Brave New Worlds

WELCOME TO YET ANOTHER FRIDAY! If you had off yesterday for Veterans Day I hop you enjoyed it. As of now the weekend is just a few crappy hours of work away. Let me share a few links with you to help you get through those hours. Read the rest of this entry »

Avengers Children Crusade #3 (of 9)

Allan Heinberg (w) Jim Cheung, Mark Morales (a)

Simply the Best Hands down I really feel this is the best running title at Marvel right now. I cannot put my finger on exactly why, I just feel it in my bones (how’s that for a description?). Heinberg’s story coupled with Cheung’s pencils just makes for the perfect storm in storytelling. From the fast-paced story to the cliffhanger reveals, it makes me almost forget that this title comes out just once every two months. Sadness.

The Search Continues How many years has it been since Wanda Maximoff disappeared after the events of House of M? It’s been awhile hasn’t it? Now her kids are looking for her, along with Uncle Pietro, Grandpop Magneto and all of the crazy gang (that would be the Avengers and Young Avengers). Issue three picks up with Mags and Pietro discussing the fine art of deception and what to do next while the children try to respect their elders.

Forever What seemed like one of the longest diatribes to open an issue, ever, was actually really well down and quick to the point as Magneto gives newbies a quick history lesson on Victor Von Doom and a recap to what’s been happening while he and Quicksilver wax poetic about the potential of Doom’s involvement in all of this.

Meanwhile … While the Young Avengers and the Maximoff’s have their fun, we also get to see how the Avengers are attempting to handle things since Wiccan took off and left them holding Cap’s shield. It’s interesting to see how these events play out.

Only Negative Well, the worst part about this book is that it’s going to take a year for the final six issues to come out. At least we know each issue will leave us wanting more if the story continues to unfold at its current pace.

Amazing Spider-Man #648

Dan Slott (w) Humberto Ramos, Carlos Cuevos (a)

Brand New Day It is a brand new day in Amazing Spider-Man, but not “the” Brand New Day. Actually, it’s “Big Time” and this issue is the one that I was hoping for the past couple of years when Quesada decided to make the change to this book. It’s a perfect jumping on point for new readers, as well as a perfect jumping back-in point for disenchanted readers. I think this book will benefit creatively from the single voice of Slott, who has writing both characters (Spidey and Peter Parker) down to a “T.”

Conan Eat Your Heart Out While Conan O’Brien had his who’s who of guests on his first show on TBS, Slott packed in the stars as well as the book opens with the Avengers, plus appearances by the Fantastic Four, MJ, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Robbie Robertson, The Daily Bugle, the Sinister Six, Doc Ock plus he somehow found time to throw in a new character as well. Whew, I am tired just typing it all out.

Bringing the Fun Back We all know Slott knows the funny and it’s a good thing to because while Spider-Man has always been about real-life issues, the best stories were able to balance real life with the fun.  I don’t know about you, but the last couple years have been a little depressing. I guess that is what happens when you make a deal with the devil (Mephisto) that never actually took place (thanks for the retcon Quesada).

Honorable Mention It was hard not gushing completely over these books as well, but I still want to give them their due. I think I am finally becoming a disciple of Grant Morrison. I think his Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne was a work of genius, and really should have been titled Final Crisis Aftermath: Return of Bruce Wayne. It really closes the door on that entire story. The final issue is a little confusing at first, but if you stay with it, really pays off. Also, I am still loving Ultimate Comics Thor. Issue two this week dug deeper into the character mythos while juggling three different storylines. It’s been a really fun and strange trip reading this title.

There’s one comic I will sure as crap be reading tomorrow…and I’d bet you know which one it is.

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Newsarama posted a Batgirl #15 preview, the book comes out next week, which I fell in love with and I decided to share it with you, here, on our blog as well. Enjoy. (I made it one big page) Read the rest of this entry »

Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale

Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon (w) Chris Samnee (a)

Seeds Even though only 13 episodes plus a feature film were made, there was a lot of character development going on in the Firefly/Serenity world. That’s how Joss rolls Yo. One story thread he kept watering was the tale of Book, Serenity’s Shepherd. I figured that story to have been moot when the character met his demise in the movie. It did not.

Memento Just like the Christopher Nolan movie Memento, this story is told in reverse. It’s a unique but awesome way to tell this story. It makes you as the reader make decisions on the character’s true motives based on what you just read, only to have those inferences turned over once you turn the page and read the next panel. It’s awesome.

Hey, it’s the Mighty Avenger Guy! That’s right, that is the same artist from Thor: The Mighty Avenger on this book. Samnee’s style really compliments the grittiness of this tale. It’s a perfect compliment.

What Do We Learn? Well, if you are like me there were always a couple of lines that

stuck out about Book. Funny enough, it was always Jayne who was bringing it up, his past that is. There is the episode where the Alliance actually saves his life, which is really interesting now that we read one of the big reveals of this tale. There’s more, but I’d rather you go back and figure them out for yourself.

Is It For Anyone? I think so. I don’t think you need to know the character’s history to read this book. Obviously you will get a lot more out of the story if you have that rooting interest, but the brothers Whedon and Samnee tell a solid story nonetheless without all the back story. I would hope that if you were not a fan before, you would want to find out what all the hub-bub is about afterwards.

In Stock Now Release a week after the $19.99 Superman: Earth One, Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale is a bargain at $14.99. And possibly the best part besides another great Serenity story is that the purchase counts towards book club at Brave New Worlds. Check it out now at either one of our awesome locations.

It’s friday again, we change the clocks on Saturday night at 2am, I give you another NSFW video, which some people may not believe that I should be posting on the page (but i think it’s darn funny) and I pimp out a bunch of our friends and their stuff.

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Look at this?! How long has it been since I’ve done one of these? Who knows…let’s see what’s gonna have me reading tomorrow…

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Well it’s friday once again and it’s been a while since I have put together anything for a Friday Innernette type entry here the BNW site. So here ya go, some stuff to look at and get you thru the day.

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Thor by J Michael Straczysnki TP Volume 1

Michael Straczynski (w), Olivier Copiel, Mark Morales (a)

Slow Burn This is the best way I can describe Straczynski’s run on Thor, a slow burn. It just builds up each issue at a sweet pace that is not typical of the frenetic style of most cape books. It was a big departure of his storytelling on Spider-Man, and very similar to what he is doing now on Superman.

Read Nothing Else For those who are sick of getting tied into several books because of one issue, Thor remained self-contained under Straczynski, to his detriment actually as he left after only 17 issues because Marvel want some crossover action on the title. Marvel’s loss turns out to be DC, Superman and Wonder Woman’s gain.

“The” Thor Artist After living through and experiencing first hand Walt Simonson’s run and art on Thor in the 1980s, I never thought another artist could capture the true epicness of the title. Enter Copiel, whose style is a perfect compliment to Straczynski’s storytelling and to the God of Thunder himself.

Success I think one reason the book clicked for so many was because Straczynski’s run for the most part was grounded in reality, or Broxton, Oklahoma to be specific. Too many times a trip to Asgard can kill any connection you want from a reader.

Life Outside Oklahoma Even though Straczysnki did his best to keep the title self-contained, there were still issues (funny) to deal with. Like Iron Man bringing in Clor, which killing Bill Foster during the Civil War. Repercussions, which Straczysnki addressed masterfully. And the great thing about the issue, if you lived under a rock and did not read or know about Civil War, you could still enjoy the story. How awesome is that!

We Are Getting the Band Back Together No, this is not the Blues Brothers, but Thor and Donald Blake reuniting as Thor seeks to bring about the return of Asgard, and his fallen brothers and sisters. And what a fun ride it is.

Culture Moments I am sure if Thor really set down Asgard in the United States there would be some great moments on both sides of the fence. Since he is in Oklahoma, things are probably a little more simplified, like when the local police come to tell Thor he can’t build Asgard on the ground without permits and such. His response, classic.

What Am I Trying to Say? Well, I never really cared about Thor until this run. Now I am hooked and loving so many of the monthly offerings that features Marvel’s God of Thunder. This is the one that reignited and for many like me, ignited the spark that is Thor. This is the one to read.

Ultimate Spider-Man #15 Brian Michael Bendis (w) Sara Pichelli (a)

True Confession Okay, I will admit that when it comes to Bendis he can sort of do no wrong. I think he could sit down and write a story about him having the worst headache of all time and I would go all in. I would buy the t-shirt, eat the Doritos, drink the Kool-Aid. But that’s just it, he’s that good. That being said, this latest issue of Ultimate Spider-man just might be one of the best of the run he has ever written.

Real World, Marvel Universe I will admit once again that the title is a little juvenile, but I think that is one of the reasons that it is so fresh, because it is juvenile but not in a little kid sort of way, but in an old-school Marvel sort of way. Peter Parker is a teenager going to high school with real problems, and then super-heroes problems. This book, and this issue, exposes them all.

Repercussions A lot of times when you read a book or story arc, after it’s over, the repercussions are cosmetic. But by the end of the next issue or the one after that, everything is back to normal. One of the best solicits to sell books each month is to say this “issue changes everything.” Well, I think things are changing now in Ultimate Spider-Man, as there are some real repercussions from the Chameleon taking over his identity.

Ultimate Universe A lot of people were upset with Ultimatum. And I know at the end of the day the story might not have been the best, but I think it was necessary. Created to tell a modern and “different” marvel story, a lot of the characters resembled their regular universe counterparts. The reset has helped change all that.

Jump Right In I would actually recommend reading the previous story arc before picking this issue up, if you have not done so yet. I don’t think you will get the full effect of what happens in this issue, which has a lot going on in it, if you do not.

Fantastic Four #584 Jonathan Hickman (w) Steve Epting (a)

Just Fantastic Hickman’s run is so sublime, so well told, so entertaining that when it is done, I want more. And isn’t that the truest compliment to an artist, always leave them wanting more.

Cover Story I was admittedly a little nervous when I saw the cover to this issue that Hickman was doing a retread story, and in a way, I sort of feel like it is. Ben Grimm is Ben Grimm again. There are hitches however, which is good because we all know eventually he will change back. That’s just the way it is in the comics.

What’s Going On Well, while Aunt Petunia’s favorite blue-eyed nephew is back and enjoying life, there are a lot of other things occurring in the issue. Don’t forget, this story is part of the larger “Three” story in which one of the four die. And some of the seeds are laid as to who or what could happen.

Only Waits for One For as long as we all have known Namor, there is only one person he would ever wait for – Sue Richards. And of course, in this issue she has left the team to mediate an issue for Namor, who is forced to wait for her. Could this be the beginning of the end for her?

The Surfer Remember last time when the Silver Surfer discovered Galactus’ body? Well, someone needs to be answering some questions. And you will never believe who is asking the questions. Hickman really knows how to set these issues up so that you HAVE to come back for more next time.

And One More Thing There is a panel where Ben and Johnny are doing a bunch of stuff together, including dinner with old friends. Wait until you see who Epting drew in there. It had to be written in Hickman’s script. Either way, kudos gentlemen, kudos.