My Weekly Haul: A Roundabout Review

My Weekly Haul: A Roundabout Review.

Every week I go to the comic book shop. This week was no exception even after attending my first Convention of the year in Seattle, ECCC. At this con I met Fiona Staples. I heard about her comic book Saga but passed on it month after month. Even after looking at the book on my best friend’s kitchen table, I still passed. It wasn't until I had her autograph my first autograph book that I decided to pick one up, and that is what I did when I got my new releases for the week. It might not be a first edition, but it was enough to make me decide to get the trade, I encourage you to do the same.

The other books are heavily Marvel. I didn't get any DC books, and only one Valiant title, which introduced the first appearance of Doctor Mirage, albeit much different from her 90’s counterpart. Valiant is constantly growing and I am happy that I am collecting every book. However I am beginning to fear their mass explosion might implode only for the fact that Hard C.O.R.P.s is coming out and that is what I remember the beginning of the end of Valiant, for me anyway. Valiant, if you are reading this, please keep a tight controlled universe.

Then there is Marvel, my favorite Universe to play in. After choosing to read Superior Spider-Man, Avengers, and even Daredevil (a title I tend to leave for last), it was the “Age of Ultron” that had me anticipating the next big Marvel event, that doesn't seem to be hyped that way. When Secret wars came out I only knew what came out when it was on the stands. As I got older I figured out about Marvel Age, DC Currents, and Comic Shop News. These were my treasure maps, even overriding the great Previews magazine. My favorite though happens to be Comixology and that is how I found out about this new Story line by none other than Brian Michael Bendis.

I picked up two issues, because to be honest I want to see if I can send these books into CGC for grading. Can I pick a 9.8, or only a 9.6 and will my LCS Fat Jack’s tell me to step away from the shelves. Age of Ultron starts…

SPOILERS AHEAD

Age of Ultron Starts in an already desolate world, The Island of Manhattan seems to be a cesspool of poverty, grime, and corruption. In other words, only the evil and the strong survive.  The first panel shows New York behind a decapitated Statue of Liberty and a mammoth ship towering above.  The first words aren't even until the middle of page six giving an unnerving feeling that those that aren't quite are dead.  In the very beginning Hawkeye is tracking someone, and his aim is unnerving. I wonder what Dr. Fredric Wertham would have thought about it. And the building he enters is trafficking M.G.H. The girl wants nothing to do but sleep but here benefactors have something else on their mind.  Luckily for her, so does Clint, and he disposes of the jackals. This is where I question the book, and my only sense of fallacy on the writer’s part. If the girl only wanted to sleep, and wanted nothing to do with the hoodlums that were peddling their drugs, not to mentions the favors they wanted, why does she pick up a gun and threaten Hawkeye?

At this point the house is on alert, and they feel that it is Thor arriving, they might not understand the threat and subtlety of Hawkeye is just as a reason to be wary as the hammer of Thor. I didn’t expect Hammerhead but the Owl was foreshadowed by the use of the Mutant Growth Hormone. The incendiary panel on page 12 is colored so well that I applaud Paul Mounts, that’s not to say that Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary didn't do their part as well. The following page is where you see the prize Hawkeye has been seeking. Spider-man is tied to a chair, and more than wondering why is he tied to a chair, because his proportionate strength should free him, but is it Otto or Peter?

As “Owlsey” and Hammerhead get the drop on our heroes, all hell breaks loose, Ultron has arrived. These next few pages are blurry, more from the effects of the artwork than too much to drink. The book slows at this point allowing us to try to decipher what happened. Why did the story come to fruition in the middle rather than the beginning, and why is Hank Pym absent from the rest of the survivors? Even Tony Stark’s Tron like costume screams where’s his armor? I like how recently Hawkeye has been becoming a major player, one who is willing to speak his mind and go after the bad guy with wild abandon, and even question the man in charge. On the last page you find the one person who you never thought would look like he just gave up.

Although I spent a nice amount at the ECCC, mostly on grading, I am glad I had enough money to buy my books this week around. As far as traded go, please check out Saga, but as far as first issues go and a new release, get Ultron before Ultron gets you…that was so cheesy I had to use it.

Thanks for reading.

PS, try the AP features on this issue... and tell me if this next cover doesn't make you salivate?

Emerald City Comic Con: A Roundabout Review

My first ECCC

The Long if It.

I've heard on the past that CGC hasn't sold too well, this same person who frequents this event annually mentioned there were more graded books on display this year then the last three years combined. This defers widely with the east coast because there is an abundant amount of graded books at booth after booth.

There were also artists and writers plentiful in the masses. Gerry Conway being the main reason I decided I wanted to cover this event. The was also the legendary Neil Adams who I decided to purchase a book from with a character sketch (Pre-sketched) applied with a sticker and then personalized. I think I spent too much and wonder how strong that glue really is. I think I would have been more comfortable just buying the book with a personalization. Of course maybe twenty years from now I can say I met Neil Adams. Of course I can also say I met Gerry Conway,Rachel and Terry Dodson, Matt fraction, David Finch, Brad Guigar ,Skottie Young,Randy Stradley, Fiona Staples, Richard and Wendy Pini , Mike Dringenberg, Tim Vigil, Brian Pulido, David Finch, Chris Claremont and many others I didn't get to see, yes each of the above artists I have either had something signed by or a friend did, if not more.

Then there were the movie/television stars that filled a full floor if their own. Patrick Stewart, Wil Wheaton, Walter Koenig, among a slew of others I don't follow too well. At other conventions it always seems one part of a convention overrides another. This location, this convention, this time seemed perfect . Yes the floor was crowded and at times it felt like standing still was all you were going to do, but even at those times there was something else to look at.

I saw Darth Maul play the bagpipes on stilts. I watched Darth Vader ride on a unicycle in a kilt. There was Lego's galore from Star Trek to Star Wars and everything in between. This convention had a little bit if everything and was worth traveling over 3000 miles for it. As much as I went to experience a west coast con and compete it with an east coast con, it was CGC that I loved the most.

The ECCC was everything it was hyped to be and more. My line was much shorter than everyone else's, but with a friend in line I stood with him after retrieving my pass. After all how can I experience the convention without being a fan and going through what they do. Seattle wasn't as rainy as I expected which was good because for one city block we were escorted outside. I wonder what they would have had us do if it was raining. The good thing is if that's the only negative thing I could see how are they going to improve next year.

The short of it

ECCC wasn't just an event, it was the event that all others have to follow. Make sure to attend in 2014

Thanks for Reading

ECCC: A Roundabout (P)Review

So here I am sitting in my humble abode wondering what I can bring with me across the country to this wonderful and beautiful comic con I have heard so much about in the past. I have comic after comic that I want to have signed and graded, but signed by who you ask. You can hurry now and visit their website to see all the illustrious creators they have. First and foremost for me is Gerry Conway to add his scrawl next to Stan Lee's and John Romita's on my Amazing Spider-Man #129.  And the likes of Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams will also be making their way there along with one half the creative team of the New Mutants, Chris Claremont. Should I mention the joy of an Epic Elfquest run reprinted by Marvel, maybe an issue #1 to be signed by Richard and Wendy Pini.

I was thinking of having my Marvels book signed, but then I wanted to have the only book of X-Infernus I don’t have in a 9.8 signed and graded, but for the life of me I can’t figure out where that book is. I will continue looking up to the day of my departure but what is this, these beautiful copies of the Spider Man and Black Cat story by Kevin Smith and Terry and Rachel Dodson, do I dare, can I dare? I printed out an invoice for those for CGC, the worst that could happen is my decision not to have them signed by the artists and graded by CGC.

But why, yes WHY am I going across country to a convention so far away from home when I can just wait until Wizard World arrives here in Philadelphia? Because it is the ECCC and as the time draws near I get more and more excited. This isn't just a comic-con, this is a chance to meet friends. A dinner is to be held for the “Boardies”, a bunch of us that love the idea of encapsulating a comic by CGC and placing them in a set on the registry of possibly the best comic book, recently I have fallen in love with the idea of getting the worst possible too.

I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be sitting at a dinner table with others just like me. Comic collectors, aficionados, geeks, nerds, dweebs, and any other assorted names that were given to what makes “The Big Bang Theory” such a big hit. I will be talking about the convention for weeks to come. I must imagine that if I am this excited before the event, by the time the event is done, I fear I will only be looking forward to go gain in 2014.

Thanks for Reading