A 5th shot of Reviews (15-Oct-14)

Edge of Spider-Verse #5:

This is the final issue before the story finally starts. I still remember Secret Wars where the lead up issue was a panel or two on the final page. These days there is always a prologue that can take months before the main event. If this was the morsel, I'm looking forward to the entree. 

Spider-Man 2099 #5:

Another Spider-Verse lead in. Peter David has been known to me for years. He was always good, but never great, not to me anyway. Issues 1-4 were entertaining, each cover has been beautiful, and now Peter is dabbling in Dan Slott's world and doing so quite marvelously. 

Justice League #35:

This title continues to be a roller coaster ride of fun, especially with Lex Luthor on the roster. 

Axis #2:

Another great issue. Not as good as the first but still exhilarating. I also love how all I have to read is this series. No side issues and no one shots. The art compliments each page. I can't wait until the next issue. 

Ms. Marvel #9:

A sleeper hit of the year? This title has also reached the hands of my girlfriend, a non-collector. The Inhumans were never one of my favorite creations. And with the terragin mists spread throughout the world, there are more Inhumans than ever before, next we will all find out mutants are Inhumans too. And after 9 issues, G. Willow Wilson still has my attention. 

Original Sin Annual #1:

I could have waited for this to be compiled in the trade. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. 

Uncanny X-Men #27:

I still wish they never renumbered this series. The art is some of my favorite and Bendis keeps the characters going.

Daredevil #9:

I still enjoy the tales of Matt Murdock, but the artwork is lacking. The original Purple Man was created way back in Daredevil #4 and now we are dealing with his kids who emit some sort of hive mind, but after all this time I'm afraid I'm collecting just to say I have them all. 

Thanks for Reading

A 3rd Shot of Reviews (10-1-2014)

Spider-Man 2099 #4

So far this is as much fun as the first issue. It cannot compare to the first Spider-Man 2099 from the nineties, because so far this series is so much better. 

Edge of Spider-Verse #4

The cover reminds me of the old EC books from the fifties. The interior, I imagined, mimicked the stories too. I have yet to purchase and read an old EC title to compare. 

Alex + Ada #9

This title continues to impress. 

Justice League # 34

This is the only New 52 title I still collect and it still proved to be worthy, unlike Thor, who can no longer wield the hammer. Geoff Johns is weaving not just a story, but a mystery; what is Lex Luthor after? 

Morning Glories #41

Imagine the TV show "Lost" as a comic book. If you liked the show, you'll like this. After 41 issues I might be lost, but I'm enjoying trying to be found.

Thor #1

Being a first issue is the worst thing about this book. All in all I must say, it is a must read. Too much happens in this to describe during one shot, I just might need to make it a double. 

Action Comics #1: the Final Bid

What's a comic book worth anyway?

I think with today's prices and inflation we forget how much a million dollars actually is. As a young kid, my sister tried to teach me how much $1 million dollars actually was. The main difficulty she had teaching this to me was that I had no idea of the value of a single dollar, let alone one million of them. We were in the kitchen discussing the vastness of it. She explained to me over and over again, a million dollars in single dollar denominations would overflow the kitchen.  It seemed impossible, as impossible as a 1938 comic book selling for $3,207,852. That's Three Million Two Hundred Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-Two Dollars and Zero Cents. That is more pages than my entire comic book collection compiled together...ten times over.

I watched the bidding, almost from the beginning. The first bid I was able to see was 1.6 million dollars and although it started at .99 cents, it was just two hours later that the bidding was already way past what I could afford. From there, I continued to watch and estimated that the finished price would be 3.1 million. When the CGC graded comic reached over 2 million and paused, I worried I was going to be wrong. Then on the final day, it reached 2,402,000 and with slightly over a minute left, it jumped to 2.6, and then 2.7 million just before it's final bid. At this point, not only was it about who wanted it more, it was also about who could afford it, pre-authorization or not.

Was the second bidder fumbling with the keyboard? Was he rushing to enter 3.5 million? Did the winner acquire a sudden sense of buyers remorse? And at $2.83 an hour, why was my pre-authorization request denied? 

Facebook and Instagram, the two social media outlets I follow most, lit up with multiple comic book news feeds, all with the same story: Record Setting comic book sells for $3,207,852. I almost wish the .38 cents would have accompanied the final bid, as it had lingered on earlier in the bidding.

After 48 bids, the book was sold and I still had two hours left at work to compile my thoughts. I thought about being the first one to write an article and post it seconds after the bidding was over. I was going to have it written days before, so that the only thing I would need to finish was the final bid. Instead, I waited. I wanted it to sink in. 

I think of all the stories I hear from my older customers about all the comic books they threw away, because they were never going to be worth anything anyway. However, if they didn't throw them away, and if the US government didn't have paper drives, or if the comic book burnings brought about by the senate hearings caused by Frederick Wertham's "Seduction of the Innocent" had never occurred, then many mothers and grandmothers would have been right about them not being worth anything.

This book, however, definitely was.

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb 

Action Comics #1, a bidding paradise

Bidding on SuperMan's first appearance 

Or

When a million dollars is not enough. 

Austin Powers had Dr. Evil hold the earth ransom for 1 million dollars. He was corrected by one of his henchmen, it wasn't enough. One of the greatest financial decisions you could make is when you finance a car or a house, but now you can add buying a comic book to the list. With 6 days left the highest graded copy of Action Comics #1 has already surpassed 1.75 million, $550,000 more than what I told my coworkers I bid. 

Of course, this is a book I could never afford, and I'm ok with that. I do find the quality of such an old book to be amazing. I can almost imagine Paul calling out to his peers, "Guys, you have to see this". 

The oohs and aahs would begin. Was it passed around, or was it limited to the rule if three. I even see upper management joining in the historic event, because grading a very fine to near mint book from 1938 is something worth bragging about, and CGC graded two. 

The issue is iconic. A book that, if never created, could have stunted the comic books we know and love today. The two oldest comic books I had the luxury of being so close to was while I was at CGC. And I will remember them, but the room did not jump in excitement, as much as I think they did with this one. As I mentioned, I will never own one, but I will get caught up in the excitement of knowing something this great is up for bid. Even Matt Nelson expressed his exuberance over it. He even mentions how it came across his desk which makes me wonder, was it pressed?

I'm guessing the book will hit 3.1 million. Which means I'm $3,099,999 shy. Of course I would love a Detective 27 to be found in the same grade, to give this Action Comics book a run for its money.

Thanks for Reading

Sandman Overture #3: A Roundabout Review

Sandman Overture #3

By Neil Gaiman and 

J. H. Williams III

What is in a Dream?

When I was first introduced to Morpheus, it was thirty-two issues into Neil Gaiman's vast story. As each issue progressed forward, I also searched the back issues, buying each one and enjoying the story he weaved that much more. After seventy-five issues, the song was done and now after two decades, the melody lingers on. 

I visited a comic shop in Virginia while taking a few days off from work and there on the new release rack was Neil Gaiman's latest. The first issue was a great opening salvo and the second issue took off running; but the third issue gives us Hope. Dream of the Endless is off to see the City of Stars and in doing so, he intends to find his killer and to make sure he doesn't do murder him again.

J.H. Williams III has never illustrated a comic book better than this one. The panels are vibrant, the colors are rich, and the detail steals the story away to new heights. Dream travels with Dream; one is the version we knew and the other is the Dream we don't. Also, for the first time we see Dream laugh...and in the very end we see the stars are coming out. 

As dreams are lucid after we awake, they slip away much like this issue describes. I am left with a feeling of nostalgia after only moments of closing the comic. I can't wait until the next issue and wish the series was limited like the first one, for seventy-five issues, not the six that are already scheduled.

4 out of 5 Stars

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

Marvel's Season One: A Roundabout Review

The Long of it.

This week an added book was waiting for me at Fat Jack's Comic Crypt. Among my normal weekly haul a single hardcover copy of Avengers Season One beckoned for me to take it home. This is the eighth $25 hardcover I picked up. But how was it? How was Marvels first idea before Marvel Now competed against DC's 52. And how does it stack up?

Each Season One has an original story and a backup story from the 616 universe. At first glance it looks like you're getting something extra, you're not its just filler, or the garnish you get ordering from a nice restaurant, it looks nice on the plate but has no substance. The extra stories are too new and feel like a gimmick to get me to jump on the title, this is against their policy, after all they started off with new number ones thinking I would be too confused to start in the middle with a large number and yet they give me an extra issue that doesn't make sense without the rest if the story.

All in all the season ones are an interesting new perspective. Some I enjoyed while others I lumbered through, this latest one written by the great Peter David. At the end I see how they illustrated the solidifying of the Avengers but I don't see why. The characters I have known became two dimensional again. I normally like to read a comic book in one sitting, this took three.  I wanted to be entertained, to be brought back to a time of comic book innocence and this left me feeling left out.

I will buy the next one and the one after that mostly because I like the format and I like to complete what I stated. Don’t get me wrong, for the novice reader it is a good start, but for someone who loves the 616 universe I feel somewhat like I was given an ice cream cone of an ice cream flavor I don’t like on a really hot day. It looks good, but when you get down to it, slightly unsatisfying. I hope the next one is better.

The Short of it

Buy the original in digital if you have too, at least then you will see how they evolved as they were meant to, one issue at a time.

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?

Guardians of the Galaxy: A Roundabout Review

Guardians of the Galaxy: A Roundabout Review

The long if it...

It's the Wednesday before the Emerald City Comic Con or as it is affectionately called by its brethren, ECCC and I am still making my weekly quest to Fat Jack's Comic Crypt for my addiction. Thankfully I knew I would only be picking up three titles for my weekly pull list, courtesy of Comixology. However, once in the comic book shop, all bets are off.

Between leaving my LCS and arriving home I read my comics in order of what I think would be best, last. In this case my copy of Uncanny Avengers #4. I shouldn't have, that honor should have gone to the Uncanny X-Men #2 which was damn close competing with DC's Aquaman #17 wrapping up the "Throne of Atlantis" with an epilogue hinting at a gritty future for the King if Atlantis . So what made me pick up a fourth book? Why did I leave with a copy of Guardians of the Galaxy?

Lets face it, "Guardians of the Galaxy" is the cosmic equivalent to The Human Fly or Team U.S.A. These space faring rejects were the characters not good enough to hang out with the Silver Surfer, Captain Marvel, or even Rom.

I was 18 in the summer of 90' when Vance Astro and the other Guardians entered my life. The series along with the likes of "SleepWalker" and "DarkHawk" littered the stands. I tried the cosmic title until a little past issue 25 because it was Marvel, but it lingered on long after I was disgusted with it, #62. It could only be doomed if the Spirit of Vengeance had to make an appearance in the 31st century (#13) to keep it going. I like cameos and guest appearances but this was stretching it.


Between leaving my LCS and arriving home I read my comics in order of what I think would be best, last. In this case my copy of Uncanny Avengers #4. I shouldn't have, that honor should have gone to the Uncanny X-Men #2 which was damn close competing with DC's Aquaman #17 wrapping up the "Throne of Atlantis" with an epilogue hinting at a gritty future for the King if Atlantis . So what made me pick up a fourth book? Why did I leave with a copy of Guardians of the Galaxy?

Lets face it, "Guardians of the Galaxy" is the cosmic equivalent to The Human Fly or Team U.S.A. These space faring rejects were the characters not good enough to hang out with the Silver Surfer, Captain Marvel, or even Rom.

I could tell you that Peter Quill's father was a King of a galactic empire. I could tell you that he fell to Earth and stayed long enough to have an Earth woman fall in love with him. I could even tell you that this was enough for Meredith Quill to give birth nine months later. This was done all in one issue. And by the by I could also tell you that Iron Man is at the end talking to Peter Quill about joining the "Guardians". But I wont tell you any of that.

The book begins thirty years ago and jumps to ten yeas later by page 13, it wasn't the type of jump you would feel teaching a sixteen year old how to drive stick; Brian Michael Bendis created a smooth transition between two adults falling in love and creating a ten year old that acts like a ten year old, even upset towards his mother who is still in love with a man that was never there for them.

This couldn't be done without the artistic talents of Steve McNiven. Bendis has been (dare I say) an architect of the Marvel Universe for a great many years and I'm glad that he is changing the X-Men like he did the Avengers, but I would have to lie if I said that this Pre-issue one does not have me looking forward to the official start soon after spring arrives.

The short of it...
Buy it, read it, collect it

Thanks for Reading

Reading Books Last: A Roundabout Review

My reviews have been mostly about Marvel, it might be because I am biased on the company that helped ease me into collecting comic books the same way my sister taught me how to swim. They pulled me into the water and then when I was comfortable, let go. My sister of course would grab hold of me again, it never occurred to me she could have drown in the pool as well as I could, if not easier, she had no water wings on her arms to hold her afloat, I did. Marvel would do the same by introducing characters in various comics and then put them in an explosive environment that would have me riveted and waiting for the next month so I could find out what happened in the very next issue, this time I had no water wings, I was at the dreaded mercy of the writer.

As my weekly allotment grew and grew I would set aside my favorites to read last. It’s almost 30 years later and I still do the same thing. I remember reading in a “forward” from a trade paperback that they too saved the favorite for last until they were older. Now, as they are older, much like I am, they read their favorites first because they don’t have time for the crap. I might partially agree, but there has to be something last, there has to be something to make you wish it was the following month already and the latest issues of comic books are in your hands begging to be read. Which, once again, is why I read my favorites last, once in a while there are a few. This week I have to compete with Marvel’s Daredevil by Mark Waid and IDW’s Locke & Key by Joe Hill, not to mention DC’s Justice League by Geoff Johns.

Nine books made their way home from me from Jack’s Comic Crypt in Center City Philadelphia, Nine bags and boards accompanied them as I took the first one out on the elevated train. It wasn’t the worst but I started to read Justice League of America #1. It was new and also by Geoff Johns. By the end, I am willing to give #2 a try. I normally will read a second comic before I get to my stop, but today I was tired from working a night shift and wanted to be as alert as possible to enjoy the rest of my haul. Once home I thought I would sleep but both Harbinger and X-O Manowar begged to be read. I obliged. This company continues to impress.  My Fourth book for the week was Justice League, the conclusion to “Throne of Atlantis”. This book has been my last to read from time to time, and this book is good, so why do I still have five more to go.

Avenger’s #5 by Jonathon Hickman has me on the fence. It could be great, rather than just good. The last four I have yet to read. Of the remaining four, three are from Marvel and one is from IDW. Dan Slott’s Superior Spider-Man is, well, Superior. Joe Hill’s Locke & Key is coming to a close and Indestructible Hulk by Mark Waid is my surprise hit of the year competing against Daredevil, also by Mark Waid. So Instead of deciding what to read next I finally slept and woke up refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to read… to read, well to read the next book, whatever comic book that is.

 Thanks for Reading

Marvel Now: A Roundabout Review

Marvel

 Now:

A 

Roundabout 

Review

I have made it known before and I'll make it known now, I dislike the whole posturing for a new number one comic book companies seem to thrive on. I enjoyed the (*) notation and would look in the lower portion of the panel to figure out what I had to read to understand more. DC started their New 52 a little over a year ago and I planned to try numerous different titles. I started with four and am currently at two. 

When Marvel decided to do the same I silently lowered and shook my head. I wasn't going to write them telling them they would lose my business. I enjoy the hobby too much. What I did decide was to limit what I would collect because as much as a number one is a good jumping on point; it’s also good to jump off. I planned to give each Marvel title the first story arc; then again the plan to give DC a try on sixteen titles didn't work either.

I gave Iron Man a try, along with All New X-Men, Captain America, Avengers, Cable and X-Force, New Avengers, and Uncanny Avengers. I skipped entirely Avengers Academy, Indestructible Hulk, X-Men Legacy, and Uncanny X-Force. I dropped Captain America along with Cable and X-Force, but I picked up Indestructible Hulk to replace it. Then of course there is Superior Spider-Man and as much as I've enjoyed Dan Slots current story, issue two just seemed full of redundancies. I get it. As much as I enjoyed the secret reveal at the end of #1, I felt dissatisfied after the second. I still think this series has the greatest potential.

In Avengers #1 they got straight to the action, it's a new world and the Avengers have to get bigger. What I don't get is how all the titles fit together. How is Iron Man going off in space in his title, the Hulk works for one of the agencies that chased him for decades, and there are a bunch of characters now ranked as the “greatest”. In the eighties the continuity was easier to follow. Now that I'm an adult I feel like I just turned on General Hospital and it has the cast of Days of our Lives, Dallas, and Fantasy Island. As many questions as this number one gave me I stuck around for number two, the hopes that Cannonball would finally be a contender had me part with my $3.99, again. I was even OK with the buildup of a possible six issue story arc.

I was disappointed at the end of issue three, what could have been a battle to destroy the heavens only reminded me off the fireworks in San Diego on July 4th, 2012 when the night long celebration erupted prematurely  in fifteen seconds. Issue four lost more momentum still. I was unimpressed with the J.J. Abrams flashback storytelling quality that Jonathan Hickman did not pull off as well as he did in the previous issues.

Cable and X-Force didn't get past issue #1. I stopped Captain America after issue #2, the Fantastic Four and FF were not worth picking up, and I was scared to try Uncanny X-Force for fear they would destroy the image of Puck I retain in my head. The New Avengers feels like it has the chance to really propel itself along but will issue three be a silent fizzle. So far the one that has surprised me was the Indestructible Hulk. After issue three I'm looking forward to the next one. Then of course you have the one title that is not a Marvel Now and probably more of a Marvel Then is Daredevil by Mark Waid. Month after Month I look forward to this title, maybe that's why I decided to follow the exploits of Bruce Banner and S.H.I.E.L.D.



To be fair, I will continue a little longer on some of these titles while others I might wait for a convention and purchase them at a dollar. I did give DC a bit longer before I opted to go from four titles to only two. The thing that Marvel has over DC with me is history. I have always enjoyed the Marvel Universe more. I'll continue with Avengers, New Avengers, All-New X-Men, Indestructible Hulk, Uncanny Avengers and Superior Spider-Man but at the moment I'm really looking forward to "Age of Ultron" that Michael Brian Bendis hinted at before the whole Marvel Now exploitation. And then is it right for a company to start in a new direction and still use storylines from its previous incarnations?

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Are Statues Worth It? A Roundabout Review

In my teens my expenses were minimal. I had no living expenses, no insurance needs, no utilities, and not many excuses to purchase anything other than my hobby needs. I purchased new comic books every week and once in a while I would purchase something more. In this case, statues.

I was envious when a friend of mine picked up a Sandman statue. I wasn't surprised that it was sold out. I purchased the second Sandman statue that came out, but before I purchased that it was a statue if Batman that caught my eye. I followed these purchases with its matching Robin statue and a statue of Death to compliment Dream. The final statue I purchased was one of the best villains of all, Darth Vader.

Higher ticket items became harder to purchase. I purchased two lightsaber replicas, Star Wars cookie jars, and the occasional older back issue. The only thing that was different were my expenses. I had rent, insurance, utilities, and a beautiful baby boy. It was another twenty years before purchasing another statue, this time from Sideshow Collectibles.


I no longer have an excuse that statues are to expensive to purchase, after all I now have a comic I spent $625 on in my collection. My expenses are still expansive but I budget better then I used to. Spending three hundred dollars each on a pair of "Magik" statues. They sit on top of my entertainment center and I love that I was able to afford them, a third one was sold out before I could budget for it.

At NYCC I found another DC character I decided should adorn my collection : Harley Quinn. I still have yet to find out where to place it but I do love having the three dimensional characters sit silently on my shelves. I have another one on order and am terribly afraid to see what will be at the comic cons this year to tantalize more money out of my wallet.


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Battling for my Dollars: a Roundabout Review

Where do your hard earned dollars go? I mean the ones you still have after paying bills, taxes, and other daily expenses that continue your life perpetually forward. The extra that should be left over, what nectar of life do they purchase? Is it a new wardrobe, a good meal, or maybe a few drinks with friends on the days off that seem to be too few in life? If you're reading this I either got lucky you are here or like me you spend the remainder of what's left every week on comic books.

Comic books are a lot more expensive compared to when I started to collect. A$3.99 cover price today is up about 565% from the days when my allowance bought me my weekly drug. I never thought about the politics of publishing a comic book, I bought what I liked, I still do, but I don't have to speculate what sells and what doesn't. I don't need to figure out which variant cover should be cost optimized by quantity purchased or if I send a book into CGC for grading then my profits will catapult towards my rent being paid by one book. My pleasures are a bit simpler. Is the comic book good?

DC and Marvel are the big two and have been so since the silver age. My first LCS was set up in four sections, Marvel, DC, Back Issues, and everything else. As I grew up independent publishers started clambering for more shelf space. Dark Horse and Image come to mind predominantly but First, Innovation, and Valiant are others that were always competing with Spider-Man and Superman. The market expanded, constricted and exploded again.

DC tried something, something that has been tried before, but never on such a scale. They took one final moment, one Flashpoint, and started over. Marvel waited and finally felt after the success of DC had they should start their own revolution and instead of leading, followed suit, creating their new world negating years and years of story continuity.  The problem is my dollars have not expanded or have grown exponentially, in fact they remain stagnant. The new number ones were supposed to be a fresh beginning, a beginning to allow readers to jump on and not be lost, or as with some titles, it gave me the chance to jump off.

Marvel began again but so has Valiant, three companies are battling for my dollar and as I tighten my purse strings I realize it's Marvel that has the most to lose because that is the majority of what I collect. I gave Iron Man the first story arc but fear it might go. Cable and X-Force couldn't get past to #2 and Morbius sat on the rack as I walked on past.  Give me a collected universe with ten books a month with story and art and you'll have my money, but if things keep progressing the way they have I fear I might just continue to go to my LCS and buy some books from the silver, bronze, and copper age.

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Rumor Has it!

Rumor has it

I can’t remember the first pre bagged book I ever picked up and I am not talking about back issues either. I remember X-Force bagged with Variant Cards, I remember Spider-Man bagged as well. Both those bags were clear. The Death of Superman was the first bagged book I remember that was not see through. The black background accented the Red S. I bought more X-force books than I ever should have and I learned to curtail my spending for the Superman bagged issue. I only bought two.

So many people thought that would be the next best book, the book that would send their kids through school. I wanted one to read, and one to keep bagged. My readable copy is gone. I still have the bagged copy in between a thick plastic holder much like they use for baseball cards. Variant covers were another gimmick but at least now you have a choice to purchase a “rare” cover, much like a fellow collector on the registry was looking for the 1 in 200 copy of JLA.

When I spent money quicker than I was earning it I would buy comic related cards as well and felt like I won the lottery when I found a hologram card in one of the two packs I purchased. If I remember correctly it is a card of Spider-Man and Venom. I still have the card. I just don’t know where it is. There is something magical about being surprised by the unexpected, much like Christmas Morning. I feel that DC is pulling off a huge gimmick with their whole line starting over at #1 that a lot of people are overlooking the Ultimate line bagging their number one books.

So why are they doing this? It can’t be to stop the readers from gazing through the book. All the new #1’s that the ultimate line is doing are bagged but the variants are easily accessible. Most shops have them bagged and boarded with a price hike. I would have no problem unbagging one and looking through the book to see if I wanted to buy it, much like I did with the September 7^th DC books. I can understand why they did it with the last issue of the Ultimate Spider-Man. Does he die or doesn’t he. I’ll admit I was wrong. I thought Peter would live. So why bag the other number ones?

At my comic shop today, a day I wasn’t going to go, I picked up a fair amount of books including a single DC #1. My LCS was busier today so I was able to talk to the manager and he asked me a question. He asked me if I knew why Marvel was bagging all the #1’s. Admittedly I said no.  I chat with many people about Comic books now that I am writing for Comicbooked.com and even started my own blog with AshotofComics.Blogspot.com but no one mentioned what he mentioned to me and I am curious enough to post this article/journal entry/ blog entry on all three avenues of communication just to find out if it is true.

I have a copy of Ultimate Comics All-New Spider-Man which I had the option of buying a variant but decided since I was already buying another variant I would have to pass. I only wanted the book to read anyway, not collect, maybe a CGC copy down the line, which was the reason why I bought the other variant. Anyway, what I was told that the reason for the bagged copies was inside were random variants which were signed by Stan Lee? Is this true? I don’t know but I would like to find out whether a reader could tell me, or who knows maybe I will be lucky enough to find out right now…….

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Tnerb

Today is the Day Pt 2

Anytime there was a holiday on a Monday in the past comic book shops always had the new comics for the week go on sale Thursday instead of Wednesday. There were many times I forgot and still made my way to the shop to buy my new books. I never felt like an idiot when this happened, just disappointed in myself that I didn’t remember. This year, for some odd reason, the holidays did not seem to effect comic book release dates.

I made my trek into center city to buy my comic books. Since it was a holiday week, it just took longer for the store employees to place them on the shelf. I am patient so I decided to look at the back issues before finally making my way to the new issues. Today was the day I was going to pick up two DC books. Some of them seemed to be up first so I scanned through them. I looked at Swamp Thing since I fondly remember a bit of that series from my youth, written by Alan Moore if I remember correctly. I always thought the un-men were cool.

Of course I also checked out Detective comic books and Action Comics along with Hawk and Dove, and OMAC. This gave me time to think. Which one should I buy? Action should have been a no brainer, that and Detective comic books. Swamp Thing did look good but did I want to spend my hard earned money. I wondered and saw that the only books Marvel had for me this week was New Avengers Annual #1 and X-Men #17. I bought those, two bags and boards and nothing else.

I do like a good impulse buy every now and then, and even looked at Action Comics #508 that I should have picked up but I have to say Sorry DC, this week I think I will pass. It is not that I don’t want to give you a chance but I think I would rather go buy a few Fables trades or maybe just maybe see if Batman and Robin, or Green lantern might hold more of an interest for me when they arrive at my LCS next week.

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Benefit of the Doubt

I have collected DC comics in the past but my passion was with Marvel and has so remained with them. I picked up Flashpoint #1 because then ending of the book gripped me much like a novel by my favorite author’s Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Book two became a letdown, but that’s ok because you need to drop after such a climatic first issue and build from there. The series was written like a short story with the highs and lows. The unfortunate circumstance is although you can read the five issue limited as a while story, you don’t get the full effect unless you read the side stores. Something I am not going to do.

Books I collected in the past from this company were JLA, Action, Batman, Detective, JLA Europe (am I remembering that title correctly), Captain Atom, Hawk and Dove, Teen Titans, New Teen Titans (I loved Brother Blood), Captain Carrot, Green Lantern, well I can go on. I was disappointed in the end of Flashpoint that Batman knew The Flash but in JLA he didn’t know anyone. I’ll have to see if they resolve this or if they started off with a mistake. So for the month of September I pledge to give DC a try, after all I will need wrapping paper in December.

I will pick up at least one book for each week of September. These books will be Action Comics, and Detective comics for September 7^th. I will get Batman and Robin along with Green Lantern for Week Two. Legion of Super Heroes and SuperGirl for September 21^st and the last week I will try Teen Titans and The Flash. I only picked the Flash over the Dark Knight because I want to see if they tie up the loose end I so desperately want them to tie up. If they are good, if DC winds me over, then I will stop collecting the individual books and just wait for the trades unless DC can really Wow me in September, they won’t have my business in October.

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I am normally off every Thursday. It is my one day off out of the week. This week however, my day off….well it doesn't exist. I don’t mind either because it was an easy day at work. They wanted me to manage and it was so dead managing was easy. The difficult part was watching my fellow coworkers struggle for tables. There weren't any. The other struggle was when a table finally came in I had to hobble them to a seat on a broken toe.

I knew my toe was broken but the adult in me said go to the doctor’s. I did, it cost $15. They didn't want to tell me my toe was broken so they sent me to get an x-ray, it cost $25. I went home after the wait and tried to get some sleep before working my extra night shift. I missed the call from the Doctor and was able to call them back and talk to them right before they closed. Their final verdict was…. It is broken. I spent $40 to find that out. I just bought a copy of X-Men #199 for $36 in a CGC 9.8 with white pages and the shipping was included. Please, you tell me the better deal.

I know I spend a lot of money on comic books. I do. My healthcare increased over a span of six months and I didn't even use it. I know my healthcare will go up again so this time I am trying to get my money’s worth, but another $40 on top of my $200 plus a month just to have the card. Blue Cross Blue shield my ass, it’s more like Blue Anchor, Blue rock.

I was ahead of my budget for the month and now I am set back, I am not blaming the breaking of my toe for taking my extra funds. A lot of that extra money disappearing is due to buying comic books too. I mean I did by the JLA #1 from DC without originally meaning too. I know it was only $4, hold the line at $2.99??? So even though I hobbled and winced with each step I did put in an extra shift, an extra shift which will add to my extra funds which in turn will add to even more comic books. Unless I decide to accidently break the other toe.

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Today is the Day....After

After getting two CGC graded comic books in the mail and a broken toe which was not in the mail but from getting the mail I went to my LCS to pick up my comic books. The whole way there I denied myself the right to purchase the new JLA. I was getting Flashpoint but there was no singe way I was going to start with the new 52. I said this. I thought this, but I knew I would be buying the New JLA. On the way home I read Flash Point and JLA.

I wanted to see where they were going and unless they can explain something better I am already upset at how this is going. After one book and I already see a flaw, a major one. This is a blog and I plan to rant freely but if you haven’t read the aforementioned books read no further. This is your warning. At the end of Flashpoint Bruce Wayne knew who the Flash was. You could tell they were friends. An ominous entity explained to the Flash as everything was changing that although there were three there is now one (Future story line here for “their” impending arrival). I can deal with that, it is a comic book. I can even deal with the note the Flash took with him from Thomas Wayne to Bruce Wayne. In fact I like that, I like that a lot. It was nice to see an emotional side to Bruce.

What I don’t understand in the next book I read drawn by the Amazing Jim Lee (I never realized how much I missed his artwork). Green Lantern and Batman meet for the first time. Two major JLA’ers coming together fresh and by the end of the issue the third major player is introduced, Superman Not to skip Vic who was also shown amongst the pages as an amazing basketball star but the major three didn’t seem to know each other, and if that is the case how come Bruce Wayne was so knowledgeable about Barry Allen. How can they start over new, not have Green lantern and Batman know each other but still have The Flash know Batman. Unless The Flash knows everyone and everyone knows the Flash I for one am going to be very upset at this re-launch because all they did was start off with a huge mistake. Give it a year and they will explain it away with some kind of Crisis of Infinite Earths.

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Comfortable Around Comic Books

I was always able to find comfort in between the pages of a comic book. Some of the ones I read when I was younger were Richie Rich. I read the short stories in between over and over. Each issue had about three stories and a few one page mini’s. I his away from the world many times, sitting in my closet on top of toys and bags of clothing that were to be donated. The clothing was getting donated; the toys were mine to keep.

Nothing went wrong during this time of escape, nothing could. I was transported away from my problems and was kept amused by Dollar, Reginald, Cadbury (was that his name) and of Course Richie Rich, the poorest lil’ rich boy. These days I cannot remember the last time I picked up a Richie Rich. My escape is the Marvel universe with a few odd ball comics also taken form in my collection. There wasn't a day I couldn’t live without A Dark Horse Star Wars book.

Marvel has been keeping my business because they are telling stories I want to hear. Some might stray from what I am looking for. I do love the Ultimate Universe and the fact that anything can and does happen. The case I point was the recent Death of Spider-Man. This death is causing a new Number one and for some reason I can still accept that rather than what DC is doing. I wonder what would have happened if DC would have decided to have a universe like Marvel. Maybe even have Dream from the Sandman, correction Daniel create a brand new universe.

I am regressing. I type this as I have comic books next to me from a recent move, so many in fact that the light is cut off from shining in this corner. It is a temporary switch, one that will change again…although many months from now. I am comforted though that at any time I can just pull a book out and look at it and reread it….CGC withstanding. What do you do when you need to be comforted? Do you read them over, maybe catalog them, or place them on your bed and roll them over you like a blanket?

Thanks for Reading.