Talon

Talon #4 (No really I’m not Batman!) this was a fine conclusion to the adventure that started last issue.  I’m a little disappointed that the writer went for the little girl gets away and puts herself in danger but only because it makes for crappy lazy filler.  Just have the fight, just win or lose only crappy writers let the kid get into danger after being safe.  I guess maybe I will not keep buying this comic after all.

Teen Titans - Death of the Family!

Teen Titans #16 Death of the Family!  Yeah this was another issue of blah blah blah filler.  At the very least I was hoping for something interesting.  But instead we hear the self monolog while the two Robins fight.  Then oh surprise they were just trying to trick the Joker.   Only to be foiled in the end by the Joker.  I’m not even sure why the flash back to the other Titans or Raven.  I’m just glad to know this will be over soon once I am caught up

Ozymandias - Before Watchmen!

Ozymandias #5 Before Watchmen – this issue was good.  It was more of what I was expecting from Before Watchmen series than we actually were given.  It was the backstory of the watchmen and how that folded into what became the movie.  Not the egotistical ramblings of writers trying to do better than the original Watchmen while not being allowed to actually write anything new.  While I am surprised that Adrian Veidt required so much time to figure out his plan to save humanity.  He goes on and on about how smart he is yet he needed a Sci-Fi TV show to show him the way.  Now we just have to see if this book follows the true comic or the movie version of events.  So far the other comics have hinted more toward the movie.

Dollar Bill! (Before Watchmen)

Dollar Bill one shot number one of one of the Before Watchmen mega series.  Dollar Bill was William Benjamin Brady or Bill for short.  Bill was a sports hero who was injured during his final big game and could not turn professional.  He tried to be a singer but he was terrible.  This forced the man to look for any type of work.  Finally Bill found himself a rather crazy job as the defender of a large banking concern; he became a movie star and eventually a member of the Minutemen.  I believe everyone remembers how his story ended.  This comic was well written and told an interesting story of one of the Minute Men who is just mentioned in passing.  It was a fun read, not sure about the afterword but still a good story.

Dial H #7

Dial H #7 Tree Knight and I think the Dial is getting to Nelson as he likes the hero thing a bit too much at the moment; which is a big change from when this version of Dial H started.  Then we get the chance to see a random silly Hero Baffodil Host!  This happens because Roxie and Nelson are trying to find a dial that gets them a hero that can go underwater in a search for another dial or information on one.  The finally get a water breathing hero called the Planktonian.  They do find a temple and we get a nice little fight before they realized they need to head to Canada.  In an ongoing side story this issue we are then introduced to a new meta-human the Centipede.  It is at this point I need to mention that yes this comic is rather silly at times.

Red Hood The Lost Days!

I just finished reading the Red Hood: the Lost Days compilation of the six issue mini-series. This is the story of the dead Robin - Jason Todd who dug his way out of his grave, was a fighting zombie for a while and then was actually brought back to life by Talia Al Ghul.  She helps Jason recover and train all the while stalling and hoping he would not actually try and kill Batman.  Jason’s training is often done by very bad men and woman.  People he eventually turns on in a non-Batman like way.  There are a number of very well written adventures and all the while Jason is slowly becoming less angry with being dead.  The final confrontation with the Joker was very interesting.  In the end the Jason settles for punishing Batman for not avenging his death.  The last scene shows his discovery of the Red Hood. This was a really good read.

It is a shame that with the new 52 reboot the Red Hood character was not allowed to keep the good parts of this story.  Red Hood and the Outlaws was just such a disappointment.

Dial H #6

Dial H #6 We start with Chief Mighty Arrow and a discussion of political correctness when going out as a random super.  It might be that Chief Mighty Arrow might be a tad racist if played as written.   During this dialog we learn more about Roxie and some of the supers she turned into when using the dial.  This was a character driven issue with a bit of back story thrown in to show what has been going on in this story.  I have to say it was a really interesting read, well done.

Terry Pratchett's Dodger

Done, I am finally done reading Dodger by Terry Pratchett.  The book to miss-quote Khan this book “Tasked Me!” Like most of Terry Pratchett’s books the writing is smart with the assumption that the reader is well educated.  The book was also written in an older style of the English Language with some British Slang that is rather out of date.  So unlike a modern book this is one of those books you have to pay attention to while reading.  I had to pay attention to the point of having to look up a couple of slang terms and a couple of characters from the book because it was a historical fiction and some of the people appearing in the book were famous.  In the end the book took a lot longer to read and I had to put it down for a few days at a time to let the information percolate through my brain (it did not help that real life was a bit busy at the time).  In the end Dodger was a very satisfactory book to finish.

I must say that I really did enjoy reading Dodger.  It was the story of a young man finding work where he could and making money where money was to be made in the sewers of London.   The story covers the adventures that bring him to a better place in the end.  During his adventures he meets a number of people who would become famous people in power and such (not to give anything away).  Just be assured that it was all very entertaining.

My only real complaint about Dodger and something about making the book a struggle not just to read but at times to finish is the style in which the book was written.  The book being a historical fiction was written in the same style of books from the age of Charles Dickens, Henry Mayhew.  It read much like the Victorian books such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin.  Of course it also reads like a Dickens’s story or a Sherlock Holms story from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  If you like stories set in that time period you might enjoy Dodger.  While I would much rather read another Discworld book by Sir Terry Pratchett I am glad he is able to write something new and different if he wishes.  I especially enjoyed the short afterword he wrote about Dodger.

Dail H!

Dial H #5 where Nelson and Roxie finally meat.  They work to fix the dial and fight against the void.  It is a good story.  But I believe it has been so long since I read the previous issue that I will need to re-read everything again and hope it makes some sense. 

A + X !!

A+X #4 is still holding to the two stories one book part one is the Beast and Spider-Man and the second story is Captain America and Quentin Quire.  Planet of the Beasts was very good I would go so far as to say it a one of the best stories I have read in a long time.  It was funny and the two smart characters got to sound smart while doing their super thing.  I am sure they both appreciated the chance to not be mocked for having and using their brains.  The whole planet of the beasts was apparently lifted directly from the Planet of the Apes movies.  Spider-man got in some good quips; the storm moved along and ended in a park.  Good Stuff.  The second story is alright but the whole earn each other’s trust is a little old.  I do not even know who Quire is or where he has appeared or where he ends up at the end of the story.  The M.O.G.O.D.! were used well for entertainment and comic relief. 

Uncanny Avengers

Uncanny Avengers #3, well that sucked.  I’m sure the 10 year old me would have loved all the long winded whiny bitchy talking.  But seriously the Avengers did this story already back in their original issue number 2 or three I forget exactly which one and Don’t have access to that collection at the moment.  Seriously write something good for a change.  This comic has some great stars and guest stars and this is the best that can be produced?  Ick.

Young Avengers!

Young Avengers #1 – This was a well written story that re-introduces the characters for this book.  A lot happens and yet the story does not move much yet.  The characters have yet to meet up fully as a group.  I hope the quality of the writing continues at this level even as the story itself looks a bit traditional.  The young Loki is very entertaining.

Deadpool!

Deadpool number four is a bit better than the previous issue.  We continue the carnage of the zombie presidents.  This issue names them and numbers the presidents as they are dispatched by our hero.  This issue has lots of nice quips and dialog of witty banter from all the characters.  We even get an Abe Lincoln vs. Deadpool cage match to the death.   I fear there is an educational component contained in this story as we see the presidents and sometimes a backstory.

I apologize for the delay in today's update, but Comcast thought I did not need the internet for the past eight hours.

Deadpool Killustrated!

Deadpool Killustrated #1 Moby Dick; Awww… I was hoping for more of a literary parody and less of a super hero comic book.  But while clever this Deadpool comic is just another Deadpool comic.  We do not spend nearly enough time with Moby Dick, the Man of La Mancha or Don Quixote.  I kind of suspected of all the classics Deadpool would like the man.  Captain Ahab looks a bit like Wolverine.  I was hoping the story would continue a bit before introducing the Detective.

FF!

FF #3 was kind of interesting.  This issue was almost entirely good plot development of the replacement Fantastic Four.  Not sure they are not being tricked by someone evil, but let us see where this goes.

Winter Soldier!

Winter Soldier #14 was alright, but the story was just stuck in the noir trap and was getting really old.  I was rather disappointed that after all the murders all the random killings, the killings of characters that were once major the bad guy does not get his just reward at the end.  The whole point up to then seemed to be this comic is different and people will die and suffer yet the bad guy lives to fight another day.  Not that Ed Brubaker has a large ego or had writers block to not fill the last page, but wow the dude has a large ego and as a buyer and reader of the comic I doubt his sincerity of loving the character he just fucked over.

Post #100!!

Nightwing!

Nightwing 16 Death of the Family was interesting and could have been good if not stuck in this filler mode for the Death of the Family mega story.  The layout of the comic itself was annoying with an entire section with the left page an advertisement and if we were lucky the right page had some of the comic displayed.  I don’t know maybe this issue will make sense when the story is over but otherwise it was just another “crossover” that was just filler.  I mean seriously how did the Joker have the time even in a year to set this all up?

Red Hood and the Outlaws!

Red Hood and the Outlaws #16 another Death of the Family Story but unlike the Nightwing story Red Hood and the Outlaws had a nice flowing story from start to end.  There was a little foreshadowing of future stories beyond the Death of the Family mega story, those one page breaks were a little jarring to the main story.  But I am sure not everyone is happy when slaved to some other story you have no control over.  The creative team still did a good story that did not feel like total filler while being filler or a set up story.

Minutemen (Before Watchmen)!

Minutemen #6 is a long winded re-re-re-telling of the same story being told in all the other Before Watchmen Comics.  Nothing new happens, we learn nothing new.  This was such a disappointment.  I guess I will need to go back and re-read everything in this mega series once it is finally being done dragged out.

JSA Liberty Files!

JSA Liberty Files: The Whistling Skull #1 (of 6).  Well that was all weird and wonderful.  Lots of feel for the period piece this comic appears to be.  This is the set up issue with lots of stuff but nothing conclusive yet. Issue #2 (of 6) was interesting.  But felt more like padding.  I am not too happy with one character being the “smart” one and one guy being the “dumb” guy because seriously that is lazy writing.

Thor God of Thunder!

Thor God of Thunder #4 is starting to lose a bit of steam with this issue.  The stories are getting mixed up a bit more than previous issues.  The entire kill all the gods all the time is getting a bit old with no back story spilled yet it really is tiresome.  While the story does advance perhaps a bit more speed in the story telling would have been nice.  I guess I am just getting tired of all the blood and guts with no explanation of how a mortal is killing not just one god but all gods of entire worlds / pantheons.  These are the all father Zeus and Odin’s of their worlds and while one world’s gods could possibly fall all of them getting wiped out is a little much.

All New X-Men!

All New X-men #6 continues the saga and really I’m just glad Angel found a friend at least for a little while.  It was really just a bit of drama in the story much like a normal whiny X-men story.  Then again it is time for Mystique to appear – but that has been telegraphed a while now in the advertising.

The First X-Men

The First X-men #5 the end?  Well the end of the story arc anyway.  Everything ended in fire as they say.  But was not an un-expected ending because otherwise they would change that little bit of story cannon that Marvel cares about maintaining.

Cable and X-Force!

Cable and X-Force #3 is an all-around good issue with a strong story and nice art.  It is a little silly with the family drama and S.H.I.E.L.D. and all but in the end it is still and entertaining issue.

Thunderbolts!

Thunderbolts #3 advances the story from issue number two in a move traditional and less confusing manner.  Good guys / bad guys they are the ones with the powers and the guns.  I will give this story at least one more issue.  Even if Deadpool is a bit I don’t know sane in this story and if Deadpool is the sane one there could be an issue with your mission.

Captain America

Captain America #3 was horrible, death, destruction and disgrace of the name Captain America.  This is such a horribly written story.  There is no clue about future redemption of the story or those at Marvel Comics who thought this story arc would be good.  It was bad enough to kill him to make a deliberate ignorant political point back in the Civil War story arc but to do such a horrible story again.  This should be the final issue I bought and I will never buy another comic in this series ever again.

Indestructible Hulk!

Indestructible Hulk #3 – That was another good story.  I am really enjoying this version of the Hulk / Banner world.  People get to be smart and clever while working with or around the Hulk.  The reader is also reminded that A.I.M is really twisted and will to do just about anything to get technology.  I almost feel sorry for the Recording Observation Bot I hope they are cheap to make S.H.I.E.L.D is going to use up a lot of them.  I was thinking R.O.B. looks a lot like the recorder in the Last Hulk Story published previously – interesting or hopefully clever.

Savage Wolverine!

Savage Wolverine #1 is another new book following Wolverine this time he is in the Savage Land.  This might be interesting but we shall see.  It is kind of sad that the other super in the book spends her time in a bikini the entire time, poor Sheena.

Wolverine Max!!

Wolverine Max #3 was good and moved the story along.  But as I said in previous reviews this whole Wolverine has a bad memory is getting old.  Wolverine has perfect regeneration he has come back from very little piles of very little so having his memory be bad is annoying.  It still feels like lazy story telling.

Iron Man!

Ultimate Comics: Iron Man #4: The Mandarin, the Mandarin it is all they are talking about. Oh and talking.  This issue seems to be the culmination of the story arc.  While the writers wanted to get away from the evil stereotype with the Fu Manchu look, changing the villain to an evil heartless computer served by two heartless evil women is not much of a change.  But it is a comic book so one dimensional villains seem to be normal.  At least these women were clothed in proper business attire.

Fantastic Four!

Fantastic Four number three was rather disappointing.  After a buildup of two issues the first real adventure is a fight with a giant planet / star thing that tries to eat the Fantastic Four and kids.  But no real surprise since this new Reid Richards is now the most selfish person in the Marvel Universe.  This series had real potential and now I’m not sure if I will continue to buy it or not.

Captain Marvel!

Captain Marvel #9 was a really good Day in the Life of Story.  I loved it!  The story had crazy old ladies, Spider-Woman, random people helping out and dinosaurs.  Oh and thieves or terrorists I’m not sure which or that it mattered to the story.  The story also confirms what should be obvious by now that Tony Stark is an ass.  I guess my only real complaint about this story is the art, the art suck in this issue it was horrible.  I don’t know who told the person credited as “artist” for this book (Filipe Andrade) to use this style but that person should be punished.  Characters are drawn differently in every frame of the comic it is very distracting and detracting from the story.  I really hope the powers that be see this is a bad art path to follow and just go for good solid comic book art.  Otherwise I am going to stop getting this comic and I am fairly sure I am the only one buying copies at my comic book shop.