This Week's Haul: So Very Late
/Once again, these reviews are ridiculously late. I have my stupid financial accounting exam tomorrow night, and then I'm free until January 7th! Sweeeeet!
Countdown Week 21
Trickster is still dead and Piper is still sad. So am I.
Countdown: Arena #1
And the Lord sayeth to Monarch "Build an arena 300 cubits by 300 cubits, and bring into the arena three of every superhero. Preferably you will choose the most ridiculous of each superhero. And make them fight to the death, for I am bored."
This, folks, is the definition of entertainment for the lowest common denominator.
I don't even know what to say about it. It's ridiculous and bad and I really, really don't understand why this "event" is happening.
I am so close to dropping this, and that is just wrong. I'm a big JLA fan. I'm a big McDuffie fan. So why does this suck? I dunno, but it does.
It's just generally not fun or interesting. And it's full of really awkward jokes.
And also, who's drawing this thing? Sisqo?
Thong-thong-thong-thong-thong.
Canary's got dumps like a truck!
Ah! Now here's the best JLA-related story I've read in awhile! And the best Wonder Woman story I've read in awhile!
I actually totally adored this issue. I loved every panel. Like this one:
And this one:
And also The Atom being burned alive on a Ted Grant (snicker) Indoor Grill! And Wonder Woman licking her thumb and rubbing the blood off the Atom's head! So good.
But please don't let The Head be dead!
Awesome! Not only is this everything I hope for when I pick up an annual, it's the first comic to move the Skrull storyline along in awhile. Everything interesting that is happening in the Marvel universe is happening in this series (and in the ones that Brubaker writes, of course, but those are, like, their own universe. An awesome universe).
Everyone is talking about Skrulls over in The New Avengers, but in The Initiative we're seeing some honest-to-God Skrulls. And some great back stories for all the main characters.
Hulk smashed. New York is a mess. Iron Man is an insufferable prick.
The most awesome thing about this comic is the Mini Marvels comic at the back.
So, so good. Marvel needs to put these into every comic. And release a book that collects them.
Please note Daredevil in the upper right corner of this panel:
I did a spit-take.
Man. This was messed up. I read this right before bed and I had a bad case of the jeeblies. This story is probably going to stay with me for awhile.
It was really awesome, though. And the art was fantastic!
Beautiful art! Lame tie-in! I mean, seriously, how many times have I heard this story?
Totally Evil Guy: "I can bring your loved ones back from the dead, all you have to do is whatever crazy thing I say!"
Noble Hero: "Really?"
Totally Evil Guy: "Yup. For reals."
Usually Very Intelligent Hero: "Well...alright then."
Other Hero(es) Present: "You probably shouldn't listen to that guy. He's evil."
Disappointing Hero: "DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! WHY SHOULD I BE ALLOWED TO LIVE WHEN MY PARENTS/SISTER/GIRLFRIEND/SIDEKICK/BROTHER/BEST FRIEND/UNCLE BEN IS DEAD?!"
Other Hero(es): "Yeah, that sucks...but the thing is, you're probably just going to die, and then the evil guy won't actually bring back your loved ones. I mean, why would he?"
Dumb Hero: "Screw you! I'm doing it!"
Comic: TO BE CONTINUED!
Really, Tim. I expected better from you.
