Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Superman | Tagged: A Tale of Krypto the SUperdog, Brad Anderson, Carlos Pacheco, Clark, Comic Reviews, Comicraft, Connor, cxPulp.com, Dave Stewart, DC, DC Comics, Infinite Crisis, Jesus Merino, Jonathan Sibal, Krypto, Kurt Busiek, Lost Boy, Matt Idelson, Nachie Castro, Rick Leonardi, Superboy, Superdog, Superman | Leave a comment »
I didn’t get around to writing this properly in time for Fathers’ Day, but thought I’d share it with y’all today.
I learned a lot about my dad, about my relationship with him, while I was in college. Away at college. Toward the latter part of my freshman year and throughout my sophomore year, so many things seemed to finally make sense, or simply occurred to me that never had before.
I remember reading one of the Dragonlance books, and a character made a comment: “We raise our children to leave us.” And something about that hit me hard in a big way. I saw my parents, and all they’d done and were doing for me in a whole new way. Something simple, yet for me, it was huge.
I also recall the lyrics to the song “Cat’s in the Cradle” suddenly being very real and in-my-face. Just listening to it, and realizing what the song was about and what it meant. I don’t recall now, though if I picked up the phone or wrote in an email, but at the time I felt that sudden need to reach out, to NOT let time slip on by.
And I was reminded of this Satuday when a radio show host had the song going in the background and was talking about it.
And I got to thinking about comics, and Dad, and how much of who I am today is because of Dad.
I wouldn’t be where or who I am today without him.
Even with comics–same deal. I have related in the past how it was Mom and my grandpa who introduced me to comics.
But it was Dad who made “being into” comics a possibility, a reality.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: cat's in the cradle, college, comics, dad, father's day, growing up, memoir, memories | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, Gladstone's School for World Conquerors, Image | Tagged: Andre Poulain, Armand Villavert, Carlos Carrasco, Centurian, Comic Reviews, Dan Hipp, Gladstone, Gladstone's, Gladstone's School for World Conquerors, Image, Image Comics, Justin Robinson, Mark ANdrew Smith, Red Octopus, Thomas Mauer | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe, X-Men: Legacy | Tagged: Age of X, Age of X Aftermath, Brian Reber, Claremont, Comic Reviews, Cory Petit, cxPulp.com, Daniel Ketchum, Flashback, Glynis, Into the Abyss, Jay Leisten, Khoi Pham, Legacy, Lost Legions, Marte Gracia, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Mico Suayan, Mike Carey, New Mutants, Orz, Sebastian Girner, Sienkiewicz, Steve Kurth, Tom Palmer, x-men, X-Men: Legacy | Leave a comment »
With the relaunch of DC’s superhero line in September, things start off with 52 #1 issues. Justice League August 31st, and the other 51 in September. The titles for this initial launch have been reported as follows:
Filed under: Checklists, NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: Action Comics, Agent Of Shade, All-Star Western, Animal Man, Aquaman, Batgirl, Batman, Batman & Robin, Batman the Dark Knight, Batwing, Batwoman, Birds of Prey, Blackhawks, Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Catwoman, DC, DC Comics, dc reboot, dc relaunch, Dc Universe Presents, Deathstroke, Demon Knights, Detective Comics, Frankenstein, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: The New Guardians, Grifter, Hawk & Dove, I Vampire, Justice League, Justice League Dark, Justice League International, Legion Lost, Legion of Super-Heroes, Mister Terrific, Nightwing, Omac, Red Hood And The Outlaws, Red Lanterns, Resurrection Man, Sgt. Rock And The Men Of War, Static Shock, Stormwatch, Suicide Squad, Superboy, Supergirl, Superman, Swamp Thing, Teen Titans, The Flash, The Fury Of Firestorm, The Savage Hawkman, Voodoo, Wonder Woman | Leave a comment »
The line has been drawn in the sands of Utopia. Prepare for a conflict between former teammates, brothers-in-arms, and friends as Cyclops & Wolverine go to war with one another! From superstar writer Jason Aaron and a ground-shaking ensemble of the industry’s best artists coms X-Men: Schism, the series that will split the X-Men down the middle! United No More!
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
Filed under: Checklists, NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: Cyclops, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Schism, United No More, Wolverine, x-men, X-Men: Schism | Leave a comment »
The Last of the Innocent part 1
By: Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
With: Val Staples
Published by: Icon/Marvel
I’d pretty much forgotten the existence of this title. It seems to be a series of mini-series, each serving as a particular character or story arc. I’ve never disliked an issue I’ve read, but one of the best things about Criminal is the same thing that’s kept me from getting invested: the stories are full. Read just one issue, and there’s a full enough story there that it’s almost hard to believe the thing continues.
This issue follows Riley as he journeys back to his hometown to see his father before a risky surgery, and reconnecting with old friends and old memories. Of course, the trip nicely coincides with an itch to get away from debt he owes to some legbreakers and provides a chance to grab some quick cash to pay them off.
The story itself is very down to earth and realistic. No superpowers, no superheroics, no supervillains, no world-conquering invading armies, no wars or proclaimed crises of any kind. The characters are all believable if not stereotypical, and there’s some great allusion that serves to add even more depth to these characters and at one point left me actually laughing at picturing the alluded-to character acting in this way.
The art is simple yet detailed. It doesn’t try to be photorealistic, and simply depicts the characters. And the flashbacks being done in an even simpler style of old comic strips (in the vein of Archie, most recognizably to me) adds to the sense of layering and allusion.
The end of the issue is both ending–stopped here, it leaves plenty to the imagination. But it also–since it DOES promise more–piques the curiosity and leaves me wondering what comes next, especially for a book called Criminal, from Brubaker.
There may be some stuff here that I’m simply not getting, references or characters from some previous story. But if there is, I don’t see it, and I’d say it’s non-essential. I picked this up cold, and enjoyed it for itself. This is a brand new story, a brand new #1, and a great jumping-on point. All you need to know, I’d say, is that this is a creator-owned property from Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips, about very realistic people in a realistic world, if a bit noir-ish, and that the title Criminal fits the content.
Highly recommended.
Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 8/10
Filed under: Criminal, Icon, MARVEL | Tagged: Comic Reviews, Criminal, Ed Brubaker, Icon, Last of the Innocent, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Sean Phillips, Val Staples | 1 Comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 4/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe, Uncanny X-Force | Tagged: Age of Apocalypse, Andrew Currie, Angel, apocalypse, Archangel, Comic Reviews, Cory Petit, Dark Angel, Dark Angel Saga, Dark Beast, Deadpool, Dean White, Esad Ribic, Fantomex, Jared K. Fletcher, Jody Leheup, Mark Brooks, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Nick Lowe, Psylocke, Rick Remender, Uncanny X-Force, Wolverine, x-force | Leave a comment »
As I knew would happen, listening to one single podcast (a Comic Geek Speak special), I found my views on the DC announcement this week if not 100% changed, at least far more “open” with some positive thrown in. Plus, the whole thing is such a HUGE announcement with so many unknowns and waves of implications that it takes more than a few minutes to begin really processing.
Some more thoughts, questions, ideas, and musings:
Since there’s going to be day-and-date digital release…many people will acquire “issues” electronically without ever setting foot in a comic shop. BUT…what if each digital issue came with some sort of way to get ahold of a local comic shop for a print edition, or “for more information” about related material?
What if buying digital-only means any given issue is only 99 cents? BUT–if you buy the print edition, you get some kind of card or code good for a “free” copy of that issue in digital format? That way–the casual reader never going to a comic shop gets a cheap digital comic…the new generation of comic reader. But for the old generation of fans, who prefer to buy the print edition, there’s that chance to access an electronic edition, which might spur one to try buying issues that way.
The social networking thing would definitely need to be addressed. Have something where at time of purchase/download, one can send a post to Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and so on. “I just got BATMAN #1, written by _______ and art by _______!” (and associate a cover image, and perhaps the equivalent of solicitation text for the issue). Perhaps even allow a user to go back in and “rate” the issue and write a short review…which could then be posted the same way. Let the things go “viral” or some such.
I wonder what the relaunch and pursuing of the digital crowd might mean for the collectability of the comics. If “anyone” can simply acquire a “copy” of the issue digitally–does that largely remove the collectability even of a first issue (at least among “the masses”)? (Surely a certain amount of people will still see value and collectability in the print editions).
I am a collector in the sense of getting the long runs, and having full stories as single issues if I haven’t simply waited for the collected edition. I’d prefer to see the things enjoyed rather than hoarded for supposed value. (I thoroughly enjoy buying 25 or 50-cent copies of various issues that were THE big sellers and “hot items” in the ’90s, now relegated to bargain bins and otherwise forgotten.)
I don’t like the idea of the renumbering, but…they’re gonna do what they’re gonna do, and I’ve made my views on renumbering and variants quite well known…and will SURELY post to address my thoughts on that front as the general announcements are made in the coming months.
That said…I hope that WITH this relaunch, they take it all the way. Yeah, events and stories (Blackest Night, for example) happened, or can be referenced such that the reader who is new doesn’t need to read the other story/event…but where it might add depth to things for the older reader that did.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: DC, DC Comics, dc reboot, dc relaunch, reboot, relaunch | Leave a comment »
Comic Reviews by Walt 