This Month in Comics: August, 2008

[Ed Liu]

Welcome to This Month in Comics for August 2008!


This is the place to discuss the comics you've bought this week, whether it be a brand new title or old back-issues. We also welcome and encourage talk about comics in general - news you've read on comic news sites, the state of the industry in general, upcoming issues you're excited about, etc. 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.

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of August 6, 2008 - July 12, 2008 !

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/shipping/comiclist-for-08-06-2008).

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


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Highlights of the Week!


Ed Liu's Picks:
.http://www.dccomics.com/media/product/9/5/9586_180x270.jpg (http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=9586)..........http://www.edwick.com/comics/SpideyMJ2_1.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/catalog/?id=9267).....
DMZ Vol. 5: The Hidden War...........Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1



wonderfly's Pick:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers/200/15/15381.jpg.....................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/JU/JUN084096F.jpg....................
.......Creepy Archives Vol. 1...............Knights of the Dinner Table Special: "Last Man Standing"



Guest Pick of the Week:

Spider-Man's Pick:
http://comicsmedia.ign.com/comics/image/article/895/895796/venom-dark-origin-20080801113436341-000.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/catalog/?id=9308)
Venom: Dark Origin #1
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[Ed Liu]

One of my picks of the week this week gets its own thread (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=214801). The other is the next DMZ TPB, and I've made my feelings about that series (http://forums.toonzone.net/showpost.php?p=2943370&postcount=26) known as well.

Tom Spurgeon's awesome review of the execrable sounding Runes of Ragnan (http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_review080608/). Funny stuff.

Two reviews of stuff I've been reading lately, where the only common theme is that they both have cute women for the lead characters.

I didn't pre-order The Apocalipstix (http://www.onipress.com/display.php?type=bk&id=344) by Ray Fawkes and Cameron Stewart, but after reading the 50-page preview on CBR (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=16776&page=article) and a rave review from Chris Sims (http://www.the-isb.com/?p=417) at the Invincible Super Blog, I decided that this was a mistake. I'm about 2/3rds of the way through the book now, and it is a total hoot.

The high concept of the book is Josie and the Pussycats meets Mad Max. Mandy (lead vocals/guitar), Megumi (drums), and Dot (bass) are a rock power trio who are one of very few survivors after World War III, so they do the only thing a rock trio can do after the apocalypse: go on tour. Supposedly, they're seeking the promised land of California, but really the reasons don't matter so much. They're on a road trip in a post-nuclear holocaust wasteland, solving problems through a perfect combination of the Power of Rock and cartoonish hyper-violence.

It helps that the trio are as endearing as they are. Mandy is the level-headed one, Dot is the ditzy blonde dingbat, and Megumi is the unflappably cool one. The designs make it really easy to tell in an instant who you're looking at, and the characters are sharply delineated enough that it's just fun to watch the three react off each other in any given situation. Megumi is also cool because she only speaks in (subtitled) Japanese for the whole book, which nobody seems to think is strange. She also has a wardrobe that involves a cowboy hat, chaps, and an exposed belly button. I think I'm in love.

Volume 1 is on the stands now, and supposedly a volume 2 is currently underway. Check out the interview CBR did with Fawkes and Stewart (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16763), too. Long Live Rock.

Also been reading the reprints of the Mary Perkins On Stage (http://www.classiccomicspress.com/available.htm) comic strip, mostly because I read Kurt Busiek saying it was cool (though, Googling for it now, I have no idea where), and man is he right. In addition to being one of the most beautifully drawn comic strips in recent memory, it's also remarkable to me how Leonard Starr manages to keep the story moving in both daily strips and longer Sunday comics, without ever feeling like he's repeating himself or doing extended recaps AND while keeping the strip perfectly accessible. The last time I tried following a narrative in a daily strip was during a stretch of Funky Winkerbean, and the glacially slow, constant repeating of the plot drove me nuts within a week. I'm in the middle of vol. 3 right now, and while it's melodramatic and soapy, it's also highly addictive. I'm also kind of in awe at the fact that all the introductions (by Walt Simonson, Busiek, and Joe Jusko so far) say that the strip gets way better in the 60's, and I already think it's amazing stuff.

EDIT: Oh, yes. Mini Marvels digest. Ha ha ha ha ho ho ho ho hee hee hee hee hee hee hee! You all must buy this. Now.

-- Ed

[Xurk]

One of my picks of the week this week gets its own thread (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=214801).
And what a fine pick it is! ;) I'm really excited about this new title, because the previous volume was such a fun and interesting experience, both story-wise and art-wise. So I'm curious to see if Moore and Rousseau can match the brilliance of McKeever and Miyazawa / Hahn... anyhow, Terry Moore seems like the perfect guy to take over for a title like this, judging from his work on "Strangers on Paradise" and the fact that he's also being assigned to "Runaways". So I'm expecting some good stuff to come of this title :)

[Jin Kazama]

Nothing new, but I did go to a comic show today and, after a year or so of solid looking, I finally finished off my collection of Young Justice. The entire series, one-shots, 80pg Giants, Secret Files. All that good stuff. :)

Not the first series I've collected fully, but the first that I've actually gone out of my way to try and get all of (the others I just got monthly).

I also managed to finish off Superboy and the Ravers, too, but no one even remembers that thing so whatever.

Next stop: Robin. I'm three issues away from the whole run (so far). But man are those issues tough to find.

[Zeonic Freak]

Im more of a manga/anime fan than comics, but ive been recently getting into them. I guess for me, Dark Horse just appeals to me more, with Gunsmith Cats and other Kenichi Sonodas stuff and Adam Warren too. I also bought the BGC: Grand Mal off tfaw.com a couple of weeks ago, so that should be getting in sometime.

I put down like 30 bucks saturday on 3 things at one of my local comic book shops along the NC State strip, Cable minus 1 issue, Wolverine and Nick Fury: Scropio rising, and the Aliens Omnibus vol 2 (so i can get Colonial Marines series.) For 25 bucks plus tax, you get 3 stories, CM is the biggest taking up half the book. Thats not a bad deal to me.

Before that i got Gotham Central vol 3 and 4 a couple of weeks ago, and a Captain America heroclix figure. Ill have to get one for my bro sometime this week.

I should get some more Cable comics the next time...

[Ed Liu]

Highlights of the Week!

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of August 13, 2008 - August 19, 2008 !

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/shipping/comiclist-for-08-13-2008).

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


wonderfly's Pick:
.................http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0808/PUNKMU001_COV_t.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/catalog/?id=9331).........................http://www.boom-studios.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/290x449/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/F/O/FOCGodWar_001_A_1.jpg
Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe (one-shot).......Fall of Cthulhu: God War #1


Ed Liu's Pick:
http://www.edwick.com/comics/AtomicRobo2_1.jpg (http://www.red5comics.com/?p=292).........http://www.vizmedia.com/products/images/products/pd/pd6623.jpg (http://www.vizmedia.com/products/products.php?product_id=6623)
Atomic Robo 2: Dogs of War #1...........Black Lagoon Vol. 1........





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[wonderfly]

New "Picks of the Week" is up one day late, sorry everyone.

This week, there were too many good things to choose from, so I'll cover them all here!

Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe: Garth Ennis' first time writing the Punisher wasn't back in 2000 with "Welcome Back, Frank". It was back in 1995 with this "Elseworlds" style one-shot! This is the first time it's been reprinted, so snatch up a copy to complete your Garth Ennis/Punisher collection!

Fall of Cthulhu: God War #1: I really need to brag on this title more often. Well, actually, it's a different title now. Fall of Cthulhu was an ongoing series, that made it up to Issue #14, but was cancelled, to make way for Boom Studios new policy of making everything a mini-series. And that's how we got this book.

At any rate, "God War" continues the plots involving "Mr. Arkham" and his group of monstrosities, as they continue to strive to bring about the return of Cthulhu.

Punisher MAX #60: Continuing the Garth Ennis goodness this week, with this issue we have the final work by Ennis on the regular monthly Punisher title. It's the end of an era, but at least he's going out with a bang! This last storyline, pitting the U.S. army against Frank, is one of the best!

Clockwork Girl TPB: Details here. (http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Clockwork-Girl-TPB___318592) I saw some of the individual issues in the store, and would've bought them if I had found the 1st issue. It's a charming, all-ages, fairy tale type book, and the TPB is a great way to collect the whole story!

Frank Frazetta's Dracula vs. the Wolfman: Details here. (http://www.imagecomics.com/schedule.php?week=#6821) C'mon, how can you go wrong with a title like that?!? :)

[Ed Liu]

Unlike wonderfly, doing picks of the week this week was just too easy for me. Atomic Robo is back, and I expect it will be made of the same awesome that the first series was.

The other pick is VIZ Media's Black Lagoon manga. I absolutely love the anime and was thinking that the manga was going to be the only way to get my Black Lagoon fix until FUNimation picked up the title. Still, I'm curious to see how the manga stacks up.

Of course, I probably won't see either book for a while and that's all on top of a growing pile of TPBs I STILL haven't read yet...

Elsewhere, Ray Fawkes and Cameron Stewart talk about (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080813-Apocalipstix.html)The Apocalypstix (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080813-Apocalipstix.html) at Newsarama. Go read!

EDIT: Also, Spider-Man and the Hulk comic that was printed on toilet paper (http://www.oddballcomics.com/article.php?story=2008-08-11). I'll skip the obvious jokes about "crappy comics."

-- Ed

[Zeonic Freak]

Picked up the Collectors edition of Cable issue 1 and issue 19 today. Also just bought a Cable Walmart exclusive figure off ebay for bout 15 with shipping, not too bad.

I now have this strong itch to get Marvel figures now, probably will pick up a Wolverine heroclix for my bro sometime this week. Im currently bidding on a Captain America figure on ebay as well. I try to get loose so that i can use them to pose and such, if they are in a box, its like im taking away the value by opening them up. I like toys to play with them/model, not to just look at from afar.

Ah, the joy of buying good stuff...

[Ed Liu]

Highlights of the Week!

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of August 20, 2008 - August 26, 2008 !

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/shipping/comiclist-for-08-20-2008).

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


wonderfly's Pick:
............http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/JU/JUN080180D.jpg........................http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ju/jun082306d.jpg
Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #1.........................Amazing Spider-Man #568


Ed Liu's Pick:
http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0808/SMMJ_V2_HC_t.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/catalog/?id=9374)
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Vol. 2 HC



Xurk's Picks:
http://www.xurk.net/zooi/tz/angel/angel-afterthefall_11-potw.jpg ......http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/JU/JUN082359D.jpg...... http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/JU/JUN082327D.jpg
Angel: After the Fall #11....................Guardians of the Galaxy ....#4........................Marvel: 1985 #4



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[Ed Liu]

Rob Vollmar talks about writing Bluesman (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080821-Bluesman.html), and the new HC that's out now from NBM Publishing. I should really grab the copy I bought from him at the MoCCA Art Fest (and got him to autograph) and re-read it. Preferably with some good old-time down home country blues playing in the background.

Also, Fred Van Lente -- generally great writer, all-around cool guy, and Close Personal Friend of Ed -- spends a day working at the famed Rocketship comic book shop in Brooklyn, NY (http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/08/21/i-%E2%99%A5-my-lcs/). Some fun stuff working behind the counter, and more anecdotal evidence that the trailer for the Watchmen movie has generated some serious interest in the original book, so at least SOMETHING good will come of it.

-- Ed

[Xurk]

Great picks all around this week!!

Amazing Spider-Man #568 returns John Romita JR to the Spider-Book and paired up with Dan Slott... yum! Now all that's left is to sit back and hope the story lives up to its hype and doesn't fall flat - although I have faith in these two to pull it off :)
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Vol. 2 HC collects some of the stories from the previous volume, with Sean McKeever and Takeshi Miyazawa working their magic... I hope the new volume will be just as entertaining so[/B] behind :sweat:]; anyway, this should be great for anyone giving the new volume a try and wanting to read up a bit on previous stories in this continuity.

As for my Picks of the Week, I'm running out of superlatives to describe each of them, as I think I've picked them all at least once or twice before! Angel: After the Fall is consistently good and especially entertaining if you're interested in the Buffyverse; this issue has the big showdown between Angel and Gunn [as if the cover wasn't a dead give-away!].
Hopefully, this issue of Guardians of the Galaxy will pick up a few more followers for the title, seeing as it ties into "Secret Invasion" and I [I]know there are a lot of people that pick up all of the tie-ins... so I'm hoping some will stick, as this really has been a positive edition to Marvel's monthly titles so far! A *fun* and intriguing team book!
Mark Millar is impressing me with him writing both Marvel: 1985 and "Kick-Ass" simultaneously. The first is like this cool arty special unique book, the type of story you only read once every half-a-dozen years [the last book that I read that gave me this kind of vibe was "Spider-Man: Blue"] that kind of makes you feel like a kid again. The latter is an ultra-violence over-realistic showcase which makes you wonder how it could be written by the same guy that's writing the first title!

[Ed Liu]

Highlights of the Week!

It's New Comic Book Day for the week of August 27, 2008 - Sept 2, 2008 !

For a list of the new items shipping this week, please consult Diamond Comics' Shipping List (http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/shipping/comiclist-for-08-27-2008).

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


wonderfly's Pick:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ju/jun082376d.jpg.........................http://images.comicbookresources.com/previews/imagecomics/edgarallanpoo/EAP2_FC_sm.jpg.....
.........Runaways Vol. 3 #1........................."The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allen Poo" Book 2


Ed Liu's Picks:
http://www.edwick.com/comics/Runaways3_1.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/catalog/?id=9392)......http://www.edwick.com/comics/Echo1TPB.jpg (http://terrymooreart.com/blog/)
......Runaways 3 #1...............Echo: Moon Lake TPB



Xurk's Picks:
http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/may080205d.jpg ......http://images.tfaw.com/covers_tfaw/200/ma/mar082250d.jpg
All Star Superman TPB Vol. 1.............................Kick Ass #4...........



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[Spider-Man]

This week was a good week for comics for me! Not a big haul by any means but a good one. I picked up the new Grant Morrison's JLA: Volume One hardcover (which deserves a talkback IMO) along with Marvel Adventures Iron Man and Marvel Adventures Hulk. I feel the Marvel Adventures book are severly underrated and hope that more people will come across these book. Besides and Hulk book where he says "Hulk Knows Kung Fu" is instantly awesome.

[Ed Liu]

Two quick reminders:

1. New Comic Book Day in the United States isn't until THURSDAY, Sept 4, this week because of the Labor Day holiday.

2. In the world of the CBC Forum, months start on the first New Comic Book Day of the month. So, as far as we're concerned, it's still August and will be until Thursday. It's all the other calendars in the world that are wrong ;).

All the comic book sites are noting that Scott McCloud drew a comic book explaining the new Google Chrome web browser project (http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/index.html). Was amused to see Scott include 2 users named "Azula88" and "DctrHrrbl" in a chat screen (panel 2 (http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/images/1.jpg) on this page) -- it wouldn't surprise me that he watches/likes Avatar and Dr. Horrible.

The comic itself is kind of a disappointment, though. Considering how powerful the word/image combination can be in comics for educational purposes, there are a lot of pages that are unintelligible or just not as good as I'd expect from someone like McCloud. Worst offender -- what does the first panel on this page even MEAN? (http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/images/35.jpg) I'm also not positive that Scott and the Google Geeks are making things all that intelligible to the average user. I know exactly what they're talking about for most of it, but I have graduate-school level education in Computer Science (or a related field) and have been doing it professionally for...uh, a long time. Even then, I still don't quite get how the Chrome Sandbox feature is meant to work, other than that the dog isn't allowed to do some stuff.

In a completely and totally unrelated note, I've seen some people complain that a lot of "strong" women in comic books are basically men with breasts, and I could never really figure out what that meant. This post on Overthinkingit.com (http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/08/18/why-strong-female-characters-are-bad-for-women/) probably comes closest to explaining it by distinguishing male fantasy female characters and good female characters, using the female lead in Transformers as an example of the former. I can't say that I agree with all of her examples or her points, but it's food for thought, anyway. Ironically, one of the female characters in comics that I think managed to pull this off better than most was Power Girl as written in the Justice League International era. Despite her obvious assets (http://daveslongbox.blogspot.com/2005/09/boob-war-climax-everybody-loves-power.html), I liked her because of her bold and brassy personality. Catwoman in the Ed Brubaker series was another example.

My wife and I also thought that Shia should have been punted entirely in favor of making Megan Fox the lead of the live-action Transformers. She could have pulled it off all by her lonesome, and we thought it would have made for a cooler character (and a cooler movie) as a result.

-- Ed