Tuesday 30 June 2009

Hex’s Pull List for comic on sale: 1/7/09


Marvel:
Cable #16
Captain America Reborn #1
Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1
Uncanny X-Men #513
War of Kings #5

DC:
Batman and Robin #2
Green Lantern Corps #38
Justice League: Cry for Justice #1

Image:
The Sword #18

After last weeks HUGE week (I think I ended up getting around 17 or 18 titles last week!) this is a medium sized week for me, but still lots to look forward to.

I’m most looking forward to Ollie & Hal back on the road again in the new Justice League mini (cover shown above), after some poor story lines in the main Justice League book I’m looking forward to some good team heroics and ass kicking in this one. The previews have looked great.

Obviously the big news book this week is Captain America Reborn #1. How will Bru bring Steve back? I am very excited to find out.

What are you guys picking up?


DC annouce Superman/Batman animated Movie


The news broke yesterday of another straight to DVD animated movie from DC entitled Superman/ Batman: Public Enemies, due out in September. This is based on the first Superman/Batman story arc buy Jeph Loeb. This story has been reported on a few sites but so far the site I have found with the most details on the release is Major Spoilers.

I will probably be buying this on the 2 disc format. I just hope its better than the comic it’s based on which was pretty poor.

Free Mondays @ Marvel Digital - 29/06/09


There is a nice mixture of free comics & previews from Marvel this week to feast your hungry eyes on. They are:
I’ve never read a Marvel Adventures comic as I got the impression they were aimed at a younger audience, but I have heard from a few fans that they are still fun reads, so I’ll have a look over Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #39. This week also features Amazing Spider-Man #598, which was the first part of the acclaimed ‘New Ways to Die’ story arc. I never read it, but seeing as I have been enjoying Amazing Spider-Man so much lately I will check this out.
Next weeks free comics will be:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) #130
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #431
X-MEN vs. HULK (2009) #1
MARVEL 70th ANNIVERSARY (1994) #1
DOCTOR DOOM AND THE MASTERS OF EVIL #1

Previews from Boom! Studios for titles on sale tomorrow @ CBR


You can check out titles on sale this week from Boom! Studios including new issues of "Finding Nemo," "Muppet Robin Hood," "Toy Story: The Mysterious Stranger," "Dead Run," "Irredeemable," "Farscape: Strange Detractors" and "Mr. Stuffins.

Irredeemable has been getting some positive reviews so far, I think I’ll pick up the TPB on that, the art on Dead Run by Francesco Biagini is very nice too.

Monday 29 June 2009

Amazing Spider-Man # 598 - Review

Amazing Spider-Man # 598 - American Son Part 4
WRITER: Joe Kelly PENCILS: Phil Jimenez
- 5 out of 5

Major spoilers ahead.

This story arc has been one of the most exciting Spider-Man reads I’ve ever had. There are so many twists and turns and back stabbing one another it’s like a whole series of 24 in one comic. This issue was just as good as, if not better, than the last. So what happens? - Spider-Man has been caught out as Venom in disguise and finds himself at the mercy of Norman Osborn & Bullseye. They have him in a torture device trying to pry his Venom suit from him. This is what saved his life from the last issue, the suit stopped the bullet, thanks to the genius of Reed Richards, but Norman has discovered the suit was built by Richards and finds away to dissolve the suit in an attempt to un-mask Peter. Switch to Harry, who has arranged to meet his beloved Menace only to find out she does not want the cure he has stolen for her, but instead wants to continue to be the monstrous Menace as lover of Norman, father of her child! That’s right, the baby is Norman's! - NOT Harry's. That twist was so great in a weird incest kind of way. Harry escapes and decides to get his own back on his Dad. He dons the American Son suit just in time to save Spider-Man from being un-masked by kicking his Dads butt. This story continues in the next issue with the final part and I’ve never been more excited to read a Spider-Man book. Writing and art are fantastic and that is one fucked up cover. Buy this comic.

Amazing Spider-Man # 600 - Preview at Marvel.com

Over at Marvel.com they have a great 4 page preview of Amazing Spider-Man # 600, not on sale until July 15th!

Check them out here: http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.8565.SNEAK_PEEK~colon~_Amazing_Spider-Man_%23600

I’ve been really joining this series since the American Son arc, and this has some top teams working on it so I’ll no doubt be picking this up.

X-Factor # 45 - Review

X-Factor # 45


4.5 out of 5

We get some answers in this issue, and as usual the answers only fuel more questions. Spoilers on.

The issue starts with Madrox and his companions in the future (Ruby & Layla) seeking out the advice of Victor Von Doom himself. How are these people still alive? First Scott Summers and now Doom still alive 80 years in the future! They must’ve been taking their vitamins or something. Anyway, even though Doom is still alive he is completely delusional. He is confined to a wheel chair and full of tubes and we are told his brain is virtually mush, believing he is still the great monarch he once was. Having said that, as we are told, a very insane Doom is till smarter than your average muppet like you, me or Madrox. So the three are there to seek his advice on the recent disappearance & re-appearance of members of the Summers Rebellion.

The main action is back in the present where the cliffhanger ending from issue 43 (the return of Shatterstar) is continued. He is basically in full on attack mode against Rictor & Strong Guy as he is possessed by the strange and villainous Cortex, who is watching from the distance. Now here is where the questions are raised as Cortex seems to be from the future that Madrox is currently located in as he is in communication with some sneaky looking dudes who are also spying on Madrox & Doom in the future. Confused? I know I am. Man.... time travel can be a bitch. What’s the connection with X-Factor & Cortex? Why was he in possession of Shatterstar? So many questions.

The ending Shows Cortex being told to return to the future buy the sneaky dudes which means he must release his grip on Shatterstar just as he is about to deliver a kill blow to Strong Guy. Shatterstar is stopped in his path and comes around, sees Rictor, they both pucker up and they embrace. Now a lot of people on boards were either ‘Yay! Go Marvel!’ or, ‘it was so over the top!’ I personally didn’t even really register it, when I saw people posting on boards about this ‘shock ending’, I had to go back and check the issue because I couldn’t work out what people were talking about. This is not the first time gay characters have been used in comics, is it the first gay kiss? I don’t know, probably not, but really who cares either way, this is 2009, some people being gay is not exactly new news.

Overall another solid issue as usual, I expect nothing more from this title now. The dialogue from Peter David is smart and funny and he gives us enough of an interesting story to keep this reader happy. The art by Valentine De Landro & Marco Santucci is nice and clean and the action is portrayed well. Plus the full page shot of an old and decrepit Doom was killer. Every month this book is at the top of my read pile. The only thing I will say is that this is not the ideal jumping on point for this book. You really need to start from issue 39 onwards to understand the whole story, but if you are a X-Factor reader every month, this is another great chapter.

Comic previews from IDW for titles on sale 1st July @ CBR


IDW Publishing has provided CBR with advance looks at new comics on sale next week including "American McGee's Grimm" #3. "Angel: After the Fall" #23, "G.I. joe Movie Adaptation" #1, "Doctor Who Classics: Series 2" #8, "Locke & Key: Head Games" #6, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" #3 and "Transformers Spotlight: Metroplex."

Friday 26 June 2009

Previews for Marvel Comics on Sale July 1, 2009 @ CBR

Click the links below to be taken to the preview of your choice.

"Agents of Atlas" #7
"Cable" #16
"Daredevil Noir" #4
"Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth" #1
"Destroyer" #4
"Exiles" #4
"Fantastic Four" #568
"Invincible Iron Man" #15
"Marvel Divas" #1
"Trojan War" #3
"Uncanny X-Men" #513
"USA Comics 70th Anniversary Special"
"War of Kings" #5

This week we have a preview of the new Deadpool ongoing series, which could be fun. USA Comics 70th Anniversary looks quite good too, I might pick it up if I have a light week.

Thursday 25 June 2009

Red Circle round up


Newsarama has exclusive interviews with the creators for the up coming Red Circle line of books. If your interested in picking up the new DC titles these interviews are worth a look as the creators talk a bit more about what they intend to do with the new characters.

Wolverine The End Teaser


Marvel.com released this teaser image but without any notes to accompany it. I have no idea what this could mean. Surely Marvel are not getting rid of their most popular character? What do you guys think? All I know is this is a fucking cool picture, very Terminatorish.

Wednesday 24 June 2009

PREVIEWS, PREVIEWS, PREVIEWS! @ CBR for comics on sale today!


(Cool Spider-Man take off for this months variant cover to All Hail Megatron).

As well as the Marvel previews I posted last Friday CBR have a huge list of previews from Boom, Image, DC, IDW and others. See below:

Usagi Yojimbo #121 [5 pages]Published by: Dark Horse ComicsPosted: June 23rd, 2009
Transformers: All Hail Megatron #12 [7 pages]Published by: IDWPosted: June 23rd, 2009
Star Trek: Mission's End #4 [4 pages]Published by: IDWPosted: June 23rd, 2009
G.I. Joe #6 [7 pages]Published by: IDWPosted: June 23rd, 2009
Detective Comics #854 [5 pages]Published by: DC ComicsPosted: June 23rd, 2009
The Muppet Show #4 [7 pages]Published by: Boom! StudiosPosted: June 23rd, 2009
Farscape: D'Argo's Lament #3 [7 pages]Published by: Boom! StudiosPosted: June 23rd, 2009
Eureka: Dormant Gene #3 [7 pages]Published by: Boom! StudiosPosted: June 23rd, 2009
Cars: The Rookie #3 [7 pages]Published by: Boom! StudiosPosted: June 23rd, 2009
Empowered Vol. 5 [14 pages]Published by: Dark Horse ComicsPosted: June 23rd, 2009
Fusion #2 [5 pages]Published by: Image ComicsPosted: June 22nd, 2009
PVP #42 [5 pages]Published by: Image ComicsPosted: June 22nd, 2009
Proof #21 [5 pages]Published by: Image ComicsPosted: June 22nd, 2009
Lillim #4 [5 pages]Published by: Image ComicsPosted: June 22nd, 2009
The Perhapanauts #6 [5 pages]Published by: Image ComicsPosted: June 22nd, 2009
City of Dust: A Philp Khrome Story [14 pages]Published by: Radical ComicsPosted: June 22nd, 2009
Zorro #14 [6 pages]Published by: Dynamite EntertainmentPosted: June 22nd, 2009
Red Sonja #45 [8 pages]Published by: Dynamite EntertainmentPosted: June 22nd, 2009
Berserker #1 [8 pages]Published by: Top Cow ProductionsPosted: June 21st, 2009
Fusion #2 [8 pages]Published by: Top Cow ProductionsPosted: June 21st, 2009
The Incredibles #3 [7 pages]Published by: Boom! StudiosPosted: June 19th, 2009
Gotham City Sirens #1 [10 pages]Published by: DC ComicsPosted: June 18th, 2009
Superman #689 [7 pages]Published by: DC ComicsPosted: June 17th, 2009
Gotham City Sirens #1 [8 pages]Published by: DC ComicsPosted: June 17th, 2009
Wasteland #25 [13 pages]Published by: Oni PressPosted: June 12th, 2009
The Cleaners #4 [6 pages]Published by: Dark Horse ComicsPosted: June 9th, 2009
Awakening Volume 1 [26 pages]Published by: Archaia Studios PressPosted: June 2nd, 2009

I’ve heard good things about All Hail Megatron, so I might pick up the trade (though I haven’t read a Transformers comic since I was a kid in the 80’s). I forgot Detective Comics # 854 was out this week and I might picking that up, not sure yet. Anything here you guys fancy?

Tim Burton's - Alice in Wonderland

USA Today has published the above photos from the upcoming Tim Burton & Johnny Depp film, Alice in Wonderland.

I think these pictures look fantastic and this looks to be one of the most visually stunning of Burtons films to date.

I didn't realise Matt Lucas would be staring as Tweedledum and Tweedledee so that's great, I'm sure he will be highly entertaining and funny as usual.

Pics below:








13 advance Marvel reviews @ Comics Bulletin

True Beliver Tuesday over at Comics Bulletin has 13 advance reviews of this weeks Marvel comics. Always good reviews that help me decide my pull list. This weeks reviews are for:

Advance Review of Amazing Spider-Man #598
Advance Review of Astonishing X-Men #30
Advance Review of Immortal Iron Fist #27
Advance Review of Secret Warriors #5
Advance Review of Daredevil #119
Advance Review of Dark Reign: The Sinister Spider-Man #1
Advance Review of Dark Avengers #6
Advance Review of Dark Reign: Elektra #4
Advance Review of Dark Reign: Zodiac #1
Advance Review of Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia
Advance Review of Uncanny X-Men #512
Advance Review of X-Factor #45
Advance Review of Runaways #11

Link: http://www.comicsbulletin.com/news/124580293277935.htm

Tuesday 23 June 2009

Empire review - 'Public Enemies'


Empire Magazine gives Public Enemies, the up-coming film starring Johnny Depp & Christian Bale, a cracking review, giving it a 5 Star – Classic rating.

I was looking forward to this film anyway, but now I can’t wait.

You can read the full review here: http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=136004

Hopefully I’ll be seeing the new Transformers this week. Anyone seen it yet? Is it any good?

Pull List for 24/06/2009


(Awesome X-Force # 16 cover by K. Andrews, every cover of this story arc by Andrews has been knock out fantastic.)

Big list for me this week and a lot from Marvel, looks something like this:

Marvel:
Amazing Spider-Man # 598
Daredevil # 119
Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-men: Utopia # 1
Guardians of the Galaxy # 15
Iron Fist # 27
New Avengers # 54
Secret Warriors # 5
Skaar: Son of Hulk # 12
Uncanny X-Men # 512
X-Factor # 45
X-Force # 16
X-Men Forever # 2

DC:
Green Lantern # 42

Not much DC there. I find myself buying less and less DC these days, and more and more Marvel.

I’ve decided not to pick up Superman # 689 this week, it’s just seems to be a book I’m not that bothered about reading anymore. I’m not picking up Nova # 26 also, I picked up the previous War of Kings tie in issues but so far they have pretty much been kept apart from the main War of Kings storyline, unlike Guardians of the Galaxy, which seems to be the essential WOK tie-in book.

I’m looking forward to the next chapter in X-Men Forever # 2 as I was surprised how much I liked the first. This month’s issue of Skaar also promises the inevitable throw down between the Hulk & Skaar, so that should be fun.

I can’t wait to read Amazing Spider-Man # 598 as the previous issue was so great, how will Pete escape Osborn? X-Force # 16 I hope will bring a satisfying close to the second ‘Messiah’ chapter, and I eagerly await details of the third chapter due out next year.

What will you guy’s be picking up this week?

Marvels Free Mondays

This weeks free digital comics are:

EXCALIBUR #34 (1998)
RUNAWAYS #26 (2005)
CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #1 PREVIEW
AGENTS OF ATLAS #0 (2009)
AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 (2009)
RUNAWAYS #2 (2008)
MS. MARVEL #32 (2006)

Some are whole issues, some are just previews. I’m gonna check out Agents of Atlas as I’ve heard good things.

Link - http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.8473.Free_Mondays_~op~6~slash~22~slash~09~ep~

Monday 22 June 2009

Monday Mini Reviews – 22/06/2009

Batman: Streets of Gotham # 1
– 4 out of 5

Ill just come out and say it first, yes surprisingly this is best Bat book so far of the 'Batman: Reborn' line. I can hear the Paul Dini fans laughing and yelling ‘I told you so’ and they would be right. Like most people I think I was most excited about Morrison’s Batman & Robin #1, which was good, and I’m looking forward to where that is going but Streets of Gotham for me has topped that for an issue no. 1 and setting up my excitement for the series.

Firstly this issue had a big cast, between Gordon, Harley Quinn, Firefly & Batman & Robin, each of these characters were touched on and written perfectly. The art and coloring is fantastically dark & gritty, which is what I want in a Bat book, and while being… I hate the word but cartoony, it still retains an edge.

The story picks up pieces from Battle for the Cowl, with the mention of Black Mask, the Arkham break out, city in ruins etc etc and takes lead from there. Firefly is the bad guy to watch in this issue. What he does is totally evil and shocking and is how a Bat villain should act. The way this book is written by Dini reminds me of Alan Grants great work on Shadow for the Bat and some of the early 90’s Detective Comics and Batman issues, i.e. street level grit, new villain of the week, while still dealing with Gotham cities residence personal struggles, and I love that.

It was totally unexpected that I liked this issue as much as I did as I didn’t really care for Dini’s recent work on Detective Comics. It was okay but I never liked the cast of characters he used and the types of stories that were told. This book in a way is a continuation of Detective but with a new cast that will hopefully be continuing the style of the old school story lines. If it does continue in this manner I’m on board.

With regards to the Manhunter back up, I can’t comment on it that much yet. It was only about 10 pages and pretty much just setting up the main character moving to Gotham. We will see where this goes but I’m not going to complain at some extra pages in my comic.


X-Men: Origins; Gambit
– 3 out of 5

This was pretty much only going to be bought by die-hard Gambit fans, and I knew that, but if that is the case then at least give us something new please, not just a collection of all the stories we know squeezed into one issue. This should have been a mini series, and the origin could have been explored in much greater detail with more of a chance to get to know Gambit as a character.

The time line for this issue is basically from Gambits marriage to Belladona up to where he meets and saves a young Ororo, but not too much in between. We basically have Gambits meeting with Sinister & the Marauders Massacre. If you know the history of Remy like me this is fine, but if you were a new reader you may well get lost.

The art by David Yardin is absolutely gorgeous and the highlight of the issue. The writing work by Mike Carey is solid but one thing that does grate on me when he writes Gambit is that every other sentence is said in French!! Now hear me out, I know Gambit grew up in the French quarter of New Orleans but we read in English and I don’t buy a comic to not understand what I’m reading. Now I have this beef with Carey as he writes WHOLE sentences in French, I have been a Gambit fan since his creation and from what I remember other writers would throw in a ‘chere’or a ‘mon ami’ from time to time, which is fine as these are obvious words that most people know which give the character an identity and personality, but not whole sentences please.

Anyway, rant over. Average story, beautiful art, but for die-hard fans only.

MARVEL NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! From Comic Cons

Well this weekend there has been a tone of Marvel news released at Comic Cons so I’m just gonna do a quick round up with some links to what interested me and what might hopefully interest you guys:

-Dark Reign: The List

A series of one-shots starting in September, and featuring Osborn taking on the heroes from the “Iron Patriot Acts” teaser image. The eight specials announced at Heroes Con and simultaneously at Wizard World: Philly are:

Avengers - by Brian Bendis and Marko Djurdjevic

Uncanny X-Men - by Matt Fraction and Alan Davis

Secret Warriors - by Jonathan Hickman and Ed McGuniness

Punisher - by Rick Remender and John Romita Jr.

Daredevil - by Andy Diggle and Billy Tan

Wolverine - by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic

Hulk - by Greg Pak and Ben Oliver

Amazing Spider-Man - by Dan Slott and Adam Kubert

These one-shots seem to be the next chapter in Dark Reign story. There are some good creative teams at work here. I’m looking forward to Adam Kuberts work. It would seem the story starts in The Avengers one-shot and will continue the story in some way through the one-shots. If these are pretty much linked up in some way, shape or form I can see me buying all of these!! Damn you Marvel!

There also might have been a little teaser from Bendis about a certain God of Thunder joining the New Avengers when at one of the panels at the Con a fan asked;

Are there chances for a Thor vs. Sentry fight? “If Thor was on one team,” Fraction said “And the Sentry was on another...” “I feel like my computer’s been hacked,” Bendis joked.

Now that would be a cool throw down! Please let that happen.

Newsarama has full notes from the panel here: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090620-heroes-dark-reign.html

& Bendis discusses Dark Reign: The List in more detail here:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060921-Bendis-TheList.html

Tom Brevoort discusses it here: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060922-Brevoort-List.html

IGN expand on the story here with summaries of each upcoming issue: http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/996/996600p1.html



-Nomad: Girl without a World – Mini-Series

Looks like the ‘Girl without a world’ teaser’s we have been seeing (& shown above) is for a new Nomad mini-series featuring the female Bucky who appeared in Cap # 600. This will be written by Teen Titan’s Sean McKeever. I don’t think he is a very good writer and don’t really have any interest in this. I can see myself suffering from Captain America over exposure soon like I do with Wolverine every month.

-Spider-Man: The Clone Saga & ‘Who is Ben Reilly?’

Newsarama spoke with Howard Mackie and Tom Defalco for some inside information about The Clone Saga, the new mini series that re-visits the very controversial story line, and hopefully improves on the original. This is a good in-depth interview with the creators who discuss where they think the original story in the 90’s went wrong and how they are going to approach it this time round. This also contains some nice preview pencil pages.

Spider-Man fans should def check this interview out here:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060918-Clone-Saga.html

Newsarama then also spoke to Marc Guggenheim about his up-coming story arc in Amazing Spider-Man. Starting in the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #36 in July, "Who Is Ben Reilly?" continues in issues #608 and #609 in October, but Marc would not give away too many Spoilers.
Again though if you are a Spider-Man fan this is def worth a read.
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090620-ben-reilly.html

I don’t know why but the whole Ben Reilly controversy appeals to me and I really like Guggenheim as a writer so I’ll probably pick this arc up to see where the story goes. Could this be the reversal of ‘One More Day’?!?!

-X-Men Legacy Annual # 1


There was not that much exciting X-Men news for me personally except the X-Men Legacy Annual coming in September, and written by Mike Carey with art by Daniel Acuna. The only reason I’m looking forward to this is because of Daniel Acuna, he is one of my favorite artists right now. After this issue the series will supposedly follow a new ‘direction’ following the adventures of Rogue, which correct me if I’m wrong, is what this book has been doing for months, and before that, followed Rogue and her team of X-Men (Carey obviously has a big hard on for that character). If Acuna continues as artist for the book it appeals to me, otherwise the story line and direction does not.


CBR interview with M Carey: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21683



-A new Moon Knight on-going series

‘Vengeance of the Moon Knight’ will be the new on going series with the new creative team of writer Gregg Hurwitz and artist Jerome Opena. This is basically a relaunch, and the existing title will end. I’m sure this is just so Marvel can put a new $3.99 price tag on the book. Anyway, I bought a few issues of the Moon Knight series but never thought it was that great (I do think the character has big potential though) and I don’t think I have ever read anything by Gregg Hurwitz. I am always willing to give new series a go though, especially from Marvel, and this one promises to bring Moon Knight back into the centre of the Marvel U to mix thinks up with Norman, so I will check out the previews when they appear and if they look good to me I’ll prob check out issue 1.


-Heroes for Hire join the Thunderbolts?

Newsarama have a short interview with Rick Remender where it appears that he will be taking over writing chores on Thunderbolts # 136 for a one off 48 page special issue. From this interview we gather that Iron Fist & Luke Cage will in some way be black mailed into working for Norman Osborn. We know from previous New Avengers issues that Luke Cage in no way wants to work for Norman, and if I remember rightly smacked Norman the fuck out in the Avengers Tower. I can imagine Danny Rand would feel the same as Luke, so what does Norman have on these guys? From the cool cover for that issue shown above, Danny and Luke’s eyes look rather demonic. Possessed perhaps? Hypnotized? I dunno, either way I will check this out as I’m a sucker for both Iron Fist & Luke Cage and Remender talks a good game in this interview.
The other question raised here of course is what has happened to Andy Diggle as writer of the Thunderbolts series, is this just a one off and he’ll be back or not? He has only been on the book a short while. We’ll see.

Another interview at CBR here: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21680

-Planet Hulk DVD
Lastly CBR reported: There will be a direct to DVD movie based on “Planet Hulk.“
“I was pulled on as a consultant,” said Pak. “I can’t say anything more except I think it’s going to be awesome!”

Phew, that’s a lot of news! I’d love to hear your thoughts guys.

Friday 19 June 2009

Marvel Previews for comics on sale 19/06/2009 @ CBR


HUGE list of previews from Marvel and CBR this week. Some really good stuff to look forward to especially for X-fans.

This is the full list:

Click the links below to be taken to the preview of your choice.

There is loads here that I’m planning on getting. The ones I’m most looking forward to are Daredevil #119 for the continuation of the great ‘Return of the king’ arc, seems it’s been a few months since the last issue, Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-Men Utopia, I’m hoping for a good start to hopefully a future classic crossover with loads of good action, Immortal Iron Fist #27, X-Force #16 for the end of ‘Messiah War’ and pretty much all of the rest of the x-titles.

Anything you guys are looking forward to?

Thursday 18 June 2009

Superman # 689 & Gotham City Sirens # 1 Previews


Over at DC the blog they have posted 7 page previews of Mon-El’s next adventure in Superman and the new Bat-family book from Paul Dini. Above is the nice variant for issue 1 by J G Jones.

Artist Roger Robinson talks The Web @ Newsarama


Nice interview with artist Roger Robinson about his upcoming gig on The Web for DC. There are some nice preview pages here also and Roger is a really good penciler. The Web ongoing will have a Hangman co-feature & The Shield ongoing will have an Inferno co-feature both due out in September. I’m looking forward to these new series and to reading about new (in a re-imagining sense) characters and as they are new characters the scope of the stories could be endless, you don’t know what to expect, which I like.

The above pic by Robinson is really cool, (except the action figure legs, whats that about!?!?) so I'm expecting good things on the art side of the series.

Read the full interview here: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060917-Robinson-Web.html

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Free Mondays @ Marvel! When did this happen?!?!

I know its Wednesday, but I only saw this today, and I’m sorry if Im late to the party and this has been going on forever but when the fuck did Marvel start giving away FREE digital comics? I know you can subscribe to their digital service to read loads of comics online, but not really being a fan of reading comics that way I have never bothered, having said that, if Marvel want to give some to me for free that’s fucking awesome. I can now waste even more time at work. Sweet! So if you are a bit slow and stupid like me and didn’t know about this, check it out. Man I really need to catch on with this digital age!

NOTE!! - After writing it appears that only on Deadpool and Cap Britain can you read the whole of the book, and the others are just previews, but still pretty cool.

This weeks free comics are:

SHE-HULK (2005) #34
UNCANNY X-MEN #504
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #25
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 #5
DEADPOOL (2008) #2

Next Mondays are:

EXCALIBUR (1988) #42
RUNAWAYS (2005) #26
CAPTAIN AMERICA (2004) #43
RUNAWAYS (2008) #2
MS. MARVEL (2006) #32

Link: http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.8358.Free_Mondays_~op~6~slash~15~slash~09~ep~

Enjoy!

Advance reviews - Mondo Marvel @ CBR

This week the advance reviews are of the following:

Advance Review of Young Allies 70th Anniversary Special #1
Advance Review of Ultimate Spider-Man – Requiem #1
Advance Review of Mighty Avengers #26
Advance Review of Punisher #6
Advance Review of Dark Reign: Hawkeye #3
Advance Review of Marvel Zombies 4 #3

Link: http://www.comicsbulletin.com/news/124519962114793.htm

Hope this helps you out when stepping in your comic shop this week.

More Mini Reviews - Last weeks comics

Green Lantern Corps # 37

– 4 out of 5

I won’t spend long on this review I just need to let you know this book was great, and if your looking forward to the upcoming epic Blackest Night make sure you pick up this preview arc. I bought the occasional GLC issue prior to Prelude to Blackest Night but this ‘Emerald Eclipse’ arc for me has been not stop excitement and just class story telling by Peter Tomassi. This issue does not let up (Spoilers)- Ion commits suicide (we think) by plunging into Daxam Red Sun and turning it into a yellow sun, thus giving the captive planet of Daxam, basically a world/ army full of Supermen, and all the while the rest of the Green Lanterns are having to deal with a prison break on Oa. Great stuff. Next issue will be an all out brawl I’m sure between the Daxamites and Sinestro Corps and I can’t wait. Get it.


Red Robin # 1

–3 out of 5

This was a read I enjoyed, but I was still a little disappointed as I was hoping for more. The art by Ramon Bachs was okay but nothing spectacular. Chris Yost is a writer I have come to admire over the last couple of years from his work at Marvel and Image, but this was a pretty standard storyline and script for an opening issue.

Tim Drake (or Tim Wayne as he now likes be called) is sure that Bruce is still alive, although we are not really told why. He decides to go globe trotting searching for clues (though what kind of clues we are again not told). During the globe trotting he cant help but get mixed up in local violence in the cities he goes to, providing the action for the issue, which is done pretty well, but is just standard stuff (Girl kidnapped, then rescued by Tim, blah blah blah).

There are some nice flash backs scenes to confrontations between Tim & both Dick & Damian as to why brat boy should take up the position of Robin and Dick makes some good points in that Tim has now grown to be his equal. Tim then makes the decision to go on his quest for Bruce and dons the Red Robin costume to avoid ties back to Batman. I’m sure the future issues will expand on the reasons why he believes Bruce to be alive and why he has decided to search for clues around the globe. It was a good enough issue to have me check back next month and there was a nice last page reveal of a certain person interested in the exploits of the new Red Robin, but overall an average read. Check this out if you’re a Tim Drake fan, or if you want to know how Bruce returns, as I think this will be a key book in that story.


X-Men Forever # 1

– 4 out of 5

Now this was a book I was unsure I would like, but really had a fun time reading. I was a big fan of the X-Men title from about issues 1-60 in the early 90's and this is that same X-Men team in a sort of alternative reality courtesy of Chris Claremont. You don’t need to have read the X-Men issues 1-3 to know what’s going on, the first page catch up is fine and does it’s job well. I love the characters in their old uniforms and this was a nice old school X-Men adventure where their job was to take down the powerful mutant Cortez who had previously taken out Magneto. That’s the main plot, the sub plot is that there are some serious love triangles going on plus it seems Nick Fury and the government will be taking a much larger role in the running of the X-Men in future issues. Art by Tom Grummet is pretty good but don’t expect the detailed feel of early 90’s X-Men artists like Jim Lee or Andy Kubert (which I would have preferred) but as I am treating this as an alternative reality I’m okay with it. I look forward to the next issue which will be out in only 2 weeks, which is a bonus. A strong first issue and def a pick up for old school X-Men fans or fans of the original X-Men animated series.

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Comic Book Pull List for 17/06/2009


DC Comics:
- Batman: Streets of Gotham # 1

Marvel:
- Cable # 15
- Incognito # 4
- Wolverine: Origins # 37
- X-Men Origins: Gambit # 1
- Young Allies Comics 70th Special # 1

Pretty small week for me thank god, my wallet will be pleased. I’m looking forward to Streets of Gotham & Cable the most.

I was planning on picking up Action Comics Annual #12 too but after reading Action Comics #878 I have decided to drop the title. It’s just an average read for me that seems to be getting worse each month and I’m not that invested in the characters. I am buying far too many comics each month and want to start saving to go traveling so I really need to start cutting back. So for that reason and also the reviews I’ve read I will also not be picking up Cap # 600, Marvel can go fuck themselves on that one. They are taking the piss with their prices.

I’m picking up the Gambit Origins as I’m a fan of the character from the early 90’s, not really how he has been written recently, but I’ll give it a go. Incognito I’m unsure about. I have bought the previous 3 issues and really enjoyed them but I think it will read really nice in trade, just by the style it’s written, but…….. there are only 2 issues left! I dunno maybe I’ll sell issues 1-3 I already have on ebay and wait for the trade due in November I think.

Something else that caught my eye that is out this week was the following TPB from DC. I enjoyed Batman RIP and this might be an interesting companion read to see some of Morrison’s inspiration for the story. I think I’ll flick through this in a store to see if it’s any good and maybe pick it up:

Batman: The Black Casebook

Written by Bill Finger, Edmond Hamilton and others; Art by Sheldon Moldoff, Dick Sprang and others; Cover by Alex Ross
Discover the stories that inspired recent events in the Batman universe with this new collection! Featuring stories from BATMAN #65, 86, 112, 113, 134, 156 and 162, DETECTIVE COMICS #215, 235, 247 and 267, and WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #89. With an intro by Grant Morrison.
What are you guys getting?

Full spoiler loaded review of Captain America # 600 @ Bleeding Cool.


You have been warned!

After reading this review I don’t think I’ll bother with this issue. It’s a $4.99 book, for 40 pages of new story, which sounds like it’s just telling you to read Reborn. The rest is packed out with more reprints and ANOTHER origin story (WTF we just had one last issue!). What a load of shit from Marvel, as if the Cap 50 issue wasn’t boring enough, this sounds like another useless fill in anniversary issue just to get more money from us. I’ll wait for Reborn when the real story starts.

Monday 15 June 2009

Brubaker speaks out about Captain America: Reborn

Captain America Reborn #1 - cover by Alex Ross

Brubaker talk s about ‘Captain America: Reborn’ over at Marvel with some preview pages to Captain America # 600 on sale today. http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.8368.Reborn_Revealed

Also Marvel have started an official ‘Reborn’ website with a short video and previews of the covers for Reborn issue 1 here: http://marvel.com/reborn
I'm really up for this.

Steve Rogers is Reborn!

Newsarama are today reporting that Captain America # 600 will in fact be the start of the return of Steve Rogers, that I assume will continue into the 'Reborn' mini series .

I got to say I am excited about this. For me the Captain America title has lost something since Bucky has taken over as Cap, so hopefully Brubaker can put some excitement back into the series. Read the full story here:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/060915-Cap-Reborn.html

Monday Mini Reviews

Really good week for comics. Here are the first titles I read and what I thought of them:

Amazing Spider-Man # 597 – 5 out of 5

Best Spider-Man book I have read since……… I can’t remember when. I was a bit disappointed with the last issue but this really steps it up a gear. Spidey throws down with Daken who works out he is not Venom, and basically the fight is awesome. Harry shocks readers by proving he will do anything to get on his fathers good side (we presume to later stab in the back to steal the Goblin serum cure for girlfriend Menace) and there is a nice shocking and violent ending, where the game is pretty much up for Peter and the next issue I hope we will see how evil Norman can really be. I could not fault this issue in any way; both writing and art were fantastic. Loved it.

X-Factor # 44 – 4 out of 5

Again this book continues to impress month after month. Another great ending another and another great twist in this amazing story. Peter David I think writes to best dialogue of any comic book writer today. His characters are smart and funny, and you fall in love with every single one of them. They are characters of today, modern and young and relatable (in a mind space sort of sense), but put in extraordinary circumstances. My only problem was that the story of Jamie in the future has not really moved on much in the last few issues, and apart from Jamie and Layla’s relationship, not much is explored further here. Also the story from last issue with the cliffhanger ending dealing with Rictor & Strong Guy and Jamie’s Dupe was not touched on at all. I was looking forward to seeing where that went. Guess I’ll have to wait and see until next month. Overall though another fantastic issue.

Batman # 687 – 2.5 out of 5

Hated the cover to this issue, the JG Jones variant I wanted was too expensive for me too, but on with the story. This issue pretty much pointed out that Battle for the Cowl was totally unnecessary; I mean I thought Battle for the Cowl was okay and a fun ride, but this is the issue that actually deals with Dick deciding to take up the mantle of the Bat. Not much really happens accept for Dick contemplating continuing Bruce’s legacy, and deciding that if he does it has to be in his own way. The artwork by Benes is decent and the emotional moments where Alfred expresses his feeling about the loss of his ‘son’ to Superman were written and drawn beautifully. Winick did a good job overall with the characters. The reason I can’t give this more than 2.5 mark, as it was a pretty good issue, is that I am pissed at the way DC have handled this issue and Battle for the Cowl as a mini. DC could have easily put out one oversized issue compacting both stories and saving the readers money. Having said that I am looking forward to the next issue and where Winick takes this story.


Deadpool # 11 – 5 out of 5

I just really enjoyed this as it was just so much fun. The jokes were laugh out loud and even though sometimes corny and obvious Deadpool as a character gets away with it. This issue pretty is much a continuation of the Bullseye vs. Deadpool dust up with a psychotic butcher thrown into the mix for Deadpool to deal with in a rather gruesome way. There are also some very funny flashbacks of the two main characters as children at school which were hilarious. Paco Medina’s pencils are just great and so much fun, I think he is just really suited to this book. Lots of action+ lots of laughs = great issue. Next issue will see the conclusion to this arc and the way this book is written by Daniel Way I wouldn’t be so sure that Deadpool will come out the victor. Can’t wait.


Friday 12 June 2009

Shia unsure about Yorick role


I read about Shia Labouf not wanting to play Yorick, the main character in the upcoming ‘Y: The Last Man’ feature film based on the brilliant Vertigo series of the same name, in this month’s Wizard magazine, and was going to mention it on this blog earlier in the week, but…. I forgot. I have now seen this mentioned on a couple of sites, but in case any of you guys have not seen it and are interested this is what Shia had to say about the role:
“You take Sam and you put a monkey on his shoulder,” said LaBeouf of Yorick’s sidekick Ampersand. “I don’t know if it’s that big a differential. It seems like he’s the ordinary guy in an extraordinary situation again.”

‘Sam’ being the character he plays in Transformers.

Basically I think he’s wrong and could miss out on playing a great character. Yorick is an extremely funny, wise-cracking character. He is certainly an every man character yes, but his journey through the comic book series is long and there is a lot of ways the character grows and develops. I think Shia would be a good fit, so I’m a bit disappointed he seems uninterested in the role, but I am looking forward to see who will possibly step into Yorick’s shoes.

Read Immortal Weapons Sketchbook for FREE @ Marvel Digital


Awesome free look at Immortal Weapons Sketchbook, with preview pages of Immortal Weapons 1, over Marvel Digital. This is definitely worth a look. Man I can’t wait for this mini-series now!
Check it here:
There is also links to a couple of podcasts at Comics Bulletin where the creators discuss Immortal Weaons in more detail. Here http://www.comicsbulletin.com/news/124446713439313.htm

Dark Wolverine preview art & Rucka talks Batwoman/ Detective Comics

Preview art pages here at IGN Comics for Dark Wolverine #75: http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/994/994053p1.html

I'm really undecided on this, I might give the first few issues ago, it’s only fair to the creative team I suppose before I dismiss this title completely. It’s just hard getting behind a lead character who so far has been written like a total dick.

There is also an interview at IGN with Greg Rucka on the upcoming Batwoman/ Detective Comics. I don’t know anything about Batwoman and have never read a comic with her in, but Rucka is quite a decent writer and the art on the preview pages just look so different and absolutely gorgeous, I’ll have to check it out.