This Week's Haul: Brand New Day
/Blah. I had an 8.5 hour operations management class today. My brain is fried. Time for comics!
The Amazing Spider-Man #546
One More Day was terrible beyond words. It was actually a giant insult to comic readers everywhere, as far as I'm concerned. But this issue of the all-new Spider-Man was excellent. Peter Parker is a lovable loser, it's funny, he has a secret identity, he's friends with Harry Osborne, he's single, he's broke...it's great.
Scenes like this one, where Peter is looking for a job, are so enjoyable:
Oh, Spider-Man. It's so nice to laugh out loud while reading your comics, and know that the writer wants me to.
So while One More Day was just awful, at least it led to this. Even if it took the laziest route possible.
Now if I could just think about this comic without getting that damn Sting song in my head.
Green Lantern Corps #20
I loved this because it TOTALLY sounded like Guy and Kyle decided to get married.
They have, in fact, decided to move to Oa together. And Guy is going to open a bar there! I think this is a fun development.
I love how Hal and John are all "Wow, that's a big decision. Are you guys sure? When did you decide this?" Totally sounds like they're getting married.
Green Arrow/Black Canary #4
This issue was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, obviously it looked fantastic. Chiang's art is so good that it can even make scenes as goofy as this one look amazing:
The hero who is panicking and yelling at everyone because a loved one is on the brink of death story line is nothing new, but there was something extra touching about Ollie losing it on everyone over Connor. Especially when Hal got there.
And then Black Lightning makes a fairly sensible observation:
I would think that, being a member of Meltzer's Justice League, he wouldn't even notice that anymore.
Wally's comment here confused me:
Arthur is in the water? Really? Where? What's his status? I thought he was dead. Or whatever.
So Connor isn't dead. But he is brain dead. You can still be hot when you're brain dead right?
Nightwing #140
Saaaay...this was good! Rags Morales serves up some great-looking art, and Tomasi gives us a story that's kinda like Nightwing: Brand New Day.
Nightwing is making some changes. He's making an HQ for himself in New York, for one:
I loved this meeting between Batman and the two boys about family always coming first:
The Nightwing title has a long, proud tradition of being very boring, but I really liked this issue. I look forward to more!
Marvel Adventures Hulk #7
This was totally awesome as always. I know there was that other big Hulk comic out this week, but I would advise everyone to buy this one instead. I mean, if you like Hulk. Like, regular Hulk being Hulk. But maybe you guys aren't interested in fun adventure stories full of the greatest Marvel characters. Maybe you want Hulk to be red.
I mean, check this out: Bruce Banner wants to step in and help out the Silver Surfer, so he asks Rick to punch him. Rick refuses. Hilarity ensues:
Jeph Loeb can't write funny like that, people!
Superman #672
All I want to say about this is that I hate insects. They are gross.
The Spirit #12
Ohhhhhhhh...why did this have to be so good? The last Spirit comic by Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone and it was so damn perfect that now I'm all upset.
Why does this have to end but Marvel Zombies continues?! It's not fair!
I want a Cooke-designed Spirit action figure. Anyone else?
Scalped #13
This is the first issue of a new arc and it was AWESOME. I think this might be the best storyline yet. Although, really it is all one long storyline. I hope everyone is reading this series by now. You can buy the first trade with a money back guarantee! Do it! (I'll bet they get exactly zero books back from unsatisfied customers).
Teen Titans Lost Annual
Oh man. Bob Haney + Jay Stephens + Team Allred + JFK = the best.
I am pretty vocal about my love for the late, great Bob Haney. Nobody can write insanity like that man could. Sadly, he never got to see this comic before he died. Happily, the rest of us have finally gotten that opportunity.
JFK is kidnapped by aliens who believe his leadership skills will help them win a war on their planet. He is replaced by a shape-shifting alien. Robin notices. The Titans go to the distant planet to help win the war so the president can return to Earth. While all this is going on, the president is assassinated...on Earth...as in, it's actually the shape shifter who is famously killed, not the real JFK. The real Kennedy decides that the shock of revealing that he is actually still alive would be too much for Earth to handle (??!!...so his wife and son can just deal with the loss, I guess). He decides to return to the far away planet, where he continues to live happily.
Bob Haney is the greatest writer of all time. And this panel alone proves it:
Yeah, that's definitive Haney right there.
The art looks really great. The cover is beautiful. There's a lovely Nick Cardy sketchbook in the back.
Showcase Presents Robin The Boy Wonder
Trust me. You want this. If you don't own it you are missing out on heartwarming classic tales like this one:
***
Good news, everyone! I have found the perfect wedding cake!
And they make cupcakes too! Which are more fashionable these days.