Pick of the Week Podcast Episode #130 - Justice League of America #20

[conorkilpatrick]

It's a fairly light week. But, as always, there's plenty to talk about. There were a few worthy books, and plenty of e-mails.

We discuss Conor's Pick of the Week for April 25, 2008:

http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/dc_comics/justice_league_of_america/20/cover-thumb.jpg
Justice League of America #20
by Dwayne McDuffie & Ethan Van Sciver
Running Time: 01:03:17

Click here for download info and show notes! (http://www.ifanboy.com/podcasts/audio/04_27_08_-_Episode__130_-_Justice_League_of_America__20)

Click here to read the Pick of the Week review! (http://www.ifanboy.com/content/potw/04_23_2008_-_Justice_League_of_America__20)

Click here to see the iFanboy Mini review! (http://www.ifanboy.com/podcasts/video/ifanboy_mini_-_episode__30_-_justice_league_of_america__20)

[mikegraham6]

Justice League was good but it felt more like a Brave and the Bold issue rather than a JLA issue. I had originally dropped this book but i think i'll pick up the next issue to see if it maintains this quality.

I'm shocked by the Mighty Avengers hate. I loved this issue. My only complaint was that it felt like it should have been in New Avengers. This espionage/dark tone doesn't fit with the overall feel of this series. Maleev's art (while great) doesn't jive with the more overthetop cartoony styles of Bagley and Cho.

Batman was awesome, i love grant morrison to death. I though DC had scraped the plans to replace Bats with Jason Todd. It seems unwise considering the Dark Knight is being released this summer.

So are all you guys dropping checkmate now that Rucka is gone?

Death of the New Gods (despite lateness) helped me understand countdown 2. I felt that Orion showing up was a bit too convenient (like a Deus Ex Machina), but this explains that he was actually chasing Darkseid all along.

I realized that Countdown's last issue was an epilogue, but what frustrated me was that countdown to anything. i thought it would at least end with some sort of setup to Final Crisis. Sure, maybe the climax happened in issue 2 but they could have given us something.

I think Bendis is setting up the Young Avengers to be major players in Secret Invasion so hopefully a new series will be arriving sooner rather than later

[oh_caroline]

I still don't remember Vision being in 'Young Avengers.' And I thought I had read the whole series.



I think Bendis is setting up the Young Avengers to be major players in Secret Invasion so hopefully a new series will be arriving sooner rather than later

Is there a YA tie-in to Secret Invasion? I heard they're doing a 'Runaways' one, so will they be joined together like in Civil War?

I was sort of like Josh on Mighty Avengers. All the criticisms made sense when I heard them, but as I was reading I was just going, "Oooh, Fury! Oooh, Maleev!"

I probably will go back to not buying any SI tie-ins now, though, and hoping the main series makes sense on its own.

[kwok_talk]

I still don't remember Vision being in 'Young Avengers.' And I thought I had read the whole series.

Is there a YA tie-in to Secret Invasion? I heard they're doing a 'Runaways' one, so will they be joined together like in Civil War.


Vision's there, just more of a "younger version" of himself. And the YA-tie will be another crossover with Runaways.

[oh_caroline]

Vision's there, just more of a "younger version" of himself.

Isn't he kind of Tommy and Billy's dad? *blinks*

Oh, comic book family trees.

[kwok_talk]

Isn't he kind of Tommy and Billy's dad? *blinks*

Oh, comic book family trees.

This is me trying to ponder that family tree:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2162/2445992407_be1418a784_m.jpg

Oh and to comment on the guy who wanted to be sure of something before buying it, I think Ron made a great suggestion about libraries - A great way to try things out w/o spending any money

[gobo]

God I love Scott Pilgrim

[dustcoveredsoul]

I second the library suggestion. I've read a lot of good stuff from mine, I worked in one for about 4 years and I'm currently going to school to be a librarian (it requires a masters degree). Just so you know, at most libraries, they're kept in the nonfiction section with the art. 741.597 in the Dewey (yes I have that memorized) I don't know if I completely agree with them being kept there but there's not really a lot else they can do with them. I don't think that I'd want them mixed in with the regular fiction because there's a size difference and you really want to keep them all together.

At our library they tried to give them their own section near the "Teen" books once but an angry mother came in waving a copy of Preacher in out face, so they moved them back. hah.

Travis

[oh_caroline]

Just so you know, at most libraries, they're kept in the nonfiction section with the art. 741.597 in the Dewey (yes I have that memorized)

Travis

Hmm, my library has a separate graphic novels shelf within young adult -- and I've found 'Ex Machina' and 'Watchmen' there, so apparently parents haven't complained yet. The library I used to go to mixed most of them in with fiction, by the author's name (but about all they had was Gaiman and Alan Moore, so that wasn't hard). Basically, it doesn't seem like there is a uniform system, yet; I sort of like most of them being in Young Adult -- and I definitely like seeing them shelved together -- but I do think the YA thing probably limits the library's buying options. The other problem with my library is that, while the selection is very diverse, they often only buy the first hardcover of an ongoing series. So I've read one hardcover of 'Invincible,' 'Powers, etc, but if I want more I'm going to have to spend.

It will be interesting to see how this system evolves over the years. Having comics fans in library schools is definitely going to HELP, though, so good for you!

[kahunablair]

I want to get Josh's "Fuck an Armadillo" line tattooed on my chest.

[davetron3k]

Oh and to comment on the guy who wanted to be sure of something before buying it, I think Ron made a great suggestion about libraries - A great way to try things out w/o spending any money


Don't forget, stores like Barnes & Noble will let you sit there and read for hours without buying anything. You can even have things ordered in and then decline to purchase if you don't like it.

[six-gun]

What's with the Mighty Avengers hate. Maleev's art was stunning, the look and feel of the city in Mexico was just perfect. Almost tactile. And also, Fury was changing his physical appearance constantly, he just reverted to his actual look for sex and to let Maria Hill know who he was.

Craziness. :rolleyes:

[itsbecca]

It reaaaally just depends on the particular library. I've been in some that have them all in the YA fiction section, some that have them both in the Dewey and YA, Some just in Dewey, while some have a dedicated graphic novel section. It's not necessarily even going to be consistent from library to library within the same system. It's not to hard to look around, but when in doubt? Just ask.

And also, be sure to keep the up and up on not just your local library's stock, but search their catalog and request books from other libraries in the system. When I lived outside of Chicago I used the library voraciously and didn't even make a dent on the overall collection. And that was just the suburb system, hadn't even touched the Chicago Public Library, which had a lot of newer and more eclectic choices.

[conorkilpatrick]

What's with the Mighty Avengers hate. Maleev's art was stunning, the look and feel of the city in Mexico was just perfect. Almost tactile. And also, Fury was changing his physical appearance constantly, he just reverted to his actual look for sex and to let Maria Hill know who he was.

Craziness. :rolleyes:

It was a huge misstep.

[six-gun]

It was a huge misstep.

Yes, a misstep if you hate beautiful art and thrilling international intrigue. ;)

[conorkilpatrick]

Yes, a misstep if you hate beautiful art and thrilling international intrigue. ;)

That was not Nick Fury. Nor was it particularly intriguing.

[six-gun]

That was not Nick Fury. Nor was it particularly intriguing.

Agree to disagree.

[jaflanagan]

Agree to disagree.

I agree to agree.

[gobo]

Yeah I really don't understand how Conor and Ron disliked it so much, I thought it was the second best characterization of Nick I've ever read (after Nick in Punisher MAX) and loved the art from beginning to end.

[euchre0]

I'm 23 and I was under the impression that Seinfeld is still considered mainstream contemporary pop culture when it comes to quotes and references and stuff. Even though it's been over for 10 years now, it's on TV about 12 times a day...at least in Texas...from what I hear about New York is that everything is always on the move (and stabbing people).

[jaflanagan]

I'm 23 and I was under the impression that Seinfeld is still considered mainstream contemporary pop culture when it comes to quotes and references and stuff. Even though it's been over for 10 years now, it's on TV about 12 times a day...at least in Texas...from what I hear about New York is that everything is always on the move (and stabbing people).

Bless you child.

[paper]

You mean the guy who was on 30Rock earlier this year? I saw an old comedy special on HBO he did. He was talking about airplane peanuts I think?

Oh, oh....Bee Movie. He did the Bee Movie commercials?

[conorkilpatrick]

You mean the guy who was on 30Rock earlier this year? I saw an old comedy special on HBO he did. He was talking about airplane peanuts I think?

Oh, oh....Bee Movie. He did the Bee Movie commercials?

And this is why Josh has a complex now. All weekend with this.

[gobo]

Josh: Seinfeld is absolutely timeless, don't listen to these whippersnappers and their Dane Cooks

[vichussmith]

I wanted to respond to the crotchety old man who's scared that McDonald's is going to ruin his day because they're promoting Iron Man all over the place.

First, maybe you want to plot out when you go to the movies so you can maybe avoid an audience full of kids. Secondly, if you're wondering how these kids are going to learn about this Iron Man they see being promoted, after the movie premiers, Nickelodeon's going to have a new Iron Man animated series, so the kids will get their fill of the alcoholic.

Speaking of the alcoholic, I think I've read at least a dozen comic issues with Iron Man in it that don't even as much as allude to his drinking problems. I don't think the new cartoon will, and I don't think the age appropriate titles out now which star Iron Man include mature topics like drinking either.

Stop being old and grumbly!

[mikegraham6]

I'm 23 and I was under the impression that Seinfeld is still considered mainstream contemporary pop culture when it comes to quotes and references and stuff. Even though it's been over for 10 years now, it's on TV about 12 times a day...at least in Texas...from what I hear about New York is that everything is always on the move (and stabbing people).
im 26 and i used to watch seinfeld RELIGIOUSLY when it was still on the air. i catch the reruns whenever i can now too

[six-gun]

I wanted to respond to the crotchety old man who's scared that McDonald's is going to ruin his day because they're promoting Iron Man all over the place.

First, maybe you want to plot out when you go to the movies so you can maybe avoid an audience full of kids. Secondly, if you're wondering how these kids are going to learn about this Iron Man they see being promoted, after the movie premiers, Nickelodeon's going to have a new Iron Man animated series, so the kids will get their fill of the alcoholic.

Speaking of the alcoholic, I think I've read at least a dozen comic issues with Iron Man in it that don't even as much as allude to his drinking problems. I don't think the new cartoon will, and I don't think the age appropriate titles out now which star Iron Man include mature topics like drinking either.

Stop being old and grumbly!

Yeah, Josh smacking that dude down twas teh awesomez

[kahunablair]

im 26 and i used to watch seinfeld RELIGIOUSLY when it was still on the air. i catch the reruns whenever i can now too

I'm 26, too. I remember there was a group of guys in my High School that would watch the show religiously as well, Mike.
I only actually started to watch it in Re-runs, myself.

[da-black-goku]

Mighty Avengers was definitely my pick of the week. I think it's nuts to say that wasn't a great issue, however it read more like it should have been a New Avengers issue [which I think it was originally solicited as] and not a craptacular Mighty issue. I had to keep looking at the cover to see what title I was reading, because Mighty has been pretty dreadful and have been ready to drop it for a few issues now. Thus, if Mighty can be on par with New Avengers going forward like this then I'll keep picking it up. I just ignored the whiny nitpicks. I did read JLA though... eh... it was okay, but I guess this is why I'm not a DC guy.

[labor_days]

I assumed, much like Six did, that Fury was in disguise for most of the issue. Thus the differences in his look.

Maleev is terrific and I loved the art on this issue of Mighty. Only reason why I read it, to be honest. Those Avengers books have been rather terrible for a good half year now.

[six-gun]

I assumed, much like Six did, that Fury was in disguise for most of the issue. Thus the differences in his look.


Yeah, there's no reason that he's have the same disguise when he could just as easily mix it up constantly.

[labor_days]

Well, I'm going to come right out and say it; the Luke Cage/Jessica Jones New Avengers issue and the Mighty Avengers issue w/ Nick Fury have changed my mind on Secret invasion.

Cautiously optimistic SI will be a fun time. Bring me back to your loving breast, Mr. Bendis!

[chris-neseman]

"You couldn't fuck an armadillo and have a kid."

[paper]

God knows we've all tried.