Do you buy comic books?

That’s my question for you today. Do you buy comic books? If so, why? What keeps you coming back each month to each book you buy?

I’ve stated on many occasions that I’m an avid X-Men fan and each month I come back to my X-books knowing that the story is going to go forward to something great–and also, small hopes that Gambit will make an appearance. Marvel has (pretty much) had solid writing on the part of X-Men for the last 10 years or so and since I started picking up single issues instead of trades (which started roughly a year and a half ago) I’ve been buying at least one X-book a month because they’re that good. Of course, as of right now I’m buying almost all the X-books (Uncanny X-Men, X-Force, X-Factor, X-Men: Legacy, Cable)… because I’m a super nerd.

But I also pick up a lot of non-X-books.

Invincible Iron Man, for instance, is a book I’ve been buying since I read the first issue of “World’s Most Wanted.” Combining the art of Salvador Larroca and the writing of Matt Fraction, the 12 issue story arc has kept me wanting more and more each month. Both the plot and the art are above and beyond what I ever thought possible for a story focused on Iron Man. This is one of the books I’m going to classify as “I’m glad I started reading/buying when I did.”

Incredible Hercules. I have been reading Incredible Hercules since it’s first issue after World War Hulk, but I didn’t start buying it until issue #125 or so. Since then, I have bought the back issues of the comic (back to #112). This is a comic that when I read it, I don’t want it to end. The story and the writing in general is simply fantastic. It drives the comic beyond what I would ever expect from a Marvel comic. It’s strange to say, but this comic is so good, I’m surprised it hasn’t been canceled yet. Do you know what I mean?

Marvel aside, I do grab some DC/Vertigo comics as well as some independents.

Detective Comics. This is the one comic book I never thought I’d see myself reading a year ago. To me Detective Comics and Action Comics are the definitive DC comics and a year ago I wanted nothing to do with DC. I was a fool. On a whim I picked up Detective Comics #854 after a buddy of mine recommended it to me. This is another one of those “I’m glad I started reading/buying when I did” comics as I can not stop loving every piece of this comic. The art alone keeps me coming back each month.

The Vertigo comic I read right now that keeps me wanting more each month is DMZ. A comic I started buying back around issue #35, I wish I owned #1-34 because Brian Wood’s story is just fan-flipping-tastic. This is probably the best non-super-hero comic I have ever read in my life. Period.

Outside of Robert Kirkman’s plethora of sexy-time comic books, I read some random independent comics because I always like to try out the indie publishers here and there to see if there is greatness out there. Warren Ellis‘ torrent of comics that he releases tend to keep me buying every month (most recently Supergod and Ignition City), Garth Ennis‘ Crossed, and Mark Waid’s Irredeemable keep me wanting more every month. With these indie comics, it’s a sick hunger I get for more story each month. Wendigo style.

There are a few others in there I buy but the comics above are the ones I always look forward to the most. But again, I have to know, why do you buy comics? What keeps you coming back to your favorite titles? Let me know in the comments.

More info about the comics reviewed after the break.

(more…)

This review is a bit terse, because I am wildly distracted right now, but I was completely struck by the beauty and simplicity of Astounding Wolf-Man #19. Comics can and ultimately should take a lesson from it.

ARISE!!!!

This is the most fun and most pure example of pulp fiction reworked for the 21st century. Jason Howard’s art and FCO/Ivan Plascencia’s colors go above and beyond the call of comic book duty, laying down a summer blockbuster feel in the span of 22 pages. Senseless doodles all, of course, if not for the love poured into the book by writer Robert Kirkman.

Kirkman is, as you may be aware, is closing shop on Astounding Wolf-Man with issue 25. It makes sense, he’s got a lot on his plate these days, and while AWM was a good idea, it may not be a Great Idea like Walking Dead or Invincible.

AWM 19 shows us what the series could have been, in a very distilled form. It also shows us how far Kirkman has come as a writer. If you look back even as far as his run on Ultimate X-Men, you’ll find interesting ideas and conflicts being executed by unfortunately similar voices.

Not so here. Even in this (to quote the author) “action packed extravaganza”, extraordinary events elicit unique emotional responses both courageous and cowardly from every player. This is wrapped snugly in the veneer of spontaneous and very believable interaction. The resolution is logical, very clever, and completely in character for the billionaire engineer. The storytelling is not telegraphed or over explained. Kirkman lets Howard do his work.

(more…)

More info about this video after the break.

(more…)

Me being the Kirkman-loving fiend that I am, I picked this series up as soon as I could and read it every week as soon as I can (unless there’s a good X-title that comes out that week…), and the thing I simply love about Destroyer is it’s ability to just kick ass non-stop from page one to page 22.

If you don’t know what Destroyer is, know this: Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker have teamed up again (previous team-ups: Invincible #1-7), but this time it’s for Marvel’s MAX label and boy oh boy they take advantage of that “For Mature Readers Only” warning. Basing the story of this comic off of an old Timely Comics character, this story follows the last adventures of the character and it’s just amazing. For the sake of all that is awesome and spoilerrific, I’ll give a brief summary of the previous 3 issues after the break because this series is so good, I don’t even want to spoil basic plot points for you guys.

*spoilers and love after the break*

(more…)

I know this isn’t a review, and I know that writers throw letters in their books and such, but to me this is an incredible feeling. MY letter got printed in a comic book, and definitely one of my favorite books: Astounding Wolf-Man #17.

I’m pretty excited that Robert Kirkman answered my questions (see below) and other than that, I just wanted to share with everyone the fact that if you send a letter to a comic that prints letters, there is a chance it will get printed!

Thanks to Robert Kirkman and Image for printing my letter! I will definitely be writing to more comics (ie. Invincible, Amazing Spider-Man, Walking Dead, etc.) now!

My letter (part 1)

My letter (part 2) -- Kirkman's response

Full letter pages after the break!

(more…)

Well everyone, since I’ve been lacking so much in my review count (seriously, what is my problem?), let me give you the insight into a gigantic 8 comics this week. That’s right. 8 comics!

Mind you, this week was pretty big–I myself read at least 18 comics–and here are a few I think you all may find a bit interesting:

• Squadron Supereme 2 #8
• Amazing Spider-Man #587
• Four Eyes #2
• Firebreather #4
• Invincible #59
• Uncanny X-Men #506
• Shrapnel #2
• X-Men: Legacy #221

Who’s excited? I’m excited. Are you excited? You better be.

**some spoilers after the break**

(more…)

Wow. Usually, solicitations are the typical new issues of a series. Sometimes they are the start of an exciting arc, but mostly, there’s not a lot to get excited about. The few new series or mini-series are what are usually most exciting. This month, the comic book publishers (mostly Marvel) decided to pull out all the stops and bring out a bunch of really interesting stuff. Seriously, this post is going to be really long, as I have a lot to feature. So sit back, grab a drink and get ready to find out what comics are going to be making headlines as the weather starts to turn warm again.

(more…)

Invincible #55 cover

In this world, only one man can satisfy me the way Robert Kirkman does… wait, that sounds really weird (then again I have been known to confess my love for Brian Reed before, so whatever)… but anyways, this month’s Invincible kicks ass as much as any other Invincible, but this month we get to see more of everyone’s favorite Invincible character: Allen the Alien! Yeah!

If you don’t know what’s going on in Invincible, this review is not for you, but if you do… wowzer. We’ll continue after the break, but let me tell you… this issue ends with one sweet revelation.

**spoilers abound** (more…)

To take a page from the posts of Fantastic Fan Girls, I am finishing off my series this month on favorites–though next week I may do something crazy–I want to discuss my favorite ongoing comic book series.

Before I reveal the great mystery that is my favorite, I really have to say this was a toughie. I think what I gauge my choice on is obvious: writing style, ability to keep interest, comedic effect (for me, this is always a plus), and art styling. In this case, it’s a series I’ve been reading since issue #1, and wouldn’t you guess it, it’s not even a Marvel title.

For me, my favorite ongoing series is: Invincible.

**spoilers of Invincible #1-55 will most likely be abound**

(more…)