New Comic Day : 6/23/10

wednesday is new comic day. Today and next wednesday will probably be the slowest new comic day all year. Only 1 comic pick up and a graphic novel.


comic:
1. Avengers #2 (Bendis , Romita Jr.) : not rating yet.
I  dont want to critique too much of a comic book series only two issues in. I will say so far so good. Of the many various Avenger titles under the Heroic Age this is a good one.


 recommend: Yes. 


noob friendly: Yes , if you start from #1. Its a great time to jump on board with The Avengers


price/value: 3.99/ I wish marvel would add some pages for their $4 titles via their "directors cut" editions.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
graphic novel:
2. Runaways ' The Good Die Young' (Vaughn , Alphoma) part 3/3 marvel comics:

rating: 5/5
review: Wowzers. Epic conclusion to volume.1 of this Epic series. Uh-May-Zing.

spoiler alert*:

When the mystery of the traitor mole was introduced there were 6 suspects , but to me there's no way Molly was the mole despite her parents ensuring she's more than capable , Molly was asleep in her room when the mole dropped the first note in the bathroom.  I also crossed off Nico , Chase and  Gertrude for their own reasons. So it was down to Karolina or Alex for me.. so even though I had it on the radar its still a faptacular shock when it happens. Knocked my socks off!

Lets go back to the start of this issue. They first reveal the origin of the Pride which was good , and the legend of the Gibborm and the the Gibborm's agenda which was pretty bad ass in my opinion. Then within The Pride there was decension and betrayal on the horizon as you would guess with any evil org.. There was so much happening and just like a Seinfeld episode it was leading to one finish but it never felt confusing nor did it feel out of control. Vaughn intertwined everything together astutely smooth like buttah. So many ups and downs with so many "Awe" moments ; you'll be shouting various explicits as you read through like I did.

"NO FUCKING WAY".. were my exact words when they revealed the mole and realized who the mastermind of the whole series of events was " FUCKING EPIC" ...

and of course you with a story of betrayal and mistrust you need a little redemption moment ....

spoiler over*...

    The Good Die Young was brilliant , such a perfect and  incredible end to the 1st volume. Vol.1 as a whole is awesome . You buy into the protogonists and invest into them immediately , you indulge into their individual personas and the relationships they build with each other. By the time you get to the end , you really care for these kids and what happens to them.

   For the antagonist Vaughn does a masterful job in frustrating you as the reader , but not that you get mad at yourself nor the characters , he directs the blame onto the villians so elegantly. Just brilliant in how he creates this landscape with so many obstacles for our young heroes to go up against all at the doings of the antagonists , the parents. Weaving in the "mole" plot was done so nicely , it created a suspensful cliffhanger and kept you as a reader on your toes throughout. 

    Adriano Alphoma compliments BKV to a tee , the art designs and frame work is impeccable , they are the Hall and Oates  of graphic novels. Loved the look of all the characters , very subtle and yet very stylish and fitting to the characters.. all of them. The design of the Gibborms and their underwater lair was fantastic , he captured the scale of it all.

Bryan K Vaughn is a savant , just an ass kicking savant. Superb story telling , superb character building , just an amazing overall experience. This novel is funny , its full of suspense , its action packed , its intense when it needs to be , its dramatic when called upon , its subtly intimidate when you want it to be ,.. it has everything you need for an entertaining joy ride.

Give this graphic novel a chance.. please!!!

recommend: Ita Vero!! which is latin for "Fuck Yeah!" well something like that. Its a super hero , teen drama , suspense

noob friendly: no , not this particular issue.  I recommend starting from the beginning. Go pick up the 1st graphic novel "Pride and Joy"  part 1/3 , 'Teenage Wasteland' part 2/3 and 'The Good Die Young" is part 3/3 of volume 1. There's 3 volumes overall ; think of each volume like a season for television.

price/value:  You will not regret this. I recommend shopping Amazon.ca to see if they have them. Completed series 13 TPB volumes
Soft Cover Digests (6 issues) - $12. I dont like these because of their small stature they squish everything into small pages though it's convienant for travel. Most readily available.

Trade Paperbacks(6 issues) - $17  Considered the standard Graphic novel format. I like this format best , they feel and look like a comic and are affordable.

Comic Book Update: Birds of Prey

Lazy sunday but there was no Chronicles of Narnia on so I picked up a couple comics. I figure since Im dropping a few titles I have room on my read/pull list to add a title. I added DC's 'Birds of Prey' #1 and #2 under their 'Brightest Day' run. I wasnt going to touch it but two things caught my attention , A) Gail Simone is the ass woop'n writer whom also does Secret Six the only DC title Im into and B) secondly BoP has been getting solid reviews. It just started so I figure lets get on board while the gett'n is good.

So far so good. Bottom line is Im hooked , I cant wait to see where this goes. I dont even really know the characters  but the action  and pacing is so great it keeps you glued to the pages. Dialogue and bantering is standard. The art is faptastic (Benes and Melo), love the frame of Huntress kicking cop in the face! check'er out...
Bad.Ass.


team members: Black Canary , Oracle , Huntress , Lady Blackhawk,  Hawk and Dove

recommend: Yes , its a kick your feet up and enjoy the ride kind of read.

noob friendly: yes  , I jumped on board and I dont feel horribly lost or confused. There are optional recommended reads from Gail Simone's BoP run from the previous volume that will help fill in any gaps. You can pick up via trade paperback. 


series: on going...

price: 2.99 , still readily available off the rack. You'll have to look a little deeper for #1 but its still out there I got mine today.

DC pull list:
Secret Six
Birds of Prey

drop list:

The Heralds marvel 

Age of Heros marvel

New Comic Day: 6/16/10

My Comic Book Website

June 16/10

I only picked up a few titles today:
comics:
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



1. New Avengers #1 marvel comics(Bendis , Immomen) .-  

Refrain from rating a new series. All Avenger Heroic Age titles have had a solid start. NA is no different. Doctor Voodoo and Dr.Strange appear in this and something is a brewing with the sorcerors whatchyamacallit amulet and the Avengers have to intervene.

If you like the others you'll like this one , if you havent picked one up yet.. check out any one of the Avenger titles caz if you like one you'll like all.

team members: Luke Cage (leader) , Iron Fist, Spider-Man , Wolverine , Thing , Jewel , Ms.Marvel , Hawkeye & Mockingbird

noob friendly: not really  , complete noobs with zero knowledge of anything? it would be difficult to follow but It could also work in your favour too I guess. You gotta start somewhere right?

series: on going... current #1(6/23/10)

price/value: 3.99..Despite being a good comic , I cant sit here and say this is the best 4 bucks you'll spend at the comic book store. I read they're expanding the Avenger titles to 40 pages next month so maybe the value will improve. 

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




2. Black Widow #3 marvel comics(Liu , Acuna) ***1/2 -

A very good series so far , I picked up #2 on a whim and havent looked back since. I picked up #1 as well , and this is a fast paced , cloak and dagger story with lots of suprises , suspense and action. Writing is good its got me guessing and wanting more. The art is solid as ever , Black Widow looks amazingly sexy in one frame , a few pages later she looks bad ass , a few pages over she looks timid ,.. excellent pencilling. There's more to come , Im fully entrenched into this arc and cant wait for #4.

recommend:  Yes , this is a balls to the wall series so far. Its a superhero , esponiage , mystery , suspense , ...

 noob friendly: yes , you can jump on from #1 and not skip a beat. I do suggest jumping at #1 though which is still readily available off the rack , 2nd printing is due soon.

series: on going.. current #3(6/23/10)

price/value: 2.99 .. great value. Its just a fun book to get into. 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
graphic novel:
3.Chew vol.2 'International Flavor'  image comics(Layman , Guillory) ***** -

Chew is my favourite new series out in the market("new" in comic book terms , came out in 2009). Chew is just gross out , knock your socks off , edge of your seat , laugh out loud fun . Chew vol.2 is funny , smart ,  dark and twisted and did I mention funny? Writing is whimsical , the art is piercing , and as various comic critics put it "its like Guillory and Layman are soul mates caz their work go perfect together" and its 100% true. Chew is a required taste (excuse the pun) but if you take a bite dont be suprised you'll crave more!

recommend: Yes to the highest degree. Its a comedy , crime mystery , gross out , suspense ,... must see.

noob friendly: hell yes. You can jump on from any starting point of a new story arc but just get Chew TP vol.I 'Tasters Choice'

series: on going ..current #11 (updated 6/23/10)

pricing: comics $3 each except #1 1st printing = $100 and #2 =$16. Trade paperback vol.1 =$10 , vol.2= $14

Blog Update: 6/2/10

Jun.2/10 Vlog Ep.4 'Nerding Out' from Gord Locke on Vimeo.


I blog about my return into the world of comics. Which btw I know Ill get FAQ'ed 

how were you in the "industry" ? 
My brother use to own a comic shop between 93-96 Comic Creations on 41st and KNight. I was part of it of course. Well , being retailers we helped distribute comics and graphic novels therefore we were "part" of the "industry".

Why did you quit? 
like all my old hobbies caz I was in my early 20s and girls and booze was more important.


Did you try to get back into it at all?
Yes , 2004 , right before the release of Revenge Of The Sith I went to go buy General Grievous' comics but they were sold out so I didnt bother after that. 

What did you collect before? 
Marvel mainly but I wasnt even that dedicated. I was more into value collecting , I would buy comics in hope it goes up in value rather than just reading and enjoying a good comic book.

Did you read anything at all during your hiatus? 
Very little , but I did get into watching Justice League and Teen Titan cartoons. Absolutely loved them. I had a general knowledge of all the Super Hero movies.

What are you reading now?
read my blog and you'll see my pull list and such week to week. Right now Im catching up on a lot of back issues and titles for some graphic novels like Walking Dead , Runaways , Y The Last Man, ...etc I have a lifetime of material to catch up with. 

general comments:
    After a 15 year hiatus , I was thinking about getting back into comics caz I was caught up in the Avengers hype. so I wanted to read The Avengers. Well , it turns out the Avengers were relaunching 4 new series and a mini series right that week. I took that as a sign.. the week Secret Avengers #1 was released , Avengers #1 the week before.. I didnt think twice , I was at the comic book store the very next day to get me some comics and get back into this wicked shit.

I really miss the nerdyness of a comic store , its so awesome.

Religion Rant: Church "admits" "guilt".

Church admits guilt in sex scandals

"is born from the sins within the church, and not from a campaign by outsiders."

Do you mean like when you fucktards lay judgment and punishment against those whom are outside of your church?!!??! fucking gutless morons. You fucking assholes persecute and crucify all those "outside" of your church and when we want justice onto your pedophile , psycho asses you cry for in house justice. Fuck You. Keep up with brain washing you fascist pigs.

The church and their minions of bible tumpers are the creepiest , dumbest , and most annoying people on earth.

----------------------------------------
UPDATE

Church punishes 15 yr for getting raped by biblethumper.

Do i really need to express my thoughts on this?

Fuck you Christianity.

Vlog updated: may 20/10

May 20/10 Vlog ep. 3 from Gord Locke on Vimeo.

I vlog about Law and Order , Degrassi again , and give a shout out to my niece and to my buddy Bobby for his new business venture. Which btw check out , if you're interested in some astro turf , fake grass for your lawn or a putting green or whatever.. check out www.Adventuredisplay.com

Degrassi disappointed street

back in 2001 Degrassi aired a 1 hour reunion episode to launch Degrassi The Next Gen. I never saw it or maybe I did and forced myself to forget caz I had zero knowledge this existed , so almost a decade later I finally watched a show I craved to see.

Im starting to believe I actually did see it and then sniffed glue to blank my head only to forget the reasons why I wanted to erase it ,but now its back. I HATED IT!!!!!!!

First off , they changed the goddamn timeline. The older class was Grad 92 , they were coinciding with me to a tee.. they were in grade 8 in '88 , grade 9 in '89.. , Lucy was running for school prez for the following season which meant senior year which was aired /91.. and finally , School's out aired in 92!! now in this stupid reunion show , its the class of 90.. WTF!?!!?!? they also made a major change , Caitlyn is born 1972 in the reunion show which meant she grad'ed with the older class! she was in the younger class and graduated early!!!! they messed up the time line completely which totally ruined the thought that this was me and my friends in school. Goddamn it.

Secondly , they actually bring a bunch of people back but they're all standing in the background! they gave Allison more lines than everybody else!!! I understand there were scenes shot but they cut it all out so they can get their precious Joey and Caitlyn story.. whipdee doo. Im here to find out if Alexa and Simon are still married? is Stephanie Kaye all slutty now? did Vuola blossom into a hot piece of ass.. goddamn you , Degrassi.

Thirdly furthering on issue #2, the gave more lines to Allison than the Yickster!!!!! goddamn you.

I cannot convoy my disdain for this reunion episode more , I am thouroughly disturbed. I demand a reboot and redo of this.. 20 years is coming up for me in real life and for the Degrassi crew. Do it right please. None of this bullshit grad 90.. youre Grad 92 assholes.