Almost a hundred bucks on comics today

[Inkdaub]

I got a bunch of this Civil War stuff that Marvel has going now. I mainly got it because a coworker hates it and is always knocking it. I think it could be interesting so I decided to check it out. I also got some Silver Surfer stuff but was unable to get all that I wanted, like the Gaiman Eternals which I didn't get because I want to start at number one. I am interested in the Wildstorm imprint and also the Americas Best Comics that Moore put together...but I didn't get anything as yet.

Anyway...what's everyone reading these days on the superhero front?

[K-Mark]

I read most of the Marvel main comics. Civil War so far is good for me. I like it. It'll be cool to see how it plays out.

I also read most of the main DC's. Lost going on here, but so far 52 isn't doing it for me. Neither is Superman, but I'll stay with him a little longer. A lot of people complain he is hard to write.

The only other comic I read outside the two biggies is Fables. I really like this comic and have most of the run.

But, if I were to pick one comic in the last few months that was really good, it would be DD. Bendis was doing it for a while and it was great. A team team took over and didn't miss a beat. Great story run.

[Inkdaub]

When you say DD you mean Daredevil? If so then I am going to get some. Daredevil has long been a favorite of mine. I looked for him at the shop but didn't see a title for him. Does he have a current book? His entire run is coming out on DVD-Rom pretty soon.

If you don't mean Daredevil...sorry, haha. I have just returned to comics and can't think of another DD.

[K-Mark]

Sorry, yeah I do mean DareDevil. It's been great. I'd get the run for the last year or so. The art is a little different, but I loved the writing.

[PeeDee]

Yeah, you've GOTTA read Daredevil and pick up the rest of this year's issues. My god, what a stellar run. Also, I'm happily enjoying the Planet Hulk saga, although I'm worried it's starting to sag a bit.

Still waiting for a Superman comic that's good. He *is* hard to write.

I read Civil War, but I don't generally buy it. They're doing some interesting stuff with it, and I like that they're doing it really hugely, but I think they'll see much better sales when they start collecting it into graphic novels, to make it easier for people to follow and buy. I'm pretty up on the comic scene and I have trouble keeping track of it all.

I have been very dilligently buying Gaiman's Eternals issues from day one. I think I'm on issue four now, and I have no idea how he's going to wrap all this up in the next two or three issues. It is only six issues, right? Because the story mostly just keeps expanding.

[K-Mark]

Also, I'm happily enjoying the Planet Hulk saga, although I'm worried it's starting to sag a bit.


Yeah, it started off great, and it was different, but they have to bring him back soon. The planet can only do so much before the story gets stale.


I read Civil War, but I don't generally buy it. They're doing some interesting stuff with it


I agree. Good concept, good spinoff threads, but the main thing is a bit all over the place.


I'm pretty up on the comic scene and I have trouble keeping track of it all.



That's the way I feel. Too many titles and writers not synching up. Especially in the ex-books. I get really confused here. One minute characters are dead or horseman, next minute their back at full power because a writer needs them for a plot. Polaris for example. How did she get normal again?

[Inkdaub]

More comics tomorrow. I will get more Civil War and some DD.

It's funny about Bendis...me and a few co-workers have been joking around ever since we read on wikipedia that he wrote a scene where Jessica Drew requests and recieves anal sex from Luke Cage. Marvel told him he couldn't do that with Drew...so he created Jessica Jones.

[PeeDee]

That's the way I feel. Too many titles and writers not synching up. Especially in the ex-books. I get really confused here. One minute characters are dead or horseman, next minute their back at full power because a writer needs them for a plot. Polaris for example. How did she get normal again?

Drastically not synching up. I really do think that the comic world needs to be not only aligned (not just Marvel; DC is a disaster too) and also trimmed. Honestly, I don't need eight different Superman comics. I need one, maybe two, barely three, which tell me very good stories. I don't need eight versions of "Superman fights unimaginably abstract monster, it is a tough fight."

Superman works best when it's like early Spider-Man, or the Lois & Clark television show. Superman is not always the focus of the story and indeed shouldn't be. Ultimate Spider Man is at its most interesting when, in addition to the spider-man plot, we have the mess that Pete Parker's gotten himself into. That's when it works.

I really wish that when they kill characters, they would just leave them dead. Too many deaths & rebirths gives the comics all the emotional depth of a soap opera, because you're saying "Yeah, Robin's dead, but he'll be back in a year, or two."

Civil War was one of the best concepts comics have had since possibly Doomsday or Knightfall. I am a great deal less certain about the whole One Year Later thing that DC's doing.

What does everyone think of the "52" series in DC? 'Cause it's a cool concept, but the story isn't doing anything for me. (Not even when they brought Lobo in; honestly, you'd think anything with Lobo in it would make me happy)

[K-Mark]

I've been getting 52, so far I'm a little bored. All it seems is like they are trying to drum up interest in their B-list characters. It's a good idea to do that, but not all at once.

[PeeDee]

I've been getting 52, so far I'm a little bored. All it seems is like they are trying to drum up interest in their B-list characters. It's a good idea to do that, but not all at once.

I like the concept of 52, but I think they're dragging it out, which I realize is sort of a problem for a series of fifty-two comics in a year....and I realize that the series is essentially fluff to bridge the gap between OYL and the last Crisis on Infinite Earths series.....but still. Mostly, I read it and wind up re-writing it in my head.

[K-Mark]

Mostly, I read it and wind up re-writing it in my head.

I seem to do that with a lot of comics. Probably means you like to right, huh?

[Inkdaub]

I got an issue of the new Moon Knight book and it was pretty cool I must say. The art was fantastic and the action was cool. I hope Marvel's version of Batman catches on for a while because I intend to keep reading this one.

I got the most recent Daredevil and it was great as Daredevil almost always is. I want to get the new THB that just came out as well. I'm trying to decide on what books I want in my subscription box and so far Moon Knight and DD are in.

I got some Wolverine stuff and it was pretty decent but I hate these artists who draw...and receive praise for...Wolverine like a caveman. It drives me nuts and looks rediculous. Wolverine needs a new artist. I also got the first two issues of the Claws story with Wolverine and Black Cat. I thought it was a bit of a let down and could have been far better.

I also got issue two through five of Eternals and it seems pretty cool. A different sort of Eternals story.

Now the Civil War stuff. Well, everyone seemed to be in an uproar over Civil War four but it didn't bother me too much. I need to get this Illuminati stuff and find out how deep some of these guys are involved here. Tony Stark is becoming a pretty interesting character...a complete *******. But it's in character for a guy like him I think. Spiderman bugs me. The guy has been a goofy kid for forty years already...let him grow a tiny bit.

[PeeDee]

I got an issue of the new Moon Knight book and it was pretty cool I must say. The art was fantastic and the action was cool. I hope Marvel's version of Batman catches on for a while because I intend to keep reading this one.

I was really surprised when they brought Moon Knight back again. Despite the sheer coolness of how that guy looks, I don't think his comic runs have ever done especially well. This time 'round, the artwork is gorgeous and the action is cool like you say, but the story didn't stay with me very long.

What I like about the Civil War story is that it's essentially just about three people (Iron Man, Captain America, Pete Parker) but you can happily go on reading it without realizing that at all.

I wish Uncanny X-Men would get good again. They should bring back Chris Claremont and just let him go loose on it.

[K-Mark]

I hate these artists who draw...and receive praise for...Wolverine like a caveman. It drives me nuts and looks rediculous. Wolverine needs a new artist.

The art bugs me too. I like a more realistic art when I read comics.

I'm going to give Moonknight a try. He always was a good character.

X-men is just too all over the place for me, but I'm still reading it...for now.

Cap's been pretty good with the return of Bucky.

[PeeDee]

Cap's been pretty good with the return of Bucky.

I was grumbling about that, because I hate the "RETURN of CHARACTER, back from the GRAVE!" storylines that seem to plague all comics everywhere...

...but the writer on Captain America (Brubaker, is it?) did a marvelous job, and I'm still happily enjoying Captain America. Overall, this has been a good year for comics.

Specifically, it seems to have been a good year for Marvel, and a "eh." year for DC, who's done nothing very much.

[RJLeahy]

Has anyone ever heard of a novel being re-adapted as a comic book?

[K-Mark]

Have I heard of it? Yeah, I guess, but this is the cop-out answer. The Classic Illustrateds where they take classics like Moby Dick and make a comic out of them. I actually have one in a box somewhere.

As for a real comic based on a book. I can't think of any, but I'm sure it can be done (and probably was somewhere). They do it with movies.

[PeeDee]

Well....they did a comic book adaptation of "A Scanner Darkly," which is technically a book, although it's also a movie. I don't know if that really counts.

Ah! There's a comic adaptation of The Hobbit which is practically a work of art.

[Inkdaub]

I've seen novels adapted to comic format a few times. I had a comic version of the bible when I was a kid. There is a graphic novelization of the 911 Report out right now. They make comics out of anything and everything.

[PeeDee]

I think I had the same comic bible... :)

Steve King is doing a Dark Tower graphic novel.

It's cool to do a graphic novel these days, which is just silly. Fortunately, I think it's probably still uncool to do monthly issue-based comics, so I'll happily keep following those... :)

[Inkdaub]

That comic bible was awesome. I wish I still had it.

We also have the novelists signing on to do comics more and more. My favorite author, Jonathan Lethem, is going to be doing Omega the Unknown. Meltzer does Justice League. I talked to Eric Bogosian at work and he told me he was working on a comic as well.

[PeeDee]

I'm generally okay with writers from other fields signing on to do comics. I mean, if we didn't have that, we wouldn't have Joss Whedon doing his stunning work in Astonishing X-Men and the world would be a poorer place because of it.

I just hope it doesn't become the thing to do. I still like the idea of writers coming up through comics first and foremost, you know? Too many novelists migrating over and we damage the chance of getting any more Neil Gaimans, Alan Moores, Will Eisners.

On the OTHER hand, if comics get polished and cool because of mainstream authors approaching them, then watch as a comics underground appears with some really talented (I hope) writers doing stuff that is decidedly not mainstream.

[Inkdaub]

I'm okay with it. I saw recently that Tad Williams is writing a comic but I forgot which one.

More comics today. I got pretty much everything I was looking for except a graphic novel called 1001 Nights of Snowfall that is part of the Fables title. It was sold out even though it came out today. Same story with an Elfquest TPB that I wanted. I told the guy to put them both in my box so we'll see. I got more of the usual suspects like Uncanny X, X Civil War, Wolverine, Wolverine Origins and Wolverine Civil War. I also got Wetworks, The Authority and Wildcats which are all part of the Worldstorm reboot of the Wildstorm universe. I've heard good things so I'm excited about those. I also got Brubaker's Criminal which I've been excited about for a short while. I also got some Teen Titans and Secret Six. Then, since the Fables and the Elfquest weren't there and I had to spend more money I got a Daredevil THB that puts together the end of the Bendis run. All in all a good day at the shop. Next week the new Daredevil and Moon Knight come out.

[Inkdaub]

Today was a good day at the shop. 1001 Nights of Snowfall was waiting for me in my box. There was also a tpb called Sleeper by Ed Brubaker. This was odd because I am interested in anything like this done by Brubaker but I didn't request it so I'm unsure why they put it in my box. Anyway I couldn't afford Sleeper AND Snowfall AND the monthlies so I put Sleeper back in my box for next time. Comics are too expensive. I also got this new comic called the Nightly News which looks to be interesting.

[CBeasy]

I too spend an incredible amount of money of comics. I actually have the X-Men logo tattooed on me. It's true. PM me, I'll send you a picture. I really like the Civil War stuff going on in the Marvel universe at the moment, it's always cool when they use big events to stir it up. They only thing that's sucks is the different writers of the various books featuring the same characters don't collaborate enough. All of Spiderman's books seem to feature the same timeline. Once he revealed his identity, it was revealed in all the books. This is not so with X-men. I love Astonishing X-Men, but doesn't seem as if Whedon's team isn't even in the same universe as the X-men in Civil War? Not to mention the one's currently in the core X-books. When the hell did Wolverine: Origins happen? Before the Civil War Wolvie books? After? Am I the only one that gets kept up nights by this stuff? The only DC books I read are the Batman books and the Green Lantern books (including Ion). I have yet to read the new Eternal's book, but apparently I should.

[Inkdaub]

The Eternals is decent but not really that great. I recently bought my first Green Lantern comic and it wasn't too bad at all. Got some Ion also.

I'm not sure where in continuity Origins happens. I just got an issue of Astonishing X. I normally like Uncanny best but we'll see.

All you guys should go get the Nightly News as it is very good.

[Inkdaub]

I haven't gotten any comics for two weeks so Wednesday I'm getting some no matter what. New Nightly News issue will be a highlight.

[PeeDee]

The Eternals is decent but not really that great. I recently bought my first Green Lantern comic and it wasn't too bad at all. Got some Ion also.

I'm not sure where in continuity Origins happens. I just got an issue of Astonishing X. I normally like Uncanny best but we'll see.

All you guys should go get the Nightly News as it is very good.

Eternals hasn't been bad, but it's not great. Part of this, I blame on it being an attempt to bring the Eternals back into Marvel continuity. I think this means that Neil Gaiman can't do quite as much as he did with, say, 1602.

The place in continuity where Origins belongs is squarely at the bottom of a trash can. It's been a very silly series which has done nothing useful except mess around with Wolverein. We didn't need to know his origins, and if we were going to find out, it should have occured in a better manner than this.

[Bravo]

Origins sucks!

How the hell did they ruin this premise?

And Steve Dillon (who I love) was just the wrong guy to pick for this series.

Sad.

[PeeDee]

There are a couple of other monthly comics that have Steve Dillon on them right now, and he's not doing a very good job with them either. I wish I could remember which series they were, I just read an issue from one of them the day before yesterday, but I'm drawing a total blank. At any rate, they were no better than Origins. Origins, at least, has some really fantastic covers, if nothing else. I have one of them on a t-shirt, somewhere.

[Bravo]

Well, IMO, it's not his fault.

I just don't think he's the right artist for this.

He's funny.

The story isn't.

[Inkdaub]

Good news...Humberto Ramos is done with Wolverine. I say he's the worst because he CAN draw very well but chooses not to.

I like Origins well enough.

[Inkdaub]

I read a Fantastic Four Civil War tie in comic yesterday. It featured Thing going to Paris. I know I've read dumber books than this one...but I can't remember any of hand. Good grief. I have never been a FF fan and that won't be changing with this comic. And I love all this Civil War stuff...but this comic...yikes.

On the bright side, all my other comics are pretty good so far.

[PeeDee]

I read a Fantastic Four Civil War tie in comic yesterday. It featured Thing going to Paris. I know I've read dumber books than this one...but I can't remember any of hand. Good grief. I have never been a FF fan and that won't be changing with this comic. And I love all this Civil War stuff...but this comic...yikes.

On the bright side, all my other comics are pretty good so far.

Really? I liked that issue. I thought it was pretty durned funny. I think the biggest problem with it was that they slapped the halfpage Civil War banner on the front, when really, it wasn't Civil War at all.

[PeeDee]

Justice Society of America is back and living wonderfully, and that makes me really happy. I adored JSA comics as a kid.

[Inkdaub]

I agree with you on the Civil War cover, Peedee. I thought the same thing when I read it.

I want Geo-Force to get back in action. Maybe he needs his own book?

[PeeDee]

I liked him when he was in The Outsiders. But then, when The Outsiders started (Batman and the Outsiders, which sounds like a band name) it was a great and fun comic. These days, with Nightwing and his bunch running around, I don't see a huge difference between The Outsiders and the JLA. It's like differentiating between the Uncanny X-Men team and the New X-Men. Unless you're paying really close attention, the basis is the same.

...

Speaking of X-Men, is anyone else as giddy as I am that Joss Whedon is apparently taking Astonishing into space? There were some really great space story arcs in old X-Men comics and if anyone can do one again, Joss can. I can't wait for some dialogue in outer space. Honestly, he writes the best and least over-dramatic Wolvereine...

[PeeDee]

I agree with you on the Civil War cover, Peedee. I thought the same thing when I read it.


(forgot to reply to that bit)

I think that they're seriously slapping Civil War on way, WAY too many books. I mean, I realize that this is a universe encompassing storyline, but this has got to be turning people off.

I realize you don't have to read every Civil War comic (Civil War and Front Lines, and probably Spider Man) but the sheer volume of it tends to shut me down.

Actually, Civil War is the first one of these things I've really tried to follow. With things like the million Crisis on Infinite Earths books and things like the House of M storyline, when the story encompasses dozens and dozens of interlinked books, I tend to drift away from comics until it ends, and then come back and read a few summaries to see what the end result was, then go back to my comics.

Then, when they begin to show up in trade paperbacks, I start reading them. I enjoyed House of M when I just had two or three graphic novel volumes to read, but if I'd had to read all the issues, I bet it would've lost me.

It's slowly getting the same way with Civil War.

the Infinite Crisis books I haven't come close to touching. I'm all for deep and complex comics (I read Watchmen and Promethea after all) but that one makes my brain go "urk."

....and may I just say, in parting, that the absolute finest Major Comic Events were when I was younger and I was reading The Death and Return of Superman saga, which destroyed my world as I read the issues....and also, Knightfall. Once Bane did his thing to Batman, I was crushed. The fact that they were so close together meant I was pretty miserable for a while there.

[Inkdaub]

I recently picked up my first issue of Astonishing and enjoyed it quite a bit even though I didn't really know what was going on. I am going to get the trades and try and catch up. I love the idea of going to space and I remember the old X adventures in space as well.

Civil War...well I actually do try and get every Civil War book I see. The best ones in my opinion are Frontlines, Cap and Iron Man. Though I must admit the Ms Marvel has also been good. Civil War has been interesting for me as I am reading books I normally wouldn't...like Cap and Ms Marvel. The War Crimes issue with Iron Man and Kingpin is great. Kingpin is such a cool villain these days.

I think Wolverine should stay away from teams. He's best on his own. I wouldn't mind seeing him joining Omega Flight, though, if he must be on a team. Wolverine is a tough one for me. He's one of my favorite characters but too many writers write him as a drooling caveman goon...which he isn't. If you remember the Wolverine and Kitty Pride mini-series from the eighties...that's who Wolverine should be.

I haven't read any of the Infinite Crisis stuff.

[PeeDee]

That's why you need to read Astonishing. Joss Whedon knows exactly how to write all his characters. I'm crushing for Kitty Pryde all over again (damn that Colossus!). He gives Wolverein this perfect droll sense of humor and a wonderful personality. He makes Cyclops useful and interesting!

I may criticize Civil War, but despite that, I don't see any other way they could have done it. I'm just worried that it's going to go out wiht a fizzle rather than the huge bang that it should go out with. I want this series to just get bigger and more violent and rougher and then end by ripping itself, and the Marvel universe, apart.

...

Right now, the comic that I'm really enjoying is the Green Lanter Corps comics. I adore the Green Lanterns, though I was less of a fan of Guy Gardner (especially when he went into his Warrior phase) and Kyle Rayner was interesting until he became Ion. I've been reading Green Lanter comics off and on since I was kid and they've always made me happy.

(The Flash used to make me happy, especially when we had the wonderful mini series when Barry returned and had a showdown with Wally. THAT was good stuff. These days, I'm less impressed.)

Thoughts on the upcoming "World War Hulk" series?

Thoughts on the upcoming "Back in Black" Spider-Man stuff?

[Inkdaub]

I have just started reading Green Lantern. I'm probably the only comic fan in the world who...until recently...never even cracked the spine on a GL comic. My buddy at work is a big DC guy and talked me into it. I like it quite a bit. The writing is top notch in the two issues I have. I told the shop to add it to my list.

I read some Ion and it was alright I guess but didn't hold my interest. I have seen Guy Gardner in a few cameos and I don't like him much but I haven't been exposed to him much so there you go.

I have never liked Hulk enough to buy his comics and have little knowledge of what he is doing. I know he is on another planet but not much else. Another buddy at work loves Hulk and is always talking about him and drawing pictures of him all over everything. So far I have resisted his enthousiasm.

Spider-Man has been bothering me lately. I want the kid to grow up a bit. I admit I don't read his books regularly so that may be it. It also may be the 'Stark as father figure' deal they had going for a few months. I don't know. Mary Jane is still the hottest thing on two legs, though. If the Back in Black refers to his outfit I'm cool with it. I like the black suit and anything is better than the Iron-Spider-Man armour he has been wearing.

[PeeDee]

I loved the concept of Hulk on another planet. I thought it was great, and the covers had this wonderful Edgar Rice Burroughs feeling to them. Unfortunately, after the first handful of issues, everything degenerated into Hulk faces problem. Hits it very hard. Problem solved which is really a waste of a good storyline.

Not impressed.

I think that I don't want Spider-Man to grow up, even though considering how many years he's been slinging around, he should be quite a bit more adult by now. I like that he still acts more or less like a hesitant teenager. We don't need another self-assured Super-Hero. We have plenty of those.

Old Green Lantern comics are still the best, but the volume they released recently as a Green Lantern Corps graphic novel was very good too. I like how they write the Corps itself, writing them as a team.

...

On a vaugely, almost-off-topic subject, I wanted to mention the trailer for Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

I didn't see the first FF movie. It looked about as bland and watered down to the mainstream as you could get, and the reviews confirmed it. So what really surprises me is that they're making a literal about-face from that and making the second FF movie that really, only the fans are going to understand. A casual viewer might follow a story about Doctor Doom, but what casual watcher is going to follow the whole Silver Surfer/Galactus storyline? Good lord! I know comic fans who couldn't follow that! I barely got it (and I probably got it wrong).

I also thought the Silver Surfer was going to look like crap, up until I saw him in motion and realized he looks gorgeous.

[Inkdaub]

Silver Surfer is one of my favorites...probably top three...which is impressive considering he rarely does anything. I am very aprehensive about his being in the next FF movie. The first one looked pretty bad and so I didn't see it. Where did you see the Surfer? I haven't even seen a drawing of him but then I haven't been looking at the movie sites. Is he a CGI?

[PeeDee]

Silver Surfer is one of my favorites...probably top three...which is impressive considering he rarely does anything. I am very aprehensive about his being in the next FF movie. The first one looked pretty bad and so I didn't see it. Where did you see the Surfer? I haven't even seen a drawing of him but then I haven't been looking at the movie sites. Is he a CGI?

Go to the FF website, or barring that, you could look in Google. It'll show you the HD trailer. The pictures looked terrible for the movie, but in motion, he looks absolutely stunning.

[Inkdaub]

Okay I just watched it and he does look pretty good. He actually looks like the Silver Surfer. Technology is our friend in the movie world these days it seems. I love the 'wormholing' through obstructions.

The trailer was pretty cool. Torch chasing Surfer through town. Just when I was starting to worry that they were trying to make Torch the Surfer's equal...he turns around and grabs Torch by the throat...haha I love it!

So this movie is going to be sortof like the comic first Surfer appearance then? He shows up and they fight for a bit and then join up to stop Galactus?

[PeeDee]

I have no idea. I would imagine that's what they're going to do. I LOVE the way the Surfer just grabs Torch and drops him from the atmosphere. THAT was a good moment. I just didn't see how making a Silver Surfer movie could be done without being cheesy, but....they're doing it. God bless 'em.

I STILL don't see how they're going to explain the massive Galactus to a movie-going audience without it becoming cheesy. I mean....it's Galactus. He's friggin' huge. How on EARTH are they going to pull him off?

[Inkdaub]

Maybe they won't have Galactus at all and will instead focus on the threat. Yes, I know that doesn't make sense. I don't know but it could be cool if it's done right...which is of course the trick.

Maybe they will only show Galactus from afar. Maybe he'll be standing on a mountain top and will be seen from miles away but not approached. Yeah. Maybe not.

Have you seen Contact? I am picturing Galactus looking like the portals. Immense and far off but still very present. I guess that's not a good description but I think they can do it...the question is will they?

[nighttimer]

I'm really enjoying Marvel's Civil War because when this "event" is over I don't see any way things are going to revert back to the status quo. If it does it will be a terrible cop-out. Strangely enough, the motivations of Captain America and Iron Man have been fleshed out better in books like Amazing Spider-Man instead of the Civil War mini-series, but maybe that just illustrates the fact that J. Michael Straczinski is a better writer than Mark Millar.

I highly recommend seeking out Fell by Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith. It's a non-superhero book about a police detective named Richard Fell who's trying to do his job and stay committed while working in a bottom of the barrell city named Snowtown. Ellis has a ear for dialogue and writes it beautifully. I ended up buying the new Thunderbolts title based on his writing.

I also just :LilLove: Garth Ennis and his extremely violent and in-your-face take on The Punisher and Brian K. Vaughn's epic "Y, the Last Man."

But this can be a highly addictive (and expensive!) habit. I've been at for over 40 years and haven't kicked the habit yet.

[PeeDee]

I love Brian Vaughn. However, both Warran Ellis and Garth Ennis have started to wear a little thin with me. They write good stories, but they write the same stories time and again, and I guess I get a little bored with it.

Mark Millar is a good writer (he did good Ultimate work) but Joe Straczynski can write circles around most of them when he's allowed to.

I'm curious to see how they're going to end it, because certain things they've done (Spider-Man's big reveal) mean that going back to "normal" comics is somewhat tricky. Like Lois & Clark getting married, it takes away part of what we enjoy so much about the character. Doesn't mean we'll love Spider-Man any less, but it means it can be harder to write.

[Inkdaub]

I love Civil War. In my opinion, though, the Civil War book itself isn't that good. It's alright and I get it to stay relatively current but the other stuff happening around that book is much better. Frontlines is a great book.

[Inkdaub]

Has anyone seen the trailer for the movie '300'?

[PeeDee]

I haven't! I've been happily waiting for that movie to come out, after it was announced, but I didn't know there was a trailer for it. Nifty! I'll go find it pretty durn quickly.

[Inkdaub]

I don't even remember where I saw it. I just remember it capturing my attention and thinking that it looked really dark and cool. I'm excited for this one.

[PeeDee]

I don't even remember where I saw it. I just remember it capturing my attention and thinking that it looked really dark and cool. I'm excited for this one.

The last theater release we had involving Frank Miller (Sin City) was absolutely magnificant. So I have high and solid hopes for 300.

[Inkdaub]

Agree about Sin City and 300.

Anyone reading X-Factor? The guy at the comic shop talked me into a copy and I really liked it. This is not the X-Factor I remember from the eighties.

[PeeDee]

I read it now and then. I don't read it consistently (especially since it joined Civil War.) but I'm very impressed with the writing. X-Factor now is interesting and cool, specifically because it's not trying to act really cool. It's grown out of Uncanny X-men's shadow, and done fine for it.

[K-Mark]

Agree about Sin City and 300.

Anyone reading X-Factor? The guy at the comic shop talked me into a copy and I really liked it. This is not the X-Factor I remember from the eighties.

He, Guys! I'm glad to see this thread is still going. I haven't posted for a while due to a new job, but I've been lurking now and again.

I used to love X-Factor a few years back when it was Strong Guy, Jamie, Forge, etc. I think even Shard was in it. Maybe I'll check it out again since some of these guys are still in it. I was a fan of Guido. It's some kind of detective agency in mutant town, right?

By the way, I thought the FF trailer was awesome. Should be better than the first, which I thought was just ok.

I get my comics once a month, so after I get them next week, I'll try and post more. By the way, I'm bored with 52 and Civil War is taking way too long.

[Inkdaub]

I also get my comics about once a month, k-mark. I'd like to get them more frequently but finances dictate that I remain as far away from the comic shop as often as possible. Also I like that fat, once a month stack that comes out of my box.

I'll be getting more X-Factor. I don't know who any of the people in it are, though. The X-Factor I remember was the original X-Men pretending to be mutant hunters. It wasn't very interesting at all...but then I've never really liked the original X team.

This X-Factor is totally different. The only person I recognize in the book I got is Quicksilver.

[K-Mark]

I get mine online and they ship them once a month. This way I don't have to go the store and spend more than I want.

Yeah, the first X-Factors were about the original X-Men. Then when they returned to X-men, they kept the series alive with new characters who worked for the gov't.

I read Quicksilvers mini-series (Son of M). He lost his powers in M-day, but got them back from the Inhumans by stealing their power mists. Last I heard he was giving mutants back powers with the mists in Mutant Town, but the new powers were temporary and messed up...I think.

Anyway, he must have hooked up with X-Factor. I'll check it out. Is it Peter David writing that?

[Inkdaub]

Got my comics this week...and totally forgot about X-Factor.

I did get 1 and 2 of the new Iron Fist and it is pretty great so far, the Batman influence is clear. The newest Criminal is also awesome as have they all been. Brubaker is my favorite comic writer right now easily.

The newest Nightly News is pretty good as well. There's some stuff about education in it that have always believed and thus the issue struck a chord with me.

A comic I am really enjoying...which is a total shock because I was sure it would be dumb...in X-23. I am loving X-23. I am finding her weird and fragile and an ass-kicker. I feel protective of her and fear for her enemies. She's just a kid but she's pretty awesome. I am still trying to understand how the claw retracts into her foot, though. The Wolverine claws are housed in the forearms...that's been stablished. But the feet claws? Maybe they curve up to the calves? I don't know, maybe the kid just has big feet. Anyway I like the comic so far.

Moon Knight is still great. This guy is having more trouble getting his super hero act back on track than I've ever seen. More Batman influence for Moon Knight, this time he's sortof like Dark Knight Returns.

More Civil War stuff...some arbitrary and some not. The next issues of Frontlines and Civil War itself should be good, though. Punnisher War Journal is pretty good. Got a comic called The Return or some such and it was terrible. Why is the Sentry always around when he is such a goof? He just floats around talking to himself about being powerful and looking like a girl. Get rid of him.

[K-Mark]

Got my box on Friday. Only read two so far, but I'll share in a minute...

Sentry - agreed. He has so much potential, but no one is doing anything with him. Bor-ring. I think Bendis had a godd start, but no one else knows what to do with him. I read the Sentry mini-series, but it wasn't that good.

x-23 - I know nothing about her. Clone of Wolverine or something? I'll check out an issue.

Okay, the two I read so far. First, Wolverine 50. The art is a lot better and the story and fights were pretty good. There is some big revelation coming about Wolvy and Sabertooth, but they won't tell you until next issue. Only hints so far..either that or I am missing it. Overall, not bad.

The other Issue - Friendly Neighboorhood Spider-man. 16 Decent issue. I usually like Peter David's writing and he snuck in an X-Factor member cameo. I won't ruin it, but pretty cool ending to the arc.

I'm looking forward to seeing Spidey in the black costume again. If you've gotten that far, don't tell me yet. I want to read it myself.

I'll post more as I read.

[Inkdaub]

The Wolverine 50 is the one where he heads back to the mansion to confront Sabretooth right?

I like this issue a lot. The first half anyway. Wolverine is being much closer to the Wolverine that I love. He isn't being a goofy bar brawler...he is being a guy who has been trained and has extensive experience in hand to hand combat. I like the little acrobatics and such...Wolverine isn't a guy who just stomps in swinging his claws around willy-nilly...he fights like a dancer dances, with precision and skill. Sabretooth is his best villain as he's the only guy around who can match his ferocity and comes close to his skill level. They were trained together after all. Then the re-telling of the first Hulk fight minus Wendigo and with some other changes. Interesting, but I don't like split issues very much.

X-23 is a girl who has been raised by the Weapon X people. She has been modified and has claws in her arms and feet. She has been an active assassin since she was...eleven or twelve I think. She's a very violent and weird kid. I think she is about fifteen or sixteen now. She had a mini-series out that I didn't read so I don't know all that much about her. Most comic fans I have heard will refer to her as the 'girl Wolverine'. The associations are obvious are obvious and well deserved. Wolverine is a Weapon X and so is X-23. Wolverine, being the X to end all Xs, is naturally the inspiration for her body mods and training. Anyway...she has two issues out and I am enjoying it.

Haven't read the Spidey but the 'back in black' ads are in several of my comics.

[K-Mark]

I agree about Wolv 50. I am excited to read 51. The art and writing are better. I think you said you were reading Origins in an earlier post. I know some people weren't into it, but now that the whole son thing is going on, I like it. I like the art, too. He did a Punisher-Bullseye Mini earlier that I liked.

I've read all the Spidey's and there has been no hint of the black costume yet. I wonder how it is going to go down.

Okay, here is what I've read over the last few days...(no spoilers)

Fables 57...This whole series has been fun, and this issue was just as good.

JSA 2. I like this series, but have trouble keeping up with all the characters. They are all related to older characters and I haven't read DC long enough to know about them. But, it's still pretty cool so far.

Sensational Spidey 34. Self-contained story about the Black Cat. Not great.

Uncanny 482. The whole Summers/Shi'ar thing is getting pretty good. This is a good storyline and I like the new Darwin character.

Origins 10. As I said, I like it

Flash 8. Not bad, but I don't know a lot about Impulse's past, so I'm a little lost.

Ultimate X-men. Great concepts and plot, but could have been done a little better. Cool twists, though.

Ultimate Spidey 104. This is a much better clone saga. Worth reading.

Exiles 90. I have been reading this since the beginning and it is one of my favorite comics. The change the characters enough and play around with other characters. Plus a lot of cool "whta-if" stories. One of the best of the bunch

Friendly Neighborhood Spidey 16. If you like the Vulture, you'll like Peter David's run. It's got a small Civil War tie-in, but nothing overbearing.

Ex-Calibur 15. I liked the old run, so I'm giving this one a chance. I'm a fan of the Juggernaut, who has dominated the storyline. So far so good.

Out of this months batch, I only have Hulk, 52, and Batman left.

[Inkdaub]

I have Uncanny 482 but 481 wasn't in my box and I need to read it before I continue. I love Darwin, he's great, and I have always liked the Shi'ar stuff. In fact, I like the X adventures in space better than anyone elses other than Silver Surfer.

Yeah I'm reading Origins and I like it. I like stories from Wolverine's past. The son has claws like X-23's, two instead of Wolverine's three. I am thinking Wolverine stopped his own heart to pop that restraint set-up.

[ThatGuy]

Has anyone read Frank Miller's 300 yet? If so, how is it?

[Inkdaub]

I haven't read 300 but I plan to.

I have read more about X-23 and she is a clone of Wolverine. For a while I thought she wasn't but I was wrong.

[K-Mark]

I like Frank Miller, but I haven't read 300 either. As for my reading, I'm up to 52 #37. It's getting a little better, but I wouldn't reccomend it just yet.

Hulk 102 - Pretty cool. The whole Planet Hulk storyline has been good, but I can't wait to see what happens when he gets home.

By the way, a friend loaned me his Batman (Adam West) TV Series DVD's. Love 'em! "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb".

[Inkdaub]

I love the old Batman series.