Comics Fondle

Dark Horse

Solomon Kane #1

I don’t know why though. It’s like I’m caught up in the hype from the early days of Conan, back when it seemed like Dark Horse could do no wrong on that series. I suppose I should head over to Dark Horse’s MySpace page and check out the preview. I’m actually not impressed with the art page in previews… the proportions and perspective all look off, like artist Mario Guevera is desperate to invoke the mighty Image boys of the 1990s. But Scott Allie had a real enthusiasm for Robert E. Howard, based on those Conan letter pages. Might be the first time I’ve ordered a book because of someone’s editorial exuberance.

Speak of the Devil HC

I’ve always preferred Jaime to Beto; those early Maggie stories had such invention, while Beto lost it in Palomar (though, he lost it similar to how Gabriel Garcia Márquez lost it in One Hundred Years of Solitude). The first Los Bros. book I ever read was a Beto, actually. It was Grip: The Strange World of Man and, wow, did I hate it. But I’ve heard good things (I think) about Speak of the Devil. So, it’s a definite maybe, if not a definite buy already.

B.P.R.D. Volume Nine: 1946 TPB

After reading this series in floppies, I was ready to go out and buy the B.P.R.D. library. I could ramble on, but it’d all basically just be the same stuff I said in my response here.

DC

Trinity 14-17

I finally have the first three issues, but I haven’t read them yet. I supposed I am, therefore, the perfect comic book reader (sorry, consumer). I buy comics without knowing if they’re any good and go so far as to ignore edifying myself when all it’ll take is fifteen minutes. Still, I do like Busiek’s superhero stuff… so I’m moderately hopeful.

The War That Time Forgot #5

Sanity will probably prevail and I’ll stop ordering this title (it’s hard to conceive of it running twelve issues, having read the first). On the other hand, as a Who’s Who faithful from the 1980s, this issue’s promise of G.I. Robot is more than I can resist. I don’t think I’ve read a G.I. Robot story since I was seven years old.

Batgirl #3

I keep hoping it’ll be expanded to an ongoing, but I guess it’s a little soon. I don’t think the first issue has even streeted yet.

Batman Confidential #21

The last of the Kevin Maguire Batgirl and Catwoman issues (and my last Batman Confidential order for the foreseeable future).

Checkmate #30

Having read the wonderful first issue, half the solicit makes sense. The other half does not. If I had not read the first issue, none of the solicit would make sense. Exactly what DC should be going for. And doesn’t Jones get first dibs on writing the text? If he wrote this one, it’s like he was trying to fit it in a twitter.

Watchmen: The Absolute Edition

I did not get the original printing. I’m not making that mistake again.

Crossing Midnight Vol. 3: The Sword in the Soul TP

I was going to read the second trade a couple weeks ago and realized I didn’t remember what happened in the first one. My friend told me to just wait until it was finished and read it all… too bad Vertigo isn’t nice enough to give all their short-run (i.e. cancelled) titles final trades. In other words, give me that last Dysart Swamp Thing!

Marvel

Ultimate Origins #4

I haven’t read an Ultimate title in years. So long I can’t remember the last floppy bought… probably the last of Ellis’s Ultimate Fantastic Four. Still, I have fond memories of Ultimate Spider-Man and am curious to see what Bendis has had (partially or fully) up his sleeve for the past eight years.

Fantastic Four: True Story #3

High concept from Marvel? McDuffie’s recent FF run also made me (along with the movies) mildly more interested and this one’s concept made it desirable. This issue, with a promised Dracula vs. Frankenstein–the literary figures–fight, will probably be a defining one. The idea of mixing the two in that original senses is silly and problematic. I’ve been hearing good things about Paul Cornell, so hopefully he does something with it.

Captain America #42

I love Brubaker’s anti-neo-con subtext, but the real draw has been his excellent character writing. It’ll be a shame when Steve Rogers comes back.

Ghost Rider #27

I actually haven’t read any of Jason Aaron’s Marvel superhero stuff yet. I probably ought to get around to it.

Invincible Iron Man #5

And I still haven’t gotten to this series yet either. But Fraction is certainly on a high right now.

Secret Invasion: Thor #2

My only Secret Invasion colon book. Again, Fraction.

Black Panther #41

Fine, technically a Secret Invasion tie-in though. And Aaron.

True Believers #3

Bates was always a DC guy, right? I remember he was on The Flash with Infantino back when it had Firestorm back-ups. It’s too curious not to check out.

Sub-Mariner: The Depths #1

Peter Milligan can be decent, great and atrocious. His Marvel work has ranged. I was going to let this one pass and I probably should, but I feel like it might be something interesting. I’m hoping anyway.

Uncanny X-Men #502

It’s Brubaker, it’s Fraction. I haven’t read the book in a while, no idea what’s going on. But I bet it’ll be good, dumb action fun.

X-23: Innocence Lost TPB

Speaking of good action fun. My friend recommended this one to me and I couldn’t believe it, but then it turned out to be a great time. I guess the trade’s been oop for a while, so I’m going to grab it up when I get the chance. The sequel has never been traded though, has it?

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