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- Publisher: 2K Games
- Release Date: Oct 9, 2012
- Also On: iPhone/iPad, PC, Xbox 360
- Summary: Lead your troops in fierce battles to defeat the alien front, and rescue civilians in crowded cities and remote outlands around the world. Construct and expand your XCOM headquarters, recruit and coach up unique soldiers to thrust into battle, and research alien tech to enhance and multiply your weapons and capabilities. Mix and match aliens and soldiers and synthesize abilities to outwit and overpower your alien opponents.… Expand
- Developer: Firaxis Games
- Genre(s): Sci-Fi
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
Positive: 20 out of 20
Mixed: 0 out of 20
Negative: 0 out of 20
Oct 16, 2012Extreme fastidiousness notwithstanding, it can take around 30 hours to see through the single-player campaign in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, though like Firaxis' Civilization series, there are so many different ways to prioritize the research, engineering, economic, and tactical elements of the game that it almost begs for multiple playthroughs.
Oct 5, 2012Defending against XCOM's mysterious alien invasion is one of the most challenging, intense gaming experiences of this generation.
Nov 12, 2012With losing the United States, we also lost our biggest source of incoming funds. And no funding equals no means to combat the enemy. XCOM is all about long term planning, which we found out the hard way. [November 2012, p.58]
Oct 8, 2012With every element of Xcom's complex yet utterly accessible systems – from meaningful combat tactics, to budget balancing, to life-or-death diplomatic decisions – feeding directly into every other aspect of the game, this is as compelling a world as any in recent memory.
Oct 8, 2012XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a triumph of inspired strategy creation. The critical will focus on the minor shortcomings, perhaps because it's not exactly like the first XCOM, but the polish, relative depth, and overall intensity is absolutely unquestionable.
Oct 8, 2012With each turn, the newest entry in this beloved strategy series heightens the sense of tension, and each defeat of a hovering alien craft thus becomes cause for celebration.
Oct 10, 2012Any PlayStation gamer looking to broaden his horizons really ought to take a chance on this. If you're like us, and you figured 'turn-based' was longhand for 'boring', you'll be shocked when your 1000th (sissy) save reads: 40 hours played. [November 2012, p68]
Score distribution:
Positive: 48 out of 53
Mixed: 3 out of 53
Negative: 2 out of 53
Jan 6, 2013BY FAR, one of the best games of 2012. I picked this up when I bought Assassins Creed 3 and Dishonored and saved it for last (mostly because I was more interested in the other ones). WHAT A SURPRISE... I cannot begin to describe HOW ADDICTIVE this game actually is... it has that "civilization addiction", when you keep saying to yourself: "just one more turn; just one more turn; just one more turn"; and when you notice, it's 3 AM. I just can't put it down... think of it as Final Fantasy Tactics meets Front Mission meets Civilization (sort of) plus guns, lots of guns. You manage a base, a squad and customize everything, from facilities, to weapons, to even the soldiers names, nicknames and armor color. And everything under a very cool "alien invasion" atmosphere. Must not be missed... a hidden gem.… Expand
Dec 12, 2012So happy to see a strategy game like XCOM to be on consoles too, they're usually just for PC only, you know, for the PC master race. It's an incredibly organic game: if you **** up, that's your own fault, not the games. Your tactics and strategies will effect your outcome. Also, winning isn't inevitable, you can put 20 hours in to it and lose to the aliens. The turn-based combat is very engaging, and the base management makes you feel like an actual commander. It's all very absorbing, and it's rather cheap now, so definitely pick it up when you can.… Expand
Nov 11, 2012Definitely a contender for game of the year. When I heard they were making XCOM for the newest generation of consoles, I suspected it'd either be a graphical facelift to the same old game, as game companies have done so often this generation, or they'd release a seriously dumbed-down slap-dash product counting on nostalgia for the IP to sell copies. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when XCOM turned out to be a deep, well-crafted successor to the original. This game streamlined the clunkiness of the original's interface without losing any of the charm or depth. The only knock I have against it is the lack of customizability for your squad. You can change hair and other things, but all 8 voices sound almost exactly the same--a small quibble, I know, and not one that keeps me from wholeheartedly endorsing this game.… Expand
Apr 24, 2014Damn if you play this you will get destroyed. What, confused why it gets 9 its x-com you suppose to get destroyed its a hard game. I admit its dumbed down a bit but if you think about sadly this day in age new gamers for because most are 5-15 year olds (I'm not happy about it) they action, action all day long. Poor kids I got to say. Anyway at start you only get a squad of 4 but with upgrades 6 which makes them more valuable. you research guns, armor, gear, biology, etc. you get cut scenes now which are welcome if you think of it. Something some whine about "but you can only send 1 squad" I know that's good it makes you go " okay got to chose dammit which one" so it is hard as hell. Right I got to say what's wrong no base attacks, and some many other things the classic ones had sadly overall though its great… Expand
Oct 10, 2012Well I have been waiting for this game for about 18 years. Though I did not know that since I did not know it was in-development until this past E3. With being a huge fan of the first XCOM I was skeptical when I saw the ARCADY looking characters...but I quickly got over it. This game is a blast to play. If you want a tactical game. I found it far to hard on Classic as I tried to play three rounds and sent 12 men home in the process. So I changed it to Normal and it is a lot more manageable. BUT it still has challenges. I had two people I had from the beginning get wiped out in their 12th mission...I thought I was smooth sailing but no. This is a very challenging game!
Looks: 8.5 - I only wish all the guys didn;t have the same build. I wish you could customize that more.
Gameplay - 9.3 - Just as good as I remember with a couple of glitches. Camera is tricky in corners and I feel I do not always get the angle I want and to me if you are behind a wall with full sheild you should never be hit unless some throws a Grenade or Rock Launcher. But that is not the case. Doesn't ruin it just thought I should mention it.
Sound: 9.0 - Great music and feel...but not as creepy as the original.
Overall: 9.0: I have played for about 10 hours now and I am still enjoying the missions. I feel the pain when good soldiers die but I enjoy the uncertainty of battle. This game is not for people who want an easy challenge.… Expand
Jul 3, 20142K Games you did it again :). First up was Civilization franchise and now I bought this, gj 2K. Best strategy game on PS3 now. The soldier customizing and satellite stuff is just amazing, I have to say. Oh and I was so happy with the gameplay too. Only the bad thing is that there are not so much different stuff to do in this game. Thing is that, there is some aliens--you try to beat them. And the game is little bit boring when you played it little bit. Still game what must to have. And good 8/10 :)… Expand
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A great number of hooligans were moving toward the stadium.
So the auxiliary 'to be' has to be adjusted to the subject. 'A number of smth' normally agrees with a plural verb (unlike 'the number of sth' which agrees with a singular verb).
Suggesting that 'moving toward the stadium' is a subject doesn't make any sense, though from the point of view of the formal sentence structure it may look like a subject.

subset: commoncrawl


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Inverness College will get a new, state-of-the-art campus funded by a £51m investment from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), it has been announced today.
In a joint statement from the SFC, the Scottish Government and the college, officials revealed that plans for a new campus at Beechwood had been approved, creating a modern facility to bring together the institution's 8,500 students, currently split between two campuses at Longman and Midmills.
Education Secretary Mike Russell said: "As a focal point of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Inverness has a vital role to play in Further and Higher Education in the north of Scotland. The new campus will provide considerable benefits for staff, its 8,500 students and the local economy.
"I am very pleased to be able to commit to providing up to 51 million pounds in funding from the Scottish Funding Council to the project and await updates on its procurement and construction with interest."
The news is a further boost in a landmark year for the UHI, which was finally granted full university status in February of this year, ending a 19-year effort to base a university in the highlands. Inverness College is one of the UHI's constituent institutions, and hosts the new university's executive.
Inverness College Principal John Spencer said: "The new campus for Inverness College UHI will have a big impact, providing excellent opportunities for future generations of students and a boost to the development of the University of the Highlands and Islands as well as the city and region.
"Planning the new campus at Beechwood has been challenging in this difficult financial period, but the Government's commitment and investment in the College will deliver huge benefits for decades to come."
The new campus will be paid for under the Non-Profit Distribution model of funding, which has been embraced by the Scottish Government as a replacement for costly Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects.
Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil said: "This type of infrastructure investment boosts our economy, supports jobs and makes a real difference for local communities like Inverness.
"Delivering projects like this through the Non-Profit Distributing model means better value for taxpayers than PFI. This kind of innovative approach will form the basis of the Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland that I will publish next week."
The announcement of the £51m investment in Inverness College comes just a week after the SFC and the Scottish Government approved a £200m plan to create a 'supercampus' for the newly-formed City of Glasgow College.
Mark Batho, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: "This is very good news for future students as well as for the business and communities that benefit from the work of Inverness College.
"The development adds to a portfolio of Funding Council investments that has seen over 500 million pounds spent since 2000 with new build or major improvements in estates at 23 colleges."


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Little Mistress
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Model is 179 cm tall and is wearing a size X-Small.
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Publication: theday.com
New Haven — A day after resigning from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, Steven Thomas pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to a charge of stealing more than $177,000 from the tribe — his one-year salary while holding a position in tribal government.
Judge Janet Bond Arterton accepted Thomas' plea, enabling him to avoid a trial that had been scheduled to start next month. She set sentencing for Jan. 3.
In exchange for the guilty plea, the prosecution dismissed two other counts of theft and agreed not to oppose Thomas' likely bid to avoid prison time. The judge is not bound by sentencing guidelines that call for a prison term of 12 to 18 months.
The prosecutor in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mattei, agreed not to oppose a shorter sentence, even one calling for probation rather than incarceration.
Thomas, 39, who since 2012 had been the tribe's treasurer, must make restitution to the tribe of the $177,600 in pay he accepted while serving as assistant director of the tribe's Department of Natural Resources Protection from Jan. 6, 2007, through Jan. 5, 2008. He also must pay a fine.
Previously, Thomas had pleaded not guilty to the three original counts, which alleged a total theft from the tribe of more than $700,000.
Facing Arterton, Thomas admitted he "intentionally" signed time cards on which he "overstated" the hours he worked.
Mattei told the judge Thomas falsified his time cards on a weekly basis in 2007, a period during which he was supposed to work 40 hours a week.
"He rarely reported to work, except on Fridays," Mattei said.
And then, the prosecutor added, it was only to sign his card and those of others.
Thomas' attorney, Richard Reeve, disputed Mattei's account, saying Thomas did do "some work."
Asked whether the guilty plea had any "collateral consequences" for Thomas, Reeve told Arterton that his client's impending status as a convicted felon forced him to resign from the tribal council. Otherwise, under the tribe's constitution, Reeve said, Thomas would have been removed.
The council has named Councilor Marjorie Colebut-Jackson to serve as treasurer until a special election is held Oct. 24 to fill Thomas' seat.
Thomas had more than two years remaining in his second three-year term on the council. He and his brother Michael, a former tribal chairman, were indicted on identical theft charges in January.
In July, a jury found Michael Thomas, 45, guilty of embezzling about $100,000 from the tribe by misusing a tribe-issued credit card from October 2007 through September 2009, while he was chairman. He has yet to be sentenced.
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MADISON, WI (WSAU) Badger fans will get a chance to see next season's football team. The University of Wisconsin announced two practices that will be open to the public.
Weather permitting, the practices are scheduled for April 6 at 10:45 a.m. and April 12 at 4:30 p.m.
Fans will also get a chance to win a pair of season tickets at each of those practices. The event is free.


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RT @jeffmnall: Metaphorically speaking, reward your firefighters, but make sure they aren't your arsonists firsts. #agile #scrum
New post: Great Technology Isn't Enough For Being #Agile #scrum
Project Times | The #Agile Project Manager: Core #Scrum Values & Courage via @batimes / good points
Experiences in Agile Coaching: Courage as a Value via @scrumalliance / it's not easy to be #agile
Why a Botched IT Project Will Destroy a Major Corporation in the Near Future @TechReview / scary thought #pmot
Latest post: Great Technology Isn't Enough For Being #Agile #scrum
6 Common Project Management Blunders You Shouldn't Make / ...but probably will #pmot
Software engineers spend lots of time not building software via @infoworld / too much waiting
Newest post: Great Technology Isn't Enough For Being #Agile #scrum
7 Habits of Highly Effective Tech Company CEOs via @CIOonline / Really? Just apply common sense!
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NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP)- Delaware State Police say a multi-agency investigation into alleged drug distribution by members of a motorcycle club has led to the arrests of eight people. Troopers say more than 100 law enforcers conducted the three-month investigation into the Thunderguards Motorcycle Club. On Monday and Tuesday, authorities executed search and seizure warrants on 11 locations in Delaware and Maryland. More than two kilos of cocaine, with street value of $100,000, handguns, long guns, vehicles and cash were seized. Troopers say more arrests are expected.
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Well the video's for J. Lo's 'Booty' has finally dropped...wow. What else can you say? What do you think?More
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A person with diabetes must take many things into consideration in order to properly manage his or her condition. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview.
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Writer: J. Michael Strazcynski Art: Don Kramer Publisher: DC Comics Reviewer: Ambush BugSo I wasn't going to review this week. Since I can see the finsh line on my gaggle of interviews I did for SDCC this year, I figured I'd focus on that. Then I happened to read the new issue of WONDER WOMAN and before I knew it, I found myself typing this one out. The big controversy of this book is the debate over Wondy's costume change. The slutty stripper look was out and Jim Lee was recruited to design a new look for the Princess. Now, I wasn't really up in arms about this new look. It's reminiscent enough of Diana's old costume with basically the same color scheme. The bracelets are there, only now more detailed. The headdress. The bustier. The stars. Seems to me, the only thing that most people have a problem with is the nineties half coat she wears. JMS tried to justify the change in costume by saying that WW is more gritty now and needed something a bit more concealing in order to go into battle because things were going to get gritty for the Amazon very soon. This is all well and good, but in this issue, just before Diana jumps into battle, JMS' statement is kind of blown to shit as she takes off the much loathed jacket and dives into battle.
And you know what? The golden arm lacing underneath was a pretty fantastic design. Hopefully, JMS will lose the jacket look and go with the look of Diana at the end of this book, which in my opinion, is pretty bad@$$. I could see this design making its way to the big screen and being somewhat believable (which is probably one of the main reasons for the redesign anyway). Lee's design is simplistic. The changes are subtle (really she's just wearing pants). The real difference is in the little details of the costume like the arm wraps, the detailed bracelets, and the stylized headdress.
But enough playing fashion police for superheroes. The costume was really just a non-story publicity stunt to pull in new readers. What about the story itself?
Seems someone has pulled a cosmic whammy on the Amazons and made it so that the world didn't know they existed. I have to give JMS some credit for balls since he was so up in arms against the way his run on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ended, which basically had the same premise (that the world forgot who Spidey was / that MJ & Pete never got married), for doing a story like this. Maybe he's trying to prove that he can make this premise work (which Marvel is failing at miserably, BTW). Who knows the motivations behind it, but there are more answers than questions in this six-hundred and second issue of WONDER WOMAN. With an army trapping a group of Amazons in Turkey armed with goddess-killing weaponry, Wonder Woman must lead these Amazon survivors to safety.
What follows is a lot of the talky. Sure, this exposition is important, but it takes a whole lot of time before Diana leaps into battle. The beginning of this issue is a page turner with Wonder Woman barrelling through tanks and trucks, a one woman army full of rage. But the talky slows down this comic to a screeching halt. Sure, JMS has a gift for gab, but here, for some reason, seeing Diana cut loose at the beginning had me itching for more. Eventually there is a pretty fantastic action sequence after the talky to finish the issue. JMS is good at the single issue yarn, so while a tad on the boring and redundant side (the info given in one panel is immediately repeated by another character in the second panel on one page, I shit you not), it did build for some nice emotional investment for a development that occurs late in the book. The issue in itself was finely crafted, but the dialog in the middle made for some thick muck to plow through to get to the good stuff.
My final point of discussion to raise here is about the final page of this book. Filled with rage, Diana lets loose on these human soldiers who have killed and hurt many Amazons. The last page has her standing triumphant, covered in scars and blood, with a blood stained sword and shield. Not long ago, everyone lost their shit when Diana snapped the neck of Maxwell Lord. And for issues after, Diana was filled with angst and grief over it. The killing was even retro-fixed by Geoff Johns when Max was brought back at the end of BLACKEST NIGHT. Here, Diana decimates an army of soldiers following orders. Sure this happens off panel and JMS could get all GI JOE-y about it and say they all received non-lethal wounds, but there's no indication that Wondy didn't tear through them like tissue paper and eat their hearts for killing one of her beloved sisters. What frustrates me is that I have no problem with Wondy being a warrior-born with no guilt about killing on the battlefield, but let's have a bit of consistency here. Let's see if the same folks complaining about Diana going all neck-snappy on Max have anything to say about her killing an entire army.
Despite the criticisms, I am liking this book. JMS delivered a strong single issue, though it did lag in the middle. While the headlines may be all about the costume change, JMS is doling out a solid story, despite the inconsistencies and hypocrisies. I've always been a fan of WONDER WOMAN, but have yet to read a Wondy comic and thought it was absolutely fantastic. Here, JMS gets close. Close enough to have me come back to see if he gets any closer.
Ambush Bug is Mark L. Miller, original @$$Hole / wordslinger / reviewer / co-editor of AICN Comics for over nine years. Support a Bug by checking out his comics! MUSCLES & FIGHTS VOL.3 & MUSCLES & FRIGHTS VOL.1. VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS: THE TINGLER #1-2 (interview, interview, preview, & review) VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #20 WITCHFINDER GENERAL (preview, review, in stores Aug 25th!) NANNY & HANK miniseries (interview, interview, interview, preview, & review, in stores in September!) Zenescope's upcoming WONDERLAND ANNUAL 2010 (in July Previews Order # JUL10 1200, in stores in September!) ROGER CORMAN PRESENTS DEATHSPORT miniseries (in September Previews Order #SEP 100860, in stores in November!)
Writer: Jonathan Hickman Art: Neil Edwards Publisher: Marvel Comics Reviewer: Rock-Me AmodeoAnd to think, my grandfather used to call them "funny books." I wonder what he would think if he could have read books like this. Ah, he'd probably still call them funny books.
Not me. I'm enthralled. I've looked forward, more and more, to each issue of Hickman's FANTASTIC FOUR, for the art also, but mostly for the story. The plot, players, the scope…see, there's one thing that almost guarantees a mediocre run of any book that has Mr. Fantastic: you can't write a genius if you don't at least lean in that direction yourself. And I'm thinking Hickman has a MENSA card tucked in his wallet somewhere.
In fact, I've had this growing feeling each month, a pseudo-deja-vu, as I read each new development, twist and jaw-dropping concept. And I finally figured out what that past emotional echo was. It's how I used to feel when I picked up an issue of PLANETARY. Hickman isn't quite as "out there" as Ellis, but man, this book has genius fueling it. And it's accessible genius. That's a neat trick.
In this issue, Richards, Grimm and Doom continue to play their roles and stay within the framework of the characters they will become. We also see a few other subplots put to rest, like Franklin and Val's visit from the future, "all hope lies with Doom" and all that. And like any good continuing monthly, it also raises a few more subplots, since it seems Franklin and Val may not be quite as dead as they initially thought they would be (gee, ya think?) and Val's advice to her mom is predictably vague. In the end, I probably should be upset at the way things finished, but oddly, it seemed appropriate.
The only weak spot, for me, was the arrival and departure of the utterly disposable Anachronauts. I know things had to tie up quickly since this was only a two parter, but honestly, these guys could not have been deader on arrival if they had all been sporting red shirts and a Star Fleet insignia. Or maybe they were all engaged to Cartwrights. Or both (you know how these space-time things can go.)
But overall, a good issue, and a good story in a string of good stories. Nigh bottom-line for me is, I really like this run. Like "Half-Life" was the thinking man's first person shooter, FANTASTIC FOUR is the thinking man's action book. It's high science fiction.
Before I end, I should point out how much I've enjoyed Edward's pencils. If Bryan Hitch and Jose Garcia-Lopez had an artistic lovechild, I think it would be Edwards. Yeah, some of his panels are a little wonky, okay. However, most of his work is wonderful, and drips of potential. His name has never rung any bells with me until this run, but he reminds me of the first time I saw a fairly unknown artist with dashes of brilliance, some guy named Perez. And I'm not saying Edwards is the next George Perez, nor should he be. I'm just saying, since he's a relative newcomer to comics, we haven't even seen this guy's best stuff yet. So keep an eye out for his work, because not only is he good, but he's going to keep getting better. That is, if he sticks with funny books.
Rock-Me Amodeo is a daytime computer guy and nighttime all kinds of things. He's also probably the only guy ever to write a book and a movie still hoping he might someday break into comics.
Writer: Geoff Johns Artist: Gary Frank Publisher: DC Comics Reviewer: Johnny Destructo"Besides being an excellent author, Geoff Johns must be one hell of a chef, able to take even the most stale ingredients and make a mouth-watering buffet of brain-steak. SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN shouldn't appeal to me in the slightest. I'm not a Superman fan (except for the films and a handful of extraordinary graphic novels). I, like most of the general population, am aware of the origin of Supes. And yet here Johns takes elements from the SMALLVILLE television show, the Superman movies and the original origin story and cooks up something that tastes different then what I was expecting.
The pencils by Gary Frank, one of my fave artists working today, are quality as always, and he's pulling the same trick that's been getting me for the past couple years, in that he's drawing Clark to match the facial features of Christopher Reeve (the most well-known actor to wear the tights on film)."
The above was taken from my review of issue #1, and 5 issues later, it still holds. This is the only Superman story since Grant Morrison's maxi-series that I've read all the way through, let alone enjoyed! Although reading a Superman origin story is basically like reading a Chinese takeout menu (I mean, really -- you look and look, but you still order the same 3 things every time), it can still be a good time if it's done right. And this one definitely was. I actually wouldn't mind if this was a reboot of the character and we were starting fresh from this mini-series. This is what Geoff Johns does best -- that is, steal my money with his amazing comics.
Stupid, talented jerk.
JD can be found hosting the PopTards Podcast, discussing movies, comics and other flimflam over at www.poptardsgo.com, graphically designing/illustrating for a living, and Booking his Face off over here.
Writer: Peter David Penciler: Emanuela Lupacchino Published by: Marvel Comics Reviewed by: BottleImpWith all the team books, epic crossovers and earth-shattering event books put out by the Big Two that have been choking the stands over the past—well, I guess it would be fair to say over the past decades, although it certainly feels like the "major event" trend has become more pronounced in the last few years—it's hard for a jaded comic book reader like myself to imagine a time before the idea of a shared fictional universe. If we trace the notion back to the beginning, we certainly have to thank Sheldon Mayer and Gardner Fox for bringing DC's heroes together as the Justice Society of America, comicdom's first superhero team, in the pages of ALL-STAR COMICS. But even then, the characters had little interaction with each other. The team would meet, then split off into solo adventures, with each hero's tale written and drawn by a different creative team, then they'd all meet back at the end for a group shot. The individual stories would have no lasting impact on the world these characters inhabited, and each character's world would in turn have little impact on the others.
No, the real breakthrough in that notion of a shared universe came when Stan and Jack (along with Steve and later Gene and John and a whole slew of talented writers and artists) did their thing in the 1960s, and decided that the Marvel Universe would be peopled with characters who would interact with each other in ways that had never been seen before. The Fantastic Four could run into Spider-Man over the New York skyline, Doctor Doom could take a break from harassing the FF and take a turn at being a dick to the X-Men, and a Norse god could descend from the heavens to piss off an irradiated scientist with anger issues. How wonderful it must have been for a young reader at that time, how thrilling to think that each month could bring strange new adventures and new characters to the newsstands! But now the shared universe is old hat, and has devolved into characters being spread around multiple titles so often and with such heavy-handedness that it's a relief to find a Marvel title that DOESN'T feature Wolverine or Deadpool as one of its major players.
The reason I bring this notion into discussion is this: the once-novel idea of a shared universe is now the norm. What was once a joy to experience has become, more often than not, a colossal bore. Even worse, the tightly wound skeins of continuity that run through Marvel's (and DC's, but let's stick with Marvel for the sake of relevancy) titles seem to have become a sort of creativity straitjacket for some, leading to stories that lack the energetic punch that you could find even in the lower-quality Marvel comics from those early years.
There are, however a few happy exceptions. Peter David's X-FACTOR stands out as perhaps the best.
The genius of David's recent work in this series is that he embraces Marvel's shared universe in the best possible way: by being wonderfully unpredictable in the ways he brings his team of fringe characters into contact with other denizens of the Marvel U. Sure, there are the standard mutant menaces to be faced, but aside from the dull-as-dirt (and most likely editorially mandated) Sentinels, in the past year David has given his readers a great Dr. Doom (both present-day and old-as-fuck, crazy-as-shit, still bad-ass future version), an obligatory superhero slugfest with the Fantastic Four, a cameo from Dr. Strange villain BARON MORDO, for chrissakes! and now David is gleefully pitting Jamie Madrox's offbeat detective agency against the Norse Goddess (and sometimes Thor's foe) Hela, with the fate of 1970s Jim Starlin staple Pip the Troll at stake. I don't know how Pip managed to avoid appearing in Abnett and Lanning's Starlin-heavy cosmic titles, but David is certainly putting him through the wringer here. The cameos in X-FACTOR are so varied that this title never feels predictable; the added bonus is that the main cast is equally unpredictable in their own situations.
Remember way back when, when Rahne Sinclair (aka Wolfsbane) had to leave the X-Factor team to go be on Marvel's latest X-FORCE iteration? David took this blatant editorial character shuffle and managed to turn it into a poignant parting between Rahne and her sometime boyfriend Rictor. Then there was that whole Rictor/Shatterstar thing—you know, the one that outed Rob Liefeld as a major homophobe? What initially looked like a publicity stunt has developed into an exploration of character, sexuality, and relationships. And just when everything was looking smooth, David cranked up the volume on this soap opera by bringing a very pregnant Rahne back into the picture. In lesser hands, this would be melodramatic cheese. But by balancing the pathos with liberal doses of his snarky brand of humor, David gives a liveliness and a startling sense of realism to the scene. Well, as realistic as you can get when you have a pregnant werewolf tackling a half-naked extra-dimensional killing machine out of a second-story window.
As good as David is with the script, part of what sells X-FACTOR as being more true to life than every other mutant book on the stands is the superlative artwork that has graced this series since its beginning. Taking the reins this issue is Emanuela Lupacchino, and she has done a wonderful job maintaining this title's level of excellence. Her drawings blend realistic proportions with simplified lines that never fall into the trap of being too cartoony, and she really sells the story with the fantastic facial expressions that each character is given. I don't know if Lupacchino is just doing a fill-in or if she's taking over regular art duties, but either way this title could do much worse.
For both story and art, for the quirky characters and the unpredictable situations, and for the blend of drama and humor that marks every issue, X-FACTOR remains a joy to read, a wonderful throwback to the days when Marvel really WAS the "House of Ideas," and you never knew what was going to be waiting for you when you turned the pages that month. And best of all (at least in this reader's opinion): no Wolverine.
When released from his Bottle, the Imp takes the form of Stephen Andrade, an artist/illustrator/pirate monkey painter from the Northeast. You can see some of his artwork here. He's given up comics more times than he can remember. But every time he thinks he's out, they pull him back in.
Writer: Brian J. Apodaca Art: B. Paul Jordan Publisher: ComiXpress Reviewer: Mr. PastyAh, the glory days of college. Busty babes, brawny brutes and your part-time zombies. What, your place of higher learning didn't feature killer zombies entombed in the bowels of the campus library? Sheesh, you shoulda transferred to Irvine State University (ISU) where you could have majored in Zombie Arts alongside Will Simers and his resident advisor Matt Naismith.
Too complicated? No problem, picking up ZOMBIE OUTLAW #1 will give you the same experience and won't put you 100k in debt. This latest entry into the saturated genre of flesh-eating zombies is big, bright and fun. Right away you'll notice that B. Paul Jordan's artwork has a very lighthearted and cartoony feel that is a refreshing change from the Ross clones that take themselves way too seriously. I'm reminded of the old RADICAL RICK animated strip from the back of the BMX Plus magazine in the late 80's in its ability to stay both edgy and accessible at the same time. Simply put, this is a comic book that delivers.
Of course the plot (just like most zombie plots) is graphene-thin but just as strong. Writer Brian J. Apodaca isn't trying to invent the wheel because that's impossible. The wheel has already been invented, just like the zombie comic book has already been done ad nauseam. ZOMBIE OUTLAW succeeds because it recognizes the limitations of its source material and instead focuses on exploiting its strengths.
To that end, this book is filled with all the components a jaded reader might demand when grading this effort. Unlikely hero? Check. Girl with big tits? Check. Hapless bystanders with exposed flesh and slow reflexes? Check. If you must know, the ISU campus rests on the site of an 1872 zombie battle that now houses the corpse of outlaw Edward Dransby. On that corpse is a super-special hat that would really help elevate the grade of Matt Naismith's thesis -- but don't expect ol' Eddy to just hand it over.
Yup, this is Zombies 101 that reads more like an honors class. Credit to the team of Jordan and Apodaca for making it work. That's a pretty tall order in this day and age considering how may times we've had zombies shoved down our throats, but like BREAKFAST WITH ROB, the gang behind ZOMBIE OUTLAW resists the urge to paint by numbers and instead creates a comic book that doesn't require any kind of intense commitment or 18 issue character arc to enjoy. You pick it up, read it and have fun. That's the reason I got into comics in the first place and a re-emerging trend that I for one am hoping will continue. For anyone that's looking to join that movement, ZOMBIE OUTLAW is as good a place to start as any.
Web heads who can't get enough of Mr. Pasty's word vomit are encouraged to watch him operate as Nostradumbass over at MMaMania.com here. Love, hate and Mafia Wars requests should be directed here.
Writer: Stuart Moore Art: Ariel Olivetti Publisher: Marvel Comics Reviewer: Ambush BugGod, I hate my optimistic side. I really want to read a good modern WONDER WOMAN comic or a good modern AQUAMAN comic or a good modern NAMOR comic, but for some reason, it really hasn't happened yet. Despite the fact that it is tagged with an annoying X-Men crossover tag, I decided to give the first issue of NAMOR THE FIRST MUTANT a try. Though I was a fan of Byrne's series from the nineties, I really can't say, I know the reason why I like the underwater heroes other than the fact that they are the underdogs of comicbookdom and I love rooting for the underdog. While Namor and Arthur Curry are pretty different characters, both have been given the short end of the stick (the shallow end of the pool?) when it comes to their own series, despite them being some of comic books' oldest and most recognizable characters. Stuart Moore has always turned out solid work and I love Ariel Olivetti's painterly style, so when I saw their names on the cover, I had to pick this one up.
I wish I could say this was the comic that does Namor justice, but sadly, I didn't really like it. The main reason why was simple: the issue was pretty boring. Panel after panel of people talking and swimming, waxing expositorically ad nauseum. Sure Namor has a long history, but is there a way of explaining that without filling the ocean with word balloons? Midway through, Namor comes across a vampire squid. A damn cool concept; one maybe artist Ariel Olivetti could really lot loose with and make for some dynamic panels.
Namor finishes it off in three small panels. And then we're back to swimming and talking.
Missed opportunity of the highest order.
The other hit this comic has against it is that it's so closely tied into X-MEN. Having evolved past my addiction to mutant comics, the X-Men logo offers no pull for me. Seeing that Namor is so closely tied to the X-books may yank in a few X-readers, but for me, it didn't work. If anything, having a first issue focus so much on another comic's storyline only gave me the impression that this comic doesn't really have a strong premise on its own. I'm assuming this is an ongoing series. If it is, then it should have taken a few issues to be able to stand on its own before diving right into a crossover. This is what kills my interest in X-FACTOR, a comic I usually love, but have a lot of difficulty getting back into after every crossover. Happening right off the bat like this immediately strains any interest I may have here.
The art is pretty sweet. Ariel sure knows how to draw people swimming. Thank god, because that's what Moore has him do here over and over. There are a few panels though where the size and proportion of the characters seem a bit off; as if Olivetti drew them separately and tried to resize them to fit into the same panel. The action scenes are pretty dynamic and there is a nice chase with some good intensity toward the end of this comic (plus a decent, though page consuming double splash of an underground tunnel full of vampire sea monsters).
All in all, though, this was a bit disappointing for someone rooting for a kick@$$ Namor comic. What I got was filled with people swimming and talking and seemed to lack a voice of its own due to the crossover. Too bad, really. I wanted to like this one.
Writer: Robert Breenberger/Landry Q. Walker Artist: Robert Pope & Scott McRae/Eric Jones Publisher: DC Comics Reviewer: LyzardWhat I love about BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD, the TV series, is its tongue in cheek nature. Sure, it isn't any BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, but it is willing to poke fun at itself (especially in any episode featuring the pathetic Aquaman). So when I found out there was a comic based on the series, and at this point there really is a comic for any video game, TV series, or film property out there, I was excited. Poor, poor, bitter disappointment arose. BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD is nothing like its television counterpart with the exception of its attempt to copy the animation style.
The particular issue I grabbed was BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #20. You don't need to read a prior issue because the book is self-contained. But you do need to know the DC Universe to understand the characters that come into play within the comic. Unlike say, the Nolan films, there is more in THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD universe than the usual Batman fare. Sure, you get Catwoman, the Joker, the Riddler, etc. But you also get other DC characters from other properties that appear in Gotham City.
The story in BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #20 is called "Home Wreckers". Actually, it's a two-part story, with each part in the same book. Don't ask me why they do this, even without their putting the additional story between Batman and Martian Manhunter in between. The main story follows Batman as he tries to help Big Barda find her husband: Scott Free.
As I mentioned in my ARCHIE AND FRIENDS #146 review, the artists get lazy, especially in the fight scene between Barda and the Furies. I couldn't feel the action lifting off the page; it did not feel kinetic to me. It felt more like the beginning and end of a motion, never the middle. The colors also don't fit the normal Batman universe. I expect black, blues and grays. Instead there are tons of red, yellows, and even some greens. I know the TV series has vivid coloring too, so I cannot fault the colorist too much for following the source material.
The comic almost talks down to the reader. I realize they are aiming it towards kids, but when the action shows something, you don't need to repeat it in the dialogue. Even "kid" movies, like the great Pixar films, are not condescending; they'll drive the message home in a fun and interesting way. BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #20 fails to cross the line between kid and adult comic. Using Pixar as an example again, what John Lassiter has always said is that he wants to make movies he wants to see. I highly doubt this is a comic the writer would have wanted to read. The dialogue is cliché, repetitive; nothing pops out in a good way.
Overall, if you cannot already tell, I was very disappointed in the work put into the comic BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD. The television show is far superior to the comic in every way. Plus, watching the TV show is free. So don't go wasting your money on buying the comic when you can just sit down to Cartoon Network and laugh at the jokes, instead of laughing at the awfulness that is the BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD comic.
Writer: Tom DeFalco Art: Ron Frenz Publisher: Marvel Comics Reviewer: Henry Higgins is My HomeboyParting Is Such Sweet Sorrow....Again.
Going by the comic industry as it is today, SPIDER-GIRL should have died years ago. The ages of the characters, the old school fun, and (let's be honest) having a female lead just doesn't usually work, unfortunately. But somehow, this series has outpaced numerous other series' extinction along the way. SPIDER-GIRL, which has always been in threat of being killed off, has gotten another cancellation. And with SPIDER-GIRL: THE END, the series gets a proper send off. The issue ends a long running plot point, giving the series a good end--should this be the final issue ever.
Writing 4/5: Tom Delfaco, who's been running the series since its inception, gives the series a fair end, if not perfect, with a closing off of the "Menace" story, which has been an interesting read, if not great--the shadow of the hero and all that. The juxtaposition between April and May has always been entertaining, and it continues with that idea. When the two converse, you actually have a few moments of sympathy for April, but you still side with May. That's the sign of a good character, to elicit that reaction. The time shift sets up a nice introspective look at April. The issue is missing a few things, notably a farewell to the supporting characters that have made this series so much fun (Darkdevil, Normie, and Phil don't really do anything, or even appear outside of faces in the last scene). Part of the reason the series is so fantastic is because of the great supporting cast, and it would have been nice to see more of them. Also, for a SPIDER-GIRL finale, it didn't feature nearly as much Spider-Girl as you would expect. The issue ultimately focuses more on April and the conclusion of her arc, which would have been ok if it wasn't the finale. But the writing is as it always is: insanely charming and fun.
Art 4/5: The art follows the traditional SPIDER-GIRL art scheme--fantastic. The panels have a certain timeless quality to them, definitely different than anything else is on the stands. It feels like an old-school SPIDER-MAN comic, which was the idea behind the series. A few shots here and there falter about, but it keeps up it's high standard for almost the entire book.
Best Moment: The expression on April's face shortly before the end of the book, ****SPOILER**** as she's about to die.****END SPOILER**** It's a very quiet moment, and it makes you feel so bad for this character you hated moments ago.
Worst Moment: For Spider-Girl's last hurrah, she's not exactly the star here.
Overall 4/5: If this is how the series ends, so be it. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for another go, though.
Written by: E. Burgoon & D. Bethel Art: D. Bethel Publisher: Brain Food Comics Reviewer: Optimous DoucheJames Bond is a messy bastard. Think about any Bond adventure and the veritable shit storm left in his wake. Swiss chalets tumbled like matchsticks (people lie in there, asshole), exploded tanker trucks, toxic chemicals left sitting on a warehouse floor after the bad guys have been apprehended…and don't even get me started on the amount of DNA the man spooges inside of bed linens, allies, and victims alike (before they are dead – I hope). For a guy that is supposed to be a secret agent, he leaves a trail of destruction on par with a Kansas tornado in August. So how does he remain undercover? Why has his identity not been exposed to the media with every hapless misfire of his Aston Martin rocket launchers? Well, I can't speak for Her Majesty's Secret Service, but I can sleep well at night knowing that American covert operatives are neatly and discretely being "picked up" after by Eben07, agent of the Intelligence Cleaners Agency.
Despite my general misgivings about reading comics electronically, I fell in love with the exploits of Eben07 as a web comic property early last year. Each panel of "For the Love of Russia" was craftily delivered as one joke pages each week that masterfully weaved together a full tale of espionage and intrigue as Eben07 "picked up" after a top operative in post-communist Eastern Europe. Thankfully the boys at Brain Food heard my bemoaning on the intangible nature of their webby goodness. Now, "For Love of Russia" and other Eben exploits can be held, read, felt, licked, fucked (whatever you like to do with your comics) right in your hands. I received three tales that I will unmasterfully try to summarize, while dusting off some of the cleverness I can hazily recount from the Eben07 web property.
Don't let the glasses and lack of ocular definition fool you, because any similarities to Dilbert end right there. Eben07 is not some mealy-mouthed little bitch that just bemoans his daily existence. Eben is a man of action, a man who cleans up the messes left behind by more careless operatives…and, he just so happens to lack ocular cavities. Plus, the art and humor contained within the pages of Ebon would make Scott Adams green with envy. Seriously, if some upstart cable channel is looking for a cartoon property to dispel to the masses, look at the success of "Archer" and ride that wave by signing Eben. Even though the boys were looking for me to hock their latest brainchild 'Operation: 3 Ring Bound" I would be remiss in this review if I didn't cover some of my favorite past ground. I've always been a huge fan of parody, hence why my long boxes have a healthy heaping of MAD magazines. I truly feel EBEN07 shines when he is poking fun at the James Bond flicks both in title and form. "For the Love of Russia" has very little to do with the Connery tale of yore, but it does send Eben and partner Ninja Dan behind the iron curtain to tackle gypsies, train espionage and the general clust-fuckery that Eben so naturally brings to any and all situations.
While not a comic I was able to touch, feel, lick, fuck, "Operation: Goofinger" gets a shout out simply because I love the name (remember, Eben creators -- more Bond parodies please). You can still get this gem online simply by cutting and pasting "Operation Goofinger" into Google. This is a joyous romp that takes Ebon and partner Ninja Dan deep into Fort Knox. Get it?...gold…goo…finger…fuck, I feel old when I have to explain this shit. While I probably would have made this a cleanup of the spy spooge I mentioned earlier in this review, I am merely a frustrated writer. The boys at Brain Food had a story to tell, and tell it they did. Again, leveraging the medium they had to work in, each page or strip delivers its own rewards while still fitting into a greater story. While on the website also check out "Operation: Clean the Cleaners" that reveals the origin of the ICA on a case to find out who stole "The shot heard around the world." (Extra bonus points for Gen Xers that finish that statement with "was the start of the revolution, the minutemen were ready on the move")
Even though I'm here to truly tout OPERATION: 3 RING BOUND, I think this one took the "cleaner" element of Eben a little too far. Don't get me wrong, the hilarity in this issue is delivered in spades as Eben and Ninja Dan are sent back to High School a la "21 JUMP STREET" to uncover the disappearance of operatives that were disguised as janitors. Seriously, this is a fucking funny book as these two thirty-somethings try to blend into today's high school environments. My particular favorite moment was when the guys loaded up their iPod with the hottest rock tunes from the likes of Nirvana and STP…sadly those tunes are now officially in the realm of classic rock.
No, my favorite adventure to date is hands down "Operation: Mongoose." And there is nary an Eben to be found. No, this adventure is a prequel that explores the start of the ICA under Eben's ancestor Abel. At the crux of Mongoose are shadow puppet organizations that have been orchestrating world events from Castro to the assassination of Lincoln. I can't help it; I'm a sucker for alternate history.
Well drawn, expertly written and never taking itself too seriously, Eben is a damn fun work timewaster and an even better read in print. Keep up the good work, gentlemen, and remember two things: more play on Bond movies, and please for the love of God can we get Eben on an exchange program to clean up after a certain British spy.
Optimous has successfully blackmailed fellow @$$Hole BottleImp into being his artist on Average Joe. Look for Imp's forced labor on Optimous brain child in mid-2011 from COM.X. Friend Optimous on FaceBook to get Average Joe updates and because ceiling cat says it's the right thing to do.
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Rafa Sandoval Publisher: Ultimate Marvel Comics Reviewer: Johnny DestructoOK. So, I'm kind of lost as to the point of the format for this/these series(es?) Decompressed storytelling was pretty big for awhile there, and it seems to have gotten better over the past year or so, with shorter stories taking place ("Siege" was amazing and nice and quick!). So what's the deal with this? ULTIMATE ENEMY was 3 issues, which led directly into ULTIMATE MYSTERY, which I assume will lead into …ULTIMATE CEREAL? ULTIMATE ...TOASTER? (I dunno, I try to avoid Previews and spoilers whenever possible.) The point is, I'm sure there's another mini-series coming after this one. Why? Why not just do one 12 issue maxiseries called ULTIMATE MYSTERY? So they can get the unsuspecting to buy three #1 issues that are all part of the same story? Does anyone LIKE this format? Let me answer that for you. No. Even if you answered "yes" to that question, you're wrong and I'm right. Also, you look dumb in that turtleneck sweater.
So, while I don't approve of the format, I have to say this second issue of the second miniseries of this maxiseries (see? it's 'tarded when you have to spell it out like that, right?) is pretty good stuff. I can't say I'm incredibly intrigued by the mysterious enemy itself, but the dialogue for Mahr Vehl [or Captain Marvel (see what they did there with the spelling and the what-not?)] is pretty brilliant, especially in issue 1. Friggin' awesome. Also, can I have a Spider-Woman series now please? She is one of my faves of the current Ultimate U. I love that she is the female version of Peter Parker (quite literally a clone) and that Human Torch has a crush on her and that it's wicked awkward for her and Peter to interact. Love it.
My favorite aspect of the Ultimate Universe is the fearlessness with which the characters evolve, and how different they are from what we know in the 616 U. I'm a sucker for alternate versions of characters, and I love that the writers are getting more fearless with that. Bendis is exploring things like "if Ben Grimm isn't forever trapped in a body made of rock, what does that mean for the character?" I'm sure a lot of fans are annoyed that he isn't still the spitting image of the 616 Thing, but I'm grateful that Bendis is taking risks like that. Yes, let's see what The Thing would be like if he was a super-powerful purple fella. Why not? I'm also curious to see what the deal is with Reed Richards. Supposedly he perished in ULTIMATE ENEMY, but is he mini-series dead, or ULTIMATUM dead, and if the latter, what does that mean to the FF as a team? So many questions that I'm curious to see resolved.
Again, I don't really care about the Enemy itself, as much as what it has wrought. I can't wait until the fifth part of the seventh miniseries that ties all this together to find out! Ahhh, sarcasm. You're my only friend.
PS. J Scott Campbell, you are absolutely one of my favorite artists working today. But Rick Jones is supposed to be 15 (so it says in this issue)…why did you draw him with the physique of a 25 year old athlete with Willem Dafoe's face?
PPS. The 616 Nick Fury sight gag was purdy funny.
Writer: Robert Kirkman / Benito Cereno Art: Ransom Getty Publisher: Image Comics / Skybound Reviewer: Humphrey LeeThere's two main things I learned with this debut issue of GUARDING THE GLOBE: One, I'm pretty much Kirkman's bitch and will hand him $3 to $4 for anything with his name on it (yes, I got SCIENCE DOG this week too), and two, I really do love a lot of these characters that have been born within the pages of INVINCIBLE these past several years. They have been fleshed out enough to always warrant some attachment to them and I've always felt that at least a mini such as this would be worth a shot. Now that it's here I hope it hits ongoing status toot sweet.
Given, there appears to be some growing pains here. The book moves through a lot of things and feels speedy despite it actually being quite a wordy read. It's actually got what I call "Invincible Pace" down pat, where a lot of concepts and plot threads are thrown at you with some lengthy exposition, but it happens at a breakneck pace. This kind of overwhelms here a bit though, because usually all those multitude of shenanigans in the pages of INVINCIBLE are happening to just the front-most characters. In this case, there's more than a handful to keep tabs on, leading to the one other real downside this issue may have; if you're a fan of INVINCIBLE it's pretty easy to keep up with these guys and what's going on; a total newb, though, might have an issue with staying with the pace and people.
Once these quibbles are out of the way, though, what remains are the inherited thrills and joyousness from this book's parent work. I love the nonchalant way that INVINCIBLE revels in its super heroic tropes and it thankfully carried over to this book. From yet another Flaxan invasion at the beginning, to the Brit sequences where he's just randomly donned jet boots and some arm attachments to enhance his strength, this book just owns what it is. And this is all a good sign because I will assume that, since he is a busy man with a very big TV show debuting soon, Mr. Kirkman will be giving the reins a little more to Mr. Cereno. Between this and the ATOM EVE books he worked on, it is obvious he knows these characters and can work well with them and in developing them.
Random Getty is the name I'm unfamiliar with here, but I'm already a fan of his pencils with this. It's the kind of superhero art I enjoy; the figures command the presence they should, each panel is packed with detail and action without feeling crowded, and it has great flow. Seeing more of it actually has me as excited about this book as the idea of getting more time with these characters each month (especially Brit--love that Brit). I think it's just about time something like this came into being. These characters were just too rich with personality to continue playing second fiddle to the guy who has enough going on with his own adventures in his own book. Oh, and when this thing finally does (hopefully) go ongoing? Just call it GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE. I know the name of this mini has a meaning to go with the aim of this arc, but it's still one trick enough to bother wasting time on. Everything else though? Pretty much aces. Keep it coming.
Humphrey Lee has been an avid comic book reader going on fifteen years now and a contributor to Ain't It Cool comics for quite a few as well. In fact, reading comics is about all he does in his free time and where all the money from his day job wages goes to - funding his comic book habit so he can talk about them to you, our loyal readers (lucky you). He's a bit of a social networking whore, so you can find him all over the Interwebs on sites like Twitter, The MySpaces, Facebookand a Blogger Account where he also mostly talks about comics with his free time because he hasn't the slightest semblance of a life. Sad but true, and he gladly encourages you to add, read, and comment as you will.
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Art: John Romita JR Publisher: Marvel Comics Reviewer: Henry Higgins is My HomeboyBig and Loud.
It almost feels like a counterpoint, reading both AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS. Both had very solid, but not fantastic, opening issues. NEW has been fantastic, and just getting increasingly so. AVENGERS, on the other hand, has been lagging. This issue continues that descent and falters about.
Writing 2/5: As I said while reviewing last weeks NEW AVENGERS, Bendis writes a certain cartel of characters extremely well. But in here, they don't work as well. For every proper Spider-Man scene, we get one of Thor or Hawkeye just not landing correctly. Last issue splits the story in half, with one chunk of the team protecting New York while the other lands in the future. The home team gets the most focus and is more entertaining, to be honest. Jessica Drew is a very hit-and-miss character, but Bendis usually writes her well, as he does here. Killraven's appearance is worth a couple of good lines, but the scenes with him slow down the book, though it might be interesting to have him stay on, which is actually what I'm expecting. The dialogue either is great or falls apart, and it mostly falls apart, with Hawkeye specifically not being funny at all.
The second chunk centers on the time team, and it doesn't really stand out at all either. Cap and Iron Man debate about killing Kang, which leads nowhere. We get another shot of the Maestro, and it doesn't lead anywhere either (though Hulk being ecstatic Wolverine is there because he missed him made me smile). The kids appear and again it leads nowhere. The future scenario should be more interesting and engaging, but it doesn't really do anything great.
Art 3/5: Seeing Romita's name on a book cover is usually a good sign, but this series really hasn't shown off any interesting art moments that truly stand out. This issue may have some fantastic sequences, but most of it is subpar. It's probably exemplified with Thor, during the big NYC time crisis scene. Thor's face as he charges the aliens changes in appearance to Betty White. His face seems extraordinarily wrong. But it's okay in the long run, thanks to the utterly fantastic "Oh....oh shit." face he has, in the books best moment. Romita goes all out in a sequence of time collapsing utterly with Galactus, biplanes, dinosaurs, aliens, helicarriers, and blimps all appearing randomly. This issue shows the best and worst of Romita with some very lacking moments sandwiched between some brilliant.
Best Moment: The aforementioned New York time-fuck. It's just utterly fantastic.
Worst Moment: The story goes nowhere.
Overall 2/5: The series so far has felt like it should and could be so much more, but has yet to hit the proper pace. Hopefully it picks up soon, before it loses its new series momentum.
Remember, if you have a comic book you'd like one of the @$$holes to take a look at, click on your favorite reviewer's link and drop us an email. Check out the @$$oles' ComicSpace AICN Comics page here for an archive and more @$$y goodness.
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Sept. 1, 2010, 9:12 a.m. CST
Walking Dead gets second season!
by V'Shael
Sept. 1, 2010, 9:39 a.m. CST
JMS hasn't a clue about Wonder Woman
by V'Shael
He just doesn't. <p> Take a look at Blackest Night, when she was part of the Star Sapphire group. Indeed, take a look at virtually any scene where she was seen by another character through the spectrum of the rings. Diana is about love, pure and simple. Not necessarily the love of a pacifist. But love none the less. <p> JMS has reduced her to one of his standard "strong women" archetypes. And yeah, he has a very limited stable of "strong women" archetypes. Ivanova in Babylon 5 was just one example. <p> So yeah, Diana is now an emotional "warrior" just as capable of losing the head through rage and all that utterly banal comic book shit that fills the pages of virtually every title out there. <p> He just wasn't up to the challenge of writing a more complicated protagonist. Fuck him.
Sept. 1, 2010, 9:45 a.m. CST
Hey, Ambush!
by SonOfChiba
That DEATHSPORT mini looks fantastic! And calling the three teen heroes, David, Carrie & Dean? Genius, bro - genius!
Sept. 1, 2010, 10:12 a.m. CST
Walking Superman, Gritty Wonder Woman,
by Subtitles_Off
McBatdonald's.<P> Do we really have to wait a whole year before DC erases all this with another stupid Crisis?<P>"We've got the best, most famous characters in comics!," insists Dan "The Dummy" DiDio. "And, we're not gonna stop until nobody recognizes them anymore!"
Sept. 1, 2010, 10:24 a.m. CST
Superman Secret Origin-Perfect
by Drsambeckett1984
I love the way he used so many different elements of the characters, whether it be from older comics, the films, even smallville. <P> Make that into a film, with Johns scriptings. Thats box office gold, and no one would complain about the origin because its a different take (sorta).
Sept. 1, 2010, 10:48 a.m. CST
well, dammit all to hell
by maxwell's hammer
I was almost through the whole column, happy and refreshed that Henry Higgins had been relegated to a single Spider-Girl review, and then he pops up doing an Avengers book. wtf, man?<BR> <BR> Its like listening to the adults talk until they're interrupted by a little kid who doesn't have anything intelligent to say but every one listens anyway out of politeness. I'd prefer no Avengers reviews at all.
Sept. 1, 2010, 10:54 a.m. CST
Burnt Out
by Shakeshift
JMS has not been a quality writer in ten or more years. He's a hack now. Utterly disgraceful when it comes to his writing nowadays. Someone should just take away the keyboard until he learns what ACTUAL writing is all about.
Sept. 1, 2010, 11:13 a.m. CST
by Joenathan
Greet FF review. I totally agree. The only thing I wanted was more of the Great Hunt.
Sept. 1, 2010, 11:14 a.m. CST
Johnny Destructo
by Joenathan
I think the reason they're doing the 3 small mini-series format is because Ellis already did it that way with the Galactus saga in the Ultimate U, so it's their way... I guess.
Sept. 1, 2010, 11:25 a.m. CST
Guarding the Globe
by Joenathan
I'm glad it wasn't written "newb-focused". Fuck those guys. God, can you imagine wading through 3 or 4 intro issues and we're all like: "I know this already! Come on!" I mean really, if you've never heard of any of these characters and are completely unfamiliar with Invincible, you should either be willing to catch up to everyone else on your own OR you weren't really that interested in the first place... <br><br>That being said, here's the thing that really bugged me: In the stupid little "ad disguised as an interview" in the back, Kirkman tries to remount his idiot high horse about creator owned books while slamming the big two again (even though he claims he isn't), still seeming to forget that all the guys he's trying to target actually DO HAVE creator owned books, and it's like: Just shut the fuck up, man. Just shut up. You don't like the big two books... WE GET IT! NOTED FOR THE RECORD! He's like some snot covered fat kid sitting alone in the dirt, while the other kids play on the jungle gym, and screaming at them: <br><br>"Hey! Hey! ...Hey! It sure is cool over here! Hey! I said: It sure is cool over here! I'm REALLY glad I'm not over there on that huge lame jungle gym that was the original reason I came to this play ground in the first place! I am! It's much cooler over here. You guys should try it, because it's awesome! What? ...You were here yesterday...? Well... it's still cooler over here than over there on someone else's toys! I said: It's still cooler over here! It is too!"<br><br>It just came off as sour grapes. You have a TV show, dude, be happy, leave everybody else alone to do what makes them happy. I mean, is there ANYONE out there in the industry who doesn't know about the option of indy comics? ass...
Sept. 1, 2010, 11:31 a.m. CST
by Joenathan
I don't think the story is too bad, definitely slow, thats true... even for Bendis, but... JRJR is ruining the book for me... It just looks terrible. Honestly, I've never really been a fan, but still... Kick-ass looked alright, kind of, but Avengers? Awful. Most of the time, I can't tell what I'm even supposed to be looking at, it's Leinil Francis Yu all over again, maybe he can't handle the pace. I don't know, all I know for usre, is that it's awful.
Sept. 1, 2010, 11:33 a.m. CST
Brand New Day
by SteadyUP
Sept. 1, 2010, 11:50 a.m. CST
Avengers and Wonder Woman....
by Homer Sexual
Those are books that I am inclined to love and buy unless they really, really reek. Unfortunately, they are both so terrible at this point, I actually passed on them last week at the LCS. <p> I have no issue with WW's look...but the direction is just so uninteresting. It's death by boredom. Avengers isn't as boring, but Kang/Time Travel, the plots are wiggidy-wack, the writing is hit/miss and the art is craptacular! But it was clearly selling well, go figure. <p> Kinda like Transformers 2. Undeniably popular, but I don't know how people can sit through such dreckitude.
Sept. 1, 2010, 11:55 a.m. CST
Those aren't pants...that's SPANDEX...
by superhero
The way they're drawing those "pants" they might as well be flesh colored. They certainly don't hide anything that the wonder undies didn't. Just give her the star spangled skirt over the wonder undies if you want to cover her up! But, nope,that's not what the pants are about, are they? They're about appealing to Hollywood actresses who can't see themselves in the classic out fit. If Lynda Carter could do it nearly 30 years ago you can do it too. Just give me back the star spangled undies...still hate the new costume. And the full armbands just make her look like a Liefield reject. Jim Lee and Liefield are practically from the same school when it comes to costume design. Sorry Bug.
Sept. 1, 2010, 12:10 p.m. CST
Wonder Woman
by Joenathan
Her new costume is total 90s generic, admittefly, but it's not that bad (it's not that great either). The problem is, I still hold that it totally kills the only thing people know about the character and that's her outfit and her accessories. That's it. Who is she? No one knows. ZERO iconic and defining momentgs. Go ahead and pull one out of your ass, Comicbook Guy, but the Average Joe on the street can think of several for Batman and Superman and none for Wonder Woman and she's just as recognizable. <br><br>And I think that illustrates the problems with the character and why JMS and this "new" direction is not going to be up to addressing those problems. <br><br>One: Everyone around the world knows Wonder Woman, they can identify her on sight, and if this is the "hollywood" costume (if), then the only thing you'll hear is people griping about the costume they ALL know. <br><br>Two: And that just shows that brand-new-day-ing Wonder Woman isn't the answer, building up the character IS. It totally sounds cliche, but really: They needs to work on WHO Diana is, not WHERE she is. And until then? Pppppppppppphhbbbbbbbbbbbttt
Sept. 1, 2010, 12:24 p.m. CST
Jesus Chrysler, could you imagine...
by HarryKnowlesNonExistentInceptionReview
...how friggin' LONG you'd have to wait downstairs in her living room, having her two moms glaring at you, while Diana was upstairs weaving and buckling all the arm straps to get ready for your date? Sheesh!
Sept. 1, 2010, 1:05 p.m. CST
Joen is write about WW
by Laserhead
Also, is Henry Higgins Homeboy really Liam, The Kid?
Sept. 1, 2010, 1:40 p.m. CST
Laserhead is writing about Joenathan
by Joenathan
As it should be.
Sept. 1, 2010, 2:42 p.m. CST
by Star Hump
How much longer will it take until this idiotic meme is played out?
Sept. 1, 2010, 3:15 p.m. CST
Wonder Woman
by xsi kal
I actually like the new costume, and while the storyline is a somewhat slow burn for now, it's the most interesting I've found Wonder Woman to be in a long time, (I love Simone, but really did not care for her whole run), even if it is essentially just an Elseworlds story.
Sept. 1, 2010, 3:19 p.m. CST
But then again...
by xsi kal
I haven't cared for FF at all lately, (last run I really liked was Wade/Wieringo), so I may just be Captain Contrary.
Sept. 1, 2010, 3:19 p.m. CST
by Star Hump
How much longer will it take until this idiotic meme is played out?
Sept. 1, 2010, 4:57 p.m. CST
Bring back the sluttly tripper look for WW
by bat725
It's not Wonder Woman without it. Remember when Joss Whedon was gonna direct the movie and he said the first thing he was gonna do was get rid of her star-spangled panties? Remember the backlash he got for it? Next thing you knew, he was off the picture and it was put on the backburner again. Hetero, non-faminist men want WW in her panties. Shit, if its a thong, even better. Fucking homos.
Sept. 1, 2010, 4:58 p.m. CST
Sorry, I meant sluttly stripper
by bat725
piece of shit "s" key doesn't work sometimes.
Sept. 1, 2010, 5:02 p.m. CST
Shit, I still spank it to Linda Carter...
by bat725
and its because she's in her panties! Let's give a whole new generation of young men some fresh Wonder Woman visuals to work with! Who's whith me?
Sept. 1, 2010, 5:30 p.m. CST
JMS Wonder Woman story arc
by jocutus
The current storyline is a "getting her mojo back" storyline. JMS threw her into an alternate timeline. She's not herself anymore, not raised by Amazons, not trained the same way, and she's clearly missing some parts of her real personality. This story is her fighting to get all that stuff back. Yes, there will definitely be a reset at the end, I expect the Amazons to be restored and her Mother and gods to return, and maybe she'll use the opportunity to change her official duds to have pants. But Diana becoming herself is the end of the story, this is the struggle to get there, so if she is acting our of character for now I don't mind as long as it's interesting. I wouldn't be surprised if resetting the timeline brings back all the guys she just killed last issue, too.
Sept. 1, 2010, 5:50 p.m. CST
this is where the "stuck in amber"...
by sonnyhooper
....argument fall to pieces. DC says: "hey kids we are gonna try something a little different with superman" <p> the fan boys say: "fuck you, when is he gonna punch darkside again?" <p> dc says: "hey kids, here is a slightly different take on wonder woman" <p> the fan-boys: "fuck you, give us back the panties" <p> dc says : "hey kids bruce wayne is finally going to learn that he can't fight crime alone, and we are going to let dick grayson finally grow up" <p> the fan-boy reply: "fuck you, we hate robin, we want the dark and gritty loner batman back, waaaahhh, waaaahhh, waaahhh!" *goes off to a dark and gritty corner to suck on their thumb* <p> see how that works? it's one of those self fulfilling prophecy type things. it's "stuck in amber" because that's the way we all like it. the majority of the reaction to what DC is doing with it's three icons is proof positive that fans don't really want change.
Sept. 1, 2010, 5:53 p.m. CST
Applause Sonnyhooper
by optimous_douche
Simplistically brilliant...<p> Argue the choices, but don't bitch at evolution as a whole.
Sept. 1, 2010, 6:16 p.m. CST
Buzz Maverik To Write/Draw NAKED WONDER WOMAN
by Buzz Maverik
It was a really simple pitch. I was there at Comi-Con, or as I like to call it Necro-comi-con (heh-heh, a little joke for the Lovecraft fans), enjoying myself by shooting geeks with a wrist rocket from a balcony, Dan Diddy (he hates when I call him that, but what can he do about it) begged me to save the Wonder Woman character. My mind hearkened back to a concept that someone else had thought up in junior high. It seems like a natural. Just the title alone will at least make you look.
Sept. 1, 2010, 6:25 p.m. CST
Changing the costume isn't evolution...
by superhero
It's a stunt. Pure and simple. Plus a shitty costume isn't exactly evolution it's devolution. Is that a word? FYI-I would buy BUZZ's WW book in a second. IN A SECOND!
Sept. 1, 2010, 7:15 p.m. CST
Should have left caveat
by optimous_douche
About WW -- I totally agree on that one Super.<p> So do you believe the panties will one day come back?
Sept. 1, 2010, 7:18 p.m. CST
And while yes
by optimous_douche
The last two issues of Superman have been...less than expected. I fault execution...not the idea.<p> They could have done some really cool shit with the concept and instead we get an aimless Superman.<p> I understand they want it to be sort of a free form thing, but the man needs some objective.
Sept. 1, 2010, 7:28 p.m. CST
for the sake of argument....
by sonnyhooper
....lets say the superman walks the earth thing is kinda stupid, fine maybe superman as kane from kung fu might not work (even if it is kinda cool in a golden-age-superman, back to the roots kinda way) fine i'll give you that. <p> and lets say the wonder woman thing is just a cosmetic costume change (even if it's not because the costume change is a symbol of some fundamental change is dianas background) fine, whatever, i'll give you that one as well. <p> but bruce finally waking up and not being a loner, dickhead, douche-nozzle anymore is LONG over due. think about it, when DC "killed" bruce we all knew it wouldn't be long before he was back. but this time the character is actually going to evolve and change the way he operates. it is an possible example of a character "dying" and as a result of the death... "things will never bee the same again". that tired old tag line is actually happening this time and yet people still bitch. i find that fucking mystifying.
Sept. 1, 2010, 7:37 p.m. CST
and the worst part about it...
by sonnyhooper
..... no one has read a page of morrisons BATMAN INC. yet and there is bitching about it. not. one. fucking. page. <p> just the CONCEPT has the fan-boys bitching and moaning. un-fucking-clench allready.
Sept. 1, 2010, 8:08 p.m. CST
So pulling a "One More Day" on Wonder Woman is evolution?
by superhero
Nah...that's just creating another character and calling her Wonder Woman instead of being able to work with what's established. Nope.Nope. Nope. Besides, corporate comic characters can't evolve. They're products not malleable characters.
Sept. 1, 2010, 8:09 p.m. CST
I haven't bitched this much in a talkback in a long time...
by superhero
Feels good. I must love them star spangled panties something awful!
Sept. 1, 2010, 10:19 p.m. CST
by gooseud
Everybody actually loves change and evolution....as long as it doesnt suck. WW and Supes suck. Hence they get ripped. Morrison's Batman and Robin, on the other hand, couldnt be more different from the status quo, and gets showered by fanboy love. Good comics=respeck.
Sept. 1, 2010, 11:58 p.m. CST
Goose is right!
by Joenathan
I haven't heard anyone bitching about Batman (except hating on Damien, the buttholes). Why? Because its good and interesting. <br><br>Superman as Kane isn't good or interesting, it's boring and shallow and it doesn't work, because it's a cheat. Superman is gifted with powers well beyond that of normal men and choosing to NOT use them means people die, plain and simple. That's not noble, it's selfish. The only possible redemption to this stupid storyline is if Superman gets majorly fucked up, if karma just kicks his ass for being so selfish and he realizes he can't pretend to be normal men, he's Superman, whether he likes it or not.<br><br>As for Wonder Woman... fighting to regain the amazons and her star spangled undies only serves to return her to square one, still completely recognizable, still a cardboard uninteresting character. She needs to be torn down internally and rebuilt, who gives a fuck about her fucking bodice... JMS = shit.
Sept. 2, 2010, 5:11 a.m. CST
Examples of evolution and change which lasted
by V'Shael
Or at least, in some of the cases, lasted a while before the publishers chickened out...<br /><p><br />Spidermans costume change / alien entity / Venom / Venom as antihero<br />The death of Odin<br />The destruction of the rainbow bridge to Asguard<br />Bucky becoming Captain America<br /><br />And that's it, I'm stuck. I can't for the life of me think of any more character evolutions in Marvel that weren't retconned after a short period. <br />
Sept. 2, 2010, 5:20 a.m. CST
but here is the thing....
by sonnyhooper
....the batman thing works because the concept of robin taking over for batman one day has been in place since the day dick grayson was introduced as a character. regardless if it was implied or graphic, it was a natural progressing that made sense because bruce wayne is a mortal man. <P> with wonder woman and superman it's a bit different because they are immortal gods, so "change" gets tricky. so you get a costume change for WW, but as i said the change in costume is symbolic, in that something changed in dianas past. basically the new star trek "altered universe" plan is in effect. so until we know what that change is, the hows and whys of what took place, how can we tell if it "sucks" or not? granted, i think the new costume is pretty horrible, and i also like the classic look better. but until we know JMS' end game how will we know if it's "real change" or a publicity stunt to get a "movie costume" out into the public domain? <p> and as for superman as kane, again, until we know the endgame i think it's pretty hard to judge. maybe "grounded" is building to something? it's only what? 2 or 3 issues in? again... granted, JMS might not have anything, he might just be blowing in the wind, but i think giving him the benefit of the doubt, or a minimum of 6 issues, before the "forrest gump" cheap shots get taken would be a more level headed course of action. <p> but thats just me. and i know, i know. it's not as funny. (i DO think the forrest el thing is funny) but i just think giving the story a LITTLE more room to breath before judging it so harshly might be in order.
Sept. 2, 2010, 5:23 a.m. CST
oh yeah BTW...
by sonnyhooper
..... if you don't think fans are bitching about dick grayson batman, and the concept behind BATMAN INC. just go check out the DC boards or anywhere else bat-fan-boys gather. there are plenty of "fans" who hate ANY kind of change. good, bad, or ugly.
Sept. 2, 2010, 6:46 a.m. CST
Sonny Supes
by optimous_douche
Personally, I'm not discounting the approach JMS is taking with Superman. You can read my review of issue 1 as indelible proof.<p> It's the execution though that is coming across as a big ass bucket of suck.<p> This thing is simply laden with pages upon pages of stereotype: both human and location based. (more issue 2 than one IMHO).<p> As a whole though, unless JMS gives Supes some kind of over-arching objective as he walks this story will be forgotten in no time flat. When there's a weak overarching theme in place it is up to each issue to leave an indelible impression. Still waiting…
Sept. 2, 2010, 7:01 a.m. CST
Secret Warriors #19:Last Ride of the Howling Commando's
by leo54304
Excellent issue in a great series. Its the type of war comic that doesn't pull any punches. In this book the characters are fully developed, good guys don't always win, combat is bloody and brutal.<br> <br> Its a well drawn and written. If you haven't tried this book yet, pick up #19. Won't be disappointed.
Sept. 2, 2010, 7:06 a.m. CST
JMS can no longer write
by Laserhead
Everybody seems to be more or less in agreement on this. By now, the guy has a couple standard tropes he injects into everything he writes, turning iconic characters into 'JMS characters', which are really, really boring. Maybe he had it once and age took it away, but he's entered the field of semi-senile hacks regurgitating their outdated 'takes' on the super-hero. Loeb should make some room for JMS's wheelchair at the Starin' Window.
Sept. 2, 2010, 7:07 a.m. CST
And getting John Cassaday to draw covers
by Laserhead
does not make a book good, or special. I'm looking at you Dynamite.
Sept. 2, 2010, 7:21 a.m. CST
Zatanna is a fun read
by leo54304
With Paul Dini doing the writing and art by Stephane Roux. <br> <br> Most recent issue has her in Vegas battling a new royal flush gang on flying cards. This time the Gang isn't the one we're used to. Oh no, this time they based themselves on the "Rat Pack" of Sinatra, Dino, Sammie and Shirley(?).
Sept. 2, 2010, 7:39 a.m. CST
Son of Hulks 1# is 3.99 but worth it
by leo54304
Between his "family" and company, Banner has become a player in the marvel universe.<br> <br> Just the development of the Black Panther over the past years has been fun to watch as he has changed from a secondary character to one who rivals Dr Doom in power, I look forward to what happens to Bruce and his family.
Sept. 2, 2010, 9:10 a.m. CST
George Perez's WW is Gospel
by jericho1368
And hot. And fun and intelligent to read. And no one draws Wonder Woman better than George Perez. In her panties too. And Mr. Perez gave her quite a few new outfits too. Ah, Mr. Perez we miss your WW.
Sept. 2, 2010, 9:36 a.m. CST
WW and change
by Hedgehog000
I still think JMS should have taken some of what he did to Princess Power in Supreme Power. Make WW a bit of a bitchy man-hating bad girl, sure eventually she has to reform some but it'd give some cool arcs in the meantime. <p> As for changes at Marvel that lasted, Captain Marvel stayed dead a long time. Gwen Stacy pretty much has stayed dead. Norman Osborn stayed dead for a long time but not long enough.
Sept. 2, 2010, 10:39 a.m. CST
WW and Marvel Changes
by Homer Sexual
I honestly don't know how anyone could read Rucka's Wonder Woman and not think she was a well-developed character. I feel he was the apex of Diana's career. If that creative team and direction didn't work, I doubt WW can ever be a popular book without totally changing her into a different character. <p> JMS seems to be a weak pastiche of the other top creator, William Meissner-Loebs, who also took her out of the suit and made Mike Deodato famous. <p> I didn't like Perez on Wonder Woman. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't all that. Diana wasn't strong enough and I actually dropped the book during this period (as I have now done with JMS). <p> I don't think there is a substantial audience interested in reading about a female heroine who is all about love, etc. Sorry to say. <p> Has there ever been a really popular series starring a solo female? I can think of numerous GOOD series starring women (She-Hulk, Manhunter, Birds of Prey,Daughters of the Dragon, I'd include Spider-Woman) but none that were big hits. <p> Marvel has had several big changes, most of which I despise, that have stuck: 1. Scarlet Witch is an insane killer (puke) who got rid of all the mutants (more puking). 2. Storm married Black Panther (don't get me started). 3. Wasp is dead and her ex-husband took her name (what-ever). <p> 4. Gwen Stacy died (that's a good one!). 5. Jean Grey died (awesome until they brought her back so lamely)
Sept. 2, 2010, 11:29 a.m. CST
by Poptard_JD
Yeah I read that Galactus 3 mini-series maxi-series...and i found it annoying then as well. Hopefully this is just a fad that Marvel will get over soon!
Sept. 2, 2010, 12:54 p.m. CST
by maxwell's hammer
On Secret Warriors: I totally agree. One of those closing panels of Nick Fury sitting alone and miserable hit an emotional note you don't usually get from that set of characters.<BR> <BR> On Hulk: I totally disagree. Greg Pak got me to read a bit of Hulk with the Planet Hulk story, but the exact second Jeph Loeb showed up, it all went to hell and I haven't touch a Hulk book since, and I don't feel I'm missing anything. Hulk may be a major player in his own books, but not so much in the rest of the MU.
Sept. 2, 2010, 2:44 p.m. CST
by sonnyhooper
..... please don't misunderstand me. i think you are, without a doubt, giving "grounded" your due diligence. i don't for a moment doubt your sincerity in how you feel about the story. it's everyone else piling on after the fact that i have my doubts about. <p> all i'm trying to do here with my devils advocating is raise the level of debate. for my part, i get a lot more out of these reviews when the @$$holes are in the talkback mixing it up and defending their reviews. <P> speaking of which, are you guys planning a "round table" or "round up" review of BRIGHTEST DAY anytime soon? because correct me if i'm wrong, but you guys haven't touched on it in a while, and some cool shit has gone down in that book imo.
Sept. 2, 2010, 3 p.m. CST
Way I look at Banners involvement in MU
by leo54304
Is he's now running gamma base, has his own corporation as well as a gamma powered family which makes him a new millenium Reed Richards. <br> <br> What I'm thinking is that the creative team on Hulk will follow the path on Black Panther which is to be involved in the MU. For the Panther it makes sense as he's the head of a nation. For Banner, the vibe I picked up was one who wasn't going be passive and let something like the Illuminati incident happen again so for survival purposes he needs to be involved in the MU. Just look at the scene with Steve Rogers on Gamma Base in Hulk #24 regarding what to do with Ross. He's trying to make Rogers an ally by offering him Red Hulks services. <br> <br> I really enjoyed what Pak did like everyone else and for Loeb he's hit or miss with me. Biggest selling point for me is the art on the Hulk which makes up for a lot of the shortcomings (but not all).
Sept. 2, 2010, 3:17 p.m. CST
by maxwell's hammer
But again, Hulk doesn't ever actually do anything that's important to any other books. Kid Omega being the major villain in a Grant Morrison X-Men story didn't make Kid Omega important in the MU. Hulk doing major things in Hulk's book doesn't make Hulk important to the MU. You can happily read lots of Marvel comics and be up on the direction of Marvel Comics and never read a single Hulk comic.
Sept. 2, 2010, 3:26 p.m. CST
by maxwell's hammer
...my arguement could also apply to most characters and franchises, so I guess I can go fuck myself. Steve Rogers is about the only guy who shows up everywhere and actually does things of importance these days. Wolverine and Spider-Man show up too, but they don't actually do anything but flap their jaws and look pretty.
Sept. 2, 2010, 4:19 p.m. CST
I understand your points maxwell, its my fault
by leo54304
in not explaining better. By being more involved in the MU, I should have stated Banner would not be in other titles or storylines as I might have inferred. But rather Banner being someone who keeps tabs on whats going on in the MU. After all, he has his satellites to monitor the world, could probally hack into most countries (and bad guys) computers, has Rick and Jennifer who are still on good relations with other supers for contacts. Thats all.
Sept. 2, 2010, 4:23 p.m. CST
And he wants to he can take action with that knowledge
by leo54304
Sept. 2, 2010, 9:48 p.m. CST
What's worse than bitching about Batman Inc?
by kungfuhustler84
How about bitching about the bitches bitching about Batman Inc.<p>What's worse than that?<p>How about the bitches bitching about the bitches bitching about the bitches bitching about Batman Inc.<p>I can't wait for issue one of Batman Inc.
Sept. 4, 2010, 5:19 a.m. CST
Anyone who calls Aquaman pathetic
by kungfuhustler84
must look inward, for Aquaman is in all of us.<p>My Aquaman is godlike, almost terrifying in his power. For a guy who's domain is over 70 percent of earth, he sure doesn't get much respect.


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Hello everyone. This is m0nkeymafia. The days of backofthenet are, unfortunately, behind us (for now). I have removed all content on the site thanks to some people abusing the power of botn to further their own gains. One day this site shall relaunch, until that day peace out, and much love.
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Heart Attack Grill Strikes Again, Another Customer Hospitalized
LAS VEGAS -- The Heart Attack Grill continues to live up to its name.
On Saturday, a customer collapsed at the restaurant which prides itself on serving calorie-laden artery cloggers.
In February, another patron was rushed from the restaurant by paramedics when he appeared to be having heart attack symptoms while eating a "Triple Bypass Burger."
But, owner John Basso tells the Los Angeles Times, his customers are getting exactly what they pay for.
"We attract an avant-garde clientele -- thrill seekers, risk takers," he says, adding that his restaurant is "bad for you but fun" and "attracts people who don't really take good care of their health."
"She was eating, drinking, smoking, laughing, dancing, having fun," Basso says of the latest casualty, who was rushed off by EMTs.
"But when you treat your body like that day in and day out, eventually your body is going to give out."
In the February incident, the unidentified man suddenly began complaining of chest pains, started sweating and stuttering his words, says Basso.
The restaurant plays up its "Taste Worth Dying For" slogan by dressing waitress and cooks like medical personnel.
So, at first fellow diners and staff thought the man was joking.
But, it quickly became clear he was in serious trouble.
Basso called an ambulance and paramedics were quickly on hand to treat the man.
The 6,000 calorie Triple Bypass Burger features 3 half-pound hamburger patties with buns dipped in lard, half of an onion cooked in lard, a whole tomato, 15 pieces of bacon, cheese, and special sauce.
Diners can also enjoy a side of fries cooked in pure lard and butterfat shakes.Copyright © 2014, The Morning Call


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In Anina Bennett, Paul Guinan Posted
Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett's HEARTBREAKERS Returns!
Even more SDCC news! Monkeybrain Comics are re-publishing Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett's groundbreaking '90s science fiction series Heartbreakers in digital format. The comic originally launched in the pages of Dark Horse Presents alongside such classics as Sin City and Concrete, and now joins the stellar Monkeybrain catalogue for an updated run. Click here to […]0Read More


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Semi Flush Lighting By Feiss
Enhance the ambiance of any room of the home with a Feiss Semi-Flush Lighting fixture. These lights are particularly great for rooms with low ceilings or in small dinner areas. These lights work well for contemporary or traditional settings. Each eye-catching ceiling fixture is a work of art that will provide soft and ambient lighting to homes.