Comicscape - January 4, 2006

By: Kurt Amacker
Date: Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Greetings and welcome to yet another COMICSCAPE, and on a week when the books don't ship until Thursday, no less (damn holidays!). Last week, I threw together an admittedly uninspired "Best of 2005" column, but even I'm entitled to suck once in a while. Regardless, I stand by my opinions. FANTASTIC FOUR sucked. You could force-feed me Harry Knowles's used tighty-whities and I wouldn't say otherwise. One last thing: I've been pretty bad about answering mail lately, and I apologize. Sometimes it's better to write the weeks when I don't have a letters column planned. If you need to get in touch with me, drop me a line either comicscape@cinescape.com or at kurtamacker@yahoo.com. Your letters are below. This week's listings (now, with more Al!) are below that.

Joel Handloff writes, "I'm not certain that I would say that House Of M was Marvel trying to stand up to DC's Infinite Crisis, but I do think it was part of Marvel's attempts to get into the whole cross-over game, which is fine. Anyhow, 2005 for me, was a year of discovery:

• INVINCIBLE
  
• Web comics
  
• My own web comic (temporarily dead as I replace my computer...ugh)
  
• THE WALKING DEAD (yeah, ok, its a Kirkman Year)
  
• the fact that there are no good comic book stores anywhere near my new home
  
• LEGION OF SUPERHEROES
  
  
  
• The fact that there IS one good comic book store near me, as seen on THE COMEDIANS OF COMEDY
  
• Manga.

Manga was big for me this year. I'd always known Manga, but preferred anime. To my surprise, I found myself addicted to XXXHOLIC, enthralled by the print version of EVANGELLION, and laughing (with a twinge of heartache) at SCOTT PILGRIM (to mention a few). It was the year I finally got the Batman movie I'd always wanted, and the year I purposefully didn't go see FANTASTIC FOUR (alas...). It was the year I gave up on non-Ultimate marvel titles, for the most part, and got pissed at DC's market whoring. But, that's what always happens. Something like that, at least. When you are a bull in a china shop, things go smash, no matter what. Anyhow, happy new year!"

I don't really care for Manga, although I do like the occasional anime. They tend to have the sex and violence that so many American cartoons lack. But, the comics always feel to deflated and too kinetic for me -- almost like a sugar rush of giant guns, Japanese school girls, boobies, giant monsters, and speed lines that's over as quickly as it began. I realize there are exceptions, and if you stand by any of them, let me know. Robert Kirkman did indeed own every ass in comicdom this past year, and I wish him continued success. I don't love INVINCIBLE quite as much as everyone else does, but it's a solid read and I recommend it. However, I always enjoy THE WALKING DEAD and if you don't read it, please hit yourself in the face with your keyboard. I'm waiting. FANTASTIC FOUR is out on DVD now, so you don't have to experience the suck on the big screen. But, it might be worth a rental just to get it out of your system.

Jason Welling writes, "DC comics released my favorite comic of the year and it had nothing to do with INFINITE CRISIS, SEVEN SOLDIERS, or the latest cool Vertigo series... even though all those are pretty good too. My favorite comic of the year was SOLO, issue number seven, featuring Michael Allred. Stories in this anthology comic compare the campy 60's BATMAN to the current grim-and-gritty version and the art is simply phenomenal. My favorite story is probably the TEEN TITANS VS. DOOM PATROL. It's basically just a cool little crossover of the two series as they appeared in the Silver Age. It also includes an Hourman story, a New Gods tale, and some pinup/splash-page art of the Metal Men and Bizarro. I'm not old enough to have been reading comics during the Silver Age, but this comic was such a breath of fresh air. During the year of huge crossovers at every company (which I've also enjoyed), this was a cool little issue. And, it's one of the few comics I've read more than once in long time. It's funny and very entertaining, has tremendous art, and a nice feel of nostalgia thrown in for good measure. Easily my favorite comic of the year.

"For Marvel, I'd have to point out the Devil Dinosaur issue of the Marvel Monsters line. Initially, I was pretty excited by the prospect of all four issues, but I was fairly disappointed by each of the others. Eric Powell draws an awesome Hulk (and should be a regular artist for that title some day) and came up with a cool, little story involving him, the Devil Dinosaur, and the Celestials. I'm hoping Marvel continues the Monsters imprint in years to come."

Initially, I felt disappointed that Marvel made the horror books a bit campy, but the overall response seemed pretty positive. I only read WHERE MONSTERS DWELL and MONSTERS ON THE PROWL, but I really dug both of them. I'm really happy that publishers consider horror books a viable endeavor.

"Everyone keeps saying that DC and Marvel have stepped up their game, but seem to be overlooking what Image is doing. Granted, Image owes a lot of its success to Kirkman's superb THE WALKING DEAD and INVINCIBLE, but they are still doing a lot of other cool comics. One of my new favorite ongoing series is FEAR AGENT. It's written by Rick Remender and drawn by Tony Moore and Sean Parsons. It's a story about a fear agent (alien exterminator), Heath Huston, as he does his job on any number of forbidden planets. It's only up to issue 2, but both have been great so far. Issue 1 is written the way a first issue should be written: self-contained and a perfect introduction to a new series. It's sci-fi written like it used to be in the 50's, before the techno-babble of STAR TREK and the politics of STAR WARS."

STAR WARS and politics? Did I miss something? "Huh? Oh, the uniform."

"Heath Huston has a ray gun, but we don't care how it works... it just does what it has too. Moore's art also never disappoints. I'm looking forward to continuing this series and seeing where it's headed... back to Earth so Huston can try and save the planet from an alien invasion."

If you like that sort of thing, watch SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW. I don't think it's as bad as its detractors claim, but I also don't think it's the second coming of STAR WARS as others have. But, it's definitely done in the carefree, retro style you seem to like.

"My favorite new publisher of 2005 is Boom! Studios. They've put out a couple ZOMBIE TALES anthologies, which have really big good. They also put out the two-part GIANT MONSTER story. It's not exactly high-art or anything, but any comic pitting a giant monster against a Nazi robot has got to be good, right?"

I dug GIANT MONSTER. I mean, monsters fighting Nazi robots always lift my spirits.

"The comics are a little on the expensive side at $6.99 for 48 pages, but I've found them to be worth it as they read like movies. Looks like they're going strong into 2006 with a bunch of new and ongoing titles."

Bud, if you wanted a cheap hobby, you're writing to the wrong site. Comics are a step above crack as far as I'm concerned.

"2005 was the best year for comics... well ever... in my opinion. DC finally stepped up their game and Marvel answered. Seems like every publisher has been putting out really good stuff and it looks like 2006 could potentially be even better. I've never been this interested in comics in my entire life."

2005 was certainly a good year, but I wouldn't say the best ever. Personally, I think Marvel's been in a downward cycle for a while now. I take no pleasure in saying that, because I love the characters. However, (to name a few things) their overexposure of Brian Michael Bendis has hurt his writing, there are still way too many X-books, they've criminally underused the MAX line, and their last few movies have sucked. Granted, I'm sure Joe Quesada has rebuttals to all of those criticisms. But, I'm not a serial Marvel-basher. I love the characters and I buy a huge number of Marvel titles every month. I just don't want to see the company in the state it was ten years ago.

Jason Lockemy writes, "In 2005, I have to say that DC beat out Marvel in the mega-event crossover category, but I still avoided DC stuff. I avoided INFINITE CRISIS and all of its crossovers, because I was afraid that I would be lost, and I would have been CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, which I had no clue about either. But if you really follow DC like a soap opera addict, then it looks like DC kept everything nice and tight despite how much storylines and characters they were dealing with throughout all the their titles."

If you haven't generally kept up with DC, you'd probably be a bit lost. Reading CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS would certainly help. DC hasn't exactly created the most user-friendly crossover event. Except for the problems inherent in crossovers (as we discussed a couple of weeks ago), DC seems to have kept it together. Some readers were put off by the unexplained coldness some characters have assumed recently such as Martian Manhunter's rebuff of the Blue Beetle, Zatanna's agreeing to mind-wipe criminals, etc.

"However, there is a one title at the DC that I enjoyed in 2005, and that was MANHUNTER. I probably it enjoyed it so much was because it read more like a Marvel character in a DC universe. The series started off strong and held, but it feels like it is starting to get to convoluted as well, with a little too much supporting characters too early in the series. Hopefully, the title will not lose itself in the coming months, and get back to the main purpose of the complicated character that is Kate Spencer which is for her to go out and killed low level super-villains with the help of her tech partner a la the Punisher and Micro. And speaking of Punisher I think Ennis's run on THE PUNISHER is still pretty good, although I think the title could be much better if he got away from the 6-part story arc."

I agree this is annoying. I really love Ennis's PUNISHER, but I can only read it every six months if I want to get the whole story. I also worry that it'll end up going back to Marvel Knights some day, as Marvel doesn't seem to support the MAX line much (yeah, I said that already).

"Other series I've enjoyed were DAREDEVIL VS. THE PUNISHER: MEANS AND ENDS, LOVELESS, JONAH HEX, and DAREDEVIL, Bendis and Maleev's final run. I hope they can keep the same magic when they move over to Spider-Woman's ongoing next year."

MEANS AND ENDS was far better than it had any right to be. Most of Marvel's miniseries just take up shelf space and make me poorer, but I have to hand it to them David Lapham grabbed that one by the balls and made a fist (Dear Marvel: Feel free to use that quote on the trade paperback. Thanks.). I've always liked Bendis and Maleev on DAREDEVIL. I think it's probably Bendis's best work for Marvel, and both Maleev and Michael Gaydos seem to bring out the best in him.

That's it for this week, guys! Happy New Year, thanks for reading, and remember your parents aren't always right.

New This Week
By Al Brown and Kurt Amacker

Al: Welcome to 2006! Like 2005, but with a higher number! I've been stuck in Vermont, where they have not yet invented the internet, or the sun, for like ten days. Good to be back! Let's get to some comics!

Kurt: By Vermont, he means the sweatshops of Thailand and through armies of ninjas, pirates, hippy protestors, and ex-girlfriends he owes money. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Al Brown returns to the COMISCAPE listings. That's all I'm saying, so draw your own conclusions.

DARK HORSE

13th Son Worse Thing Waiting #3 (of 4) $2.99

Aeon Flux #4 (of 4) $2.99
Kurt: This movie was rental fodder all the way.

DC COMICS

Batman And The Monster Men #3 (of 6) $2.99
Kurt: By "monster," they mean the kind with teeth, not the kind that wait for your kids outside soccer practice in a beat-up van wearing a crusty bathrobe.

Blood Of The Demon #11 $2.50

Detective Comics #815 $2.50
Kurt: All right, I like David Lapham and everything, but 12 issues for City of Crime was just pushing it. Now, Shane McCarthy brings us a comfy two-issue arc with Mr. Zsasz. Let's all take a deep breath now and relax.

Exterminators #1 (MR) $2.99
Al: Finally! Daleks get their own book!

Gotham Central #39 $2.50
Kurt: Finally! Al gets his own book! Wait...that didn't make a damn bit of sense, did it? All right, I suck.

Hard Time Season Two #2 $2.50
Al: This week, we'll do a shot for every comic that sounds like a porn movie. Ready? Shoot!
Kurt I'm standing by, ready and willing!

Hellblazer Staring At The Wall TP (MR) $14.99
Al: The title of this arc is, thankfully, not literal.
Kurt: Wait, I did a shot. Was I not supposed to?

Jonah Hex #3 $2.99

Justice League Unlimited #17 $2.25

Kingdom Come TP $14.95
Al: Shoot!
Kurt: Shot!

Looney Tunes #134 $2.25

Neil Gaimans Midnight Days TP $17.95

Sandman Vol 8 Worlds End TP $19.95

Seven Soldiers Frankenstein #2 (of 4) $2.99
Kurt: All right, the first issue just rocked. Go fking buy this book.

Superman Sacrifice TP $14.99

Superman Shazam First Thunder #3 (of 4) $3.50
Al: No, Kurt, you can't do a shot for this one. I mean, I guess you can if you want to. But it'll be weird.
Kurt: Look, just because you already did yours doesn't mean I'm going to join in to make you feel better, okay?

Swamp Thing #23 (MR) $2.99

Team Zero #2 (of 6) $2.99

IMAGE

Bone Rest #7 (MR) $2.99
Al: You should really do two shots for this because it doesn't just sound like a porn movie: it couldn't possibly be anything else.
Kurt: Yes, I do love a good bone rest. Shot!

City Of Heroes #9 $2.99

Down #3 (of 4) $2.99
Al: Shoot!
Kurt: Dude, that's so ambiguous. Like, down where? Down on what? C'mon man, details!

Godland #6 $2.99

Kabuki Vol 5 Metamorphosis TP (new Prtg) $24.99
Al: Originally, Kabuki was a highly suggestive dance performance in which the actresses were also often prostitutes. Then the government found out and, in 1629, banned women from performing Kabuki. Men dressed as women then took over Kabuki theater. But they were hookers too. So...this comic isn't about that.

Runes Of Ragnan #2 (of 4) $3.50

Spawn Collection Vol 1 Ltd ED HC $59.95

Witchblade #93 $2.99

MARVEL

Amazing Spider-Man Second Ptg Variant #526 (PP #696) $2.50
Kurt: x=y+6a(r:7)

Astonishing X-Men Saga #1 $3.99
Al: The entire first 12 issues of Astonishing, boiled down to one! So...one would have to assume that either a) this is going to make no sense at all, or b) you've been ripped off for the past year, right? Right.
Kurt That's kind of like a greatest hits album for a band with only three releases before that. I mean, they are in trade, aren't they?

Doc Samson #1 (of 5) $2.99
Al: Continuing in Marvel's new tradition of opening the Marvel Handbook to a random page and then doing a miniseries starring whoever they land on.
Kurt: Up next: Silver Sable!

Essential Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe Vol 1 TP $16.99
Al: Oh my God, speak of the devil. It's actually the original Handbooks. When this first came out I used to trace my favorite characters - which were Emma Frost and Jennifer Kale - except when I traced them I would leave off their clothes. No, this is true. Now you kids have the internet, but in 1985 we took our boobies where we could get them.
Kurt: Dude, that was volume two you're thinking of. I'm starting to doubt your commitment to breasts, Al! I really am!

Iron Man #5 $2.99
Al: I wish this series wasn't so good. It'd be a lot less frustrating that it comes out, y'know, never.

Marvel 1602 New World TP $14.99
Kurt: Dear Daniel Way: Never Again. Thanks.

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #11 $2.50

Marvel Team-up #16 $2.99

Marvel Zombies #2 (of 5) $2.99
Al: I hate myself for loving this.
Kurt: That's what I said about your mom, Al! Look how much we have in common!

Mythos X-Men $3.99
Al: Apparently a painted retelling of X-Men #1, adding new nuance to their first fight against Magneto.
Kurt: If they added Wolverine, I'm going to scream and give up comics forever.

New Avengers Vol 1 Breakout TP $14.99

New Excalibur #3 $2.99

Punisher #29 (MR) $2.99
Kurt: You know what I think about when I see this book? Slayer. Seriously, can you just imagine Castle mowing guys down to Reign in Blood? Come on, you know he's a fan!

Sable & Fortune #1 (of 6) $2.99
Al: But seriously...Silver Sable? Are we that close to the bottom of the barrel? Couldn't we maybe do Shang Chi first? And anyway, what the hell is wrong with her hair?
Kurt: You know, I was kidding before, but here we are. Up next: Speedball: Bouncing Back.

Sentinel #3 (of 5) $2.99

Spider-Girl #94 $2.99

Spider-Man Unlimited #13 $2.99

Supreme Power Nighthawk #5 (of 6) (MR) $2.99

Ultimate Annuals Vol 1 TP $13.99
Kurt: All right, I have to say something about this. This is the single stupidest idea ever. Wouldn't the wiser thing to just incorporate the annuals into the regular trades or is that just too radical? Sometimes I think Marvel makes decisions with a dartboard.

Ultimate Marvel Flip Magazine #8 $3.99

Ultimate Tales Flip Magazine #8 $3.99

Ultimate X-Men Vol 10 Cry Wolf TP $8.99

Ultimate X-Men Vol 2 Return To Weapon X TP $14.95

Wolverine The End TP $14.99

X-Men Colossus Bloodline #5 (of 5) $2.99
Al: Let's just put this in the "family secrets we're gonna pretend never happened," along with Nightcrawler being the spawn of Satan, shall we? Fantastic.

X-Men The 198 Files $3.99
Al: The solit promises "Who are the 198? Find out here!" - but then it also claims to "feature bios on more than 100 mutants". So...do you mean 98 more than 100? Or are you just full of crap? Damn you Marvel, I want the truth!
Kurt: You can't handle the truth!

X-Men: The End Men And X-Men #1 (of 6) $2.99
Al: When this is all over I'm gonna read it all at once and, y'know, not get it.
Kurt: Haven't the X-Men been ending for like three years now, or is it just me? G'night.

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at comicscape@cinescape.com.