The Official Thread for Thor's Comic Column - Page 3

Latest, in case you missed it...

http://www.chud.com/news/dec03/dec8thor.php3

I think the current format of the column is evidence that we listen to you guys. Those who have given input, have made this a much better column. Much better. I was reading some of the first stuff, that's about a year and half old - and it's shit.

Reader input has lead to (1) longer, more in depth reviews (2) a ratings system (again, thanks Nick for the brilliant graphic) (3) preview, or "first look," coverage as oppossed to just books already released, and (4) now with Devon, trade paper back coverage.

Devon and I have been talking and we are very soon planning on more small press coverage.

So, thanks everyone! If you have any more suggestions - keep them coming.

Oh, and as an aside - I think I might have to add another rating. If a book is better than five out of five - I might just have to say (in honor of Nick's brilliant comment) - "Read if you're not shit."

Just curious. Have we ever just been wrong? Have you ever picked up something that we gave a great rating, read it and said, "That was shit?" Just curious.



Devon

The latest...

http://www.chud.com/news/dec03/dec14comics.php3

Devon - let me pre-empt the field. A lot of people think I was completely wrong in giving "Ultimate Spider-Man" some bad reviews. In fact, I think there was even a thread about exactly that.

Good question though. If people respond, it'll give us an interesting base of comparison.

Well, not "that was shit," but rather I was disappointed in a couple of comics that Sean reccomended in that I didn't feel that they lived up to his reviews, but I still enjoyed them quite a bit:

For example, after reading Sean's praise for Flash 201, I picked it up and was not impressed to that extent. I kept reading and the storyline is still enough to get me to get a new issue each month--Flash was one of my first favorite superheroes, so I feel like I've got some loyalty to the character. And as I said, it's starting to get interesting, fast.

Also, with Fables: Last Castle, being a huge fan of the WB Yeats poem "Easter 1916" that Sean compared the issue to in his review, I was rather disappointed when I picked up the issue--I just wasn't feeling that vibe at all. I don't know, it seems to me that since Animal Farm and the heist storyline ended, the storylines in Fables have gotten progressively weaker. Willingham obviously knows the dark places that his characters can go--I wish he'd show more of that, and, hopefully with this new 8-12 issue storyline "Red White And Blue," he'll (Willingham) make me gain the faith again.

But for both of these examples, there are many more times when I picked up a comic that I wouldn't normally pick up--for example, the Azzorello Batman or, before that, El Cazador, both of which I love. Funny how that since reading the column, I've gone from reading one (maybe two) major superhero title to three to four a month in the space of little less than a year.

Sean, I've been meaning to ask, do you know what the rumors are on Garth Ennis' next big project after he leaves Punisher? And is there any truth to the two Transmet prequels I'd heard something about a few months ago--Transcontinental and Transoceanic?

Not to speak for Sean or anything but I heard that Ennis is still doing Punisher. Only the title becomes Punisher:Max and it's more in the vein of Born. Hope that helps.

Devon

Hmmm...

I don't know, I wasn't the world's biggest fan of Born, but it would be intriguing if they did a page one reboot that started off where Born ended.

Devon is correct.

Punisher is going to be relaunched under the Max imprint. The tone is going to be much darker (ala Born) and gone will be all the comedic bullshit (transvestite Russian cyborg assassins).

It's going to be Frank Castle killing a lot of people, with a lot of internal monologue.

First off- I like the column.

Secondly- Devon, are you really in DC? If so, where's your shop? I live in Northern VA, and it's impossible for me to find a decent comics shop anywhere.

Yup. I really live in and work in DC . I manage Beyond Comics in Georgetown. I'll send you an e-mail.

Devon

Awesome.

I like Sean, but this is as dumb as "I won't read Preacher cause Cassidy turned out to be a prick."

Sorry, folks. There'll be no TCC for this week. Just too many other obligations. Sorry to keep you all waiting.

Devon

Back from holiday. The latest...

http://www.chud.com/news/jan04/jan4comics.php3

And, the latest...

http://www.chud.com/news/jan04/jan12comics.php3

HUGE UPDATE!!

http://www.chud.com/news/jan04/jan19comics.php3

Now with more me flavor!

How do I become Dave Davis?

I screwed up. The second to last sentence of paragraph 5 of the FF should read as Alicia Masters, instead of Sue. My bad. I get sleepy sometimes.

Devon

Wow. That has to be THE best question of the week.

Dave, how does one become you? Is this like a full moon thing? A Quato - Total Recall thing? A recipe thing - or is it a raised in Boston thing?

I guess no one felt like reviewing Vertical. I'll save you the time: it's a piece of shit. Awful writing, coupled with good art, doesn't do anything for me.

Looking forward to the return of the real Daredevil ( -- forget David Mack). The problem is I only purchase soft cover trades and will have to wait a while for the new arc to be collected. Hell, I bought the first Ultimates trade back in August 2002 and will have anxiously waited almost two years for the next 7 issues to be released.

This column has begun to cost me too much money. I've been collecting DD, FF, New X-Men, and Hulk trades because of it (among others), and recently purchased the first volumes of Alias, Powers, 100 Bullets as a result of the high praise found here ( -- haven't got around to reading them yet). Looking especially forward later in the year to 1602, Supreme Power, Astro City Local Heroes, Ultimate FF, & Ultimate Six. And while I'm mostly a Marvel man, I will likely pick up Batman's Hush softcover book whenever it's published, despite the mixed reaction to it.

However, I need to reign in my spending and won't get into too much more new stuff like Fables, Y the Last Man, Gotham Central, Losers, Empire, etc. despite all of the positive things mentioned about them. For now, anyway.

.

Sean came all over that comic. I'm serious. You could curl it up and siphon the sperm into whatever hole you needed to create life and Sean's 50% would be accounted for. Semen inhabits Sean's review of that comic.

Duke - happy to hear that the column is informing some of your purcheses. As for the money issue - as I've told many who have emailed me - there's always Kraft mac and cheese, $2.00 a box!!

If I may make a recommendation - I think you'll be more pleased picking up stuff like Gotham Central Central and The Losers over 1602 and Ultimate Six. Out of all the books you've listed that you haven't gotten to yet - GOTHAM CENTRAL is far and away the best. Supreme Power is a close second (but you said you were going to pick that up).

When you get to the 100 Bullets trades let me know -- my offer still stands. If you do not love them, I'll buy them from you and pay for the shipping.

Take it easy.

You mean "Daredevil" when you say "that comic"?

If so, absolutely. "Daredevil" is far and away the best monthly superhero comic Marvel publishers - although "Supreme Power" runs a VERY close second with "The Ultimates" on it's heels as well.

I think though because 'Daredevil" can focus on one character, you get more of an emotional read - more tension, more impact.

As I said in my review, can you imagine Bendis and Maleev on "Batman"?

I cannot offer advice on this matter as it was a fortuitous series of random events that led to the creation, an arbitrary miracle that cannot be duplicated. Or at least, that's what my mom says.

For the record, I'll probably only be reviewing trades and collections, and possibly a random one-shot or cool books from the recent past. I've abandoned monthly titles, for the most part.

Thanks for the welcome, btw!

Umm, actually, I wrote that one, Bullet. Believe me, I know. Sean had to stand on my head to get it from me.

I'm happy to see a good review of New Frontier. I've good high expectations for it.

Whitey et al,

Several of you have either posted on the boards or sent me emails asking if you could write for the column - I appreciate the offers. Really. Although I secretly fear that you guys think Devon and I suck -- and want to take over!!!!!

Seriously though, I've got to see how this Dave Davis character works out before I even think about recruiting a new writer. From what I hear the guy has a sketchy rep.

I've talked about this issue with Nick before, because it is...like...HIS website, and he has been very generous in the past with how this column is run. At the end of the day though, it's HIS website - I have no power to grant people authority to write a column - that's all Nick.

That being said, there were THREE comic columns going at one point on this site. The other two never made it past the second month. If you choose to solicit Nick's permission - keep that HARD fact in mind.

As for Thor's Comic Column - let me put this way. This week Devon and I got into what is the closest we've ever come to a "fight" over who was going to review "The New Frontier." We both really loved that book - and both wanted to be the one to champion it. First I said I was going to do it, then I said we'd both write one, then I told him to go ahead and write it, then he left his copy at the store - and I wrote it.

My point being, in any given week there are only about five or six books that are truly worth reviewing (in that they're not mid-stream, they're decent reads, there's something to actually be said about them). I don't want to get in a situation where I have to manage four or five writers that all want to write about the same books. We're not going to have duplication on this column. I trust Dave and Devon as much as I trust myself when it comes to these reviews. If they say a book is good - it's good. People don't need to hear it twice.

That being said, and depending on how things go, I MAY be looking for ONE more writer come summer (Con season). Please don't ask to be that person. What we'll do (and again, I'll need to run this by Nick) is have an anonymous "try-out." I'll pick a book or two for two or three weeks (so that eveyone is on even standing) and judge the submissions along with Devon and Davis (if they have the time). Again, this is a big maybe.

I don't want to sound like a jerk here people, and I know I'm coming off like one. But, we're staying status quo for awhile (Nick's open invitation to write being the exception).

If you have suggestions for the column though, please post them here. Reader input has made this column what it is.

Take it easy,
Sean

If you haven't reserved your copy of New Frontier from your comic shop, do so IMMEDIATELY. IThis comic is the very definition of a page turner. It is that GOOD!

Devon

No harm, no foul, Bullet. And just like you said, I'm glad to see that someone else felt this way about the current FF issue. It wasn't bad, it just felt familiar.

Take it light,
Devon

Daredevil's amazing. There's a reason why Bendis & Maleev are a big, big part of making him my favorite superhero of all time.

Update...

http://www.chud.com/news/jan04/jan26comics.php3

I'm surprised that there's been no review of 1602 Part 6, given who makes an appearance.

True.

Generally though, I don't like to review a series or story-arc midstream unless it's really good and warrants special attention. I wouldn't classify "1602" as either. It's good - but nothing to write home about (or a comic column about for that matter). I think what I said about issue one last year still holds true for me now - cautioulsy recommended.

But you have to admit, Daredevil's escape was just one of the coolest splash pages ever.

There's been some cool stuff in the series - no doubt. As a whole though, it's good, but a bit of a let down.

So, do you guys know if you'll be reviewing the new Ghostbusters series in your column? The first issue hits in February, just wondering how far ahead you guys get stuff, if at all.

Same time as everyone else. We get some stuff in the mail - sometimes as much as a month in advanced. But generally, our previews are going to be taken from those select books that DC and Marvel send retailers a week a head of time. That's generally how this game works - publishers just don't SEND stuff out with any degree of regularity, except to retailers.

I'll get some small press stuff in the mail from time to time as well, but I don't think Ghostbusters is going to be coming my way.

I agree to some extent, but I think that when all eight issues are out and can be read back to back, the end result won't be such a let down. I understand complaints of the slow plot, but similar complaints were lodged against "The Kindly Ones" when it was published in serial format. I believe that this, like Kindly Ones, is meant by Gaiman to be read in one shot, and the initial reaction to 1602 probably would have been better if it were all released as a Hardcover or some such (ala Sgt Rock by Kubert and Azarello).

Not that 1602 is bad but it feels like one long "What If" storyline that ANYONE could have told. Let's be honest with each other. If this series didn't have Gaiman's name on it we wouldn't give half as much of a f*ck.

Devon

Updated...

http://www.chud.com/news/feb04/feb1comics.php3

Here's a link for the final cover to Runaways #11.

http://www.marvel.com/news/pictures/FINALrunaways.jpg

Updated...

http://www.chud.com/news/feb04/feb8comics.php3

This week...because you demanded it...MORE DAVE!!

Seriously, this week's column in exactly why I asked Dave and Devon to work on this with me - they turn in GREAT work. Their reviews this week are rock solid.

I'm marching out this Wednesday to pick up Aquaman # 15 and Brit: Cold Death now (I already read Fables).

Also, gotta love the plug for The Walking Dead. I love this book (see last column for a review of latest issue if you care).

IS THIS THE BEST COMIC REVIEW COLUMN ON THE WEB?? I think an argument is starting to develop that we're on our way!

I finally got around to reading "The Walking Dead" and let me make it unanimous: "The Walking Dead" is INCREDIBLE! When you go into your local shop, if you see it, treat it like ass and grab it. It's that good.

Devon

There's a reason why Fables is underappreciated. After the absolute knock you on your ass coolness of "Animal Farm" and the heist two-parter, it declined in quality--most notablly with the horribly underwhelming Storybook Love arc--and is only now beginning its climb to the top. Used to be the best comic on the market. Then I discovered the asskickititude that is Gotham Central--and that's a comic that never let me down.

Shut up, Bizarro Zod.

Brit is the shit. Right up there with Walking Dead, maybe better. I'd like to see more of it. It's large scale action with a main character that gets knocked around a lot (but always brushes himself off and gets back up because he invunerable).

Oh and Tony Moore's name is already getting out there, but if he keeps pumping out the artwork he's going to big name.

Am I the only one who thinks Fables is just way overrated? I found the first two TPBs to be uninvolving and oddly paced. The "Animal Farm" bit struck me as laboured and silly. I like some of the characters, but the stories don't seem to go anywhere. Maybe I need to reread them.