Is it Worth Ten Grand? A Roundabout Review

The Long of it:

I am trying to keep an open mind. I want to be able to try new things. I want to be captured and enthralled within the time it takes to read approximately 22 pages. I never picked up the Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman when it first came out because I wasn't into Zombies nor did I like black and white comic books. I never picked up Morning Glories either. This time I didn't have the Zombie black and white comic excuse either.  It was because I was biased against Image. I remembered how much they let me down in the nineties.

DC rebooted and I wanted to try many different titles but I chose two and am now at three. Marvel began their Marvel Now program, which as they say is not a reboot, but a perfect opportunity for New Readers. Marvel captures the majority of my comic book budget.  Image’s Whilce Portacio’s work on Non-Humans gave me the opportunity to purchase a digital comic book. Although this book is in print, this was the title I decided to purchase only digitally. Being that it was touted as a limited series I was only in it for four issues.

It didn't help that Comixology.com has sales every Monday. Other than certain Marvel issues being .99 they also occasionally have the same price for a three day sales event; allowing me to finally try issue #1 of Morning Glories, then issues two, but decided I would stop at issue three.

After purchasing all twenty five issues I figured I would stop and wait for the rest to be sold digitally and for .99. I figure I would have to wait until issue 50. Image surprised me by publishing issue 26 for only $1 and its digital counterpart for the sale price of one cent less. They conspired against me because how can you not pick two formats on a brand new comic book for the cost of a cup of coffee. Twenty seven was back at full price, and now Morning Glories is one of my monthly books to purchase.

 With more of an open mind East of West was picked up on the date of its release. Currently, issue three is waiting to be read, but Ten Grand captured me. I picked issue one up and looked through it. I put it back. There was enough for me today and Wizard World Philadelphia just had their convention this first weekend of June and garnished a good amount of my funds. I checked to make sure I had all the books I wanted, and the book called out to me again. The original reason I picked up the book because the title itself, the way it was written looked like it read Neil Gaiman. Maybe it was an omen.

I looked at the book again, this time issue two and the art by Ben Templesmith reminds me of Bill Sienkiewicz, an artist I hated when he first took over the New Mutants. Since I have aged, I have grown and learned to truly appreciate what a grand scope of an artist he is. The thought of not giving Bill a chance all those years ago and only buying it because of the Story Chris Claremont weaved, could I do no less for this tale from J. Michael Straczynski. Ironically enough, cover B of Ten Grand is from Bill Sienkiewicz, and what was even better at the end of issue one; there is a notation by Tom Mandrake for a future book called SideKick. At the end of issue two I get to see the original artwork I fell in love with splashed on the pages of my favorite hobby again.

I couldn't wait to get home. I read one other book first and made my way into Ten Grand. I was on the second issue before I knew it and began to conspire what to write. I sent out a picture on Instagram immediately to tell anyone paying attention that issue one and two are worth picking up. The scope of the story feels like the waves of the ocean as it flows up the beach; knowing the vastness beyond with the glimmer of the sunrise over the open sea are just pieces of what’s to come.

 OK Image, you have my attention, what are you going to do with it?

The short of it: WOW!!!

 Thanks for Reading

A Glorious Morning: A Roundabout Review

The long of it:

Image has been a small powerhouse originally taking a piece of the industrial pie from the major two, DC and Marvel. Of course when they were first created it was almost like they were a Marvel lite. Titles such as Spawn, Youngblood, and Wildcats were added to my subscription list. I was Well into my adult life when I had to stop collecting. Space became scarce and my purge of possessions ended with the majority of my comic books. After my reclamation to the comic market I picked up my favorites based on memory. Image was not part of that process. I never jumped on the Walking Dead band wagon and still haven't, mainly because I'm not a Zombie Fan. I even skipped a few other decent stories due to the lack of money but now that Comixology has specials every Monday for .99 I have found it to be a glorious Monday indeed.

Stuck on a slow day at work I decided to purchase Morning Glories #1 and Son of Merlin #1. The following issues of the Son of Merlin were subsequently higher in price so I passed, as much as I enjoyed the premiere. Morning Glories however had issues one through twenty five all below one dollar. I have picked this up in Fat Jack's, skimmed through it, and passed on purchasing the book. At ninety nine cents I vowed to only buy the first one, then I vowed I would only buy the first story line. I didn't abide by that either. After reading a full nine issues at work on my iPhone and another nine issues at home I plan on getting to the last issue I have. But, then what? Will I continue to collect at the full retail price or wait again for a sale?

The artwork is clear cut and easy on the eyes. The story is J.J. Abrams-esque by giving flashbacks with the characters mainly involved. Nick Spencer is spinning a tale that Joe Eisma articulates very well. The covers alone by Rodin Esquejo are tantalizing that purchasing copies graded by CGC are weighing heavily on my mind and I wonder why I didn't skip a cup of coffee or two just to purchase the book...ok I know why I didn't skip coffee.

I picked up another Image title dubbed Non-Humans to figure out if I want the actual comic book or just the digital rendition. My decision was once that series was over I would stick with a Comic book I could hold in my hand and only get the digital copy if it came free with the comic book (thank you Marvel, but please have Daredevil added back to that mix). However, at .99 cents how could I pass on getting the whole series available.

The short of it:

Get the series by trade, back issues, or digital, but buy this title to read.

Thanks for Reading

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?