September 2011
26 posts
8 tags
The New DC 52 Week Three, Part One
So, good for DC for not only getting some decent sales so far for the relaunches, but generating a bit of controversy as well, specifically with the sexual mores of Starfire and Catwoman in two books that debuted this week. I guess I might as well enter the fray before said fray is all over, so without further adieu…
Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 by Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort is, to be...
1 tag
How Much Are My Comics Worth?
“How much are my comics worth?” I’ve been writing about the artform and industry of comics for over a decade now, and this is one of the most frequent questions to come my way. On average, if you’re lucky, you’ll get about 12 cents from a dealer for any random comic book. That’s half of what they’ll charge when they throw it in their quarter bin. And...
2 tags
ADD Flashback: Please Don't Bend the Comics
My family lived in Florida in the 1970s, and in 1980, when I was about 14, we moved back to upstate New York from whence we came and where we belonged. Now, I had discovered all sorts of wonderful things between, say, 1978 and 1980: The Bud Plant Catalog, Cerebus, Star*Reach, The Comics Journal, hell, the very existence of comic book stores probably hit in there somewhere, in that formative...
5 tags
The New DC 52 Week Two, Part Three
I give DC credit: Never did I think I would be reviewing every one of these new #1s, but even when the books aren’t that good, I¢m still having fun writing about them. Note: I wrote in the last review that T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents was canceled before its time, but indeed, it¢s being relaunched. Sorry—hard to keep track of 52 new comics.
Resurrection Man #1 by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning and...
7 tags
DC 51 Week Three, Part One - Leave My Sex Kitten...
With Week Three of the new DCU I decided to once again stick with the random generator method: Week One was alphabetical by title and Week Two was alphabetical by writer. And now with Week Three I’ve allowed the mysterious and unfathomable UPC Code to be my shepherd – and what a cruel guide the code is turning out to be. It wasn’t until the sixth book that I finally got to a title that I had...
6 tags
DC 51 Week Two, Part Three - Not so Terrific or...
The last portion of the alphabetical writer tour of Week Two comes to its conclusion with some mild enthusiasm, a superhero the way he should be done and the end of a habit that’s lasted over 30 years.
Writer Scott Lobdell has three books coming out this month from the new DCU and he seems to have been given his own little corner to play in because he’s going to be responsible for the various...
10 tags
The New DC 51 - Frankie, Death and Red & Green
The alphabetical mystery tour continues with the writers of the new DCU acting as the guides for which book comes next on the reading list.
Deathstroke #1 has the return of the DC’s version of The Punisher. He’s still a grey-haired one-eyed mercenary who has enhanced strength, quick reflexes and a very bad attitude.
It’s a strange thing: after the tremendous darkness of Suicide Squad (which was...
9 tags
The New DC 52 Week Two, Part Two
As I tuck into the next steaming plate of DC reboots, I find myself sympathetic to the editors and writers in charge of this, let¢s be honest, pretty much impossible mandate to present a refreshed DC Universe that is accessible to new readers while honoring not just existing readers, but also servicing the numerous trademarks of characters a truly fresh relaunch would have made defunct.
Take...
7 tags
DC 51 Week Two - Bats, Demons and Suicide
As I head into Week Two of the new DCU I find myself asking the question: who would have thought the alphabet would be so cruel?
In Week One the A’s were kind enough to bring Action Comics and Animal Man but then it was a slog (with the surprising arrival of “O is for OMAC”) until I arrived at the alphabetical conclusion with Swamp Thing.
But I know that if I completely eliminate the structure I...
7 tags
The New DC 52 Week Two, Part One
So the first week of DC′s relaunch went pretty well, as Action Comics, Animal Man and Swamp Thing became three series I wasn’t reading that I now want to follow, and a couple more I′m on the fence about. Counting the prior week′s Justice League, which I will stick with a little longer, that isn’t bad at all.
So here we are in Week Two, and here are my first impressions of what I read on the first...
5 tags
The New DC 51 - Stupendous, Satisfying or Simply...
As Week Two hovers on the horizon, here’s the conclusion of the alphabetical tour of Week One. And it all wraps up with the letter ‘S’. Stupendous, satisfying or simply so-so? Week One ends here…
Static Shock #1 features the return of a character that I never read who was also the star of a cartoon I never watched. In other words it’s the first book I can sample as a new reader!
In a somewhat...
9 tags
The New DC 52 - Week One Scorecard
Looking at the late-August release of Justice League #1 as a kind of preseason game, how did the new season of DC Comics pan out for its first real week?
Action Comics was heavily favored, written by Grant Morrison, with art by the solid Rags Morales. It was okay but very restrained, as if Morrison was trying to hold back the usual torrent of ideas to see what the other kids brought, see if this...
6 tags
The New DC 51 - Five Comics, Only One Pony
After the huge disappointment of Detective Comics I felt as if I was in the middle of a cruel and disappointing joke: here I am desperately searching through a huge pile of manure because I know that there has got to be a pony in there somewhere.
It couldn’t get worse after Detective Comics, could it? Could it?? The alphabetical journey of Week One continues…
The aged, liberal-leaning, slightly...
7 tags
The New DC 51 - B is for a better Bat?
Continuing the alphabetical tour of Week One of the new DC, the next three books happen to be in the Dark Knight’s corner of the universe.
Batgirl #1 showcases the return of Barbara Gordon, now out of the wheelchair where she’s been since The Killing Joke, back in costume and ready to fight crime in Gotham City.
A small confession: I really don’t care who Batgirl is. I haven’t followed the...
6 tags
The New DC 51 - Action to Animal
So with the new 52 DC reboot/restart/re-imagining and with the joyful enthusiasm of “Hey it worked for Casino Royale and Batman Begins so it can work for us!!”, the big question became this…
What to buy, what to buy, what to buy? 52 re-launches with a bunch of new creators. What to buy?
Fortunately my local comic shop (the legendary and fabulous The Beguiling) was kind enough, like many shops,...
3 tags
IDW's Star Trek (Ongoing) #1
IDW is continuing the adventures of the young crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise introduced in director J.J. Abrams’s 2009 Star Trek film, and the first issue is just about everything I could have hoped for. I wrote about my lifelong appreciation for Star Trek a few days ago, on the 45th anniversary of the airing of the first episode of the original series. With that anniversary in mind,...
More ADD Auctions: Ditko Omnibus, Infinite Kung...
Just posted some more auctions on eBay, a chance for you to get some great graphic novels at less than half of cover price. Your bids help support our efforts here on TWC. Mention Trouble With Comics at Checkout and get FREE BONUS COMICS included with your order! Newly added titles include a set of The Steve Ditko Omnibus Vol. 1 and The Creeper by Steve Ditko, both in hardcover; Infinite Kung...
1 tag
Top Shelf's Massive $3 Sale!
Chris Staros of Top Shelf Productions has told me that the company is launching a massive $3.00 sale starting tomorrow. I’m jumping the gun to let you know early, because Top Shelf is one of my favourite publishers, and I think you’ll find a lot of great books at bargain prices. Note that Top Shelf is also an advertiser on this site, but I’d be telling you about this sale even if...
4 tags
Justice League #1 (2011)
Justice League #1 Writer – Geoff Johns Penciler – Jim Lee Inker – Scott Williams Publisher – DC Comics. $3.99 (print)/$4.99 (print/digital combo)
The New 52 starts here, with the flagship title. This is the one that’s the easiest sell: The biggest superheroes DC has, on a team, starting from scratch, as written and drawn by two of their best-loved talents. I am fairly certain there has not been a...
1 tag
Early Returns on Justice League #1
I frequent a message board that has many comic book readers, most of whom seem to be superhero fans. I polled them and got some interesting results about this week’s Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee.
Of the 65 people that have responded so far, three people say they liked the book.
58 say they are ambivalent, hated it, or “don’t give a shit.” Not a good sign...
