McSoss Podcast Episode 54: Mercy Killing (The Spider-Man Episode)

This week we are joined by special guest Dylan Mahaffey from sordidfairytales.com as we discuss all things Spider-Man.

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Broaden Your Horizons

Over the past few years I’ve learned to diversify my interests. There was a time in the recent past when any talk of politics or current events would have caused my brain to instantly shut down.  I don’t know what clicked but I’m now capable of holding a conversation that does not involve web-shooters or light sabers.

While I can’t say I’m as well versed in international affairs as I am with the occupants of the Jean Grey School For Gifted Youngsters I’m pleased with the baby steps I’m taking toward becoming an actual adult. -Soss

Gint's 4-23-14 Pull-List Review

Tough call picking a winner this week as both Aquaman and Justice League United were quality reads. But someone's gotta be the loser.

Second Place:

Aquaman #30

And it was the fill-in penciller that did it in. Alvaro Martinez pencils 6 pages of this issue, and while his work is very similar to series regular Paul Pelletier, someone had to be #2. It makes me ask, why couldn't Pelletier just do those 6 pages?

Unlike the atrocity that Green Lantern is becoming, Jeff Parker's transition onto a Geoff Johns book is seamless. Parker isn't afraid to make Aquaman part of the larger DC Universe and even expands it by introducing Hercules, which in turn brings Wonder Woman into the book. Parker has a nice touch when it comes to the shared universe he's writing.

No mind blowing plot twists in this issue, but you can feel its just a piece of a more important story Parker and Pelletier (and Martinez) are telling.

First Place:

Justice League United #0

DC had me at Jeff Lemire. His DC superhero resume (Superboy, Animal Man, Justice League Dark) has garnered him quite a bit of credit in my book. He's been flawless in the titles I've read. So even though I didn't like Justice League of America (which this book is replacing) Lemire's name alone guaranteed I'd buy it. It also didn't hurt that Mike McKone, who has done various high quality DC work would be pencilling.

But it wasn't just the creative talent that drew me to this book: its the disparate characters that make up the JLU. Featuring Animal Man, Martian Manhunter, Stargirl, Green Arrow, Supergirl and Adam Strange, this book has the right cast and writer to take me back to the good old days when Guardians of the Galaxy was a great book. This first issue didn't disappoint introducing the majority of the team and setting up the greater story, which will take place between Canada and outer space revolving around someone kidnapping Earthlings and other aliens for what... we don't know.

I can't really say there was anything bad about this issue. McKone's artwork is slightly different than I remember, but that's more just different than bad. So far so good. I think I'm really going to like this book.

Panels of the Week:

A few panels from Justice League United by Mike McKone. This type of thing (the stark red and black panel, is becoming a trend in DC books lately. This is the third book I've seen this appear in, so it leads me to believe this isn't a coincidence.

-Gint

 

Heroes To Zeros

This is my favorite time of year. Winter is over, warm weather is on the horizon and the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. The first round is by far the best round. Three games a night, every night for just under two weeks. But when your favorite team, the Los Angeles Kings in my case, decide to take a huge dump on the ice instead of playing the successful hockey they played all season, it takes some of the shine off of what should be an illustrious time of year.

As I write this, the Kings and Sharks are tied 2-2 in what could be the Kings' final game of the season. After winning the Stanley Cup in 2012, then making the Western Conference Finals in 2013, a first round sweep in 2014 is not resting well with this long-time fan. They're better than what they've shown so far.

Soss and I are both big sports fans and do a pretty good job keeping our sports out of our comics. But every so often we need to get something out of our systems and the two meet.

So here's to the Kings and the Sharks can go fuck themselves.

-Gint

McSoss Podcast Episode 53: Agents of S.I.T.C.O.M.

This week we are joined by special guest Dom Yosi as we build our own superhero teams. We stick to the tried and true superhero archetypes of Leader, Powerhouse, Brain, Heart/Underdog and Wildcard. We also read a few teams constructed by our loyal listeners. 

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Earth Day Schmirth Day

So this is a real thing that will more than likely result in not buying my favorite character's comic for the first time in nine years.

Geoff Johns' run on writing Green Lantern for nine years was epic. Its viewed as the definitive take on Green Lantern. It rebooted the entire franchise, spawned inspiration for the short-lived animated series, and is the foundation of what a lot of people know about the Green Lanterns. So if you're a new writer in this world, what's the most logical step? Change everything!

That's a bit dramatic. They didn't change EVERYTHING, and I suppose some of the established mythology is still there. But the big change was in where the power of the rings comes from. In Johns' mythology, the power of the different lantern rings (will for green, rage for red, hope for blue... etc.) came from the universe itself. For example: when someone felt rage, that energy would spread out into the universe to be collected by the Red Lantern's main power battery, and then dispersed to each individual ring. In theory, so long as there were sentient beings in the universe, this power would always exist. Until now.

In a poorly explained twist on the mythology, Robert Venditti, Justin Jordan, Van Jensen and Charles Soule have written it so each emotion has its own power reservoir beyond the edge of the universe. Each time a ring-wielder uses a power ring, this reservoir gets depleted, damaging and eventually destroying the universe.

I understand putting the characters in the dilemma of, "what do we do if OUR power is destroying the universe?" And that may be all it is. But to me its a not so subtle nod to the times we live in reflecting the real world problem of depleting and destroying the Earth.

Look guys, if I want an environmental lesson, I'll go watch Captain Planet. I read comics to see super people do super things. The romanticism in Johns' original theory is completely lost in this one-dimensional, black and white story device.

All good things come to and end. I bet a comic fan said that.

-Gint

  

Gint's 4-16-14 Pull-List Review

Overall it was a solid week of books, including the brand new Sinestro #1.

Seventh Place:

Green Lantern: New Guardians #30

This book had some real mojo behind it when Justin Jordan and Brad Walker kicked it off. Now its very pedestrian and doesn't inspire a lot of excitement.

Kyle Rayner and Carol Ferris are wondering around the galaxy with the New Guardians, essentially teaching them about this universe they're unfamiliar with. So they get into this big throw down between, what seem to be real gods, and naturally, a group that calls themselves the Godkillers. The idea behind the story seems sound, but its just not delivering.

Maybe its the fact that I'm not a huge Kyle guy? Maybe its just that this book is JUST okay.

Sixth Place:
X-Men #13

The whole "Jubilee has a baby" storyline of this book has felt out of place. How does she just take an abandoned baby and claim it as her own? I assume that was all setup for this story here, part 1 of Bloodline.

And in Bloodline we learn that the father of Shogo (the previously mentioned baby) is coming to kill all the X-Men and take his son back. What we briefly learn about him is that he's pretty badass and isn't afraid to kill kids. He's also been alive for a lifetime. Writer Brian Wood is going to have to iron out some background details in future issues.

The revolving X-artist door continues as Clay Mann turns in a heck of a performance. He's able to draw unique characters and I'm ALWAYS in favor of that. Some of his pages are reminiscent of Sean Murphy's from The Wake. Nice to see Mann get a whole issue instead of couple-page backups.

Fifth Place:
Nova #16

Gerry Duggan has done a great job picking up from Jeph Loeb's initial setup. And while David Baldeon isn't necessarily Ed McGuinness or Paco Medina, his art is solid enough to make this one of the most consistently enjoyable books on the shelves.

Nova wraps up his most recent adventure with Beta Ray Bill and opens the scope of the Nova universe a little bit more. There's a lighthearted tone that Duggan has been able to tap into that fits the character perfectly.

Just an example of a really good comic book. There's a lot of books that should be so lucky.

Fourth Place:
Sinestro #1

I never thought the Red Lanterns should have their own book. They've been stripped of their initial modus operandi in order to have some kind of coherent narrative. Had the comic version of the Red Lanterns been introduced like the Green Lantern: The Animated Series' Reds, it may be different. Sinestro and the Yellow Lanterns were the ring slingers that should have had their own book. And now they have one.

Written by Cullen Bunn (who I know nothing about) and drawn by the super talented Dale Eaglesham, they kick off this new on-going pretty successfully. Bunn really keeps the Sinestro-mythology created by Geoff Johns intact. That's much appreciated since the current team of Green Lantern writers take too many liberties. Bunn and Eaglesham take you through a setup issue without boring your brains out.

In a lot of ways this book felt like a throwback to the Geoff Johns days. I'm all in and can't wait for #2.

Third Place:
Batman and Wonder Woman #30

The search for the body of Damian Wayne leads Batman to Themiscyra and Wonder Woman's help. The rest of the Amazons and Ra's al Ghul are not happy about it.

What stood out to me in this issue was Patrick Gleason's art. I know him and Doug Mahnke share/shared a studio and have similar styles, but this was the first issue I really felt a heavy Mahnke influence in his work. Maybe because I just read Mahnke's Justice League #29?

I've really enjoyed this book. I'm okay if it stays a Batman and... title. Peter Tomasi and Gleason tell great Batman stories, so its a way to feature DC's biggest character while also having a "Brave and the Bold"-style book in DC's stable. Its also manages to stay pretty separate from the rest of the Batman silliness happening in the other books.

Second Place:
Justice League #29

I can honestly say, outside of Teen Titans Go!, that was the most enjoyable Cyborg-centric story I've ever read. I still think its goofy that its up to Cyborg to save the day and its all based on Geoff Johns love of the character that he appears at all, but this was a cool issue.

Drawn by Doug Mahnke, Cyborg leads the Metal Men to take on Grid, the Crime Syndicate's Cyborg doppelganger. The way Johns writes the Metal Men in the DCnU is prime material for a kids show, or even a movie like The Incredibles. But these last two issues have been Cyborg issues. I guess we're meant to see him grow up, come to terms with this half human-half robot nature and be the Justice Leaguer he was meant to be.

Unfortunately, for as cool as an issue as this was, Cyborg will forever be a Teen Titan in my heart. Shine him up all you want, he's still Cyborg. 

  

First Place:
Batman #30

This has been the most enjoyable issue of Zero Year in quite a while. The last so many issues have just been dragging ass, taking their good old time, and boring me the fuck out. This issue jumps into some brand new shit that makes it exciting again.

When last we saw Zero Year-Bruce, he got blown up in an explosion. He wakes up nearly a year (its a fuzzy timeline) later in a foliage-overgrown Gotham that the Riddler has been holding hostage all this time. Gordon and Batman are thrown into such new, crazy circumstances that I'm instantly interested again.

A word about the art. Greg Capullo's pencils with Danny Miki's inks are impeccable. Every panel is constructed with such care and detail. Its amazing. However, what's keeping me from loving this book is its non-traditional color palette. FCO Plascencia is responsible for the colors, and while they're bright and vibrant (they color one hell of a sunset) its the pastel palette they're using that's killing me. I want my Bats dark and realistic. The bright, yet washed out colors in these Zero Year issues are giving it a 70s movie/80s comic feel that I'm not buying.

Panel of the Week:

Sexy and scary. No better combo in my opinion. Lyssa Drak care of Dale Eaglesham.

-Gint

Superhero Hierarchy

Just because a character HAS 2-plus books on the shelves doesn't mean they SHOULD. Aquaman has just earned himself a second title. Superman has three and doesn't deserve any of them. Well, maybe Superman Wonder Woman. But Supes' main titles (Action Comics and Superman) have been pretty much dogshit since the New 52 was launched.

Batman is another story. He has about four titles, and about half of them are good. While he has a better success record than the Man of Steel, even some of his titles (Batman) are becoming overrated.

So just because you're high profile doesn't mean you deserve the accolades.

-Gint

McSoss Podcast Episode 52: Deviant Semen

This week we treat the fans to a dealer’s choice episode. We serve up a smorgasbord of topics including Indiana Jones, Starman, The Madman and the Monster, Bullseye vs Punisher and House of Cards.  

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Aquabag

Yes its true. The once derided "guy that talks to fish" stars in not only one monthly on-going book, but two. Three years ago this would be unheard of. Even TWO years ago at the launch of the New 52 it would have been unheard of. But Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis did the unthinkable and made Arthur Curry, Aquaman, a badass.

For as much as I like the main book (Aquaman), and for as good as its been, DC is still rolling the dice with another on-going title starring the King of the Seven Seas... along side a team of heroes? vigilantes? that are BRAND NEW characters. After reading issue #1 of Aquaman and the Others, I'm hooked.

Written by Dan Jurgens and drawn by Lan Medina, I wasn't blown away. It wasn't like sitting down with the first issue of The Wake. But as far as strong superhero storytelling goes, this first issue gives a great look at each character and sets up what could be a cool little story that give this book a good run.

Considering how DC plays it fast and loose with awarding characters monthlies (Vibe anyone?) this book isn't all that shocking to see. And to DC's credit, if something isn't working, they cancel the shit out of it.

If they can keep the talent high, Aquaman and the Others has a chance to be a real dark horse book in DC's monthly lineup.

-Gint 

Gint's 4-9-14 Pull-List Review

The excellence of Superman Wonder Woman is threatened by a Doomsday crossover and the other books were okay.

First Place:

Green Lantern Corps #30

Remember when Bernard Chang drew this book? Yeah, those were good times. And too few and far between. Scott Kolins and Chris Batista split this issue (Kolins doing flashbacks) aaaaaand... yeah its not very good.

This issue we get a little Durlan history lesson from Von Daggle, the Durlan Green Lantern. I know the Durlans are supposed to be super threatening and creepy, but they're not. As far as Green Lantern threats go, something's being lost in translation. This arc is more tired than anything else and I hate saying it, but I'm eager for it to be over.

The whole Green Lantern line of books has been put on notice for potential drops from the Pull-List. Fucking around with fill-in artists and boring stories isn't going to strengthen their case. 

Second Place:

Star Wars #16

Talk about an up and down run. Well, its been mostly down, but this issue gave me more of what I was looking for from the start of this series than most of the first fifteen issues did. This issue, unlike most of the others, felt like I was reading the characters from the movies.

Stéphane Créty is back on art, and other than poor likenesses of our main cast, draws a good book. Secondary characters look good, the ships look good and his overall story layout is smooth and easy to read. Get this guy to quit drawing Princess Leia different in each panel and he'd be in good shape.

From the start, this book hasn't been what I'd hoped. But with only a few issues left before Dark Horse loses the license to Marvel I'm going to finish this one out. Brian Wood has the chance to put some polish on this turd.

First Place:
Superman Wonder Woman #7

And with that, Charles Soule's excellent run on Superman Wonder Woman comes to a close. Why? Because next month it jumps into the Superman: Doomed crossover. And I really couldn't be any less interested in that.

But this issue was good. In particular the art of Paulo Siqueira on the first eight pages. The rest of the book's art is split between Eddie Barrows and Barry Kitson, and its pretty standard, but Siqueira's pages are fantastic. He's the kind of talent that should be doing a tentpole book like this.

Maybe Charles Soule and Greg Pak's Doomed crossover will fix all the problems I had with the original Death of Superman story from the 90s. Scott Lobdell is involved, so I doubt it. But it may pique my curiosity enough to buy the first issue.

Panel of the Week:

Paulo Siquiera. Get this guy on a regular book.

-Gint

Penny Lover

Soss' passion for Lionel Richie knows no bounds. In the mid 90s when most of us were listening to grunge, Soss steadfastly trumpeted the merits of the unheralded Richie release Louder Than Words. When Justin Timberlake broke the shackles of 'N Sync and became the modern "triple threat guy," Soss reminded us Richie has always been a "QUINtuple threat guy." And Soss doesn't let us forget, The Most Interesting Man in the World learned his tricks from... Lionel Richie.

There really was no other option for Soss' comic strip spiritual playa than the man who taught us how to dance on the ceiling.

-Gint

Soss' 4-10-14 Pull-List Review

All-New X-Men #25

Beast receives a visit from a mysterious character who lectures him about his tampering with the space-time continuum. We also get a glimpse of things that could happen to the Marvel Universe if said space-time continuum is not repaired.

The cover of this book brags about this being "the greatest artist roster ever assembled". I'd prefer to see Marvel avoid putting a different artist on each panel of a book. Leave that messiness to the Distinguished Competition. However, if you are going to feature a handful of artists on a single book there is no better way then to do it as one big flash forward. Each artist was responsible for a different alternate reality which made sense to me. 

While not the best book All-New X-Men #25 did a solid job of setting the stage for the upcoming Original Sin event. There are a lot of great splash pages so give this book a read. You might end up with a new favorite desktop image. -Soss

Panel of the Week: The legendary Bruce Timm depicts the many faces of Jean Grey. 

McSoss Podcast Episode 51: Patron Saint of Shitty Movies

This week we get back to our comic roots with an extended Whatcha' Been Readin'. Join us as we cover everything from Ghost Rider and Aquaman and the Others to World War I and the current situation in the Ukraine. 

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During this week’s episode we get into a discussion about  the art in both Red Rover Charlie and Detective Comics. 
I thought it might help our loyal listeners to have the visual of what we were arguing about.

Red Rover Charlie

Detective Comics

The Dark Depths

As I said a few posts ago, Locke & Key is one of the most consuming comics I've read in quite a while. The imagination that this book opens up is wonderful. Kudos to Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez for the visceral way they illustrate this concept, which is just like I drew it above. You can literally open the top of your head and physically remove or add things just by digging around with your hand.

Did I really kill a drifter while homeless just to survive? Some things are better left as mystery.

-Gint

Gint's 4-2-14 Pull-List Review

Its Premiere Week on the Pull-List looking at the new Aquaman and the Others and new creative team on Detective Comics.

Third Place:
Green Lantern #30

Had you told me two years ago that I'd be considering dropping Green Lantern from the Pull-List I'd have had you committed to the nearest psych ward. Two years later, and you're more right than I like to admit.

The premise of the GL books is strong: the Durlans (the shape changers of the DCU) are infiltrating the Corps in an effort to destroy them from the inside. Its the execution that's flawed. There's not a whole lot that's engaging about the way this story is being told. This issue, featuring a fight to the death between Hal Jordan and a Khund warrior, I guess was important to the overall plot, but felt like filler. There were what should have been cool moments like Hal and the Khund sharing a beer before the fight, that never delivered. Maybe in different hands they would have.

Billy Tan mercifully took a break from the art this week allowing Martin Coccolo a shot at bat. Using baseball terms I'd say his no inker-style was a promising hit that turned in to a double play. A big top tier book like Green Lantern should have an inker.

Overall, this book is no longer living up to expectations.

Second Place:
Detective Comics #30

Expectations can really make or break a book. In this case, my expectations knocked this issue out of First Place.

For the first time in a while Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato are back at the superhero game with their first issue of Detective Comics. Coming off of a defining run on The Flash, I was more than ready to have my socks knocked off. What happened was a moderate issue setting up a new creators' run on a title. Was it bad? Not by any stretch, but it didn't wrap me up either.

The art was first class all the way. Manapul and Buccellato don't miss a beat in that game, and I'd even say, this is a better looking issue than what Greg Capullo is doing on Batman. That's my taste leaning toward Manapul.

Solid setup but I expect more in the coming issues as this story kicks into gear.

First Place:
Aquaman and the Others #1

Speaking of expectations, low expectations helped this book into First Place. Dan Jurgens and Lan Medina take a handful of characters that maybe shouldn't have their own book and really deliver.

When this was announced I immediately thought it was a bad idea. Afterall, DC already has one successful Aquaman book, aren't they taking their chances having him star in TWO? With a supporting cast of brand new characters? But Jurgens and Medina pull it off. They take their time and introduce each unfamiliar character with enough background details to set each one from the others. By the end, you have a great idea of who's who and what's playing out regarding the plot.

Lan Medina draws a hell of an issue. Its top notch art on a book that will need it to run with the big dogs on the shelves each month. Medina's a great choice. Love to see him keep on a monthly schedule.

Panel of the Week:

I don't know if the fingerprints in the art are on purpose or not, but they're a nice little touch.

-Gint

McSoss Podcast Episode 50: Captain America and Friends: The Winter Solider Review

On this Sunday edition of the McSoss Comic Book Podcast we are joined by special guests Justin Carr and Dom Yosi as we give our thoughts on Captain America: The Winter Solider.

****SPOILER ALERT*** You have been warned.

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Mile High Club... For One

I don't ask where the comic ideas come from. Sometimes they just appear complete and all I have to do is translate them to paper. Sometimes, you get the above. Like I said, I don't ask.

What I DO do (heh heh... doodoo) is read Locke & Key. Well, the first three trades anyway. And holy shit is it good. I've heard nothing but good things about it in my travels around Comicdom, but never had a chance to read it until recently.

In short, its really fucking good. Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez have put together a story that's captured my imagination just as much as Hellboy or Preacher. You're immediately dropped into a fully realized world that contains it's own mythology, magic and science that dates back to the 1700s... at least through three trades.

The story is about three siblings, two in high school and one 6-year old sent to live in Keyhouse, which contains a bunch of hidden keys that do different things when used like transport you anywhere, open your brain and turn you into a ghost. Its wild stuff. And it all surrounds a greater mystery of what happened to their dad and uncle while they grew up there.

Joe Hill, the son of Stephen King, is clearly writing his own ticket. But being a huge Stephen King fan myself, its hard not to notice little bits and pieces in Hill's writing that echo his father. Like the inclusion of music in key pieces, or the same wry sense of humor.

Go pick up the first trade of Locke & Key and try not to get hooked. It might be the next hardback collection in my library.

-Gint

Soss' 4-3-14 Pull-List Review

Ghost Rider #1
 

Much like the All-New Now! Ms. Marvel, Ghost Rider #1 is a relaunch of a new character with a familiar moniker. We follow the story of Robbie Reyes as he makes his turn from lowly mechanic in the dangerous streets of East Los Angeles to the newest spirit of vengeance. 

Like Ms. Marvel, the House of Ideas took this opportunity to diversify it's roster of previously establish characters. Diversity in comics is a hot button issue right now and in my point of view is handled poorly more often than not. It was refreshing to see someone actually get it right this time.  In the aforementioned Ms. Marvel, G. Willow Wilson hammers you with the fact that Kamala Khan is Muslim-American. Everything about that story screams "Look how diverse we are! Did you see, did you see? We made Ms. Marvel brown!" Felipe Smith and Tradd Moore are thankfully better storytellers than this. Robbie Reyes is Hispanic but it's not all he is or the focus of this tale. The reader picks up on it because of the world he inhabits. The people, places and circumstances of his situation in this world flesh out who and what he is. Since Smith doesn't waste time on race he is able to create a likable character that the reader is quickly attached to. 

Tradd Moore was an inspired hire for this book. His over-exaggerated style is the perfect balance between traditional comic art and the indie flavor that Marvel has been going for with these relaunches. While I'm not crazy about the new Ghost Rider design everything else in this book is excellent.

I can say with no hesitation that I like Robbie Reyes better then Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch after just one issue. Those of you who are looking for a new and fun take on an old classic should pick this book up today. -Soss

Panel of the Week: This is how it's done, Nick Cage.

McSoss Podcast Episode 49: People Know Stuff

This week the McSoss crew does more of what we do best, talk movie trailers! We break down Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Paul ruins X-Men: Days of Future Past for Matt.

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