Wednesday Haul 3/28/12
New comics I bought this week:
Aquaman #7 - Ever since issue 1, which I really enjoyed, this series has been wavering for me. After hitting a low point with issue 6 I was determined to drop the title, but #7 has roped me back in again. This is what I get for taking to so long to get around to reading my books. If I had read #6 before #7 came out, I probably would have given up already, but since I already had #7 I figured that I might as well read it. Therein lies my downfall. I’m kind of curious to find out what the deal with these “Others” is. You’ve won yourself a few more installments of $2.99 from my wallet, Geoff Johns…please don’t make me regret it.
Avenging Spiderman #5 - I like Zeb Wells’ writing, but in a world where I’m spending an average of $50 a week on comics (one of which is a bi-weekly Spiderman title as it is), another Spidey side-book seems excessive. I was drawn in, as I’m sure most people were, by Joe Mad’s involvement in the first story arc, but I couldn’t bring myself to pick up the following issue drawn by Greg Land. I’m glad I snagged this issue though, because what we have here is a very touching one-off story featuring Spiderman and Captain America which tugs on the heart strings of anyone who is as devoted to art and/or the medium of comics as I am. Avenging Spiderman #5 gets my official recommendation. If you passed on it when it came out, do yourself a favor and go find a copy. You’ll like. Trust me.
Avengers Vs X-Men #0 - Nothing special in the story department, but I did like all of Frank Cho’s drawings of ladies with large breasts.
Avengers Vs X-Men #1 - So, let me get this straight…this huge company-wide crossover event which pits all of Marvel’s heavy hitters against one another in a knock-down, drag-out war all begins because Cyclops, in his ever-growing douchiness, is insulted that Captain America doesn’t think that the X-Men can protect Hope as adequately as the Avengers could? Wait a minute…did anyone else notice how close to April Fool’s Day the release of this book is? Nice try, Marvel, but you’ve got to get up pretty early in the morning to fool m…huh? They’re serious? Oh, for fuck’s sake…
Captain America And Bucky #628
Crossed: Badlands #2 - Garth Ennis is a master at playing with the standard conventions of a genre in interesting ways and making you look at them in ways you may not have thought to before. If you’re reading The Walking Dead and really enjoying it, I defy you to read the current run of Crossed: Badlands and tell me that it’s no good or that it’s all about vulgarity with no focus on character development or story (which I’m guessing that a lot of people assume it is). No offense to Jamie Delano or David Lapham, but it pains me to know that Garth Ennis is jumping off of this book after the next issue.
Daredevil #10 - Between Paolo Rivera’s stunning artwork and Mark Waid’s ability to write to his artist’s strengths, this book is an unstoppable force of awesome. The two-part story of which this issue is the latter half seems like a throwaway Daredevil adventure, but thanks to Waid’s elegant writing it packs an emotional punch which elevates it above most superhero comics on the racks right now.
The New Deadwardians #1 - After reading a quick plot synopsis of this series I wasn’t interested in it at all and only picked up the first issue to check out artist I.N.J. Culbard’s work. As it turns out, the story is better than the premise makes it sound. I’m so burnt out on vampires and zombies that when I read that this series would involve both I immediately wrote it off. After getting accustomed to the world that Dan Abnett is crafting, I’m looking forward to seeing the supernatural murder mystery at the plot’s core work itself out. Also, Culbard’s deceptively simple visuals are a welcome addition to my week’s reading.
New Mutants #39 - I have no interest or investment in this series or it’s characters whatsoever, but Leandro Fernandez drew it, so I bought it. Any questions?
Rocketeer Adventures 2 #1
Spaceman #5 - Unless there’s some great plot twist coming, this series appears to simply be about a famous girl being kidnapped and then rescued by a neanderthal man. And it’s hard to read. It’s a good thing that Eduardo Risso’s art is excellent or I’d be dropping this series right about now.
The Ultimates #8 - Nuclear bombs don’t affect the villains, but they can’t handle The Hulk? I like how weird this book is and I LOVE the fact that Esad Ribic is back on art duties, but I can’t help the feeling that the Ultimate universe is nothing more than a shadow of it’s former glory. My opinion of this title seems to change with my mood, and today I’m just not feeling it.
Uncanny X-Force #23 - Greg Tocchini’s artwork has gotten steadily sloppier as this story arc has progressed to the point that the last few pages of this issue looked more like color roughs than finished artwork. I like Tocchini’s work, so it pains me to say this, but I’m looking forward to another artist coming onto the series in the next issue. As for the story, it just ended, but I still can’t say that I really know what the hell happened. I didn’t know who several of the characters were and I wasn’t familiar with the world they were in, so when the big emotional climax took place I didn’t feel affected at all. A little backstory would have been nice. I get the feeling that Rick Remender expected everyone reading his book to know the entire history of the Braddock family. In my case, such is not…the case.
Uncharted #5 - More of the same, which is a good thing. A 6-issue comic book series obviously won’t be as in-depth as an 8 to 10 hour action/adventure video game, but I would gladly play an interactive version of this story. That’s how loyal to the game franchise this series feels.
Voodoo #7 - I bought this issue before reading #6 and decided to drop the series. I doubt I’ll be reading this. $3 well spent, I know…
The Walking Dead #95 - As per usual, I don’t have a lot to say about The Walking Dead. I feel like I’d be better off reading it in trade. Each issue flies by and I usually have a problem with the cliffhangers anyway, so that would be a good way to avoid having to bitch about it every month. I must admit that the last page of this issue made me laugh out loud, though. “What?”
