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Wait, is someone other than JMS going to be writing Thor? Because I love Thor, but hate JMS, so haven't bought anything from the new run. A different writer would be great.

And thanks to Fraction I will be buying Iron Man monthlies for the first time. I think Pretentious Permudgen is on to something here.

Well, I have no plans to buy any of those anytime soon, so my world looks to be safe for a little bit longer...

I'm with you on all counts, Purmudgeon. Next time we do this Top 100 Runs, like in 5 years or so, I bet Fraction's gonna have 4 of 5 runs on the list.

Zeke Stane is already the coolest Marvel villain in years, and he's appeared in roughly one storyline so far.

Fraction's the best writer to emerge in this field in years.

And Ghost Rider is indeed readable, and Carey's X-Men is enough to get realy, really excited about too, and I'm curious as to what Ellis does, too.

You think that's weird? I'm looking forward to Guardians of the Galaxy. I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around that.

Greg? Grammar snark on the purmudgen please. Get on it.

I've never in my life bought an Iron Man comic that wasn't a crossover of some kind. I've been sorely tempted to get the mini by Micheline, Layton, & Lim. I feel safe from the media hype, though. It doesn't really have anything to do with the character. I'm interested because it's kinda retro, and it's by Micheline, Layton, & Lim. The fact that it's Iron Man is actually keeping me from getting it.

If Ghost Rider has only now become readable, there's little temptation there. If it took 35+ years for the character to become only readable, not actually good, I'm not having any optomism.

I wrote off all X-comics around 1994. It'd take an Old Testament scale miracle to get me to buy them again. Stories may have improved, but there's still too much cheese and fanboy aura about the whole thing. Painful memories take a long time to heal.

I always did like Thor, so I can't really comment on that one too much.

I've read Ghost Rider for YEARS, (it was always kinda hit-or-miss) but DO see the dramatic upswing as of late.
It has me greatly intrigued as to what the new writer has planned.

The new THOR series is VERY enjoyable (to me, anyway).
I went into it with low expectations (due to the 2 year delay in it's releas and the JMS factor), but it goes down easy. The artwork is nice on the eyes as well.

X-MEN? Well... I'm with avengers63 on this. I used to read the titles fairly religiously, and have a complete run of all the titles until the early to mid 1990's. Then, my bullshit meter hit "full" and I just couldn't take it anymore.

That property is always going to be too full of back-story to be able to REALLY catch up again.
While it MIGHT be nice to try to wade back into that pool, I have to make cuts SOMEWHERE.
The X-line is it.

And IRON MAN?
Also like avengers63, I loathe the character, and only bought some crossover titles.
I AM buying the new DOOM mini, however.
It's a "sequel" to issues that I DO own and somewhat enjoy, and it's got DOOM... so, not a major problem for me there.
I almost DIDN'T order it, though, because of the IRON MAN connection.

Just NEVER liked that character.
(However, I AM looking forward to seeing the FILM. THAT looks like a fun ride!)

~P~
P-TOR

Hell, 6 months ago the comics I was enjoying the most were Iron Fist, Blue Beetle, and Booster Gold.
If I had told that to 1998 self, I would have cried.
(I'll echo the BOO sentiment on Thor, though. That said, I never thought Iron Man would be readable, and here we are.... betcha they muck it up thanks to the movie, though.)

P-TOR: From reading your posts over the last year, I've noticed that we have a lot of the same tastes in comics. We seem to both have similar experiences in out comic histories as well. The same respeces, nostalgias, and love of the oddball characters and Kirby. It's just an interesting observation.

If Fraction's Iron Man is... well, a fraction as good as the movie, I'm sold.

Jazzbo says:

Wait, is someone other than JMS going to be writing Thor? Because I love Thor, but hate JMS, so haven’t bought anything from the new run. A different writer would be great.

Matt Fraction is doing a series of one-shots with Patrick Zircher. They shall be glorious, and I am excited, having not been tempted to buy a new Thor comic since a couple years into Jurgens' run.

avengers63 says:

If Ghost Rider has only now become readable, there’s little temptation there. If it took 35+ years for the character to become only readable, not actually good, I’m not having any optomism.

Ghost Rider has finally become what it always should've been: a crazy exploitation biker comic, complete with cannibal ghosts, machine gun nurses, and evil angels. I can't believe I'm enjoying it, but I am. Jason Aaron knows what's up.

I'm convinced Bill works for Marvel.

"Ghost Rider has finally become what it always should’ve been: a crazy exploitation biker comic, complete with cannibal ghosts, machine gun nurses, and evil angels."

Holy crap, that sounds awesome! If Ghost Rider is finally featuring stories that are as full-throttle goofy as that I know what I'm going to have to start reading.

End times would be a good comic book coming from DCU proper under Didio's reign. Good comics under Quesada are just par for the course.

I don't remember you being this much of a Marvel Zombie, T. Then again, you probably barely remember me at all, so touche in advance.

Oh, man...

As stated in my previous comment above, I have been really enjoying THOR (even though it's JMS)...
well... THAT comment was made just before my latest shipment arrived, and I had the latest TWO issues in that box.

HOLY CRAP!
It's a REALLY GOOD book!

Issue # 7 & 8 are a two-issue "arc". They were very well paced and totally enjoyable.

These two issues gave complete depth and clarity to the ODIN / THOR / LOKI relationship (with what could be actual Norse legend, but I'll have to research it to see if it IS based on actual legend or just off JMS' head).

And the artwork?
A thing of beauty.

Even if you DON'T pick up ANY of the previous issues (some are slow paced - even though that's deliberate), then by ALL means, go get # 7 & # 8.

It's a story full of smashing, Norse battles, wailing on Surtur, and a few MYSTERIES...
Laying many seeds for future issues, but never taking away from the issues at hand.

Hey. I don't get any payola from this.
Just my honest opinion on 2 books I REALLY enjoyed.

(and, LO'. No Dr. Strange in sight, but I STILL loved them. So that has to count for something coming from me, right?)

Go get 'em!

~P~
P-TOR