Discuss new issues of your favourite comics here.
The Continuing New Comics Thread
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I was concerned about Deodato’s artwork beforehand, but I didn’t dislike it as much as I thought I would. I felt it matched the tonality of the story pretty well.
Totally get what you’re saying about “far too many characters” though. As a long term reader I didn’t really notice that, but in hindsight there were few concessions given to newer readers.
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Yeah, I guess I always go into these kinds of relaunch books expecting them to be new-reader-friendly, which isn’t always the case. This felt more like a new creative team taking over a book midway through its run.
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Exactly. I was just going to say this felt more like #801 than a new #1.
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Some other new #1s:
Rumpus Room (Mark Russell/Ramon Rosanas) was a good first issue. Nicely intriguing and odd while still being an engaging thriller, even if I wanted it to go a little further in this first issue. The art is really good too – clear storytelling and a grounding of some of the weirder elements. Should be a fun series.
Captain America (JMS/Jesus Saiz) was also a decent start. A nice mix of the superhero stuff you’d expect with a more grounded human side to Steve, both in the present day and flashbacks. It’s kind of quiet for a first issue, but I like it.
And Rare Flavours (Ram V/Filipe Andrade) was a nicely written and drawn comic, but the story wasn’t as immediately appealing as their previous collaboration, Laila Starr. We’ll have to see where this one goes.
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This was a great first issue that really captured that childlike glee of Transformers: the chunky designs, the cool transformations, the action – it was like being a kid smashing toys together again, in the best possible way.DWJ’s engaging writing and dynamic art is clearly a great fit for bringing the Transformers to life. And the colour is also nicely bold and bright which really enhances the whole cartoon feel.I haven’t read a Transformers comic in a long time, but I’ll be there every month for this while DWJ is doing it.4 users thanked author for this post.
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I thought it was pretty good as basically an update to the first episode of the original cartoon. It definitely relies on you knowing about the characters beforehand and letting you see this version of them rather than introducing them and letting you get to know them, and that’s not the worst way to approach a franchise like Transformers. The action is well-done, you can see Johnston leaning into his wrestling comics history with clotheslines and power slams in the fight scene. It didn’t light my world on fire but it’s a decent first issue and I’m more than willing to continue for now. A far better start than Void Rivals, I’ve got to say.
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you can see Johnston leaning into his wrestling comics history with clotheslines and power slams in the fight scene
Yeah I loved that moment with Optimus and Starscream.
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I read the latest issue of Ronin Book Two today, and thought it was pretty great.
After three issues of Philip Tan pencilling over Miller’s layouts (in a very different style), this issue has Henriques ink straight from Miller.
The results are the most pure Miller book in years, a really visceral and dynamic slice of story (that wears its manga influences proudly) with terrifically robust figures in that Miller style.
It’s made me wish the whole series had been done in this style. Apparently Tan is back next issue though.
Tan’s work is still really good in its own way, I just wish we had more of this pure Miller look.
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After a pretty spectacular first issue, you would have thought Wonder Woman #2 would be a bit of a let down, but it was a fine continuation to my eyes. Falling back on one of King’s favoured storytelling techniques of telling two (or more) stories in parallel we get a flashback to Diana’s early years that provides some context to the current situation, as well as a contemporary confrontation that shows how formidable she really is in battle.
Birds of Prey #2 was a step down from its incredible first issue, but everything that I loved about that issue is still here. The fun character interplay, the use of DC continuity, the gorgeous artwork. This book is well on its way to becoming one of my favourite ongoing superhero titles.
I enjoyed Captain America #2 more than I did its first issue. The narrower focus on Steve, a nice Spider-man cameo, and advancement of the plot all helped. There’s a little repitition in theme for JMS here, but if you’ve read his autobiography, you’ll know why this resonates with him, and it’s a good fit for this title.
After reading The Flash #2, I have decided to drop it. It’s good but not great. I’ll catch it on DCU Infinite instead.
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I’ve neglected this thread recently.
Batman: City Of Madness #1 was a decent enough start. I wasn’t sure about it initially but it grew on me as I went along. Ward is a better artist than he is a writer, but the underlying ideas here are quite interesting and the book has a nice atmosphere to it. Be interesting to see how it turns out.
GODS #1: Hickman can be hit or miss for me but this was actually pretty good. I’m not big on magic stuff but this was a decent story, well told, with nice art that feels like the current Marvel House style but is well executed. I still question the wisdom of such an expensive #1 but this felt like a complete experience rather than just setup, and I’m interested enough to read more.
Batman/Gotham War crossover: I ended up picking up the Batman side of this. I wish I hadn’t. It’s an old-fashioned bad crossover with a dumb central premise that doesn’t work and a format that means you miss out on half the story if you’re only following a single title. It’s really driven Zdarsky’s run off a cliff. A shame.
Hack/Slash: Back To School #1: I picked this up as I enjoyed Zoe Thorogood’s previous indie books. This is less good though – it feels far less personal than her other work, more generic, and despite a couple of fun moments she doesn’t yet have the writing skills to make it interesting and distinctive. The art is still pretty nice but I’m just not sure the story is going to grab me.
Gone #1: I was looking forward to this DSTLRY title by Jock but it was fairly average in the end. The writing is nothing special (which I expected as an artist-turned-writer) but even the art isn’t that amazing and I’m not sure it warrants the deluxe format. The concept is OK but the story doesn’t really offer enough to really hook you in at this stage. I’ll give #2 a shot but if it doesn’t improve I’ll probably ditch it.
Blade Runner 2039 #8: A great end to the arc, as ever just really clear and robust storytelling. Looking forward to seeing how this all winds up in the (presumably final) third arc.
Batman White Knight Generation Joker #6: this issue finished off this mini, which was just… there. It didn’t really add anything to the main series and I didn’t find it that memorable.
Unstoppable Doom Patrol #7: and talking of unmemorable, I picked this up to read it the other day, only to realise that I already read it a couple of nights previously. Clearly it left an impression! Burnham’s art is great and I like that there’s a colourful and imaginative DC book that I could hand to a kid to read, but the whole thing is just so light and fluffy that the story doesn’t really register.
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issue 2 of Transformers was really good, an excellent mix of character work and rising action. The Decepticons are cruel in a way that’s just the right side of cartoonish evil. The Autobots are still character sketches to some degree but we get good moments for Prime and Cliffjumper here. The fight between Starscream and the F-18 is really well-rendered and while it was obvious the WSO was going to turn out to be someone from GI Joe it worked well in context.
A really solid continuation from a decent issue 1, it’s shaping up really well so far.
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With Big Game #5 Mark Millar’s super-mega-crossover comes to a close, with timey-wimey, multiversal shenanigans and the big massive reset button that puts all the pieces back in play for next time.
That sounds jaded, I’m sure, but it’s not (entirely) intentional. I blitzed through all five issues of this mini-series in about an hour. It was tremendous fun. Lots of spectacle and “holy shit!” moments as only Millar can deliver. It was nice to see all of his various characters co-exist and interact.
And, Pepe Larraz’s art was just drop dead gorgeous throughout. So good!
But, at the end of the day, it was exactly what it set out to be. A super-mega-nothing-will-ever-be-the-same-summer-blockbuster-crossover. Nothing more. Nothing less.
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issue 2 of Transformers was really good, an excellent mix of character work and rising action. The Decepticons are cruel in a way that’s just the right side of cartoonish evil. The Autobots are still character sketches to some degree but we get good moments for Prime and Cliffjumper here. The fight between Starscream and the F-18 is really well-rendered and while it was obvious the WSO was going to turn out to be someone from GI Joe it worked well in context.
A really solid continuation from a decent issue 1, it’s shaping up really well so far.
Yeah I’m really enjoying this book. DWJ is a great storyteller (in both writing and art) – I loved the little moment with the deer that underscores how fragile the world is for these robots.
I also enjoyed the airborne action sequence, really dynamic stuff.
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Other recent reads:
Enfield Gang Massacre #4 was really solid, a tight and tense story with one or two nice ‘downtime’ moments and some brutal, bloody action.
Ultimate Universe #1 was basically just Ultimate Invasion #5. I’m baffled as to why it was sold as a one-shot as it literally just carries on the story from that mini. A bizarre decision and it’s not like the story itself is even that interesting. I’ll give the new Ultimate Spidey a try because it’s Spidey, but nothing else in this new universe seems to have any real hook or appeal.
Heat Seeker #4 was an alright conclusion, but the twisty-turny nature of this story risks making it all seem like a pointless diversion between the main Gun Honey minis. Still, it was fun enough while it lasted.
Traveling To Mars #9 was great again. Somehow this book captures a quite profound sense of loneliness and a life lived, without every laying it on too thick and with quite a lot of humour and silliness mixed in. I love it.
GODS #2: I’m still enjoying this – the art is really good and there are some interesting new characters and ideas at play. It’s still mostly setup at this point but I’m interested to see how it comes together.
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issue 2 of Transformers was really good, an excellent mix of character work and rising action. The Decepticons are cruel in a way that’s just the right side of cartoonish evil. The Autobots are still character sketches to some degree but we get good moments for Prime and Cliffjumper here. The fight between Starscream and the F-18 is really well-rendered and while it was obvious the WSO was going to turn out to be someone from GI Joe it worked well in context.
A really solid continuation from a decent issue 1, it’s shaping up really well so far.
Yeah I’m really enjoying this book. DWJ is a great storyteller (in both writing and art) – I loved the little moment with the deer that underscores how fragile the world is for these robots.
I also enjoyed the airborne action sequence, really dynamic stuff.
I still haven’t read these issues (bloody final year dissertation!) but DWJ was pretty fun at the Energon Universe panel at NYCC. He was unrepentent about the choices he has made re: character deaths and promised lots more of the same to come. His enthusiasm for the concept was endearing. It sounds like this is coming across on the page too. It’s nice to see a licensed comic book where anything goes and the creators aren’t beholden to a bunch of rules about what they can/ can’t do with these characters.
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It’s nice to see a licensed comic book where anything goes and the creators aren’t beholden to a bunch of rules about what they can/ can’t do with these characters.
I’ve read/listened to a few interviews with DWJ about Transformers and he’s been fairly candid about the fact that he hasn’t always been able to do exactly what he wants with the book – there have been times when his plot or character ideas have been vetoed by the higher-ups and he’s had to do something different instead – but I think it’s testament to his writing skills that he hasn’t let those restrictions come through on the page and has made everything feel like the story he wants to tell.
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Finally got to read the first few issues of DWJ’s Transformers (#1-3). These are so good. I mean, sure, some of that is nostalgia talking, but the writing and art have an energetic almost childlike glee that is incredibly infectious. It’s not particularly deep or complex storytelling, but it is action packed, dramatic, and full of crazy cool scenes (Optimus’ arrival in #3 almost made me cheer out loud). This is the polar opposite to Void Rivals. I don’t know how long they can keep up this level of quality (which I guess is directly related to how long DWJ will be on for) so I’ll just strap in and enjoy the ride as long as it lasts.
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I don’t know how long they can keep up this level of quality (which I guess is directly related to how long DWJ will be on for)
That’s my feeling too. I’ll be buying the book as long as he’s writing and drawing it.
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And I look forward to the Deluxe Oversized Hardcover.
Going in knowing nothing without double dipping will be a dream!
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I also read Ben Percy and Geoff Shaw’s Wolverine/ Ghost Rider Weapons of Vengeance crossover today. I’m a big fan of Percy’s work and this doesn’t disappoint. It’s notionally part of “Fall of X” but pretty much stands alone – there’s virtually no connection to the wider storyline here beyond a few throwaway references to Orchis. Instead, it’s a pretty gruesome tale of demonic possession as the two title characters are on the trail of a serial killer from their shared past.
Shaw’s art is very reminiscent of Darick Robertson’s here. He draws all four parts of the story, adding a nice level of consistency to it.
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Batman/ Catwoman: Gotham War was pretty terrible though. Just really poorly done.
Jimenez’s chapters at least looked nice, with some fun action scenes, but everything else was an absolute chore to read. Bruce is a dick, yes, but he’s particularly dickish here, and that’s not fun to read. Vandal Savage is just a really annoying character. And, the whole macguffin that this paper thin plot was built around is just ridiculous.
I’m so glad I stopped buying this book regularly. I literally only pick up the Jimenez issues now and read the rest on Infinite. It’s pretty dire.
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I just read the last few issues of Scott Snyder and Tony Daniel’s Nocterra – the third arc, #12-16 plus two specials. It’s still brilliant fun – action packed and at the same time thought provoking – but this arc definitely gets a little “out there” with Lovecraftian gods of darkness and other such nonsense. This book was very much the spiritual successor of American Vampire to me. If you enjoyed that series you’ll love this one too. It’s very much of the same ilk. This ends better though. It’s shorter, leaner, and without the huge delays between “cycles” removing much of the urgency and forward momentum. This one sticks the landing nicely too. Sure, Scott says that this book will be back in his afterword, but I don’t see it myself.
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Yeah, they could continue but it’s a good ending as it stands.
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Wonder Woman #4 is, perhaps, my favourite comic book of the year. It’s a fantastic, mostly standalone, issue that pushes forward the “Outlaw” arc whilst at the same time telling a bittersweet day in the life story of Diana fulfilling a child’s last wish.
The Trinity back up was hysterical too. I actually laughed out loud at points. This is how backups should be done.
Four issues in and I’m calling it. This is my favourite WW series to date.
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Batman #139 – 141 – “Mindbomb” by Zdarsky, Jimenez and Morey – was something of a return to form for this book. The alternate dimension nonsense was … well … nonsense, and the “Gotham War” just a waste of everyone’s talents and our time. This, however, returns to the tone of the book in the creative team’s well received first arc, picking up dangling plot threads and weaving them together with a few bits from what came in-between. Interestingly, it also features several callbacks to Zdarsky’s The Knight maxi-series, for those of you who read that.
The story ends, rather than concludes, leaving us to endure a three issue “Joker: Year One” storyline in the next few issues, before it picks back up again in #145. I’ll check those out on Infinite.
Can you read this without having suffered through the stuff that came in between? Probably not, sadly. It doesn’t really stand up entirely on its own. More’s the pity.
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I didn’t read Ultimate Invasion so am coming to Hickman & Checchetto’s new Ultimate Spider-man #1 cold.
I like the creative team, and the rumours about the book were intriguing. The $5 an issue price tag is a bit daunting, but like Straczynski’s Captain America before it I’m willing to make an exception for a quality book.
Suffice to say, I really enjoyed this. I don’t want to spoil it for those of you who haven’t seen the rumours yet, but it is very different from your usual Spider-man books. At least this issue was. Maybe with the set up out of the way it will start to tread more familiar ground. We’ll see.
It’s also quite different from your typical Hickman super hero book. It’s a more grounded, and character focused than is the norm.
There’s a hint or two near the end that this may just be a short term gig, which I hope isn’t the case. I’d definitely be happy to stick around for a while on this book.
Sean Murphy’s Zorro: Man of the Dead also launched this week, and I really liked that too. I couldn’t justify paying for the Kickstarter on this one, but even without the bells & whistles, this was a really entertaining debut.
Tonally it feels very akin to the White Knight universe (which I adore). And, as to be expected, the artwork is amazing.
Rounding out this evening’s reading was Transformers #4 – a slower issue than the earlier three, with more emotion and a soupçon of cannibalism thrown in for good measure. Fun stuff.
A great weekly haul.
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It’s also quite different from your typical Hickman super hero book. It’s a more grounded, and character focused than is the norm.
But were there circles?
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None so far
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I read Hickman’s Ultimate Spider-Man #1 and thought it was bafflingly awful.
It’s not just utterly convoluted and far too backstory-heavy for a #1 issue (in what’s meant to be a fresh new universe!) but also the whole tone of the book is so static, so lacking in energy and so middle-aged that I just don’t know what they were thinking.
Really it’s the antithesis of the original Ultimate line. Instead of being an accessible jumping on point with a modern take on Spidey, it’s more like one of those legacy sequels where your favourite characters from the ’80s show up but they all look old and tired.
I guess it pretty much proves that Marvel have now abandoned the idea of new/young readers altogether and are just nakedly playing to their ageing fanbase, but even then I feel like you could do it in a way that feels less obvious and patronising than this.
I would far more readily put Bendis and Bagley’s original Ultimate Spider-Man #1 in the hands of pretty much any reader instead of this.
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I read Hickman’s Ultimate Spider-Man #1 and thought it was bafflingly awful.
Glad someone else agrees. Peter Parker, Midlife crisis isn’t anything I’m interested in.
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I read Hickman’s Ultimate Spider-Man #1 and thought it was bafflingly awful.
Glad someone else agrees. Peter Parker, Midlife crisis isn’t anything I’m interested in.
I think it could work as a sort of Elseworlds-y spinoff thing where the point of the book was to play with that idea. Arguably it’s even been done before in stuff like Kaare Andrews’ Reign or Zdarsky’s Life Story.
But making it the focus of your brand new Ultimate Universe take on the character that’s integrated with all the other Hickman Ultimate stuff so far – effectively making him the in-continuity version for the new Ultimate Universe – feels like a total misstep.
We haven’t had a proper Spidey revamp since Bendis did USM, and that’s almost 25 years old now. This would have been a perfect opportunity to do that, instead of playing to the old core readership.
(And even then, to specifically write him as an ageing fortysomething dad who wishes he’d done more with his life feels like servicing your target demographic just a bit too blatantly.)
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Zorro: Man Of The Dead #1: This was very good. Funnily enough Sean Murphy essentially does an “Ultimate” take on Zorro here, with a version that feels simultaneously modern and classic, keeping that swashbuckling feel but giving it a cast and a setting that feel more relevant than a straight retro take.
The art is as good as you’d expect and the writing has a bit more to it than the past couple of White Knight books. A good start.
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And just to prove that @Vikram and I have exactly the same taste in comics, I read Transformers #4. Another cracking issue, with some great action (including a fantastic Jazz sequence). I love that DWJ likes to draw these robots so beat up and knackered.
And in amongst the spectacle there were a couple of really touching moments too. Nicely done.
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Weird double post
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Well, apart from the fact that I liked the new Ultimate Spider-man #1 and really disliked Bendis & Bagley’s back in the day
Although, to be fair, I do think the Miles run was better than both, and likely has a lot more longevity than this new iteration.
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I think Miles as a character has definitely become this generation’s Spidey, thanks to the Spider-Verse movies and the PlayStation videogames as much as anything.
I think that (like Peter back in the day) he just feels relatable to the current generation in a way that older characters from an earlier age don’t.
Having said that, my son (who loves Miles) still has time for Peter too, and has been working his way through the Ultimate Collection TPBs of Bendis & Bagley’s USM, and really enjoying it. So they still hold up.
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And just to prove that @Vikram and I have exactly the same taste in comics, I read Transformers #4. Another cracking issue, with some great action (including a fantastic Jazz sequence). I love that DWJ likes to draw these robots so beat up and knackered.
And in amongst the spectacle there were a couple of really touching moments too. Nicely done.
The character moments are really what makes the book special. Johnson is doing a fantastic job of making everyone feel believable and authentic with very little actual panel time for most characters.
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I think it could work as a sort of Elseworlds-y spinoff thing where the point of the book was to play with that idea. Arguably it’s even been done before in stuff like Kaare Andrews’ Reign or Zdarsky’s Life Story. But making it the focus of your brand new Ultimate Universe take on the character that’s integrated with all the other Hickman Ultimate stuff so far – effectively making him the in-continuity version for the new Ultimate Universe – feels like a total misstep.
Thinking about this some more, I sort of agree with you.
As I said, I really disliked the Bendis/ Bagley Ultimate Spider-man run. I just found it intensely dull. I tried reading it three times and only made it into the 20’s on one occasion before giving up on it. They weren’t bad comics, but I was definitely not the intended audience for them.
Never had that problem with the Miles run. Maybe because it was clearly “an Elseworlds thing” (at least, at the time). And, I feel the same about the new Hickman iteration too. It’s clearly not meant to be the mainstream version of the character, but something different, off to the side. I like that sort of thing.
As the lead book in a relaunched ultimate universe it does feel like a weird choice. Unless that’s deliberate. None of the books so far seem to be going for the same vibe as the original Ultimate books did. Peach Momoko on X-Men is pretty far removed from Mark Millar and Adam Kubert too! These books feel a lot like the All New Ultimates era, shortly before the original line got put down. Just this time with creators people have actually heard of before.
It definitely feels like they’re trying to offer something different here, whilst allowing the mainstream universe to hew closer to the Disney MCU verse (see also: Krakoa being folded up and replaced with a rumoured return to far more familiar X-Men fare under Brevoort).
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Even as a big fan of the series so far, I wasn’t prepared for how brilliant (and heartbreaking) this finale would be. Dramatic, clever, and even darkly funny in places, with stunning art that’s on a par with anything else out there at the moment in terms of storytelling and pacing. Superb stuff, and I can’t wait to see what these guys do next.
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I can’t wait to see what these guys do next.
Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long!
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Is the pic not loading for you?
It says “That Texas Blood – The Enfield Gang Massacre #6” by Chris Condon and Jacob Philips
and yeah, I need to get caught up on that. Or maybe wait for an oversized HC?
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and yeah, I need to get caught up on that. Or maybe wait for an oversized HC?
This was the final issue so it won’t be long until the collection – early April, I think.
Although I would suggest tracking down the singles if possible (some may be sold out at this point though) as they use this gorgeous newsprint paper that really makes the art pop, particularly the colours.
Hopefully they manage to recreate the effect in the eventual collected edition.
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Does now, wasn’t earlier.
Can appreciate how the post might have been confusing if the image didn’t load properly for you, sorry! Might be one of the latest board glitches.
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Cobra Commander 1 goes some highly unexpected places, I gotta say.
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John Constantine – Hellblazer: Dead In America #1
Having enjoyed the earlier Si Spurrier and Aaron Campbell run on Hellblazer, I was looking forward to this. However, while this first issue of the revival started off well, it lost me halfway through, for a couple of reasons.
One is that there’s a certain left-turn to the story that I didn’t see coming – despite the cover hinting at it pretty heavily – and it makes for a story I’m less interested in reading. (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers as I don’t know how much has been publicised about this story in advance.)
But secondly, and more significantly, the shift to the US changes the flavour of the book quite a bit. While the earlier Spurrier/Campbell run was a brilliantly savage and damning critique of post-Brexit UK society and politics, seen through the eyes of a British character, it feels very different when that British character (and writer) is now pontificating about what’s wrong with the US – and picking all the clunky, obvious targets you’d expect, rather than doing it with any kind of insight or originality.
The scene-to-scene writing is good and the art is nice, but the focus of the book has shifted significantly in a couple of ways, and it doesn’t feel like quite the same thing any more. Still, I’ll probably stick with it for a bit longer, at least, as it’s a decent creative team that have earned a bit of goodwill.
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In recent years my LCS has really suffered from increasingly fractured distribution – quite frequently they don’t get stuff in when they expect, and can only guess when some books will turn up (especially from smaller publishers). A bit frustrating for all concerned.
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Annoyingly, my LCS didn’t have Hellblazer or Wonder Woman in this week. Was looking forward to both. Hopefully next week.
I had a similar problem with Savage Dragon this week; normally my LCS gets everything on time, but the extra-large SD #267 won’t be in my shop until next week. But others have already gotten the book and major spoilers are everywhere on-line!
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Avengers Twilight #1: I picked this up on a whim for the Miller cover.
It’s a pretty apt self-homage as Avengers Twilight is a bit of a DKR story for Cap, while at the same time being a bit of a Kingdom Come type story with a little Civil War and Old Man Logan sprinkled on top. But while it’s not that original, as these dystopian future superhero stories go, it’s done fairly well.
This issue is mostly setup but I’m actually interested to read more. Zdarsky gets in some nice little details, and Acuna’s art is pretty. I’ll probably pick up #2.
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That’s a nice cover by Miller. One of his better ones, recently.
If I was to buy the book, I’d probably pick up Skottie Young’s cover just for the obvious pun.
/https://media.forbiddenplanet.com/products/76/b9/4c79a75ee965173bead026e9309e7f53ea9f.jpg)
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Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham’s Miracleman: The Silver Age finally wrapped up with #7 a couple of weeks ago.
Whilst I liked The Original Writer’s epic run (so much so that I double dipped with the Omnibus), I hadn’t really enjoyed this creative team’s previous The Golden Age a huge amount.
In telling a more traditionally structured story, The Silver Age succeeds in validating those prior stories by showing us how things are starting to fray in this new utopia, paving the way for the darker days to come.
Miracleman himself is an incidental character in this story too. Off to the side with events transpiring outside of his control, much to the character’s chagrin. That being said, he does appear to instigate his own downfall with a costly blunder that seems suspiciously Shakespearean in nature. Perhaps I’m reading too much into that.
Creatively there is much of the traditional Gaiman whimsy on display in the storytelling. Lots of colourful side characters and clever interactions between them all.
Buckingham’s artwork is wonderful and fluid. The back matter in the book is particularly interesting in comparing the published work over the last couple of years with the original art of the first 3 issues back in the early 1990’s.
Although the depiction of post industrial Barnsley as a quaint, picturesque English village was a strange one.
Strangely, with #4, Buckingham is also credited as co-writer on the book. And, the tone of the book shifts almost imperceptibly, which does make me wonder how actively involved Gaiman remains in this. Plot only, maybe?
Like many “middle chapters” the story ends with many things left unresolved. #7 promises that The Dark Age is forthcoming. I hope it’s not another lengthy wait for this to actually appear.
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Strangely, with #4, Buckingham is also credited as co-writer on the book. And, the tone of the book shifts almost imperceptibly, which does make me wonder how actively involved Gaiman remains in this. Plot only, maybe?
Well, the first two issues of The Silver Age were published back then and it can probably be assumed that Gaiman had another script in the can, so the 30-year-difference between thirty-year-old Gaiman and sixty-year-old Gaiman may also explain the difference.
Whilst I liked The Original Writer’s epic run (so much so that I double dipped with the Omnibus), I hadn’t really enjoyed this creative team’s previous The Golden Age a huge amount.
God, I loved The Silver Age. Of course those are purely short stories that don’t follow an overarching plot, and that are self-contained, and with only moderate conflicts – it’s set in a utopia, after all. But then, that in itself fascinated me endlessly. Because this is a true example of utopian fiction, and I don’t think I could name another one that isn’t 500 years old.
Also, I just loved the individual stories, and how they jigsaw-ed a full picture of this new society, and the many ways in which people manage to be unhappy in a utopia.
(I am trade-waiting on this, so I have no thoughts on the complete Silver Age yet :))
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For those of you who disliked the new Ultimate Spider-man #1, I ended up with two copies – I had ordered it via FP months ago, and then couldn’t resist the urge to pick up a copy from my LCS the week it came in. I just sold the spare on eBay over the weekend for £50. You might want to consider doing similar with your copies before the interest wanes.
I already made about £100 selling a few copies.
I agree though, the hype isn’t going to keep the price at that level for long.
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God, I loved The [Golden] Age. Of course those are purely short stories that don’t follow an overarching plot, and that are self-contained, and with only moderate conflicts – it’s set in a utopia, after all. But then, that in itself fascinated me endlessly. Because this is a true example of utopian fiction, and I don’t think I could name another one that isn’t 500 years old. Also, I just loved the individual stories, and how they jigsaw-ed a full picture of this new society, and the many ways in which people manage to be unhappy in a utopia.
That’s an interesting perspective. It’s possible that I didn’t like them so much because I read it so close to the sturm and drang of Moore’s conclusion. Maybe with distance and knowledge of what is to come they will resonate with me more completely. I’ll give them a re-read sometime before The Dark Age arrives.
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God, I loved The Silver Age. Of course those are purely short stories that don’t follow an overarching plot, and that are self-contained, and with only moderate conflicts – it’s set in a utopia, after all. But then, that in itself fascinated me endlessly. Because this is a true example of utopian fiction, and I don’t think I could name another one that isn’t 500 years old.
Also, I just loved the individual stories, and how they jigsaw-ed a full picture of this new society, and the many ways in which people manage to be unhappy in a utopia.
I’m with you on this. The stories were all so personal and sad and felt more real than comics ever do. Looking forward to reading the current series once it’s collected.
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It’s kind of crazy that this will be finished now. The Golden Age was one of the first comic books I bought as an adult when I got back into comics thirty years ago. I remember the shelf it was stocked in in my local store. (I spent a lot of time in front of that shelf, because I couldn’t afford to buy a lot of books and read a lot of them just standing there. They gracefully ignored that most of the time.)
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I checked out Thundercats #1 to see what all the fuss was about. I found it quite disappointing.
It’s a very basic and simple comic that you could give to a 6 or 7-year old and they might enjoy it – but then, how many of them give a shit about Thundercats? I expected something a bit more geared towards the older crowd given how old most fans of the franchise are now.
I feel like you could take the ideas of Thundercats and do some really fun sci-fi fantasy stuff with it, a bit of a fresh take. But this feels more like a straight episode of the cartoon.
Maybe it’s a good comic if you want to get young kids into Thundercats, but compared to what’s being done on a book like Transformers this doesn’t have the same appeal.
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I was just that little bit too old for Thundercats when it originally came out. I’d watch it when I could but it never really made a big impact upon me, so I have little nostalgic affection for them. Doesn’t sound like this book will have much to offer me then. I’ll save my cash for Aaron’s TMNT later this year instead.
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Yeah, I’m hoping for good things from Aaron’s TMNT.
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The One Hand #1: This is one of the best debut issues I’ve read in a while. Immediately compelling, with interesting characters, setting and plot – and a few twists – and a nice neo-noir tone that reminds me of various influences: Blade Runner, Lemire/Sorrentino comics and Bendis/Maleev Daredevil among them.
Already looking forward to more (and Six Fingers #1, which looks like it’s going to tell a parallel story that interacts with this one).
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Traveling To Mars #10 was another fantastic issue of what has been a remarkable book. Incredibly moving at times, while also being very funny and imaginative, and beautifully drawn, it’s made me sad that the series is ending with #11. I’m not sure I’m emotionally prepared for the finale.
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Batman: City Of Madness #3 was a wild ride through a fantasy nightmare version of Batman and Gotham City. It’s not the most coherent or satisfying story, and the ending feels a bit rushed, but not many superhero comics have captured such a distinctive vibe as this, and there are some amazing visuals that take full advantage of the Black Label large page format.
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And Transformers #5 was another great issue. DWJ brings such depth and character to these robots while also pulling off all manner of crazy dynamic action scenes and fight sequences (this issue’s moment with Arcee is amazing), it’s such a winning combination.
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Transformers #6: This was again fun and a good end to the first arc, but I’ve ended up feeling pretty happy that DWJ is just doing these six issues of art and then moving on to something else.
It’s a great, dynamic comic but after six issues I think I’ve seen all I need to of it, and I don’t have any interest in continuing on with another artist.
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Transformers #6: This was again fun and a good end to the first arc, but I’ve ended up feeling pretty happy that DWJ is just doing these six issues of art and then moving on to something else.
It’s a great, dynamic comic but after six issues I think I’ve seen all I need to of it, and I don’t have any interest in continuing on with another artist.
I’m torn on continuing. This title has been a lot of crazy nostalgic fun since it started, and I’m not sure that I’m ready for that to end. But Johnson‘s art was a big part of the appeal, and they’re playing it awfully coy about whether or not he’ll be back in a future arc.
I also noticed whilst reading the last couple of issues that I could have finished reading this whole 6 issue arc in a half hour. Comparing that to the original Marvel run from Furman or even the recent IDW stuff this is really, really slight reading.
Maybe I’ll give it another issue or two and see what happens.
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Maybe I’ll give it another issue or two and see what happens.
If you do I’ll be interested to hear how it is. My guess is that DWJ will move on to other projects rather than ever coming back to this, and given that the appeal of the book for me is all about his dynamic art (rather than the writing so much) I don’t feel inclined to hang around.
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Sigh.
Amazing Spider-man #39 – 44 – “Gang War” by Wells, Romita Jr and Hanna – was pretty disappointing. The story was an “everything but the kitchen sink” type affair, as these events tend to be, with many events happening off screen in the various tie in books, but it never felt like anything of any real consequence was taking place. It was all so BIG and, at times, more than a little ridiculous.
The artwork was nice though.
This was such a good book to begin with. The whole first 13 or 14 issues were really intense. But, it’s become increasingly schizophrenic since “Dark Web”. It doesn’t know what it wants to be. A comedy. A gangland drama. A superhero blockbuster. I’m spinning.
And, at $5 an issue now I just can’t afford to keep going with it. I’ll be back for the Romita issues/ storyarcs, but otherwise this is dropped.
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I dropped the current ASM run after the big payoff arc that ended with Ms Marvel’s death. You’re right, the book had no sense of identity and it was really disappointing how the street-level super-gang stuff of the first few arcs got completely flushed down the toilet in favour of bland superhero crossover crap like Dark Web.
It takes a lot to make me drop a JRjr Spidey book, but somehow they managed it.
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Ultimate Spider-man #2 and #3, however, were still a lot of fun. I like how this Peter Parker is fumbling things. He might be an adult, but he’s a bit of a dick; which I think’s a nice extrapolation of the Peter Parker we knew as a teenager, who could also be a little dickish at times, even after he learnt his famous lesson about responsibility. The dynamic between Ben and Jonah continues to be fun to watch, and it will be interesting to see how things with Harry evolve – there’s definitely some ambigiuity over his actions so far.
Ironically, given the attention the media has given to Peter’s familial situation at home, the book has spent surprisingly little time with MJ. It feels like there’s more (or maybe less) going on there than the hype may have portrayed to begin with.
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Sigh.
Amazing Spider-man #39 – 44 – “Gang War” by Wells, Romita Jr and Hanna – was pretty disappointing. The story was an “everything but the kitchen sink” type affair, as these events tend to be, with many events happening off screen in the various tie in books, but it never felt like anything of any real consequence was taking place. It was all so BIG and, at times, more than a little ridiculous.
The artwork was nice though.
This was such a good book to begin with. The whole first 13 or 14 issues were really intense. But, it’s become increasingly schizophrenic since “Dark Web”. It doesn’t know what it wants to be. A comedy. A gangland drama. A superhero blockbuster. I’m spinning.
And, at $5 an issue now I just can’t afford to keep going with it. I’ll be back for the Romita issues/ storyarcs, but otherwise this is dropped.
I miss the days of four Spidey titles that each had its own tone:
– Amazing was the main title where the major events happened.
– Spectacular was a bit more psychological and looked at characters from a different view.
– Web Of had the more grounded and street-level stories.
– Adjectiveless was self-contained stories from a variety of creators.You had your pick of Spidey and were able to get something different from each title.
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The Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow‘s creative team, Tom King and Bilquis Evely, have a new creator owned book coming out from Dark Horse – Helen of Wyndhorn – the first issue of which came out a couple of weeks ago. Evely’s fine artwork delivers a truly beautiful book, accompanying a story very much inspired by Robert E. Howard – both biographically and fictionally. This might have flown under your radar. I almost overlooked it too, but my LCS guy dropped it in my bag unsolicited and I decided I’d give it a go. I think you should too.
Tom King’s Wonder Woman continues to impress as well. #6 is a huge all action issue as the Sovereign makes a super-powered move to capture Diana. It’s a brutal issue long fight scene, beautifully drawn, demonstrating the power and grace of WW better than I’ve ever seen done beforehand. It’s a fantastic issue. On th other hand, #7 is an interlude where WW and Superman go shopping to buy Batman a birthday present. It’s a wacky issue, that is a bit jarring with the ongoing narrative, yet provides moments of cute sentimentality. Loving this book.
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Whilst a double length first issue, it’s still unclear what exactly Remender and Bengal’s new title – Napalm Lullaby – is really about. There’s a Superman homage in the first few pages that takes a chilling turn, and then the book fast forwards to “the present day” where you get introduced to a heist featuring the two characters on the cover. There are echoes of Injustice here and, bizarrely, Millar’s Chosen as well.
It’s an exciting and fast paced opening act of the story. I look forward to seeing how this develops. Remender’s always good with dark, dystopic fiction.
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I read Napalm Lullaby too, and despite usually enjoying Remender’s work I felt that by the end of this opener I still didn’t really have much of an idea what the story was about. I’ll give issue #2 a try but I hope it comes into sharper focus.
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The One Hand #1: This is one of the best debut issues I’ve read in a while. Immediately compelling, with interesting characters, setting and plot – and a few twists – and a nice neo-noir tone that reminds me of various influences: Blade Runner, Lemire/Sorrentino comics and Bendis/Maleev Daredevil among them.
Already looking forward to more (and Six Fingers #1, which looks like it’s going to tell a parallel story that interacts with this one).
Looks like the trade, due December, will collect both stories.
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Traveling To Mars stuck the landing with a great final issue in #11. This has been a remarkable comic that combines comedy and sci-fi with genuinely moving and profound reflections on what it means to be human and how to think about a life lived. One of those books that will stay with me for a long time.
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If you haven’t been reading both Ben Percy titles, X-Force #47 – 50 is basically Wolverine #40.1 – 40.4. It’s where the final confrontation with Beast occurs and sets up some of the stuff that happens in the “Sabretooth War”. So whilst in isolation it feels like a very anti-climatic final story to end this book on it’s not really.
The story arc itself is a bit of a non-event. It feels very much like a story where Percy is tying up some of his last few dangling plot threads, as he puts the toys away before leaving. There’s no big dramatic confrontation or resolution. There’s a bit of intentional ambiguity at the end – a did they or didn’t they moment that is quite clever – but beyond that it’s very much just going through the motions towards a big red reset button. Done with style, certainly, but not much more than that.
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The One Hand #1:
I just read the first 3 books of this and am really enjoying them. Thanks for the heads up.
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The One Hand #1:
I just read the first 3 books of this and am really enjoying them. Thanks for the heads up.
Great!
Are you reading The Six Fingers too? They work together nicely.
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Good to hear the finale of Travelling to Mars finishes well.
As to X-Force, hopefully, eventually, there will be an OHC4 to finish the run. Ditto for Wolverine.
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Are you reading The Six Fingers too? They work together nicely.
I wasn’t till you told me about it!
That’s good stuff. Thanks.
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Are you reading The Six Fingers too? They work together nicely.
I wasn’t till you told me about it!
That’s good stuff. Thanks.
It’s a clever approach between these two books. Must have required quite a bit of coordination between the two writers.
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Transformers 7 is the first issue with the new artist, and they’re heweing very close to Johnson’s look and feel. The story is still moving at a good pace, but I’m wondering how much longer they can keep up the slaughter of recognisable characters before they’re left with the survivors of the main cast plus like… Aquafend or someone
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Are you reading The Six Fingers too? They work together nicely.
I wasn’t till you told me about it!
That’s good stuff. Thanks.
It’s a clever approach between these two books. Must have required quite a bit of coordination between the two writers.
Naaa, they are both C.B. Cebulski
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Transformers 7 is the first issue with the new artist, and they’re heweing very close to Johnson’s look and feel. The story is still moving at a good pace, but I’m wondering how much longer they can keep up the slaughter of recognisable characters before they’re left with the survivors of the main cast plus like… Aquafend or someone
I was pleasantly surprised by Corona’s art in this issue. It’s not as purely imaginative as Johnson’s, but it’s really effective, and tells the story well. I still got a huge kick out of the issue and will stay on board for a while yet. Btw, do you think that was Ultra Magnus’ remains in the first few pages?
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As to X-Force, hopefully, eventually, there will be an OHC4 to finish the run. Ditto for Wolverine.
When I had met him at NYCC, Percy hoped that they’d eventually print both X-Force and Wolverine together in Omnibus format, intertwining the stories from one title to another. In his eyes they were one series. I don’t quite see it that way, but they definitely compliment each other, and for my money, Wolverine has never been better than it has been under his pen.
Also, if you’ve never seen or heard him speak, Percy embodies Logan almost literally. It’s uncanny.
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Transformers 7 is the first issue with the new artist, and they’re heweing very close to Johnson’s look and feel. The story is still moving at a good pace, but I’m wondering how much longer they can keep up the slaughter of recognisable characters before they’re left with the survivors of the main cast plus like… Aquafend or someone
I was pleasantly surprised by Corona’s art in this issue. It’s not as purely imaginative as Johnson’s, but it’s really effective, and tells the story well. I still got a huge kick out of the issue and will stay on board for a while yet. Btw, do you think that was Ultra Magnus’ remains in the first few pages?
TF Wiki seems to think so, and it’d make sense to endcap the issue’s story.
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He’s been my favourite ‘Bot since 1986 so I’m hopeful that this heralds good things. Although, to your earlier point, it could just be more characters to bump off gratuitously further down the line!
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