New Avengers Non-Sense

I'll make this short.  I was a big fan of the first volume of New Avengers.  The tie-ins with Secret Invasion were great, but this volume went from not bad to terrible in about 10 issues.  I'm currently in the middle of the back and forth arc of Sgt. Fury in 1959 and Mockingbird being shot (...spoiler alert).  Taken together, there's no cohesion yet, I see no reason why these stories should be done back to back in this book.  They don't transition into each other at all.  However, it's slightly a different story taken separately, on the side of the New Avengers, not bad but going nowhere currently.  On the side of Sgt. Fury, furiously terrible.  Here's why:  Chaykin's art on it blows.  I can respect his earlier works but this is plain shit.  His panel layouts are terrible on some pages and make no logical progression.  Not only that, but Bendis DESTROYS these characters of old.  None of these characters should be together, it makes no sense, and there's no fun chemistry.  Kraven is completely taken out of character as are most of the rest.  I'm quite disappointed, I was hoping this was one that I wouldn't agree with the reviews but I'm far from impressed at this point.  I'll push through, I'm going to catch up before Avengers vs X-men (no matter how much I already rant about it and will no doubt rant about it while reading it).



Example of illogical panel progression:

Victor Creed (Sabretooth) goes from laying completely down, picking up the kraut and holding him up in the air, to the kraut being on his knees, Creed towering over him and ripping his face to pieces in a matter of 3 (4 if you count the reaction/suprise panel) panels.  Fucking weak and wrong.

Bonus Panel:

What are you doing Chaykin?

Avengers vs X-Men vs New Readers. New Readers lose.

My apartment is a wreck.  I'm constantly working.  I'm having money troubles.  Instead of working on any of that.  What do I do?  Make an appearance on my blog.

Yes this is the beginning of the next resurgence of posts.

To begin, Avengers Vs X-Men?  You know what I think?  I think it's a ploy to get new readers.  Honestly I was disgusted to see the breaking news title a while back when rumaging through the usual news sites.  I'm still not happy with it.  I'm so broken by it that I haven't even read much of the news surrounding it.  What news there is that is besides a crap ton of teaser images of who's brawling with who.  Really?  Really Marvel?  Do you just want to further the stereotype that all comics are all super gonzo's duking it spandex that only remains to be seen on Broadway?  But again, I have come to the personal conclusion that this is a ploy for new readers. 

What do new readers know most?  Stereotypes and the big names.  Avengers and X-Men have already had quite the popular media romps outside of the comic book realm.  Avengers has an upcoming movie, has had a running cartoon, and is marketed on everything from lunchboxes to video games.  X-Men is all the same.  George Lucas eat your heart out.  So new readers know both of these teams, they are coming to the book expecting the stereotype (which it is).  And for some new readers, it's what they want.  HOWEVER, it remains to be seen that ANY publisher really pulls out the big marketing tricks for the stereotype breaking books.  These amazing, exciting books are what really pull readers into the comic book world to stay and thats why we are missing new returning readers.  Apart from hearing it through the grapevine, new readers will never enjoy specific books that just keep people in the loop coming back over and over again.  Please change your marketing for the better of the media form.  Please?

Back to work.  I'll see you on the other side of the divergent timeline

BLAM! Surrounded by Zombies

This is what happens when you choose to shoot a gun around the hungry corpse laden city that is Atlanta.  At least in The Walking Dead Board Game this is what happens.  While you might hear plenty glocks firing in downtown ATL in reality, you won't hear "uhrrrrrr" followed soon after.

To begin, this game is based off of the ongoing hit series: The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman (published by Image), which has spurred further acclaim and success by the popular AMC show.  If you haven't heard of the series or show, you may need to be checked in for Alzheimer's because this piece of property is everywhere.  It just recently jumped on the board game bandwagon.

I love the series (though honestly, I haven't kept track since around issue 30) so I may be a bit biased on the game.  I'm also an avid board game enthusiast (comes with the comic book territory I guess).  But this game impressed me.  I'm generally nauseated by any property that expands too far from its initial form of media.  I mean, look at Superman on the Nintendo 64 (YouTube it if you've never played it).  I also see this game in spades in book stores and hobby stores, so it doesn't seem too popular.  But at a small box game price point, forty dollars retail, I decided to give it a go.

So you randomly draw from six of the funny book's main characters.  They don't typically start on the map where you'd expect (for example, Dale doesn't start at the campsite and Rick doesn't start in the hospital), which is fine.   I'm not role playing, I'm gaming.  From there you move about the board trying to secure safe havens.  Once you secure three, you win.  The game is fairly tough.  You can move anywhere on the board within three spaces in attempts to collect resources and reach safe havens to clear them.  However, when you do move, you attract zombies in your wake.  Every breath you take,  every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take, they'll be watching you.  And following you.  And eating you.  Seriously, as you move across the board it completely fills up with zombies every space which you have to wade and fight through to get to resources or safe havens then fight more.

Now it's not all fighting.  Some of it features certain rolls of dice (the game is dice pool based) to pass an event.  One of the cooler event card types are questionnaires.  You ask the group you are playing with a question and depending on how they respond and how varied the response is, you could get a bonus, they could get a bonus, or you could all be screwed.  For example:  Rose pulled a card in which we were asked if confronted would we fight or flee.  Once decided we went around the room.  Sam chose fight.  John chose fight.  I chose flee.  Because the response was varied and we didn't all fight, I got away with the resources while they took damage (in the form of fatigue markers).  Now if we all fought, we would've all have gotten resources or if we all would've fled we all would've taken fatigue markers.  You may think I'm a jerk for fleeing, but I won.  But like all jerks, we will pay our dues.  Just like Shane.

If you are a board game fan or one of those fans of The Walking Dead (or a combo of both) I suggest you give it a go or look up more information on boardgamegeeks.com.  It will cover many more features and gameplay than I covered here as well.  Killing zombies while eating a mound of cookies with friends has never been more enjoyable.

Action Comics - Lex's Co-conspirator?

If you haven't read it and are really itching to kick anyone's ass that spoils it for you, I'm glad you don't know where I live.

The last page of Action Comics (the few that are there for the 3.99 price follow by Art and comments by Morrison and Morales followed by a preview of the GN Batman Noel) has a mysterious spaceship just beyond the Earth's moon.  This spaceship (if Morrison isn't screwing over his readers by alluding to this when it's really someone/something else that Luthor's speaking to) itself is either in contact with Lex Luthor or someone aboard is in contact with Luthor.  Now by looking at the design of the spaceship closely, thinking that this character has information of Krypton and Kal-El, and considering that this character is in contact with Luthor and supplying him information, it should be none other than Braniac.  At least that is this reader's opinion.  Other possibilities?  Not much other than a brand new character or a Kryptonian.

(I'll post image later in the day of the page)

I'm going to go ahead and jump a little further into this weeks comics.  But I'll keep you, my lovely readers, up to date on all that I notice and find interesting.  As of right now I'm just excited that there is no more appearances of red hooded Lady Plot Device.

As for my initial read and thoughts, I'd rate Action Comics #2:  6½ / 10

Not great, not bad.  Nothing new, nothing too interesting.  And Superman is a dick who would snap a person's neck.

Cosplay Ideas

I know it's early, but we've been thinking on next years cosplay costumes for conventions.  Honestly, I've never done it but I've always daydreamed about dressing up as one of my favorite heroes.  For quite a few of those heroes I'd have to be down to design and wear skin tight spandex body suit.

While I'm not comfortable doing either, Rose came up with her cosplay idea quite easily:  Batwoman

Without having profiles for our contributors you wouldn't know it, but Rose's complexion matches that of Kate Kane (if not as grey and no this is not meant as an insult, she's quite attractive).  She also has red hair which she possibly make a little brighter prior to playing comic dress up.

Though the character I might go as has no real connection with Batwoman, his legacy does.  I'll be going as Vic Sage, better known as The Question.  I'll throw up some comparison pics between Rose and myself with pics of The Question and Batwoman for your opinion.  Also I'd like to hear if you have any plans this early for next years costume.

Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave

*SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT*

So I got the chance to finally read the new Ultimate Spider-Man.  I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I find if people would stop worrying about the shift to the new kid taking on the legacy (the few I've heard complain) they'd find an enjoyable book.

BUT

Me being me, I do have a bone to pick.  When it comes to detailed explanations on how powers work, I'm not really that obsessive.  I can take it or leave it for the most part.  While I do enjoy those explanations, they aren't entirely necessary.  Say it's a God character or a cosmic character, fine, the whole purpose is their worlds haven't been explained in terms of science (or possibly at all).  But if the premise of deriving your powers comes from science, you damn well better not have a power that makes no sense.

If you don't understand what I'm talking about yet, let's look into the last panel of the first book.

Yes, Miles Morales (our new web slinger) can camouflage himself AND his clothes.  I would like an explanation for this please.  Now I know I'm being nit picky and to do otherwise would do nothing but make the book difficult to write if only his own skin would camouflage but this is a book of scientific origin and confounds me how this would work.  It wouldn't be hard to write that only his skin would change and his new suit would have the ability to change with it.  But why regular Joe street clothes change when not part of his biology (or somehow enhanced like the suit would be) are affected by this power I am confounded.

I don't know.  I'm not furious by it, just quite confused.

I'll just keep telling myself, it's a comic.  Miles Morales doesn't exist in our world and he doesn't go by our rules no matter how hard Marvel still tries to make him relatable.

Anyways, check out the first two books.  They aren't perfect or chocked full of action, but they are still a fun read.

Quick Note

To all my silent readers I thank you.  To all my upcoming readers, welcome!

Beginning with the last couple posts, this blog will be going through several changes.  Not only is the blog going to change tones slightly (I will still be my cynical self from time to time) but the layout of the site has changed and will go through many other changes in the near future.  Expect big things.  We will also be doing more reader participatory events.  Another addition will be many new weekly features (already two posted!) as well as indie creator spotlights from time to time.

But one of our biggest new additions is a new contributor!  Nate Townsend's the name and all things comic related is his game.  So expect his first article soon and be sure to subscribe to our feed or bookmark the page.  Send us an e-mail or tweet us while you are it.

Thanks again!

Edit:  Two other contributors are joining!  Please welcome Rose Burman and John Kessler!  Rose will be drawing our weekly webcomic feature and John will be bringing you interesting factoids and great opinions.  Be on the lookout for them to post soon!