Wow, the week in which I bought twice as many Marvel books… weird.

Detective Comics #844

Adorable.

Really classic story and wraps up a bunch of stuff Dini has laid out during his run. I’m not sure if he’s nearing his sign-off, or just wrapping up a bunch of stuff at once or what. But it was very reminiscent of some old bat-stuff.

In a good way.

Nightwing #144

Ass. Total ass.

It's not necessarily the story itself. For instance, the Mother of Champions part was like reading a whole other book. It’s all the rest of the baggage Tomasi brings to the table that kills it for me.

The story suffers from nigh-unreadable ridiculousness, not the least of which is Talia Al’Ghul’s—trained assassin with bottomless pockets and connections across the world through the Society and otherwise—best idea is to spend trillions animating an undead army on a remote high-tech island... which predictably ends badly.

Not, y’know, hiring some thugs or going underground.

Now, I’ve already dropped Nightwing, that’s it, I’m done. In case you missed it here’s why. (Also, I finally found someone who agrees with me!).

But I present to you the best page in Tomasi's run.


“Silence is golden.”

Why? B/c he shuts up and just lets Nightwing be cool. Nightwing is already cool, he doesn't need you constantly flapping his gums, making him bang strange chicks or fly around on his marvelous machine.

I can only suggest everyone go back and read the early trades, where McDaniel drew him as an acrobat who looked at the world as a series of things he could land on or continue his momentum off of.

I wish I could convince you all that you deserve better. But so far the internets are just so deliriously pleased it’s not X creator, they’re breaking their legs running to the shop to shower money on this tripe.

Dick, you know where I’ll be when the flash is out of the pan.

Rann Thanagar: Holy War #1

If this storyline finally goes somewhere, great. Otherwise what are we really doing?

So far, so good, though. Starlin really rocks space and it'll be nice to see all these dangling storylines come together and maybe do something. I would like for that to be the goal. Not just selling me 8 issues about some crap no one really cares about.

I would like to compliment Captain—er, just “Comet” on both the scene where he debriefs the JLA (and charges for it), giving them the heads up nobody wants their dirty Earth anyway; and also for his new lease on life which he intends to get his full value from:


“Adam Strange? You haven't seen me.”

In other news, Kori doesn't take orders from Robin.

Speak of Kori, I’d rather her be in space written by Starlin then on earth written by Winnick. I actually like Kori (or have historically), but she really has nothing going for her other than sitting around and sucking the air out of rooms anymore.

Put her in space where she fulfills a niche and can actively claim some amount of specialty.

Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas #1

Really cute, albeit short.

I have a feeling this whole story could've been sorted out in one issue, but they made it four anyway. Still, for Favreau's foray into comics, it's pretty alright.

Plus, Elsa Bloodstone.


“If Monica Rambeaux calls, you haven’t seen me.”

As you can see the art is double-G gorgeous.

Invincible Iron Man #1

I see why the kids are digging the Fraction.

This book has a good hook and you can dance to it, but it still stars an unrepentant Tony Stark, probably controlling satellites with his mind.

I would ask for a) some context (though I recognize that's probably a selling point), and b) some limitations on Tony’s power set.

Fraction is good enough at his job that the badguy comes along nicely.

But especially riding the movie wave, I would rather see Iron Man go back to a guy in a suit who builds bigger suits when he needs to beat somebody.

Mighty Avengers #13

I wish *I* had 18 different series to spread my story through.

Considering Secret Invasion has clocked in at approximately seven minutes in two issues, it's probably a good thing New and Mighty Avengers are around to pick up the light work laying all the rest of the pieces on the board.

This issue did have one of two Layla Miller appearances and that's always a good thing.


“Have fun storming the castle. If Fury asks, you haven't seen me.”

Which unfortunately indicates this is another crossover which won't touch on mutants. This faux segregation has to stop in my opinion.

My girlfriend Illyana Rasputin had a breakdown and it was absolutely Daredevil's problem. The Marauders slaughtered the Morlocks and Thor came across Angel's body in the sewer. Magneto turned a new leaf and the Avengers had to track him down for war crimes. Good stories, all.

Instead of drawing a line down the center of the Marvel Universe Greg and Marsha Brady-like, let's get back to a place where they can contribute.

I could appreciate it if Marvel were taking precious time to fix their franchise, but they're not, they just keep stirring the water wondering where the number one selling comic of all time went.

It’s time for mutants to remind the Marvel U they’re people too, and a Skrull Invasion affects them as much as anybody.

Secret Invasion #2

Good follow up, but this is taking too long. I mean it, seven minutes have passed since the first panel of last issue. I understand this is Bendis but it’s a little egregious even for him.

Still, I won’t argue that this story continues its inevitable march to slickness.

Maybe this will put Tony back into a suit that doesn't control satellites. I would like that.


“Did you know this suit is really heavy.”

The punking of Sentry is always amusingly easy. Seriously, as DC's Superman, Bob continues to fail. However, Spider-man versus Spider-man is must read comics right there.


“Are you my Skrull, or the Skrull of one of my clones?”

Does Clint not know how nunchukas work, or Leinel?


“You know you’re supposed to hold one end, right Clint?”

I mean, it’s comedy gold each time, but that’s seriously not how those are used.

X-Factor One Shot #1: The Quick and The Dead

I have to pay closer attention. This is another GDing One-Shot.

Granted, this one is actually written by Peter David and it's a nice little issue that hopefully puts Pietro back where he should be.

But you could’ve not bought this issue and your life (and run of X-Factor) would be just as complete.

But it did have the other Layla appearance this week.


“All I want for Christmas is you choking on your gum.”

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #14

I gotta tell you, this storyline is doing less and less for me. But I'm reading several worse comics a month still, so it's a long way from the drop list.

Alright, so I keep saying I have a pay writing gig, right?

I just sent off my last assignment, so it’s finally time to announce:


I made this!

The core book will be revealed at GenCon’08 and it’s really effin’ cool (seeing my name in someone else’s print notwithstanding). To be fair, my part in the main book was more or less writing the indicia for ~50 cents, but as my first writing paycheck I reserve the right to loom large about it.

As cool as being credited will be (I wrote my own credit in the proofed version while no one was looking) my real work will show up later in two of the five follow up books. The core book was written by talented folks who are much better at their job than I.

Look for me to have something to say about vampires and werewolves closer to 2009.

I know what you’re saying to yourself: “So, you read comic books, your favorite show is aimed at 10 year olds and you’re a roleplaying nerd? …someone married you?”

I’m also a video game aficionado enough to believe it’s appropriate to call myself an “aficionado”. That’s right. Y’all can suck it!

Not only did I get her to marry me, but my two children are proof I did a little something else, if you know what I mean*?

There’s hope for everyone is all I’m saying.

*I held her purse while she was off with whoever the real father is. I totally stole all her quarters to play skill crane!

Holy Fucking Rad!!

*Was I the only one who saw RDJ in those welding goggles and thought: Starman Jack! Be dialing my number DC!

In Which I Bought More Marvel, and Marvel Won.

Countdown #13

Even more of the Challengers (four weeks in a row now!).

-See the most boringest war ever!
-Watch as too much crap happens in too confined a space!
-Gaze in horror as plotlines are dropped or forgotten!
-Thrill at the sight of a universe being destroyed but somehow leaving a sapling behind!
-Be amazed as Donna Troy protects a person from a nuclear wave of destruction with just the brunt of her body!
-Hold onto your dates as characters show up for one panel and die as if you gave a crap!
-Hold down your lunch as two obscure characters continue to get completely overestimated in terms of power, in case you weren’t already choking on the idea that they’re apparently big, big, big and unbeatable!

Only 13 more issues right? Then something happens? Grant Morrison? Does Grant Morrison happen in 13 issues? B/c I think I should like that very much.

Green Lantern #27

I can’t believe I’m going to say this….

I think Geoff Johns needs to be writing more stuff in the DCU.

I know, I know. I’ve already MFed his goodly name for trying to write too much. And yea, verily it did dilute his quality. More to the point, I would like him to take over GLC from Tomasi --of whom I am of low opinion-- and just rock and roll two Green Lantern books a month. His work on GL is simply that good and I want more from him (and less from Tomasi).

The Alpha Lanterns are a terrible idea that ring of the terrible idea they truly are. That’s going to suck and I can’t wait. Which is precisely why I’d like to see Johns be the through-line in the big cosmic struggle that is the greater GLC.

As it stands I’m worried it’s going to be too much to fit in one book. And we don’t really need a book about Kyle and Guy legalizing gay marriage on Oa (it’ll be the next new law in the Book of Oa, mark my words).


"Did you think we were just a bunch of bald blue bachelors? We hand out jewelry and kicked out all our women fer crying out loud. That oath is just the chorus to a torch song"

Not that I have a problem with their gay marriage, I just find it indulgent to dedicate a book to it.

Death of the New Gods #5

Wow, so… so that’s pretty much what’s going on?

Screw, Countdown, man. Read this instead. It seriously just told a good portion of the whole story, and I mean the whole story. Plus Kalibak and Mantis bite it.

Scott Free is going nuckin’ futs. which is a weird place for Scott but it seems to be going somewhere so I’ll allow it. I have my problems with some bits, but mostly its hubris is outweighed by its quality. Though I admit, it’s an acquired taste.

It’s a little bit awesome and more important than anything else DC is telling in regards to this whole Countdown to Final Crisis biz.

Mighty Avengers #8

A weird issue that seems to have very little to do with anything much at all. It wasn’t bad, it was just kind of random and suffered from new art-itis. Some cool stuff happened with the New Avengers and the Skrull thing. Plus one metric bitch load of symbiotes. You know, for frosting.

Tony in this book comes off heroically douchey. Which I think it how we’re supposed to see him in this post Civil War era. Thing is, I believe this Tony more than I did in the actual pages of Civil War. You can see the line between him being an ass, and him being the kind of ass who can save the world a bunch. It’s a Marvel thing.

Captain America #34

9 issues later and we get the new Captain America.

Honestly, I wish it had just stood pat and let Bucky just be Bucky, or Winter Soldier or whatever. This issue seemed a signal that it might be time to move on from this book.

Which is a shame, b/c it’s no less quality. I’m just not as into reading about someone trying not to be Steve while still basically being Steve. What? He pulls a Luger and I’m supposed to believe that’s the dividing line.

Sorry, no sale.

I’ll be flipping through the next issue before I buy it at least. I still recommend this book all-told. It could’ve been a lot worse. Like, One More Day kind of worse.

See? Kind of glad it’s just Bucky now aren’t you?

Marty’s Pick of the Week
Avengers: The Initiative #9

A solid runner up for the bestest book in the whole 616. Slott is killing this book and a lot of people in it along the way (I noticed a co-credit to Christopher Gage -who does not impress nearly as much-- this might account for some of the tone shift).

Surely some of this must be a dream, or a simulation, or a… a something. You don’t just shoot Hank Pym dead –no matter how much you might want to. Not to mention the other half of your cast. We shall see what’s going down next month.

Until then, there's always this:


”Me and you… me and you don’t have to happen, man”.


Be buying this book. Be buying this book to support Dan Slott instead of Bad New Day.