tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.comments2024-01-02T07:48:42.623-05:00Comics And...Other Imaginary TalesJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comBlogger4775125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-54760538071635722652023-06-28T21:39:40.197-04:002023-06-28T21:39:40.197-04:00See ya! Ya old, 66 year old hetrosexy mail you!See ya! Ya old, 66 year old hetrosexy mail you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-19431013805654592582022-01-30T17:50:00.318-05:002022-01-30T17:50:00.318-05:00Yeah, today's comics are not up to the majesty...Yeah, today's comics are not up to the majesty of those of yesteryear. Gone are the all ages tales of good vs evil, wrong vs right. Now everything has to have a political point of view. As Howard Chaykin says, today's superhero comics are liberal indoctrination by fascist methods. Outside of the Big Two there are still some great works. BWS' Monsters is a masterwork! Reckless by Brubaker and Phillips is the team at the top of their game. And Ultramega proves that James Harren is one of today's best artists in terms of storytelling. I've been getting fewer comics but am enjoying them more as I only get what I truly love. And now that I've caught the original art bug I can't justify buying a $8-$10 comic. That money could better go towards a one of a kind piece of original comic book art. The superhero genre's best days are long gone. Very little worth rereading from 1992 forward. Good luck with your new plan! You are on a happier path for sure.Jeff Sibleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13712579966417094910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-64382873018569064392022-01-30T11:49:12.812-05:002022-01-30T11:49:12.812-05:00I think you're making a great decision. Hopef...I think you're making a great decision. Hopefully, I can succeed in a modified version sometime soon by really scaling back the new material while still reading up on the old classics. There's a lot of stuff "not for me" out there now, and a lot of entertaining books too. But way more than I can read or keep up with long-term. So much of today's books are driven by speculation via the variant covers or the next "hot" characters that people want to cash in on. I want a nice ongoing story that I can follow with a solid creative team and characters that I care about. Otherwise, it's an ephemeral read, never to be remembered again (and taking up storage space and cash for other things (LEGOS)). I do agree that Death of Doctor Strange was a fun read, really liked the story twists. I read INFERNO in one afternoon yesterday and it was so much poorer than the House/Power of X mini-series. To tell the truth I only like the X-Men pre-Bishop era and mostly pre-#200. "Cutting the cord" is hard and I've yet to do it to any meaningful degree. But I admire your decisiveness. Life's too short to expend so much mental and financial energy on something that isn't really working for you anymore. However, I still suspect there could be things worth writing about here . . . once in a blue moon.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-20725167621240454622021-07-19T19:01:55.558-04:002021-07-19T19:01:55.558-04:00Todd, the Trimpe original art is an homage to Hulk...Todd, the Trimpe original art is an homage to Hulk #184, not art from the Hulk issue itself. Search "A Tribute to Trimpe".Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-73523298207199860872021-07-19T17:25:05.491-04:002021-07-19T17:25:05.491-04:00Hi Matthew - I saw your letter in BI re: Godzilla ...Hi Matthew - I saw your letter in BI re: Godzilla art - I have a 2 page spread that I love - I'm scanning your blog to find the trimpe original art you mentioned hulk 184 my email is gallina "at" gmail dot com Todd Gallinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06279493806463537933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-13552959769801188512021-06-08T13:37:41.100-04:002021-06-08T13:37:41.100-04:00I'm at a loss as to what "woke" is s...I'm at a loss as to what "woke" is supposed to be in this context. While it's most often a pejorative used to belittle awareness of historical wrongs that have long been hidden or undiscussed, that doesn't seem to be the case here. Strange isn't somehow an offensive character in this story because he's revealed something about historical injustices but because his character has been entirely changed from a paragon of virtue to a betrayer of Earth. Seems a lot like when Captain America had the big Hydra moment, which later got explained away in long-standing comic book tradition as not really Steve Rogers. These things aren't written for long time fans but to draw new fans who may not have been interested in the character, particularly with a more ancillary character like Strange. The Big Two are less wedded to protecting the status quo of their "universes" after decades of successfully drawing new purchasers via event driven sales. When The Dark Knight and Watchmen came out they were afraid of damaging their property. After they didn't damage it by Crisis, Last Laugh, and ever more frequent events, they're willing to take those leaps, especially with a lesser known character that could be the next X-Men or Teen Titans or Doom Patrol or Animal Man if something "radical" hits. Isn't any of it "woke" in any political sense.Thommhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12820480076167151826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-51523234181587043922021-06-07T01:25:33.952-04:002021-06-07T01:25:33.952-04:00The forehead/top of the skull is thicker/denser bo...The forehead/top of the skull is thicker/denser bone than the cartilage in the nose and the rest of the bones in the face. It's why the headbutt is a legit fighting technique. Just read this issue for the first time and it blew me away. 12 years belated but Thanks for the review.Danny Eyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03771025784444271528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-5287052334515679252021-05-30T18:50:02.159-04:002021-05-30T18:50:02.159-04:00Just saying, technically it's not the same Ada...Just saying, technically it's not the same Adam, but then again it sort of is . . .Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-74477649440359830442021-05-30T18:44:02.307-04:002021-05-30T18:44:02.307-04:00Last time I saw him he was still a hero until now....Last time I saw him he was still a hero until now. Don't get me wrong some of Tom King's stuff has been great - but he almost ruined Wally West forever and looks like Adam is ruined forever. <br />Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-57934521638906184032021-05-30T17:18:06.520-04:002021-05-30T17:18:06.520-04:00Well, your beloved pre-Crisis Adam is long dead . ...Well, your beloved pre-Crisis Adam is long dead . . . but everything still matters!Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-32767202678703277832021-05-30T16:57:53.257-04:002021-05-30T16:57:53.257-04:00Thanks Matthew. Takes a lot to make me comment any...Thanks Matthew. Takes a lot to make me comment anymore but Adam Strange has always been a favorite character.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-34623492700620498512021-05-30T16:13:03.439-04:002021-05-30T16:13:03.439-04:00Man, I would save so much money if this were true ...Man, I would save so much money if this were true for me about the big two. But even though I'm not completely there . . . yet, I certainly see the trend often enough that it keeps me from rarely sticking with a title long term or quickly listing it on ebay, knowing I'll never read it again. Strange Adventures is such a beautiful book on so many levels, but I've been dreading from the beginning that something bad about the character would come out. (Alanna has been portrayed so coldly, is it possible Terrific is wrong about Adam? I guess it's too late in the story to believe that anymore. Bummer.) After a brilliant story of bringing back Wally West in Rebirth, King ruins the character in Heroes in Crisis (that was a pretty book too - but know one even wants to buy it second-hand, because it STUNK!). Why? At least you give a good explanation that I hadn't considered - it's more about the writers than the characters. Why do publishers let writers do this? Why did Marvel let Gwen and Norman get together in his office?! There are some things you shouldn't do even if you're given permission to do so. But writers have always been inserting their trauma and experiences in their work, whether it is a divorce, or problems with companies, etc. So many stories were affected by Watergate! It's really sick how companies prey on their readership. Tom King's work with Lee Weeks has been stellar on Batman. So I'm excited to hear he's working on favorite characters like Mister Miracle, Flash, and Adam Strange. DC knows that there is a fanbase that will jump on these series, but then they kick us in the gut (or somewhere lower)?! It is amazing that they found a way to redeem Hal Jordan, and they created a cool replacement GL in the interim. But I don't see them being able to do that with Adam. Still two more issues, before I solidify my opinion. Glad to have your voice back!Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-10436418410288920982021-02-26T05:41:39.089-05:002021-02-26T05:41:39.089-05:00It is a very deep "hole". "Impossi...It is a very deep "hole". "Impossibly, incredibly, it was no longer a monolith rearing high above a flat plain. What had seemed to be its roof had dropped away to infinite depths; for one dizzy moment, he seemed to be looking down into a vertical shaft -- a rectangular duct which defied the laws of perspective, for its size did not decrease with distance . . . 'The thing's hollow -- it goes on forever -- and -- oh my God! -- it's full of stars!'" Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-22162603642621699532021-02-26T05:31:04.227-05:002021-02-26T05:31:04.227-05:00And the way she says it too! I finished the whole...And the way she says it too! I finished the whole series in September and immediately started from the beginning, taking it slow with about one episode a day -- now on episode 189. These episodes have lost none of their appeal. I still love them!Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-87217497207335610882021-02-24T14:32:50.025-05:002021-02-24T14:32:50.025-05:00Damn you went deep into 2001 hole.Damn you went deep into 2001 hole.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-45780115732764483042020-12-07T23:17:35.665-05:002020-12-07T23:17:35.665-05:00Have you ever noticed how often Victoria Winters s...Have you ever noticed how often Victoria Winters says, "I don't know."? Keep it in mind as you view these classic episodes. It is uncanny how many times she says it.Catharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02516327604557199619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-8134483068032359472018-10-28T12:16:12.788-04:002018-10-28T12:16:12.788-04:00My son, Eric, said the same. It's fun to see ...My son, Eric, said the same. It's fun to see Pam surprised at stuff that I already knew about from Born Again. I like the expanded relationship with Maggie. Hope to get at least 2 more in today.<br />Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-50280370865786786672018-10-28T10:15:32.312-04:002018-10-28T10:15:32.312-04:00Nice post and reflects similar issues I am facing ...Nice post and reflects similar issues I am facing with reading of comics. Watch 12 episodes and DD Season 3 - easily the best Marvel season ever. Owes a great deal to Born Again but adds many of it's own touches. <br />Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-32124629217028609462018-10-28T10:13:07.046-04:002018-10-28T10:13:07.046-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-51870403656033220162018-10-28T10:12:57.041-04:002018-10-28T10:12:57.041-04:00Guess I need to read this series.
Guess I need to read this series. <br />Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-4244461247101466322018-09-23T12:29:04.641-04:002018-09-23T12:29:04.641-04:00It's good to keep Stan's role in perspecti...It's good to keep Stan's role in perspective for sure. I actually liked how #123 ended too.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894454259041852707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-74573543837634094832018-09-23T08:47:34.558-04:002018-09-23T08:47:34.558-04:00Nice, a cool idea to be sure. I think Stan Lee get...Nice, a cool idea to be sure. I think Stan Lee gets knocked a lot because he personally was too self aggrandizing of his efforts and almost belittled or ignored how much was the contribution of the artist. Still it is impossible (IMO) to deny that Stan's work with Kirby/Ditko and others was a huge part of their success. Plus Stan acting as the bandleader made Marvel have a cohesive universe when it was starting which made the line better and smarter than DC at the time.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-92231193988884059352018-09-16T09:01:04.764-04:002018-09-16T09:01:04.764-04:00And it had an ending to the story - which worked a...And it had an ending to the story - which worked and was well done. Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00352163584546054887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-63963370365648882562018-09-04T12:17:38.639-04:002018-09-04T12:17:38.639-04:00The most appealing thing to me is the chance to re...The most appealing thing to me is the chance to read a comic on a 60 inch TV, but that's hardly worth the $75.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16593880717075168462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33311991.post-12027410192466822162018-09-02T15:19:11.623-04:002018-09-02T15:19:11.623-04:00It doesn't help that the stuff I'm most in...It doesn't help that the stuff I'm most interested in is Swamp Thing, Doom Patrol, and Young Justice. Titans looks terrible, though I could be surprised. I also don't really like reading comics on a tablet. :/Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03026335818721649588noreply@blogger.com