Comics Haul and Reviews Week of Weds 4/18/07

Before I get into last week's books, here are the two things I picked up the week before (4/11) that I didn't read in time to review for that week's entry.

Madman #1
(Image/Atomic Comics, W: Mike Allred, A: Mike Allred)
Overview: Madman was a comic I read rabidly years ago when I was first into comics, that died for the most part awhile ago. The basic story is about Frank Einstein, a corpse that two scientists re-animated as part of an experiment. He eventually becomes some kind of a super hero and has really bizarre adventures. It was a pretty weird comic that was usually pretty funny as well.
Current Storyline: This first issue basically re-capped the back story as Madman finds himself alone amongst a city full of dead people. Some kind of robot drone tries to talk him through it and help him figure out where he is and why he's gotten to this point. This is a pretty lackluster review but it's a good comic, albeit a little too "zap-pow-the 50's were neato!" for me. And I feel like too many assholes who like hot rods and pin up girls would be into this, and that's one of my least favorite sub-groups of shitty people. That said, it's a pretty sweet book.


New Universal #5
(Marvel, W: Warren Ellis, A: Salvador Larroca)
Overview: The "white event", which is the sky turning all white and bright everywhere at once happens. "Happens" is as much as I'm going to try to make sense of it, because this comic is so fucking confusing. I think you have to have spent way more of your childhood and later life being into science fiction and D&D or whatever other shit has exceptionally elaborate and specific rules to the way things work to understand stuff like this. If you're the sort of person who's ever actually sat down to watch Stargate or one of those shows, this is probably no big deal. But since I've wasted my life with different kinds of pointless aspects of our culture, this shit is all greek to me. Which is strange, because I'm a fairly intelligent person, and it's not so much that I can't follow it as I can't pay attention well enough to keep all the different threads of logic and plot together. I'm sure if it were about underdog sports movies I'd be enthralled. Oh well.
Current Storyline: In all the above rambling I forgot to mention that when this white event thing happened it gave some people powers or something. And now aliens that look like people, or maybe other powered people have shown up for whatever reason. And there's an old Indian who's also in the C.I.A. In the interest of full disclosure, I only bought this originally because Warren Ellis writes it, and I kept buying it because I thought it was a mini-series. I have a problem where once I start "collecting" something, it's hard to stop, and so I figured I'd just buy these 6 issues or whatever and then stop, but I might have to actually force myself to stop before the end because it's getting kind of boring. Whew.
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And now onto last week's batch...


Army @ Love #2
(Vertigo, W:Rick Vietch, A: Rick Vietch)
Overview: In the very near future the war still rages in Afbaghistan. (Not a typo, I'll elaborate more on that in a second.) To slow the depleting numbers of enlistments but still avoid a full scale draft, the government hires middle management people out of the biggest and most successful corporations to make the army more appealing to kids. This is where the department of "Motivation and Morale" comes in, quietly (as far as the public is concerned) making the army a nonstop party and upgrading technology to the highest available degree to appeal to a generation of kids who grew up playing video games. OK. So this is cool concept and all, and so far in the first two issues it's been carried out pretty well, but the number one thing that drives me crazy is the re-naming of everything. Afghanistan=Afbaghistan, Hummer=Bummer, Hope Depot=Home Cheap-O, etc. Seriously. The only time that's acceptable is in Mad Magazine movie parodies where Superman is Stuporman and April O'Neil is April O'Feel, and so forth. It's really obnoxious and I really hope Rick Vietch doesn't think it's clever, and that it's all because of some bizarre legal issue that somehow affects this comic and not every other one that uses real names for things. Fucking christ, it really bothers me, maybe more than it should.
Current Storyline: Pretty much everyone "over there" and everyone "back here" is an asshole, screwing around behind their spouses backs, stealing, doing drugs, basically like real life. No big story has developed yet, though in fairness its just the second issue so things are still being set up. I guess my general gripe is that the whole comic seems way too proud of itself for being so clever and controversial, there's just an overall tone "my my, this sure is SOMETHING ELSE. Smirk smirk."
That said, I'll keep buying it for awhile, at least until I can tell where it's going.


Cable/Deadpool #39*
(Marvel, W: Fabian Nicieza, A: Ron Lim)
Overview: Cable is somewhere else and Deadpool is being the wiseass "merc with a mouth" guy that he usually is. This book can be funny at times, but it's pretty much on the verge of "too dumb and cartoony" for me to really get into. It happened to be a slow week for comics, so I picked this up. And sadly I'll probably keep buying it because of my aforementioned problem with collecting things. Fuck, I don't know.
Current Storyline: There's some bad guy that came back to fuck with Deadpool who claims to be Wade Wilson (Deadpool's real name) and they fight a bunch. The guy at the comic shop made a point out of telling me how cool that was and how that was the reason he bought it, and blah blah, and I made a point of trying to remember not to take my headphones off when checking out.


DMZ #18
(Vertigo, W: Brian Wood, A: Riccardo Burchielli)
Overview: DMZ probably rounds out my top three current comics along w/ Fell and Punisher Max. I only say probably because while it's easily in that league, for whatever reason it's usually one of the last things I read when it's in my bin that week. I guess that's probably because reading DMZ is a more involved thing that actually takes time rather than burning through the new Wolverine comic in about 4 minutes, so I tend to put it off until I have time to actually sit and read it. Anyfart**, the premise of the series is that a new civil war has erupted in the US between the "Free States" and the Federal Government, and the center of the whole thing is New York City, which has has become a war zone, some parts controlled by the Free States, some by the Army, some a DMZ (Demilitarized Zone for dummies) and some just plain chaos. Basically Wood has supplanted the war in Iraq onto American soil and amongst Americans, but without being high-handed or obnoxious about it. The series follows different characters and story arcs, all related to the war but not necessarily to each other. Along with Fell, a comic I'd recommend to absolutely anyone, comic fan or not. And thanks to Chuck SS for suggesting it, so glad I started picking it up when I did.
Current Storyline: The Army is holding a military tribunal to investigate the Day 204 massacre when the Army gunned down over a hundred unarmed peace protesters. This issue is the first of this story arc and Matty Roth, an independent journalist who was the focus of the previous arc, "Public Works", goes to the military prison to interview a soldier who was part of the slaughter.


Moon Knight #9
(Marvel, W: Charlie Huston, A: David Finch)
Overview: Moon Knight aka Marc Spector has been a lot of things, mercenary, vigilante, superpowered guy, but right now, he's rehabbing a broken back and is bat shit crazy. That last part is all you really need to know, and it's what makes this comic worth reading. He has imaginary friends that tell him to do crazy shit, and he doesn't really trust anyone, he just found out one of his oldest friends and mercenary buddies is gay and was in love with him but now has no legs, and basically his whole world is a wreck. Which generally make super hero comics way more interesting than "My my, what a lovely day. Stopped all the crime, great girl, loyal dog, ahhhh."
Current Storyline: The son of some bad guy that Moon Knight killed has come back and kicks the shit out of him, but doesn't kill him because he basically just wants Moon Knight's attention and for MK to try and stop his crimes which Moon Knight had been ignoring before. And somehow the Punisher is in the end, and despite the cover, they're probably going to fight. So I'm assuming/hoping Moon Knight is fucked next issue.


Ultimate Spider-Man #108
(Marvel, W: Brian Michael Bendis, A: Mark Bagley)
Overview: So as I mentioned in last weeks New Avengers write up, Brian Michael Bendis is probably the best dude in the comics game when it comes to writing straight up Super Hero comics and making them more interesting than they should be. As with all the "Ultimate" books, he's taken the characters and reinserted them into something of an alternate Marvel Universe and retold their stories from day one. Certain nerds (cough, Joe, cough) hate this sort of thing because it doesn't follow continuity and I guess that violently jostles the rod stuck up their collective asses. But as a person that doesn't give a rat's ass about that sort of thing, I think it's great. So basically this entire series is a whole new take on Spider-Man, but not in the future like those garbage 2099 books years ago. Basically it's set in the present day, but Peter Parker is still in high school. Which is awesome because Bendis blends all sorts of Dawsons Creek-ish high school drama between Peter and Mary Jane and other girls too. Which, if you weren't aware, is something I'm pretty into, extending into comics from shitty teen movies.
Current Storyline: Spider Man enters into an alliance of sorts with Daredevil, Iron Fist and Moon Knight (and maybe some other karate guy, I can't remember) to take down the Kingpin. But Moon Knight is totally out of his gourd, well beyond even the way he's nuts in the current Moon Knight comic, and his split personalities are fracturing even further with the addition of a new identity, Ronin. He's going "undercover" as Ronin to apply to be the Kingpin's new assassin and thereby get close enough to him to take him down. But his first assignment is to bring Kingpin Spider-Man, and HE MIGHT JUST BE INSANE ENOUGH TO HAND HIM OVER. DUN-NUH-NUHHHHN.
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So last week was a pretty light load. Here's what I picked up today, which will be up next week or sooner if I tear through them quickly enough:

Daredevil #96
The Exterminators #16
Fallen Son: Avengers
Powers #24
The Punisher Presents: Barracuda #3
The Walking Dead #37
Wolverine #53

The Walking Dead and The Exterminators are two books I've never read, so I'm interested to see how they go. I have high hopes for The Walking Dead because Chuck recommended that as well, and The Exterminators looks decent and is put out by Vertigo so it can't be HORRIBLE. In theory.

Ta ta.

Comics Haul and Reviews for Weds 4/11/07

Punisher War Journal #6
(Marvel, W: Matt Fraction, A: Ariel Olivetti)
Overview: This is kind of the B grade Punisher book thats out right now. Matt Fraction is a good writer and all, but it's closer to the cartoony punisher than the Ennis Punisher. I started reading it because of the whole Civil War hoo-hah, and it's decent enough to stick with it, except the art is really gay.
Current Storyline: This White Power/America For Americans typ group is trying to start a racewar and is down on the mexican border killing Mexicans. Punisher is still being chased by S.H.I.E.L.D, and he kind of becomes the "new Captain America" in this issue. Kind of.


All-Star Superman #7
(DC, W: Grant Morrison, A: Frank Quitely)
Overview: Grant Morrison does the whole "break-the continuity"/"start over-ish" thing with Superman. Now, for the record, Superman really blows overall. One of the most boring characters with the corniest shit going on. But pretty much any character, when a good writer is given a little freedom, can be turned from shit into Gold.
Current Storyline: Superman had to fight off a whole bunch of bizarro's that were attacking earth, but ends up stuck on the Bizarro planet, which limits his ability to fly and shit. SO HOW WILL HE EVER GET HOME????



Fell #8
(Image, W: Warren Ellis, A: Ben Templesmith)
Overview: The only thing that gives Punisher Max a run for it's money in terms of best all around comic. This is basically a Warren Ellis sideproject, where each issue is a short (16 page) stand alone story about Detective Fell of the Snowtown PD. Snowtown is basically Detroit, the South Bronx, the crackhead-run part of Memphis, and every other shitty run down city in the country rolled into one, and 10x worse. Fell was a detective from "across the bridge", the city which is the San Francisco to Snowtowns Oakland, until he got demoted to Snowtown for undisclosed reasons. All the stories are different, but all revolving around various fucked up crimes and criminals Fell has to deal with. I can't stress enough how well written this book is, and the art is so good that I actually give a fuck about it. Ben Templesmith does the whole painting/drawing that looks like painting thing, and its perfect for this. It's actually so good that I read the comic he writes and draws, "Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse" for awhile, which is pretty surprising considering the fact that it was pretty sucky except for the art. Fell is the one comic I would recommend to absolutely anyone, even people with zero interest in comics in general.
Current Storyline: Fell doubles up on shifts and deals with a variety of typically fucked up events/crimes, but keeps getting drawn back to a routine shooting that seems less than routine.


Iron Man #16*
(Marvel, W: Charles and Daniel Knauf, A: Roberto De La Torre)
Overview: Iron Man, aka "the shitty weiner who won the Civil War" is now also the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm not even entirely sure why I still buy this now that the Civil War is over, as I don't like the character and the guy who writes it is kind of a jobber. (In the AAA backup catcher way, not the hand/blow-jobber way. JUST FYI).
Current Storyline: Tony Stark is still kind of a fuckup when it comes to running S.H.I.E.L.D. There's also something going on with some guy going to find the mandarin. After this story arc is done, I'm not buying this anymore.


Loveless #17
(Vertigo, W: Brian Azzarello, A: Werther Dell'Edera)
Overview: My memory sucks such a cock that in the month that it takes for a new issue of any given comic to come out, I often have a hard time remembering what happened in the previous issue. Most times my memory will be jogged by the time I'm part way into the current issue, but because of the timeline and the way the plot jumps around with Loveless, I seriously never have any fucking clue what's going on. But it's really well written, about the old west, and people being really gnarly, so I keep buying it. I should probably sit down and read all of them at once eventually.
Current Storyline: People are killing people. Some are more happy about it than others. I think?


New Avengers #29
(Marvel, W: Brian Michael Bendis, A: Leinel F. Yu)
Overview: After the Avengers disbanded, they kind of randomly got back together with a different lineup after someone broke a zillion supervillian prisoners out of the Raft, a special prison or something. The new team was Captain America, Iron Man, Spider Man, Spider Woman, Luke Cage, Wolverine, Daredevil, the Sentry, and maybe some other people I'm not remembering. It doesn't really matter. They did a whole bunch of kickin ass and takin names type shit for awhile. Then the team split up during the Civil War, Captain America "died" (still not really buying that as they don't even REALLY ever kill the most bootleg and minor characters), and Iron Man started up another Avengers. They have their own book now, "The Mighty Avengers" which is the corniest shittiest shitty shit I've read in awhile, which is weird, because Bendis writes that too. I'm assuming he's making it extra queer because those are supposed to be the "nice" Avengers, while the team still in New Avengers is the "badass/gritty" Avengers. I guess that's because they're the outlaw team as they're all unregistered, and Wolverine still kills people and shit.
Current Storyline: It keeps going back and forth between America where they're fucking with the homo-vengers, and Japan where they're trying to save/find Ronin, some girl ninja I don't really know jack shit about, and getting Elektra to help them out. And the Hand is involved, so there's all sorts of quasi-zombie-ninja-killing going on. While this is the most straight cornball superhero book I read, it's also one of the better ones I read, as Bendis has nailed the formula for writing Super Hero comics that don't suck big dicks. See next week's bit on Ultimate Spider Man for more along those lines.


Wolverine Origins #13
(Marvel, W: Daniel Way, A: Steve Dillon)
Overview: Set in the current "time" of the Marvel Universe (I think?) but outside of the continium (i.e no Civil War, etc) this book follows Wolverine on a quest to find out more about his origins. Decent writing that I give a pass to for the most part because, well, it's Wolverine. AND HE IS TOTALLY BAD ASS AND COOL. And I'm a sucker for any kind of "discovering my past" type stuff.
Current Storyline: Wolverine faces off against his son, who really hates him, less in the "you took away my pot and heavy metal records" way and more in the "looking forward to killing you really violently" way.


Thunderbolts #113
(Marvel, W: Warren Ellis, A: Mark Deodato Jr.)
Overview: This definitely falls into the category of "book I buy 95% because of the writer." I mean, yeah, the Thunderbolts are a cool idea, especially now that their job is to hunt down un-registered costumes, but with the exception of Venom and Bullseye, they're all really beat B-grade villians. One of them is some D&D'ish sword guy, then there's a few chicks who's powers or whatever I have no clue about, they might just be like "squish big tits into spandex-girl" and "pouty face-woman." As a side note, the creeps who whack it to comic books must have just given up on landing any real-live-woman tail for the rest of their lives, which is just too depressing to even think about. Anyway, Norman Osborn is in charge of the team and totally insane, so that helps keep things spicy. But if it weren't for Warren Ellis, this probably wouldn't be in my bin.
Current Storyline: A plot to overthrow Osborn develops and general dissent arises amongst DA TROOPS.


After the Cape #2*
(Image, W: Howard Wong, A: Marco Rudy)
Overview: I have no idea. I grabbed this because it looked kind of different and I generally enjoy the whole "Super Hero's who are fuck ups/aren't Super Hero's anymore" kind of thing. But I read it really quickly because I was almost back to the New Brunswick train station, and it was pretty lackluster, I'll probably buy a few more issues to give it a shot but it better really pick up.
Current Storyline: Oh, the one thing I remember is that the guy is a drunk, and when he gets loaded he starts using his powers like an asshole, which is actually awesome, because that's probably exactly how I'd be if i had any kind of super powers. Considering how I conduct myself when I'm drunk normally, there would probably be giant cocks painted everywhere and lots of holes in peoples houses from where I crashed into them trying to fly. So, there's that.
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I also bought Madman #1 (the new series) and New Universal #5 this week, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet because I've been busy L-I-V-I-N. Or some of the time just W-H-A-C-K-I-N. So those will be up with next weeks batch.

Comics Haul and Reviews for Weds 4/4/07

Punisher #46
(Marvel Max, W: Garth Ennis, A: Lan Medina)
Overview: Hands down the best comic out there right now. Garth Ennis could start writing with a filed down turnip and tell stories exclusively in sanskrit, and I'd still probably buy anything he puts out. Ennis takes the Punisher and strips away any of the garbage like the stupid white boots and gloves, dorky supervillains, etc, and just writes stories about Frank Castle being pretty much the hardest man alive. And it's a "Max" title, which means theres swearing and titties and lots of blood. The book's gone through different artists, but with the exception of the guy who drew the Barracuda storyline, it's usually pretty gritty and quasi realistic art, which adds to it. This is one of the rare comics I'd recommend to pretty much anyone.
Current Storyline: revolves around the widows of various gangsters the Punisher has killed, and their plot to get even with him, as well as a girl whose boobs got cut off who fucks people up and may or may not be on the Punishers side in all this.


American Virgin #13
(Vertigo, W: Steven T. Seagle, A: Becky Clooney)
Overview: This kid has been groomed to be the face of a televangelist empire all his life, preaching "no sex until marriage" and spearheading an increasingly popular movement until his girlfriend, a missionary worker in Africa, is killed. He goes out to find her killer/justice/blah blah and between the revelations of that trip and the shock of it all, he begins to question his whole life. Overall, it's got a distinct Preacher-rip-off feel to it, but not as good, obviously. I keep it in my pull bin because it's well written for the most part, and it's semi-different in it's subject material.
Current Storyline: They're back from Africa, and Adam is now trying to track down all the girls from a beauty pageant he judged because he believes one of them must be his new "one." I don't know, I read the first few issues in a TPB at Borders when I was killing time, and i've only been reading this arc since #10, so I'm not entirely sure what's going on. Whatever.


Fallen Son: Wolverine*
(Marvel, W: Jeph Loeb, A: Lentil Yu)
Overview: I guess there's going to be this series of "Fallen Son" books about how Captain America's death affects various characters.
Current Storyline: Wolverine is pissed off about CA's death. He goes investigating. This is a kind of stupid book that is one of the many that are coming out just because people like me will keep buying anything related to the Civil War short of "Ms. Marvel bakes Registration themed cupcakes, Vol. 1." Yeah, sure, Wolverine is a hard ass and pulls some sneaky shit. But I could have probably saved my three dollars on this one. And by "saved" I mean bought "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigalo" or a 375 of Majorska.


Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #3
(Marvel, W: Garth Ennis, A: Clayton Crain)
Overview: This is one of those "characters out of continuity and ALSO in a different time/place/reality" things that annoy the ultra nerds but that I really enjoy. I just don't get people who actually care that a story might break with the understanding that Jimmy the SuperGiantAwesomeGuy locked up villian A in 1964, who then showerloved villain B who gave birth to a mutant calculator that was melded with a cyborg rat who OF COURSE hates Jimmy the Superblah, so THERE'S NO WAY villain B could have another child because the mutant calculator made her infertile.
Oh, right, about this comic. A confederate soldier is nearly killed on the battlefield, nursed back to health by a free black guy who lets him work off the debt, they become friends, the NOT RACIST ANYMORE soldier leaves, the klan comes to town, kills the black guy and his family, soldier comes back to visit, then has to get vengeance. And the black guy becomes a Ghost Rider-y type guy. I know I'm being very derisive w/ this summary, but it's great, and, surprise, Ennis writes it. The art is kind of painted or maybe just looks like it is, but either way, it's pretty nice too.
Current Storyline: This whole thing is only a 6 issue miniseries so the above IS the storyline.


Immortal Iron Fist #4
(Marvel, W: Ed Brubaker/Matt Fraction, A: David Aja)
Overview: Iron Fist is some guy who's really good at karate and can make his fist really powerful and glow and fuck things up. He and Luke Cage used to have some kind of homoerotic crime-fighting-for-hire outfit in the 70's, and now he's a bazillionaire somehow. This new series follows current era Iron Fist, but also goes back and deals with the Iron Fist legend and all the previous Iron Fist's. Ed Brubaker is one of the best writers in comics today, and whoever does the art is pretty okay too.
Current Storyline: Some friend of Iron Fist's dad has joined up w/ Danny Rand (Iron Fist) and they're fighting Hydra. There's more going on but I read this last week and with my memory that means I might as well try and tell you about what I had for breakfast four days before my third birthday (eyeball stew).


Midnighter #6*
(Wildstorm, W: Garth Ennis, A: Glenn Fabry)
Overview: I just started reading this recently because it's yet another Ennis book. As best I can tell, it's about a guy who has a bomb or something in his chest, travels time to fuck people up, and is gay. Yeah.
Current Storyline: He's in ancient Japan, is the best samurai ever. Meets some really femme-y also awesome dude samurai, they fall in love, fuck a bunch. This bums out some rival of his master who tries to have him killed. He's unkillable but his boytoy isn't. Sad face. This is probably the least-great of all the Ennis stuff out right now, but it's still entertaining and (duh) well written.


Scalped #4
(Veritgo, W: Jason Aaron, A: R.M. Guera)
Overview: Based around an Indian reservation and all the fucked up shit that goes on (they're not ALL as cheery as Chief Wahoo apparently). Dashiel "Bad Horse" has been off the rez forever, comes back to kick ass and ends up a "dog soldier", one of the head bad indian guy's police. BUT....he's actually working for the FBI undercover to bring down said bad indian's crime ring.
Current Storyline: Bad Horse is following the chick he used to be in love with who's also the bad guy's daughter, and more of the bad guy's and Bad Horse's mom's backstory unravels. And lots of people get shot.

Are you the creator of Hi and Lois? Because you are making me laugh.

As I mentioned in the my column in Brickshitter #3 (which can be downloaded HERE) I've gotten back into reading comics in the last year. And by back into I mean way more than when I was little, because I can actually afford to buy a lot of comics now, instead of agonizing over which two issues i could afford that week out of my allowance. These days I have twenty some odd titles in my pull bin that I get every month, along with whatever random stuff I pick up each week. I was going to start writing about it in my regular blog, but I figure not many people out of everyone who reads that (MILLIONS) care about comics, and I really enjoy overextending myself with these little bullshit projects/blogs/zines, so I decided to make a whole new blog, dedicated just to comics. After this first entry, I'm just going to focus on whatever I picked up that Wednesday. (I REALLY hope if you're reading this you know that Wednesday is "new comics day", because, I mean, what kind of LOSER doesn't know that?)

For starters, the following are the books I subscribe to/have in my pull bin. Alphabetically, because thats how the Midtown Comics site lists them.

100 Bullets
All-Star Batman and Robin
All-Star Superman
American Virgin
Army @ Love
DMZ
Loveless
Scalped
Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil
Y The Last Man
Fell
Pirates of Coney Island
Boys
Captain America
Ghost Rider: Trail Of Tears
Daredevil
Immortal Iron Fist
New Avengers
Moon Knight
Powers
Punisher
Punisher War Journal
Thunderbolts
Ultimate Spiderman
Wolverine
Wolverine: Origins.

With the exception of a few that aren't monthly (Fell and All Star Batman and Robin are pretty irregular, and The Boys is switching publishers) I'll get to these as each weeks batch rolls in. I also generally pick up a few things not on this list each week, which I'l go through as well, but they'll be marked with an asterisk (thats a " * " for the people who really do only read comics and not, you know, actual books).

The alternate title for this blog that went unused because it's too long was "What, you think just cause a guy reads comics he can't start some shit!??!!"

I feel like that's a pretty good point to end this little intro.
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And don't forget to check out my other blog (Loyal Army Of Prostitutes) and my photo blog (Hindsight is 20/20, My Friend). Because your life must already be riding pretty low in the saddle if you're reading this, and those certainly can't make it any worse.