fred
01-19-2007, 06:21 AM
Preamble:
Overall this was a pretty good week. I had 6.5 good books out of 10. The half comes in because I don't want to count X-Men First Class as good or bad. I would've chosen The Spirit #2 as my pow. I would've liked to be able to choose Nightly News #3 but that actually came out last week.
Disclaimer:
I'm tired, I have a migraine and I had a bad day. For these reasons, and well really how terrible FF 542 was, my reviews are a bit more abrasive in parts. I’m still entertained though as I reread them so **** it; it all stays in. My apologies in advance.
Reviews:
The Spirit #2 - A question that I've often thought about (because I think this shit is wacky) is: If I started a cult, who would be my lowercase g god - the object of worship and the pinnacle of existence. Throughout the course of my life the answer has changed. At first it was me. (You know because I'm AWESOME). Then it was Bendis. I don't think I even need to explain that one. But now, and possibly finally, the answer is indeed Darwyn Cooke. If there are any lawyer fanboys in the house let me know because it's time to start working on the incorporation papers for the First Church of Cooke. (Of course I need to open a checking account so that I can accept all possible donation methods)
This was of course the second issue of the new The Spirit ongoing and it may have been even better than the first. I had never read The Spirit before the last issue so I know that it's not nostalgia that makes me feel this way. It's just fun, exciting, and beautiful. The spread on pages 2-3 of P'Gell was amazing. The coloring is also quite good. This was really special from the opening to the ending with its great revenge twist.
Ultimate Spider-Man #104 - This was the payoff the end of the clone saga. I liked it a lot. It will be interesting to see where they go next. I liked that he's back with Ultimate MJ again. Look for tearful Kitty Pride guest shots coming up. Yaaay Kitty drama. The scene where Sue Storm convinces Peter's dad that he's not Peter's dad but actually Peter made to think he was Peter's dad was great. I think that the next arc (Bagley's last) is the Ultimate Knights arc with the return of Ultimate Daredevil. Nice.
Ultimate X-Men #78 - It was good. I can see why it was the pick of the week. I'm glad to be rid of Cable (god I hope) at least for now. I realized something weird tonight. I knew there was a 'major death' because they've been humping it for several months now. I just wanted it to be anyone other than Cyclops. I realized that even though I dislike Cyclops intensely (look mister), I can't see the XFamily, Ultimate or 616, without him. Oddly when Xavier died I was ok with it. It's not like it didn't happen 32 times in 616; I'm used to it.
Besides if Cyclops were going to be killed it would have to be septic shock from an infection that got into his bloodstream when a splinter broke off of the stick up his ass and embedded itself in the lining of his colon. I can't see it any other way
Spider-Man Reign #2 - This book contained absolutely no old man weiner. Despite this fact, it was very good. Seriously though, it's a hell of a story. I don't really care that it's essentially Spidey DKR. It matters not to me. It would be one thing if Kaare Andrews didn't include the DKR callouts that make it clear it's an homage rather than a theft. The pencils are great as well. And I like Adolf J Jonah. Ok I don't. Well I do but the moustache - for Christ's sake fill it out
Fantastic Four #542 - I really have no idea why I buy this book. It only pisses me off. But let's keep it to the last few issues. This was the first McDuffie issue. Yaaay right? No more JMS. It must be his fault. Shockingly it's not. I think it's editorial.
Who decided to make Reed a central figure in Civil War? Was it the same person who decided that the FF would have the shittiest individual storyline within it? For the love of Pete (yeah I went there), who the hell cares? Sue's leaving, as she seems to do every issue, Ben's torn, Johnny's stupid, and Reed's a Nazi. Why can't they get along? Waaaaaaaah! Waaaaaaah! My wife doesn't support my decision to send our friends to internment camps. Waaaaaaaaah!
One more thing, dressing Reed like Woody Allen doesn't make him look cool. It makes him look like a pedophile. We get that he's a bad guy
And they finally reveal that Reed is for the SHRA because an Isaac Asimov novel made him do it. The only thing I've ever heard of an Isaac Asimov novel making someone do is remain a virgin until they're 35. Move Reed out of his parent's basement and get him a real reason for ****'s sake.
A mathematical equation to determine the outcome of current events? How 'bout a mathematical equation to figure out if Sue's getting B***F**KED by Namor right now. OK that was a bit much but the asterisks are my own so......
I could go on forever but my hands and your eyes need a rest
Y The Last Man #53 - It was OK. I'm honestly a little annoyed with it though. This is a 60 issue story. This was the eigth to last issue. Yorick Brown (the last man) wasn't even in it. It was a one shot and a filler one shot at that. OK his mom died then 20 pages of bullshit happened. This story needs to be wrapped up and there's still a lot to do. I hate to say it but I think that BKV was just phoning it in with this one.
She-Hulk #15 - OK OK I know what you're thinking. I deserve it. To be fair, it said that it was a Planet Hulk tie-in. I've enjoyed Planet Hulk and with it ending and going into WWH how could I resist?
Holy shit I wish I had. Not only did it have almost nothing to do with the Hulk, but it was terrible and schlocky on top of that. I just don't care. In the end, I was glad that it only took me 4 minutes to read it. 5 and I might've jumped from something high. The pencils were horribly done by Rick Burchett. It seems that he may in fact be a retarded child. No offense to retarded children, I love cookies too, but they shouldn't be penciling shit I paid $3 for.
Cable & Deadpool #36 - I love Deadpool. Cable was absent the entire issue. That is reason to celebrate. It's just so funny and I like that he breaks the fourth wall and insults Marvel and its employees. It's ballsy and it works. Some of the one-liners are so good - I couldn't even get paid to shoot up a methadone clinic. Great as usual.
X-Men First Class #5 - it was OK. It's still worth reading to me but overall it's like a steady C book. Some of the initial characterization and continuity problems that I have are still there but I'm willing to admit that I'd never care if I weren't a dork. Why can Xavier walk in some issues and not in others? I thought that this was supposed to occur in gaps in the original 24 where Xavier was in a chair the whole time. It's not super important I guess
Whatever
Nightly News #3 - This actually came out last week but I was unable to get a copy until tonight.
This book is phenomenal. Each issue is like an adventure. I know that it sounds corny to say that but it really is. It is so well written. It's profound and believable while at the same time insane and unbelievable. What does that mean? Well the book is full of batshit crazy ideas but it also has facts and graphs to support them. Do I believe all the 'facts'? No. Is Hickman wrong though? No he's not. He has a point whether he's making a point about how the media attempts to spin stories and 'control' people or making a point about public schools being conditioning factories set to churn out drugged and passive adults or many of the other underlying ideas. Is it logical to believe that these things make it OK to assinate members of the media? No but there has to be a story somewhere in there to make the 'I want shoot-em-up dullards' read it.
The art is also very interesting and I like it. The same goes for the coloring. The place, on this side of the house anyway, where it really shines is in the layouts. I can't recall too many books that are laid out like this and each page is stuffed with dialogue and information without feeling cumbersome.
This Jonathon Hickman guy has built up a lot of credit with me in only 3 issues. I'd probably stick around for 2 or 3 bad minis from him after this is over just at the chance the promise will once more return. I am sad that this is only 6 issues.
Overall this was a pretty good week. I had 6.5 good books out of 10. The half comes in because I don't want to count X-Men First Class as good or bad. I would've chosen The Spirit #2 as my pow. I would've liked to be able to choose Nightly News #3 but that actually came out last week.
Disclaimer:
I'm tired, I have a migraine and I had a bad day. For these reasons, and well really how terrible FF 542 was, my reviews are a bit more abrasive in parts. I’m still entertained though as I reread them so **** it; it all stays in. My apologies in advance.
Reviews:
The Spirit #2 - A question that I've often thought about (because I think this shit is wacky) is: If I started a cult, who would be my lowercase g god - the object of worship and the pinnacle of existence. Throughout the course of my life the answer has changed. At first it was me. (You know because I'm AWESOME). Then it was Bendis. I don't think I even need to explain that one. But now, and possibly finally, the answer is indeed Darwyn Cooke. If there are any lawyer fanboys in the house let me know because it's time to start working on the incorporation papers for the First Church of Cooke. (Of course I need to open a checking account so that I can accept all possible donation methods)
This was of course the second issue of the new The Spirit ongoing and it may have been even better than the first. I had never read The Spirit before the last issue so I know that it's not nostalgia that makes me feel this way. It's just fun, exciting, and beautiful. The spread on pages 2-3 of P'Gell was amazing. The coloring is also quite good. This was really special from the opening to the ending with its great revenge twist.
Ultimate Spider-Man #104 - This was the payoff the end of the clone saga. I liked it a lot. It will be interesting to see where they go next. I liked that he's back with Ultimate MJ again. Look for tearful Kitty Pride guest shots coming up. Yaaay Kitty drama. The scene where Sue Storm convinces Peter's dad that he's not Peter's dad but actually Peter made to think he was Peter's dad was great. I think that the next arc (Bagley's last) is the Ultimate Knights arc with the return of Ultimate Daredevil. Nice.
Ultimate X-Men #78 - It was good. I can see why it was the pick of the week. I'm glad to be rid of Cable (god I hope) at least for now. I realized something weird tonight. I knew there was a 'major death' because they've been humping it for several months now. I just wanted it to be anyone other than Cyclops. I realized that even though I dislike Cyclops intensely (look mister), I can't see the XFamily, Ultimate or 616, without him. Oddly when Xavier died I was ok with it. It's not like it didn't happen 32 times in 616; I'm used to it.
Besides if Cyclops were going to be killed it would have to be septic shock from an infection that got into his bloodstream when a splinter broke off of the stick up his ass and embedded itself in the lining of his colon. I can't see it any other way
Spider-Man Reign #2 - This book contained absolutely no old man weiner. Despite this fact, it was very good. Seriously though, it's a hell of a story. I don't really care that it's essentially Spidey DKR. It matters not to me. It would be one thing if Kaare Andrews didn't include the DKR callouts that make it clear it's an homage rather than a theft. The pencils are great as well. And I like Adolf J Jonah. Ok I don't. Well I do but the moustache - for Christ's sake fill it out
Fantastic Four #542 - I really have no idea why I buy this book. It only pisses me off. But let's keep it to the last few issues. This was the first McDuffie issue. Yaaay right? No more JMS. It must be his fault. Shockingly it's not. I think it's editorial.
Who decided to make Reed a central figure in Civil War? Was it the same person who decided that the FF would have the shittiest individual storyline within it? For the love of Pete (yeah I went there), who the hell cares? Sue's leaving, as she seems to do every issue, Ben's torn, Johnny's stupid, and Reed's a Nazi. Why can't they get along? Waaaaaaaah! Waaaaaaah! My wife doesn't support my decision to send our friends to internment camps. Waaaaaaaaah!
One more thing, dressing Reed like Woody Allen doesn't make him look cool. It makes him look like a pedophile. We get that he's a bad guy
And they finally reveal that Reed is for the SHRA because an Isaac Asimov novel made him do it. The only thing I've ever heard of an Isaac Asimov novel making someone do is remain a virgin until they're 35. Move Reed out of his parent's basement and get him a real reason for ****'s sake.
A mathematical equation to determine the outcome of current events? How 'bout a mathematical equation to figure out if Sue's getting B***F**KED by Namor right now. OK that was a bit much but the asterisks are my own so......
I could go on forever but my hands and your eyes need a rest
Y The Last Man #53 - It was OK. I'm honestly a little annoyed with it though. This is a 60 issue story. This was the eigth to last issue. Yorick Brown (the last man) wasn't even in it. It was a one shot and a filler one shot at that. OK his mom died then 20 pages of bullshit happened. This story needs to be wrapped up and there's still a lot to do. I hate to say it but I think that BKV was just phoning it in with this one.
She-Hulk #15 - OK OK I know what you're thinking. I deserve it. To be fair, it said that it was a Planet Hulk tie-in. I've enjoyed Planet Hulk and with it ending and going into WWH how could I resist?
Holy shit I wish I had. Not only did it have almost nothing to do with the Hulk, but it was terrible and schlocky on top of that. I just don't care. In the end, I was glad that it only took me 4 minutes to read it. 5 and I might've jumped from something high. The pencils were horribly done by Rick Burchett. It seems that he may in fact be a retarded child. No offense to retarded children, I love cookies too, but they shouldn't be penciling shit I paid $3 for.
Cable & Deadpool #36 - I love Deadpool. Cable was absent the entire issue. That is reason to celebrate. It's just so funny and I like that he breaks the fourth wall and insults Marvel and its employees. It's ballsy and it works. Some of the one-liners are so good - I couldn't even get paid to shoot up a methadone clinic. Great as usual.
X-Men First Class #5 - it was OK. It's still worth reading to me but overall it's like a steady C book. Some of the initial characterization and continuity problems that I have are still there but I'm willing to admit that I'd never care if I weren't a dork. Why can Xavier walk in some issues and not in others? I thought that this was supposed to occur in gaps in the original 24 where Xavier was in a chair the whole time. It's not super important I guess
Whatever
Nightly News #3 - This actually came out last week but I was unable to get a copy until tonight.
This book is phenomenal. Each issue is like an adventure. I know that it sounds corny to say that but it really is. It is so well written. It's profound and believable while at the same time insane and unbelievable. What does that mean? Well the book is full of batshit crazy ideas but it also has facts and graphs to support them. Do I believe all the 'facts'? No. Is Hickman wrong though? No he's not. He has a point whether he's making a point about how the media attempts to spin stories and 'control' people or making a point about public schools being conditioning factories set to churn out drugged and passive adults or many of the other underlying ideas. Is it logical to believe that these things make it OK to assinate members of the media? No but there has to be a story somewhere in there to make the 'I want shoot-em-up dullards' read it.
The art is also very interesting and I like it. The same goes for the coloring. The place, on this side of the house anyway, where it really shines is in the layouts. I can't recall too many books that are laid out like this and each page is stuffed with dialogue and information without feeling cumbersome.
This Jonathon Hickman guy has built up a lot of credit with me in only 3 issues. I'd probably stick around for 2 or 3 bad minis from him after this is over just at the chance the promise will once more return. I am sad that this is only 6 issues.