Tag Archives: David Marquez

What’s I&N Store (6/4)

03 Tuesday Jun 2014

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This’ll be my inaugural haul from the new and improved Android’s Amazing Comics.  Looks like it’ll be a grand opening, indeed!

  • The Wake #9 (DC/Vertigo): Scott Snyder’s overhyped submersible vehicle draws–drowns?–closer to its long awaited end.  By long awaited, I mean this thing could’ve been a sixer.  Am I wrong?  Of course I’m not wrong.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #34 (IDW): Any hype this one’s been getting has been well earned. The Turtles are serious business, boys and girls: Waltz and Eastman have managed the considerable cast remarkably well, all along allowing the child at the heart of the book to play innocently while the adults are getting work done–no easy task; and, speaking of getting work done, artist Mateus Santolouco lifts the lot to another level with his signature style–one that has quickly become the face of the titular freaky foursome.
  • Clone #17 (Image): Issue after issue David Schulner and co. unveil another perfectly engineered model of their fast-paced formula, taking hairpin page turns toward high-octane twists!  #16, an anxious affair, made more so by Juan Jose Ryp’s insanely detailed artwork and Andy Troy’s committed colors, delivers a real shot to the gut; and we’re left bleeding and pleading, “More, please.”
Clone #17

Clone #17

  • The Superannuated Man #1 (Image): Yeah, I don’t know.  I didn’t care for Miniature Jesus so much.  Ted McKeever’s worth a try, though, ain’t he?  No doubt the art’ll be really good.  My concern: the writing side.  I mean, you did read Miniature Jesus, right?  Rough.  Sound idea, noisy delivery.
The Superannuated Man #1

The Superannuated Man #1

  • Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #3 (Marvel): Kaare Andrews definitely deserves an iron fist bump or two for this randy reboot of K’Un Lun’s favorite son.  His images and words come together like yin and yang, balancing Danny’s heartbreaking backstory with the apocalyptic present.  It’s Kung Fu Theater in a comic!
  • Loki: Agent of Asgard #5 (Marvel): Loving Loki, Midgard’s most magical metrosexual!  The star of the show, though, is Al Ewing’s wit, which is sharper even than Sigurd’s Gram.  That’s right: I’m all about Asgard–and it only took four issues to bring me around!
  • Magneto #5 (Marvel): Magneto the Merciless.  Me likey.  Cullen Bunn’s already shown a knack for delivering magnetic moments, making a raging Magneto easy to root for–especially as he works in vane to cleanse a faux farm of Purifiers.  Did you notice: the death by windmill was literally–and cleverly–foreshadowed on the side of the barn over the course of three scene-shifting panels!
  • Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #2 (Marvel): #1 brought us back to what made Ultimate Spider-Man work: Bendis’s surrendering super in favor of human.  There’s magic in Miles, after all.  And, damn, how about that last page?  One of those rare times when petering out is a good thing.
Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #2

Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #2

  • Miracleman #7 (Marvel): Running a bit behind.  Still haven’t gotten around to #5.  But what I’ve read so far has been miraculous.
  • Moon Knight #4 (Marvel): Loved #3.  Just one reason: “You possess all kinds of armor and raiment for fighting the living: how can you not have garments for fighting the dead?”  I mean, duh!  Warren Ellis knows exactly how to exploit this medium: he wields his words efficiently and allows Declan Shalvey to once again spread his wings.  Together, they deliver a powerful punch and, with that narrative fist, continue to fill the cavernous Batvoid in my life.  Thanks, fellas!
Moon Knight #4

Moon Knight #4

  • Caliban #3 (Avatar): Solid sci-fi from Garth Ennis.  It’s a mash up–appropriately enough, considering–of his Red Team and Alien, ain’t it?  So, I’m still on board.
  • Doc Savage #6 (Dynamite): Starting to lose a little steam for me as it chugs its way to the present.  I bought the Annual but don’t really feel compelled to read it, you know, with the different creative team and all.  Just doesn’t inspire.  Helluva a price tag on that sucker, too.  We’re back to business–and back to Y2K–with this one.
  • Quantum and Woody #11 (Valiant): Crazy fun!  I cannot wait for the showdown with the E.R.A.  I’m telling you: if you like Rat Queens, you’ll definitely dig Q&W.  James Asmus has really found a groove–and his needle sharp wit is riding it at 78 rpm, delivering sweet, sweet music, man; and Kano, the Bono of comic book artists, has, with #10, delivered the most vocal visuals of the series to date.
Quantum and Woody #11

Quantum and Woody #11

  • Rai #2 (Valiant): I didn’t love #1, but I’m going to give it–Matt Kindt, more so, if I’m being honest–another issue.  Wasn’t going to, except for the fact that #1 read a lot like Star Wars: Rebel Heist #1, which I ended up enjoying more after I thought about it for a while.  Here’s hoping that Rai #2 will give me something to think about.  Clayton Crain’s painted art didn’t live up to expectations.  Don’t get me wrong it’s impressive for what it is; but in terms of the storytelling, it’s stiff and lifeless.  More hoping: that the images catch up to the words.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

I&N Scott’s Bag (10/23)

28 Monday Oct 2013

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This is actually, kinda, sorta on time.

  • Mind MGMT #16 (Matt Kindt is the Thomas Edison of comics: he’s invented yet another way to make this book the most involved read on the rack.  As important as this story is to the world Kindt’s been building, it is a stand alone issue.  Do yourself a favor and pick it up, even if you’re not looking to add another title to your monthly haul; it’s a stunning example of what the medium can do.)
Mind MGMT #16

Mind MGMT #16

  • Velvet #1 (I like the bad-ass Miss Moneypenny angle from Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.  The other angles–all of them right–come together to take the shape of an exceptionally executed exposition.)
  • Pretty Deadly #1 (Pretty underwhelming.  Not entirely Kelly Sue DeConnick’s fault, really.  Sure, I wasn’t particularly taken by the–perhaps purposely–juvenile poetry that frames the issue, and Emma Rios’s art was often tough to translate; but I think the main problem is with me–with my bag.  Not only am I already invested in wonderfully wild westerns–including BOOM!’s Six-Gun Gorilla, Image’s East of West, and Oni’s The Sixth Gun–I’m seeing similarities, which steal a bit from the experience.  Even if they’re complete coincidences, which I assume they are, they’re enough to affect my experience here.  To be fair, I’m going to meet #2 at high noon on or around Wednesday 11/27.  We’ll see who flinches first.)
  • Satellite Sam #4 (Had to spend extra time with it to suss out some of the dialogue.  Time well spent.  Who knew I’d be more interested in the early days of TV than I am in the recent exploits of Captain America and Superman?  It’s not what I came back to comics for, but it’s why I’ll be sticking around: an original voice affected effortlessly by Matt Fraction and ridiculously detailed black & white artwork from Howard Chaykin.)
Satellite Sam #4

Satellite Sam #4

  • Harbinger #17 (Wouldn’t have been so terrible if it were terrible, but it wasn’t.  Peter and friends live to see another What’s I&N Store post.)
  • Kiss Me, Satan #2 (Other things me, too, Satan.  And make it fast because, despite Juan Ferreya’s art, I’m not sticking around for #3.)
  • Rat Queens #2 (The joke ran the risk of getting stale–like a chunk of cheese on a ill-placed trap–but then came the end.  “[Fudge] buckets,” indeed.  At its best, like during the final two-page sequence, Kurtis J. Wiebe’s world spins not unlike something you’d see in Saga.  At its worst, it reads like Fraction’s cutting-room floor.  Here’s hoping for more of the best.)
  • Clone #11 (I wasn’t sure where we were headed after #10.  Now I know–and I’m stoked!  All the way around, a terrific issue.  The twriters [that’s tri-writers, to reflect the combined efforts of David Schulner, Aaron Ginsburg, and Wade McIntyre–did I just coin that?] continue to celebrate the unique experience that is the comic book page turn in this fast-paced effort; and the art from Juan Jose Ryp, with colors from Andy Troy, is at its detailed best.  Really, really good.)
Clone #11

Clone #11

  • Sex Criminals #2 (Even filthier than the first, which makes sense since we get the guy’s side here.  It goes without saying that I found it hard to relate to.  I have a friend, though, who found it remarkably resonant–especially the bit about the–umm–treasure in the woods.)
  • Daredevil #32 (Quite a ride.  Went from hard to diJester to frighteningly flavorful in a single course!  Who would’ve thunk it: Mark Waid twists the political slog from #31 into something fiendishly fun and then, just as quickly, into something D-D-deadly.  Two fantastic splashes from Chris Samnee, the best being the ironic “They’re not monsters!” monsterpiece.  Hard to believe we’re that much closer to the end of this glorious run.)
Daredevil #32

Daredevil #32

  • Ultimate Spider-Man #28 (Sad to say, I’m happy that this one’s done.)

Missed a few–The Massive, Numbercruncher, and Death Sentence–for one reason or another; but I won’t be without them for very long.

What did you think of this bag’s worth?

Turning pages,

Scott

I&N Scott’s Bag (9/25)

14 Monday Oct 2013

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You may step off of both the pins and the needles.  Unless, of course, you’re into that sort of thing.  Speaking of…

  • Sex Criminals #1 (Matt Fraction’s put himself on the Must Buy list with fantastically felonious performances on Hawkeye, FF, and Satellite Sam.  As a result, expectations were high here.  Didn’t expect a few things, however.  I found Suzie’s sexual awakening tough to turn through at times; and her voice is a little too over the top in spots–even for Fraction.  In the end, the nod to Nabokov–to Lolita–made it all work for me.  [That’s right: Suzie’s playing with her lit.  Oh, look at the cover and get over it.]  Even still, Fraction’s got some work to do to prove that this book is “not really about sex.”  I’m definitely sticking around to find out.)
Sex Criminals #1

Sex Criminals #1

  • Saga #14 (Another standout issue.  Something tells me it’s bound for our Top 5 list for the month.  Not lying.)
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #27 (I don’t care enough to blame anyone for the mess this has become.  Will I buy #28?  Of course.  Will I follow the next chapter of the Miles Morales story?  Nope.)
  • Revival #14 (Uninspired.  Tired, even.  It’s been a long time coming, but the day has finally come: I’m off.)
  • Fatale #17 (Very good–especially the end.  Not “gonna forget this” ending.  Not the way Phillips ramps up the intensity during the assault; not the way Brubaker has Josephine take care of Skip–the piece of $#!%.)
Fatale #17

Fatale #17

  • Red Team #5 (The weakest issue yet.  Predictable, and at times indecipherable.  One panel, however, may very well go down in comic book history: it gives new meaning to getting blown away.)
  • Jupiter’s Legacy #3 (Yeah, I know: I don’t know what got into me.  Thing is, it wasn’t terrible.  Damn you, Mark Millar!)
  • Mind MGMT #15 (For the fifteenth–and certainly not the last time: Matt Kindt’s a magician; he does things on the page that no one else can do.  Love how he guides us through Meru’s Lyme-cycle and how he punishes Lyme, who’s resigned to the fact that he deserves everything coming his way.  Both brutal and beautiful–it’s brutiful!)
Mind MGMT #15

Mind MGMT #15

  • Rat Queens #1 (A lot more fun–and funnier–than I expected it to be.  I mean, come on: “Blood loss…hampering wit”?  Yeah, right!  Without a doubt, I’ll be picking up #2.)
  • East of West #6 (Best issue yet.  Fantastic flashback and return.  Hickman’s finally brought this book to the level he’s always at with The Manhattan Projects.)
East of West #6

East of West #6

  • Wonder Woman: First Born #23.2 (The only villain book I bothered with.  It is what it is.)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #26 (Another solid issue.  And wouldn’t you know: “this is only the beginning.”  Looks like a coups brewin’.  Just so happens I like coups.  [That reads right, but sounds dirty.])

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (9/25)

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

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What a way to end the month!

  • Mind MGMT #15 (Dark Horse): Kindt’s got his fingers in my brain!  He’s got his fingers in my brain!
Mind MGMT #15

Mind MGMT #15

  • The Wake #4 (DC/Vertigo): #3 was signature Snyder; so, yeah, I’m looking forward to this one.
  • Wonder Woman 23.2 (DC): I’ve avoided all of the villain nonsense–until now.  Hey, there’s a first–First Born, in this case–for everything.
Wonder Woman 23.2

Wonder Woman #23.2

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #26 (IDW): “City Fall” has been one shell of a surprise!  Didn’t really expect it to be anything more than just a monthly Mateus Santolouco fix.  But it’s been more–a lot more.
  • East of West #6 (Image): Forging ahead…
  • Fatale #17 (Image): Last issue was very, very good.  No one does noirror--did I just coin that?—like Brubaker and Phillips.
Fatale #17

Fatale #17

  • Rat Queens #1(Image): I missed the Peter Panzerfaust bandwagon.  I’m not going to miss this one–Kurtis Wiebe’s latest–because that’d be stupid.
Rat Queens #1

Rat Queens #1

  • Revival #14 (Image): Hoping we get somewhere soon; otherwise, I’m off.
  • Saga #14 (Image): Everybody’s still going gaga over Saga–and for good reason.
  • Sex Criminals #1 (Image): Fraction is making some serious love over on Satellite Sam.  The orgy continues here…
Sex Criminals #1

Sex Criminals #1

  • Ultimate Spider-Man #27 (Marvel): Headed toward its ultimate end.  The way it’s been going, probably not such a terrible thing.
  • Red Team #5 (Dynamite): A strong #4 proves Ennis is in it to kill it–kinda like this:
Red Team #5

Red Team #5

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

I&N Scott’s Bag (8/28)

07 Saturday Sep 2013

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Wow. A rough week. My go-to joint didn’t have all of the books I expected it to have. As a result, my bag’s a little lighter than I hoped it’d be.

  • Uncanny X-Men #11 (This is what I’ve been waiting for!  It’s Bendis’s best turn on an X-book: stuff actually happens, which is remarkable on its own, sure, but it happens to happen with an uncanny urgency, which is actually kind of all-new for Uncanny; and Irving’s art is stunning–sometimes impossibly so–and exciting, upping the urgency ante page after page.  OK, so, this either sets up really well the Battle of the Atom crossover to come, or, more likely, it has set the bar too high.  Who knows what the future holds?)
Uncanny X-Men #11

Uncanny X-Men #11

  • The Massive #15 (The opening sequence, which establishes a tipping point in the relationship between Mag and Georg, is like walking the plank and falling into a sea of tension.  Amazingly, Wood and Brown are able to keep the sea roiling even as they rush awkwardly toward the end of the arc; yeah, they certainly haven’t heeded Callum’s wise yet naive call for a more tempered pace: “This isn’t a race”; but, thanks to some shrewd moves, the tension is still very much in-your-face.  Oh, and suddenly Mary’s The Massive‘s Mara?  Can’t wait to see how that works out.)
The Massive #15

The Massive #15

  • Mind the Gap #13 (An excellent issue.  The stingy Jim McCann answers some important questions and does so using two terrific narratives.  The juxtaposition of the past and the present is played up superbly, in part, thanks to the very different styles of artists Rodin Esquejo and Dan McDaid.  Elle may be dying, but Mind the Gap is very much alive!)
  • Mind MGMT #14 (If you’re the kind of person who can’t help but judge a book by its cover, then this is the book for you.  So wonderful–inside and out.  Kindt unearths more about Meru–herself a novel nymph–and does so beautifully, inundating each page with his signature watercolors, proving once and for all that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.)
Mind MGMT #14

Mind MGMT #14

  • Batman/Superman #3 (Similar to Mind the Gap, the past and the present are tackled by two artists with decidedly different styles–here, it’s Jae Lee on “now” and Yildiray Cinar on “then.”  Interesting idea, having Clark and Bruce meet as children.  Outside of that, Greg Pak continues to serve up a potentially clumsy story with a deft hand.  Yup: he’s still monkeying about in Morrisonville, but it’s all good: see, he’s making good on the majesty we all crave when it comes to Superman–Supermen, in this case–and the mystery we want from any and all Batmen.)
  • Thumbprint #3 (The challenge was pretty great: live up to or surpass somehow the first two issues–each an I&N Book of the Month, by the way.  Unfortunately, in the end, like Mal’s necklace, the creative team–adapting Joe Hill’s original story–proved to be all thumbs as they twiddled together this finale.  Thumbprint–last month, one issue away from glory–is left to join the ranks of the many mediocre minis that misfired the final round.)
  • Uncanny #3 (Ended up better than I expected it’d be after last issue.  I guess I’ll stick around for another.)
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #26 (Here I was, after #25, all excited that Miles was back in the suit; heck, I even gave Bendis credit for manipulating me–a staunch maskless Miles supporter–toward that excitement.  And what do I get for my trouble?  An homage to Where’s Waldo?  I guess they weren’t kidding with the “Spider-Man No More” banner on the cover.  Sheesh.)
  • FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics #2 (Umm…what was wrong with Collider?  “A rose by any other name,” right?  Whatever the title, not particularly interesting–not until the end, anyway.  Don’t think it’ll be enough to inspire me to grab #3, though.  There’s got to be a formula…  Where’s Mr. McKlinsky when I need him?)
  • The Extinction Parade #2 (Not bad.  Despite globetrotting at a bite-neck pace, a bit leaden at times.  No surprise here: my wife, again, enjoyed it more than I did.)
  • American Vampire Anthology #1 (Herein lies the brilliance of Scott Snyder: teams of renowned writers and artists rip and tear their ways through the AV mythology, leaving a blood trail of vignettes, one better than the next.  Like the vamps in Ba and Moon’s “Last Night,” I’m “hungry for more.  Very hungry”–and I can’t wait to see what happens next!)
American Vampire Anthology #1

American Vampire Anthology #1

So, yeah, my local shops, for some reason, were not well-stocked this week.  They didn’t have Lazarus #3, TMNT #25, or FF #11.  Crazy, right?  Luckily, I have a friend in DerekNerd, who just so happens to call Midtown Comics his regular Wednesday haunt.  He was able to score them for me; just have to wait until Monday to get my hands on ’em.

Turning pages,

Scott

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

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

In Scott’s Bag (6/19)

22 Saturday Jun 2013

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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

In Scott’s Bag (5/15)

17 Friday May 2013

Posted by in I&N Scott's Bag

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Breaking up is hard to do.  I blame the flip.

Flip flarn flip.

Inspector Bag It

  • Helheim #3 (Not as immediately engaging as The Sixth Gun; not as immediately dismissible as Ultimate Wolverine.  Willing to leave this Bunn in the oven a while longer.)
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #23 (Read it.  Like it lots, especially the dance that is Bendis’s dialogue.  Lots of questions, though–but not about the final splash: I’ve always been a fan of those two!)
  • Batwoman #20 (Read it.  Not sure why I’m so taken by this title–and the preposterous mission that Batwoman’s been given going forward.  After twenty issues, however, it’s pretty clear: this is the second most consistently effective Bat book–after Morrison’s Batman Incorporated, of course.  Must be Williams III’s writing!)
Batwoman #20

Batwoman #20

  • Dream Thief #1 (Quick flip: seems like it’ll be an interesting enough experience.  Hope it reads that way.)
  • Fatale #14 (Feels like it’s been gone forever.  But it’s here now, and I’m damn excited about it.  I mean, what’s not to like: a Nazi-Lovecraft mash-up and Josephine to hold my hand as we make our way through the carnage.)
  • X-O Manowar #13 (Looks more polished than the last issue.)
X-O Manowar #13

X-O Manowar #13

  • Bloodshot #11 (Not particularly drawn to Kitson’s work here.)
  • FF #7 (Read it.  Had initially chosen to pass it up.  #6 was a disaster–one that reminded me of the frivolous nature of this title.  Seeing Allred’s name back on the cover of the book was enough to inspire me to pick it up; and that was all it took: the first two pages–with more than a fraction of hilarity–sold me on it.  Good thing, too: what a fun issue!)
FF #7

FF #7

  • Wonder Woman #20 (Read it.  To do so, had to buy it, right?  Yeah: even though I was trying to steel myself against it, I ended up with it anyway; and wouldn’t you know, it was pretty good–much better than the last few issues.  May have delightfully doomed myself to another month’s worth.)
Wonder Woman #20

Wonder Woman #20

What did you get this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s Up?

18 Monday Mar 2013

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Turns out, Brian Wood’s The Massive is about this week’s haul.  Man, I could’ve sworn that I was trimming my typical take-home.  Silly me.  Sure, I’ll be closer to broke after Wednesday, but there are some top-notch books in this bunch, which makes it so worth it.

Right There Waiting for Me

  • Mind MGMT #9 (Dark Horse): Hoping for a little more after a slightly off month.  (By “off,” I mean “really, really good,” which, for the average book, would be, clearly, a compliment.  Matt Kindt, however, has been working at a much higher level on this title; so anything shy of mind-blowing is remarkably obvious.)
Mind MGMT #9

Mind MGMT #9

  • Action Comics #18 (DC): Finally, Morrison’s finale.  Could very well be my jumping off point, which will leave me Superman-free.  Big-time sigh–especially considering Big Blue was a big reason why I got back into buying comics.  We’ll see what Diggle digs up next month–and what Snyder and Pak bring to the rack in the months to come.
  • Batwoman #18 (DC): Another one I may jump off of.  J.H. Williams’ art has been the draw, and that chore has now been delegated to another–in this case, Trevor McCarthy, who’s a fine artist, sure; but will he do enough–as Williams did–to overcome the story’s shortcomings?
  • Wonder Woman #18 (DC): Still solid.  A book you can count on every month–whether it’s Chiang or Akins on art.
  • TMNT: The Secret of the Foot Clan #4 (IDW): Mateus Santolouco conjured up a little magic in this mini.  It’s a shame it’s only four!  Let’s hope he gives us some more down the road.
  • Comeback #5 (Image): Ran the same route as Dark Horse’s Colder.  Started off a house afire and cooled off quickly–to the point where I couldn’t wait for it to end.  The waiting’s over.
  • Revival #8 (Image): Still have some mixed feeling about this one.  #7 was definitely an step in the right direction.  But there’s too much evidence that inconsistency is the true plague at play here.
  • Daredevil #24 (Marvel): #23 was great on many levels.  The Power Pair of Waid and Samnee are killing it–and Foggy?  Say it ain’t so!
Daredevil #24

Daredevil #24

  • Indestructible Hulk #5 (Marvel): I hope we’re not all monster this time around.  Not after the House half of last issue.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #21 (Marvel): Not going to use Venom as a epithet this time around.  Amazing, I know!  I’m keeping an open mind because of how Bendis ended #20.
  • Harbinger #10 (Valiant): Dysart’s kicking all sorts of ass.  A must read.
Harbinger #10

Harbinger #10

  • X-O Manowar #11 (Valiant): Planet Death!  That about says it all, doesn’t it?

Wide Pickens

  • Saga #11 (Image): Lying Cat?  Nooooooooooooooooooo!  So damn good.
Saga #11

Saga #11

  • Justice League of America #2 (DC): #1 wasn’t terrible.  Still anticipating that #2 will be.  Gotta buy it to find out.
  • G.I. Joe #2 (IDW): Van Lente hit the ground running.  I’m willing to follow–at least for a while.
  • All-New X-Men #9: Ugh.
  • Poison Elves #1(Ape Entertainment): Lucifer returns!  One of my faves–created by the late Drew Hayes–is brought back to life by Robb Horan and Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller.  Could be good, could suck.  Either way, worth a try.
Poison Elves #1

Poison Elves #1

Wasn’t kidding.

So.  What are you looking forward to on Wednesday?

Turning pages,

Scott