But I'm back with 11 books & if I waited until tomorrow, there would be another 4 or 5 books to add to this pile. But I'm doing this now so I don't get so behind that I decided to not do this at all. Also, I don't have much to say about many of these books but I do have something to say.
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First off: Marvel.
FF #12: This comic has a nice cover class photo of "members" of the Future Foundation (The FF that the title refers to). This issue direct continues where we last saw them in Fantastic Four #600. Tomorrow 601 of the Fantastic Four comes out & we/I get more of a look at how these 2 books will connect together. If it's like this issue (Events from Book A are further explored in Book B) It should be pretty good. But I don't think you should have to read both books to get what is going on (something that that could be problem with the interconnected Comics of the 1990's especially when your buying years after they came out).
The Invincible Iron Man #510: I think I made mention of this the last time I talk about this book that I had been enjoying the book before it got all tied up in Fear Itself junk. It went from a book I looked forward to one I didn't. I also thought that it might go back to being good after the FI stuff is over. Well, 510 is the first issue post FI & it was pretty good. But I've just lost interest in the book so this is the last issue I'll be reading for awhile. Also something I've thought is odd: IIM is the only Super Hero book I read from the "Big 2" that is a dollar more expensive. IIM is $3.99 where everyone else is $2.99 & I don't know why. IIM doesn't have any more pages then the other books so I'm not sure why the higher price.
The Defenders #1: This is the first book that I know that was come out that was connected to the Marvel: Point One one-shot that came out a few weeks ago. This was one of the few books I actually thought I'd might pick up before from the story in the book & an interview with writer Matt Fraction I read. Fraction also writes Iron Man so I know he can write a good book & the art by the Dodsons (the husband & wife art team, Terry & Rachel) do some nice looking art. How was the issue itself? Good. It may have the best line of dialogue to some up a feeling I have. The dialogue was uttered by Danny Rand, also known as Iron Fist (The guy with the glowing hands on the cover). He said:
" The older I get, the more life seems to be the stupid, frustrating stuff that gets in the way of You and reading Comics...."
The comic that Danny attempts to read through the issue I think might be foreshadowing something. Also, the comics has a very retro 1970's/1980's feel to it. Maybe it's just that the team, the Defenders is a comic from the 1970's/1980's. But yet it feels modern. It's somewhere in between & I like that.
You might be asking what that larger monster thing on the cover is? Well, that's Red She-Hulk & I don't think she'd like being called a Monster. Oh... you meant the monster in the background. That is the villain of the book. They don't exactly name him in the book.
Avengers Academy #23: Yes, X-23 (the teenage girl clone of Wolverine) does going the book in this issue & no Mettle (That's the guy's codename) does do not throw her in the comic. But X-23 being in the book is not the main focus of the book. I'd say it's more the conversation between Striker & Lightspeed (Formally of the Power Pack). What's the topic? coming to terms with your sexuality. it is done quite well. Another good issue of a good series tackling an issue that doesn't come up in comics all that often.
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On to the DC Comics...
Demon Knights #4: 1 thing about the cover. That sword seems a bit to long to be usable. I know there are "long swords" but that just seems too long. As stated on the cover, this issues does go into the back story of one of the mysterious members of the group. It does shed some light on the character but doesn't exactly explain everything. Another good issue of a good series.
Suicide Squad #4: *SIGH* I'm really trying to like you, Suicide Squad comic book but your making it hard to do so. What with your inconsistent art (On 1 page, Harley Quinn's makeup appears & disappears) & your confusing at times story telling (some stuff that might of helped explain what was going on just wasn't there). I know that a lot of people didn't like you from before Issue #1 came out but I was willing to give you a chance. But if you keep this up, I might stop reading you & from the sounds of it you can't afford to loose any readers.
Justice League International #4: I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It's not the art or the writing. They are both good. It's just the book just hasn't really grabbed me. I'll read to the end of this storyline & then see how i feel about the book.
Justice League Dark #3: This cover doesn't really connect to the comic inside which is good both in story & art. It seems like it's trying to be a movie poster.
Coming this Summer from Warner Brothers StudiosJustice League Dark
Are they enough against the rising Dark Forces?!?!?
Mister Terrific #4: I don't have much to say about this issue other then it's another good issue of a good comic. The cover image does happen in the comics (Not that exact scene but Mr. T does face off against that creature).
Batgirl #4: Why isn't this Issue #3? Issue #1 Introduced us to the Villain, Issue #2 Batgirl fought him a bit. Issue #3 she fights with him for a 2 pages & then lets him get away. Batgirl spends the rest of the issue hanging out with Nightwing reminiscing about the same thing for 20 pages (Them being trained by Batman when they were younger. She also keeps mentioning that he she had a crush on him). So, Issue #4 is her fights the villain once more & defeating him. Why couldn't see have done that last issue & spent this issue hanging out with Nightwing? What was Issue #3 just seems to be so out of place which doesn't help my minor dislike of the book. There is stuff going on that I do like not not enough. A book I might stop reading.
The Flash #3: The book I currently read with maybe the best art & most inventive use of that art. The way text is used in panels & how those panels are used on the page is worth looking at. Also, the book also has a good story going on. I don't have much more then that to say. Yet another Good Issue of a Good Book.
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Not sure if there will be another post or not before the end of the year but there might be. Check back & see! :)
Until then: Stay Jazzy & Merry Christmas (if you celebrate that)!
- Brian
