Postponement Update

Hey everyone.

Just wanted to give you all a quick heads up.  If you haven't followed my Twitter account, you'll know there is no Back Stack for this week.  I've just gotten terribly busy and haven't finished all the comics I picked up from last week.  In addition, there will be no Back Stack next week either as I'm planning something special in my personal life and probably won't have time to work on it anyway.  The Back Stack will resume on May 1 or May 2.  If there are comics worth noting from these past two weeks, I may decide to throw them in with that week, but from what I HAVE read so far from last week's books, there's nothing particularly impressive.  Don't get me wrong.  There have been good books, but there have been bad books too *coughSoniccough* and nothing that's really wowed me.

Then again, I haven't gotten around to Batman and Robin yet.

So, yeah.  Sorry to bring the bad(?) news to you all.  Don't worry, though.  If I play my cards right, we might get our first Grave Issues Spotlight this Saturday.

Cheers;
Graves

EDIT:  After deliberation, I've decided that the Back Stack's catch-up edition will be on May 8th.  Why?  Well... I didn't pick up all the books I would have liked to this week.  They're waiting for me and I will read them, but I'd like to read them all for you, so, yeah, I'll cover the best and worst then.  For those asking, yes, I am well aware of the edits made to the Sonic Select vol. 5 book.  You better believe I'll be covering THAT.

The Back Stack: April 11, 2012

Hey all.  Another late edition, but a full docket nonetheless.  As always, spoiler alert.  Let’s begin.

Amazing Spider-Man #683.  Hot damn, has this arc been hitting the right notes with me.  We see just how much of a menace and master manipulator Doctor Octopus can truly be and he’s equipped the Sinister Six with enough tricks and methods to do battle with the freakin’ Avengers… AND WIN.  Seeing that alone should be worth the price of admission.  Seriously, we see the Avengers just brutalized and beaten in a matter of minutes, in-comic time.  Even Thor gets taken out by Rhyno.  Yeah.  Let that sink in for a bit.  It also continues the angle of J. Jonah Jameson going after Horizon labs, but it never overstays its welcome and adds a much-needed break in the appropriate location.  So far so good for “The Ends of the Earth,” and I’m wondering where the return of Silver Sable is going to play out.  Certainly, she helps Spider-Man, but I wouldn’t picture her as someone who can do what the Avengers couldn’t.  It’s going to be an interesting read going forward.  After the disaster that was One More Day and One Moment In Time, Dan Slott has made Spider-Man not only readable, but an enjoyable read.  I would never make the claim that these arcs couldn’t happen with Spider-Man being married to Mary Jane, so yes, One More Day is still effectively useless and still didn’t need to happen.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Avengers Academy #28 was a big disappointment for me in terms of the issue as a whole.  We end this arc with the Runaways which, really, didn’t need to happen.  I don’t even think Marvel would really bring them back, since they trashed their old teen hero books in no time flat recently, including Young Allies and not even letting “The Chosen” get off the ground.  I can’t say I actually gave much of a damn about this arc.  Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but only good in an okay kind of way.  Oh well.  Can’t win ‘em all, but now I can safely say that Aquaman IS better than this book, generally speaking.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Avengers vs. X-Men #1 was… pretty slow starting.  Everything we’ve read in previews is played out here, just to a longer degree.  We see Cyclops brutally training Hope when she manifests her Phoenix powers.  This results in a visit from Captain America and the Avengers, which goes as well as can be expected.  If you skipped the preview pages because you didn’t want to be spoiled, than I’d say you should pick this up.  If not, there really isn’t too much here to warrant a purchase.

Verdict – Pass

Daredevil #10.1 was our second straight solid entry into the Marvel.1 series.  This was just good ol’ Daredevil fun as we see ol’ Horn Head dealing with some jackass detention center officers and facing off with a supervillain who can generate fire.  He also confronts representitives from several crime organizations including A.I.M. and Black Specter with some good, verbal, cat and mouse, showing us that Daredevil isn’t just all about fisticuffs.  If this book was meant as an introduction, it’s certainly succeeded.  Daredevil is probably Marvel’s best book right now and Ii certainly hope it’s one you’re all reading right now anyway.  Even if you’re already familiar with Daredevil, this was a pretty fun read.

Verdict – Recommended

Fear Itself:  The Fearless #12 ends with one thing that comes to mind:  Marvel cannot do a bi-weekly series not named The Amazing Spider-Man.

Verdict – Pass

Hulk #50 was pretty solid stuff.  We see Red Hulk being haunted by apparent ghosts, to which he goes to Doctor Strange for help.  It starts off an angle which will amount to being a big conspiracy against Big Red, but we also see some glimpses into Red Hulk being General Ross again, finding new romance and trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter.  It was a solid read, something Hulk needed desperately to remain what I’d call a worthwhile series.

Verdict – Recommended

Queen Sonja #28 would have gotten a straight “Recommended” verdict out of me if it weren’t for the fact that there is some questionable nudity.  In this book, we get a fully nude woman who is obscured by shadows.  That would have been fine and no cause for concern, except for the fact that in a couple panels, we can clearly see the outlines of her nipples!  How are the artists getting away with this?  And how has this book not been relegated to the adult section of the comic store?  Other than that, the book is just fine.  There are some decent interactions with the characters, some good action, and we continue the conspiracy against the kingdom Sonja is empress of.  I’m interested, and like I said, this would have gotten a straight “Recommended” verdict, but since I know some people aren’t interested in their comics as softcore porn, I’ve gotta give you guys a fair warning.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended (via nudity warning)

Red Sonja/Witchblade #2.  This was BORING.  That may be because I’m interested in this book for Red Sonja and this was heavily focused on Witchblade, but this is where the writer has to make me care about the character I’m not invested in.  The only thing I care about with Witchblade is that she’s a mother, which is pretty unique for a superheroine supposed badass.  Other than that… why should I care?

Verdict – Pass

Sonic the Hedgehog #235… There are about a thousand different story arcs happening in this book, most of which occur at a break-neck speed, and none of which I’d say are very satisfying.  First, you get Silver the Hedgehog, who is only margionally less useless of a character than Shadow, going on about his believed traitor in the Freedom Fighters (whom I’m leaning towards Tails, at this point), and coming off as a generally delusional hack, not some savior from the future.  Next, you get Bunnie, mourning over her hospitalized husband.  Rather than stay by his side, she leaves to do something.  Great domestic display there, Ian Flynn.  Have her ignore the man she loves to take a gamble somewhere else.  Then you have Tails and Amy, doing who cares what.  Generally, they’re being emo.  After that, you get Rotor quitting from the royal council after they vote to exile Nicole’s consciousness to Freedom HQ outside of New Mobotropolis.  While I can appreciate the symbolic gesture Rotor was going for… Rotor… YOU JUST FORFEITED YOUR SEAT OF ACTUAL POLITICAL POWER AGAINST IXIS NAUGUS JUST SO YOU COULD PROVE YOU WERE HAVING A HISSY FIT OVER A DECISION YOU DISAGREED WITH!  Geesh, how dumb can a smart guy be?  Now, Naugus can put someone, oh say, an apprentice of his, in that position to always vote his way.  We’ve already seen that the former Reserve Freedom Fighters will automatically make the worst possible decision possible, Rosemary Prower doesn’t seem to have rhyme nor reason for her votes, and Charles… is spineless on that council.  After that, Sonic the Hedgehog mopes and throws temper tantrums.  Our hero, ladies and gentlemen!  Finally, the only thing of merit to this book, Harvey Who, who comes across as a legitimate mastermind, recruits Silver to his “Secret Freedom Fighters.”  I appreciate the attempts at drama for this book, but it’s either out-of-character drama or it’s set-up to which we have no reason to become immediately invested in.  Ian Flynn, you find new reasons to make me hate you with every book you write, don’t you?

Verdict – Pass

Thunderbolts #172… I can’t say I’m thrilled with the fact that this series is going to be re-branded as Dark Avengers and, unless it really wows me, I’m likely going to drop it.  Seriously, this act of re-branding series’ mid-run bugs me.  Thor becoming Journey Into Mystery, for one.  It bugs me almost as much as re-numbering.  I say, be proud of your heritage and keep your true numbering.  If you want to do volume numbers, than acknowledge the volume you’re on.   But if you DO change your numbering, don’t change back will-nil for milestones.  You broke your chain, now you start again!  Anyway, Thunderbolts.  It starts what will be the final arc as the Thunderbolts face the Thunderbolts of the Heroes Reborn era.  It’s got some potential, as we see Moonstone confronting, well, Moonstone.  Obviously, this time-travel to face their past-selves is non-canon due to Marvel’s laws of time travel, but then again, this is the Joe Quessada Marvel that ignores such rules by the sake of their own convenience *coughOneMoreDaycough*.  The issue itself was okay, but uninspired to say the least.  Honestly, it was a little too slow for me.  Not what I’d call a bad issue, but far more could have happened to start this final arc with a bang.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

We’re ending on a high note this week.  Wolverine and the X-Men #8.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Wolverine only really works, in my book, on team books or while flanked by several characters to play off of his dynamics, with him playing off of theirs.  This is why Wolverine is fondly remembered when he’s paired off with the likes of Kitty Pryde and Jubilee, but issues where it’s him being “the best at what he does,” aren’t quite remembered so much.  This is why I dropped the Wolverine solo book in favor of this one and it’s been a damn good investment, I think.  We don’t get bombarded by the Mary Sue-prone nature of Wolverine’s character, but we still get to see him being a bad-ass.  This issue, however, isn’t all about Wolverine.  He’s mentioned and he has some minor scenes, but this is more about Sabretooth trying to help the Hellfire Club get back at Wolverine and his school.  More importantly, it heavily features Sabretooth’s attack on the S.W.O.R.D. satellite and an awesome battle between him and Beast as he tries to save his would-be girlfriend, Abigail Brand.  It’s a fun issue with a lot of good action and some good moments from the students, including a particularly sweet scene between the “reborn” Angel and Genesis.  Wolverine and the X-Men has been a generally fun series and it’s good to see this series challenge expectations and develop its own unique identity.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

And with that, we’re done here.  Now go out there and pick yourself up some comics.  I hope I’ve piqued your interest with some of these books and I hope you’ll consider them… the good ones, anyways.

Cheers;

Master Graveheart

The Back Stack: April 4, 2012

Hey everyone.  I hope you’ve been well.  Got a few comics to talk about this week (of course), so let’s get down to it.  There are some very good comics to consider this week, but there are also some comics that you’ll want to think twice on.  As always, spoiler alert.

Aquaman #7.  Aquaman continues to pretty much be the benchmark of every book in the DCnU.  It brought a character once thought eternally disgraced by the Superfriends cartoon and brought him back to his rightful place as one of the heaviest hitters in the comic book universe.  This issue brings back Black Manta and apparently he has a connection to some of the disturbances in recent issues.  We also get some more development as to Aquaman’s backstory in the DCnU.  As a new reader to Aquaman, I’m not sure how much of a deviation this is, so I’ve got a bit of an advantage.  For those who know, the results may vary a bit.  However, the DCnU was made SPECIFICALLY for new readers and damn to the old readers, apparently.  Still, letting the series stand as is, this is an excellent book and I can’t recommend it enough.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Avengers #24.1 was pretty darn good.  It focuses on the life of the Vision after his resurrection, including confronting She-Hulk, who tore him in half in Avengers Disassembled, and Magneto, father of his ex-wife, Scarlet Witch.  We get good emotion and good moments, especially from the oft-underused She-Hulk.  This is how a Point One issue should be written; an interlude story along the way that doesn’t interrupt the main thought process of the series.  Bendis seems to be a master of these Point One issues.  It wouldn’t surprise me if he fathered the concept.

Verdict – Recommended

Avengers vs. X-Men #0.  There isn’t a whole lot to go on.  We get the return of the Scarlet Witch to regular action in saving the day, which I’m glad to see.  She also confronts Vision, and it doesn’t end well.  On the X-Men side, Hope tries to prove she’s ready for the impending arrival of the Phoenix Force.  Honestly, this issue’s a bit flat after the Avengers arc, but we get some good characterization from Cyclops and his focus and deterimination on the road ahead while showing genuine concern for Hope.  However, it’s still a little light to entirely recommend.  It’s a nice diversion.  Word of warning, though.  If you’re going to get it now, you missed out on one of Marvel’s digital download codes.  Seriously, Marvel, if you’re going to do this, can you at least offer the code with a little bit of a longer cash-in expiration date?

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Daredevil #10.  What more can I say about the new Daredevil run?  The storyline is great, the characterization is great, the action is great, the artwork is great, everything about it is just great.  This is the level of excellence that Daredevil was meant for.  This story continues the major storyline involving the Fantastic Four 4, the organization that wants it, and the conspiracy against Matt Murdoch.  It also features a pretty darn good fight between Daredevil and Mole Man.  Freakin’ MOLE MAN.  We realize just how insane Mole Man can be and how driven he is when he puts his mind to something.  There’s also a rather touching moment regarding Black Cat, Daredevil’s new lover, who confesses her being hired by the organization to steal the 4.  This is a complete read and I can’t recommend Daredevil enough.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Green Lantern:  New Guardians #7 was good, but in this week’s sea of truly great books, it doesn’t do anything to stand out from the crowd.  The Lanterns fight a being who can be best described as an alien angel, and he is VERY powerful.  He’s existed for aeons and has a blood feud with Larfleeze, who killed his kin.  Some intriguing character development for Arkillo, the Yellow Lantern, but this issue’s big focus was on Saint Walker, the Blue Lantern, whom tried all he could to understand and try to help the angel understand, but it didn’t work.  I hope they work that a bit and develop Saint Walker more.  The ultimatum in the end does a good job of progressing this arc, but I’m wondering how it’ll inevitably tie in with the other two Green Lantern books and the impending war with the Alpha Lanterns.  It’s not bad, but if you’re on a budget, there are far better comics out there.

Verdict –Recommended

The Mighty Thor #12.  This is a feel-good book through and through.  Thor makes his triumphant return and, in doing so, restores the original memories of those around him.  He takes the fight to the impostor Thor, just as one of the All-Mother portions does battle with the troll queen.  We even get some interlude with Loki in the end and one last wrong was righted.  I won’t call this a deep book, because it isn’t.  I wouldn’t even call it entirely epic.  You COULD make the argument that it was rushed so Thor could be in Avengers vs. X-Men that’s coming up next month.  However, taking it on its own merits, it’s a book well worth reading.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

The New Avengers #23 was dumb fun.  We get some last minute elaboration on Skaar and his connection with Captain America as well as the New Avengers beating the crap out of the New Dark Avengers.  I think the New Dark Avengers will go down as one of the worst supervillain teams of all time.  None of them were particularly impressive in their fight with the New Avengers.  Heck, even Ragnarok, one of the biggest threats in the Marvel Universe, was punked out in a single issue.  Sure, it took all of the New Avengers to beat it, but Ragnarok is a clone of the GOD OF THUNDER.  The book ends on a somber note for Luke Cage and I think we’re going to have a case of what I call the Genesis Syndrome (reference to last year’s Sonic Genesis), when a promising storyline gets put on the back burner in favor of some mega event only to be picked up later.  It’s not something I want to see.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Superman #7 continues to give me mixed feelings about the series.  While we started off with a good mix of character, action, and story, we seem to have begun to lose one or two of them per issue since the first couple issues.  In this issue, we get good action and decent character for Clark Kent/Superman, but the story was bland and forgettable.  Unlike with Aquaman, where I’ve had near-zero investment in the character, I am VERY familiar with Superman and seeing us tread over old terrain rubs me the wrong way.  I’m sure there are readers of the old Aquaman books who can say the same about this one, but I’m not one of those people and I can only give you MY opinions.  You all, of course, are free to disagree with me.  That’s the beauty of this world.  However, even accepting that we’re going to have to start essentially fresh with Superman, this way is actually very boring to me and I don’t know if I’m going to be inclined to stick with this book for the long haul.  Books like Aquaman have been hitting all the right notes recently in terms of the relaunch.  Books like Superman have been… spotty.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

We’ll be closing out The Back Stack with a title that’s been really disappointing me lately.  Teen Titans #7.  Now, I was there for the start of the last run of Teen Titans.  In comparison, while this series started off on a much larger scale, but it just doesn’t seem to really be coming together for me.  Most of the characters are uninteresting, the seemingly necessary crossovers with Superboy is disheartening, and the characters I do find interesting haven’t exactly shined like I’d hoped they would.  And, might I add, I REALLY hate Solstice’s redesign.  Her look at the end of the last Teen Titans run was unique, interesting, and had a very magistrate look to her.  This… she’s fog.  While I do like Wonder Girl in this, she’s been a little one-note for me.  I can’t say the Teen Titans have been a very impressive superhero team, either, especially getting out of the gate.  I am going to keep reading, but my patience with this book is wearing thin.  Unlike Sonic the Hedgehog, I have no extensive rose colored glasses for Teen Titans.  I’ll drop it like I did Ultimate Spider-Man when that Miles Morales nonsense didn’t appeal itself to me in the slightest, and Ultimate Spider-Man was the book that got me into comics on a grander scale.

As for this issue itself, it was pretty boring, especially since I didn’t read the Superboy issue that tied in with this.  The Teen Titans are making it a point to rescue Superboy from N.O.W.H.E.R.E., after some weak convincing from Red Robin.  A good note on this is that the most antagonistic of the group, Wonder Girl, is the first to volunteer.  Like I said, she’s probably been my favorite character in this misfire of a series.  However, Red Robin comes across as colder than Batman, especially in his conversation with Solstice about mid-way.  I’m sorry, but I’m finding it very hard to become invested in this book and I probably won’t stick with it much longer unless the next issue really wows me.

Verdict – Pass

And there you have it.  This week’s Back Stack.  I did miss Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #8 when I went to the shop last week, so hopefully I’ll get it up today.  Fingers crossed.

Now get out there and read some comics!

Cheers;

Master Graveheart