Sunday Review #3

Saga #12 - You know for a comic that stirred up as much controversy as this one did there wasn't much to it. In this months issue we take a break from Marko, Alanna and the gang to see what Prince Robot has been doing. Apparently its mostly been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. And being threatened by a batwinged bastard. He goes to visit the author of the trashy romance novel that has inspired our war crossed lovers we learn all about where he is as a person. Or machine. I'm not really sure with him. Still, he's not in a happy place.

This is the first last page reveal that hasn't worked for me. When we find out that the Sagettes are hiding upstairs listening to this all to everything thats happening. The cliffhangers normally leave me with a feeling that I NEED to read the next issue. He's a master of "we can't stop there!" and this reveal just left me cold. By finding out that they were upstairs we lost a step in the story, and we'll likely get their version of events in the next issue. The problem with that is that Saga is doing a hiatus after this issue. Its likely only for a month but to come back after the break and then rewind the story seems like a bad idea to me. Additionally this was issue 12, also known as the last issue in V2 for the collected editions, so people reading in trade will have an even longer wait for the rewind. It just seems like a terrible place to put this kind of reveal.

Theremin #1 - A trippy time travel comic based on a real life person? Sign me up. Theremin is written by newcomer Curt Pires and has art by Dalton Rose, who provided us with the gorgeous Phabula a few months ago. Its the story of real life inventor Leon Theremin, though I think they might have embellished the time travel aspects of his invention. You see the Theremin is a unique musical instrument  of which I've embedded a video of Theremin himself playing below.

The premise here is that if you hold your hand at the correct angle you're shunted outside of time, can see the events of your life, and reposition yourself back when you wish. It looks like its still going to follow what we know of Theremin's life, but its also going to add in time travel, wallpaper men, and what looks to be a robot in the first issue. Its available as a digital exclusive for .99 cents on ComiXology and its a load of fun.

Comics for the week of 03/20/2013

DARK HORSE COMICS

BPRD HELL ON EARTH #105 COLD DAY IN HELL #1

DC COMICS

LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #18
NIGHTWING #18
WONDER WOMAN #18

IMAGE COMICS

COMEBACK #5 (MR)
INVINCIBLE #101
SAGA #11 (MR)

MARVEL COMICS

ALL NEW X-MEN #9 NOW
AVENGERS #8 NOW
CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 NOW
DEADPOOL #6 NOW
INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #5 NOW2
NEW AVENGERS #4 NOW

And the rest of the comics

DARK HORSE COMICS

AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 04 SEARCH PART 1 $10.99
BPRD HELL ON EARTH #105 COLD DAY IN HELL #1 $3.50
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #14 $3.50
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #22 (MR) $7.99
GARY BASEMAN THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN JOURNAL $9.99
MASSIVE TP VOL 01 BLACK PACIFIC $19.99
MIND MGMT #9 $3.99
RIPD TP VOL 01 2ND ED $12.99
STAR WARS LEGACY #1 PRISONER O/T FLOATING WORLD $2.99
UNAUTHORIZED TARZAN HC $29.99
UNAUTHORIZED TARZAN HC LTD ED $59.99
WILD ROVER FT THE SACRIFICE ONE SHOT (MR) $2.99

DC COMICS

ACTION COMICS #18 $4.99
ACTION COMICS #18 BLACK AND WHITE VAR ED $4.99
ACTION COMICS #18 COMBO PACK $5.99
ACTION COMICS #18 VAR ED $4.99
ACTION COMICS #18 WE CAN BE HEROES BLANK VAR ED $4.99
BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #14 $3.99
BATMAN HC VOL 02 THE CITY OF OWLS (N52) $24.99
BATMAN TP VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) $16.99
BATWOMAN #18 $2.99
BATWOMAN #18 VAR ED $2.99
BIRDS OF PREY #18 $2.99
CATWOMAN #18 $2.99
CONSTANTINE #1 $2.99
CONSTANTINE #1 VAR ED $2.99
DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #18 $2.99
DJANGO UNCHAINED #1 3RD PTG (MR) $3.99
FABLES #127 (MR) $2.99
GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #18 (WRATH) $2.99
GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #18 VAR ED (WRATH) $2.99
JSA LIBERTY FILES THE WHISTLING SKULL #4 $2.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE #18 $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE #18 BLACK & WHITE VAR ED $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE #18 COMBO PACK $4.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE #18 VAR ED $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #2 $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #2 BLACK & WHITE VARIANT ED $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #2 COMBO PACK $4.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #2 VAR ED $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #2 $2.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #2 VAR ED $2.99
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #18 $2.99
NIGHTWING #18 $2.99
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #18 $2.99
SUPERGIRL #18 $2.99
SUPERMAN DEATH AND RETURN OF SUPERMAN OMNIBUS HC $99.99
SWORD OF SORCERY #6 $3.99
WONDER WOMAN #18 $2.99
WONDER WOMAN #18 VAR ED $2.99
WONDER WOMAN AMAZON PRINCESS ARCHIVES HC VOL 01 $75.00
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
VERTIGO COVER GIRLS DEATH STATUE $99.95

IDW PUBLISHING

DOCTOR WHO FORGOTTEN HC $24.99
DOCTOR WHO PRISONERS OF TIME #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
ETERNAL DESCENT TP VOL 02 $24.99
GI JOE #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99
GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO TP VOL 06 $19.99
GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #1 SUBSCRIPTION VAR $3.99
GI JOE TARGET SNAKE EYES TP $19.99
GODZILLA ONGOING TP VOL 02 $17.99
HOLLOWS #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUDGE DREDD YEAR ONE #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99
JUDGE DREDD YEAR ONE #1 SUBSCRIPTION VAR $3.99
MEMORIAL IMAGINARY FIENDS #1 $3.99
MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #2 RAINBOW DASH [DIG/P+] $3.99
MYSTERY SOCIETY SPECIAL 2013 $3.99
POPEYE #11 [DIG/P+] $3.99
POPEYE TP VOL 02 $17.99
STAR TREK COUNTDOWN TO DARKNESS #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99
TMNT ADVENTURES TP VOL 04 $19.99
TMNT ANIMATED TP VOL 01 $7.99
TMNT ONGOING #20 $3.99
TMNT SECRET FOOT CLAN #4 $3.99
TRANSFORMERS FALL OF CYBERTRON #1 $7.99
TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #15 [DIG/P+] $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

ARTIFACTS #26 [DIG] $3.99
CHEW #32 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
COMEBACK #5 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
ELEPHANTMEN #47 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
FIVE GHOSTS HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY #1 [DIG] $3.50
INVINCIBLE #101 [DIG] $2.99
IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #8 [DIG] $2.99
MAXIMUM MINIMUM WAGE HC $34.99
NOWHERE MEN #1 4TH PTG $2.99
REVIVAL #8 [DIG] $2.99
SAGA #11 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
STORM DOGS #4 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
THIEF OF THIEVES #10 2ND PTG $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

ALL NEW X-MEN #9 NOW $3.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700 3RD PTG CAMUNCOLI VAR $7.99
AVENGERS #5 2ND PTG KUBERT VAR NOW2 $3.99
AVENGERS #8 AVENGERS 50TH ANNIVERSARY VAR NOW $3.99
AVENGERS #8 NOW $3.99
CABLE AND X-FORCE #6 ANDRASOFSZKY VAR NOW2 $3.99
CABLE AND X-FORCE #6 NOW2 $3.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 2ND PTG JRJR VAR NOW $3.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 NOW $3.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 YOON VAR NOW $3.99
CAPTAIN MARVEL #11 $2.99
DAREDEVIL #24 $2.99
DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID TP VOL 03 $16.99
DARK AVENGERS #188 $2.99
DEADPOOL #1 3RD PTG DARROW VAR NOW $2.99
DEADPOOL #2 3RD PTG DARROW VAR NOW $2.99
DEADPOOL #3 3RD PTG DARROW VAR NOW $2.99
DEADPOOL #4 2ND PTG DARROW VAR NOW $2.99
DEADPOOL #6 NOW $2.99
DEADPOOL #6 WARREN VAR NOW $2.99
DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 08 $24.99
FANTASTIC FOUR #5 DEODATO VAR NOW $2.99
GAMBIT TP VOL 01 ONCE A THIEF $18.99
HAWKEYE #3 3RD PTG AJA VAR $2.99
HAWKEYE #4 3RD PTG AJA VAR $2.99
HAWKEYE #5 3RD PTG AJA VAR $2.99
HAWKEYE #6 3RD PTG AJA VAR $2.99
INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #5 NOW2 $3.99
INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #5 STEVENS VAR NOW2 $3.99
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 10 LONG WAY DOWN $16.99
IRON MAN #6 2ND PTG LAND VAR NOW2 $3.99
MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 15 $69.99
MMW AMAZING SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 15 DM VAR ED 192 $69.99
NEW AVENGERS #4 NOW $3.99
NEW AVENGERS #4 ROUX VAR NOW $3.99
NOVA #2 CAMPBELL VAR NOW $3.99
NOVA #2 NOW $3.99
SAVAGE WOLVERINE #3 GRANOV VAR NOW $3.99
SAVAGE WOLVERINE #3 NOW $3.99
SECRET AVENGERS BY RICK REMENDER PREM HC VOL 03 $24.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #3 2ND PTG STEGMAN VAR NOW $3.99
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #6 NOW $3.99
SUPERIOR TP (RES) (MR) $19.99
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #21 $3.99
WINTER SOLDIER TP VOL 03 BLACK WIDOW HUNT $15.99
WOLVERINE MAX #5 (MR) $3.99
X-FACTOR #253 $2.99
X-TERMINATION #1 LARROCA VAR XT $3.99
X-TERMINATION #1 XT $3.99

AC COMICS

CRYPT OF HORROR #17 $29.95

ALTERNA COMICS INC

BLOOD-DRENCHED CREATURE DOUBLE-FEATURE GN $9.99

ALTERNATIVE COMICS

WHATEVER GN $9.95

AMRYL ENTERTAINMENT

CAVEWOMAN OASIS #1 BUDD ROOT SP ED (MR) $8.00

ANDREWS MCMEEL

CALVIN & HOBBES AUTHORITATIVE SC NEW PTG $16.99
CALVIN & HOBBES DAYS ARE JUST PACKED NEW PTG $16.99
CALVIN & HOBBES ITS A MAGICAL WORLD NEW PTG $16.99

ANTARCTIC PRESS

GOLD DIGGER #148 [DIG] $3.99
HOW TO DRAW ADVENTURE FRIENDS AND HEROES [DIG] $19.95

APE ENTERTAINMENT

DREW HAYES POISON ELVES #1 CVR A ROBERTSON (MR) $2.99
DREW HAYES POISON ELVES #1 CVR B MONTPELLER (MR) $2.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS

ARCHIE COMIC SUPER SPECIAL #2 [DIG/P+] $9.99
B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #232 [DIG/P+] $3.99
SONIC UNIVERSE #50 [P+] $3.99
WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #27 [DIG/P+] $3.99

ART OF FICTION

ALL CRIME #1 (MR) $3.95

ASPEN MLT INC

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #9 CVR A GUNDERSON $3.99
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ASSASSINS #9 CVR B MHAN $3.99
SOULFIRE VOL 4 #4 CVR A DEBALFO $3.99
SOULFIRE VOL 4 #4 CVR B DEBALFO EXC INCV $5.00

BONGO COMICS

SIMPSONS COMICS #200 $4.99

BOOM! STUDIOS

ADVENTURE TIME #14 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES #12 MAIN CVRS [DIG] $3.99
HELLRAISER DARK WATCH #2 MAIN CVRS (MR) [DIG] $3.99
STEED AND MRS PEEL ONGOING #6 [DIG] $3.99
SUPURBIA ONGOING #1 (3RD PTG) $3.99

CLASSIC COMICS PRESS

LEONARD STARRS MARY PERKINS ON STAGE TP VOL 11 $24.95

D. E.

BIONIC MAN #18 $3.99
DAMSELS #6 $3.99
FLASH GORDON ZEITGEIST #10 $3.99
JENNIFER BLOOD #24 (MR) $3.99
QUEEN SONJA #34 $3.99
THE SPIDER #10 $3.99
VOLTRON #11 $3.99

DYNAMIC FORCES

DF ASTONISHING X-MEN #50 PERKINS SGN CVR $29.99
DF AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 CHEUNG SGN $29.99
DF AVENGERS VS X-MEN #1 LEE SGN ED $399.99
DF IRON MAN #1 LAND SGN ED $29.99
DF MY LITTLE PONY MICRO SERIES #1 TWILIGHT SPARKLE EXC CVR ( $19.83
DF SPIDER #1 EXC VIRGIN ROSS SGN CVR $29.99
DF WOLVERINE #305 ROMITA SGN CVR $69.99

HERMES PRESS

PHANTOM COMP DAILIES HC VOL 05 1943-1944 $49.99

KICKSTART COMICS

BOUNTY KILLER GN $8.99
SPACE GLADIATOR GN $8.99

ONI PRESS INC.

PENNY ARCADE TP VOL 09 PASSIONS HOWL $14.99

SELFMADEHERO

WHEN DAVID LOST HIS VOICE HC GN (MR) $24.95

SHAMBHALA

DEMONS SERMON ON THE MARTIAL ARTS GN $14.95

TOON BOOKS

BARRYS BEST BUDDY HC $12.95

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (VU) #5 2ND PTG ZIRCHER CVR $3.99
HARBINGER (ONGOING) #10 REG SUAYAN CVR $3.99
HARBINGER (ONGOING) #10 VAR EVANS CVR $3.99
SHADOWMAN (VU) #2 2ND PTG ZIRCHER CVR $3.99
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #11 20 COPY INCV RIVERA CVR $3.99
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #11 50 COPY INCV SEARS CVR $3.99
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #11 PULLBOX NORD CVR $3.99
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #11 REG CRAIN CVR $3.99
VIZ MEDIA LLC
VAGABOND TP VOL 34 (MR) $9.95

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC

GFT MADNESS OF WONDERLAND #2 A CVR KROME (MR) $3.99
GFT MADNESS OF WONDERLAND #2 B CVR CHEN (MR) $3.99

Comics for the Week of 02/20/2013

When it rains it pours...

Dark Horse

B.P.R.D. 1948 #5 - I once read a quote from Mike Minogla where he said that his biggest regret in Hellboy was killing Proffesor Bruttenholm. With the 194X series hes gotten to correct that and let us see him in his prime. Its quickly become my favorite looks into the BPRD universe. The Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon art on the first two minis probably helped with that.

DC Comics

JSA: The Liberty Files: The Whistling Skull #3 - I can't get behind this series at all. When I went to read issue #2 I got about two pages in and quit. The only reason I'm getting this is because our less then stellar comic order system requires me to order the first 3 issues before I get to read a page and I don't want to stick my retailer with something he'll never move.

Legion of Super-Heroes #17 - I still haven't gotten caught up on this. I've been reading The Song of Ice and Fire books in my spare time.

Nightwing #17 - So my LCS didn't get Batman #17 in last week at all so I'm not sure if I should read this or wait. If I knew he'd be getting it this week or next week it'd be obvious but that amazing comics deliver system keeps me guessing.

Wonder Woman #17 - So this can just keep being about WW and Orion hanging out and meeting family members and I'd be 100% OK with that.

IDW

Locke and Key: Omega #3 - Joe Hill is a son of a bitch. Issue 2 was probably one of the most depressing things I've read in a long while and things are only supposed to get worse from here. I expect that the last issue will cause mass suicides up and down the east coast.

Image

Happy #4 - This series really hasn't lived up to its potential. It was solicited as a burnt out ex-cop hunting a child stealing psycho on Christmas eve with the help of a kidnapped girls imaginary friend. Instead we get said ex-cop not giving a shit for 3 issues while said imaginary friend harasses him about it. I expected more from Morrison. Robertson's pencils have been exactly what they;re supposed to be. For someone who specializes in gritty, filth filled worlds he draws one hell of a tiny winged blue horse.

Saga #10 - I was at a store that isn't my normal LCS on Saturday and they had several issues of this in thier 50% off bins. I pulled them out but got distracted by the MTG tournament I was in and didn't get to pick them up. As for the next issue, its going to be great. Its Saga. 

Marvel Comics

Avengers #6 - This is the last of the spotlight issues for now and this time  its focusing on the new Captain Universe. From what we've seen she's a little... unhinged. Most of her dialogue from the few appearances she's had have been fairly random. I don't believe we know who has the power right now either. Hopefully this will help us make more sense of the character because right now she makes none.

Captain America #4 - ARNIM ZOLA WILL CONTROL ALL!

Indestructible Hulk #4 - I'd really like this to be all about Bruce's new lab techs. There's not much point in having a supporting cast if they don't get any screen time.

Superior Spider-Man #4 - So Doc Ock's secret is out of the bag for at least one person, which is good because the whole Spider-Dick thing was getting old faster than I expected it to. I'm expecting some cat and mouse games here before the change in issue 8.

Thor, God of Thunder #5 - The last page of #4 was an pretty sweet cliffhanger. Young Thor has come to the future to help Old King Thor, and judging from the solicits we'll be getting more temporal shenanigans afterwards. I love a good time travel story and I expect Jason Aaron to pull off something sweet here.

Oni Press

The Sixth Gun #29 - Somehow I missed #27 and #28. I'm going to go rectify that right now...

The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun #1 - I think releasing these on the same day was a pretty big mistake. Marvel has shown that buyers are more than willing to buy comics more than once a month, but if your goal is to follow The Sixth Gun they are effectively double shipped it in the same week. Had they put this out two weeks from now I'd be a lot less weary about picking it up this week. As is I'll likely wait until the ComiXology drop happens.

And as usual, the rest of the list

Dark Horse

AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER PROMISE LIBRARY ED HC $39.99

BALTIMORE WIDOW & THE TANK ONE SHOT $3.50

BLACK BEETLE #2 NO WAY OUT $3.99

BPRD 1948 #5 $3.50

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #13 $3.50

DARK HORSE PRESENTS #21 (MR) $7.99

GAME OF THRONES SHIELD PIN GREYJOY $14.99

GAME OF THRONES TYRION STATUE $199.99

GHOST OMNIBUS TP VOL 04 $24.99

GOON TP VOL 12 THEM THAT RAISED US LAMENT $16.99

HELMETGIRLS ART OF CAMILLA DERRICO HC $24.99

MIND MGMT #8 $3.99

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION COMIC TRIBUTE TP $10.99

NUMBER 13 #3 $3.99

RESIDENT ALIEN WELCOME TO EARTH TP VOL 01 $14.99

DC COMICS

ACTION COMICS #17 $3.99

ACTION COMICS #17 BLACK & WHITE VAR ED $3.99

ACTION COMICS #17 COMBO PACK $4.99

ACTION COMICS #17 VAR ED $3.99

ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 04 BORN TO BE WILD (MR) $19.99

BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #13 $3.99

BATMAN DEATHBLOW DELUXE EDITION HC $22.99

BATWOMAN #17 $2.99

BATWOMAN #17 VAR ED $2.99

BIRDS OF PREY #17 $2.99

CATWOMAN #17 $2.99

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #17 $2.99

DEATH OF SUPERMAN TP NEW ED $14.99

FABLES #126 (MR) $2.99

FABLES DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 06 (MR) $29.99

GREEN LANTERN #17 (WRATH) $2.99

GREEN LANTERN #17 COMBO PACK (WRATH) $3.99

GREEN LANTERN #17 VAR ED (WRATH) $2.99

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #17 (WRATH) $2.99

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #17 VAR ED (WRATH) $2.99

GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #17 (WRATH) $2.99

GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #17 VAR ED (WRATH) $2.99

HELLBLAZER #300 (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $4.99

JSA LIBERTY FILES THE WHISTLING SKULL #3 $2.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE #17 $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE #17 BLACK & WHITE VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE #17 COMBO PACK $4.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE #17 VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 ALABAMA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 ALASKA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 ARIZONA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 ARKANSAS VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 CALIFORNIA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 COLORADO VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 COMBO PACK $4.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 COMPLETE PACK $149.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 CONNECTICUT VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 DELAWARE VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 DIST COLUMBIA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 FLORIDA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 GEORGIA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 HAWAII VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 IDAHO VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 ILLINOIS VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 INDIANA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 IOWA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 KANSAS VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 KENTUCKY VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 LOUISIANA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 MAINE VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 MARYLAND VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 MASSACHUSETTS VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 MICHIGAN VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 MINNESOTA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 MISSISSIPPI VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 MISSOURI VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 MONTANA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 NEBRASKA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 NEVADA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 NEW HAMPSHIRE VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 NEW JERSEY VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 NEW MEXICO VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 NEW YORK VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 NORTH CAROLINA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 NORTH DAKOTA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 OHIO VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 OKLAHOMA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 OREGON VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 PENNSYLVANIA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 PUERTO RICO VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 RHODE ISLAND VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 SOUTH CAROLINA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 SOUTH DAKOTA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 TENNESSEE VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 TEXAS VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 UTAH VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 VERMONT VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 VIRGINIA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 WASHINGTON VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 WEST VIRGINIA VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 WISCONSIN VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 WYOMING VAR ED $3.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #1 $2.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #1 VAR ED $2.99

LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #17 $2.99

MAD MAGAZINE #520 $5.99

NIGHTWING #17 (DOTF) $2.99

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #17 (DOTF) $2.99

SUPERGIRL #17 $2.99

SWORD OF SORCERY #5 $3.99

TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS BY GEOFF JOHNS HC $150.00

VOODOO TP VOL 02 THE KILLER IN ME (N52) $14.99

WONDER WOMAN #17 $2.99

WONDER WOMAN #17 VAR ED $2.99

YOUNG JUSTICE #25 $2.99

IDW

ALAN ROBERT KILLOGY #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

BORDERLANDS ORIGINS #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

CHASING THE DEAD #4 [DIG/P+] $3.99

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CLASSICS TP VOL 04 $24.99

EXTREME FINALE HC NEW PTG $150.00

FEVER RIDGE MACARTHUR JUNGLE WAR #1 $3.99

GI JOE #1 [DIG/P+] $3.99

GI JOE #1 SUBSCRIPTION VAR $3.99

GI JOE IDW COLLECTION HC VOL 01 $49.99

GODZILLA ONGOING #10 [DIG/P+] $3.99

HOLLOWS #3 [DIG/P+] $3.99

JERICHO SEASON 4 #2 [DIG/P+] $3.99

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The Slow Death of DC Comics

Or at least my interest in them. I was always a DC guy. I like Batman, Green Lantern, the Flash, and the JSA in all their old man glory. Its a shame I can't buy them anymore.

When DC rebooted their comic line after Flashpoint I wasn't reading much in the way of comics. I was still getting the Green Lantern books, The Legion of Superheroes  Adventure Comics, Criminal when it came out but not much else. Shadowland had pushed me out of the Marvel universe. My interest in the corporate books had slowly drained out and there wasn't much in the way of creator owned comics that I was interested in.. I was almost out. Then we got the New 52 and I was back on board. The promise of a fresh start for the entire line was enough and I picked up half of the initial offernigs. Of course that didn't last long. I didn't get second issues on some but I stuck with so much more than I was expecting to.

There was energy to the books again. Because of the reboot we didn't know everything for a change. It was refreshing. Then about 6 months in things started to get stale again. I started dropping books that had just been spinning their wheels since the relaunch. Teen Titans and Superboy never really went anywhere. Green Lantern just seemed to be a staging ground for whatever event was coming. Action Comics was a mess. And some books were just terrible. *coughcoughlegionlostcough* So my pull list from DC shrank. Then they canceled a round of books, but from their second wave there was books I was interested in. Then they canceled books, and that third wave? Well, there's Talon. Its pretty good.

So at this point I'm getting the following

Batman
Nightwing
Talon
Animal Man
Swamp Thing
All Star Western
Wonder Woman
Legion of SuperHeroes

And I plan to drop Animal Man and Swamp Thing when Rotworld is over. I've enjoyed them but its taken way too long to get to where we are. Combine that with Scott Snyder leaving Swampy and I'm out. I'm also feeling the shine come off Batman but I'm hoping that's just all the set up we've had on the Joker story and it'll bear fruit. I haven't read Legion in... probably a year by now. I'll continue to get it because I do like The Legion, I just fell behind. And I've got a hell of a Legion run going, no reason to mess that up.

So I'm moving on from DC. But unlike where I was when the New 52 happened I'm reading a lot more from other publishers. I'm getting BPRD, Saga, The Manhattan Projects, Fatale, Prophet and some other minis. I love Brian Wood's Conan The Barbarian. I even jumped into Marvel with both feet thanks to Marvel Now and have been pleasantly surprised. Hickman's Avengers is good, Aaron's Thor is good, Waid's Hulk is good. Remender's Captain America is trippy and fun. I'm even enjoying Bendis' All New X-Men, a title which seems to really suit his style.

Goodbye DC. I hope you get your act together. I miss the characters.

First Issue Blues

What makes a good first issue? I've been reading a lot of them lately and the question has been on my mind. There’s a lot of different ways to take the opening of your story. Recently I've read the openers to The Manhattan Projects, Saga, Prophet (a relaunch and issue 21 technically but I’ve never read any before and don't feel the need to now.) The Secret History of D.B. Cooper, Thief of Thieves, Hell Yeah, Saucer Country... I've been branching out a bit.

I'd say most of them are failures for first issues.

I've only got one criteria for a successful first issue of a comic book. Its got to make me want to buy the second issue. That’s it. And most of them are failures. Out of the books I listed above I'm only going to be sticking with The Manhattan Projects, Saga, and Prophet.

So why don't I want to buy the second issue of the others? Well, it depends. The Secret History of D.B. Cooper was an odd book. Its premise is based in a hijacking from the 70s but it quickly turns into Samurai action with a Teddy Bear sidekick against a monster/Russian government Official. To say it was odd would do the word odd a disservice. But most of the book was tied up in the fight and the conversation between Cooper and the Teddy Bear. At the end there's a bit with some CIA agents but I really didn't feel like there was enough to keep me around other than the Odd. Odd is not enough for me.

Thief of Thieves spent half its issue in a flashback about stealing a car. This is supposed to be about the greatest thief alive and he spends most of his time jacking a sedan. The heist at the beginning was cool but the book ends on him quitting. Reluctant worlds best thief isn't a pitch its a party member in Final Fantasy 6. We're going to have to spend a good bit of the next issue on how to get him to steal shit again. Pass.

Hell Yeah was especially off because for a book called Hell Yeah it was pretty dull. Kid goes to school, kid gets in fights outside of school, kid gets threatened with expulsion, kid goes to see a band, kid goes to bed. Kid goes to school and people from another dimension show up. So until that last one we had an episode of a generic teen drama on ABC Family. And I called him kid because I have no idea what his name was. There was some other bits with the first Superheros to emerge in this world but none of it was anything we hadn't seen before. Don't engage me and I won't pick up number 2.

Saucer Country was the one I'm most disappointed in. Paul Cornell wasn't a name I was familiar with a year ago but now I look forward to his DC Comics work and have really enjoy his credited Doctor Who episodes. The first issue of Saucer Country falls into what I like to think of as the first issue folly. To get us to buy the comic you have to tell us what its about. In this case its about a Divorced Hispanic Woman running for President after being Abducted by Aliens. Your standard Grays. The problem with knowing that going in is that it kills our big reveal on the last page. I was abducted by aliens has ZERO punch when I knew that 3 months ago from the solicits. Otherwise we got some Divorcees feeling lonely and a crazy guy talking to tiny imaged of naked people. Once again, Odd isn't going to get me to buy your comic and neither is lonely.

So what worked? We did have three successes out of seven books.

The Manhattan Projects didn't let me know anything about it from the solicits. All it had was a tag line of “Infinite Oppenheimers” and the knowledge that it was about the secret projects behind the scenes of the development of the Atomic Bomb. So what made this comic work when the others didn't? Well, first we're in a familiar area with scientists that most people have heard of. Even if you don't know Oppenheimer when Einstein shows up you'll know him. But the familiarity is undercut by the intrigue of what they might be doing. The Odd moment in the middle of the book is explained as its happening and is pretty high on the crazy concept scale. But its pretty sweet too. And the last page cliffhanger, which I'm not going to spoil, wasn't something that I knew of months ago nor was it something I saw coming. This book grabbed me with its super science and its crazy potential and made me want to buy issue 2. I'm actually more excited for 2 than I was for 1 and I'd say this was easily the most anticipated book on this list for me. I can't wait to see where it goes.

Saga is a bit of a cheat because I'm fairly certain that Brian K Vaughn regularly sacrifices children to appease his dark lord and gain boons. Possibly in the same Ceremony that the Pixar guys do. He did go all Hollywood on us. What makes Saga work isn't its mash-up of sci fi and fantasy but the strong character work done in a small bit of time. By the end of the first issue you know the protagonists, you know how cheated the Robot Prince feels at having to hunt them, and you know exactly what the bounty hunter is going to do later when he catches them. It might just be an effective use of archetypes and tropes but it works wonderfully. And Fiona Staples art is just beautiful. Especially the giant turtle with laser eyes. Yeah, this one is full of Odd too but its held together by things you care about.

The last one is Prophet. Prophet is a really strange book. Its heavy on narration which it uses to take us through the strange and terrifying world that the Earth has turned into. Its like a travelog of the future after it went to hell. Its got more ideas in one issue than most series pack into a year and it has them all seamlessly tied together to give us a picture of life and what John Prophet is dealing with. There’s nothing to spoil here, no huge final page revelation or twist in the story, just an extremely well done comic that deserves attention. Instead of trying to hook me by the end it hooked me from the first few pages. I really don't feel like I'm doing it justice here.

So what makes a good first issue? Well, it looks like doing something different helps, but don't rely on that like a crutch. Have interesting characters and don't spoil everything in the solicits? Sounds easy doesn't it?

I best the next few I read are going to suck