Gint's 6-25-14 Pull-List Review

Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier's Aquaman continues to impress me taking the first spot in a week with a lot of competition.

Ninth Place:

The Amazing Spider-Man #3

When this book was announced, I was excited to get a Spider-Man/Peter Parker that took me back to the beloved J. Michael Straczynski/John Romita, Jr. run. I don't know if its my fault for having lofty expectations or just Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos' story, but... I'm kind of bored.

I know I shouldn't be. Black Cat and Electro are plotting against Peter while he puts his life back together after having his brain taken over by Doc Ock. On paper it sounds great. But the execution's not working. Slott's Peter is too silly and cartoony, and besides Peter, the whole supporting cast is brand new. Like seeing Guns N' Roses with just Axl Rose and a whole new backup band... which they did and it was a failure.

While Ramos' art is more than suited for a Spider-Man book, the overall "oomph" just isn't there. I'll give it a full arc, but the lifespan of this one may be waning.

Eighth Place:
Batman #32

More Riddler outsmarting Batman, more pastel color scheme, more Zero Year. When's it going to end? According to this issue, next issue. And I'm a-okay with that. This has been going on way too long.

The trio of Batman, Lucius Fox and Jim Gordon infiltrate what they think is Nygma's hideout only to be foiled again to have this story drag on for one more issue. Nothing really stood out this month other than all the setup for the grand finale. Please let it be the finale.

When all is said and done, I think this will be a cool story. Not a "buy the hardback" cool story, but a cool story. Monthly however, holy shit is this dragging on.

Seventh Place:
Futures End #8

Staying with the Futures End theme, Superman is also an asshole. Though that's not technically true, since we don't know who this masked Superman is. Perhaps I'll withhold judgement.

I'd expect a 52-issue long story to be pretty decompressed. And maybe it is. But so far these issues have packed a TON of shit into 20 page books. We learn a little more about Fifty Sue's powers, Dr. Yamazake and Superman are dicks to Jason Rusch, and Ray Palmer cuts off Hawkman's arm to give it to Frankenstein. Lots of stuff, folks.

Scot Eaton is back on pencils, and while he may be my least favorite of the four rotating artists, he doesn't get much help from his inker. Drew Geraci just slops down blacks like it ain't no thang. Lots of heavy linework makes for some thick panels. Maybe a smaller gauge, Drew. Thanks.

Sixth Place:
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #14

A new arc kicks off this month, and this issue takes a bit of a hit because its a lot of setup. We know Adora has gone off on her own to atone for leading the Horde into Eternia, but now He-Man catches up with her to help her find herself, and presumably, lead her to becoming She-Ra.

A few issues ago, Teela became the new Sorceress. I didn't expect that to stick around very long, but that's apparently the new status quo. Bold move on writer Dan Abnett's part. By having her channel the power of the Snake-Men, he finds a way to incorporate the Teela action figure's outfit with the big snake headdress that was never used in the cartoon. Abnett clearly loves this property.

If you're a fan of He-Man, you should be reading this book. I've said for years that the world of Eternia is rich to mine, and it just takes the right guys to do it. Abnett and Pop Mhan are doing a great job making this a relevant title.

Fifth Place:
Sinestro #3

Well that didn't take long before reinforcements had to be called in on artwork. But at least they aren't just your random whoever fill-in. Rags Morales helps Dale Eaglesham with the back half of this issue. Here's the only problem with that - Rags' characters look markedly different than Eaglesham's. A minor gripe. As far as talent goes, he's got it.

Cullen Bunn is telling a pretty solid tale of Sinestro trying to regroup the Sinestro Corps. Since he's been gone, they've just been going around terrorizing the galaxy. Sinestro wants them to help make a better universe... through fear of course. So the captured Green Lantern Soranik Natu has decided to stick around and make sure they're not doing anything over the line.

What's been fun is reading new Sinestro Corps member, Dez Trevius, with the voice of Draco Malfoy. I don't know if that's what Bunn was going for, but every line of his dialog falls right in line.

Fourth Place:
Superman #32

I haven't bought an issue of Superman since #6 of the New 52 relaunch – because it read like my asshole tastes. But the creative duo of Geoff Johns and John Romita, Jr. are enough to bring anyone back to read a comic.

Superman, the character as a whole, has wholly blew my nuts since the New 52 relaunched. DC's tentpole character, and the comic writers can't even get him right. Aside from his costume still being dumb, Johns writes the Superman I've been waiting for. For the first time he feels like the pre-New 52 Clark Kent, and that's a good thing. Previously, Johns has written Richard Donner's version of Superman. This time, he may have nailed his own.

John Romita, Jr.'s art, with Klaus Jansen on inks is just as good as I remember from the aforementioned Amazing Spider-Man run. His style is really all his own. It doesn't look comic booky, but is very comic booky in his storytelling.

The story so far centers on an analog Superman character from a dying Earth, sent to grow up in another dimension, before coming back to Clark's Earth. Not entirely what I expected, but a very enjoyable read. I haven't said that about Superman very much in the last couple years.

Third Place:
Saga #20

Saga isn't your run of the mill comic. Its anything but. Traditional comic making goes out the window and you never know what you're going to get from Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. Normally, if that's how a book is presented to me, I'm immediately turned off. But since I got in on the ground floor of this one, its an amazing book.

This issue may not be SO amazing. Lots of setup, lots of advancing a couple pieces on the board to get them ready for this arc. But the way its done is a lot of fun. The book's cast is comprised completely of aliens with horns and giant ears and wings and such, but its written in such a way that is all relateable. Vaughan and Staples make a giant universe feel like our little part of the world.

Shit's going to go down this arc. I fully expect to be really bummed when it closes. But it will be work the ride, just like the first 19 issues.

Second Place:
Justice League #31

Maybe having some bad guys join the Justice League was just what this book needed to get it kicked into high gear. The bold move of looking at Lex Luthor in a new light, and having him find out who Batman really is is pretty novel and Geoff Johns plays it expertly.

Lex confronts Bruce at Wayne Manor and says he knows Bruce is Batman. Bruce denies it and the entire conversation that generates from there is gold. Elsewhere, the rest of the Justice League is looking for the missing Power Ring ring from Forever Evil, we also see who it finds (Jessica Cruz - sexy) and why. Johns' writes the ring to be pretty terrifying.

And its all drawn by Doug Mahnke. Mahnke is a DC mainstay. He just gets these characters. Even down to their mannerisms and acting, he knows how to draw a DC book. Mahnke may not get the accolades of a Jim Lee, but in my opinion, he's just as good as the big dogs, if also an unsung hero.

First Place:
Aquaman #32

For all the talk about the comics industry needing more quality female super heroes, there sure isn't a lot of talk about Mera, who is essentially a co-star in Aquaman. She's great. After reading this issue where she really takes center stage, I'd entertain a Mera ongoing series.

Besides Mera stealing the issue, it's also a full issue of Paul Pelletier's pencils, which we haven't seen in a couple months. He knocks the entire issue out of the park, cover included. Character work, layout, storytelling... all of it. Inkers Sean Parsons and Rick Magyar, and colorist Rain Beredo should also get credit. Its a great looking issue.

McSoss' own Dominic Yosi dropped Aquaman this week and that bums me out. This is an honestly good book. Its kept me fully engaged through its full New 52 run.

Page of the Week:

Paul Pellietier's mastery of Aquaman continues. Great detail on this new threat to the King of the Seven Seas.

-Gint

Zuul Was A Hottie

I always had a thing for Sigourney Weaver. From fighting chestbursters to protecting little baby Oscar, she always seemed like a classy lady.

While the passing of Harold Ramis guarantees that the original cast will not reunite for another Ghostbusters film, I’m not so sure that doesn’t mean we won't see another film in the series. Hollywood isn’t prone to leaving money on the table and a franchise like Ghostbusters is still profitable all these years later. While I’m not thrilled about it, I’d bet that we will see a new set of actors pick up the proton packs sooner than later -Soss

Soss' Suggestions 06-26-14

Amazing X-Men #7

The story reunites the cast of the 80s cartoon Spiderman and his Amazing Friends for what appears to be a one-shot adventure. Firestar, Iceman and Spider-Man team up to save the life of a strange alien baby and get him back to his parents. It seems like the majority of the story revolves around Spiderman explaining to the X-men how he was brain-swapped with Dr. Octopus in the events of Superior Spiderman.



It's a nice, intimate one shot and those are rare in todays comics
. I did have a problem with the way that Bobby Drake was written. His dialogue and actions were almost identical to Peter Parker’s. I know they are similar characters but this might as well have been just a Firestar and Spidey book.

 


Paco Medina did a wonderful job with the page layout. Really great and energetic illustrations with lots of fun Spiderman web-slinging action. 

The problem I have is I am uncertain if this is the new creative team or just a fill-in. If this was the regular team I'd highly recommend the book but I am unsure at this point. -Soss

Panel of the Week: Changing intergalactic diapers.

McSoss Podcast Episode 62: The Comic Book Kingdom

This week we discuss the latest news from the Star Wars universe, complain about Audible’s new policies and ponder the question “ If you could have any single comic or series what would you choose”? 

We also travel to a magical land where we meet the fair and wise Comic Book King.

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Sending The Wrong Message

A soft Part 2 of our previous comic, we stay on the subject of fringe nerdom which is LARPing, which has some ties to cosplay and being a Furry. Basically you dress up for each one. Each has different rules about staying in character, and some (Furries) are stranger than others.

I've heard from different furry participants, that it's not about sex or some weird kink at all. Its just about innocently pretending you're an animal. I couldn't disagree more. How is it possible, you dress up like an animal, don't break character, and even shit in a litter box and have it NOT end in banging some jackalope's brains out?

I guess you're either with me on this one, or I just admitted to some weird shit I don't even know I'm into. How 'bout that.

-Gint

Gint's 6-18-14 Pull-List Review

Only four books this week because my jealously over the Kyle/Carol business forced me to quit Green Lantern: New Guardians.

Fourth Place:

Nova #18

We pause our regularly scheduled Nova issue to bring you an Original Sin tie-in. I'm not following Original Sin, so this issue could have been a throwaway. But it was not.

Gerry Duggan turned this tie-in into a fairly integral piece of the overall story of Sam Alexander trying to find his father. The initial tie-in portion seemed off-putting at first, but after letting it marinate, its another good issue. Duggan (with David Baldeon on pencils) just keeps on rolling, even when faced with hooking their book into Marvel's overarching plans.

And since I am nothing but honest with you readers, I'd be lying if I said this issue didn't pique my interest in Original Sin just a bit. A couple little story beats were really pretty neat. Could be some interesting things they're doing over at the House of Ideas.

Third Place:

X-Men #15

Inks in a comic book really do make a world of difference. For as cool as some of Matteo Buffagni's figures and panel layouts are, I can't help feeling they'd be more dramatic with inks. Just colors on pencil is an interesting once in a while, but a book like X-Men deserves the full artwork treatment.

The Future, an guy named the Future, not the actual future, is coming to take his baby back that the X-Men (Jubiliee) stole. I forget the circumstances of Jubiliee coming across the baby she named Shogo, but this whole issue I sided with the bad guy. It IS his baby afterall. Bad guy or not.

I picked this title up on a whim when it was launched because the concept sounded interesting. Brian Wood's writing hasn't let me down.

Second Place:

Futures End #7

Another good read from the heavy hitting writing team of Brian Azzarello, Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens and Jeff Lemire. I'm not sure what happened between issues 1-5 and 6-7, but this book has gotten pretty interesting.

Since the writers have seemed to let up on writing asshole characters, my interest has doubled. Even in new characters like Fifty Sue. I have no idea what she really does yet, but she's a cool addition to the Futures End cast.

Aaron Lopresti pencils this issue with Art Thibert on inks. Thibert's work makes Lopresti not look quite like Lopresti, but for my money, of the four artists that have been drawing this book (Patrick Zircher, Jesus Merino, Mark Irwin and Lopresti), Lopresti is the strongest of the four.

First Place:

Batman and Ra's al Ghul #32

The Hunt for Robin comes to a close with a shocking twist at the end. I trust Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason with all of my comics, but kicking off a New Gods-heavy next arc gives me pause.

But before we get there we have an issue full of the standard great comic making that this team is known for. What I really liked about this issue was the twist that each Lazarus Pit across the world has different properties when it comes to resurrection. I'd love to see a chart detailing all of them. Its a cool bit of information that makes the DC Universe a little richer.

Gleason's art is stellar. I've compared it to an adult Batman: The Animated Series before, but this issue he really cranks it up. The best way I can describe it is its like seeing a live action Animated Series movie. Great stuff.

Panel of the Week:

I would pay top dollar to see Patrick Gleason draw a Hellboy book after seeing this panel of Frankenstein.

-Gint

An Experimental Phase

Its a slippery slope having a waxing interesting in nerd culture. One minute you're watching an animated series, the next you're wearing a cat costume shitting in a litter box at the local Holiday Inn Express for the Furry Convention. The endless cycle of chasing that nerd high.

Or maybe you find your niche and stop at LARPing - Live Action Role Playing as seen in the movie Role Models. While I've never done it myself, a couple good friends are pretty invested and at some point, we'll feature it on the podcast. Hopefully sometime this summer.

Until then, stay away from the Furries. That's a kink even this tortured soul thinks is fucked up.

-Gint

 

Soss' Suggestions 06/19/14

Young Avengers Vol.2 #1

After reading through the Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung run on Young Avengers I was apprehensive to pick up the new Marvel NOW! version. What could this updated group of teen Avengers have to offer me? The answer is “a lot”.

Marvel enlisted the talents of Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, the duo behind critically acclaimed Image title Phonogram to join forces once again.  I’ve always liked Gillen’s work on the X-tiles and McKelvie’s style is a cross between Steve Dillon and Frank Cho, which is right up my alley.

The first issue finds a fun and upbeat way to introduce the reader to the cast without getting bogged down by lots of dialogue. After laying the groundwork of who these characters are and why you should care about them we get thrown into the action in the last few pages. After a heart to heart conversation about Hulkings’ deceased mother, Wican “browses” through several realties and rescues her in the nick of time. We soon discover that it might have been better if she stayed dead.

This book reminds me more of how Geoff John’s handled Teen Titans then the Young Avengers book that preceded it. A quality read that I would recommend to any fan of teen superhero books. – Soss

Panel of the Week: I don’t think she will be winning Mother of the Year anytime soon. 

McSoss Podcast Episode 61: Shazam and the white M & M’s

This week we discuss the Daredevil casting, DC's rumored slate of upcoming films and learn about Matt’s relationship with Tim “Ripper” Owen’s.  


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Boys Will Be Boys

Maybe the fact that I don't think David Goyer said anything wrong when he called She-Hulk a porn star speaks to the fact that I am part of the evil misogynist machine. Or maybe it means I'm a rational human being who can take Goyer's opinion for what it was, just his opinion, and let it go.

The more troubling part of his statements were that he seemed to know so little about J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, and that his proposed changes to the origin of the character strip him of what's unique and exciting about him in the first place. To have J'onzz be grown in an Area 51 lab isn't unique or exciting at all. Goyer, who has already written Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and Man of Steel, and who has Batman v Superman and Justice League already on his docket, should know better.

DC's got a rich stable of characters with colorful origin stories that Warner Bros. needs to take advantage of. The New 52 has already screwed up most of the retellings, so I'd love to see someone in charge of introducing these characters to new audiences do the right thing and use the original origins.

-Gint

Gint's 6-11-14 Pull-List Review

I didn't think Futures End would garner a First Place finish, but there it is.

Sixth Place:

Star Wars #18

And we say goodbye to Star Wars on the Pull-List. Not because I didn't like it, but because Disney/Marvel is taking the license from Dark Horse.

This issue wraps up an 18-issue run by Brian Wood featuring art by Carlos D'Anda, Ryan Kelly and Stéphane Créty. The story followed the core cast of Han, Luke and Leia as they search for a new Rebel base after the Battle of Yavin. Overall it was an entertaining story, but was missing the punch I was looking for. I'm beginning to think Star Wars only works for me on the big screen.

If you're a Star Wars fan, especially of the original characters and timeline, I'd recommend reading this trade when its released. Am I broken up that this book is finished? Not really.

Fifth Place:
Detective Comics #32

For as beautiful as a book as this is, the story isn't comparable. Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato couldn't have had a better run on The Flash, but their work on Detective so far is kind of boring. It shouldn't be. Batman has already fought a sumo wrestler while suspended in a shipping container and this issue he fights a giant squid.

But the overall story is kind of slow. Its a classic, down-home Batman story about him following clues and being a detective, but something is missing and I can't put my finger on it. Its the kind of Batman story I wish Scott Snyder would write but something is missing from really hooking me in.

Its only their third issue, so the arc has plenty of opportunity to turn around, but so far... so so.

Fourth Place:
Justice League United #2

Our intrepid heroes find themselves Zeta Beamed to Rann, a planet none of them has visited before. And just as Supergirl (the actual Supergirl, not that imposter with a Red Lantern ring) shows up, we get a TON of exposition.

Sardath, leader of, I guess all of Rann, shows up and runs down why everything that's happened so far has happened. Something about creating a baby using the DNA of all species in the universe to make universal peace. Its complicated, and there's a LOT of words, but it DOES make sense. It just drags the issue down.

Jeff Lemire and Mike McKone have a cool book on their hands, but take a step back this issue.

Third Place:
Green Lantern Corps #32

Still the best Green Lantern book in story and art on the shelves. Though this issue the art takes a little bit of a dip. Instead of a full issue of the amazing Bernard Chang, he gets a pencil assist from Moritat, and it shows. The Moritat pages are thick with heavy inks and not as crisp.

The Durlans, our shape-changing villains, have targeted the Daxamites (who have Kryptonian powers when under a yellow sun) and the Zezzites (who live ON a yellow sun) to conquer the universe. They're taking the fight to the GLs and winning by the end of this issue. Though I'm sure John Stewart and the crew will pull things out in the end.

There have been a ton of new characters introduced since the new creative teams took over the Green Lantern books. Heaven forbid a new writer not create brand new characters (sarcasm). But Van Jensen's new characters, particularly Feska and Jruk are two of the most interesting and developed of the new crop.

Second Place:
Coffin Hill #8

"Wicked Witch of Coffin Hill, buried in the woods and waits there still..." is the creepy rhyme all the kids of northern Massachusetts know about the haunted woods of Coffin Hill. Its a running tenant of the first eight issue of the series.

Dave Johnson's covers got me interested. He's easily one of my favorite cover artists using excellent graphic design with awesome imagery. He doesn't just throw a "hero" image up with a title. But aside from Johnson's covers, its Caitlin Kittredge and Inaki Miranda's story that kept me coming back. It follows Eve Coffin, a witch who is reluctant to bask in her powers, especially after using as a teenager and getting into a mess of trouble.

Its a really interesting take on witchcraft, taking place in the modern day and using a unique twist on the genre. I'm really happy I made the decision to start reading.

First Place:

Futures End #6

What a good read! It can't be expected every issue in a weekly, but this issue hit all the right notes and characters. Gone were Grifter and Firestorm and we're left with a lot of Terry McGinnis, Tim Drake and Frankenstein. Good stuff.

Tim Drake has gone into hiding since he was allegedly killed in the battle of Paris. But Lois Lane sniffs him out running a bar in New York. Right before that he kicks a totally unlikeable Ronnie Raymond out of the bar for being a drunk asshole. And Frankenstein and Amethyst run into Black Adam in the Phantom Zone. Its great seeing Amethyst get some face time, even if half of it is burned off, since the short-lived Sword of Sorcery.

Patrick Zircher is on art this issue and may be my 2nd favorite artist of the four working on this book. He comes in behind only Aaron Lopresti. Zircher does some great work with perspective. I'd like to see him parlay this into a gig on a larger book.

Panel of the Week:

Something about this 2-page spread by Patrick Zircher really caught my attention this week.

-Gint

Get Out of My Dreams and Into My Car

The real Dominic is nowhere near the slimy womanizer that his McSoss counterpart can be. However, it would be pretty amazing to see him use some of these pick up lines. -Soss  

Soss' Suggestions 6-12-14

Batgirl: Year One #1 
In standard Year One fashion Batgirl: Year One tells the origin story of Barbara Gordon. Writers Scott Beatty and Chuck Dixon explore the subtle nuance of what drove Barbara to become a vigilante and who her true inspiration is for putting on the cape and the cowl. 

We get to follow a Gordon fresh out of college as she looks to follow in her father footsteps as a police office. By as she gets shut down at every turn she looks towards other avenues to combat Gotham’s outbreak of masked lunatics.

Marco Martin is fast becoming one of my favorite artists. His simple, elegant line work is wonderful. The muted color palette used by Javier Rodriguez fits Gotham City perfectly. Batgirl: Year One is a chance to swing along the rooftops with the original Batgirl during her first few adventures that I feel ll bat fans will enjoy. -Soss

Panel of the Week: Great perspective in this panel.

McSoss Podcast Episode 60: The Killing Joke

This week we discuss the books we plan to read and listen to over the summer. We also get into some light video game and horror talk.

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Glamour, Glitter, Fashion and Fame

Jem is the rare 80’s property targeting girls that still resonates with those who grew up with it. While I still hear grown women speak fondly about Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Short Cake and Barbie it’s not quite the same as when they discuss Jerrica Benton’s alter ego.

Is it the MTV sensibility of the cartoon? Is it the secret identity that framed Jem as a rock and roll super heroine?  Is it the cheesy but catchy music?  I hear it was contagious.

Next year Jem and the Holograms will join other 1980’s properties like G.I. Joe and Transformers on the silver screen. Will the same women who grew up dreaming that Synergy would transform them into glamorous rock stars make their way to the theater to support this brand? If I was a gambling man I’d say yes…but I don’t bet on movies. -Soss

Gint's 6-4-14 Pull-List Review

Nailbiter by Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson has been a real surprise hit for me. Always leery about Image Matt's recommendations, we have a winner here.

Fifth Place:

Futures End #5

DC's five-years-in-the-future saga continues with... nothing too impressive. This issue focuses on Grifter, Firestorm and Mr. Terrific, the three characters I'm not so interested in. Give me some Tim Drake and Terry McGinnis. We DO get introduced to the future Constantine which makes for the most interesting plot in the book.

The most interesting characters of the issue are two new (I think they're new) females, and one of them gets dusted pretty quick. I don't know who they are, but their strong debut's could make them surprise favorites of the series.

Art is the least of the worries this book presents. We've brought the artist carousel back around to Jesus Merino and each issue has been solid in the art department. Merino, maybe with the help of inker Dan Green, has a little Mark Bagley in him, and not necessarily the good bits. But its definitely not a deal breaker.

Fourth Place:
Green Lantern #32

I really want to like this book. I really do. I approach each issue with the expectation for it to turn a corner and really hook me. As long as the books stay away from the limited light energy business, we have a chance.

This issue builds on momentum previously setup. Its a good story, and its well put together, but I think its the characters that are falling flat. None of the new characters, be it Nol-Anj, or some of the Khund leaders, or even the new Green Lanterns that Robert Venditti introduced are very interesting. The effort is being put in, but they're lacking any dimensionality.

The core of this story is good, but the overall execution, including Billy Tan's artwork, continues to leave me wanting more.

Third Place:
Aquaman and the Others #3

This issue takes a step back from the great work in the first two. While there's plenty of action, and the story moves pretty seamlessly, it was a dialog-heavy book that slowed down the overall pace.

The interesting twist is a Wonder Twin reference. The bad guys are Darya and Anton Solokov of Trezygstan. Each has transmutation powers and could be the DCnU's evil version of the Wonder Twins. They are tied together with Prince Goran of millennia ago who witnessed the sinking of Atlantis before getting revenge on King Atlan.

Lan Medina is a good super hero artist. He understands the medium and knows how a story starring a character like Aquaman should flow. Aside from Allen Martinez's inks which are a little uneven, this is a good looking book. This is what Green Lantern should look like.

Second Place:
The Wake #9

One more issue to go in this one. By the end of issue #9 here, Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy bring everything full circle to the beginning of the story. Seems like forever ago that issue #1 of this series was released.

Leeward, in the future, is still searching for a connection to Lee Archer, in the past. By issue's end, she gets one, but probably not the way any reader would expect. This story has been all over the place in terms of genre. We start with a claustrophobic horror story and end up in a straight up sci-fi adventure.

The ideas and imagination in this book have been its highlights. Between Snyder and Murphy, you just wonder where they pull all these crazy ideas from. No matter how crazy, they all fit like a perfect puzzle piece in this world they created.

First Place:
Nailbiter #2

Making its debut on the Pull-List is Nailbiter, written by Joshua Williamson and drawn by Mike Henderson. Nailbiter follows an FBI interrogation specialist uncovering the mystery of his dead friend in Buckaroo, Oragon - home of the most serial killers in American history.

I really hated on this book when I was given a summary that wasn't as succinct as the one above. When I first heard about the book it sounded gimmicky. But after reading issues #1 and 2, I'm hooked. The two main characters, Finch (the FBI guy) and local sheriff Shannon Crane are well developed right from the start leaving lots of ways to dig deeper into who they are.

Henderson's art is perfect for this kind of book. It doesn't have that generic Avatar Press-quality art, and is just as good and moody as the best Vertigo comics has offered. a great start for a book I hope has a nice long run.

Panel(s) of the Week:

I wanted to highlight a bit of the imagination being used in The Wake, by showing an example of Jared K. Fletcher's lettering and how he's been using fish shapes to get across certain points.

-Gint

The Angry Mob

David Goyer has really taken a lot of flack lately. The man in charge of writing The Dark Knight Trilogy and the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was part of a panel of screenwriters on the Scriptnotes podcast. During a conversation discussing the Hulk and his cousin She- Hulk he made some controversial remarks.  He commented on how the Hulk was conceived as the “classic male power fantasy” and She –Hulk “was the extension” of said fantasy. He also classified She-Hulk as a “giant green porn star that only the Hulk could fuck.” Naturally, the internet when nuts over this. 

I don’t think Goyer is totally wrong. Superheroes of that time were written for teenage boys. It’s only natural to try to appeal to your audience. A strong, beautiful, intelligent super powered lady is the perfect thing to get the attention of young boys. I honestly think if he had used the term “super model” in place of “porn star” the mob wouldn’t be so angry. 

While I don’t agree with the notion that She Hulk was created as a gamma radiated Jenna Jameson I also think it’s silly for people to take this statement so literally. Goyer was in front of an audience and making an attempt to be entertaining. 

I don’t think this is a cause for concern regarding how he will treat Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman. Don’t worry folks, Goyer isn’t going to be writing gang bang scenes with everyone’s favorite Amazon Princesses. At least not that I know of…-Soss

Soss' Suggestions 6-5-14

 

Dead Boy Detectives #1 

Dead Boy Detectives offers the continued adventures of Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland, two schoolboy specter….you guessed it….detectives. This property apparently is a spin-off from Neil Gaiman's run on Sandman which I did not know until after reading the first issue. Maybe that’s why I felt so lost.

The book gets off and running with little back story. Edwin and Charles save a little girl named Crystal during an attempted art heist. While in a coma Crystal sees the Dead Boys and decides that she should enroll in the St. Hilarion's School, the same school where the title characters were killed by bullies.

I didn’t find myself caring too much about any of the characters. Maybe it’s because I have never read the Sandman issues they star in. Regardless, the first issue of any series is there to excite you about what could happen to these characters. I didn’t get any of that.  I put this book down twice due to boredom.  Unless you are already a fan of Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland avoid Dead Boy Detectives. -Soss

Panel of the Week: The coldest hospital bed there is.