Quick and the Read #11 – CHOKE!!! The Return of Comic Book Reviews?!?!?!?!

Ok I’m just going to admit it now.  I suck at this comic blog.  Basically I am a lazy SOB who likes to do a little as possible and play computer games whenever I can, watch TV and read comics when I am not doing that.  Every once in a while (five days a week unfortunately) I have to go to work for a while and pretend I care so I can make money to eat, buy more comics, and pay other bills I am forced to pay.

I already get comics late through the mail/UPS, and I take way too long to read them when I do.  By the time I get around to writing about what I have read, they have already been blogged to death, and no one cares anymore.

So from here on out, no more excuses; no more grand exclamations that I am going to do things different, because we all know that is a bunch of shit.  I will do comic reviews when I do them, so let’s just all move on from here shall we?

There it is, I said it; and I feel so much better.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are a few reviews that I took some time out of my busy schedule to do.  Hope you get something out of them.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #35 (Dark Horse Comics) – Wow, serious jumping the shark here guys. Last issue was way over the top with the partial nudity, and this one was barely incomprehensible.  I have to admit that I have been buying this out of habit for a while now (something that I need to change on a lot of titles).  It started out great at first, but after “the gang” had to go into hiding when vampires got popular, things started to go downhill fast.  I love Brad Meltzer’s stuff I have read on other comics (Lighting Saga being the first that comes to mind) his arc on this book was really out there (though I did like the Superman references), and hard to follow.  I was glad to hear that this title is taking a breather for a while, because I think this run has more than run its course.

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Astro City: The Dark Age Book Four #4 (WildStorm) – I am big fan of Kurt Busiek’s writing, and it was his work on Astro City that made me that big of a fan.  Astro City was probably my first try outside of the “Big Two” (or three or four, depending on who you talk to) and I have never regretted it for one second.  The Astro City stories have always been great, and this last issue of the “Dark Age” saga is no exception. Kurt Busiek is one of the greatest comic book writers of our time.   I can’t wait to read what he has for us in the “Silver Agent” series!

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Zatanna #1 (DC Comics) – I was really disappointed in this one.  Paul Dini is a good writer, I have liked his work on “Batman: the Animated Series” and on “Detective Comics” in the past.  However this book’s concept is a complete and total robbing of Jim Butcher’s “The Dresden Files” novels in my opinion.  So much so I think Butcher should sue.  Other than that the art was pretty good.  This is the only issue of this I will be getting.

Well that’s it for this time around, hopefully it won’t be almost a year before I do another one of these; but I’m not making any promises.

Review – Adventure Comics (2009) #7

Adventure Comics (2009) #7 (DC Comics)

Now this is what I am talking about!  Tony Bedard continues to impress me, even though I have been a fan of his since his run on Negation.  He is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers and his book R.E.B.E.L.S is one of the few books that I really look forward to reading every month. This issue of Adventure Comics is a great example of why Tony Bedard, in my opinion, is one of a handful of comic book writers that can actually make dialogue seem “3-dimensional”.

The first few pages of this issue were an excellent overview of Superboy’s (dammit, they actually got me to like him!!) past up to this point, and also summing up the events of Blackest Night as well.  This was done quickly but not dwelling on it to the point of bogging down the story.  The rest of the story was well placed with action and it was really clever how things were resolved, with a special guest as well

I have to say I really enjoyed this comic and can’t wait to see the return of the Legion of Super-Heroes next issue!

Review – Blackest Night JSA #3 of 3

Blackest Night: JSA  #3 of 3 (DC Comics)

This was one of the better tie-in mini-series, even there were a few out of character moments here and there (when did Judomaster learn English???).

Robinson and Bedard did a great job on this issue as usual.  There was intense action that had me going up to the last page.  This story is a good example of what the JSA should be like, not what it as changed into since Johns left the main title (more about that in other reviews).  Here you see all the team working together for one goal, not fractured and fighting amongst themselves like you now see in the JSA books now (grrr don’t get me started).

The art was great on this as well, even with all the different artists that looked to have worked on it.  This made me think that it might have turned out muddled or disjointed, but this wasn’t the case and they pulled it off nicely.

Overall a great book that I enjoyed reading.

Review – Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #3 of 3

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #3 of 3 (DC Comics)

I am sure this is beating a dead horse (see what I did there ), but I’m just not buying the whole Wonder Woman/Star Sapphire thing.  I just don’t think it fits at all.  I know from reading around the ‘Net, that I am not the only one that feels that way.  Barring that, this was still moderately entertaining.

Review – The Question #37

The Question #37 (DC Comics)

I have really been enjoying the Blackest Night event in the main books, but the tie-ins like this are really starting to get old.  Luckily, with Blackest Night coming to an end soon, there won’t be too many more to get through. This issue is the last(?) of the “dead” titles that were “resurrected” for the Blackest Night event skip month, and I would have to say that I am glad.  While some of the “dead” titles that were brought back had good stories in them, it really is time to let the concept “rest in peace” once and for all.

Overall I like the story in this issue, but going in I felt like I had really missed the start of the book and was coming into it two thirds late.  I have never been very versed in The Question lore, so that is more than likely why.  I have only really followed the character since Renee Montoya took up the mantle in “52”.

O’Neil’s and Rucka’s talent as writers however, sill made this an interesting story; and they were able to shed some light as to who the old man is that has been helping Renee in the backup stories (yes, I said it) in Detective Comics.

I had a little trouble with the art, since I have never really been a fan of Bill Sienkiewicz’s style (even though he just inked it) and have always found it to be a little too rough for my taste.  With that aside, the art did have a gritty quality that seemed to fit the tone of the story even if I didn’t really didn’t care for it.

Review: The Lone Ranger and Tonto #3 (Dynamite Entertainment)

I have been a big fan of the Lone Ranger series by Dynamite Entertainment since it started, but I have to say that The Lone Ranger and Tonto #3 is the worst issue of any comic I have read in a long time.

I know this isn’t part of the Lone Ranger series proper, but considering the sporadic nature that the regular series comes out, this may be the first issue that someone picks up to read Dynamite’s Lone Ranger effort.   I think this particular comic might actually scare people away.

My first problem is with the art (which I always hate to comment on, since I can’t draw worth a damn).  It is very rough, more like colored sketches than actual art to me.  There are parts that are so rough that it’s difficult to tell who the characters are and what is happening from moment to moment.

As far as the story goes, it really didn’t make much sense to me.  I am not entirely sure if it was because of the art, but the entire plot seemed forced and really kind of silly.

Overall I was really disappointed in this issue.  If the Lone Ranger and Tonto series is supposed to help bridge the gap in-between the time that the regular series comes out, they are really going to have to do a much better job than this.

The Quick and the Read #10 – Random stuff

The Quick and the Read #10 – Random stuff

It has been a looooong time since I have done one of these, and I am going to do my best to try to do more.  I have stacks of comics I have read around the Fortress of Mozitude that I haven’t added to ComicBase and filed away for this very purpose

The only thing left to do is dive on in.

Buck Rogers #1 (Dynamite Entertainment) – I am not really sure what I expected to find reading this comic, but I didn’t find it.  I was a big fan of the Buck Rogers TV show from the late 70s\early 80s, so maybe subconsciously that was looking for here.  Now don’t get me wrong, this was a pretty good comic and I have seen A LOT worse, but this just didn’t “click” with me, so this is the last issue I am getting.

The Mighty #5 (DC Comics) – I got really tired of superhero deconstruction stories after a while, with everyone trying to recapture the popularity of Watchmen since it was first published back in the ‘80’s.  There has only been a handful worth reading over the years, like Kingdom Come and Powers just to name a few.  When this title was announced, I would have probably never touched it if Peter Tomasi hadn’t been writing it.  I have developed a great respect for his writing after what he did with Nightwing and the Green Lantern Corp books, so I just had to pick this up when it first come out.  Without spoiling anything, this issue probably really got me hooked on the series.  Peter Tomasi can really grab you with his writing, and Keith Champagne is no slouch.  If you are not reading this already, you should give the first trade a try.

Project Superpowers: Chapter Two #0 (Dynamite Entertainment) – I was intrigued by the first series (and I admit that most of that was because of Alex Ross being attached), it really has been interesting to see all of these forgotten heroes from the Golden Age and seeing what is done with them.  I didn’t read the mini-series that came out in-between the first series and this one, so I have kind of lost interest, but I thought I would give this a try.  This is still interesting as more and more heroes and villains come out of the woodwork, but it’s just not enough for me to keep buying it.  I doubt I would even get trades at this point, the “new comic smell” has worn off completely.

The Lone Ranger #17 (Dynamite Entertainment) – Now here is the one bright spot in this review, for the most part anyway.  I really enjoy this comic, and look forward to when it comes out, however sporadically.  I grew up watching Lone Ranger re-runs with my Dad (who actually met Clayton Moore when he was a kid), and have always loved the character.  When this title came out, I made sure that I get a copy for him too; and he really enjoys reading it.  Once again this was a great issue, and it was a joy to read.  I have a big problem with how often this comes out however.  I feel that this is the title that put Dynamite “on the map” so to speak, and they should really make an effort to put this out monthly on a consistent basis.  I have read comments from the creative team, and how they like to get an entire story arc “in the can” before they solicit it.  I can understand that, but you would think that after a while they would get caught up and have enough issues together to keep this monthly.  Maybe they should just go ahead and call this bi-monthly or quarterly and get it over with.

Well that’s it for this installment, until next time, keep them bagged and boarded!

Overdue Review – London Horror Comic #1 and 2

This is my last overdue review. I really hated that these reviews sat on my “desk” so long, I am hoping that my effort to finish them means something.

Anyway, here we go again.

London Horror Comic #1

Written by: John-Paul Kamath

Penciled by: Lee Ferguson

Inks by: Marc Deering

Letters & Book Design: by Matty Ryan

Colours by: Hi-Fi Design

Price: $3.99

Suggested for Mature Readers

I will start out by saying that I am not a big fan of horror comics, in fact,? I usually don’t even give them a second glance when I see them on the shelf.? This comic actually surprised me, the stories were good? and well thought out (though the last one I didn’t quite get).? A few of them had a funny side to them that was refreshing and I like how others tied back into comic book culture.? The art was good, thought maybe not my taste, but still well done.? Overall I really liked this issue and was glad that I gave it a shot.

London Horror Comic #2

Written by: John-Paul Kamath

Penciled by: Lee Ferguson

Inks by: Marc Deering

Letters & Book Design: by Matty Ryan

Colours by: Hi-Fi Design

Price: $3.99

Suggested for Mature Readers

First, I have to say that the cover on #2 was just a little disturbing.? Having that naked chic in the tub with that guy with the eyes all over him just made my brain all confused .? This issue surprised me too, the stories had just enough of a twist to make them interesting.? Once again the art was good, just not my style, which is just my opinion.? I know I can’t do any better, and I have certainly seen a lot worse in my time.? The one thing I didn’t like was the last story.? I didn’t find it very “horrifying” just damn cruel.

Overall, if you like the horror genre, then you will more than likely like these books.

When I went to the author’s website I discovered that he got hit by Diamond’s cut backs on minimum orders, so #3 would be the last issue of this series.? With that in mind, you will only be able to get #3 on his online store.? This series was different enough that I just might give that last issue a try when it comes out.

Overdue Review – The Manga Guide to Statistics

Before I start this review I have to apologize to the publisher and the author for taking so long to write this review.? When I agreed to do the review, I thought I had plenty of free time to complete it in a timely manner, and I soon learned otherwise.

With that that said, here is my review.

The Manga Guide to Statistics

Written by: Shin Takahashi and Trend-Pro, Co., LTD.

Publisher: No Starch Press (November 28, 2008)

Overall I really liked this book.? The art was well done and the underlying plot to make the book flow was interesting if not new.? I think the author did a great job of trying to make the examples in the book as real world as possible so that the concepts would be easy to understand.? It has been a long time since I have had taken any classes in statistics (or classes at all for that matter) , so I have to admit that after a while the math just made my head hurt.? When I started seeing some of those more complicated equations, I started having flashbacks to all those calculus classes I had in college, and I had to put the book down and take a nap.

If you know of someone that has to seriously learn this material however, I have a feeling that this book is just what they are looking for if they are having trouble.

Overdue Review – P-Brane: The Green Man

Here is the second in a series of comic reviews that I should have done a long time ago.

Though P-Brane: The Green Man really isn’t a “graphic novel” by the strictest sense of the word, it is more like a “photo” novel where photos? of real “actors” and objects are then manipulated to make the art of the book.

Even though this is an interesting concept, I didn’t really care for how it was done in this book.? In the books that I usually read the hand drawn art just flows better to me, while this book just looked like a slide show with speech balloons. ? To me this just looked sloppy and hashed together and really made it really hard to read.

As far as the plot goes, it all seemed like nothing that spectacular. ? Man wakes up with amnesia, is able to do incredible things without any explanation, alien invasion, serial killers killing evil men, etc..

Anyone that has read books or comics, or watched TV for any length of time will have already seen almost every element of this story before, just maybe not put together in this particular way.? The flow of the book was very disjointed to me, things jumped around quite a bit and it was difficult to follow.? As well as that, the plot went places that didn’t make any sense to me at all.? Especially the ending.? Every time I thought I had a handle of what was going on in this book, there would be another turn in the plot that didn’t make any sense to me.

The dialogue, in my opinion, was the worst part of this book.? It is barely two-dimensional, choppy and has barely any feeling in it.? I have the feeling that the photo thing is partly to blame.

I won’t go on any further, it’s pretty obvious that I…well… hated this book.? There I said it.

Being somewhat of a writer myself, I don’t like tearing up someone else’s work, but this was just horrible in my opinion.

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