Comic Book Resources

Watching the River Flow for 2/15

What's the matter with me,
I don't have much to say,
Daylight sneakin' through the window
And I'm still in this all-night cafe.
Walkin' to and fro beneath the moon
Out to where the trucks are rollin' slow,
To sit down on this bank of sand
And watch the river flow.

This bit is for me to just ramble about various stuff that are not worth a full entry to themselves. This time around, it is just some quick thoughts about some of this week's comics I've read so far (still a bunch need to be read, including awesome books like Jack Staff and The Goon!!) SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

* Erik Larsen should get a Nobel Peace Prize for creating Next Issue Project. It is just sheer joy in comic book form. I was a bit wary with the first story, where it appeared as though Larsen was mocking the Golden Age stories of Samson, but he quickly showed that he wasn't - and the rest of the comic was just awesome (even that weird ass Ashley Wood story).

* Alpha Lanterns? Pretty good idea.

* American Virgin...well, that's A way to end a comic book.

* What's up with this auto racing kick the Archie comics are on? I guess the reaction to their first story featuring Betty as a race car driver was really, REALLY positive, as they've gone back to the well four times now. It's weird, as the whole concept stretches even the credulity of Archie comics.

* I LOVED Jason Aaron's text piece in Ghost Rider #20. The actual story was quite good, as well. But Ghost Rider as an angel is still super lame.

* So is Mary Jane being Jackpot. Nice "back to basics" approach there (and yes, there's always that 10% chance that Mary Jane is NOT, in fact, Jackpot).

* I think every issue of Marc Guggenheim's Amazing Spider-Man should end with Spidey being threatened to be arrested. It could be his "thing."

* Gutwrencher #1 got off to a strong start. Niles and Giffen go well together.

* New Avengers #38 was handled well.

* I dug the explanation for why Nova used to say "Blue Blazes" - because his parents tried to keep him from using profanity.

* I thought Steve Niles' bit in Simon Dark where Simon realizes that not all people can get their heads torn off and live was beautiful.

* I personally loved Tiny Titans #1, but a LOT of the jokes only worked if you were a regular DC comics reader, like the teasing of Cassie's jean outfit. Seemed kind of a strange approach there.

* Ron Garney seems to be returning to an older style for Wolverine. It's an interesting approach.

* Spider-Man Family was a lovely tribute to Mike Wieringo.