Author Archives: ScottNerd

In Scott’s Bag (7/17)

20 Saturday Jul 2013

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As far as bags go, this one feels a lot like punching.

  • Animal Man #22 (Read it!  I enjoyed it–maybe more than I should have.  I like the idea of the Splinterfolk, even if Lemire’s dialogue during their page time tends toward clunky/goofy.)
Animal Man #22

Animal Man #22

  • Revival #12 (Read it!  No surprise here: another solid issue.  Love the way the kid’s cartoon was integrated into the story.)
Revival #12

Revival #12

  • Batwoman #22 (Read it!  Liked it a lot.  Maybe Menachem from Escape Pod Comics was right: it’s all good: even though J.H. Williams III isn’t drawing, he is writing.  And Trevor McCarthy is pretty bad ass in his own right.  Really dug the Batvillain rundown.)
  • Dream Thief #3 (Not quite there yet.)
  • Numbercruncher #1 (Looking forward to it.  If it’s got a Six-Gun Gorilla vibe, I’ll be very happy.)
  • Day Men #1 (I’ll get to it.)
Day Men #1

Day Men #1

  • Red Sonja #1 (Yeah,  grabbed the Staples cover.  Makes me miss Saga even more.  Will probably be the final read for the week.)
  • Half Past Danger #3 (Read it!  It’s like this: a tire that’s leaking air slowly.  Agonizingly so.  I’m considering dropping it–and not just because of the dinosaurs.)
  • The Strain: The Fall #1 (Read it!  I’ll not be picking up #2.)
  • Archer & Armstrong #11 (Read it!  As consistent as they come: great fun and filet knife sharp!  General Redacted is the —-!  And I wasn’t so turned off by the dinosaurs!)
Archer & Armstrong #11

Archer & Armstrong #11

  • Ultimate Spider-Man #25 (Read it!  It’s no secret: I like Miles more than I like Spider-Man Miles; but I’m not gonna lie: I really liked the final splash.  That’s right, true believers: I was happy–in fact, relieved–to see Miles in his costume.  What the heck is going on this week?)
  • FF #9 (Read it!  No Allred, but still plenty of fun.  Fraction’s in the zone, man.  I think I can safely say I’ve grown fond of him, what with Hawkeye and Satellite Sam and all.)
  • Batman and Catwoman #22 (Read it!  Good stuff all around.  Has cemented itself as my favorite New 52 Batman title.)
Batman and Catwoman #22

Batman and Catwoman #22

  • All-New X-Men #14 (Read it!  Kind of like last week’s Uncanny X-Men: didn’t really go anywhere or accomplish anything–other than, in the case of All-New, reveal a fiery side to Jean Gray.  No.  Really?  Burned!)
  • Wonder Woman #22 (Read it!  A decent read–as always.  And, you know: I didn’t hate New Genesis and the New Gods as I usually do.  Wait a minute.  Something’s definitely up.  First, I’m OK with dinosaurs in A&A.  Then, I’m down with Spider-Man Miles.  And, now I’m not turned off by the New Gods?  There’s only one explanation: my mutant power has finally manifested itself: I’m–I’m–tolerant.)
  • Harbinger Wars #4 (Read it!  Trying to remember…  The series was not as epic as I had hoped.  I really wanted Valiant–through this mini–to show the bigs how to do a crossover up right.  Oh well.  At least it’s over.)
  • Batman ’66 #1 (Read it!  Really captures the spirit of the TV show.  A Bat blast!)

I’m all punched out.

What did you get in your bag this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

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You know what they say: if you’ve read one comic, you want to read them all. I continue to effort myself in that direction.

  • The Strain: The Fall #1 (Dark Horse): More Dark Horse horror? David Lapham? I’ll give it a shot.
  • Dream Thief #3 (Dark Horse): #2 was a bit of a drop off from a pretty terrific opening issue; but I’m not going anywhere.
Dream Thief #3

Dream Thief #3

  • Animal Man #22 (DC): Seems to be back on track for the most part. Certainly willing to hold on till Albuquerque.
  • Batman ’66 (DC): An absolute no-brainer.
Batman '66 #1

Batman ’66 #1

  • Batwoman and Catwoman #22 (DC): I’m still taken by Tomasi’s take on a grieving Batman.
  • Batwoman #22 (DC): What’s keeping me around? It’s the intriguing nature of Batwoman’s mission: clearly, there’s no accomplishing it; but I’d like to see her try.
Batwoman #22

Batwoman #22

  • Wonder Woman #22 (DC): Know how I feel about Limbo? That’s how I feel about New Genesis.
  • Half Past Danger #3 (IDW): Similar to Dream Thief: #2 wasn’t as compelling as #1. Unless this one’s a total flop, I’m probably in till the end.
  • Revival #12 (Image): A solid monthly book with plenty of threads to follow–and a bunch of Harvey Award noms.
  • All-New X-Men #14 (Marvel): Still hoping to see this book break out.
  • FF #9 (Marvel): Friggin’ Fun.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #25 (Marvel): Look: a milestone!
Ultimate Spider-Man #25

Ultimate Spider-Man #25

  • Archer & Armstrong #11 (Valiant): Yeah, I don’t know how I feel about it, you know, with the prospect of dinosaurs and all.
  • Harbinger Wars #4 (Valiant): The big finale!
  • Day Men #1 (BOOM!): More vampires! Yay! Oh, and Brian Stelfreeze. Yay-er!
  • Red Sonja #1 (Dynamite): Which to choose? Which to choose? How about both?
Red Sonja #1 (Frison)

Red Sonja #1 (Frison)

Red Sonja #1 (Staples)

Red Sonja #1 (Staples)

  • Number Cruncher #1 (Titan): Yeah, well, I hope I find this somewhere. Simon Spurrier is killing it on Six-Gun Gorilla. It only makes sense to check this out.
Numbercruncher #1

Number Cruncher #1

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

In Scott’s Bag (7/10)

13 Saturday Jul 2013

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Needed a Hefty Cinch Sack for this lot, I’ll tell ya.

  • Uncanny X-Men #8 (Read it!  They’ve left Limbo, right?  So what do we call this issue, then?  Goes nowhere fast: disappointingly nowhere, but mercifully fast.)
  • Quantum and Woody #1 (I’m hearing good things.  Just haven’t goatten–that’s right: goatten–around to it yet.)
Quantum and Woody #1

Quantum and Woody #1

  • The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #2 (I decided to give it another shot.  Really, what’s another book in the bag?)
  • Astro City #2 (#1 was a pleasant surprise.  Hope this one speaks to me the same way.)
  • Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem #2 (Loved #1.  Saving it so I may savor it.)
  • Six-Gun Gorilla #2 (Highest expectations for this one!  I really hope it lives up to them.)
  • East of West #4 (Read it!  Glad I stuck with it.  Hickman and Dragotta deliver a couple of real “Wow!” moments.)
East of West #4

East of West #4

  • Sheltered #1 (Premise sounds promising.)
  • Ghosted #1 (I have no idea what to expect from this one.)
  • Dawn: The Swordmaster’s Daughter & Other Stories (Read it!  Thanks to Derek, I didn’t miss this.  I would’ve hated myself if I had.  Wasn’t great, though.  In fact, it was barely good.  But it’s JML; and any JML is better than no JML, as far as I’m concerned.  Oh, and how about that inside back cover?  To hell with the Bhagavad Gita: Linsner should’ve illustrated his rant about his former “art assistant”!)
Dawn One-Shot

Dawn One-Shot

  • Daredevil #28 (Read it!  I was right!  So good.  It’s the kind of story Waid and Samnee are going to knock out of the park every time.)
  • X-O Manowar #15 (Read it!  Aric reminds me of Guy Gardner.  It’s probably why I like him.)
X-O Manowar #15

X-O Manowar #15

  • Helheim #5 (Read it!  Oh, yeah: we’re definitely in the groove now.)
  • Indestructible Hulk #10 (Read it!  Solid enough.  Best of all, Waid’s caught the beat he established early on in the series.  Looking forward, question is: why dinosaurs?  I HATE dinosaurs!)
  • X #3 (Read it!  I’m thinking that I should just drop it now.  Shame, really; but I was hoping for more–and I don’t think I’m going to be getting it any time soon.)
X #3

X #3

  • Rachel Rising #18 (Read it!  Once again: wow.)
  • Superman Unchained #2 (Read it!  There’s nothing distinctly Snyder here.  In fact, it reads like a Lobdell book.  Gosh, maybe even worse than that.  Ugh.  I can’t believe I’m saying this: through two issues, I think I liked George Perez’s Superman more.  Double ugh!)
  • Batman #22 (Read it!  Disclosure: I really hated #21.  I will happily admit, however, that this is my favorite issue of Batman since before the finale of the Court of Owls.  Snyder’s never been short on shocking moments, but this time, the moments feel honest, like integral parts of what Snyder’s building here with Zero Year.  This time, it’s not about shock value; it’s not about pushing the envelope–it’s about pushing the narrative to where it belongs.  Once again, I’d like to make it clear: Scott Snyder’s done a terrific job with issue #22.  It actually feels good to type that.)
Batman #22

Batman #22

  • Suicide Squad #22 (Read it!  Kind of wish I hadn’t.  Yeah, not good.  I can see in spots what Kot was trying to bring to the page; but it just didn’t pan out.  Not at all.  Damn.  It’s got me wondering about his abrupt dismissal from the book–wondering if this had anything to do with it.  Most disappointing of all, I thought he had it down, man; I really did.  Oh well.  On a more positive note, I can’t wait to see what Matt Kindt has planned for the Squad.)

I tried to feel really guilty about spending so much this week.  I really did.  It was working, too, kinda, mostly–until the shop guy told the shop gal, “I’ll get the DC’s, and you get one of everything else.”   He saw me raise my eyebrows.  “Yeah, I have a regular customer who gets one of everything.”  I couldn’t raise my eyebrows any more than they were already raised, so I lowered them; and the shop guy, he understood.

What did you pick up this week?

More important, what did you think of these books?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

09 Tuesday Jul 2013

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Have I lost all control? You be the judge.

  • Breath of Bones: Tales of the Golem # 2 (Dark Horse): Really excited to see where this is headed. It’s a three-issue mini, so I’m expecting something big here–definitely some Nazi-knockin’ Golem action!
Breath of Bones #2

Breath of Bones #2

  • X #3 (Dark Horse): Nothing like a little light vigilante fare. Duane Swierczynski hasn’t given me a reason not to–yet.
  • Astro City #2 (DC/Vertigo): #1 was a lot of fun! Hope the narrator found me interesting/interested enough to continue the conversation.
Astro City #2

Astro City #2

  • Batman #22 (DC): At this point, I’m on fanboy autopilot. I haven’t been interested in anything Snyder’s done here since before the finale of The Court of Owls, for goodness sake. Oh, I’m just a fool living in the land of “just in case.”
  • Suicide Squad #22: Thank God for Ales Kot, who, in two issues, has made this title relevant again.
Suicide Squad #22

Suicide Squad #22

  • Superman Unchained #2 (DC): #1 was terrible, but I’m going to give it another issue before I give up on it. I mean, I did give Jupiter’s Legacy a second issue, didn’t I?
  • East of West #4 (Image): Yep, still on board–even if I’m not totally sold on it. That’s my giving Hickman–the mind behind the brilliant The Manhattan Projects–the time he deserves.
  • Ghosted #1 (Image): It’s an Image #1. Do I need another reason?
  • Sheltered #1 (Image): Sure, Comeback ultimately fizzled out. So what? Brisson’s got an interesting idea here–and it’s another Image #1, so…
Sheltered #1

Sheltered #1

  • Daredevil #28 (Marvel): Now that Waid’s worked his way through Bullseye, it looks like he and Samnee are going to play around a bit with a one-off that has “classic” written all over it.
Daredevil #28

Daredevil #28

  • Hawkeye #12 (Marvel): It’s going to rest right on top of #11 as I’m still waiting for Vol. 2.
  • Indestructible Hulk #10 (Marvel): #9 was a vast improvement over the unnecessary Thor arc. Let’s see where it goes.
  • Uncanny X-Men #8 (Marvel): Limbo’s in the rear-view mirror. Thank goodness! If I’m being fair, however, Bendis resolved the Majikal storyline well enough.
Uncanny X-Men #8

Uncanny X-Men #8

  • Ballistic #1 (Black Mask): If I see it, I’ll probably pick it up. Seeing Darick Robertson’s name attached to it doesn’t hurt.
Ballistic #1

Ballistic #1

  • Helheim #5 (Oni Press): It’s picking up–not that it needs to: I’m a fool for Cullen Bunn thanks to The Sixth Gun.
  • Quantum and Woody #1 (Valiant): Valiant has given me every reason to try everything it publishes–including this buddy book.
  • X-O Manowar #15 (Valiant): Planet Death resolved itself well. Now, it’s time to push the Eternal Warrior. That’s OK with me.
  • Rachel Rising #18 (Abstract Studios): We’ve celebrated Terry Moore’s horror masterpiece on a monthly basis. If you’re not reading this, you’re an idiot.
Rachel Rising #18

Rachel Rising #18

  • Six-Gun Gorilla #2 (BOOM!): #1 was GREAT. As a result, expectations are ridiculously high–especially considering the promise of the last page: “Howdy,” indeed!
Six-Gun Gorilla #2

Six-Gun Gorilla #2

That’s one serious list.

The irony? I came back to comics because I needed to reconnect with my favorite heroes–specifically Batman and Superman. Guess which books I’m least excited about.

Sad, innit?

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

Microviews: Bombshells

07 Sunday Jul 2013

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OK, I know what you’re thinking: you’ve already got an image in your head: beautiful, busty–how about something…like…this:

The bombingest bombshell of ’em all!

Yeah, it’s certainly plain to see: Adam Hughes has a knack for giving a fanboy what he wants.  But let’s be honest: even in comics, there’s more to a woman–more to Power Girl, even–than spandex-stretching curves, right?

Umm…right?

Well, let’s consider, as exhibit A, Cola, the cloud-hopping heroine of the post-apocalyptic action-adventure Wild Blue Yonder #1 (IDW).

Wild Blue Yonder #1

Wild Blue Yonder #1

She’s a spitfire; she’s full of spunk: heck, she’s Maverick from Top Gun doing her own thing–because her boots are made for flying!  The minds behind this Waterworld-in-the-sky dogfight delight–story credit given, surprisingly, to three: Mike Raicht, Zack Howard, and Austin Harrison; let’s hope this doesn’t end up a case of too many pilots spoiling the flight plan–have crafted Cola as a neo-Night Witch (see Garth Ennis’s incorrigible Anna Kharkova for a WWII/Cold War counterpart) and have outfitted her in an androgynous get-up, allowing her femininity to flow from her character and not from some titillating cleavage-baring caricature.

Amongst men, whether in the “‘local’ bar” The Peak or in the pilot’s seat, she holds her own–in the latter, especially so: no, she doesn’t rely on womanly wiles in the midst of battle; her potency is proven as she uses her plane’s nose-mounted cannon to bring down an enemy aircraft.  And like Janet Jackson, Cola’s in control–that is until her mother lets her have it and leaves her meekly submitting, “Yes, ma’am.”

Yes, sir, this is fun stuff: thanks, in part, to Zack Howard and Nelson Daniel’s beautifully bombastic artwork, reminiscent of the uncanny Chris Bachalo, Wild Blue Yonder is the comic equivalent of a summer blockbuster–one that’s both gripping and grisly and good enough to warrant another date with the deliciously capable Cola.

Speaking of capable women: if you’ve been following Brian Wood and Ming Doyle’s Mara (Image), then you know the turn that the title character has taken in issue #5.

Mara #5

Mara #5

Once worshiped for her athletic prowess on the volleyball court, she’s now an angry god with a grudge; and she’s passing judgment on humanity for the demands it has placed on her; for its “[taking] almost everything from” her, including her brother–who is done away with in a decidedly understated manner, one that emphasizes the brutality of the act and the disheartening cruelty of man; and for its ultimately, and unnecessarily, treating her–a woman with awesome power–as a threat.  A threat!  Oh, she’s had enough, all right: she’s spiking the ball; she’s looking to record one final kill–or, more accurately, megadeath.

To amplify the shift in Mara’s perspective, Wood and Co. brilliantly bookend this issue with sparing splashes–the first depicting Mara’s open hands, perhaps indicating peace, against the vastness of the the starry heavens; and the final, a hailstorm of rapidly descending nuclear missiles.  See: she’s no longer “a member of the human race”; she is the vengeful God of the Old Testament who sends the rain to wash away the sins of man.

While similar to Wild Blue Yonder in some respects, Mara differs in that it’s no blockbuster: it’s more of a critically-acclaimed independent film, thanks to Wood’s distinctively deliberate–dare I say wonderfully wooden–delivery (to which I’ve grown more accustomed now that I’m all caught up with The Massive) and to Ming Doyle and Jordie Bellaire’s subtly volatile sets, which come together to allow Mara–and this terrific issue–to simply and dramatically stand alone.  Worship as you will.  Book of the Week (6/19).

Turning pages,

Scott

In Scott’s Bag (7/3)

05 Friday Jul 2013

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Stuck to the script: showed love to the list and said ciao to Green Arrow and Suicide Risk.

I’m getting better at good buys.

  • Deathmatch #7 (Read it!  As I mentioned: it’s no longer a guilty pleasure: it’s a solid book that borrows often–and well–to its own end.  Without being obnoxious about it, Jenkins reveals what he needs to and teases what he wants to.  Sounds easy, but it’s not.)
  • Dial H #14 (The end is closer and, as a result, much more real–especially now that we’re an issue away from hanging up on Mieville, Ponicelli, and Green for good.)
Dial H #14

Dial H #14

  • Shadowman#8 (Read it!  Pretty much an issue’s worth of set up.  Roberto De La Torre’s work–his deathly dark Deadside–is the highlight here.)
  • Ten Grand #3 (Hoping that this one’ll win me over.)
  • Satellite Sam #1 (Looks like a book that I should like, mostly because of Howard Chaykin’s terrific black and white work.  We’ll see.)
  • Emily and the Strangers #3 (Striking the final chord.)
Emily and the Strangers #3

Emily and the Strangers #3

  • Mister X: Eviction #3 (Quick flip: yeah, I think we have our book of the year.)
  • Batman Incorporated #12 (Read it!  No one can rush his way to the end like Grant Morrison.  He’s so damn good.)
  • Daredevil: Dark Nights #2 (Read it!  Much better than I expected it to be.  Lee Weeks and Lee Loughridge push Daredevil to his limits and bring an certain elegance to his exertion–even on page 6, a snow-blind splash where DD is but a red speck on a bluish-white background.)
Daredevil: Dark Nights #2

Daredevil: Dark Nights #2

  • Uber #3 (Read it!  Glad I gave Gillen another chance.  For one, his Hitler is effing crazy!  I’m definitely sticking around for more.)

What did you get in your bag?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

02 Tuesday Jul 2013

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A welcome break from the heatwave.

  • Emily and the Strangers #3 (Dark Horse): Finally, the finale!
  • Mister X: Eviction #3 (Dark Horse): I’m pretty confident that this series will make our Top Ten List for 2013.  Oh, and another stunning cover:
Mister X: Eviction #3

Mister X: Eviction #3

  • Batman Incorporated #12 (DC): #11 was a flipping disaster.  Good news: looks like we’re back to the all-important business of Bat vengeance.
Batman Incorporated #12

Batman Incorporated #12

  • Dial H #14 (DC): It pains me to say this: it’s the penultimate issue.
  • Satellite Sam #1 (Image): May as well give it a shot.  I’ve enjoyed FF and Hawkeye enough.  Oh, and, by the way, Howard Chaykin.  Hope it doesn’t prove as unfulfilling as Casey’s Sex.
Satellite Sam #1

Satellite Sam #1

  • Ten Grand #3 (Image): Yeah, sure: on the strength–a stronger word than I wanted to use, really–of #2, it’s earned another.  Why not, right?
  • Daredevil: Dark Nights #2 (Marvel): #1 delivered some interesting moments with extra cheese.  I’m not entirely sold on it; but I’m willing to lease.
  • Deathmatch #7 (BOOM!): I dunno, man.  I still dig it.
Deathmatch #7

Deathmatch #7

  • Shadowman #8 (Valiant): Behind the first batch of Valiant books, sure; but, by golly, its darned good.  Strange: at the end of each issue, I’m still surprised by how much I like what I’ve read.
  • Uber #3 (Avatar): I figure, since I’m killing off Suicide Risk, I can suffer another one of these.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

In Scott’s Bag (6/26)

29 Saturday Jun 2013

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I swear I do not work for the comic book industry.  I just buy a lot of comics.

This week, I’m proud to say, I stuck to the script.

  • Mind MGMT #12 (Read it!  Another book of revelations.  Top notch all the way around.)
Mind MGMT #12

Mind MGMT #12

  • Fatale #15 (Read it!  Really, really great.)
Fatale #15

Fatale #15

  • The Massive #13 (Read it!  Solid enough.  Suffers a bit from being a part of such a massive week of books.)
  • Uncanny #1 (Read it!  A decent first issue from Andy Diggle.  If I’m measuring it against recent new releases, I’d have to say it’s better than Sex and pretty much on the level of Lost Vegas.)
  • Lazarus #1 (Read it!  I loved it.)
  • Hawkeye #11 (Have to wait until I get through Vol.2.)
  • Jupiter’s Legacy #2 (Read it!  Didn’t like the first one.  Figured I’d try the second, you know, just in case.  Yeah…no.  There’s plenty of potential here, but it’s not pieced together well at all.)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 (Read it!  Liked it more than I thought I would.  Count me in for the next one.)
TMNT #23

TMNT #23

  • Adventures of Superman #2 (Read it!  Good stuff.  Not as otherworldly as #1, though.)
  • X-O Manowar #14 (Read it!  What a way to end the arc!)

Not quite done yet…

  • Clone #8 (Read it!  Outlandish?  Of course.  Worth the price of admission?  Of course!)
Clone #8

Clone #8

  • FF #8 (Read it!  As fun as ever.)
  • Justice League of America #5 (Read it!  Yeah, I don’t know.  I think I want to like it more than I actually like it.  I’m not too sure what that means going forward.)
  • Batman/Superman #1 (Read it!  A lot of things to like about this–including the Morrison-esque second half.)
  • Fury: My War Gone By #13 (Read it!  What a way to wrap things up!  Sad to see it go.)
Fury: My War Gone By #13

Fury: My War Gone By #13

Are we there yet Papa Smurf?

  • X-Men #2 (Read it!  There’s something recognizable about the story and the storytelling.  Recognizable in a good way.  Seems like Wood’s brought some X-sense to the X-verse.)
  • Uncanny X-Men #7 (Read it!  Surprisingly effective–if only in the way Bendis and Irving polish off the Limbo line.)
Uncanny X-Men #7

Uncanny X-Men #7

  • All-New X-Men #13 (Read it!  OK.)
  • Daredevil #27 (Read it!  Some good things.  I’d be lying if I said I was completely satisfied with it.)

And last and more than likely least:

  • The Wake #2 (Read it!  Better than #1.  That’s not saying much.  I may not pick up #3.  It’ll probably be a comic day decision.  A sad statement considering.)
The Wake #2

The Wake #2

Good thing I don’t have anything else to do.

Turning pages–more than four hundred of ’em,

Scott

What’s Up?

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

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What a way to kick off summer break! How’s twenty books sound?

  • The Massive #13 (Dark Horse): Garry Brown–the artist on the “Black Pacific” arc–is back, thank goodness. One of my favorite titles. So gloriously understated in the classic Wood style.
The Massive #13

The Massive #13

  • Mind MGMT #12 (Dark Horse): Another one of my favorite titles for all the right reasons.
  • Adventures of Superman #2 (DC): We loved the first issue. The first two stories–from Parker, Samnee, and Lemire–are more Superman than anything we’ve seen in the New 52 this side of a few magical Morrison moments.
  • Batman/Superman #1 (DC): You got your Batman in my Superman. You got your Superman in my Batman. Yet another opportunity for DC to get these heroes right. First indication it may work: Scott Snyder’s not involved. Second: Jae Lee is.
Batman/Superman #1

Batman/Superman #1

  • Justice League of America #5 (DC): At this point, it’s one issue at a time. The Catwoman cliffhanger caught me. Go figure.
  • The Wake #2 (DC/Vertigo): Not excited about this in the least. I’d like to think that this issue will change that.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 (IDW): A comic-day decision. Only bought the last one to support an I&N favorite Mateus Santoluoco. The art was great, but the book as a whole didn’t grab me.
  • Clone #8 (Image): Still doing its thing–it’s oft outlandish thing.
  • Fatale #15 (Image): Another top title. After a terrific series of one-shots, It’s time for a new arc. Expecting nothing but brilliance from Brubaker and Phillips.
Fatale #15

Fatale #15

  • Lazarus #1 (Image): Lots of hype leading up to this one from Greg Rucka and Michael Lark. You’d have to be dead to have missed it. Don’t worry: odds are good this book’ll bring you back to life. I am stoked!
Lazarus #1

Lazarus #1

  • Jupiter’s Legacy #2 (Image): Derek’ll let me have it for even considering it. Sure, we hated the first one; but sometimes it takes two, you know? I’ll definitely flip through it.
  • All-New X-Men #13 (Marvel): I’ve liked some things Bendis has done. I’ve hated others. Still waiting to love it, though–and gosh do I want to. Maybe the crossover that’s comin’…
  • FF #8 (Marvel): I really enjoyed last issue. And to think I almost called it quits after a pretty terrible #6. Just missed being in our Top 5 for May!
  • Fury: My War Gone By #13 (Marvel): A great week of books gets even better with the finale of Ennis and Parlov’s hard-edged history lesson. Gonna be very sad to see it go, though–especially because its passing means a little less Ennis.
  • Daredevil #27 (Marvel): I think we can all agree that the return of Bullseye was a given from the get-go. The nature of his return, however? Not as expected. Yeah, I think Waid really nailed it. Can’t wait to see how it plays out.
Daredevil #27

Daredevil #27

  • Uncanny X-Men #7 (Marvel): As disappointing a diversion as I could imagine. Dormammu? No thank you. And still I buy.
  • X-Men #2 (Marvel): More Wood! #1 worked itself out well enough. Certainly earned another go-round.
  • Hawkeye #11 (Marvel): Yup: I’m jumpin’ on the monthly bandwagon. Sure, I can’t crack it open until after I get and read Vol. 2; but it’s all–not just a fraction–good. Hey, Derek! Quit being such a hater! Try Vol. 1 already!
  • Uncanny #1 (Dynamite): Haven’t necessarily cared for what I’ve seen from Diggle of late. (Snapshot was only OK, and his only full issue on Action wasn’t very good.). But I’m willing to give this a try.
Uncanny #1

Uncanny #1

  • X-O Manowar #14 (Valiant): Last issue was definitely a step up.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

In Scott’s Bag (6/19)

22 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by in I&N Scott's Bag

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It’s not a bag of comics as much as it’s a bag of evidence–evidence that I have a problem.

Exhibits A-Q

  • Batwoman #21 (Looks pretty.  Francavilla’s really a perfect choice here: he brings immediate credibility to this otherwise irrelevant Killer Croc interlude.)
Batwoman #21

Batwoman #21

  • Wonder Woman #21 (Chiang brings something to the page that Akins et al cannot.  So, I’m already looking forward to it.  My expectations remain tempered, however, because of the continued presence of the New Gods–even, if for the most part, it’s just Orion.  I’ve never cared for the New Gods.)
  • Mara #5 (I’ve come to appreciate Brian Wood’s style a bit more now that I’m caught up with The Massive.  I wonder if I should go back to the beginning with this one.)
Mara #5

Mara #5

  • Ultimate Spider-Man #24 (As I mentioned: I’ve always liked Cloak and Dagger.  Looks like this one focuses on the polar-opposite pair.  Wonder what that’s all about.)
  • Indestructible Hulk #9 (I’m kinda figuring that anything–N.E. thing–would be better than the ill-timed Thor diversion.  And this isn’t just anything: it’s a
  • Animal Man #21 (An unfortunate combination of something I want more of–Buddy the reluctant celebrity–and something I want less of: Maxine in the Red–with Shepherd, for crying out loud!  Ugh.)
Animal Man #21

Animal Man #21

  • Dream Thief #2 (Carries with it some high expectations.  Always a tough position to be in.)
  • Mind the Gap Vol. 2 TP (Looking to build a little more quality into your weekly haul?  I’ll tell you one way to do it: drop the crap and Mind the Gap!)
  • Mind the Gap #11 (Soooo excited that, once through this, I’ll be all caught up!  Mr. McCann, here I come!)
  • Revival #11 (Ended well–really well, in fact.  Checked out the first page of this one.  Love the way it ends and how it sets up the page turn.  Should be good!)
Revival #11

Revival #11

  • Batman and Batgirl #21 (As I mentioned: I’ve been finding Tomasi’s Batman considerably more interesting–and authentic, considering the trail blazed by Morrison on Batman Incorporated–than Snyder’s.  Please tell me I’m not the only one.)
  • Wild Blue Yonder #1 (Worth a shot, right?)
Wild Blue Yonder #1

Wild Blue Yonder #1

  • Bloodshot #12 (So far, the Harbinger Wars have left Bloodshot a little red faced.)
  • Harbinger #13 (Plenty to like about what Dysart’s been doing.)
  • The Sixth Gun #32 (Has me looking forward to September.  Sacrilege, I know; but I need to get through Vol. 5 first!
  • The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun #4 (Has helped ease the pain.)
Sons of the Gun #4

Sons of the Gun #4

  • Extinction Parade #1 (Have never been much of a vampire/zombie guy.  We’ll see.)

Now that I’ve got nothing but time–till September, of course–the pile doesn’t look so big.  Man, I’m my own enabler.

What did you get in your bag this week?

Turning pages,

Scott