(ed. note: I have no idea where Wil is or has been the past couple days, but I’m going to post anyway so that you don’t get too bored. if somebody sees him, please let me know. I don’t want to have to resort to a milk carton)

Ultimate Spider-man #74
Same authors and illustrators from before 

I’m sorry that I’m sticking to this Ultimate Spider-man book, but I really like it. If there’s any condolence, I have something completely new to talk about today. Aside from the seriousness of the plot (which it’s really good), there’s this one part where Mary Jane writes a note to Peter in class that says “Want to make out during lunch?” Note this, girls, because that’s a guy’s dream come true.

(more…)

Uncanny Origins #1: Cyclops
Writer: Ben Raab
Ink: Bill Anderson 

Maybe I should sent this book to Wil so he can learn a little bit of origin shiznit. Or maybe I shouldn’t because it’s so full of crappy ‘90 slang and colloquialisms. But regardless, I always enjoy reading “Origins” series; it’s fun to see different writers take on the same character. This was a take on Cyclops I had never seen before, but it was far outweighed by its ’90s cheesiness. 

(more…)

Writer/Illustrator: Mike Grell
Art Assistant: Brian Snoddy
Color Artist: Joe Chiodo
Color Seperator: Digital Chameleon
Lettering: Steve Haynie
Editor: Mike Gold

Today I read Shaman’s Tears. It’s kind of oddly about both a guy trying to figure out his half-breed status among his Lakota family as he’s both Irish and Lakota and the other part of the story deals with the government’s experimentation into DNA splicing which creates creatures that are neither human nor animal but rather a strange mix of the two.

(more…)

Ultimate Spider-man 73 (TPB #13)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Scott Hanna and JD Smith 

The Hobgoblin story continues as James Franco, I mean, Harry Osborn, finds out more about his past and his father. I like how the Ultimate series find ways to spin things up a bit. From Colossus being gay in X-men to how the Goblin in Spider-man is basically the Hulk. It keeps things fresh. I’ve also noticed that Ultimate Spider-man makes a conscious effort to relate to real life-ish. In this issue specifically it brings up the question of what if you found out your father was a mass-murdering mutated monster? Y’know, just like what could happen in real life.

(more…)

Hellblazer #3: Going For It
Writer: Jamie Delano
Penciler/Inker: John Ridgeway

A break from the usual hunger issues, John decides to snuff out the fart king.  Good ol’ Blathoxi, demonic Lord of Flatulence is the big guy up on the chopping block after he makes some bad decisions with soul trading. I didn’t realize there was a market for that, but then again what do I know about demonic economics. Having a title like that made me wonder about how best to insult a hellion to their face. (more…)

Fantastic Four #384
Writers: Tom DeFalco and Paul Ryan
Ink: Dan Bulanadi

Something often talked about in comics is the way they portray people in the drawings. Men are ridiculously buff. Women are ridiculously buff. Men are hunky. Women are sexy. It’s just the way it works. But while readers stare at these delicious bodies, they often miss out on the tiny details. I, however, am not so easily distracted. This is why when Sue Storm parades around with the Fantastic Four (or three for this issue — whatever) and instead of a black “four” being on her chest there is merely a cut-out of her shirt in the shape of a four, I start laughing. (more…)

Hellblazer #2: Feast of Friends
Writer: Jamie Delano
Penciler/Inker: John Ridgeway

Things are really picking up for this whole storyline, and just as I had hoped, things got darker. There is a strange satisfaction I get from seeing Constantine strap Lester into a chair and basically condemn him to death by brutal agony for the chance to save the city. After all, some people are heroic not for doing what should be done, but for doing what has to be done.  Another montage of people eating food, books, and themselves, reminded readers how horrible these hunger pangs could be. I endured a similar situation this weekend, it was gut wrenching.

I had never worked in any sort of food-related job before, and so perhaps I was a bit of a greenhorn going in. This weekend I had a temporary job helping prepare a crapton of food for an event. Now me and food are pretty tight, and most days I eat a lot, a meal every twoish hours.  Since I’ve been on that schedule for a while, not doing so makes me pretty damn irritable. Anyway I rush out the door Saturday morning with a bowl of cereal, which is also the first time I’ve ever eaten cereal while driving. It was an experience (and almost as cool as the time I drove all the way home only using my knees, but I digress). I was under the impression that I would be cooking for all of 2 to 3 hours. That was fine by me.

5 Hours of cooking copius amounts of pasta, chicken breasts, and side salads made me want to eat everything in sight. Of course I didn’t steal food, but the thought was always there. I held conversations with others via my stomach howling.  My one saving grace was we were allowed to eat any of the food not needed at the end of the shift. Which in this case was 3 chicken breasts, and about 3 pounds of pasta.  If I was Gary Lester, that was my shot of heroin.  The high did last a bit longer though, and a slightly cheaper fix. I would have shot up on marshmallows and brussle sprouts if they had them.

Also after going to see Dark Knight again, did anyone else really really want Joker to blow up the ferries? Just me? Ok.

Ultimate Spider-man TPB #13: Hobgoblin
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Mark Bagley 

Well, since Wil took on a trade, I figure I might as well too. Yes, yes, the original plan was to read a wonderful Virgin Comics comic (ha!), but I couldn’t resist.

Anyway, I picked up this trade because it was on sale, but I honestly haven’t read Ultimate Spider-man in any sort of order. Something I find funny about Spider-man trades is that I always have a knack for picking one up that starts with the whole radioactive spider story over the first few pages. NEVER do I get a good ol’ fashion in medias res.

(more…)

Hellblazer Original Sins #1: Hunger
Creators: Jamie Delano, John Ridgeway, Alfredo Alcala

And so my trade of Original Sins finally came in the mail yesterday. Now I’m back for posting duties full time. I saw no point in posting about nothing…so I didn’t. Anywho, this being my first collection comic, I was suprised to see how nice and thick it was, first time I’ve been truly excited to see whats up. Although the introduction was too boring and political so I skimmed the first and last lines, the reas was just to my liking. (more…)

(note: sorry about the lack of new release lists lately. I spent the past two weeks moving and have been kind of scatterbrained. But all is well — I’m in a new apartment and loving it, so I should be able to get back in the flow of things within the next few days, and new release lists will resume next week)

Troll: Once a Hero #1
Writer: Eldon Asp
Art: Gabe Alberola

This comic was awesome. I don’t know why, but I love 90s indie comics. I hate Marvel and DC comics from the same time period (they’re just really boring), but comics like this bring back my confidence in the past decades of comics.

Troll is a scruffy, short lil’ guy, but he surpasses badassery in so many ways. He almost coached a team to a World Series, he was once on Mount Rushmore (or was he!?), and he always wins at billiards. At least, that’s what I learned about him reading this comic, and I can tell you, those would be pretty satisfactory accomplishments if I could pull them off.  

His way of tongue is wonderfully natural. He speaks like a guy like him should speak and is a perfect example of mastering the writing of dialogue. (more…)