Comic Review 1-13-11

Here are some more books I picked up recently.  Sorry I took longer to write this one than I intended.  Too many snow storms this year. 

The Amazing Spider-Man #651

http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/30326/amazing_spider-man_1999_651

Initial impression from cover: Ok, on the cover to issue 650 Spiderman’s costume is black and red but inside the book it’s black and green I was thinking this might be something to do with power setting because of the electronics involved but so far it looks like Web-Head’s new costume is black and green.  The cover though is a decent one and I am intrigued by the new Hobgoblin. 

After Reading:  I really am enjoying this book; it finds the balance of what I look for in a story.  I know as much about Spiderman as I know about Peter Parker.  To me that is the key.  I have to care not only about what is going on with Spidey as I do the man underneath and to see him coming out on top makes me happy.  If I had any one complaint and it is a minor one is I’m not a big fan of the art, specifically the coloring.  I feel like there are certain effects that look amazing on a computer screen that do not look quite right to me in print.  I may see about picking up a digital copy to see it that is the case.  I freely admit I am nitpicking at what I think is a good book and if the stories continue to be good I will continue to follow Spider man.  Something I haven’t done in years. 

Note: So the coloring issue is a side effect of the costumes sonic abilities it seems to have 3 modes Green is for invisible Red is for when it is scrambling sonic attacks and white seems to be off.  


Batgirl #17

http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/comics/?cm=16597

Initial impression from cover: DC is doing a special series of pin up covers this month so it’s hard to rate the covers.

After Reading: This is a fun story and one of the things I think comics in general have been missing for years.  The new Robin in everything I have seen is an arrogant jerk.  In Batgirl #17 they have taken a step to humanizing him and basically show he is not a monster just has never had a chance to be a child.  In every other story of robin I want to strangle the little punk but now I feel bad for him.  Which makes this a good story.  It evokes an emotional response. 


Booster Gold #40 (minor Spoiler about end of book)

http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/comics/?cm=16629

Initial impression from cover:  DC’s Pin up covers strike again. 

After Reading: This was a mediocre issue to me.  It might be because most of the story is just a recap of his origin and a set up for an upcoming story line.  I wouldn’t say it’s a bad story but there was nothing really new in it except for the scene at the end of the book where Rip hunter tasers Booster because he needs to be arrested in the future for his crimes. 


Doc Savage #10

http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/comics/?cm=16653

Initial impression from cover: oh look another pin up cover.

After Reading: this story is completely stand alone but none the less very enjoyable and kind of tells new readers just how amazing Doc. Savage is.  One of the problems I’ve had with this series is that it feels all over the place.  This flashback takes a look at Doc Savage in a war setting where his p 


Red Robin #19

http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/comics/?cm=16595

Initial impression from cover: Guess what DC did here… another pin up cover.

After Reading: I have been really enjoying the Red Robin series but than again I have been a long time fan of Fabian Nicieza and I think Tim Drake is a very interesting character.  I mean Drake ha been a detective since he was 12 and now that he is becoming a hero in his own right I like how he has developed. 
This issue takes place in a virtual reality and you can see artist Marcus To had a lot of fun with it and I really enjoyed some of the little nuances that he hid in some over the top imaging, like the use of binary code as a rope that was tying up Red Robin.  Overall I would highly recommend picking up Red Robin.


Widow Maker #3 of 4 

http://marvel.com/comic_books/issue/37889/widow_maker_2010_3

Initial impression from cover: I hate the cover.  I feel it’s not that great a piece of art but on top of that it tells you nothing about the story just 3 members of the cast.  Black Widow, Hawkeye and Mockingbird.  If I did not enjoy the characters so much I would not have picked up the book. 

After Reading: I am very disappointed in this series so far, which is sad cause I enjoy all the characters and really enjoyed the Hawkeye & Mockingbird mini series.  It seems to me like no one knows what to do with Hawkeye and Mockingbird but they know they should do something.  Skip this series. 

Look these are all my opinions if you agree with me fine.  If you don’t that’s fine to, I’m just trying to steer people who like the kind of books I do to some good books and away from bad ones.

Comic Review 1-5-11

I have decided to do a weekly blog just to keep track of the comics I buy.  I buy some titles religiously and others I buy just cause something draws my attention on the cover.  I am not a full on cover junkie but I can be caught out there.   I will list my opinion based on the cover and what I thought after reading the book. 

Amazing Spiderman #650

Initial impression from cover: The new costume looks really cool but this is one of the problems I have with modern covers, they tend to be pin ups with no clues about the interior story… but the new costume was enough to get me to pick it up.  

After Reading: I’ll be honest I used to read Spiderman back in the day but I haven’t been a big fan lately, but when I heard there was going to be a new costume I decided to take a look.  Honestly I get the feeling the new costume will be a temporary gimmick to get new readers, and it may work cause I found Dan Slot’s writing to be excellent.  I always liked how Peter Parker this nerd always seemed to be surrounded by hot women and here is just more of the same with his ex girlfriend Mary Jane, his ex girlfriend the Black Cat and his new girlfriend Carly all in the book his relationships are as interesting as the new Hobgoblin who has a bit of a Joker flavor to him.  I can’t fully recommend the book but I will probably get the next issue to see if it keeps my interest.  Who knows I might start picking up Spiderman again.


Ant-Man Wasp #3 of 3

Initial impression from cover: This looks like it should be a funny book and it actually gives an impression of the story.

After Reading: The cover made promises that the book didn’t keep.  I was expecting a funnier book from the cover than I got and in the end the book was just OK.  I think Hank Pym has the potential to be an awesome character, and the new Ant Man has all kinds of comedic potential, but this was just not the right vehicle for these characters. 

Avengers Prime #5 of 5

Initial impression from cover: This is a great cover for 2 reasons. First you have Iron Man with a sword tells you something bad has happened to his armor. Second seeing the 3 of them are being overrun by medieval horde tells you something really bad has happened.  While this is a poster-ish cover, it still caught my attention. 

After Reading:  As with most of Bendis’s stories I always feel he never knows how to end a story arc.  His beginnings and concepts are always great but when it’s time to finish up the story arc I always feel he falls a little short and unfortunately I think he did the same here.  This seemed like an attempt to erase all the animosity from the Civil War and quite honestly I didn’t buy it.  I will admit I am not a big Thor fan, so the fact that the whole miniseries took place in Asgard did not help.  Honestly unless you are a big Thor fan I would overlook this whole series.  


Captain America – Hail Hydra #1

Initial impression from cover: Here we have yet another Poster style cover and for some reason way too much Captain America crotch. 

After Reading: It was a mediocre book plain and simple, I won’t be following up. 


Ultimate Captain America #1

Initial impression from cover: Again a great Poster but not really anything that would draw me to buy the book.  If it weren’t a #1 I wouldn’t have picked it up. 

After Reading: I was never a big fan of the ultimate titles except for Spiderman and to be quite honest I don’t know why I keep trying.   They introduce Ultimate Nuke but quite honestly after reading this I just think Ultimate Cap is a jerk.  He wears his normal costume during a black ops mission and when questioned on it he just blows the guy off.  Think about it if everybody was on a black ops mission that doesn’t exist and one guy wore the flag of the country he was working for he wouldn’t be allowed on the mission. 

While I collect the regular Captain America both of the new Captain America series were just not interesting enough for me to keep getting them. 

Irredeemable (Cover B) #21


Initial Impression From Cover: Wow another great poster but again no clue as to where the story is going. 

After Reading: Mark Waid does something few authors are able to do.  Keep me interested even when not much happens in a book.  I flew through this book in less than 5 minutes and that’s normally a red flag for me but just something about the way Waid writes I am still drawn to the series.  I will admit, I am enjoying the companion book Incorruptible more, but I feel Irredeemable just makes that book better.  I would suggest getting both series. 



X-factor #213

Initial impression from cover: This is a great cover because it’s simple and clearly shows that the story is about Darwin leaving the team. 

After reading: Peter David is an amazing writer who takes some intense concepts and is able to make them real.  More importantly he knows when and how to put in jokes with out downplaying the problems.  In this issue we deal with Richter’s homosexuality, Rahne having to be an unwed mother, Darwin trying to find his place and Madrox loosing faith in himself as a leader. In between all of that are some of the funniest jokes ever.  I have always found the best writers know how to strike a good balance between the serious and funny parts of life, and David has done it over and over again.  Overall this is one of my favorite books and I highly recommend it. 

Look these are all my opinions if you agree with me fine.  If you don’t that’s fine to, I’m just trying to steer people who like the kind of books I do to some good books and away from bad ones. 

Are you F**ing kidding me???

Now I have heard some crazy stuff in my time but I find it amazing how much stupid shit people say when they are angry that just doesn't make sense. In my most recent temp job I occasionally have to cover for the receptionist. When I do we get calls from people who are complaining about the automated call that they get requesting donations. Let me make this clear, I understand that any kind of donation request can be annoying. It's like paying a bill on guilt. Send us 10 dollars a month... OR SOME ONE DIES!!! Granted that's not a charity's slogan, that I know of anyway, but the emotional blackmail that is used buy some of the charity adds I have seen are a little over the top.


Now as I recall it this is how the phone call went. The words in italics are what I thought but not what I said.

Me: **Charity's Name**! How can I direct your call?

Caller: Is this the **Charity's Name**?

Me: I just said that. Yes it is.

Caller: Is this an actual person?

Me: No, I'm a figment of your imagination. Yes, how can I help you?

Caller: Well I just want you to know that I have been getting repeated calls from you sometimes 2 and 3 times a day.

Me: I'm sorry sir...

Caller: I think this is harassment I have never donated your charity I have no intention of donating to your charity and you have to change the automated system because it's sexist.

Me: WHAT THE FUCK?!?! Excuse me sir?

Caller: This is a gay house hold and the automated system constantly asks for Ms. ****. This has to be changed.

Me: Just one moment. You ass.


Now the reason why I find this stupid is I work for a charity who does research into the prevention of birth defects. Now to say you have no intention to donate to a charity where you will never have to deal directly with the problems they are trying to fight is a person’s choice. To act as a spokesman for all gays and lesbians is moronic and if he was speaking just on his behalf why the fuck would anybody care about a guy who has no intention to donate. It's like going to a restaurant telling them how to cook but never ordering the food. I'm sure what he was saying was more out of frustration than any real animosity towards the charity but it just constantly amazes me the shit people say with out thinking.

Conversation with my Boss

Boss: Eric make sure you turn off the X-ray machine when it's not in use. I don't want your balls glowing at night.
Eric: Are you kidding I live by power lines. My balls have been glowing since 2005.

Boss: Well at least you never have to worry when you take a leak at night.

Eric: Yeah, but it's a bitch and a half when I'm having sex. It looks like there is a strobe light in the room. I think that's why I fuck to techno music.

Boss: I couldn't do that. I hate techno, it would make me loose my hard on.

Eric: Play it low, maybe you will only let you last longer.

Boss: Are you kidding? My wife doesn't want me to fuck her as it is. If I try to make it last longer she may cut me off all together.

Eric: Well I told you let me fuck her I’ll make sure I'm bad and she'll appreciate you more.

Boss: I said ok but you have to do it on your own time. I'm not paying you to fuck my wife.

Eric: Well you don't want an amateur fucking her.

Boss: Eric just go turn of the fucking X-Ray machine.


There are certain advantages having a boss with a sense of humor from the Bronx, more so if you both went to the same high school.

Skyline

Strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame where an extraterrestrial force threatens to swallow the entire human population off the face of the Earth.


That is the synopsis on IMDB. for The movie Skyline. The real synopsis should have been “Movie shines bright lights and blows shit up just to take your money away.” I’m not a huge Monster movie fan. Some I like, some I don’t, but I just felt this movie was so lacking in direction and plot that I really didn’t care about the characters. I had more fun finding similarities to other movie, not that that was exactly fun just something to do while I killed time waiting for the movie to end.

You start off the movie being introduced to a couple from New York , played by Eric Balfour and Scottie Thompson, that you realize are having problems but you are not quite sure what the problems are other than maybe vague money problem. I think Jarrod (Balfour) was suppose to be an artist who was visiting a friend in LA who has made it big doing special affects in LA played by Donald Faison. But again this all unclear, you know the 2 of them used to do graffiti when they were younger but you never know if Jarrod is still an artist or not. When Terry (Faison) offers Jarrod a job you are never quite sure why Elaine (Thompson) reacts so badly. I mean if he is struggling and they need the money what’s the problem? Take the job. If he is not struggling why does Jarrod look so depressed all the time. I just never got a feel for the characters And quite frankly I never card.

See the movie never makes you feel for these people because they feel like copy of other characters. It’s almost as if the filmmakers decided hey here are some people feel bad for them as we chase them with monsters. What do you mean you don’t care about 5 random people at a party in LA who are being chased by monsters? You cared about them in Cloverfield didn’t you? This is the same movie we just moved it to LA. Oh don’t worry we have a twist at the end so we can make sequels. Probably going straight to video but you’ll watch them... You know you will.

Overall I would say the movie is not really worth checking out unless you happen to catch it on some cable channel, late at night, when you can’t sleep and your only other choice is a Carrot Top marathon.

Final Grade: D+