Tag Archives: Brian Michael Bendis

What’s I&N Store (8/28)

28 Wednesday Aug 2013

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Gonna bang this one out.

  • The Massive #15 (Dark Horse): A monthly highlight.  This time around, looks like the plan is to light up a submerged NYC.
  • Mind MGMT #14 (Dark Horse): Another gorgeous cover for an issue covering Meru.
Mind MGMT #14

Mind MGMT #14

  • American Vampire Anthology #1 (DC/Vertigo): A buncha big names takin’ a bite outta Snyder’s AV?  Sounds good to me!  However, it looks like they’ll be takin’ a bite outta my wallet, too.  $7.99?  Ack!
  • Batman/Superman #3 (DC): So far, so good.  Jae Lee’s killing it.
  • FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics #2 (DC/Vertigo): Or is it Collider #2?  Color me a bit confused about the title.  Still gonna buy it, though.
  • Thumbprint #3 (IDW): A terrific first two issues–both I&N Books of the Month–have led to this.  The highest of expectations.
Thumbprint #3

Thumbprint #3

  • Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles #25 (IDW): Speaking of expectations: I didn’t expect to be here this long.  Thing is, it’s really good.  And to think I jumped on board simply to support artist Mateus Santolouco.
  • Lazarus #3 (Image): Rucka’s rocking it out, and Lark’s leaving it all on the page.
Lazarus #3

Lazarus #3

  • Mind the Gap #13 (Image): Surprise!  Doublin’ up in August, eh?  Works for me: a quicker turnaround for a title with a complex storyline is definitely appreciated.
  • FF #11 (Marvel): Sure, #10 was a tad self-indulgent.  It was also friggin’ fun.  F-ing Fraction.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #26 (Marvel): Can’t believe how Bendis was able to manipulate me into wanting Miles to suit up.  And then he was kind enough to give me what I wanted.  Son of a gun.
Ultimate Spider-Man #26

Ultimate Spider-Man #26

  • Uncanny X-Men #11 (Marvel): This is going to sound really strange: I’m looking forward to this.  Felt weird to type it, even.  But it’s true: #10 was darn good, after all–especially with Frazer Irving’s finally coming into his own.
  • Extinction Parade #2 (Avatar): Oddly enough, my wife is looking forward to this more than I am.  Still can’t get her to read Saga, though.
Extinction Parade #2

Extinction Parade #2

  • Uncanny #3 (Dynamite): #2 wasn’t particularly good.  This may be it for me.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

I&N Scott’s Bag (8/14)

19 Monday Aug 2013

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Buying comics shouldn’t be so darned complicated!  Or maybe it should be.  Maybe therein lies the worth.

  • Saga #13 (Read it!  This thirteenth impression’s a pretty damn good one, proving that, yes, even after a few months off, this baby–despite its modesty, this “sacred text”–has still got legs.)
  • Suicide Squad #23 (Read it!  Really, really not good.  Ales Kot–scribe of the magnificent mindf___ Change–clearly wasn’t suited for the book.  But that’s OK: he’s got a couple of promising books in the Image pipeline; and Matt Kindt, who’s got even more irons in the fire, is the new god of the Squad.  Can’t wait to see how that pans out.)
  • East of West #5 (Read it!  Hickman’s hitting the “Wow!” button and making it look easy!  Some writers out there should be taking notes.)
East of West #5

East of West #5

  • Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem #3 (Read it!  It was OK; I mean, it certainly is what I was hoping for from the get-go: the golem finally kicks some serious Nazi hintern.  But, in the end, I was left a bit flat–kind of like my own hintern–perhaps because the grandfather, who was the source of most of the emotional punch, is replaced by the brutish golem, whose punch is of a more physical sort.  Wait a sec.  Hmm.  Suddenly I ain’t feelin’ so flat anymore.  Clever, Mr. Niles.  Very clever.)
  • Batman #23 (Read it!  Starts off well enough–very well, in concept, anyway.  Execution-wise, it’s a bit clunky.  This is supposed to be the moment in Bruce’s life; instead, it feels like a moment–one that’s not nearly the same caliber as Red Hood’s gun.  As the story crawls its way toward Bruce’s Batpiphany, Snyder struggles with drawing out the psychological side of the journey.  In fact, he would’ve been better off letting Capullo carry it through to the end without the weight of his burdensome words.  That would’ve been something.)
Batman #23

Batman #23

  • Uncanny X-Men #10 (Read it!  Gonna be honest: I liked it.  Oh, how I’ve longed to say it!  I want to say it again: I liked it!  I especially enjoyed Frazer Irving’s work this time around; it’s the first time he’s left me feeling like he owns the characters.)
Uncanny X-Men #10

Uncanny X-Men #10

  • Deathmatch #8 (Read it!  Two monster matches!  Each fight hits the right notes, reaching the height of harmony between the physical and the psychological.  Plenty brutal, sure; but emotionally engaging, as well.)
Deathmatch #8

Deathmatch #8

  • Lost Vegas #4 (Read it!  A satisfying conclusion.)
  • Ghosted #2 (Read it!  Not bad.  Feels a lot like Revival.  I’ll try another.)
  • Mind the Gap #12 (Read it!  A really good read.  Like the issues come before, this one peels back another layer and brings, however briefly, a feeling of satisfaction–of “almost there.”  Thing is, it’s all a tease: we’re dealing with a “one step forward, two steps back” narrative; and wouldn’t you know, as frustrating as it is, the experience is all the better for the strategy.  Kudos to Mr. McCann–for effing with our minds and making it feel oh so good!)
  • Harbinger #15 (Read it!  Sneaky, sneaky.  Dysart sets a trap early on with the title–“Perfect Day”–and a general feeling of frivolousness, and then he springs it with a crazy ending.  My only wish: that the final page followed a page turn.  That would’ve delivered a bigger punch.  And as it turns, Kitson’s art isn’t much of a drag here as it was on Bloodshot.  See, folks: I can be fair, after all.)
Harbinger #15

Harbinger #15

  • Archer & Armstrong #12 (Read it!  As solid as always.  Fred Van Lente’s got it down to a science, and Pere Perez’s art is the perfect complement.)
  • The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #3 (Read it!  An odd experience.  Feels scattered and tidy all at the same time.  Not sure how much value there is in this story or in the storytelling, but I’m going to ride it out, nevertheless; it’s only a six issue series, for goodness sake.)
  • Six-Gun Gorilla #3 (Read it!  So good.  Spurrier adds another dimension as he builds upon Blue’s background as a librarian: in doing so, he joins Saga‘s Vaughan by plowing into the power of fiction.  Monkey bar raised yet again!)

Turning pages,

Scott

Top 5 Books of July

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

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5. Satellite Sam #1 (Image): Matt Fraction and Howard Chaykin take us back to the dawn of television for a behind-the-scenes look at the type of low-fi, sci-fi program that nostalgists pine for as evidence of a simpler, more innocent time. But what Fraction and Chaykin show us is anything but: murder, sex, and best of all the breathless pacing and snappy dialogue of such stylish, seedy media sneak-peeks as L.A. Confidential, Mad Men and His Girl Friday. Captain Video this ain’t. Rather, with its mature themes and sophisticated storytelling, this is the kind of comic to give to people who don’t read comics. We need more like this. (DM)

Satellite Sam #1

Satellite Sam #1

4. Thumbprint #2 (IDW): Jason Ciaramella and Vic Malhotra deftly continue their adaptation of Joe Hill’s tour-de-force story about the horror that has seemingly followed a disgraced Iraqi War veteran back home. Emphasis on force: this issue largely concerns a flashback to a wartime episode of breathtaking cruelty. Hill’s accomplishment is not in the depiction of the act itself, but in the implicit conveyance that, as bad as this is, there were things that went on that were much, much worse. (DM)

Thumbprint #2

Thumbprint #2

3. Wild Blue Yonder #2 (IDW): Regular readers might remember that I celebrated the series’ opening salvo as a summer blockbuster.  Yeah, well, this issue takes all of the itty-bitty block bits left over from the initial blockbusting and busts them into even itty-bittier pieces!  Mike Raicht scripts the light fantastic as he slides from the Dawn to the dark side; as he builds bonds and, just like that, breaks them.  Zach Howard and Nelson Daniel come in heavy, bringing each scene to life or death with their gorgeously gritty artwork.  That’s right: grab your popcorn and pick the perfect seat: when it comes to high-flying fun, Wild Blue Yonder can’t be topped.  Two issues in and it’s quite clear: the sky’s the limit. (SC)

Wild Blue Yonder #2

Wild Blue Yonder #2

2. Six-Gun Gorilla #2 (BOOM!): Duck Dynasty ain’t got a damn thing on this simply “perfick” reality show from Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely.  Attention must be paid!  Hell, it’s “the name of the game.”  And if you’re not paying attention to this wild, wild western–if you’re not runnin’ with the ‘rilla by now–you’re clearly of questionable taste.  But, hey, it’s Goodall–I mean, it’s all good.  Sure, it’s possible–but not likely–you’re just not that into action-packed satires that co-star cigar-chomping simians who sell their lines like they’re looking to earn enough scratch to buy a big ol’ bunch of bananas before Blazetime. Yeah, that’s what I thought.  We ostentatiously tossed roses at the dusty knuckles of #1 (it was our Book of the Month for June), but Spurrier and Stokely very well may have raised the monkey bar with this one. (SC)

Six-Gun Gorilla #2

Six-Gun Gorilla #2

1. Mister X: Eviction #3 (Dark Horse): Dean Motter’s contender for Book of the Year is not just a compelling story with beautiful art; it is also a love-letter to the medium itself. From the Will Eisner-inspired cover to the delightful Winsor McCay interlude, this book is just catnip for comics enthusiasts. If Satellite Sam is recommended for people who don’t read comics, this is a gift for people that do. Book of the Month. (DM)

Mister X: Eviction #3

Mister X: Eviction #3

Biggest Dis(appointment): Brian Michael Bendis’s X-Mess

Both Uncanny and All-New versions of the X-Men this month–#8 and #9 of the former and #14 of the latter–are X-ercises in the ol’ rhetorical runaround.  Oh, they’re perfectly pretty–thanks to Chris Bachalo and Stuart Immonen, respectively–but what do they accomplish, really?  That’s right: be honest with yourself and with the world: the answer’s disgracefully obvious: not much at all.  Now, I know we’re headed toward the big Battle of the Atom crossover and maybe the jogging in place is related to that.  As it is, Bendis’s X-titles have been X-tremely disappointing for some time now; yeah, sadly this isn’t the first month where I’ve been like Why am I still buying these damn things?  But I’m still buying ’em–because I still believe in Bendis and because I’m not quite ready to be an ex-X-Men reader.  See: I’m a sucker for Cyclops.  So, on one eye, I’m like, to hell with it; and on the other, I’m sure that something’s going to happen–and soon!–to justify my loyalty.  I just know it!  After all, Bendis himself  promises–through Mystique–that “[t]here’s a bigger picture” here.  And, if, in the end, all of these pointless little pieces fit together to form it, well, then shame on me for doubting.  And if they don’t, whom do I ask for a refund? (SC)

Turning pages,

Derek & Scott

What’s I&N Store (8/14)

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

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Back to reality: no NYC this week.  One primo pro, though: no train tickets equals more cash for comics.

  • Breath of Bones #3 (Dark Horse): The end?  Already?  Sigh.  A tender first two issues–each burning ever so slowly–have led to this: Golem Time!
Breath of Bones #3

Breath of Bones #3

  • The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #3 (Dark Horse): Liked the last one more than I expected to.
  • Astro City #3 (DC): Here’s a city I will be returning to for a third time.  I love the fact that Busiek’s delivered two different yet equally as engaging narratives to kick off the relaunch.  As a new reader, I’m left to wonder what I’ve missed.  (Regret.)  More important, however, I’m wondering what’s next.  (Excitement!)
Astro City #3

Astro City #3

  • Batman #23 (DC): If you read my recent Scottlight On: Batman #22, you know how I’m feeling going into this one.  If you didn’t, you can read it here.
  • Suicide Squad #23 (DC): I had high hopes for Ales Kot–even after learning of his unexpected exit.  The last issue, though?  Wow.  It was a disaster.  May have also answered a pressing question.  Well, it is what it is–and what it will be soon: Matt Kindt’s book.
  • East of West #5 (Image): I’ll tell you how the East of West was won: with a couple of westerly wows in #4, that’s how.
  • Ghosted #2 (Image): Thought that #1 was fun enough to warrant a second look.  I actually liked the way the team was put together more than I liked the same in The Wake #1.
  • Lost Vegas #4 (Image): Another finale!  Sad, too, as I was just getting into it.
Lost Vegas #4

Lost Vegas #4

  • Mind the Gap #12 (Image): At least we get the marvelous Jim McCann on a monthly basis on this terrific title.
  • Saga #13 (Image): Yeah, I’m gonna read this one first.
Saga #13

Saga #13

  • Uncanny X-Men #10 (Marvel): I guess I’m all-in through the Battle of the Atom.  If the Bendis side of the X-Verse doesn’t explode its way through at that point, then I’m out of this one and All-New.  That’s right, Derek: O.U.T.
  • Archer & Armstrong #12 (Valiant): Maybe I don’t really hate dinosaurs as much as I thought I did.
Archer & Armstrong #12

Archer & Armstrong #12

  • Deathmatch #8 (BOOM!): Things are heating up!  No one is safe–and that includes us!
  • Harbinger #15 (Valiant): Out from under the Harbinger Wars only to be shackled by the underwhelming Barry Kitson, who didn’t do Bloodshot any favors.
  • Red Sonja #2 (Dynamite): Why not?
  • Six-Gun Gorilla #3 (BOOM!): Mega!  Monkey!  Wednesday!  A surprise no longer: Spurrier and Stokely are putting together something special here.  Check out our takes on bullets #1 and #2.  Heck, I’m already writing up my Book of the Month entry for #3–and I haven’t even read it yet!
Six-Gun Gorilla #3

Six-Gun Gorilla #3

Sure, Midtown Comics is as good as it gets; but there’s something charming about the haphazardly plunked down piles of new books at my local comic shop.  Hope they didn’t miss me–and my money–too much.

What books are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

I&N Scott’s Bag (8/7)

11 Sunday Aug 2013

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Another Wednesday in NYC meant another trip to Midtown Comics–and another week of plucking top-shelf books from the middle of the Great Wall O’Comics.

  • Fatale #16 (Read it!  Solid, sure, but not as transcendent as it’s been.  No real missteps, just didn’t get the feeling I typically get during and after reading.  Hey: it’s bound to happen–especially with the titles that kill it from issue to issue.)
Fatale #16

Fatale #16

  • Dial H #15 (Read it!  A crazy, convoluted concoction–everything we’ve come to love about this misfit book!  Too bad it couldn’t really find its place in the DCU–or an audience.  We sure as heck did our best to promote it; but, alas, it wasn’t enough.  From the get-go, however, it was clear: Dial H wasn’t a terribly accessible title.  Thank you China Mieville, Alberto Ponticelli, Dan Green, Mateus Santolouco, Dave Lapham, and Brian Bolland for dialing me dizzy for fifteen fantastic issues.)
  • Buck Rogers #1 (Read it!  Howard Chaykin’s always worth a shot.  Here, though, probably just this one.  While it read well enough, it didn’t quite clear the bar, which is set pretty darned high–especially for outliers like this.  Hey: as much as I’d like to, I can’t read everything!)
  • Sheltered #2 (Read it!  A very strong follow up to a superb opening act.  Looks like Brisson might really have something here.)
Sheltered #2

Sheltered #2

  • Daredevil: Dark Nights #3 (Read it!  Some impressive twists weighed down just a bit by some inevitable schmaltz, especially related to what’s been driving DD to complete his mission of mercy.)
  • Ten Grand #4 (Read it!  Glad I’ve stuck around.  I’ve found myself drawn to Joe and to how Joe’s been drawn–and colored–by the terrific Ben Templesmith.)
Ten Grand #4

Ten Grand #4

  • All-New X-Men #15 (Read it!  Once again, an issue that accomplishes very little.  Feels like we’re just killing time leading up to the big crossover event.  Has felt that way for a while, actually.)
  • Sidekick #1 (Read it!  I liked it more than I didn’t.  What kept me from loving it?  It’s the battle that rages amongst the pages: a battle for the ages between clever and cliche.  Kudos to DerekNerd for noticing that this reads like a Mark Millar book.  If you didn’t think of it before, I bet you’re noticing it now.)
  • The Manhattan Projects #13 (Read it!  Same old, same old.  And by that, I mean super good.  Hickman, Pitarra, and Bellaire never take a month off.  Oh, and how about that JFK?)
  • Helheim #6 (Read it!  Everything you’d expect from a Cullen Bunn book.  Pretty terrific final page, no?)
  • Shadowman #9 (Read it!  Another solid issue.)
Shadowman #9

Shadowman #9

  • Quantum and Woody #2 (Read it!  Really liked the beginning.  Asmus kicks off the second installment with a clever conversation–between Woody and me!–and some intelligent humor.  In fact, I was thinking top of the pile for the week.  However, it got a bit sophomoric–and jokingly homophobic–as the issue progressed.  I get it: it’s meant to amplify Woody’s immaturity; but I think, in the end, it detracted from the development of the story.)
  • Trillium #1 (Read it!  One word–for now anyway: finally.)
Trillium #1

Trillium #1

  • Satellite Sam #2 (Read it!  Issue #1 was one of my favorites for July, and there’s no let up here.  Fantastic follow up from Fraction and Chaykin.  So fabulously different from everything else.)

What a way to kick off the month!

What did you get in your bag?  Anything worth checking out?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (8/7)

06 Tuesday Aug 2013

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The weekly feature that was once known as What’s Up? is now more shamelessly titled. The content, however, is as subjective as ever.

  • Dial H #15 (DC): Ladies and gentlemen, this is it: the finale of one of the finest series around. Just the thought of its missing from my monthly haul makes me want to curl up and dial.

    Dial H #15

    Dial H #15

  • Trillium #1 (DC/Vertigo): Jeff Lemire’s back where he belongs: doing double duty. Very excited for this. As much of a must buy as a book can be.
  • Fatale #16 (Image): Speaking of must buys: Brubaker and Phillips have been nothing short of brilliant.
  • The Manhattan Projects #13 (Image): Last issue didn’t close with a cliffhanger; nope: it ended with a chainsawer. So good, ever since, I’ve been imagining myself as a branch. Come get me, Einstein, you crazy motherphysicist!
  • Satellite Sam #2 (Image): #1 was a perfect opening act. I hope Fraction and Chaykin can keep it up here. And so does she…
Satellite Sam #2

Satellite Sam #2

  • Sheltered #2 (Image) Brisson did a heck of a job building up to the end of #1. Anything familiar about the premise was put to rest with a resounding “BANG” on the final page. And the snow was left stained with high expectations. Comeback didn’t carry on well after the first issue; I hope Brisson’s better here and going forward.
  • Ten Grand #4 (Image): JMS has won me over. Glad I stuck around.
  • Sidekick #1 (Image): It’s Ten Grand‘s sidekick, innit? Always willing to give JMS a shot.
Sidekick #1

Sidekick #1

  • All-New X-Men #15 (Marvel): Wow. Where have we really gotten after fourteen issues? This could be the longest leash I’ve ever allowed–and it’s all a matter of trust: trust in the characters and trust in Bendis. Something has to happen eventually, right?
  • Daredevil: Dark Nights #3 (Marvel): Loved #2. Lee Weeks is owning DD on both sides of the pen. Remarkable, really.
  • Helheim #6 (Oni Press): This is a book that has really come together after five issues. Cullen Bunn’s got a knack for this type of tale (see: The Sixth Gun); and, true to form, he’s unfolding this one well.
Helheim #6

Helheim #6

  • Quantum and Woody #2 (Valiant): The first issue was fun enough. Unfortunately, it’s up against an almost perfect in-house buddy book: Archer & Armstrong. How unfair is that?
  • Shadowman #9 (Valiant): Quietly, a really solid monthly.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

In Scott’s Bag (7/31)

03 Saturday Aug 2013

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Picked up most of my books at the heavenly Midtown Comics.

  • Batman Incorporated #13 (Read it!  And just like that, it’s over.  Morrison, you quirky bastard, you will be missed.)
  • Adventures of Superman #3 (Read it!  Matt Kindt brings a little Mind MGMT to Metropolis: he crafts a complex narrative–in this case, plagued by some uneven writing–and rides it toward a recognizable Superman story.)
  • Indestructible Hulk #11 (Read it!  Hulk and robot Banner–yup, robot Banner–are unstuck in time.  So it goes.)
  • Uncanny X-Men #9 (Read it!  Enjoyed the…  I liked the, umm…  Well, there was the time when…  OK, I’m going to have to go with the hair-coloring kerfuffle.  Cuckoo, indeed.)
  • FF #10 (Read it!  F—ing Fraction!  No, really: you’ve got to read it to believe it.)
FF #10

FF #10

  • X-Men #3 (Read it!  Seemed to resolve itself far too easily.  But, hey: they “pulled together,” so…  A solid shrug.)
  • Batman Annual #2 (Read it!  Should’ve learned my lesson regarding these darned annuals a long time ago.  But seeing as I bought it and read it: I guess I liked the premise that Batman “ruined” Arkham by filling it with villainous scum.  What I didn’t care for was the stretching out of the story–which was unnecessary in the context of the story itself, clearly, but necessary in the context of filling all those extra pages.  Darned annuals.)
  • Uber #4 (Read it!  Now that’s how it’s done!  Kudos to Kieron Gillen and Caanan White for serving up a solid issue from front to back.  And to think I almost abandoned the war effort after #2!)
  • Bedlam #8 (Read it!  Fully expected it to be a pull-list casualty at this point; but, darn it, throughout the series Spencer’s shown a knack for escalating the plot over the course of an issue, and this issue is a prime example of that knack and its power.  And just like that, I’m down for more.)
Bedlam #8

Bedlam #8

  • Daredevil #29 (Read it!  On its own, a pretty good show.  Unfortunately, it’s not on its own; it both follows and is a follow-up to the near flawless #28.)
  • The Wake #3 (Read it!  OK, now you’ve got my attention, Mr. Snyder!  This is the issue I was waiting for-not just it terms of the series, but in terms of the series’ scribe, as well.  What sucks about it: now I’ve got to wait some more–for #4.)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24 (Read it!  That’s right: I’m three issue into the TMNT ongoing series.  A more unlikely scenario I can’t imagine!  Thing is, it’s really good.  So, there: I have a good excuse.)
TMNT #24

TMNT #24

  • Animal Man Annual #2 (Read it!  Love the family stuff.  The hero stuff is on the walking side of run-of-the-mill.  That seems to be the flaw in Lemire’s game.  Well, there’s always Trillium, which is due 8/7.  Good to see travel Foreman, by the way.)
  • Collider #1 (Gonna get right to it after I post this darn thing.)
Collider #1

Collider #1

I’m happy to report that I also picked up Hawkeye Vol. 2, so it won’t be long before I’m all caught up!

What did you get in your bag this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

29 Monday Jul 2013

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Big on the big boys–and, as a result, a pretty big list reads rather small.

  • Adventures of Superman #3 (DC): Kindt on Supes?  Cool.
  • Animal Man Annual #2 (DC): Any time Lemire gets real, things get good.  A focus on the Baker family sounds pretty real–even if “massive, slavering spiders” are involved.
Animal Man Annual #2

Animal Man Annual #2

  • Batman Annual #2 (DC): Oh, yay!  A Zero Year tie-in.
  • Batman Incorporated #13 (DC): So, this is it, eh?  Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Batman Incorporated #13

Batman Incorporated #13

  • Collider #1 (DC/Vertigo): Sounds interesting enough.  By “interesting enough,” I obviously mean that it’s a Vertigo #1.
  • The Wake #3 (DC/Vertigo): Is this where the series finally wakes up?  I sure hope so.  As you know, I’m never in favor of dropping out in the middle of a mini.
The Wake #3

The Wake #3

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24 (IDW): I fully expected to be off after #23.  Would’ve been, too, except for the fact that I got sucked into the whole Leonardo reprogramming thing.
  • Bedlam #8 (DC): Officially on the chopping block.
  • Daredevil #29 (Marvel): #28 was just grand–dare I say a new classic.  Looks like we’re not done with Matt’s past.  Sweet.
Daredevil #29

Daredevil #29

  • FF #10 (Marvel): Recently tweeted that FF’s my third favorite Marvel book.  No, I wasn’t drinking at the time.  My glass was totally on the desk.  Fresh fact: Matt Fraction is at the top of his game and should be on everyone’s pull list–be it in the form of FF, Hawkeye, or our Book of the Week (7/3) Satellite Sam.
  • Indestructible Hulk #11 (Marvel): Pains me to say it: also on the chopping block.  Unfortunately, the House connection hasn’t played out as I had hoped.
  • Uncanny X-Men #9 (Marvel): I wonder if this issue will go somewhere.
  • X-Men #3 (Marvel): Brian Wood’s brought some X-Men back to the X-Men.
X-Men #3

X-Men #3

  • 3 Guns #1 (BOOM!): Haven’t read 2 Guns.  Wonder if that will make a difference.  Guess I’ll find out soon enough.
  • Uber #4 (Avatar): As I mentioned last month: I’m glad I didn’t give up on it.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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?

09 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by in What's I&N Store?

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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