Friday, February 22, 2008
at
8:11 PM
|
MARVEL COMICS
RUNAWAYS #29
Once again Joss Whedon reminds us why Marvel keeps putting him on books even though he's notorious for lateness. The Runaways are still stuck at the turn of the century and in the middle of a gang war between mutants, time travelers and plain old bad guys while trying to find a way home. There are almost as many twists to this issue as there are quips as Joss continues to prove that he's one of the best writers in comics today. On a side note, old men marrying twelve year olds is gross. I'm glad that has stopped for the most part (I'm looking at YOU Utah!).
MIGHTY AVENGERS #9
The Avengers are reeling from the biological Venom attack on New York and have some shaky intelligence that someone near Latveria may have been involved. Many sources are saying that Doom was not involved but they need someone to beat up and the real bad guy in hiding in a cave with his dialysis machine. Ares VS Doom for control of the WMD's! Go Ares!
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #114
Speaking of Ares, he seems to be kind of a jerk here as he continues to torment his little brother. I have an older brother that kind of reminds me of Ares. He's older and thinks hes smarter and he likes to go into the woods with weapons and bring out really big dead things to skin and eat. Plus he doesn't really listen to any music. What is THAT about Ares? Also in this issue we find out a little more about the Black Widow but in a good way this time. She's sassy.
HULK #2
If you are anything like me, watching Iron Man get his butt handed to him makes you giggle like a little girl. If that is in fact the case then this is the issue for you! She Hulk and Doc Sampson team up with Tony on his new S.H.I.E.L.D. Hellicarrier that cost just shy of a gajillion dollars. What is the worst thing that could happen to your brand spanking new flying fortress of fascism? That's right, angry Hulk.
CRIMINAL 2 #1 (MR)
Since the first issue critics and fans alike have been talking about Criminal. In this first issue of the new expanded format we get the first of three single issue stories that all interconnect in some way. In this issue we learn more about the history of the Undertow's ever present bartender and find out how he came to be in possession of the dive in the first place. Set in the always entertaining 1970's we see Gnarly at the end of his boxing career mixed up with criminals and low life's. The new format gives Brubaker more room to tell not only the main story, but it also gives extra space to the articles and stories written as back up features.
DAREDEVIL #105
At last we get to the finale of what has been one of the most interesting Daredevil stories I've ever read. To recap, lame third string villain Mr Fear has used a variation of his fear gas to make people insane. One of those people being reformed super villain Gladiator, a man Daredevil helped save from himself. Another victim of Mr Fear's rage blackout inducing concoction is Milla Donovan, recently married to Matt Murdoch and one of the most beautifully innocent people ever to be in the life of the Man Without Fear. Milla shoves a lady in front of a subway and all of a sudden her life is turned completely upside down. This issue doesn't end at all the way I expected. I think Bru has been shopping in the character beat store at the Joss Whedon mall of writing. If happiness equals boring then I can safely say there is no boring here.
THOR #6
Oh silly Volstagg, don't you know what a toilet is? This question and several others will be answered as we get another look at how the Aesier gods are fitting in with the people in rural Oklahoma. Several of the locals tell stories of run ins with the gods and how the coming of Asgard has affected their lives. Thor muses on how he was tricked and whether or not he should bring back the most important Asgardian of all, Odin.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #119
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it in the last five minutes but Ultimate Spider-Man is my favorite current super hero title. Bendis has a knack for writing teenagers and for writing Spider-Man. The Spidey that we've seen in New Avengers is the closest thing to the “real” Spider-Man in comics for a number of years now. He's not angsty, he's quippy. A quippy Spider does a happy public make. Anywho, one of Peter's friends at school just found out she's a mutant while hanging out at the beach. On top of the trauma of bursting into flame, as soon as her powers manifest Magneto shows up! So much for night swimming!
DC COMICS
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #4
Green Arrow joins the Outsiders! Considering Ollie's past dealings with the league of assassins it will be interesting to see how he deals with being on the same team as Cassandra Cain, current Batgirl and former head of the league. I'm more interested in Black Canary's reaction the first time Cassandra walks around naked in front of Ollie. I also head a rumor that Batman is involved. I can neither confirm nor deny these allegations.
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #10
Wacky team ups gone awry as the Book of Destiny busts wide open. Brave and the Bold is consistently one of DC's top five titles every month. Mark Waid gives each character their own voice as master artist George Perez gives them all a classy and distinct look. Rarely has a creative team been so tailor made for a project but here's hoping that these two stay on this title indefinitely.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #18
If you've been reading the Salvation Run mini series this issue will mean a little more to you as the Justice League take on the Suicide Squad for the hellish planet that the Squad has been dropping Earth's villains on for the past few months. If you haven't kept up with Salvation Run here's a quick recap.
CHECKMATE GUY #1: There sure are a lot of bad guys. We should use our team of ex villains to round them all up and then ship them someplace.
CHECKMATE GUY #2: You mean like a secret underground prison in the middle of nowhere with minimal security or a tiny island adjacent to an already overcrowded maximum security facility?
CHECKMATE GUY #1: I was thinking like an inhospitable planet on the ghetto end of the universe.
CHECKMATE GUY #2: I know just the one!
AMANDA WALLER: You two shut up and bring me a McGriddle!
WONDER GIRL #6 (OF 6)
Granny Goodness is everywhere. She staged a war with Washington DC that would make a cold war soviet proud, took over Paradise Island over in Countdown and still managed to find time to screw around with Wonder Girl's life. She and her Furies have spent the last five issues trying in vain to turn Cassie to the dark side.
CRIME BIBLE THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #5 (OF 5)
I hope you folks aren't tired of hearing about how Renee Montoya is the best thing since jelly donuts because I think there may be a few people who haven't come over to my way of thinking yet. I've talked this book to death since I started writing this column and I really can't stress how well it is written. Greg Rucka knows this character inside and out and it shows in the way she acts and reacts. She's the most diverse character in a universe complete with alien orphans and brains floating in jars who are in love with beret wearing French gorilla's. If you missed out on this it's not too late to order the hardcover, currently in Previews FEB080240.
FABLES #70 (MR)
King Ambrose has decreed that any Fable living at the farm in upstate new York can come to live in Haven back in the homelands. When Boy Blue returns to the mundy world with that news the farm is split and debate is... uh... debated? Who will go and who will stay. Will Fly and Red live happily ever after? Will Blue and the other Red ever admit their feelings? Are you still not reading this book? Foolish mortal!
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #13
Kingdom Come Superman seems to be adjusting fairly well to his new reality. He hasn't attempted to destroy the universe the way Earth 2 Superman did so he's already was cooler than that guy. It also looks like the JSA membership drive is doing great! Pretty soon they'll have as many members as that other organization. It will be the same, Hour Man will go on Oprah and tell her how in love he is with Liberty Bell while jumping up and down on the sofa. Then Jakeem will smack Oprah for having on too many stupid white people and we will all laugh as if he were Huey Freeman talking to us at a garden party. He's so articulate!
TEEN TITANS #56
In just a couple of years Kid Devil will lose his soul to the real devil. What does a kid do when he's faced with something that horrible? Does he go walkabout and have no record for eighteen years or does he throw a party. Party! While the kids try to come to grips with the Kid Devil situation the brand new Bolt appears to throw everything out of whack. Stupid party crasher.
INDY COMICS
DOCTOR WHO #1
IDW is at it again, taking a popular television show and turning out a comic that looks fantastic. I would have been happier if the Doctor was joined by Rose but if I can't have comic book Billy Piper goodness I will happily settle for Martha Jones who ironically enough is an actual DR. Based on the hit BBC show, this series follows along with the current series of the Doctor showing on the SciFi channel. If you haven't had a chance to catch this funny little show full of wit and heart and some of the best special effects $12 and a box of tuna can buy!
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #1 Of(6)
This book completely took me by surprise. We went through four times the amount of the #0 issue than I thought we would. The combination of Alex Ross' incredible painted covers and the resurrection of long forgotten golden age characters seems to be irresistible to a multitude of comic book fans.
RASL #1
This is Jeff Smith's first new creator owned work since the end of Bone. The only other thing we've seen from Smith since then was his fantastic re imagining of Captain Marvel and the Monster Society Of Evil. The book was fun, full of humor and suitable for all ages. Rasl however, is not. The main character is a dimension jumping jewel thief with issues. This is not the Jess Smith we've come to know and love with cute woodland creatures and lovable orphans. This is a new Smith and I am excited to find out who that is!
ROGUE ANGEL TELLER OF TALES #1
I didn't really pay attention to this book when it was solicited but upon doing a little research it seems that Rogue Angel is like a cross between Indiana Jones and the Librarian as the title character finds herself searching for a manuscript that will change the way the world thinks about Mark Twain. Who knew comics could be so literary? (That was sarcasm folks, please, no putting stones in my frog.)
TRADES/GRAPHIC NOVELS
BOYS TP VOL 02 GET SOME (MR)
Garth Ennis is an odd duck. He's one of the most respected writers of the past couple of decades having written many comics that have ended up on “best of” lists all over the place but he also seems to enjoy murder, violence, mayhem and putting inappropriate things in various orifices of the human body, not always voluntarily. With the Boys Ennis has made the promise to “out Preacher Preacher” and while I think he's going about it in the right way it will be a while before we see if the Boys can have the impact and longevity that Preacher has enjoyed. The morals are ambiguous and the heroes really aren't but the ride sure has been fun so far.
ORDER TP VOL 01 NEXT RIGHT THING
It amazes me that a comic can be filled with complicated and interesting characters, written exceptionally well and beautifully illustrated and yet no one is reading it. That seems to be the case with the Order as Marvel has decided to cancel it with issue 10. For those of you who missed out on this great series spawned out of Civil War let me explain. The Order is the California franchise of the fifty state initiative. Lead by Pepper Potts in a very Oracleish role as intelligence organizer and team strategist the team has tackled old soviet block terrorists, each other and had time to arrest Namor. Each issue separates the action with interview segments that give a really unique insight into the lives of each member of the Order.
FRANKLIN RICHARDS TP COLLECTED CHAOS DIGEST
My son requested an issue of Franklin Richards a few months ago. I of course gave in and picked it up and moments after picking the book up he was laughing hysterically. I kind of chuckled to myself at how easily amused ten year olds are and went about my business of being a very serious grown up type person. I had Spider-Man to read after all! He finished the comic and sat grinning until I was done with mine and then told me I had to read it. I said “sure, maybe later” and he insisted that I read it right then. I obliged him and spent the next few minutes laughing as hard as he had. I was flabbergasted! My kid knew how to find funny better than I did. “Whatta revoltin' development,” thought I as I wiped tears from my eyes (from the laughing, I wasn't crying because my kid is funnier than me I SWEAR!) I looked at him with a newfound respect. My son was a comic genius! We would be invited to Carnegie Hall, the Daily Show, perhaps get the Colbert bump. My mind was awash in the images of his imminent stardom and my coattail riding. Then he told a knock knock joke and we stared blankly at one another for a few minutes. I think he gets his comic timing from his mother.
UPDATE TO COUNTDOWN #12 AND #11
Apokolips. Red and burning, filled with screams and hyperbole. Darkseid, lord and master of this hellish place and made it inhospitable in many ways, the most devious of which is to make those who put pen to paper overwrite the opening sequence of any book that features this festering globe of suffering and humiliation. And mimes. We leave this horrible place of raw flesh and flagging comedic prose and go someplace just as horrible. Filled with a similar flaming redness and horrible swelling, we find Jimmy Olson in the shower. The less said the better. MEANWHILE ON PARADISE ISLAND: Holly, Harley and Mary are still deep undercover working with Hippolyta and no that is NOT any sort of euphemism for an island full of women doing things “under covers”. Get your mind out of the gutter. Desaad and Granny Goodness argue about something, they seem to be speaking in secret code. I think it may be because Desaad ate all the moon pies and Granny has low blood sugar issues. In other news Piper discusses why he prefers boys and Brother Eye really wants to be the Astrodome when he grows up. Everybody ends up on Apokolips where Darkseid is playing a lovely game of chess against the Bobby Fisher of the Monitors. There is a whole lot of fighting and then Triplicate Girl turns into an OMAC. Jimmy Olson still won't put a shirt on.
NEW AVENGERS #38
I am a huge fan of Brian Bendis so when I say that I think Jessica Jones and the series “Alias” in particular are the best things he's ever written I want to quantify that with the fact that I have enjoyed just about everything he's ever written. Ultimate Spider-Man (as stated above) is my favorite current super hero comic and I also read Avengers both Mighty and New and Powers every month (or two in the case of Powers) so to say I am a “fan” is justifiable if not an understatement. I have enjoyed the growth and evolution of not just Jessica Jones but Luke Cage and Carol Danvers as well. Knowing as I do how Bendis likes to really mess with his readers heads I am really afraid that one or all of these characters could end up as skrulls in Secret Invasion.
As for this issue I was overwhelmed by how much I missed Michael Gaydos drawing Jessica Jones. His version of the character will always be the definitive version for me and she looked as harassed and put upon as I remember. Last issue the Hood and his gang of miscreants busted into the New Avengers headquarters at Dr Strange's house. In the ensuing melee Jessica took her baby and didn't stop running until she got to Avengers Tower. Jarveis of course took her right in where she immediately signed the Superhuman Registration form and “sold out” as Luke would later claim when he showed up to see his daughter. The argument Luke and Jessica had right outside Avengers Tower in front of the registered Mighty branch of the Avengers seemed to me a little more tame than it should have been. I would have thought Luke Cage would have bust through the front door demanding to see his kid rather than waiting on the curb while Jessica headed outside for a chat. The right things were said; “sell out”, “you're ending our marriage”, “the sellouts assemble”. All fun stuff that made me believe that this was really it for Luke and Jess. Even the title of the issue “The Breakup” is meant to tell us that this is it for my favorite Avenger couple. I don't buy it. This seems like a premade plan to me. Jessica and the baby are safe and now Luke has a person on the inside of Avengers Tower. I think that Luke and Jessica knew that life on the run would be impossible for a baby and they came up with this plan. Jessica and baby Cage were safe in the wilds of Canada (or Ottawa, I'm not really sure) so why did they come back? The issue is addressed but not to my satisfaction. This seems like a brilliant ploy by Mr Cage to find out who the real skrulls are. Or he and Jessica are skrulls and they're plotting to destroy both teams. At this point both scenarios are just as likely.
RUNAWAYS #29
Once again Joss Whedon reminds us why Marvel keeps putting him on books even though he's notorious for lateness. The Runaways are still stuck at the turn of the century and in the middle of a gang war between mutants, time travelers and plain old bad guys while trying to find a way home. There are almost as many twists to this issue as there are quips as Joss continues to prove that he's one of the best writers in comics today. On a side note, old men marrying twelve year olds is gross. I'm glad that has stopped for the most part (I'm looking at YOU Utah!).
MIGHTY AVENGERS #9
The Avengers are reeling from the biological Venom attack on New York and have some shaky intelligence that someone near Latveria may have been involved. Many sources are saying that Doom was not involved but they need someone to beat up and the real bad guy in hiding in a cave with his dialysis machine. Ares VS Doom for control of the WMD's! Go Ares!
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #114
Speaking of Ares, he seems to be kind of a jerk here as he continues to torment his little brother. I have an older brother that kind of reminds me of Ares. He's older and thinks hes smarter and he likes to go into the woods with weapons and bring out really big dead things to skin and eat. Plus he doesn't really listen to any music. What is THAT about Ares? Also in this issue we find out a little more about the Black Widow but in a good way this time. She's sassy.
HULK #2
If you are anything like me, watching Iron Man get his butt handed to him makes you giggle like a little girl. If that is in fact the case then this is the issue for you! She Hulk and Doc Sampson team up with Tony on his new S.H.I.E.L.D. Hellicarrier that cost just shy of a gajillion dollars. What is the worst thing that could happen to your brand spanking new flying fortress of fascism? That's right, angry Hulk.
CRIMINAL 2 #1 (MR)
Since the first issue critics and fans alike have been talking about Criminal. In this first issue of the new expanded format we get the first of three single issue stories that all interconnect in some way. In this issue we learn more about the history of the Undertow's ever present bartender and find out how he came to be in possession of the dive in the first place. Set in the always entertaining 1970's we see Gnarly at the end of his boxing career mixed up with criminals and low life's. The new format gives Brubaker more room to tell not only the main story, but it also gives extra space to the articles and stories written as back up features.
DAREDEVIL #105
At last we get to the finale of what has been one of the most interesting Daredevil stories I've ever read. To recap, lame third string villain Mr Fear has used a variation of his fear gas to make people insane. One of those people being reformed super villain Gladiator, a man Daredevil helped save from himself. Another victim of Mr Fear's rage blackout inducing concoction is Milla Donovan, recently married to Matt Murdoch and one of the most beautifully innocent people ever to be in the life of the Man Without Fear. Milla shoves a lady in front of a subway and all of a sudden her life is turned completely upside down. This issue doesn't end at all the way I expected. I think Bru has been shopping in the character beat store at the Joss Whedon mall of writing. If happiness equals boring then I can safely say there is no boring here.
THOR #6
Oh silly Volstagg, don't you know what a toilet is? This question and several others will be answered as we get another look at how the Aesier gods are fitting in with the people in rural Oklahoma. Several of the locals tell stories of run ins with the gods and how the coming of Asgard has affected their lives. Thor muses on how he was tricked and whether or not he should bring back the most important Asgardian of all, Odin.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #119
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it in the last five minutes but Ultimate Spider-Man is my favorite current super hero title. Bendis has a knack for writing teenagers and for writing Spider-Man. The Spidey that we've seen in New Avengers is the closest thing to the “real” Spider-Man in comics for a number of years now. He's not angsty, he's quippy. A quippy Spider does a happy public make. Anywho, one of Peter's friends at school just found out she's a mutant while hanging out at the beach. On top of the trauma of bursting into flame, as soon as her powers manifest Magneto shows up! So much for night swimming!
DC COMICS
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #4
Green Arrow joins the Outsiders! Considering Ollie's past dealings with the league of assassins it will be interesting to see how he deals with being on the same team as Cassandra Cain, current Batgirl and former head of the league. I'm more interested in Black Canary's reaction the first time Cassandra walks around naked in front of Ollie. I also head a rumor that Batman is involved. I can neither confirm nor deny these allegations.
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #10
Wacky team ups gone awry as the Book of Destiny busts wide open. Brave and the Bold is consistently one of DC's top five titles every month. Mark Waid gives each character their own voice as master artist George Perez gives them all a classy and distinct look. Rarely has a creative team been so tailor made for a project but here's hoping that these two stay on this title indefinitely.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #18
If you've been reading the Salvation Run mini series this issue will mean a little more to you as the Justice League take on the Suicide Squad for the hellish planet that the Squad has been dropping Earth's villains on for the past few months. If you haven't kept up with Salvation Run here's a quick recap.
CHECKMATE GUY #1: There sure are a lot of bad guys. We should use our team of ex villains to round them all up and then ship them someplace.
CHECKMATE GUY #2: You mean like a secret underground prison in the middle of nowhere with minimal security or a tiny island adjacent to an already overcrowded maximum security facility?
CHECKMATE GUY #1: I was thinking like an inhospitable planet on the ghetto end of the universe.
CHECKMATE GUY #2: I know just the one!
AMANDA WALLER: You two shut up and bring me a McGriddle!
WONDER GIRL #6 (OF 6)
Granny Goodness is everywhere. She staged a war with Washington DC that would make a cold war soviet proud, took over Paradise Island over in Countdown and still managed to find time to screw around with Wonder Girl's life. She and her Furies have spent the last five issues trying in vain to turn Cassie to the dark side.
CRIME BIBLE THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #5 (OF 5)
I hope you folks aren't tired of hearing about how Renee Montoya is the best thing since jelly donuts because I think there may be a few people who haven't come over to my way of thinking yet. I've talked this book to death since I started writing this column and I really can't stress how well it is written. Greg Rucka knows this character inside and out and it shows in the way she acts and reacts. She's the most diverse character in a universe complete with alien orphans and brains floating in jars who are in love with beret wearing French gorilla's. If you missed out on this it's not too late to order the hardcover, currently in Previews FEB080240.
FABLES #70 (MR)
King Ambrose has decreed that any Fable living at the farm in upstate new York can come to live in Haven back in the homelands. When Boy Blue returns to the mundy world with that news the farm is split and debate is... uh... debated? Who will go and who will stay. Will Fly and Red live happily ever after? Will Blue and the other Red ever admit their feelings? Are you still not reading this book? Foolish mortal!
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #13
Kingdom Come Superman seems to be adjusting fairly well to his new reality. He hasn't attempted to destroy the universe the way Earth 2 Superman did so he's already was cooler than that guy. It also looks like the JSA membership drive is doing great! Pretty soon they'll have as many members as that other organization. It will be the same, Hour Man will go on Oprah and tell her how in love he is with Liberty Bell while jumping up and down on the sofa. Then Jakeem will smack Oprah for having on too many stupid white people and we will all laugh as if he were Huey Freeman talking to us at a garden party. He's so articulate!
TEEN TITANS #56
In just a couple of years Kid Devil will lose his soul to the real devil. What does a kid do when he's faced with something that horrible? Does he go walkabout and have no record for eighteen years or does he throw a party. Party! While the kids try to come to grips with the Kid Devil situation the brand new Bolt appears to throw everything out of whack. Stupid party crasher.
INDY COMICS
DOCTOR WHO #1
IDW is at it again, taking a popular television show and turning out a comic that looks fantastic. I would have been happier if the Doctor was joined by Rose but if I can't have comic book Billy Piper goodness I will happily settle for Martha Jones who ironically enough is an actual DR. Based on the hit BBC show, this series follows along with the current series of the Doctor showing on the SciFi channel. If you haven't had a chance to catch this funny little show full of wit and heart and some of the best special effects $12 and a box of tuna can buy!
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #1 Of(6)
This book completely took me by surprise. We went through four times the amount of the #0 issue than I thought we would. The combination of Alex Ross' incredible painted covers and the resurrection of long forgotten golden age characters seems to be irresistible to a multitude of comic book fans.
RASL #1
This is Jeff Smith's first new creator owned work since the end of Bone. The only other thing we've seen from Smith since then was his fantastic re imagining of Captain Marvel and the Monster Society Of Evil. The book was fun, full of humor and suitable for all ages. Rasl however, is not. The main character is a dimension jumping jewel thief with issues. This is not the Jess Smith we've come to know and love with cute woodland creatures and lovable orphans. This is a new Smith and I am excited to find out who that is!
ROGUE ANGEL TELLER OF TALES #1
I didn't really pay attention to this book when it was solicited but upon doing a little research it seems that Rogue Angel is like a cross between Indiana Jones and the Librarian as the title character finds herself searching for a manuscript that will change the way the world thinks about Mark Twain. Who knew comics could be so literary? (That was sarcasm folks, please, no putting stones in my frog.)
TRADES/GRAPHIC NOVELS
BOYS TP VOL 02 GET SOME (MR)
Garth Ennis is an odd duck. He's one of the most respected writers of the past couple of decades having written many comics that have ended up on “best of” lists all over the place but he also seems to enjoy murder, violence, mayhem and putting inappropriate things in various orifices of the human body, not always voluntarily. With the Boys Ennis has made the promise to “out Preacher Preacher” and while I think he's going about it in the right way it will be a while before we see if the Boys can have the impact and longevity that Preacher has enjoyed. The morals are ambiguous and the heroes really aren't but the ride sure has been fun so far.
ORDER TP VOL 01 NEXT RIGHT THING
It amazes me that a comic can be filled with complicated and interesting characters, written exceptionally well and beautifully illustrated and yet no one is reading it. That seems to be the case with the Order as Marvel has decided to cancel it with issue 10. For those of you who missed out on this great series spawned out of Civil War let me explain. The Order is the California franchise of the fifty state initiative. Lead by Pepper Potts in a very Oracleish role as intelligence organizer and team strategist the team has tackled old soviet block terrorists, each other and had time to arrest Namor. Each issue separates the action with interview segments that give a really unique insight into the lives of each member of the Order.
FRANKLIN RICHARDS TP COLLECTED CHAOS DIGEST
My son requested an issue of Franklin Richards a few months ago. I of course gave in and picked it up and moments after picking the book up he was laughing hysterically. I kind of chuckled to myself at how easily amused ten year olds are and went about my business of being a very serious grown up type person. I had Spider-Man to read after all! He finished the comic and sat grinning until I was done with mine and then told me I had to read it. I said “sure, maybe later” and he insisted that I read it right then. I obliged him and spent the next few minutes laughing as hard as he had. I was flabbergasted! My kid knew how to find funny better than I did. “Whatta revoltin' development,” thought I as I wiped tears from my eyes (from the laughing, I wasn't crying because my kid is funnier than me I SWEAR!) I looked at him with a newfound respect. My son was a comic genius! We would be invited to Carnegie Hall, the Daily Show, perhaps get the Colbert bump. My mind was awash in the images of his imminent stardom and my coattail riding. Then he told a knock knock joke and we stared blankly at one another for a few minutes. I think he gets his comic timing from his mother.
UPDATE TO COUNTDOWN #12 AND #11
Apokolips. Red and burning, filled with screams and hyperbole. Darkseid, lord and master of this hellish place and made it inhospitable in many ways, the most devious of which is to make those who put pen to paper overwrite the opening sequence of any book that features this festering globe of suffering and humiliation. And mimes. We leave this horrible place of raw flesh and flagging comedic prose and go someplace just as horrible. Filled with a similar flaming redness and horrible swelling, we find Jimmy Olson in the shower. The less said the better. MEANWHILE ON PARADISE ISLAND: Holly, Harley and Mary are still deep undercover working with Hippolyta and no that is NOT any sort of euphemism for an island full of women doing things “under covers”. Get your mind out of the gutter. Desaad and Granny Goodness argue about something, they seem to be speaking in secret code. I think it may be because Desaad ate all the moon pies and Granny has low blood sugar issues. In other news Piper discusses why he prefers boys and Brother Eye really wants to be the Astrodome when he grows up. Everybody ends up on Apokolips where Darkseid is playing a lovely game of chess against the Bobby Fisher of the Monitors. There is a whole lot of fighting and then Triplicate Girl turns into an OMAC. Jimmy Olson still won't put a shirt on.
NEW AVENGERS #38
I am a huge fan of Brian Bendis so when I say that I think Jessica Jones and the series “Alias” in particular are the best things he's ever written I want to quantify that with the fact that I have enjoyed just about everything he's ever written. Ultimate Spider-Man (as stated above) is my favorite current super hero comic and I also read Avengers both Mighty and New and Powers every month (or two in the case of Powers) so to say I am a “fan” is justifiable if not an understatement. I have enjoyed the growth and evolution of not just Jessica Jones but Luke Cage and Carol Danvers as well. Knowing as I do how Bendis likes to really mess with his readers heads I am really afraid that one or all of these characters could end up as skrulls in Secret Invasion.
As for this issue I was overwhelmed by how much I missed Michael Gaydos drawing Jessica Jones. His version of the character will always be the definitive version for me and she looked as harassed and put upon as I remember. Last issue the Hood and his gang of miscreants busted into the New Avengers headquarters at Dr Strange's house. In the ensuing melee Jessica took her baby and didn't stop running until she got to Avengers Tower. Jarveis of course took her right in where she immediately signed the Superhuman Registration form and “sold out” as Luke would later claim when he showed up to see his daughter. The argument Luke and Jessica had right outside Avengers Tower in front of the registered Mighty branch of the Avengers seemed to me a little more tame than it should have been. I would have thought Luke Cage would have bust through the front door demanding to see his kid rather than waiting on the curb while Jessica headed outside for a chat. The right things were said; “sell out”, “you're ending our marriage”, “the sellouts assemble”. All fun stuff that made me believe that this was really it for Luke and Jess. Even the title of the issue “The Breakup” is meant to tell us that this is it for my favorite Avenger couple. I don't buy it. This seems like a premade plan to me. Jessica and the baby are safe and now Luke has a person on the inside of Avengers Tower. I think that Luke and Jessica knew that life on the run would be impossible for a baby and they came up with this plan. Jessica and baby Cage were safe in the wilds of Canada (or Ottawa, I'm not really sure) so why did they come back? The issue is addressed but not to my satisfaction. This seems like a brilliant ploy by Mr Cage to find out who the real skrulls are. Or he and Jessica are skrulls and they're plotting to destroy both teams. At this point both scenarios are just as likely.
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The Goods Group
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