I like comics, How 'bout you?

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:52 am

So BKV is leaving Runaways at #24. Ker-azee shocker etc.

Who could possibly replace him as writer on that title? Who else knows how to write stories about a gang of snappy-talking teen misfists, some of whom have unusual powers and some of whom...don't? Sure, a lot of people, but to replace BKV on Runaways, you'd probably need to get the best guy in the business at that, jeez, you'd need to get, like...Joss Whedon or someone.

So they did:
http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/ ... 595302.cfm

Oh, agree about CW: Young Avnegers/Runaways. Molly bits aside, it's pretty putrid. And bringing in Granty Morrsions' marvel Boy? That's so leftfield it's actually just plain boringly stupid.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:17 am

that's the ****ing best news ever.

well, its pretty damn good anyway.

It's really depressing because publicly you want the best for the book, but secretly you hope that someone terrible will take over because then everyone will miss you when you're gone,” admits Vaughan, who exits with December’s issue #24 before Whedon will hop on with issue #25 in April. “That's why we got Joss–because after two issues everyone is going to be praying for my return.”

ace.

Joss Whedon is the new Stan Lee for my money.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:45 am

And, supposedly, that's not all the Joss is going to be writing:

http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/733/733267p1.html

Whilst the idea of a sparkly new Whedon-penned Buffy comic that carries on from the end of the tv show fills me with giddiness... I can't help but think that certain things should just be left as they are, after a while... if he keeps returning to the Buffyverse, sooner or later people are going to think he's not capable of moving on from it...

But yay all the same.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:22 pm

Brendocon wrote:if he keeps returning to the Buffyverse, sooner or later people are going to think he's not capable of moving on from it...

is that fair?

i mean as long as he does other stuff as well, which he is, in some ways why would you ever draw a line under such a rich creation?

i still miss it...

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:40 pm

Best First wrote:
Brendocon wrote:if he keeps returning to the Buffyverse, sooner or later people are going to think he's not capable of moving on from it...
is that fair?

Fair or not, I reckon that eventually people are going to start bandying the accusation around regardless of whether there's anything to it or not.

"Oh, Firefly got axed and the movie flopped"
"Oh, Wonder Woman flopped"
"Oh, Goners was derivitive drivel and flopped"

Et cetera. If those last two happen then blah blah blah.

Just ignore me, I'm busy assuming crash positions.

i mean as long as he does other stuff as well, which he is, in some ways why would you ever draw a line under such a rich creation?

Thing is, Wonder Woman and Goners are still thematically tied to Buffy... it's not necessarily as clean a break, and a lot of people could just look at it and say "Joss Whedon... blah... comics... super powered chick... Buffy... River... blah... seen it all before... do something new."

A line is good because it shows he can do something else. Even if you or I know he can, there's always going to be whinging bastards who say he can't until he does.

And I point to George Lucas as evidence for why you'd want to draw a line under such a rich creation.

But yeah - miss it.

But I'd rather miss something good that finished good than have it around being not as good as it was... I think. I'm feeling very hypothetical today...

I miss Andrew.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:39 pm

i miss Anya.

i see what you are saying - Whedon is pretty self aware on that front though. Buffy & Angel just lend themsleves to more stories so well though.

What's Goners btw?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:47 pm

Best First wrote:What's Goners btw?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goners

It's a film that Joss is doing when he isn't busy rewriting Wonder Woman / getting ready to direct Wonder Woman / writing X-Men / writing Runaways / writing new Buffy comics...

Post by **Best First** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:09 am

Civel War 4... holy ****!

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:29 pm

New Astonishing was quality too. I don't want Whedon to leave

No one writes Kitty the way he does.

Post by **Best First** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:45 pm

yes, my only complaint is that that two punch combo made the rest of this weeks aquisitions seems rather lamein comparison.

Runaways was still fun though obvioulsy.

Really not liking the last Ultimate X-Men arc.

I also do not want Whedon to leave. anything. ever.

Oh, and i think i may be in love with Suasn Storm.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 6:16 pm

I know, right? I'm mad at you and ditching the family, here's a great meal, some quality vino, and a super shag.

Post by **Best First** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 6:41 pm

Civil war spoilers:

I was really quite blown away by this issue - maybe i should have been paying more attention but Goliath's death really shocked me. In retospect he was an obvious contender but i just kind of flipped the page and *bang* Stakes massively raised.

Also, Susan's letter was brilliant.

Cap seems on the edge as well.

The only thing i wasn't madon was Cable's abandonment - i mean he has faced far, far worse odds than this in his future days and suddenly he's scarred of Thor? Doesn't scan for me =- Nightdork and Cassie fair enough.

In all honesty i couldprobably dissect it a lot more but - hoo boy is this fun.

bets on mr maked man?

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:37 pm

I thought it was a well done issue too.

TBH, I don't think Cable's really that involved. Like Black Panther, he's the leader of a foriegn country, he doesn't have to bother with this s*** if he doesn't want to. He just thinks THOSE dude are screwed because Thor's up, so he's out.

The idea of clones being popped up + Peter Parker's likely defection to anti-reg + Peter's recent identity reveal + the fact that Marvel's said the black costume is going to return soon = a s***load of crazy possibilities.

I would be surprised if Ski Mask Man is anyone OTHER than Punisher, given that A, he's got blue eyes, B, this image, which points to his anti-Reg interacting probabilities, and C, the postponed his first issue till AFTER CW 5, where Joe Q has said the identity of Ski Mask Man will be revealed.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:19 pm

Shanti418 wrote:I thought it was a well done issue too.

TBH, I don't think Cable's really that involved. Like Black Panther, he's the leader of a foriegn country, he doesn't have to bother with this s*** if he doesn't want to. He just thinks THOSE dude are screwed because Thor's up, so he's out.

Yeah. Plus, he leaves to go deal with the whole thing his own way, as shown in the last issue of his own comic. Also, he has (finally) moved beyond the gung-ho soldier thing in recent years, and he probably sees Cap's intentions as...unneccessary?

Shanti wrote:I would be surprised if Ski Mask Man is anyone OTHER than Punisher, given that A, he's got blue eyes, B, this image, which points to his anti-Reg interacting probabilities, and C, the postponed his first issue till AFTER CW 5, where Joe Q has said the identity of Ski Mask Man will be revealed.

Totally.

I was actually freaking a little that Falcon was going to bite it, didn't see Goliath coming at all. A minor character sure, but he's been around for so llong his death gives loads of story possibilities...leaving aside his being mates/an employee of Stark (Tony pretty much did) he's also a longterm colleague of Hank Pym's, great mates with the Thing and who's that other guy he was buddies with and respected by, oh yeah...Black Panther.

I had to laugh at the Jester in the New New Thunderbolts line-up. The rest - even Jack O'Lantern - are pretty badass, but the Jester? I like him, but c'mon. Or did the suits think the new premier Marvel supervillain group needed a Joker analogue that bad?

Astonishing was better than the last ish, actually gave us some decent stuff to chew on. And we got more Lockheed!

So it's fair to say that Ernst has been retconned away into SomeOne/Thing Else and that NovaStuff ended up in the super-box?
I'm enjoying the stories, but following the retcons being inserted in Grant Morrison's New X-Men run is getting a tad complex.

And Cyke with a gun is ninja, yo.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:01 am

KingMob wrote: And Cyke with a gun is ninja, yo.

fo rizzle.

Good analysis of the Goliath death. I think they handled the impact pretty well - i'd love to se e T'challa mixed up in all this.

Falcon has rocked throuhout - more Cage would be nice though. Natch.

Cablewise - maybe i have just lost track of the char a bit - i gave up on DP/Cable pretty early on as i wasn't fodn of what it was doing with either of them and, more pertinantly, didn't fid it that entertaining.

I quite like Gung ho Cable to be honest - i was pretty bummed when his title chnaged to Soldier X, didn't work for me at all.

Still looks like he is turning up in X-Men for a bit. I picked up teh most recent issue and while it was a bit hard to tell what was going on it actually seemed quite fun again. So i ay hav to tsrat buying x-titles again. bah.

In a more stunning piece of news - i actually enjoyed the most recent issue of Exiles (even if the final fate f the blue thing was a bit...unclarified). Zombie Wolvie head = good.

Is Clairmeont still due to take over? If so i predeict Psylocke within the first 6 issues.

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:55 pm

A linguistic problem: when Blindfold wakes up Colossus, does she mean that she has orders for him, or that she's ready to take one from him? I'm a bit confused because I seem to recall a phrase similar to what she said which means going under sb's command. :/

Best First wrote:Cablewise - maybe i have just lost track of the char a bit - i gave up on DP/Cable pretty early on as i wasn't fodn of what it was doing with either of them and, more pertinantly, didn't fid it that entertaining.

My favourite period of that book is circa #13-24. It even had Cage and Iron Fist in it.

Best First wrote:Still looks like he is turning up in X-Men for a bit.

He's supposed to stay there. That's what I heard at least.

X-Men, as well as Uncanny, is rather good now. Even Bachalo, whom I liked on Generation X, but whom I wasn't very keen on lately, seems to fit.

Best First wrote:Is Clairmeont still due to take over? If so i predeict Psylocke within the first 6 issues.

She will, almost for sure. Her appearance in Exiles was already prepared for in New Excalibur. So far there's no word on Claremont's return to writing though.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:02 pm

Ozz wrote:A linguistic problem: when Blindfold wakes up Colossus, does she mean that she has orders for him, or that she's ready to take one from him? I'm a bit confused because I seem to recall a phrase similar to what she said which means going under sb's command. :/

"I have, if you please, your orders."

It means that she has instructions for him, if he doesn't object.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 6:34 pm

actually - i was a bit confused by all that - is Lockheed te mole? is she the mole? is Collossus the mole?

eh?

mad stuff.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 7:32 pm

I took it to mean that Lockheed's the mole.

No ******* clue what's going on with Blindfold. I think the-allegedly-fake-Emma-that-might-not-be-fake-and-isn't-evil-but-maybe-is-but-my-head-hurts [the one currently in a wall] might be talking to her through the power of her miiiiiind, but I am of the confuzzled.

And it seems the whole "Emma's having a nervous breakdown and projecting solid manifestations of her guilt" thing has fallen through. Which is good. I like to be kept guessing. Or, in this case, lost.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:10 pm

Brendocon wrote:And it seems the whole "Emma's having a nervous breakdown and projecting solid manifestations of her guilt" thing has fallen through. Which is good. I like to be kept guessing. Or, in this case, lost.

Completely agree. I've been fascinated by this whole plot, and I'm loving the stuff coming out of leftfield. Think you're right about Lockeehd/Blindfold.

Deadpool and Some Other Guy is a good humour comic! The Cage and Fist fanwhore in me loved those issues. The 'reveal' of who Fakedevil was in it before the actual Daredevil issue kinda narked a little after my excitement died down, tho I do think it was clever.

Fabian Nicezia will be off Thunderbolts soon, to make way for a 12-issue stint from a British writer already working at Marvel that will showcase this new CW team. Writer hasnt been annouced yet.
Who do you think?

Ellis, Ennis, Jenkins, Carey, Milligan...anyone else?

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:31 pm

I'd say Jenkins and Carey would be the favorites, IMO.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:37 pm

so is CW basically going t continue after CW?

if you get my meaning?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:29 pm

Best First wrote:so is CW basically going t continue after CW?

if you get my meaning?

I honestly don't think so. I think the effects will still be felt, but the war itself will be over.

I've given up collecting comics. It's much less expensive to buy trades and they look nice on a shelf. If I want to read Spider-Man: The Other, do I want to root around in 3 different comic boxes for 4 issues each, open them, read 'em all, re-seal them, put them back in their 3 different boxes, or do I want to pick the book up off the shelf and read the thing? The obvious answer is "neither, because The Other was crap" but you get the idea. Most comic book aren't made to to be read as comic books anymore. What used to be one story in one issue (with a background story) is now one story split into six issues. I think Bendis started this trend, but now it seems that ALL comic series follow it.

I remember back in 1992, there was a six-issue storyline in Amazing Spider-Man called "Invasion of the Spider-Slayers." A six issue storyline was a BIG deal in '92. To keep the reader from having to wait six months for the conclusion of the story, they had the book run every two weeks for the duration of the series. Now, just about EVERY book is a six-issue storyline. Look at the prices on 'em. The "Girl on Girl" arc of Y-The Last Man. 3 dollars an issue for six months. Then, of course, there's the added expense of bagging and boarding the individual issues. Then the trade comes out and collects those 6 months worth of issues in one volume. It can be had on Amazon for around 10 dollars. Nice cover, nicer pages, one volume, it lines up nicely on a shelf, no need to worry about bags and boards.

I used to really enjoy going to the comic shop every week. Now that I'm getting older, it's a hassle to do so. I find that I'm only able to make it once or twice a month. I like comics. I enjoy the medium of comic storytelling. But damn if The Big Two haven't made collecting single issues seem really unappealing to even longtime collectors like myself.

3 dollars for an 1/6th of a Spider-Man story is too much. It's not worth it. 22 pages for 3 dollars. That means that the big double-page spread cost you around 30 cents. I would be thrilled in Marvel chopped the production costs of their comics. Print 'em on newsprint type paper, chock 'em full of ads, charge a dollar or a dollar-fifty. At that price, you're paying between 6 and 9 dollars for an entire storyline and it doesn't seem like a stretch to think that buying the trade for 15 more is a good deal. I'd pay to read a comic book in a crap format every month and then pony up the dough to get a nice collection down the road. That's why I'm also hoping that Marvel gets the lead out and starts up that digital service they've been teasing us with for a year or so now. I have no problem paying a monthly fee to read comics online and I will have no second thoughts about buying what I like in trade paperback format.

Damn, I can't wait for the Civil War hardcover and a boatload of trades!

Post by **Best First** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:44 pm

i know what you mean - i just can't quite make that break.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:45 pm

Word, Smooth. The only problem with waiting for trades (as I see it) is that I lose it and need to see what happens. I have managed to hold back on Ultimates 2 #2, though. And some titles, like IDW's TF, could probably use my month-to-month circulation to keep going more than they could use the trade money later.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:10 am

Yeah, I'm the same way. I have a handful of titles I wait for the trades (Y, Walking Dead, Ultimates), but there are plenty of others (All CW, Planet Hulk, TF) where I wish I could wait for the trade, but I's gots to knows what's going on right NOW. I would never be able to stop myself from looking on the Internet about it, anyway.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:21 am

is Planet Hulk any good then?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:28 am

Professor Smooth wrote:I think Bendis started this trend, but now it seems that ALL comic series follow it.

It's funny. The main exception to the rule that I can think of is Planetary - where each issue is a story in its own right [whilst still over-arcing]... but for some bizarre reason I'm not picking it up in individual issues, but only as a TPB.

The one comic I deliberately don't buy on an issue-by-issue basis is the one that would actually work best that way...

Then, of course, there's the added expense of bagging and boarding the individual issues.

I bag in 6-issue batches. Sometimes 12, depending on the stretch I can get on the bag. The comics themself effectively board each other, and it means I get a complete story kept together. Hell, thinking about it, I could probably even shelve it like that...

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:27 am

Brendocon wrote:I bag in 6-issue batches. Sometimes 12, depending on the stretch I can get on the bag. The comics themself effectively board each other, and it means I get a complete story kept together. Hell, thinking about it, I could probably even shelve it like that...

Ack!

Genius idea!

*reorganises comics*

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:42 am

Buy comics any way that works for you is what I say. As lon as you're buying comics and having a good time, it's all gravy.

Me, I still love the weekly thing.

I've been reading comics since I was 5 years old and I love new comic day. I love going into the store and checking out what I'm gonna pick up. I love hooking up with my mates and bullshitting with them about what we think is going on in the books, and how awesome was that last issue of Spandex Pervert Crime Accountant?! I love laughing at the tool who moans about his comics being **** constantly but still buys them every single week, and occasionally think about hooking him up with a miss whiplash I know. I love following the goss and getting batshit excited for what's coming up. Everytime I remember the IMMORTAL IRON FIST exists I about jeff in my pants and cannot wait to pick that bad boy up on release day.
It's like a footie cup final every week.
(Well okay, maybe a semi or an important Old Firm.)

But you know, I pick up trades and hardcovers as well. I love me them hardcovers. Thanks to fact that I have a job that pays more than £10 a week now I am no longer a kid, I am lucky enough to be able to pretty much pick up whatever I want.
I understand not everyone is as lucky as I am (although I make **** money and get ****** the nature of the comics pricing in this country and can still afford it, so I get a bit curouis about this arguement. Still, I expect you US fellows would balk at the money we Brits spend on our habits and can always understand people being too skint and taking what is fundamentally a more sensible economic ioption.)

I think your concerns about 6-issue-itis are a little out of date, but there still is a problem with it. Not as bad as it was 2-3 years ago, but it's there.
Also, Bendis didn't start it, he was just the biggest name during the rush to pad to 6.
As much as I love him, I think Warren Ellis convincing everyone that decompression was the best way to write comics evah kinda had a lot more to do with it than Bendis' pages and pages of dialogue scenes.
That and the fact that most of the writers who tried it either didn't get how to use it, or just went with the business flow to trade to that magic 6-issue unit that sells so well.

Interestingly, out of the dozen comics I picked up last week, only one of them is (probably) doing a 6-issue arc, and that's Astonishing X-Men. Which the first 6-issue arc of was probably one of the best comic stories I've read in that last few years.
The actual best one, Devil In Cell-Block D, was 6 as well IIRC.

(edit: and interestingly, that sheer aweseomenes of that story is going to be diluted reading in trade - the writer was so skilled at his pacing and reveals that the month waiting for the next issue was a killer. He put the most a lot of effort into building the excitement generated by that story, until myself and a mate and everyone reading it on the internets were seriously jonesing for the next part.
The serial format, when used by someone who knows their trade, is an unbelievablly exciting and rewarding thing for the reader.)

Oh, and if you want a cheap cool comic, buy Fell and it's stablemates. Support the format. Self-contained stories, letters, the wisdom of Warren and all for $1.99
You probably aren't going to get the Amazing Clown-Suit Catchphrase Man adventures in that format anytime soon, but you do and hopefully will get other wicked-awesome comics.

TBH, rather than making cheap comics, the best thing that could happen would be for the direct market stranglehold to vanish, and comics be available to buy from all those weird places you yanks used to pick them up from, the chemist and the newspaper stall on the street and stuff.
That'd drop the prices.
A little.
Because when all's said and done, it's not 1992 anymore.