Comic Book Day

Today really has too much tempting stuff.

From Dark Horse

Dollhouse: Epitaphs #1
Hubby and I just finished watching Dollhouse last weekend. We enjoyed the first season so much, that I picked up the one-shot that was released before we even started season two. I read through it the same night that we finished the show, and of course it ended with the announcement of this comic coming out. Now I have to decide if I want to keep going with it. I really don't think I am going to. I liked the show, but I think that if I am going to start reading a regular comic based on a show that I enjoy I would probably have more fun with Firefly or Farscape. That is not taking into account how much I am going to love Buffy and Angel when I get around to watching them.

From DC Comics

Batgirl #23
Batgirl is one of the regulars that I've been reading for a few months. I am a big fan of Oracle and Stephanie is growing on me. I am really interested/anxious about DC's changes to Batgirl with the reboot that is coming in a couple months so I want to keep following the story until then.

From DC Comics

Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #2
I've been reading just a few of the Flashpoint comics and the Wonder Woman one made me consider picking up the Aquaman one. I don't think I'd get much new information from it, but rather a different viewpoint. I am a huge fan of different viewpoint stories, so I have no doubt that I'd enjoy following this story via Atlantis. This is number 2 in the series so I'd need to pick up #1 as well. I think I am going to just run into not wanting to spend that much on my comics this week. Maybe I'll pick it up later, but I think I am going to skip it for now.

From DC Comics

Birds of Prey #14
Birds of Prey is another one of my regulars. I don't know who Phantom Lady is so it will be nice to meet her, and I am looking forward to Lady Blackhawk being front and center for a bit. I haven't learned much about her since I've started these comics. Of course this is another outlet for Oracle information. I think the Birds of Prey team might be changing up a bit with the DC reboot so maybe I'll see some of that played out in these final issues.

From Marvel

Captain America #1
I've become known as Captain America Lady at my comic book store and I know that they will pull this comic for me. I haven't been following the Fear Itself story with the Captain, so i know that I've been missing some important stuff even though the guys at my store are doing their best. I think that some big changes from Fear Itself is setting up this story. If that's the case, I'll be happy to finally be getting into the flow of the story after all of my previous attempts. If this is another origin story book, then I am going to be a little disappointed. Over the past few months I went from knowing nothing to knowing the origin story and nothing current. I've got my fingers crossed for this one.

From DC Comics

Green Lantern # 67 and Green Lantern Corps #61
I want to read Green Lantern and two new comics are coming out this week. My problem is that I don't want to buy any more comics this week. Diving in here means I'll be wanting to pick these up every month. This week at least I think I can skip Green Lantern #67. It seems like a large story is wrapping up here. Since I haven't read the story I'm going to skip the wrap up. I'll keep my fingers crossed that when they start up something new it falls on a week where I don't have so much that I already want to buy. Green Lantern Corps #61 is more difficult. It sounds like they are picking up at the end of whatever is happening in #67. I just might be able to figure out #67 from #61. But really shouldn't I just get them both? That would be the way to get up to speed with the Green Lanterns.

Comic Book Day!

From Marvel

X-23 #12
I have a severe lack of Marvel Comics in my regular reading list. I've been told that DC is more my style, and it seems to have just worked out that way. I read the X-23 comics because I like the X-Men but they intimidate me. I don't know who any of the current X-Men are and I don't know the differences between the Uncanny and the Ultimate. I don't know who the X-Force is or who's side Wolverine is on. With X-23 I feel like I've got a handle on things. I just need to know who she is and everyone else gets some sort of little introduction (or isn't going to be around long enough to worry about.) Right now I get to follow X-23, Jubilee, Wolverine and Gambit. If I want to learn about what is going on with everyone else I could just pick up a book and dive in. I just don't feel ready for it, and I like X-23.

From Marvel

Osma of Oz #8
I think I am going to skip this one this week. These comics are  a retelling of Baum's stories. I confess that I've had a couple creepy flashbacks to Return to Oz scenes that I had suppressed. They are still great stories and I love the art in these comics so it is going to be really hard to resist this one. This is number 8 of 8 and so far, I've only read 2 others. I think that if I wait a little bit I can just buy the full trade that includes all of them instead trying to hunt down the first 5. I am really looking forward to reading this, but I am going to try to hold out.

From DC Comics

Flashpoint: Abin Sur - The Green Lantern #2
I talked last week about how much I liked the Green Lantern Corps. Hal Jordan didn't really give me what I was looking for. Abin Sur has a lot of promise, but if I #2, I am going to have to pick up #1. I don't know much about the Green Lanterns, but what I do know is that Abin Sur is dead. I won't be able to just jump in here without figuring out what's going on. I am also kind of worried that picking up another Flashpoint title will pull me deeper into the event. I'm sure that will make DC happy, but so far I've only gotten a couple of them (Wonder Woman and Lois Lane) The stories were related, and as intended they make me want to buy Aquaman. Abin Sur hasn't been in any of the Flaspoint stories I've read so far, so I'm guessing he's been caught up in some others. If I get this, is it going to make me want to buy bunch more? Probably. If that is the case, it will be that much longer that I put off reading the X-Men.

Comicbook Day!

I've been debating lately about continuing my comic book purchases. I've been thinking about stopping all together, but the reason is because I'm having too much fun. I started buying comics almost a year ago. At the time I thought it would be just a few bucks every week and it would be a fun little diversion. I was having trouble picking out one comic a week to take home. Now everything is different. I am caught up in a bunch of stories, I have opinions about artists and DC's reboot and every week I look at my growing list of comics to buy and briefly consider how much yarn money they equal. So to help me make this decision, I've decided to write a bit about the books I'm planning to pick up. I hope this will help me sort out how much I am really enjoying them and how much I really want to keep getting them.

From DC Comics

Wonder Woman #612
I started with Wonder Woman #601. I'm pretty sure I was the target audience for the renumbering and the new outfit. I am fine with that. It worked and I'm hooked. I'll be sticking with her, pants or swimsuit, to see who she is going to become.

From Image Comics

Super Dinosaur #3
If you remember my geek out love fest for Axe Cop, then it will not be hard to understand why Super Dinosaur appeals to me. It is much more kid oriented than most of what I read, but that is why I love it. I wouldn't mind a dinosaur best friend. (Especially if he was able to overcome that tiny arms dilemma.)

From Marvel

Captain America: First Vengeance #4
This is the final in the four book introduction to the Captain America that we should all expect to see in the movie. I picked a bad (though everyone else says good) time to get interested in Captain America. Completely oblivious of the movie, I decided to look into him and ended up reading what seems like a half a dozen different versions of the same origin story. (None of which gave me any clue to what is happening in the  main story line or any explanation of why the Avengers have abandoned Bucky in the Gulag.) This has been my favorite. It has gotten me excited about the movie and the character so I don't want to miss out on the final book.

From DC Comics

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1
Hal here is my one half-hearted purchase this week. I haven't read any Green Lantern at all. Hubby and I went to see the movie this weekend. It wasn't a great movie, and Hal isn't  my favorite hero, but based on this movie alone the Green Lantern Corps, may be my favorite group of do-gooders ever. I am completely sold on the concept of the Green Lantern. I really like the energy of will foundation for their powers (though I probably would have happily accepted them when it was just magic) and I love the creative potential of what they can do. They can bash in faces when necessary, but there seems to be a huge opportunity for unique problem solving approaches with their powers. When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail, so I understand that when you have just one super power (or basic set) then that is what you use to solve every problem. The power that the Green Lanterns have is to create anything that they can imagine. That sounds awesome! It also sounds like it has a huge potential to disappoint me, but I haven't been disappointed with most of the comics that I've read so far. I'm keeping the faith and since Flash Point is the big summer event I'll happily use it as my gateway to Oa.

Follow Friday: DC Women Kicking Ass

From DC Women Kicking Ass

DC Women Kicking Ass is a Tumbler for "Thoughts, pictures, reviews and other stuff about the women of DC Comics, and occasionally Marvel and other places, who kick ass."

I have been trying (and I think finally starting to succeed) to get into and understand comics better lately. While I don't have a blanket affinity for the female stars, I am drawn to the women characters more. I relate to them more than most of the guys and I want to cheer when they get to be strong individuals rather than frivolous eye candy.  Though I haven't figured out why, I also seem to more of a DC fan than most of the other publishers. So, this tumbler is great for me. Most of it is fantastic art of these beautiful characters, but I can also count on updates and news about them as well.

Axe Cop (Review)

From AXE COP

This time yesterday, I wasn't even considering writing a comic review, but I am so smitten with Axe Cop, I can't resist. I am certain that I'm late to the Axe Cop party since it has been a web comic for the past year, but I'm happy to be in the know now. Yesterday I didn't have one of my regular comics to buy so I was looking for something new. Geek Chick Daily recommended Axe Cop, and I was drawn in by the artist story. This comic is written by a 6 year old and drawn by his older brother. While goofing around and playing together they create Axe Cop and now they are expanding off the web and into Dark Horse publication with Bad Guy Earth.

Who is Axe Cop?

Axe Cop is an unconventional cop who prefers his axe and sweet fighting moves over the standard issue gun. He and his sidekick Dinosaur Soldier are very good at what they do. Inevitably, that irritates the normal cops so they want Axe Cop out of the way. Axe Cop has a full origin story, but his time in the police academy summarized everything that I needed to know.

From Bad Guy Earth Preview

What is Bad Guy Earth?

Story by Malachai Nicolle
Pencils, Inks and Lettering by Ethan Nicolle
Colors by Dirk Erik Schulz


Bad Guy Earth Issue One is about Axe Cop and Dinosaur Soldier saving the world from the growing planet that squish the earth. Along the way, they broke the rules, rocketed into space, got some new inventions. There are surprising plot twists on every page, and I can confidently say there is nothing predictable about this story.

Who will like it?

I love this comic is because it has absolutely no creative limits. If you have ever heard a kid make up a story, you know that anything goes. If you are willing to believe anything and laugh, then this story is for you. The art adds a whole new layer of humor. It lets us take everything literally and embrace it fully. At the same time, we secretly smile at the absurdity of it all. I can now have a visual reference for power-ups, a tyrannosaurus rex with machine-gun arms and fire breath, and robotic chicken brains. For that, I am grateful.  If you want to get goofy and watch a rebel save the world, then you will like this.

I originally picked this comic up solely because I wanted to support the creative writing of a 6 year old.  If that was a selling point for you, then I have a couple other recommendations. Please check out 826NYC (or your local chapter.) This non-profit organization works to inspire creativity and help elementary age children write. Our chapter walks each kid through a super hero supply store on their way to tutoring. It would be a great place to find the next Malachai Nicolle. You can start with The 826NYC Review: Issue 4. While I am recommending Axe Cop to adults, if you have kids I recommend The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. This was written by Robert Rodriguez's son and is full of jokes that I know would have had me in stitches when I was in 4th grade.

Fashion Tips from Mrs. Stark?

For the past few months, I've been checking out comic books.  I decided to make use of the Marvel Point One promotion and get to know Iron Man. I enjoyed the comic.  It was a fine set-up for introducing and laying out the story. There was one panel that I just had the hardest time getting past.  Tony was telling his story and he spoke about his parents.  I got a good look at his mom.

From Drop Box

What is she wearing? I had a problem reading past this because I just cannot understand what is going on  below that red sash.  Now I've accepted that in this genre of storytelling, unless it is a costume, a lot of the clothing is pretty standard. I'm not reading comics for fashion advice, so I don't generally care who is wearing what when super powers are not on display. This, on the other hand, is driving me crazy. There was a lot of extra effort put into that midriff.  A few simple lines and I would have brushed right over a stylish empire dress.  I might have even noticed the elegant long black gloves, but as is I just can't stop wondering what is happening here. Whatever it is, I don't think it is flattering her figure.