Here 'tis. My pick of the week is Superman/Batman. If you’re not reading this title, and are a fan at all of the Silver Age, buy this issue.
She-Hulk TPB: Single Green Female – Very good TPB. Very funny, and Jen’s disconnect between her life as a regular girl and her She-Hulk persona are believeable both on the surface and as metaphor. Everyone should go out and get this book to ensure that the series continues. (It going to go on hiatus soon and then be relaunched in the next several months.)
Although I got a lot of stuff last night, the She-Hulk trade was the only thing I read because Amazon got me my Complete Peanuts 1950-1954 box set! These books are gorgeous. Thank goodness Gary Groth knows the value of good design. I’ve read about six months worth so far and the strips are great. I know Schultz started with a pre-Peanuts stip called Li’l Folks, but by the time Peantus began he really hit the ground running. So far the characters are Charlie Brown, Shermy, the original Patty, Violet, and the original un-anthropomorphized Snoopy. (Plus in the last few strips we’ve seen Schroeder as a pre-verbal infant in pajamas.) I remember these characters (and some of these strips) from older collections my dad bought in the '60’s, but it’s interesting to see how important all these folks were to the strip back before it developed the characters I grew up with (Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, etc.). This Charlie Brown is less of the sad sack he became (although that facet is here) – he’s more the merry prankster, with many strips ending with an angry Patty chasing him down the street. Patty is only happy when Shermy and Charlie Brown are fighting over her, while Violet spends her time making mud pies. And although no adults have been seen, we have heard Charlie Brown’s mother calling to him from off-panel a couple times! Everyone who doesn’t have these books yet should run, not walk, to go get them.
–Cliffy
I found both of Alan Moore’s Supreme TPBs in the used bin and put them in my hold to be picked up at a later date. I’ve read the second before and found it to be brilliant. Basically a comic book about an archetype, not a character. Can’t wait to get them out.
She-Hulk: Oh God, this issue had me rolling! Still one of my top books in my hold. Shulkie:“Reed, I though you said I wouldn’t be able to change back to Jennifer Walters again.” Thing:“Wait. Did he say it like ‘I’m sorry, old friend, but I’m afraid you are stuck this way…forever’? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” Plus a Howard the Duck cameo! I was hoping Shulkie would have said hi to him in recognition from her second series, which would have thrown out Byrne’s idea that anything he didn’t write was a dream.
Ultimate Spider-Man: Glad to see Spidey able to interact with another super-powered good guy for once. Although I think I’d prefer the more “friendly-rivalry” relationship they have going on in the original MU. But I’m willing to give it time. Lots of time.
Ultimate X-Men: You know, they are only, what 60 some-odd issues into the title and I’m already starting to get confused aobut back story and characters and who does what. It’s becoming more like mainstream X-Men every issue. Also, Ultimate War #2 stated that Rogue is 14. This issue Ali/Dazzler notes that Gambit must be twice her age. Simple math tells me this 28 year old guy is totally making out with a 14 year old girl. And we thought Collosus/Kitty Pride was icky.
Madrox: Nice noir feel in a superpowered story. I like the creative ways PAD explores Jamie’s powers. The whole story has me thinking up ethical questions about dealing with duplicates. I mean, they are all you, but why are they subservient, and do you have the right to treat them that way? Anyway, fun read.
The Pulse: I liked it, but probably only because I’m reading Secret War too. If you’re not, this issue will make no sense. I find it kind of cheap to cross over like that basically forcing someone to try to find 6 month old back issues of a quarterly series. And I’m having a hard time believing that there isn’t something in that great big world that can penetrate Cage’s skin. Hell, kryptonite needles exist in DCU. You telling me an adamantium needle/scalpel isn’t standard issue in a NYC hospital?
Could have sworn I picked up a fifth book, besides the Avengers TPB I haven’t read yet. Ah well, if I think of it…(probably as soon as I hit “submit”)
I only got to read a few titles from this week’s mountain o’ comics last night, but I really agree about Superman/Batman. This is a good jumping-on point if you’re not already picking this up.
I really like the art in S/B - anything this guy has done that’s accessible?
The only other thing I picked up was** JSA: Strange Adventures**, which was a much quicker read than the other issues. Is that an issue #4 trend?
Oh…I also saw a Green Lantern: Rebirth at Border’s, which I grabbed. They’re always a few weeks behind the distribution schedule, so I’m guessing it’s a first run. 'Course, the new 2nd and 3rd runs were issued this week as well, so I have no idea which is which. Little help?
The last line of the indicia (the subscription/publication mumbo-jumbo normally on the title page in tiny print) should say 2nd Printing or 3rd Printing is it’s one of those. If it doesn’t, it should be a first printing.
Max, I’m disappointed you are still reading any Marvel. They are officially The Enemy until they drop that farce of a lawsuit against NCSoft and Cryptic.
I know, I know. Of course I didn’t even know about the suit until Monday or so, and by then the books were already ordered and I’d hate to screw my comic shop over by not…
Ok, I’m pathetic. Marvel is all I read basically. Although if there were a Paragon City wide month long boycott of Marvel, I think I’d join in. I agree with (the fake)JB that Marvel does have to pretend to defend its copyrights from time to time, but they are being petty here.
Sigh, maybe next week I’ll just get those TPB’s out of my hold 
(granted, my username IS ripped from the Spider-Man story arc Maximum Carnage, but I’ve been using it for years)
I think later printings of Rebirth have different covers, although I don’t know which cover corresponds to which print.
Is the artist of Supes/Bats still Ed McGuinness? He drew most of Jeph Loeb’s run on Superman of a couple years ago, much of which is in TPB now. He also drew the original Majestic series by, um, Joe Casey (?), the first several issues of which are in a trade.
–Cliffy
Superman/Batman: A good start to an interesting arc. Of course, inevitably time will revert to normal and all these events will be forgotten, but it’s a good look at what could have happened.
Teen Titans: Likewise an interesting look at what could happen to the young heroes as they grow, plus another hint that Troia will be returning. They definitely can’t let this future come to pass. By the way, what happened to Clark and the other older heroes?
Adventures of Superman: Eh, an okay issue, but I really don’t care for the whole Mxyzptlk-breaking-the-fourth-wall thing. It’s funny, I’ll grant, but not what I want to see in Superman.
JSA Strange Adventures: Not the best issue, but not bad. The JSA members didn’t seem to care one way or the other about the Thunderbolt, apart from Johnny, but at least JT is getting the credit he deserves for being a hero.
JLA: Okay, this one is going to get interesting. I like the interplay between the CSA members and the sudden change to Power Ring is going to be pretty significant. (As well as getting rid of the most annoying member of that group)
Jingle Belle : Dash Away All - digest sized. Tamer than previous Jing outings, but still amusing.
Hellblazer : Fear and Loathing TPB - The first of the actually-sequential TPBs of Hellblazer.
Superman/Batman #14 - Wow. Okay, seeing the people who enact the timeline change here for the first time in ages was neat. The finest (no pun intended) part of this was Wonder Woman’s (presumably first) recruit in the battle against the dynamic duo. The penciller is Carlos Pacheco.
JLA #108 - Yeah! Busiek! Woo! In your face, Austen!
Sorry, I’m just happy he’s (still) gone.
But seriously, this arc looks solid already.
Teen Titans #18 - Love dark possible future stories, and this is no exception. Was surprised that Robin managed to get in a particularly disabling blow on his older self, though.
Terra Obscura Vol 2 #4 of 6 - Yadda yadda Alan Moore, yadda Genius, yadda yadda buy it.
Conan #10 - Half the books I buy are Busiek and Johns. Hmmm…
Ultra #4 - We’re dangerously close to a plot, here, folks. Still very slow.
Ex Machina #6 - Excellent ending to an extremely entertaining book, setting up what seems to be Mayor Hundred’s next political challenge.
She-Hulk #9 - Drunken Hercules. Ben’s quip about Reed’s doom and gloom. Howard the Duck suing a surprise special guest-star. Solid.
Fantastic Four #520 - The FF have to track down the abducted Johnny Storm, new Herlad of Galactus. For this, they enlist the help of Quasar! Meanwhile, Johnny has frustrations about Galactus’s worldship.
JSA : Strange Adventures #4 - Felt like the weakest issue of the run, so far, but that’s still better than most books out there. Some good introspection from Mr. Garrick.
Birds of PRey #76 - Very entertaining power that our young antagonist has. I wonder how far it goes…
X-Force #3, #4 - Well, at least they finally make reference to the events going on in Cable/Deadpool. But this title, more than any other, really feels like “Early 90’s” for me. It’s like Rob Liefeld’s been in a suspended animation for ten years.
Madrox #3 - Excellent, though anticipated reveal at the end of the book. Heh… refractive glass.
Cable/Deadpool #9 - Okay, it just got interesting. The X-Men engage in an abortive attempt to take down Cable; Deadpool frolicks in an inappropriate X-Costume; and SHIELD contacts Reed Richards to bring in the next-in-line to take Cable out… and it ain’t the ever-lovin blue-eyed Thing, folks.
Manhunter #4 - I really don’t like the Ethics of the main character. But I’m hanging around a bit longer to see how they tie in to IC next ish.
Starjammers #6 - Ah, at last, references to previous continuity. Hmm. Maybe these are the regular Star Jammers.
New Invaders #4 - I need to stop buying this book.
Space Ghost #1 - An honest-to-God serious take on the Phantom of the Spaceways, Space Ghost. An intriguing tale, well told. I recommend it for a look.
GI Joe Reloaded #9 - A Traitor? Him? Say it ain’t so?
Annnd… two copies of the variant IC #1 covers. I’m weak.
Superman/Batman #14: First, I like that this title appears to be on a more regular shipping schedule now. But, I don’t think I liked it as much as the others. We’ve seen plots similiar to this (villains going back in time and altering the heroes’ origin) before. Didn’t the Legion of Doom to that on “The Challenge of the Super-Friends”? Another title this week (see JLA & Teen Titans) with an alternate/future reality. sighs Why is the future always so bleak?
And if I was gonna take out other Justice Leaguers, I would’ve tried to take out Wonder Woman first, before the others; being nitpicky. I did like seeing Uncle Sam though. Is it just me or is Bats and Supes origin being retold and recapped a lot since this series started?
BTW, Carlos Pacheco is doing the art.
Robin #132: Great starting point for anyone with interest and not reading. Robin gets a new base of operations, fights a foe of someone else from the Bat-clan.
Manhunter #4: Pop Quiz: What DC book this week DOESN’T wasn’t approved by the CCA? Methinks the heroine on the cover smoking a cig has something to do with it. (I think that’s a code no-no, not sure.) I was hard on this book last month, but a nice issue here. I love the henchmen POV and just having that as the focus for a bit of the issue.
JLA #108: No real comment here. I’m not liking this story (yet) as much I as I expected to. Again, I was reminded of Star Trek’s “Mirror, Mirror” here with the ending.
Birds of Prey #76: Hmmm … no Lady Blackhawk in this ish, yet she’s on the cover. It appears the BoP crew is now kinda going cross-country looking for young meta-humans. X-Men, anyone? Still, I love Gail and the art is easy on the eye.
Batman: Gotham Knights #59: Hey look! Morrison is the writer this issue. Here I was thinking it’d be GRANT Morrision, but it’s some guy named Robbie Morrison. It’s a Mr. Freeze story, and even though all the usual trappings are there (psychology, taking place in the summer, the mention of Nora), this wasn’t a bad story. There was no mention of “War Games” here, however where all the other Bat-titles seem to be dealing with the fallout yet.
Adventures of Superman #634: I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a Mr. Mxyzptlk comic story since I was a kid. If anything, I did like this compared to past stories in my recent memory. I LOVED the fumettti scenes with the editorial Superman staff here. Good stuff, funny stuff; well executed.
Have yet to read: Space Ghost #1, Hardy Boys #1, Hawkman #34, HERO #22, Wonder Woman #210, Ultra #4, Wolverine #22, Fantastic Four #520, Pulse #6, Spider-Man: India #1, She-Hulk #9, Ultimate Spider-Man #69, Ultimate X-Men #53, and Captain America #1.
Hey does anybody have an idea when GL: Rebirth #2 comes out? They Guys down at the comic shops are getting tired of me poping in and badgering them at knife point for a copy
:smack:
It’s due next Wednesday, the 24th.
In the post-Crisis DCU, Wonder Woman didn’t show up until those others were well-established. And good grief, if they couldn’t pin down Green Arrow, do you think they’d have had success locating and invading Paradise Island? Wasn’t going to spoil the Uncle Sam moment for those who hadn’t read it yet…
I think you are making comparisons to X-Men where none are warranted. Given the past modus operandi of the Birds of Prey, and the clues from the issue itself, it seems they heard about the disturbances this girl was causing in town, and came to investigate.
This week was kind of a disappointment for me. Only one or two really grabbed me.
Wonder Woman #210 You know, this is one of my favorite books these days. The writing has been great and the art is quite nice.
Books of Magick, on the other hand, blows. I only went this far (current issue is #5) thinking it was a miniseries, and I was curious to see how they got from the Big Mess they presented in the first issues back to something that resembled established continuity. But at this point I’m bored enough that I don’t really care anymore. Plus I finally found out that it’s an ongoing series–so who knows, maybe this isn’t a ‘transformed continuity’ storyline so much as a ‘relaunch that bears only vague resemblance to the original.’ Ugh.
JLA #108 hasn’t been as much fun as I would have expected, either. The current storyline reads like Busiek does The Authority.
Teen Titans #18 was fun. I’m not quite sure how Deathstroke managed to keep his head attached to his shoulders after the Big Kaboom early on, but whatever. Further indications that Donna Troy is DC’s answer to Jean Grey.
Lucifer #56 didn’t grab me, but when the book is good it’s brilliant, so I’m willing to overlook it. Sooner or later Mazikeen needs to get her face back.
Read some more:
Southpaw by Scott Morse – This is a great little book of single-panel pages which tell the story of the tiger Southpaw, a boxer who refuses to throw a big fight. A poignant and beautifully-illustrated story about a world where tigers, robots and humans all live together.
Invincible: Perfect Strangers (Invincible vol. 3) – Very good installment in what is so far a great series. Rather a darker chapter in Invincible’s life than we’ve seen previously, but it’s obvious this was the way the story was meant to go from the beginning. I do think Mark bounced back from the main events of this issue a little quickly, but other than that this is a very well-written book and I’m champing at the bit to get the next TPB, whenever it arrives.
Teen Titans/Legion Special – this book is a month or two old by now. At first I didn’t want to pick it up because I wasn’t interested in a reboot of characters I’d been following for years, but it was pretty well done and it seems like Mark Waid hasn’t forgotten my Legion, so hopefully the team will be revisited at some point in the future.
Cheat by Chistine Norrie – A depressing but well-turned out book about a married woman with a crush on her neighbor. All the characters are believeable and their reactions make a lot of sense, although there’s some stuff right near the end that didn’t seem to fit. I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for more of Norrie’s solo work.
–Cliffy