Promising!
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/marvel-epic-collections.html
― Chuck_Tatum, Tuesday, 16 April 2013 13:49 (eleven years ago) link
Nice!
― EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 16 April 2013 13:55 (eleven years ago) link
Mr A. Ewing's issue of Avengers Assemble is VERY GOOD
― Chuck_Tatum, Friday, 19 April 2013 12:50 (eleven years ago) link
I kind of think that Marvel is a lot happier with not giving a fuck about continuity than DC? Apart from the obvious Wolverine being on a billion teams, they've seemed happy just mostly freeze things in amber on a lot of titles - Franklin aging 7 years over the last 40, to pick the popular example - apart from the ones where there is so much going on all the time (Daredevil is a great example) that it settles into a hum of action, with no sense that there's a real permanent character history being written.----------― Andrew Farrell, Monday, November 19, 2012 12:47 AM (5 months ago)
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― Andrew Farrell, Monday, November 19, 2012 12:47 AM (5 months ago)
I read 'Marvel Comics: The Untold Story' on holiday and actually Andrew's assertion here about Marvel and continuity is completely off the mark. Marvel used to use their slavish devotion to continuity as a badge of honour and a reason why you should pick them over DC, who didn't care about it. Lots of stories in there about plots being completely rewritten because the Marvel continuity police (and at one point they had an entire editorial team to uphold it) saw a problem.
The first crack appeared with McFarlane Spider-man, since he was so inept at writing they couldn't possibly expect him to keep continuity straight but was so integral to Marvel's business plan that they had to throw a new book and shitloads of money at him just to keep him. (As a sidebar, that's the funniest part of the whole book, where Todd describes how he just did a couple of splash pages and none of it made any sense but he doesn't really give a shit because he was being paid millions of dollars.) The whole point of the Ultimate line was to let Bendis tell a Spider-man story without any continuity baggage.
I'm guessing DC changed sides over continuity after Crisis, and codifying it in History of the DCU.
― Troughton-masked Replicant (aldo), Monday, 22 April 2013 11:05 (eleven years ago) link
I'm happy to switch 'continuity' to 'history' there, and to point out that it's a view on their current output rather than what they might have been like 20 years ago.
I am a little surprised that damage to continuity was much of a concern in 2000, 6 years after the Clone Saga.
― Andrew Farrell, Monday, 22 April 2013 11:38 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, I can see that and agree with you - but it came out of me saying that I couldn't parse the continuity of the different titles, who was in them and how they happened relative to each other.
Interestingly there's a story in the book about GMoz and the Planet X storyline, how it is just a parody by him of how crass and slavish the Marvel obsession with continuity is and that Magneto tries to reinvent himself and break out of the cycle but just ends up back where he began, fighting the same trivial battles with the same people.
― Troughton-masked Replicant (aldo), Monday, 22 April 2013 12:30 (eleven years ago) link
think the marvel obsession w/ continuity start to fade away w/ the death of mark gruenwald, who once edited the 'seminal' marvel history fanzine Omniverse.
the death of continuity is of course also an effect of different corporate owners with different priorities (ie never let continuity stand in the way of a money-making title/'concept'), and of the sheer VOLUME of comics that marvel has published in the last twenty years, making totalising coherence an impossibility.
i might guess that all of the major comic publishers have also taken note of Paramount's decision to jettison imprisoning Star Trek continuity in favour of a re-boot
― Ward Fowler, Monday, 22 April 2013 13:01 (eleven years ago) link
but the comics companies have been doing reboots for decades before Star Trek copied it off them
― Devendra Bumhat (sic), Monday, 22 April 2013 14:01 (eleven years ago) link
uh wait A. Ewing wrote an issue of Avengers Assemble?
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 22 April 2013 14:15 (eleven years ago) link
Of "Ultimate Future Shock" / "Rogue Trooper at the Disco" 'fame', yes.
― Andrew Farrell, Monday, 22 April 2013 14:31 (eleven years ago) link
Or rather - The Ultimate Future Shock
― Andrew Farrell, Monday, 22 April 2013 14:37 (eleven years ago) link
It's also not un-thrill-powered
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 22 April 2013 14:46 (eleven years ago) link
there seem to be a lot of books with 'avengers' in the title atm
― the bitcoin comic (thomp), Sunday, 28 April 2013 00:23 (eleven years ago) link
i'm also a little unclear as to whether the comic with wolverine leading a death squad is contemporaneous with the one where he's running a school
― the bitcoin comic (thomp), Sunday, 28 April 2013 00:38 (eleven years ago) link
Such was, in fairness, ever the case other young Mr Howlett.
― Andrew Farrell, Sunday, 28 April 2013 02:59 (eleven years ago) link
Wolverine contains multitudes.
― EZ Snappin, Sunday, 28 April 2013 03:02 (eleven years ago) link
Go Marvel!
In an attempt to make it seem like Dan DiDio isn't the biggest dick of a CEO at the big two, Marvel are about to announce that...
Age of Ultron #10 will actually be a 4 issue mini series called Hunger...
Starring Galactus...
From another dimension.
Jesus titty Christ.
― Troughton-masked Replicant (aldo), Thursday, 16 May 2013 18:39 (eleven years ago) link
waht
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 18:40 (eleven years ago) link
Also we shouldn't overlook Avengers Assemble being cancelled and them writing to subscribers telling them iy was and that their subscriptions were being transferred to another title. Then when said subscribers leaked the news using Marvel emails as evidence, Marvel taking the huff and denying it leaving them without a product to meet their new obligations.
― Troughton-masked Replicant (aldo), Thursday, 16 May 2013 18:44 (eleven years ago) link
what exactly is wrong w/ galactus from another dimension (i mean moreso than any other dopey different-dimensioned variant of character x)?
i recently glugged down a nice big british collection of the bendis avengers vs x-men series, which i thought was the best of his widescreen multi-crossover megaseries blahdiblah, although i was pained to see cyclops written as such a big prick (i don't think this is any new departure for marvel's treatment of the character over the last x number of years, but as an old school byrne-claremonter, i'm sorry to see the definitive leader of the x-men treated in such a way.) marvel cld quite easily write cyclops as a man literally deranged by grief and loss, and make him a tragic hero. some of the art was horrible - frank cho's bubblewrap cheesecake, ugh - but jrjr, even on autopilot, is still gd to look at
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 16 May 2013 19:44 (eleven years ago) link
my "waht" is more about turning the last issue into a four issue miniseries
well also they just did "Galactus from another dimension" in the X-Termination crossover that ended X-Treme X-Men and Age of Apocalypse so I guess some of my "waht" is just at the stunning lack of creativity on display
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 19:50 (eleven years ago) link
My waht is that they've run a massive series that has huge, far reaching implications for the MU (see Bendis' leaked memo for the implications of what Wolverine and Sue Storm did) and the only way they can think of finishing it is with Galactus From Another Mother? anyone reading AoU should be wtfing themselves into a coma at this point.
This is all only so they can bring Angela into the MU apparently, now they own her.
― Troughton-masked Replicant (aldo), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:04 (eleven years ago) link
AU started off promisingly, but #8 took it way off the rails imo.
― What makes a man start threads? (WilliamC), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:22 (eleven years ago) link
yeah after that one I was basically thinking to myself "why am I reading this again"
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:27 (eleven years ago) link
AU is awesome and batshit crazy and I kind of think there is no good resolution
somehow over the course of less than ten issues it's already the tv show Lost
― tweeship journey to 51 (mh), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:32 (eleven years ago) link
I feel that Hickman's two Avengers titles are doing pretty well. He seldom really does an outstanding issue, but a series of issues that make for a good long-term arc is kind of his thing. He's really starting to pick up steam.
― tweeship journey to 51 (mh), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:33 (eleven years ago) link
Brian Wood's take on X-Men is coming out soon, which I'm also looking forward to.
― tweeship journey to 51 (mh), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:34 (eleven years ago) link
two other titles that are really good right now are Fraction's FF and Hawkeye
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:40 (eleven years ago) link
most definitely
Apparently some stereotypical comics dudes were bitching about FF! They didn't like Mike Allred's art! wtf is fucking wrong with people
― tweeship journey to 51 (mh), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:44 (eleven years ago) link
basically I feel like Fraction and Hickman are just running shit at Marvel right now
it's really fucking bizarre to me that there are no X-titles in my 5 favorite Marvel titles right now (Hawkeye, Avengers, FF, Avengers Arena, New Avengers)
btw it is still boggling my mind that Avengers Arena is actually really, really good
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:48 (eleven years ago) link
they don't like vegetables, they only like french fries - xpost
― What makes a man start threads? (WilliamC), Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:49 (eleven years ago) link
Wolverine and the X-Men isn't half bad!
― tweeship journey to 51 (mh), Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:25 (eleven years ago) link
I think it was the stupidly titled Age of Ultrun #10U.C. which was turned into Hunger. It's just a follow-up series like AvX: Consequences or Fear Itself: The Fearless. Still sounds extremely dumb.
Thor: God of Thunder is pretty cool as well!
― Frederik B, Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:32 (eleven years ago) link
my 6-10 Marvels are X-Factor, Young Avengers, W&tX, Astonishing X-Men, Uncanny X-Men
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:33 (eleven years ago) link
I have to post this from the new solicits. Hawkeye #14:
• This one has it all! Characters! Plot! Story! Dialogue! Theme! Meaning! Message! Action! A little exposition! Fire! Arrows! Criminals! Neighbors! Large bodies of water! Clients! Cops who don’t care! A system that victimizes the victims! The dog!
I'm hooked!
― Frederik B, Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:36 (eleven years ago) link
basically everything about Hawkeye is an exercise in What Makes Comics Awesome
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:38 (eleven years ago) link
didn't like Mike Allred's art!
i don't like allred's art that much (tolerated him on the xforce etc stuff because pete milligan was at the v top of his game for those) - limited actual technical drawing skills, and limited repertoire of 'tricks' and signifiers of 'hip' - occasionally musters a slightly eerie edge to some of his drawings - but he's no jerry grandenetti, eg
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:48 (eleven years ago) link
he likes sting, btw
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:49 (eleven years ago) link
I tend to put Allred and Bachalo in the same bucket where the style is so overwhelmingly appealing that any storytelling issues I have with their work are immaterial
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:52 (eleven years ago) link
Looking forward to catching up with Hickman's stuff back to Fantastic Four.
Yes, Hawkeye is awesome. With Marvel + Image being in good place right now, I'm probably buying (and enjoying) more single issues than I have in about 5-6 years. Plus, I'm even psyched enough to get B-level trash like Guardians of the Galaxy, which is probably a good sign.
― Chuck_Tatum, Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:54 (eleven years ago) link
Fraction, Hickman and Bendis, yes.
― utilizing my famously feline agility to seek managerial succor (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:56 (eleven years ago) link
xpost
bachalo's storytelling chops seem incredibly deficient for someone who has been drawing comics for so long, but his work has much more wit and energy, to my eyes, than allred's rather stiff and self-conscious pastiche-y style - its, like he really aspires to be 'versioning' classic streamlined minimalist spook stuff like bruno premiani's 60s doom patrol stuff, but that shit actually requires series basic structural craft/sweat that allred actually hasn't got (don't get me started on richard sala)
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 16 May 2013 21:58 (eleven years ago) link
I freely admit that my Allred ardor cooled someone when I started reading Hawkeye and saw what Aja and Pulido were doing
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:01 (eleven years ago) link
Bachalo's style and storytelling seems to change and wane by the year or project. There are a few instances where the storytelling is hard to follow, but it's in the minority, imo. He's definitely gone through several distinctive eras but still seems to change it up occasionally, although not always successfully.
― tweeship journey to 51 (mh), Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:05 (eleven years ago) link
DJP, did you read Iron Fist? Fraction/Aja was awesome on that.
― tweeship journey to 51 (mh), Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:06 (eleven years ago) link
Daredevil is my favourite Marvel book by so,e considerable distance. Mark Waid's plot line in Latveria as great.
Also the Zimworld Captain America stuff seems to have gone unnoticed.
― Troughton-masked Replicant (aldo), Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:11 (eleven years ago) link
Didn't read Iron Fist, no; only really started moving away from my Mutants Only stance via Avengers Academy and Secret Avengers
Mark Waid can fuck off for eternity, I actively avoid his shit
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:13 (eleven years ago) link
dude read Iron Fist ASAP
― tweeship journey to 51 (mh), Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:14 (eleven years ago) link
i hear so many gd things abt waid's daredevil, but i have been fucked over by waid recommendations SO many times
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:15 (eleven years ago) link
I guess it's possible that Waid is doing good work now but I remember when he was writing the X-Men with Lobdell and he actually had a scene in his book where Sam went and sulked in a tree because he thought he wasn't good enough to be an X-Man, which was just completely counter to the way the character had been written for the previous I don't know A BILLION YEARS
angry fanboys then used that as an example of how Lobdell sucks, lol
btw this is the only thing I remember from Waid's X-Men run, that and him being a massive cock on Usenet
― AMERICA IS ABOUT RESSLING (DJP), Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:18 (eleven years ago) link