Comic Book Discussion Thread V.16

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

I somehow got sucked back into reading Marvel some time around the Time Runs Out. Except for Deadpool, I quit reading superhero comics unless they had a new or unusual take on the genre - Halcyon, Supurbia, The Boy, etcetera because mainstream superhero comics are such a tired genre where nothing interesting ever happens because the status quo must be maintained.

In fact, I think the entire Secret Wars event in microcosm is an indictment of the sad state state of the mainstream American comic book industry - great introduction, then it's all downhill from there. Stories should have a beginning, a middle and and end. That is the nature of a story. OTOH, American writers know how to pitch the kickoff to an amazing story, generally with the hope that they get picked up to be a continuing series. Instead of writing an emotionally conclusive ending, they write ambiguous, half hearted half endings, hoping to pick up a few checks on that property or idea later. What ends up happening is that entire generations of writers have been trained to write fucking spectacular introductions, backed up by the best and most popular artists only for the shit to inevitably roll downhill after a few 4-8 issues.

So bah to that mediocre shit. I'm going to be reading Deadpool (because I've been reading him since he was first introduced), Weirdworld (b/c it's not really a superhero comic), Hulk (while Cho is drawing) and A-Force (because I've been reading She-Hulk since was the original 4th wall breaker before Deadpool).

But yeah, the Miles and Peter interaction down when they were with Molecule Man was one of the better moments in the series ("Where did you get that burger, Miles?" "My pocket." "No Miles, where did that burger come from???") Good stuff.

Don't get me wrong, Secret War had it's moments, but all of the stuff that was supposed to turn out to be epic confrontations that Phoenix Cyclops vs Doom portended (Thanos vs Doom, Ben Grimm vs Thanos, Reed vs the Maker (seriously? hurk? that's it?) etc) were ultimately anticlimactic and undermined by the fact that we know there's a new Ben Grimm who's hanging out with the new GotG. Bah.

Dough, I have Peter David's entire She Hulk collected, starting with issue 22. I never collected her solo before, but I always liked the character. I decided to pick up one random title a month, something I generally would never read unless it's in a tpb format. Well I loved the first issue under David (#22), and that was that, collected his entire run. Such a great and overlooked run.

I still haven't had time to sit down and read issue 9 of Secret Wars yet. But I think I'm gonna re read the entire series, issues 1-9 in one sitting. Hickman is better read like thst anyway (his fantastic four run is proof of that, just reads better not waiting monthly).

Some of the tie ins were good but the main series has been intense. I'm gonna stick with that. But I do feel you with some of the lackluster endings. Some didnt meet the build up.

But give me some examples. And I think you feel this way because of the decompressed writing style that is now popular. A lot of the events from Marvel were used to tie into a larger story. Or change the landscape of the marvel universe. For example when Osborn took over and Marvel was printing titles under the Dark Reign banner. So yeah I guess there is no definitive ending because it ties in or fills a puzzle piece to a larger story. That is true when you think about it that way.

 

[FyrFytr998]

I was hoping that the idea of destroying all of these alternate universes would be a sign or a way of Marvel saying that they're going to keep the stories tight with less multiversal nonsense, but nope. Ends with Reed and Franklin and the FF spinning out entire universes and chucking them into being. So we're right back where we started? SMH. Waste of time in terms of storytelling.

Reed Richards.......always screwing shit up.

I too had the same hopes with Marvel cleaning up their comic universe. Nope. Just rehashing the same concepts with different faces. They paint themselves in these corners where it takes cosmic level shenanigans to bail them out of plot holes. Which in turn create more plot holes in continuity.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

The Flash Vol. 4 Reverse

Pretty good fun Flash centered story line, mixes some things up with the character but very entertaining. I'll have to wait for the Zoom volume which should be later this year

Prod, how did you like Rebirth. And have you read Dasdardly Death of the Rogues.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

So basically where I'm at with the new Marvel shit:

Weirdworld, Venom, Uncanny Inhumans, Uncanny X-Men, Spider-Gwen, Squirrel Girl, and The Ultimates have been good so far.

Squadron Supreme is decent, kinda rushed, but I'm sticking with it.

Have Deadpool, Dr. Strange, Black Knight, New Wolverine, and Hellcat sitting around, just haven't really felt like reading them yet. The art in Black Knight and Wolverine are putting me off.

Extraordinary X-Men has been a let down, but maybe I expected more out of the team behind it. Read through the first story arc and meh, might grab one more issue before being done with it.

All New Inhumans and All New X-Men I really wanted to like more, but all and all they just aren't good. Karnak didn't do anything for me, New Avengers sucks. Angela is okay but I just don't care about it.

Looking forward to Silver Surfer (woooo Allred's still there), Old Man Logan, and Worst X-Man Ever. Will probably try out Hyperion, Nighthawk, Gwenpool, and X-Men '92 as well.

Might give Daredevil a try. Might.

Some of the titles they're putting out blow my mind.

Clinch i basically collected all the number 1s after the relaunch. I wanted to see what they were all about. And like you I have many sitting around and just haven't felt the urge to open them up. Hellcat, Scarlet Witch, Deadpool, Red Wolf, Illuminati, Black Knight, Web Warriors, Spider Woman, Captain America, Carnage Moon Girl, Squadron Supreme. Lol can't seem to get the urge to read them.

Agree with a lot of your reviews above.

Ex Xmen was not good at all. I was very disappointed with that as well. New Avengers was not good either.

New Wolverine was Meh as well. Karnak was decent. Angela was good but I don't care either. Lol.

All new Inhumans and all new Xmen were both the same. Nothing special at all.

Not getting Weirdworld since Aaron is off it after Secret Wars ends.

So far I've enjoyed the #1s of, Vision, Spider Gwen, The Ultimates, Uncanny Avengers, Uncanny Inhumans, Silk, Thor , Ant Man, Star Lord, Daredevil, Ms Marvel. These are all solid but I'll wait till they come out on the Marvel Unlimited App to read them again.

My monthly pull list is, Dr Strange, Waids Avengers (has Miles and Kamala Kahn on the team, like both those characters), Gurardians of the Galaxy and Iron Man. Plus the Star Wars titles.

I'm also looking forward to Old Man Logan, Miles Morales and Silver Surfer (stuck with this title since it was relaunched with Slott) as well.

 

[prod2821]

Prod, how did you like Rebirth. And have you read Dasdardly Death of the Rogues.

sadly I haven't read rebirth or death of the rogues

I won't have a chance to until this summer, I'm gonna have to put off the comics till then

 

[The Don]

Hey guys, I'm planning on getting into comic books and aside from some Deadpool stuff I haven't read other materials yet. I was hoping some of you guys can maybe recommend some story arcs, most preferably just street level characters.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

sadly I haven't read rebirth or death of the rogues

I won't have a chance to until this summer, I'm gonna have to put off the comics till then

Why is that. And yeah those are both good Flash stories.

Johns has a knack for bringing life into long time characters.

 

[prod2821]

Why is that. And yeah those are both good Flash stories.

Johns has a knack for bringing life into long time characters.

busy with grad school trying to graduate

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

busy with grad school trying to graduate

Prob more importent than reading the Flash lol.

 

[prod2821]

Prob more importent than reading the Flash lol.

yeah man, for now lol

once summer hits tho, I'll be back

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

yeah man, for now lol

once summer hits tho, I'll be back

Well you can tell me about it after you finish

 

[Lanx]

Hey guys, I'm planning on getting into comic books and aside from some Deadpool stuff I haven't read other materials yet. I was hoping some of you guys can maybe recommend some story arcs, most preferably just street level characters.

marvel/dc/independent preference? don't give a shit? or do you only want it related to deadpool? what deadpool have you read?

 

[xenomorph4prez]

So what are Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Frank Castle and Bruce Banner up to these days in the all new all different era?

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

So what are Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Frank Castle and Bruce Banner up to these days in the all new all different era?

Black
Woman
Don't know
ASIAN

 

[Doughbelly]

So what are Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Frank Castle and Bruce Banner up to these days in the all new all different era?

Black
Woman
Don't know
ASIAN

Do you even read, bro? =P

Steve Rogers = leader of the Avengers (Unity Squad)
Thor Odinson = Has not reappeared yet so whereabouts unknown. Will probably be back as Thor at some point since he's seen gaining his worthiness back at the end of time before Secret Wars.
Frank Castle = Coming in a new Punisher book.
Bruce Banner = Semi sacrificed himself (not clear) in a flashback before the events of Totally Awesome Hulk. Seems to have passed the mantle and powers of the Hulk to Amadeus Cho for now.

 

[Protectandserve]

So how are you guys reading comics currently? I have used my kindle fire for some and it works decently. But their is just something nostalgic about actual comic books.

Not to mention I want my son to have access to them when he is old enough. Comics really got me into reading as a kid.

 

[Mike]

Wait I thought thor was missing around civil war nd then came back. He's STILL missing?

 

[Doughbelly]

So how are you guys reading comics currently? I have used my kindle fire for some and it works decently. But their is just something nostalgic about actual comic books.

Not to mention I want my son to have access to them when he is old enough. Comics really got me into reading as a kid.

I do both, but since I don't have access to brick and mortar comic book shops, I read mostly electronically. I buy series that I like from online stores, try before I buy from the torrent sites for series I haven't decided on. I figure the latter is like thumbing through an issue at the store, so I'm not all that bothered with the ethics of it.

Wait I thought thor was missing around civil war nd then came back. He's STILL missing?

He went missing, then came back. Some unspecified bit of knowledge was revealed to him during the Original Sin/No More Secrets arc that made him unworthy to wield Mjolnir. He started wield an axe, then an alternate universe Mjolnir that could only be wielded by the unworthy while he was a part of the Multiversal Avengers that were trying to stop the collapse of the multiverse. At his final battle against the Builders at the end of time, Odinson found himself unable to life the unworthy Mjolnir, having shown himself to be worthy again. He presumably "died" here, but then a version of him showed up as one of the hundreds/thousands of Doom's Thors Corps enforcers, being referred to as the Unworthy and again wielding the axe. He goes to battle Doom in climax, but it doesn't really show what happens to him.

Odinson hasn't showed back up in the All New Marvel, but presumably will show back up against since Jane Foster, who is currently wearing the mantle of Thor, is dying of cancer.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

Do you even read, bro? =P

Steve Rogers = leader of the Avengers (Unity Squad)
Thor Odinson = Has not reappeared yet so whereabouts unknown. Will probably be back as Thor at some point since he's seen gaining his worthiness back at the end of time before Secret Wars.
Frank Castle = Coming in a new Punisher book.
Bruce Banner = Semi sacrificed himself (not clear) in a flashback before the events of Totally Awesome Hulk. Seems to have passed the mantle and powers of the Hulk to Amadeus Cho for now.

good summary

Mine was still shorter though -

 

[Mike]

God that MU sounds like a mess. Haven't kept up since the new secret wars.