08.06.04
Well, here we are again and I have to say, that I’m a little puzzled – not one email for the FREE comics mentioned last week (I did mention that they’re FREE right? I’ll pay for the shipping and everything).
Now, there are a few possibilities of what’s gone wrong: 1) No one’s reading (and I can understand that, my wife hasn’t even read one of these yet) and 2) No one wants the comics in question…
But, I doubt no one’s reading, so, this week, I’m keeping the option open on Ursula and Conversation #1, and adding a more mass-appeal book: Firebreather (details below).
Now, as for that review challenge?
Not a peep.
I guess Chris Allen’s too busy conversing with ADD to get his in… and others are still looking for the book. So, the challenge remains open.
And we’ll make it worth your while, promise.
No Lifespan next week, as I’m heading to the Nerd Homecoming Dance in Chicago next week.
Here's the stack as it stands today:
Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist #3 (various): This has been mostly inconsistent, although within this issue, there’s some stuff by Vaughan and Hornschemeier that should prove it out.
Marvel Boy TPB (Morrison/Jones): Never read it when originally published, so 4 years (!) later it’s all new to me.
Queen and County TPB’s (Rucka/various): Picked up Volumes 2, 3, and 4. I may have read some of these previously, but wanted to reacquaint myself with the series through the available collections.
Whiteout: Melt (Rucka/Lieber): Read the first series, don’t ever recall reading this one. Again, all new to me!
Powers: The Sellouts (Bendis/Oeming): Read the single issues, and this TPB will get a quick re-read.
Townscapes (Chrisitn/Bilal): More Heady Humanoids goodness thanks to the new DC deal.
The Tomb (Weir/DeFilippis/Mitten): No movement.
The Kid Firechief (Steven Weissman): No movement; started it, but couldn’t fin an immediate “in”.
The Horde (Baranko): No movement.
The Lizard of Oz (Bode): No real movement; started it, but couldn’t fin an immediate “in”.
Sebastian O (Morrison/Yeowell): No movement.
The Filth (Morrison/Weston): No movement.
The Last American (Grant/McMahon/Wagner): No movement.
Back Issue #5 (various): No movement.
The Ballad of Halo Jones Books One, Two and Three (Moore/Gibson): Mo movement.
Stranger Than Fiction (Chuck Palahniuk): No movement.
Exterminator 17 (Bilal/Dionnet)/Gods in Chaos (Bilal): No movement.
The Incal 1, 2 (Moebius/Jodorwsky): No movement. Didn’t find #3 at the show, either.
Found (Rothbart): No movement.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind 1,2,3,4, 5, 6 (Miyazaki): No movement.
Chronicles of Conan 2, 3,4 (Thomas/Windsor-Smith/Kane/Buscema): No movement.
Here's what's leaving the stack this week, and where it's going:
Carnet De Voyage (Thompson): Finished it, loved it. Heading to the shelf, after I give it to my wife to read (she liked Blankets).
Battle Royale #8 (Takami/Taguchi): I need a shower after this installment. Filthy, creepy and vile… which is not necessarily a bad thing.
This is heading to the basement, amid the stacks of stuff to get rid of, somehow... someday.
Same Difference And Other Stories (Derek Kirk Kim): Not sure about all the hype/praise. I think someone like Tomine works this vein much better. I’d check out future work from him though to see where he’s heading.
This is heading to the basement, amid the stacks of stuff to get rid of, somehow... someday.
The Technopriests 1 (Jodorowsky/Janietov/Beltran): Brought myself back up to speed through the first two-thirds, than ended with material I had not yet read. Great stuff, heading to the shelf next to my Metabarons and Metal Hurlant’s.
Eightball #22 (Clowes): Good stuff, but wish I’d known an expanded edition was coming down the road. If you got caught up in the sweep of Eightball #23, take a step back and check this out. Heading to the Clowes section of my bookshelf.
The Interman (Parker): Polished up for the big screen, this could be great. As a GN, I’m very interested in the business decisions that went into this, and pleased with the overall read. A little bumpy in patches, but a fine effort overall. Parker signed it to me and did a sketch which makes it a keeper…
End Times (Hiti): An impressive artistic debut (Hiti’s done previous work, but this seems to be the potential debut/break-out book for him), but at a proposed 10 volumes, I’m not sure I have the stamina. A worthy solo edition in any case; SEEK IT OUT!
White Death (Morrison/Adlard): Really liked it, but wish that Adlard had gone with a more traditional style as I had problems at the end figuring out who was who. The line-work of Walking Dead would have alleviated those issues.
This is heading to the basement, amid the stacks of stuff to get rid of, somehow... someday.
Wake the Dead (Niles/Chee): An updating of Frankenstein with inconsistent art and nothing new – except cliché -- added to the mix. Maybe I’m just more of a vampire guy, than a Frankenstein monster guy
This is heading to the basement, amid the stacks of stuff to get rid of, somehow... someday.
Tim Sale: Black and White (Sale): Beautiful presentation and a straight-forward conversation/commentary make this a nice addition the bookshelf. I never knew Tim had so many contrary opinions -- Good for him! After reading through this, I may even re-think Spider-Man: Blue, which was recently exiled to the basement stacks due to space/apathy. Daredevil and Hulk though? Not so much…
Here’s what popped on the list, then jumped right off due to being quickly read (I love stuff that fits this category):
Firebreather TPB (Hester/Kuhn): Interesting high-concept, and a well executed, good read. Not sure I’d ever follow this monthly though, and this TPB is an unnecessary addition to my collection, so, it’s yours!
EMAIL ME: (Joe Rybandt) BETWEEN NOW AND MONDAY, AUGUST 23 AND I’LL PICK A WINNER AT RANDOM AND SEND THIS OUT… FREE! (YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES, THOUGH!)
Ultimate Nightmare #1 (Ellis/Hairsine): All set-up. We’ll see what issue #2 introduces.
This is heading to the basement, amid the stacks of stuff to get rid of, somehow... someday.
X-Men: The End #1 (Claremont/Chen): Hoo-boy… The execution of previous “End” installments were near-perfect for what they were (Punisher and the Hulk) while this (and Wolverine: The End) are convoluted and mostly painful.
This is heading to the basement, amid the stacks of stuff to get rid of, somehow... someday.
Ultimate X-Men #50 (Vaughan/Kubert): Gambit has awful, permed hair. Are perms “ultimate” now?
This is heading to the basement, amid the stacks of stuff to get rid of, somehow... someday.
Ultimate Spider-Man #63 (Bendis/Bagley): Carnage kills Gwen Stacy, well, actually that happened last issue, this issue deals with that, and sets up the next issue: Spidey vs. Carnage! Carnage? Lame…
This is heading to the basement, amid the stacks of stuff to get rid of, somehow... someday.
Here's what needs to go on the stack, but then the stack would be perilously tall:
Lone Wolf and Cub (Koike/Kojima): I’m going to once again pack the first few for the plane ride to Chicago. We’ll see…
