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janradderNot really, but I do have a stack full of comics. Over eighty comics tall. With the exception of maybe a total of eight comics, I have not bought a comic book since 1991 when I had such a ridiculous number of titles pulled at my comics shop that I had to stop buying them altogether or else I'd have found myself in the poorhouse. Since then I've either checked trades out from the Minneapolis library or a friend has given me whatever titles he's reading. That eighty-plus stack of comics comes from him and represents several months of back issues. Over the past week and a half, I've been making my way through. I'm a little over halfway through it now. Here's what I've been reading:
Umbrella Academy, #1-6 (of 6): Started off really great with excellent artwork, neat characters, and an interesting story. In the last issue, it fell flat on it's face.
Runaways #29-30: This finishes Joss Whedon's run on the title. If you didn't look at the credits, you'd think that Brian K. Vaughan was still writing the comic, which is a good thing. If you haven't yet discovered this book or have been put off by the teen characters, this is your notice to pick up the first trade and give it a chance. You won't be disappointed.
Teen Titans: Year One #1-5 (of 6): Nothing spectacular, nothing mind bowing, but it is fun.
All-Star Superman #10-11: Although at times Grant Morrison veers off a little too far into his world of weirdness, for the most part, I've really enjoyed this book. He clearly knows his Superman mythos and it's fun to see aspects of Supes not seen since the eighties (the zoo in the Fortress of Solitude, Lex Luthor's ridiculous purple costumes, Superman with an intellect that surpasses that of the smartest people in the universe combined). The two issue journey to Bizarro World was great.
B. P. R. D.: 1946 #3-5: Vampires, gorillas, and Nazis, oh my!
B. P. R. D.: The Ectoplasmic Man one-shot: Decent story about Johann Krauss, following the loss of his physical body.
Abe Sapien: The Drowning #1-5 (of 5): Ok story, ok art. Not much beyond that except for a nice nod to Lovecraft near the end.
B. P. R. D.: War on Frogs #1: Ok story, really, really lousy art.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man #1 (of 3): Great Richard Corbin art that really goes well with an Appalachian witch story.
Batman #672-678: Yet another Morrison penned DC book. I'm not sure what I think of this story arc. I like that it seems to be picking up previous arcs that seemed to be over and done with but I really don't know where it's going or if I like the direction it's headed in (the last 3 issues are the beginning of the "R. I. P." story line which, according to rumor, spells the permanent death of Batman, though I'll believe that when I see or read it).
Detective Comics #840-845: I have to say, I really like Paul Dini's writing for Batman. Lately, on Detective, he's done some interesting things with the Batman villains. It's hard to believe that this guy cut his teeth writing Filmation dreck like He-Man and Thundercats (though I must admit I used to watch the latter in seventh grade and quite enjoyed it).
Batman: Gotham After Midnight #1-2 (of 12): I really, really, really don't like Kelley Jones' artwork. To me, he's a poor imitation of Bernie Wrightson who could illustrate just about anything and I'd read it just to look at his art.
All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder #9: While Morrison veers off track a bit, he's at least doing something interesting with Superman. Frank Miller, on the other hand, is now, officially, a washed up hack. All-Star B & R #9 is just further dirt piled onto the corpse of a once revolutionary comics writer. I honestly have no idea what the hell Miller is trying to do with this title. His Batman is, simply put, a bully. And not just to the bad guys, but to everyone. He's the asshole jock who you just want to punch in the back of the head who spends his days beating the crap out of kids weaker than him just because he feels like it, calls women lesbians just because they don't fall down in worship of his magnificent cock, and, in general, degrades the lives and values of anyone who disagrees with him. This might be interesting (and I say might) if that were the point of this title -- making Batman an asshole -- but, sadly, I think that Miller really wants us to like this guy and shout out "All right!" and "Awesome!" as he further proves what in immense fuck-wad he is. As hard as it is to believe that Paul Dini started out writing for Filmation, it's even harder to believe that Frank Miller is the same man responsible for The Dark Knight Returns.
The End League #2-3: There's really not much to say about this except that it kind of sucks -- confusing story, rather pedestrian characters knocked off from DC archetypes, and run-of-the-mill artwork.
American Splendor #1-4 (of 4): Harvey Pekar has apparently signed a deal with DC to distribute his books under their Vertigo imprint. This follows his graphic novel, The Quitter, also put out by Vertigo. There's not much I can say about this except that it's the same old Harvey Pekar. You either like his stuff or you don't read it.
I should hopefully have the second half of that enormous stack of comics done by next week by which time I'm sure there'll be another waiting for me.
Umbrella Academy, #1-6 (of 6): Started off really great with excellent artwork, neat characters, and an interesting story. In the last issue, it fell flat on it's face.
Runaways #29-30: This finishes Joss Whedon's run on the title. If you didn't look at the credits, you'd think that Brian K. Vaughan was still writing the comic, which is a good thing. If you haven't yet discovered this book or have been put off by the teen characters, this is your notice to pick up the first trade and give it a chance. You won't be disappointed.
Teen Titans: Year One #1-5 (of 6): Nothing spectacular, nothing mind bowing, but it is fun.
All-Star Superman #10-11: Although at times Grant Morrison veers off a little too far into his world of weirdness, for the most part, I've really enjoyed this book. He clearly knows his Superman mythos and it's fun to see aspects of Supes not seen since the eighties (the zoo in the Fortress of Solitude, Lex Luthor's ridiculous purple costumes, Superman with an intellect that surpasses that of the smartest people in the universe combined). The two issue journey to Bizarro World was great.
B. P. R. D.: 1946 #3-5: Vampires, gorillas, and Nazis, oh my!
B. P. R. D.: The Ectoplasmic Man one-shot: Decent story about Johann Krauss, following the loss of his physical body.
Abe Sapien: The Drowning #1-5 (of 5): Ok story, ok art. Not much beyond that except for a nice nod to Lovecraft near the end.
B. P. R. D.: War on Frogs #1: Ok story, really, really lousy art.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man #1 (of 3): Great Richard Corbin art that really goes well with an Appalachian witch story.
Batman #672-678: Yet another Morrison penned DC book. I'm not sure what I think of this story arc. I like that it seems to be picking up previous arcs that seemed to be over and done with but I really don't know where it's going or if I like the direction it's headed in (the last 3 issues are the beginning of the "R. I. P." story line which, according to rumor, spells the permanent death of Batman, though I'll believe that when I see or read it).
Detective Comics #840-845: I have to say, I really like Paul Dini's writing for Batman. Lately, on Detective, he's done some interesting things with the Batman villains. It's hard to believe that this guy cut his teeth writing Filmation dreck like He-Man and Thundercats (though I must admit I used to watch the latter in seventh grade and quite enjoyed it).
Batman: Gotham After Midnight #1-2 (of 12): I really, really, really don't like Kelley Jones' artwork. To me, he's a poor imitation of Bernie Wrightson who could illustrate just about anything and I'd read it just to look at his art.
All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder #9: While Morrison veers off track a bit, he's at least doing something interesting with Superman. Frank Miller, on the other hand, is now, officially, a washed up hack. All-Star B & R #9 is just further dirt piled onto the corpse of a once revolutionary comics writer. I honestly have no idea what the hell Miller is trying to do with this title. His Batman is, simply put, a bully. And not just to the bad guys, but to everyone. He's the asshole jock who you just want to punch in the back of the head who spends his days beating the crap out of kids weaker than him just because he feels like it, calls women lesbians just because they don't fall down in worship of his magnificent cock, and, in general, degrades the lives and values of anyone who disagrees with him. This might be interesting (and I say might) if that were the point of this title -- making Batman an asshole -- but, sadly, I think that Miller really wants us to like this guy and shout out "All right!" and "Awesome!" as he further proves what in immense fuck-wad he is. As hard as it is to believe that Paul Dini started out writing for Filmation, it's even harder to believe that Frank Miller is the same man responsible for The Dark Knight Returns.
The End League #2-3: There's really not much to say about this except that it kind of sucks -- confusing story, rather pedestrian characters knocked off from DC archetypes, and run-of-the-mill artwork.
American Splendor #1-4 (of 4): Harvey Pekar has apparently signed a deal with DC to distribute his books under their Vertigo imprint. This follows his graphic novel, The Quitter, also put out by Vertigo. There's not much I can say about this except that it's the same old Harvey Pekar. You either like his stuff or you don't read it.
I should hopefully have the second half of that enormous stack of comics done by next week by which time I'm sure there'll be another waiting for me.
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 08:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 08:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 09:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 09:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 10:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 10:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 11:45 pm (UTC)You should maybe pick up some Fables.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-18 12:35 am (UTC)I read a Fables graphic novel a while back -- 1001 Nights or something like that -- which I really enjoyed and have been meaning to pick up some of the trades at the library but just haven't gotten around to it yet, though it's certainly on my list.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-18 12:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-18 12:40 am (UTC)