I'm too old for this ship: July 18, 2007

More B&B already? AND it's characters/teams I'm actually stoked to read about? G'Nice.

I'm getting...nothing? But I actually picked up the last couple months' worth of comics on Friday!

GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL 2ND PTG #1
SILVER SURFER REQUIEM 2ND PTG VAR #1

plz raise your standards direct market comic shoppers

(NB: I am still buying Meltzer League; ergo, I shd shut my yap)

Chuck: IRON FIST #6 just came out a few weeks ago; I imagine the trade (which is sooooooooooo worth it) will be out late August / early September?

WOLVERINE ORIGINS ANNUAL #1

Given the title proper seems to be a glacially-paced spelunking of unknown Wolverine bullshit (OMG HE HAS A KID! WITH CLAWS! A SEVEN PART EPIC EVENT!), I can only imagine how fantastically shitty this will be, especially since it involves PATCH:

"Madripoor. A dirty town custom-made for dirty work. A long time ago, one man ruled this place with an iron fist, a wicked grin…and a patch over one eye. That man is back, and he’s looking for answers. Problem is, the answers are dying faster than he can ask the questions. Is there a new player in town…or is it the same old game? Don’t miss Logan’s long-awaited return to Madripoor, a twisted tour leading from the blood-streaked gutters of Lowtown to the glittering, razor-sharp spires of Hightown and back again."

BTW: has anyone read / tolerated / put themselves through the Loeb-Bianchi Wolferine / Saburtoof 6-month-long FITE that's currently happening in the bub's solo title?

(I'll stop posting now.)

this is still only what's expected, right? still, good week!

ALL FLASH #1 - for the same reasons everybody else
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5 - Y'know, if the Scarlet Skier's gonna turn up anywhere, it'll be here.
ROBIN #164 - am I the only ILCite reading this?
SHAZAM THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4 (OF 4) - OH YEAH
SHOWCASE PRESENTS MARTIAN MANHUNTER VOL 1 TP - Just when I thought I was done with Showcase.
SPIRIT #8 - I don't know why I'm still buying this. I haven't read any of them since #2, but I always plan to. So I should just wait for the trade, right?
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #4 - I just plain don't know why I'm buying this.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #28 - this is SO MUCH like Gotham Central right now, ie ABOUT Cap, but not starring Cap.
SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #1 (OF 5) - is this supposed to be good?

Spirit's great, Huck. And the issues feel like actual items-of-possession, what with the cardboard-cover-whatnot.

Yeah, I was really enjoying it, but fell into the same trap I did with Rocketo, where I set the issues aside from the MERE comics I get in a week, and then never get around to doing the reading.

It's up now: http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping/shipping_071807.txt

For me:

ALL FLASH #1--go ahead, Waid, impress me
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5--see above
GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL 2ND PTG--because people keep telling me I'd like it
SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4--to read to my kid, honest
THE SPIRIT #8--more Darwyn Cooke!
MADMAN GARGANTUA HC--and not a moment too soon
CAPTAIN AMERICA #28--still not at all clear where this is going, in a good way
WORLD WAR HULK #2--I've learned my lesson on the spinoffs, but this is awesome
WIRE MOTHERS: HARRY HARLOW AND THE SCIENCE OF LOVE GN--new Jim Ottaviani/Dylan Meconis book!

I'm not feeling the Bravery and Boldery love here. I'm dropping it. What I'm not dropping that's shipping:

Army at Love
Checkmate
Shazam vs. the Monster Society of Evil
Spirit
Captain America

Also: MODOK'S 11?!??!

BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5
SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4 -- Excuse to meet Jeff Smith in San Diego!
MADMAN GARGANTUA HC -- I thought it already shipped, but oh wells!

I recall reading that the IRON FIST trade is due later on in the month. That source may very well be wrong.

NONETHELESS:
BRAVE & THE BOLD #5 - Perpetua Approved!
ALL FLASH #1 - The book that Waid betrayed Legion for.
THE ORDER #1 - The book that Kitson betrayed Legion for.
SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4 - I'll never forget whatsisface!

My slimmed-down pull list is having a relapse:

GOON #19 -- YES!

ALL FLASH #1
BIRDS OF PREY #108 -- I think I'm going to drop this
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11
PROGRAMME #1 (OF 12) -- hoping that the PM that wrote Human Target shows up for this...
SHAZAM THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4 (OF 4)
SPIRIT #8

GODLAND #19
STRANGE EMBRACE #2 (OF 8) -- because Joe Quesada demanded I buy it!

ANNIHILATION CONQUEST QUASAR #1 (OF 4)
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #4 -- I might drop this, too; damn you Slott
CAPTAIN AMERICA #28
SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #1 -- from the man that brought you Action Philosophers!
THE ORDER #1 -- stoked!
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #111 -- IMMOMMNENEMMENEMEMNEM!!!!
WORLD WAR HULK #2 (OF 5)
WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #2 (OF 3)

WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 #3 (OF 3) -- TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH WARREN

PROGRAMME #1 (OF 12) -- hoping that the PM that wrote Human Target shows up for this...

Tell me more.

From the brilliant mind of critically acclaimed writer Peter Milligan (TOXIC, PUNISHER / WOLVERINE, ELEKTRA) and with the incredible art of C.P. Smith (STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES) comes a tale a half century in the making!

In 1991, the Cold War ended without the two primary players ever facing each other in direct conflict. The vast arsenals of democracy and communism were put on ice, and the world moved toward a new millennium. While the U.S.S.R. disintegrated, the United States rose to unchallenged dominance…but now a long-forgotten Soviet weapon is awakened on one of America's many battlegrounds, threatening the global balance of power. Conventional warfare is suddenly outdated: the new weapons of mass destruction wield super-powers.

Does America have an answer to...The Programme?

ARMY @ LOVE #5: Proof I hate myself.
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5: Erm. More proof.
GHOST RIDER #13 WWH: Sigh.
NEW X-MEN #40: More sigh.

And then a whole other slew of depressing titles:
WORLD WAR HULK #2 (OF 5) WWH
WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #2 (OF 6) WWH
WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #2 (OF 3)

Nothing for me this week, which is a major relief since I shouldn't be spending the money.

critically acclaimed writer Peter Milligan (TOXIC, PUNISHER / WOLVERINE, ELEKTRA)

Odd choices there.

ALL FLASH #1
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5
SHOWCASE PRESENTS MARTIAN MANHUNTER VOL 1 TP
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #4

ACTION COMICS #852 - this is the first issue of the Eric Powell Bizarro, innit?
ALL FLASH #1 - because, y'know
AQUAMAN SWORD OF ATLANTIS #54 - I will be sad when this is gone, it's like Showcase BUT MODERN
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5 - because, y'know
CATWOMAN #69 - I'm beginning to wonder about dropping this
SHAZAM THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4 - because, y'know
SPIRIT #8 - because, y'know
MADMAN GARGANTUA HC - AT LAST
GHOST RIDER TRAIL OF TEARS #6 - BETTER THAN YOU THINK
SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #1 - ???
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #111 - Wondering about bailing on this too
WORLD WAR HULK #2 - SMASH
WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #2 - SMASH AGANE
WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #2 - MORE SMASH
WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 #3 - More delayed than Gargantua

I'm trying to remember what the hell Milligan actually wrote for Toxic and I'm coming up a blank. Unless, of course, I'm an idiot and he actually wrote something called Toxic that I've never heard of...

I think he's on the Britney Spears record.

He's never done anything good on a top-tier "name" title, right?

Boring answer: P'raps it refers to his Marvel series, Toxin.

It seems pretty obvious to me that Milligan is best known for X-Force/X-Statix and Shade The Changing Man...

And, ah, X-Men.

Shade & X-Statix (sadly) are not "name" titles. And his X-run was not that good (which supports Leeeeeee's assertion re: PM not doing well on "name" titles).

Didn't he also do that wicked bad Riddler three-parter where Batman performs a tracheotomy on a newborn with covers by Mignola?

Oh yeah (& you mean "bad" meaning "good", I hope)!

It's at this point in ILX when it's traditional for me to mention "The Hungry Grass!".

"wicked bad" as in "wicked bad"

You didn't like it?!??!?!?!? WITCH!

ALL FLASH #1 pls Waid bring back the Rogues that we liked (the ones that were in that wonderful Loebs number in which they invite Wally to their party).
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5
PROGRAMME #1 (OF 12)
SHAZAM THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4 (OF 4) yesssssss
SPIRIT #8

CAPTAIN AMERICA #28
SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #1 (OF 5) Modok + one of the men that brought us Action Philosophers!. Let it be good, pls.
THE ORDER #1 Fraction, please, don't leave us down like Slott did.
WORLD WAR HULK #2 (OF 5) In which smash happens
WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #2 (OF 3) In which nothing happens.

Madman Gargantua will be one of those things that I will kick myself in the head for not buying, in a couple of years.

Nothing for me this week, which is a major relief since I shouldn't be spending the money.

NO BRAVE/BOLD - WAID/LEGION REUNION, FLUXBLOG????

All-Flash: Not spectacular, but Gets The Job Done. It's basically setting Flash up to be

**SPPPPPPPPPPPPOILLLLLLLLER**

a Fantastic Four/Incredibles for the DCU. Nice idea.

Wait, whuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut?

Oh I see, Wally and his wife and kids...

Oh, you know for some reason whenever I scan over the shipping lists I never notice Brave and the Bold.

I'll be getting that and All Flash and I think one other thing, but next week probably.

HAVING READ THE ORDER...(SPOILERS):

There's much to like and a few things that I find blah (it's difficult to know whether the satirical elements are being somewhat muted or whether it's simply Kitson's prototypical superhero art undermining a script), but I'm wondering what's more subversive: the X-FORCE/X-STATIX "premiere issue where virtually everyone dies" or THE ORDER's "premiere issue where virtually everyone gets fired". ALSO: The MARVEL BOY shout-out is appreciated.

Found The Order really confusing to follow, plus the writing seemed far too pleased with itself, and also a bit... bad? I'll give it one more issue, though.

Allow me to strike a pose as Cap'n Save-an-Order, because:

- big-headed Nazis are awesome
- Barry Kitson's art is the best it's looked since I don't know when
- I am all for characters named Mullholland Black w/ pink/white hair wielding big-ass hammers
- I am a sucker for freckles

As for All-Flash: what is Karl Kerschl working on next, & can I eat it?

Also: please to stop bagging on WORLD WAR X-HULK, because it's HULK SMASH MUTANTS! He beats the crap out of Wolverine, for the luvva - that should be worth something!

It's been pretty entertaining, setting aside continuity confusion. (Does the Hulk's trip to Westchester to whup on mutants come before or after the big Manhattan fite? Maybe I read these too fast.)

Allow me to strike a pose as Cap'n Save-an-Order, because:

- big-headed Nazis are awesome
- Barry Kitson's art is the best it's looked since I don't know when
- I am all for characters named Mullholland Black w/ pink/white hair wielding big-ass hammers
- I am a sucker for freckles

I'm at a loss about what to say about the plethura of epigrams which open the book, though I suspect I'll be disappointed if I don't see Lawrence Weschler and Joan Didion quoted in next month's ish.

As for All-Flash: what is Karl Kerschl working on next, & can I eat it?

Gosh, it sure is pretty. An understatement, obv., cuz, y'know, Kerschl certainly does bring the "wow". AND HOW!

And the dude's a big head Commie, one who no doubt would open fire at the very mention of his National Socialist counterpart.

I'll give it the benefit of the doubt for a few issues, but it seemed a bit Millar-lite to me. And too many words: it read like a blog post.

Kitson's art was sure pretty though -- he seems to be channeling Kevin Maguire.

And shame Kerschl's not arting the Flash -- the spread by the new guy at the end had some, um, Liefeld-tastic anatomy/perspective compositions.

And shame Kerschl's not arting the Flash

Yeah - he seems to the manor born with the ten pages he contributes here.

Commie, Nazi - the US beat the shit out of both those punk-ass races, so why do I care?

I thought Acuna was doing Flash 2.1, and, um, of all the knocks I might throw at him, Liefeldianism isn't one of 'em.

and, for all the goodwill I'm feeling toward Waid, did he really need to give JLMeltzer a reacharound like that? Especially since IT'S NOT EVEN THE SAME LEGION/KARATE KID. (though I guess it's the same Batman, so, whatev)

I mean, the whole Karate Kid vs Batman getting play in THREE IMPORTANT MAGS (the first two issues of Countdown can be considered IMPORTANT, since, y'know, no one realized how bad it was gonna be) smacks of someone (whose name possibly rhymes with video) imagining that the "confrontation" was some sort of significant event in the DCU.

i dont like batmans ears in all flash