Tuesday, September 30, 2014

X-Men: Storm

At some point, you may be tempted to delve into some '90's X-MEN books. DO NOT GIVE IN TO THAT TEMPTATION!!!!

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Vol. 1: Conquest

 I never picked up any of the Valiant books, and Gold Key was (Mainly....) before my time, so this is my first exposure to Turok...I have no idea if any of this jibes with what has gone before, or if this is a brand-new take on the character. I'm a new reader taking this all in with fresh eyes. Soooo.....

A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic, by Caseen Gaines

 This book is more fun than a glass of Ovaltine.

Friday, September 26, 2014

X-Men: The Asgardian Wars

Having read this book, I now remember why my teenaged-self dropped UNCANNY X-MEN around issue #200 or thereabouts.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

X-Men: Alpha Flight

 One of the great constants of my life as a comic-book reader has been that, no matter how many times I read them, I never get sick of the Claremont/Byrne X-MEN issues. Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it takes me back to a better, simpler time in my life, or maybe they're just that good....I've read their run dozens of times, and I continue to reread it whenever there's an upgrade in format or an interesting-looking collection issued. This was one such interesting-looking collection....

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Waiting For The Great Pumpkin, by Charles M. Schulz

 How jaded and horrible am I? I picked up this little hardcover sight unseen from In-Stock Trades expecting it to be a typical Fantagraphics book, which would offer historical context and behind-the-scenes tidbits relating the Charles M. Schulz's Great Pumpkin PEANUTS strips.

Monsters In The Movies: 100 Years of Cinematic Nightmares

 I'm a sucker for a monster movie. Good or bad, if they show a monster, I'm gonna check it out. So John Landis' MONSTERS IN THE MOVIES: 100 YEARS OF CINEMATIC NIGHTMARES was a no-brainer.

Superman/Wonder Woman, Volume 1: Power Couple

 One of the things that has driven me out of my gourd about DC's "New 52" has been the Superman/Wonder Woman romance. I'm an old fart, so I hate seeing Lois Lane relegated to BFF status. I was not expecting to like this book. Yet I did. Didn't love it, not sure I'd pay to read more, but this was a fun way to kill 90 minutes.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Corpse on the Imjin! and Other Stories By Harvey Kurtzman

 Fantagraphics continues to please comics historians and nostalgic nerds alike with their "Fantagraphics EC Library" collections, which spotlight one artist or writer per volume. As the title, CORPSE ON THE IMJIN! AND OTHER STORIES BY HARVEY KURTZMAN should inform you, this volume shines the spotlight on Harvey Kurtzman, particularly his stunning war stories from E.C.'s TWO-FISTED TALES and FRONTLINE COMBAT

Friday, September 5, 2014

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Earth 2, Volume 4: The Dark Age


WOW, talk about a reversal of fortune.....James Robinson leaves, Tom Taylor takes over, and not only does EARTH 2 become readable/enjoyable, it becomes FREAKIN' GREAT!!!

Earth 2, Volume 3: Battle Cry


The battle against Steppenwolf kicks into high gear, as Earth 2's "Wonders" take the battle to the isolated nation of Dherain....

Earth 2, Volume 2: The Tower of Fate


I didn't review EARTH 2, VOLUME 1: THE GATHERING because it was bad. I'm usually more inclined to review a book if it's great or awful......books that are just "Eh..." usually get a pass from me, because I can't be bothered to devote any more energy to mediocrity. THE GATHERING was a chore to get through, and it offended my old-man comic book sensibilities by making The JLA, who should be the grand old men of the superhero set, into much younger people. I want senior citizens, dammit!!


Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Kirby: King of Comics, by Mark Evanier

I picked this up from In Stock Trades a few months back when they had a sale, and wow, am I glad I did. I had been eyeing this book ever since it was released (In 2008), but never bit because of the high price. I'm glad that I grabbed a copy, and I'm glad that I put down the book I was reading on August 28th (Kirby's birthday!) and picked this up. What better way to honor and remember the man known as "The King" than by enjoying this lovingly written, beautifully illustrated book...?

Wonder Woman, Volume 5: Flesh

 The God (Goddess...?) of War marches on in WONDER WOMAN, VOLUME 5: FLESH, the latest collection of Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang's re imagining of the amazon princess.

Wonder Woman, Volume 4: War

 Brian Azzarello's WONDER WOMAN has been, hands-down, THE BEST of DC's "New 52". The latest collection, WONDER WOMAN, VOLUME 4: WAR is no exception.