Friday, February 24, 2006

Comics - What I Read This Week...

Here's another review format I've been tinkering with...let's see how it goes.

Wolverine v3 #39
by Daniel Way, Javier Saltares and Mark Texiera

This issue was actually fairly decent as far as Wolverine issues go. Personally, I don't like Daniel Way's writing style. There are some things he writes (like the Bullseye mini) which I enjoy, and then there are books like Wolverine which make me question my sanity at reading them at all. Anyway, this issue wasn't that bad because it focused on actually telling us something rather than giving us vague hints and covert ops that make no sense. I really like Bucky's connection with Wolverine, and the characterization made sense with what we've seen over in Captain America. This issue was still somewhat...light...but atleast something happened. And that's better than nothing. Either way, I've been hating the Origins and Endings storyline, and can't wait for this book to separate itself from the past.

Batman #650
by Judd Winick, and Eric Battle


I don't like Judd Winick's DCU work. It just seems to be intended for shock, and controversy purposes and if that's the whole point of the book...then the book cannot possibly be any good. On that note though, I was enjoying the whole Red Hood storyline in this. Jason was becoming a truly effective foil for Batman and we got to see a side of Bruce that isn't readily shown in Bat-comics these days. The ending this issue however...sucked. It was the least satisfying ending I've seen since this whole "Countdown to OYL" thing started and if weren't for the fact that James Robinson is going to be writing Batman starting next issue...I would not be bothering with this book anymore.

Green Lantern v4 #9
by Geoff Johns, and Ethan Van Sciver


This will be the last issue of Green Lantern I read for a good long time. I've given this book a lot of leeway...mostly because I like Johns' writing and I was enjoying the Bianchi fill-ins. But OYL is the perfect oppurtunity to jump ship and I'm taking it. Hal Jordan is quite possibly the most boring Green Lantern ever. I've hated the guy since I first read him in an old issue of JLA from the Satellite era. He was always too smug, too "cool" and too annoying to bother with. Still, I figured what the hell...if anyone can revive the old fossil, it'll be Johns. Unfortunately, other than punching people and being a jerk, Hal does nothing else. Apparently that is his character...and as far as I'm concerned, I don't want to read about the guy who probably used to bully kids shorter than him in school. The book itself was ok, but man was that the most contrived Batman-Punch! in history and had the most stupid, out-of-character ending I've ever read.

That's it for now. This isn't by any means everything I read this week...but it's a start. Expect more every saturday-sunday from now on since I've read about 80% of my pull-list by that time. Hopefully this will work out for the best.

*P.S. Sorry about no covers today, but my connection's acting up...and I'd rather post something than not post anything based on some puny images.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Cats - B.T.


As promised, here's another one of my cats. This time it's the mighty hunteress herself...B.T. (which stands for Bhalu 3...yeah, we like legacies in this house). Anyway, B.T. is one our "fat" cats who likes to sleep and eat...and when not doing these two things, she likes to attack anything smaller than her that can move. We're talking about birds, lizards, snakes, insects...anything she can get her paws on, she grabs and then mercilessly plays with until they're dead. She's one of the luckier ones fortunately...never bit off more than she can chew and always careful in attempting to jump off walls/shelves that are too high even for a cat's prodigious abilities. By the way, for those wondering, B.T. is the granddaughter of Pheeney and the daughter of Peachy...who I shall be posting right here very, very soon!

Friday, February 17, 2006

Comics - Some Stuff I Finally Caught Up On...

Here comes yet another bid in attempting to convert this blog into a semi-regular thing. I figure if I even get something new up once every 2 weeks, it'll be a good start and I can slowly work my way up to the coveted daily position! But for now, let's kick things off with a 2 comics that I finally managed to get around to reading.

7 Days to Fame #2 (of 3) - After Hours Press

I read the first issue of this series expecting to hate it. This was ofcourse based on two reasons: 1) My hatred for reality t.v. shows, and 2) My hatred for comics based on reality t.v. shows. Anyway, I read an interview by the writer, Buddy Scalera, and it appeared to me that he had some of the same ideas about where reality t.v. was headed if it continued in it's current v
ein as I did. So, I read it...and it was great. Cool concept, nice art, and a cohesive, complete story contained within a single issue. Considering that, I had some pretty high hopes for this issue, and I'm glad it delivered. We finally see how such a show can exist (through webcasts...it's so simple I'm surprised that someone already doesn't have anything like this in place), the thought processes behind creating such a show, and most importantly, the feelings that a person would have to go through in order to consider becoming a subject on this show. Excellent story which examines our fame-obsessed culture and looks at it from both sides without demonizing either one. Definitely a must read.

Overall Score: 4/5

I (Heart) Marvel: Web of Romance - Marvel Comics

I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and I love seeing Marvel try their hand at attempting to re-introduce the Romance Comics genre. While of the two I (Heart) Marvels I own, one was a mixed bag at best (I (Heart) Marvel: My Mutant Heart), this book was a true gem, and I absolutely adored it. Tom Beland (Better known for True Story: Swear to God!) writes Mary Jane and Peter as if he's known them his entire life. They are close personal friends and we are being allowed an all too rare glimpse into how much love they truly have for each other. I'm a big fan of the Peter/MJ pairing and actively abhor Gwen Stacy at this point just for having been first (although the fact that she was killed off soothes me somewhat). This issue was especially dear to me because of it's focus on Valentine's Day and the trouble with gift-shopping. I tend to go through this problem every single year and usually, much like Spidey in this, end up buying something or coming up with something at the last minute. I also adore Corey Walker's artwork, so it was nice to see more of it outside of Invincible (which you should all be reading!!!) This issue was funny, sweet, and just plain old fun...something we haven't recieved from a Spider-Man comic in quite a while. Well worth the cover price, and probably the only I (Heart) Marvel book I'll actively recommend.

Overall Score: 4.5/5

That's it for now. I will try to update soon. Maybe even do a Major Infinite Crisis review session covering issues 2-5 and I'll probably offer up some thoughts on why, although I like the idea, I'm dreading the excecution of One Year Later. Also, expect more pictures of the cats (since I have been taking a lot more...) and very, very soon, a rough plot of a Mighty Thor fanfic I'm currently percolating in my mind.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Yet Another Attempt...

If any of you are stil following this out there...if any were in the first place anyway; I thank you. Mostly humbly and graciously, I thank you. I know I've been horrible about updating this, and the ever-changing format doesn't exactly help to gain me any supporters. See, the fact of the matter is that I'm not sure what I want to do with blog...not yet anyway...and so I'm just trying different things and seeing what works, what doesn't and what will allow me to post to the utmost of my ability without compromising the other aspects of my life (I wish I were like some other bloggers who practically live online...but I, unfortunately, still have school and it does end up taking a lot more time than you would think.)

So, anyway, in light of all that, it's time for yet another format change. Instead of posting at random like I've been doing. I'm going to combine all my disparate interests together and attempt to write atleast a weekly (twice a week maybe) thing about everything that interests and kinda have a huge post which encompasses everything. The first attempt at this will be up either tonight or tomorrow morning depending on how long I spend shopping for a new cell today (yay! new cell!)

Until then, thanks to anyone who's bothered to read this, and a possible welcome to anyone who might show up!