This is Entry 244: Comic Book Round-Up!

It's a been almost a month since the last Round-Up posting but there was the the Fantastic Four #600 review posting in there & it's been a few weeks since I've really posted anything. Why? Basically I've been doing other stuff.

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 Studios

Justice 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

This is Entry 243: Coming Attractions!

Here is the "teaser poster" for a project that has been in the planning stages for a few months. It will start up soon (for hopefully obvious reasons). What it is actually is about will be revealed at that time.

Until then, Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 242: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine Returns!

So... Last week this came out:

There are a couple different covers this just happens to be the one I have

The "Fantastic Four" comic book is back after about a year away with Issue #600. The last issue before this was the "final issue" & #588. Where are issue 589-599? Uh.....

(Marvel is counting the issues of the first 11 issues of the FF comic as those "missing" issues but unless you know that in a few years when people are looking for back issues of Fantastic Four might be a bit confused where those 10 issues are.)

This is the 2nd over sized book I've bought from Marvel in the last few weeks. The other one was their Point One anthology. Both of these books have some similarities:

- Both are longer them an average 32 comic book: Point One is 64 pages, Fantastic Four #600 is 100 pages.
- Both are more expensive then an average comic book (which ranges from $2.99 or $3.99 most times): Point One was $5.99 & Fantastic Four #600 was $7.99).
- There are multiple stories in both (Point One has 6 stories, Fantastic Four has 5).
- Both are preparing what future comic books (Point One has a bunch of stating points for stuff Marvel is soon to put out & Fantastic Four #600 is a getting you set for what's happening in future issues of Fantastic Four & FF).

But as I said when I talked about Point One I got the book half off from my local comic book store because they didn't anyone would spend 6 dollars for it & of the 6 stories I'd only read 1 or 2 of them. Is Fantastic Four #600 any better?

Oh heck yeah!

Of the 100 pages in the book, 6 pages are ads. That's 94 pages of story. (Point One had 10 ads but also has almost half as much pages). In those 94 pages, writer Jonathan Hickman packs in a lot of story. Things that have been building since around the time he started writing the book which he's done for 30 or more issues.

My 1 complain about the last few issues of "FF" was that it all felt like set up & I was getting tired of reading the set up without getting much of a payoff. This issue was the payoff & then some. Oh man, was it a pay off. I did not mind at all the $7.99 price tag: I got my money's worth!

The 1st/main story was almost the length of an average comic (27 pages, no ads in that story). If that 1 story was all we got in a double sized issue of "FF" that would have been awesome & worth the cover price. But this being a 100 page book & we are only on page 27: we still got a lot more to get to.

With the reveal at the end of the 1st story, we our first ad before getting to the 2nd story which takes of most of the book (The story is 46 pages long with 2 ads). In it we find out what *SPOILER CHARACTER* has been up since we last saw them & they have been busy which is partly why I think it takes up the majority of the book.

I felt the art change from Steve Epting in the 1st story to Carmine Di Giandomenico in the 2nd was if a tonal change but Carmine's art did fit with the location (The Negative Zone) & for the Bug Horde that is present. But I found how the characters are drawn to be a bit wonky or at least for me. They can look a bit odd at time when I don't think they are meant to look odd.

We flip the page for 3rd ad of the book & past that is the 3rd story of the book a 7 page story involving the Inhumans & we see how Medusa & Blackbolt "talk" to each other. Once again the art changes (each story has a different artist but all the stories are written by Hickman). The art for the 3rd story is by Ming Doyle & nicely goes with the story.

I will say this that all the art in the book while it changes from story to story they all compliment the story nicely if as I said might look "wonky" at times.

On to Story #4 with art by Lenil Francis Yu it is set on the moon with Reed & Sue talking Galactus. They talk about the future of Earth & how it's not going to be a great one. It's only 6 pages long but it sets up a lot.

On to the 5th & final story, it's 7 pages long & the art is by Farel Dalrymple (They also letter the story, too). It's a story involving Franklin Richards & Leech. The art has a childlike quality to it (That is not a bad thing). There is also a mysterious white man. They are completely white. Just the outline of a man with nothing but white in the outline. The "white man" also seen in 1 panel standing partly outside the panel I partly think this is "white man" the writer, Hickman talking to Franklin & Leech but I might be wrong.

And with that we end the book on a text page with some words from Tom Brevoort (Editor at Marvel among other things), Stan Goldberg (Artist & the original colorist for the Fantastic Four comic book) & Paul Mounts (the current colorist for the book). The very last page is the last ad for issue 601 of "Fantastic Four" & Issue 12 of "FF".

From the looks of the ads, what I've seen elsewhere & read elsewhere, the Adults (The Thing, Reed & Sue Richards, *SPOILER CHARACTER* & maybe a few others) will be the focus of the newly restarted Fantastic Four where the "Kids" in the Future Foundation will be the focus of the FF book now.  Which I don't mind I think Hickman has enough to fill both books. But this does mean that I now have one more book to read a month :)

Now this wasn't the only book I picked up last week (It certainly couple have been given that I was that good). There were 3 others but I'll talk about them when I talk about the books from this week & that will be a post for another day.

Until then: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 241: I'm thankful for...

So, last week in the good ol' U.S. of A. was the Thanksgiving holiday & a day where we gather together with family & eat lots of food. We are also to think about what we are thankful for & I probably should have posted this last week but I didn't. So, 1 thing I'm thankful is this:

It has slipped my mind when I was talking about the latest issue of Demon Knights to talk about the last page of the issue (which that image is). I'm thankful for writer Paul Cornell & Artist Diogenes Neves for not showing me all the gore of the decapitated head. Yeah, it's a bit odd to not see their faces but if I had to a choice to not see their faces or to see blood, guts & gore: I'll got with not seeing their faces. That's all I got to say about it.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy!

- Brian

This is Entry 240: Comic Book Round-Up for 11/9/11 & 11/16/11

I think that I'm going to be doing more & more of these 2 weeks of Comics in 1 post round-up posts what with the schedule I've been keeping with these post. I've got most of my comics from last week (except for Marvel Point One which got it's own post) & all of the comics I picked up this week.

Let's start off with the lone Marvel comic I picked up this week & the 2nd/3rd time I've talked about this month: Avengers Academy #22:

Not only does it get the "Shattered Heroes" banner (Still not sure what that means, not one here seems "shattered" other then Jocasta) but it also gets the "Regenesis" banner at the bottom of the cover because every book that has the X-Men in it for the next few months is getting that. So... yeah. The X-Men are in this issue or at least Magneto, Cyclops & Emma Frost are in the book.  I liked this issue & the appearance of the X-Trio didn't seem likely a meaningless cameo just because the Academy has not moved to California. There was some really nice scenes between Magneto & Quicksilver. Also, some nice scenes between Hawkeye (who has changed costumes in between issues for some reason) & Hank Pym regarding the X-Men (or at least regarding Magneto & Emma Frost). Again as I said last time regarding this book: another good issue. One of the better Marvel book I read.

On to the DC books & there are a lot of them.




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Red Hood and the Outlaws #3: First off I like the cover.  Now what is shown on the cover (The group fighting their past selves) doesn't happen but we do get to see a flashback to a time in each of the group's past which I thought was cool. I liked the flashbacks for Roy Harper (Arsenal) & Jason Todd (Red Hood) better then the one for Starfire. They were all good but felt the flashbacks for the guys were more interesting. I was also nice seeing what Jason looked like when he was Robin.

Suicide Squad #3: 1 thing about the cover. Harley's Boobs: they are bigger then her head! What the What? Moving on to the book it's self as seen on the cover, Mad Dog is back!

Cover to Issue #1 of the mini-series.

Who? yeah. Mad Dog is a minor DC character who got a 4 issue mini series way back in the 80's & I don't think had been seen since. How he is seen on the cover is not how he was seen in the 80's. I will say this about  redesign. I sort of miss the Hockey Jersey & the laughing dog. But they kept the look of a hockey mask for his present day mask. Something not seen on the cover but he has a necklace which has the design of the target symbol on it. (The target looked like the "O" from the old mini series' logo). I don't well see much more from Mad Dog given what I think happened to him at the end of the issue but he might be. I'm not sure.

But how was the comic? Getting better issue by issue. My 1 real complaint about there being more then 1 artist per issue seems to be solved. There was some great moments in the book (They should do more with King Shark, he was great in this issue). There was some great banter between the Squad members. If the banter in Suicide Squad became a bit more like the banter Red Hood and the Outlaws that would be cool.  Also, at the end of the issue we got a new Squad member: Captain Boomerang! 1 person we haven't really seen much since issue 1 is Amanda Waller. We've heard her a few times but not seen her much.

Demon Knights #3: Kind of of an off issue for me. It's not that it was bad. Just more of the same from Issue #2 which was good. Nothing truly new, still a good book.

DC Universe Presents: Deadman #3: We are half way through Deadman's story. DCU Presents is an anthology book with a rotating cast of characters (I think I read that The Challengers of the Fantastic will be the next story in the book). EDIT: As pointed out to me Jay Boaz, It's Challengers of the Unknown not the Challengers of the Fantastic.  How was Part 3 of the Deadman's story? Good. The story has nicely clipped along. Each issue has introduced some interesting ideas or characters. Some which I'd like to see elsewhere but am not sure I will.  A good story but not much else  to say.

Mister Terrific #3: We have the conclusion to Mr. T's fight with Brainstorm which was good. Much like with Deadman: a good story but not much else to say beyond that.

Batgirl #: *sigh*. I didn't see much point of this book existing. They spend much of the issue with Batgirl hanging out with Nightwing which could be a interesting idea for an issue. It wasn't. They don't do much. Almost nothing really (they spend a few pages talking about how they were both trained by Batman. Really???!!! I did not know that! Please, waste a few more pages talking about that). I know writer Gail Simone can do better then this! I'm seriously thinking about stopping reading this book.

Speaking of books I'm thinking of no longer reading....

Catwoman #3: Before we talk about the book (which there isn't much to talk about) let's talk about the cover. Actually more 1 thing on the cover: The Bat. You can't really read it at the size I have it at but on the the Bat is the logo "Gotham Bats" which I guess is a local sports team (Really Gotham City? Does Metropolis have a team named the Metropolis Supers? Is there also the Central City Flashes?). But just that Artist Guillem March put that on the bat is kind a groin worthy moment (Not as much as Nova's "Epic Fail" comment from last week but I still groined a bit after looking at the bat). 

What about the book it's self? meh. Not really bad, not really good. Just kind of there. I know writer Judd Winick can do better. He's done better stories & better Catwoman stories in the past. The art is nice but I'm seriously stopping reading this book which mean the only books I'd be reading for DC that have female main characters would be Red Hood and the Outlaws (with Starfire) & Suicide Squad (with Harley Quinn) & they aren't the best female characters DC has now are they? :)

Nightwing #3: That is an awesome cover! 

I want to show you a panel from the comic:

It's probably my favorite panel from the issue. The art by Eddy Barrows is really nice through the whole book & from the past 2 issues also.

So.... what about the story? It was also pretty darn cool. Good book: Good Art & a Good Story. A book I will continue to read.

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I have a short list of books that I am thinking of stopping reading (both DC & Marvel) they have until January to be better or I stop buying them.

Also, the next round up post might not becoming all that quickly. Next weeks comic will be out later then normal due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday screwing with shipping. That means I'll get the comics later which means I'll be talking about them later then normal. That will also happen in December due to Christmas screwing with shipping.

1 more thing: My Life in a Longbox is on Facebook so like me & get updates about the blog on your wall! :)

Until next time: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian 

This is Entry 239: Rapping & Comics Collide!

Still saddened that she doesn't exactly exist in the "New 52" (if you count the Karen Starr in Mr. Terrific as a non powered version of her). But I have a theory of how he could exist in the new 52 that I'll be posting here once I collect all my thoughts on the subject.

Until next time Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 238: The Future begins Here!

Back in Entry 230, I talked a little bit about Marvel's upcoming Point One event/thingy. Which I said that it might be the reaction by Marvel to DC's New 52. And they do need something since DC is beating them currently in sale something that hasn't happened in years.

To get you excited/interested in what is coming down the pike, Marvel put out a anthology book called well... what else but:

Before we talk about the cover, let's talk about the price of this here comic book for a moment. It's over 6 dollars. There are 7 stories (6 with a framing sequence) in the book so your almost paying a dollar per story & in this down economy the price point might turn people off buying this book. The comic book store I went to (Arcane Comics) knew this & was offering this book at half off the cover price so it was only 3 dollars for the book. Why did they do this? I was told that they didn't think anyone would buy the book for 6 dollars. I was willing to, just because I wanted to talk about it here on the blog. If I didn't have that as a reason. I would have flipped through it & not bought it. Marvel could have priced it cheaper but maybe they are trying to make up for money lost to the New 52 :)

On to the cover: A general mish mash of characters. Some people are drawn better then others. Nova (way in the back) looks too wide. The Scarlet Spider (to the right of The Watcher's big, bald head) is drawn weird or at least looks a bit weird to me. Maybe Adam Kubert, the cover artist, wasn't exactly sure what the costume was going to look like so kept it vague. Ultron (under the Watcher's Left hand) looks weird. I think it's the head that throws me off a bit. The rest of the people look ok. Still not sure if the archer at the bottom is Hawkeye or not. If it is him, then he's getting a new costume because he ain't wearing that now. When I first saw the cover, I thought that was Sabertooth. Not sure why but that what my mind connected to. Also, I have looked at this cover a half dozen times & it wasn't until I had scanned it in & had it starring me in the face while typing up this post, did I noticed that the Phoenix was on the cover. I thought that was the sun, a lens flare, something other then The Phoenix.

Let's talk the book it's self. I'll say what the stories title is & who made it (The writer & artist only).

The framing sequence (by Ed Brubaker & Javier Pulido) I made mention of is that there are 2 astronauts who are part some group called The Unseen who break into the Watcher's moon base while he is in a trance. A trance that lasts only 42 minutes (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference? Doctor Who Reference? Random Number?). So, the 2 astronaut go look at to the quote the book "a Wall of Memories and windows into Alternate Universe". So, the Watcher's TV which he uses to watch events that have or might happen. The two are there to record what the Watcher has been watching (Who watches the Watcher? Apparently these to). From there we get out first story.

Story #1: "Harbinger" by Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness. A story featuring Nova in a story that I feel like I've read before. It's not just that this story is telling me that the Phoenix has returned & that it just killed a planet (because that what The Phoenix does). But this felt very much like Crisis on Infinite Earths #1. Nova is Pariah, the one who witnessed the destruction. The Phoenix is Earth-3 because it had a bad guy who thought he fight against the all encompassing whiteness of death (Earth-3 had Ultraman where as the Planet Birj had Terrax). This story probably has the worse line of the whole book & Nova says it as he flies away from the planet as Phoenix sits on it (or eats it depending on how you look at the picture):

... All those people... I... epic fail...

No, Nova. You don't. Don't blame yourself, Jeph Loeb epic fails because that's a stupid line & he was the one who came up with it & had you say it. That line might be the stupidest line I've read in a while & not in a stupid/awesome kind of way. Just a stupid/makes my brain hurt kind of way.

I also don't understand why this exists. Unless they don't something new & different with The Phoenix I don't see why there needs to be yet another Phoenix story. But they might. They might not.

Onto the next story, Story #2 "The Myth of Man" by David Lapham & Roberto De La Torre. This story brings up back to the Age of Apocalypse for a 3rd, 4th time. Not really sure why we need to return to this alternate timeline. It seems kind of pointless since I didn't there was anything left to cover in this timeline. Sure, not everything had been covered but you don't need cover everything. The story we have here is that basically the entire human race is dead (The rest of Earth's population are Mutants) except for a group of 5 humans who are on a quest to kill mutants. What does merry little quintet but the most extreme name that could come up with: The X-Terminated! Which I guess works for a alternate timeline that came into being during the Mid-1990's & as Lewis Lovhaug has a habit of telling us poor literacy is of course kewl. :)

Story #3, yet another story with calls back to the Mid-1990's "The Scarlet Thread" by Chris Yost & Ryan Stegman. The Scarlet Spider is back in action! But it's not who you might think it is but you'd be close. Scarlet Spider was the identity original created & use by Ben Reily, a clone of Peter Parker (Spider-Man). But this time it's Kaine. Who? He's another clone of Peter Parker. During the 90's he had a lot of clones running around. In fact there was a whole saga about him & his clones. This story spins out of the events of Spider-Island, which is a story I haven't read but it does kind of interest me. Something I might pick up when they collect it into trade paperback form. We see Kaine in his Spider outfit beat up a few bad guys. One of the better stories in the book but I'm not sure if I read the continuing stories with the new Scarlet Spider.

Story #4 "Yin & Yang" by Fred Van Lente & Salvador Larroca. The main characters in this story (codenamed Dragonfire & Coldmoon) are from the only story to not get some representation on the cover. All the other stories have at least 1 character on the cover (2 stories get 2 of their characters on the cover). This brother & sister duo (DF is the brother & CM is the sister) are 2 characters I had never heard of. From the looks of the story & how it is told they are new characters. They will be teaming up with the Avengers to help take down an evil corporation by the name of Taiji because as Coldmoon said in the story:

"Taiji is infecting this planet with alien technology that will enslave humanity if we don't stop it."

so... yeah. This is all set up for something in the future. The book doesn't tell us where to read their further adventure (most likely an Avengers book). This story has a slightly funny interchange between Hawkeye & Wolverine after seeing Dragonfire & Coldmoon show up:

Hawkeye: Friend... or Foe?

Wolverine: Or somethin' in between?

I got a laugh out of it.

On to the next story, one of the better of the book. Story #5 "The Shaman of Greenwich Village" by Matt Fraction & The Dodsons (Terry penciled the art & Rachel inked the art). I read an interview with writer Matt Fraction over at Comics Alliance about the upcoming The Defenders book which this story leads us into & it sounds like a cool book with an interesting story to tell. Given the interview & this story, "The Defenders" is maybe the only book I'd think about picking up.

The last story in the book is "Age of Ultron" by Brian Michael Bendis & Bryan Hitch. This story & the Defenders' story might have the best art in the book. I got an Old Man Logan feeling from this story but that might just be the "Story set in a not to distant crappy future" setting to both of those stories. It doesn't tell you much but that's ok. I might pick this up.



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So... out of the 6 stories in the book I'd pick up 1 or 2 of the books, I find 1 pointless & 3 I'm sort of non plussed about. Was it worth my 3 dollars? Not sure. But It certainly wasn't worth my 6 dollars.

I'll be back soon with my thought on the other books I picked up this week.

One more thing: My Life in a Longbox is on Facebook. I've set up a group page which I think you should be able to find just by searching for by name. If you "like" it you can get message about this blog on your Facebook wall. How cool is that? :)

Well... until next time: Stay Jazzy, everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 237: Comic Book Round-Up for 10/26/11 & 11/2/11

I did mean to make a Round Up post last week but I just never got around to it & that was sort of good since 1 book I've been reading has put out 2 issues in the last 2 weeks. So... Let's start with that book:

Avengers Academy #20 & 21: Issue 20 is the last issue to tie into the "Fear Itself" event. Now where with Invincible Iron Man I've been pretty much lost on what is going on in the book. With AA's ties in, I have not been. Sure, AA's tie has mostly been not involved in the main action of Fear Itself like Iron Man has been but IIM seemed to have dropped it's story lines/plot lines to focus on FI completely. AA did not do that. It found a way to incorporate it's ongoing story elements into the FI event. Another thing nice about AA & it's FI tie in's, It filled in the reader who might not be reading the main event (i.e. Me) what is going on in that book & why some of the stuff that is happen is actually happening & it didn't seemed forced in there. I don't think I have read a truly bad issue of the series. It's always a book I look forward to reading each time it comes out (which is sometimes once a month & sometimes twice a month).

In reading Issue 20 I was worried that it would be the last issue. The title of the story was "Endings" & the cover sort of looked like it could have been a last issue cover. But as evident by there being an Issue 21 this was not the case. It was just a ending of a few of it's plot lines. A member of the group (Veil, the girl with the orange hair & black suit as seen on Issue 20's cover) has parted ways with the group. But I don't think she's gone from the book as how her leaving is seen in the book & the end of of 21. 2 teachers (Speedball & Justice, the men either end of the back row on Issue 20's cover) have left to go on a road trip. I'm not sure that we'll see their road trip in the book but it would be nice to check in on them every couple of issues.

The major change in Issue 20 is the group's membership is growing & the team in moving. Previously there was only 6 members & they were headquartered in the Infinite Avengers Mansion (which was location in another dimension). With the IAM being destroyed/lost (not sure which it is), the team is moving into the old West Coast Avengers headquarters in California.

The Academy is being opened to any & all young superhuman who would some further instruction/training. From the sounds of it there will still be the small core ground of Academy members with a rotating group of "part time" Academy members. 1 part timer I'm excited about is Emery Schaub, the hero known as either Boulder or Butterball (depending on who you ask). He's awesome!


1 thing I thought was interesting that on the cover of 21: it says it's a "1st Issue" but it also says it's Issue 21. Why? Because under the large "1st Issue" text it also has a smaller "of a new era" text. They are trying to get some new readers because most people will pick up something labeled a 1st issue. It's stupid but it works so they keep doing it. Another thing about 21's cover, I have no idea what "Shattered Heroes" it's probably something to do with the fall out from Fear Itself but the Heroes in AA don't seem to shattered. 


Also, in 21 the Academy is gets a new Teacher: veteran Avenger (and former West Coast Avenger member) Hawkeye. There is a mystery set up in 21 that will play out over the next couple of issues. The next issue (which comes out in 2 weeks) has the Academy meeting up with some of the X-Men.


Before I'm going on to the DC books I've picked up in the last 2 weeks, 1 more Marvel thing: FF is actually doing some stuff, so the last issue (Issue 11) was a good one. Still not sure if I'll drop it or not. There might come a time when the only Marvel I'm reading will be Avengers Academy.




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Now on to DC!

Justice League Dark #2: As far as I say there was no burning of witches in the book. Zatanna & Constanine didn't even meet in the book either (But Constantine does make a "connection" with Zatanna). But it was still a good book. I am interested in seeing where this book goes. I still don't really like the name "Justice League Dark" but it has yet to be used in the book yet which is good.


Justice League International #3: I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It could be better. I'll at least stick around until at least the end of this story line & see how I feel about it then.

The Flash #2: I'm enjoying this book. It's got some nice art, a cool cover, some inventive use of panels & a interesting story, too. Also, this issue marks the first New 52 appearance of the Cosmic Treadmill, a cool old piece of technology that had been used in Flash of the past. It has been used in the past to test Flash's speed (which what it was used here) but it's also been used for time travel in the past too. Not sure if it will be used for that here. But It could lead to some cool stories in the future if they do use it in that way.


That's all I got for you this time. When I get more comics, I'll be back with more thoughts on them. Until then, Stay Jazzy everybody!


- Brian

This is Entry 236: Comic Book Round-Up for 10/19/11

Before I get into the comics I picked up this week I'd like to take a moment to thank a recent replier by the name of Lindsay. She posted some nice long comments (each reply was a couple of paragraphs long) to 3 different post. She also filled filled in some info for me on who Azazel from the movie X-Men: First Class. So... Thanks Lindsay! Hope to hear from you again sometime.





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Now getting to the comics of the week. Like last week I'll start off with the lone Marvel I picked up: Invincible Iron Man

This was the series that was launched around the time of the first Iron Man & has had some story elements that one could see that it tied it to the movie(s) but it's a series that is firmly planned in the Marvel Universe. I've enjoyed the series up till now. For the last few months we've been in the midst of the series tying into the mini-series "Fear Itself", a series I am not reading because of what little I know about it just doesn't interest me.

I feel that with tie in issues that you shouldn't have to read the main series to get what is going on & that the issues should still further the own series' story lines something that IIM is not doing. I've been lost last the last few months, IIM started to tie into FI in issue 503. But I've just been lost the last few months, we are now on 509, there is 1 more tie in issue. So, that is 8 whole issues that have tied into an event that I don't really care about & for the last few issues it just been Tony Stark (Iron Man) just hanging out with dwarves at an Asgardian forge making weapons. Also, what makes it's annoying is that we are not getting the whole story in the book. Major events happen elsewhere (most likely in the main book) & we aren't really given a recap or directed to what books to to find out what has gone on in between issues. Yes, there is a text recap page in the front but even reading that might not explain everything that is going on.

IIM use to be a book on the stop on my reading pile, now it have fallen to the bottom. Much like with FF I am thinking of dropping Invincible Iron Man but for different reasons. I've been spending 4 dollars a month on a book I don't really like anymore. So, maybe it's time to stop buying the book. I think it's partly the whole "Fear Itself" tie in stuff but then I was thinking about the book & I was kind of feeling my liking of the book slipping before FI came around. This might be yet another Marvel book I drop.





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On to the DC books of the week...

Catwoman #2: After what we saw on the last page of Issue #1 (Batman & Catwoman were giving each other a vigorous hugging) I wanted to see where Issue #2 went. The issue starts out with the two of them post coital. They talk a bit & then part ways. During the scene we get to see some shots of Catwoman in your undies (I think that is becoming a trend in the book). There is a fun scene between Catwoman (in a kind of slutty disguise) & Bruce Wayne. She doesn't know that Mr. Wayne is Batman but he knows she's Catwoman. Why? He's Batman! Do you need another reason? (The book doesn't say why he knows I'm just assuming the reason he knows is.. because he's Batman & used his detective skills to find out). That 4 page scene is the best part of the book. We end the book the introduction of who I'm guessing will be Catwoman's first foe for the series. The character's name is Lous Ferryman or as he tells her "Some call me BONE." Yes, in the book the word "Bone" is in all caps, bold & a special font then the rest of the text. He doesn't look all that boney, he just looks like some bald guy in suit with a skin condition. It's slightly smoother them The Thing's skin & white, not orange.

How do I feel about the book? Along the lines of how I was feeling about Batgirl #2: Meh. This issue had a fun Catwoman/Bruce Wayne scene something Batgirl didn't have (Not a fun Catwoman/Bruce Wayne scene, just a fun scene in general). I did like Catwoman #1 more then I liked Batgirl #1. I might drop both books but I'm more inclined to keep reading Catwoman but there are still some strikes against them.

Nightwing #2: I thought the issue was good. About on par with the first issue. The fights (yes there was more then 1) with the Saiko (who is named in this issue & on the cover) were good. The furthering of the storyline with Haly's Circus is good. I liked the Circus stuff better then the fighting but both were still good. I did think it was interesting that the book has two equal story lines going on. A number of the books have a few different storylines going on but they seem to have the main storyline & the secondary storyline. Here I feel both are the main storyline & yes they do connect in this issue.  1 art thing: I'm not sure if it's on purpose but they artist (Eddy Barrows) makes Dick Grayson look a bit like Tom Welling (Clark Kent from "Smallvile"). He doesn't look that much like Welling when he has the mask on but without the mask, he comes off looking a bit like Welling.

How do I feel about the book? As I said: Good. A book I'll definitely keep reading.

DC Universe Presents: Deadman #2: First off lets just look at that cover. That's kind of weirdly cool. Not exactly sure what it going on & nothing like that happen in the comic but it's still a cool looking cover. So, last month's 1st issue was one of the better things I had read that month. How was issue #2? Good. It had some interesting stuff going on. There is a magic night club in the issue that I think is a great idea. I wouldn't mind seeing more of it, not sure I will since it served it's story purpose but hopefully it will show up again sometime. Also, the blind Librarian is also an interesting character.

What do I think about the book? Good. Definitely worth reading further issues of.

Red Hood and The Outlaws #2: I liked the issue more then the first issue. I liked it alot. It was a fun romp of book. We get more info of Jason Todd (Red Hood), the secret society, The All Caste & his connection to them. We find out that Jason has a connection to Talia Al Ghul (Daughter of Batman villain Ra's Al Ghul). There is some fun exchanges between Jason & Roy Harper. Starfire seems more like a person, she had a personality & was not just a sex object saying stuff (well, she might still be that but now she has a personality!).  We also the formation of the team wether they like it or not. There is a character in the book, Suzie Su, who I wouldn't have minded finding more about but we might not since she died in the issue (Just before she died, she did mention that her father might come after Jason for killing her. Given how Suzie looked, I wonder what her father looks like).

What do I think about the book? Good. As I said: a fun romp of a book. Definitely worth seeing where this book goes. But I might be of the small group who think so.

I picked up 1 more thing yesterday:

The reprint "100-Page Spectacular" of Superboy's Legion. It originally came out in 2001 as a 2 issue set. This book has it all in 1 book & only 3 ads (There is 1 on the inside of the front cover, 1 on the inside of the back cover & 1 on the back cover). The 100 pages mentioned on the cover is all story. Even though it doesn't say on the cover or anywhere in the book, this is one of DC's "Elseworld" books: a book that that take place in an alternate universe & doesn't relate to the main DC universe.

I had heard about this book & that it was good. A Bonus (at least for me): The art is by Alan Davis. I am a fan of his art. He has a nice classic feel to his art & I don't think I've ever been disappointed by the art in a book he's done & that comment holds up here.

The premise of the book is that the rocket holding the baby that would grow up to be Superman gets caught up in meteor field & goes dormant for a thousand years. So, instead of growing up in the 20th century, Superboy grows up in the 30th century, the time of DC's "Legion of Super Heroes". In the book he helps form the group.

It has some nice art by Davis. The Legion sport some nice costumes (a few of them being variations on the those they wear in the normal DCU). The story is a variation on the Legion origin. I only have a basic knowledge of the team but I don't think you need to know all that much about the team. Some of the jokes you might not get but I don't think it detracts from the story. It's a fun book & if you get it this way your saving a bit of money. You'll get the whole story for 8 dollars where if you searched out the original 2 issues you'd pay more. At 1 website I went to you you'd pay over 25 dollars for the 2 issues & that didn't include shipping the books to you.

Another book that recently came out as part of DC's "100-Page Spectacular" is

This is another 2 issue Elseworld from a few years ago: JLA: Age of Wonder. I didn't pick it up at the store since I bought it when the mini-series first came out (2003) & it's another good story. The story asks what would happening if the Heroes of the DCU appeared a century before then they did (instead of the 20th century, they show up during the 19th century). It has a bit of a  Steampunk feel to it. But is a fun story & DC made it easy for you to pick it up cheap. I saw on the 1 website that they were selling the issue at about cover price but once you add in shipping, your saving half the price by buying the "100-Page Spectacular" book.

Another book that I think DC should release as like these two is Secret Society of Super-Heroes. It's a good story & at the 1 website I keep referring to you, you can buy that 2 issue series for over 35 dollars & that's not with shipping.

I think it cool that DC is putting out these hard to find/out of print stories from their back catalog.

That's all I got for now. Until next time: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 235: Comic Book Round-Up for 10/12/11!

It's been 2 weeks since I last told you about comics I've read.  But I'm back to tell you about them.

I'll start off with the the lone Marvel book I picked up this week. Yes, I do read some of what what Marvel puts out. Use to be more but I've pared back my readership of their books. Mostly because I lost interest in their books.

So... the Marvel book : FF. The book that arose from the death of of Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) & the end of the of the Fantastic Four (but they are or at least the book is coming back. Is Johnny? I don't know). I'm thinking of dropping this book from my monthly readership. It's not because I think the book is bad or anything. It's that I'm not sure it works reading the book in a monthly format. The story lines are large & drawn out. Some month's issues are just set up for things you might not even get around to reading until months later. This is nice since it gives you feeling that what is happening is large & it should be for "The World's Greatest Comic Book" but it might not be good month to month. I think I''l get to the end of this storyline & then just pick up the book in the collected format.

On to the DC Comic books:

I won't be adding the cover for the DC books since I don't have much to say about them & I'm lazy. If you want to really see the covers I'm sure you could find them online somewhere.

Before I tell you about what I bought let me tell you about what I decided to not buy. The second issues of Batwoman & Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. came out this past wednesday & I did not buy them. Why? I just wasn't feeling those books. I may pick up the collected edition/trade paperbacks of those book's 1st story line in the store to look at & see what I missed. Batwoman has some really nice art.

What did I Buy:
- Justice League International #2: this came out last week & was the only book I bought last week. It's still a good book & introduced their first villian: The Signal Men. I feel like I've heard that name before but haven't looked into it yet. Nice issue all around. Also, we find out that Skeets, Booster Gold's sidekick/best friend/Personal assistant does exist in the New 52. We didn't see him but heard him so that was nice to know.

- Batgirl #2: This book was meh. Not really bad. Not really good. I may end up dropping it. I may or may not check back in on via looking at the trade in the store to see what I missed if I do so.

- Suicide Squad #2: Issue #1 had 3 artist on the book. Issue #2 has 2 artist on the book. Both times I liked the art by the other people then the main artist on the book. Now if the other filling artist had styles similar to the main artist this might not be a problem but they are not so it's a bit jarring to have one art style for a first half of the book & then you flip to the next page or look to the next page to see a different (better in my opinion) art style. This is my only really complaint about the book (other people have other complaint about the book but I look past those) & if happens in every further issue, DC either needs to get an artist you can actually do the art for the book on a monthly basic or I may drop it.

- Demon Knights #2: Probably the best book I read this week. It was awesome. Go read it! (See! I said I didn't have much to say about the books.)

- Mister Terrific #2: Another good book. Not too sure about the WiFi symbol of the villain Brainstorm's forehead. Not sure it actually is a WiFi symbol it just looks like that. Maybe that's means he's a WiFi hotspot :)  1 thing about the art in the book & I think I might have mentioned this in regards to last issue: The way the artist (Gianluca Gugliotta) draws faces can be a bit wonky at times. It's something I can get past since it's consistently wonky all over the book & it's something you could use to.

So... that's it for this weeks comics. I'll be back when I have more. I think I have a couple I want to pick up next week.

But before I sign off, just a plug for my *new* Tumblr account: My Life in a Longbox, the Tumblr edition. Right now it's just a mish-mash of pictures of stuff I've found around Tumblr that I found interesting. I'll try to get some more original content made by me up there sometime. Just go & check it out.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy, everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 234: Brian on the Aisle #11

Welcome to another installment of Brian on the Aisle. Today we will be looking at the last of summer Super Hero comic book movies: Captain America: The First Avenger.

As I've made mention there is a movie theater near my house. They get the movies for their theater as they are exiting most of the big chain theaters. They also don't charge you an arm & leg to see the movie. Every movie is a flat rate of 3 dollars.

Out of the 4 comic book movie adaptation I've seen this may well be the best of the bunch. Green Lantern could have been so much more but was enough for Hollywood to make a sequel (Yes, there is going to be a GL sequel. Let's hope it better then the one we got). Thor was a good film. It was a fun romp of film.

Cap has some in common with the last movie I saw X-Men First Class. Both are period pieces (X-Men is set in the '60's & Cap set in the '40's mostly). I feel that Cap's setting was better & made me feel like it was the 1940's. It contributed to the film. Where as X-Men's 1960's setting was secondary & if you change a few things it could have easily been set in present day.

I think out of all the Marvel films I've seen this has the best transition. You actually get the costume from the comics in this movie, his original shield & how they are used work to further the story. His "improvised" costume was reminiscent of the World War II era costume worn by Captain America in Marvel's own Ultimate line of comics. It's yet another visual taken from that line of comics (Nick Fury's look being the biggest so far & from the looks of it Hawkeye's costume in the upcoming Avengers looks a bit like his Ultimate counterpart).

We got some awesome stuff from the comics: The Cosmic Cube, Arnim Zola (before changed his look), The Howling Commandos & probably the most awesome cameo I've seen. It may only be second to Wolverine's cameo in First Class. The cameo is one if you blink you'll miss him & you might miss him if you don't read comics. The cameo was by the original Human Torch. A truly geeky moment for me.

What else should I say about the movie other then it was awesome? It's got a good story, casted well (Tommy Lee Jones is just awesome), there is some nice action. Felt very comic booky in a good way.

Going into this movie I wasn't sure I'd see James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes in the movie. The way he's in the comics might not exactly work in the movie but there he was & was used well. They even managed to work in some of his comic book storyline. Cap failed to save him but that doesn't mean he couldn't be back for the Avengers film if you know anything about how's been used in the comics in the last decade.

I thought the inclusion of Howard Stark, father of Tony "Iron Man" Stark was a nice addition. He's not normally part of the Captain America origin story but it shows that yes these movie all exist in the same universe & characters can meet (see next year's The Avengers for more of this).

Regarding the origin story: it's pretty much the one of the comics just slightly altered to fit the movie. There is nothing there is to drastically different from the comic book. All the event from the comic happen, just a bit differently & that's ok. The major parts are there.

So... yeah. That's my feelings towards the movie. I saw it with my parents & they seemed to like it. My sister had seen it a weeks ago & liked it. So, not only is approved by me but it's approved by my whole family!

I give Captain America: The First Avenger 3 circular shields out of 5.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 233: Everyday I'm Tumblring

well... not everyday since today is the first day with my new Tumblr account. :)

so... Yeah. I have a Tumblr account now which can be viewed here. It's just another way to share stuff I find interesting with the word. I've labeled it the Tumblr version of this blog but I'm not sure how much it will be like this blog. I don't plan on now any of the post I do here over there. I will be cross posting hopes that if people see something from over there will come over here & check out the awesomeness (Yes, there is awesomeness).  The blog I consider a journal where as the Tumblr will be more of photo album. Most thought will be put in over here. But check it out if you want to see pictures of stuff that interests me or funny things I find.

That is all.

Stay Jazzy Everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 232: Check... Check... Checklist!

It's another entry & another DC centric entry. I'm not sure where I will stop doing these purely DC centric posts. I guess when I run out of stuff to talk about. I will try to space them out a bit (note the word "try", this does mean I will space them out).

DC on their blog, The Source they have released a checklist for the 2nd issues of the New 52. I noticed that some books have moved around in the schedule & at least one has an altered title.

I hope you can read that. sorry if you can't.

The checklist for Issue 1 is on right & Checklist for Issue 2 is on the left. I like the look of the 2nd Issue checklist better. It's got the checkbox so you can check it those you bought & the header is just better. They could have added the words "DC Comics" to the top to make it say:


DC Comics: The World's Greatest Super Heroes

52 All-New Series

But that is just semantics.

As for what is different between the 2 checklists. Not much:
- Batgirl got bumped down from Week 1 to Week 2 while Red Lanterns got bumped up from Week 2 to Week 1. Why did they changed this? I don't know. Maybe it was to have 1 Lantern book a week (there are 4 weeks & there are 4 Lantern books).
- Justice League went from being the 1st title in the "New 52" to being the 34th title in the "New 52". I thought that JL would have been a week 1 title & not a week 3 title. They made a big deal about it being this flagship title but a flagship title is not a book you put in the middle of the books. But then the week it comes out it's not up against many other "big" name title other then Batman & one of the Lantern titles.
- The Firestorm book changed titles. Issue 1 was The Fury of Firestorm, Issue 2 is this The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men. As for why the change in titles? Again, I don't know. There are a number of Firestorms running around that book.

That's all I have for now. I have a few other posts planned:
- Which "New 52" titles I'll continue to read past Issue 1
- I took a Neilsen survey regarding the New 52 & got some stuff to say about it
- I thought I'd tell you what Marvel comics I read

Stay tuned for those & others. :)

Until then: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

This is Entry 231: Hey Look over there! There some stuff going down!

As promised in the last entry I am back with my thoughts on the last week of the 1st issues of DC's New 52.

First off all the comics I past on:

For some reason I don't remember seeing many of the this weeks books out at the store I went to. But I found that in weeks past that it mostly likely I just didn't see them. 2 books I didn't see but wouldn't mind looking through are Aquaman #1 & Superman #1 just to see what's up with the books. Others I didn't see but am less likely to look though are Batman: The Dark Knight #1, Blackhawks #1, Green Lantern: The New Guardians #1, The Savage Hawkman #1 & I, Vampire #1. Why am I less likely to look through them? just not interested.

I did look through Teen Titans #1 & Voodoo #1. TT like I thought is tied somewhat into the Superboy book & like the Justice League book they didn't show the whole team in the book. As for the rest of the book: wasn't really interested. I did see that Miss Martian exists in this New Universe (a picture of her was on a screen so she might be a future member of the group) Voodoo took place almost entirely in a strip club & our main character is a stripper. And she is also some sort of shape shifting monster thingy.


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On to the 3 books I did buy: Justice League Dark #1, The Flash #1 & All Star Western #1.

When I heard about this book & as I have noted here on this blog in the past, I just don't really like the title of the book. It's kinda clunky & I sure hope the group doesn't actually call themselves that in the book. I'd let it be mentioned in the book if only as a joke i.e What do we call our group Justice League Dark?"

So my expectations were low for the book but I was open to trying it. I never read much of DC's magic characters & had very few preconceived notions to the groups members. I had heard of most of them, some more then others (Madame Xanadu, Shade the Changing Man, Enchantress, Zatanna, John Constantine, Deadman) but wouldn't say I was a big fan of any of them.

What did I think of it? I thought was good. Maybe one of the better things I read of the month. I would come back for Issue #2. They introduced everyone but not the group yet which I didn't mind (At least everyone from the group was in the book unlike in Justice League). There was also a problem set up that the normal Justice League couldn't handle. With this book Batman has been in all 3 League titles this month but this was just a cameo appearance not like in JL & JLI where he'll be a member of both teams. I do wonder how this team will work with the main Justice League team. But since the team was not yet set up here in this issue, hopefully this will be brought up in a future issue.

I wouldn't have minded if Zatanna had kept her previous "Stage Magician" costume, I quite liked that costume. It worked both for both of her jobs and it would be something new readers might of recognized since it was the one used in her appearances in the "Smallvile" TV show. But maybe in this timeline she never had that one. I sure hope the blue & white costume with those ugly red "Z" earrings & whatever that red thing she had on her head doesn't show up again. I do not like that one.

This book seems to continue on from the past Pre-Flashpoint Flash series with some adjustments to fit into the new Post-Flashpoint timeline we find ourselves in. Now that is not a bad thing, the art by Francis Manapul (who is now a co-writer) is still good. There is a new way to how Barry Allen gets on his Flash costume which looks kind of cool. Not sure how that exactly works but it's a comic book so you just go with it. There are some odd lines on the Flash costume now that I don't like since they seem pointless. I read that they are the suit's seems which is ok (I guess).

I do sort of wonder how he relates to the the Kid Flash over in the Teen Titans book since there was not mention in the this issue of there being a connection but I would assume there would be one.

1 change from Pre-Flashpoint to Post-Flashpoint Flash: he is no longer/never was married to Iris West but she is still in the book. So, they could still get (back) together. Her appearance does bring up something: Where is Wally West? It has been recently confirmed that he is around. But much like with Stephanie Brown (the last Pre-New 52 Batgirl) I have not heard where these 2 characters will end up & what they'll be doing. But with all these it is only the first issue & not every question can be answered. Because then there would be no reason to come back for Issue #2.

Much like DC's magic stuff, I haven't read any of there western stuff. That is partly because DC doesn't put out that many Western books & most of their western stuff was out way before I started reading comic/I was born. They had a Jonah Hex series out recently by the same writers (Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti) of this book & I had heard that book was good. So I was open to giving this book a try.

What did I think? I thought it was ok. Maybe even good but there was just something about the book that just didn't draw me like other books have. There is an interesting story there in the book. It's presents it's world well. The art by Moritat is good. It fits the era & feel I think they were going for.

But I just wasn't all that interested in the book. I still wouldn't mind find out how the story turns out. So, I might not read it monthly but I would definitely think about buying the the trade paperback of this storyline when it comes out.


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And that's it for the New 52! At least the 1st issues of the New 52.

So what did I think? There was some good stuff, ok stuff & could get better stuff. I didn't find anything that I thought was truly bad. But that's my own opinion. I know from reading stuff elsewhere on the 'net that some people that DC had put out some bad stuff.

One thing I was sad to not see was anything truly new. Everyone of the 52 books that came out was a reboot/relaunch/rehash of something that DC already had.  I would have liked to see something new, something I hadn't seen before. Sure, I found some stuff I had read before or something I hadn't read much of. But where was the New in the New 52?

We could have done with 1 or 2 less Batman, 1 or 2 less Green Lantern books, maybe just 1 Legion of Super-Heroes book? Maybe some of the series could have just been miniseries (since I think some won't get beyond the first story arc)? If they had done that, they could have freed up some space for new stuff. But that might of been to much of a risk?

Then what was the point of the New 52 if it was to not take a risk? They could have done much of what they are doing in the old timeline with only minor changes not the wholesale changes they've made. They have done that before. Changes are made every couple of years.

The way DC is now will not how it will be in a year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years. They have proven this to be true.

I'll be back soon with which of the 15 DC books I picked up in September that I'll be reading in October.

Until then: Stay Jazzy!

- Brian