A Great Read #6: Previews Review Edition - Previews Issue 245 - PART 2
Jan 31, 2009 A Great Read
Today’s entry continues directly after yesterday’s Previews Review Part 1. Please continue for Part 2 of the Previews Review.
I will be using a very basic ranking method that will answer the question:
Will I Order This Item?
- Yup!
- Maybe So
- Not This Time
The page number and price (in US funds) will also be included for easy reference in case you feel inclined to order an item yourself. So, grab your copy of Previews and let’s get started!
Tags: apes and babes, bendis, Bill Sienkiewicz, darkness, DC, deadpool, diamond distributers, frank cho, hulk, image, leinil yu, maleev, marvel, moby dick, new avengers, pilot season, previews, rocafort, skottie young, Smash, solicitations, solicits, spider-woman, top cow, wizrd of oz, wolverine
A Great Read #6: Previews Review Edition - Previews Issue 245 - PART 1
Jan 30, 2009 A Great Read
Today’s Great Read isn’t really a “read” at all. What I will be doing is going through the latest Previews catalog (released this past Wednesday) and will be highlighting items that look interesting. Items I may be ordering myself or items I think you may enjoy. I encourage you to get a copy of the new Previews if you don’t already have one so you can follow along with this entry. It’s certainly not required, but it will help out a bit. The Previews catalog is quite THICK, so this review will be done in 3 parts to ensure that as many items can be covered as possible.
I will be using a very basic ranking method that will answer the question:
Will I Order This Item?
- Yup!
- Maybe So
- Not This Time
The page number and price (in US funds) will also be included for easy reference in case you feel inclined to order an item yourself. So, grab your copy of Previews and let’s get started!
Tags: blackest night, dark horse, dead romeo, diamond, fables, flash rebirth, jack of fables, justice society, literals, neil gaiman, point blank, previews, prototype, solicitations, starman, teen titans, twilight of the gods, umbrella academy, uncle sam, vertigo, wildstorm
The Weekly Pile January 28, 2009: Fantastic Four #563, New Avengers #49, Punisher: War Zone #6, Runaways #6, X-Force#11
Jan 29, 2009 The Weekly Pile
This week’s pile of 5 comics were entertaining from top to bottom. A couple of issues surprised me by regaining my attention after it had started to wain with previous issues while another book continued its stellar run with its latest offering. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a pile of comics as much as I did with this week’s releases.
Continue on for Reviews of:
Fantastic Four # 563
New Avengers #49
Punisher: War Zone #6
Runaways #6
X-Force #11
Tags: alina urusov, billy tan, brian michael bendis, bryan hitch, christopher yost, clayton crain, craig kyle, Fantastic Four, garth ennis, humberto ramos, Mark Millar, new avengers, punisher, runaways, steve dillon, terry moore, war zone, xforce
Favourite 5 #3: Wildstorm Series
Jan 28, 2009 Favourite 5
I have decided to list my 5 favourite Wildstorm series for today’s entry. Wildstorm universe comics have always been favourites of mine because of the way they toe the line between being standard DC universe books and Vertigo universe books with their content. Anything goes when it comes to Wildstorm and I appreciate the wide range of creations they have in their catalog. As with most all things, there have definitely been misses along the way for this DC imprint, but that is not what we are looking into today. This entry is all about the hits that have come from Wildstorm.
Here’s how this will work; I am going to list the series in descending order and will include paricular favourite trade paperback collections as well as bullet points regarding aspects I enjoyed about the series. The bullet points will be very similar to the ”Quick bits I liked about the issue” method used in the Weekly Pile reviews.
Please contiune on to see if your favourites made the list.
Tags: authority, Crimson, frank quitely, global frequency, humberto ramos, joe casey, john cassady, planetary, travis charest, warren ellis, wildcats
Let’s Talk Artists #3: John Romita jr. - Then (Uncanny X-Men #302) and Now (Kick-Ass #5)
Jan 27, 2009 Let's Talk Artists
The first time I ever laid my eyes upon a John Romita jr. comic book cover, I remember that I didn’t like it at all. It was too simple and none of the characters looked ”normal” to me. This was back in the early 90s and statements like “weird noses” and ”everyone is too big” were my complaints when I reluctantly continued picking up Uncanny X-Men with Romita jr. on interiors even though I wasn’t that blown away by the art (I used to buy X-Men no matter what back then). The word “hate” is much too strong a word for what I felt, but I certainly didn’t like it and was eager for some one else to take over art on my merry book of mutants. What a difference a few years make. Now I am thrilled to know that Romita jr. was and is so prolific as an artist. Most everything he draws winds up in my Weekly Pile. Plus, there is actually a silver lining for me now that I have realized the error of disliking this incredible artist in my youth as I can now track down all his spectacular creations I missed out on while I was suffering from a case of “amazing-artus unenjoyus”… Or, as I like to call it; “being a bit dumb…”
Today I am looking at 2 covers from JR JR’s productive career. Uncanny X-Men #302 which was released in 1993 and Kick-Ass #5 which I purchased just last month on the New Releases rack. Please continue on to see large versions of these covers and a couple of truly amazing videos of John Romita jr. creating sketches at a comic con. This guy is FAST and I want one for my wall!!!
Tags: john romita jr, kick-ass, uncanny xmen
Photo Journal #1: My Trade Paperback Collection
Jan 26, 2009 Photo Journal
- The HULK and I with my collection.
My trade paperbacks and hard covers survived the move with no casualties. I offered up a few tricks and tips for moving a large collection in the last installment of Comic Book Buyer’s Guide as my own collection was getting ready to change locations. That move happened yesterday (Thanks again for the help, Jer!) and all the TPBs were safely on their shelves by last evening after taking a ride in the U-Haul. Once everything was removed from their (many!) boxes and back on the shelves, I thought it might be a cool idea to take a few pictures of the collection and post them here for you to see.
One thing to note is that I usually have a bunch of action figures and random stuff on the shelves as well, but those have not been unpacked yet. You’ll only notice a couple of characters making appearances… Quick note for those of you with sharp eyes and great musical taste; yes I am wearing a Tegan and Sara T-shirt in the photo above. Check them out if you haven’t already. Their latest record is named The Con and it is truly unstoppable.
So have a look at the images below and see what is included in my collection. Maybe you’ll see a few books that are on your shelves or books included on mine that surprise you. I don’t believe in the term “guilty pleasures” as no one should feel guilty for digging something even if others think it is lame or “too mainstream”. My philosophy for buying comics has always been; “if you like it, pick it up” and that defines my purchasing approach perfectly.
Tags: alex ross, authority, batman, bone, brian michael bendis, daredevil, diary of a wimpy kid, fables, gabriele dell'otto, invincible, james jean, jim lee, locke and key, marc silvestri, Mark Millar, michael turner, new avengers, onslaught, punisher, rob liefeld, sin city, spider-man, terry dodson, tim sale, top cow, walking dead, wizard, wolverine, xmen, y last man
Trivia Time #3: Marvel in the 1990s
Jan 25, 2009 Trivia Time
Previously on Trivia Time, you tried your luck with questions about the New Avengers. Today is going to a be a bit different. We will be looking at Marvel during the 1990s. Pull out your neon T-shirts and flannel button ups because we’re heading to the 90s!
There will be 10 questions; one for each year of the decade. I will post the answers to these questions on the Trivia Answers page. No peeking until AFTER you have taken the quiz!
Continue on to take the quiz and be sure to keep score and find out how you did when you finish. Each question is worth one point unless otherwise noted.
Tags: 1990s, a-man, chuck dixon, daredevil, deadpool, ed mcguinness, generation x, hulk, Joe Kelly, john romita jr, marvel, spider-man, todd mcfarlane
A Great Read #5: Bigfoot - I Not Dead
Jan 24, 2009 A Great Read
I pulled Bigfoot - I Not Dead from my brother’s shelf a couple of weeks ago when I have a few minutes to kill and wanted something to flip through. The cover interested me as a water colour Sasquatch sat with legs crossed atop a skull while smelling a red flower. Yeah, it doesn’t seem like a typical Bigfoot, right? But what is the “typical Bigfoot”? The only knowledge I have regarding Bigfoot comes from the grainy old video footage that everyone has seen at one time or another. We truly know nothing about this mythical creatures and this book of memoirs from Bigfoot helps to enlighten us and dispel (and prove) rumours surrounding his existence. Best of all, its all in his own words! And while Bigfoot may not have the greatest handle of the English language or even basic grammar, his thoughts come across loud and clear. Thoughts on topics like dating, depression and his search for a sidekick… This book gives us an unobstructed view into one of nature’s most complex creations.
Tags: bigfoot, graham roumieu, plume
The Weekly Pile January 21, 2009: Astonishing X-Men #28, Authority #6, Dark Avengers #1, Mighty Avengers #21, Spawn #188
Jan 23, 2009 The Weekly Pile
This week’s pile is very “team themed” as 4 of the 5 comics involve a group of superheroes while a lone book centers on a single character.
Continue on for Reviews of:
Astonishing X-Men #28
Authority #6
Dark Avengers #1
Mighty Avengers
Spawn #188
Tags: astonishing x-men, authority, Comics, dark avengers, mighty avengers, spawn
No Best Picture for Dark Knight, But Heath Ledger’s Joker Gets Supporting Actor Nomination
Jan 22, 2009 Comics
The Academy released its list of Oscar nominations this morning and as you might guess, today’s entry is all about the Dark Knight. I suppose I am a bit surprised that the Dark Knight didn’t get a nomination for Best Picture. Everything seemed to be lining up in Batman’s favour as Heath Ledger’s complete ownership of the Joker was a lock for a nomination (and win) with Christopher Nolan and the movie itself at least considered strong favourites for recognition by many critics and fans.
Tags: academy awards, batman, best actor, best picture, best supporting actor, dark knight, DC, heath ledger, oscars, Warner Brothers
