The task at hand:
The last of my Comic Book Backlog.
Back in Entry 83 I review all my back issues & this posting is all the *new* books I've boughten. I added asterisks around the word new since I number of these books are a few months old. :)
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But first up the comics I got on Free Comic Book Day (May 2nd): I got 22 books. Of those worth mentioning:
- Mercy Sparks from DDP: some nice art & a kind of interesting story.
- Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Mirage Publishing: this is a reprint of the first appearance of the Turtles. 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Turtles which means I only predate the group by one year.
- Wolverine: Origin of an X-Man by Marvel Comics: pointless comic that was only made to cash in on the movie.
- Atomic Robo by Red 5 Comics: funny comic & some nice art.
- Sonic: Evolution of a Hero by Archie Comics: The comic series is mark it's 200th issue soon. I have a few old issues of the series & reading those this book found that Sonic's story has become really convoluted over the years. Never played the game the comic is inspired by.
- The Avengers by Marvel Comic: The Dark & New Avengers meet up & do stuff. The book was kind of pointless. Yeah, it was kind of cool to see the 2 teams together but nothing really came of it.
- Green Lantern: Blackest Night #0 by DC Comics: this is the only truly cool book of the bunch. It's the first part of the GL summer event & in the back you get some cool info pages on all the Lantern Corps.
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Next up is Marvel....
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The Marvel Comics I've bougthen from the last week in January to 3rd week in May:
- Captain Britain and MI13 #10-13: Dracula (yes, that one) is attempting to instate a Vampire state & it's up to Capt. B. & his crew to stop him. By #13 it looks like that might happen but I don't know what #14 will bring us.
- Guardians of the Galaxy #10-13: This book is tying into the War of Kings mini-series which I'm not reading so some of of what is happening is lost on me but it's still a fun book.
- Fantastic Four #563-566: The Thing is getting Married, we had a Christmas Story & Doom's master showed at the end of #566. Should be an interesting next issue given the last page.
- Dark Reign: Fantastic Four # 1-3 as to not interrupt Millar & Hitchs' run on FF but so that the team does tie into the main event in the Marvel Universe we have this book & it's pretty cool. It's written up & comer Jonathan Hickman (I didn't want to say young up & comer since I'm not sure of Hickman's age).
- Fantastic Force #1: a book spinning out of the most recent story arc from the Millar/Hitch run on FF. Wasn't impressed by the first or second issue (looked at 2 in the store). I think the art is meant to look like Hitchs' art & only kind of succeeds.
- Captain America #46-50: 46-49 deal with Cap teaming up with Namor to saving Jim Hammond's Body & Cap having to deal with his past. In 50, It's Cap birthday & he reflects on this past birthdays & his life in general. In the back are some cool stories, too. Next issue the book switches it's numbering; it won't be 51 but 600.
- Captain America Comics #1: This book ties into the fact that Marvel is now 70 so they are doing a number of books that harken back to their original comic book line up. The art by Marcos Martin is awesome!
- Avengers: The Initiative #21-23: They are dealing with the fall out from Secret Invasion & the reformation under Norman Osborn. Still don't like the art by Humberto Ramos, just don't think it fits with the book.
_ Avengers: The Initiative One-Shot: The book was kind of pointless. Sure, it tied up a few loose ends from the now cancelled Heroes for Hire book but that was pretty much the only good thing. Cloud 9 still needs a better costume.
- Dark Avengers #2-4: wasn't sure I'd like the book but. #1 didn't sell me on it, 2 didn't either but 3 did it & 4 was pretty good. I look forward to seeing where relationship between Norman Osborn & Sentry goes.
- The Mighty Avengers #22-24: good ol' classic Avengers action!
- New Avengers: The Reunion #1: the book hinges on you know about the relationship of Hawkeye & Mockingbird from the days of the West Coast Avengers which I don't really so I wasn't exactly sold on the book. Haven't look at any of the further issues. But the art by David Lopez (there is a hyphen over the o but I'm sure how to type that letter with my computer) is nice.
- Dark Reign: Young Avengers: is awesome & really look forward to seeing where it goes.
- Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers: ditto.
- Agents of Atlas #1-5: a nice series that gives a different perspective of the whole Dark Reign thing. It's a good book with good writing by Jeff Parker & the use of 2 art styles is interesting but I just kind of like the mini-series better.
- Secret Warriors #1-4: Awesome! Cool cover design, nicely written by Jonathan Hickman with some nice art. At the end of issue there are 12 pages of text which are as equally awesome!
- The Invincible Iron Man #10-13: how Tony is dealing with the fall-out from Secret Invasion is awesome.
- Dark Reign: The Cabal: a one-shot with 5 stories all dealing with one member of group behind the Dark Reign. The Doom story ".. and I'll get the Land" (written by Hickman) is my fav of the book.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #589-591: 589 has Spidey fighting The Spot. 590 & 591 has Spidey teaming up with the Fantastic Four and deals with some of the repercussions the whole mind wipe thing. 2 words: Psychic Blindspot!
- Runaways #6-9: *sigh* I'm not sure why I still read the book. It's boarders on the edge of ok & not ok with me. what I've read about 10 it sounds good which I think might be a stand alone issue so I think I'll give them one more arc to decide if I'll drop the book.
- New Warriors #20: the last issue of a series that had promise but just never really went anywhere.
- Wolverine #71: part 6 of the "Old Man Logan" storyline. It's almost at it's end which said since it's been so awesome!
- New Exiles #18: It's over. :)I was wanting it to go somewhere & it never did.
- Exiles #1 & 2 : It begins again! And is good! It's makes me think of the original series which was awesome up to about the time of issue 90 when Clairmont came on the book to kill it.
- X-Men: Sword of the Braddocks: This book ties up the loose ends of Pyslocke's story from New Exiles & brings her back to the main Marvel Universe.
- The Age of the Sentry #5 & 6: the last 2 issues of the cool retro themed story.
- Hulk: Broken Worlds #1 & 2: 8 stories involving The Hulk in 3 alternate futures, 4 alternate timelines & 1 parrell universe. The cool stories are the one involving The Mircoverse, Future Imperfect, 1602 & the Days of Future Past.
- Marvel Assistant-Sized Spectacular #1 & 2: 6 Stories based off of ideas from 6 of Marvel's Assistant Editors. The stories involve D-Man, American Eagle, The Mini-Marvels, Luke Cage, Galacta (The Daughter of Galactus) & Elsa Bloodstone. Sidenote: I wouldn't mind see more art by Jacob Chabot.
- Marvel TV: Galactus The Real Story: a fun tabloid-like tv show set inside the Marvel Universe. I wouldn't mind see another "episode".
- Fin Fang Foom Return!: a book of reprints. I wanted new material!
- Marvel Apes: Speedball & Marvel Apes: The Amazing Spider-Monkey: 2 parts of the continuing story of the Marvel Apes saga.
- Human Torch Comics #1: part of the thing as the the Cap. A. comic I mentioned earlier. Not as cool art but still nice.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz #3-6: some nice art by Skottie Young & I'm learning some stuff, too. Since my only knowledge about Oz is from the movie where this book takes it's basis from the book.
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Marvel is now over. On to DC!
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The DC Comics I've bougthen from the last week in January to 3rd week in May:
A Sidenote: I've found it kind of funny that all the DC books I've picked up in the last month or so have a Wolverine (a Marvel character) "Got Milk?" ad on the back. None of the Marvel books have this. :)
- The Superman Books, this still part of the "New Kyrpton" which becomes the "World Without Superman" storyline & each book in number to be read in a certain order:
12: Superman #684
13: Action Comic #874
14: Supergirl #38
15: Superman #685
16: Superman: World of New Krypton #1
17: Action Comics #875
18: Supergirl #39
19: Superman #686
20: Superman: World of New Krypton #2
21: Action Comics #876
22: Supergirl #40
23: Superman #687
24: Superman: World of New Krypton #3
25: Action Comics #877
26: Supergirl #41
I have a mild case of super burn out. It's a lot of books (4 with a 5th be added soon) & I'm not sure I can keep up. I want to know how it ends. On S:WoNW it said the series is 15 issues long so if I assume that is how long it is until Superman is back on earth we have 1 year until that happens.Not sure I can keep it up until then. *sigh*
- Batman #686 & Detective Comics #853: the 2 part "Whatever happened to the Caped Crusader?" story which I'm not sure how this fits in with Batman's death in Batman: R.I.P. & the one in Final Crisis but still an interesting story & with some nice.
Speaking of Batman....
- Battle for the Cowl: the 3 part mini-series with various tie-in books. Let's talk about them:
- Battle for the Cowl: Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead?: the one-shot that kicks all off but then it's not a one-shot, it's issue 1 of 2.Issue 2 is shortly to be out since the whole thing is wrapping up shortly.
- Battle for the Cowl: Azrael: Death;s Dark Knight: this is a 3 issue series that I wasn't really feel so I didn't pick up the rest. I also didn't pick up the Manbat because I didn't really care about the character.
- Battle for the Cowl: Oracle: The Cure: this follows up threads from the recently cancelled "Birds of Prey" book & the till going on "Teen Titans" book. Barbara's story continues on in the new "Batgirl" book that is soon to be launched. 1 nitpick: the covers. Guillem March's art makes Barbara Gordon look to busty. She's not Power Girl gosh sakes! :) The interior art is good (by Julian Lopez & Fernando Pasarin). Yes, this didn't have much to do with the main BftC story but still a good story.
- Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon: a somewhat pointless tie-in with a "well, no duh!" ending.
- Battle for the Cowl: Arkham Asylum: one of the better one-shots of the set. I want to know more about the character introduced here.
- Battle for the Cowl: The Underground: it shows how the Villains are acting in a Batman less Gotham. This book also sets up the soon to be launched "Gotham City Sirens" book.
Battle for the Cowl: The Network: which shows us there are a lot of heroes that roam the streets of Gotham (at least 15). This shows how they work (or don't work) together.
Battle for the Cowl: the main series. It was ok: ok writing & ok to good art. But I don't think anyone didn't see the ending coming a mile away. The series was just a means to set up the new status quo.
- Batman/Superman #60: part 1 (or 2) of the "Mashup" story line where Batman & Superman meet up the Justice Titans who's members include Star Canary, Aquaborg, Hawkbeast, Terrando, The Flash, Donna Wonder & Night Lantern! A fun story & looking forward to seeing part 2 when we get to see some of the Villains of this world (in this issue we meet Doomstroke & Lex Joker)!
- Justice Society of America #23-26: The team fought Black Adam & his family. Issue 26 was a nice down time/ farewell issue (a new writer & artist team are coming on the book soon).
- Power Girl #1: a fun first issue with some nice art. Looking forward to future issues.
- Booster Gold #17-20: still a fun book.
- Brave and The Bold #23: Booster Gold goes up against Magog & the way the issue ended it looks like this might continue on in Booster's own series sometime in the future (no pun intended, maybe just a little).
- Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 & 4: the book has been chronically late, I was kind of surprised that 2 issues came out some quickly. But the book is still really cool: good writing & good art!
- Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1: Now I haven't read Final Crisis yet but the characters in this book (Super Young Team) did interest me from the promo stuff I looked at. Also, the book is really good. I await the further issues with glee!
- The Flash: Rebirth #1&2: an interesting story & wonder where it's going.
- Tangent: Superman's Reign: the last issue of the 12 issue series where the character of the regular DC Universe interact with the characters of the Tangent Comic universe. Still prefer the old Tangent Comics more.
- DC Super Friends: Super Pets unite!
One Graphic Novel: I've bought since I review the others: Starman: Sins of the Father which collects Issue 0-5 of the early 90's, post Zero Hour series & it's really cool. I'd pick up the rest of the series.
Now for book under other imprints but are DC books:
- From America's Best Comics: Top 10: season 2 #4 & Special #1: I didn't like the special, but the series is fine. Like the older stuff better.
- From Wildstorm: Mysterious The Unfathomable #1-4: an interesting series.
- From Vertigo: The Unwritten #1: one of the better, more interesting, more original comics I've read in awhile.
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Marvel & DC are over. On to the other stuff!
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All the other comics I've bougthen from the last week in January to 3rd week in May:
Dark Horse Comics
- The Umbrella Academy #3-6: cool series with probably the best cover design scheme of any comic I know of.
- Buff the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 #24: I'm sucker for any issue with Faith in it.
IDW
- Doctor Who: The Whispering Gallery: a cool story involving the Doctor & Martha.
- Doctor Who Classics: Series 2 #4-6: cool old Doctor Who comics.
- Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Tribbles: a really cool story about Tribbles.
Image
- Madman Atomic Comics #3: I'm not sure how to explain this comic but if your a lover of comic art you should have this book in your collection.
3 Finger Prints
- The 3 Geeks: Slab Madness #2 & 3: One of the best nerdy series out there.
Boom Studios
-The Muppet Show Comic Book #1: it's just like the show which is good.
Archie Comics
- Jughead's Time Police #5: an odd comic from the early 90's that has Jughead as a member of a time traveling police force.
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Well, that everything!
In case your wondering: this post took from 11:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. to write.
Until next time: Stay Jazzy!
- Brian
