Virtual Adept

Just finished reading all my back issue Blue Beetle comics from #6 up through #27. This is a fantastic comic book. It’s got humor. It’s got action. It’s got a cool new superhero with cool new powers. It’s got teenage angst. Hot babes. And great cameos from other DC super heroes and villains.

The general gist of the story is that the old Blue Beetle, Ted Kord, had this ancient magical blue scarab, which he could never get to fully activate. After what happened to Kord during the Infinite Crisis, the scarab was somehow found by a Mexican-American teenager from El Paso named Jaime Reyes. The scarab somehow fused with Reyes and turns into Blue Beetle Armor with all kinds of cool super powers. Reyes still doesn’t know how it works, however, because the scarab talks to him in some weird language he can’t understand. But that doesn’t stop Reyes from getting drawn into the superhero world, especially when his home town of El Paso is threatened.

I highly recommend picking up the trades for this comic, if you like good superhero stories, especially “new superhero figuring out his powers” stories. I’d give this whole run a comics a solid 9/10. Well worth your time if you like superheros.

DARK HORSE COMICS
NOV070011    STAR WARS LEGACY #20     $2.99

DC COMICS
DEC070215    ACTION COMICS #862    $2.99
DEC070204    ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #9    $2.99
DEC070206    BATMAN #674    $2.99
DEC070223    BLUE BEETLE #24    $2.99
DEC070186    COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 9    $2.99
DEC070231    JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #13    $2.99
DEC070196    TEEN TITANS #56    $2.99
DEC070263    TEEN TITANS GO #52    $2.25
DEC078146    WORLD OF WARCRAFT #3 2ND PTG    $2.99

MARVEL COMICS
DEC072177    CAPTAIN AMERICA #35    $2.99
DEC072180    DAREDEVIL #105    $2.99
DEC072184    HOUSE OF M AVENGERS #5 (OF 5)    $2.99
DEC072202    MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #5 (OF 5)    $2.99
DEC078103    NEW EXILES #0 (PP #802)    $4.99
DEC072213    SHE-HULK 2 #26    $2.99
DEC072168    SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
OCT072128    THOR #6    $2.99
DEC072208    THUNDERBOLTS INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT    $2.99
DEC072162    ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #51    $2.99
DEC072165    ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #119    $2.99
DEC072188    WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH DAMAGE CONTROL #2 (OF 3)    $2.99
DEC072227    X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #9    $2.99
DEC072220    X-MEN LEGACY #208 DWS    $2.99
DEC072207    YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #2 (OF 6)    $2.99

INDIE COMICS
NOV073614    DOCTOR WHO #1    $3.99
NOV073473    HIGHLANDER WAY O/T SWORD #3    $3.50
NOV073448    PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #1 (OF 6)    $3.50
DEC073717    SILENT HILL SINNERS REWARD #1    $3.99
DEC073730    STAR TREK ALIENS SPOTLIGHT ROMULANS    $3.99

Witchblade TPB vol 1 (2008) - This is a misnamed trade paperback, sort of. First of all, this isn’t the first Witchblade trade paperback that was published. This is actually from Witchblade issues 81-87 ish (don’t have the book in front of me right now but that’s close). However, this is actually a really good jumping on point for anyone thinking about trying Witchblade and/or The Darkness comics after the renewed popularity of these Top Cow Comics series thanks to the video game last year based on The Darkness. Which, not coincidentally, since I’m a gamer, is how I came to discover the series. Witchblade is the story about Sara Pazini, who is the bearer of the Witchblade, an ancient artifact whose purpose in the universe is to insure that there is Balance between Good and Evil (Heaven and Hell, lets say, since “good” and “evil” are not so clearly defined in Top Cow’s universe). This trade paperback is a good intro into the series because it introduces a new cop-friend for Sara who gets to learn about the Witchblade and Sara’s place in this cosmic war, and so as a new reader you get to go along for the ride learning too. It’s pretty obvious that Sara has a previous history, but it isn’t too relevant to what is going on in this particular story. The artwork in this trade is superb, very sexily drawn with a really unique style and crisp lines and colors. I really couldn’t ask for more in terms of artwork. The writing is also excellent, with a plot that moves quickly splattered with lots of action and cool scenes, plus enough character discovery to learn about who everyone in the book is without feeling like you’re lost. I highly recommend this trade paperback as a great jumping on point for a really unique and cool comic book series. 8.5/10

DARK HORSE COMICS

DEC070045 CONAN #49 (MR) $2.99
SEP070094 STAR WARS DARK TIMES #9 $2.99

DC COMICS

DEC070194 BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #4 $2.99
NOV070191 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #13 $2.99
DEC070210 CATWOMAN #76 $2.99
DEC070227 CHECKMATE #23 $2.99
DEC070185 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 10 $2.99
DEC070230 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #18 $2.99
DEC070208 ROBIN #171 $2.99
DEC070218 SUPERMAN BATMAN #46 $2.99
DEC070220 SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #12 $2.99
DEC070288 WORLD OF WARCRAFT #4 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

SEP072031 MADAME MIRAGE #5 $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

NOV072130 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #551 BND $2.99
DEC072173 AVENGERS CLASSIC #9 $2.99
DEC072228 CABLE DEADPOOL #50 $3.99
DEC072187 HULK #2 $2.99
DEC072185 IMMORTAL IRON FIST ORSON RANDALL GREEN MIST DEATH $3.99
DEC072186 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #114 $2.99
DEC072190 IRON MAN #26 $2.99
DEC072205 MIGHTY AVENGERS #9 $2.99
DEC072210 ORDER #8 $2.99
OCT072123 RUNAWAYS #29 $2.99
DEC072163 ULTIMATE HUMAN #2 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC072166 ULTIMATE X-MEN #91 $2.99
DEC072167 ULTIMATES 3 #3 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV078138 ULTIMATES 3 #3 (OF 5) CHO VAR (PP #799) $2.99
DEC072226 WOLVERINE ORIGINS #22 $2.99
DEC072189 WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH WARBOUND #3 (OF 5) $2.99

INDIE COMICS

DEC073719 ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #4 $3.99
DEC073441 BLACK SUMMER AUXILIARY #3 (OF 7) (MR) $2.99
DEC073373 PIRATES VS NINJAS II UP THE ANTE #8 (OF $3.50
NOV073455 RED SONJA #30 $2.99
DEC073535 ZORRO #1 $3.50

DARK HORSE COMICS  
  
DEC070024 BPRD 1946 #2 (OF 5) $2.99
  
DC COMICS  
  
DEC070197 BOOSTER GOLD #0 $2.99
DEC070184 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 11 $2.99
DEC070192 GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #5 (OF 9) $2.99
DEC070198 GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #5 $2.99
DEC070229 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #21 $2.99
DEC070217 SUPERMAN #673 $2.99
DEC070242 WONDER WOMAN #17 $2.99
  
MARVEL COMICS  
  
NOV072129 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #550 BND $2.99
DEC072181 FANTASTIC FOUR #554 $2.99
DEC072201 MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #6 $3.99
DEC072206 NEW AVENGERS #38 SII $2.99
DEC072229 NEW EXILES #2 $2.99
DEC072209 NOVA ANNUAL #1 $3.99
DEC072232 PUNISHER FORCE OF NATURE (MR) $4.99
DEC072212 PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #16 $2.99
DEC072169 SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #7 $4.99
DEC072164 ULTIMATE IRON MAN II #3 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC072225 WOLVERINE #62 DWS $2.99
DEC072224 X-FACTOR #28 DWS $2.99
DEC072221 X-FORCE #1 DWS $2.99
  
INDIE COMICS  
  
DEC073733 ST TNG INTELLIGENCE GATHERING #2 (OF 5) $3.99
  
  
  
 Cover Price: $72.78

Well folks, I have now read issue #546 of Amazing Spider-Man, the new now thrice monthly comic featuring our (well, my) favorite web-slinging super-hero. This starts off the Brand New Day story arc. Effectively, Spider-Man has been given a complete re-boot. We’re back to a younger, freer, single Peter Parker now. But, of course, he’s still got problems. One of which is, a lack of a job and no money. Bumming at his old Aunt May’s again, Spider-Man’s life is now filled with familiar old friends. Friends like… Harry Osborne?!  Well okay, so we really have no good explanation how all of this really came about (except for the end of One More Day, but even then the explanation isn’t exactly detailed or satisfying), but I’m willing to take it on faith that more explanation will be forthcoming. And who is the mysterious new red-headed Super Heroine, Jackpot? (yeah, that’s sarcasm, if you follow ASM you’d have to be an idiot not to know who).
All in all, #546 really kicks off the new and “improved” Spider-Man with a bang. Great writing, awesome art, and some really cool backup stories. So basically, I highly recommend this issue, especially for anyone looking for a good jumping on point for reading Spider-Man.  You can even read the first few pages of the issue over at the MySpace Comic Books site, with their One More Day Preview feature.

There is a very interesting article from the comic book retailers perspective about the One More Day and Brand New Day arcs in Amazing Spider-Man and sales projections for this title for the near future. If you liked my article about OMD, you may want to read the one on Newsarama too.

Decided to do this slightly different. I am now taking the comics I get at the comic shop that week and putting into a spreadsheet so I can analyze is some. This is mostly possible because of the Diamond “In Stores This Week” list. I make my list and take it to the shop so I know for sure which books to pick up and the total. So, hope you like tables.

DARK HORSE
NOV070013         BPRD 1946 #1                                $2.99
OCT070065         STAR WARS LEGACY #0 1/2 ONE SHOT            $2.99
DC COMICS
NOV070165         COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 16                $2.99
NOV070179         GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #4                 $2.99
NOV070207         GREEN LANTERN CORPS #20                     $2.99
NOV070190         NIGHTWING #140                              $2.99
NOV070196         SUPERMAN #672                               $2.99
NOV070170         TEEN TITANS THE LOST ANNUAL                 $4.99
MARVEL COMICS
OCT072076         AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #546 BND                 $3.99
NOV072150         HULK #1                                     $2.99
SEP072215         MIGHTY AVENGERS #7 SII                      $2.99
NOV072169         NOVA #10                                    $2.99
NOV072172         PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #15                    $2.99
NOV072177         TWELVE #1 (OF 12)                           $2.99
NOV072187         WOLVERINE #61                               $2.99
NOV072181         X-FACTOR #27 MC                             $2.99
INDIE COMICS
NOV073462         SWORD OF RED SONJA DOOM O/T GODS #4         $3.50
SEP070078         BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS VOL 3     $24.99

Total List $79.33

The internets are ablaze with Nerd Rage over the latest issue #545 of Amazing Spider-Man, Part 4 of the 4-issue “One More Day” story arc. On comic sites around the web it seems that a solid majority of the fans hate this latest development, or at the very least, don’t like how it was executed. This post is going to be spoilerific as I address what I think went wrong with this issue. If you have not read this story and want to read it without any preconceived notions, stop reading now.

Hello?

Are you still here?

Okay, well for those of you still here, here is what I think. First of all, I liked Peter Parker and MJ being married. I liked it because it aged the character a little bit and gave him some grown up responsibilities and also someone with whom he could truly share his feelings and his life with, even his Spider-Man life. I know that the marriage was essentially a rushed job that was passed down mandate from editorial, but we now have a huge history of a married Spider-Man and it just fits so well with the character. So really, I am against this arc from the get-go because I disagree with Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada at Marvel when he says that this is better for the character.

But, I am willing to still read it and see what happens. Maybe it will be better. Who knows. The art of the book was excellent, Joe Quesada’s pencils were great and showed real emotion for the characters. The dialog is also really good between Peter and MJ in their last hours together. But I had a real problem with the plot.
What I really have a problem with is how they get rid of the marriage. In part 3 we learned about the machinations of Mephisto, who is essentially Marvel’s “devil” character, always making deals with mortals which they invariably end up regretting. Peter has encountered Mephisto before and he knows that the creature is evil and untrustworthy. So now then, why the hell is Peter Parker making deals with the devil?! Joe Quesada claims in a recent interview at CBR that he didn’t want to just give MJ and Peter a divorce because it would look bad for all the kids. What?! So Marvel is essentially saying “Divorce, that’s bad, kids, but going to Satan to solve your problems, well that’s A-OKAY!” Peter should already know this is going to turn out very badly for him, because any deal with Mephisto always turns out bad! This is totally out of character for Peter and even MJ.

A lot of other fans are annoyed because they believe (perhaps erroneously according to Joe Q) that this issue wipes out 20 years of Spider-Man history. I personally don’t think that it does and even if it wipes out some things, I can live with that as long as the stories are good and keep being good.
Anyway, overall I am still a fan of Spider-Man and will still be buying Amazing Spider-Man in the near future. A lot of fans claim they are dropping the book. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV070019 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #10 $2.99
SEP070095 STAR WARS LEGACY #18 $2.99

DC COMICS

NOV070164 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 17 $2.99
NOV070188 DETECTIVE COMICS #840 $2.99
NOV070169 TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #1 (OF 6) $2.99

MARVEL COMICS

JUL072208 ANITA BLAKE VH GUILTY PLEASURES #7 (OF 12) $2.99
NOV072135 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #3 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV072192 EXILES DAYS OF THEN & NOW $3.99
NOV072163 MOON KNIGHT #14 $2.99
NOV072164 MS MARVEL #23 $2.99
AUG072257 THUNDERBOLTS #118 $2.99
NOV072119 ULTIMATE HUMAN #1 (OF 4) $2.99
NOV072179 UNCANNY X-MEN #494 MC $2.99

INDIE COMICS

OCT073244 PIRATES VS NINJAS II UP THE ANTE #6 (OF $3.50
Pretty light week. Also picked up Gravel #0 while I was in there.