When Invincible touts itself as being the best superhero comic in the universe, it rarely feels like an overstatement (well, maybe just a little). For the past 100 issues, Robert Kirkman has created, introduced, and established a world with weight, substance, and genuine consequence. It’s difficult, frankly, to write about a book that has been so consistent in its quality because it feels like its been said before. But what the heck, what’s one more bit of praise gonna hurt, right?
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Relatively speaking, I’m new to the X-Men.
Of course I’m well versed in the cartoons from the 90’s, as is most of my generation, but the comics? No way. If there was ever a poster child for continuity keeping new readers at bay, then the X-Men are it. Between clones and parallel reality future children, Marvel’s merry mutants are a tough one to crack indeed. With this new title, do Bendis and Immonen create something new that signals to the key elements of the past? Find out after the jump. (There may be spoilers so be forewarned! Read your books and come back. It’ll be more special that way.)
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Really?
Like really this is a thing?
Why this is even a gender issue I do not understand. Whenever any sub-culture is subjected to “mainstream” exposure, there is always the probability that people will join it simply because it is the flavor of the week or because it adds something to their “social resume” (insomuch as they have yet another hobby to make them appear interesting). But, conversely, there is also the promise that new people will be exposed to it that will show (and in some cases discover) genuine interest and will become attached too. If someone could point me to this social barometer for how we gauge genuine interest, I’d love to see it.
To hear men in comicdom bemoan the sudden influx of women, as if it’s detracting from it, is juvenile. I assume that their source of contention, in all actuality, is that they’ve suddenly gone from marginalized social outcast to chic insider while they’ve done nothing to affect this change. By projecting past experiences onto the new members of their social circle, and thereby assuming their complicity, the “fake” geek girl is born.
That isn’t to say that there aren’t people who are jumping on the bandwagon but, frankly, every sub-culture
faces this problem. Come play-off season, in any given sport, there are always fans that come in last second to be apart of the championship run. This surely alienates the “diehard” fans to some degree but this is a common social occurrence because people, naturally, like to be a part of something larger than themselves.
For any comic fan to attack or attempt to force out anyone new is absurd. We stand on the precipice of a faltering medium and instead of helping it grow, some seem content on ensuring its destruction. It’s staggering.
No one has the right to pass judgment. No one has the ability to gauge authenticity. If you think you do then please, get out of my comics. You’re mucking it up for the rest of us.
This comic is, beyond a doubt, one of the best on-goings coming out right now. Period. Month after month Jason Aaron crafts a story that wonderfully manages to combine equal parts action, comedy and spirited character interactions all the while deftly working in the rest of the goings-on in the Marvel universe.
With this issue, we get a break from AvX and the Hellfire Club with a one-shot focused on Doop. I’m hard pressed for an issue this week I enjoyed more than this. Along with great writing, this issue gives us more of the always awesome Mike Allred. I could go on about how fantastic and consistent this series has been, how Aaron delivers month in and month out or how Mike Allred should just draw everything ever but I’d feel I’d be doing it a great disservice. If you aren’t reading this title, put aside whatever is keeping you away and give it a shot. You’d be hard pressed to be disappointed.
Here’s just a handful of my favorite panels from this issue (Yes, just a handful. There’s so much more to enjoy in this issue it isn’t even a joke.):
Wolverine is clearly a member of the Polar Bears club.
Words fail me. This is just beyond funny.
I’m pretty sure this is the IFC theater in NYC.
The League of Nazi Bowlers. Yes.
The Dark Knight Returns is easily one of the, if not the, most important story in the entirety of the Batman mythos. If you don’t see it or don’t agree then either you haven’t read it or just don’t get it. It isn’t my favorite addition to the character (I’d probably cite Year One as that) but various iterations of Batman have repeatedly made use of the ideas Frank Miller presented in this seminal work. Now, with this animated feature, DC attempts to adapt one of the most complex, layered and critically lauded graphic novels of all time. Do they succeed? Find out after the jump.
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There may or may not be spoilers so you may or may not be warned. (No really there probably aren’t any but better safe than sorry.)
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My friend Paul has started making video game and comics inspired props and replicas for fun. He’s someone I’ve always known to be particularly crafty and handy which is something that shows in his work. Combined with his solid work ethic and enthusiasm for what he does, he is churning out some high quality, carefully constructed, pieces. He’s always looking for a new project and coming up with some rather ingenious ways to make them all happen. With Halloween and the holiday season looming on the horizon, he can easily make you that one prop that’ll make you stand out or something really impressive to display in your home. I elected to showcase his talents and give him a plug because, really, he’s making some really cool stuff. Feel free to contact him for anything you want made. He’s one of the nicest people I know which, if it hasn’t already, should seal the deal.
Contact: pnickolan86@gmail.com
