Day 2-Comics Find Me

So, its officially been day two of my documentation of distancing myself from comic book culture and I have say it hasn't been a cake walk. I find myself at times getting distracted from the horribly monotonous chore of job searching and writing cover letters wanting to sneak a peek at upcoming previews and reviews of books. But I contain myself from such sin by generally hanging at other websites that arouse my other passion of video games. Which has turned out to be not so bad because I found out about the leak for the sequel to Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Turns out that the plot for this one will revolve around the Civil War and apparently you get to choose which side you want to fight on. Sounds like a winner to me.......more.

Even when I'm avoiding comic books they find a way to weasel themselves into my life. I could use that cliched quote about being pulled back in but come on, in some way, shape, or form comic book culture has intertwined intself into the fabric of mainstream pop culture. Well I'm sore from my always hard run of ultimate frisbee in the park so i'll explain my point about comics and pop culture tomorrow.

Peace.

Broke and Back

Ok, ive been gone from the blogoshpere of the comic book realm for a while now and for good reason. I'm JOBLESS and BROKE, going on almost seven months now. I had saved enough money to continue my weekly Wednesday euphoria for the first three months of unemployment, with the hopes of returning to my old seasonal job, but the job screwed me and the money quickly dried up. Now as an individual who has been reading comic books for the 24 years of life i've spent on this planet and considering the massive amount of time I put into writing a thesis on the genre my senior year in college.

So, I came up with this bright idea that I should just go cold turkey off the (comic)junk until I get a job. Which means, no comic websites or blogs, cutting off The Penrod when he starts rambling about D.C., no more kick ass reviews and no more visiting my local comic book shop (sigh). Going to the shop to look at books would be a bigger tease than some of my ex girlfriends (Ba Zing!). But seriously folks, wiping comic books from, as it stands right now, my pathetic life truly is disappointing as Secret Invasion, The Death of Batman, X-Force, and the Hulk were growing in plot.

However, before I get out of here The Penrod did inform me that Mike Turner died from his long bout with cancer, my condolences to his family and fans, as we've truly lost one of the greats in the industry of comic books.

P.S.

My ban on comics doesn't reach to the cinema as I have already seen Iron Man (kick-ass) and the Hulk (still to unrealistic with the graphics, but a better story). Batman in July is next on the agenda for filling my fix, I'm freaking stoked for Heath's Joker.

First Release 4 March

More post-Messiah Complex complex books along with other goodies release this week. But, overall it's still a slow week for comics.

MARVEL
Amazing Spider-Man #552
Amazing Spider-Man #552 (1 in 20) Granov Incentive Cover
Anita Blake Guilty Pleasures #9
Anita Blake Guilty Pleasures #9 (1 in 10) Booth Incentive Cover
Cable #1
Cable #1 (1 in 20) Liefeld Incentive Cover
Clandestine #2
Dark Tower Long Road Home #1
Dark Tower Long Road Home #1 (1 in 25) Deodato Incentive
Dark Tower Long Road Home #1 (1 in 75) Lee Sketch Incentive
Logan #1
Logan #1 B&W Edition
Lords of Avalon #2
Marvel Spotlight Hamilton Martin
Moon Knight #16
Omega Unknown #6
Penance Relentless #5
Powers #28
Punisher War Journal #17
Twelve #3
Uncanny X-Men #496
X-Force #2
X-Force #2 Bloody Edition

DC
All New Atom #21
Countdown Lord Havok & the Extremists #5
Countdown to Adventure #7
Countdown to Final Crisis #8
DC Special Raven #1
Detective Comics #842
Green Lantern #28
Infinity Inc #7
Jonah Hex #29
Justice League New Frontier Special
Nightwing #142
Supergirl #27
Teen Titans Year One vol. 3

Mini Reviews!!

Because this weeks books I picked up were all solid reads, I will get to them, but before I do I must finish up the book reviews from last week with mini reviews..... WOOT!

The Mighty Avengers #9
Its the Mighty Avengers vs. Dr. Doom in this issue as the Avengers launch an attack on Castle Von Doom after its revealed that he released the Venom virus. Since the Civil War ended, most heroes have registered and are now either working for a team in each of the fifty states or is a Mighty Avenger. The idea of this book was to show what its like working for the government after registration and even though this story has dragged at times, I think its succeeded in doing so.

Brian Michael Bendis continues to write this story as most of this issue revolves around the team taking down Doom's sentries and bringing Doom to justice. There are six-pages of this book are dedicated to pure action and zero dialogue. Which is fine with me, because since issue one the book has been more about bringing together this new team, Ms. Marvel and her leadership skills with this new team, and how Shield and the Government regulate the heroes. So this story is a welcome change.

However, this Doom arc, is nothing but a ploy to keep people entertained until its Secret Invasion time. The story is also predictable because after reading the first two pages I immediately knew where this issue was going to end. The only reason I could really recommend this book is because Marko Djurdjevic makes a guest appearance, taking the helm for two pages, bringing his concept art into the fold as Dr. Doom visits a beautiful and (half) naked sorceress. This is a book you can probably avoid until a Skrull pops out of a hole or they let the New Avengers go.... again.

Marvel's Feeble Attempt To Run Wolverine Into the Ground. [Update]

During my afternoon internet surfing I came across this gem from the people over at marvel. Apparently there are more skrull faces that marvel is screwing around, including, Hawkman, Jean Grey and today they just added Spider Woman.



Now, I'm one of the many fans who's looking forward to Marvel's big event, but Wolverine, as a Skrull.....Who knows....[Marvel]

Wolverine isn't a Skrull and clearly Marvels' trying to make readers paranoid with these pics and it's kinda working. Whenever i'm reading a marvel book I'm wondering about each hero and their intentions.

Release list for Final Week

Most of the books this month weren't bad at all and March can only get better!!

MARVEL
Black Panther Annual #1
Captain America #35
Criminal 2 #1
Daredevil #105
House of M Avengers #5
Kick-Ass #1
Kick-Ass #1 (1 in 10) McNiven Incentive Cover
Kick-Ass #1 (1 in 25) JRJR Incentive Cover
Marvel Illustrated Picture of Dorian Gray #3
Marvel Zombies 2 #5
New Exiles #0
New Exiles #1 (2nd Print)
New Warriors #9
Punisher #51
She Hulk #26
Spider-Man With Great Power #2
Thor #6
Thunderbolts International Incident
Twelve #1 (2nd Print)
Ultimate Fantastic Four #51
Ultimate Spider-Man #119
WWH Aftersmash Damage Control #2
X-Men First Class vol. 2 #9
X-Men Legacy #208
Young Avengers Presents #2

DC
Action Comics #862
Action Comics #862 (1 in 10) Incentive Cover
All Star Batman & Robin # 9
All Star Batman & Robin #9 (1 in 10) Incentive Cover
Batman #674
Blue Beetle #24
Countdown to Final Crisis #9
Crime Bible 5 Lessons of Blood #5
JLA Classified #53
JSA Classified #35
Justice Society of America #13
Justice Society of America #13 (1 in 10) Incentive Cover
Legion of Super Heroes #39
Teen Titans #56
Uncle Sam & Freedom Fighters #6

Runaways Review!!! Finally!!!

Runaways, a book I've been waiting for this book for what seems like a year, but its really been a few months. Now I've been looking for a reason to get on writer Joss Wheedon's case for the lengthy delay of this book. But, once again, I have nothing but hugs and hand pounds to pass around.

Now before I review I had to go way back into the stacks and find the damn back issues of this book because I pretty much had forgotten most of the plot past the point of the kids getting stuck in the past. So the Runaways were contracted by the Kingpin to steal something of significant importance, which turns out to be a time machine, things go crazy and boom!!! The group is back in 1907 with the time machine busted. They end up meeting people who have superpowers and classify themselves as wonders. Now the plot gets a little more complicated when they story breaks down into three 'wonders' groups; The Street Arabs, none are Arab, but all are kids or teens like the Runaways, The City's Protectors, claim to protect the city, and the Sinners, stating the obvious, bad dudes. Then the book throws in another curve as it's revealed that the time traveling parents of deceased Runaway, Gertrude Yorkes, are leading the Sinners.

To wrap this in a pretty bow and bring us back to the current part of the story. These three groups aren't holding hands and doing whatever friendly things you do in 1907 and a gang war breaks out as most of the Runaways have come back together. While most of the group is looking for a way back to the present their leader, Nico is being held captive and tortured by her great grandmother, a powerful sorceress for the Protectors. This encounter happens only to make Nico stronger as the grandmother knows she is weak by sorcery standards. While Nico is tortured/stronger, the group attempts to escape from the ensuing melee but, the Yorkes plan is revealed as they plant a bomb in a middle if the square where the fight is going down. This may lead to the Runaways meeting the plotting parents of Gertrude.

Even though it took this book almost three months two come, it was well worth the wait. The story still has that young, light-hearted, teenage feel to it, while still being able to turn it up a notch with the action and suspense. The art was a nice mixture of serious and cartoonist blending well with the teenagers story. Micheal Ryan's art throughout the series has been well done. Hopefully this book ships sooner because this has been a good story and it only looks to be getting better.