Yammering About Comics (pt 3)

Still yammering, but a bit abbreviated, as I have a lot to get through.

Wonder Woman #30
(Rise of the Olympian pt 5)
Diana has had enough of Cheetah's bs and is going to get to Genocide, no matter what. More talk of 'manazons' and Zeus, like the classical version, seems to be a bit of a jerk.
Final Thought: Awesome sauce.

Street Fighter II Turbo #5
Back stories of Cammy & E Honda, continue. Extra insert of C. Viper in the back. Much like Street Fighter Legends, Udon continues their great work. A must for any SF fan.
Final Thought: Love it.

X-Force/ Cable Messiah War parts 1&2
Good art, okay story. It's likely that I'm biased against this one because I'm not a fan of time travel OR Cable. Appearance by a crazed Deadpool lightens things up.
Final Thought: Meh.

The Flash: Rebirth #1
This was loaned to me by a friend. The only Flash I am even remotely familiar is Wally. They gave as much backstory as they could buuut I still have no idea who the villians are in the series. I am sure that if I knew more about the Flash, that I'd likely be peeing my pants.
Final Thought: Need more info.

X-Men Legacy #222
Danger is going batty and Rogue continues on her Danger-induced pilgrimage. Hard to take Shi'ar pirates seriously.
Implications that Rogue's quest was an accident. This irritates me.
Final Thought: Waiting to see how this continues.

Uncanny X-Men #507 (Manifest Destiny)
Manifest Destiny is still going on? Oh. Right. ?_?
Eeeeverybody is getting attacked by something or another. Good battle issue. I sometimes prefer these over a wall of text. A nod to Dark Reign and the Uncanny Annual as well as the return of a huge villian at the end. (no I am not saying who)
Final Thought: 'Snot bad at all, eagerly awaiting Madelyne Pryor & Spiral next issue.

Phew, got done in time for this week's books. I hope to get to the shop more often than I do thus far. :P

on tap: more of the same and probably a smidge of manga.

Last 4 weeks of comics (opinion)

So I'm a little behind on comics these past few weeks but I am catching up now. I'm going to make you suffer through some brief thoughts on the books I've read.

First plucked from the massive pile:
Secret Six #8
Our favorite villains go out on a double date. Not the most exciting issue ever, but made me smile a lot. Dear Gail Simone: please never leave this book.
Final thought: Awesome, as usual.

followed by:
Elektra: Dark Reign #1
Elektra literally speaks only 4 words in this issue (and two are illegible) but it doesn't matter. The book gives a very tense vibe and in the end, shows the reader what a bad ass Elektra is and why she should be feared.
Dear Zeb Wells: I am not familiar with your work, but if it's all like this, I am in for the long haul and shall follow you loyally.
Final thought: FINALLY, Elektra rules again!

then:
All New Savage She Hulk #1 (Dark Reign tie in)
Urgh, I have no idea where to begin. I literally facepalmed a few times while reading it. Writer Fred Van Lente does a bait and switch for this book and it mainly features Lyra, child of Hulk and Thundra.
Dear Fred Van Lente: Not much Jen Walters in this issue, but I have my doubts you can salvage her from the mess she's in.
Final though: Oh gawd, please get better next issue. I don't know if I can handle all this camp.

FINALLY:
X-Factor #41 (not a Dark Reign tie in? wut?)
Peter David continues with the surprises in this book (and has requested no spoilers for the previous 2 issues, so there's nothing I can say at this point that ISN'T one). However, the formula gets a little thin and ends yet again with the 'HEY SURPRISE A TWIST' on the last page.
Final Thought: Wolfsbane isn't around any more. Why am I still reading this. Meh.

Worth an extra dollar.

In June, both Teen Titans and Booster Gold (prior to the launch of Doom Patrol, which debuts later in the summer) will gain their own co-features: Ravager and Blue Beetle, respectively. The co-features will be presented in pages added in addition to the regular series’ stories.

The price goes up a buck, but I think the extra pages will be worth it!

read all of the details at Newsarama.com's article

Yotsuba& + Hockey = Random Tangent

3 on 3 NHL arcade Hockey has been released on the XBLA (and has been on PSN for about a week according to Destructoid. If it even remotely brings back memories of NHL Hitz, then it will be wonderful. Plan to play it this weekend.

More good news, Yotsuba is BACK. Rescued from the vast wastelands by Yen Press. Huzzah!

I glossed over most of the NYCC news on the internet last weekend, because there was TOO much to follow. However, in the Yotsuba news bit, Topless Robot adds this bit about some DC shenanigans - DC apparently needed to show a flowchart at NYCC to explain how Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis worked together, along with all the comics necessary to each one which weren't in their respective series. A flow chart. To understand how to read their comics. Awesome.

I can absolutely understand his feelings. I am confused enough with them bringing Kingdom Come into regular continuity and retconning their crises each time they break the universe. It's no effing wonder it drove Starman insane. I'd just start rambling off about Sloppy Joe Wednesdays if I was him too.

Whoops, tangent.

DC Comics on Facebook

They don't update as often as Marvel, but they're still good updates.

DC Nation on Facebook.

Oh Snap, Secret Six Preview Pages

I had almost figured out the villain last issue, but got the gender wrong. Then again, in Ragdoll's family, that's pretty easy to do.

Check out a 6 page preview at io9.

DCU Online Trailer

The heroes and such look great, but I really want to see combat and character creation videos too. Lots of cons coming up so they're likely to bring an information flood.



(ps If I play I will totally be Oracle's flunky)

source: Destructoid. Read their article here.

MK vs DC G4 review

It gives Wonder Woman the rage.

G4's X Play has reviewed Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe. It's just about what I expected. Good to hear that the fighting is a little smoother.

The video didn't want to embed soooo, click this link.

first the birds, now the Beetle

More internet rumblings confirmed....Blue Beetle is getting canceled.

Okay, so that's two DC books that I read down, two to go (Trinity & Wonder Woman).
Apparently DC books that aren't epic space operas are left to die. HARSH.

The good news is that Jaimie will still be the current Blue Beetle. The other good news is that Barbara Gordon will be getting an Oracle miniseries after BoP's death.
Small favors I guess.

sources: newsarama & DC Comics message boards.
Read the newsarama article, there's a lot of details in there about...well, everything.

edit: it seems that Manhunter got the boot as well, right after the relaunch. Crikey.

RIP, BoP

The Onion's AV club verifies some rumblings I have heard around the internet (and apparently on an episode of AotS I missed) that Birds of Prey, Nightwing and Robin are all getting canceled. I'm hoping this is a gimmick for RIP and drops new issue #1s for people to jump in on. I think BoP was already cancelled once, so I can't lose hope yet.

source: Onion AV club

Thanks for Nothing, DC

So, I was telling a friend about the upcoming Secret Six ongoing series and went to DC to check any info they had. They have info all right - the first three covers. The issue 3 cover has the 'secret' addition to the team that Gail Simone has been incredibly tight lipped about. So yeah, spoilers. Bummer. I wanted the mystery. If you want to spoil it for yourself, go here. If not, avoid previews for a bit.

Sonya Has Panty Line "Issues"

Destructoid posted some new screen shots from MK vs DC and I see that Sonya doesn't have her stupid outfit with the g-string that goes up and outside of her pants like in the last game. However, she still tans in them apparently, because there are some very visible tan lines from said g-string for the world to see. Tacky, Midway. Tacky.

(click the image for a larger version)

Original Destructoid Post here.

MK vs DC footage

via Kotaku and Gametrailers.
Kotaku article here.

Batman...

is a cupcake!
Crappy cell phone picture, but you get the idea :)
Cupcake of dark vengeance found at Publix.

The Gail Simone mini post

Well, here are a couple of news bits about GS and her work on Wonder Woman and the upcoming Secret Six title. (which is already on my pull list at the comic shop, kthx)

Here's a video interview at Wizard World Chicago (I think)

Here's some coverage of the Wonder Woman panel at WWC - Rucka, Simone and Lopresti. A panel of epic proportions to be sure.

Crikey, I feel like Kotaku when they cover J Allard. ~_~;

For the Locals: Sale at the LCS

(LCS = Local Comic Shop)

Emerald City is running a nice sale. From their email:

Because of the Independence Day holiday, new comics will arrive Thursday the 10th instead of Wednesday the 9th. And that means our "Wednesdays That New Comics Don't Arrive" SALE!

On Wednesday, July 9th, buy one trade paperback / graphic novel, and get one of equal or lesser value for half price!

You can do this for as many books as you'd like -- if you buy five books, you get five books for half price!

Also, all back issue comics are 20% off!

-----------
I'll wait to pick up my X-Factor Visionaries till Wed. and add Secret Six - get both for about 25 bucks. Not too shabby! I need to find out the timeline of when Secret Six was released - I assume after Villians United, but if that's right, then some of the lineup doesn't make sense. ?_?

MK vs DC - Catwoman Confirmed

Kotaku knows all, and shares all.

They've essentially verified Catwoman and have pictures to prove it. (although calling Catwoman a villain is utterly off the mark)

That leaves Prototypical Super Hero, Mystical Super Hero, Amazon Queen, Crazy Villain, and Military Superhero among the unidentified generic descriptors of DC Universe kombatants.


Kotaku commenters are calling as follows:

Prototypical Super Hero - Shazam or Superman (Supes already announced?)
Mystical Super Hero - Zatanna or Dr Fate
Amazon Queen -Wonder Woman (no s**t, Sherlock)
Crazy Villain - Joker
and Military Superhero - one of the 8,000 Green Lanterns, likely Jordan or Stewart

Catwoman, Wonder Woman AND Zatanna? Urgh, I have to start saving my pennies. They got me by the throat on this one.

Nerd Moment: (for those reading Wonder Woman right now) WW can't use her lasso on most of the Outworld guys, especially Scorpion, because lasso on the soulless is BAD TIMES.

Ooh ooh, cheap excuse for Lego Batman video clip!

Link Drop - Firefox Download Day edition

Hello hello all. We all doing our geek duty and downloading Firefox 3? I don't know why I joined the bandwagon, perhaps my loathing of IE and Safari. /shrug.

Anyway, enjoy some links on your new browser (or your old one, you technophobe! XP)

comics:

DevilDoll found a wonderful visualization of D&D character classes, as displayed by super heroes.
source(s): Devil Doll & MightyGodKing

Diamond has dropped their May 08 Sales Charts and Market Reports - Marvel gives DC an ugly beat down. Eeeesh. I suppose this is what DC gets for seemingly going out of their way to not give new readers anywhere to jump on. (no recaps!) source: Newsarama

Not Blog X has a recap of (one of the) Rogue mini series from the 90s. He wasn't fond of this series, but trust me, there were worse.
(aside: this is a really cool blog that I'd like to really dig into. Must add to reader!)

games:
AnimeAlmanac found this link of the Portal song 'Still Alive'... in Japanese.
sources: Anime Almanac's Twitter feed & XBox 360 Fanboy

Found in a GaiaOnline thread: For those that don't know what SNK Boss Syndrome is, consider yourself informed.

anime:
Anime News Network reports that PiQ (the magazine that was supposed to replace Newtype) is already dead at issue 4. That took no time at all.

Summer anime season is started and I'm still watching stuff from 2 seasons back. With any luck, I'll finish up Potemayo pretty soon and pick up some of the summer goodness. Hell, I've only seen the first two episodes of 'last' season's Kamen no Maid Guy.

games:

Kotaku found an amazing and hysterical Flash game called Puzzle Farter. Yes, it's flatulence powered travel. Awesome.

DS Fanboy found a clever little alarm clock based on the Metal Gear Solid character, Otacon.

random amusement:

The Twitter Fail Whale has a groupie. That is good times. Follow her @failwhale.

Happy Wednesday

Don't forget to visit your local comic book shop for your superhero fix. (Like X-Men Legacy 211 up there)

Of note:
Claremont's GENEXT #1 drops today. Not a fan of New Exiles but I think this book has promise.
Official blurb: You, the fans, said you wanted to know what today’s new generation of X-Men would be like if the Marvel Universe aged in real-time! Who are the children of the X-Men? And what happened to the original team, Professor X, and Magneto after over 30 years of conflict, victories, and tragedies? Now, at last, the answers arrive as beloved X-Men scribe Chris Claremont reveals an all-new generation of mutant teens!

Huntress: Year One.
Official blurb: As the last survivor of a family eliminated by bloody rivalries among the mobs of Gotham, young Helena Bertinelli was sent overseas for her own safety — but began a quest for vengeance instead. Breakout writer Ivory Madison teams with Cliff Richards for a continent-spanning story that reveals one woman's journey from hunted to Huntress!

Adam Hughes Poster Art

Majoria's News reports a link to new Adam Hughes poster art. (April 19 post) It's some of the ladies of the DCU. It has a very Art Nouveau feel to it. This will look great framed.