# Weekly Comic Book Discussion 5/20/2004
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 20, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172 "2004-05-20T13:28:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/1 "2004-05-20T13:28:42Z")
Here we go again.
Highlights? Superman/Batman, Invincible… I finally picked up some issues of the new She-Hulk.
As usual, the full list will be forthcoming when I get home this evening.
---
### Author:  [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/2 "2004-05-20T13:39:47Z")
I’d just like to say that I found a stash of Ultimate Spiderman, and got my little sister addicted. HAH!
---
### Author:  [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/3 "2004-05-20T13:45:10Z")
**The Sandwalk Adventures**. Charles Darwin explains the theory of evolution to a pair of follicle mites living in his left eyebrow. I’m serious. As with [Jay Hosler’s](http://www.jayhosler.com) previous book, **Clan Apis** (about the life cycle of a honey bee), the mix of expressive cartooning, gentle humor, and accurate information is a winning combination that truly is a book suitable for “all ages” - not just the kiddies or the grown-ups.
---
### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/4 "2004-05-20T14:00:23Z")
**Superman/Batman** was excellent. Who’s Harbinger? Isn’t there a good site to get some background on these folk? I have to say, that second page with Artemis was…uh…enlightening.
I’m eagerly waiting to hear some reactions to Excalibur - I’m thinking about picking up that and Whedon’s X-Men book, but want to know if the reveal at the end of Excalibur was a bit much for some.
---
### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/5 "2004-05-20T14:12:26Z")
> [@Munch](#):
>
> **Superman/Batman** was excellent. Who’s Harbinger? Isn’t there a good site to get some background on these folk? I have to say, that second page with Artemis was…uh…enlightening.
>
> I’m eagerly waiting to hear some reactions to Excalibur - I’m thinking about picking up that and Whedon’s X-Men book, but want to know if the reveal at the end of Excalibur was a bit much for some.
Harbinger/Lyla was a central figure in the DC Miniseries _Crisis on Infinite Earths_. Honestly, when she showed up in the previous issue of S/B, I was immediately taken with the thought “Where the hell has SHE been for the last 15 years?” - apparently on Paradise Island.
I bought Excalibur #1. Interesting book, from a self-contained perspective. Didn’t know Charley had started developing split personalities again.
Moira, I mean.
The reveal at the end raised my eyebrows, but it lost some punch for me because I hadn’t been following the most recent New X-Men arc.
---
### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/6 "2004-05-20T14:14:08Z")
I’m a little peeved at the new She-Hulk.
It’s an obvious & blatant rip-off of _Wofe & Byrd: Supernatural Law._
Geeze, doesn’t Marvel even bother to _try_ and hide their plagarism anymore? :mad: :mad:
---
### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/7 "2004-05-20T14:21:20Z")
[Harbinger’s History.](http://pc59te.dte.uma.es/cdb/series/dc/harbinger.htm)
I’m not familiar with that series, Bosda… is it recent? Who published it?
I thought it was a great execution of a relatively novel premise, myself. Dr. Strange as a dry-witted mystical guest star just works on so many levels for me.
“The afterlife is filled with ironies.”
---
### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/8 "2004-05-20T14:31:27Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#):
>
> [Harbinger’s History.](http://pc59te.dte.uma.es/cdb/series/dc/harbinger.htm)
>
> I’m not familiar with that series, Bosda… is it recent? Who published it?
>
> I thought it was a great execution of a relatively novel premise, myself. Dr. Strange as a dry-witted mystical guest star just works on so many levels for me.
>
> “The afterlife is filled with ironies.”
It’s a comic strip that runs in various magazines & newspapers.
There are printed collections available through Amazon.
The artist’s name is Batton Lash.
He sent me an autographed poster, during his salad days.
---
### Author:  [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/9 "2004-05-20T14:37:02Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#):
>
> I’m a little peeved at the new She-Hulk.
>
> It’s an obvious & blatant rip-off of _Wofe & Byrd: Supernatural Law._
>
> Geeze, doesn’t Marvel even bother to _try_ and hide their plagarism anymore? :mad: :mad:
Actually, I’ve read nothing but good things about Slott and Sook’s She-Hulk. I’ve heard they’re nice stand-alone stories that have the virtue of being humorous, light and breezy. From what I understand, the humor and “girl-power” vibe owe a lot more to Ally McBeal and Sex In the City than anything else, making She-Hulk a comic that women could read and enjoy, rather than get skeeved out by obvious fanboy “fan service” and cheap T&A. I HAVE read Supernatural Law (which is more “cute” than anything else, **CandidGamera** ), but I wouldn’t think they have too much in common aside from the protagonists being attorneys in weird worlds.
I can’t believe this Wildstorm and Vertigo mark is defending She-Hulk, but there I go.
---
### Author:  [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/10 "2004-05-20T15:07:08Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#):
>
> I can’t believe this Wildstorm and Vertigo mark is defending She-Hulk, but there I go.
To atone, I suggest you discuss all those Vertigo and Wildstorm books you’ve been reading! 😃
---
### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/11 "2004-05-20T20:47:47Z")
This Week’s List:
Uncanny X-Men #444 - I plan to buy a few issues to see if they have indeed recaptured that old X-Men magic. Looks… promising.
Excalibur #1 - Discussed above. Claremont here, too. Hmm… one guy controlling multiple X-books could be good for consistency… even if it is Claremont.
Captain Marvel #23 - A shame they’re cancelling such a funny series. Oh well. Whither goest Peter David, goest I.
She Hulk #2, #3 - Discussed Above. Dr. Strange cameos alone are worth it. Unsure about the art here though.
Nightwing #92, #93 - Heard there was a major turning point for Nightwing going on… I heard correctly, but still expected more.
Seaguy #1 - Grant Morrison’s latest. Hmm. It’s wacky. I think I like it.
Birds of Prey #67 - Love the writing and art.
Exiles #47 - Consistently a good book.
Outsiders #12 - Hey, they’re differentiating their Metamorpho knockoff from the real one even more. Good!
Dork Tower #27 - I really need to drop this book. It’s barely funny.
Invincible #12 - I wish this book came out twice a month. It’s the most interesting thing I read.
Superman/Batman #10 - Batman. Battleaxe. Doomsday clones? Hmmm. Excellent book.
Justice League : Another Nail #1 of 3. Man, Barry comes off way too bitter here.
---
### Author:  [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/12 "2004-05-21T00:06:29Z")
Runaways - Still the funniest book out there. The first arc was great, the second lame and the third is back to being good. The art has evened off but there’re getting to be too many plots/counter-plots to keep things moving nicely.
Captain America - What the fu…AARARUUGHH. Man, this sucks. Why is it so hard to make a halfway decent Cap comic (OK, it might be that the character is helplessly lame, but I still hope)? This issue is a standalone “fuck you” to people who bought it hoping that it would be…entertaining? Not a standalone re-re-retelling of Cap’s origins. And what’s up with Bachalo’s art? He used to be my favorite artist until he started spraypainting his comics on the side of buildings.
---
### Author:  [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/13 "2004-05-21T00:25:03Z")
Any X-Titles other than Exiles that can be read without my head exploding from trying to figure out what’s going on?
I keep seeing a lot of praise for Runaways - I wasn’t impressed by the first 10 issues, but I’ll re-read them again.
---
### Author:  [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/14 "2004-05-21T00:39:55Z")
Love **Seaguy** #1: Morrison does great satire. One of his more directly acid-y books. Reminds me of Michael Kupperman.
**Excalibur** #1 - Hmm…a consciously-“edgy” new team of mutants? Fuck, that’s why “X-treme” was so horrible. I hope this turns into something that even remotely does justice to the original Excalibur, my favorite book of all time.
**Runaways** - consistently the best Marvel title month to month. Hilarious, yet still works as a great superhero story. Doesn’t seem like an obese 40-year-old’s ideas of “what the kids are like” in the way that NYX did.
---
### Author:  [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/15 "2004-05-21T14:09:46Z")
Ultimate Spider-Man: another talking issue. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Especially after last issue’s cliffhanger ending. Not sure if I’m completely happy with how rushed the resolution with Gwen felt though.
Captain Marvel: I’ve not been thrilled with the story line, but I love the writing. I will be picking up PAD’s Maddrox the Multiple Man series for sure.
Amazing Spider-Man: I love JMS on Supreme Power. I don’t like him on AS-M. Spidey is not mystical. He’s scientific. Don’t give me your voodoo explanations of how Spidey came to be. However it’s much better than the dreck Jenkins was churning out in Spectacular Spider-Man.
Hmmm…I know I walked out with 4-5 books this week. One was Marvel Preview I know, but jeez…I feel like I’m forgetting something. Ah well, must not have left an impression. All in all, not a great week for ol’ Carnage.
---
### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/16 "2004-05-21T14:27:22Z")
> [@Aslan of Narnia](#):
>
> Any X-Titles other than Exiles that can be read without my head exploding from trying to figure out what’s going on?
Nope.
😃
---
### Author:  [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/17 "2004-05-21T15:14:17Z")
I’m digging the Voltron comics from **Devil’s Due**. I just caught up on a bunch I missed. Very nice, serious retelling of an admittedly somewhat cheesy story.
The **Nightwing** story arc ended pretty much as it had to, given the build up. The only unexpected twist being who finally did it. The art was very powerful, though. I hope to see some nice follow-up angst in the coming issues. Grayson is good at that. (Devin, that is, not Dick).
I’m not really happy with this Namora business in **Exiles** , but I still love that book.
---
### Author:  [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/18 "2004-05-21T15:31:10Z")
Best damn book this week: **Boneyard**. I can’t recommend this book highly enough to fans of “Bone”, early Cerebus and Phil Foglio. It’s funny, warm, funny, well drawn and written, funny, with great characterization…and it’s funny.
😉
Fenris
---
### Author:  [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/19 "2004-05-23T02:19:17Z")
**Fenris** , I’m so glad you mentioned **Boneyard**. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a copy locally, I honestly assumed it was no longer being published. What I have read was some really fun stuff.
Nice to hear from a fellow Phil Foglio fan. I think **Girl Genius** is absolutely terrific. Have they come out with a second TPB yet? That’s another title that slipped under my radar when I left comics for a while.
---
### Author:  [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172/20 "2004-05-23T15:32:02Z")
> [@Aslan of Narnia](#):
>
> I keep seeing a lot of praise for Runaways - I wasn’t impressed by the first 10 issues, but I’ll re-read them again.
If you stuck through the first ten and didn’t like them, it’s probably not worth going through them again. Then again, there was a reason you bought the first almost year’s-worth.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weekly-comic-book-discussion-5-20-2004/246172.md?page=2)