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The politics of failure have failed.
by Stallion_Cornell
Aug 1st, 2007
11:21:42 AM
We must learn to make themn work again.
gooddamn first
by sonnyhooper
Aug 1st, 2007
11:21:54 AM
.....and yes ALL STAR BATMAN came out last week and was goddamn awesome
The politics of failure have failed.
by Stallion_Cornell
Aug 1st, 2007
11:21:55 AM
We must learn to make them work again.
goddamn, goddamming, damn it...
by sonnyhooper
Aug 1st, 2007
11:27:25 AM
...all to hell, i got beat by 12 seconds. and yes i'm goddamn sonnyhooper and i still think frank miller is goddamn great, in a laughing NEAR you and not WITH you way.
World War Hulk is going to tread water for 2 months
by V'Shael
Aug 1st, 2007
11:28:34 AM
Deal with it, fanboy.
Garney's art is cool on ASM...
by Steve Rogers
Aug 1st, 2007
11:33:05 AM
...but THAT'S IT. The whole Back In Black storyline is overheated bullshit. SPIDEY: "Ooooh, I'm gonna kill you, fatty!" READERS: "No you aren't." SPIDEY: "Actually you're right, no I'm not." The sooner Dan Slott gets on this title the better.
Buffy & Angel
by mediocrates
Aug 1st, 2007
11:58:56 AM
A year break for Buffy? That's the first I've heard about it. My understanding was that there was a month break after BKV's arc and that after that there wasn't going to be another break for a year. Also, they said at ComicCon that Angel Season 6 starts in November.
You know what would be cool with Spidey and Kingpin
by rev_skarekroe
Aug 1st, 2007
12:08:22 PM
Spidey is just about to kill the guy, but it turns out he just can't do it. Instead, Kingpin cracks his own neck and kills himself, making it look like Spidey did it. Now THAT'S writing.
Thanks Squashua...
by Abin Sur
Aug 1st, 2007
12:09:45 PM
Can always count on you for all things Lovecraft. You think Cthulhu's in Cloverfield, right? ;)
Wonder Woman
by xsi kal
Aug 1st, 2007
12:11:30 PM
"More than any other character, I can’t wait for someone to come along and get Wonder Woman right."

Don't have to wait to long for that, thank God. Gail Simone takes over the series relatively soon. Hopefully, that will end this train wreck, and return WW the series to a place of interest.
Say, whatever happened with that Harbinger contest?
by GrantChastain
Aug 1st, 2007
12:17:41 PM
Just curious about the state of that contest and the entries therein.
G.I....
by BizarroJerry
Aug 1st, 2007
12:18:44 PM
Joe. Sorry, it's my only shtick and I'm stickin' to it.
Harbringer contest results will be posted soon...
by Ambush Bug
Aug 1st, 2007
12:24:46 PM
We're hip deep in con stuff right now, but after the dust settles, the winners will be announced. Sorry for the wait, folks.
Rock-Me Amodeo
by SelfSentered
Aug 1st, 2007
01:05:25 PM
I get very skeptical when the comics reviewers don't seem to know what they're talking about. "No ANGEL series on the table as far as I know" Umm...The 'Angel' series, entitled 'After the Fall' launches in November, written by Brian Lynch. That has been known for a couple months now. And, yes, after BKV's 'Buffy' arc, there will be a one month gap, then Whedon is writing two stand alone issues, then Drew Goddard is writing a story. Where you got the idea that there will be a YEAR LONG gap between issues I have no clue, but it's not based on any facts at all. It's okay to not know something. There of lots of things I don't know. But please don't pretend that you know something by pulling it out of your ass, because it just makes you look foolish.
Wrong on Buffy
by Piedmont55
Aug 1st, 2007
01:16:03 PM
First off, Mr. Reviewer never said there would be a year break in Buffy. He said there might be based on previous Whedon publishing history. And second... I believe the review should have stated episode 6.2, not 7.2 as when Buffy returned to a forlorn Dawn.
Cthulhu ain't in Cloverfield
by Squashua
Aug 1st, 2007
01:18:26 PM
It's VOLTRON!

Actually, all the original "hints" that made people believe Cthulhu might be in 01-18-08 all came from passwords derived through the "Ethan Haas" websites, all of which have been debunked as "completely unrelated".

Then-again, the Slusho.jp website certainly has a whole "The Stuff" meets "Shadow over Innsmouth" going for it. If nothing else, there could be an allusion to Deep Ones, but certainly no Cthulhu in Cloverfield / Cheese / 011808.
Oops - Buffy myth-information and Angel news
by rock-me Amodeo
Aug 1st, 2007
01:30:43 PM
I read the letters page in Buffy #5 wrong. It was talking about a break planned after issue 9, and that they didn't have another one planned for over a year after that. I thought they meant another "issue" but they meant another "break". So there WILL be a break after issue 9, but after that, no more planned breaks for a while.

"Well, you were myth-taken!" I know, I know...

Also, I was informed by a knowledgeable reader (thanks, Nila) of a press release that came out yesterday, after I had written my review, that Angel Season 6 is officially on the books, called ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL. There were some other places it made news as early as July 27th, but it wasn't "official" until yesterday. The series will take place after the fall of Wolfram and Hart and will leave a foot-shaped bruise on the buttocks of every person on the planet, while simultaneously solving world hunger. Or at least not suck, because Lynch and Urru are handling it.
Someone has to publish a Voltron vs. Cthulhu...
by hank henshaw
Aug 1st, 2007
01:34:34 PM
...comic, and fast! It would be the bestseller of the year. Throw in there a giant lion too, just for fun.
ASM
by Captain Tightpants
Aug 1st, 2007
01:41:17 PM
Bring on the Slott!
WW
by Squashua
Aug 1st, 2007
01:44:02 PM
Bring on the Simone!
Buffy 6.2 and AFTER THE FALL
by rock-me Amodeo
Aug 1st, 2007
01:44:07 PM
Boy, of all the things to get wrong, and it happens to be a series so dear to me. Yes, the Buffy-bot filled a place in Dawn's life between season 5 and 6, not 6 and 7. Double oops.

And yeah, I know AFTER THE FALL has been talked about as early as late April (on Whedonopolis, I think? Don't know if there was anything earlier, earnestly) but I have been waiting for an official announcement, as these things don't always go according to plan. Ah well. I just wanted to stick to the facts as best I knew them. Everyone please back away from the torches and pitchforks..
"The New Captain America"
by DuncanHines
Aug 1st, 2007
02:40:06 PM
I'm gonna keep pushing this until Marvel complies... Sam Wilson (The Falcon). Make Sam Wilson the man behind the shield in 2008, Marvel. Relaunch the title at #1 as "The New Captain America." It'll be awesome.
Sorry To Be The Simpson's Comic Book Guy Here...
by Buzz Maverik
Aug 1st, 2007
02:58:22 PM
...but the Kingpin first appeared in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, along with his wife Vanessa and son Richard, and got physical with Spidey long before Miller wisely co-opted the character for Daredevil. Fans have always had the same questions and concerns about the Kingpin battling Spider-Man. Some of the apologists said, "Well, Spidey won't use his full strength on a non-super opponent." My equally lame take (because I like the Fisk family as characters) is that, even after all these years, Spidey isn't really a skilled fighter. He relies on power, where as the Kingpin is a highly conditioned, highly skilled combatant. Also, Spidey's invulnerability level seems to have krept up over the years, especially after the movies. I always thought Spidey had strength and stamina, which made him hold up a lot better than I would, but essentially a punch in the nose from the Kingpin is going to knock him down.
Spidey Vs Kingpin
by Jinxo
Aug 1st, 2007
03:13:24 PM
It is kinda weird. I can see people faulting a Spidey/Kingpin smackdown in both directions. Spider-Man by the book should be able to knock the guy flat. On the other hand there is sort of history of Kingpin taking any solid blow without much trouble. My take wasn't that Spider-Man ever held back out of charity or that he was less than a skilled fighter. My take was more that, hero or not, under the tights Peter Parker at some level was still a nerdy kid feeling in over his head and so in battles isn't always fully focused. Not that he isn't focused at all just... less than 100% focused. In this issue's fight though his anger has him determined and focused like a damn laser. Yeah one blow from Kingpin would mess him up bad. Only any punch has to get by his Spider Sense. I think the fight was really cool. Only the story wasn't about a good fight, it was about Peter Parker committing murder which was creepy in concept and didn't payoff. No matter how good the fight was, the murder stuff fumbles the ball.

Now, if at the end of the fight Aunt May, not only healed by Peter's blood but also spider-powered by it, swung in on a web, stopped Peter from killing Fisk and then snapped his neck herself while quipping, "You made a mistake Fisk, you shot me and left me alive!" THAT would be an ending.
"Well, you were myth-taken!"
by Thalya
Aug 1st, 2007
03:36:59 PM
Buffy meets Maggie Walsh, episode 4.13, "The I in Team!"

Er, sorry.. I get like that around Buffy stuff.. *slinks away*
I had no idea there were other ABC Warrior stories
by Squashua
Aug 1st, 2007
03:49:22 PM
until I looked at the back cover and saw other trades, and then double-checked on Wikipedia.
So from my perspective, this was a 100% stand-alone trade, and with only a couple odd outside references, it worked as a self-contained story.
HELLBOY!
by Hoots Mon
Aug 1st, 2007
04:02:08 PM
I'm gonna buy me that god damned comic. Ha!
Lost Interest In The BUFFYVERSE
by LaserPants
Aug 1st, 2007
05:00:37 PM
I really wanted to like the new comic, to be into it as much as I was into the show, but... its just not happening. I don't think its anything that Whedon is doing either, I think my passion for it just left the building. I'm sorry. I still love the olde shows -- both BUFFY and ANGEL -- but, for some reason, I'm not all that interested in their new adventures. I can't put my finger on why, but there it is. I read the first few of the new comic and it just didn't thrill me. Appy polly logies to all and sundry, but I just lost interest in it.
Starlord and SpiderMan vs Kingpin
by Homer Sexual
Aug 1st, 2007
05:04:53 PM
That Starlord review has convinced me to go buy the book today after work. Sounds very interesting.

Unfortunately, that was the only review that did sound interesting. Regarding Spider-Man vs. Kingpin? Of course it's illogical. That's practically a canon of comic-book writing. It is most used with characters such as Superman, who should really never be challenged by anyone. But this concept reaches everywhere, and is one of those "willing suspensions of disbelief" we all make as comic readers.

Bowen statues
by teethgnasher
Aug 1st, 2007
05:12:14 PM
I wish DC Direct could produce statues as good and diverse as Bowens. I like how a different character is made every few months. Bowen even produces the more obscure characters of the Marvel Universe.
I Wish SPIDEY Would Straight Up MURDER Kingpin
by LaserPants
Aug 1st, 2007
05:20:04 PM
And stop being such a whiner. I mean, yeah, it was cool the way he totally humiliated Fisk in front of the jail, and cooler still that he beat his ass down, but he needs to go teh extra step and KILL HIM. Then he could have this justified murder on his concious so he could start hanging out with Wolverine and drinking alot.

Spidey: I'm a murderer now, Logan, a murderer! Boo hoo! Angst! Angst!

Wolvie: Yeah, whatever, bub. Killin' good for yah, it clears up the blood; which you can then sully again with more binge drinking!

Spidey: Hey, I never thought of it that way! Hey, maybe you and we could go out and kill tonight? With or without mommy's permission?

Wolvie: Now yr speakin' my language, bub! And you kinda sorta name dropped a MISFITS song to boot! Lets go kill some baddies, bub. > snikt! <

Spidey: YEAH! Lets do it!

(Cue killing spree montage set to "Mommy, Can I Go Out And Kill Tonight" by the Misfits.)
Yeah, I Agree With Homer...
by Buzz Maverik
Aug 1st, 2007
05:22:16 PM
At some point, even for Comic Book Guys like us, it gets into taking this stuff too seriously. If I can buy a guy with spider powers, I can buy him getting his ass kicked by the World's Strongest Gangster!

Kingpin was a Godfather rip off for superhero comics. He was created by John Romita Sr., who apparently loved the character and took him, Richard and Vanessa over to CAPTAIN AMERICA when he began drawing that book. The Fisk family has always made for good plots, first with Richard faking a suicide to become the Schemer, a Kingpin rival; then taking over HYDRA to make amends and add to Dad's power base (only to run afowl of the Red Skull and his Sleeper, leading to an odd alliance between Kingy and his mob and Captain America & the Falcon). He wasn't exactly a Penguin knock off, although Marvel wasn't into strict realism in those days...and frankly, they still aren't. This stuff is as wonderfully goofy as it ever was, with each class of True Believers believing just as truly as last year's graduates.

I think the Kingpin was always a master fighter, one of these "his speed belies his massive girth" characters. Miller just found ways to rationalize it (sumo, martial arts, etc). And Daredevil, a character whose only super powers are his senses, is a more appropriate opponent, as is the Punisher. The Kingpin has also tangled with the Red Skull a few times, and Captain America.

Again, as an apologist for these kind of stories, usually the Kingpin softened Spidey up first with gas, traps, henchmen of various power levels, before he cut loose on him.

Oh, Yeah, Wasn't Richard Fisk Also The Rose?
by Buzz Maverik
Aug 1st, 2007
05:25:28 PM
I think that was in Roger Stern's run. Or was Fisk just suspected of being the Rose? I'm not sure because I wasn't into comics at that particular time.
Plus, Spidey's Strength Level Fluctuates...
by Buzz Maverik
Aug 1st, 2007
05:30:47 PM
...to fit the plot. Maybe they're better about that now. But depending on who wrote or drew the stories, you used to have Spidey lifting trucks and sucker punching the Hulk in one issue and getting pounded senseless by the Enforcers the next.
But they already ruined who Peter Parker was...
by superhero
Aug 1st, 2007
05:32:58 PM
He took off the mask, remember? In public and on tevee, even. Ruined it for me anyways.
Yeah, Buzz I remember McFarlane's Spidey...
by superhero
Aug 1st, 2007
05:34:56 PM
Was lifting and throwing TANKS back in the day. And I remmeber thinking, "He can't do that! I read the MARVEL UNIVERSE HANDBOOK and he can only press 10 tons!" It was the beginning of the end for Spidey books for me...:O)
Btw, Didn't Aunt May Already Die In The Comics?
by LaserPants
Aug 1st, 2007
05:44:36 PM
My step-father swears that Aunt May already died in an issue from the early 70s. Was that some kinda alternate reality hoobajoo? Was she brought back from the dead at some point? Either way, I REALLY hope she does die because I've always found her to be deeply irritating.
Aunt May Dies Hard
by Jinxo
Aug 1st, 2007
05:59:50 PM
From Wikipedia...

Aunt May has "died" several times. In her most recent "death", the "Aunt May" who died was, in a widely-derided plot twist, revealed to be a "genetically-altered actress" who impersonated her while May was held captive by villains. Later writers, like J. Michael Straczynski, of Babylon 5 fame, returned to portrayals of Aunt May's strength and character nuance. For instance, Straczynski controversially had May finally learn about her nephew's secret life once and for all (in Amazing Spider-Man (volume 2) #35, #38). That resulted in a heartfelt discussion in which aunt and nephew confess their darkest secrets and each learned that the other was far stronger than they imagined.
kingpin's where-abouts?
by maxwell's hammer
Aug 1st, 2007
07:44:00 PM
Um, I don't mean to be a continuity-ophile, but didn't Matt Murdock have all criminal charges against Wilson Fisk dismissed in exchange for him leaving the country?

It seems to me the privelage of being 'The Official Continuity' should belong to the better comic, which is Daredevil by a pretty wide margin.

Are the editors are Marvel actually being paid to do anything?
Kingpin Continuity
by Jinxo
Aug 1st, 2007
10:02:50 PM
Actually I think they said the current Spider-Man plot happens before the events in Daredevil. But that actually makes the story worse since that fact telegraphs that Kingpin lives.
yep...
by blackthought
Aug 1st, 2007
10:11:16 PM
yep...
Reviews ... finally.
by dregmobile
Aug 1st, 2007
11:29:39 PM
I thought they overwrote that issue of ASM. After the final back in black I’m killing this title. Just killed IRON MAN after the above issue, which was kinda okay. I’m enjoying WWH (but no Frontline for me, thanks) and I’ll stick with the NEW AVENGERS book because it’s the coolest thing out there. Especially after the revelation in the last issue (regardless of whether or not it’s true). Still collecting DETECTIVE, that Joker stuff was amazing, some of the best Batman I’ve read in a long time.
@unt May...
by Dr.Zeus
Aug 2nd, 2007
05:08:34 AM
......is @ SKRULL!!! D@mmit!...Those @$$holes @re everywhere! Th@t's gott@ be the re@son she c@n die here, @nd die there. Heck, she's been in @nd out of the hospit@l so m@ny times th@t they keep @ bed on reserve for her! So I guess it will fin@lly be reve@led th@t she w@s @ scum of the g@l@xy Skrull. @nd w@s the one responsible for th@t god @wful Spiderm@n cloning fi@sco story!...........hmm come to think of it....I w@nt her de@d too! :D heh
Ah ha!!!
by Jinxo
Aug 2nd, 2007
05:14:42 AM
May is a Skrull! Of course! I bet the switchover came way way back when they did Assistant Editors and Aunt May became the Herald of Galactus, Golden Oldie! The real Aunt May is still all cosmic powered and in some far off galaxy!
DC is overwhelming me
by messi
Aug 2nd, 2007
06:29:48 AM
I stopped buying most comics after Infinite Crisis 7 cos I had no cash and it dissapointed me but I kept buying action and superman and in the past 2 weeks I have caught up on everything, read all of 52, countdown, most of the other books. Overwhelemed with information. And I want to finish Civil war, haven't read any frontline. Need to finish the green lantern stuff since IC. Fuck.
thanx for the hellboy darkness calls review
by Shigeru
Aug 2nd, 2007
09:43:37 AM
it's been a great mini
I'm A MARVEL-ite Confounded By DC As Well
by LaserPants
Aug 2nd, 2007
11:27:34 AM
Personally, I always found MARVEL's characters and situations to be alot cooler and more interesting, but I have a few friends who swear DC is the bees knees. Unfortunately, every time I try to get into DC, or pick up a book on a lark, I have absolutely no idea what is going on backstory-wise. I mean, yeah, I know the basic BATMAN and SUPERMAN backstories, but thats it.

On the flipside, I have internalized all kinds of minutae of MARVELs continuity -- I grew up reading MARVEL from when I was a wee lad in the mid-70s, on through the 80s, taking a break in the 90s when I thought I was too 'hip' to read superhero comics anymore and would only read 20scumthing angsty and/or transgressive indies and manga (besides, it seems superhero comics in the 90s pretty much blew. I'm glad I missed the Spidey Clone Saga; it sounded stupid). To be honest, I've only really gotten back into reading comics regularly (dropping on average about $40 bucks a week on monthly issues and trades) within the last year or so; basically brought back in to the fold due to loving the XMen and Spiderman movies, and being intrigued by the premise of the controversial CIVIL WAR.

Anyways, long story longer, to those of you who are DC enthusiasts -- which books would you reccomend to a DC neophyte? Where is a good place to start in order to catch up in terms of backstory and what the hell is going on? I'd like to get into DC as well (it sure would make our weekly HeroClix games more fun if I could expand my comicbook context), but need some help. Can you @ssholes help a brother-geek out???
The crossover events of both companies are...
by rbatty024
Aug 2nd, 2007
12:21:07 PM
a little too much. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of huge crossovers and expanding the mythology of the Marvel or DC universe, but it's not terribly special when you have four or five crossover events a year. I'm actually a DC kind of guy, although I love Marvel and think that DC wouldn't be where they are if it wasn't for Marvel stepping up their game in the sixties. I think I'm drawn to DC because it deals more with mythology and archetypes. I'm selective with the books I buy because I'm broke most of the time but usually I pick up DC books that are not connected with the bigger crossovers, and these days, since DC wants to get mileage out of their less known characters, that usually means the big two: Batman and Superman. I've really dug Geoff John's and Richard Donner's run on Action comics as well as Darwyn Cooke's Superman Confidential. I hear that Grant Morrison's All Star Superman is pretty good but because of it's erratic shipment schedule and because I missed the first few issues I haven't gotten into it. After growing up reading lots of crappy Superman comics it's pretty amazing that there are three great Superman comics out right now. As far as Batman goes the Grant Morisson Batman series has been lots of fun. Lots of stuff you wouldn't normally see in a Batman series. The only drawback is a piss poor characterization of Damien, Batman's son with Talia. He's incredibly annoying. Detective Comics has also been great thanks to Paul Dini. I was a huge fan of Batman: The Animated Series when I was younger, so I immediately jumped on this comic. It focuses on the Detective side of Batman, and most of the comics are great little one shots, although story threads are starting to pick up in several issues. Of course, if you want a great tour of the DC Universe I would definitely recommend The Brave and the Bold. It's lots of fun and even if you're not up to date with the latest mythology it's real easy to get into. I've never read anything with the Blue Beetle in it, but I was able to understand the New Blue Beetle's personality and power pretty easily. In my opinion some of the best DC has to offer is where it should be, with their most popular characters. It makes sense, but for so long it hasn't been true.
DC's biggest problem is...
by GrantChastain
Aug 2nd, 2007
12:37:48 PM
...they choke themselves under the weight of the wildly-confusing continuity of their characters. And I'm not telling DC anything they don't already know -- every attempt at a "Crisis"-style event was clearly aimed at making things better, but each time managed to make things exponentially worse. So here we are in 2007, with less of an idea than ever what's happening or why. In case Dan Didio is reading this (though I couldn't possibly imagine why) I need to be perfectly frank -- readers shouldn't have to be a human encyclopedia of comic knowledge like Mark Waid to understand what's happening from one issue to the next. DC is a great house of ideas -- so why is it the executions of these ideas are frequently so confounding?
Grant Morrison's BATMAN
by LaserPants
Aug 2nd, 2007
12:51:14 PM
Hey, you know, I picked up BATMAN #666 the other day (heheh, Satan rulez), and dug it, but was confused by the whole Damien Wayne thing. Is that some kind of alternate universe book? I dug it and thought the premise was cool (and laughed my ass off at the LEXMART truck, which is new to me -- of course Luthor would be CEO of a WALMART like entity! Lol), but was confused as to what the deal was. So Bruce Wayne does have kids? Is that part of the main universe continuity, or an offshoot?

Btw, thanx for the suggestions, RBatty. I think I'll start mining the other BATbooks, especially Detective. I always thought the Dini animated series was cool too, and I like the more "noirish" side of Batman. One of the many reasons why I thought BATMAN BEGINS was so kickass -- it made Batman seem more believeable, while also keeping it fantastic/superhero-y.
Of course it's ridiculous.
by Homer Sexual
Aug 2nd, 2007
01:40:16 PM
I have often been irritated by, say, She-Hulk's amazing weakness. And when non-powered people take on "big guns," it totally pisses me off. However, many years of reading this stuff has thickened my skin. I don't like it, but have learned to live with it. Just like my spare tire.
If The Kingpin Ever Had To Take On The Hulk...
by Buzz Maverik
Aug 2nd, 2007
05:06:43 PM
...he'd simply hire/bribe/coerce some super-baddie of a reasonable power level to handle the physical end. Sandman, Rhino, Abomination, Juggernaut, etc. The Kingpin is brains as well as brawn. What did Miller say about him in DD : "The strength of a sumo and the mind of a scrupulous accountant." Simply, the Kingpin would see that there was no profit in battling the Hulk or trying to destroy him. He'd arrange his own escape or have the Hulk diverted. If he used the Hulk, then needed to give him the bum's rush, he would probably use one of the aforementioned baddies as his muscle.

It's funny. I never thought Spidey could lift 10 tons. I thought he had the strength of 10 men. He might be extra resilient and his speed might spare him the bulk of punishment, but I never saw him as invulnerable. Or skilled. He's fine when it's power vs. power, say against Electro, but someone like Shang Chi or Daredevil or the Kingpin could create problems. As with most of the Watchmen, a lot of the best characters are more "extreme personality" than anything else.

Besides, Didn't Marvel Pretty Much Flush Continuity...
by Buzz Maverik
Aug 2nd, 2007
05:10:06 PM
...about 9 years ago. "Continuity is a tool but if it's over relied on..." Must have seen that in a billion-six Bendis/Quesada/Alonso interviews.
In Breaking News...
by Buzz Maverik
Aug 3rd, 2007
11:41:33 AM
AIM headquarters was raided by Captain America and the Falcon. Although many suspected AIM operatives were apprehended, the biological enity known as MODOK reportedly escaped...Out on Long Island, the Stark International Manufacturing facility sank a mile into the Earth. At this time, only Anthony Stark's bodyguard Iron Man and an undisclosed female Stark employee are reported missing. The Mole Man is claiming responsibility...
rbatty: All Star Superman
by maxwell's hammer
Aug 3rd, 2007
10:36:50 PM
The quality of this book will completely make you forget about its erratic shipping schedule, and the stories are pretty self-contained, so missing the first few issues isn't really a problem. That said, the last 2 issues are part of an unusual (for this book at least) multi-issue story.
LaserPants...
by Marco_Xavier
Aug 4th, 2007
06:11:10 AM
Cred first: I started reading both DC & Marvel in the early 80's, mostly X-titles, but plenty of time spent elsewhere. As I was burning out on muties and Marvel generally in the pre-Image 90's, New Titans became my gateway book into hardcore DC fandom for that entire decade. I ran a comic shop for most of that decade, so I read lots, but skimmed literally a little bit of everything. That said, DC has gone utterly to shit since Jeanette Kahn left the company and Dan Didio wrested control earlier this decade. The only titles I still buy are, get this, Aquaman (cancelled in 3 months) and Birds of Prey (to be dropped after Tony Bedard's fill-in issues.) I look forward to picking-up Gail Simone's run on Wonder Woman once the trades start coming, but that's it for me and DC after about 15 years of devotion to that universe and it's continuity. Do yourself a favor and abort any attempts at diving into DC Comics, because they'll just rape, murder, replace and retcon everything you ever liked.
I'm reading a lot more DC than Marvel at the moment...
by stones_throw
Aug 4th, 2007
10:18:48 AM
...and I'd probably put myself to the Marvel end of the spectrum. I'm down to only CAPTAIN AMERICA and DAREDEVIL simply because all of Marvel's become enveloped in this Civil War/Initiative mega-event which is frankly grim and depressing. Spider-Man was able to take down Doctor Doom and the Kingpin with no training but now every superhero has to go to boot camp and work for the government? Way to suck the fun out of escapism. People complain about DC getting bogged down in continuity but Marvel is even worse. Marvel is now impenetrable to new readers. The current version of Spider-Man is simply not Spider-Man because he bears so little relation to anyone's mental image of the archetypal Spidey. A new reader picking up AMAZING is going to see a black-clad Spidey with no secret identity dodging "Registration". Anyone who flicks through IRON MAN next year after seeing Robert Downey Jr's playboy superhero is gonna see an ultra-serious Tony Stark running SHIELD. No way is that accessible.
Starlord
by Bluejack
Aug 4th, 2007
12:34:57 PM
I loved Starlord. The art is Moebius "Airtight Garage." and that is a good thing.
...
by blackthought
Aug 5th, 2007
11:18:10 AM
...
What to do with a poor Aquaman?
by stones_throw
Aug 7th, 2007
12:25:33 PM
I was looking at some old talkbacks and found Ambush Bug again lamenting the dire state of Aquaman. It seems DC can only last about a year with every relaunch before it turns crappy. Canny guy that he is, Dave F predicted DC's current Conan/fantasy type direction, right down to the costume changes. I still think that's the best option, they just need to get a writer who won't run out of crazy concepts and ideas and an artist who can draw wondrous civilisations and sci-fi stuff. Treat the sea like an alien world and make it Aquaman's home then it won't feel like plots have to be contrived to keep him off land. If I was a DC editor I'd just set Morrison and Quitely loose and tell them to go crazy.

Alternatively, you could go the whole tongue-in-cheek route and make his dorkiness an asset. Have him on the trail of a mystery and every few issues he has to move around and assume a different identity, like, for example, a Spider-Man story starring Aquaman. He's in New York, attending lectures, banging chicks and sleeping in a (water-filled) bathtub! Then the trail moves on and he's in Gotham City, sneaking up on Comissioner Gordon etc. I reckon that has the potential to be pretty hilarious. Otherwise, I think he could join the Outsiders.

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