Order for Comics Shipping Primarily in February 2008

Trying to pull everything together before I lose the use of my right hand for a week or so; carpal tunnel surgery, but unlike with my left hand/arm, there is no separate ulnar nerve impairment, which means no cracking open of bones near my elbow and rearranging the placement of nerves. The stitches won't come out until December 26, but I'm hoping to have some use of my hand before then.

Anyway, here's the list. I thought it was a large month, but even before I edit this down, I'm way under budget, so much so that I'm going to try to backorder some comics, Proof and Sword, that I forgot to continue ordering after the first issues. Anything in red, I'm on the fence about ordering.

Previews, vol. XVIII #2
Abe Sapien The Drowning #1
BPRD 1946 #2
Buffy The Vampire Slayer #11
End League #2
Complete Green Lama Featuring Art of Mac Raboy
(Completely reading minds at DC, the reason they haven't collected any of the Quality super-hero comics, besides Plastic Man, or Fawcett super-hero comics, besides the Marvels, into Archives is because all of that work is in the public domain. Therefore, I assume that since DC cannot make a claim for absolute ownership, and thereby preventing others from reprinting the same public domain stories, DC reprints none of it as Archives, leaving the overpriced Men of Mystery as the only outlet for such work. With that in mind, Dark Horse should be congratulated for reprinting these Green Lama stories, especially since Green Lama will be appearing in Dynamic Forces Superpowers series out at the same time as this.)

Gotham Underground #5
Batman and the Outsiders #4
Batman #674
Detective Comics #841
Catwoman #76
Action Comics #862
Superman #673
Countdown To Final Crisis ##12-9
(I'll get around to why this is a better series than 52, but until then, screw all you haters, this is a good comic book.)

Countdown To Adventure #7
Countdown To Mystery #6
Countdown Lord Havok and the Extremists #5
Crime Bible The Five Lessons of Blood #5
Death of the New Gods #6
Salvation Run #4
Teen Titans Year One #2
Teen Titans #56
Booster Gold #0
Bat Lash #3
Infinity Inc #6
Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #6
All New Atom #20
Birds of Prey #115
Brave and the Bold #10
Green Lantern #28
Justice League of America #18
Justice Society of America #13
JLA Classified ##52-53
Metal Men #6
Legion of Super-Heroes #39
Spirit #15
Shadowpact #22
Wonder Woman #17
Showcase Presents Phantom Stranger, vol. 2
Will Eisner’s Spirit Archives, vol. 24
Tiny Titans #1
Batman Strikes #42
Justice League Unlimited #42
Teen Titans Go! #52
Legion of Super Heroes In the 31st Century #11
Astro City The Dark Age Special #2 Beautie
(Am I the only one who feels that Astro City is missing something in this permutation?)

Ex Machina #34
Jack of Fables #20
Fables #70
Perhapanauts Annual #1
Urban Monsters #1
True Story Swear To God Archives, vol. 1
(I hate having to re-buy things, but the final pre-Image issues were never traded, so I'm forced to buy this to get those. Oh, well, I've spent more on things far less.)

Dynamo 5 #12
Fearless #4
Godland #21
Jack Staff #14.
Pax Romana #4
Proof #5
Red Mass For Mars #3
Nearly Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus
(Buying two, one for me and one for my brother, It feels good to have one Christmas present off the list for next year.)

Savage Dragon #137
Shark-Man #2
Sword #5
Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1
Amazing Spider-Girl #17
Annihilation Conquest #4
Avengers Initiative #10
Black Panther Annual #1
Captain America #35
Daredevil #105
Fantastic Four #554
Immortal Iron Fist Orson Randall Green Mist Death
World War Hulk Aftersmash: Damage Control #2
Iron Man Power Pack #4
Ms Marvel #24
Mighty Avengers #9
New Avengers #38
Nova Annual #1
Order #8
She-Hulk 2 #26
Twelve #2
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #33
Marvel Adventures Hulk #8
Marvel Adventures Avengers #21
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #10
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #36
Essential Avengers, vol. 6
(The last Essential Avengers I should ever buy as it is the first that contains reprints of more comics that I own than that I don't.)

Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury #295
Bart Simpson Comics #40
Simpsons Comics #139
Superpowers #2
PS238 #30
Angel After the Fall #4
Abyss #3
Atomic Robo #5
Neozoic #3
Nexus #101
Comics Now #2
Marvel Defenders Minimates

Order for Comics Shipping Primarily in December 2007

This is basically what I'll be ordering, though I am on the fence regarding a few items, especially the Essential volumes since I can usually find those at a reasonable price at Wizard World Chicago. Those comics that I may wait on are in color.

Previews, vol. XVII #12
End League #1
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
Countdown Search for Ray Palmer Red Son #1
Countdown Ray Palmer Superwoman Batwoman #1
Captain Carrot and the Final Ark #3
Countdown Lord Havok and the Extremists #3
Salvation Run #2
Bat Lash #1
Crime Bible The Five Lessons of Blood #3
Death of the New Gods #4
Booster Gold #5
Infinity Inc #4
Metamorpho Year One ##5-6
52 Aftermath The Four Horsemen #5
Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #4
All New Atom #18
Birds of Prey #113
Brave and the Bold #9
Flash #235
Green Lantern #26
Justice Society of America #11
Justice League of America #16
JLA Classified #48
JSA Classified #33
Shadowpact #20
Legion of Super-Heroes #37
Teen Titans #54
Wonder Woman #15
Doom Patrol Archives , vol. 4
Showcase Presents Aquaman, vol. 2
Showcase Presents Robin, The Boy Wonder, vol. 1
Batman Strikes #40
Justice League Unlimited #40
Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century #9
Teen Titans Go! #50
Ex Machina #33
Fables #68
Jack of Fables #18
Cryptics #3
Next Issue Project #1
Dynamo 5 #10
Fearless #2
Madman Atomic Comics #7
PVP #39
Astonishing X-Men #24
X-Men First Class, vol. 2 #7
Ultimate Fantastic Four #49
Amazing Spider-Girl #15
Annihilation Conquest #2
Avengers Initiative #8
Black Panther #33
Captain America #33
Daredevil #103
Hulk vs. Fin Fang Foom One Shot
Immortal Iron Fist #12
Iron Man Power Pack #2
New Avengers #37
Ms Marvel #22
Nova #9
The Order #6
Twelve #0
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #31
Marvel Adventures Hulk #6
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #8
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #34
Marvel Adventures Avengers #19
Powers #29
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Human Torch, vol. 2
Essential Dr Strange, vol. 3
Essential Power Man and Iron Fist, vol. 1
Bart Simpson Comics #39
Simpsons Comics #137
Simpsons Super Spectacular #6
Superpowers #0
Jungle Girl #4
Drafted #4
Fist of Justice #1
Angel After the Fall #2
Maintenance #8
Abyss #2
Atomic Robo #3
Neozoic #2
Alter Ego #74
Deadly Beloved Ms Tree (Novel)

OML for September, Part 2

Category A (cont.)

Y, the Last Man #58
Is it wrong of me to be happy that this comic finally coming to the end of its story? I'd have to go look at the back issues to tell when it happened, but about two-and-a-half years ago the story started feeling padded to me. Not that there haven't been some nice moments and interesting reveals during that time, but I just kind of feel it could have gotten to the end sooner. Beyond that, those last few pages were a hell of a kick in the head and, for me, kind of disappointing. Especially in contrast with the book's cover.

Marvel Comics Presents #1
I'm not sure yet. The point of an anthology, I would think, is that there should be one feature that brings a person back to buy the book. For me, it would be the Hellcat story, and if it doesn't run past issue #3 I'll stick with it, but nothing else really excited me. Maybe I've so distanced myself from the Marvel Universe, ignoring huge chunks of characters and books for years, that the characters featured can't excite me. However, when you have a Spider-Man story, where he meets all the other Spider-Men (Spider-Mans?) from all the other dimensions and alternate realities, and it doesn't generate as much interest in me as any random issue of Marvel Team-Up from the 1980s, something is wrong somewhere.

Wonder Woman Annual #1
When all is said and done, Alan Heinberg's story was a lot about nothing, and that was emphasized by having the chronically late story finish not in the monthly title where is began, but in an annual because the monthly title had to move past waiting for whoever was late, Heinberg, the Dodsons, or both. The best part of the story was the conversation between Wonder Woman and Batman, but then, long before it became part of the character development on Justice League Unlimited, I've always thought the two should get together. I guess I might be more forgiving if, in the end, the story just wasn't so outdated by events currently happening in the DCU titles. However, I did like the back-up story, a Secret Files-like story that presented backstories for Diana Prince, Nemesis, and Sarge Steel, and it was written by Heinberg, too, with art by Gary Frank. The best part of this story, though, was the inclusion of Thunderbolt with the other Action Heroes for a panel. Harbinger that the character is part of the DCU again or mistake? I'd like it to be the former, but I'm pretty sure it is the latter.

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #6
In some small way, I almost wish that Joss Whedon had provided us a bible for the show's eighth season and let fans daydream about would might have been rather then seeing them produced in comic book form. Not that this is a bad series, but it is a comic book series and not a television series, so no matter what, it is always going to feel like a comic-book derived from a television series. I think what I'm trying to say is that if Buffy had started as a comic book, this would be a fantastic continuation, but as a continuation of a television show, it suffers for being a comic book.

Countdown to Mystery #1When the Eclipso back-up story is more interesting than the main story, something is wrong. Why I understand that Steve Gerber needed to include background on where Dr. Fate's helmet had been until showing up here, even without that material, I found the story a little confusing and kind of boring. Like I said, Eclipso fares better, though the background of the character is veering away from how I remember it and while the inclusion of Plastic Man is slightly interesting, would that the character was more like Jack Cole's version and not the "funny" version thrust upon us by Grant Morrison.

The Irredeemable Ant-Man #12
I know I'm supposed to be heartbroken that this canceled, but I'm kind of glad because it is a comic I don't have to buy anymore. It looks like Eric O'Grady could be maturing at story's end. We'll see if that continues into Avengers: The Initiative.

Supergirl #21
Liberty Comics #1

Sergio Aragone's Groo: 25th Anniversary Special
Maybe the best thing about Groo is that the Sergio and Mark Evanier don't feel a need to update the character for a decreasing, aging fan base. I've read Groo sporadically over the last twenty-five years, but I've always liked it, and, even though I didn't know who some of the characters were outside of Groo and his dog, I neither felt I had to go back and buy read all the back issues nor did I feel cheated because a what-has-happened previously page wasn't at the front. Yes, most of the supporting cast was re-introduced in "The Groo Alphabet" and Groo's early years were shown in "Groo for Sale," but those were back-up stories, properly read after the lead story.

Jungle Girl #1
I'm still enjoying the story, even with what feels like Frank Cho's greater participation. Thankfully, because of the inclusion of more unapologetic shots of Jungle Girl's chest and backside, Cho appears to be influencing the art more than the dialogue.

Batman and the Outsiders #50
I did not read an issue of this when Judd Winick was writing the title and I only picked up this issue because I needed to see if this was were the darkening of Batman (something I don't want) was going to start. Thankfully, Batman wasn't the jerk I've disliked prior to Morrison and Dini writing the character, and I didn't mind the comic so much, though the fingernail dropping passing as Metamorpho needs to get rid of Queequeg's facial tattoos.

OML Comments for August, Part 3

I was driving to work in the pre-dawn hours this morning when the thought crossed that next week is the last Wednesday of the month. Boy, September goes fast when you aren't in school. Anyway, the last Wednesday means that I'll be getting my DCBS shipment soon and I'm way behind on the comics for August. Add to that, the fact that Halo 3 ships next week and I'll be using less time to read comic books, so I decided to get my act together and post any thoughts on the last batch of books I've read. Again, I'm posting in the order read.

Category C (cont.)
Metal Men #1
Much to my surprise, I really liked this comic book. I admit that after living through the reworking of the DCU after Crisis on Infinite Earths, I am always a little scared as to the new presentation of favorite characters; hell, Mike Carlin's horribly conceived version of the Metal Men, you know the one, where Doc Magnus decided to become a robot, was six years distant from CoIE and Carlin still saw fit to screw with a good concept. Not Duncan Rouleau, the writer/artist, though. The man appears to understand the concept and is not embarrassed by it. I may have seen his art before, but it didn't make an impression on me, but it did here. When I saw the cover in Previews, my first thought was that the art had a Walt Simonson feel to it and I like that style of art. Add to it a little mystery involving alternate earths, I think, and you have a terrific first issue. I'm hearing murmurs that the next issue is just as good, so it is good to know the first issue isn't a fluke.

Action Comics #854
Kurt Busiek writes interesting Superman stories. I don't know if it is because of the subject matter, the continuation of the "Mr. Action" story started in Countdown, or he just is capable of writing Superman without having to lean on Clark and Lois to pad out a story, but I hope Busiek writes the character for a long while. I'd really like to see him get a chance to write done-in-one stories or two stories per issue ala the Weisinger era. Not all stories need to be multi-part and I think Busiek has the talent to write tight, good stories.

Teen Titans #50
Not bad, not good, just kind of there. The story jumped around, something not helped when there are multiple writers on a story. I enjoyed this comic when Geoff Johns was writing it, but I don't know if I'll be staying around much longer.

B.P.R.D. Killing Ground #1
Continued competent work from Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and Guy Davis. I actually like this comic more than Hellboy.

Welcome to Tranquility #9
Take Eureka, remove the scientists, replace them with retired super-heroes, and you have this comic. It is actually a lot better than my description, but I think it only works because of Gail Simone's writing. I don't think any other writer could write this comic and not turn it into a lampoon, so I'm hoping she writes for as long as it is published.

Shadowpact #16
I like the basic idea of Bill Willingham's story: Hell is using Blue Devil as its poster boy to entice more to sell their souls. I hope BD doesn't end up worse than when he started.

The All New Atom #14
Take Gail Simone, add the clean art of Mike Norton and you have another comic book that more people should be reading. My only question is if anyone else thinks the inker made Norton's art look more like second-rate Alan Davis rather then first-rate Mike Norton?

Ultimate Fantastic Four #45

Ms. Marvel #15
I like this title more than I should. It is just a shame that it takes place against the backdrop of the post-Civil War Marvel Universe.

Illuminati #4
The cover for this one is really a good example of bait and switch. I was hoping for a story where the wives/girlfriends of the Illuminati acted in their place. I have figured out what Bendis's greatest strength as a writer is, though. If Stan Lee was the champion of the illusion of change, Bendis's writing is based on the illusion of action. Boy, his characters really talk a lot.

Powers #25
And that talking/pacing is what helps make Powers a must-read comic. Speaking of not ending well, I don't see Deena's story having a happy ending. However, Christian got some in a two-page spread, in small panels. Am I the only one who thought that scene a homage to Howard Chaykin's work in the early issues of American Flagg!?

OML Comments for August, Part 1

Yes, I'm taking a page from Dr. Norge on the Raging Bullets podcast and breaking these down into parts. I'm thinking that there'll be three parts a month, but we'll see. For explanations of the categories, scroll up or go here.

Category A
Archie & Friends #112
Archie stories. That about sums it up. I started buying this last year when we found out that we were going to have a girl. At the time, the comic had stories featuring Archie, Josie and the Pussycats, and Katy Keene. I thought that line-up skewed toward little girls, so I bought it stockpile in preparation for the day when monthly comics disappear. However, the Josie stories disappeared and Katy hasn't has a story for a couple of months, so I can't think of a reason to keep ordering it. Even my daughter, now eight months old, acts bored when I read it to her.

Nihilist-Man and His Amazing Friends #1
I bought it because I saw E-Man on the cover in Previews. It wasn't a bad comic, just nothing special either. However, I liked it enough that I'd order it if a Nihilist-Man comic was regularly offered.

The Mice Templar #1
I just couldn't get into this and I'm really not sure why. I found the story a little difficult to follow and that difficulty wasn't precipitated by an inherently complex story. I think the problem is the art, primarily the coloring. I just had problems remembering which character was which and by the end of the comic, I didn't really care. I've seen sample uncolored pages of Mice Templar on Newsarama and the art looks much clearer than I remember the art being in the actual book. I'm wondering if the coloring muddled the art, making the characters resemble each other more than the artist intended. On the whole, I don't know if I care enough to continue ordering the title.

JSA Classified #29
I dropped JLA Classified earlier this year because I found the stories pointless; I got more out of any back-up story in a DC comic back in the 80s then I did out of the JLA book and, after some strong stories, JSA Classified is becoming just as dull. The problem, as I see it, is that JSA Classified focuses on individual members of the team, which gives the rotating writers an excuse to be WRITERS, more concerned about showing off their craft rather than delivering a story about which a reader can care. Both of these titles would be well served to have permanent writer/artist teams. The writer here, Arvid Nelson, is no worse than most of the others that preceded him presenting character development and insight with rather pointless action. At least Nelson isn't a faddish writer, substituting narrative captions for thought balloons, so that is something in his and the story's favor. The art, however, is not a style I like, the characters are heavily inked and they do not look natural, but, rather, as snapshots in a panel. Some might like that style, but not me--at least when Greg Land does it, his characters are traced with a clean line.

The Flash #231
Eh. Mark Waid writing Flash never excited me like it does the rest of fandom, but I'll admit that that is my problem. I'll always have an expectation of what I expect in a Flash comic book and focusing on human drama--or having Wally drone on about his and Linda's perfect love together--will never be as exciting to be as watching a Flash use super-speed tricks to get out of a fantastic Rouge deathtrap. There was none of that in this issue, but I'm still not excited about this comic. I ca say that I am not crazy about the kids aging so rapidly due to their exhilarated metabolisms because it just feels like a set-up for an inevitable tragedy, probably just in time for Final Crisis. However, the biggest problem with the book is Daniel Acuna's art. I want to see art, not a demonstration of digital inking. And could could someone please someone could please explain to me why it is now acceptable for artists to let colorists carry the primary art burden, I'd be appreciative. It was good news to learn that he'll be leaving the book soon. I might be able to give the book a better chance with a new artist.

Daredevil #99
I always think I'm going to drop this book, but then the story becomes semi-interesting enough to keep me going. Personally, I'm tired of the "Frank Miller-light" Daredevil that we've had for what feels to me like the last thirty years; there are other ways to write the character and I think it may be time for one of those ways to be explored. Even the art by the usually great Michael Lark is sub-par to me; in fact, I had forgotten he was even drawing the book until I checked the credits. Maybe it is time to partner Lark with a different inker so that his style isn't completely lost.

Wonder Woman #12
I'm just killing time until Gail Simone starts writing the book.

New Avengers #33 Yu & McCaig

The Irredeemable Ant-Man #11
I know I'm supposed to like this, and I do, but just not enough to care that there is one issue left before cancellation. Maybe it is just my inherent dislike of the comic's conceit, that the protagonist is just a self-serving jerk or that if you really thing about it, the situation that set this title up should never have happened because there is no way Eric O'Grady could have passed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s psychological battery.

Dynamo 5 #6
The Clockwork Girl #0
A very enjoyable all-ages comic from Sean O'Reilly, Kevin Hanna, and Grant Bond. I'm adding this one to my monthly order and moving it into Category B for reading.

Mouse Guard Winter 1152 #1

The Last Fantastic Four Story
People have been kicking Stan Lee for this book, but I think the kickers are those with no appreciation of the past. The dialog was not as bombastic as previous current-day, Lee-written comics and if there were clinkers here and there, at least the words and actions rang were true to the characters unlike, say, Reed Richards as written in Civil War.

Category B
Amelia Rules! #18
This book. This book. It is a fantastic book and I look forward to the time when my daughter can read these comics. However, I always tread picking this book up because I know that Jimmy Gownley, Amelia's writer/artist is going to somehow touch me with the story. This issue was no different, telling the story of ten-year-old Amelia's "first date," but it also told the story a child dealing with the news that her father is being deployed to Iraq. (Not Amelia's father, her parents are divorced, but the father of a friend.) Gownley doesn't have an agenda in his story, except that anything that separates families is never a good thing. However, now that I am a father, it touched me even more. I recently turned down a job in Virginia because I would have had to go without my family; I can't imagine what it must be like for people on both sides of the equation for someone to have to leave leaving is part of the job and there is no assurance that person will be coming back. Another great story by Gownley.

Simpsons Comics #133
I never would have equated Chuck Dixon with comedy writing, but he does a good job getting the flavor of the television show in his Simpsons work.

Bart Simpson #37
Ty Templeton does double duty as writer and artist, and also captures the flavor of the show. Templeton deserves more opportunities at the Big 2 on mainstream books.

The Batman Strikes #36
Marvel Adventures Hulk #2
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #1
Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #5
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #4
Teen Titans Go! #46
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #27
The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles #2

Fantastic Five #3
When Tom DeFalco was editor in chief at Marvel I wasn't reading too much Marvel, so I can't speak to how damaging his tenure was to the company, but I like his work with the M2 characters. At least Mary Jane is still alive somewhere (assuming she dies in "One More Day"). Credit should also be to Marvel for giving Ron Lim work as the artist. It would be so easy to give these books to unknown artists at a cheaper rate, especially because art by people with style's like Lim's doesn't seem to be in favor much anymore, so it nice that Lim still has the job.

Fantastic Four Power Pack #2
Man, I have been loving this series of mini-series. I never read Power Pack the first time around, so I can't speak to how close it is to the original series, but I like the characters here. After a return in a solo mini, each new mini has guest starred a different Marvel hero or team. Thankfully, the guest star has never overshadowed Power Pack, not even when the Hulk was the title's visitor. Here, for instance, the book opens up with Jack Power running away with Franklin Richards because neither felt they were being treated properly by their respective families. The FF appears, but it is still a Power Pack story and it is Power Pack that brings the adventure to an end. Marvel has quietly cornered the market on kid-centric comics with this title, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, and the Franklin Richards one-shots, but you are missing out if you are over fifteen and not reading any of those comics.

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #30
Why do I get a feeling that this is the kind of MU Spider-Man Peter David thought he was going to get to write when he went exclusive to Marvel. At least he gets to write that Spider-Man here, and I'm glad he does, because it is pure Spider-Man, unfettered by Marvel inter-title continuity.

Fantastic Five #4

Marvel Adventures #15
Jeff Parker is an unsung writer. He works under the radar, but he does consistently good work in done-in-one stories. Bendis needs to look at Parker's work to see how an Avengers title needs to be written. No talking heads here, just action and, yes, character moments if not true character development, which is all I need because I buy into the illusion of change concept.

Justice League Unlimited #36
Dare I say that this is the best Justice League title being printed. Well, until I read McDuffie's first issue of Justice League of America, and compared to the filler that appears in JLA Classified and the emptiness of Brad Meltzer's work now in Justice League of America, I say JLU is the best. A Question-centric story, it captures the character well, even if his dialog sounded more like it should be said by Rorschach. If you read any of the news out of the Baltimore convention, you may know that Dan Didio said this title is not necessarily canceled. It will run at least until the middle of next year and cancellation isn't necessarily a certainty, even if there are no more new episodes of the show. "If sales support the number of kids books out there, we'll keep them out there" I'd like to thing I did my part in that decision.


Category C
Amazons Attack! #4
Amazons Attack! #5

Nightwing #135
Jon Bosco, I'm sorry to say, is not a substitute for the art of Jamal Igle. Add to that the news that Marv Wolfman is leaving the book and I think I'll be leaving before Marv does.

Amazons Attack! #6
People hated this mini-series from what I've read. It wasn't anything special, but, IMO, the attack of the Amazons felt kind of like an empty threat. The best thing I've read, though, was the writer, Will Pfeifer, passing the buck on the story quality, saying there was a lot of editorial interference. I'm sorry, but a mini-series like this had to have been editorially directed from conception, so "interference" should have been expected.

Big Bang Presents #6 Agents of B.A.D.G.E.
The last issue of this title for the foreseeable future. Maybe its time has come, as the stories feel more bogged in continuity than stories from the companies being homaged.

Supergirl #20
Hellboy Darkness Calls #5
Superman #666