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AICN COMICS REVIEWS RICHARD DONNER & GEOFF JOHNS' ACTION COMICS! DICK TRACY! 7 SOLDIERS FINALE! AND MUCH MORE!!!

third! by loodabagel	Nov 1st, 2006 09:23:56 AM
I am third-man!
Nextwave #9 Roxxored by chrth	Nov 1st, 2006 09:27:11 AM
I was going to do my own Herc-style review for it but time kept slipping away.
Geoff Johns sucks. by Darksider	Nov 1st, 2006 09:34:59 AM
Infinite Crisis was a joke. "Everything revolves around Superman." What a piece of shit.
Uhm sweet. by Shigeru	Nov 1st, 2006 09:38:51 AM
I got nothing but love for my @$$'s... but man I couldn't disagree more with both the Seven Soldiers and Action Comics reviews. I'll be back to explain why. Later.
Haven't read any Seven Soldiers yet, but... by loodabagel	Nov 1st, 2006 09:45:37 AM
I still think, even bad Grant Morrison comics are still pretty interesting. Here Comes Tommorow, anyone? The story made no sense whatsoever, but it had talking whales and mutant mutants.
Seven Soldiers by Uncle Festering	Nov 1st, 2006 10:16:10 AM
I agree that Seven Soldiers became quite a mess. I think it could have been salvaged with this issue, but instead it felt like they had to rush the ending and it became a mess..... But ya know what....you guys didn't review it...but the biggest mess of last week's crop of comics was that Planetary ended with a WHIMPER. Talk about a let down.
Action Comics by The Heathen	Nov 1st, 2006 10:20:39 AM
"Jor-El now looks like a bearded folksinger from the 70s" That line was great Prof. I dunno, I think I feel the same way, but I'm a little more on the negative side of this mixed bag. I whole heartedly agree about the cover. It's night and day from the interior art. I also suppose I could grow to gel with Adam Kubert's new style, but a lot of it just felt too sketched I guess. The Jor-El looking like the folk singer bothered me. I didn't really mind Jonathan Kent looking like Bo Duke, but it still stuck out a little too much. I dug the fortress looking how it did (which they rebuilt at the end of the 'Up, Up, and Away' story after OYL). The belt and costume changes I'm not down with either. My main problem is the reveal of yet another Kryptonian. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself and the kid will be an impostor or something else, BUT as it stands now it's been done too much, too recent. With the kid in Superman Returns being the only other 'oh crap' thing about the movie besides it's somber tone, the reintroduction of Supergirl that was supposed to make sense but it confuses the hell outta me - it feels like Kal-El is far from the last son of Krypton. How many times can we use that story gimmick? That's my main problem with this issue. I hope for the best and hopefully I'll be wrong by the end of this arc. I liked Luthors line too. I've said before that I hate Luthor when in hiding, but that's mainly for the movies. In this comic he should be hiding after the recent events of him unleashing Kryptonian war ships on Metropolis and he's interested in this new 'Superboy' because he wants Conner back. Mixed bag for sure. Maybe 40/60 split in my oh so humble opinion.
Hulk will fix Civil War mess... by ComputerGuy68	Nov 1st, 2006 10:21:24 AM
Hulk Smash Civil War! Puny humans in spandex...
I wonder if CM3 will get AIDS from that tattoo... by Squashua	Nov 1st, 2006 10:21:45 AM
Hi Judd!
I too enjoy crappy Ultimate marvel... by loodabagel	Nov 1st, 2006 10:23:59 AM
Because Ultimate Spider-Man is one fine comic book. Bah! Ultimate SPidey is great. Get outta here.
Squashua by The Heathen	Nov 1st, 2006 10:24:23 AM
I did the whole comics thing for Halloween last night. We didn't have too many kids in our neighborhood, but the ones that got them dug it. I only gave out maybe 20 total along with candy too. Towards the end I gave some kids a stack. Some old Marvel Fanfares, Spidey 2099, Avengers and Preacher issues. Kidding about the Preacher issues. ; )
So is this kid the third Kryptonian the Auctioneer... by ComputerGuy68	Nov 1st, 2006 10:25:07 AM
mentioned? I was hoping it was going to be Conner, oh well...
anybody read Ultimate Spider-Man 101? by Argentino	Nov 1st, 2006 10:32:39 AM
SPOILER what's with that crappy ending? mary jane hulking out? END SPOILER the clone saga was going great 'til that part
The new Kryptonian by Wossy	Nov 1st, 2006 10:47:37 AM
SPOILERS ON: Anyone think it's a coincidence that Mon-El just turned up in Legion of Super Heroes? I'm betting the kid gets tossed in the Phantom Zone at the end of this arc...
Nice reviews, Bug... by stones_throw	Nov 1st, 2006 10:56:01 AM
I've often thought just the same about Grant Morrison, but felt guilty for not 'getting' it. Glad to know it's not just me :) But if you want good ol' heroism in your Marvel comics, look no further than your second Civil War review. Brubaker's been putting Cap through a wringer of biblical proportions while emphasising his true heroism and values. The bit at the end of the 'Winter Soldier' arc where Cap picks up the Cosmic Cube was certainly one of the best smile-on-your-face moments of the last few years.
Just a Cheap Shot for Planetary? by dtpena	Nov 1st, 2006 11:21:13 AM
well... at least it's a good one.. kudos for dick tracy, didn't know about that, but it's great news
Supergirl by The Heathen	Nov 1st, 2006 11:30:48 AM
One of the funniest things I can remember reading was the intro to the second volume of Superman/Batman where they talk about Supergirl and how confusing her history was and how they wanted people to know how and where she came from, blah, blah. A year or two later and I'm more confused than ever.
It's not about being "too stupid" to get Morrison... by SleazyG.	Nov 1st, 2006 11:44:47 AM
...it's that while I love a lot of his concepts and he throws out more ideas in one issue than many writers do in a year, he often has difficulty wrapping up a story. The guy is really, really good, but he's not perfect, and there's nothing wrong with saying so. I didn't have a problem with the end of SEAGUY or WE3, but the final three issues of his X-MEN run kinda stunk, and I think a lot of 7 SOLDIERS went off the rails at some point. Its godawful scheduling plan didn't help, either: the idea of a story that takes a year to tell because you get a few miniseries that end, then a few more that start, then a final issue that refers back to stuff you haven't seen in 8 months was just a shitty, shitty concept. Taking an extra six months exacerbated the problem even further, draining the series of all its momentum. After that much time you're stuck with an audience that simultaneously has lost a lot of interest in the series and yet is expecting a really kick-ass ending. It's a lot to live up to, and if the guy fell short, so be it. A noble and gutsy experiment, but ultimately one that kinda fell flat.
Ya got me Heathen by rev_skarekroe	Nov 1st, 2006 11:49:04 AM
I was like "Preacher"? WTF? Then I read the next line. Well played.
just got the nextwave hardcover... by waggy	Nov 1st, 2006 12:00:14 PM
told my friend it was my new favorite comic and they cancelled it 3 days later.
morrison by Nightwood	Nov 1st, 2006 12:02:26 PM
Oddly, I consider some of his first work his most mature. "Animal Man" is still Morrison at his most intelligent and adult, but very accessible, tightly-plotted, and filled with very humane, touching emotion. In a way, ever since "Animal Man" I've just accepted that Morrison is excellent and more-or-less overlooked his often glaring weaknesses as a plotter of serialized narrative. DC: put out Absolute Animal Man.
Action Comics disappointed the hell outta me... by superhero	Nov 1st, 2006 12:46:19 PM
But, then again, I was disappointed by SUPERMAN RETURNS as well. At least I have Busiek and Pacheco kicking ass on the other title...
The third Kryptonian... by RenoNevada2000	Nov 1st, 2006 01:17:19 PM
The kid that showed up in ACTION COMICS can't be the third Kryptonian that the Auctioneer mentioned, as he hadn't landed yet on Earth. Or perhaps he had been on Earth at the time and was sent back up in the rocket to create a more spectacular arrival by person or persons unknown...
PLANETARY by RenoNevada2000	Nov 1st, 2006 01:18:21 PM
So glad that PLANETARY is almost done, so they can release the last trade and I can finish reading the damn series.
i'm with you, reno by rev_skarekroe	Nov 1st, 2006 01:28:45 PM
I'm a Planetary tradewaiter, too. I've decided to do that on any book that's likely to be chronically late (except Ultimates. I'm a sucker that way).
Busiek and Pacheco are kicking ass aren't they? by The Heathen	Nov 1st, 2006 01:40:44 PM
I love those covers too. They remind me of the first few of Byrne's relaunch.
Planetary trade-waiting...? by Shigeru	Nov 1st, 2006 01:46:24 PM
Man and I thought waiting for the individual issues was bad! You've got like... 3 years between reads...?
Ambush Bug by 3 Bag Enema	Nov 1st, 2006 01:53:03 PM
i'm sorry for you that you prefer more cliches in your comics. Try Morrison's work on JLA - he tended to stick to formula ultimately there, while still making with the widescreen weirdness and surrealist dialogue. Your review, though, reminded me of when I gave my girlfriend volume one of The Invisibles, and she said that, though she thought it was a weird read, she wanted to read the rest becuase she wants to find out what happenes to all the characters. I told her not to bother. The weirdness of the read is the point, not what happens to the characters. It's a fever dream; either dig your nails in and enjoy the ride or don't drink the kool-aid, and I'm sorry about the mixed metaphor. Morrison isn't about wrapping it all up in a tidy bow. You can tell he probably changes how the fucking thing's going to end 10 times while he's writing whatever he's writing. He doesn't need to pay more attention to making things more familiar. It's that he doesn't give a shit about doing that that makes him great. I guess you either like that sort of thing or you don't.
Morrison and Halloween by Squashua	Nov 1st, 2006 01:58:23 PM
Morrison JLA; every third word out of Batman's mouth was, "Uuuuuuiiiiii!" Heathen, good going. Excellent job. I wouldn't have faulted you for the Preacher books though; I wouldn't be the one getting strung up. :-) I gave a ton of books to kids, 3 books each, but somehow a 20 issue run of "Scout" ended up in my piles. Had to put those aside. :-) Mostly !mpact books and some Atari Force.
Couple things by El Vale	Nov 1st, 2006 02:05:05 PM
Sometimes i just despise people. Planetary ended with a whimper, the Clone Saga sucks now because something happened to Mary Jane...Jesus, let us all stop complaining now cause we're all giving me a headache. Silly monkeys.
I agree with 3-Bag Enema (an odd sentence to be sure) by Shigeru	Nov 1st, 2006 02:06:47 PM
The problem with the 6 or so month delay to Seven Soldiers #1, the penultimate chapter, coming out, was that it did nothing but ramp up expectations. And expectations is kind of a dirty word. "I don’t know what I was expecting with this final act. Maybe a panel or two featuring all of the Seven Soldiers coming together? Maybe someone explaining something that has been going on? A page of exposition explaining it all then some good ol’ comic book @$$-kickery?" You really expected all that in a Grant Morrison comic event as heady as SSoV has been? I'm sorry, but if we got what you had described, it would be expected, traditional, boring, and completely inconsistent with the rest of the series. You said that after reading and re-reading it you still couldn't make heads or tails of it, and that's your main complaint, or so it seems: that it was too indecipherable. And then you say not to say judge you for "just not getting it". Just because you gave up (and you have every right to!) and get nothing from the story, doesn't mean that there is nothing to get from the story. Check it out: http://sevensoldiers.cjb.net/
To the "planetary went out with a whimper" folks: by Shigeru	Nov 1st, 2006 02:15:21 PM
See above, re: expectations.
I'm psychic and can tell the future! by Shigeru	Nov 1st, 2006 02:24:08 PM
Bug's response to me will be: "But Shigeru, what use is depth in a story if it is so deep as to be impenetrable." I'll say: "Bug, that seems to me like a matter of opinion... there are already some fan sites analyzing Seven Soldiers deeper than I had ever thought, and I was pretty sure I got most of it. There's nothing wrong with labrythine stories... and I feel like Grant's just written one big experiment in them." Namaste!
Yeah, the new Clone Saga jumped the shark BIG time... by superhero	Nov 1st, 2006 02:25:55 PM
With that last issue...I've been diggin' on Ultimate Spidey but this...well...it's too silly. I thought Bendis was doing some inspired craziness at first but it turns out, well...he's no Grant Morrison...:O)
Odd.. by nofate	Nov 1st, 2006 03:04:44 PM
I thought there was already a story about a child from another planet put in custody of a couple under government supervision...what was it called?...oh yeah! Supreme Power. Oh DC, how out of ideas are you that you're now ripping off stories that ripp off your own characters.
THEY CANCELLED NEXTWAVE?!??!?! by chrth	Nov 1st, 2006 03:06:53 PM
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
nofate… by The Heathen	Nov 1st, 2006 03:34:51 PM
by the end of the issue it didn't look like the kid was in the hands of the government my friend. I will miss chrth's Nextwave posts.
Nextwave == Agents of Atlas for Dummies by Squashua	Nov 1st, 2006 03:57:45 PM
They'll bring Nextwave back for specials and the lot. Don't be so sad.
Uh, would I be mocked too much by BizarroJerry	Nov 1st, 2006 04:10:22 PM
if I asked if anyone has a picture of the Green Lantern Corps page in question?
BizarroJerry by XAOS	Nov 1st, 2006 04:13:44 PM
No, you would be mocked exactly the correct amount. Which is to say, a lot.
Morrison can't end jack by willydevon	Nov 1st, 2006 04:22:54 PM
Lord, but there are a LOT of Grant Morrison apologists out there, most notably thexaxis.com. The only story Morrison EVER ended with a real conclusion was DC One Million. World War Three in JLA? Disaster. Planet X and Here Comes Tomorrow in New X-men? Possibly the worst X-stories of the past 7 years, and that includes Chuck Austen's run. There's a reason the same editorial team that "worked" on his issues immediately overturned every continuity change he made. It's no suprise the Seven Soldiers was a cluster-fuxx, and is there anyone who doesn't see the same coming for 52? Lord only knows what's coming for All-Star Superman...but it sure ain't an ending! Psynapse, I will say this for the new Supergirl: I love how this character was supposed to get the Supergirl concept back to its roots. LOVE IT! Yes, an angry, maladjusted skank is JUST what the public needed to embrace that Supergirl movie/cartoon. I also love how the next issue is her trying to join the Outsiders...hey, it's also been what, 7-8 issues since that same story? Good enough for didio!
7 soldiers and Planetary by Nightwood	Nov 1st, 2006 05:53:26 PM
Just finally read 7 Soldiers. When the finale was delayed for so long I was skipping it out of spite, but after the review I had to see if it was really that incoherent. It is absolutely that incoherent. The last issue of 7 Soldiers made The Invisibles seem as clear as a menu. Just completely baffling; not even in a good 'mondo-weird' way, just bizarre and full of fuzzy, unrealized ideas. Planetary: it was a whimper, but that's not my problem with it. My problem is that how do you kill Reed Richards and the Invisible Woman by dropping them from a great height? Maybe the Inviso-girl didn't have force-fields, but the Richards analog can still stretch, so how can his body be so broken at the end? 7 Soldiers: D- Planetary: C+ (and not because of any letdown)
All you bitches by Shigeru	Nov 1st, 2006 06:30:15 PM
are out of your tits. SSoV was deep, mysterious, amazing, funny, and it cooked me dinner and gave me a sensual foot massage.
Wow, E-Man! by theghoul	Nov 1st, 2006 06:55:39 PM
Bring back the Entropy Twins! "Those 2 cute kids could mean the destruction of all life if I don't stop them" or somthing like that. Spiffy.
Solid stack of reviews. by dregmobile	Nov 1st, 2006 07:30:18 PM
Seeing as they are of a more mainstream crop, and that I can actually relate. Very good point about Superman being expressionless in the new movie - I never really thought about that. I think I'll steer clear of 7 Soldiers based on what I've read here. Question: How many books is Morrison writing right now? Does anyone know what the record number of comic books written by the one guy is? I look on the shelves and it's Morrison, Morrison, Morrison. I don't have a problem with it, just amazes me the guy has the time to write them all ...
Oh - and great pic! by dregmobile	Nov 1st, 2006 07:31:00 PM
Love it. Very embarrassing to look at.
I'll miss my Nextwave posts too by chrth	Nov 1st, 2006 07:43:04 PM
Damn, now I won't have a reason to participate in this thread anymore. I wonder what Marvel's going to do with my subscription?
I hate all of you by El Vale	Nov 1st, 2006 08:15:19 PM
Seriously, have you noticed how quick people are to claim something's jumped the shark? It's like one little twist that's not EXACTLY what you had hoped for? Jumped the shark. An ending that doesn't live up to your enormous expectations? Whimper. Well FUCK YOU ASSHOLE! You're a fucking pussy who's gotten too used to being pampered. I also despise the fact that you can't dislike a Morrison comic because that means you're stupid. Bleh, go eat some AIDS.
El Vale: No matter what you think, I love you by chrth	Nov 1st, 2006 08:17:16 PM

BTW, Squashua: your pimpin' of AoA is getting weak by chrth	Nov 1st, 2006 08:19:10 PM
Just accept the fact that NextWave is Love.
Vale breathes by El Vale	Nov 1st, 2006 08:47:24 PM
I'm ok now, thanks for the love chrth.
It's fine if you didn't like Seven Soldiers, but... by Prankster	Nov 1st, 2006 11:01:24 PM
...I can't believe people are saying that it's "incoherent". It's really not. It's just that Morrison super-compresses plot points, so you have to pay attention. The Terrible Time Tailor? The dog becoming the heir to the mafia? Where Spyder came from? It was all set up in the main series. For that matter, if you didn't know who the girl Guardian kisses was or why Bulleteer was driving to the hospital, you really weren't paying attention to the main series. You can argue this wasn't as successful as it could have been, but don't try to argue it didn't make sense because you couldn't be bothered to pay attention. Or if you do, don't bother complaining the next time you read a comic that insults your intelligence.
Sorry, Prankster... by SleazyG.	Nov 1st, 2006 11:18:16 PM
...but an issue of one of the seven different miniseries that came out 14 months ago and has a three-panel (or even full page) scene that ties in to the finale is, in fact, confusing and a failure. Look, comic book writers should know by now that when you're writing a monthly serial you have to refresh your audience's memory now and again. Not everyone has the time to go back and reread 29 issues (many of which were late) in order to get a hold of what's going on in the (delayed by six months) 30th issue. Whether something works as a whole body of work is a completely different subject. What Bug was doing was pointing out that as an individual issue--a single component of that whole--it was deeply flawed. If somebody were to tell you that episode 19 in season 3 of "24" was a weak episode, or difficult to follow, or not as clear as it could have been, would you assume the viewer was a moron and insult him? Or would you consider the possibility that it might not have been that show's best episode? Look, I've enjoyed a lot of Morrison's work over the last 20 years, but the guy's not perfect. He sometimes slips up, and he has easily identifiable quirks and weak points. This makes him no different from virtually every writer ever to have, y'know, written. It's not an assault on his body of work, nor is it indicative of a lack of mental acuity. It's just somebody's opinion based on what they've read.
Does Donner REALLY work on this?? by Bob Cryptonight	Nov 1st, 2006 11:40:25 PM
I love Donner...he's got great sensibilities as a director (though he's made some clunkers), but I find it hard to believe that he really is writing this series. I think this is just a way for DC to use his name while the other guy ghosts the scripts. Anyone know?
ACTION COMICS Spoiler by Bob Cryptonight	Nov 1st, 2006 11:44:42 PM
Superman is really Clark Kent.
I didn't go back and read the other 29 issues. by Prankster	Nov 2nd, 2006 12:19:53 AM
And I had no trouble following it. I'm not an unapologetic Morrison fanboy, either. I think several of the books he's done fell flat, that "The Invisibles" took a while to get on track (I haven't finished it yet, so I can't say if it was successful as a whole) and even within Seven Soldiers there were several problematic bits (the big twist in Shining Knight #4 was poorly handled, Mr. Miracle was a bit of a mess). I'm not saying anything against people's personal reactions to SS#1. But Ambush's review here is sloppy and insulting. "Oh, a guy starts talking, then Bulleteer is in a car for some reason..." Look, I don't care how long it takes between issues, it's not unreasonable for the author of a story to assume that you've kept in mind the basics of what's going on. SS#1 is definitely a dense, confusing comic, no question, but Ambush seems to have ignored very simple plot elements in writing this review. Manhattan Guardian is going to hook up with his estranged wife. Bulleteer is driving her archnemesis to the hospital after beating her up. You don't need to "speak Morrison", as Ambush says, to follow this. If it truly escaped you, literally a five-second glance through the #4 issues of each mini would have caught things up. If I can focus long enough to put the pieces together, why can't a supposedly professional comic book reviewer do the same?
Plain and simple, Prankster... by Ambush Bug	Nov 2nd, 2006 12:37:31 AM
I bought a whole comic for 399 pennies. I read a whole comic. Morrison relies way too much on the fact that everyone have been on the edge of their seats to read this comic. I read all of the issues and like you, anticipated the final issue. But in the interim, six months passed and I've read hundreds of comics since then. There is no consideration of this in the final issue. No recap page. Nothing. Just a jumbled mess of loosely fitting puzzle pieces. And as a follow up to the miniseires, it did a shitty job becuase about every miniseries got about a one page shot to wrap up each series. It's not about remembering plot points, it's about how the entire thing was packaged and released. Hell, for a while I thought the book was released and I missed it and was surprised when I saw it on the New Books shelf of my comic store. I shouldn't have to do research on a comic to enjoy it. If I read it and like it, I say so. Read SEAGUY, was a bit tripped out on the last issue, but still liked it. This and the final NEW X-MEN arc is just totally self-indulgent and inconsiderate to the reader. NEW X-MEN in that Grant was the only one knowing what the hell was going on. 7Soldiers in that Grant and DC took no consideratin that the rest of comicdom moved the hell on with their lives as they wrote and rewrote one issue for six months. The book was incoherent in that it popped all the fuck over the place, identified none of the characters, and made no sense in the end. Remember Stan Lee's wisdom: Every comic may be someone's first comic. If this was someone's first comic, they not only would not understand it, but they would probably never return to the medium again. Because it relied too much on the fact that everyone read and memorized seven miniseries from over six months ago and never even gave an inkning of a recap or a page to ground the reader is the ultimate reason why this series ended with a flush and not a bang.
Nextwave artist = new artist on USM after #110 by TallBoy66	Nov 2nd, 2006 03:58:27 AM
Just FYI for those who didn't know. God, I'm going to miss this series like a motherfucker. Nextwave, I mean. Still love USM's clone saga, even with the last issue twist. Its surely temporary. I mean, Jesus, will you see Mary Jane Watson Beast 20 issues down the line? "Hey, MJ, just got back from web-swinging." "NNNYAARRRGHHHHH!!" "Yesh, you're upity today, hon..." "RRROOARRRR!!" "YEah, yeah." Oh, and for 7SoV: Been reading it in trades over the past year and dug it alot. Before Vol. 4 comes out (end of Jan, I believe) I'm going to re-read the first 3 trades so I can get the whole picture. Yes, scheduling sucks, but one should not hold that against the final product. You have the ability to re-read things, you know.
Civil War Ending revealed in New Avengers? by Darth Monkey	Nov 2nd, 2006 07:13:11 AM
Did anyone catch what the Sentry said in the latest Civil War issue? The Sentry said he had the power to stop Civil War and also the power to go back and make them all forget it. It looks like Bendis made sure that if Marvel ever regretted Civil War, they would have an out to go back and fix it.
Hey, THERE'S an original idea... by Prof Challenger	Nov 2nd, 2006 07:23:07 AM
Sentry can fly around the world over and over until time starts going backwards and back up the Marvel U. to whenever he personally feels it was at its best and then step in to prevent whatever awful turn of event he doesn't like. Heck, maybe he could even keep Lois from being suffocated by the earthquake.
nextwave wasn't cancelled... by KoozyK	Nov 2nd, 2006 07:52:21 AM
it was always planned to be a 12 issue volume. warren doesn't like long commitments and stuart is a marvel exclusive who is being used on the best properties available to him. this was known since the announcement of the series if you read ellis' emails. also, speaking of emails, warren said he wouldn't object to doing other nextwave series' in the future, but they seem a bit far off if you ask me. his schedule is kinda packed what with writing newuniversal, his creator owned books, and drinking in the bar.
Nextwave actually was cancelled by chrth	Nov 2nd, 2006 08:10:55 AM
Warren said that originally it was planned to be 12 issues, but then they decided to keep going with a different team past 12, but then Warren changed his mind and wanted to keep writing it past 12, but they weren't going to be able to afford to keep the artist as well, and he didn't want to do it with a different artist, so they're going back to the original plan and cancelling after 12. Link: http://www.sequart.com/news/in dex.php?story=1533
7 Soldiers by Squashua	Nov 2nd, 2006 09:05:04 AM
I read it last night, the book having finally arrived at my shop and I must say that I understood the story, but what a clusterfvck. We deserved better, and the Mr. Miracle story served no purpose.
Ultimate Spider-Man... by loodabagel	Nov 2nd, 2006 09:43:32 AM
Allright, the reason you're all bitching is bacuse #spoiler# you wanted MJ to turn into a hot spider-babe, instead of the ugly wendigo she did turn into. My main problem was the new swearword Bendis invented for the Tinkerer "Geekasm!" A little trashy for my tastes, but don't you all want to see how this wraps up? Is Ultimate Spiderman not still pretty awsome?
E-Man by Mr Incredible	Nov 2nd, 2006 10:22:55 AM
I like blasts from the pasts. I wish they would reprint more of the old stuff. Marvel and DC are set to implode--again! By the way, no way in hell am I collecting Justice. Two years for a mini-series? It's Camelot 3000 all over again. I can wait until it's all in one overpriced book and hopefully DC won't skimp on the quality like they usually do.
Halloween comics by stones_throw	Nov 2nd, 2006 10:41:18 AM
Here in England we don't get many trick or treaters, but I did my bit for the cause today, as in English (yes I still go to school) we were assigned a five minute talk and I talked about comics and more specifically, Alan Moore. Everyone seemed to find it very interesting, and a number of people approached me afterwards for more information. Go me! Go comics!
Eat some AIDS??? by superhero	Nov 2nd, 2006 11:44:12 AM
Jesus Vale...get a fucking grip will ya?
Guys who understood 7 Soldiers-- by Nightwood	Nov 2nd, 2006 12:34:16 PM
Help me out. Who was the terrible time tailor knitting that suit for the whole issue? Cyrus Gold? What did Cyrus Gold and the "time-sewing machine" have to do with the Sheeda and their invasion of earth? Why did the actual 7 Soldiers have so little to do with the climax? And why if 7 is such a holy number, was it an 8th soldier, I, Spyder, who won the day? Why was this super-advanced Sheeda queen able to be killed by an arrow (I guess this was the special spear the unseen narrator rambles about?) I didn't follow Shining Knight or Klarion, and I dropped Mister Miracle after two issues. So I could just be uninformed.
You didn't read 2 1/2 of the miniseries? by Shigeru	Nov 2nd, 2006 12:53:23 PM
And are you wondering why you are confused? It wasn't I, Spyder's arrow that was The Spear (one of the seven secret treasures), it was Alix, aka Bulleteer. In a way. From SS#1: "the secret of that enchanted spear which can carry death across time and strike a target many millenia away..." Check it out: http://www.barbelith.com/faq/i ndex.php/Seven_Soldiers
OK by Nightwood	Nov 2nd, 2006 12:59:59 PM
Now how about my other questions? Seriously, thanks.
"Every comic may be someone's first comic." by Shigeru	Nov 2nd, 2006 01:33:31 PM
I cannot think of a less relevant sentence to apply to Seven Soldiers #1. That's all well and good when it's Stan the Man talking about the monthly adventures of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, but it's complete rubbish when applied to Seven Soldiers. Morrison and his collaborators never had any allusions to this series being straightforward, even "accessible". Nor was Seven Soldiers #1 meant to answer all the questions, I believe. "Every comic may be someone's first"-- It's a great sentence in theory, but extremely limiting when applied directly to stories like this. Again, just because a story is labrythine and complex and confusing and hard to follow does not void it of all merit. It does not make it "a failure" (a shite word when we're dealing with artistic opinion, that's been said several times in this TB in reference to SSoV). There's about a million brilliant comics that would turn off interested first-timers. And I'm not even sure that SS#1 would turn someone away, if for no other reason than the gorgeous art. (but that's another conversation) I too read (maybe) hundreds of comics between the first Seven Soldiers issue and this last one. I didn't go back and re-read any of them before reading #1, and I "got" it. I understood most of what was going on, I didn't get everything, but as a whole it made sense. You again mention wanting a recap page or something similar, but then again insist you not understanding everything that happened isn't really a factor. I don't care if the book was late. It came out the same day as the new Planetary...and that book comes out like 3 times a year if we're lucky. (and it's confusing as hell, too!) I couldn't care less whether a writer is being "considerate" to me as a reader.
superhero by El Vale	Nov 2nd, 2006 01:37:36 PM
I did. But thanks for all the support, broham. Jar Jar, there's no need to be a dick, i fucking swear.
Jar Jar by Shigeru	Nov 2nd, 2006 01:41:36 PM
please refrain from even remotely agreeing with me... please...
Nightwood by Shigeru	Nov 2nd, 2006 01:50:59 PM
Check out that link... it should clear up some stuff. The Slaughter Swamp stuff certainly is important... but yeah it's kind of the most confusing as well. The Terrible Time Tailor was like the 8th Seven Unknown Men... (the dude's in suits that Zatanna encountered...very much pulling the strings) hell knowing Grant Morrison, it was Grant Morrison (see Animal Man too). I am drawing a blank on Cyrus Gold, but given the metatextual nature of the series, I was led to believe he was kind of sewing US up...the reader.
We only wanna hear from the smart ones too. by SleazyG.	Nov 2nd, 2006 02:02:12 PM
So can it.
I agree with the man called Shigeru by El Vale	Nov 2nd, 2006 02:09:31 PM
It's a shit argument, to say the least. Even when Stan Lee concocted it, i'd venture to say. You know, it sounds really pretty and wise, sure, but you have to take into account what kinds of comics Lee was reffering to if you're going to use it. There are tons of brilliant comics you and i love that would turn off a first time reader in a second for many reasons, does that mean they're failures? Spoon feeding is a term that shouldn't be used too often when talking about this kind of thing because it sounds so condescending, but i believe the medium really is a victim of it, and we're going to have to grow past it eventually. Every time a writer wastes a page on idiotic exposition you know that Stan Lee mandate is being enforced, and it's childish. I agree, just because you didn't understand it doesn't mean there's nothing to be understood, and i'd much rather read a story written by someone who trusts me more than he/she should than one written by a writer who doesn't trust me in the least, because at least then i don't feel i'm being talked down to...and a challenge is always fun.
It dawns on me by El Vale	Nov 2nd, 2006 02:16:57 PM
That i don't really like this Jar Jar guy. Boy, do i feel silly!
Thanks Vale by Shigeru	Nov 2nd, 2006 02:19:39 PM
"i'd much rather read a story written by someone who trusts me more than he/she should than one written by a writer who doesn't trust me in the least" Good stuff! And that "go eat some AIDS" had me rolling...
Why even bother? by kintar0	Nov 2nd, 2006 02:38:18 PM
If you have a history of being confused by Morrison's books, why keep reading/reviewing them? If you can't "get it," why keep trying? I may be in the minority of comic book fans, but I like to be challenged, I like new ideas and new methods of storytelling. If Morrison's prose is out of your league, which it obviously is, give it up. So your sub-GED level reading ability leaves you unsatisfied, so what? That's not Morrison's fault. Seven Soldiers #1 was brilliant, easily one of the best, if not THE best, comic of the last two weeks. J.H. Williams III deserves some kind of comic book achievement award. You can keep your convention and ordinary. Make mine Morrison.
Morrison by arrangedletters	Nov 2nd, 2006 02:55:43 PM
SS #1 was pathetic. The art was amazing though.
arrangedletters by Shigeru	Nov 2nd, 2006 03:30:50 PM
thanks for those insights!
Hey everybody! Guess what? by The Heathen	Nov 2nd, 2006 03:50:42 PM
Jar Jar is smart. He likes smart people. He lets us know that he's smart and he likes smart things because he tells us in every post just how smart he is smartly. Jesus, you're insufferable. I never thought I'd miss moviemack.
Moviemack was cool by El Vale	Nov 2nd, 2006 04:11:27 PM
Those were the days sniffles
Fuck, are you people thick. by SleazyG.	Nov 2nd, 2006 05:05:14 PM
It's hard to find the energy to engage a guy so stupid he can't even spell "owned" correctly. If you're busy brandishing your tiny li'l Steppin Fetchit e-penis, Jar Jar, you're supposed to say "PWNED!" Don't worry, though--they'll teach you all the secret passwords when you get to junior high. Now back to tossing Morrison's salad with you...
Thalya says by El Vale	Nov 2nd, 2006 05:10:51 PM
Do not feed the troll.
Every Comic Someone's First Not Spoon Feeding by Buzz Maverik	Nov 2nd, 2006 05:45:12 PM
Let's not be fanboys, okay. We don't have to be so literal. I got kicked out of REVENGE OF THE SITH when Obi Wan said, "Only a Sith thinks in absolutes..." and I shouted,"A sith or a fanboy!" All Stan Lee and Jim Shooter (who was really the first to put it that way) meant was that somehow, you clue in a first time reader. Usually, this is pretty poorly handled (ie I remember when Chris Claremont tried it midway through his X-MEN run: "Storm, the X-Men's leader, is a woman because she has breasts and a vagina. Wolverine's claws sprout through bionic openings in the back of his hands, which you'd be able to tell if you simply looked at the fucking pictures." I kind of like what some things like CIVIL WAR or the NEW AVENGERS have (at least the last time the checked) where there's a recap page at the front, although I've seen other writers not as deft as Bendis or Millar mangle that too, where the recap page is the only way you can tell what happened. Bringing people up to speed is just smart. It's respect for your readers...your customers. Stan Lee was a poor kid and a smart guy. He knew that if he hooked new readers it was more...what's the word I'm looking for? Ah, yes...money! I think Grant Morrison may be the best writer working in comics today, but I would say don't delude yourself into thinking he's above a little recap because really, you read enough comics, and research the past eras, you'll realize that only the times have changed but it's the same kind of guys writing and drawing the books. They only think they're better now.
Also, It Would Help If The Storytelling Was Clearer. by Buzz Maverik	Nov 2nd, 2006 05:57:58 PM
Like when I first started reading Spider-Man. Splash page has two guys in weird suits and a blonde chick throwing a chained Spider-Man off a bridge. I'd never bought a Spider-Man before. There weren't a lot of captions, and the dialogue didn't really overtly explain things, but I got the idea that the blonde babe was the clone of Spidey's ex and the guys in costumes didn't like Spider-Man too much. I also got the idea that Spidey was wanted in connection with the blonde's original death (what with all those cops trying to arrest him). Also, a stoned looking Peter Parker got bitched at by a hot redhead in a halter top, which let me know that he wasn't exactly Bruce Wayne. Or if you look at some early X-MEN. Story opens with the mutants visiting an island off the coast of Scotland and their hovercraft ripping itself to shreds. We learn that the guy behind the attack is their oldest, most dangerous foe and he's in cahoots with this alien who has been trying to kill the team since the reboot. Two little panels and we know that the alien, Erik the Red, has turned former X-Men against the team and unleashed Juggernaut, Black Tom and now, Magneto, on them. Two panels isn't that much of an imposition, and it's really just Magneto saying,"Erik has tried to kill you with blah-blah and blah-blah, but I'm the motherfucker who will get the job done." But it's done visually because, gasp, it is a visual medium.
I Got Called A Troll Recently At Another Site. by Buzz Maverik	Nov 2nd, 2006 06:01:43 PM
It was kind of funny because I was purposely being the anti-Buzz, kind of a nice guy, saying,"Well, here's my point. Let's not try to convince each other who's right or wrong." Every nerd whoever posted there showed up with a nice thing to say about me. But I stayed not-Buzz. It was like Bruce Banner, knowing he could Hulk out at any time but choosing not to.
Those first-page recaps did help ... by dregmobile	Nov 2nd, 2006 06:52:27 PM
when I got on board Marvel some months back. I just picked up my first Hulk comic ever with the 100th issue. What sold me was seeing Stark and Fantastic getting nervous about Hulk's whereabouts. Also some cool origin stuff in there which should be a fun read. I'll probably continue with it unless it's complete manure. I thought Mystery in Space 3 was good. Furthering of the plot, yet I'm still as confused as I was with the last issues. I expected the bringing of the narrative back to the first few pages of the first issue would be exciting, but not for me. Still, a fun series which I hope will kick ass soon. It's still early days I guess. I liked Justice League 3, but felt like reading about twenty seconds worth of events. At least someone made the big three stand up from their desk and photos ... now on to Detective, Uncanny and Mouse Guard ...
Moviemack!!! by Mr. Nice Gaius	Nov 2nd, 2006 07:18:47 PM
God, I never thought I'd say that I miss that guy, too. This site's "trolls" are seriously wanting these days. Moviemack makes me weep in nostalgia...
And I see that... by Mr. Nice Gaius	Nov 2nd, 2006 07:19:23 PM
Jar Jar 4 Prick is fagging it up again.
Awww, did I miss the comic book geek slapfight? by chrth	Nov 2nd, 2006 07:36:34 PM
Just my luck. Guys, chill. Comics are for everyone. Once you start drawing lines in the sand, then there's less of a sandbox to play in. And less chance sand ends up in your underwear. And who wins in that situation? That's right. No one.
"Every comic is someone's first" is a good policy... by Prankster	Nov 2nd, 2006 07:50:43 PM
And I agree with it wholeheartedly. But to argue that it has to be universally applied is way too limiting. The final issue of ANY series is a lousy place to jump on board, recap pageor no recap page. Furthermore, SS was very clearly intended to be dense, complex, and require work on the part of the viewer. The reason we've got hung up on this idea that every comic should be accessible is that we've taken the simplistic genre of superheroes and turned it into an insane tangle of hard-to-understand backstory and "inside" references. I frankly found "Infinite Crisis"--the whole thing--to be much, much harder to understand than Seven Soldiers #1, because I didn't know the history of the DC Universe in detail. At least with Seven Soldiers you get all the information you need within the miniseries itself. But more to the point, Seven Soldiers has far more ambitious aims than just another retcon of a superhero universe. If you're trying to bring new readers onboard, or craft a light, fun superhero story, then yes, accessibility is job one. But to try a narrative experiment like this, you have to be allowed ONE ISSUE that's just for the people who have followed it through to the end. Every medium has stories that challenge the reader or viewer to do some of the work beforehand. Imagine picking up "Ulysses" knowing nothing about what went into its creation. Imagine trying to follow Twin Peaks starting with the second season. Sometimes you want to remain accessible, and sometimes you have to build on what's come before. There's a trade-off on either side. Most comics that ignore the "everyone's first" policy do so out of short-sightedness, but that doesn't mean there aren't legitimate reasons why a comic might be "inside", as SS was meant to be. In fact, what really kills me about this criticism is that almost every other issue of Seven Soldiers WAS accessible to an intelligent first-time reader, abeit some more than others (I guess picking up Mr. Miracle or Shining Knight #4 would have been a bit hard to follow). So 29 issues follow your rule, 1 doesn't, and you lambaste it for that? That's really unfair, especially considering the belbouredly complex yet superficial superhero comics that regularly get thumbs-up around here. You guys are more Ultimate Spider-man than Invisibles guys, and that's cool, but don't move the goalposts round when it's a genre you like.
That's the spirit, Jar Jar 4 Prez! by Mr. Nice Gaius	Nov 2nd, 2006 07:59:16 PM
But why you are calling me homophobic or a Republican, I'll never know. It's an insult to morons.
Prankster re: Every comic is someone's first by Prof Challenger	Nov 2nd, 2006 08:10:37 PM
Everything you said would have merit had not there been such a long span between this last issue and the previous one. There should never be an expectation that an individual has to go back and dig out 30 some odd back issues to remind himself of what's going on because of an excessively long break between issues. A recap of what occurred in each of the miniseries should've been required anyway just to link them all back together for the readers, but especially considering the time gap. I read it a couple of times (without going back and rereading any of the earlier stuff) and I've already forgotten who Cyrus Gold is, so the impact of all that was lost on me and I thought the bald guy was Grant Morrison himself breaking the 4-Color wall similar to some of what he pulled off so smartly in Animal Man. Also, don't have a clue who the dog gangster is. Other than those few things though, I caught the gist of what was going on and I especially thought the Kirby riff at the beginning was absolutely pure 100% brilliance. He out-Kirbyed Kirby.
Superhero comics are for children. by Bob Cryptonight	Nov 2nd, 2006 09:53:58 PM
Superhero comics are for children.
Hulk 100 by dregmobile	Nov 2nd, 2006 10:16:41 PM
was pretty damn solid. Nice loose art, humour that I didn't expect ... sweet Hulk action ... and a very nice reference to Civil War that even the haters will approve. Didn't realise Dini was off the latest Detective. Hopefully his run has not ended (though I bet it probably has). I hope this artist doesn't return because while it was nice as something different, it just got weird in places, with some awful colour schemes. Almost-solid tale that left me wondering if Batman was really gay after that last page. Not that there's anything wrong with a gay Batman.
Sure, recap pages are nice by El Vale	Nov 3rd, 2006 12:46:28 AM
And no one said Morrison was above them...that wasn't the argument at all.
Prof by Shigeru	Nov 3rd, 2006 08:12:27 AM
SS#1 was so dense that I think even if it came out a month after the last issue of the minis (was it Mr Miracle?), it would still be a bit hard to follow. The dog was Millions, he was in the original Newsboy Army... you know the one with Kid Scarface and Lil' Hollywood? But yeah you didn't HAVE to go back and reread the 29 issues.
The final issue of Seven Soldiers is #1, right? by rev_skarekroe	Nov 3rd, 2006 08:16:36 AM
Tell me that's not going to be someone's first issue of the title.
To clear things up by Shigeru	Nov 3rd, 2006 08:21:34 AM
With my current sensibilities, if I had never read a comic before and I picked up SS #1, I would think: "I have ZERO idea what the heck just happened, but it was cool as shit!! It's got hot magical babes and flying horses and revolving castles and evil insect queens! I want to know what all this is about!" Kinda like watching a random 15 minutes of a David Lynch movie.
Vale.. by Thalya	Nov 3rd, 2006 08:42:56 AM
It's the sweetest thing to know someone's thinking of you when you're not around. mwah
And dreg, RE: Dini by Thalya	Nov 3rd, 2006 09:04:00 AM
AFAIK, it's just a single-issue fill-in. If you want bad, look at the 4-issue Ostrander fill-in for Morrison on Batman. DC seriously has to get its act together. This many major books continually late or with fill-ins is ridiculous and is burning away a lot of goodwill earned for the creative venture they did with Crisis and OYL.
Goddamn it! by loodabagel	Nov 3rd, 2006 09:41:04 AM
I did. I missed the comic geek slapfest. Iknew I should have gotten on after school. Sigh. And to furthur my bitching, I still haven't gotten the new Spiderman Loves Mary Jane.
Ah great... Superman might as well die again. by nonsensical	Nov 3rd, 2006 10:54:49 AM
The idea that Richard Donner is writing this story for Superman is a novel idea, at least it would have been in the 1980's when the Superman movies were coming out, now not so much. Just about the worst thing I can think of for a comic book is when a movie based on the comic ends up changing the comic. Especially when the movie sucked. Sure this takes a little from everywhere, but to me it just comes off as stupid. The introduction of the kid made me roll my eyes and wish I was dead. I swear he's even drawn like the stuppid kid from the movie. Of course Superman is strong enough to survive this, and little things like the Branding of Superman by placing the "S" on his belt buckle and drawing him like he's Routhe are going to go away in a while. Reading it was sort of touching in that it still shows Superman as very protective of the ever growing influx of Kryptonians that grace his door, but some moments were very uncharacteristic of the Man of Steel. I think Donner knew Superman from the 1980's and his movies, but this is the 21st century and poor Superman just isn't understood anymore. Oh, and NO, that was not an invitation to making the man "EMO". That would be even more stupid that what they are doing now. Count me on the side of really not liking this story or the direction DC has gone with my favorite character in the last few years. Well, except for maybe Birthright. That story, I loved. It's what Superman Returns should have been.
Thalya by Shigeru	Nov 3rd, 2006 11:24:10 AM
What did you think of Action Comics?
"make Superman EMO" by stones_throw	Nov 3rd, 2006 11:27:06 AM
I thought that was what they did in the movie...that and have him lift heavy stuff occasionally. Busiek and Pacheco got off to a great start with their first two issues, which seriously GOT the character, but the third one seriously sucked. It was all building up to "Subjekt 17", and all we got was a really generic issue-long fight scene, which was then all erased anyway with a blatant "deus ex machina". Bleh. What a waste of an issue.
Ostrander's fill in is bad? by The Heathen	Nov 3rd, 2006 12:33:01 PM
I haven't read his first issue yet, but I've liked his stuff in the past. And what did Thalya think of Action Comics? I read it again and it's easier to swallow the second time, even the art is kind of more charming in some ways. The Daily Planet is also exactly the same as the one in Superman Returns too. I missed that the first time.
? by El Vale	Nov 3rd, 2006 01:36:43 PM
What is this Donner/Johns entity you speak of?
Alright but what about by El Vale	Nov 3rd, 2006 01:43:11 PM
Superman Confidential? People, this book's written by Darwin Friggin Cooke and drawn by Tim Friggin Sale...you can't go wrong there! I'm dling it as i type, ever so happy.
It's in the mail Vale… by The Heathen	Nov 3rd, 2006 02:42:31 PM
You gonna review it? I wasn't sure what people thought about Tim Sale around here or in general to be honest, but I love his work. I was going through comics on Halloween picking out ones NOT to give to the kids and I noticed some Tim Sale Deathblow issues and I couldn't bare to let those go because I'm a sucker… and a pack rat… and didn't think giving kids something called Deathblow would be a safe bet. ; ) But Superman Confidential is good da?
Tim Sale is godly by Shigeru	Nov 3rd, 2006 03:28:46 PM
wha?
I'll review it by El Vale	Nov 3rd, 2006 04:02:27 PM
Good idea!
Deathblow? by SleazyG.	Nov 3rd, 2006 04:05:09 PM
One can only assume that's the name of Karrine "Superhead" Steffans' sister.
who's godly? by The Heathen	Nov 3rd, 2006 04:32:46 PM
boring Kate, Shig. That's who! ; )
Tim Sale is something or other... by loodabagel	Nov 3rd, 2006 05:20:21 PM
For some reason I have all 6 issues of Daredevil Yellow, certainly not the best Sale/Loeb comic around, but I certainly enjoyed most of the artwork, despite being a little different than I expected. On the subject of surprises, I was quite surprised by Stuart Immomen one time. He asked me for directions to the motorcycle shop and I said... Well, to be honest I was more surprised by his Superman comic he made with Kurt Busiek. Superman: Secret Identity-Not only a quality comic, but it also looked like nothing else I've ever seen Immomen draw.
Hmm.. Action, huh?.. by Thalya	Nov 3rd, 2006 09:37:20 PM
Well here's a perspective that's not gonna happen much around here: I still haven't gotten to Superman 1, 2, or Returns, and have only been getting any kind of Superman comic for about a year. Didn't even watch S:TAS, I was more a Batman fan. So for one thing, I'm not getting all the little nuances you guys are: the best I can do is businessman Lex vs. mad scientist Lex. So my thoughts? During some of the early pages I thought the art was a little too messy-stylized for a Superman comic, but that faded as the storytelling progressed. The story sucked me in though. It's got raw cinematic stylings going on and the plot is more hinged on character development than in possibly anything I've seen in DC since Identity Crisis. It's pulling me in better than most anything I've read because here it feels like something that's actually gotten to Superman in a novel way. When a character is all powerful, the only way you can crack a character like that is through emotion, particularly related to identity. Here's a storyline where Kal-El is presented with a person just like him and it asks him to look on his own past in a new light through his own eyes. Maybe it just gets to me because I've only caught on to what makes Superman "Superman" in the last year, about how one's abilities, if they're so far superior to most others, can serve mainly to isolate and alienate a person, and Superman's about what it takes to overcome that isolation. They're hitting that angle of him hard in this story. What do you do when you're presented with someone, for the first time in your life ('cause Kara sure ain't like Kal), who is just like you, who offers the potential for a connection unlike anything you've ever known?
Well said Lady C. by The Heathen	Nov 4th, 2006 10:14:47 AM
I can see that from your point of view and I envy you in some ways for that feeling of what makes Superman "Superman", it's a cool one to discover. I hope this story really impresses me, right now I just don't know what to make of it. We'll wait and see I guess.
Well said by Shigeru	Nov 4th, 2006 04:30:20 PM
I hope that check from Didio clears. I didn't know they were hiring PR people. ;) ;) ;)
7 Soldiers #1 by Homer Sexual	Nov 4th, 2006 05:18:12 PM
I am pretty much a big fan of Grant Morrison. But no one is perfect. After an outstanding 7SoV 0 and 7 excellent minis, I was so excited, then let down by an underwhelming conclusion. I don't think endings are his thing, because I loved his fresh take on New X-Men, but he ended that really poorly. Now here, I wouldn't make such a big deal out of the "now who died, exactly, and why?" But all through this loong "mini event," every single book has had "A soldier must die..will it be Zatanna/Mr. Miracle/etc etc. I don't even know who died, much less why. Did anyone even actually die? I don't need to be spoon-fed, but geez....still an outstanding bunch of comics I enjoy re-reading, but I guess I just had very high expectations for the finale...and ended up disappointed.
repeats what she said above by Thalya	Nov 4th, 2006 05:45:47 PM
"This many major books continually late or with fill-ins is ridiculous and is burning away a lot of goodwill earned for the creative venture they did with Crisis and OYL." *** Oh, and Supergirl was never supposed to be a skank ho, Loeb's a hack, and I can't believe I kept pulling Supergirl til issue 5, if only to get a glimpse of Calculator.
Infinite Crisis HC by The Heathen	Nov 4th, 2006 06:03:03 PM
I was in Barnes last night and saw that IC was out in a nice HC. I took a gander and I immediately went to the two things that urked people the most in the last issue (besides Supes flying through the red sun) being the spread page with the red color overlay over most of the pages and the spread of the heroes near the end that was drawn by Joe Bennett I think. DC has rectified those mistakes people! The colors are in place in great detail on the first spread and the last underwhelming spread is replaced thankfully AND it's drawn by George Perez it looks. People can give DC shit, but them doing this is classy. I got a kick out of it. Check better be on the way Dan! ; )
Do people place too much enfasis on endings? by El Vale	Nov 4th, 2006 06:54:25 PM
It appears so. Over the last year i don't think i've seen a single person point out a good or great ending in this board. Everything from Bendis to Morrison to Infinite Crisis to Planetary to Preacher to even Watchmen has been reviled in that sense. I'm already bracing myself for Y: The last man's ending, and people's response to it. I bet the words whimper and anticlimactic will be used nonstop. I mean, are people really that prepared to hate something? Cause it sure looks that way to me.
Loodabagel Loves Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane by loodabagel	Nov 4th, 2006 11:14:08 PM
Mr. McKeever, you are one sly fox. The entire series has been building to this moment since issue 1. That last page of issue ten was perhaps the greatest cliffhanger I’ve seen this year. So what do you do next month? You tease me. You bait me. I don’t even get a flashback scene. I have to wait till I’m halfway through the comic to know when this is taking place, that it’s a few weeks in the future. And then you say some stuff that might have happened. Well, fox you may be, but you can’t fool me. MJ rushed all the way to Peter’s house so she could tell him that she was happy for him and Gwen? And now whenever they see each other, they both get a little awkward? Oh no. I know something more went down and I hate you for not telling me the truth, Mr. McKeever. But I still love you because this comic continues to be great. And despite its obvious lack of action, this is one of the tensest, most suspenseful comics I read on a monthly basis. It’s also nice to see how into the lives of some of our supporting characters. Liz and Flash seem to have made amends, Harry’s back to being Harry and that Gwen Stacy girl; wow. It’s so odd to see her taking Peter out of his shell. It seems everybody but little miss Mary Jane Watson is going well, and even she only got sad on the last page. It appears to me that we are now entering phase 3 of SMLMJ. Phase 1 was Mary Jane goes on a date with Spider-Man. Phase 2 was Mary Jane has feelings for Peter and this third part, well I’m not sure what it is yet, but I know it’s worth sticking around another year for. And as always, it’s always a good time to start reading it too. If I’m not preaching to the choir by now, I don’t know when I’ll be. Read this comic! I don’t want to tell you again. Grr.
Ja Ja Fo Pres by The Heathen	Nov 5th, 2006 12:05:43 PM
I find it asinine how someone can argue the merit of spelling one word wrong and not another. I would argue that 'emphasis' is a harder word to spell than 'owned' or 'PWNED' even, especially if it's on an internet TB with no edit features. I'd also like to point out that Vale's first speaking language is not English and that he learned it on his own and is better at spelling and writing in general than many a people that frequent this board. I need not say anything else about the subject because Vale can easily defend himself against someone with such little dignity, but I wanted you to know that I find you to be the lowliest of internet trolls and I miss ones that had some sort of class as little as it might have been. You, Jar Jar are completely and utterly an insufferable asshole.
People of Earth by El Vale	Nov 5th, 2006 01:56:21 PM
Did you read Criminal #2? What a fantastic fucking comic. Highly recommended to the point where it'd be kinda silly if you didn't go out and buy it now.
Oh and before i forget by El Vale	Nov 5th, 2006 02:07:41 PM
I'm gonna place some emphasis on Jar Jar here for a second so bear with me (see what i did there?): Doesn't a troll notice when he's being a troll? I mean it's not like it's hard to tell whether your behavior is socially acceptable or not. It's not like there's any need to repeatedly point out that you're the only smart person around and such, aside from...all the sad reasons i can think of. Maybe it's like alcoholism or something, who knows?
Eat some AIDS by El Vale	Nov 5th, 2006 03:45:27 PM
Took me like 2 seconds to think up and yet it seems to have split your life in two, judging by your response. Glad i could bring some joy into your life :D Hug
emoticons are for teenage girls by kintar0	Nov 5th, 2006 03:51:30 PM
for real.
La Vale? by El Vale	Nov 5th, 2006 04:11:34 PM
And no one will ever know.
Remember when people thought Vale was Dildoring? by loodabagel	Nov 5th, 2006 07:49:26 PM
That was mysterious. Last time I checked there's only talkbacker with an evil alter ego and that's me, but it was still a fun possibilty.
El Vale can buy, own and sell any ass of yours... by loodabagel	Nov 5th, 2006 07:55:06 PM
This is how I really got aquainted with Mr. Vale and how you could hate the guy who wrote this is beyond me. Well shit, color me dissapointed guys. I mean you look at the cover for this one, you think there's no way in hell this isn't gonna be awesome, and here's why: 1) It's called Lady Death vs War Angel, duh. 2) They both look like what a Suicide Girl dreams she looked like. 3) They are fighting with swords. 4) There is a pool. 5) War Angel's got nipples on top of her bra, like that gay Batman we had for a while, except her gold plated nipples are shaped like little horns of death! Or maybe horns of War, i don't know. Plus, you should see her "thong". It's like Robin's stupid mask thing, you're like how is this small piece of cloth going to conceal the identity of her pussy? Don't expect any answers from this comic, tho'. Anyway, 7 covers later (and i'm not making a joke here), and right as i'm beginning to imagine maybe this isn't so much a comic as it is a celebration of tits, the actual story kicks in and my interest starts to wane, ever so slowly. The plot itself is quite simple, War Angel has this guy make her a sort of armored glove to cover up her skeletal hand (?) and then she flies over to the Blacklands where Lady Death is arm wrestling monsters for money (and does that make her a slut?), to do battle with her. So she grabs Lady Death, takes her up into the stratosphere or perhaps not that high and then drops her on a church. Then she gets up and they start kicking the crap out of eachoter in a cemetery. Admittedly that sounds awesome in its simplicity, but i don't think anyone told Brian Pulido how much fun this story could be so the guy didn't even try to run with it. I mean there are some fun touches here and there but i don't think he meant them. And okay, we all know that's the best part about these bad comics, when there's something hilarious in there and you're sure none of the people involved in the production realize it's funny. But the fun stuff in here isn't brilliant or laugh out loud funny, it's just mildly entertaining. Like there's this part where they're fighting in the church they just crashed into, and their tough talk is kinda funny. LD: "You have no purpose. you've been discarded--like trash" I like the little "--" in there, like she's trying to think of an example of something that is discarded. Then WA says: "FACE ME!" LD: "Have at it!" WA: "Who are you to speak? You've renounced your humanity to save your mother's soul...yet how are close are you to finding her? Not a typo on my behalf For all your bluster you are PATHETIC!" -- And then a dead lady falls out of her coffin and even she has huge boobs. Then at the end WA's gonna deliver one final and fatal blow, and she says "When you see God, my lord and master...i want you to tell him...THWAK". Pandora (?) punches her in the back of her neck and she dies. At first i thought maybe this was an homage to the famous "Captain America, i command you to WANK" line, but that would be kind of stupid. Anyway i'm sure LD would've liked to know all you needed to do was punch WA in the back of her head to kill her. She could've avoided falling into a church and almost getting choked to death. By the way, can Lady Death die? Maybe she gets choked to life. I'm sure that bitch from Evanescence would like that. Some final thoughts: I'm not so sure how it all works guys, i'm terribly sorry, i mean...what do you think makes a bad comic good? Is it a stupid concept and a creative team that realizes how stupid it is, and it plays that part up, or does it take someone who takes that stupid concept so seriously that it ends up being unintentionally hilarious? Can you guys give me some fine examples of bad comics that are pretty awesome and why they're awesome? That's your question for discussion, people. Have at it.
Ah, A Lot Of Talkbackers Have Multiple Personalities. by Buzz Maverik	Nov 5th, 2006 11:14:59 PM
My favorite conspiracies were the suggestions that Ambush Bug was both Brian Michael Bendis and SeeThruThis. Actually, since I have an ego the size of Harry, my real two favorites date back to before comics were reviewed on AICN because they concern me. Somebody kept saying I was James Cameron, which was cool. A weird one was when I didn't post for, like, a week, because I didn't wanna and Lane Staley of Alice and Chains died and half of some talkback was speculating that I was Lane Staley.
Vale is Bilboring by El Vale	Nov 6th, 2006 03:07:01 AM
Man that was fucking weird and offensive on so many levels...glad it got cleared up. Looda, you know i love you.
I love you too, sweet pretty thing... by loodabagel	Nov 6th, 2006 09:33:11 AM
Let's make naked man babies together.
I am watching Heroes tonight... by loodabagel	Nov 6th, 2006 09:44:31 AM
And now, thanks to Harry's creepy sleazeball message, all I'll be able to think about is Harry. This is weird. You should look at it. Oneof the sleazier things Ive read lately.
I read The Fountain graphic novel last night... by loodabagel	Nov 6th, 2006 10:02:24 AM
Very artsy, very indy, very confusing.
If I hear by Shigeru	Nov 6th, 2006 10:53:40 AM
"Save the cheerleader. Save the world" one more time, I'm gonna do my best Michael Douglas from Falling Down impersonation.
Just read that Heroes article... by Shigeru	Nov 6th, 2006 11:26:18 AM
Harry Knowles has some serious issues. Talk about arrested development... he's a giggling, giant perverted 13 year-old in a 35 year old's body. Scary stuff.
Harry on Heroes by The Heathen	Nov 6th, 2006 01:42:06 PM
I didn't even read it, nor will I. When I saw the headline about him saving the cheerleader I told myself that I didn't feel like being totally creeped out today. I mean, that's the girl from Remember The Titans. She was born in 1989 for chrissakes. I can only imagine the shit he says in that article. While the 'save the cheerleader, save the world' line is waaay over played, the show still kicks all kinds of ass. If anyone isn't watching based on the commercials then they're missing out. Hiro rules. Check these clips out, specially the second one. http://tinyurl.com/y8b23n http://tinyurl.com/y8zd8x
The Fountain graphic novel… by The Heathen	Nov 6th, 2006 01:44:43 PM
is love. I completely love that story. So beautiful and moving. I can't wait for the movie. Kent Williams is all kinds of awesome in the GN. Did you still enjoy it looda?
wowsers by Shigeru	Nov 6th, 2006 03:04:00 PM
that dude flew! into the air! real fast like too! wowsie! (loves being a bastard)
bastard! by The Heathen	Nov 6th, 2006 03:40:16 PM
that is all. ; )
Thanks for alerting me to that article by dregmobile	Nov 6th, 2006 06:04:10 PM
It was so stupid it was funny. Mouse Guard 5. Tick. Uncanny X-Men 480. Tick. I do believe this long arc is getting going in an interesting direction ...
Oh looda by El Vale	Nov 7th, 2006 01:23:29 AM
You make me laugh.
Is Looda Jar Jar? by loodabagel	Nov 7th, 2006 09:25:18 AM
I sure hope not. That stinkin' Vog is trouble enough. Pure evil, stealing my posts.
The Fountain isn't 100%, but what is? by The Heathen	Nov 7th, 2006 11:59:34 AM
The Fountain is something completely different and amazing though. I need to get my copy back from my friend who hasn't read it even though she's had it for months now.
AH SAID: by Shigeru	Nov 7th, 2006 02:12:01 PM
PUNCH 'ER IN THE OVARY
yeah, stuff like that you almost need to re-read by The Heathen	Nov 7th, 2006 05:05:10 PM
I'm planning on reviewing it in time for the movie when I get it back, which is tonight, thank the maker.
Allright, no more vog... by loodabagel	Nov 7th, 2006 05:17:17 PM
That thing was getting annoying. From now on I'm only logging on as Loodabagel or El Vale. Wait, what?
Blackthout can be found on myspace? by loodabagel	Nov 7th, 2006 05:46:05 PM
Alright. I was worrying about him.
blackthought is very much alive… by The Heathen	Nov 7th, 2006 06:55:16 PM
despite rumored speculation. He was on a secret mission. How secret? Shhh.
Wow. by dregmobile	Nov 7th, 2006 07:01:20 PM
I never would have guessed blackthought was a musician.
You wouldn't believe it.. by Thalya	Nov 7th, 2006 08:04:50 PM
He plays the mandolin at that.
finally... by blackthought	Nov 8th, 2006 01:28:45 AM
yes...mandolin and acordion as well...also i play a mean trumpet.
Seriously? by Shigeru	Nov 8th, 2006 08:00:31 AM
I play the violin (a mandolin with a bow), 2 saxophones, guitar and piano. I smell COG BAND. Or wait... COG BAND STARSHIP. BANJO MIDGET COG STARSHIP BAND!!!!!!!!
Speaking of evil alter egos.. by SatanTheBunnyGod	Nov 8th, 2006 08:29:22 AM
Are there CARROTS in Dimension X?
Cog band... by loodabagel	Nov 8th, 2006 09:31:06 AM
I play not only the bass guitar, but the saxaphone as well. And I do a mean David Bowie voice.
Wow. by The Heathen	Nov 8th, 2006 05:40:35 PM
Way to kill the TB looda. Just kidding. ; )
Was my post edited? by The Heathen	Nov 8th, 2006 06:39:04 PM
I think so. Huh?
Oh, and… by The Heathen	Nov 8th, 2006 06:41:58 PM
last.
I feel the same way... by loodabagel	Nov 8th, 2006 06:42:01 PM
I'm downright pissed that nobody posted. Those nights before the new Page always suck fat ones.
The younger, "Smallville-style" Kents... by geekrock82	Nov 9th, 2006 11:49:22 AM
... have actually been around since Mark Waid's SUPERMAN : BIRTHRIGHT, which is also official continuity (although it also features the younger, classic-style Jor-El, which is quite at odds with the one now seen in Action). I think it was also in that book that Jimmy got a bit of an age regression...
Last... by loodabagel	Nov 10th, 2006 12:30:41 AM
Did you enter a time vortex Heathen?
... by blackthought	Nov 10th, 2006 10:49:24 AM
hmmm...
Young Avengers/Runaways 4 by dregmobile	Nov 13th, 2006 06:35:27 PM
that ended on a note that made me wonder why i had even bothered with it at all. then i looked at the cover and remembered that the whole CIVIL WAR thing is still going. in fact, issue 5 is about to hit this week, so maybe after i read that i'll be excited all over again and happy i read YOUNG AVENGERS/RUNAWAYS. i love how at the end they all stand around and say "we hung out" "cool" "yeah, seeya" "you go avenge, we'll runaway". lol. i can't be disappointed because it was the same level of quality throughout. i did hope issue 4 would kick a lot of ass. it kicked about 60% of what i expected. TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED meanwhile is moving on nicely. and the dr. 13 story really should be the one titled 'The Weird' ...
I agree by dregmobile	Nov 14th, 2006 05:29:29 PM
with everything you said, dreg. I also agree that we're LAST. There. Maybe that will get people posting ...
Isn't it lame though? by loodabagel	Nov 15th, 2006 09:48:19 AM
They finally got all that stupid non-comic stuff out of the talkback, but the latest talkback is still MISSING. Young Avengers/Runaways really didn't live up to the potential. But it was nice to see MArvel Boy at the end. I wonde if he'll play a larger part in this whole Civil War hullabaloo now. Anyone else agree?
gay and lame by Shigeru	Nov 15th, 2006 01:22:27 PM
this talkback is
Gay in the homosexual sense... by loodabagel	Nov 15th, 2006 05:12:00 PM
Chase fusing with the Vision.
i wonder if i stop posting ... by dregmobile	Nov 15th, 2006 06:01:11 PM
will it still be gay and lame here ... ?
AFraid so... by loodabagel	Nov 15th, 2006 06:24:40 PM
There's no denying how gay and lame this talkback has become. I want to see Happy Feet now.
I've seen it twice already. by dregmobile	Nov 15th, 2006 08:56:23 PM
Midnight screenings. Re: Marvel Boy: Bendis Says: "The fourth issue is the Illuminati dealing with an immediate threat on the planet, in the face of a young superhero with a lot of power who could go out of control. This is them being pre-emptive and trying to get to someone before it's too late, as they were with Scarlet Witch and some others."
CIvil War #5 by dregmobile	Nov 15th, 2006 11:31:00 PM
The Lame: I bought it. The Gay: I liked it.
... by blackthought	Nov 16th, 2006 11:49:03 AM
sad.
Superman Returns stank by kwisatzhaderach	Nov 16th, 2006 02:15:27 PM
That's all I gotta say about that
So's your face... by loodabagel	Nov 21st, 2006 10:10:55 AM
Uh, so's your face.
Loogiebagel Returns 2 by Squashua	Dec 1st, 2006 04:31:27 PM
The Donner Cut
Squasha Returns 3... by loodabagel	Dec 5th, 2006 09:39:34 AM
The Bay cut.
http://www.comicspace.com/aicn_c omics/ by Squashua	Dec 8th, 2006 01:07:21 PM
http://www.comicspace.com/aicn _comics/
testingtestingtesting by Neil McCauleys Crew	Jan 1st, 2007 05:19:49 PM
testingtestingtesting
Well I'm Loodabagel... by loodabagel	Feb 5th, 2007 03:36:48 PM
And I'm back from the dead. Chillin at the beach, down at Club Med. Last!
I'm makin' other records 'cause the people by The_Jack_Sack	Feb 5th, 2007 07:03:46 PM
they want more of this... Suckas they be sayin' they could take out Adam Horovitz...

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