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?

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

The New Valiant: A Roundabout Review

Well here it is, book seven and Archer and Armstrong continues to impress. Valiant keeps producing book after book that entertains me for my dollar. It doesn't seem to matter if it’s Bloodshot, Harbinger, or their flagship title X-O Manowar. Valiant in the nineties was the pinnacle new comic book company. Magnus Robot Fighter, Solar, and Harbinger were already out a few months before I became enraptured. Solar #10 was the first “gimmick” book with an all black cover which had comic book stores scrambling for more copies to sell. Valiant answered the demand with a second printing.   This is when I took notice and my addictive nature had me looking to pick up every back issue that I missed.

In today’s market of third party grading, mostly by industry leader CGC, many collector’s want the best possible, myself included. In the case of Harbinger #1 this means getting one graded a 9.8 with white pages. If I'm not mistaken this was the first book from the nineties graded a 9.8 by CGC to sell for over $1000. In March of 2008 it reached its ceiling price of $2550.  Recently it has been steady at twenty percent that price. This is nowhere near the same for an Archer and Armstrong #1 in a 9.8, which hasn't broke the $100 mark. 

Jim Shooter had his first major story at Valiant with “Unity”.  To this day it is my favorite cross-over event. Archer and Armstrong #1 made its debut with this story line (not including Zero) becoming my second favorite Valiant title behind Harbinger. Archer and Armstrong are fighting secret sects and it seems The Null is the biggest one of them. Their goal is unlike Pinky and the Brain’s, they don’t want to take over the Earth; they want to end it. I never understood those organizations, and Archer who once was a member of the sect through selective training comes to light by meeting the “devil” himself, Armstrong.

The action really started to heat up when a Geomancer was killed. Its Armstrong’s brother, the sworn protector of those that speak with the Earth, Gilad, or the Eternal Warrior as he is known to the reader, that plans to avenge the death by killing who he holds responsible, Archer.   How he could think it would be anything other than the Sect is somewhat close minded on his part, but then again Archer was a member of that same group until his "parents" tried to kill him. I guess being best friends with ones brother does not give a free pass.

The summer of 12' brought these great Valiant titles to the newsstand again in a day and age where the two major companies feel the only way to garnish new readers is to start with a new number one. And yes, Valiant did indeed start with a number one, but let’s face it they only just started publishing again. I could have easily ended with number two as I have with other titles, but between the art and story Valiant seems to be creating something I love to read, Comics Books.

Thanks for Reading

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.

Thanks for Reading