Comics and the City. New comics talk for 04/16/2008!

[conorkilpatrick]

Tell us what you thought of the books of the week!

Here's what Josh (http://www.ifanboy.com/users/Josh/comics), Ron (http://www.ifanboy.com/users/Ron/comics), Conor (http://www.ifanboy.com/users/Conor/comics), and Gordon (http://www.ifanboy.com/users/Gordon/comics) are reading.

The Pick of the Week is Hellblazer #243.
http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/dc_comics/hellblazer/243/cover-thumb.jpg (http://www.ifanboy.com/content/potw/04_16_2008_-_Hellblazer__243)

From here on out, it's SPOILER-O-RAMA.

Don't forget to rate and review the books over at iFanboy.com (http://www.ifanboy.com/comics).

[labor_days]

Whoa. Lone Ranger was really, really good this week. Glad I picked this one up.

[labor_days]

Way to spoil Death of the New Gods for me, Countdown.

Also. No.

No, no, no. The epic Orion/ Darkseid battle can not take place within Countdown. I'm sorry, but no. There were too many good comics leading up it the prophecy for it to end in a series such as Countdown.

This is outrageous!

[humphrey-lee]

Way to spoil Death of the New Gods for me, Countdown.

Also. No.

No, no, no. The epic Orion/ Darkseid battle can not take place within Countdown. I'm sorry, but no. There were too many good comics leading up it the prophecy for it to end in a series such as Countdown.

This is outrageous!

The thought of this actually makes me die a little inside. And I still refuse to read Countdown, even off the shelf. You'd probably have to pay me $3 to do it actually, the standard charge for wasting my time.

[gobo]

Ghost Rider has continued to blow me away. Another great issue this week.

I'm thinking the guy on the phone might've been Dan Ketch.

Cap and Herc were also solid this week too.

[gobo]

Annihilation Conquest was a pretty satisfying ending, how come Marvel and DC can have satisfying conclusions to big events in the cosmic books but not the main ones?

I'm super stoked for the new Guardians of the Galaxy book

[iSteve]

I was really stoked for Noble Causes #32, but when I went to my LCS, my copy of the issue had not come in. I'll have to wait for another week to enjoy this.

[neb]

I mentioned this on the main site, but the Powers Annual took me an hour to read. Here's the breakdown:

10 min. to read the actual issue

50 min. to read the bonus thread from Bendis' forums that he posted in the back.

It was really good stuff, and reading the creators interacting was a good time, but man, my eyes hurt.

[mikegraham6]

Anyone who's really hyped for Secret Invasion needs to pick up Captain Marvel #5. Not only was it a great issue but i think it sets Mar-Vell up to be a MAJOR player in this event.

[paper]

I went to school with the assistant editor of Captain Marvel. Buy the book!

[meccaed]

Did anyone else love Captain Action? Or even buy it?..

[paper]

Do you mean this (http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/comics/captain_action__gulacy_cvr/0) Captain Action?

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/fuzzytype/Cap0Retro100.jpg

I hadn't heard of this. From what I can gather, it's based on the old action figure? Is this a first issue? I'd be willing to give it a shot. Might be a fun retro book.

[meccaed]

Thats the one. I gave it a shot mainly because of Fabian Nicieza, good stuff.

[paper]

Is it funny? What's it like?

I'm going to the shop tomorrow and I have a pretty light week, so if it's good...

[ruo21]

Hmm I got not one new book this week(picking up Cap in the Omnibus and trades), I guess I could check out the book of the week... but not really neccessary. I used my extra cash to catch up on JSA and the Incredible Herc.

Ha! Extra cash.

[paper]

JSA! Good choice!

[meccaed]

Hmm. So theres an alien parasite thats controlling random people, government officials, etc. A shadow government is formed called A.C.T.I.O.N. Directorate, and they have a lead field agent called Captain Action. He's not a super hero, but there is a metahuman presence. And its only $1.99! Try it out.

[paper]

Sure, what the hell.

[labor_days]

Hey Conor, when did you switch to issues on Lone Ranger?

I recall you saying you were waiting for trade on LR. Haven't heard much about it on the show either.

It was pretty good this week, huh?

[conorkilpatrick]

Hey Conor, when did you switch to issues on Lone Ranger?

I recall you saying you were waiting for trade on LR. Haven't heard much about it on the show either.

It was pretty good this week, huh?

I've always been on issues. I think I said I was thinking about switching to trades because it was unfolding so slowly and because they were taking forever to come out. I even went ahead and bought the first trade to start myself off but I guess I changed my mind.

I talked about the Lone Ranger & Tonto one-shot when it came out.

Yep, this one was very good.

[labor_days]

No shit. I thought you were on trade and it was just me and Six out here reppin' the Lone Ranger.

But I am not wrong in that you generally dont like Pope. So my question; the Pope pages, yay or nay?

I thought it was great. The parallel of emotion in Tonto's story and the corruption of the law. And I loved the intensity of the Ranger visiting the sheriff in the night. The whole exchange was terrific.

[conorkilpatrick]

But I am not wrong in that you generally dont like Pope. So my question; the Pope pages, yay or nay?

They were excellent. I guess I just don't like his people. He draws a great wolf.

[dave-accampo]

So, this isn't comics reviews or anything, but I was buying my copy of Infinite Horizon #3 today while the writer, Gerry Duggan, was in the store. Signed it for me. Nice guy.

[charlie-blix]

So, this isn't comics reviews or anything, but I was buying my copy of Infinite Horizon #3 today while the writer, Gerry Duggan, was in the store. Signed it for me. Nice guy.

Wow thats pretty freaking sweet. I live in a small ass town where no one comes... sad are I.

[labor_days]

Thought the Cyclops was going to be a robot or something. Was cool though. Love that Phil Noto art. There is just a quality to it I can't quite put my finger on that appeals to me. It may be the color palette and paper stock.

[horatio616]

I think the book I enjoyed the most this week was War Is Hell #2. The Chaykin art brings back good memories of The Shadow, Blackhawk, and American Flagg.

[gobo]

Man X-Men: Divided We Stand was bad.

I kind of liked the Sam story and I'm hoping it explains a bit of the new Brotherhood thing. The rest of it was pretty bad, especially Skottie's.

Especially disappointed with Matt Fraction's story

[bigyanks]

I agree that Captain Marvel was really good and also believe he is going to a major player. now i wanna make sure i got some thing right.
1. hes going to eventually die because they gave him cancer?
2. it seems like he can tell who's a skrull or not, which would explain why in secret invasion he attacked the thunderbolts and didn't utter the words "he loves you.

[kahunablair]

Anyone else reading Hercules? I've been picking it up mainly for a zaniness of it and the Art.
This issue wasn't that great but the final reveal was a doozy. They really are going to bring every Marvel book into this Secret Invasion thing aren't they?

[horatio616]

"Googling 'pirate attacks' and 'Bahamas'"

My review of The Sword #7 is up.

[horatio616]

So, this isn't comics reviews or anything, but I was buying my copy of Infinite Horizon #3 today while the writer, Gerry Duggan, was in the store. Signed it for me. Nice guy.

I find the art in this book, particularly the covers, to be very appealing. Frustratingly, I've only been able to find #2 in stores. I'll be getting this in trade.

[kahunablair]

"Googling 'pirate attacks' and 'Bahamas'"

My review of The Sword #7 is up.

I forgot to read that! Crap!

[mikegraham6]

so no one read Captain Marvel?? i thought people would all over this, especially considering Secret Invasion (check my post on the Secret Invasion thread)

[gobo]

I thought I saw a few posts here about it, I read it though. I've thought the whole series was pretty good!

And glad I was right about Marvel not being like the rest of the skrulls in Secret Invasion.

[gobo]

Whoa, Hellblazer is the PotW? I haven't heard anyone really talking about that book in ages!

[bigyanks]

heres a link to my post on captain marvel http://www.revision3.com/forum/showpost.php?p=342438&postcount=28

[paper]

Whoa, Hellblazer is the PotW? I haven't heard anyone really talking about that book in ages!

They talk about it on the show just about every time it comes out.

[gobo]

I'm fairly new to the show :)

I'm going to have to check out Hellblazer when the next arc starts...

Edit: Or... since this is part 1 of 2 of an arc I'll see about getting this one

[paper]

Yeah, I don't think the series gets that much attention elsewhere, but if you want your Hellblazer fix, Josh usually has it covered.

I read it, and I know Dave and Humphrey read it as well.

[gobo]

I've read some of Ennis' run and of course Constantine's appearances during alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing, I like the character. I just haven't given any of the recent stuff a shot

[labor_days]

I read Hellblazer in trade. Jumped back on issues this week.

[charlie-blix]

I thought about picking hellblazer up in trade but I'm going to finish getting the Preacher trades first.

[mikegraham6]

I agree that Captain Marvel was really good and also believe he is going to a major player. now i wanna make sure i got some thing right.
1. hes going to eventually die because they gave him cancer?
2. it seems like he can tell who's a skrull or not, which would explain why in secret invasion he attacked the thunderbolts and didn't utter the words "he loves you.
sorry bigyanks, i guess i missed your post
i think you're right about Secret Invasion, he'll probably be used to seek out skrulls. Now the question is, which one of the Thunderbolts is a skrull? my money's on Osborn, he did die after all and came back to life.

[horatio616]

Added a review of the Powers Annual to my Sword #7 review on ifanboy.com.

http://ifanboy.com/reviews/ultimatehoratio/image_comics/sword/7

http://ifanboy.com/reviews/ultimatehoratio/marvel_comics/powers_annual_2008

[jmstump]

I did a couple reviews:

Robin #173 (http://ifanboy.com/reviews/jstump/dc_comics/robin/173)

War is Hell The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle #2 (http://ifanboy.com/reviews/jstump/marvel_comics/war_is_hell_first_flight_phantom_eagle_max/2_(of_5))

I'm guessing a lot of people will disagree with my review of Phantom Eagle.

Overall was a light week for me. 5 books, which is crazy. Sadly nothing really seemed super awesome. Cap was good, but didn't hit me as well as past months have. Although it could be the bad news I heard before I went to go get my comics.

[horatio616]

Review of Phantom Eagle #2:

http://ifanboy.com/users/ultimatehoratio/comics/week/2008-04-16

Looks like we did disagree on every point except one:

The Phantom Eagle is an idiot!

[humphrey-lee]

so no one read Captain Marvel?? i thought people would all over this, especially considering Secret Invasion (check my post on the Secret Invasion thread)

I read it off the shelf. It was pretty good, but I dunno, also seems kind of silly at the same time the reveal about Cap's "true nature". Truly "comic-booky". But I still love Lee Weeks art. I might end up hunting the issues down in dollar bins just to look at it.

[neb]

Well, I finally found time to finish my books this week. I had a great stack. I've only had time to do two reviews so far, which are linked here:

Batman and the Outsiders #6 (http://http://www.ifanboy.com/reviews/Neb/dc_comics/batman_and_the_outsiders/6)

Infinite Horizon #3 (http://http://www.ifanboy.com/reviews/Neb/image_comics/infinite_horizon/3_(of_6))

I should get a couple more reviews up later tonight, but I'm going to be watching Justive League: The New Frontier tonight, and I've got to get to bed early. There's a couple other issues I'm having the itch to talk about.

Oh, and Hellblazer. Goddamned awesome. I've loved what Diggle has been doing with this series since he took over. So boss.

[six-gun]

I swear, I forget what's happened in Gotham Underground every time it comes out

[six-gun]

Captain America was just insanely good this week. Very subtle all the way through, I think that this third act of the death storyline is going to be spectacular.

I especially loved the scene with Hawkeye. He comes in, hot tempered and full of righteous indignation just like he realisticaly would and then Bucky just sort of says "Look, I'm Captain America now, deal with it!" and just makes Hawkeye seem like a real prick for even coming in there.

Then Hawkeye leaves. Which was just perfect. Most writers would try and decompress the scene and make it big and mopey, but really. That soesn't happen in real life. When guys make fools out of themselves they don't want to talk about it, they want to save face and get the hell out of dodge.

Add in the fact that Clint wore the stars and stripes for one night before joining the New Avengers and you have an incredibly tense scene with e "He who without sin let him cast the first stone" dynamic that Brubaker had the restraint to portray as it actually would happen.

This may have been my favorite scene of this title since the Bucky/Stark fight.

[jon_samuelson]

So, I've been reading Death of the New Gods, and loving it. Now, I hear that Orion offed Darkseid in the latest issue of countdown. I want someone to just tell me so I don't have to bother buying issues of countdown. Here's my question... What the hell? Did Orion not die at the end of "Death of the New Gods" 5 or 6? What am I missing? Was it a good fight, should I just go ahead and buy the last few issues of Countdown?

[labor_days]

- Orion did not die.

- Orion "killed" Darkseid by pulling out his still beating heart

- The prophecy was fulfilled with Darkseid's heart playing substitute for the fire pits (seemingly)

- It was a spectacular slugout rendered by Sott Kollins in a Kirby by way of Simonson style.

- Get issues #3-1 of Countdown. That's when the action goes down.

[jon_samuelson]

Thanks Labor. And might I echo that it's really obnoxious that so important an event for the "Death of the New Gods" happened outside it's pages with really no alert from editorial. That said I'm glad that Orion didn't die, because I thought it was a little lame that he was killed off-panel in Death of the New Gods.

[labor_days]

If you check the last few pages of the Countdown thread, you will see that we are in agreement. Something as big as Orion vs. Darkseid should have happened in DotNG.

That said, the art was great and the fight itself was spectacular in issue #2.