Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3/5
Art: 4.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: Batman: The Dark Knight, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Alex Sinclair, Andy Clarke, Batman, Batman Inc., Batman the Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne, Comic Reviews, cxPulp, cxPulp.com, Dark Knight, Dave Sharpe, David Finch, DC, DC Comics, Golden Dawn, Janelle Siegel, killer croc, Mike Marts, Penguin, Scott Williams, The Dark Knight | Leave a comment »
So…I recall last year hearing one of Chris Marshall‘s episodes of Collected Comic Library where he spoke of “adopting” a character for the year.
While I have no idea how it’ll go…I’m going to “adopt” Usagi Yojimbo for 2011.
At present,I’ve read less than a half-dozen issues of the character in my time. I greatly enjoyed the reprint of the 1st issue of the Dark Horse (current) series this past summer. And there are plenty of collected volumes that I could get one per month and I’m not sure I’d be halfway through the entirety of the Usagi material out there.
But my intent is to learn more about the character, to read some full stories, and by the end of 2011 have a sort of “insider’s understanding” of the character that I lack at present, looking in from the “outside.”
Perhaps this’ll get in the way of getting some of the other books I’d like to get in 2011. Perhaps it’ll get in the way of going through the runs of Prime, and TMNT Adventures, and Spider-Man.
But then, that’s comics.
There’s always more to read than can ever be read.
I could probably give up “new comics” cold turkey and still have new-to-me comics and re-reads to last the rest of my comic-reading life.
Filed under: Adopt-a-Character, Usagi Yojimbo (2011) | Tagged: 2011 goals, Dark Horse, stan sakai, usagi, usagi yojimbo, yojimbo | 1 Comment »
Preview: The Thanos Imperative: Devastation #1 – Comic Book Resources.
This preview is up over at CBR. And y’know…I kinda want to catch up on the Marvel Cosmic stuff. I’d even be willing to dive in at this late point in things, post-Annihilation.
But, Marvel…c’mon.
I’m so incredibly sick of $3.99!
And so…yet again…I’ll wait and maybe–eventually, someday–obtain the collected volume.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: $3.99, devastation, MARVEL, thanos, thanos imperative, thanos imperative devastation | Leave a comment »
I’ve decided to attempt a “To Be Read” challenge for 2011 (see earlier posting and the link at the top of this blog). But in addition to having a list of books I want to read this year, I have a number of comics and collected editions I want to try to read this year.
Back in 2004, I’d picked up the first volume of Preacher, and figured maybe it’d take a few months to a year to go through the entire series. Nearly 7 years later, I’ve only read to vol. 6 or vol. 7. I’d like to finish the series this year.
I’ve read the first couple volumes of Transmet, and it’d be cool to get through that entire series this year.
Recently reading some of Ron Marz‘ work on Witchblade, I’d like to catch up on his run and keep up for 2011 at least.
I’d like to finish reading Naoki Urasawa‘s Monster series. I’ve read 14 vols so far…only 4 to go.
I’d like to Acquire the hardcover to Annihilation: Conquest vol. 2, and finish reading the Annihilation volumes. Also find the Heroes Reborn: Avengers tpb and Heroes Reborn: The Return tpb (with that mini, and the 5th-week even from 2000 or so). Complete my collection of the Devil’s Due GI Joe run. Find the hardcover of the Devil’s Due Dragons of Autumn Twilight for a reasonable price and acquire it.
I’d also like to–in some format–read the original Spider-Man vs. Wolverine issue from the late-1980s. I’ve been aware of its existence since 1992, but I still have not ever read it.
I’m planning on revisiting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures series, at least in part, for a series of blog entries. Ditto the Ultraverse Prime series and perhaps Rune. Also attempt to make my way through the “Brand New Day” era of Spider-Man, as provided by a friend since I refuse to purchase Amazing Spider-Man (or any Spider-Man title) in the main Marvel Universe with an unmarried Peter/MJ.
But as always…we’ll see what happens. And maybe I’ll remember to revisit this post in about 12 months and see what I actually managed to follow through with.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: 2011 goals, new year | Leave a comment »
To Be Read Challenge 2011 – from readerchallenges.wordpress.com
My List:
Alternates:
This challenge will be tracked on the 2011 Reading Challenge Page in the navigation of this blog, rather than on this post itself.
The rules:
- the challenge is to read 12 TBR books in 12 months — you can read those all in one month if you want, or one a month, or however you wanna do it.
- you should have a list posted somewhere for others to see
- you CANNOT change your list after January 1st, of the current year!!!
- you can create an Alternates list of MAXIMUM 12 books, if you want, in order to have options to choose from (you can read these in place of books on your original list).
- audiobooks and e-books ARE allowed
- re-reads are NOT allowed, as they aren’t TRUE “TBRs”
- you CAN overlap with other challenges
- OPTIONAL: you can join the Yahoo! Group created for participants of the TBR Challenge, if you want to have a place to
- keep your list, or just to share with others about how you’re doing!
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: Ancestor, Brethren, Dan Brown, Dragons of the Highlord Skies, Dragons of the Hourglass Mage, Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse, Good Omens, Gunslinger, Innocent Man, Ken Follett, Kevin J. Anderson, Kid Lawyer, Last Days of Krypton, Lost Hero, Lost Symbol, Margaret Weis, Neil Gaiman, readerchallenges.wordpress.com, reading challenge, Red Pyramid, Rick Riordan, Scott Sigler, Song of Susannah, Stephen King, Street Lawyer, Summons, Terry Pratchett, Theodore Boone, to be read challenge, Tracy Hickman, Ultimate Cat Lover, Under the Dome, Vampire a Go-Go, Victor Gischler, Wastelands, WIzard and Glass, Wolves of the Calla, World Without End | Leave a comment »
While making my usual trip to the comic shop during lunch on Wednesday, I–along with my pull-list books–bought a small stack of old Archies to give coworkers in place of Christmas cards.
The next day, I wound up at another comic shop in search of Vertigo Resurrected: Shoot (which I should have picked up several weeks ago when I saw it at a friend’s local shop in Michigan). After rejecting several cool/interesting-looking Marvel books due to the $3.99 price (I’ve lost track of how many sales Marvel has missed out from me on impulse sales alone, for that $3.99 point killing any impulse). I spotted Deadpool #30 and saw that it was a tie-in to the just-wrapped Curse of the Mutants story from X-Men.
Seeing the cover—DP’s grin and the label “Vampire Hickey”—was sufficiently amusing as to draw me in. And the book remaining at the $2.99 price point was enough to get an impulse sale there. (Not too thrilled that this 2-parter begins the same week the main story ended, though).
Filed under: The Rest of the Stack | Tagged: comics numbering, comics prices, Curse of the Mutants, Deadpool, Invincible Iron Man, Iron Man, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, stark resilient, x-men | Leave a comment »
This is my 23rd Christmas since being introduced to comics.
And yet, comics have been a pretty rare “gift thing” for me. Which is quite understandable for a number of reasons (I’m resistant toward birthdays, and gifts, when they’re mine and I’m on the receiving end) and of course…when someone owns tens of thousands of comics…unless they’re vocal about some certain (probably highly expensive) issue they’re missing…what CAN you really get them that they don’t likely already own?
So, I don’t have very many comics-associated Christmas memories. But there are a few.
Christmas 1993, I remember Dad taking me to Capp’s Comics in Mentor, OH on Christmas Eve. In addition to the “usual” comics that week (whatever the new Superman issue was, among others), he bought me a number of other comics I had my eyes on. And then we “qualified” for some “free” comics the store owner had behind the counter. (For every so many dollars spent, one would (cumulatively) “qualify” for certain “free” comics—I remember the silvery and black Magnus: Robot Fighter #25 from Valiant, and other such overstocked “collector’s item” issues.)
And for some reason, I have this strong memory of Wolverine #77 from that year. Can’t forget to mention the “Christmas issue” of Superman that year, part of the “Funeral for a Friend” storyline.
I’m pretty sure one year, my parents gave me a gift card to Capp’s; and though I don’t recall specifics, I am pretty certain they gave me a few comics one year.
Probably the most significant comics-related gift, though, was in 2001. For my birthday that year, my parents gave me The Sandman vols. 3 and 7 (Dream Country and Fables & Reflections). For Christmas, they gave me the other 8 volumes.
On a slightly different note: I recall back in 2006 or so, DC Comics solicited an “Infinite Christmas” one-shot/holiday special…something I found amusing enough, playing off the “recently”-concluded Infinite Crisis event’s title. 
However, when the book shipped, they changed the title from “Infinite Christmas” to “Infinite Holiday,” which I didn’t catch til I got home and went to read it. (Which, being incensed at the title change, I opted to NOT read, and have not bought/read any DC “holiday special” since.)
Of course…it should be noted that while this is all materialistic and self-indulgent…
Gifts do not—to me—represent Christmas. Even with the gifts of comics and such I’ve received…I associate them more with the time of year, and stuff going on—personal memories and feelings and such—at the time.
But I’m not going to get into my feelings over the perversion of the true meaning of Christmas in contemporary society, here.
I hope you’re having—or had—a very merry Christmas…comics or no!
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: christmas, christmas comics, dream country, funeral for a friend, infinite christmas, infinite holiday, sandman, Superman, the sandman library, Wolverine | Leave a comment »
Well…2011 IS the 20-year mark since the original Infinity Gauntlet event. I’ve been wondering what (if anything) would be done to ‘celebrate’. Lo ‘n behold, I look at the Marvel solicits for March and find a solicit for Avengers #11 and a story involving it.
I just wish the title wasn’t $3.99/issue. I’ll keep an eye out for the inevitable collected edition, though.
AVENGERS #11
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Captain America 70th Anniversary
Variant Cover by ALAN DAVISThe Infinity Gauntlet is in the hands of the most dangerous human being on the planet. But what can the Avengers do against a power greater than anything known on Earth? Another explosive chapter in this epic Avengers event by Bendis and Romita Jr. featuring the debut of a brand-new cosmic character that you won’t want to miss!! Plus: another illustrated chapter of the oral history of the Avengers!
32 PGS./Rated A…$3.99
via Newsarama.com : Marvel Comics’ MARCH 2011 SOLICITATIONS.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: avengers, bendis, infinity gauntlet, march, MARVEL, romita jr., solicitations | 1 Comment »
Lately, I tend to “wait for the trade” on mini-series. After all, it’s not an ongoing series, so I might as well wait for the version of the story I’d prefer for a finite story.
Of course, for the times I might consider otherwise, any chance of an “impulse buy” are shot if the single issue(s) aren’t even available FOR said “impulse purchase.”
If I have to wait til issue 3 to get issue 2, even if I can get a (later) print of issue 1…I’m not even gonna READ the thing until I’m reading 3/4 chapters in one go…so why not wait the extra couple months, and read all 4/4 in one go, in one volume? (Or maybe by then I won’t have any interest, and will give the thing a pass as a whole).
Granted, if they already did an “overprint” and still sold out (in this case, on the 27 series), there’s less fault on the publisher. Doesn’t change the fact that this was a series I was kinda interested in checking out–and would have tried the first issue…but no one HAD the first issue, of the 5 or 6 comic shops I visited the week it was to have come out (and even the online purchase I attempted was canceled/refunded for not getting in what they’d ordered).
via Now 27 #2 Sells Out Weeks Before Shipping – And Gets A Second Printing [Bleeding Cool].
Looks like it was no one-off. Weeks before the second issue of 27 by Charles Soule and Renzo Podesta is set to ship, it has already sold out its overprint at distributor level and a second printing approved. Just as the second printing of 27 #1 is set to ship with 27 #2, so the second printing of 27 #2 will now ship with 27 #3.
So if you missed out of the first print of the first issue… yeah, looks like you’re going to miss out on the first print of the second issue too.
Ho ho ho.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: 27, bleeding cool, charles soule, Image, renzo podesta, Rich Johnston, twenty-seven | Leave a comment »
I’ve noticed the last issue or two of Fantastic Four having a running countdown on the cover, apparently counting down to a “death” of one of the core/original Fantastic Four characters.
And I’ve been noticing some comments around the internet—just enough to be what I’d count as “buzz” over the impending death of one of the characters.
From what I understand, the story is called “Three” and in ads, it’s being proclaimed that “One Will Fall.”
And the latest ad that I’ve seen (see photo associated with this post) I even see a notice on the ad that “This historic double-sized issue will arrive in a special polybag.”
Questions:
1. What makes this historic? Are you spoiling the story that literally? Is this going to REALLY be on the same level as The Death of Superman, the Death of Captain America, or some such? Is this going to TRULY, PERMANENTLY, for at-least-a-decade-or-so be the end of the story for one of the core FF members, whoever it is that “falls” or “dies?”
2. So it’s double-sized. Is it going to be double-priced, too? Along that line…what IS the price, anyway? $5.99? $6.99? Or is it less, and part of that double-size comes from reprint material, sketchbooky material, or what? Is the actual, main-feature top-billed story itself actually double-length?
3. What makes the polybag special? Does it glitter? Is it resealable, so that one can take the comic out to (gasp! horror! shock!) READ it, withOUT “destroying” the comic (since “damaging” a polybag APPARENTLY is akin to the paper stock itself being dunked in turpentine)?
4. WHY a polybag? Is there bonus material being bagged with the issue? An obituary? Poster? Memorial armband? promo trading card? Is the cost of the bags, and the extra processing and such part of the cost? What extra value is brought to the comic by sealing it in a polybag?
4b. I’ve always wondered at an experiment: ship a comic with just a cover, and all blank interior pages, except for a pull-out coupon. If you have that coupon, you can send it in/trade it in for an ACTUAL issue with actual interiors…
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: 587, alan davis, death, death of the fantastic four, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 587, FF, human torch, invisible woman, jonathan hickman, mr. fantastic, one will fall, Steve Epting, thing | 1 Comment »
Comic Reviews by Walt 