COMICS I READ, THE EASTER SUNDAY EDITION!

I actually picked these up on Friday, but the weekend is busy and this is the first time I got to these. It has been a couple of weeks, but when things like Cinema Wasteland rear their head then you miss the comic book shop for a  pay period. What can I say?
Ready?
Good.

GODZILLA RULERS OF THE EARTH #10



This whole issue deals with the humans trying to relocate all the kaiju to an island paradise and Godzilla fighting those twin terrors from War of the Gargantuas, Gaira and Sanda. It'sa good, solid issue, but never being a huge Gargantuas fan I really could care less. But, if it were up to me, Gigan would be in every issue, so there ya go. I hope that the release next month of the new Godzilla film creates enough in terest to keep this book around. Rumor has it that we are done at issue 12 and that would suck. One complaint, no letters page? One of my favorite things about the book is the sense of community that the letters page brings to it. Oh well, maybe next issue.

NIGHTCRAWLER #1





Nightcrawler has always been one of my favorite X-Men. I did not stick around much past the late 80's early 90's with X books though so I really had no idea that he was dead. I have been reading Amazing X-Men so I am filled in on that there. (See below for reviews of the two recent issues)
So, Nightcrawler is back along with the little blue thingies that everyone refers to as Bamfs. Wolverine still has no healing factor and Nightcrawler is helping to test his new body armor. That goes well until Wolverine has a hissy fit and pops his claws, making himself bleed.
Then Nightcrawler goes to visit his sorceress girlfriend, Amanda and some weird dude in high tech armor tries to capture him. Yeah, he fails.
As number one issues go, it sets up things and that's about it. The artwork is great, the writing is pure Claremont. It's a good thing. It is also too soon to judge where this book is going, so we will just leave it at that.

AVENGERS A.I. #11



Hard to believe that it's been almost a year on this book. This was my replacement book when Uncanny Avengers started to suck.
I'm glad I've been here for this story, it is magnificent.
See, there is this villain A.I. who is trying to destroy all humanity. He dresses up like Iron Man, but he's a huge tool. Alexis, the A.I. who remembers none of her past is catapulted 10,000 years into the future where she learns that Dimitrios has succeeded and humanity is extinct. If that wasn't enough, Dimitrios is going to use Galactus and something called The Golden Knot to go past our universe and have words with our creator.
This will destroy existence in the process, but, well did I mention that Dimitrios was insane?
Well, now you know.
So, Alexis has to go back and convince her team that they have to save an outdated LMD (Life Model Decoy) named Jessie Clatterbuck because she holds the key to our extinction.
She is currently in the hands of S.H.E.I.L.D. and they have no idea what they are playing with.
This is my favorite Marvel book out right now.
The writing by Sam Humphries is always smart and the art by Andre Lima Araujo is just so gorgeous. It feels like a Heavy Metal story, but in the Marvel Universe. I have every issue and I will still probably buy the collected edition of this because it is so good and I convince other people to read it if I have it all under one book. If you are looking for an Avengers book that is unlike anything that Marvel has ever puit out then this is the one you need to get.
You will not be sorry.
Also, there is a one panel cameo by Devil Dinosaur and we all know how much I loves me some Devil Dinosaur.

AMAZING X-MEN #5 & 6





I'm going to deal with these two books at the same time because they deal with the end of the first arc of the series and the beginning of the second arc. Also, I bought them at the same time so it seemed fitting. (You'll see me doing the same thing with Superior Foes of Spider-Man after this so it will be like a theme. Or a thingie, not sure which.)

In issue 5 Kurt comes head to head with his father Azazel to show him who's boss. He triggers a deal with the Bamfs so that they can keep Azazel bound to Earth where he can do the least amount of harm. This is a good ending to the first arc that brings us back the fuzzy elf we all know and love. Sure, he seems a little broody at times, but apparently he paid a high price to come back. Yes, I know what that is and no, I'm not telling. Read the book already. It is one of the better ones coming out of Marvel right now and I think I'm saying that because I'm old and it reminds me of the X-Men books from the 80's.

Issue 6 deals with the welcome home party with every mutant on the planet showing up to see Kurt. Unfortunately, that means that his mother, Mystique is also there. It seems she has a bone to pick with Azazel and will stop at nothing to get at him. Kurt fails in capturing either of them and it seems that his parents have something brewing that can only spell trouble for Kurt.
This issue underlines the love that Nightcrawler and Wolverine have for one another in a purely platonic way and it makes me warm and fuzzy to see them reunited after so many years. I know how I complain anbout the temporary state of death in the Marvel Universe, but it's Nightcrawler for crying out loud!! Nightcrawler!! He's one of my favorites and I'm glad that he's back.  

SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #10 & 11






I'm going to go ahead and deal with both of these issues at the same time. They both feel like fill in issues to me. Issue 10 has some separate tales of Overdrive, Speed Demon and The Beetle drawn by guest artists and just feels like they are spinning their wheels. Where is Boomerang? How can you focus so much on this character and then forsake him for two issues? The worst page would be the next issue splash page that has the gang wearing or using other villains gear and then issue 11 comes out.
It deals with The Looter and The Grizzly getting their clocks cleaned by the Doc Ock version of Spider-Man. What does this have to do with anything we have been doing for the last ten issues. Hell, at least issue 10 had some of the main characters in it. This can't manage that even though it's the good art team for the book. I am going to go ahead and try one more issue, but this might be the end of my run on this book. Too bad, it was good while it lasted. Except for these last two issues.

There you go, the Easter edition of this ratty little column. In the end just remember Godzilla, Rulers of the Earth and Avengers A.I. are the go to books. The rest seems hit or miss.

  

Avengers A.I. #10

The world is in chaos because of an app called Gascheck. Dmitrios has something up his sleeve involving an older model of LMD (Life Model Decoy).
Has it almost been a year already? This is my favorite Avengers comic out there right now. The team is well written and you get such variety. From The Vision with his cold calculating manner tinged with humanity to Doombot who is hilarious with everything he says.
But this is why I read this comic.
Warning! Potential Spoilers Ahead!

When they find the Gascheck app it is horrified that it is helping to destroy humans. It sees the only solution as self lobotomizing. Hank Pym asks what he can do and the app just asks him to stay with him until it is done. It was noble, self sacrificing and heart wrenching.
This is great writing and anyone not onboard with this comic needs to start now. It shows humanity at its best and worst.

Well done people.

NEW COMIC BOOK ROUNDUP 1/28/14

Because of many things I haven't managed to get to the comic shop for a while. This time around I am trying out some new stuff and getting caught up on old. Let's get started, shall we?

 ALL NEW INVADERS #1

When I was younger I loved The Invaders comic. World War 2 comics are always pretty cool and this was new adventures in that time period. Well, Marvel has brought the title into modern times and started it off with a bang. A Kree warrior, Tanalth, The Pursuer is after Jim Hammond a.k.a. The Human Torch. The first, android version of the character. He's got himself a place in a small, Midwestern town and then Tanalth comes down with murder on her mind.
This is a good first issue. Steve Pugh's art makes it look so bright and sunny and, well Midwestern. It works and the bizarre battle in the midst of it looks as foreign as it's supposed to. we get a brief appearance from Captain American, Bucky Barnes and Sub Mariner before the issue is over so I am excited to see where we go from here.

AVENGERS WORLD #1

The premise is that The Avengers should handle things more on a worldwide front. Natural disasters, monomaniacal madmen...A.I.M., you know...stuff. The first issue deals with things going on in multiple locations with multiple teams to deal with the situations.
I have to say I like this comic. Captain America is in charge and assigning teams to different places with their strengths. There are an awful lot of X-Men along for the ride, but I was used to that with Uncanny Avengers, which is a title I dropped in favor of this one. I was not aware that Marvel's defunct New Universe has bled over to this reality with Nightmask and Starbrand, but why not? As I understand it, there will be issues focusing on individuals within the teams so this could be pretty cool. A well done first issue that didn;t feel cramped with so many Avengers on board.

AVENGERS WORLD #2

This issue continues on A.I.M. Island. Smasher, who I know nothing about is doing her best to break out of her prison cell. But, A.I.M. has other ideas. They want her to deliver their message to the world with the help of The Entropic Man. The Entropic Man? Really? They are breaking out old characters left and right for this series and I like that. People you haven't seen in decades? That is kind of cool.
Here is the thing that bothers me with this issue. Smasher is a woman, no, that's not it. She is covered practically head to toe with just the bottom half of her face revealed. The costume is form fitting so she might as well be naked and Stefano Caselli, the artist of the book, seems fascinated with her pubic bone. That thing is pronounced in every full length shot she is in. Even when it is from her backside. Five different times in the book seems like a little much to me.
Other than that I think I made the right choice with this book and am glad to have selected it over The Uncanny Avengers.

GEORGE A. ROMERO EMPIRE OF THE DEAD #1

Yessss! Since Hollywood is stupid and doesn't give the Godfather of The Walking Dead any money to make good movies, then this is the next best thing. The art by Alex Maleev makes you feel like you're in a Romero movie so, kudos.
But, how is the story? It's Romero, it's zombies, it gives us a nod to Dawn of the Dead in a single sentence and then Romero does that thing that he does so well. He ties it to Night of the Living Dead and your jaw drops. Seriously, you are not ready for this bombshell and it works so well.
The weak link? Vampires. I don't think I care about the vampires so much. We'll see.

AVENGERS A.I.# 6

In this issue the team is at a crossroads. Victor is thought dead, but just deep in the A.I. universe known as The Diamond. Hank Pym is calling himself bipolar and Dimitrios, the engineer of all of this thinks he has the upper hand when he draws The Vision once more into his reality, but The Vision has something up his sleeve and Dimitrios had better be good at video games.
Lots of video games.
Avengers A.I. deals with discrimination to the nth degree. It's not color of skin or beliefs, but human against non human. It isn't us so it's alright to hate. Right? Let me illustrate the wrong there with a scene from the beginning of this issue. Monica Hill, director of S.H.I.E.L.D AND Monica Chang are on a bench watching an old man feeding birds. It seems that he is an old class of Life Model Decoy. He escaped from A.I.M. many years ago and lives a quiet life feeding the birds. Hill has him executed as a hostile A.I.
This made me sick.
We made them. They are our responsibility and now we cut them down on the off chance that someone may control them in the future.
Like I said before...made me sick.
Avengers A.I. is probably the smartest book on the shelves today. It makes you think and we get The Vision. I call that a win-win situation.

AVENGERS A.I. #7

This is a INHUMANITY tie in. I read none of that, but apparently, Black Bolt took out the flying city of Attilian and it landed in New York City. The terrigen mists are released and if you have even the slightest hint of inhuman in you you are going to change.
Ant Man and Doombot are on recon mission to retrieve the technology from the fallen city before it gets into the wrong hands. They cross the path of Daredevil who, at first, thinks that it is Doctor Doom, who he has no love for, but Ant Man explains the situation. Daredevil is looking for a woman named Doris.
The terrigen mists found her first and turned her into a monster of cthulu like appearance. They manage to subdue her in a scene with Doombot that may have made him my favorite character in this book.
This was a tie in issue so, not a lot of advancing storyline, but it gave Doombot a moment to shine so, that's a good thing.

AVENGERS A.I. #8

GasCheck is the most popular app to have on your smart phone. It helps you locate the cheapest gas available in your area. Oh, and it was created by Dimitrios who uses it to turn humans into mindless, savage killers. Now the A.I. Team along with Rogue and Captain America go into The Diamond to face Dimitrios once and for all to save mankind from the worst possible A.I. scenario imaginable. Victor and Alexis are already in The Diamond so they are covered for everything.
Right?
This issue brings up the government legislating Doctrine 47. It makes hunting down and deleting any a.i. completely legal. So, even if the A.I. team survives The Diamond, what will there be to come back to?
This is the issue that is the ember for the fire. With the introduction of a law that makes it alright to kill anyone different from us, write Sam Humphries is saying a lot about the way that people treat one another. This is the issue to hop on if you have been waffling about the series. This is where it is all going to get fierce and I can't wait to see what happens next.

KINGS WATCH # 3

A madman with the name Cobra is looking for a quantum crystal to open the King's Watch, a gateway to some place...unspeakable. The only hope for humanity is The Phantom, Flash Gordon and Mandrake The Magician.
King's Watch is high pulp adventure that reminds me of the old cartoon Defenders Of The Earth with a gritty edge to it. My only complaint is that they have The Phantom as some unshaved muscle. I always saw him as more elegant than that. Is there a reason for the stubble? Flash and Mandrake seem to remain clean shaven. I realize it's a small beef, but it just sticks there and irritates me.
Other than that, the book is awesome and next issue...Ming The Merciless!
Yes!    
  

YEAH, SO DC COMICS I HATE TO SAY IT...

...but it's over. I tried the new Justice League of America and you fake shot Catwoman and her epic cleavage in the head. I read every issue of Dial H...and you cancelled it. The same went for Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. and the hugely entertaining OMAC. You cancelled Legion of Super Heroes. My youngest daughter was heartbroken. With Earth 2 you took my beloved Justice Society and ruined them. And I saw that new Batgirl costume. The grey one. You know the one I mean. My lovely Martha said it best when she asked how she was hiding her secret identity. I reminded her this was the same company that thinks you can hide your identity with glasses and a well placed spit curl.
Luckily, Marvel has managed to continue to put out good comics on a regular basis and Dynamite and IDW also have some comics I do like a lot.
So, I'd like to say it's me, but I'm afraid it's you.
Seeya DC...you suck.

NEW COMICS 10/20/13

I haven't done one of these in a while. Sorry. Getting used to a new schedule at work and just being busy with life. That

is no excuse so let's just dive into the new comic books I bought today.

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #15

This is before the idiotic Superior Spider-Man BS that is going on right now. Peter Parker is with his job exploring The Savage Land. Yeah, seems someone has the dinosaurs all amped up and murderous. They attack the team and take them all except for Peter who changes into Spider Man duds and kicks dinosaur butt with the help of Devil Dinosaur and  Moon Boy.
This is the second of a two parter and I really bought this for no other reason than Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy. The fact that this is the good Spider-Man and not the stupid one is a bonus. Writer Cullen Buin does a great job with the characters and it was hilarious to see Devil Dinosaur say 'Grnnk?' again. The artwork by Gabrielle Dell'Otto is magnificent and he even did the cover which was epic. A great issue and I'm glad to see that Marvel realizes that we need fun stories in our comics.

THE SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #4

Speaking of fun, the continuing adventures of some of Spider-Man's foes is another winner. Boomerang has hired Power Man and Iron Fist to attack the Sinister Six (Even though there are only four of them). Iron Fist in a suit is pretty cool and the book is just full of humor. I think I read somewhere that this is a limited series, but it would do great as a regular book. Nick Spencer does a great job in the writer's seat and Steve Lieber's artwork compliments it perfectly. I am a little worried about Shocker though. Nuff said!

AVENGERS A.I. #4

I have a sneaking suspicion that my continued purchasing of UNCANNY AVENGERS may be coming to a close. Similar to my stopping of CAPTAIN AMERICA. Probably Rick Remender, the writer's, fault. So, here is a team borned of THE AGE OF ULTRON storyline that I read three issues of and quit. The team, if you don;t know, are made up of The Vision, Hank Pym, Alexis, Monica Chang, Victor Mancha and a Doombot. As you may or may not know, all Doombots perceive themselves to actually be Dr. Doom and this one is no different, but he's a little different and works with the team when he isn't plotting the overthrow of mankind.
Anyway, there is this virtual reality called The Diamond and The Vision has been sucked into it, but he likes being there, until he realizes that he is being used and his team is headed for a trap.
AVENGERS A.I. is unique in that this is a team of machines for the most part. If you thought humans hated mutants, you ain't seen nothing yet. The writing is awesome and has a definite science fiction edge to it. The artwork by Andre Lima Araujo is so pretty to look at. Clear lines and a Heavy Metal vibe to it. Also, it is always so bright ans shiny on every panel. I assume this is an artistic choice and it works so well in this comic book. If Uncanny Avengers

continues to disappoint me I might just decide to live here instead.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #12

Really? A year is gone? The cover is classic Kang and that made me smile. Inside the book we have the continuing time warfare with The Apocalypse Twins. Havok and The Wasp flirting. Captain America getting thrashed by a reanimated Banshee doing his Horseman of the Apocalypse bit and Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man getting sappy. Apparently, The Apocalypse Twins have figured a way to screw Kang over. They also want The Scarlet Witch to rapture all mutants on Earth to Jupiter where they can terraform the planet into a blue planet capable of supporting life and eliminating the coming mutant/human war to end all human/mutant wars.
Whew! I'm a little tired saying all that and a little winded reading it. Remender managed to make me leave the CAPTAIN AMERICA book and he may be doing the same here. The fact that the Avengers movie made so much bank is the reason that the comic book shelves are choked with Avengers comics. I chose this one because I liked the concept and it had Captain America on the team.
I'll give it a couple more issues. I want to see how this Kang thing plays out.

KINGS WATCH 1 & 2

I caught a preview of this online and immediately knew I would have to get it. Dynamite Comics has released a comic that combines the might of Mandrake The Magician , The Phantom and Flash Gordon. You heard me right. It's Defenders of Earth!!! Remember that old cartoon?  
Two issues in and I am hooked. There is some sort of global nightmare occurring and these two issues lay the groundwork for what will be an epic battle to come.  I was surprised that they set it in modern day given the age of the characters, but it works. It is high adventure at its finest so, it doesn't matter when it takes place. My only complaint? I don't like The Phantom having a scruffy face. He's The Phantom, not friggin Wolverine or something. Other than that, this is spot on and soooooo good.

So, there you go. Some good, some bad. No new issue of GODZILLA: RULERS OF THE EARTH, which made me sad, but this is a nice haul for the week. I'll be back in two weeks with, hopefully, more great comcis and the first issue of Cryptozoic Man and a new Godzilla comic. There is also rumors of a new Steampunk comic I'm going to want to get, but I'll leave that where it is. Amazing X-Men #1 should be out by then as well and I plan on getting that. It's got Nightcrawler for crying out loud!

Peace!

SPELLBOUND (1988)

So, I picked these up at the local comic shop, Fanfare, on my bi weekly jaunt to the comic store with my lovely Martha and two daughters. we always rummaged through the quarter bins looking for treasure. I was amazed that I found all six of them.

Now, I could tell you what they are about and the plotline and whatever, but someone did a really good job and their blog deserves the credit for such work.

Go HERE

In the end, I thought they were thin. Sure, there's a visit from The New Mutants so, it takes place in the Marvel Universe, but that's about it. I was amazed at the quality of the paper and the cover stock. Thicker than your normal comic and the inside paper is so white. Very pretty for a pretty mundane comic book.

GOODBYE DC 52

I really no longer have any reason to buy a DC comic anymore.

They cancelled all these;

This was my favorite of the new 52. It was weird, quirky and we got so many cool super hero names. You suck DC.
 

Really?!? The only thing cooler than this comic was the one above it.

It's Hawkman! How do you cancel Hawman??? Maybe DC could suck less.

This made my daughter upset. I never like my daughter upset. The gauntlet is thrown DC.

Probably one of the most Kirbyesque comics that we got from this run of 52. And they cancelled it. Idiots!

I had high hopes for this one, but the fake Catwoman death is just bullshit and we get that she has boobs. How is she doing all those moves and not having major tit slip issues?? Bleh!

Luckily, Marvel Comics is still around and there is The Mice Templar and IDW's new Godzilla comic so, I've got those.

Goodbye DC. You suck!