Comics for 05/19/04: Reviews, Reactions and Random Thoughts

[Marc]

All right everyone,

As I mentioned, this thread will be a work in progress over the next few weeks.

This is the place to talk about the books you purchased this week (May 19th - May 25th). Feel free to talk about anything you got, whether it be a brand new title or old back-issues. It's all fair game. Want to share your thoughts on any current news that's happening in the industry? You can mention it here too. All we ask is that you please use spoiler brackets in the event that your comments get too detailed concerning a particular storyline. This way the book won't be ruined for anyone who hasn't read it yet.

For a list of the new stuff shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comic's Shipping List (http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping/shipping_051904.txt).

To find a comic book store near you, check out the Comic Shop Locator Service (http://csls.diamondcomics.com/).

Comic store too far away from where you live? Want to support Toon Zone? We've teamed up with Things From Another World (http://www.tfaw.com) to provide an avenue for you to buy comics. Click here (http://www.qksrv.net/click-1001569-5533438?url=http://www3.tfaw.com/comics/newreleases.html?cart=3183189286606656?qt=cjtoonzone) to see a listing of this week's comics being offered by TFAW.


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Highlights of the Week!



http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-05/batman-superman/t-superman-batman10.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-05/batman-superman/superman-batman10.jpg)
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #10

http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-05/vertigo/t-seaguy1.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-05/vertigo/seaguy1.jpg)
SEAGUY #1

http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-05/marvel/t-daredevil60.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2004-05/marvel/daredevil60.jpg)
DAREDEVIL #60




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Okay, now that that's all out of the way, I'll get the ball rolling.

This week I got:

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #628

AUTHORITY VOL 2 #12

SEAGUY #1 (Of 3) - What a treat this one turned out to be. We're introduced to a wonderful and wacky fantasy world. Like Arrowsmith before it, here is a world where the supporting characters shine. Death, with his bad comb-over, who can't seem to win a game of chess anymore; Chubby, an (imaginary?), cigar-chomping, talking Tuna; or the lonely Doc Hero, searching for thrills where he can find them, lost in a world where heroes aren't needed anymore. Or are they? And then there's Seaguy himself, just a guy in a wetsuit, longing for the chance to be a hero. He may just get his wish...

Pick this one up guys. You won't regret it. ****1/2

SUPERMAN BATMAN #10

CAPTAIN MARVEL #23

DAREDEVIL #60 - This wasn't a letdown at all. DD has fallen to third place on my "must-read" list below the vastly superior The Punisher and Supreme Power, but that's not to say Bendis and Maleev are doing anything wrong. I love the direction they're taking Matt in, I just don't care for the villain of this piece or the love interest. Ben Urich, when he appeared, shined as always, and here DD and Spidey are on the top of their game. It's all good, but it's just that...good. Maleev's style has its weaknesses, but that's the nature of photo-referenced art. You take a photo of an actor with his fist in mid-air, simulating a punch, that's a lot different than throwing an actually punch, which results in a blurry picture. Alex Ross gets around this "static" problem by creating the illusion of motion using color. Maleev goes for more of a newsreel look, which results in gritty 1960's Batman (POW! BAM! THOK!) fight scenes. They're still pretty pictures though. ****

- Cap

[Thanos]

Batman Adventures #14
Batman: Gotham Knights #53
Seaguy #1 (of 3)
Superman/Batman #10
Cable & Deadpool #3
Captain Marvel #23
Daredevil #60
Fantastic Four #513

I'll post my thoughts when I finish reading them.

[Clayface]

I'm very excited about the revelation shown on the final page of this week's (New) X-Men #157. I normally avoid anything published that has Austen's name on it, but I had to pick this issue up. If what we see on that final page is true, if
that really is Xorn, I'm going to be a very happy camper. I suspect some people will cry that this is just undoing part of what Morrison did during his run, but this is a part of his run that I'd be very happy to see undone. I can't wait to see other people's reactions. :cool:

[Clayface]

Does the Diamond shipping list change over the week before Wednesday? I usually plan my purchases in advance, and I swear two DC books that I regularly buy were not on that list last week when I wrote down what I'd be getting this week.

Yes, it does change throughout the week - sometimes as late as Wednesday morning. They add titles as they can confirm that they are actually shipping.

[Marc]

Yes, it does change throughout the week - sometimes as late as Wednesday morning. They add titles as they can confirm that they are actually shipping.Yeah, the earliest the list is updated is Monday around noon. So the list that Diamond has for NEXT WEEK (5/26) is only a rough estimate of what will be shipping. Since everything is subject to change, personally I don't even bother looking at the list until Monday afternoon/Tuesday morning.

It should also be noted that Diamond now provides TWO lists each week; one with Mature titles included and one without. The list I link this thread to contains all titles.

- Cap

[Mattashell]

Well, I guess then I'm back to my old system of looking at the comic shop's list when I get there.

[Condiment King]

Batman Adventures 13: Swan Song
- While I enjoyed the ending to the Penguin storyline, I just had hoped that it would have lasted to the last issue in 17 rather than earlier. I wonder if there is a better fitting ending for the book on tap. The back-up was really strange and it gets marked down for the back-up. A-

Green Lantern 176: Homecoming? Part One
- The first good issue in exactly twenty. Unfortunately, I no longer care for Jade as a character afterwards. B+

JSA 61: Redemption Lost Part Two
- Over the course of the past three issues, the JSA has quickly become my favorite book. I'm so glad that unlike Hawkman, JSA bounced back from Black Reign. In my opinion, Redemption Lost is the only viable setup for Hal Jordan's rebirth while other attempts are being made that I find myself rejecting. Not only that but I'm loving these Jim Corrigan flashbacks. The Alan/Hal moment was priceless. The only thing I'm not sure about is how the whole Hourman debacle will work out. I liked the android better than Rick or Rex. A+ CK's Comic Choice of the Week.

Superman Birthright 10
- This issue was a transition from a retelling of the Superman universe to the actual plot of the maxiseries. Waid is kicking it up a notch with this issue, and the ending has me hooked. A+

The Flash 209: Fast Friends
- I must admit that I'm surprised that this storyline continues, yet while tired, it is still good. 208 was the best installment in my eyes. I can't help but think that a certain someone's actions are just being played up for later this year though. I really don't see the big deal about it all in comparison. I'm starting to miss the rogues. A

[Nick K.]

I bought Ultimate Spider-Man # 59 & Superman/ Batman #10.

USM was really interesting. It is good to see Gwen, Peter and MJ the way they were portrayed in the issue, like friends, like teenagers. All in all, a nice little ending going into the Carnage arc. A

S/B # 10 was really good. I like that Kara was training with the Amazons. The arc looks like it will be really good with the whole Darkseid/ Apokolips thing involved. Supergirl's mystery is very intriguing and I love the art of this book. A

[Parallax]

Watchmen TPB: Amazing. The art is beautiful, the story is excelent, and it leaves me craving for more. Oh, and didn't DC cancel this or was it always supposed to be a miniseries? I thought I read something about that in Wizard a little while back. A+

X-Men Series I - Cyclops: Nice little figure here. Articulation is good, paint jobs good with a few exceptions (the gloves have some blue paint bled itno them), and I love Lee's design. The figure is kinda skinner than I expected and my battery for the stand to light up his visor died before it got here, but still a solid figure. A-

[Mattashell]

If anybody can point me to a bio on her character, I'd appreciate it. I have no idea how she fits into things.
This is the best I can find.

http://pc59te.dte.uma.es/cdb/series/dc/harbinger.htm

I chronological list of here appearances is here.

http://www.dcuguide.com/DCP/H.htm

[randomguy]

Thanks, Mattashell. Those links essentially answer my questions.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,


Watchmen TPB: Amazing. The art is beautiful, the story is excelent, and it leaves me craving for more. Oh, and didn't DC cancel this or was it always supposed to be a miniseries? I thought I read something about that in Wizard a little while back. A+

Watchmen was always meant to be a 1-year limited series. Various follow-up and anniversary projects have been proposed, but they've all fallen through, mostly because of Alan Moore's continuing distaste for working with DC Comics (http://www.alanmoorefansite.com/faq/dc.html). What you read might have been when they cancelled the 15th Anniversary hardback edition.

-- Ed/Ace

[Parallax]

Howdy,



Watchmen was always meant to be a 1-year limited series. Various follow-up and anniversary projects have been proposed, but they've all fallen through, mostly because of Alan Moore's continuing distaste for working with DC Comics (http://www.alanmoorefansite.com/faq/dc.html). What you read might have been when they cancelled the 15th Anniversary hardback edition.

-- Ed/Ace
D'oh! I just relized I read it in the April Fool's issue, which I can kinda forget about since I usually don't get it till after April. :sweat: Thanks, though.