Comics Catch Up (Some fairly current, some rather old, some trades)
This is what happens when I have a few minutes to spare here and there to type on an Outlook email draft (not designed to be sent) before posting on LJ. Note: It isn't that spoiler-y because this took yonks to finish and since I don't have the books here I'm rather vague. It also hasn't helped that I've been a little behind in reading due to silly things coming up that need to be a higher financial priority and me trying to have the willpower not to cave in and wriggle out of my savings plan. At least I should be fine to pick up my issues next week (thank goodness for standing orders!) since I've achieved my financial goal. That and there's Armageddon to look forward to!
Black Lightning vol.2 # 5
It's really really REALLY too bad that this series got the axe twice, it was a really well written and drawn comic with a great black superhero. There seems to be this habit of giving an interesting minority character their own solo comic but then giving them the axe or just not treating them with care with incredibly short runs (Ryan Choi, Jaime Reyes, Cassandra Cain, Renee Montoya, Kate Kane and there's got to be more). The worst thing is that Jefferson's biggest cheerleader is his own creator Tony Isabella, which is kind of the kiss of death for the strength and staying power of a comic book character who could, should and would be handled by multiple writers and artists*. A real pity, since this issue was setting up a new supporting gay character and featured a really moving romance scene for Jeff and his ex-wife Lynn. It would have been great to see where Tony Isabella was going.
*Note: Like Agents of Atlas, an awesome series that unfortunately only has one writer-supporter in Jeff Parker, hence its eventual death. Counter example is Bucky, who besides his main cheerleader Ed Brubaker, has many other writers using him, thus giving him stronger legs to stay in the Marvel U.
Captain America # 606
LOL, so much for my promise of tradewaiting since I already buy so much Cap* and prefer TBPs. But I can't help it! Ugh, just this arc, I promise! But then again, this IS the best way to read Nomad (I don't know if Marvel are going to compile her issues) without having to buy Young Allies, which I found a bit underwhelming and don't really want to buy. So maybe this is a series where I just have to suck it up and buy both versions or something. Who knows?
Anyhoo, # 606 was one I found hysterical because of a certain part in it. I may have mentioned before that slash ship wise I prefer Steve/Tony but have also read and really enjoyed Steve/Bucky. I also actually really like Steve/Sam, but it has been awhile since I've read anything fanfic or canon-wise that made me think of these two. Until this one, where the scenes that involve Sam talking to Steve on how to talk to Bucky and then the three of them together. Holy cow, I have never really seen as Steve taking on a father role to Bucky ever (and some of the canon that paints them this way I tend to roll my eyes slightly) and saw him as more of a big brother but honestly, when Sam and Steve chat and then team up to talk to Bucky they (Sam and Steve that is) act like SUCH a married couple to their moody/unhappy teenage son that it's hilarious. Not even the end line about moving the topic to talking about some game remove the coupley/parenty vibe that Sam and Steve had. It's quite adorable. Although it made me realise that Sam and Steve would make the absolute WORST parents ever if you were the kind of naughty kid who wanted to either play one parent against each other or needed to just appeal your case to one parent and then let them talk to your other stricter parent. With Steve/Tony or Steve/Bucky I could see how one of them, generally Steve would be the stricter parent (but then again, for a twist you could have Bucky be a suprisingly tougher parent because of his military family upbringing) but Sam/Steve would totally be an unstoppable force as parents.
*Note: Seriously, I've become known as the girl who cleans out the Captain America collections. Two stores have even given me one-off discounts without me asking for them because they know that I'll be back to buy more Cap.
See Above and Teabagging (AKA When The Savage Damsel is Late to the Party, Again)
Confession: Even though I like Cap, I normally don't surf the net in order to find news about him. I find talking/reading Cap stuff with some other LJ or blogger folks and the occasional recommended article to be enough. I find that life is short and I'd rather spend more time being amused rather than raising my blood pressure from screaming, "Do you even read the comics you stupid, stupid, fool?!" (Trust me, you can ALWAYS tell the difference between a Cap critic who has read one or some of the comics about him and decided that he's not their cup of tea - which is perfectly fine with me - to someone who has never, ever, looked at one comic of his. This is also completely the same when you get to his cheerleaders, who are actually MUCH more irritating than his critics).
So when I heard the words "teabagging", "Captain America" and "controversy", I decided to stay the hell away, because I saw this as a case of "Oh dear god, cheerleaders who Did Not Do The Research". Months later I came across an article while on a recommended link journey and finally understood what was going on. I didn't end up being too surprised or cheesed off at the teabagger hysteria although I did laugh when I realised what the problem was, for a moment I thought it was something extremely severe and not just a panel that I read and moved on from without getting my knickers in a knot over. If anything, I thought the signs were more restrained than anything, since it would have been SO tempting to make fun of teabaggers' complete inability to grasp the basics of spelling. (Dear teabaggers, taxes pay for education, nitwits, and that's even if you're REALLY arguing about taxes and are not just being racists. There is a difference in having objections in how taxes are spent or what kind of taxes we pay but teabagger arguments on taxes are usually pretty stupid).
What really infuriated me though was the cowardly action Quesada and co. took in apologising. (I'm not entirely giving Brubaker a pass on this, although I'm aware that he usually tries to restrain himself when writing Politi-Cap. But his snarky comment on his mail did make me grin a little. "I had to shut down my public email because I started getting death threats from, y'know, peaceful protesters."). I mean, seriously, Quesada? You are a person who openly states that you feel pure glee at upsetting your fans and see it as a positive thing but the idea of a fringe far right group who seem to not have read the Cap comics and related puts that much fear in you?! WIMP!!! The surprisingly rebellious spirits of past Cap writers should be shaking their damn head at you.
I agree with Mark Waid completely on this one:
Mark Waid on Twitter: "is humiliated and mortified on behalf of my entire industry that Fox News is able to bully us into apologizing to lunatics."
Oh, and here is a good summary of the issue.
Now I feel compelled to buy an extra copy of that issue, since unfortunately this is one small argument in favour of not tradewaiting. But I am NOT impressed with the circumstances for changing things in the TBP thing, they did this too with the Young Avengers trade where the initial flirty conversation between Wiccan and Hulkling was watered down severely. How very selective of them.
Love and Capes (TBPs 1 & 2 from IDW)
How could I have gone for so long not knowing about this series?! (because it was self-published, that's why, and I only found out about the series through pure accident. I intend on going to its site to get some merchandise and show some support some time later). It has everything I could possibly like in a comic book: a cute romance, humour (It makes fun of the crossover season madness with its very own Secret Wars and shows how it inconveniences everyone) and superheroes. It gives me the fix I need when I miss Lois and Clark or the comic book ships I adore that aren't really currently in action, like Peter/MJ or Ralph/Sue.
I laughed out loud when Major Might was introduced, because I love Billy Batson/Captain Marvel. He's the only superhero who could stir up maternal feelings in me (Billy's a total woobie!) but knowing my personality, I would be more likely to accidentally raise him as the next Dark Lord rather than the pure, sweet soul he's meant to be. (Screw you, Winick, for beginning the fail train of the Marvel family! That's why I only read the out of continuity series that's meant for kids!) Whoops, off-topic. Anyway, it turns out that Love and Capes is completely moving to IDW in December, so I'm pretty excited.
Love The Way You Love (Side A and B from Oni Press)
You know, it's been quite a while since I have been reading comics beyond the superhero genre, but there used to be a time when I never read or bought very much of the superhero genre at all. Reading this kind of takes me back to why I liked it so much. Love The Way You Love is a really cute romance comic set in the indie music scene and interestingly enough, is also a retelling of the Tristan and Isolde romance. The drawings have this sweet and simple earnestness that suits the story and the actual writing is able to portray all of that teen romance angst and earnestness without being too silly. The main players are well written (It may be Tristan's story but we also get good insight on Isobel and Marcus) and I really loved Tristan's little brother Lance and the beta couple Branden (who's a girl by the way) and Eleanore. The only real glitch I had with the story was on why Tristan seemed so dead set against hearing any offers of record deals with Marcus before he knew about Isobel and Marcus. I'm guessing it's an indie music thing that I don't know about.
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
Although at heart I am a big Peter/MJ shipper, I do actually like Peter/Gwen, in a doomed first love kind of way.
(I also wonder: Is it very hard for readers/writers to wrap their minds around an idea of loving someone even though you know they are not perfect? Because Gwen really suffers from the false dichotomy of being an uber-saint or an uber-bitch so badly, which interestingly enough also applies to John Keats's love of his life Fanny Brawne, who according to sexist critics of the past a vapid bitch who doesn't deserve to be loved by the youngest of the Romantic poets or a super-saintly angel of the house).
So while Peter and Mary Jane in the main continuity are suffering from the editorial having a prolonged and collective mid life crisis, I will enjoy Peter and Gwen in the kiddie line. (It may not have happened but you know that it could go there). Hey, I'd much rather read an actual Gwen Stacy (who in my mind is someone who is sweet AND temperamental AND smart but not wimpy or super-saintly or someone who slept with Norman) then some bland Gwen Stacy rip-off (Sorry, Carlie Cooper).
Marvel Adventures Super Heroes
First few things: This comic sucks from not having Storm, Hulk, Wasp/Giant-Girl, Ant-Man or Wolverine, who in this series is actually fun rather than mildly annoying. (I loved Storm in this series, she was awesome AND she got to freakin' date!!!) And while I really like Natasha and Susan, I just liked the friendship and awesomeness that Jane and Ororo brought to the team much much more.
However, aside from all of that it's pretty good (LOVE the fact that there is an adorable Marvel Adventures Deadpool version, even if he lacks the fourth wall breaking ability) despite me being rather confused by the undertone-shippy story of Cap and Invisible Woman. I mean, surely Steve knows that it's a lost cause, right? I get why guys would love Sue, what with her being awesome and also having the fortitude and loyalty of a freaking saint (well, she has been married to Reed for a really long time, it's like a staple requirement! ;D) but she has pretty much made up her mind yonks and yonks ago that Reed is the one for her. So Steve, if you really want a gorgeously kick-ass blonde woman in your life, I note that there IS a Marvel Adventures Sharon Carter hanging around at SHIELD. You should totally ask her out. Or if not, you should definitely spend more time playing basketball and having meals with Tony. ;) (Funny thing I noticed in #3, the panel shown of Steve after looking mournfully at Susan and Reed having a moment has Tony suddenly sparring with Steve for no reason and with no warning in the hallway. Clearly Tony has his own slashy plan, heeheehee).
Hawkeye & Mockingbird
So far I am quite pleased with this series, well at least with the first couple of issues. It is EQUALLY about Hawkeye and Mockingbird and the writer seems to understand how to write about their serious past issues with some semblance of sensitivity. Both Clint and Bobbi are seen in their good and problematic lights and in some certain situations it is easy to understand their viewpoints, even if you don't always agree with them. It basically beats the Green Arrow and Black Canary series to the ground (Which is not hard considering the fail train of that series and how the writers wrote such an interesting couple. Seriously, Dinah is awesome, and Ollie shouldn't be that much of a douche). While I am not sure about the series' survival or if it will continue to be good, so far it is doing good enough for me to keep reading, since the writer clearly cares about both characters.
Frenemy of the State (Oni Press)
It's kind of interesting that at first I thought that the main draw for me (beyond the fact that I only found out about it was from an interview done by Rashida Jones) was that this book would be a satire on the nature of celebutantes or a fun spy story. Actually, the most compelling draw for this comic would be the heroine Ariana Von Holmberg, whose prickly, mildly paranoid and intelligent nature is immediately compelling for me to keep on reading. The first issue of the series also proves that yes, you can have plenty of setup but still be immediately interesting and compelling, instead of needing to trot out the excuse of "you need to buy more issues to really appreciate the fine art of it all". The only complaint is I have is that in this day and age, the cliffhanger isn't THAT necessary, not the one that was presented anyway. Still a pretty good start though.
Runaways
Sigh. I've been catching up with the more recent digests and really, what the freaking hell happened to the series? I know the comics had plenty of soapiness but there was something called a freaking PLOT back then. That and everyone seems determined to change stuff or reset stuff without thinking why or what the consequences could be in series longevity. Really too bad, since this series was one of the most female friendly and newcomer friendly franchises around. It deserves to be saved, but no one seems to know how to do it.
Archie and Friends TBP: The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton
D'aww. Chuck is like the sweetest guy ever, and this trade was like a love letter to the comics-creating people out there.
I still have a fairly low interest in becoming a big Archie comics fan (I'm sorry, but the love triangle premise is just not really working for me at all) but I'm not going to be against the ocassional dabbling. That and having two alternate future timelines where the love triangle was bloody solved actually works really well and can make THREE sides of the ship war happy.
Spider-Man: O.M.I.T.
Cost of one issue of Spidey O.M.I.T.?: $ 3.99 USD
Actual cost of one issue of Spidey O.M.I.T. for me?: 0.00 AUD (My comic book store guy didn't seem to care that I flicked through the O.M.I.T. issues, most likely since he knows that I'm going to be buying a lot of other stuff)
Reading all of the incredibly true, bitchy and hilarious commentary on this fail-boat on the internet?: PRICELESS!!!
X-Women one-shot
My soul died when I flicked through this at the store. The excessive use of pointless and scarily blank pornfaces is horrible (The cover! bleccch!), and don't get me started on the sheer cheesecake-y grossness of it all. (I'm fine with sexuality, some fanservice and yes, even erotic art, but not when it's clear that women only exist for some guy to whack off to and NOT in this context). For crying out loud, Marvel are trying so hard to promote their women of Marvel, the X-Men has always been chock-full of interesting female characters of all kinds and they inflict THIS?! It was so awful I can barely remember the story. I don't care what others will say to defend this book on the beauty or whatever. I thought the horrible excessive use of pornface was a big enough distraction from any artistic merit.
Earlier this year Zenescope comics (who provide their own cheesecake too) released the first issue of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Illustrated # 1, and it was no suprise to get cheesecake-y art in that comic. The difference? It had context, and hell, it even had something to say, even if it has been said before (That being with an actual woman who has a mind of their own and can think and feel for themselves and be their own person has more satisfaction than being with basically a glorified blow-up doll, although the guy was still a douche). This X-Women one-shot on the other hand, didn't. Not really.
And just for fun, a letter from the Savage Damsel:
Dear Marvel,
It has come to my attention from reading 4 issues of Previews (it covers what you're publishing in July-October this year) that you have quite a fixation on reprinting all of your Civil War stuff in jacked-up priced hardcovers, despite nearly every comic book store I go to in Melbourne are still bursting to the seams in unsold back issues and TBPs. Considering that one store I go to sells their Iron Man Civil War TBP for $14 when they usually sell their TBPs at $25-30 and GNs at $17-20 (a $20 TBP is kinda rare and only for really really really slim books, sometimes), that is really saying something, especially since that aforementioned TBP actually managed to cast Tony in a somewhat sympathetic light.
Since it is very clear that there is money and trees to burn over at your place, may I make some suggestions for future publications?
1) I would like Captain America: Truth to be published as a TBP. I already have it in floppies, but unlike some things in life, it is worth buying/printing twice.
2) Misty Knight and Colleen Wing are awesome. Their limited series Daughters of the Dragon was only printed in 2006. And unlike DC, you lot are more willing to publish especially the newer stuff (you are also kind enough to specify on the back of your often numbered books which issues it covers and unlike DC, you never skip issues in the middle of trades for no good reason). So how about a TBP, huh?
3) Hello?! Why have you not printed any Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos as Marvel Essentials?! Surely they're old enough to qualify budget books. I know this hurts to hear, but not all of your fans can part with that much cash for the Masterworks hardcovers.
4) Iron Man: Execute arc (recent-ish issues 7-12) would be nice to have in a trade. I don't buy the recent stuff but I'm fine with the trades of the older stuff.
5) Some time ago, there was a miniseries featuring Sharon and Nick. Trade plz?
6) More Cap? (LOL, I'm predictable)
While I am aware that some of the Marvel TPTB over there feel that agitating and annoying fans is a good thing, I think that you can't always have it both ways. After a point, people get tired. Really tired. And besides, it's hard to take the fanboys (yes, I have come across guys who do this) who whine "let it go about Tony already, because poor poor Tony is in pain" seriously when we can now have in hardcover glory the fact that he was willing to instigate/engineer a war against the Atlanteans to quell what was essentially a stupid fight amongst superheroes and that the reporters knew about it but were willing to shut up about it because what he really needed was slow applause. In this day and age with TBPs the 5 year memory thing doesn't work that well.
(Oh crap, there goes my promise to stop bitching about Tony, since I don't actually hate him. But I can't help it, they keep on bringing stuff up in ways that annoy me!)
But seriously Marvel, you are willing to reprint hardcover after hardcover of Civil War but you cancel the Atlas title?! And now I know it was the editorial at fault for insisting on the zillions of crossovers (and Wolverine!!!) when the Agents of Atlas might actually benefit in being one of the few titles that doesn't suffer from crossover madness. Boo. (Although I am now more dedicated to writing a post about Jimmy Woo).
Next time hopefully, a non-comics related post!
Black Lightning vol.2 # 5
It's really really REALLY too bad that this series got the axe twice, it was a really well written and drawn comic with a great black superhero. There seems to be this habit of giving an interesting minority character their own solo comic but then giving them the axe or just not treating them with care with incredibly short runs (Ryan Choi, Jaime Reyes, Cassandra Cain, Renee Montoya, Kate Kane and there's got to be more). The worst thing is that Jefferson's biggest cheerleader is his own creator Tony Isabella, which is kind of the kiss of death for the strength and staying power of a comic book character who could, should and would be handled by multiple writers and artists*. A real pity, since this issue was setting up a new supporting gay character and featured a really moving romance scene for Jeff and his ex-wife Lynn. It would have been great to see where Tony Isabella was going.
*Note: Like Agents of Atlas, an awesome series that unfortunately only has one writer-supporter in Jeff Parker, hence its eventual death. Counter example is Bucky, who besides his main cheerleader Ed Brubaker, has many other writers using him, thus giving him stronger legs to stay in the Marvel U.
Captain America # 606
LOL, so much for my promise of tradewaiting since I already buy so much Cap* and prefer TBPs. But I can't help it! Ugh, just this arc, I promise! But then again, this IS the best way to read Nomad (I don't know if Marvel are going to compile her issues) without having to buy Young Allies, which I found a bit underwhelming and don't really want to buy. So maybe this is a series where I just have to suck it up and buy both versions or something. Who knows?
Anyhoo, # 606 was one I found hysterical because of a certain part in it. I may have mentioned before that slash ship wise I prefer Steve/Tony but have also read and really enjoyed Steve/Bucky. I also actually really like Steve/Sam, but it has been awhile since I've read anything fanfic or canon-wise that made me think of these two. Until this one, where the scenes that involve Sam talking to Steve on how to talk to Bucky and then the three of them together. Holy cow, I have never really seen as Steve taking on a father role to Bucky ever (and some of the canon that paints them this way I tend to roll my eyes slightly) and saw him as more of a big brother but honestly, when Sam and Steve chat and then team up to talk to Bucky they (Sam and Steve that is) act like SUCH a married couple to their moody/unhappy teenage son that it's hilarious. Not even the end line about moving the topic to talking about some game remove the coupley/parenty vibe that Sam and Steve had. It's quite adorable. Although it made me realise that Sam and Steve would make the absolute WORST parents ever if you were the kind of naughty kid who wanted to either play one parent against each other or needed to just appeal your case to one parent and then let them talk to your other stricter parent. With Steve/Tony or Steve/Bucky I could see how one of them, generally Steve would be the stricter parent (but then again, for a twist you could have Bucky be a suprisingly tougher parent because of his military family upbringing) but Sam/Steve would totally be an unstoppable force as parents.
*Note: Seriously, I've become known as the girl who cleans out the Captain America collections. Two stores have even given me one-off discounts without me asking for them because they know that I'll be back to buy more Cap.
See Above and Teabagging (AKA When The Savage Damsel is Late to the Party, Again)
Confession: Even though I like Cap, I normally don't surf the net in order to find news about him. I find talking/reading Cap stuff with some other LJ or blogger folks and the occasional recommended article to be enough. I find that life is short and I'd rather spend more time being amused rather than raising my blood pressure from screaming, "Do you even read the comics you stupid, stupid, fool?!" (Trust me, you can ALWAYS tell the difference between a Cap critic who has read one or some of the comics about him and decided that he's not their cup of tea - which is perfectly fine with me - to someone who has never, ever, looked at one comic of his. This is also completely the same when you get to his cheerleaders, who are actually MUCH more irritating than his critics).
So when I heard the words "teabagging", "Captain America" and "controversy", I decided to stay the hell away, because I saw this as a case of "Oh dear god, cheerleaders who Did Not Do The Research". Months later I came across an article while on a recommended link journey and finally understood what was going on. I didn't end up being too surprised or cheesed off at the teabagger hysteria although I did laugh when I realised what the problem was, for a moment I thought it was something extremely severe and not just a panel that I read and moved on from without getting my knickers in a knot over. If anything, I thought the signs were more restrained than anything, since it would have been SO tempting to make fun of teabaggers' complete inability to grasp the basics of spelling. (Dear teabaggers, taxes pay for education, nitwits, and that's even if you're REALLY arguing about taxes and are not just being racists. There is a difference in having objections in how taxes are spent or what kind of taxes we pay but teabagger arguments on taxes are usually pretty stupid).
What really infuriated me though was the cowardly action Quesada and co. took in apologising. (I'm not entirely giving Brubaker a pass on this, although I'm aware that he usually tries to restrain himself when writing Politi-Cap. But his snarky comment on his mail did make me grin a little. "I had to shut down my public email because I started getting death threats from, y'know, peaceful protesters."). I mean, seriously, Quesada? You are a person who openly states that you feel pure glee at upsetting your fans and see it as a positive thing but the idea of a fringe far right group who seem to not have read the Cap comics and related puts that much fear in you?! WIMP!!! The surprisingly rebellious spirits of past Cap writers should be shaking their damn head at you.
I agree with Mark Waid completely on this one:
Mark Waid on Twitter: "is humiliated and mortified on behalf of my entire industry that Fox News is able to bully us into apologizing to lunatics."
Oh, and here is a good summary of the issue.
Now I feel compelled to buy an extra copy of that issue, since unfortunately this is one small argument in favour of not tradewaiting. But I am NOT impressed with the circumstances for changing things in the TBP thing, they did this too with the Young Avengers trade where the initial flirty conversation between Wiccan and Hulkling was watered down severely. How very selective of them.
Love and Capes (TBPs 1 & 2 from IDW)
How could I have gone for so long not knowing about this series?! (because it was self-published, that's why, and I only found out about the series through pure accident. I intend on going to its site to get some merchandise and show some support some time later). It has everything I could possibly like in a comic book: a cute romance, humour (It makes fun of the crossover season madness with its very own Secret Wars and shows how it inconveniences everyone) and superheroes. It gives me the fix I need when I miss Lois and Clark or the comic book ships I adore that aren't really currently in action, like Peter/MJ or Ralph/Sue.
I laughed out loud when Major Might was introduced, because I love Billy Batson/Captain Marvel. He's the only superhero who could stir up maternal feelings in me (Billy's a total woobie!) but knowing my personality, I would be more likely to accidentally raise him as the next Dark Lord rather than the pure, sweet soul he's meant to be. (Screw you, Winick, for beginning the fail train of the Marvel family! That's why I only read the out of continuity series that's meant for kids!) Whoops, off-topic. Anyway, it turns out that Love and Capes is completely moving to IDW in December, so I'm pretty excited.
Love The Way You Love (Side A and B from Oni Press)
You know, it's been quite a while since I have been reading comics beyond the superhero genre, but there used to be a time when I never read or bought very much of the superhero genre at all. Reading this kind of takes me back to why I liked it so much. Love The Way You Love is a really cute romance comic set in the indie music scene and interestingly enough, is also a retelling of the Tristan and Isolde romance. The drawings have this sweet and simple earnestness that suits the story and the actual writing is able to portray all of that teen romance angst and earnestness without being too silly. The main players are well written (It may be Tristan's story but we also get good insight on Isobel and Marcus) and I really loved Tristan's little brother Lance and the beta couple Branden (who's a girl by the way) and Eleanore. The only real glitch I had with the story was on why Tristan seemed so dead set against hearing any offers of record deals with Marcus before he knew about Isobel and Marcus. I'm guessing it's an indie music thing that I don't know about.
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
Although at heart I am a big Peter/MJ shipper, I do actually like Peter/Gwen, in a doomed first love kind of way.
(I also wonder: Is it very hard for readers/writers to wrap their minds around an idea of loving someone even though you know they are not perfect? Because Gwen really suffers from the false dichotomy of being an uber-saint or an uber-bitch so badly, which interestingly enough also applies to John Keats's love of his life Fanny Brawne, who according to sexist critics of the past a vapid bitch who doesn't deserve to be loved by the youngest of the Romantic poets or a super-saintly angel of the house).
So while Peter and Mary Jane in the main continuity are suffering from the editorial having a prolonged and collective mid life crisis, I will enjoy Peter and Gwen in the kiddie line. (It may not have happened but you know that it could go there). Hey, I'd much rather read an actual Gwen Stacy (who in my mind is someone who is sweet AND temperamental AND smart but not wimpy or super-saintly or someone who slept with Norman) then some bland Gwen Stacy rip-off (Sorry, Carlie Cooper).
Marvel Adventures Super Heroes
First few things: This comic sucks from not having Storm, Hulk, Wasp/Giant-Girl, Ant-Man or Wolverine, who in this series is actually fun rather than mildly annoying. (I loved Storm in this series, she was awesome AND she got to freakin' date!!!) And while I really like Natasha and Susan, I just liked the friendship and awesomeness that Jane and Ororo brought to the team much much more.
However, aside from all of that it's pretty good (LOVE the fact that there is an adorable Marvel Adventures Deadpool version, even if he lacks the fourth wall breaking ability) despite me being rather confused by the undertone-shippy story of Cap and Invisible Woman. I mean, surely Steve knows that it's a lost cause, right? I get why guys would love Sue, what with her being awesome and also having the fortitude and loyalty of a freaking saint (well, she has been married to Reed for a really long time, it's like a staple requirement! ;D) but she has pretty much made up her mind yonks and yonks ago that Reed is the one for her. So Steve, if you really want a gorgeously kick-ass blonde woman in your life, I note that there IS a Marvel Adventures Sharon Carter hanging around at SHIELD. You should totally ask her out. Or if not, you should definitely spend more time playing basketball and having meals with Tony. ;) (Funny thing I noticed in #3, the panel shown of Steve after looking mournfully at Susan and Reed having a moment has Tony suddenly sparring with Steve for no reason and with no warning in the hallway. Clearly Tony has his own slashy plan, heeheehee).
Hawkeye & Mockingbird
So far I am quite pleased with this series, well at least with the first couple of issues. It is EQUALLY about Hawkeye and Mockingbird and the writer seems to understand how to write about their serious past issues with some semblance of sensitivity. Both Clint and Bobbi are seen in their good and problematic lights and in some certain situations it is easy to understand their viewpoints, even if you don't always agree with them. It basically beats the Green Arrow and Black Canary series to the ground (Which is not hard considering the fail train of that series and how the writers wrote such an interesting couple. Seriously, Dinah is awesome, and Ollie shouldn't be that much of a douche). While I am not sure about the series' survival or if it will continue to be good, so far it is doing good enough for me to keep reading, since the writer clearly cares about both characters.
Frenemy of the State (Oni Press)
It's kind of interesting that at first I thought that the main draw for me (beyond the fact that I only found out about it was from an interview done by Rashida Jones) was that this book would be a satire on the nature of celebutantes or a fun spy story. Actually, the most compelling draw for this comic would be the heroine Ariana Von Holmberg, whose prickly, mildly paranoid and intelligent nature is immediately compelling for me to keep on reading. The first issue of the series also proves that yes, you can have plenty of setup but still be immediately interesting and compelling, instead of needing to trot out the excuse of "you need to buy more issues to really appreciate the fine art of it all". The only complaint is I have is that in this day and age, the cliffhanger isn't THAT necessary, not the one that was presented anyway. Still a pretty good start though.
Runaways
Sigh. I've been catching up with the more recent digests and really, what the freaking hell happened to the series? I know the comics had plenty of soapiness but there was something called a freaking PLOT back then. That and everyone seems determined to change stuff or reset stuff without thinking why or what the consequences could be in series longevity. Really too bad, since this series was one of the most female friendly and newcomer friendly franchises around. It deserves to be saved, but no one seems to know how to do it.
Archie and Friends TBP: The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton
D'aww. Chuck is like the sweetest guy ever, and this trade was like a love letter to the comics-creating people out there.
I still have a fairly low interest in becoming a big Archie comics fan (I'm sorry, but the love triangle premise is just not really working for me at all) but I'm not going to be against the ocassional dabbling. That and having two alternate future timelines where the love triangle was bloody solved actually works really well and can make THREE sides of the ship war happy.
Spider-Man: O.M.I.T.
Cost of one issue of Spidey O.M.I.T.?: $ 3.99 USD
Actual cost of one issue of Spidey O.M.I.T. for me?: 0.00 AUD (My comic book store guy didn't seem to care that I flicked through the O.M.I.T. issues, most likely since he knows that I'm going to be buying a lot of other stuff)
Reading all of the incredibly true, bitchy and hilarious commentary on this fail-boat on the internet?: PRICELESS!!!
X-Women one-shot
My soul died when I flicked through this at the store. The excessive use of pointless and scarily blank pornfaces is horrible (The cover! bleccch!), and don't get me started on the sheer cheesecake-y grossness of it all. (I'm fine with sexuality, some fanservice and yes, even erotic art, but not when it's clear that women only exist for some guy to whack off to and NOT in this context). For crying out loud, Marvel are trying so hard to promote their women of Marvel, the X-Men has always been chock-full of interesting female characters of all kinds and they inflict THIS?! It was so awful I can barely remember the story. I don't care what others will say to defend this book on the beauty or whatever. I thought the horrible excessive use of pornface was a big enough distraction from any artistic merit.
Earlier this year Zenescope comics (who provide their own cheesecake too) released the first issue of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Illustrated # 1, and it was no suprise to get cheesecake-y art in that comic. The difference? It had context, and hell, it even had something to say, even if it has been said before (That being with an actual woman who has a mind of their own and can think and feel for themselves and be their own person has more satisfaction than being with basically a glorified blow-up doll, although the guy was still a douche). This X-Women one-shot on the other hand, didn't. Not really.
And just for fun, a letter from the Savage Damsel:
Dear Marvel,
It has come to my attention from reading 4 issues of Previews (it covers what you're publishing in July-October this year) that you have quite a fixation on reprinting all of your Civil War stuff in jacked-up priced hardcovers, despite nearly every comic book store I go to in Melbourne are still bursting to the seams in unsold back issues and TBPs. Considering that one store I go to sells their Iron Man Civil War TBP for $14 when they usually sell their TBPs at $25-30 and GNs at $17-20 (a $20 TBP is kinda rare and only for really really really slim books, sometimes), that is really saying something, especially since that aforementioned TBP actually managed to cast Tony in a somewhat sympathetic light.
Since it is very clear that there is money and trees to burn over at your place, may I make some suggestions for future publications?
1) I would like Captain America: Truth to be published as a TBP. I already have it in floppies, but unlike some things in life, it is worth buying/printing twice.
2) Misty Knight and Colleen Wing are awesome. Their limited series Daughters of the Dragon was only printed in 2006. And unlike DC, you lot are more willing to publish especially the newer stuff (you are also kind enough to specify on the back of your often numbered books which issues it covers and unlike DC, you never skip issues in the middle of trades for no good reason). So how about a TBP, huh?
3) Hello?! Why have you not printed any Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos as Marvel Essentials?! Surely they're old enough to qualify budget books. I know this hurts to hear, but not all of your fans can part with that much cash for the Masterworks hardcovers.
4) Iron Man: Execute arc (recent-ish issues 7-12) would be nice to have in a trade. I don't buy the recent stuff but I'm fine with the trades of the older stuff.
5) Some time ago, there was a miniseries featuring Sharon and Nick. Trade plz?
6) More Cap? (LOL, I'm predictable)
While I am aware that some of the Marvel TPTB over there feel that agitating and annoying fans is a good thing, I think that you can't always have it both ways. After a point, people get tired. Really tired. And besides, it's hard to take the fanboys (yes, I have come across guys who do this) who whine "let it go about Tony already, because poor poor Tony is in pain" seriously when we can now have in hardcover glory the fact that he was willing to instigate/engineer a war against the Atlanteans to quell what was essentially a stupid fight amongst superheroes and that the reporters knew about it but were willing to shut up about it because what he really needed was slow applause. In this day and age with TBPs the 5 year memory thing doesn't work that well.
(Oh crap, there goes my promise to stop bitching about Tony, since I don't actually hate him. But I can't help it, they keep on bringing stuff up in ways that annoy me!)
But seriously Marvel, you are willing to reprint hardcover after hardcover of Civil War but you cancel the Atlas title?! And now I know it was the editorial at fault for insisting on the zillions of crossovers (and Wolverine!!!) when the Agents of Atlas might actually benefit in being one of the few titles that doesn't suffer from crossover madness. Boo. (Although I am now more dedicated to writing a post about Jimmy Woo).
Next time hopefully, a non-comics related post!