why we need him. I wonder how many listeners we’ll have when we decided we need to actually check the facts on stuff.
I name the guy from Rage Against the Machine. That guy’s pretty good.
Tom Morello.
That IS the guy from Rage Against the Machine. Ha, that is great.. I love it. Abide-on Dude.. abide-on.
Wow, who did you think I meant?
this is all a joke right? everybody knows who tom morello is? i’m confused and i want my mommy
I was pretty sure that Ron’s sideburns would win. Thanks for the confirmation though.
Good podcast as always, except maybe for that horrible phone call with all the static.
There’s just some unreasonable Fables hate on the podcast. I do love that Pulp song. Never heard the Shatner version before your podcast. Interesting…
I defy you to list one quote from the show from someone who hates Fables!
It cannot be done!
🙂
tom morello
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Morello
the article has a lengthy background, it’s kind of scary actually.
He is an innovator for a lot of reasons. The quote unquote kill switch is a great example. He would use a guitar with two pickups with distinct volume knobs and toggle back and forth between them to create sounds that really haven’t come from guitars before. It’s genius and such an awesome sound.
I’m glad to see that Conor liked Bullet Points. I’d be interested to see if Ron bought it and what he thinks of it. I’d also like to know if Josh plans on picking it up.
I think DC did bullet points better with the Nail.
Yeah, its a joke. I just wanted to start an argument of some sort.
That guy from Nirvana was pretty good, though…
Kinda backfired on you. Comic fans be some literate motherfuckers.
yeah..well.. whatever.
The guy from Staind is better anyway.
Why does Led Zeppelin spell their name wrong, and I don’t care, but when Staind do it, I hate them all the more?
“Look! I learned 2 chords! Let’s start a band! Call Fred!”
Why does Led Zeppelin spell their name wrong, and I don’t care, but when Staind do it, I hate them all the more?
Snobbery? 😉
Some of it is taste, and some things just suck.
Fucking Staind? Suck.
That guy from Nirvana was pretty good, though
Nirvana’s music is great. They are probably my favorite band of all time. I wouldn’t include them on any list though as musically talented innovators. They definitely had a huge impact on all of the music that came after them and their music is great but it’s not like Kurt Cobain was a gifted guitarist or that anyone in the band was musically talented either. It was the vocals and the way they put everything together. It was new and raw and true, not pretty.
Why does Led Zeppelin spell their name wrong, and I don’t care, but when Staind do it, I hate them all the more?
Staind do really suck. Whenever I think of them I wonder when Aaron Lewis is going to kill himself. He’s just such a fucking whiner. And you eh eh, bring me to my knees shut up asshole nobody cares you’re a fake kill yourself
Kurt Cobain kills himself, a whole generation of young people mourn
Aaron Lewis kills himself, I celebrate.
do it do it
Snobbery? 😉 It’s not snobbery. Led Zeppelin earned the right to spell their name, or anything else for that matter, however they want.
Staind has earned nothing but my disdain.
Struck a nerve here
Staind as a band name just feeds into my misgivings about them from the perspective of how lets say genuine they are. They’re just fucking posers, which I refuse to spell with a ‘u’. It’s all like we’re so sad. We’re stained by life. I’m broken and tainted. buy my album make me rich because I’m like you and my life sucks too. waaaaaaaaah my pussy hurts
shut up
Led Zeppelin earned the right to spell their name, or anything else for that matter, however they want.
That makes absolutely no sense.
I just wanted to start an argument of some sort.
Sorry to oblige so thoroughly. As you may have noticed Staind kind of set me off.
It’s just good for all of us that nobody mentioned My Chemical Romance. That would’ve gotten ugly
That makes absolutely no sense.
As one of the greatest bands of all time, they are forgiven for trivial things like having a mispelled name.
They weren’t the greatest band of all-time when they picked the name.
And I wasn’t aware we were talking about The Beatles… 😉
Never heard the Shatner version before your podcast
That whole album is wonderfully terrible. Download, er, buy it today and you will laugh your ass off.
It never even approaches a point that anyone would consider good but it is amusing
It never even approaches a point that anyone would consider good but it is amusing
Okay, NOW it’s on… 🙂
They weren’t the greatest band of all-time when they picked the name.
Right and if they sucked I would be the first one to say what assholes they were for the stupid pretentious name. We’re so good that we have our own version of English.
And I wasn’t aware we were talking about The Beatles… 😉
I wasn’t trying to say that they were the greatest of all time, but they are amongst the greatest. Each decade from the 50s forward, and probably before but for christ’s sake i’m only 27, has had at least one artist or band that has indelibly left a mark on everything that came after: Elvis, The Beatles, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, Sex Pistols, Grandmaster Flash(yes I plan to get shit for this one), and Nirvana. It remains to be seen, at least for me, whose impact will be felt after this decade.
Okay, NOW it’s on… 🙂
I stand by it. It’s a trainwreck that you can’t look away from.
Ha dinner with Brad Meltzer for a paltry $305
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll…m=330049496520
Right and if they sucked I would be the first one to say what assholes they were for the stupid pretentious name. We’re so good that we have our own version of English.
When they picked that name they were nobody. You can’t earn the right to pick a misspelled name when you haven’t done anything, is my point.
I wasn’t trying to say that they were the greatest of all time, but they are amongst the greatest.
If you think they were they greatest band of all time, say it! Don’t back track. Stick to your guns. No one is right here, it’s all opinions.
Except for me, I’m right. 🙂
If Nirvana hadn’t broken through and made heavy, angst-y music commercially viable, Staind prolly wouldn’t have even existed. I guess you just have to take the brilliant with the god-awful.
Essay Question: Is the mid-to-late nineties rise of Nu-Metal related at all to the simultatenous decline in the quality of comics? Did everything, like, totally suck for a few years? If so, why?
That makes absolutely no sense.
As one of the greatest bands of all time, they are forgiven for trivial things like having a mispelled name.
My original post above
I never voted for them before I voted against them
I’m no flip-flopper
When they picked that name they were nobody. You can’t earn the right to pick a misspelled name when you haven’t done anything, is my point.
and mine is that I would be happy to say: what dicks! if it hadn’t worked out for them but it did and the rest as they say is history
That album is fantastic. In many ways.
Remember when we used to talk about comics here?
If Nirvana hadn’t broken through and made heavy, angst-y music commercially viable, Staind prolly wouldn’t have even existed. I guess you just have to take the brilliant with the god-awful.
You could be right but that doesn’t make that I have to like it.
Another way of looking at it though, to bring it back a few hours is that Staind never would’ve existed without Tom Morello. No no listen
Tom Morello’s kill switch style sounds at times like a dj scratching over metal/hard alt music. This opens the door for korn who leave it open for limp bizkit who leave it open for staind who leave it open for kevin bacon.
what the fuck?
I wouldn’t say everything sucked in the late 90’s. OK Computer released in 98 and is generally regarded as one of the best of the decade and is my personal favorite album. Maybe the mainstream sucked but there was still plenty of good stuff to find if you looked around.
Comics I can’t speak to cause I left in 92 for a good ten years or so and didn’t buy a new comic until 02…
Remember when we used to talk about comics here?
There was too much oyl and I got set off with the staind mention
the ifanboy custom amazon ads just displayed strange girl vol 1 tpb. I have finally mentioned it enough
I spend about $5 a year on music, so maybe I don’t have a lot of credibility when I say I prefer the Shatner version. The arrangement is more appropriately angry.
I’m not ready to say Ultimate Spider-Man’s clone saga is a terrible story line. Right now I’m like that judge in the bad courtroom drama: “Aaall right, counselor, I’ll allow it for now. But this line of questioning better be going somewhere.” And as I’ve said before, I can’t for the life me figure out how this arc ends without the whole book being broken irreparably. I feel like I’m watching a very elaborate magic trick.
sustained
The arrangement is more appropriately angry.
EXACTLY. That’s why I prefer it. Bill and Joe Jackson are singing angry.
EXACTLY. That’s why I prefer it. Bill and Joe Jackson are singing angry
Of course, we know of your disdain for rich people
Joe Jackson?
shouldn’t he be busy beating someone until they become albino?
this is funny
http://cgi.ebay.com/X-Men-114-Cover-Re-Interpretation-Re-Interpretation_W0QQitemZ170046464995QQihZ007QQcategoryZ972QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
That guy from Limp Bizkit is pretty good, too. Just sayin.
I was in Virgin Records in Hollywood one time, and Fred Durst was just hanging out there, waiting for people to talk to him. He stood at the top of the escalator, and some dude came up and asked for an autograph, and they talked for a bit, and then the dude left, and Fred just stayed there. Sad and awesome.
“I was in Virgin Records in Hollywood one time, and Fred Durst was just hanging out there, waiting for people to talk to him. He stood at the top of the escalator, and some dude came up and asked for an autograph, and they talked for a bit, and then the dude left, and Fred just stayed there. Sad and awesome.”
I would have pushed him down the escalator. You missed an oppourtunity there Josh.
couldnt agree more….fred durst sucks more than carrot-top…and more than chris bachalo…josh, what other famous sucksters have you seen being losers in public?
First off, despite the technical issues I really enjoyed the podcast. I appreciate the plug for Comic Addiction.
Keep up the great work!
I would have pushed him down the escalator. You missed an oppourtunity there Josh.
Ha. perfect
In the new ish of Dr. Strange, the doctor who he tries to attack, who worked on his hands, has different colored eyes in one panel…weird.
hmmm i didn’t notice that….
i buckled and purchased phonogram anyways…ummmm, i liked the optical illusion on the last page, that should count for something,right. ultimate x-men is really really pretty, i love this guy’s pencils and is that the first appearance of ultimate domino? batman was pretty cool too and doctor strange as well, but bkv’s cliffhangers are getting too predictable for my tastes. bullet points would have been my pick of the week by far, seeing an awkward steve rogers with a heart of gold was refreshing….
and lastly, i unno if any of you folks have seen this or not, but here’s a link to the new spiderman 3 trailer…with a very sexy surprise in the last seconds
http://gorillamask.net/spiderman3venom.shtml
errr. the link itself kinda gives it away…
Holy balls.. alot happens in twelve hours. Alot more than 26 weeks of 52.
Okay, I have just put down the newly purchased tattered tpb of Fables Vol.1. It destroyed any expectations I had for either it or the characters by miles, in a good way, highly impressed, by the end of the 5th book I feel invested enough in the characters that I’m fairly interested in where the story is going to go from here. The darker humor is nice, the planning is brilliant, and I really like the lineart; the only thing that really takes it down a notch is, I feel, the colouring, it feels far to bland, there is little to no shading, only, it seems, base colours from a small palette and a simplistic use of the gradiant, dodge and burn tools, but this really should detract from the neat twist and take on things.
Now I think I shall start on the second volume, and give my store a call tomorrow and get them to order me in some more 🙂
It’s just good for all of us that nobody mentioned My Chemical Romance.
has anyone already mentioned the comic that the lead singer is putting out? it makes me sad, maybe sad mixed with angry. and a little angst.
The best thing to come out of all that is the X-Men cover by Fred. I’m going to treasure that for probably about the rest of the day. But seriously, you argued about STAIND??
And thanks for the correction, Josh. Oops, sorry Mr. Gillen!
Gerald Levert should be in the next shows opening in tribute to his passing last week. Let the brothers get some play too.
The best thing to come out of all that is the X-Men cover by Fred
I’m relinking that because that realy was the shit
http://cgi.ebay.com/X-Men-114-Cover-Re-Interpretation-Re-Interpretation_W0QQitemZ170046464995QQihZ007QQcategoryZ972QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
But seriously, you argued about STAIND??
Yes they’re bullshit fakers
Staind and Disturbd rule lol omg
oooh ahhahaha
Here it is. The perfect phrase. The one to rule them all. The one that makes me want to see a movie less than any other EVER.
Virgin Comics’ first title to jump to film looks to be The Sadhu, and according to Variety, Nic Cage and Deepak Chopra are invovled..
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=90993
Yes they’re bullshit fakers
But how in the world does it even come up? There’s a comic about Britpop, and then all of a sudden there’s Staind. It’s like talking about Japanese food and someone saying, “I hear McDonald’s is ok…”
how dare you malign McDonalds? Just kidding anyway
SPOILERS
************************************************
********************************************
Marvel February solicitations:
SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #1
Written by SEAN MCKEEVER
Penciled by TERRELL BOBBETT
Cover by MARCELO DICHIARA
The bi-monthly action begins with an all-new feature-length tale starring Spider-Man’s alien costume and guest-starring the Sandman! Peter Parker would love nothing more than to get a good night’s sleep, but his sleek, symbiotic suit has plans of its own…and no one is gonna get in its way! Also – A bonus all-new 10-page story featuring a special surprise guest! PLUS – A heaping helping of classic Spidey stories!
104 PGS./Rated A �$4.99
So then I guess we know who will be wearing the black spider-man costume. Quesada had been teasing that it might not be peter parker or that there might be 2 spider-mans(spider-men? who the fuck knows?)
NEXT
CIVIL WAR: THE INITIATIVE
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & WARREN ELLIS
Pencils and Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
The post war Marvel Universe begins here! The war is over!! Let the healing begin!! This all-new special written by Brian Bendis, especially for modern legend Marc Silvestri, debuts the all new IRON MAN, OMEGA FLIGHT, MIGHTY AVENGERS, NEW AVENGERS and with a special chapter written by Warren Ellis…THUNDERBOLTS! Each chapter is an important all-new prologue for each of these huge new series and sets up the radically altered landscape that makes up the post-Civil War Marvel Universe!
64 PGS./RATED T+ �$4.99
Anybody catch that? The all new Iron Man?
Are these assholes paying attention? For many titles they just have Classified Information in the place of the description. What happened with these 2?
We just posted a Ron Rant about Spider-Man. Go check it out!
CIVIL WAR 5 PREVIEW
SPOILERS KIND OF
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http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/CivilWar/05_Pre/CWPre_01.html
But how in the world does it even come up? There’s a comic about Britpop, and then all of a sudden there’s Staind. It’s like talking about Japanese food and someone saying, “I hear McDonald’s is ok…”
It’s really just me trying to bait Fred.
The whole McDonald’s line is great. And honestly, what a total meltdown from Fables 55. I love it, love it, love it.
Strike that.. I am in love with it.
It’s really just me trying to bait Fred.
I really need no help taking something too far only to realize half way through that I have. there’s a point in far too many conversations I have where I realize that I’ve just called someone a nazi because they won’t sell me sudafed without checking my id.
Hey Fred, Drowning Pool is better than The Beatles.
Thank you.
not gonna do it
Josh. For the record. I hate you.
Why did you recommend this book! It is destroying me that I have no more of it’s issues, I’m hooked, DAMN IT! This is not what I needed, another awesome series to look forward to sinking my money into. The worst part (at least for the moment) is that I know there are so many more issues to read, I can see the prices, I know that they’re there, and it’s killing me that I know I’m not going to be able to read them for weeks if not months because the working, earning, ordering, waiting routine that must be endured to get them!
Well…. maybe it’s not your fault.
I’m glad you like the book?
Yeh man, it’s good
Okay, Josh’s incessant love of this book has convinced me to ry it out. So finding a torre……errrm a ton of issues. I just read 1-55, and except for the irratating habit of alternating artists. I really dig these books. I can’t recall is josh said this, but the whole “the more popularity a fable has the more powerful the character becomes” sounds an awful lot like gaiman’s american gods theme.
or anything else Gaiman has written.
Or Terry Pratchett. Who worked with Gaiman on Good Omens so they might have just talked about it some.
I finally gave up on waiting for trades yesterday and read 48-55. I’m glad I did
I’ve read a bit of pratchet in my day too, i sometimes liked his work, but he played a bit too much with words and double entendres. And i can’t say i particularly loved him mixing fairy creatures in with sci-fi genre.
Now Piers Anthony, THAT was a great user of fairy creatures
Oh, and back on topic, fables (like so many comics these days) is alot better when read all at once or at least an entire story arc at once.