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AICN COMICS REVIEWS THE EXTERMINATORS! IRON MAN! BIG EYES FOR THE CAPE GUY! AND MORE!

FIRST? by irishfella	Jan 12th, 2006 12:51:00 PM
HOPEFULLY.
Yes you are by Sizable Newt	Jan 12th, 2006 12:54:17 PM
bitch
Yeah, I bought the Essential Handbook yesterday... by superhero	Jan 12th, 2006 01:11:18 PM
And I, too, was BLOWN AWAY with how great it was. Not to mention the talent of the contributors...a lot of them people I'd never heard of. There is some great, great work in that book! Bring on the second volume!
Byrne's Hulk in OHotMU by BurlIvesLeftNut	Jan 12th, 2006 01:26:59 PM
Does anyone remember Byrne's drawing of the Hulk in the Official Handbook? I think it scarred me because I shall never forget. He must have done a 10 second sketch right before he left the project to go work on Man of Steel because it is the single worst illustration of the Hulk I have ever scene.
Still wanting the ESSENTIAL PLANET OF THE APES by riskebiz	Jan 12th, 2006 01:27:03 PM
Those b/w magazine size POTA comics were awesome. The original stories in the front of the book were wonderful and I'd love to see a big ESSENTIAL dedicated to those original stories (not the adaptations of the movies in the back).
Book to push on people: The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln by chrth	Jan 12th, 2006 01:35:21 PM
Abe rocks!
DMZ by AlgertMopper	Jan 12th, 2006 01:36:10 PM
DMZ is OK, but it's just another comic written by someone who thinks their politcial views are completly right and everyone who thinks different is wrong.
Hey Ambush Bug, listen to Prof. Challenger... by Squashua	Jan 12th, 2006 01:37:05 PM
...use a spellchecker/proofreader. I agree with Exterminators (excellent) and Teen Titans (crappy editing, missing a CC&HAZC page). I wonder what AB will say about issue #1 of "American Virgin", and how he will spell it.
Props to '80s comics by fiester	Jan 12th, 2006 01:40:27 PM
When they were fun and 60 cents and didn't drag story arc on for years! The two-issue story of Spidey vs. Juggernaunt remains a classic battle. You got Frank Miller Daredevil. MacFarlene drawing--and only drawing thank goodness--Hulk, but grey and green, and also putting in the best Spider-Man art, you got Beta-Ray Bill and th amazing art of Bill S., you got Byrne doing FF, Secret Wars, Dark Knight Returns, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Sandman, X-Men before things got so fucked up no one cared anymore...a good time for comics.
Hrm, since Gaiman comes at the end of the 80s ... by chrth	Jan 12th, 2006 01:45:34 PM
Is he the last gasp, or is he the death knell?
Day of Vengeance - Finally not crappy! by Squashua	Jan 12th, 2006 01:48:53 PM
The special was much better than the six-issue miniseries. Still want to know how the Eclipso diamond got in Jean Loring's cell.
I am gonna drop Teen Titans by ChorleyFM	Jan 12th, 2006 02:05:08 PM
The book seems to have been drifting for the last year or so, since Identity Crisis really. Johns seem soff his game to me on TT, almost everything else he writes is fantastic, but I am fed up, Tony Daniel's art doesn't help either, what a step down from McKeone. Also Nighthawk is kicking serious arse. Oh and it is nice of you to focus on Marvel's late titles only (see the All Star books, Green Lantern Rebirth and regular, and others). Warren Ellis books are so frustrating, the best are so very good, yet so often late.
5 issues in a year? That's about a "Planetary" average. by Shigeru	Jan 12th, 2006 02:13:14 PM
I've given up on even hoping that that series might maybe possibly have even the slightest most miniscule chance of EVER coming out again. *** Tony Daniel? Someone remind me...did he use to be a crappy 90's artist?
Does the Essential Handbook by JonQuixote	Jan 12th, 2006 02:15:45 PM
reprint the original Marvel Handbook or the later Deluxe Editions?? The latter, imho, was overwhelmingly superior.
What JonQuixote said by rev_skarekroe	Jan 12th, 2006 02:22:00 PM
Also, how much is reprinted? Weren't there something like 20 giant sized issues? Does it include the '89 Update? I want details, dammit.
Shigeru, don't worry by El Vale	Jan 12th, 2006 02:26:27 PM
Planetary shall end, i've seen Ellis mention a couple things i can't remember on his Bad Signal. I think the word "spectacular" was uttered. Me, i don't have a problem with comics being late as long as the end product is good. I think the final issue of Watchmen was late, who gives a crap about that now?
Actually, Johns based Courtney on his sister... by Kid Z	Jan 12th, 2006 02:40:43 PM
... who, sadly, died in the TWA Flight 800 plane crash off New York in 1996. That's why the character is so "real"... Johns obviously has great feelings for the character.
Ultimate Extinction by PVIII	Jan 12th, 2006 02:49:49 PM
...was pretty good. I liked the Silver Surfer's new look. I mean, a surfboard is pretty nerdy to begin with.
I never blame Warren Ellis for late issues. by SleazyG.	Jan 12th, 2006 02:51:31 PM
It has always been, to the best of my knowledge, due to delays with the artist. His IRON MAN arc was completely written a year ago, it's just that Granov takes forever. Who do you blame for the late issues, then? EDITORIAL. If you have an artist who needs three months per issue, don't put out the first one until the last one's in hand. Period. And yes, GL is late, and it bugs me, but no one else in the industry has the record of Marvel. Just SPIDEY/BLACK CAT, that DD/BULLSEYE thing and DD: FATHER alone burn through any good will they had in the bank, and then there's everything else that's late like IRON MAN. Editorial needs to start doing one of two things: A.) wrangle your artists and writers into submission so they turn shit in on time or B). undestand that they are both highly talented and very slow and then schedule accordingly. Marvel, far more than DC, needs to start doing both of the above.
The Art in Jonah Hex is a bit too photographic for me. by cookylamoo	Jan 12th, 2006 02:59:29 PM
I miss the scrachy Tony Djunga art from the seventies, and Tim Truman's downright weirdmess. There should really be a touch of horror in Jonah's world and ever since issue #2, they've missed it.
Hasn't every Warren Ellis series ever produced run late? by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 03:00:20 PM
I don't know every behind-the-scenes story, but it does seem that when you're late every damn time, there's gotta be something going on on his end. And he IS late. Every single time.
Are we supposed to believe that Ambush Bug reviewing "The Exterm by Chastain-86	Jan 12th, 2006 03:00:56 PM
I smell conspiracy.
Kid Z...wow I didn't know that...is that for real? by superhero	Jan 12th, 2006 03:04:17 PM
No wonder Stargirl is such a great character...she's based on real life...sorry such a tragedy had to be resposible for such a great comic character WHO NEEDS TO GET HER OWN BOOK! Too bad other writers can't use the women in their lives to come up with interesting female superheroine characters.
Well... by Ambush Bug	Jan 12th, 2006 03:05:43 PM
I do kind of look like that bug on the cover...
Yeah I was assuming it was the art. by Shigeru	Jan 12th, 2006 03:10:33 PM
I mean, both Granov and Cassaday's art LOOKS like it takes forever. But then again Dave's got a point. A little too much coincidence with Ellis. Plus, anyone have the figure of how long it took 12 issues of Astonishing X-Men to come out vs. 12 issues of Planetary? *** Vale, I certainly care when it comes to a intrigue-laden series like Planetary. And its been like #$(*%&@ 3 issues in the past 2 years.
Nah, Dave... by SleazyG.	Jan 12th, 2006 03:13:36 PM
...as I recall, Ellis' work-for-hire at Marvel and Malibu were generally on time. TRANSMET was for a very long time, too, gradually slipping near the end. I'm on his mailing list, though, and when he says something like "I just sent the last script of IRON MAN off to the editor and artist, and here's the next five books I'm working on right now", I see no reason not to take him at his word. As for on-time right now? Just look at DESOLATION JONES and DOWN. FELL. will fall a few weeks behind due to Templesmith being ill for a few weeks last month, but they're taking a bye month in a few issues so they can get back on schedule. PLANETARY was late for the same reason as anything else the artist works on: he's slow as hell. Looks great, but takes forever. ASTONISHING X-MEN, anyone? Like his stuff or not, Ellis is a writing machine. He's doing at least four scripts a month right now between work-for-hire and creator-owned stuff. I've seen him talk about things that take literally a year or more after he writes them to hit the stands, by which time he's another four projects along. The key is it's never in the form of an excuse later: it's always "just finished this, on to the new", and then the "this" in question turns up six months later due to artist or publisher issues.
"Too bad other writers can't use the women in their lives to by Shigeru	Jan 12th, 2006 03:14:07 PM
There's a joke in there somewhere. But that is extremely sad about Geoff's sister... it's good to know he's honoring her memory in a way, though.
Ellis has been waiting for Cassaday all this time. by SleazyG.	Jan 12th, 2006 03:16:03 PM
PLANETARY gets squeezed in to Ellis' schedule when Cassaday is between other engagements. That said, we're supposed to get three issues in a row from Feb.-April give or take to wrap the series up, with a possible one-shot as a postscript to the series. The series should be done by end of summer or early fall, though.
Of course, nothing compares to Adrian Tomine in terms of delayed by chrth	Jan 12th, 2006 03:19:38 PM
Those who read Optic Nerve know what I'm talking about
Sleazy by Shigeru	Jan 12th, 2006 03:26:44 PM
I'll believe it when I see it. here's to hoping.
I thought Planetary only had one more issue. by PVIII	Jan 12th, 2006 03:28:23 PM
Let me know if I'm wrong.
PVIII: by SleazyG.	Jan 12th, 2006 03:49:37 PM
You're wrong. 8p
Is Quesada losing it? by mattb127	Jan 12th, 2006 04:01:45 PM
Okay, first, I have to say: Big Quesada fan. not of his comics, which are okay, or his art, which personally, I think is great. But he has handled Marvel so well, with the Ultimate Line and the Supreme Power stuff, the initial refusal to reprint comics, Joss Whedon's X-Men. For a while, the movies were going great, too. And he hired Bendis, and that shows some smarts. But what is up with Spiderman these days? And today...have you seen the "Iron Spidey" thing at marvel.com? Is he kidding? And the movie deals? I think Marvel's going downhill quick. Right now, DC is producing better books and better reads. Thoughts?
Quesada's been going downhill... by Thalya	Jan 12th, 2006 04:43:21 PM
..since he egged on Bendis to write down a terrified fan's worst fear: Wolverine in the Avengers (the guy was asking a question about keeping the Avengers focused on 2nd tier characters). And Spider-Man in a new costume? Didn't these guys _learn_? Hollow gimmick, much?
I think "Iron Spidey" is a fake that was leaked... by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 05:07:10 PM
Marvel's just trying to confound expectations. No one could possibly come up with a design that ugly and think, "This is the next big thing!"
new spidey costume... by blackthought	Jan 12th, 2006 05:16:37 PM
sucks.
Link? by Ambush Bug	Jan 12th, 2006 05:23:37 PM
Anyone have a link to the new Spidey costume? I haven't seen the suckiness of it yet.
Taste the suck, Bug... by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 05:45:39 PM
No way this thing ain't a plant: http://tinyurl.com/d2ka6
"Overwhelmingly superior," JQ? by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 05:58:52 PM
Well I don't know about thaaaaat. To answer your question, though, this ESSENTIAL is indeed reprinting the original MARVEL UNIVERSE, not the deluxe version. There's actually a ton of overlap, and the deluxe one I believe will also be reprinted shortly, but for completeness' sake, it seems the original's being reprinted first. ****** Now, my question, not having done a side-by-side of the original and deluxe editions in quite some time: what's the big diff? Based on memory, the deluxe editions had slightly longer write-ups, more entries overall, and a few more instances of reprinted interior art, but I don't recall much beyond that. I know the basic format remained almost identical, so while I don't have anything bad to say about the deluxe edition, I'd have to call it a great polish of the original...but not overwhelmingly superior. It also doesn't have everything the original did. Looking through this collected edition, I see plenty of entries that didn't make the deluxe cut - even some of those great Elliot R. Brown schematics. ****** To the Rev: The original MARVEL UNIVERSE was 14 issues (I actually mention it in my write-up) and the deluxe edition was 20 issues. The '89 update was 8 issues - I'd forgotten about that one!
Uh, DOWN ain't on time, Sleazy. It's something like 3 ye by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 06:14:04 PM
And I believe DESOLATION JONES is running a bit behind too. And weren't the Apparat books late too, screwing up their simultaneous release plan? OCEAN? Ran late. GLOBAL FREQUENCY? Big lateness problems toward the end. And Ellis is certainly setting some lateness records with books like IRON MAN and the legendary gap between MINISTRY OF SPACE issues. I couldn't swear to it, but I do believe even RED and TOKYO STORM WARNING had some lateness to 'em. Look, I know artists are all lazy fuck-ups, but come on, Warren doesn't need to be mollycoddled. No writer has so many late books so consistantly, and while I've no doubt Ellis is always writing something, I don't believe for a minute that he's not in some way contributing to the lateness of his books. It's a preponderance of evidence. He just couldn't possibly be so unlucky as to have nearly every artist he works with be a late fuck-up.
So let me get this straight, Vale... by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 06:17:30 PM
Warren Ellis...the creator of PLANETARY...says the ending is going to be "spectacular"? Wow, there's an unbiased source!
Byrne's Hulk... by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 06:21:35 PM
Is this the drawing you're talking about, Burl? http://tinyurl.com/c4yek Looks fine to me. Maybe not inspired, but nothing horrific. 'Pears Byrne was paying homage to Kirby, if I had to guess, what with Hulk look sort of stocky and bulky, but not bursting with muscles. Only thing I want to know is...where're his nipples?
Cooky, I'm with ya on the art in JONAH HEX... by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 06:35:38 PM
It's a good book and the craftmanship on the art is high, but...it's just a little too purty for a Jonah Hex story, innit? Loved Bat Lash this issue, though. I've never encountered the character before - has he always been portrayed as a dandy? I presume never to the extent of entering "Rawhide Kid" territory, but was he always a...err...fancy-man?
Dave by El Vale	Jan 12th, 2006 07:31:00 PM
I wouldn't take my word on that Ellis "quote" that i said he MIGHT or MIGHT NOT have written even tho' i DIDN'T REMEMBER what the actual messages said. Not reliable, is what i'm saying. But i think maybe Ellis was talking about the Cassaday art, but i guess you're not supposed to say anything nice about your collaborators, right? Sorry bout that Dave. I mean just cause Ellis says Cassaday's art might be good doesn't mean it's true, cause when's Cassaday ever been "good"? Ellis wrote the first 5 or so issues of Desolation Jones years ago, without even knowing who the artist would be. Oh and i really don't see what the problem is, here. OH NO! Warren Ellis' books are late! How dare he?! I mean i can see why it'd anger you regarding Iron Man cause you're supposed to have monthly issues of Iron Man, that's just the way it goes. But Ellis' creator owned projects and stuff? Man, that's his problem. You don't HAVE to buy them or be outraged by their lateness. Ok so you like Planetary and you hate waiting so much for issues to come out. Big deal. Soon the series will be complete and collected and you can read it all in one sitting if you like and it won't make a difference, like it doesn't make a difference with Watchmen. Gonna do what Maddox does: Here's some shampoo i highly recommend http://tinyurl.com/8l6gw
I'd definitely pay for an OHTMU Deluxe edtion reprint. by Voice O. Reason	Jan 12th, 2006 07:47:40 PM
Far superior to the original because it has a section called "History," which details character development, rather than just "origin" which only told how the character got their powers.
Thanks, Voice. by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 07:58:58 PM
I notice that some of the origins get a fair amount of detail, bordering on "history", but yeah, they definitely expanded that for the De-Luxe version. I still recommend the originals for the stuff that didn't make it into the deluxe edition, though. And, yep, I'll be picking up the deluxe edition too. Wonder if they'll include the '89 update? That'd be 28 issues, and weren't the deluxe edition issues longer than a regular issue? Like 32 pages instead of 22? That might be too much material even for the ESSENTIAL line, though it seems like too little to split it into two. Hmm.
Vale, I'm just sayin'... by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 08:03:41 PM
Ellis ain't no Alan Moore, and PLANETARY ain't no WATCHMEN. I actually don't care a lot about Ellis's lateness personally since I don't read much of his stuff outside of WATCHMEN, but I think it's BS that he gets a free pass on on it time and again. The guy's way too loudmouthed in griping about the world to be immune to criticism himself. And I'm inclined to think he's full of shit anyway, the way the guy's excoriated superheroes in the past only to become a total whore for Marvel in recent years. Oh wait, I'm sorry - he's not lowering himself to writing superheroes, he's engaging in a "writing exercise." Or he's doing "science fiction", not superheroes. Ugh. What a phony.
Aw Goddamnit! by thatguyoverthere	Jan 12th, 2006 08:35:11 PM
Civil War? House of M? Iron Spider???? Jesus Christ, I think I'll just sit here quietly and mourn for the good ole days of comics back when things made sense....
I hear you Dave by El Vale	Jan 12th, 2006 08:41:55 PM
I'm not the biggest Warren Ellis fan in the world either AND i haven't read a single Planetary issue. Oh and he's no Alan Moore either, that's the part i agree with the most. But i've never heard him complain or gripe about books being late so he's not being a hypocrite. And about being a phony...i don't know man, i mean i've read Come in alone (thanks btw) and i never saw him criticise superheroes per se. I know he hates most superhero comics for being lame and washed out and derivative (i do too) and he hates the fact that the friggin superhero rules the market, but i don't think he has a major problem with the genre itself and what it encompasses. And about him taking superhero work as a "writing exercise"...i can see that happening and i have no problem with it. Approaching UFF as a Sci Fi book? No problem with that either, that sounds cool. Sounds a lot cooler to me than doing the Dan Slott thing or the Geoff Johns thing and doing "the same old thing but with a modern twist". Bleh. And i can understand Wllis selling out. I mean i've got my standards and my hatred for the superhero and all that but if JoeyQ called me tomorrow and told me he was gonna pay me thousands of dollars to write some lame, washed out and derivative superhero fare i'd jump at the oportunity. Hell i'd even kill off a couple beloved characters just to spite people and "leave my mark". But mostly to spite people. Go Warren Ellis! (I've only read 2 Warren Ellis comics: Authority and Transmet. Authority was fun but Millar kicked Ellis' ass. And Transmet was underwhelming and too "i'm over the top and i know it. Boy i tell you, i'm crazy" for my tastes. Guess less really is more. I hear Planetary's good, tho')
Spidey's new apparel... by DuncanDisorderly	Jan 12th, 2006 08:45:55 PM
This re-imagining leaves me feeling, how do I put it?, oh, yeah, UNDER-WHELMED! Marvel dropped a bollock ( quaint British expression! )when they changed Spidey's costume back in 1997. The Ben Reilly Spidey costume, as re-designed by Mark Bagley, was a brilliant design. It was 99% similar to the classic Spidey suit but updated it and mate it look more sleek and yet still instantly recognisable as Spider-man. Why on earth they changed it back to the original design defies logic. On another note, including all the Identity Crisis costumes, this means that old Petey has now had at least 9 new costumes in the last 9 years; Marvel please step in front of your own bandwagon and once it has ran you over please hope it doesn't reverse!
Spidey's new duds by El Vale	Jan 12th, 2006 08:55:35 PM
Peter Parker designed it to make his enemies throw up. Just like Minority Report's Sick sticks.
'Bout Ellis's hypocrisy... by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 09:35:38 PM
I don't know if I could pin down a precise point when Ellis has said superheroes suck, but many a sentiment from him is dripping with disdain for the genre. I do know that he's decried their dominance of the genre on many occasions, so for him to be writing IRON MAN and NEXT WAVE and ULTIMATE EXCTINCTIFICATION for Marvel right now...what's that but hypocrisy? Hey, at least he's always doing some other stuff too...I'm just sayin' he's suckling at Captain America's teat. ***** Funny thing: COME IN ALONE is probably the best thing I've read from Ellis. There's hypocrisy in it and an occasional overabundance of his oh-so-practiced cynicism, but it's mostly pretty interesting stuff. And when I said some nice things about his Apparat material a few months back, I'm pretty sure I mentioned that part of the kudos were due the interesting text pieces he wrote in the back. What I like about the text pieces is that it's just unfiltered ideas discussed with style. When he's writing comics he does pretty much the same thing, but he forces his words into other characters' mouths. Constantly. It's really the same thing Claremont started doing about the mid-80s and that Bendis occasionally does now. For the lot of 'em, it's bad writing.
I wonder...if they really made those sick sticks from MINORITY R by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 09:41:06 PM
...would they be popular sellers amongst the bulimia crowd? Would Kate Moss have her own licensed version? See, now there's something Ellis could've written about in TRANSMET.
Yes Dave F by BurlIvesLeftNut	Jan 12th, 2006 10:19:14 PM
Sorry, I find it horrific in its mediocrity. The anatomy is WAY off and I am especially freaked by the depthless toes. WTF.
Byrne's always had some issues with depth... by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 10:37:42 PM
Ever noticed those times when his characters look "flat"? Like they were projected sideways on a screen or something? Over the years I've actually come to think of him as a fairly average draftsman, less obvious in his early years because he was really good with what he calls "bells and whistles" (all that extra detail stuff that fans eat up - see also, McFarlane). What he's quite exceptional at, however, is storytelling, at least the traditional Marvel variety. All that said, the Hulk drawing looks fine to me. Nothing to write home about, but I don't see the anatomical problems you mention (beyond that odd nipple-lessness. He's simply...squat. Where we're used to seeing abdominal muscles (the ol' six pack), he's just got a thick, tree-trunk waist. I actually kind of prefer that old "fat Hulk" to the bodybuilder look.
That Hulk image is laughable! by El Vale	Jan 12th, 2006 11:09:06 PM
What the fuck's going on in that image? I mean jesus, where'd Byrne leave his ability to portray proportion accurately the day he drew it? Hilarious stuff.
Just saw Lady Vengeance by El Vale	Jan 12th, 2006 11:11:34 PM
Ahhh the wonders of the internet! The movie kicked me in the nuts and then made me eat them. With chopsticks.
Warren Ellis doesn't hate superheroes by sideshowbob	Jan 12th, 2006 11:15:17 PM
He just hates the fact that superheroes have such a stranglehold on the Western market.
2006 by sideshowbob	Jan 12th, 2006 11:17:17 PM
I haven't bought a single comic yet this year. Gone in to the comics shop three times, came out empty handed every time.
Buzz, your friend reads comics in bed after sex? by sideshowbob	Jan 12th, 2006 11:19:37 PM
God, that's horrible. I mean, I would never do such a thing...um....er....
So, did any characters get raped this week? I haven't been by Heywood Jablowme	Jan 12th, 2006 11:24:23 PM
Sorry, I know that was LAST week. But I don't read every book; and I just want to make sure that I didn't miss out on any characters being degraded or debased. Except for Spidey, I saw that pic on Marvel's web page. Way to go, House of Ideas. I thought the idea of "Spider-armor" went out back in what, 1993? Someone help me fact-check here. I say that Sal Buscema drew the best Hulk and that Bill Mantlo wrote the best stories. The Savage Hulk stories, classic.
Go buy KEIF LLAMA, Bob. by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 11:27:50 PM
You know I've been pretty burned on comics lately. Mainstream's gone to hell and the indie's are pretty dry too, some of their best and brightest lost to the mainstream and few bright spots otherwise. That said, I was exceptionally taken with KEIF LLAMA. Almost reminds me of the good part of the 90s when I'd discover something completely new and different like BONE and just get knocked on my ass. KEIF's a quieter revelation than that, but a revelation nonetheless.
Right on about Mantlo and Savage Hulk, Heywood. by Dave_F	Jan 12th, 2006 11:34:22 PM
I read some of Peter David's stuff and it was a'ight, but I don't like Hulk with an ever-changing personality. Nebulously-defined leads lose their iconic status too easily, and if ever a character worked best as an icon, it's Hulk.
Warren on superheroes by sideshowbob	Jan 12th, 2006 11:44:45 PM
Here's a pretty column that sums it up. You can see here that while he's full of piss & vinegar, he doesn't hate superheroes so much as the corporate structure that props them up. The crotchety old bastard actually makes a lot of excellent points such as "Fuck the old corporate-owned characters. They can look after themselves. They are artificially supported by the corporations during periods where no-one is buying them. You think they're all doing that for the creator-owned works that are building the medium's future? Marvel would keep their core characters in print even if the sales were so low that it'd be cheaper to phone the audience to tell them what happens in each issue, but they shot Epic dead without blinking." http://tinyurl.com/75atx
thanks for the link... by blackthought	Jan 12th, 2006 11:48:54 PM
i personally love planetary...and i'd use a sick stick...wait,i wouldn't...i am the sick stick.
keif llama? by sideshowbob	Jan 12th, 2006 11:49:52 PM
Hmmm...I dunno if my LCS will get that one but I'll poke around. By the way, Dave, is the "Down the Line" column on fourthrail dead now that Randy has retired and presumably moved to a luxury condo in Florida to play canasta, wear funny shorts and drive with his turn signals perpetually on? I always liked that column.
Yeah, yeah, I acknowledged the guy doesn't hate 'em outr by Dave_F	Jan 13th, 2006 12:07:16 AM
But the motherfucker's writing three books featuring those corporate-owned characters he so self-righteously told to fuck off in that tract. And here's another winning excerpt: "Frankly, the creative community is not a slave race designed solely to service old copyrights." Or are they? Seems Warren's sure calling Marvel "massa" a lot these days. So he's shaking stuff up? So the fuck what. He's shaking stuff up for that same thirty/forty/fifty-something audience that can't let go of a bunch of children's characters and just needs progressively edgier interpretations of 'em to get 'em hard. Does that seem harsh? Well, to use a little of Warren's own rhetoric, "No, I'm not playing fair. Neither does anyone else in the real world." And here's the best part: I actually agree with much of what he wrote in that article. I'm utterly sick and tired of the sudden fan adoration for writers like Brubaker and Bendis and Rucka on superhero books when 90% of the fans out there wouldn't give them the time of day on their non-superhero work. But for Warren to take that stance only to end up pickin' cotton for Marvel? Just ball-less.
Yeah, DOWN THE LINE's pretty much a wrap, and let me tell ya by Dave_F	Jan 13th, 2006 12:15:17 AM
Seriously, you'd be surprised how much time stuff like that takes - precious time that I can now spend playing GUITAR HERO! But thanks for the kind words. I was a fun few years of doing it, and I always appreciated Randy letting me sully his site's good rep with my presence. ****** As for KEIF...yep, it's a bitch to find. I've been trying to get back issues through Diamond and it's a definite no-go at the moment. I think there's one lone issue in print, and that's it, meaning I'll probably have to order back issues directly from Matt Howarth's site: http://www.matthowarth.com/ Come to think of it, I have no idea why I didn't post the link in the review.
Yeah, Dave, I thought it funny too by sideshowbob	Jan 13th, 2006 12:15:45 AM
Especially since he ended up doing a bunch of Ultimate books too! *** As far as the man's craft goes, I think he's very talented (aside from character development) but the more you read his stuff, the more a sinking "read one of his books, you've read them all" feeling creeps in.
Dave, the way Ellis sounds on his Bad Signal by El Vale	Jan 13th, 2006 12:27:33 AM
I think the way he sees it, Marvel's servicing him by giving him money, creative freedom, and a sandbox to play in. Creatively i think it's a great spot to be in, aided by the fact that he's pursuing other interests in the medium with his creator owned work.
Wait, all these years, that was YOU Dave? by El Vale	Jan 13th, 2006 12:34:42 AM
I thought it was the other Fourthrail guy with Randy on Down the line. That's like a totally different voice! Oh and i agree with you on Mouse Guard.
where's the art in getting paid? by blackthought	Jan 13th, 2006 12:47:57 AM
i kid, show me where to sign...i know where to sign checks.
Yeah, everybody always thought I was Don, but do I sound Canadia by Dave_F	Jan 13th, 2006 01:12:12 AM
I mean, Randy only introduced me by name in every column. And every entry I wrote was preceded by "DAVE" in all-caps. But y'know what? Unlike that whoreson, Ellis, I'm not in it for the money and fame, so I'll abide. I'll abide.
Both names start with a D by El Vale	Jan 13th, 2006 01:31:13 AM
But ok that wasn't fair, i'm sorry. Still is nice to know i've been reading you for a long time Mr Farabee. :heart:
Yeah, but Dave... by Ribbons	Jan 13th, 2006 01:41:39 AM
...you yourself acknowledged that he's got other, non-superhero stuff in the can already, pretty all of the time. If he doesn't hate superheroes but wishes that more genre stuff was popular, I don't really think it's that big of a crime or a hypocrisy for him to write superhero books so long as he doesn't write them exclusively, although to what extent he's compromising his morals in order to make a quick buck is an endless debate waiting to happen. So where's the fire?
there is only dead certainty when it comes to the lethal combina by speed	Jan 13th, 2006 02:43:16 AM
Y: the last man. or anything with kittens that don't die in it.
Warren Ellis article by proper	Jan 13th, 2006 03:33:46 AM
Nice 1 for posting that Sideshow,interesting."and last time Marvel tried a big power-concentrating exercise, remember, it crippled them and poisoned their name and made Diamond the biggest power in comics)".Could somebody please explain this to me in further detail please,what did Marvel attempt to do?.Thanks in advance.No tumbleweed please in the y2k6 I beg ;).
Who is Jeff stone? and by emeraldboy	Jan 13th, 2006 10:30:50 AM
Has any one heard of Holy Cow?
Ellis superheroes by Shigeru	Jan 13th, 2006 10:54:40 AM
I'm with Dave mostly on this one. I wouldn't mind him writing Superheroes at all if he didn't talk so much shit about the genre and the big 2. And I REALLY woulnd't mind him writing Superheroes at all if the books were anything but mediocre. Ult. FF? Ultimate Nightmareextinctionthingy? Nigga please! Look what Grant Morrison is doing to both subvert and breathe incredible new life into the genre with Seven Soldiers or his JLA Classified. That Ultimate FF run looks downright run of the mill in comparison. *** Vale, download all of Planetary. IMHO, that book will cook you a great dinner, give you a sensual foot massage and then cuddle. Or hump your brains out.
shig is definately right about the humping part by blackthought	Jan 13th, 2006 11:53:47 AM

I like the Iron Spidey design by rev_skarekroe	Jan 13th, 2006 01:42:04 PM
Just not for the original Spider-Man. Maybe for an alternate-Universe Spider-Man or something.
Check it! by Shigeru	Jan 13th, 2006 02:12:52 PM
Doop gets some lovin: http://tinyurl.com/9ra8t ALL HAIL DOOP!
Huh. I guess maybe "Iron Spidey" is legit after all... by Dave_F	Jan 13th, 2006 04:40:40 PM
Here's a fancified Quesada drawing of it for an upcoming convention poster: http://tinyurl.com/7vco9 What's with the spider arms popping out of it? Clearly more brilliance from JMS!
Right about Lady Snowblood by SoupDragon	Jan 13th, 2006 04:59:09 PM
I bought the first volume and decided to drop the series for the exact reasons mentioned above. I don't neccessarily mind an outright immoral protagonist, but the story only really works when its focused on a more compelling individual.
um... by blackthought	Jan 13th, 2006 07:14:36 PM
continuing on last week's rape theme comes this qoute... "Bendis has a new book called Ultimate Baby Rape. It's not like the old Baby Rape, you know, where there's so much continuity you can't tell what baby's raping who. It's a new take on the concept of Baby Rape and they're starting it from the zero point so new readers can hop right on and jump right in."
LemmiWinks by Ribbons	Jan 14th, 2006 02:02:20 AM
Calm down, man. The Byrne comments were not all that harsh. Even if he's a "legend," people have a right not to like his take on Kirby. And have you seen the picture? I know he was drawing outside of his comfort zone, but still. ************* Anyway, say what you will about Quesada (and there are plenty of things you could say), but I love that guy's artwork. The fact that an EIC grinds that stuff out just seems cool, to me. Not really feeling "Iron Spidey" though.
Hey LemmiWinks... by Dave_F	Jan 14th, 2006 03:00:17 AM
I think you may be confusing...well, everyone with everyone else. Fer inst, it was one lone TalkBacker baggin' on the Byrne art. And me, I don't much like Ellis and Bug was critical in his review, but fellow reviewer Sleazy G was takin' bullets for him like he was Clint Eastwood in IN THE LINE OF FIRE. And I think Prof gave OCEAN much love a few months ago. Shit, even I was all over Ellis's Apparat material. As for Bendis...even that's not a unified front. Vroom likes him about 50% of the time, and Superhero or Humphrey Lee or one of our new guys (I forget which) likes him even better. Think we're overly negative in general? Go re-read the reviews. Scorecard goes like this: EXTERMINATORS - postive. AVENGERS: THE SERPENT CROWN - positive. DETECTIVE COMICS - positive. TEEN TITANS - Negative. IRON MAN/IRON MAN THE INEVITABLE - negative/positive. LADY SNOWBLOOD - negative. PSY-COMM - positive. KEIF LLAMA - positive. LIVING IN INFAMY - positive. DC OF VENGEANCE SPECIAL - positive. SABLE & FORTUNE - positive. JSA - positive. SUPREME POWER: NIGHTHAWK - positive. SEVEN SOLDIERS: FRANKENSTEIN - positive. ESSENTIAL MARVEL UNIVERSE - positive. JONAH HEX - positive. To sum it all up, 17 books reviewed, only 3 of them negatively. Shit, ya ask me, we're practically cheerleaders!
P.S. LemmiWinks by Dave_F	Jan 14th, 2006 03:03:19 AM
I liked THE HECKLER too. But don't forget to credit Giffen's co-writers, Tom and Mary Bierbaum.
Hehehe LemmiWinks is funny by El Vale	Jan 14th, 2006 03:09:20 AM
Yeah, fuck you people! All you ever do is complain!!! And what the hell is up with that new Spider Man costume?! It sucks ass!
I'll tell ya where the fire is, Ribbons: by Dave_F	Jan 14th, 2006 03:43:11 AM
In my pants. But getting back to Ellis, I should note that I also HATE his Marvel/DC superhero stuff for the most part. The cynical, acidic sensibilities that work on books like TRANSMET or even THE AUTHORITY don't translate well to the Marvel/DC settings. And I've read enough Ellis interviews to see that the guy really, REALLY doesn't give a crap about said settings. That's why he always distances himself from those gigs, using the aforementioned code phrases like "it's sci-fi, not superheroes" or "it's a writing exercise." And if that's not clear enough for ya, here's a more specific line from another COME IN ALONE column: "I haven't read anything by John Byrne in a very long time. That should not be seen as a slight on his work, but an expression of the fact that I don't really like superhero comics." Are we now going to argue that "not liking" and "hating" are two different things? Look, the point is that Ellis ain't a superhero fan, and I am. Therefore, I want him out of the superhero biz. All the more so because he's so frequently goddamn snotty about superheroes in interviews (http://tinyurl.com/cfhqd). I'll be happy to entertain his writing in just about every other genre out there, and frankly, I suspect he'd be happier writing in just about any other genre out there. He'd just be a little poorer.
A "writing exercise," eh? by Ribbons	Jan 14th, 2006 04:28:55 AM
That's a pretty lame excuse on his part. Sounds like the cat that ate the canary.
Planet of the Apes by Wormie	Jan 14th, 2006 05:02:50 AM
I would love an Essential Planet of the Apes. I don't know if Marvel hold the rights though. A company called Mr. Comics put out the first ish of Revolution on the Planet of the Apes last month. It's set after the fourth movie and is pretty good.
Speaking of licensed properties... by Dave_F	Jan 14th, 2006 05:12:35 AM
I noticed in the ESSENTIAL MARVEL U. that Rom still got his entry. I know Marvel doesn't currently have the rights to the character, and supposedly some smaller press guys are currently vying for it, but maybe Marvel can still reprint their old stuff? Or the MARVEL U. entry is a special clause? Anyway, was good to see him. They even had write-ups on all his funky gear in the weapons handbook. ***** As an aside, does anyone know what happened to Rom at the end of his series? Was he able to ditch the armor? Hook up with Brandy?
hmmm... by blackthought	Jan 14th, 2006 07:05:25 AM
i "writing excerise" i didn't need to read...and i have no clue about rom...this sounds up buzz's alley.
to add to this "Elliscentric" tb by The Heathen	Jan 14th, 2006 04:41:57 PM
As for his lateness: Jack Cross has been on schedule. As for Cassaday on Astonishing? 12 issues took about 18 months, and by my calculations Planetary is waayyyy further behind. * Iron Spider. Sounds like a bad kung fu movie. Note to JoeyQ, next time you think you have a great idea based off something Bachalo drew go right back to the drawing board. I now loathe Bachalo even more. * "Neal, Gay-Man" Wow, that's almost as lame as "Thin Shitty" or "Brangelina." * Exterminators was insane. Bug was very acute with his review, you just don't know what's going to happen from page to page and it all looks great and is interesting enough to get me back for #2. I found myself rereading it unkowingly right after I finished it the first time. * As for Ellis once again, I am loving Desolation Jones (although JH Williams helps that a lot) Fell has been good, so has Jack Cross and his JLA: Classified arc has been okay, but lost in the Crisis. *** Oh, and Echo kicks ass (not the crappy Ronin one) can't wait for you to see that one Vale.
Dave -- re: Bat Lash always a dandy? by Prof C	Jan 14th, 2006 07:15:39 PM
Absotively. Bat Lash was ALWAYS portrayed as a dandy. Not homosexual though. Bat has always loved the ladies. He just carries himself in a...well...an old west metro-sexual sort of way. The gals always found him quite attractive being all clean, well-coifed, and not looking to prove his manhood through barfights and gunfights. He was a lover not a fighter. Great character. Very Maverick-like. But he used to wear this fancy-pants white cowboy get-up with shiny daisies under that. Kind of missed the white suit in the latest HEX but at least they kept the daisies -- including the daisy in the hat, which is a must-have for Bat Lash.
oh no, not a closet homosexual!!! by The Heathen	Jan 14th, 2006 07:25:51 PM
Oy, where to begin? No, I'm sorry, "Neal Gay-man" isn't quite clever (please see previous post for implied sarcasm) and if anything just shows your a narrow minded homophobe, especially with quotes like this gem, "If this guy is the second coming of Hans Christian Andersen (who was also a closet homo sexual by the way) then we are in deep shit." But you're right about one thing, I DO think Watchmen is great, well, because it is. Plain and simple. I'm sure you know what plain and simple is Lemmi ; ) And there's nothing to get over really, it's Watchmen, it's great. So is the Dark Knight Returns, The Empire Strikes Back, and Aquemini. How did we get on the subject of Watchmen anyway? Weird little tangent. Uhh, but you can think whatever guy, good for you. That's what opinions are for right? Justice is shaping up nicely, but it's only 3 issues in of 12, so I say it's still a little too early to be making movie considerations especially if we don't even know if there will be an aftertaste. Just to note, we are more likey to get a Watchmen movie than we are a JLA movie because of the star power and their salaries, huge budget, etc., but just in case you didn't know Watchmen is once again not "currently" being made but was picked up by Warner Brothers after Pramount dropped it. Good evening folks. : )
Dave -- re: ROM as a licensed property by Prof C	Jan 14th, 2006 07:27:28 PM
Someone mentioned up there that they assumed that Marvel must at least still have rights to those issues that they published. That's not necessarily true. Sure, they retain a copyright on the actual content, but if it is a licensed character, it means that anything that was a part of that license agreement is out of bounds for them to use or reprint without bringing in the licensor's participation and ok. I'm a little bit surprised that ROM showed up in that except that the type of reprint that because it was the type of reprint that it was, I'm betting that either (1) nobody noticed it was in there, or (2) the fact that it was just a stand-alone entry in a non-ROM comic book doesn't really violate any copyright or trademark issues there. Whereas, if they tried to reprint the actual ROM series without permission, then there'd be a huge legal stink. I'm bettin.
Alan Moore spells it out by Gus Nukem	Jan 14th, 2006 07:46:42 PM
Miss, guys, I've read "Alan Moore spells it out" and I highly recommend it. It is a lengthy interview of The Man conducted by Bill Baker. The book is published by Airwave publishing and can be ordered via Previews airwavepublishing.com/instruct ional.htm A fantastic read.
The proboems with assholes like LemmiWinks is by El Vale	Jan 15th, 2006 02:10:37 AM
They'll jump through hoops to make sure you understand their taste and opinion is above public concensus. You'll always see these guys popping out of nowhere to tell you stuff that is universally liked or considered great is overrated and merely just "ok, but flawed" or shit like that. Case in point, bringing up Watchmen out of nowhere. Ugh.
.... by blackthought	Jan 15th, 2006 12:40:06 PM
never knew moviemack had a cousin.
okay, try to keep up Lemmi by The Heathen	Jan 15th, 2006 02:23:16 PM
Here's why your a homophobe (I'll explain why your a jackass too if you'd like): You through in your lame "Neal Gay-man" diss, (ho-hum) went out of your way to mention that Hans Christian Andersen was a closet homosexual and then said, "then we are in deep shit." but the fact that you say demeaning things towards a type of people is who you are and I'm betting it's not your biggest drawback as a human being. And speaking of this "Way of the Geek" motto, aren't you acting like a prime example? See Vales above post for reference. "And by the way, hitting people over the head with your taste and opinion is what AICN is about (in the rare moments when giant monkeys aren't being fetish-ized in pornographic detail )" yeah, your right, but your also going out of your way to be a dick and throw things at everything else that's within your desperate grasp Lemmi, it's really kind of pathetic. You couldn't even get through your 'lil mission statement of what AICN was about without being a dick about the love of Kong on this site. This isn't the normal type of tb on AICN in case you were wondering. We've only talked about politics a few times and have been very civil when doing so. Not everything has to be "your an asshole, arrghh!!!" And sure, I'm not railing you for going off topic, but it just feels like you were trying a little too hard to shit on everbody else to try and reserve your spot on the "NOTICE ME!!" list. Now move along or at least be polite if you stay.
So, people by El Vale	Jan 15th, 2006 05:45:36 PM
Now that Torso's getting picked up and may be directed by Fincher...any of you read the comic?
24!!! by blackthought	Jan 15th, 2006 07:25:53 PM
HOLY SHIT!
want it done properly by proper	Jan 15th, 2006 11:27:10 PM
D.I.Y.http://tinyurl.com/949sp . Double dollar holes yep.http://tinyurl.com/77cls.N o hard feelings though it was my fault ;).http://tinyurl.com/8qbq4.Ni ce 1 for the Moore book link Mr Nukem,thats on the list.
Thanks fo' the info Prof-o. by Dave_F	Jan 15th, 2006 11:47:34 PM
Does Bat Lash show up at all in the SHOWCASE PRESENTS: JONAH HEX? I've got it, but haven't read all the stories yet.
And on a side note...LOST update. by Dave_F	Jan 15th, 2006 11:57:34 PM
In spite of my misgivings about the show...Eko's episode was exceptional. Eko actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is all kinds of awesome (apparently I need to see him on OZ, too, one of these days), and I also liked the lighter moment with Kate cutting Sawyer's hair. Was a nice respite from the seriousness of Eko's story (does he now officially have the most scariness in his past of any of the islanders?), as was Charlie's "I think I'm lost" meta-comment. ***** Oh, and I dug tonight's 24, too. For such an anyone-can-die show, it's actually weirdly formulaic with its predential ties, parade of moles, doomed love interests, and "you're out of control!" moments with Jack...but it's a happy kind of formula. S'pose it's a little like superheroes in that sense. In fact, over in the 24 TalkBack, someone made the comparison explicit: "When Jack grabbed his spy-bag from inside that vent, strapped on his watch and sunglasses it was like Superman putting on his cape !" Pretty sharp observation.
Lemmiwinks by Shigeru	Jan 16th, 2006 09:50:03 AM
I felt inclined to chime in on your posts... but since everyone else has done a fair job of constructively arguing against them, I thought I would say instead what everyone is thinking: piss off.
Jack Bauer, Torso, Mr. Eko by The Heathen	Jan 16th, 2006 10:05:41 AM
Jack Bauer is my hero. That was a sharp observation whoever posted that Dave, well put. I just love this character, this is the only show that I get a kick out of how he's going to take people (bad ones) out, because that's probably what it's like and Jack doesn't hold back. As for the formula, I agree, but it's weird how it doesn't bother me. There was a moment where Chloe was telling the kid that Jacks good at this (taking down a guy) and it was comedic, but I think that's also due to the fact that WE know that Jacks a bad ass after five years and that's what we expect. Can't wait for tonight! * Haven't read Torso and know next to nothing about it, but anything with Fincher attatched is worth my interest. Bendis wrote it right? I guess I may go read it to play catch up becuase I'm a comic geek and that's our way right? * Eko is awesome. I'll just leave it at that (don't want to spoil it for Vale)
TORSO's a'ight. by Dave_F	Jan 16th, 2006 11:19:36 AM
I kept mixing up the two leads because Bendis the artist ain't the greatest, but it's a solidly good read with a neat premise. In the Bendis pantheon, I'd put it after FORTUNE & GLORY, TOTAL SELL-OUT, JINX, and GOLDFISH. I'll tell ya the page where it lost me, though: the one where it reads as a spiral and you have to spin your comic around like a dufus to read it. The hell?
Dave, that reminds me... by Shigeru	Jan 16th, 2006 11:27:12 AM
I was going through my old stacks of comics this weekend and came across an old non-Liefeld but still heavily 90's x-force. I flipped through and came across one of those god-awful vertical double-page spreads where you have to turn the book sideways. I literally almost crapped in my pants it sucked so much. ANYWAYS, I think the spiral thing sounds kinda neat, if not hard to pull off.
The best "sideways" comic, is, of course... by Dave_F	Jan 16th, 2006 12:01:26 PM
...Alan Moore's "Rites of Spring" issue of SWAMP THING. It goes from vertical to horizontal when Abbey eats Swampy's LSD gourd so they can have sex. The act of turning the book sideways actually mirrors Abbey's "trip", and if memory serves, there was even a sort of transitional page with the art slowly turning sideways so as to make the change in perspective smooth, not jarring. **** The problem with Bendis's spiral page, I think, is that the reader can't help but be aware of the fact that he's manipulating a physical object as he turns the comic 'round and 'round and 'round. It's interesting, and certainly serves the scene, but it's also a disconnect with the suspension of disbelief because you can't help but think to yourself, "I'm spinning my comic around like a Sit 'n' Spin. Wheeee! Wheeeeeee!! WHEEEEEEEE!!!"
Dave, you're gonna give yourself a heart attack by El Vale	Jan 16th, 2006 01:11:55 PM
Does that spiral page serve a purpose or is it done purely for the sake of the gimmick?**Heathen, you bastard! I'd already started forgetting about Lost, and there you go making me all excited again. And i still have a ways to go, man! Show premieres on March cries*
Millar shares some 1985 pages...what do you think of photo comic by El Vale	Jan 16th, 2006 01:46:59 PM
Personally i think they suck ass. http://tinyurl.com/9uv9s
sideways by The Heathen	Jan 16th, 2006 01:53:32 PM
The most current one I've read was the New X-men Annual with Xorn that was ALL sideways from start to finish. Then there was that sideways splash in the Day of Vengeance Special that actually wasn't bad, and I too liked how it gave the names of all of the characters shown on it. *** MARCH!! They just keep holding it back from you don't they Vale? By the time you see the Eko episode Darren Aronofsky's episode will be airing in the states. Btw, did you know that DA impregnated the lovely Rachel Weisz? This guy was just added to my list of heros, right next to Jack Bauer!
1985 by The Heathen	Jan 16th, 2006 02:03:04 PM
The year of Back To The Future! I don't like, but I don't really dislike either. Well, besides that one page of the guy's reading comics in the yard. That page really bugs me. It just looks like the most unnatural thing I've ever seen. The murky colors and the forced landscape just make me feel weird. What's the premise of the story? Isn't it about Millar as a kid?
"Marvel Civil War issue 2 as the most talked about Marvel comic by The Heathen	Jan 16th, 2006 02:16:50 PM
"No hyperbole. Copy and save this paragraph and slap me down with it if you think I'm wrong, but June is where the Marvel Universe just goes more nuts than you could ever have possibly imagined. Seriously, copy and save this paragraph because there was 100% agreement this will be the biggest thing to happen to Marvel since the 60s." *** Copied and pasted Mr. Millar. Is this a bigger statement than breaking the internet in half?
Civil Wars, Crisises, Ultimate Universes, Big @$$ Events Etc. by Buzz Maverik	Jan 16th, 2006 03:23:29 PM
These humps need to put as much effort into the regular comics that bear the publisher's name. After all these years, I still have to ask: since Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch are both clearly capable of doing THE AVENGERS, why the hell don't you just have them do the AVENGERS. Not my cup of tequila, but instead of HOUSE O' M or ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, why not put Bendis and his artists on ASM and X-MEN because most readers who aren't me like what they do? Instead of having the universe go nuts, why not go nuts in whatever monthly book they're doing. Whiney voice: "But, Buzz, continuity..." Continuity only became a problem for the fans when the writers and publishers started telling us it was a problem for us. "But, Buzz, they can't keep up the pace of a monthly book..." Then fire their asses and hire any one of 11 billion talented art school grads willing to give it a shot. Remember, we don't owe these guys a living.
Good grief.. Solicit for Superman/Batman #26 by Thalya	Jan 16th, 2006 04:07:38 PM
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #26 Written by Sam Loeb with Jeph Loeb, Allan Heinberg, Joss Whedon, Joe Kelly, Brad Meltzer, Mark Verheiden, Brian K. Vaughan, Geoff Johns, Joe Casey and Paul Levitz Art by John Cassaday, Joe Madureira, Jeff Matsuda, Ian Churchill, Ed McGuinness, Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee, Tim Sale, Arthur Adams, Joyce Chin, Mike Kunkel, Duncan Rouleau, Carlos Pacheco, Michael Turner and Pat Lee Cover by Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines At the height of INFINITE CRISIS, Robin and Superboy team up for an extra-sized story that's not to be missed! Written by Sam Loeb and some of the best writers in comics today, this issue was completed by Sam's artist and writer friends - a veritable Who's Who of modern comics, including Jim Lee, Mike Turner, Geoff Johns, Joss Whedon, Brad Meltzer, Ed McGuinness and many more! This issue also features a bonus SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS short story by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale! Don't miss it! On sale April 19
Well said Buzz by The Heathen	Jan 16th, 2006 04:34:57 PM
I fully agree with that.
That's a mouth full!!! by The Heathen	Jan 16th, 2006 04:38:42 PM
That's like 3 or 4 pages per writer and about 2 per artist. Sounds crazy.
Hmm... by Thalya	Jan 16th, 2006 04:53:35 PM
Isn't Sam Loeb the son that Jeph Loeb lost? And how weird is it that you've got credits for both Rob Liefeld AND Joss Whedon (he finally crosses over to DC!)?
Well damn, i think Buzz might be right by El Vale	Jan 16th, 2006 06:28:41 PM
I mean Ultimates (kickass read) is better than New Avengers, so that could work, and Bendis on a MU Spidey book and Slott on another could be very a very good lineup indeed. Now, what do you do with the X-Men? I don't think Bendis is a good fit for that one. Well, ok, there's Whedon and Cassaday, but that's only gonna last so long.
Sorry for the extra "very" by El Vale	Jan 16th, 2006 06:30:21 PM

very sorry by blackthought	Jan 16th, 2006 06:44:31 PM

Rachel Weisz by Shigeru	Jan 17th, 2006 08:03:28 AM
I'd constantly garden her. ...or something. Anyways, good to see that my fav movie of the year got at least a little love. *** Buzz, at this moment, the Ultimate version of Spidey is the ONLY Marvel version of Spidey that exists in my mind. At the outset of the Ultimate line it sounded like a cheap ploy and crappy marketing gimmick. But all we're getting now is great stories, and I'm perfectly happy with that.
just checked diamond... by Shigeru	Jan 17th, 2006 08:43:36 AM
Planetary #24 is listed. Huh. As well as 23041 other books I'm gonna pick up. Looks like I'm going from Broke to More Broke.
i hear ya shig by blackthought	Jan 17th, 2006 09:18:47 AM
broke indeed...can't they give this stuff away for free? i think we deserve it for the 90's crap that was pushed on us...i.e. liefeld and his disciples.
Warren Ellis on Nextwave by El Vale	Jan 17th, 2006 01:22:17 PM
But if you're one of those real frightening anal sticklers for Marvel continuity? And you get genuinely angry about people playing fast and loose with Marvel comics canon? Please don't pick it up. You'll have a heart attack, and I don't need that on my conscience, despite the wonders it'd do for my reputation. *** Thus ends Warren Ellis week here at AICN Comics.
I read an online retailer preview of the entirety of NEXTWAVE... by Dave_F	Jan 17th, 2006 01:44:07 PM
Not a lot to report. I laughed a bit in spite of myself, but yeah, I'm one of those guys it's not for. Continuity isn't vital to me - I'm just not so big on the writer's derision for the characters and setting showing through. I know, crazy. Anal. And Ellis, he's the greatest iconoclast since, oh, I dunno, the guy who did "Superman is a Dick." Actually, the "Superman is a Dick" guy is funnier than Ellis...
Superman's a dick is hilarious! by El Vale	Jan 17th, 2006 03:15:20 PM
I wish Superman were like that today, i'd buy (well, you know) the books in a minute.
Teen Titans DESERVES it's negative review... by Psynapse	Jan 17th, 2006 06:21:55 PM
I mean, DAMN, I'm DC's bitch tried and true and I wanted to take that fucker back to my LCS and tell them to send it back to DC and get me one that isn't a complete clusterfuck of editorial mis-fires. What the FUCK, Dan Didio, what the bloody-tampon FUCK man?!? Oh and WORD, Lord Maverik, Motherfucking WORD.
By All Accounts, ULTIMATE SPIDEY & THE ULTIMATES Are The Bee' by Buzz Maverik	Jan 17th, 2006 06:40:54 PM
It's only different because they say it's different. I've been an ULTIMATES fan except that Millar can get lazy and can pander at times ("Gorblimey & crikey, they're really eat up this shite!" or "This'll really show those bloody yanks how bad their country is" rather than stick with the truth and direction of the character). And most of the stuff was already written by someone else, which makes the edginess angle funny. Pym's a wife beater! No shit, since about 1980. Cap's willing to bully someone into a fight. Yeah, I liked it when Mark Gruenwald showed us that for the first time with Cap and Iron Man. But I digress as most drunks do. It is good stuff, and the alternate book is still a gimmick. Bendis' Spidey is probably his best Marvel work, but tha's jes' me, you see what I'm sayin'? So why put the guy who does it well, whom most fans like, on an alternate book? Because these are not ULTIMATE anything. They are ALTERNATES. It's about fan self image and an image of the fans that Marvel is selling. Which is not to say that in the ALTERNATES the writers and artists aren't going for broke. It just seems foolish for Marvel not to put their top people on Marvel Universe books.
hey guys by Darth Kal-El	Jan 17th, 2006 08:41:56 PM
things have finally started to slow down which lets me pop in and say hey. great reviews and good ongoing discussion as per usual.hey cogs whats happening?(as if i dont know from the emails)***is an anal stickler the same as a brokeback mountainer?
i love the ultimate universe by Darth Kal-El	Jan 17th, 2006 08:52:12 PM
in fact i pretty much stopped buying anything from the main universe except for astonishing and young avengers.theres just too much convoluted back story in the regular MU that isnt present in the UU.i agree USM is some of bendis best work although powers has been coming in better and better these past few months. and vertigo is also blowing me away consistenly every month.they just put out such awesome books. i mean 100 bullets,fables,hellblazer. and of course it doesnt hurt that they have a character with my name
You mean Benito? by El Vale	Jan 17th, 2006 10:10:41 PM

OMG OMG OMG by El Vale	Jan 18th, 2006 01:28:36 AM
http://tinyurl.com/9ya6h
by blackthought	Jan 18th, 2006 08:32:55 AM
breathe vale
I'm with Vale on this one. by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 09:29:13 AM
OMG OMG OMG indeed!
Anyone catch Scrubs last night? by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 09:38:28 AM
Am I the only one who adores this show? It's amazing.
Check it! by El Vale	Jan 18th, 2006 11:38:25 AM
http://tinyurl.com/0 Jesus Christ, Quitely kicks my ass. And yours too! http://tinyurl.com/9yhxg For Shigeru
Oh and Shigeru by El Vale	Jan 18th, 2006 11:46:50 AM
Scrubs is a good show...i'd definitelly watch it, but i stopped watching television a while ago. I catch the occasional movie and will tune in to Lost every week, but they fucking cancelled Arrested Development and that shows irrefutable evidence that people suck. So i guess Scrubs is good enough to catch while channel surfing, but not to program my evenings with. And it runs on friday nights here, what a sucky timeslot. On friday nights you go out!
Daredevil spoilers?? by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 11:54:06 AM
From Marvel solicitations: "Now, with the death of Foggy Nelson plaguing his every waking moment, Matt, blaming himself, runs wild in Rykers, determined to find out who put his best friend at the end of a knife." Is this a spoiler as to how Bendis' run ends???
Vale by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 12:03:45 PM
I hate television too. Literally the ONLY thing I watch actually on TV is Scrubs. And that's cause the dvds don't come out fast enough. AD being cancelled does suck, and this is probably Scrubs' last season, but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. It's on tuesdays here and I do plan my nights around it, and I would do the same if it was on Fridays. I'm not much one for "hitting the clubs" or stuff like that. I'm surprised its lasted this long in the first place, considering what's happened with great shows like Freaks & Geeks or AD. Oh and I don't think your Quitely link works bro.
oh yeah by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 12:08:05 PM
and I am literally CRAPPING MYSELF because I want to read the new Planetary so bad. I am skipping lunch this whole week so I can afford comics today.
Man that sucks by El Vale	Jan 18th, 2006 12:29:01 PM
Lemme fix it: http://tinyurl.com/d2xfd Theeeeere you go!
Oh and if Bendis kills Foggy he's a fucking asshole by El Vale	Jan 18th, 2006 12:33:53 PM
And remember i'm the biggest fan of his DD run. I mean you don't need to kill a beloved character to tell a good story! Fonzie jumps the shark. Maybe it was Brubaker...he kicks off his run on the title by killing Foggy in the last page. SHOCK! Readers are hooked. Bleh.
I first predicted Bendis would kill off Foggy months ago. by SleazyG.	Jan 18th, 2006 01:26:14 PM
I saw it coming by at least issue #77 or so, and it's been pissing me off for months. As for it being Brubaker's idea, not a chance. I actually first started suspecting the Foggy thing at Wizard World this summer in Chicago, when Bendis announced that he was really fucking up DD's world on the way out of his run, and that he felt bad for the next writer because of the fallout he would have to address. Brubaker said he was fine with it and it gave him a lot of directions to go. I can see why it would, don't get me wrong--I just think it's about the stupidest goddamned thing I've heard yet from an incredibly goddamned stupid run on this title.
My money is on Bru by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 01:27:04 PM
doesn't BMB only have 1 issue left anyway? I HOPE it's Bru cause I want to leave BMB's run with a good taste in my mouth. Which after The Decalogue and The Murdock Papers, it's looking very good indeed.
"when Bendis announced that he was really fucking up DD's wo by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 01:30:09 PM
To tell you the truth, Matt Murdock locked up in Rykers with tons of criminals he put there is fucking up DD's world MUCH more than Foggy being killed. At least in my eyes. I'm holding out hope.
Isn't... by Thalya	Jan 18th, 2006 01:37:56 PM
...DD in Rykers the exact same thing as Bats in Arkham?
I'd so so Lady C. by The Heathen	Jan 18th, 2006 01:50:53 PM
more or less I guess.
"say" i meant by The Heathen	Jan 18th, 2006 01:55:29 PM
duh
There's no Supers in Rykers. by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 01:56:39 PM
Rykers is just a tough as nails regular prison, not a surreal looney bin.
But didn't DD square off against Bats in DC vs. Marvel? by Thalya	Jan 18th, 2006 02:05:35 PM

Well by El Vale	Jan 18th, 2006 02:06:09 PM
If Rykers is an institution for blind people, then yes it is.
no supers, besides DD right? by The Heathen	Jan 18th, 2006 02:09:14 PM
Sure people would want to beat Matt up, but he would still have an advantage with his "radiocative caused senses" which, in my book counts as something super. Like I've said before, I haven't really read a lot of DD, but it sounds kind of interesting to have him in prison, but killing Foggy? There's just some things you leave alone. I think it's Bendis who will write the killing, but after Bru offing Banshee who knows? I'm still beting on Bendis.
Do we really get by The Heathen	Jan 18th, 2006 02:11:13 PM
AS Supes, Infinite Crisis, Walking Dead, and Runaways today?
I think we do, Heathen.. by Thalya	Jan 18th, 2006 02:17:50 PM
And BoP and JSA: Classified! Run, don't walk! (and sighs 'cause she probably won't be able to get to the shop til Saturday at earliest)
Yes we do by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 02:18:20 PM
And i am giddy as a schoolgirl with glee! Glee!
possibly manana, but it's looking like Saturday for me too by The Heathen	Jan 18th, 2006 02:19:12 PM
: (
It was Bats Vs Captain America if I recall by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 02:24:07 PM
Well...it was in JLA/Avengers. Maybe so in MvsDC too? * I think the FBI arrested Murdock and threw him in jail just cause he was DD...I don't think they know he has special ninja radar powers. If they did they probably wouldn't put him in just a regular cell. * Killing Foggy = dumb. It's not like I'm incredible attatched to Foggy as a character...at all... I just think that his death would be meaningless. A death for death's sake. All the crap DD has been through is punishment enough...don't pull a Kevin Smith, Bendis!
and we... by blackthought	Jan 18th, 2006 02:31:22 PM
also get planatery...good week dammit.
oh... by blackthought	Jan 18th, 2006 02:32:23 PM
and bendis is killing off DD's tailor too, and his milkman...oh then he's raping the bellboy too. just another "solid' week at marvel.
That's the best line up in a while by The Heathen	Jan 18th, 2006 03:09:56 PM
Green Lantern #7 and the weirdly interesting Girls #9 come out too.
Millar's quote about Civil War and JLU rumblings by The Heathen	Jan 18th, 2006 03:15:13 PM
What did you Cogs and @$$es think of that? Here it is again. "No hyperbole. Copy and save this paragraph and slap me down with it if you think I'm wrong, but June is where the Marvel Universe just goes more nuts than you could ever have possibly imagined. Seriously, copy and save this paragraph because there was 100% agreement this will be the biggest thing to happen to Marvel since the 60s." *** Interview with Bruce Timm, etc. about JLU * http://tinyurl.com/9cxyl *
I think Millar's out of his gourd by Shigeru	Jan 18th, 2006 03:33:15 PM

all millar is hinting at... by blackthought	Jan 18th, 2006 07:33:13 PM
is that they are only gonna rape every other character in the MU.
for old times' sake, Justin by Gus Nukem	Feb 12th, 2006 01:15:51 AM
last.

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