Wednesday's Loot - 12 October 2005

A somewhat big week for me. Six whole floppies. Let's get to it then:

Villains United #6
Granted I'm not a continuity whore so I've missed out on some of this series but it is by far the best of the minis leading up to Infinite Crisis (although I've only read 3 of the 4 so Day of Vengeance isn’t in my judgment call here). I really like Gail Simone’s characterization and action packed plotlines. I think she could write a phone book and I’d enjoy it. This series should be given to anyone out there who needs to write a mini that leads up to a major event. It is just done with a panache that really works on a book solely about villains. There’s nobody to root for but you still root for them. I like how this series is really a veiled comment on current superhero comics – we’re cheering for the lesser of two evils really. Sure this is a blood soaked story but it feels much less like “shocking death of the month syndrome” than has been presented elsewhere. These are killers who are killing each other. It’s done in a pretty icky way but that’s what I’m sure we’re meant to feel instead of blasé about the whole ordeal. The revelations were all done well as was the conclusion. I like the revamps, ah heck, this was just a great story even if it was a bit too gory at times for my personal tastes.

I rate this story: Let the pleading for a regular series begin all over the internet now. C’mon, you all know it was coming and didn’t want chime up and agree in public.

GØDLAND #4
It seems I can only get the even numbered books of this series. What the fuck it up with that? I’m enjoying the series. I like the art. I like the characters. I like the séance Scioli must have performed to get infused with the spirit of Kirby. I really don’t want to wait for the trade on this series but I may have to if I can’t pick it up monthly. To me, this is what a monthly comic was, is and should be. Fun, directed at me, and mature in a weirdly old-fashioned arcing into a past that reminds me of the comics of my childhood kind of way. I don’t completely get why I like this series so much, but I do and I’ll buy it when I find it.

I rate this story: Pure fun.

Infinite Crisis #1
Admit it, you're not shocked to see this here are you?

At first I was interested then sort of weary but then I was excited when I realized it was coming out today. I don’t care if I’m supposed to hate this series and see the destruction of comics and our real world here – I like this book. I never read the original crisis (I may pick up the trade) and I was almost turned off of these cross-over things but my fears evaporated when I opened this up. I’m fine not knowing what’s going on from the start but I trust G. Johns to write a fine story and to bring his audience up to speed. I like the ending that leaves me going “Wwwhhhaaaa?” because I’m excited to see where this is going. This is like a love letter to the medium and to us as the readers. At worse it could have been awkward and embarrassing to read but what it shows is that even the creators are sharing in our concerns and are trying to get out of their own funk. I truly enjoyed this story when a few weeks ago I was hoping to, at best, just read it and not be disappointed. I’m glad I won’t be going into comics with that feeling anymore but time will tell I suppose. I think today was a good day to get some enjoyment, happiness and fun back in my life.

I rate this story: Blowing the stink off of the DCU.

JLA #120
The Crisis of Conscience was good and the fallout continues. That’s the Hollywood pitch for this issue. It’s sort of weird that I read JLA: Year One about a month ago and to see it come up left right and centre these days. On a side note for anyone who remembers they weren’t too nice to the original Blue Beetle in that series either so this crapping on Blue Beetles isn’t new if you want to be cynical. Do you feel like Batman needs to get a thesaurus or something? I do, he just can’t seem to find the words to explain himself these days. There’s a lot of undercurrents but I feel like I want to shred this book, put it on the stove and boil it down to a much more concentrated form. I want to shake it and get everyone to explain what the heck is going on because I can’t read emotions and undercurrents. On the other hand I’m happy to see Aquaman being heroic and a leader. Maybe all those years of more or less being ignored he will be the great white hope for heroes.

I rate this story: Abra-ca-blab-ra.

Also picked up Ex Machina #15 and The Goon 25 cent special. Never read The Goon before so I’m looking forward to it. I’m also thinking that trying to read these books and post comments during my lunch break isn’t the most conducive for reading, processing and writing. I’ll try to get more up here later.

Why haven't I bought a Marvel comic in like, forever? I really have nothing against them. I have no idea what's up with that. Weird.

Cheers.