Fantastic Four #25 (#670) -- A Review

Hello, dear reader.  It sure has been awhile hasn't it?  (And it's felt even longer.)  Although, my musings and ruminations have been absent from this blog, my thoughts and intentions often come back to the possibility of writing something for this forum from time to time.  I've actually had several posts brewing in my head recently, but alas there's no guarantee I'll ever get to them.  You really have to strike while the iron is hot.  (Does that cliche refer to blacksmithing or pressing your clothes?) 

For example:

• I started to write a post comparing the Casino Royale novel with the film.  I wrote one paragraph.  Instead, I ended up re-reading the Ian Fleming James Bond novels for the first time in 37 years (since I was 13) and managed to get through Thunderball (the 9th one of the original 14), before getting stalled on The Spy Who Loved Me.  I also read the British comic strip versions afterwards and re-watched the associated films.

• I'd like to discuss how cover variants have taken over the new comic market, largely surpassing the content of the books themselves.

• I finished watching the entire series of Dark Shadows (1225 episodes) in just under two years.  I then re-read the two comic series by Dynamite, which I wanted to write about.  One took place immediately after the show finished and the other was a slight reimagining of the classic 1795 storyline.  I love Dark Shadows so much that I immediately started re-watching it from episode one (usually watching at least one a day) and just finished episode 50 yesterday.

• After I finished Dark Shadows, I decided to pick up my pencil and start drawing again (to fill the "extra" time in my schedule more productively).  I largely gave up drawing in high school and stopped taking classes after 7th grade.  So far progress has been very slow, but my Dick Blick order just arrived, so we'll see how it goes with better supplies.  Actually, that's another reason for writing this blog post (during a sleepless time), since I've been frustrated creatively in the art endeavor, why not supplement it with some writing?

Anyway, enough background, let's get to the issue at hand:

I'm still getting a quite a number of  hardcover or trade paperback collections of classic comic reading material, but I also come home with a large stack of new comics every Wednesday (from the excellent Cosmic Comix).  Too many, truth be told.  As alluded to above, some I get mainly for the covers.  And in a rather new development, if an issue just isn't interesting enough to me, I may not even finish reading it.  So, it's a pretty special issue or series that cuts through the "noise" and stands out as memorable or blog-worthy.

Fantastic Four #25 (#670 in the legacy numbering) is such an issue! 

Writer: Dan Slott

Artist/Color Artist: R.B. Silva & Jesus Aburtov

"There Shall Come A Reckoning" (31 pages): 

Artist/Color Artist: Paco Medina & Marcio Menyz
"Sight Unseen" (8 pages): 

Artist: Will Robson

"Fantastic Forum" (1 page): 

I was super excited when the Fantastic Four came back again a couple of years ago, but I've got to admit, I stopped reading it consistently not long after the wedding of Ben and Alicia (#5).  That didn't mean I stopped buying it though. I either got behind or was just not very interested in the storyline, but I checked in here and there.  But I definitely started reading again for the Empyre tie-in issues, which makes this the fifth consecutive issue in a row. 

I'm interested in going back and reading those issues I skipped, but let me be clear, this particular issue is a great "jumping-on" point for new readers.  Beyond a little background that I'll briefly provide below, you don't need to read anything before this issue (more after the break). 

The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation

This is a bit different.  Well timed, too, considering the 150th anniversary of the battle this year and the 4th of July holiday around which I'm posting this review.

Jonathan Hennessey, writer, and Aaron McConnell, artist, are telling the history of the Civil War using an interesting device.  Oh, the cover blurb oversells it, but it's not too far off.  "Using Lincoln's words to tell the whole story of America's Civil War, 1776 to the present."

What they do is go through the Gettysburg Address in order and in segments to give a broad history of the Civil War, its history, and its aftermath.  It's an interesting concept, and I'm really interested to see what they did with their previous effort, "The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation".  They couldn't have done it the same way because the Constitution is far longer than the Gettysburg Address.

Of course, this work, while broad, doesn't tell the whole story of US History from 1776 to now, even if using the Civil War as fulcrum.  There are a myriad of stories that are Civil War related but aren't a part of this work.  But that's publishers for you.  If you have any interest in US history, this is an excellent read.  The art is especially good.  McConnell captures both the terrible nature of the war and also provides portraits of the many historical figures that are accurate and easily recognizable.

Now, my major quibble with the book is near its beginning.  Hennessey takes "Four score and seven years ago" and posits that Lincoln chose these words as an opening salvo in the contest over states rights.  He argues that Lincoln choose 1776 as the starting point of the nation because that was the date of the Declaration of Independence.  Selecting that date rather than the ratification of the Constitution allowed Lincoln, in Hennessey's argument, to assert that the nation was formed by all of the people of what would be the United States rather than a compact among the states that allowed the states the final say in how the nation operated or even whether it continued as a nation.

I don't find that argument particularly pursuasive.  As much as Hennessey provides direct quotes from historical figures throughout the work to support his contentions, there is no direct quote from Lincoln to show that he believed that 1776 was such a key date in supporting his arguments that the states did not have a unilateral right to seccede from the union.  Furthemore, 1776 had been celebrated throughout the nation as the birthday of the country for a long time.  The Founding Fathers, regardless of whether they were Hamiltonians or Jeffersonians, celebrated 1776 as the birthday for the nation.

I think Hennessey is trying to create an argument that didn't exist for this opening section of the Address.  The combatants in the Civil War had plenty to argue about, and Hennessey does an excellent job exploring those arguments in the remaining sections, even addressing the Articles of Confederation's failure and the fight between Free Labor and Slave Labor economics that was as much a cause of the dispute as any political or moral argument.  In fact, the political and moral served as cloaks for the economic arguments that were the central dispute.

My minor quibble is the aftermath part of the story.  Hennessey proceeds with the presumption that the forces in favor of a strong central government prevailed.  While that's true it wasn't the end of the argument.  He does address the failure of Reconstruction and the apathy, if not hostility, of northern whites to the plight of blacks under Jim Crow that ran from the late 1800s until after World War II, but he doesn't address the voiciferous revival of states' rights philosophy that is the inaptly named Tea Party movement.  The idea of state superiority over the federal government continues to rear its head, almost inevitably because of the fear of the white male that he's lost or losing his power at the federal level as demographics change.  Which white male has changed and broadened from the WASP of yore to now include all white males, but that same fear of the other has kept states' rights philosophy alive.  Hennessey notes the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments and how they changed the Constitution but doesn't explicitly state how they undermine the states' rights philosophy.  I'd have liked to have seen that included.

Reviewing First and Second Issues

I've been traveling so much lately that I went to my LCS to relax.  I ended sitting around and chit chatting for a couple of hours and read a bunch of stuff off the stands. 

Today, a special treat, Lee reviews: Uncanny #1, Bounce #2, Wake #2, and Jupiters Legacy #2

Spoilers abound because I talk plot points. You’ve been warned.

28 Days Later Vols 1-4 Reviewed

And now for something slightly different, a review of a series! Why? Because, while waiting for the next Walking Dead trade I decided to read the second best zombie book on the stands. Over the weekend I read 28 Days Later Vols 1-4, written by Michael Alan Nelson with art by Declan Shalvey, Leonardo Manco, and Ale Aragon, published by BOOM! Studios.


The series is based upon the movie of the same name, which was originally released in 2002 at the beginning of the zombie craze. The zombies in this story aren’t dead. They’re normal people infected by a rage virus that turns them into bloodthirsty killers. The infected run and jump like normal people but a bullet to the chest will kill them as easily as a machete to the head.

There are three things you need to know prior to reading this story: 1) the zombie plague started in London and quickly infected all of England; 2) the rest of the world quarantined the British Isles to prevent the spread of the disease; and 3) at the end of the movie there were three survivors that managed to escape to the European mainland.

ROCK HARD for THREE HOURS and DIGGING INTO THE BOTTOM

I have two brief topics of discussion this week.   I say “brief” because my Thursday afternoon when I generally prepare my blog post was taken up with kid-pickup and a SECOND trip to SEARS to fix my car (new starter after the new battery install on Sunday).  It’s been a long week of work and I’m ready for the weekend and looking forward to seeing The Great Gatsby with my wife.  I saw Iron Man 3 twice last weekend and I liked it the first time and liked it even better the second time.  While it’s a fun flick, it’s no Avengers.

The big highlight of the week for me was taking my son to see RUSH at the 1^st Mariner Arena in Baltimore on Tuesday.  He’s 15 and I was 15 when I saw them back in 1985 for their Power Windows Tour.  They played a lot of songs from that album as well as a good majority from their new one, Clockwork Angels and of course some all-time classic favorites.  

Books I Read Part Two

Welcome back to Part Two of my fill-in of Jim’s “What I Read”/Week In Review.  As you know by now Jim was away for a family funeral and we remember him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.  Part One was in place of my normal Saturday post.  So, if you’re a Jim-only reader just step back a few days and see five more titles.

Superior Spider-Man #009 by Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman was a Grade A book.  I had planned to do a solo spotlight review, but this “fill-in” post for Jim got to be rather large, so I thought I’d “cheat” and split it into two parts.  Potto® manages to (for now) eliminate Peter Parker’s brain patterns (or “ghost”).  The story mainly consisted of mental battles consisting of Peter’s greatest friends and foes (well, only the Ditko-era ones with the exception of the Kingpin) and a great (literal) face-off.  It was pretty sad to see Peter forget people (join the club dude, but I think my mental frailties come from sleep deprivation) and I really liked that Slott thru in the classic “mistake” of Peter Palmer from an early issue.   I can’t wait to see what Potto® does without the controlling influence of Peter and it’ll be even more interesting to see how Peter comes back from this setback.  This is the most entertaining Spider-Man storyline in DECADES!!!

Buy it and buy a copy of Avenging Spider-Man for Jim (He needs it).

Books I Read Part One

The Thompson Twins had a song “King for A Day”.  Well, this week I get to be Jim for a day and am mocking mimicking his latest (ever changing) format for The Week In Review.  Actually, this post got to be too large (and I got too tired) so today, I’m filling-in for Jim filling-in for me (not really a break for me) and Tuesday you can read Part Two, where it’s just me filling-in for Jim.  Make sense? I figured I’d better give you all fair warning at the beginning or otherwise you might actually read this!

Age of Ultron: Book Seven by Brian Michael Bendis and Brandon Peterson and Carlos Pacheco was a little uneven.  The past sequences by Pacheco were interesting, but the present scenes by Peterson not so much.  While I prefer Carlos’ art over Brandon’s, it really was more of the story and the character designs in the “now” that I didn’t like.  Alternate Timelines are supposed to generate really amazing costume changes (like Mirror Mirror), but just look at the cover of marred heroes.  It doesn’t look that exciting to me (although my LCS owner did like it) and you can’t even recognize Janet as being Janet.  I wish Pacheco was doing the whole series – his and Busiek’s Avengers Forever is one of the all-time greatest epics!

Read it on the stands.

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story

A brief review,

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story. Sean Howe. Harper Collins. 484 pages. $27.

This has got to be one of the most non-comic book books reviewed that I have ever seen.  In case you weren't aware this is nothing but words!  Can you believe it?  Trust me, I was surprised when I saw that too.   But, let me add my voice to everyone else who's said this book is great.  It really, really is must reading if you are a fan of comic book history, or if you just want to know about everything that goes on behind the scenes at a comic book company.

This isn't about the history of any of the heroes, or even any of the creators, it's just a history of Marvel, the company.  It starts when Martin Goodman, publisher of men's magazines, realizing he can make money with a new product called the comic book.  It shows how Stan Lee ran the comic book division in both the good, and bad times.  And finally, how the company grew to be the juggernaut it is today.

The book is broken into 5 sections, or time periods, which more or less correspond to the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, 80's and the 90s and beyond.  The GA section was interesting in the sense that it was heavy on how the industry was born and how Marvel (called Timely then) get into the business.  It's interesting in a factual sort of way.

The Silverage is when the story really started to become real to me.  When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby create the Fantastic Four and begin the creation of the modern Marvel Universe, it's near impossible to put the book down.  As I said, this isn't about the heroes, what this discusses are the people who made the characters and wrote the stories.  You can read about the huge egos run rampant.  You witness the end of Stan's relationship with both Kirby and Ditko.  You read about Roy Thomas, the new kid, coming in and trying to maintain the system.  There is also plenty of insight into how the "Marvel Style" was developed and which creators worked well in the system, and which ones didn't.

During the bronze age, you read about Jim Starlin and Steve Englehard being spaced out of their minds on acid wandering NYC thinking up new ideas!  It's during this time that you start to see Marvel transform from small company and creators working for fun into a true corporation.  After that, you get to read about the adventures of Jim Shooter, the advent of Jim Lee and others, and Marvel transforming itself into Disney lite.  Finally, you read how corporate raiders nearly destroyed Marvel. 

The amount of research that went into this book is incredible.  It's like Sean Howe read every fanzine and comic related publication from the 60's until today and compiled them into one book.  Not to mention the amount of interviews he must have conducted to get some of these stories.  This really is part oral history, part fact sheet.  What amazed me the most was how the creators slipped so much of the real world into the Marvel Universe.  I loved just reading about all the metatext that was stuffed into the Marvel U.

As much as I loved this book, I also hated it.  What is the old saying, "once you see behind the curtain..."  Well, this is certainly the case for me.  I've always been a comic book reader.  I read about my favorite characters and followed my favorite writers and artists.  But I never read Marvel Age, or Amazing Heroes, or Wizard magazine.  I just read the comics.  Well, after the Bronze age Marvel completed its transformation into corporate behemoth, the inner workings of the company got really nasty.  Actually it started before then but the worst was after the 70s.  As the Marvel coffers were drained to line the pockets of already rich men, it's like reading about friend being beaten.  It's sad.  It's depressing.  And, it makes me glad that I was blissfully ignorant at the time.

Even beyond the corporate silliness, it's incredible difficult to read how the men you admired had feet of clay and their own egos brought them down.  It's hard to read about people toiling away making the books I loved being treated badly over and over again.   It's especially bad once you get to the 90s and Marvel, the company, turns into a big, emotionless corporation.  I've always known that it happened, but to read about it just hurts. 

Would I recommend this book?  Heck yes!  The first half of the book captured all the wonder of building a new industry.  Even with the bumps along the way, there was a sense of fun.  The second half in which many, many people try to do nothing but strip Marvel of its intellectual property clearly shows you how comics got to the state they are currently in.  Be warned, after reading this book you won't be able to look at the industry the same way again.
 

DC Preview Reviews For March and April – It Really Is You – You’ve Changed

Jim: So I decided that I need to get more current with the DC Preview Reviews since the April solicitations just came out I figured might us well tackle both months. Plus I hate what DC is doing right now. I’m concerned that the group of characters that I really loved at one point are being abused and misused.

Where Marvel seems to be coming to the table with book after book after book with a plan of attack and a one or two year plan for stories or a story, DC is constantly changing on the fly. Announcing Gail Simone on and off Batgirl, announcing creators and pulling them before they even get started and other head scratching decisions is driving me away from the books. The cancellation of I, Vampire was a bleak announcement. Joshua Fialkov says he got to write his ending which is a good thing, but it smacks of DC not supporting critical favorites like they used to do. Heck the trade sales were off the charts, so it must have been making money.

In April the Vertigo offering was down to Unwritten, the two Fable titles and the last issue of Saucer Country. Vertigo was a big part of what I got from DC and with that and Before Watchmen off the table it is almost down to Snyder and Lemire books being all I want or care to read. I will still follow some stuff here and there but my hope that DC will turn this around has faded. Instead of turning it around I believe that it is going down the toilet.

Shawn: I was always a huge Vertigo supporter, but even with the Snyder and Lemire books coming out this year, I think the imprint's days are numbered. I am hoping DC offers Fialkov more books, and Sorrentino is partially illustrating the last issue of I,Vampire. Perhaps Fialkov will spin some of the characters out of that title into a new book. I'll be honest, I like Lemire and Fawkes, but Fialkov would have been my choice for Justice League Dark. But if they don't give him anymore work, that's ok. Dynamite and Marvel already have. 

I was turned off by the last minute creative shuffling, and I have been less than enthusiastic about many of their announcements lately. Ending Hellblazer? Gah. With all due respect to the work Lemire has been doing in JLD, that guy is not Constantine. Especially after that horrible Zero Issue. After the Simone fiasco it really does seem like the Powers-That-Be are running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

My thoughts on Amazing Spider-Man #700, Avenging Spider-Man #15.1, and Dying Wish, etc.

It’s been a week, but in case I need to quote River Song, “Spoilers!”

It’s New Year’s Day (for me) and while I should be sleeping in on my last day of vacation before returning tomorrow to the early morning work schedule and reduced amount of sleep, I just couldn’t for some reason.  So after beginning my yearly trek through the Bible, I reread Dying Wish (Amazing Spider-Man #698, 699, (like two pages of 699.1), 700, and Avenging Spider-Man #15.1) in one sitting.  And you know what?  I’m really enjoying this storyline.

I also just finished reading #688 and 690 thru 697 in the last few days.  What happened to #689?  Yeah, that’s what I would like to know!  I can clearly (98.7%) remember buying that issue and NOT reading it, hence my dropping the title from my pull list right afterwards.  But now I can’t find it around the house (it doesn’t help that my comic room is in a shambles since Comic-Con – I sometimes move at a continental drift pace organizing things).  I only picked up the intervening issues at my store’s 40% off year-end sale (with hopes to sell some short runs on eBay).  I’m reconsidering such a sale now, partly due to the buzz around the recent changes and the fact that I liked a lot of those issues.

DC Comics Preview Review for February 2013 – It’s You Not Me

Jim: So instead of the normal preview review I have decided to look at a bunch of DC titles and remark about my current feelings on the books. I think what DC did was a great marketing stunt and has generated a lot of interest. DC also gave Marvel a kick in the pants and made them review what they were doing and implement so long overdue changes. Success often breeds sameness as when you are winning, you do not want to change. Still I think DC’s idea was implemented too fast and with a lack of planning. The downside of what DC did was they broke the connection any fan of DC had with the Universe. That Universe is dead and gone. Also they started five years into the new Universe, so whatever we think we know we do not know. Characters have the same names, but not the same history. Some events have occurred, others have not and we have no clue what did or did not happen. So when a character refers to a past event we are supposed to know about we can’t even be sure it happened. Hell they are retro-conning as they go along as Tim Drake was a former Robin and now was not. It is with this framework that I want to review and comment on the state of the DCU as we look forward to February 2013.

BEFORE WATCHMEN: DOLLAR BILL #1
Written by LEN WEIN
Art and cover by STEVE RUDE
One-shot • On sale JANUARY 30 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS

BEFORE WATCHMEN: DR. MANHATTAN #4
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art and cover by ADAM HUGHES
On sale FEBRUARY 6 • 32 pg, FC, 4 of 4, $3.99 US

BEFORE WATCHMEN: RORSCHACH #4

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and cover by LEE BERMEJO
On sale FEBRUARY 13 • 32 pg, FC, 4 of 4, $3.99 US

BEFORE WATCHMEN: COMEDIAN #6

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and cover by J.G. JONES
On sale FEBRUARY 20 • 32 pg, FC, 6 of 6, $3.99 US

BEFORE WATCHMEN: OZYMANDIAS #6
Written by LEN WEIN
Art and cover by JAE LEE
On sale FEBRUARY 27 • 32 pg, FC, 6 of 6, $3.99 US

Jim: I think it speaks volumes when my favorite part coming under the DC banner is the Before Watchmen material. As this stuff comes to a conclusion I’m curious to see what DC will do to replace it. The quality of the creators is what drove this project and I would hope DC would be bending over backwards to get these creators to sign up for more projects, but I doubt is. The take away here it that my favorite material from DC has nothing to do with the new DCU.

DC Preview Review for January 2013

Jim: As long as that Mayan Calendar prediction is wrong we should be rolling into another new year very soon and this is what DC has to offer.  Of course right now we are still doing the reviews without Gwen (hi Gwen, hi Henry) as she is off being a new Mom.

While the new way DC is handling their lineup makes the picks a little harder to handle as new series are not always a monthly thing I have to give them credit as they aggressively try to manage the line up and make each book better. I think they miss as often as they hit, but they are trying and try to keep the genre fairly well mixed.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #16
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
Backup story art by GARY FRANK
Variant cover by LANGDON FOSS
1:100 B&W Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
“We Can Be Heroes” Blank variant cover available
On sale JANUARY 23 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with five covers. Please see the Order Form for details.
• “THRONE OF ATLANTIS” continues!
• Aquaman can barely hold on against Ocean Master even with the League by his side!
• The United States loses faith in the Justice League and enters the battle against Atlantis, setting in motion the creation of the Justice League of America!
• More on the Superman/Wonder Woman alliance! 
• Plus: In the backup story, the origin of SHAZAM! continues!

Jim: I can’t believe how much I don’t like DC’s flagship title. It has been poorly written and the characterization of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman don’t lineup with their other books. Also I prefer Marvel’s deal that if they charge $4 you get a free digital copy.

DC Previews for December

Jim: A bit of news, my daughter Gwen used to do these with me, but work and real life has taken her away from being able to do anything with the blog for awhile. One of those “things” was the birth of her and her husband’s son on October 7. So I now have the task of making sure Henry is a comic book fan also.

Lee:  Stepping up to take Gwen's place is... none other than... drum roll please... me!  I haven't done DC in a long, long time so this will be interesting.

Onto the DC preview review. One important question how long does it get to be the “New 52”? Is that still going to be the cover blurb forever?

BEFORE WATCHMEN: MOLOCH #2
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art and cover by EDUARDO RISSO
Backup story written and illustrated by JOHN HIGGINS
1:25 Variant cover by OLLY MOSS
On sale DECEMBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, 2 of 2, $3.99 US
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US • MATURE READERS
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“We are doing great things here, Edgar. Amazing things.”
And don’t miss the latest chapter of the “Crimson Corsair” backup feature from writer/artist JOHN HIGGINS!

Jim: Not sure why they needed an additional two books in the Before Watchmen group and oddly JMS’ work has been looking like the weakest of the books. A pretty good set of books when JMS’ stuff is the weakest. While I look forward to JMS’ work I know he has misses as well as hits in his stuff. Risso on art is an exciting addition. All in all I think for all the hand wringing by people over the BW stuff, it has been well done and entertaining. I think, heck Moore’s work was derivative and built on other people’s work, so what if someone builds on his stuff. And…. Watchmen was not the greatest comic of all time (I can hear the cries of heretic now.).

Lee:  I think you are giving this group of mini-series way to much credit.  Silk Spectre is very good but after that... ummm, it's ok superheroes.  It can be argued if Watchmen was the greatest ever, but it's is still one of the greatest.  I think you judging by today's standards and forget what it was like at the time.

DC Comics Preview Review for November

So during the hiatus I have skipped a month or two and we missed all of the zero issue stuff. I will say that the zero issues will be where I pick up a book or two that I have dropped off of just to see some origin type material. As with other preview reviews I set it up with just solo commentary by me and invite my cohorts to chime in only if they feel like it.

The current DC set up does not allow for a lot of new launches as they have decided 52 is their magic number. Of course they added Before Watchmen and other mini-series, but the idea that 52 is the perfect number is an artificial construct, but an interesting game to force them to cut weak books faster Perhaps. Time will tell if the idea is a good one or not.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #14
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and RICHARD FRIEND
Backup story art by GARY FRANKVariant cover by JASON FABOK
On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
• The second chapter of a tale that lights the fuse that will ultimately explode in 2013's TRINITY WAR.
• The League must fight the mysterious Cheetah… AND a monstrous Superman! The result will radically change the dynamics of the entire team!
• Amid all this, where is Green Lantern?
• Plus: The next chapter of the SHAZAM backup epic by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

Jim: This book has so many problems. Number one Johns’ JL writing was horrible and I dropped the book. Next the idea of Jim Lee doing this series was never going to last, he has way too much to do with his other job and I think he has like seven kids, so he needs to help out at home. Second the book is already being used as a prelude to a cross over. I hate that neither DC nor Marvel is competent enough to make all of their books good enough to stand on their own. Third the book is relying on a backup to fill up the pages. Most modern writers take six issues to have anything happen. With a large cast the extra pages could be used to make this book something special, the backup will be collected and sold later as its own thing. I admit I am very down on most core DC books and have gone from being a Geoff Johns fan to being a Geoff Johns detractor. His best works appears to be behind him.

Lee:  I don't know if it's all that bad.  Except for the "I'm Bruce Wayne" debacle this has been decent enough.  It's a giant slug fest every month with little to no plot.  If that's what you want from your superheroes (and lots of people do) then you are getting what you pay for.

Dynamite Comics Preview Review for November

So I have just gone crazy and have decided to have more fun with various posts. Our old format was to group all sorts of smaller companies together for preview reviews, but for right now I decide to spotlight a company and add some commentary some of their offerings.

I have a mixed opinion of Dynamite Comics; on one hand I enjoy a few of their offerings. On the other they often seem to push the envelope with what is or what is not public domain. I’m not sure what is how the whole public domain thing works, but heck I can download a ton of older material like Tarzan books for free, so I guess it is all fair game. Often it feels like the easy way out and a chance to exploit older stuff and to not have to pay anybody, but the whole creator rights debate is very convoluted with older stuff.

MASKS #1   

Written by Chris Roberson, art by Alex Ross, covers by Alex Ross, Jae Lee, Francesco Francavilla, Ardian Syaf

Before superheroes, there were Masks! The Shadow, the Green Hornet, Kato, the Spider and more in a story that only Dynamite could tell! For the first time ever, these masked vigilantes are joining together in on EPIC series! It's 1938, and the Justice Party has swept into office in New York State. But the newly-elected officials are in the control of powerful criminals, who quickly corrupt the law to their own advantage. When a fascist police state is instituted, the only ones who stand in defense of the innocent are masked vigilantes like the Shadow, the Green Hornet, Kato, and the Spider. As the confrontation builds, more masked heroes will join the fight including Black Bat, Miss Fury, Black Terror, Green Lama and many more! When the law is unjust, justice must be an outlaw! 32 pages, $3.99. 

Jim: See this book is one that I will try. It is written by Chris Roberson whose work I enjoy. Also it has art by Alex Ross so it should be a good looking book. In some ways I’m wondering how well this book will work as I have never seen this type of work from Chris and Alex usually works better with a straight super hero type book. Will this noir team up thing work for these guys? I’m willing to try one issue at least. Plea to Dynamite, please stop with the endless variant covers, it makes you seem cheap and just pandering to the old style collection mentality.

DC Preview Review for August

Jim: I’m so tired of DC this will be a one day event. Not only are the capes boring me into an apathy coma, the hard cover offerings are a drag. The quality of the hard covers has been lacking and often they are the advertised books collected together with no introduction or any bell or whistle. Next month we should review the Bluewater Production books. They have VSS: Russian Roulette, Vincent Price: Tales of Darkness and The Misadventures of Adam West. Now there are some awesome sounding titles.

Gwen: I am also a bit burnt out on a lot of DC. Most of what I still enjoy is more in the Vertigo line.

 

iZOMBIE #28
Written by CHRIS ROBERSON
Art and cover by MICHAEL ALLREDOn sale AUGUST 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS • FINAL ISSUEAll questions are answered in this final issue! Will Gwen make the ultimate sacrifice before Xitalu consumes every soul on Earth? Will Gavin and Spot make up before it’s too late? Will Ellie and Frankenteen find true love? Will Horatio get his original hair color back? With art and colors by Eisner Award nominees Michael and Laura Allred!

SCALPED #60
Written by JASON AARON
Art by R.M. GUERA
Cover by JOCKRESOLICIT • On sale AUGUST 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS • FINAL ISSUERetailers: This issue is resolicited. All previous orders are cancelled.
IT ALL ENDS HERE.
Jim: All good things must come to an end and both of these have been very good series with Scalped being possibly one of the all time great series. I just think in Scalped no one gets out alive, but I could be wrong. iZombie has been the successor to the Buffy type of vibe for me and I will miss both series.
Gwen: I am looking forward to seeing how Scalped is wrapped up. It has been a great series and I love building up to an actual ending point. I will miss iZombie though. It's such a fun book.

DC Preview Review for June Part 2 of 2

 

As promised we have the second part of 2 part, which is therefore the conclusion of the June DC Preview Review.

ABSOLUTE BATMAN AND ROBIN: BATMAN REBORN HC
GRANT MORRISON
Art by FRANK QUITELY, DAVID FINCH, PHILIP TAN, ANDY CLARKE, CAMERON STEWART, JONATHAN GLAPION, DUSTIN NGUYEN, RYAN WINN and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by FRANK QUITELYAdvance solicited • On sale NOVEMBER 21, 488 pg, FC, 8.25” x 12.5”, $99.99 US
• The entire run of BATMAN AND ROBIN by writer GRANT MORRISON is collected in an oversized, slipcased ABSOLUTE EDITION!
• The DYNAMIC DUO battle the CIRCUS OF STRANGE and investigate the abduction of a child by the mysterious DOMINO KILLER!
• With BRUCE WAYNE absent from GOTHAM CITY, the new Batman and Robin must deal with the deadly return of THE JOKER!
• Collects BATMAN AND ROBIN #1-16 and BATMAN: THE RETURN #1!

Jim: That sucking sound you here is me being drawn in for a high end hard cover. This was a fantastic run and now I regret that I purchased the deluxe hard covers. I know they are going up on E-Bay soon.

Gwen: Ah the continuation of the hardcover escalation game!

DC Preview Review June Part 1 of 2

Jim: Damn, these things come around like clockwork. When I think of DC now I think Elseworlds (the new DCU), Vertigo (great stuff) and hardcover disappointment as so much of their library is untapped and the quality of their hard cover program has gone in the crapper.

Gwen: Vertigo, one of the only things I still thoroughly enjoy from DC.

BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN #1
DARWYN COOKE
Backup story written by LEN WEIN
Art and cover by DARWYN COOKE
Backup story art by JOHN HIGGINS
1:25 Variant cover by MICHAEL GOLDEN
1:200 Variant cover by JIM LEE
On sale JUNE 6 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“Little did we know that poor boy would lead to the end of us all.”
Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS!

Jim:.I get that people think Watchmen is some sort of story that should never be touched, but let’s remember the work that Moore did was derivative itself. Alan Moore took analogs of the Charlton characters DC had purchased and made them over. On the good side DC is doing preludes as opposed to trying to continue the story. Plus Watchmen made Moore a ton of money and probably the reason he is allowed to be the crotchety old crazy guy he is today. Finally Darwyn Cooke is a fantastic creator so I’m sold.

Gwen: No way for me. While the original Watchmen was a great story (if for nothing else that then the bad guy explaining things only after his plan already happened) I could care less about anything happening before Watchmen. It wasn't the setting I enjoyed from the original material but the quality of the story.

DC Preview Review for May Part 2

 

I told you we would be back.

BATMAN ANNUAL #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JAY FABOKOn sale MAY 30 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T
• MR. FREEZE is introduced to The New 52!
• What is Mr. Freeze’s relationship to the COURT OF OWLS? Is he an ally – or do they want him dead?
• “NIGHT OF THE OWLS” continues here!

Jim: I have never been a big fan of annuals for years because they were events, themes or almost pure filler. This is the type of annual that I loved as a kid. It was a larger story to spotlight something and often was critical to the main story line or gave us some back story.

Gwen: Mostly I just like the "Night of the Owls" title. I mean, every once in awhile a title actually makes me more interested in a story.

DC Preview Review for May Part 1 of 2

Jim: ZZZ…., OMG I have to do another Preview Review. DC is doing little to excite me anymore and more often then not their books are the one I put off reading. Still, once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.

Gwen: I feel like I only enjoy a very few comic books right now and not many are cape books.

EARTH TWO #1

Written by JAMES ROBINSON

Art by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT

Cover by GREG CAPULLO

1:25 Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADOOn sale MAY 2 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.

• First issue of an ongoing series from writer JAMES ROBINSON and artist NICOLA SCOTT!

• Who are the heroes of EARTH 2 – and what befell them?

• Starring ALAN SCOTT, JAY GARRICK and many others!

• You may think you know Earth 2…but this is DC Comics – The New 52, where anything can happen!

• Don’t miss the extra-sized debut issue!

Jim: Wait, can it be, can my heart be beating with excitement? Has my beloved JSA being given a second chance at life? WTF, the cover has different version of DC’s Trinity. Oh and look at the marketing hype, this is the new DCU anything can happen. Which means, they have kept the names and any history we think we know is suspect, back to sleep, false alarm everyone.

Gwen: You know why I enjoy this new DC stuff less and less? Because they are rewriting entire characters (characters that I like by the way) and often dropping some of my favorite stuff about the character. The only thing that's still there is the name. Kind of like why I'm pissed about Disney's awful John Carter movie. Of course I may be a bit biased at the moment.