On 19 September, 2007

It's 11:30 on Friday night, and I am very tired, and do not feel like doing things that are more important such as class work, so it's comics blogging time!

[SPOILER WARNING IS POSSIBLY APPLICABLE.]

This past week, I read Avengers books, including (and limited to)...

...Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #16, in which there is Hawkeye, true to form! Everybody thinks he's a criminal at first, but then he proves them all wrong. He also flirts with Storm and Giant-Girl, with skill that actually comes in handy.

...Avengers Classic #4, in which Captain America joins the Avengers! I like seeing the reprints in brightly colored Kirby glory, but I'm also in this for the back-up stories. And this one, naturally, focuses on Cap, and his reintroduction to life. There is a little fighting, but it is mostly just bittersweet.

...a bunch of story bites contained in...

...Marvel Comics Presents #1, in which there is a cockamamie Spider-Man story that I won't try to describe, though it is amusing; a fluffy Ben Grimm and Alicia vignette; the beginning of the Immonens' Hellcat tale; and two other Chapter Ones that are lost on me. I do not see myself following this title religiously. Will they collect the Hellcat story when it is finished, I wonder?

...Jungle Girl #0, which is all about a buxom, scantily clad woman who hunts giant aquatic beasties for a living. In other words, it's about what you might expect based on the cover. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It is simply what it is. Which is not my cup of tea.

...and a triple helping of Hulk, including...

...World War Hulk #4, World War Hulk: Front Line #4, and Gamma Corps #3, in which there is a lot of smashing. Most of the smashing occurs in the main title (the Illuminati are compelled to smash each other and in front of a crowd of eager onlookers. It is naturally a disturbing, mostly-'splosion issue. Gamma Corps has somewhat less smashing. About half of it is the tragic story of Ryker and his wife (in flashback), and the rest is the Corps versus the Hulk.

Front Line, because it is Front Line, provides the reporters' perspective on war, and gives us some insight into Sally Floyd's family life. The backup stories are more fun (as usual.) "Costume Division: Death of an Android" continues, the murder investigation progresses, and Korg becomes my favorite Warbound alien. Finally, an extremely goofy "What If?" story. But the highlight of Front Line?

It's Earl! Don't go in there, Earl! You risk seriously bad karma points!

And... that was my comics week. Yes indeed...

Oh! That's right! I have a blog!

So I don't know what happened to May. (May the month, not May Parker, though I don't know what happened to her, either. Is she dead? Or what?) June, at least, I know what's going on. I am shooting myself repeatedly in the foot. Intro to Organic Chem is not a wise thing to be taking at an accelerated pace. So really, that's my excuse for June. And July. Just not May.

I've been reading comics, just not writing about them. But I'll be all topical and touch on a few, at least. For instance, Painkiller Jane #1. Now, that had me worried that, deep down, I was actually homophobic. I really could have done without that beach scene where the seemingly random woman propositions Jane, and Jane decides to go with it. There is something very dirty about that, and the status of the beach (nude) doesn't exactly help matters. It's really too bad. Painkiller Jane could have been fun, but... No. Not worth it.

But I actually feel better about my discomfort about Jane now, because I have lately seen Rent (the movie), which is surprisingly addictive. I am perfectly okay with the couples of Rent. Maureen and Joanne, for example are a fun, dysfunctional pair. The straight-laced lawyer and the drama queen, oh yes. Entertaining! And not generally dirty. And then there are Collins and Angel! They make an adorable couple. I am a bit confused about them, though, inasmuch as Collins is gay, and Angel... Well, Angel is a gay transvestite who identifies as a woman. It's very confusing. But Angel and Collins seem to have it figured out and are clearly, happily in love and that's really all that matters.

So I'm not homophobic. I just didn't care for Painkiller Jane. Thank you, Rent.

I am comfortable reading about greenness. Not sure why. I guess I just really like the color.

Let's see. World War Hulk. I am on still that bandwagon in spite of (or because of?) Stark's new suit, which is something out of a Project Grizzly anime. Senseless violence can be fun, but I do feel bad for Black Bolt. He has not been having a good time of it, between this Hulk thing and Silent War.

I am still enjoying She-Hulk, which seems to be getting back to the firm lately, which will be cool while it lasts. (Three more issues.) Then Peter David will take over and it will be a different kind of cool.

Hulk and Power Pack may or may not be worth giving to my younger cousin as a gift. I'll know once I've decided how I feel about the third and fourth issues, which bug me as far as continuity goes. And more importantly, they aren't quite as fun as the first two. Hulked-out Katie Power is entertaining, though. And She-Hulk makes an appearance, only to be depowered. Temporarily, but still, it's kind of her major running theme.

Getting away from the gamma... Well, okay, I did read Green Lantern Corps #12. Because I can't keep my word when it comes to stuff like that, especially if there is a cool insectoid character involved and Kalinara has convinced me to join a role-playing game that I don't actually have the time or the background for but that I joined anyway. Whew.

And I can't forget Wicked. It's not a comic book, of course, but the lead character? Green. (It's an important plot point.)

Well, I should cut this off here. I have studying to do for, you know, chemistry. My foot hurts...

Thoughts on 4 April, 2007

Hmm. I do like this format. Less labor-intensive than writing actual coherent paragraphs, and the content is really about the same! There may be spoilers, so be warned.

Eight titles and five universes this week...

The All-New Atom #10

-The first few pages are a flashback (i.e., no zombies), and reminded me about how bad my memory is. This is not due to the story (which eventually I did remember from March), so much as the narration, which told me where I went wrong on my geography quiz last week.

-Ryan has an incredibly loving and thoughtful father. (Please don't kill him, Gail!) His panels and dialogue overshadow the flirting and zombie fights that make up the rest of the book. Others will disagree, inasmuch as there are zombies, but hey, bring it on. I'm still half sick of zombies after that Ultimate Fantastic Four story.

Avengers: The Initiative #1

-Happy accidents: "What God intended." Heh.

-So things in Iraq could be worse, if we had Hydra in real life and they set up shop in Baghdad. (What's a little Civil War aftermath story without a little politics, eh?)

-Why do Marvel civilians call their super-heroes "capes?" Honest question here.

-For a while there I thought Southpaw had adopted a new identity. Don't know why. Armory's energy is the wrong color. Still, her attitude kind of fits.

-Trauma really should listen to Gauntlet and change his name to Emo Boy. Much catchier. Yep. Also, while his power is disturbing, it has nothing on Robbie Baldwin's. It really doesn't.

-Poor Cloud 9.

Hulk and Power Pack #2 (of 4)

-Power Pack isn't limited to loser villains? Cool.

-Ad juxtaposition: On a left page, we see a well-adjusted (sort of) and cheerful Marvel Adventures Hulk preparing to put the smash-down on Zzzax. To the right of said page, we see an ad with an angry warbound 616 Hulk preparing to put the smash-down on Earth. Rainbows and fun versus fire and 'splosions. Interesting.

-From the "Mini Marvels" short, we learn that Devil Dinosaur makes a bad babysitter:


Edit: See Chris's Invincible Shopping List...

Incredible Hulk #105

-BOOM! Earth is so screwed... This is not a shock to anyone who has seen the ads (see above) of course, but still... Wow.

Ms. Marvel #14

-Carol feels guilt. A lot. Nothing new there.

-The Carpenter child custody hearing would be an interesting story in and of itself.

-AIM. DNA bomb. MODOK.

Painkiller Jane #0

-Skeevy tattoo parlors are a bad place to hang out unless you are an undercover cop with super healing powers. And even then...

Runaways #25

-Creepiest recap pages I've ever read.

-Joss Whedon really is a natural on this book. Characters on the wrong side of the law, trying to do good and stay alive all the same (not necessarily in that order). Dealing with unsavory crime bosses. Robberies gone terribly wrong, ending in explosions and possible death. A resident pilot who likes dinosaurs...

Um. Geez. He's written this before, hasn't he? There are aliens involved this time, though.

Welcome to Tranquility #5

-Is there a new mystery here, or has my memory failed me yet again? Something different about the water in Tranquility? Interesting...

-I like Mangacide's (I think that's her name) power. Not sure what it does, exactly, but lines like "Medi-shock horror image mirror!" are certainly welcome, even if (or maybe because) they sound like something out of Nextwave.

-Dr. Hate redeemed? There's something about an evil old skull-headed guy with a black eye and an IV looking contrite...