• March 2026
    S M T W T F S
    1234567
    891011121314
    15161718192021
    22232425262728
    293031  

  • On Facebook

    On Facebook

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Comic Blog Elite

    Comic Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory

Expectations of the Stack: November 4, 2009

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Walt

This may or may not become a regular feature with this blog, but I thought it’d be interesting to try in the short-term. This probably-weekly piece will be brief thoughts I have regarding the comics I’m looking at purchasing, based on the week’s shipping list from Diamond. If nothing else, I’ll be interested in seeing for myself how my expectations, sight-unseen, hold up to what I think of the books after I’ve read and thought on them for a bit.

Now, for the week of November 4th, 2009…

DOOM PATROL #4 (BLACKEST NIGHT)
Only reason I’m planning on getting this issue is that it’s an official Blackest Night tie-in. Also admittedly looking forward the the plastic ring that I’m hoping I’ll be able to get–they may be cheap hunks of plastic, but honestly…they’re just about the coolest promotion I can recall.

SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #9 (OF 12)
Been getting this series, as with the other Superman titles. Almost seems a shame that it’s “only” 12 issues…but at the same time, better a finite-from-the-get-go series than yet ANOTHER supposedly ongoing series getting chopped hardly a year into its run. If anything of New Krypton (the planet) survives the arc, I hope they keep the numbering of this, even if they drop Superman’s name from the title…

HAUNT #2
Picked up the first issue thanks to blatent online promotion of the book. Wasn’t horrible, wasn’t wonderful. But given the “star power” behind it, I want to give it a couple more issues to grow on me…it’s got plenty of potential, and all that.

DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #899
Though I tend to complain a lot about Marvel’s numbering (among many other things), I take the numbering of this as tongue-in-cheek, and given it’s Deadpool (and the nature of the character) I actually find this series’ numbering fairly amusing. The sheer audacity of the “countdown” numbering (as if it’s gonna last the next 5 years, let alone 75-some) fits nicely. The absurdly-high number will also keep this at a higher number than any other of the longest-running and recently-renumbered Marvel books out there.

DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #347
Speaking of numbering, I love the fact that even though they could simply start the numbering from scratch on these books/concepts, Boom is keeping the old numbering and CONTINUING these Disney books. However, I certainly hope this does NOT have some 2-part cover split across editions of the same issue. I don’t like variants to begin with, but so long as I can get a copy with the cover I prefer of what’s out there, I’ll simmer in relative silence.

All in all, looks to be a decently-small week for me. Also one of the most diverse weeks, with 2 DC books, an Image book, a Marvel book, and a Boom book. Most weeks I seem to be all-DC with maybe one exception, if any.

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Change is in the air

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Walt

“It’s part of growing up, I suppose…you always have to leave something behind you.” ~ Edwin (Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: Season of Mists)

For several months, I’ve been noticing my trips to the comic store have been getting more and more expensive, with my per-week cost climbing significantly. A lot of that is due to jumping on new Batman titles with the post-Battle for the Cowl launch; the Blackest Night event with its core mini and ancillary minis; and a friend recently turning me on to the Deadpool books.

The last several weeks I’ve had times where I’ve had to leave a comic on the shelf because what I can budget for that week for comics hits its upper limit. On the plus side (better or worse), I haven’t really missed several of these. Others I’m going to miss, but it comes down to what I’m most enjoying reading, and what I find myself most looking forward to in a given month or week. I can’t afford to buy comics that slip to the bottom of the weekly pile or even go unread entirely for weeks on end because I’m not actually excited to read that issue.

I’ve also noticed that I’ve been keeping up with several series specifically to be able to review them. I can’t afford to keep that up right now.

Unfortunately, that means that what’s left does give me a certain bias in reviews: I can ONLY review the books that I’m actually buying (until/unless anyone provides me with review copies of anything), and I can only buy what I can justify…and said justification comes with a pre-conceived expectation of actually enjoying a book.

Still…expectation does not necessarily mean actuality. And of course, for those of you actually reading these reviews…you’ll still be getting my honest thoughts regarding a given issue–that will definitely not change.  As far as this blog, I plan to continue reviewing what I can; sharing my thoughts/opinions on the occasions I choose to post the random thoughts, and of course, sharing other content as I come up with it–like my series of photos last month.

Ultimately, there’s something to the old saying…”the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

“Packaging” is important, too!

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Walt

It’s certainly not a new topic by any means. But it re-occurred to me today as I was leaving Borders just how much the “packaging” of a product (specifically book or comic/collected-volume) matters.

I went in planning to purchase The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks with my 40%-off coupon of the weekend. The volume, however, seemed both too skinny for its retail price, and too small in dimensions overall–larger than, say, the Zombie Survival guide itself, but smaller than a standard (Marvel or DC) graphic novel. For $17 and flipping through and seeing it more flash than substance (more art than words) I actually decided I’ll hold off on it for now. Sure, it’s still on my want-list, but it can definitely wait.

I also noticed a couple of Marvel books in particular where the “Premiere Hardcover” was next to the TPB. With Captain America: The Man With No Face, the paperback is $15.99 while the hardback is $19.99. Now, I know as well as ANYone that $4 can be quite a bit. But these days, for the price of an average Marvel comic, I’ll pay the “upgrade fee” and get the hardcover when there’s so little difference in price! (when available/able, of course). But there’s something discouraging (for lack of better word) about seeing a nice hardcover with a paperback next to it…and realizing they’re practically the same price despite the price differences. (For that…I’d like to see the paperbacks go to a standard digest-size and be about half the price of the hardcovers.)

I happened across a Zombies anthology (different from the Living Dead anthology)…massive paperback. Granted, it’s all prose…but $20. And for page count, it DWARFS the average Marvel/IDW (and even DC) $20 paperbacks. For sheer size, it would certainly beat out a number of other books for the price.

I listened to a Comic Geek Speak podcast today where they talked about the TMNT Collected Volume One; the content’s good, obviously…but the packaging is very minimal…no text/pictures/description on the back, the spine is just text on a background, and the cover is simply a closeup of one of the Turtles’ faces…no logos, even on the cover.

Now, granted, in bookstores or even at home, the spine is probably what’s gonna be seen most…but still…it’s always nice when a book’s entirety just looks good as well as containing good quality content.

As a book person, I also prefer when things look good TOGETHER on the shelf…and for a series to look like a series…that is, a common trade dress and size. I have actually opted AGAINST buying books because they don’t fit with others or otherwise waited til I could get a different edition that WOULD fit. (I also specifically AVOID the extra-tall mass-market paperbacks…I mean, what’s the POINT of these? I suppose that’ll be a topic for another post).

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

So sick of Variants!

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Walt

Edited to add: a previous rant/example of this topic.

I was rather excited to realize that the new ONGOING Incredibles series would have its first issue out today.  At the comic store, it was the first thing I looked for…lo ‘n behold, there was one single copy of the issue left, so I grabbed it right up.

But something looked just a bit “off” by it.  It’s a first issue.  It’s THE INCREDIBLES.  But…it ONLY showed Mr. Incredible himself, and Dash.  What about his wife, daughter, and the baby?!? Then I noticed two hands on the cover, coming from off-panel…flipped the book over hoping, Hoping, HOPING it was a wrap-around…but no such luck.  Finally, noticed in small type “Cover B” on the cover, and with disgust, I put the book back on the shelf.

I was so actively disgusted that I texted this to my Twitter feed before I turned the car on to leave:

Boom just lost me on The Incredibles…on principle. Variants by splitting 1 image to 2+ covers of the SAME issue is NOT cute.

Now, taking one image and splitting it into two, each being the cover to issues 1 & 2 respectively…THAT”s not my ideal, but I’m ok with that. Buy issue 1, buy issue 2….ooooh! look! A bigger image!

But for one to have to buy MULTIPLE COPIES of the SAME ISSUE just to get a FULL IMAGE is ridiculous! And this isn’t the first case of something like this zapping my interest in something on principle…there were a couple issues of Justice League, and even Justice Society that had this stunt pulled.  The current Justice League: Cry for Justice did this.  Heck, the Incredibles’ own 4-issue mini-series that I was ALSO stoked for had this stunt with ITS first issue, which I thus refused to buy.

It’s frustrating ENOUGH to have variants AT ALL…but at least even the fairly common 50/50 variants are full images. (There WAS the case of New Avengers 1-6 having variants that when put together formed a single image–but the “poster variants” were ratioed variants (1:6 or 1:10 or 1:25 or such) which was an issue all its own).

I’ve read reviews of The Incredibles’ comics by reviewers whose opinions I not only trust, but they’ve turned me on to a NUMBER of comics/books/films through the years who have offered glowing reviews of these comics.

And I want to like ’em, want to support ’em as single issues…stuff enjoyable for adults yet appropriate for kids.

But these variants?

It’s a principle.

I won’t support this practice. And by not getting the first issue, I won’t be getting the 2nd issue. And so on.

Bleh.

Tomorrow: should have several new reviews up; tentatively Deadpool #16, World of New Krypton #8[at cX], Haunt #1, and Batman & Robin #5 [at cX].

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Tales from the Life of Walt

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Walt

For the last few years, I’ve been creating comic cover style images from photos I’ve taken (and occasionally from friends’ photos as well). I find that I enjoy it, and so have kept it up. I also enjoy simply figuring out a good layout for a cover, and designing logos and whatnot.

Recently, I’ve not had nearly as much opportunity for creating these, as life’s been busy and I’ve not had the social time I once did with friends, and the social time that I have had has not involved much photography.

Given that, I realized a way to continue creating covers and messing with photos and photoshop would be to make use of older, existing photos. With that in mind, I figured that in the spirit of actual comics delving back into the history of an ongoing story, I’d “borrow” a title: the “Tales From…” bit.

While I’ve generally gone with the idea that The Life of Walt is the equivilent of a monthly, once-per-month thing…I’ve done covers with other titles to get around that if I have several photos I want to use that don’t work together, or that I prefer to spotlight individually. I’ve pretty much decided this would probably be a bi-weekly series, filling out stuff not much touched on with my initial run of covers. It’s also modeled after the Tales of the TMNT comic, in that the flexibility is there to go all throughout the “continuity.”

With these covers, the first issue goes back to just after my graduation from Kent State–hanging out with a couple friends, and a surprise graduation party some friends sprung on me.  The second issue goes back to the Fall semester after that, when I was part of a 5-guy bible study group (later a sixth joined).

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Leave a comment »

Photos From Home #14

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Walt

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
Donatello; Michelangelo; Leonardo; Raphael

I first saw these figures in early January 2003–they were released about a month ahead of the debut of the new TMNT animated series.  I originally decided to only get Leonardo…for old time’s sake. By the time the animated series debuted, I’d given in and bought all 4 turtles as well as Shredder and Splinter. I also snagged several Foot Ninja figures during a sale at Toys R Us, and picked up a few more that summer.

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Photos From Home #13

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Walt

Marvel / Fury Files 3.75″ figures
Hulk; Iron Man; Captain America; The Thing; Colossus (Wolverine & the X-Men 3.75″)

These are several of my favorites from the Marvel 3.75″ figures.  Hulk and Thing seem to me the best value for the price of these figures (though Hulk was a gift from a friend)…these two are relatively huge compared to the other figures in their line. (Ditto Colossus).  Iron Man and Cap of course are represented well here…I just wish I had a Thor to go with them.  Pikachu is left over from a keychain I had in high school…a remnant of my time as a Pokemon fan. (I couldn’t get him to sit in Hulk’s hand to wait for a poundin’).

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Photos From Home #12

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Walt

Back in the spring of 1994, a friend convinced me to try out the Magic: The Gathering card game–at the time, I don’t think the game had even existed for more than 7 or 8 months. I initially missed the first novel published based on the game (Arena), but got in with Whispering Woods, which turned out to be the first of a 3-book series.  I followed the rest of the series, though never enjoyed these as much as the first 4.

In 1998 or early 1999, I stumbled across The Brothers’ War, and enjoyed the reading experience a great deal–particularly as it fleshed out a story only hinted at prior in comics and the cards themselves.  Late in my first semester at college I started picking up the other books, and enjoyed the rich story being assembled that tied together the entire Magic: The Gathering setting to that point.  I followed the series for several years and a number of the “cycles.” I’ve fallen behind by quite a few years at this point.

Two other series that I have a number of books are the Aliens series–based on the movies and Dark Horse’s excellent comics continuity. The other is MechWarrior: Dark Age, which followed WizKids’ moving that saga forward a generation or two for its then-new collectible miniatures game. You’ll also see the only 2 Mage Knight novels published…these were OK reads, but I was looking forward to more–sadly, they never did put any more out that I’m aware of.

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

7th Son: another great book…coming soon.

Posted on September 27, 2009 by Walt

7th Son: DescentMost of my reading is comics.  Between work and other stuff in life, I don’t have nearly the kind of time I had a decade ago in high school, or even in college, to just read. And while I certainly enjoy comic reviewing, the online comics community, and of course, the actual reading of comics…that doesn’t leave much time for other reading.

However, when it comes to new books by John Grisham and Brad Meltzer and the occasional other author (I may pick up Dan Brown’s new book in the near future)…I tend to make an exception, and switch to reading the new book before returning to comics.

And thanks to so enjoying the podiobook experience last year, another break-from-comics-to-get/read-a-book is coming up in about a month, when JC Hutchins’ 7th Son: Descent is finally out in print/paperback.

As America reels from the bizarre presidential assassination committed by a child, seven men are abducted from their normal lives and delivered to a secret government facility. Each man has his own career, his own specialty. All are identical in appearance. The seven strangers were grown— unwitting human clones—as part of a project called 7th Son.

The government now wants something from these “John Michael Smiths.” They share the flesh as well as the implanted memories of the psychopath responsible for the president’s murder. The killer has bigger plans, and only these seven have the unique qualifications to track and stop him. But when their progenitor makes the battle personal, it becomes clear he may know the seven better than they know themselves.

Hutchins has composed a fantastic series in 7th Son. Whether you’ve already listened to the podiobook version of the series or are just hearing of it…I highly recommend checking this out. I expect to post more in coming weeks about this; in the meantime, check out jchutchins.net for more information from the author.

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Photos From Home #11

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Walt

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
Shredder; Foot Elite Guard (multiple); Foot Ninja (multiple)

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a comment »

« Previous Page — Next Page »