Oh, and it was a good week.
Teen Titans, Green Lantern : Rebirth, JLA : Classified, and Cable and Deadpool were my four favorites this week.
My local comic shop had a weekend sale that ended on Monday, and I made out like a bandit. Here is everything I picked up from their back issue bins:
50 comics for $7.50:
DC One Million #1-4 (Grant Morrison) - 2 sets
Extreme Justice #0 (hey, it has Blue Beetle and Booster Gold!)
Grendel: Devil By the Deed (Dark Horse reprint)
Grendel: God and the Devil #2-7, 9 (7 issues out of 10)
Hitman #8, 10-12 (and I already had #9, my single issue of Hitman)
Judgment Day Alpha, Omega, Final Judgment, Aftermath (Alan Moore’s Liefeld-verse miniseries)
Kid Eternity #1-2 (out of 3; original Grant Morrison miniseries)
Maze Agency #1-4 (art by Adam Hughes; '80s Comico series with a “Moonlighting” look)
Promethea #29
Sandman Mystery Theatre #57-59 (art by Michael Lark)
WildC.A.T.s #12-14 (1st series)
Wildcats #8-13, 15-18, 24-25 (Joe Casey; 2nd series)
X-Statix #19-26 bagged together for an additional $5 (completing my run)
So not too bad a haul, eh? I already had the Judgment Days and Casey Wildcats, but they’re good comics and now I have some loaner or trading copies. Whaddaya think?
Not bad. Sounds like a good sale - wish the stores here would do something like that.
Teen Titans - The Identity Crisis fallout continues as we deal with Dr. Light’s feelings on the subject in a major way. He’s suitably creepy here. Also, a bit of a spoiler, but as the Titans get Light’s demand for them to face him (and only the Titans may come, else he’ll kill his hostage) - the Titans get offers of support that come in from the various other DC folks, which is nice in the wake of IC. Two things particularly - Superboy, Robin, and Wonder Girl speculate on Light’s change in personality, rumors they’ve heard, and what Batman knew and when. Also, in the calls-of-support scene, one of them is from Ralph Dibny, back in costume. Good to know.
JLA : Classified - “I Can’t Believe It’s Not the Justice League” - set before Identity Crisis, as Ralph and Sue are still present in the team. Hilarity ensues. Blue Beetle gets a new costume.
GL : Rebirth - Interesting stuff. One dialogue bubble has an error in it - Ganthet is discussing the Spectre’s power in comparison to that of the Guardians, and the dialogue is mangled. Fortunately, the intent of the bubble is clear later on. In keeping with the promise of the cover, Green Arrow uses the power ring. Features, as far as I know, the new Supergirl’s first appearance in battle alongside the DCU Heroes, as they show up to battle Parallax.
Cable and Deadpool - Winner of this week’s Best Dialogue Award. I’ll post the relevant quotes when I get home, but this is a hilarious book.
Teen Titans: oooh. Dr. Light is so freaking creepy. Stll, you can’t help but root for him, just a little bit. He did get majorly screwed by the League. Nice job on making sure Speedy isn’t just Robin 2.0, always a problem when Bat-folk and Arrow-folk cross paths.
JLA Classified: <blink> People are… nostalgic for this? To the point of preferring it over a big guns league, and being angered when character deaths prevent a revival? Huh. I mean, it’s okay for what it is, but too much sitcom and not enough heroics for my tastes. Also, they magled Mary Marvel’s character (one of my favorites), and the <spoiler> who shows up at the end is my all-time least favorite superhero (although I always forget about him when the topic comes up, so firery is my hatred for him). Hopefully I can get through the six months without pulling my hair out or picking a fight with teh Bwa-ha-ha fans.
Astonishing X-Men: SO GOOD! Creepy, weird, and a zombie half-destroyed religious fanatic Sentinel. I love it.
Runaways: Meh. Kind of interesting, but too self-conciously hip. Also, these kids have bad attitudes (in the vaguely annoying way, not the interesting way). I’ll give it another shot, but it’s on probation.
Superman: The 10 Cent Adventure: Well, the price was right… I guess.
GL Rebirth: Johns does a good job on this (although using a GL ring can’t be that hard, and Batman’s still too much of an asshole), and it’s of exceptionally high quality overall. But, and I’m sorry, I’m still having trouble taking Sinestro seriously, since the last time I saw him, Daffy Duck was kicking his ass. Also, wasn’t Kilawog killed by Hal?
I have to give Whedon some points for the premise. It’s a very intriguing idea.
He got better.
She-Hulk #12: WHAT??? THE END??? This was the last issue of She-Hulk? What the hell??? I’ve heard nothing but great reviews from everyone. I blame every one of you who never picked up an issue for causing the cancellation of the best book out there. Sigh. Poor Awesome Andy. Poor Pug. Poor Southpaw. Poor Max Carnage. Any news on if/when Slott will be bringing the book back? Guess I’ll have to be content with GLA in a couple of months (which shouldn’t be too hard as I love the Great Lakes Avengers.)
Ultimates 2 #3: Great issue for absolutely no action. I like this style of storytelling actually. I don’t need slam-bang action all the time. This is such a character driven book that I don’t mind when you only see someone in costume for one panel. Oh, and I hate Betty Ross.
Ultimate X-Men: How many gay members are in X-Men now? Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Just seems forced somehow.
OHOTMU Marvel Knights: I wish they’d quit coming out with these. I keep buying them and then never have time to read them. I can’t help it. I loved the old series and I’m thrilled they have revitalized it in the same format. But damn that’s a lot of reading for one week.
ToyFare: “You’re a real tool.” “Hey, I’m not the one with a Skittle garden.”
Ex Machina #6-8 – After getting the trade I realized I needed to read this thing on a monthly basis. These issues did not disappoint. As always with Vaughan, the dialogue is spot-on and Mitch continues to be a character you can root for. (But school vouchers? Seriously?) I also like how we’re kept in the dark about whether Mitch is interested in Suzanne or simply using her as a beard. I’m also surprised how quickly Vaughan can make you care about some minor characters very quickly so that you’re affected by their tragedies. Can’t wait for #9, but fortunately the next issue of Y - TLM is out next week.
Simpsons #103 – Better than last issue. Marge joins the news team; hilarity ensues. This book is more consistent than the TV show, that’s for sure.
Runaways v.2 #1 – Not there yet. The first series was grand, though, so I’m sure this will start hitting soon enough. But [nerd] those kids could never have taken out the Wrecking Crew[/nerd].
–Cliffy
Calm thyself. I read about this in one of the trade publications. She-Hulk will return. I forget the reasoning behind the hiatus… relaunching for more visibility, or only had a twelve-issue run planned anyway, or whatever.
But read the last pages. Shulkie says eight months? I’d bet that’s when you’ll see her again.
Again, it wasn’t cancelled because of low sales, at least according to what I heard.
Yeah, She-Hulk will be returning with a new #1 issue, and face it, if that’s what it takes to increase sales, so be it. G.I. Joe will also be ending soon and restarting with a new #1, and the publisher even admitted it is partially a gimmick for better sales.
I can’t wait to pick up JLA: Classified #4 and the Ex Machina TPB, but those are gonna have to wait until next week.
Raises hand
I don’t even think of Superman, Batman, etc. as the real Justice League. They’re that other Justice League. I prefer the bwa-ha-ha league about several million times over anything that came before or has come since.
That said, I naturally picked up the issue and loved it. A little confused as to why they’d change Beetle’s costume, since I think it was fantastic as it was, but at least it’s not a total redesign (it looks pretty nice, actually).
I also picked up the second Invincible trade, which I haven’t even cracket yet. I need to go back and get GL: Rebirth at some point, too.
And the rest : Freedom Force #2; Manhunter #7; Wolverine #25; X-Force #6; Space Ghost #4 (of 6); Astonishing X-Men #8; She-Hulk #12; Ex Machina #8; Birds of Prey #79;Authority : Revolution #5.
Of special note is Marvel Next! Limited Series : Live Wires. Elite team of robot-warrior taking out secret research projects all over the world. I bought it because Adam Warren did the cover. I’m weak. He also writes, and they got a guy that draws somewhat similarly to Warren to do the interior.
The dialogue from Cable and Deadpool :
“Oooh, foiled by my grasp of current events!”
Okay, that one’s better in context, but try this one :
“G’head and shoot … but I got an Immolation Charge on my Harness Pack. Think you can take me down before I set it off?”
“Set it off and you’ll go KFC on yourself.”
“Dude, anyone wearing a harness rig has a Failsafe Release to prevent it from catching on fire and forcing you to fly into Kree spaceships and blow up. I mean, Duh, who doesn’t know that?”
Please please tell me who that is.
I don’t read comics any more due to money issues, but I like to read these threads to keep up on what’s going on.
So I’m curious as to who your least favorite is.
I’ve already flipped through the issue, so the big reveal on the last page is the return of Guy Gardner.
I never buy Marvel.
I never buy Marvel.
I saw Livewires, with the Warren art.
I bought a Marvel.
It’s good. 
Closing my eyes and rushing into this thread just to say how much it sucks that my shop was out of GL:Rebirth. What did I reserve a copy for then? Sheesh.
Apparently Teen Titans and the Adventurers of Superman also sold out, but I can’t complain too much about them as I didn’t reserve them.
Yup. That’s the one. I hate that guy. Alot. More than anyone else. I hate him so much, that whenever the topic of “least favorite hero” comes around, I forget about him and say something lame like “Batman, when written badly, or Wolverine because he’s overexposed, although Batman written well is my all-time favorite, and Wolverine’s a pretty good character in his own right”. He is pretty much the only comic character I truely despise, but to say his name would give him power.
I mean, I know the point of the character is that he’s a huge asshole, so, mission accomplished, I guess. i’d still rather ahve heroes that I’d rather not see get tortured by DeSaad for six issues, and then handed over to the Joker.
Oh good, I’m NOT insane! I kno just hich one you mean. It does get cleared up later, but I was really tired when I read that one last night and I was stumped for awhile.
Am I to take it that DC is completely ignoring the Spectre comic book with the new GL: Rebirth? BEcause a lot of stuff here, while cool, just don’t fit.
And next issue is supposed to reveal the “final fate of Kyle Rayner.” Kyle’s hot. Please don’t kill him.
Dunno about the Spectre stuff - didn’t read it much. What specifically doesn’t fit?
For some reason, I was thinking I read something that indicates Kyle’s not gonna die, but I might be wrong. I think it’s much more likely Kyle becomes a new head Guardian-style being. That stuff about him surpassing Hal and the others, the fact that he possesses Fer and could perceive Parallax… the fact he carried all the Oan energy around for a while… and the fact Ganthet didn’t look too healthy at the end of the issue.
The latest Tom Strong, written by Michael Moorcock, doesn’t make a bit of sense as far as I can see. I have no idea why he’s gone back in time or why everyone (Tom, Dahlua, Solomon) seems to understand what’s going on when very little has been explained to them.
I haven’t read Catwoman #40 yet, but since I haven’t said this in previous threads: Wooden Nickel is one of the dumbest concepts for a super-villain, ever.
Something positive? Okay, lemme think. Well, Whedon’s X-Men was pretty good…