Basic Action Super Heroes!

Yesterday, I picked up two new comic books that, for a 1st, happen to be premiere issues of a series. The first is X-MEN #1 of the Marvel Now line, and the second is a six-part limited series INFINITY. I haven’t had the good fortune, or spare cash, to be able to pick up any stories from the first issue on, so I was excited to be able to get these two books home and read.

The X-MEN book was chock full of gorgeous art from cover to cover. I was a little surprised to see an ensemble of favorite mutant characters but devoid of any male representatives. Maybe in future issues some of the guys will have more than a name drop (wolverine) or glimpse of a back in one panel (Beast). Still, the story was quite absent in this issue. Scenes passed from one event to another but lacked any engaging dialog. The only hint of a story is that we find out that a brother and sister don’t get along. We also learn: 1) that taking care of some babies can be quite trying; 2) that will some people can be troublesome, their sibling might prove to be devastatingly more of a headache to deal with; and, 3) the total demolishment of a passenger train has little impact on anyone (except, maybe, to the school’s financial manager, who’s going to have to shell out some cash for the clean-up costs).

…And then I turned, more hopefully, to the other book I picked up, INFINITY! I can now say that I understand what an “Event” is. For those that haven’t picked up many comic books over the last two decades, it is a limited-run, comic series that asks you to buy a few issues of books from other comic title lines, in order to encapsulate the whole ‘story’. Well, while not quite as satisfying as the art in X-MEN, it was still quite good. Also, though just $1 more in price, the book was about twice as thick and threw in many, many more recognizable Marvel characters (many of which were thankfully of the male gender – this book is not all about showing off those beautiful female curves). This book is loaded; a real event for sure! So many explosions… So many people in trouble… So many nostalgic encounters with characters from across the Marvel Universe, some of whom I had forgotten about (like the Spaceknights of Galador)… So much… waste of space! There is nothing of interest here to pull me in; just a bunch of empty lines and bloody situations hitting me with every turn of the page in rapid-fire succession.

Both of these books really failed to give me a story to identify with. They were just snapshots of situations without real meaning. I was quite disappointed and called back my comic shop to cancel my orders for subsequent issues. Like I said, I was quite unsatisfied with these books.

Has anyone else experienced this, or am I alone in my disappointment? They can’t all be an empty series of events. Has anyone found some worthwhile gems out there?

I started getting the ironically titled All-New X-Men with #1, just because I like the original five, but I was constantly on the verge of dropping it. Nothing ever happened, but then the last couple of pages would get me hooked to buy the next issue. Classic Bendis. Things have started to pick up the last few issues, so I'm hanging with it for now.

My fab four would undoubtedly be Fantastic Four and FF by Matt Fraction, and Captain Marvel and Avengers Assemble by Kelly Sue DeConnick (the last several months, CM and AA have been merged due to a cross-over between the two).

Captain Marvel would be a good pick up right now because it's the start of something new with her. I also like the new Red Sonja comic by Gail Simone, which is just into issues #1 and #2 at the moment. It's really good.

Speaking of Fantastic Four, I had picked up a cheap sampler of Ultimate Fantastic Four a year or so back and loved the spin they had given them. Never had the spare cash at the time to invest in comic books regularly so I never followed up with them (and feel regretful about passing on the oportunity).

I checked out Captain Marvel + Avengers crossover through google and I'm glad to see Carol Danvers is back! The last I had seen of her was the issue where Rogue stole her powers. I'll be sure to try and check that Captain Marvel series out.

The first six (I think) CM issues have been collected in a TPB. I'd recommend that, and also if you can find back issues for #7 & #8, it's a cute little two part story, and has some of the most gorgeous art I've ever seen in a comic, by Dexter Soy (who also drew some of the first six issues).

Re: Ultimate FF, I read the first few issues of that, but never really got into any of the Ultimate line. I wanted to like Ultimate FF, it just didn't really get me hooked.

I have "The Essential Avengers" #1 - 8. I've read all cover to cover (half through #8 now). They don't make em like they used to. Each "arc" of plot really is resolved in 2 to 3 issues it seemed back in those days, while STILL exploring subplots and setting up future plots for later issues.

Thanks FTJ for the heads-up regarding the CAPTAIN MARVEL tradeback, I'll be sure to pick that one up.

I think that I'll check out ESSENTIAL AVENGERS as well, BASHMAN, if I can find the graphic novel version (shouldn't be a problem to find with Amazon). The AVENGERS were my absolute favorite comic title back in the day. The trade paperback versions of comics might be the way for me to ease back into 'occasional' comic book collecting - that way I can pick up complete story lines without worry of missing one book in the series.

Now that I got my nook HD +, and now that Barnes & Noble opened it up for the google app store, I can actually get Comixology, and maybe read some comics again.

I want to check out Infinity, simply because I love the cosmic stuff. More importantly though, I want to finally check out Better Robo, which I've heard is one of the best comics going today.

Anyway, I gave up on comics right around the time they did the storyline in DC where Doctor Light killed Elongated Man's wife. I did get Villains United before Infinite Crisis, and that was pretty good, but after that, I kind of stopped. Reading some of the synopsis for both Infinite Crisis and Blackest Night, as well as Civil War, I'm glad I did. Sound like some good ideas surrounded by a lot of crap.

MrJupiter wrote:Thanks FTJ for the heads-up regarding the CAPTAIN MARVEL tradeback, I'll be sure to pick that one up.

I think that I'll check out ESSENTIAL AVENGERS as well, BASHMAN, if I can find the graphic novel version (shouldn't be a problem to find with Amazon). The AVENGERS were my absolute favorite comic title back in the day. The trade paperback versions of comics might be the way for me to ease back into 'occasional' comic book collecting - that way I can pick up complete story lines without worry of missing one book in the series.

Mr. J that's exactly what these were; Trade Paperbacks. They were also black and white on cheap pulp paper, but that's why they are so affordable. The stories are still as bright as ever; no color needed!

In fact, some of them even have crossovers included. So when the Avengers meet the Defenders, and it is resolved over both series, they have the Avengers issue AND the Defenders issue involving that plotline!

Interestingly enough; I'm not sure if this was intentional by you, or if it is pure coincidence, but there is a villain that shows up at some point that is a dead ringer for your avatar. His name is "Imus Champion". He's inhumanly tall and at one point hires Hawkeye to teach him how to shoot a bow... then once he has mastered it, reveals himself as a bad guy. A very obscure villain I would never have heard of if not for these paperbacks.

Also one of my favorite Hulk storylines is also in its pages. Oddly it seems to be a storyline that gets (at least partially) repeated by the World War Hulk storyline DECADES later! But instead of another planet, Hulk is shrunk to the point that he's in a sub-molecular universe where he meets a princess...

It sounds like those b/w trade books would be a great deal (it would probably be a mental hurtle for me to go without colour, but the idea of an affordable story is very appealing - especially right now as I've gone a little overkill lately with Kickstarter).

I've never heard of Imus Champion before but that sounds like an intersseting storyline. I definately like the idea of seeing all issues related to a story in one book - especially if it brings in an essential story from another comic title.

As for Hulk, I've only heard bits and pieces about World War Hulk so this miniturized storyline would be pretty fresh to me.

Thanks!

I remember Imus Champion. Was that the story where he set the Avengers and Squadron Supreme against each other?

Hey, guys. I haven't been around here in awhile.

If you like Marvel and really want to read, I strongly recommend the Marvel Unlimited service. For $69/yr, you get digital access to several thousand issues.

If your primary interest is reading, not collecting, this is great. I've been a member for a little over a year, and I've read hundreds of comics. I caught up on every one of the major Marvel events of the past decade, followed up on some favorite characters, and started reading all the classics out loud to my sons. We finished Avengers 1-50 and now we're working on FF (up to 20 so far).

A couple minor downsides: I've had some minor technical issues. Some more obscure stuff is missing. Newest stuff is usually about a year behind.

But really: I've probably paid about 10 cents an issue to read these stories. (Yes, I read issues almost every day.)

Hey drkrash, that's a neat service. Does it present the issues through a web browser or does it use some kind of tablet app?

I'm not sure I'd want ot put out that much cash for everything. I'm curious though, if there might be an X number of issues for 10 or 20 bucks option. That would be a deal I might look into for, say, 20 to 40 issues.

It works through web browsers and through tablets.

Unfortunately, there is no limited version of the service, though there is some comics that are available for non-subscribers so you can check it out and you can see the first page or two of any issue as a tease also.

As for the price, again, it depends on whether or not you care about owning something - either a collectible issue or a trade that you will keep for a long time. For me, I just wanted to read great stories, so the price is totally worth it. I probably read 10 issues today alone.

That is cool. I just not sure if I could get through enouph issues to make it worth while. I'm figuring I could reasnably read about 2 issues a week... that's about 60-70 cents per issue...

Hmmm. I'll have to do some thinking on this...

Addendum: You can skip the current and next issue of Captain Marvel since they're part of a tie-in. Hopefully after that will be a better time to check out an issue if you're so inclined.

I hate tie-ins with a passion. So I'm miffed that Avengers Assemble and CM both got sucked into this "event".