Comments on: What I bought - 20 May 2009 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/ Comic Book Resources Presents... Comics Should Be Good! Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:40:47 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Alan Coil http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-721177 Alan Coil Sun, 24 May 2009 11:20:54 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-721177 2 problems with Ex Machina--its over reliance on jumping back and forth through time, and its untimely schedule. I would guess that Land is making quite the living tracing photos. I would also guess that he will inspire many other artists to do the same. Maybe even Dave Sim. 2 problems with Ex Machina--its over reliance on jumping back and forth through time, and its untimely schedule.

I would guess that Land is making quite the living tracing photos. I would also guess that he will inspire many other artists to do the same. Maybe even Dave Sim.

]]> By: ZZZ http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-721069 ZZZ Sat, 23 May 2009 05:52:25 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-721069 I'm becoming more convinced that, talent level aside, Land's "photorealism" (I'm being diplomatic) can really work against him in the storytelling department, even when he CAN find just the right picture to work from (it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that it works against him when he has to draw something like, say, a six-armed woman, of which pictures are difficult to find). It would probably be much easier to draw something recognizable as the back of a hooded person's head if you, you know, try really hard to come up with something that looks like the back of a hooded person's head, rather than "sampling" a photo of the back of a hooded person's head and assuming that because that's what it is, that's what it will look like. A lot of things, if represented TOO accurately, start to look wrong. If you want an example, point your finger directly at your face and look at it with one eye closed, so that it just sort of looks like an oval floating in front of your hand. If you captured that exact image in ink on paper, it would look, well, like an oval floating in front of a hand. I'm becoming more convinced that, talent level aside, Land's "photorealism" (I'm being diplomatic) can really work against him in the storytelling department, even when he CAN find just the right picture to work from (it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that it works against him when he has to draw something like, say, a six-armed woman, of which pictures are difficult to find). It would probably be much easier to draw something recognizable as the back of a hooded person's head if you, you know, try really hard to come up with something that looks like the back of a hooded person's head, rather than "sampling" a photo of the back of a hooded person's head and assuming that because that's what it is, that's what it will look like. A lot of things, if represented TOO accurately, start to look wrong. If you want an example, point your finger directly at your face and look at it with one eye closed, so that it just sort of looks like an oval floating in front of your hand. If you captured that exact image in ink on paper, it would look, well, like an oval floating in front of a hand.

]]> By: jjc http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720897 jjc Fri, 22 May 2009 12:22:56 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720897 I'm glad with Uncanny being tonally different from the rest of the line, in fact, its a good thing, everything else is gloomy, this is the "fun" mutant book. I'm probably just caught up in wanting some cohesion where there doesn't need to be any. I think Uncanny is supposed to be more connected to the rest of the Marvel U after they do the Dark Avengers crossover so they don't need to really get into X-Force, New Mutant, X-Factor, X-whatever business. I'm glad with Uncanny being tonally different from the rest of the line, in fact, its a good thing, everything else is gloomy, this is the "fun" mutant book. I'm probably just caught up in wanting some cohesion where there doesn't need to be any. I think Uncanny is supposed to be more connected to the rest of the Marvel U after they do the Dark Avengers crossover so they don't need to really get into X-Force, New Mutant, X-Factor, X-whatever business.

]]> By: Paul http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720879 Paul Fri, 22 May 2009 09:53:07 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720879 Ah, so it's a hood! thanks ZZZ. I wonder where he swiped it from. Seriously, this book gives me so much deja vu. It's so obvious everything is copied from elsewhere that it doesn't even matter where it came from... it all just looks fake. Bring back the Dodsons!! Ah, so it's a hood! thanks ZZZ. I wonder where he swiped it from.

Seriously, this book gives me so much deja vu. It's so obvious everything is copied from elsewhere that it doesn't even matter where it came from... it all just looks fake. Bring back the Dodsons!!

]]> By: Andrew Collins http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720866 Andrew Collins Fri, 22 May 2009 07:08:47 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720866 <i>When I got this comic, I stared at that panel with the back of Spiral’s “arm” for 10 minutes trying to figure out what it was. It’s definitely one of the ugliest images I’ve ever seen.</i> Yeah, didn't Simon Bisley get fired off Lobo for drawing an arm that looked like that...? ;) When I got this comic, I stared at that panel with the back of Spiral’s “arm” for 10 minutes trying to figure out what it was. It’s definitely one of the ugliest images I’ve ever seen.

Yeah, didn't Simon Bisley get fired off Lobo for drawing an arm that looked like that...? ;)

]]> By: Dave http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720863 Dave Fri, 22 May 2009 06:38:52 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720863 jjc, I'm guessing Hope, Cable, and X-Force haven't been mentioned, because judging by Fraction's characterization of Elixir and the cuckoos in this issue, I don't think he's even aware of the events happening in those books. I believe they did claim that Uncanny was going to be the one book you could read after Messiah CompleX, but that seems to be because Uncanny just ignored every single dangling plot thread from the crossover and came up with its own plotlines regardless of what anyone else was writing. In fact, judging by your questions as an indication of what plotlines you value reading post Messiah CompleX, the entire X-Men franchise would be far more tonally consistent if you flat out ignored Uncanny and just read everything else. jjc, I'm guessing Hope, Cable, and X-Force haven't been mentioned, because judging by Fraction's characterization of Elixir and the cuckoos in this issue, I don't think he's even aware of the events happening in those books.

I believe they did claim that Uncanny was going to be the one book you could read after Messiah CompleX, but that seems to be because Uncanny just ignored every single dangling plot thread from the crossover and came up with its own plotlines regardless of what anyone else was writing. In fact, judging by your questions as an indication of what plotlines you value reading post Messiah CompleX, the entire X-Men franchise would be far more tonally consistent if you flat out ignored Uncanny and just read everything else.

]]> By: Stefan http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720861 Stefan Fri, 22 May 2009 05:53:15 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720861 I thought this was one of the best Uncanny issues yet, and the sheer amount of characters is part of why I liked it so much. Anyone can turn up at any time and do something cool. That's the whole point of Fraction's book, with each of the other X-books retaining a separate identity and Uncanny being the core book about the whole mutant scene in San Francisco. Emma wasn't calling Lady Mastermind a whore, she was just calling her low class. You can still be a high class whore. And the woman she was comforting was Dazzler, from last issue. Scott was talking with Northstar and with Dazzler when the attack came. I'm really, really sick of Land's photoshopping though, especially the Cuckoos actually. They should be a lot MORE creepy, not just flashing vapid magazine smiles. I thought this was one of the best Uncanny issues yet, and the sheer amount of characters is part of why I liked it so much. Anyone can turn up at any time and do something cool. That's the whole point of Fraction's book, with each of the other X-books retaining a separate identity and Uncanny being the core book about the whole mutant scene in San Francisco.

Emma wasn't calling Lady Mastermind a whore, she was just calling her low class. You can still be a high class whore.

And the woman she was comforting was Dazzler, from last issue. Scott was talking with Northstar and with Dazzler when the attack came.

I'm really, really sick of Land's photoshopping though, especially the Cuckoos actually. They should be a lot MORE creepy, not just flashing vapid magazine smiles.

]]> By: ZZZ http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720859 ZZZ Fri, 22 May 2009 05:47:00 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720859 What you're looking at in the Spiral panel: the back of her head (she's wearing a hood); her back and shoulder blades; the top arm on each side sticking straight up, with the left one being metal; the shoulders of the middle arms on each side indicating the arms are pointing downwards; and just a bit of the shoulders of the bottom arms. I think it's the hood that's throwing people off - makes the back of her head kind of look like a knee or something. The part I didn't get was why Nightcrawler and Colossus are teleporting in. If I read the book right, they should have already been right there (and if they were supposed to have wandered off and teleported back, how does Nightcrawler arrive replying to a comment made before he teleported?). Maybe Kurt's just moving Colossus into position, because he feels it would be unfair to attack Spiral from behind or from two directions at once. Scriptwise though ... since when is Elixir a "Zen pacifist"? For that matter, is "Tantric sex magic" really very "Zen"? What you're looking at in the Spiral panel: the back of her head (she's wearing a hood); her back and shoulder blades; the top arm on each side sticking straight up, with the left one being metal; the shoulders of the middle arms on each side indicating the arms are pointing downwards; and just a bit of the shoulders of the bottom arms. I think it's the hood that's throwing people off - makes the back of her head kind of look like a knee or something.

The part I didn't get was why Nightcrawler and Colossus are teleporting in. If I read the book right, they should have already been right there (and if they were supposed to have wandered off and teleported back, how does Nightcrawler arrive replying to a comment made before he teleported?). Maybe Kurt's just moving Colossus into position, because he feels it would be unfair to attack Spiral from behind or from two directions at once.

Scriptwise though ... since when is Elixir a "Zen pacifist"? For that matter, is "Tantric sex magic" really very "Zen"?

]]> By: Jax http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720850 Jax Fri, 22 May 2009 04:01:59 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720850 I actually liked Lands work on the Ultimate FF, I actually developed a somewhat weird imaginary crush on Ultimate Sue Storm! I agree with Mike O that "The Dirt" is a must for any rock fan. Some eye opening revelations like California "Surfer Boy" Blonde Lead Singer Vince Neil was born and raised in Compton!!! I actually liked Lands work on the Ultimate FF, I actually developed a somewhat weird imaginary crush on Ultimate Sue Storm!

I agree with Mike O that "The Dirt" is a must for any rock fan. Some eye opening revelations like California "Surfer Boy" Blonde Lead Singer Vince Neil was born and raised in Compton!!!

]]> By: torpor http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720847 torpor Fri, 22 May 2009 03:32:59 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720847 Did you just say Fraction's decent writing? Good lord. Land's art is the LEAST of the problems with Uncanny. Complaining about his art is like complaining about the table settings on the Titanic. Did you just say Fraction's decent writing? Good lord.

Land's art is the LEAST of the problems with Uncanny. Complaining about his art is like complaining about the table settings on the Titanic.

]]> By: Ian A. http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720846 Ian A. Fri, 22 May 2009 03:31:54 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720846 <blockquote>I’m fairly sure that anyone reading Captain Britain and MI 13 is reading this, because they’re similar books, but if you’re one of those who isn’t, perhaps you can salve your pain with this.</blockquote> Funny you should say that, since I dropped <em>Agents of Atlas</em> mere days before <em>Captain Britain</em>'s cancellation announcement. I doubt I'll pick the former back up. As much as I want to like it, I just...don't. <blockquote>Anyone else reading Mysterious the Unfathomable? I can’t quite form an opinion on it, myself. There are fabulous ideas in every issue, but something about is keeping me from really connecting to it. Thought I’d check with some other Parker’s brothers to see…</blockquote> I'm with you, s1rude. <em>Mysterius</em> is another book from Parker that almost works but ultimately misses the mark for me. Is it the tone that's off? I dunno, but I do know that Tom Fowler's work is impressive. I'll probably stick with the mini for his art. Crap, I feel kinda bad for dogging Parker so much. I should go buy <em>The Interman</em> or a <em>Marvel Adventures</em> digest or something.

I’m fairly sure that anyone reading Captain Britain and MI 13 is reading this, because they’re similar books, but if you’re one of those who isn’t, perhaps you can salve your pain with this.

Funny you should say that, since I dropped Agents of Atlas mere days before Captain Britain's cancellation announcement. I doubt I'll pick the former back up. As much as I want to like it, I just...don't.

Anyone else reading Mysterious the Unfathomable? I can’t quite form an opinion on it, myself. There are fabulous ideas in every issue, but something about is keeping me from really connecting to it. Thought I’d check with some other Parker’s brothers to see…

I'm with you, s1rude. Mysterius is another book from Parker that almost works but ultimately misses the mark for me. Is it the tone that's off? I dunno, but I do know that Tom Fowler's work is impressive. I'll probably stick with the mini for his art.

Crap, I feel kinda bad for dogging Parker so much. I should go buy The Interman or a Marvel Adventures digest or something.

]]> By: jjc http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720844 jjc Fri, 22 May 2009 03:28:26 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720844 Uncanny is certainly the most schizophrenic of the X-books at the moment. It was supposed to be the one stop mutant book after Messiah Complex, but to really have any idea whats going on you still need to read the rest. Maybe I just don't pay enough attention when I read, but have Hope, Cable, and X-Force come up in Uncanny recently? That seems like something that should be touched upon for people that only read Uncanny. And nobody cares where Prof X is? Uncanny is certainly the most schizophrenic of the X-books at the moment. It was supposed to be the one stop mutant book after Messiah Complex, but to really have any idea whats going on you still need to read the rest. Maybe I just don't pay enough attention when I read, but have Hope, Cable, and X-Force come up in Uncanny recently? That seems like something that should be touched upon for people that only read Uncanny. And nobody cares where Prof X is?

]]> By: P_B http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720843 P_B Fri, 22 May 2009 03:23:14 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720843 Fraction can't write the X-Men and Land can't draw anything. It's very disappointing. Fraction can't write the X-Men and Land can't draw anything. It's very disappointing.

]]> By: Oz the Malefic http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720841 Oz the Malefic Fri, 22 May 2009 03:05:14 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720841 I still don't know what I'm looking at with Spiral, that makes no sense to me. I still don't know what I'm looking at with Spiral, that makes no sense to me.

]]> By: Nutt http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720839 Nutt Fri, 22 May 2009 02:51:43 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720839 Yeah, ugh, Land and his porn-face women make me this comic painful to look at considering Fraction's decent writing... Yeah, ugh, Land and his porn-face women make me this comic painful to look at considering Fraction's decent writing...

]]> By: Greg Burgas http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720838 Greg Burgas Fri, 22 May 2009 02:46:30 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720838 I've been planning on getting Mysterious in trade. Given the abysmal sales, maybe it won't even make it that far ... I read the first issue of Locke and Key and liked it, but not enough to get it regularly. It's one of those books that I'll buy in trade down the road, like it, and never feel cheated that I didn't get it right away. I'm not a Boys fan. I read the first six Wildstorm issues, and while everyone says it's gotten a lot better, that's about all I can give for a book to impress me, and it didn't at all. So I've been skipping it. Mike: Yeah, I thought the lyrics were probably too easy. It was on my mind, however, because I caught the tail end of the final episode of American Idol and watched Carrie Underwood (that was Carrie Underwood, wasn't it?) singing it. I never thought I would think, "Wow, someone's not doing justice to a Motley Crue song," but I did when I heard her rendition! I've been planning on getting Mysterious in trade. Given the abysmal sales, maybe it won't even make it that far ...

I read the first issue of Locke and Key and liked it, but not enough to get it regularly. It's one of those books that I'll buy in trade down the road, like it, and never feel cheated that I didn't get it right away.

I'm not a Boys fan. I read the first six Wildstorm issues, and while everyone says it's gotten a lot better, that's about all I can give for a book to impress me, and it didn't at all. So I've been skipping it.

Mike: Yeah, I thought the lyrics were probably too easy. It was on my mind, however, because I caught the tail end of the final episode of American Idol and watched Carrie Underwood (that was Carrie Underwood, wasn't it?) singing it. I never thought I would think, "Wow, someone's not doing justice to a Motley Crue song," but I did when I heard her rendition!

]]> By: Paul http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720837 Paul Fri, 22 May 2009 02:42:42 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720837 When I got this comic, I stared at that panel with the back of Spiral's "arm" for 10 minutes trying to figure out what it was. It's definitely one of the ugliest images I've ever seen. When I got this comic, I stared at that panel with the back of Spiral's "arm" for 10 minutes trying to figure out what it was. It's definitely one of the ugliest images I've ever seen.

]]> By: s1rude http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720836 s1rude Fri, 22 May 2009 02:41:22 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720836 This was the first issue of AoA that clicked for me. I still don't love it - I'd like more explicit character development and less being embroiled in the new status quo - but oh well. Spidey's deduction and how it doesn't work any way was a smart touch. Anyone else reading Mysterious the Unfathomable? I can't quite form an opinion on it, myself. There are fabulous ideas in every issue, but something about is keeping me from really connecting to it. Thought I'd check with some other Parker's brothers to see... The Great Unknown is telling its story better, and being more gorgeous, than Metal Men. Take that as you will. Locke & Key and The Incredibles were really good this week; the former may be my favorite book being published with Young Liars exiting the stage. Hotwire is a good read, and a $2.99 one at that. The other thing I got this week was Herogasm - are you a The Boys fan, or is that your dread lord and master? As much as I enjoy a good superhero porn comic, I'm wondering if I picked a wrong jumping on point? Any thoughts? Didn't mean to prattle on quite that much...must be the lack of Swedish uber-Pop... This was the first issue of AoA that clicked for me. I still don't love it - I'd like more explicit character development and less being embroiled in the new status quo - but oh well. Spidey's deduction and how it doesn't work any way was a smart touch.

Anyone else reading Mysterious the Unfathomable? I can't quite form an opinion on it, myself. There are fabulous ideas in every issue, but something about is keeping me from really connecting to it. Thought I'd check with some other Parker's brothers to see...

The Great Unknown is telling its story better, and being more gorgeous, than Metal Men. Take that as you will.

Locke & Key and The Incredibles were really good this week; the former may be my favorite book being published with Young Liars exiting the stage. Hotwire is a good read, and a $2.99 one at that.

The other thing I got this week was Herogasm - are you a The Boys fan, or is that your dread lord and master? As much as I enjoy a good superhero porn comic, I'm wondering if I picked a wrong jumping on point? Any thoughts?

Didn't mean to prattle on quite that much...must be the lack of Swedish uber-Pop...

]]> By: Greg Burgas http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720833 Greg Burgas Fri, 22 May 2009 02:21:34 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720833 Ah, I see. Wolverine says something about the lighting after he beats up Psylocke. Ah, I see. Wolverine says something about the lighting after he beats up Psylocke.

]]> By: Bill Reed http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/05/21/what-i-bought-20-may-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-720832 Bill Reed Fri, 22 May 2009 02:00:11 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/?p=23643#comment-720832 Why yes, I am buying both Captain Britain and Agents of Atlas, but of the three issues of Agents I've read so far, I've been less than thrilled, and may not stick with the series past #5. Unless it wows the pants off me, of course. I'm always willing for Jeff Parker to remove my pants through the majesty of storytelling. Ahem. Why yes, I am buying both Captain Britain and Agents of Atlas, but of the three issues of Agents I've read so far, I've been less than thrilled, and may not stick with the series past #5. Unless it wows the pants off me, of course. I'm always willing for Jeff Parker to remove my pants through the majesty of storytelling. Ahem.

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