My Collections, Part 2.1: Starman (Ted Knight) - The Comics

This is going to be the first image-heavy post. Rather than clutter up the actual post with a bunch of images that I can't rearrange all that well, I've decided to upload them to an Imgur album. Easy peasy. The link will be at the bottom of the post.

I don't really have much of a connection with Theodore "Ted" Knight, the original Starman. My love of Starman comes from Ted's son, Jack, and the series that follows his exploits. But because I love Jack, I love Starman, and because I love Starman, I love ALL the characters who have taken up the mantle and used the name, and that includes Ted.

This is going to be the most difficult character in which to collect. It's not that he has a ton of appearances, it's just that most of them, at the least his main appearances and not just when he appears in the background as a member of the JSA, are in the Golden Age. I'm looking at about 40 issues of Adventure Comics and about 15 issues of All-Star Comics. Even rough copies of these comics are going to cost me some serious scratch. These will probably be the last issues I'll end up acquiring, if I ever do.

Like I said, Ted isn't my go-to Starman, There is, however, one story that he's a part of that is amazing, and it's no coincidence that it's written by Jack's guiding hand, James Robertson. The Golden Age predates Robinson's Starman series, both in publication and setting. The series takes place following WWII, and the heroes of the time are adjusting to life after the war...The War? Do we capitalize it? Or is that only when we call it The Great War?

Anyways, the story is an Elseworlds series. If you're not familiar, that's the banner DC used to give their alternate reality stories: Batman: Red Rain and Gotham by Gaslight, Superman: Red Son, etc. They even devoted an entire year's annual to Elseworld stories. I REALLY want to talk about the story and what it's about, but even though the story is 24 years old, I don't want to spoil it. I CAN say, though, Ted's character (and he really is more Ted than Starman here) has some great characterization that Robinson actually brings over to his Starman series.

If you're a fan of the story, I just found this old webpage that has annotations on the series. I'm going to be diving into that sometime this week.

Besides The Golden Age, there are a few personal highlights of my Ted Knight collection. I've acquired some of the Silver Age Justice League issues, including the first appearance of the Silver Age Red Tornado. I was lucky enough to snag it for a good price right before it was announced he was going to be on the Supergirl TV show. I've also got the hard-to-find Golden Age and Starman uncorrected preview editions.

I can remember only three times when reading a comic book made me cry. The second time was Ultimate Peter Parker's funeral in Ultimate Fallout #1, when the little girl asked Aunt May if she was the one who made Peter breakfast. Oof, I'm almost tearing up just thinking about it. The third was issue #134 of Fables where Bigby Wolf is reunited with his child (I won't say which one or why they're being reunited...GO READ FABLES). It was beautiful and sad and happy and probably my favorite part of the series, and that is saying A LOT.

The first time I cried when reading a comic book, though, was the memorial service for Ted. The memories were spectacular, and somewhat simplistic art by Peter Snejberg perfectly captured the mood. With the Ultimate Fallout issue, I read it thinking about me surviving the death of one of my kids, and with Fables I read it thinking about having a reunion with one of them. With Starman issue #73, though, I imagined what kind of stories I'd be hearing about my own father if this were his memorial service. It's one thing for a writer to write...that's their job. But those who can put you in the scene and make you feel so many emotions...for an imaginary character...that's talent.

The Jack Knight I grew to love could not have happened without Ted. I don't say that in a snarky way to suggest that without his dad he wouldn't have been born, because duh. Robinson's Starman series was about family and legacy. There were eight different Starman beginning with Ted. There was a Starboy as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. There was a Stargirl. Without Ted, there wouldn't be this rich heritage. Don't believe me? Look at DC's rebooted line. There was no Golden Age of Heroes once DC introduced the New 52 universe in 2011. There was no Ted Knight/Starman (there MAY have been a Ted Knight, who knows, but there was no Golden Age Starman), so there was no Jack Knight/Starman. There was/is a Stargirl, but she had nothing to do with the Knight family and the Starman legacy, at least that we've been told. She still found her step-dad's cosmic belt and a cosmic rod, but as far as I know their creator has not been named. Maybe it was Ted?

I'm hoping that Ted is one of the characters brought back when the Justice Society eventually returns. C'mon, it's going to happen. I would have even been happy with a new Starman in the Earth 2 series, but that never happened. So we'll just have to keep looking to the future and see what DC has in store.

If I've done my research, and I believe I have, here are my two lists for Starman (Ted Knight), my Have List and my Want List:

Have List

• 52 #7, 27, 38
• Action Comics Vol. 1 #663
• Adventure Comics Vol. 1 #61 (Millennium Edition), 466
• Adventure Comics Vol. 2 #1
• All-American Comics Vol. 2 #1
• All-Star Comics Vol. 1 #69-70, 74
• All-Star Comics Vol. 2 #1-2
• All-Star Comics Illustrated Index #1
• All-Star Squadron #1-5, 7, 10, 15, 17-19, 24, 27, 30-31, 34, 38, 41-43, 47, 50-51, 53, 57-60, 64, Annual #2-3
• America vs. the Justice Society #1-4, Trade Paperback
• Armageddon: Inferno #3-4
• Batman/Hellboy/Starman #1-2
• Birds of Prey #4, 4 (White Lantern Variant)
• Blackest Night: JSA #3, 3 (Variant)
• Brave and the Bold Vol. 1 #61-62, 182
• Countdown #20, 43, 46-47
• Crisis on Infinite Earths #4, 9, 10, 12
• Damage #12, 15
• DC 2000 #1
• DC Comics One Million #1
• DC Comics Presents: Superman - Sole Survivor #1 (Signed by cover artist Kevin Nowlan)
• DC Sampler #2
• DC Universe Holiday Bash #2
• DC Universe: Legacies #5
• DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar #2
• DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins #1
• Final Crisis Secret Files and Origins #1 (Border Cover), 1 (Full Cover)
• Final Night #2-3
• Flash Vol. 2 Annual #3
• Golden Age #1-4, Deluxe Hardcover, Preview, Trade Paperback
• Golden Age Secret Files and Origins #1
• Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #1 (Signed by Mark Bright), 3 (Signed by Mark Bright), 6
  
• Green Lantern Secret Files #1 (Signed by Kevin Nowlan, Darryl Banks)
• Green Lantern: Brightest Day, Blackest Night
• Green Lantern: Fear Itself
• Green Lantern/Sentinel: Heart of Darkness #1
• Hellboy: Masks and Monsters Trade Paperback
• History of the DC Universe #1-2, Trade Paperback, Hardcover
• Infinite Crisis #2 (Jim Lee), 2 (George Perez)
• Infinity Inc. #1-2, 8-9, 12, 20-21, 25, 27, 34, 48, Annual #1, 2
• JLA: Incarnations #4
• JLA: Year One #2, 4, 11, 12
• JSA #1, 18, 56, 69 (Signed by Keith Champagne), 70-72
• JSA: All-Stars Vol. 1 #4, 8
• JSA Classified #20
• JSA Secret Files and Origins #1 (Signed by Darryl Banks, Kevin Nowlan)
• JSA: Strange Adventures #1-6, Trade Paperback
• Justice League: Another Nail #3
• Justice League of America Vol. 1 #30, 64, 73, 82-83, 101, 193, 207-208, 219-220, 231-232
  
• Justice League: The Nail #1
• Justice Society of America Vol. 1 #1-3, 5, 7
• Justice Society of America Vol. 2 #1
• Justice Society of America Vol. 3 #8, 8 (Variant), 25, 25 (Variant), 50, 50 (Variant)
• Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special #1
• Legends of the DC Universe #1
• Manhunter Vol. 4 #13, 23
• Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #20
• Red Tornado #1, 3
• Sandman Mystery Theatre #38-40
• Secret Origins Vol. 3 #7, 27, 50
• Smash Comics Vol. 2 #1
• Spectre Vol. 3 #20
• Starman Vol. 1 #26-27
• Starman Vol. 2 #0-4 (all signed by Tony Harris), 7, 9-13, 15-18, 20-22, 24-25, 27, 29-30, 32-35, 37, 39-53, 55-56, 61-72, 76-79, 1,000,000, Annual #1-2, Sins of the Father Trade Paperback
• Starman 80-Page Giant #1 (Signed by John Lucas and Drew Geraci)
• Starman Secret Files and Origins #1
  
• Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0, 2, 4, 8-9
• Superman Vol. 2 #226
• Superman/Batman #41
• Superman: Our Worlds at War Secret Files and Origins #1
• Tales of the Batman: Alan Brennert Hardcover
• Thrilling Comics Vol. 2 #1
• Vault of Michael Allred #4
• Wanted, the World's Most Dangerous Villains #6
• War of the Gods #2, 2 (Collector's Edition), Trade Paperback
• Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #12, 22
• Who's Who Update '87 #1
• Wonder Woman Vol. 1 #231-232
• World's Finest Comics #265
• Young All-Stars #1, 3, 9, 20, 27
• Zero Hour #1-3, Trade Paperback

Want List

• Adventure Comics Vol. 1 #61-102, 462
• All-Star Comics Vol. 1 #8-23
  
• All-Star Comics Vol. 2 #1 (RRP Variant)
• All-Star Comics 80-Page Giant #1
• All-Star Squadron #20-22, 25, 28, 32-33, 35, 44-45, 50, 53, 60, Annual #3
• Batman: Secret of the Batcave Trade Paperback
• Blackest Night: Black Lantern Corps Vol. 2 Hardcover and Trade Paperback
• Convergence #8
• Crisis on Multiple Earths Vol. 1, 2, 3, 6 Trade Paperbacks
• Crisis on Multiple Earths: The Team-Ups Vol. 1, 2 Trade Paperbacks
• DC 100-Page Super-Spectacular #DC-20
• DC 2000 #2
• DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics: Justice League Vol. 1 Trade Paperback
• DC Comics One Million Trade Paperback, Omnibus Hardcover
• DC Sneak Preview #1
• DC Universe: Legacies #5 (Variant), Trade Paperback, Hardcover
• DC Universe: Origins Trade Paperback
• DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar Trade Paperback
• Fate #22
  
• Final Crisis Companion
• Final Night Trade Paperback
• Golden Age Starman Archives Vol. 1-2 Hardcovers
• JSA Presents: Green Lantern
• Justice League of America Vol. 1 #29, 74, 100, 102, 209
• Justice Society of America Vol. 1 #8
• Justice Society of America Vol. 2 #9-10
• Legionnaires Annual #3
• Manhunter Vol. 4 Trial by Fire Trade Paperback, Origins Trade Paperback
• Power of Shazam #35-36
• Spectre Vol. 3 #62
• Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #159
• Wonder Woman 1972 Trade Paperback
• Young All-Stars #14

Here's a link to pics of all of my Ted Knight/Starman comics.

What You Should Have Read #56

Thoughts on Last Week’s Comics

Amazing Spider-Man #678 – Spidey sees the future and realizes he’s the only person who can prevent the destruction of New York. It’s a really good story, but the best parts are the Peter Parker moments in the beginning. Once he gets his Spidey duds on, things move incredibly quickly to an uncertain conclusion. Good issue, but I can’t really say if I’ll like the story as a whole until it’s finished.

Avengers #21 – This issue went by WAY too quickly. We get at least a glimpse of everybody, but they’re all getting their asses handed to them. It’s not very reassuring. No Osborn, either. I guess he was busy over in New Avengers.

Avenging Spider-Man #3 – Are these Asgardian mole people? Their language “looks” Asgardian, or what I seem to recognize from Fear Itself and the Thor books. Rock trolls or something? Doesn’t matter, I guess. This story was kind of tricksy. It wasn’t so much a Red Hulk/Spider-Man team-up but instead a Spider-Man/JJJ story, and a pretty good one, at that. I’ll admit, I was skeptical when this title was first solicited, but this was a good start. I’ve always enjoyed the various Spider-Man team-up books because the character works so well with other heroes. He’s like super Jerry Lewis to everyone else’s super Dean Martin. I love that analogy. Feel free to use it, but give me credit. ;)

Daredevil #8 – The relaunch of this title has been solid. Not crazy-awesome-good like it was when Bendis was writing it, but still good. The crossover with Spidey? Also good. I like how it wasn’t just cobbled together just to get these three (can’t forget Black Cat, can we?) characters together. No, it flowed nicely from events happening in both books. The kicker for me in this issue was when Spidey discovered Matt and Felicia. Man, that was heartbreaking, and it’ll stay with me for a while. I’m assuming it’ll stay with Pete, too.

Fables #113 -  This is a filler issue, but really, are any issues in this series TOTALLY filler? Even the ones that seem ridiculously out of place? No, I imagine the sorcerer king will show up again, as well as either the porcupine or the witch who cursed him. Maybe even the turtle. It was a good enough issue, but rather plain all by itself. I’ll be more excited about it when I relive it after the eventual pay-off.

G.I. Joe #9/G.I. Joe: Cobra #9/G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes #9 – These two books have been great at showing how each side has acted during the meteoric rise of Cobra, but now they’re starting to overlap more. Really, this could have been one book/title. That’s not a slight against the story or the books themselves. I’m impressed how everything is flowing and coming together. I know that Cobra eventually has to lose, but right now I’m enjoying their successes.

Invincible Iron Man #512 – Not a lot of action this issue, but tons of set-up. Set up for all the bad guys: the main one, the lackeys, and the ones who don’t even know they’re bad guys. Tony thinks his world is in the crapper now? It looks like things are about to get exponentially worse, and that always makes for entertaining storytelling. I love the idea of the Stark Resilient Lifearmor. It also makes me think, Marvel could have quite an event in the future, the kind where everyone becomes an Iron Man. House of IM instead of House of M. Iron Island instead of Spider Island. Crisis of Infinite Iron Men instead of…whoops, wrong company, but you get the idea.

Moon Knight #9 – I’ve said before that I’m a Bendis whore, but it’s a somewhat selective whoring I practice. Anything new? Sure. But I haven’t read EVERYTHING. I don’t read Powers. I wasn’t that into the guy when it started hitting shelves, and I just haven’t gone back and picked up the series yet. I want to, though, especially with the TV show ending up on FX…assuming the pick up the reworked pilot. Anyways, not everybody can hit a homerun each time they’re up to bat is what I’m saying. Moon Knight is one such not-a-homerun. I was about to drop the title, then I read that’ll it’ll be ending with issue #12, so I guess I can stick around for a bit more. My biggest gripe with it is that it isn’t fun. The same schtick is being used over in Deadpool, and it’s being done better. MK’s voices aren’t clever (even Spidey) or insightful or anything. They’re just there to narrate things. That’s just boring.

Thunderbolts #169 – I’m enjoying this trip through time. I was less impressed with the Jack the Ripper stuff than with the Invaders stuff, but this Camelot story, especially after reading the last few pages, looks like it’ll be awesome. I find it hard to believe, though, that either Fixer, Centurius, or Moonstone don’t recognize the name Black Knight or his weapon. He was a pretty important Avengers for God’s sake.

Ultimate Spider-Man #6 – Good, solid story. I like that, this isn’t a story about Spider-Man, it’s more about Miles. Just like the first series (Ultimate, at least) was always more about Peter than his alter ego. The only thing I don’t like is the new Scorpion. I say new because you might not remember it, but there was already a Scorpion. He was a clone of Pete. Now, I’m not saying that I have any love for him, but Bendis couldn’t think of a new name for this new guy?

Uncanny X-Force #20 – I’ve got problems with the issue, and that makes me sad. I’ve loved this series, but bringing in the Captain Britain mythology put a hurtin’ on my noggin. That and the muddy art. It’s weird. The art is good, even beautiful, with individual, smaller panels. For the big panels, splash pages, or double-page spreads, it’s just muddy and confusing. But back to Captain Britain. I read Excalibur for about three issues during the X-line reboot of the early ‘90s, but it never grabbed me. Because of that, I never got into Brian or his history. I’m hoping this isn’t too confusing for me.

Wonder Woman #5 – Well, that’s surely an interesting form for the god of the seas to take. I like it. Why assume that all the gods are humanoid in form? This was the only DC comic (Well, regular DC comic. Fables doesn’t count.) I got this week. I’m enjoying it, but it’s not because of Wonder Woman. It’s the story and the people around her, and I worry that that might eventually lead me away from the book. With Aquaman and Deathstroke, I’m enjoying the characters and what they’re doing. Not Diana, though. I just can’t get into her, and I feel like not enjoying the character that the book is named after will eventually wear me down. 

Also, in case you've forgotten: When I can remember to add this to the bottom of my posts, I’m going to whore myself out with an impassioned plea: click on the ads. PLEASE click on the ads. I don’t care if you exit out of it immediately or actually look around. This isn’t some professional blog where I believe in the products I’m shilling. These are automatic ads placed by Google. But when you click ads, I get a little bit of money, and as a single father of three, every penny from every source helps...especially with Christmas bills here and an unsure/shaky work situation. So I’m going to keep this tiny bit of begging at the bottom of my posts, and I hope you’ll take an extra 10 seconds after reading my blog to click on an ad. The only thing it costs you is time. :) Thanks so much!

What You Should Have Read #52

This SHOULD have been my 500th post, but I messed things up by posting those last three links. While the post is double-sized, I'm missing the requisite variant opening paragraphs. Sorry about that.

Thoughts on Last Week’s Comics

Amazing Spider-Man #676 – As much as I’m loving Dan Slott and his Amazing Spider-Man, I had a hard time believing that Doc Ock and his Sinister Six could take down the Intelligencia. I realize the guy is smart, but smarter than MODOK, the Mad Thinker, the Wizard AND the Red Ghost? I’m not sold on that.

Avengers #20 – I can’t say I’m all that thrilled with the new line-up. The Protector hasn’t been fleshed out enough to make me care about him. I mean, I loved Grant Morrison’s mini that introduced him, but everything after that has been extremely lackluster and random. I don’t like his current look or identity, and how random was it when he brought his girlfriend over to meet the team? He’s got a girlfriend? When did that happen? The only upside I can see, at least in the immediate future, is his former relationship with Osborn. The guy was on the first iteration of the Dark Avengers and left for moral reasons. Will the fact that Osborn has a new team affect him at all? Also, the Vision came out of left field. Stark has been working on him in his spare time? What spare time? And what about the kid over with the Young Avengers? Isn’t he part Vision or something? I usually go ga-ga for anything Bendis writes, and while I like Osborn coming back and attempting to start some major shit, there are just a few things that are pulling me out of the story.

Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #6 – Ennis is really doing some awesome shit with this superhero opus. The main series shows us stuff that forces us to ask questions. We might get an answer every now-and-then in the series, but not many. Herogasm helped, as did Highland Laddie, and this mini is doing a lot to connect a bunch more dots. I thought the way he put himself in the story was a bit much, though.

Daredevil #7 – There’s something to be said for a good story, a one-off issue that isn’t bound by the restraints of an event or a crossover. Daredevil has been doing

Fables #112 – The only bad thing about the pacing of this book is that sometimes I forget things that happened quite a while ago. Like with this issue, I forgot that Rose was hired on by…the Blue Fairy? Is that who she’s working for now? And how long ago did that actually happen? Other than that, I enjoyed her journey and orientation, and I’m continuing to enjoy the search for/training of a new North Wind.

Fantastic Four #601 – Let’s just ignore that this is the third time we’ve jumped back into the first volume of this title (1-416, 500-588, now 600-601…ridiculous, Marvel). Oh my fuckin’ God, Johnny Storm is back and it’s awesome. This was such a good issue. I was wondering how this was actually going to be a problem, what with the Annihilation Wave and the Inhumans kicking ass in space, and then I got my answer on the last page. Unintended consequences, just like Ronan was dealing with.

Invincible Iron Man #511 – I love that Mandarin and Stane are doing tape review, like a football team before a game. They’re looking at Tony and looking for any possible weakness, and they may have found it. And Tony’s enemies are teaming up. Spider-Man has the Sinister Six. The Fantastic Four have the Frightful Four. The X-Men have the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Flash has The Rogues, the Justice League has the Injustice Gang, and the Justice Society has the Injustice Society. Tony needs a team of villains against him, and it looks like this may be it. Now they just need a cool name.

Journey into Mystery #632 – Marvel is doing a pretty good job about being creative with their first page recaps. Between Loki and Ikol’s introduction in this title, the Daily Bugle headlines and articles over in Amazing Spider-Man and Peter David’s personal updates in X-Factor, these are very entertaining and a good way to ease into the comic. Not that this issue needed to be eased into. It was a one-off that wasn’t quite a one-off. Those hell-puppies were adorable, and I’m looking forward to some good stories in the future starring them.

New Avengers #19 – I am full on loving this Osborn comeback. He’s not just a Spidey villain, he’s a MARVEL villain. And I like this team so much more than the main one. It’s just more fun, less serious.

Shade #3 – I think it’s a crime to do a write-up about this series and not mention the absolutely exquisite covers by Tony Harris. Cully Hamner is a good artist. I’ve got no complaints about him, but Tony Harris IS Starman to me…and to a lesser extent so is Peter Snjejbjerg. But the covers that Harris is creating for this series are nothing short of works of art. I would LOVE to have one of these (hell, probably any Starman cover he’s done) framed and on the wall of my house.

Suicide Squad #4 – Is it wrong that I’m slightly turned on by Harley? This ain’t your Batman Adventures Harley Quinn, that’s for sure. I think it’s pretty obvious that she’s the one who started the riot. It’s a convenient way for her to escape, now that the bomb is deactivated, and get to Gotham to check on Mr. J, to see if Boomerang was lying. Also, I was happy to see him used as a pawn rather than the team leader. This isn’t the Suicide Squad that I fell in love with, but I have to admit that I’m enjoying what I’m reading.

Thunderbolts #167 – Nice twist to the issue, but I was kind of hoping that the reason for the Ripper would be a bit more sinister and a little less mystical. Still, a solid issue, and I’m looking forward to Camelot in the next issue. And hey! What’s Ghost up to?

Ultimate Spider-Man #5 – Is it okay for me to really like a Spider-Man that isn’t Peter Parker? I hope so, ‘cause I’m really liking Miles. Also, I really like Bendis’ Nick Fury. I really dislike Millar’s Nick Fury. They don’t even seem like the same character. This issue was great. From Spider-Woman to the Ultimates to Electro, it was just plain great. Like Fables, it’s difficult for me to praise the same things issue after issue.

Uncanny X-Force #18 – Originally, I was disappointed in this because, well, it’s not like I wanted anybody to die, but the whole thing was leading up to Warren’s death. Then he just walks back to the group, a winged amnesiac? I thought it was a big cop out to a great story. Then I read an interview with Rick Remender who said that Warren is in fact dead. The Life Seed that killed him then rebuilt his body from the ground up. All it is is a shell, a baby, really. It’s alive, but it isn’t Warren. I’m more okay with that, especially since this WAS such a good story.

Uncanny X-Force #19 – After going almost nonstop for 18 issues, this is a much-needed down issue. Wolverine’s involvement in and continuation of X-Force is addressed with Beast, and Evan, the child clone of Apocalypse is enrolled in the school. Nightcrawler is back, kind of, and Angel…well, we don’t know about Angel yet. He’s a blank slate. Although, it looks like he still has his metal wings, which I assumed were gone. That was an Apocalypse thing, and I was under the impression that the Life Seed rebuilt Warren, not Archangel. Great issue, even if there was no action. I’m hoping I can follow the Captain Britain stuff coming up since I only barely know of the Corps background.

Wolverine and the X-Men #3 – Oh, what fun. The offspring of Krakoa is now a student? Nice. I’ve always been a sucker for well-written teen superheroes. Geoff Johns’ Teen Titans. The original New Warriors. The Young Avengers. The beginning of the second New Mutants series. And now this new school for gifted youngsters, where the students are as much a part of cast as are the X-Men.

X-Factor #229 – I…I really don’t know what to say about this issue. It’s confusing, but readable because there’s a bit of an explanation as to what’s happening, just not why.

Also, in case you've forgotten: When I can remember to add this to the bottom of my posts, I’m going to whore myself out with an impassioned plea: click on the ads. PLEASE click on the ads. I don’t care if you exit out of it immediately or actually look around. This isn’t some professional blog where I believe in the products I’m shilling. These are automatic ads placed by Google. But when you click ads, I get a little bit of money, and as a single father of three, every penny from every source helps...especially with Christmas bills looming on the horizon. So I’m going to keep this tiny bit of begging at the bottom of my posts, and I hope you’ll take an extra 10 seconds after reading my blog to click on an ad. The only thing it costs you is time. :) Thanks so much!

What You Should Have Read #50

Thoughts on Last Week’s Comics...

Double-Sized Foil Cover Anniversary Post!

Fables #111 – It’s really difficult to write something different each month about a consistently good comic. Fables is awesome. If you’re not reading it, start. If you’re a fan of NBC’s Grimm or ABC’s Once Upon a Time, read it. It’s better, I promise. We get a new North Wind in this issue, and it’s not who I was thinking it was going to be. There was some good misdirections, and writer Bill Willingham gives us a logical replacement.

FF #12 – I try not to read solicits or previews of comics because I don’t like to be spoiled (usually) as to where a story is going. Broad strokes are okay, but I like to find out the details for myself. So if it was announced earlier that the FF book would be focusing on the kids now that the Fantastic Four is back (which is quite the logical path, now that I think about it), I wasn’t aware. I tend to have an aversion to super-smart, know-it-all (Redundant? I guess.) kids, so I don’t think this book is going to sit too well with me. Sure, Hickman is doing a great job with the script and I like where the kids are going, but still…super-smart, know-it-all kids. At least Franklin and Leech are thrown into the mix, and they’re just average, super-powered kids.

Red Skull #5 – I really enjoyed this mini, but this panel struck me as a bit queer. It’s only ¼ of this page, a few pages into the issue. It doesn’t show any action but instead a result. There is absolutely nothing about it to make it stand out, yet the artist (Mirko Colak, who I’ve not heard of before) has decided to sign his name to it. A splash page, sure, I can understand that. If this character had been somebody important like the Skull himself or Hitler, sure, that too. But it’s a nobody, dying with blood pouring from his mouth. I just thought it was odd.

Thunderbolts #166 – As corny as it is, I’m loving the Thunderbolts bouncing through time. I’m giving a bit of an eye roll to Hyde turning out to be Jack the Ripper, because that’s not terribly inventive, but it’s still a charming story, from Boomerang’s cockney accent to Gunna being cast as Eliza Doolittle and Centurius as Henry Higgins. As corny as it is, it’s well-written and engaging. It’s still smart, and I like how writer Jeff Parker is weaving the ‘Bolts into established history.

Ultimates #4 – I think having Reed Richards as a villain is an awesome and terrifying prospect. He already seems like a better villain, a villain more worthy of the name Reed Richards, than he was in Ultimate Fallout. That ended up being somewhat embarrassing for him.

Uncanny X-Men #2 – Wow, I’m really not interested in this storyline at the moment. I think I can give this book up and, while I’ll miss my monthly dose of Carlos Pacheco art, I’ll be perfectly fine getting my mutant fix from Wolverine & the X-Men. There’s only so many times when the same character, hero or villain, can say, “I knew you were going to do that,” and it sounds clever rather than mind-numbingly repetitive. Sinister has already passed that point. And really, has it ever been that easy to get the Juggernaut’s helmet off?

Wolverine #19 – While a solid tale told by Jason Aaron, the one thing I took away from this issue is that Marvel is trying extremely hard to make Spider-Man the center of its universe. Norah Winters is now a constant presence in the Punisher’s world, and now Wolverine’s girlfriend is a reporter for the Daily Bugle. I like seeing this cross-line continuity.

X-Men: Legacy #259 – Wow, that was…disappointing. I never read the Fallen Angels mini, and I had forgotten all about Ariel’s “death” although I was reading this book when it happened. But I had no idea who the character was, and a quick check of Wikipedia didn’t have me caring any more. I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be Jean Grey, but I was still hoping for someone a little…bigger. Eh, we’ll see how this turns out.

Looking Forward To

Here’s what Previews tells me is coming out this week. I’m looking forward to the stuff in bold. What are YOU looking forward to?

 DC COMICS

OCT110178	ACTION COMICS #4	$3.99
OCT110212	ANIMAL MAN #4	$2.99
JUL110285	BAD DOINGS BIG IDEAS A BILL WILLINGHAM DLX HC (MR)	$49.99
AUG110242	BATMAN NO MANS LAND TP VOL 01 NEW EDITION	$29.99
OCT110191	BATWING #4	$2.99
MAY110309	BLACKEST NIGHT POWER RING SPECTRUM SET	$65.00
SEP110177	BRIGHTEST DAY TP VOL 01	$19.99
OCT110238	DC COMICS PRESENTS CAPTAIN ATOM #1	$7.99
APR110283	DC UNIVERSE ONLINE STATUE THE JOKER	$90.00
OCT110188	DETECTIVE COMICS #4	$2.99
OCT110171	GREEN ARROW #4	$2.99
OCT110231	HAWK AND DOVE #4	$2.99
OCT110286	HELLBLAZER ANNUAL #1 (MR)	$4.99
OCT110201	HUNTRESS #3 (OF 6)	$2.99
OCT110288	IZOMBIE #20 (MR)	$2.99
AUG110250	JACK KIRBYS FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS TP VOL 01	$39.99
OCT110164	JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #4	$2.99
OCT110274	LOONEY TUNES #204	$2.99
OCT110225	MEN OF WAR #4	$3.99
OCT110223	OMAC #4	$2.99
OCT110187	PENGUIN PAIN AND PREJUDICE #3 (OF 5)	$2.99
OCT110207	RED LANTERNS #4	$2.99
SEP110227	SANDMAN TP VOL 07 BRIEF LIVES NEW ED (MR)	$19.99
OCT110273	SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #16	$2.99
OCT110229	STATIC SHOCK #4	$2.99
OCT110217	STORMWATCH #4	$2.99
SEP110189	SUPERBOY SMALLVILLE ATTACKS TP	$24.99
AUG110261	SUPERMAN GROUNDED HC VOL 02	$22.99
SEP110188	SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN TP	$19.99
OCT110278	SUPERNATURAL #3 (OF 6)	$2.99
SEP118159	SWAMP THING #2 2ND PTG	$2.99
OCT110211	SWAMP THING #4	$2.99
OCT110297	SWEET TOOTH #28 (MR)	$2.99
MAY110258	WATCHMEN THE ABSOLUTE EDITION HC NEW PTG	$99.99

IDW PUBLISHING

OCT110422	ANGEL AFTER THE FALL TP VOL 04	$19.99
SEP110356	CAPTAIN CANUCK COMPLETE ED TP	$29.99
OCT110368	COLD WAR #3	$3.99
OCT110416	ETERNAL DESCENT VOL 2 #2 (OF 6)	$3.99
OCT110335	GI JOE COBRA ONGOING TP VOL 01 COBRA CIVIL WAR	$17.99
OCT110329	GI JOE VOL 2 ONGOING #8	$3.99
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SEP110355	SHAMANS TEARS TP	$29.99
OCT110362	STAR TREK CLASSICS TP TNG GORN CRISIS	$15.99
SEP110280	TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MICRO SERIES #1 RAPHAEL	$3.99
OCT110323	TRANSFORMERS ONGOING #31	$3.99
SEP110263	TRUE BLOOD FRENCH QUARTER #4 (OF 6)	$3.99

IMAGE COMICS

OCT110538	BLOOD RED DRAGON #2	$3.99
SEP110453	BREED III #7 (OF 7) (MR)	$2.99
JUL110516	CHEW #22	$2.99
OCT110450	CHEW OMNIVORE ED HC VOL 02 (MR)	$34.99
SEP110401	GIRLS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP (MR)	$49.99
SEP110464	HACK SLASH #10 CVR A SEELEY & ENGLERT (MR)	$3.50
SEP110465	HACK SLASH #10 CVR B CLOONAN (MR)	$3.50
SEP110377	HACK SLASH ANNUAL 2011 HATCHET SLASH #1 CVR A (MR)	$5.99
SEP110378	HACK SLASH ANNUAL 2011 HATCHET SLASH #1 CVR B (MR)	$5.99
OCT110552	HEART #2 (OF 4) (MR)	$2.99
OCT110555	LAST OF THE GREATS #3 CVR A PEEPLES	$2.99
OCT110556	LAST OF THE GREATS #3 CVR B PLATI	$2.99
OCT110560	MORIARTY #7	$2.99
OCT110568	REED GUNTHER #6	$2.99
OCT110570	SPAWN #214	$2.99
SEP118142	STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #2 (OF 6) VAR CVR 2ND PTG (M	$2.99
OCT110572	STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #3 (OF 6) (MR)	$2.99
SEP110389	THOUGHT BUBBLE ANTHOLOGY #1	$2.99
OCT110575	WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #49 (MR)	$2.99

MARVEL COMICS

OCT110630	AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #675	$3.99
JUL110710	ART OF SPIDER-MAN CLASSIC HC	$49.99
JUL110721	AVENGERS WEST COAST AVENGERS PREM HC SINS PAST	$34.99
JUL110722	AVENGERS WEST COAST AVENGERS PREM HC SINS PAST DM VAR ED 80	$34.99
OCT110628	AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #2 WITH FREE DIGITAL CODE	$3.99
OCT110721	CAPTAIN AMERICA CORPS TP	$16.99
OCT110698	CRIMINAL TP VOL 06 LAST OF INNOCENT (MR)	$14.99
OCT110669	DEADPOOL #47	$2.99
SEP110658	DEADPOOL PREM HC VOL 09 INSTITUTIONALIZED	$19.99
OCT110694	DEADPOOLMAX X-MAS SPECIAL #1 (MR)	$4.99
OCT110587	DEFENDERS #1	$3.99
SEP118111	DEFENDERS #1 NEAL ADAMS INKED VAR (PP #995)	$3.99
OCT110743	ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 02 NEW ED	$19.99
OCT110583	FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #4 (OF 12)	$2.99
OCT110653	HULK #45	$2.99
OCT110643	MOON KNIGHT #8	$3.99
OCT110646	PUNISHER #6	$2.99
JUL110723	SHIELD NICK FURY VS SHIELD PREM HC	$39.99
JUL110724	SHIELD NICK FURY VS SHIELD PREM HC DM VAR ED 81	$39.99
OCT110737	SPIDER-MAN THROUGH DECADES TP	$26.99
OCT110659	THOR DEVIANTS SAGA #2 (OF 5)	$3.99
OCT110622	ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN MUST HAVE #1	$4.99
OCT110624	ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES MUST HAVE #1	$4.99
OCT110627	ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN MUST HAVE #1	$4.99
OCT110634	VENOM #10	$2.99
OCT110661	VILLAINS FOR HIRE #1 (OF 4)	$2.99
OCT110687	X-23 #18	$2.99
OCT110690	X-CLUB #1 (OF 5)	$2.99
OCT110681	X-FACTOR #228	$2.99
OCT110675	X-MEN #22 XREGB	$3.99
OCT110741	X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST TP NEW PTG	$19.99
SEP110675	X-MEN WITH GREAT POWER TP	$19.99
JUN110719	X-STATIX OMNIBUS HC	$125.00

SEP110757	ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #224	$3.99
OCT110829	ARSENIC LULLABY DEVILS DECADE TP (O/A) (MR)	$29.99
SEP111133	AT FULL MOON GN VOL 01	$10.99
SEP111271	BAKUMAN TP VOL 08	$9.99
OCT110928	BETRAYAL O/T PLANET O/T APES #2 (OF 4)	$3.99
SEP111272	BLEACH TP VOL 37	$9.99
SEP111274	BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 05	$9.99
AUG111214	BOONDOCK SAINTS TP VOL 01	$19.99
OCT110985	BOYS #61 (MR)	$3.99
OCT110860	CHOPPER #2 (OF 5) (MR)	$2.99
OCT110841	CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #6 (OF 7) (RES) (MR)	$3.99
OCT110842	CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #6 (OF 7) TORTURE CVR (RES) (MR)	$3.99
OCT110843	CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #6 (OF 7) WRAP CVR (RES) (MR)	$3.99
SEP111223	DAMAGED #4 (OF 6) (MR)	$3.50
SEP111265	DAWN OF THE ARCANA TP VOL 01	$9.99
SEP111219	DEAD OR ALIVE #1 (OF 4)	$2.99
SEP111135	DELTORA QUEST GN VOL 03	$10.99
SEP111077	DF FF #1 HAESER REMARK ED	$89.99
SEP111076	DF KIRBY GENESIS SILVER STAR #1 EX VIRGIN CVR	$5.00
MAY111059	DF X-MEN #1 HAESER REMARK CVR CGC GRADED	$129.99
OCT110908	ELRIC THE BALANCE LOST #6	$3.99
OCT110910	ELRIC THE BALANCE LOST TP VOL 01	$14.99
SEP111129	EYES OF THE CAT DLX HC (MR)	$69.95
SEP111308	FLY TP VOL 01 (MR)	$15.99
JUN111005	GARTH ENNIS JENNIFER BLOOD #7 (MR)	$3.99
AUG111285	GFT DREAM EATER SAGA TP VOL 01	$15.99
AUG111286	GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #10 A CVR QUALANO (MR)	$2.99
AUG111287	GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #10 B CVR MOLENAAR (MR)	$2.99
AUG111281	GFT SINBAD SPECIAL A CVR REYES	$5.99
AUG111282	GFT SINBAD SPECIAL B CVR BONK	$5.99
SEP111137	GHOST IN SHELL STAND ALONE COMPLEX GN VOL 02 (MR)	$10.99
SEP110691	GLAMOURPUSS #22	$3.00
SEP111268	GRAND GUIGNOL ORCHESTRA TP VOL 05 (OF 5)	$9.99
AUG111279	GRIMM FAIRY TALES #66 A CVR QUALANO (MR)	$2.99
AUG111280	GRIMM FAIRY TALES #66 B CVR YANG (MR)	$2.99
AUG110903	HELLRAISER #8 (MR)	$3.99
OCT110914	HELLRAISER MASTERPIECES #3 (MR)	$3.99
AUG110922	I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER HC (MR)	$17.99
SEP111287	ILL GIVE IT MY ALL TOMORROW TP VOL 04	$12.99
OCT110751	INDIE COMICS MAGAZINE #4 (MR)	$6.49
OCT110916	IRREDEEMABLE #32	$3.99
JUN111145	JOHNNY HAZARD DAILIES HC VOL 01 1944-1946	$49.99
SEP111315	JURASSIC STRIKE FORCE 5 #0	$0.99
SEP111266	KAMISAMA KISS TP VOL 06	$9.99
OCT110951	LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #12 (MR)	$3.99
OCT110952	LADY DEATH (ONGOING) #12 WRAP CVR (MR)	$3.99
SEP110764	MEGA MAN #8	$2.99
AUG110746	MEN OF MYSTERY #86	$29.95
SEP111276	NARUTO TP VOL 53	$9.99
SEP111278	NURA RISE O/T YOKAI CLAN GN VOL 06	$9.99
SEP111273	ONE PIECE TP VOL 59	$9.99
SEP111267	OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB TP VOL 17	$9.99
SEP111179	P CRAIG RUSSELL LIBRARY OF OPERA BOX SET VOL 1-3	$44.99
JUN111146	PHANTOM COMP SERIES HC VOL 01 GOLD KEY YEARS	$49.99
OCT110929	PLANET OF THE APES #4 SDCC PHOTO VAR CVR	$9.99
SEP110698	PRINCELESS #2	$3.99
APR111001	PS238 TP VOL 09 SAVING ALTERNATE OMAHA	$15.99
SEP111195	RASCAL RACCOONS RAGING REVENGE HC VOL 01	$24.99
AUG111426	RED RASCALS WAR DOONESBURY COLL TP	$19.99
OCT110930	RINSE #4	$3.99
SEP111270	SAKURA HIME LEGEND OF PRINCESS SAKURA GN VOL 05	$9.99
SEP111280	SHONEN JUMP JANUARY 2012	$4.99
SEP111141	SHUGO CHARA CHAN GN VOL 01	$10.99
OCT110760	SKYSCRAPERS O/T MIDWEST HC (O/A) (MR)	$19.95
SEP110765	SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT TP VOL 04 ZONE WARS	$11.95
SEP110887	STAN LEE STARBORN TP VOL 02	$14.99
SEP111264	TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 17 (RES)	$16.95
AUG111129	THE SPIDER IRON MAN WAR GN (RES)	$7.99
JUN111038	TOTAL RECALL #4	$3.99
OCT110899	VALEN OUTCAST #1 MAIN CVRS	$1.00
OCT111014	VAMPIRELLA ANNUAL #1	$4.99
OCT110972	VOLTRON #1	$3.99
SEP111222	WAYWARD SONS TP VOL 01	$19.95

Also, in case you've forgotten: When I can remember to add this to the bottom of my posts, I’m going to whore myself out with an impassioned plea: click on the ads. PLEASE click on the ads. I don’t care if you exit out of it immediately or actually look around. This isn’t some professional blog where I believe in the products I’m shilling. These are automatic ads placed by Google. But when you click ads, I get a little bit of money, and as a single father of three, every penny from every source helps...especially with Christmas looming on the horizon. So I’m going to keep this tiny bit of begging at the bottom of my posts, and I hope you’ll take an extra 10 seconds after reading my blog to click on an ad. The only thing it costs you is time. :) Thanks so much!