Tag: larry’s pick of the week

It’s Pick of the Week Time! Battle of the Atom Rages

Oct. 23 Comics, News no comments

Wolverine and the X-Men #37 have walked away with my Pick of the Week this week. I have to say that it was a hard week to win as there are great issues out this week from Justice League Dark, Rat Queens, and I was impressed with the possibilities of Velvet. The Battle of the Atom rages on and Marvel continues to strive with this great crossover.

STK621293Non-Traditional Pick of the Week

If you have been reading the Battle of the Atom, rest assured that Wolverine and the X-Men #37 has delivered strong product just like the other chapters in the crossover. Instead of vaguely discussing the issue, I want to take a moment to explain why I am so happy with the Battle of the Atom series.

Discussing the Battle of the Atom

Yesterday, I found myself discussing the Battle of the Atom crossover with a friend who has been collecting for longer than I have. We both agreed that this crossover is not traditional as it is limited to four titles, an added book (Battle of the Atom #1 and #2). Think about crossovers we have had in recent years such as Civil War, and Fear Itself which have crossed dozens of titles and multiple issues of each. Seeing the compact size of this crossover makes me hope publishers take note and stop the overwhelming crossovers which cost hundreds of dollars to read.

Time

The Battle of the Atom has been crunched into a few short months. How many crossovers last four months or more? Give me a strong story and develop it as quickly as possible without dragging it on. Keep my attention without giving me the chance to lose interest.

Wolverine and the X-Men #37 was not the overall best chapter of the Battle of the Atom crossover, but it makes me hungry for the next chapter. It was also strong enough of a story to pass the others on my reading list this week.

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Uncanny X-Men #13 is My Pick of the Week!

Oct. 16 Comics, News no comments

Uncanny X-Men #13 was impressive this week and was one of the best chapters in the Battle of the Atom crossover. There was so much crunched into the comic, I am sure it will make some reader’s heads spin. It has to snatch my Pick of the Week.

Uncanny X-Men #13

Uncanny X-Men #13

The First Challenge

The first challenge of Uncanny X-Men #13 was to take five separate X-Men factions and merge them into one story. We have two modern X-Men factions, two factions from the future, and one from the past. Granted, the number of factions continues to slowly grow, but Bendis had to make sure to cover each one in this issue and refer to their separate goals and characteristics.

The Second Challenge

The second challenge of Uncanny X-Men #13 was that it had to tie in all of the chapters happening so far. While there have been title crossovers to this point in the Battle of the Atom series, they still held independence. All New X-Men was going in one direction while X-Men was going in a slightly different direction while Wolverine and the X-Men was going in another slight. Uncanny X-Men #13 was used to tie all of these directions together to lead up to the final two chapters in Wolverine & The X-Men #37 and X-Men: Battle of the Atom #2. My guess is that there will not be any tangent directions from here on out in the story.

The Result?

The result is a head-spinning run through the story where you have to pay close attention to everything being said and everything in the pictures. The story curves presented in Uncanny X-Men #13 could have been told over three or four issues, but was edited down to fit into one. You might have to read it twice to make sure you got everything the first time around. While this (story crunching) is a dangerous move in comics, I think Bendis pulled it off with flying colors.

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Afterlife with Archie #1 is My Pick of the Week!

Oct. 09 Comics, News no comments

This is an odd week for my Pick of the Week, because I have to give the weekly mention to Afterlife with Archie #1. There was one title which I read this week which I had to disqualify, some titles which I was disappointed with, and another which appears to be ramping up, but it was not strong enough this week to give the win to. When all was said and done, Afterlife with Archie #1 was the qualified title I enjoyed reading the most this week.

Afterlife with Archie #1 is my Pick of the Week!

Afterlife with Archie #1 is my Pick of the Week!

The Oddities of the Week

I would have loved to give my Pick of the Week to Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #12, but many stores received the title last week. It was part of the shipping issue which also impacted the second printing of Catwoman #23 and the new issue of Stormwatch. Since the issue was a week old for many stores, I had to disqualify it from this week even though it has a solid story and was enjoyable to read.

Constantine appears to be on the verge of a great arc. He has lost all of the trinkets he has collected and is about to go toe-to-toe with an group of magi which would be deadly on their own, but are even more powerful with the items they stole from him. The first issue of the arc, though, appeared to be lacking. Of course, the character is crushed, but his redemption is sure to bring him back into the Pick of the Week contention – as long as the creators get it right.

Afterlife with Archie #1

I will be honest with you. It has been decades since I have read Archie on a regular basis. I have been awaiting this title, though, for months. I was able to make connections with the characters, since I remember them pretty well, and was able to be taken back to a simpler time through reminiscence.

Afterlife with Archie #1 allowed me to think back to how my Dad would always buy me a stack of comics before we went on a road trip. The stack would have copies of The X-Men, Batman, The New Mutants, and Archie. Of course, there was an occasional time when another title was tossed in, but these were the comics I read as a child on a regular basis. While reading Afterlife with Archie #1, I thought back to some of those trips and reading and rereading these comics in the back seat.

The first issue of the tale had a slow build, which is good for a horror story. The storytelling used much of the campy humor you remember from Archie as a kid, but the horror aspects were present and pushed through the camp into a surprisingly entertaining story. I am looking forward to checking out the next issue of Afterlife with Archie to see if the momentum can be kept.

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The Occultist #1 is My Pick of the Week!

Oct. 02 Comics, News no comments

During a good week of comics, The Occultist #1 has been chosen as my Pick of the Week! This is the type of week that keeps me going in the comic book industry. After some lackluster weeks in the past few months, it was nice to have a week where I had to think long and hard about which title should come out on top.

The Occultist #1 is my Pick of the Week!

The Occultist #1 is my Pick of the Week!

The Others

Fantomex MAX #1 was a great start to the mini which looks at an under-appreciated, and Lazarus #4 continued to remind me why the series is one of my favorites. All New X-Men #17 gave some great new twists on the Battle of the Atom series and has me looking forward to the next chapter. Detective Comics #24 and Batman Black & White were both strong. So many more I could mention (almost a dozen), but let’s get on with The Occultist #1.

Who is on The Occultist #1?

The series is the brainchild of Mike Richardson. Mike worked with Tim Seeley to write the series with art by Mike Norton. You know that something good is going to come of a series when the creators of Revival are involved. Don’t forget that you will have the chance to meet Tim Seeley in the opcoming weeks at Detroit Fanfare Comic Con!

The Story

One of the aspects that I really liked about The Occultist #1 was that the story started in the middle. We do not have a premiere issue with an origin story. We are thrown into the action in the opening scene and we are forced to figure things out as we go along. It is nice to see a premiere issue veer from the norm. I could tell you what happens in the story, but that would give away spoilers (which you know I am against).

The Main Character

Rob Bailey is the main character of the story. All we know for sure is that he can wield the power of an occult book called The Sword. This awkward college student was chosen by the book to control it. We don’t know exactly how he found the book, the limits of his powers, or what his powers actually are. These are mysteries to be left for other issues in the five-part series. I have been looking forward to The Occultist #1 for a few months and am happy I only have to wait a short time for The Occultist #2 to hit to have some of these questions answered.

In All Honesty

I have always had a soft spot for horror comics and comics dealing with sorcery. The Phantom Stranger, Doctor Strange, and Constantine are among my favorite characters. The Occultist could be likened to one of these characters if they had gained their powers in college before the occult realm tainted them and made them into darker characters. The twist automatically moved this title up the ladder before I even read it. Of course, the story and art moved it up the rest of the way.

Hooray for Dark Horse!

I have spoken for a long time about how Dark Horse has to make sure it can crawl out of the shadow of the Star Wars series and deal with the concern that the potential loss of the series to Marvel could hurt the #5 comics publisher. If Dark Horse can get strong series, it will not have a problem if it loses Star Wars. The Occultist #1 is another step in the right direction.

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Rat Queens #1 is My Pick of the Week!

Sep. 25 Comics, News no comments

Rat Queens #1 is my Pick of the Week due to the connections I made with the premiere issue. One of the most important aspects of the comic which becomes my Pick of the Week is connection. Rat Queens #1 connected with me on so many levels that it was easily the best issue this week for me.

What is Rat Queens #1?

The new title by Image is written by Kurtis J. Wiebe and illustrated by Roc Upchurch. It follows a band of four females in a fantasy world of monsters and magic. All four are crass and are ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Not only is this a fantasy story, it is a female strength story, and a comedy title.

Rat Queens #1 is my Pick of the Week!

Rat Queens #1 is my Pick of the Week!

Connections

Most of the regular readers here know that I have been in the gaming community for over 25 years. I grew up gaming, and took to collecting the old gaming books about 15 years ago. When a new fantasy title comes out in comic book form, I have to pick it up just to see if it takes me back to those old gaming sessions or reminds me of reading the fantasy stories I grew up with by writers like Tolkien, Lieber, and others.

The Old Reading

All I was thinking about while reading Rat Queens #1 was that the team could be compared to Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. The dark and often sexual humor reminded me of when I would sit on my bed and read the stories of the duo (back in my early and middle teens). This is the type of connections creator what to make. Of course, this won’t give the same results to everyone, but  this is my Pick of the Week and my emotional connections.

Strong Female Characters

This site has not been shy about our support of strong female characters and strong female character teams. I am happy to see another title enter the fray. If a creator wants to get my attention, create a story with a strong female character which is not over-sexualized. Rat Queens #1 displayed four female characters who were not over-sexualized and displayed strength.

Comedy in Comics

There are few writers in comics who can make me laugh out loud anymore. Sure, I might give a smile, a short “Hmph,” but that is about it. I found myself letting go of a few audible laughs while reading Rat Queens #1. Hopefully, the sharp and witty humor continues in future issues.

The Whole Package

For me, Rat Queens #1 gave the whole package this week. Great artwork and great writing are important, but not as important as making an emotional connection with characters and/or stories. This issue gave me everything I was looking for this week and even some loud laughs.

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Uncanny X-Men #12 is My Pick of the Week!

Sep. 18 Comics, News no comments

The Battle of the Atom continues with Chapter 4 in Uncanny X-Men #12, and I was leery about where the story would be going. Typically, the third or fourth chapter is when you start telling the true strength of a crossover event. Marvel did surprise me enough to make Uncanny X-Men #12 my Pick of the Week!

The Middle of a Crossover Event

The middle of a crossover event is typically the most difficult to write (in my opinion). Granted, I have never written one myself, but the middle is when the most challenges present themselves. Creators go into the vent knowing how it starts, and knowing how it is going to end. Typically, the events start out with something huge, have something huge at the end, and lul through a good portion of the middle. That is why I was worried about the middle of Battle of the Atom.

STK618850The Challenges of the Middle

In the middle of the crossover event, such as Battle of the Atom, you not only have to progress the main story, you have to introduce new subplots and address subplots which will running through the title before the crossover began. At the same time, you typically have to get away from some of the action and focus on the relationships between characters and discuss how the characters are feeling about what is going on. There is where many readers are lost because they want the action.

Uncanny X-Men #12

Battle of the Atom has been a fantastic crossover so well. I would go as far as to say that it is one of the top crossovers Marvel has had in years. Uncanny X-Men #12 did take a step back from the non-stop inundation of new ideas to focus on the emotions of the characters – but did not disappoint. The ending of the issue (remember that I hate spoilers), will have many X-Men fans talking today about what type of showdown will happen in the next installment. This is a fight which has been on many of our wishlists for a long time.

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Captain America #11 is My Pick of the Week!

Sep. 11 Comics, News no comments

Captain America #11 is my Pick of the Week for the second week of the September War! Sorry this Pick of the Week is a little late (about 11 hours late), but there were technical difficulties holding me off.

comics-captain-america-11-artworkA Person Out of Time

One of the major key aspects of Captain America is that he is a man out of time and that he cannot feel at home anywhere. This aspect stems from that fact that when he “woke up” in the modern day, he left behind almost everyone he ever knew or cared about.  This key aspect plays heavily in Captain America #11, and the issue delves deeper into his sense of long-loss than almost any other issue of Captain America I have ever read (and I have read hundreds of them).

The Beast of Burden

Captain America #11 also takes a look at how the character carries the memories with him, and is in constant struggle with trying to live in the present while holding onto the past. This is another key issue in the character and his burden separates him from most other characters on the market. Again, Captain America #11 displays this aspect of his character better than most stories Marvel has ever produced.

The Closing

I do not want to give the story away, but I have to make a comment about the last frames we see in the issue. While Captain America #11 might not ever be considered a key issue in the story of Captain America, there is something that happens in the last frames which shows the end of a long chapter in the character’s life. This might be one of those frames we look at down the road and consider it a watershed moment.

As a fan of Captain America, I would be remised if I did not make Captain America #11 my Pick of the Week since it is one of the best Ol’ Cap issues I have ever read.

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Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 Both Pick of the Week!

Aug. 21 Comics, News no comments

Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 are both Pick of the Week for me. Both stories were so strong in a similar way that it was hard to choose between the two. I tried flipping a coin, but my daughter ran into the room screaming “It hit the floor, it is mine,” and ran off with the quarter before I could see which way it landed.

Daredevil #30 and Batman and Nightwing #23 both made Pick of the Week!

Daredevil #30 and Batman and Nightwing #23 both made Pick of the Week!

Both are Team-Ups

Batman and Nightwing #23 obviously teams Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson (I will never get used to calling him Richard), but this issue could also have been entitled Batman and Alfred. I can’t go too much into that as it would give away parts of the story. On the flip, Daredevil #30 teams Daredevil and the Silver Surfer.

Both Contained Stories

Both issues are fairly contained stories. While both draw on elements from past issues in the series (in the case of the Batman title, it pulls from other Batman Family titles as well). Both could be considered as issues which could stand alone from the rest of their prospective runs as they both have a set beginning, middle, and end.

Contained Stories Rare

In today’s market, it is very difficult to find fully-contained stories. Many issues might have a beginning , but you have to wait until the next month for the middle and a few more months for the end of a story. Once arc storytelling took over, many comic book creators and publishers apparently forgot that you can tell a story in one issue. Both Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 were fresh air.

Would Have Purchased Both in Graphic Novel Form

Both Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 are tight stories which pack a ton of information into a limited number of printed pages. Both stories are strong enough, though, that they could have been expanded into their own graphic novels. This is a compliment to the writer of Batman and Nightwing #23, Peter J. Tomassi, and to the writers of Daredevil #30, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee. It is a very difficult task for a writer to create a story which leave you wanting more while satisfying you with what you received at the same time.

Both Have Had Pick of the Week Status

Both the Batman and Robin title and Daredevil have had Pick of the Week status in the past. This should tell you something. If you are not reading these titles, you should be.  Batman and Nightwing #23 and Daredevil #30 are perfect spots to check out these titles if you have not.

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Pick of the Week: The Week in Meh

Aug. 14 Comics, News no comments

I cannot sit here in good conscious and give you a Pick of the Week this week. It is not due to my coming back from vacation (remember that I had a Pick of the Week during my vacation). It is not because I am current disgruntled about the Villain Month allocation. It is because I found myself saying “Meh” after every comic from my pull was read.

DSCF1980Why the Meh?

This is a transitional month in comics. I have found August as being a bit of a downer month for the last few years because of the September War when the publishers try to do everything they can to pad their sales in September to take some of the attention away from how Image will be the talk of the town in October with the release of the new season of The Walking Dead. Each issue I read either tried too hard, lacked a reason to come back, or just fell short in the story.

This Transitional Month

Marvel is building up to X-Men: Battle of the Atom and DC Comics is building up to Villain Month and Forever Evil. Right now, the X-Men titles are all working towards telling the story leading up to the great battles they will have during the September War. DC Comics is trying to give some extra story to hold people over past the hiatus which most titles will be taking as we pass through Villain Month. Some comics will take more than a one month storyline hiatus as many DC Comics titles will have a Batman: Year One crossover after Villain Month.

On the Trinity War side, Justice League of America #7 was a bit of a downer because it was a middle issue where certain subplots had to be tied up and the story progressed with little action. This is typical for middle issues, but it was something I was hoping could have been handled better since the Trinity War was built up as a major battle series. Of course, what we have been promised in battles has not come to pass.

Other Shortcomings

The X-Files: Season 10, Constantine, Suicide Squad, Uncanny X-Men, and even Batman were also letdowns this week as publishers attempted to hold stories or transition between one series to the next.

The Shining Star

On a positive side, I finally got to try out Miss Fury #1 and found it intriguing. I will have to pick up some more of the issues to see how the story is going. While it was the best “new” comic I read this week, I could not name a Pick of the Week on a comic which is a few months old.

Hopefully, I can have a strong Pick of the Week next week. All I need is for the publishers to deliver. I know there are many other comics coming out this week, but they are not regulars for me. I have heard great things about Infinity, but, as you might know, I am not one for cosmic storytelling.

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Mark Waid’s Daredevil #29 is My Pick of the Week!

Jul. 31 Comics, News no comments

With many big issues coming out this week, Daredevil #29 is my Pick of the Week! Batman, Detective Comics, and Flash all have annuals, but paled in comparison. Series such as The Wake, Pandora, and Uncanny X-Men all come out this week, but fell short of what was needed for this week’s Pick of the Week. None could compare with the connection I had with Daredevil #29.

Daredevil #29 is my Pick of the Week!

Daredevil #29 is my Pick of the Week!

When Did Larry Start Reading Daredevil?

For weeks, Steve (from our Detroit area comic book store) has laid little hints and nudges here and there for me to give Daredevil a chance. Over and over again, I told him that I had never been able to connect with Daredevil. There was nothing wrong with the character; I just never had an interest in him. I never made a connection with Daredevil. The fact that Daredevil is being written my Mark Waid finally led me into picking up issue #28. Luckily for me, it appears to be the beginning of an arc.

Larry Likes Mark Waid?

This might come as a shock that I really like the work of one of the greatest proponents of digital comics. I have talked with Mark Waid a few times this year, and disagree with his stance on digital comics, but that does not take away from the fact that I respect his work, and I respect him as a person. I put aside my disagreement with him on this major comic book market topic because his body of work includes many of my favorite storylines. He is a down-to-Earth guy who wants the best for the comic book industry, readers, and collectors.

Sons of the Serpent

Some of you know that I was a big fan of the Defenders when I was a kid. One of the memorable storylines from that title was when they faced the Sons of the Serpent, the Aryan organization which had placed agents in all walks of life. As I got older, I sought out other comics in which the Son of the Serpent were used (The Avengers, Captain America, etc.). I have always liked how Marvel used an Aryan group as an enemy to teach that racism is wrong, but thought they fell short. The problem is that the creators never used them as the long-term menace the group could have become. The Sons of the Serpent would be declared as far-reaching and powerful and then gone in a few issues. The organization ended up not being as powerful as the creators originally suggested, and I felt this was a disservice to the readers who wanted their favorite superheroes to battle the most powerful of foes.

Back to Daredevil #29

If you read Daredevil #28, you know that the Sons of the Serpent are back. The come back in a big way in Daredevil #29, and the organization shows how it can infiltrate society. There is even a reference picture to the Defenders fighting the Sons of the Serpent from their first arc with them many years ago. In this issue we find Daredevil battling against the Sons of the Serpent, and find ourselves asking how powerful the organization really is, and wondering what struggles he will face in attempting to cut the serpent’s head off once and for all. Daredevil #28 and Daredevil #29 appears to be the start of the first Sons of the Serpent storyline in which the organization is shown as a powerful force to be reckoned with.

My Connection

Connecting with a comic is the most important factor in choosing my Pick of the Week. Maybe I connected with Daredevil #29 because of the Defenders reference which took me back to my youth. Maybe it was because it used an evil organization which I always believed Marvel creators came up short with. Either way, the issue kept me turning the pages with anticipation. As I read the last page, I found myself looking forward to the next issue. This is all due to Mark Waid’s writing and the ability he has which I just discovered. Daredevil #29 made me realize Mark Waid has the ability to get me to care about Daredevil for the first time in my three decades of reading comics.

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Justice League Dark #22 is My Pick of the Week!

Jul. 24 Comics, News, September War no comments

Justice League Dark #22 is easily my Pick of the Week as it makes me more interested in the Trinity War, and more interested in the characters in the other Justice League teams. There were many other strong offerings I have read for this week, but Justice League Dark #22 works as a great introduction to the team, and is an integral part of the Trinity War story.

Justice League Dark #22 is my Pick of the Week!

Justice League Dark #22 is my Pick of the Week!

Live by the Sword…

If you are a regular reader of this site, you know I do not like to give spoilers. The problem is that there is very little to talk about when it comes to Justice League Dark #22 without giving a spoiler. I can say that it is the first time all three of the Justice League teams are in the same place at the same time. There are a few members who are not part of this “meeting,” but you will learn why in the pages of the issue.

A Goal of the Trinity War

Of course, the Trinity War leads into Villain Month, Forever Evil, and the big DC Comics attacks during the September War, but there is a different goal to the crossover as well. The crew at DC Comics wants to introduce as many people as possible to the Dark Universe. That is way we have Pandora, the Phantom Stranger, The Question, and Justice League Dark playing such important roles in this story. Sure, the sales are padded right now during the Trinity War crossover, but the publisher hopes you will not just pick up Justice League Dark #22, but other issues as well. They want you to become interested in the Phantom Stranger, and Pandora. Of course, we will not know if this part of their plan worked for a few months.

An Interesting Panel in Justice League Dark #22

There is an interesting panel in Justice League Dark #22 that I am going to pick apart tomorrow. There was one particular instance which happened which has me scratching my head and reading into particular implications and statements. Since I don’t like to give spoilers, you will have to wait until tomorrow. Sorry.

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The X-Files: Season 10 #2 is My Pick of the Week!

Jul. 17 Comics, News no comments

The X-Files: Season 10 #2 is my Pick of the Week for treading down a dangerous path which could turn on or turn off fans of the long-running show. Breaking out of the status quo in the comic book industry comes with taking calculated risks. In The X-Files: Season 10 #2, IDW, Joe Harris, and Chris Carter take a risk which they hope will pay off in escalated sales.

The X-Files: Season 10 #2 is my Pick of the Week!

The X-Files: Season 10 #2 is my Pick of the Week!

Is The X-Files: Season 10 #2 Jumping the Shark?

A simple look at the cover of The X-Files: Season 10 #2 and next month’s #3 cover will show characters which we (fans of the show) thought were dead. The Lone Gunmen are on the cover of this issue, and we were led to believe they died giving their lives to protect the world from bioterrorist biological attack. The episode was entitled “Jump the Shark.” Sadly, I did not have to look this information up as it is locked in my brain.

As you probably know from Diamond Previews, the Cigarette Smoking Man is on the cover of issue #3. You know I don’t like spoilers, but there are a few frames which reveal a man smoking Morley cigarettes. CSM is also a character who is thought to be dead since the pueblo he was hiding in was blown up by a missile strike from a helicopter in the episode couplet entitled “The Truth,” which made up the last two episodes of the final season. Again, I did not need to look this information up. Sorry, I was always a big fan of the show and have seen each episode multiple times.

The Risk Being Taken

The Lone Gunmen and CSM are among the most popular characters on The X-Files. To call them iconic in geek culture would be an understatement. Many fans complained about their apparent deaths, and the way their apparent deaths were handled on the show. In fact, I have heard some of the harshest criticism about the series from fans when talking about these particular instances. By bringing these characters back in The X-Files: Season 10 #2, the old wounds are being reopened and an effort is being made to heal them at the same time.

Will it Work?

It will be interesting to see how the fans react to this poking and prodding of old wounds. I have to admit that I was very leery about ready this week’s issue, but I think the story was pulled off correctly. I look forward to the nostalgia of seeing the Lone Gunmen again in a form of entertainment, and hope this opens the door for them making it into a movie in the future (if another X-Files movie is ever made – hopefully the third one will be the good one).

By the Numbers

The X-Files: Season 10 #1 debuted in June at #94 on Diamond’s Top 100 list. This is very high for IDW which typically will show industry-topping numbers with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (#66 on the list last month), but that is it. Typical market drop-off will take The X-Files: Season 10 out of the Top 100 this month (not a handful of variants this month and people will often just purchase a #1 of a new series), but the risk could pay off in the next few months. If calculated risks are taken with the franchise, The X-Files: Season 10 #2 could be the start of a move upwards after the typical market drop-off.

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