It’s weird how so much of my order for this month all came in the same week. I racked up nearly $200 at Ye olde Comical Book Store and I really didn’t feel like I got my money’s worth. Part of the problem is the two $40 hardcovers and the $25 Buffy Omnibus are sitting off the the side unread for the time being. I hope to get into those and review them soon (but really, what are the chances of that?).
TANK GIRL: THE GIFTING #3 – IDW – $3.99
Ok, I have to admit I realy love this book. It’s silly, it’s violent and at times inappropriately sexy (oh Booga *sigh*). If you missed issue two then you’re fucked because the stories in this book carry over from that book. You’re double fucked because Jet Girl is coming to your house to shit in your sock drawer. You shoulda bought the book. You’ll know better next time. Seriously though this reincarnation of everybody’s favorite post apocalyptic hottie is every bit as irreverent as the original. Ashley Wood’s oddly endearing artistic sensibilities were a perfect match for the nonstop wackyness that just drips from every page of this book. If you liked the original series or the movie or nonsense or sexy kangaroo men you should be buying this thing. Luckily I know your fetish for latex clad kangaroo hybrids from the late night furry chat rooms SO GO GET IT DURR!
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #45 – MARVEL – $2.99
I really have no idea what is going on. I love the way the Ultimate universe takes characters we know and love and tweaks them so they’re brand new. Sometimes this works really well (Gwen Stacy/Carnage hybrid clone thingy) and sometimes not so much (Cable is really Wolverine from the future) and in this case, I’m really torn. The Silver Surfer appeared a year or two ago in a big crossover/mini series that brought us Ultimate Galactus (Ultimate Nightmare/Secret/Extinction) but this version of the Surfer is working for the Ultimate version of Psycho Man. It’s all very nutty and this issue finds our heroes in the Matrix. The happy sappy touchy feely love everybody Matrix. Luckily the art is pretty enough to string me along as I try to figure this out.
THE SPIRIT #8 – DC – $2.99
Just so you know, and in case I haven’t said it before, everyone should be reading the Spirit. Darwyn Cooke has taken this book and really just made it his own. The stories themselves feel absolutely timeless, almost as if he has taken them directly from the mind and pen of Will Eisner and just plopped them down on the page. His clear and dynamic storytelling make this a MUST READ book every single month. This issue we meet El Morte, a supernatural gangster who was brought back from the dead with voodoo by his mother. The visual of El Morte are creepy in the way old EC horror comics were creepy and yet never does this book feel schlocky or forced. The all too human world of cops and robbers the Spirit usually finds himself in the middle of overlaps seamlessly into horror themes because of the expertise Cooke shows in his craft. If you’re an aspiring writer or artist Darwyn Cooke is absolutely some of the best stuff you can find to show how stories should be told.
ANNIHILATION CONQUEST: STARLORD #2 (of 4) – MARVEL – $2.99
PICK OF THE WEEK
With all the other high profile stuff out this week how did this book become my POTW? Two words, “Rocket Raccoon”! Once again the Dirty Dozen feeling I got in the first issue seeps through again. This team is made up of some of the biggest misfits in the galaxy and they have to save the universe from alien conquest by the Marvel Comics version of the Borg. It’s packed with action, humor and just the right amount or Raccoon on giant tree man action.
BIRDS OF PREY #109 – DC- $2.99
The cover says it all. This issue Barbara tries to talk Canary out of marrying Ollie. We already know how it ends as DC has THREE wedding specials solicited for next month. The best part of this book is the little killing machine Sin teaching the big killing machine Barda how to play Pokemon and Misfit’s reaction to it. I have to say I think this Tony Bedard fellow is starting to grow on me. I hated his run on Exiles but so far he’s managed to keep the Birds in character, keep the feeling that this is a “family” and not just a team and inject some humor in there when he can. The death of the New Gods from Countdown and various Superman titles is shown a bit here. Not surprising as Barda is one of those New Gods.
BLUE BEETLE #18 – DC – $2.99
I picked this up because it had the Teen Titans in it and boy am I glad I did. This book was funny, well written, and packed with action. I didn’t know all the details of the plot becuause they mention things that are obviously Blue Beetle related and I don’t normally read this title. I think I may start though.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #543 – MARVEL – $2.99
I have not enjoyed much of the Back in Black storyline that’s been running the last few months. I felt like last month’s Amazing took the story in a direction that I could finally get behind but once again Peter is pushed in a direction that I don’t particularly enjoy. The setup at the end of this issue for the big mega One More Day storyline is done perfectly but I feel like the Parker’s are all acting out of character (except Aunt May, she still gives great coma after all these years). I’ll keep reading becuase I have an obsession with Spider-Man but if this were another character I think I would have stopped reading by now.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #8 – MARVEL – $2.99
Who gives a shit about Iron Fist? I know I certainly didn’t until Ed Brubaker starting writing him and made me realize just how cool he can be. He’s like Batman without so many parent issues. I don’t even want to talk about this issue just go get the first seven issues and then we can discuss it.
SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #40 – MARVEL – $2.99
So when a book gets canceled what should the last issue be like? Should it have some kind of emotional depth? Should it have fantastic art? Should it star God as a scarred and toothless homeless man? If you said yes to all these questions run out right now and pick this book up! Go on, i’ll wait. Rarely in the past decade or so have I seen a Spider-Man book be so damn pretty. I don’t know who this Clayton Crain guy is but good lord somebody put him on a Spider book STAT!
Well, that’s not all I picked up but that’s all I have time to write about. Hopefully I’ll see you guys again next week!
Hey look a P.S. on an internet post. The coolest thing that came out this week I actually did not pick up. The Amazing Fantasy Omnibus dropped at $75. It’s a fantastic book reprinting all 15 issues of Amazing Adult Fantasy/ Amazing Adventures/ Amazing Fantasy. Included in this beautiful hardcover are the first appearances of Spider-Man, Dr Druid (then called Dr Droom) and a multitude of magnificent monsters from the insane imaginations of Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and the immortal Jack Kirby. I sadly could not afford this treasure but I hope to one day aquire it. Between its covers is over $50,000 worth of comic book history. I think $75 is a small price to pay for that really.
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I totally disagree with the back in black story line. I love it and think that the turn peter takes on this back in black is needed and brought me back into reading spidey regularly again.
So you wanna fight boy?! Let’s go!
I think part of what I’m not liking about it is I know what’s coming next. I have a pretty good idea about the aftermath of the “One More Day” storyline and I don’t like it. Maybe I’ll rant about it soon.
Also, I am always right.