the gallant SHIP along her watery way: Oct. 25, 2006

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Bob Southey, you're a poet, Poet Laureate: http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping/shipping_102506.txt

For me:

SEVEN SOLDIERS #1--oh my God this is the most excited I've been about a new comic this year I think
52 WEEK #25--that Halloween cover is ANERABLE, as Cute Overload would say
JACK OF FABLES #4--surprised at how much I'm liking this series, esp. since I've never had much use for Fables proper
SHOWCASE PRESENTS: PHANTOM STRANGER VOL. 1--Silver Agey goodness
DAREDEVIL #90--DD in Europe, continued
NEW AVENGERS #24--oh, are they still publishing that?
DOONESBURY: HECKUVA JOB, BUSHIE! TP--since I somehow missed most of these
UNCLE SCROOGE #359--apparently the first unexpurgated English-language version of Don Rosa's "The Incredible Shrinking Tightwad"

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 23 October 2006 16:40 (nineteen years ago)

I'm buying the Johns / Donner AC.

Feel free to ban me NOW.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 23 October 2006 16:51 (nineteen years ago)

52, Action, Captain America, Daredevil, New Avengers, Stan Lee Meets Thing, X-Men. And maybe Phantom Stranger. I should be done with the Challengers showcase by Wednesday.

― barefoot manthing (Garrett Martin), Monday, 23 October 2006 17:10 (nineteen years ago)

God, I have to go to the store during lunch Wed to get SS1

― Young Fresh Danny D (Dan Perry), Monday, 23 October 2006 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

Jack of Fables
SS #1 (!)

What's that Daredevil trade? Not the first Brubaker collection, by any chance?

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 23 October 2006 17:26 (nineteen years ago)

52, Legion of Super Heroes, Daredevil, X-Men, maybe New Avengers, and the Runaways digest for the shelf. Fun week -- DD, Legion and Carey's X-Men are three of the books I enjoy the most.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Monday, 23 October 2006 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

That Daredevil trade is the first volume of the Brubaker run, though they have inexplicably changed the title of the story from The Devil In Cell Block D to the bland Inside And Out. I'd be quite interested in the explanation for that. Are they going to change The Devil Takes A Ride to On The Run?

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Monday, 23 October 2006 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

Anyway if you haven't read it, it's fantastic. I highly recommend it.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Monday, 23 October 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

Oh yeah, I've been looking forward to it.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 23 October 2006 20:25 (nineteen years ago)

IN ORDER OF ANTICIPATION:

SEVEN SOLDIERS #1 - KIRBY PASTICHE #1
ITSY BITSY SPIDER MAN LOVES MIGHTY TINY MARY JANE #11 - Last issue's cliffhanger promises this will be amazing, spectacular, and perhaps even web of.
GODLAND #13 - KIRBY PASTICHE #2
DAREDEVIL #90 - Wherein Matt broods.
PLANETARY #26 - THE VENTURE BROTHERS does PLANETARY's job with far more panache and glee - yet I still buy this. OH HOW I WISH I KNEW WHY.

QUESTION FOR DOUGLAS: How awesome is KLEZMER - Awesome (VAMPIRE LOVES) or Incredibly Awesome (RABBI'S CAT)?

― Richard Baez (Johnny Logic), Monday, 23 October 2006 20:54 (nineteen years ago)

Closer to Vampire Loves than to The Rabbi's Cat.

I almost typed The Rabbit's Cat.

And I forgot SUPERGIRL/LEGION!

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 23 October 2006 22:02 (nineteen years ago)

Fibby toobie, and I would get Septum Soldiers#1 except I only have the rest of the series on downstolen files.

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Monday, 23 October 2006 22:09 (nineteen years ago)

Also, isn't there sposta be a new Batmorrison around now? What happened with that?

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Monday, 23 October 2006 22:11 (nineteen years ago)

52 WEEK #25 - Is it just me, or this this actually more engaging than we all thought it would be?
BOYS #4 - This actually has an OK premise, but it had better get good this month or it gets chopped
JACK OF FABLES #4 - More fun than I suspected. More fun than Fables.
JSA CLASSIFIED #18 - BANE IST NOT DER GOOD GUY
JUSTICE #8 - Alex Ross. I feel dirty.
PLANETARY #26 - "Discover what it's been leading to!" Well, I guess 5 years has been long enough.
SEVEN SOLDIERS #1 - This has been completely spoilered by OYL and Fiddy Too, right?
SHOWCASE PRESENTS PHANTOM STRANGER VOL 1 TP - Shit, I still have the Challs to pick up as well.
SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #23 - Stupidly good.
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #3 - I ARE STUPID
UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #4 - I ARE EVEN MORE STUPID
WETWORKS #2 - WHAT AM I AGAIN?
DAREDEVIL #90 - This is supposed to be Paris, so why isn't everyone talking like Batroc?
NEXTWAVE AGENTS OF HATE #9 - Hahahahahaha
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #11 - Now with less Goth than before!
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #101 - Too much spideys! Everyone returns!
ZOMBIE #2 - Wherein Marble try to recover from Steve Niles stealing a march on them, and nearly get away with it.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 03:57 (nineteen years ago)

Has Seven Soldiers actually been spoilered? I think only in that they set up the ONE SOLDIER WILL DIE!! thing... but Bulleteer's in last week's 52, Klarion's in Robin in January, Shining Knight turned up in the hospital scene in 52 #5, Zatanna's in Catwoman, Guardian was in the Villains United special, and Frankenstein and Mr. Miracle were both in Infinite Crisis, which has been established as happening the week after SS #1. Plus Frankenstein's in action ONE BILLION YEARS LATER!

I suspect that Frankie will be the one to bite it, and then be revived via the YOU CANNOT KILL WHAT DOES NOT LIVE clause.

― Douglas (Douglas), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 04:36 (nineteen years ago)

I thought in the last issue of INFINITE UNIVERSE PUNCHING there was a double page spread that only had 6 out of the seven in it. I'm fairly sure I remember it (even discussing it on here) but search is fuxored and I've been awake for too long with insomnia.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 04:54 (nineteen years ago)

52 #25, Action Comics #844 (why not pick it up now), Boys #4, Secret Six #5 (am I the only that is in love with this?), Trials of Shazam #3 (even though I swear I already have this, I thought), Seven Soldiers #1, and I will probably pick up the 2nd Fables trade if either my Gotham Central 2 or Animal Man trades come in. By the way, I got the Authority last week, fuck this. I have never been so angry at a comic it seems. Maybe I will get that American Virgin trade,too.

― christopherscottknudsen (christopherscottknudsen), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 10:26 (nineteen years ago)

Plus Frankenstein's in action ONE BILLION YEARS LATER!

I think he jumped the time travel ship w/ the Sheeda to get OBYL!, thus casting doubt upon Frank's long-term tenacity.

By the way, I got the Authority last week, fuck this. I have never been so angry at a comic it seems.

I pretty much fit the status quo w/ regard to AUTHORITY #1 (i.e. "WTF was that!"), but, thinking upon it, wouldn't the ultimate (or Ultimate, if you will) joke you could play with decompression be having the entire first issue pass without a single glimpse of the title characters, especially if you're relaunching the series which catapulted the style into popularity? As I see it, it's a formal prank Morrison couldn't pass up - I don't think such a gesture is altogether defensible, but I think I can see Grant's POV.

― Richard Baez (Johnny Logic), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 17:38 (nineteen years ago)

Don't front on a new ish of Castle Waiting!

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 05:35 (nineteen years ago)

especially if you're relaunching the series which catapulted the style into popularity?

How'd you mean, all the Authoritys I remember were big brash action fun. Surely if any one thing was responsible for decompression it'd be the career of Brian Michael Bendis?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 06:14 (nineteen years ago)

52 WEEK #25
ACTION COMICS #844
SHOWCASE PRESENTS PHANTOM STRANGER VOL 1 TP
SUPERMAN BATMAN ANNUAL #1
CAPTAIN AMERICA #23 CW
DAREDEVIL #90

and Showcase Prez Challengers, cuz I forgot to put Showcase Prez in my new file at my new comic shop AND THEY SOLD OUT!

I've read a bunch of the Phantom Stranger stuff from the 60s, and its pretty awesome, I'm looking forward to reading it on ACTUAL PAPER!!!
Showcase Prez is making me not d/l so much Silver Age stuff, since I don't want to spoil anymore books, so, um, WAY TO GO!

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 06:30 (nineteen years ago)

Grabbed the New Lil' Lulu and also this amazing Evergreen Press "Little Nemo - 1905-1914 Complete" Hardback book... only 30 bucks?!?!?!?

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

Er, as someone who wasn't a fan of the old series (too much macho teenage nonsense), I thought GMo's Authority was kind of great. If he manages to keep the Authority out of it for the rest of his run, I might even buy it.

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 18:25 (nineteen years ago)

So tedium and an alarming lack of content is preferable to "macho teenage nonsense"?

Anyway, the new issue of Supergirl & the Legion was really fun, definitely one of the better issues to date.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 18:56 (nineteen years ago)

The problem with keeping the Authority out of a comic book about The Authority should be kind of glaringly obvious...

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 19:13 (nineteen years ago)

I liked the Millar and Brubaker runs okay, but I can't stand Ellis!

Keeping the authority out of the authority is... sort of funny?

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 19:53 (nineteen years ago)

(the "macho" thing is a more of a problem for me in planetary, rather than the authority, i'll admit. i didn't think it was tedious, though.)

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 19:55 (nineteen years ago)

Holy living fuck Seven Soldiers. JH Williams omg I luv u

― Adrienne Begley (sparklecock), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 22:50 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction too.

― Douglas (Douglas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 00:39 (nineteen years ago)

Thirded. I might have to reread them all to make sense though. OH WELL.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 26 October 2006 10:53 (nineteen years ago)

Also I got Planetary, which finishes up the series with unnatural speed (please can we have a half-dozen issues which are just wacky genre pastiches, like the first half-dozen, thanks) and the previous issue of Nextwave (I wish to nuzzle Warren Ellis gently).

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 26 October 2006 11:00 (nineteen years ago)

I FINALLY see that there was a point to the Mister Miracle series!

Warren Ellis is one of the funniest muthafuckers alive (ie I HEART NEXTWAVE and LOL Planetary!).

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Thursday, 26 October 2006 11:26 (nineteen years ago)

even though I've been reading 7 Soldiers in trades, I'm terribly tempted to buy #1, just because everybody seems so excited about it!

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Thursday, 26 October 2006 11:33 (nineteen years ago)

The story is nice, and cool, and had lots of moments where this facet turns around and aligns it self with that one in a transformers-like way, but like I said I'd have to sit down with the rest of it to see if it made any, y'know, sense. But the art is ten kinds of amazing, it's very clear why it took so long.

And you can't fuck with that last page.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:03 (nineteen years ago)

Maybe I need to reread it sober, but that Donner/Johns Action Comics was really pretty awful. Such a big disappointment, as Busiek's Action had been one of my favorites since my return to comics.

Also, since it took 'em so long to get Seven Soldiers #1 out, the least they could do is have the fourth trade ready to go, like, next week.

― barefoot manthing (Garrett Martin), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:21 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, I wasn't going to buy the DonJohn AC, but the preview I saw looked half-way alright, and, you know, what's money? (NOTE: I haven't read it yet.)

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:31 (nineteen years ago)

aw, man. what time does my comic shop open? is it worth staying up?

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:32 (nineteen years ago)

I really really liked the issue of Action! I am not predisposed to like Geoff Johns or Adam Kubert, but they really pulled through! I didn't expect to be into it at all, and it was actually one of the better Superman comics I've read.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

The cover is hideous though.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

For some reason I bought Seven Soldiers #1 and it kinda summed up exactly why I didn't like that project at all aside from the Bulleteer miniseries and random bits of Guardian, Zatanna, and Frankenstein.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:38 (nineteen years ago)

The summary: MAKES NO SENSE TOTALLY BORING

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:39 (nineteen years ago)

BUT PRETTY, YES?

Have you read any of the Busiek Superman stories, Matthew? They're surprisingly non-pompous!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 26 October 2006 12:41 (nineteen years ago)

I really didn't like the art in Action. The pages where Supes stops the spaceship were pretty good, but the character designs were bad, especially Lois and Jimmy.

It also wasn't light-hearted enough, and what humor was there wasn't very humorous. Busiek did a really good job of mixing the goofy light-heartedness that I expect from Superman with the sincerity and the drama. But like I said, I should reread it without a few goblets of Ommegang in me and see if my first impression is wrong or not.

― barefoot manthing (Garrett Martin), Thursday, 26 October 2006 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

I though Seven Soldiers was incredible, it's been quite some time since I've read a comic that packed so much information in so little space and made it all look so fuckin' incredible. Anyway...I also have to sit down and re-read it all so to make sure it all connects and everything...but that doesn't stop me believing it may have been the best comic I've read this year.

― Amadeo (Amadeo G.), Thursday, 26 October 2006 14:45 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, I liked Up Up and Away, but the ones with Busiek flying solo barely kept my interest even though they had really nice artwork. I didn't even bother buying the previous issue of Action because it was just so zzzzzzzz, even if Dave Gibbons did the cover and I like Pete Woods a lot.

I think the problem I had with Busiek's recent issues is not the tone -- you may be right that he's got a better handle on that -- but in that the stories were just sorta meaningless, and the villains totally totally sucked. This story that Donner and Johns are doing at least, from the first issue anyway, has some feeling of consequence and taps into the themes that I like in Superman as opposed to just being some random issues of a comic book.

I can't emphasize enough how surprising it is that I like Adam Kubert's artwork on Action, and his brother's work on Batman, given that only a year ago I loathed those guys to the core of my being. I don't know why they are suddenly turning in decent work at DC, but whatever it is, thank goodness. But then again, fuck the both of them for doing such hack work on seemingly countless issues of X-Men that I've bought over the years.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

And as for the art in Seven Soldiers -- it's okay, I guess, but I can kinda give you a list a mile long of art that I would think is prettier.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 15:28 (nineteen years ago)

perpetua you're an idiot

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

seriously, yr having the aesthetics/physique/comprehension skills of a gerbil has failed you again.

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 16:24 (nineteen years ago)

Are you talking about Seven Soldiers, or in disliking the previous work of the Kuberts, or what?

I tried with Seven Soldiers, I really did, but it just doesn't connect with me at all though I do get what it's going for. I just can't bring myself to care or be entertained by it. I'm not saying that it sucks.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 16:39 (nineteen years ago)

you're saying you're having trouble comprehending a comic book - this screams 'take stock of yr life choices'.

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, you're kinda overstating things a bit, James. Since I haven't read all of the Seven Soldiers stuff, there's a lot that I feel like I'm missing in the final book, and so it's sort of lost on me. I didn't say it was "incomprehensible," I said that it didn't make a lot of sense to me.

But why am I arguing with you, of all people?

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 16:55 (nineteen years ago)

I will definitely say that SS #1 is very interesting in terms of formal presentation, even if the story doesn't move me at all.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 17:00 (nineteen years ago)

I think 7 Soldiers as a whole, as deeply and weirdly flawed as it is, is probably my favorite superhero project of the last 15 years or so. (The flaws, actually, mostly have to do with artists executing Morrison's intentions badly--like Sally Sonic being drawn in Bulleteer in a way that totally misses the ENTIRE POINT OF THE SCRIPT.)

I'm working on a long article about 7S (that won't be done for a few months), but in the meantime, the Barbelith wiki article at http://www.barbelith.com/faq/index.php/Seven_Soldiers_Kaballah_mapping explains one aspect of how deeply it's possible to read this series... I also love Ragnell's analysis of Shining Knight at http://ragnell.blogspot.com/2006/01/shining-knight.html (warning: it spoils all the big plot twists of SK).

― Douglas (Douglas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 17:24 (nineteen years ago)

yes matt otm in that unlike with any other narrative ever conceived this narrative's beginning and middles are relevant to its ending. also, a clue to readers - 'dogfather' is a joke on 'godfather', a movie series generally regarded as incomprehensible and boring cuz in the third one they keep referencing some 'fredo' guy and - get this - no 'fredo' ever even appears in the movie. and then in the second one they do it again - 'vito' this and 'vito' that and then at the end they're about to finally show us this 'vito', so that maybe the movie can make some sense, and then they never do! WHA????

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

RE: Seven Soldiers #1

Wow - Biggles pulls it off.

― Richard Baez (Johnny Logic), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

ITSY BITSY SPIDER MAN LOVES MIGHTY TINY MARY JANE #11 - Last issue's cliffhanger promises this will be amazing, spectacular, and perhaps even web of.

ALSO: I was immensely amused to see that the issue commented upon used almost the exact same joke within its pages.

― Richard Baez (Johnny Logic), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:26 (nineteen years ago)

James, why are you so apparently offended by me not being particularly into Seven Soldiers? Yes, obviously if I bought every damn issue of it I'd get more of it (I didn't read a single issue of Shining Knight or Mr. Miracle, though I'm sorta interested in trying the latter now), but I bought the finale yesterday because I thought it looked interesting and I figured maybe seeing how it all ended would make me more interested in the project overall, but yet again I'm just really bored by the master narrative and prefer the smaller, self-contained elements.

There's really no good reason to be hostile about it, though it is kinda your thing, isn't it?

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:32 (nineteen years ago)

Did anyone try the crossword? Also I really want to see the further adventures of Klarion and Frankenstein

― Adrienne Begley (sparklecock), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:35 (nineteen years ago)

xpost I feel like I'm being given a hard time for, what, repeatedly giving Morrison the benefit of the doubt, even when I don't enjoy what he's doing? But when have I ever really enjoyed his more mystical tangents? It's never been something that has interested me.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:38 (nineteen years ago)

anyhow loved the 'ladies and gentlemen it's...MANHATTAN GUARDIAN/SHINING KNIGHT/BULLETEER/etc' splashes, generally loved loved loved the art though there were some problems here and there, to be expected when changing styles every other heartbeat (bad analogy alert but this comic reminded me of 'adventures of grandmaster flash' in it's jumping between elements, occasionally mixing together but never letting merge completely, and never passing up an opportunity for a joke), loved 'ON, BEEZLEBOTTLE! ON TO GLORY!' and 'TEEKL, NOW!', loved that it finally made (albeit hamfistedly perhaps) the mister miracle mini superrelevant to the rest of the book, loved the hyperaction esp the just in the nick of time bits, loved the betrayal, loved that the seven never do come together, that zatanna's the only one with a clue of it even, loved the tailor working as cryptkeeper narrative, loved that 95% of the issue is one big continuing 'meanwhile...back in the jungle' . wish it'd been longer, for the denouements and afterwards primarily, and i definitely felt an element of 'o shit we forgot to get to this - cram it in' that you get in final chapters of serials. overall loved it, hyperfun and open to deeper readings though i think it's more on the level of easter egg hunting than talmudic pondering which sorta points at one disappointment i have with it overall (and one reason i definitely wouldn't put it my fave superhero project of past 15 years) is that it feels overall slight somehow? again the comic i want to contrast it to is promethea (part cuz of williams and partly cuz morrison overtly set up some of it at least, well zatanna anyhow, as a deliberate rejoinder to promethea), which had action and jokes and 'footnote me/nerd out on the interweb' possibilities (and obv as gorgeous and probably more really), but felt in the end (esp in the end) more *stifle laffs here plz* therapeutic? not neccessarily in a grand 'this changed my life' way (not that there's anything that changes yr life is grand - a stoplight changes yr life, indigestion changes yr life, etc), but in that it did change in some fashion how i looked at life (for a few minutes at least), it didn't just thrill me it also mesmerized me and confounded me, whereas seven soldiers just thrilled me (ALOT) but it didn't even change how i look at comic books, nevermind anything bigger than comic books ('anything bigger than comic books' encompassing ALOT). i am supersatisfied with the ending and would like a continuing series, esp if they're smart and do it l&o:ci style with a rotating protagonist (and maybe *dare to dream* the return of the backup story???), and feel that silly bittersweet tinge that accompanies the conclusion of any pop culture whatever you've been following for some period ('man when i started reading this i hadn't met _____ / was still working at ______ / etc.')(got this superovertime w/ s-k breakup), obv same impulse that comes with birthday gloom - acknowleding passage of time=acknowleding yr impending death (unless you're mister miracle or frankenstein i guess). overall: A-!

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

sorry if 'seven superheroes stop "aliens" from destroying civilization/mankind/manhattan' was too philosophical and deep for some (you folx will want to stay far far away from marmaduke).

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 18:45 (nineteen years ago)

I think it's one of the most rewarding series of the last few years, in terms of subtext and overall narrative. It's true that there are some troubles here and there, I have to re-read it entirely to see if it all fits together and where are the gaps, but it really made me think about the way i see comics or at least made me think "If they can make things like that, that are a king of mixture between experimentalism and thrill-power, why is it that everything seems stuck in a rehash of old comic tropes". I guess that's what clicks about Morrison for me, not only is he a great storyteller (not always, but even his missteps are more interesting that other writers' most accomplished work) but he also makes me think about the craft of putting a comic book together in different ways.

― Amadeo (Amadeo G.), Thursday, 26 October 2006 19:03 (nineteen years ago)

(sorry) Dude, you were dating Sleater Kinney?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 26 October 2006 19:12 (nineteen years ago)

James, you were doing so well til you just had to get back to the aggro condescension!

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 19:33 (nineteen years ago)

this close to dating s-k but that no tipping fuxxor bangs got in there first!

i still don't see what's mystical or incomprehensibly deep about 'superheroes stop alien invasion' matt - sorry! clarify yr position maybe.

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 20:05 (nineteen years ago)

teh aliengs are fairies = mystical

― occasional mongrel (kit brash), Thursday, 26 October 2006 20:25 (nineteen years ago)

REALLY REALLY AMAZING.

And I'm not talking about Action comics.

(I understood all of it first read, except how exactly was the MM series superrelevant in the end? GREAT last page though.)

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 26 October 2006 20:48 (nineteen years ago)

Well, it's far more accurate for me to say that the big reason I can't get into Seven Soldiers is that I just cannot bring myself to care about the conflict of the larger storyline -- the smaller bits work for me, but my eyes just glaze over the "superheroes stop alien invasion" stuff and all its attendent mumbojumbo. If there's something deeper to it, I honestly don't see it because I'm stuck on story elements that bore the hell out of me. My feeling is that the philosophy elements aren't the "incomprehensible" thing, but rather the structure of the piece as a whole, as well as much of the dialog. Also, I'm more than a little confused by the bizarre appropriation of the Jack Kirby New Gods stuff -- "Dark Side," "O'Ryan" -- wtf? Are those meant to actually be Darkseid and Orion, or is this some semi-canonical variation?

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 21:02 (nineteen years ago)

Over the years I've found that if I've got some investment in the characters Grant is writing (Doom Patrol, Animal Man, the Invisibles, X-Men), I can really go with him a loooong way and get a lot of the work on all the levels that he intends, but when I don't care, I find getting through the story and caring about the conflict to be a chore. This is reasonable, yes?

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 21:10 (nineteen years ago)

NOBODY HAS SAID "ZOMG, EGG FU!" YET.

Mind you, nobody has said "ZOMG "ZOMG! There are French people in Canada? That's, like, right next door! OH NOES!" " yet either.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 26 October 2006 21:20 (nineteen years ago)

http://forum.newsarama.com/showpost.php?p=2677471&postcount=61

Good old Newsarama.

Orion uses the alias O'Ryan in New Gods v1, doesnt he?

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 26 October 2006 21:23 (nineteen years ago)

As I understand the Mister Miracle/New Gods stuff: the versions of them that we see in 7S both are and aren't Kirby's versions, at the same time. A crazy bald man in a wheelchair can also be Metron; a shrink who takes you deeper into your own pain instead of showing you the way out is also Desaad; Darkseid is also "Dark Side," and the Anti-Life Equation is also human despair. Which means that human interactions are also the wars of Apokolips and New Genesis.

― Douglas (Douglas), Thursday, 26 October 2006 21:58 (nineteen years ago)

Did anyone try the crossword

I got about half way through it -

ACROSS
3: BORS
4: BADDE
7: GLORIANA

DOWN
1: LOA
6: LANCE
8: ONE

Which would somehow make Lena, and presumable Lars, Chop Suzi's kids, though I'm holding off on that conclusion.

― Richard Baez (Johnny Logic), Thursday, 26 October 2006 22:12 (nineteen years ago)

Mmmm. The Mister Miracle stuff sounds interesting.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Thursday, 26 October 2006 22:23 (nineteen years ago)

SEVEN SOLDIERS WAS NOT DELIVERED TO MY LOCAL STORE.

I am dying inside.

― J (Jay), Thursday, 26 October 2006 22:35 (nineteen years ago)

Crossword:
ACROSS: 1 LENA 9 OPEN
DOWN 2 ABEDNIGO

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 26 October 2006 23:02 (nineteen years ago)

Also: better Kirby that that guy who does Godhead.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 26 October 2006 23:03 (nineteen years ago)

I was a bit confused by the Cyrus/baldy-Grant-stand-in sections: pleasing someone to explain to me?

Otherwise, er, wow.

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Friday, 27 October 2006 13:14 (nineteen years ago)

And also ZOMG EGG FU!!! (There you go, Aldo.)

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Friday, 27 October 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

i don't really get how the mister miracle stuff makes it superrelevant to the series as a whole or whatever: other than on the uh blah symbolic scale - spirit of freedom, and all that. which was surely there anyway.

mister miracle was actually my favorite of the miniseries tho; so possibly i'm not to be trusted.

― tom west (thomp), Friday, 27 October 2006 13:24 (nineteen years ago)

Mind you, nobody has said "ZOMG "ZOMG! There are French people in Canada? That's, like, right next door! OH NOES!" " yet either.

I WAS SCREAMING WITH LAUGHTER at that and I read it on the train!

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Friday, 27 October 2006 15:10 (nineteen years ago)

Fuck Seven Soldiers! NEW PLANETARY!!!

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:13 (nineteen years ago)

Wait, did Seven Soldiers get good after I stopped reading it like 5 months ago? I read like the first 7-8 issues and Doc Frankenstein was like the only one that was even the slightest bit interesting at the time!

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

Oh wait, and Zatanna! But neither of them was that great.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

Oh fuck and Manhattan Guardian! I guess it was just mostly that boring Knight guy and the Bullet guy that turned me off on it.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:24 (nineteen years ago)

Wait, bullet chick, miracle man guy, they're sort've conflated as super boring characters in my mind

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

LOL okay wait now I remembered that KLARION was also cool, which means I like a majority of the characters and I'm going to have to go back and catch up on this series! haha sorry for ruining your thread comics guys.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

bullet chick (especially the second and third issues) was actually one of the series highlights fer me

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

Oh man oh man oh man - I just bought the first two issues of Seven Soldiers of Victory: Mister Miracle and I absolutely LOVED them. So now I have to find the remaining issues (Midtown only had these two, I would've bought the whole set if they had them), and seriously reconsider the entire SS project, even though I cannot discern a connection between this rather fantastic miniseries that riffs on the meaning of old Jack Kirby comics and the big picture storyline.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:43 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, Aurakles makes a minor appearance in MM #3 or #4 -- and he of course turns out to be a big deal in Seven Soldiers #1.

The big picture (if I understand correctly) is that Darkseid "allows" the Sheeda to get busy on earth, in exchange for Auracles (who appears in the third or fourth issue of the MM miniseries.)

But generally Darkseid is a bit of a red herring, I guess.

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Friday, 27 October 2006 16:56 (nineteen years ago)

Oh damn, no one seems to have the remaining issues of MM in stock!

I encourage the rest of you to coax me into buying awesome things that I am skipping in the future.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Friday, 27 October 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

Those two issues (MM 3 and 4) may be the most harrowing of the series. 4 will either piss you off immensely or leave you on Cloud 9.

― Richard Baez (Johnny Logic), Friday, 27 October 2006 21:22 (nineteen years ago)

I ended up ordering them from Mile High, so they should be here sometime soonish. I ordered JLA Rock Of Ages too, because I've never actually read that and I'm curious to see Morrison's more conventional take on the New Gods.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Friday, 27 October 2006 21:26 (nineteen years ago)

I found ROCK OF AGES to be a rollercoaster, both in terms of thrills and overall quality. There are some wonderful issues (WONDERWORLD! APOKALIPS NOW!) but also some fairly meh bits. But really - Wonderworld kicks ass. ALSO: Morrison nails Darkseid very, very well - think Kirby or those fantastic episodes of Superman: The Animated Series.

― Richard Baez (Johnny Logic), Friday, 27 October 2006 21:34 (nineteen years ago)

I know about the DARKSEID IS thing, that's kinda what sold me.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Friday, 27 October 2006 21:37 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah - those pages are very effective.

― Richard Baez (Johnny Logic), Friday, 27 October 2006 21:40 (nineteen years ago)

Rock of the Ages is sometimes my favorite superhero comic period. But how well do I have to understand the New Gods to get Seven Soldiers? Does anyone know when the trade's suppose to come out?

― ASDF (ASDFASDF), Friday, 27 October 2006 22:15 (nineteen years ago)

Is it my impression or has fitty two really picked up pace in the last two or three issues?.

― Amadeo (Amadeo G.), Friday, 27 October 2006 23:03 (nineteen years ago)

rock of ages is ok but the art & pacing is so bad it almost kills all the good stuff for me

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 27 October 2006 23:15 (nineteen years ago)

"Rock Of Ages" is "THIS happens and then THAT happens and then THIS happens and then THAT happens and..." for the entire volume. Which is totally fine by me, but it does puzzle me that ppl could count it as their all-time fave.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 28 October 2006 00:41 (nineteen years ago)

52 has definitely gotten noticeably better of late

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 28 October 2006 00:55 (nineteen years ago)

I love that sort of thing, maybe the one JLA book I love more is World War III, where all the THISs and THATs are lined up in the same direction, producing a similar impression as if, halfway through the battle at Seven ~~Soldiers~~ Samurai, tanks came over the hill, and then at the end the predator ship set down... Though to be honest the "all over the place" nature of Rock of Ages is also something I love about it.

Did anyone get a 'guest scripted by Neil Gaiman' feel off the first page of Seven Soldiers #1?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Saturday, 28 October 2006 09:26 (nineteen years ago)

i liked wwiii more than rock of ages too. touching on a point amadeo made above (and possible inadvertant peacepipe to perpetua here!) i didn't generally get a feeling of 'why can't comix be more like this' from reading seven soldiers - morrison is barely able to pull it off (and that's debateable clearly), i know there ain't a chance in hell judd winick or whoever could - but the one book i consistently think 'this doesn't look too hard - why isn't this the norm???' about, the one i might even call the best spandex comic out there, if only cuz i consistently look forward to it and enjoy it every month and there's none of the high concept pomo bs gimmick foundation that's usually what draws me into a superhero comic ergo it must just be the quality i enjoy, is (sg &) losh - thrilling, witty, adept at one-and-done's and longer story-arc's, good soap opera w/out going overboard, clever without ever getting really showoffy or in yr face, good art.

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 28 October 2006 12:36 (nineteen years ago)

I know it was last week but I really enjoyed the Morrison Authority.

― Tom (Groke), Saturday, 28 October 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

Tom, can you elaborate on that?

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Saturday, 28 October 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

I think part of the beauty of Waid's Legion is that he's capable of doing the one-and-dones and longer arcs simultaneously, which owes more to contemporary television than to what we're used to seeing in comics lately, and the simple logic of that approach (along with a generally pleasurable style that gets to the core of why superhero comics are fun without taking them extremely seriously) is what makes it seem like the standard everyone else should be shooting for now.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Saturday, 28 October 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

Ugh, Waid.

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Saturday, 28 October 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

Dan OTM - Blount's post was like a GREAT joke w/ a lousy punchline - and good art??? barry kitson draws the human figure w/ a ruler!

― Ward Fowler (Ward Fowler), Saturday, 28 October 2006 16:03 (nineteen years ago)

I think "forewarned is forearmed" would be my main elaboration Matthew - I knew I wasn't going to get the Authority as such, and so that particular expectation wasn't dashed. I liked the attention to mundane, up-to-the-minute, real world detail, too. There was actually MORE action and less domestica than I'd been led to believe, and the story wasn't at all baffling either. The Authority is the perfect comic to do this in, because it made its name on providing bigger, wider-screen action than anything else, so turning the intensity *right* down is an obvious but satisfying contrast.

I liked it tons more than Wildcats, or the really disappointing Planetary payoff issue.

― Tom (Groke), Saturday, 28 October 2006 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

I assume that the bits of topical detail - Thai coup, Pope Muslim apology, Liverpool-Newcastle (the date is 20 September 2006 FWIW) -were added at the last munute for maximum verisimilitude.

― Tom (Groke), Saturday, 28 October 2006 16:32 (nineteen years ago)

last minute I mean

The zoom in-zoom out stuff in the art and the constant close ups on little things reminded me of BIG NUMBERS! Except Big Numbers didn't have a crashed pan-dimensional spaceship in it I suppose.

― Tom (Groke), Saturday, 28 October 2006 16:37 (nineteen years ago)

I've only read the first two trades of Waid's "Legion Of Super Heroes" (I mostly only read trades, which is why I don't post much on these threads), but yeah, those are as good as it gets for yer meat & potatoes suphero action cravings.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 28 October 2006 17:21 (nineteen years ago)

and big numbe rs was DRAWN REALLY WELL not fvcked about with shiity photopshop filters to fake cam,era effects (that are shitty ANYWAY)

blx-post

― occasional mongrel (kit brash), Saturday, 28 October 2006 17:42 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, I normally enjoy Gene Ha but the bad special effects in that issue of the Authority did great harm to pencils that would've gotten the same point across without ham-fisted photoshopping.

But yeah, fair enough, Tom. I guess I was extra annoyed cos I actually did expect to you know, get a comic with the Authority in it. Maybe next time? Which is, like, two or three months from now?

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Saturday, 28 October 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

I like Waid and was a childhood Legion mark but I can't get into the current series. I even kinda like Barry Kitson but I think the book is poorly served by his art, the costume designs are pretty bad and no series about teenagers from the future!!! should be that boring looking

― Adrienne Begley (sparklecock), Saturday, 28 October 2006 20:50 (nineteen years ago)

OMG, Superman/Batman Annual WORST COMIC OF THE YEAR! AWESOMELY AWFUL. NOT EVEN FAKE ED MCG ART WORKS.
It's like, um, I think Joe Kelly is trying to piss all over Jeph Loeb's run, but he kinda just pisses all over himself by utter DUDness of the whole thing. MAY HAVE BEEN GHOSTWRITTEN BY KEVIN SMITH.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Saturday, 28 October 2006 22:48 (nineteen years ago)

Reading 7 Soldiers in trades and this thread is just immensely frustrating, as if I didn't want to read it enough as it was...

Rock of Ages : the Black Skier issue is maybe my favourite single issue of any of GM's stuff, ever. The characterisation of Batman, the pacing - fantastic. Even though the art is baaaad.

― David N (David N.), Saturday, 28 October 2006 23:18 (nineteen years ago)

I really can't get past the art to read G Mo's JLA which is quite heartbreaking considering all the DC nerd buttons I have to be pushed ;________________;

― Adrienne Begley (sparklecock), Saturday, 28 October 2006 23:25 (nineteen years ago)

HUK-L IS OVERREACTING. SupBatAnn #1 is totally fine if you want to spend $4 on a silly semi-charming Loeb pisstake.

― David R. (popshots75`), Sunday, 29 October 2006 02:15 (nineteen years ago)

I think Porter's art is fine -- obviously it's not good, but I like its traditional look and general unpretentiousness, and the way that counterpoints with Grant's writing.

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Monday, 30 October 2006 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

I saw the first volume of the EC Archive series - v. v. tempting

The Phantom Stranger, on the other hand, looked v. INessential, even w/ the nice Jim Aparo artwork (wld much rather have a volume of his early 70s Batmans written by David V. Reeed, tho)

― Ward Fowler (Ward Fowler), Monday, 30 October 2006 17:54 (nineteen years ago)

I read about 300 pages of the Phantom Stranger on a bus over the weekend, and although it's hardly ever actually good, it is sort of endearing in its own goofy, repetitious way. Spartacus, Attila, Wild Rose, and Mister Square are perhaps the nadir of 19060's DC's embarrassing and misguided appeals to the coveted hippie demographic.

― barefoot manthing (Garrett Martin), Monday, 30 October 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

meant to type "1960's DC's", obviously. also meant to mention that the Neal Adams Phantom Stranger covers are usually really good, along with the issue or two that he drew. but yes, maybe not worth the $16.99.

― barefoot manthing (Garrett Martin), Monday, 30 October 2006 18:07 (nineteen years ago)

In retrospect, Authority #1 was actually pretty good but I'm still kind of mad that The Authority weren't in it.

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Monday, 30 October 2006 18:17 (nineteen years ago)

It's interesting that this fairly conventional GM comic has gotten such a fan-hata response.

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Monday, 30 October 2006 18:22 (nineteen years ago)

That's because it's conventional! (boom boom)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 30 October 2006 18:34 (nineteen years ago)

I didn't realise the Authority was important enough for people to get precious about!

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Monday, 30 October 2006 19:27 (nineteen years ago)

The Authority are a pretty good bunch of characters, actually. They are very endearing in their way.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Monday, 30 October 2006 19:37 (nineteen years ago)

I mean, they are certainly a lot more fun than the actual Justice League aside from the Giffen years. It's rather nice to read a version of the JLA in which Superman and Batman aren't rewarded EXTREME IMPORTANCE simply because they are the most famous characters in the book.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Monday, 30 October 2006 19:38 (nineteen years ago)

Is there a Daredevil thread? I couldn't find one.

Anyway I read the first Brubaker last night and it is REALLY GOOD, although old news to most of you I guess. Maybe better than Bendis'?

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:16 (nineteen years ago)

I don't doubt it, tho I just started rereading Bendis' run (IN SINGLES BECAUSE I AM HARDCORE PART FIVE), and the first year+ is great. It gets a little schticky right around the White Tiger trial arc, but it's still good - I love me some BMB dialogue porn. The one thing that Brubaker has going for him (apart from his crime / noir chops) is the lack of any apparent schtick or writerly ticks - he's just writing the story, and getting out of its way. (This is where someone points out some EB trait I haven't noticed.)

There has to be a DD thread, tho. Look harder, foo!

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

I only found this: Remember all those bad things I said about Bendis? After reading a couple volumes of DD, I can safely say that I was WRONG

I was thinking the same thing re: Brubaker, that it's just super solid writing w/out the schticky dialogue (which can be perfect or go off the rails into ridiculous Sorkinisms, or whatever). I love Daredevil in Oz, hope the post-prison stuff is as good.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:46 (nineteen years ago)

I think Bendis' work on Daredevil was just great, even the weaker bits like the White Tiger trial. The first two years are pretty tight, and though it lags slightly in Golden Age and Decalogue, the Murdock Papers is brilliant and leads rather nicely into the strong work that Brubaker is doing right now. The both of them have really done an amazing job on the series, and I think they have built what Miller, Nocenti et al have done in the past into something much better.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah don't get me wrong, I love Bendis/Maleev and I think Daredevil is the best book he's written, but the new stuff is even better than I hoped.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

I was fully expecting for DD to not be good following Bendis -- I almost stopped buying it following Bendis' final issue if you go back to some earlier thread -- so it was kind of amazing to me when the series somehow raised its game with Brubaker's first story. Something about DD really brings out the best in some creators.

― Matthew Perpetua! (Matthew Perpetua!), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

And then there's the Daredevil Armor years.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

So far, I'm preferring the Brubaker run. Bendis was fine but I'm not missing his "see-what-I-did-there" moments.

I forgot to pick up Criminal, though: any good?

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

"My city has gone to Hell." [Ed Brubaker's Daredevil]
and
Daredevil - The Thread

Criminal didn't blow me away or anything, but I'm gonna stick with it. Keep in mind I'm one of the few people who wasn't head-over-heels for Sleeper, though.

― The Yellow Kid (The Yellow Kid), Tuesday, 31 October 2006 17:27 (nineteen years ago)

WTF are you goobers going on about OMG NO AUTHORITY THIS SUCKS! The issue was fine! Granted, this would've been great as teaser material for the 1st half of a DOUBLE SIZED REINTRODUCTORY EVENT and all that, but, hell. Also, you have the Bleed Fish Ship on the last page! There's your freakin' Authority!

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 2 November 2006 14:06 (nineteen years ago)

Also: what Tom said.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 2 November 2006 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

What David R said.

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Thursday, 2 November 2006 15:09 (nineteen years ago)

What Chuck said.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 2 November 2006 15:18 (nineteen years ago)

what she said.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 2 November 2006 15:34 (nineteen years ago)

all the things she said

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Thursday, 2 November 2006 17:48 (nineteen years ago)

you all agree that the computer effects on the art were fucking stupid, cheap, obvious, ugly and impeded storytelling though, right?

― occasional mongrel (kit brash), Friday, 3 November 2006 01:32 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, I do agree that.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 3 November 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

I respectfully disagree, but I would.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 3 November 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

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