What I Got and Why 01/10/10

Valhallahan
Howdy Folks! I must apologise for my state as I am bringing you this What I Got and Why from planet drunk! I made my way to that haven of comicdom that is Orbital on Friday eve and bought myself a real bag o' tricks; a fine haul indeed. Let me tell you all about it... I may even add pictures when I'm sober, but please enjoy my impeccably spelt drunken ramblings.

Atlas #5 - With this issue we (super hero comic book fans with taste) bid adieu to Marvel's finest super team. I must say that if you don't want to read about a Gorilla Man, an Atlantean Warrior Princess, a Roman Love Goddess, a Uranian Ubermensch named Bob and a killer Human Robot fighting crime alongside kick ass FBI agent, Jimmy Woo and his timeless untrustworthy Dragon advisor Mr Lao, then you really need to think about whether comic books are for you. Buy the first Agents of Atlas collection or I will hit you.

Captain America #610 - Here we have the resolution of new(ish) Captain America, Bucky's showdown with the son of the man who ruined his life so many years ago. I truly hold writer Ed Brubaker's run on Captain America as some of the finest super hero comic book writing this side of the new millennium, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to drop this title. I thoroughly recommend people pick up Volume One of this series in trade, but I think with this issue I'm bailing out. Don't hold me to it, but I think Brubaker's said all he has to say with the characters and has been treading water for the past 6 months or so. Adieu mon capitan!


Wetworks: Mutations #1 - After my empassioned eulogy of the Wildstorm Universe this week, I was heartened to find this title on the shipping list. I missed a Wetworks reboot a few years back, but I really loved the initial incaration of this team so I thought I'd give this one shot a go. Interestingly, it's written by the man mountain Kevin Grevioux, chief werewolf and writer of the Underworld movies, which one could argue nicked their back story wholesale from Wetworks original incarnation.


Vertigo Back Issues
Because I can't help myself, I picked up issues 2 and 3 of Millennium Fever, a romantic story written by Nick Abadzis and drawn by the inimitable genius that is Duncan Fegredo. Published in 1995.

I also picked up Elvis Must Die from the second hand section; a story with a premise so good I'll dedicate a post to it. More soon.

Magazines?
CLiNt #2 - The magazine bits of #1 were fucking awful, but there is still an abundance of comic book funtimes to be had from this periodical. A wonderful use for the money that, let's face it was burning a hole in your pocket anyway.


Dodgem Logic #5 - 2Badguys reader Nightwatchman inspired me to pick up Dodgem Logic, Alan Moore's very own glossy magazine, as a contrast to Mark Millar's CLiNT, and from flicking through, I am very pleased with this product. It looks like a great read. I do warn readers not to open pages willy nilly on public transport as fairly early on there's a graphic cock-shot which I'm sure alarmed the chap reading over my shoulder on the Piccadilly Line. Nothing to do with comics, but looks like a great magazine.

Addendum
Apparently no one has Love and Rockets: The New Stories Volume 3. This is annoying.

What I Got and Why 03/09/10

Valhallahan
Howdy folks! Well it looks like I'm buying for 2 this week, because I got a bumper crop of (hopefully) awesome books. Let's get stuck in on the Whats and the Whys.

Jonah Hex #59 - Jordi Bernet, my favourite Jonah Hex artist (alongside Phil Noto and J.H. Williams III) returns this issue and it looks like another classic ish. I'm glad they haven't made a really shit film of this character to taint my joy.

Sweet Tooth #13 - I love this series, it's just so beautifully fucking bizarre.

iZombie #5 - I'm still getting this for the pretty pictures really, which means it could be lining up for the chopping block if the story doesn't hook me soon.

Scarlet #2 - The first issue had me intrigued but not entirely sold. Either way, Alex Maleev's art is gorgeous and it's nice to see Bendis away from the Marvel Universe for a change.

Taskmaster # 1 - I've always had a soft spot for this character, goofy costume and all (think Skelletor's head stuck on a Deathstroke toy). This mini has Taskmaster fighting for his life against a who's who of Marvel's Manic Militias, all of whom his previous employers. With Fred Van Lente writing I'm sure it'll be a doozy.

Gorilla Man #3 - Despite some gripes I have about the art, I've really enjoyed this series. It's been a fun tale with Mr Hale and the golden age Gorilla Man back up reprints make each issue a groovy package.

Origins of Marvel: X-Men - I'm not a regular X-Reader, but I've got enough stored up fondness for Marvel's Merry Mutants that I do like to keep up to date with what's being done with the characters. This issue is another one of those one page per character origins books that I'm digging at the moment. Some lovely art (X-23) and some shite (Wolverine) but the good outweighs the bad. My problem is that they're starting to repeat themselves now, that and the feeling that this is something they should be giving out free to ensnare new readers.

Stumptown #4 - It's been ages since I saw this on the stands but I'm pretty sure I was enjoying it. I was wasn't I? Oh well I've bought it now.

Ex Machina Vol 9: Ring Out The Old - Another book I buy in trades and another book that I've totally forgotten what's happened in. Always a good read, stellar art by Tony Harris and it's written by Brian K Vaughan, remember him? He used to write comics.

CLiNT #1 - Hmm... could've done without the Lad's Mag bits but I'm glad it exists.

This weeks books were purchased at Chaos City Comics in St Albans. A fine establishment.

What I Got and Why 22/07/10

Valhallahan
Atlas #3 - The third-to-last issue of Atlas, which is being cancelled at #5 because readers are dumb and Marvel would rather publish 17 different fucking Deadpool series' a month than something good. Adios Atlas, apparently you weren’t "random" enough, people would rather read about a shitty red ninja making dated pop culture references. Marvel and I are no longer BFFs.

Batman Streets Of Gotham #14 - To my mind, the best of the core Batman titles at the moment, using Batman sparingly to great effect, each storyline focussing on a different denizen of New York's ugly sister. This series is essentially a continuation of Paul Dini's superlative run on Detective Comics
prior to the whole Batman RIP fiasco. Very happy to see that although Man Hunter has finished, we're still getting back up stories.

Prince of Power #3 - Loving this series. It's not great value for money, but it made me laugh aloud on a rush hour train to Kings Cross. I looked like a right twat.

Hellblazer #269 - I’m really enjoying Hellblazer at the moment. This story is kicking the shit out of John, and with any good Hellblazer story, John's loss is the reader's Gain.

Walking Dead #75 - TWD twice in one month? Don't mind if I damn well do! The full-colour back up strip is a doozy that pays off something from #7!

I was hoping to get CBGB #1 but I couldn't see it.

What I Got and Why 15/07/10

Valhallahan

After a lacklustre week a couple of weeks ago and an I-spent-all-my-money-at-Gypsy-Hotel-so-couldn’t-buy-comics week the week after that, I'm here once again with a what I got and Why, which strangely has no overlap with Action Ash's. Okeydokey, here we...

Sweet Tooth #11 - Continuing to be intriguing and exciting and charmingly disturbing.

Scalped #39 - ‘Nuff Said.

X-Women - Novelty Value. See Review.

iZombie #3 - I’m really just getting this for the art. The story has enough to keep me interested, but some of the cutesy stuff like the were-terrier would normally be a big turn off for me.

Gorilla Man #1 - I was explaining this one in the pub: "It’s a man who's been turned into a gorilla, who's also a secret agent fighting a man with talking tumours of his ancestors for the head of Lucretia Borgia". That shit just sells itself.

The Walking Dead #74 - I heartily recommend this series to everyone. Start at book one and see if you can stop yourself from reading the lot. 74 issues and still going strong.

Jonah Hex #57 - I actually managed to get a copy this week which is nice, and it’s a Jordi Bernett issue so win/win! Thank you Orbital, now I've got my mean disfigured sonofabitch quota for the week without having to set foot in my local.

Daytripper #8 - This has been a great series. Interesting premise, lovely art, it's kind of pretentious, but really worth your time. This is a great alternative to superheroes and crime fiction.

I would be getting Shadowland, but a combination of Billy Tan art and not having finished Brubaker's DD run mean I’m just going to borrow it of Ash. Nice Cassaday covers though. I meant to get Scarlet, but I clearly wasn't that bothered as I forgot to look for it in either of the shops I went to.

The Heroic Age Round Up

So the Siege of Asgard has ended and from its ashes the Heroic age has risen like a silver age pheonix ridden by Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. Valhallahan and I felt it was time to take a look at what's new to the Marvel U, what's different and what we think is gonna work well in this so called Heroic Age.

Valhallahan
I enjoyed the Enter the Heroic Age one-shot, although it was an advert break disguised as an anthology, I felt it was a good representation of what the other books would be like and I could see myself trying them out off the back of it. I must say though, the Academy vignette really made me want to stay away. Who on earth designed Reptil? I'm flabbergasted. From what I gather, he's a teen in a scuba suit, who can turn parts of his body into those of a Dinosaur. Dinosaur parts! Not a whole Dinosaur, mind you, that would be fucking silly. I am all for nonsense in my comics but, well, I just... Dinosaur parts? C'mon Marvel! Hawkeye & Mockingbird looks like fun, sort of Mr &Mrs Smith but with Spandex. Not something I'd pick up regularly, but an entertaining romp.

Action Ash
This was a great one shot to pick up. First off let me say Reptil is a totally wank character and I agree with everything you've said there. I thought this issue did just what it was meant to, it raised my interest in upcoming series (except Avengers Academy) and had me curious about things I wouldn't previously have bought e.g. Hawkeye and Mockingbird.

Valhallahan
The first issue of Age of Heroes didn't fare as well, Most of the issue was spent with a believable, but dull JJJ story from Busiek and Djurdjevic, and a fun but pointless Dr/Brother/whatever Voodoo story. Put together they're a story about an old Republican ranting to himself and a middle aged man trying to pull. Not really what I was looking for in a superhero anthology. This left 3 pages for all the cool stuff to happen. Captain Britain and America interact, and Spidey pwns the Griffin (who is fucking everywhere at the moment). At least Reptil wasn't in it.

Action Ash
I couldn't agree with you more. Who wants to read about J. Jonah Jameson? What a pointless strip. Doctor Voodoo was disappointing considering his mini series was quite good. All the stories in this were pointless. Just a way to make more money out of Marvel fans. Don't even get me started on Spidey. Did they just put that one page piece of crap in so he could be on the cover?

Valhallahan
Of all the 'new' titles, Prince of Power and Atlas are really just continuing their stories where the last of their respective series' left off, albeit both with newbie-friendly jumping on points and a tweaked Status Cho. The Art on Prince of Power is not necessarily something to write home about, but it's dynamic, and it's a darn sight better than some of the lacklustre artists Incredible Hercules has had. I can't recommend Atlas enough; it's such a consistently satisfying read; a wonderful mixture of pure nonsense and genuine emotion. So is the ongoing saga of Herc and Cho for that matter, but Atlas clinches top spot for having consistent art (and Gorilla Man). Top marks all round.

Action Ash
The new Thunderbolts lineup was a pleasant surprise. I was sceptical when I heard they were putting Luke Cage in it because I love Luke Cage and thought they were trying to push him into the background. Then I heard that they were relaunching New Avengers with Cage as Team Leader and realised that Thunderbolts was pretty good. So I'm cool now. Avengers and Secret Avengers were awesome! Only expecting the best from those two from now on.

Valhallahan
You see I hated Avengers, but I loved Secret Avengers; I was expecting the other way around - Avengers had Kang, Secret had... Nova? Moon Knight? War Machine? the douche-bag Ant Man? I was expecting Force Works 2, the X-TREEME Avengers, but it totally flipped my wig daddy-O; The Beast back where he belongs was great to see, and I'm sure I don't need to explain how cool it is that they're after the fucking Serpent Crown on bloody Mars! That's an Avengers story!

What I got and Why 20/5/10

Valhallahan
Avengers #1 - I'm giving Bendis' Avengers one last chance, but I have to say I've fallen out of love with his Writing.
American Vampire #3 - Still intrigued, but still not blown away.
Girl Comics #2 - Issue one was a trifle underwhelming, but I’m still hoping for some gems.
Zatanna #1 - I really enjoy Paul Dini's writing and he's proven adept at writing the character in Detective comics and the Animated series. Art looks like a toned down Wieringo to me.
Streets of Gotham #12 - I’m enjoying this series, and the Manhunter back-up is great.
Hellblazer #267 - With Peter Milligan onboard, Hellblazer seems to be returning to the glory days. Can't wait for Shade The Changing Man next issue.
The Walking Dead #72 - I shouldn’t need to explain why.
Atlas #1 - This is a wonderful series, in whatever form it's being printed in these days.

What I got and why.

Valhallahan
American Vampire #2 –Vampires aint always my bag, but I’m trying this out, and it hasn’t disappointed so far.
Scalped #37 – ‘cause it’s fucking great, as always.
Detective Comics #864 - I’m getting this because of the awesome JH Williams art and Greg Rucka’s take on Bat-Woma… WTF? Someone seems to have put Arkham Reborn #4 in between the covers of my Detective Comics! Fuck that. Question back-up strip is still strong though.
Streets of Gotham #11 – Liking the stories, loving the back-up. This is going strong for me.
Captain America #605 – Steve who? Sorry I was made deaf by how awesome Bucky is. Hating the Nomad back up strip.
Avengers vs Atlas #4 – This series hasn’t set my world on fire, but the Agents of Atlas are always great fun.
The Walking Dead #71- Another series that goes from strength to strength.
Stumptown #3 - I like crime, I like Greg Rucka, I like Stumptown.