The story was decent, but I had a really hard time getting into this new buck-toothed Batgirl.
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This art was just so unappealing to me that it kThe story was decent, but I had a really hard time getting into this new buck-toothed Batgirl.
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This art was just so unappealing to me that it kinda ruined the issue. Which is a shame, because I really wanted to like it. And maybe it's unfair of me to judge it that way, but I can't help the way I felt while I was reading it. Ugh... *shudder* I don't even understand why I had such a bad reaction to the art because I've certainly seen worse, but there's something about it that sets my teeth on edge.
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And it's probably just me! Anyway. So Babs gets hacked, and turns to Black Canary for some backup. It's time to get the band back together! <--not really, cuz BC just quit her band...hyuck, hyuck! Along the way, we get an origin story for Batgirl, complete with the missing Oracle years. I thought that was a nice touch, but it seemed a little odd at the same time. Especially considering that it seemed like she didn't have any memory of this time when Simone was writing her. Then again maybe this is some Rebirth thing? Honestly, the more of these Rebirth titles I read, the less I'm convinced they have anything new to offer to the story. I'm kinda bummed.
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Oh, and remember Helena from the Grayson title? Well, she pops up in this and makes quite an impression on our Birds. Will she be a friend or enemy?
So much is wrong with this book. Hell, this entire series! BUT I CAN'T STOP READING. It's so frustrating to know on an intellectual level that there areSo much is wrong with this book. Hell, this entire series! BUT I CAN'T STOP READING. It's so frustrating to know on an intellectual level that there are multiple plot holes (view spoiler)[Why are the humans suddenly unafraid to mock Others in public? A month or so ago, the wolves would literally EAT anyone who wandered across their fence and serve the human meat in their butcher shop. They couldn't get anyone reliable to work for them, because all the humans were too freaked out by what went on in there. But NOW the Others are under attack and nobody is afraid of them? I kinda doubt that. (hide spoiler)], several unbelievably convenient developments to further the story (view spoiler)[Meg's suddenly overwhelmed by too much stimulus...now? After months of living in the Courtyard...now she suddenly has panic attacks if something in her office is moved? She gets dizzy if she goes into one of the stores that sell postcards and office supplies? Are you fucking kidding me with this shit? (hide spoiler)], and characters who all seem to be incredibly naive about the world they live in (view spoiler)[ How do the vast majority of Others not know the basic things about how to buy goods and interact with humans? If the only reason they're allowing humans to exist is because they like the stuff they make, then shouldn't they USE more of the stuff they make on a regular basis? Or be more curious about how to get that stuff? (hide spoiler)].
I love these books, but if I start scratching the surface of the story...
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Besides my spoilery complaints, I get a bit frustrated with the way the characters think and speak. The Crows with their obsession with Shiny is a good example. I think it's supposed to make them seem to have a more animalistic nature, but it just makes them sound mentally retarded. And I have the same problem with Meg and Simon sometimes. Both of them seem so...un-adult! Listening to Meg is like listening to an awkward 10 year old, and listening to Simon is what I imagine listening to a (somewhat) lovable junkyard dog sounds like. sigh I've never been happier that a relationship was moving along at such a slow pace because I don't think either of them has any idea about what they're doing.
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So with all of my complaints, why should you read this? No idea. But you SHOULD. I don't know what it is about Bishop's series that fascinates me, but I've been binge-reading these suckers for a few weeks now, and I just can't get enough! Sometimes there's no logical explanation for why you love something...
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Ok, the short and skinny version of Vision in Silver? It's about the other Blood Prophets like Meg, and Monty and his daughter Lizzy. They all need to be saved from the Humans First and Last (HFL) movement, and the Others from Lakeside decide it's their job to protect them. Craziness ensues, new characters are introduced, and the humans get one step closer to annihilation. I love it! What am I going to do when I finish the next book in a few days, and have to wait for #5 to come out?! sobs FANTASTIC STUFF! Go on, eat the candy...
One cool thing about this volume is that you get a few answers.
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I mean, not all of the answers, but enough to make you want to keep going with tOne cool thing about this volume is that you get a few answers.
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I mean, not all of the answers, but enough to make you want to keep going with this title. I had a few a few suspicions that it was nice to get confirmation on, and there were some things that I didn't see coming at all. Good stuff!
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Like most everyone else, I was really impressed with the issue that was a Choose Your Own Adventure of Lizzie's origin story. I thought it was neat that you don't get a definitive answer, because it looks as though she's not exactly stable enough to remember what actually happened. There were (I believe) about 4 different major paths you could take, and I really did have a lot of fun going back and forth between the pages. Kudos on the creativity, Mr. Carey!
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If you're unfamiliar with this title, the short version is this: A young man (Tom Taylor) finds out that the fictional world his father wrote about in his best-selling novels may be more truth than fiction. The main character of these books (think: Harry Potter) is named after him, and he's suddenly thrown into the center of a shitstorm that includes magic, assassins, and classic literature. <--It makes sense, I swear!
At any rate, I'm enjoying myself so far, and I'm looking forward to the next volume!...more
For those of you who didn't like the slow pace of the first book? Welp, you're gonna want to give this series a pass, because this one is more of the sFor those of you who didn't like the slow pace of the first book? Welp, you're gonna want to give this series a pass, because this one is more of the same. Me? For some reason, I really loved it...
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And all the complaints about how the last book had too many details of Meg & Co. just sort of doing silly nothingness, like brushing their teeth? Yep. Same sort of day to day minutiae included in this one. So. Either you're interested in the characters and world, or you're not. I don't blame anyone who isn't into this, because the vast majority of the time, I'm annoyed when I have to read about bullshit details that don't really do anything for the story. But I simply cannot get enough of these guys! What can I say?
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Ok, so with a title like Murder of Crows, can you guess what happens in the story?! Yep.
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Plus, other stuff that Meg and her new friends have to figure out. Drug are bad, M'Kay? Everything just kind of inches along, and by the end, everyone knows a bit more than they did when the story started. Again, I have no idea why I like this series so much!
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Good stuff. If you liked the first book, you'll probably like this one....more
So. The Edge isn't my favorite Ilona series, but it's still good. And this (last?) installment wasn't my favorite of this series, but it was 3.5 stars
So. The Edge isn't my favorite Ilona series, but it's still good. And this (last?) installment wasn't my favorite of this series, but it was still pretty decent. Honestly, I wanted to read about the kids (Jack, George, & Lark) more than I did Charlotte & Richard. One of the amazing things about these authors is that they create such special & interesting characters. And not just the main ones, but the bad guys and secondary characters, too!
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Anyway, I'd love to see a series about those 3 nuts! And Derek and Julie. And Roman... *big pleading eyes* That's not asking for too much, is it? PLEASE?!
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Ok, ok, ok. Back to Steel's Edge. Charlotte is/was a Healer. THE Healer. <--she's badass But her life sucked, b/c her ex-husband was a bastard who only wanted her for her ovaries, and when they found out should could never have children...he divorced her. In a fit of (I think, deserved) rage, she almost sucked the life out of the smarmy a-hole, and in an effort to control her magic and get a fresh start, she runs away to the Edge.
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Richard had a bad experience with his ex-wife, as well. Only she wanted to have money, not children. Poor guy. Unfortunately, instead of these two meeting at a church mixer, they're introduced to each other by a bunch of slavers from the Weird. See, Richard is hunting slavers for what they did to his niece, and (after some spoilery events) Charlotte is hunting for them because of what they did to someone she cared about in the Edge. Turns out, they make a pretty good team!
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And that's the gist of the story...ish. Bottom line: If you've been reading this series, you can't miss this one....more
If there's any holiday that makes me queasy, it's this one. I didn't always used to be this way, but after a few decadeSo. Christmas, amirite?
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If there's any holiday that makes me queasy, it's this one. I didn't always used to be this way, but after a few decades experiencing The Most Wonderful Time of the Year as an adult, I've turned a tad sour. Depending on what time of the day you catch me in December, I'll either look like this:
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This:
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And, occasionally (if I look happy), this:
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So, to say that this is not the kind of book I would normally pick out for myself, would be a massive understatement. I mean, sweet baby Jesus, I've been looking at Christmas displays since August, and if I hear that damn woman sing that shitty song ONE MORE TIME....
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Shut up, Mariah! Shut up! You're making me break out in itchy hives! All I Want For Christmas is for every copy of that vile number to die hard horribly in a fiery explosion. Amen.
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Admittedly, I cringed a little inwardly when I picked this one up, but it was surprisingly easy to read. Yes, even for someone like me! It caught me by surprise, too...
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Thing is, I could really relate to the grumpy elf. I was right there with him, cheering him on while he tried to put that ridiculously ungrateful family on the Permanent Naughty List! Stick it to 'em, Marmel! They're a-holes! Sure, maybe he was a little unforgiving...
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But, like Marmel, my Christmas Spirit had long since shriveled up, leaving the dried out husk of a frazzled Holiday Shopper behind.
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But as I read more of the story, and saw how Marmel was changing, something strange started to happen. At first, I wasn't sure what I was experiencing. Was it acid reflux, or something more unexpected taking my Grinchy heart by surprise?
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And you know what? When I finished the story, I felt...better. And I thought, maybe I should slow down, try to remember what's important, and just enjoy the time with my family.
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So maybe hearing Christmas music doesn't have to make you feel like your soul is slowly dying piece by piece? Maybe looking a wrapping paper shouldn't make you want to burst into tears? And maybe those f-ckers who start decorating their houses in the first week of November really aren't agents of Satan...? Nah. Those guys are definitely working for the Devil.
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But the rest of it? Yeah. I think the holidays might be something I could learn to enjoy again. Don't look at me like that, it could happen!
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Anyway, I guess I need to thank the author for giving me a copy of his book, and helping me feel a little bit less like Scrooge this year.
For what it was, it wasn't bad. However, part of the problem (a large part) with the Secret Wars tie-in stuff is that nothing that happens here will ulFor what it was, it wasn't bad. However, part of the problem (a large part) with the Secret Wars tie-in stuff is that nothing that happens here will ultimately matter. And we all know it.
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I think I enjoyed this one as much as I did, because I looked at it strictly from a What If standpoint, and didn't try to make it anything more. If you can do that, I think you'll have a more enjoyable reading experience.
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Set during the time that Doom was (basically) a god, this deals with his version of the Inhumans. Which means that there are some interesting adjustments not only to the regular cast, but from the cameos characters, as well. For example: Star-Lord, the lounge singer!
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Ok. The other problem with this is that there aren't a ton of fans salivating to get their hands on the X-men's ugly cousins. Sadly, since Fox still owns the film rights to Marvel's mutants, and Marvel wants/needs to have something that feels sort of mutantesque in their movie lineup, we're gong to have to keep swallowing the Inhuman pill in our comics for quite some time. Try not to get too depressed. We're all in this together, True Believers!
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Still. Coulda been worse. I'm not a huge fan of Charles Soule, because his writing always feels sort of bland to me. Almost every time I read something by him lately, I feel like I would really like it if...something. And I'm never quite sure what that something is, you know? Frustrating. Having said that, I had more fun reading this one than I thought I would.
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If you love the Inhumans, or you're a Secret Wars completionist, then check this one out. Otherwise, it won't hurt to give it a pass....more
Guess what? I've already read this, but evidently it was listed differently, so when I checked the isbn #, it seemed as though this would be somethingGuess what? I've already read this, but evidently it was listed differently, so when I checked the isbn #, it seemed as though this would be something new for me. You know what else? Since I had entirely forgotten everything about it, I had fun reading this for the first second time! <--perks of a bad memory!
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My 13 year old read this one with me (always fun!), and he seemed to like it as much as I did, so I'm pretty sure you don't have to have read any of the novels to follow along.
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Ok. I'm lazy, and I've already written one review for this thing, so... Yeah. Just gonna copy and paste that one since my feelings still stand.
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Original review: 2012
Very few novels make good graphic novels. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again. But not this time.
David Lawrence did an excellent job adapting Moon Called to this format. It's been years since I've read the book, so I can't really remember each and every part of the actual story, but it seemed to me that most of the major plot points were there. It made sense, and it flowed well. I'm sure that wasn't easy.
As far as the art goes... Well, I didn't love it or hate it. It had an anime feel to it, but it wasn't overpowering. Or maybe I should say, at least not all of the guys looked androgynous. But most everyone did look slightly Asian. Whatevah. Some people will love the way it looks, I'm sure....more
Looking at the reviews, I think this might not be for anyone who hasn't seen (and liked) the moviefirst.
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I suppose the reason for this one waLooking at the reviews, I think this might not be for anyone who hasn't seen (and liked) the moviefirst.
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I suppose the reason for this one was to give fans a bit more background on each of the three main characters. For me, this was perfect! For anyone else? No idea.
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While it's titled JLA, these aren't our Justice Leaguers. Superman is Zod's son who fell from sky and was raised by Hispanic migrant workers. Wonder Woman is the granddaughter of Highfather, and ultimately betrayed (unwillingly) her new husband Orion and his father Darkseid, leading to their slaughter on Apocalypse. And Batman is actually Kirk Langstrom (our Man-Bat) who is infected with something that turned him into a vampire.
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Each character gets an issue to tell some new part of their origin, and then they come together as the Justice League and tell a story. And, as some of the other reviewers have mentioned, this isn't exactly a happy or fun group of people.
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Each story has a different artist, so some of it appealed to me more than others, but none of it was so awful I hated it. Again, I think you need to be a fan of the movie to appreciate and/or enjoy this one. Otherwise, it's just going to come off as some weird, dark story about unrecognizable superheroes.
Eh. This was ok. Definitely not the worst of the Season One bunch, but also nothing I'd recommend to casual comic readers. Be warned: this is Hank Pym,Eh. This was ok. Definitely not the worst of the Season One bunch, but also nothing I'd recommend to casual comic readers. Be warned: this is Hank Pym, not Scott Lange. So, you know, brace yourself for the inevitable angst-fest.
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I've never read an Ant-Man origin story (that I remember), so for that reason alone this had automatic appeal for me. Also, I'd forgotten about Hank's first wife, Maria! I vaguely remember something about her from somewhere, but... Anyway, this is set before his time with Janet or the Avengers.
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If you've read Season One stuff before, you'll know what to expect. For any of you who don't know what Season One is? Um. It's just basically an updated/reimagined version of some character's origin story. These stories aren't wildly different (like DC's Earth One), but they aren't exactly word for word originals, either.
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If you're interested in Hank Pym, then this one isn't bad. Otherwise, you can give it a pass.
A hot chick wearing a veil walks into a bar... How do you know she's hot, my rotund Belgian friend? Shut up. My mustache gives my little grey cells supeA hot chick wearing a veil walks into a bar... How do you know she's hot, my rotund Belgian friend? Shut up. My mustache gives my little grey cells super-deduction skills.
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Ok, not a bar. She walks into Poirot's house and hires him to try to retrieve a scandalous letter from a blackmailer. Always burn the letters, ladies!
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In traditional Agatha Christie style, Hercule solves the case by checking out a kitchen, & noticing that someone's shoes are janked up...
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Because realistic!
Honestly, this was too short to be very good. The plot was thin, and the solution was thinner. BUT. If you're looking for a small dose of Aggie to tide you over between her full-sized novels, then this shorty might fit the bill....more
Silly, and a bit unimportant in the grand scheme of the Marvel world, but the bit where he hooked up with Beetle made it totally worth reading. <--donSilly, and a bit unimportant in the grand scheme of the Marvel world, but the bit where he hooked up with Beetle made it totally worth reading. <--don't ask me why, it just did!
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So, yeah. My enjoyment of this title springs mostly from my curiosity as to which of the women in his life are going to screw him over the hardest. Because if it's not Beetle, it'll be his ex-wife (in the form of her new husband), or maybe his reality tv star ex-girlfriend, Darla (aka stand-in for the Thing)? [image] But Scott's screwed no matter what. Will his main (only) investor, Mary Morgenstern, who turns out to be a clairvoyant hero from the golden age, get sick of him fucking up and just pull the plug? Or maybe his employees, with their somewhat shifty morality, migrate towards an employer with better dental benefits? Or, hell, what about the actual bad guys who want to take him out? HENCH App, FTW! Yeah. Scott Lang is a dead man walking.
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And that's the charm of this title. Sure, Scott can't catch a break, but it's because of the stupid self-sabotaging shit that he does. Raise your hand if you know someone like this? Or maybe youare that person? <--sucks! Point is, his character is relatable to almost everyone.
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Ok. There's an issue with the new Captain America, Sam Wilson, that's pretty fun, and it showcases their friendship in a good light. Both of those characters had a good sense of humor about their perspective places in the MU, and they played off of each other quite well. Good stuff. Not perfect, but good.
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Bonus! The Ant-Man Annual, so you get a Pym/Lang team-up that's fun. Plus, Ant-Man: Last Days, where you get the background on Mary and see how Lang spent his last few hours on Earth. Hint: He was nekked with a super-villain. <--Go, Scott!
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If you like lovable loser stories, this is for you!...more
Hellboy is such an odd comic. I kind of just love the world that Mignola has created, but at the same time it's really dry and crunchy. I'm not particHellboy is such an odd comic. I kind of just love the world that Mignola has created, but at the same time it's really dry and crunchy. I'm not particularly invested in any of the characters (Hellboy included), because there's just not much to be invested in. The world is fantastic, the creatures in that world are amazing, and the stories are suitably creepy. But on any sort of personal level, I'm just not feeling anything for the people (<--using that term loosely) involved. [image] Same thing goes for the art. Part of me looks at these panels and thinks, Man, that is ugly as fuck!, and the other part of me is absolutely fascinated with what I'm seeing on the page. It's hideous, look away! No...wait. That's pretty cool! Nope. Looks like my kid drew it with a crayon. Ohhh! That's visually compelling. My eeeeyes! They're bleeding! I can't make up my mind. Guess I'll just call it a draw for now.
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It was easier for me to get behind the first edition (which contained volume 1 & 2), because it was one big story arc. This one is a bunch of single issue stories without much of a connecting thread. Which is fine in theory, but the reality turned out to be a bit too meandering for my personal taste.
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Like most collections of shorts, some of the stories are better than others. Most of these were good, some were very good, a few were meh, but none of them blew me away. Again, I think the reason I didn't get all that excited was simply due of the duration of tales. It's rare for a short story to really grip you, because the author doesn't have the page time needed to get most readers invested in the characters and/or plot. And when you add in the weak feelings I had for this group of characters, it's not shocking I didn't wet my pants in delight while reading this thing.
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However. I want to see where this story goes, so I'm not giving up. Plus, it's not like I thought it sucked or anything. I guess I was just expecting more, and came away underwhelmed.
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Oh, and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, etc.....more
I hate the concept. Hate it. Hate that there's a new person running around with the name Thor, wielding Mjolnir, and calling down the thunder. I don'tI hate the concept. Hate it. Hate that there's a new person running around with the name Thor, wielding Mjolnir, and calling down the thunder. I don't care if the person a female or not. I just don't like my original characters getting displaced. <--personal preference
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I also hate the cancer theme. Haaaaaate it. I guess the idea is to bring real-life struggles to a comic character, but... Fuck! Utilize the magic to heal yourself, you idiot! Any real person who had cancer would, and you're being flippant and ridiculous by not taking advantage of it. *gives finger*
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Regardless of how I feel, Jason Aaron is a fantastic writer, and he is absolutely rocking it on this title. I'm actively annoyed by the main driving forces behind the title, and I still like it. The story he's telling is simply too interesting for me to not enjoy myself. That. Is. Talent.
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Another thing I've never been particularly fond of are the Asgard-heavy stories. I prefer my Thor in the Avengers world, not shuffling around in Fifflestein. <--Yeah, I know that's not a real place! Mostly because I find the politics boring, but also because the characters never seem to reach out and grab me. However, this time around, I was fully engaged in what was happening with all of the major players in Jorgenheimlich. <--Aware that I made that name up too!
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Even if you're someone like me, who's not thrilled with all the stupid character switcheroos Marvel has been pulling lately, you may want to give this one a shot anyway. It honestly does not suck.
Oh, and that last page was pretty awesome. Just sayin...
Surprisingly interesting, considering the story was made entirely of ridiculous characters and plotlines. And I truly mean that in the nicest way possSurprisingly interesting, considering the story was made entirely of ridiculous characters and plotlines. And I truly mean that in the nicest way possible.
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I stopped reading Green Arrow after the 5th volume, The Outsiders War, because I simply couldn't take any more of the dumbassery. And I'm not even sure how I ended up requesting this one from the library, but I'm assuming there was some sort of disconnect happening between my finger and my brain, because when I went to pick up my pile of books...this sucker was in there.
I'll be the first one to admit that I inwardly cringed a bit when I saw the title, but what's a girl to do? Even I'm not rude enough to throw something like this back across the counter at a helpless librarian.
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Ok, so I'm going to try to explain a bit about the plot, hopefully without spoiling anything, but if you don't want to know anything about what happens in this one, now would be a good time to stop reading.
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The entire volume has a magical legend sort of vibe to it, and if you're into that sort of thing in your street-level superheroes, you might really enjoy this one. Usually, I find that sort of It's maaaaagic, so nothing needs an explanation storyline to be a big steaming pile of bullshit. And a lot of this was no exception.
First, Ollie is on some journey to find himself in Alaska by drinking whiskey. Whiskey that is being used to preserve The Drowned Man, who was apparently some dude who wouldn't leave when they flooded the town. His version of sticking it to the man obviously didn't end well (you can confirm this by checking out his above mentioned name), and he's on permanent display in a bar. Apparently, the patrons aren't grossed out by the dead guy floating in the glass tank behind the bar, because one drink from his mystical whiskey preservative and you get...answers. *nods sagely* I'm not sure if the writer realizes this, but you get marked off by health inspectors for not having a hairnet on in the kitchen, storing your frozen chicken above your frozen fish, and not having hand wash stations every few feet. I somehow doubt you'd keep your liquor license with a dead body on the premises. Much less by pickling him in alcohol and serving his juices as some sort of vision quest disguised as a frosty beverage. I'm just saying. That whole issue made my eyes roll so much they were starting to hurt. Especially the part where he referred to a bartender as his Alaska Girl. Apparently, this is a girl that you would go to Alaska with, no questions asked.
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Then while he's tracking an albino white supremacist (really?) he saves a wolf (view spoiler)[yes, a motherfucking WOLF! (hide spoiler)] from a guy who's using it in dog fights. Now he has a pet wolf named George. And of course, George has a magical backstory.
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But George isn't the only new face (or at least new to me) in this lineup. There's a weird bird woman known as the Wart Lady (<--self explanatory once you get a look at her) who can tell the future, see the past, and just generally spout cryptic nonsense on the street corners. The partner/love interest, Tarantula. The romantic part felt really forced, and I wish that whole bit had just been left out. Then there's his little sister, who seems to be some sort of nicer version of Damien Wayne, in that she's half assassin...half tweenager. To be fair, I've skipped two volumes, so I'm not judging little sis. In fact, I really like her character quite a lot. The first villain left a lot to be desired, simply because he was a fairly generic white dude (not the albino, a different one) trying to purge the streets of those he felt were undesirable. Plus, it looked like he ripped off Batman's O.M.A.C. Project to do it...
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The second villain, however, was definitely better. It was some crazy guy who worshiped the Mayan death god, Puch, and the whole story had a pretty creepy feel to it.
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Ok. Now I know that it may not sound like I thought this was very good, but I was really pretty shocked at how well this thing flowed. Yeah, when I pull it apart, it sounds stupid, but while I was reading it? Not bad! I'm not sure that I've ever read anything by Benjamin Percy before, but I can guarantee you, I'll be on the lookout for his stuff from now on. I mean, if he can take my least favorite title, toss it together with a bunch of crazy nonsense, and still manage make it palatable? The guy has to have some serious talent! I'm almost curious enough to go back and see what I missed in the previous volumes. Almost....more
Normally, I'd only recommend this stuff for hardcore fans of a series, but this one is so well done that I think anyone who enjoys urban fantasy and comic books would have fun reading this. Mainly, because Butcher wrote the dialogue instead of handing it over to someone else. There aren't huge chunks of the story missing that would leave readers who haven't been with Harry for 10 bjillion books scratching their heads.
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If you don't know who Harry Dresden is, you can still pick this up and get a really good (albeit much shorter) version of his first few adventures. And if you're already a fan (like me), you'll appreciate seeing some of your favorite characters come to life on the page.
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The gist is that Harry's a wizard who works as a private investigator, and sometimes as a consultant to the local police department. This is set in our world, so the vast majority of people think he's a charlatan, because (obviously) magic isn't real. However, every now and then the paranormal crosses over, and that's when Harry's phone starts ringing. Let the supernatural hijinks begin!
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I've read several of these types of graphic novelizations, and quite a few of them are just authors milking the cash cow, seemingly without much care or thought put into the comics. This doesn't feel that way to me, so I feel fairly confident recommending it, especially to Dresden's fans.
Hey does anybody know what happened to Cyclops? Because apparently he's dead.
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I know, right? When did that shit happen...and why? Is Marvel jusHey does anybody know what happened to Cyclops? Because apparently he's dead.
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I know, right? When did that shit happen...and why? Is Marvel just cleaning house when it comes to old X-men? So. Yeah. Guess I'll have to try and dig that story up next. That's actually a soft maybe. Because, seriously, I'm not sure I can bring myself to care. But the basic story is that Baby Cyclops is having a bit of an identity crisis now that his older self is dead. And also because Old 'Clops evidently went out like a massive douchebag...
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To top it all off, there's a group of grubby teenage mutants going by the name Ghosts of Cyclops who are using his death as an excuse to loot & steal shit. The gist of the story here in volume one is that the other X-teens jump in the Mystery Machine, find the idiot teens, rally behind Scott (who has already found the idiot teens), and try to save the day. Whooo! [image] This volume is less about any sort of action-based plot, and more about emotions. Laura and Angel are having relationship difficulties, Bobby is having a hard time accepting that everyone accepts that he's gay (I think?), Beast thinks he's irrelevant because other people have beaten him to making cool apps...and so on.
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Bottom line? It didn't rock my world, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever read. At any rate, I'll give the next volume a shot....more
Alright, first off, this is a novella. Which means you're not going to get a story that feels in-depth or fully complete. But. For what it was, it wasAlright, first off, this is a novella. Which means you're not going to get a story that feels in-depth or fully complete. But. For what it was, it was ok.
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The story plays out over the course of years, so when you first meet Eliza she's only 18, and Harry is in his late 20s. He's a bit of a douche, and she's a bit silly, so they naturally love each other right off the bat! Ok, no. Not at first anyway.
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They meet again and again over the next few years, and each time they fall for each other just a little bit more. Finally, after some nookie & a bittersweet parting, it culminates in the Big I Love You scene at the end. Yeah, it's kinda cliche, but it was nice.
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There was also a teeny bit of a Pride and Prejudice kind of vibe to this one. So... that's always a bonus. sighs
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Cute, short, & sweet! If you're gonna waste a few hours of your day, this isn't a bad choice....more
The most Unbelievable thing about Gwenpool is how much I like this title!
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It's bouncy, fun, irreverent, & the art (while different from The UnbeThe most Unbelievable thing about Gwenpool is how much I like this title!
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It's bouncy, fun, irreverent, & the art (while different from The Unbelievable Gwenpool, #1) still makes me smile. So. Yeah, this was good stuff.
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I'm not sure if any of you were following Howard the Duck, but this evidently wraps his title's run. Or at least that's what I understand to be true. I've honestly not even been sortakinda tempted to pick that one up. <--anyone know if it was any good?
[image] Even though this one is labeled #0, there's still no answer to the How Did Gwen Poole End Up In Marvel 616?, so don't get too excited. I'm assuming that that's going to be explained a little further on down the line. However, you do get a peek at what she was doing directly before the events in #1, including her first time in the costume shop. [image] The majority of this is Gwen teaming up with a very reluctant Howard to save the world from Black Cat and/or Hydra, because of...well, Gwen and her need for greed. But it's her self-aware I'm-In-A-Comic-And-I-Couldn't-Care-Less attitude that makes this work, so you can't help loving her...even as she's opening fire on everyone in her way. She's doing what every comic geek would love to do, and it's fun to see her embracing the carnage. Keep livin' the dream!
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There's also a Holiday special that's short n' sweet. If you haven't tried this one out yet, give it a shot. Secret Wars can't be all bad if they gave us this kid!
Does everyone remember the shitfest that DC called Convergence ? Well, I had done an admirable job suppressing those memories, so it didn't occur to mDoes everyone remember the shitfest that DC called Convergence ? Well, I had done an admirable job suppressing those memories, so it didn't occur to me that this was part of the end result until Superbeard had a flashback! [image] When Clarkstashe showed up in Superman: Rebirth, I really didn't know what to make of him, and (at first glance) wasn't all that impressed. This is going to sound awful, but part of my dislike stems from the fact I'm not a fan of facial hair. I know, I know! That's very beardist of me! I seriously can't help the way I feel though. I mean, once every 5 years or so, my Hubs decides to grow a beard. And once every 5 years or so, I sleep on the couch till it's gone. shrugs It's like the Good Book says: Love the man, hate the face-pubes.
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Alrighy. So how did I feel about him once I finished this? LOVE! But how you feel about this book is probably going to depend on a few things. Ask yourself this question: Do I want to read about SuperDad? Because I think part of the reason I took to the story so well is because of the family angle.
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I get it, I relate to it, and it makes me smile. Will that be true of everyone? Probably not. Plus, I like seeing Lois & Clark together. She helps ground and humanize him, and the New 52's Supes didn't have that in his relationship with Wonder Woman. They were equals, and that was awesome in its own way, but so much time was spent focusing on his powers and alien heritage that you didn't get quite enough time spent showing the ways in which he was most vulnerable. He's too overpowered, so he needs a big weakness. Yeah, yeah...Kryptonite. But I've always thought the people he loves are his biggest strength and his biggest weakness. In my EverSoHumble opinion, for Superman to be an effective character, you need Lois and/or the Kents to showcase why he's so amazing. This has that in spades.
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Another thing you might want to ask yourself is how much you like to see a superhero's children. We're not talking about babies like Luke Cage & Jessica Jones daughter, or Spider-woman's little boy. They don't run around chattering in the background while you're trying to hear the adults talk. Think about Reed & Sue Richard's brood. Do you think Valeria is an annoying know it all? Or that maybe Franklin isn't quite as cute as he thinks he is? Sometimes kids in comics are hard to take in big (or any) doses. Personally, I thought that Johnathan (Superman's son) was an adorable addition to this story, but that certainly doesn't mean you will.
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The gist is that these guys ended up getting plunked here after Convergence, and have purposely stayed under the radar because they wanted to protect Johnathan. They both still do their intrepid reporter/hero shtick on the down low, though. So they have secret secret identities! Anyway, spoilery stuff happens & the bad guys (plus the government guys!) start catching up to them, and it looks like their attempt to give Jon a normal life may not be possible. Then again, normal is overrated. (view spoiler)[
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I thought this was a fun story with lots of action, a plot, and plenty of heart. Plus, the hopeless romantic in me just had a blast reading about one of my favorite couples of all time.<--Dawwwww! But I still don't like the beard, Kent...
