Monthly Archives: November 2013

Random Thoughts of an Honest Comic Blogger

Random Thoughts, , , ,

Thor: The Dark World

Although I enjoyed the movie, I didn’t like the Jane Foster love story. I wanted the ale drinking, womanizing Thor that I read about in my comic books. Jane Foster. Yuck. I also didn’t like Pepper Potts in the Iron Man movie. Since I’m on a roll I might as well keep going. I didn’t like that couple in Star Wars: Return of the Sith either. Superman and Lois Lane, Spider-Man and Mary Jane/Gwen Stacy. Could it be that I’m one of those females that’s jealous of the love interest of these handsome heroes? Nope. Not at all. I just don’t want to see romance in action movies. Fights. Superpowers. Explosives. Destruction. Save cities, countries, galaxies or whatever. Just keep those women at a distance.

Mighty Avengers Gets New Artist

Social media sites have been buzzing with news of Valerio Schiti replacing Greg Land on this title. Though I’m not certain if the change is permanent, I’m hoping this will silence the complainers for now. I’m talking about those who claim they weren’t going to read the book because Land was the artist. I posted on a thread that I want people to put their money where their mouth is and buy the book, if Land was their ONLY reason. All I’m saying is this; if 500 people claim that Land was the only reason for not buying the book, then I would expect those 500 to buy the book. That’s all I’m saying when I talk about sales. That and the fact that I’m hoping retailers will order more books, and actually push the book instead of being quiet as a church mouse.

I stand by the statement that I wrote in my Mighty Avengers #1 Review that Marvel has set this title up for failure. That’s why I’m making it my personal goal to be a watchdog on this book.

Oh wait. Uh-oh. I’m looking in Marvel Previews for February. Schiti is the artist for issues #6 and #7, but Land is the cover artist. I guess those 500 won’t be buying the book after all huh? And the retailers will continue to order an extremely low number of the books, and blame it on readers not liking Land’s covers.

Trade Paperback

If you can help it, please don’t wait until trades are released. Pre-ordered singles is the key for the success of a comic. Twitter followers of creators occasionally tweet, on the creators feed, that they’re going to wait for the trade. Or they will ask if it’s okay if they wait for it. It’s okay to wait for a trade if you really need to. But it’s not okay to ask if you can wait for it. If I was a comic creator, my feelings would be hurt if a follower ask if it was okay to wait for a trade, because that’s telling me that person is not that interested in my work.

Support the Creators of Your Favorite Titles

Comic creators tell readers to talk about a book if they like it. A Big 2 publisher will drop a book faster than the blink of an eye, so we all need to start pushing our favorite books and its’ creators. That goes for indies as well, because Marvel and DC aren’t the only publishers with well-liked titles.

Strike up a conversation at your local comic shop. Tell the owners why you like the book(s) and ask them to pass the information along to their other customers. Talking with other customers could prove valuable as well. Over the past 5-6 months, I’ve gotten 3 customers to try a book I was reading. The customers had already intended to try the books, they just hadn’t gotten around to it. If you’re a female it’s even better! Besides the owner’s wife, I’m usually the only other female in the store when I visit, and I get a lot of attention from the guys! A lot of talking and laughing goes on, but we always exchange information on books we’re reading.

Social media sites are great for talking about the books you like, and why you like them. Mention the names of the creators as well. Talk about the writers, artists, and the colorists, because they give life to those pencils and inks.

We need to push our favorite creators. Put them up on a pedestal. Not only will your favorite books be around for a long time, but you will feel satisfied in knowing that you was a part of the movement. I would love for all the creators on my favorite books to succeed, so they all can have thousands of Twitter followers rushing to comment on their tweets before they can even send it. Or for them to have hundreds of followers begging for a re-tweet or follow! (sorry but I had to throw that in)

Brian Wood / Tess Fowler Scandal

After I read Tess Fowler’s statement, all I said was, “So what.” I can’t believe the number of comments I’ve read on the internet about something that happened about 8 years ago. Most of the comments I read talked negatively about Wood, and sided with Fowler. I skimmed over several comments before leaving the site in disgust. I visited the site the next day, and there were even more comments posted. Again, I skimmed over a few and left in disgust.

I’m not taking sides with anyone, but come on. It’s pathetic how people in this world thrive on controversy. Fowler is playing the innocent victim and people are falling for it. No one knows what happened but Fowler and Wood, and it’s not our business anyway. Now a man’s career and personal life could be in jeopardy, and Fowler appears to be enjoying it.

It sounds to me like Wood was trying to talk to Fowler, but she turned him down. So what. That happens all the time between men and women. Besides, my mother always told her daughters that if a man don’t look at a woman twice, then something is wrong.

We all need to make sure our own house is in order before trying to run somebody else’s. That’s all I have to say in the matter. X-Men will continue to come into my home.

Comic Workshop/Conference

I’m getting pretty tired of reading about not enough blacks and women in comics, and there’s no way for us to break in. Well it’s not about being black or a female, it’s about how to break into the industry. I’ve listened to a few writers share their stories, and they all had one thing in common; they were all at the right place at the right time. So I think it would be a great idea if there was a comic workshop or conference. I am an aspiring writer and I would break my neck to attend. There could be:

  • Panels (breaking-in, submissions, legal issues, etc.)
  • Track specific panels (writer, artist)
  • Networking
  • Pitchfest

There should be representatives from the Big 2, indie publishers and web comics. I have attended writing workshops in the past for both screenplay and novels, and there was always a large turnout. Guests would include writers, artist, colorists, letterers, editors and everyone else involved in creating comics. Of course not everyone would want to participate, because some creators would fear the aspiring conference attendees are out to get their jobs. I can’t answer for others, but I don’t want to take anything from anyone. Instead I would love to work side-by-side with a published writer.

Well that’s my thoughts for now. I don’t know what my next post will be about, which is probably why this one is titled Random Thoughts.

Afterlife with Archie #2 Review

Archie Comics, , , , ,

afterarch2

Up until last Wednesday, my hands had not touched an Archie comic since I was a teenager. My favorite characters were Betty and Jughead, and I couldn’t stand that snot nosed, boyfriend-stealing Veronica. But now the zombie apocalypse has called upon me to return to the Archie universe. Not to fight zombies, but to follow the catastrophic happenings in Riverdale.

In the first issue, Jughead took the body of his deceased dog, Hot Dog, to Sabrina the witch for help. When Sabrina’s aunts told Jughead that Hot Dog couldn’t be saved, Sabrina hinted at necromancy, the dangerous act of raising the dead. If you know Sabrina, then you know that she went against the witch laws, and raised Hot Dog from his grave. Hot Dog returned as a zombie, and has spread the virus on to Jughead.

In Afterlife with Archie #2, Jughead appeared at the school’s masquerade party looking zombified. It didn’t take long for anyone to notice that Jughead was not acting right. When it became obvious what was going on, Archie led the survivors away from the school to safety. For now.

This new chiller grabbed my attention in its’ debut issue. For some unknown reason, I didn’t know about the series until last Wednesday. I found a copy of the first issue at the comic shop, but they were sold out of the second issue. I drove across town to another shop, and they were out. I could have gone digital but I prefer printed material. Both shops had more books ordered, but I was having a hard time keeping my instant addiction to this book under control. Two days later I drove an hour to a comic shop and bought the second issue.

What makes Afterlife with Archie so captivating is the dark and twisted take on a well-loved comic. We are seeing the characters as we’ve never seen them before. Dark, cold, gruesome, fighting for their lives and the lives of others. This new thriller is sure to reel in past readers, just as quickly as I was hooked. Archie has been around for a very long time, so this title is going to grab the attention of readers of all ages.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is the writer of this outstanding series. Dialogue and pacing at its’ best.

The artwork by Francesco Francavilla is awesome. The cover alone is enough to tell you what you’re in for.

Because of the violence and mature content, this title is rated teen+. Please exercise caution when reading this book around young children.

After I read the first issue, I immediately emailed the comic shop and asked to have the book added to my pulls. As a lifelong horror and Archie fan, there is no doubt that I will continue to read this horrific series.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I recommend this title to horror and Archie fans. I also recommend this series for new and returning comic readers that are looking for something fresh and new. Archie Comics isn’t new, but the dark and chilling twist is definitely a first.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #1 Review

DC Comics, , , ,

scoobyteam1

Scooby-Doo has been one of my favorite cartoons since childhood, and I frequently buy the comic for my kids. When I learned the gang would be teaming-up with Batman and Robin in the debut issue, by DC Comics, I quickly thought of their team-up in the cartoon years ago. Daphne even mentions their run-in with the dynamic duo in this issue.

Scooby-Doo and the gang are on a hunt for a giant, flying bat-looking creature, when they run into Batman and Robin, who are already on its’ trail. They learn from the dynamic duo that the half-man, half-bat is Man-Bat. He is extremely dangerous because he’s more animal than human, when in bat form.

Meanwhile, the gang foils a robbery attempt by three Man-Bat imposters. In their attempt to capture a fourth imposter, the gang and the dynamic duo quickly realizes it’s the real Man-Bat. Batman and Robin have ONE vial of antidote, meaning they only have ONE shot at Man-Bat to administer it successfully.

This all-ages, easy-to-follow story was written by Sholly Fisch. Funny dialogue and character interactions. I especially liked how Robin checked Freddy for using his catchphrase!

Great artwork by Dario Brizuela. Definitely no complaints in this area. Original looking characters that I’ve loved since childhood.

I plan to buy future issues of this title for my kids, and myself of course. You can never go wrong with Scooby-Doo, one of the most beloved cartoon characters.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I highly recommend this title, especially for those with young children. It’s perfect for storytime.

Harley Quinn #0 Review

DC Comics, ,

harquin0

I had to read this story twice. The first time was a straight read. The second, with pen and paper in hand, was to list the names of all the artists in the story. I counted 15. So I skimmed it a third time to make sure I didn’t overlook anyone. This went on for almost an hour. It reminded me of the Hidden Pictures page in the Highlights magazine, that I read as a child. I nearly drove myself crazy then, and now. But nowhere near as crazy as Harley Quinn.

Harley Quinn gets to decide who will be the artist for her solo series, and 17 artists are in the running. From the elites to the lesser known, this book contains what I have to call an all-star cast of artists. It is amazing to see so many different styles of artwork within a few pages.

Awwwww, isn’t that cute? I’m looking at Art Baltazar’s Tiny Titans page. Again. That’s because they’re so adorable. My kids (and myself) love Tiny Titans, but I’m not going to show this page to them. They would fight over the book, and want it in their collections of Tiny Titans comics and sketch cards. Then they would hound me to get Baltazar’s signature at the next comic convention, even though they already have tons of signed books and sketches by him. But I wouldn’t mind because the Tiny Titans are so doggone cute and adorable. By the way, the italicized is my mommy voice!

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti are the creative writers of this hilarious title. They broke the fourth wall, and I don’t think anyone else could have done it better. Their wedding panels are funny. If Conner can throw a punch like that in reality, then Palmiotti needs to forever be on his best behavior.

I don’t have any complaints at all about Harley Quinn’s debut issue. She was her usual crazy and funny self. And if you know Harley Quinn, then you know she had to take a few people out.

I loved all the artwork in this issue. I’m not familiar with all the artists, but there’s a few whose work I wouldn’t mind following. A very impressive page is that of Jeremy Roberts, an up-and-coming artist. I didn’t know he was the winner of the contest until I decided to Google the winner before I typed this post. His art is finely detailed, and I love Harley Quinn’s look. I would love to see his work in future issues of this title.

There were 17 artists that contributed to this issue, but when I looked at the credits inside, I counted two additional names. I like to give credit where it’s due, so I’m going to list all the artists that worked on this book.

  • Amanda Conner
  • Becky Cloonan
  • Tony s. Daniel
  • Sandu Florea
  • Stephane Roux
  • Dan Panosian
  • Walter Simonson
  • Jim Lee
  • Scott Williams
  • Bruce Timm
  • Charlie Adlard
  • Adam Hughes
  • Art Baltazar
  • Tradd Moore
  • Dave Johnson
  • Jeremy Roberts
  • Sam Kieth
  • Darwyn Cooke
  • Chad Hardin

Whew! There goes that Highlights moment again, making sure I didn’t miss anyone.

While reading this comic, I saw panels where the coloring was familiar. I quickly turned to the credits and saw the name I was looking for, Alex Sollazzo. I didn’t know Sollazzo was contributing to this book, but I knew it was his work. Now that’s worthy of an applause.

The colorists in this issue include:

  • Paul Mounts
  • Tomeu Morey
  • John Kalisz
  • Lovern Kindzierski
  • Alex Sinclair
  • Lee Loughridge
  • Dave Stewart
  • Alex Sollazzo

There is no doubt I enjoyed this issue. I plan to read the first story arc, at least to see where it’s going. And I hope that Conner and Palmiotti were lying when they swore to stop breaking the fourth wall.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I am recommending this title for now. If my recommendation change after reading the next few issues, I will post and state my reasons. But I have a strong feeling this title will stick around for a long time.

Daredevil: Dark Knights #6 Review

Marvel Comics, ,

daredevil6

If you are a fan of Misty Knight, then you definitely want to read Daredevil Dark Knights #6.  In this issue, Daredevil and the Jackie Brown of comics team-up, by chance, to take down a kingpin.  And thanks to Misty Knight, I read a Daredevil comic for the first time.

This story is action packed.  An FBI agent assigned to protect Attorney Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, and a murder witness, has been murdered.  The witness was kidnapped.  From here on out you get nonstop action, as Daredevil and Misty goes to battle against the kingpin’s hired henchmen.  And kick-ass Misty is throwing down in a bikini and flip-flops.

I enjoyed reading this humorous issue.  Daredevil and Misty Knight are beating the crap out thugs, while flirting with each other the entire time.  There’s  a strong attraction between these two, and neither of them are hiding it.

Jimmy Palmiotti is the writer of this well-written script.  Dialogue between Daredevil and Misty are humorous, yet sensual.  The story also is easy-to-follow and it will leave you wanting more.

Great artwork by Thony Silas (pencils), Nelson Decastro (inks) and Antonio Fabela (colors).  I have no complaints at all in this area, and I especially like the fight scenes.

I enjoyed this issue and there’s no doubt I will be reading the next one.  I try to follow characters I enjoy reading about.  Misty Knight is one of those characters and I  definitely plan to support her by reading the rest of the story arc.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I highly recommend the team-up of Daredevil and Misty Knight.

Captain Ultimate Review

Monkeybrain Comics, ,

capultimate

When I learned that Joey Esposito was the co-writer on this title, I immediately knew this comic would be just as fun and engaging as his tweets.  Currently on its fourth issue, Captain Ultimate, by Monkeybrain Comics, grabbed my attention while reading its debut issue.

Captain Ultimate was the world’s greatest superhero, until he disappeared.  As time passed, he pretty much became a has-been.  Even his comic book ended up in the quarter box at the comic shop.  Milo, a spunky young boy, bought the Captain Ultimate comic, not afraid to admit that he still believed in the missing hero.  When the city was nearly destroyed by the giant robot octopus alien monster, Milo was the only person that stood up to the monster.  Even the Super Revenging Society, the city’s superhero team, left the scene.  Milo’s belief in Captain Ultimate was so strong, that he appeared out of nowhere (this is where my eyes watered).

The second issue was even funnier than the first.  Dr. Destruction attacks Milo, and it’s Captain Ultimate to the rescue.  Because of Milo’s bravery, Captain Ultimate asks Milo’s parents if he can be the hero’s sidekick.  Milos’ dad is excited.  But his mom, well let’s just say she’s a mom.  Protective and threatening.  Things a typical mom (like myself) would say.  Captain Ultimate leaves Ulti-Mutt, a big and slobbery, strong but friendly dog, for the family’s protection.

Meanwhile, the Super Revenging Society is furious that Captain Ultimate is getting all the attention.  They have lost their movie, book, and licensing deals.  Even their agent has kicked them to the curb.  The Jealous Society, I mean Super Revenging Society, make plans to dig up some dirt on the handsome superhero that has super powers and a nice looking mustache.  Yes, they’re actually jealous of Captain Ultimate’s mustache!

Issue three reveals the origin of Captain Ultimate.  I won’t spoil it, but I’ll say that his belt was created in the future and was meant to be worn only by someone worthy of its power.

Esposito co-writes this hilarious, all ages comic with Benjamin Bailey.  Great character interactions.  There’s a lot of funny dialogue, and I especially like the Super Revenging Society.  The story is also easy to follow.

The stories are brought to life by Boy “Boykoesh” Akkerman  (artist) and Ed Ryzowski (colors).  Thanks to the Super Revenging Society, I can no longer look at Captain Ultimate without staring at his mustache! Great visual storytellers.  I especially liked the giant robot octopus alien monster.

I am enjoying this title so far.  It’s a family friendly comic, a story that I can read to my children.  I have two kids and both of them are boys.  Captain Ultimate is focused on a male youth, so I’m sure we will be reading future issues of this title.  Currently I’m slightly behind on my comic reading, but I plan to read the latest issue within the next few days.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I highly recommend this title for readers of all ages.