I think I’ve pretty much made one of my best purchases so far.
JSA 7: Savage Times - Normally, when you read something good, you get that content feel-good-feeling. That’s what I had when I read Fables vol. 1 and Batman: Death And The City. However, JSA: Savage Times has that extra “oompf”. There’s something magic, classic and epic about it; something DC (which, in my opinion, pretty much defines Geoff Johns writing, with some few exceptions, like 52).
I got marked out at surprisingly many scenes. I liked how they told the origin and relationship between Captain Marvel and Black Adam; Dr. Fate’s origin was also nice and the Sandman reference (Lyta Hall and all that) was the cherry on top.
So yeah, it was top notch. The story held a solid depth, carried out its message and made one kind of reflect, while still maintaining a steady pace and flow that never got broken ie there was no part of the trade where I felt it was a chore to read through. I wasn’t much of a JSA-fan before, but I’m definitely getting the rest of the trades now.
Scalped - I could summarize this trade with one word: Vivid. But I’ll elaborate anyway. It’s a compulsion.
The art is gritty, uses plenty of shading and it’s kind of abstract, which fits perfectly for illustrating a corrupt and messed up native american reservation. Guera’s art is really intricate. I got the impression that there was alot of thought behind drawing and placing the objects, and people, much like a film production, where the director places the extras and props in just the righ places. Without Guera, the atmosphere, theme and mood would be lost.
Aaron’s writing is equally magnificient. Eventhough he excessively uses cuss words, the dialogue doesn’t leave a parodic, macho, Preacher-style Garth Ennis-impression. Contrary; the writing, coupled with the art, produces scenes strong enough to make one think they’ve just seen a movie segment. I even somewhat imagined your typical run-of-the-mill corny orchestra cinema-score during the dramatic scenes. In short, Scalped’s dystopic and tragic setting, and story, left me quite an impression. Vertigo better trade the rest of that shiltz fast :lovin:
finished re-reading Bendis Daredevil. Golden Age and Decalogue are my favorite arcs, Murdoch Papers is good too. Kinda makes me want to pick up Bru’s run and see what happens.
Started Ult FF vol. 4 which is all Mike Carey. Is it me or is his first arc identical to his first X-Men arc?
Almost done with Pred omni vol 1…then it’s on to claremont goodnes in AvP.
I just read the HC of it. (Got it from the library.) I thought it was bad. That was some of the most unsubtle writing I’ve come across; it seriously gives Jeph Loeb a run for his money. The dialogue was off-kilter, and in a hokey way. The jokes were poorly timed, the plotting was unimaginative, the story was not self-contained, the climax was entirely unsatisfying, and I can only imagine how the ridiculous editorial mandates butchered what little remained of Picoult’s creativity. I mean… The whole thing ends with, “To be continued… in AMAZONS ATTACK! By Will Pfeiffer and Pete Woods!”
What a terrible run. DC should have just let Picoult do her own thing. I have never read any of her novels, but after reading her Wonder Woman, I don’t think I will ever bother. Her Wonder Woman completely stripped me of any potential interest I had in her other works.
I read the Gargoyles TPB. It’s pretty expensive for what you get. It wasn’t as great as I was hoping it to be. The art was inconsistent and not very exciting. I think most of the various artists tried to imitate the style of the show, but most of the time their attempts fell a bit flat. There was just too much inconsistency and I really think having one or two more veteran artists would have benefited the comic greatly. Either that, or the guys who did draw shouldn’t be mandated to imitate the show’s style.
Most of the stories were pretty decent, although I think it’s most likely that I am simply blinded by my own hard-on for Gargoyles like how Painy has a mancrush on Deadpool.
It’s hard for me to picture how these comics could entice new readers who aren’t very familiar with the show, but I guess that’s why SLG is charging 20 bucks a pop for a micronized TPB - dedicated fans only?
You read it yet, P.Gabby? Or are you still holding a grudge against Weissman for not giving you his autograph that one time at that one con?
i got his autograph the previous year. this last time he just gave me the evil eye for a comment i made. I just ordered the tpb along with the new beast wars tpb i didnt even know was out. you gotta stop paying cover price for trades, zephy
Just picked up Shooting War. It’s a political satire about what the state of the Iraq war might be like in 2011. Really good read, and a lot of the shit in the story makes you go “damn…I could see that happening.” If you like DMZ pick this one up, as there are a lot of similarities between the two.
I’m looking forward to picking up the Sinestro Corps HC GN this weekend; I have it on hold @ Midtown ^_^. I was never really into reading GL, but the SC storyline was really good. Probably the best storyline DC had going last year, in my opinion.
have gotten behind on my reading. I re-read Meltzer’s JLA vol. 1. It’s strange, the things I hate about Meltzer’s comics are the same things I like about them. It’s good he isn’t too prolific otherwise I could see myself getting tired of him very quickly. I’m going to re-read the new JSA vol. 1 before startin on the Lightning Saga tpb.
What is up with the crappy manga size they gave Gargoyles? It’s even smaller than the dark horse omniboo.
I’ve still got 52 vol. 4 to read. This has been a great little series. The extras in each tpb have been really good, although it would be nice if Morrison had joined in.
Speaking of Morrison, feels like they really f-d him in terms of getting his run out in tpb’s. Batman and Son HC is the only one so far and that was like a year ago. I’m not picking up the resurrection of ras al ghul just for his 2 issues either.
Early Fantastic Four is still awesome…Reed was kind of a dick back then and Sue was a total slut.
I will never part with Ultimates 2 hardcover…that shit is too sweet.
Zephy do you have all of Moore’s Swamp Thing tpb’s? been meaning to check them out.
This weekend I read most of 52 vol. 4 (black adam is a beast), finished Dark Horse Heroes Omnibus (Will To Power is underrated, hell the whole thing was), and started on AvP omnibus vol. 2 which starts out with Chris Claremont’s yearlong Deadliest of Species mini. Classic Claremont writing style full of a bunch of stuff you don’t need to know and the stuff you do need to know presented so confusing you don’t know wtf is going on. I also re-read Superman: Camelot Falls vol. 1 in anticipation of vol. 2 and All Star Superman vol. 1 which I hadnt read in a while. Goddamn that book is brilliant
Heh, Claremont. Usually good for a(n unintentional) laugh. What is the premise of the DH Heroes book?
Yeah, I got all of Moore’s Swamp Thing TPBs. (Found a great deal on eBay back in June or July.) I haven’t read it yet, though. But I tease myself every week by flipping through a volume and admiring it. I’ve only read the first chapter of the first TPB, issue 21, The Anatomy Lesson. I think I’ve already read that issue five or six times. It is just so amazing that I’m scared to read the rest of it. I’m concerned that my mind won’t be able to handle such unadulterated pure awesomeness.
Who knows, DC may decide to release a Swamp Thing Omnibus series one day. A couple months after I got most of the Starman TPBs, they announced the Starman Omnibus… which will include issues skipped in the TPBs. DC, those jerks!
