Comments on: Wednesday Number Ones 8/22/07

By: Dan Grendell

Dan Grendell — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:51:07 +0000

You know what I love about Arsenic Lullaby? Almost every other page makes me turn my head, squinting and shouting, “Oh my god!!” And then I go right back to reading it. And the new format is perfect; definitely worth the higher price.

And I’ve got a question regarding photo-referenced artwork: Is it just me, or is it starting to get like bad CGI, where it’s so obvious it’s not only distracting, it’s downright bad?

Yeah, I can usually track how jaded I’ve become by how many times I say “Holy crap…” while reading a new issue of Arsenic Lullaby. I can only imagine how sweet young things react to it- it must be like accidentally finding goatse.

As far as photo-referenced stuff goes, you aren’t alone. That style isn’t really my bag usually, and as it has become more popular people are trying to hide it less and less, so it becomes more of an eyesore.

By: The Known Unknown

The Known Unknown — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:33:35 +0000

I loved the first Mouse Guard but I was thinking that the first series was enough for me. However, I saw the new one in the store and I could not pass it up. The main reason I got it was to check out the snow scenes. Plus, how could I resist a mouse wearing snow shoes?

By: Dan Grendell

Dan Grendell — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:56:50 +0000

Any new material in the Arsenic Lullaby collection?

This is all new material.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:08:28 +0000

I read the first IF trade and I loved it. So I’ll definetly get the second one once it comes out.
Originally I bought issue #1 and liked it a lot but the ridicolous amount of advertising put me off so I decided to wait for the trade (around half the pages of the issue were ads).

By: Maxo

Maxo — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:30:10 +0000

You know what I love about Arsenic Lullaby? Almost every other page makes me turn my head, squinting and shouting, “Oh my god!!” And then I go right back to reading it. And the new format is perfect; definitely worth the higher price.

And I’ve got a question regarding photo-referenced artwork: Is it just me, or is it starting to get like bad CGI, where it’s so obvious it’s not only distracting, it’s downright bad?

By: Jeff Vice

Jeff Vice — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:19:24 +0000

OK.

I’m sold. I’d read the first 2 issues of Brubaker’s ‘Iron Fist’, but hadn’t kept up with it.

It sounds right up my alley.

I have to add my two cents’ here as well. The book is one of very few that merits full cover price. Although, Matt Fraction’s writing contributions … as well as David Aja and others’ artistic contributions … shouldn’t be ignored as well.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:01:41 +0000

I didn’t pick up BSG Season Zero, even though I got the preview a ways back (was that from Free Comic Book Day? Can’t remember). My only problem with it is continuity issues. The whole “Fighting Cylons” thing in the original mini series was supposed to be the first time in 40 years that anyone had ever seen a cylon. Having them as main villains before the fact makes it not work for me. I am not typically a continuity whore but with a tightly written show like BSG, some consistency is expected.

Yeah, I’m a lapsed Galactica viewer at the moment so I wasn’t sure whether there were continuity issues going on. I was definitely confused by an inside cover note to the tune of “In our previous issue…” I forgot about the FCBD one-off or whatever it was, but that must have been what it was referring to. There was definitely a sensation like I’d tuned in to an episode after the teaser. Even if I hadn’t missed much, it felt like I’d missed something.

By: fil

fil — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:11:27 +0000

I am glad more folks are getting into Iron Fist. This was a one-off purchase for me originally but it has grown into one I look forward to each issue. Also, like most good Marvel stuff, it almost completely ignores the “Civil War” and other BS that is going on in the rest of the MU. It is weird seeing Rand going through this awesome story only to see him get punk’d in a WWH issue a couple weeks ago but who cares. This is a wonderful stand-alone series.

This reminds me BKV’s take on Dr. Strange with his mini. Not in any particular story way but just in the way these authors are respecting the source material and finding new ways to make these b-listers come across as not only very cool but also very fresh. I am glad Iron Fist is making a go as an ongoing series. I can only Doc Strange gets a chance, too.

Glad that Mouse Guard is back. It’s Martin-esque line “Winter is Coming” from the last book had me really looking forward to this one and it didn’t disappoint.

I didn’t pick up BSG Season Zero, even though I got the preview a ways back (was that from Free Comic Book Day? Can’t remember). My only problem with it is continuity issues. The whole “Fighting Cylons” thing in the original mini series was supposed to be the first time in 40 years that anyone had ever seen a cylon. Having them as main villains before the fact makes it not work for me. I am not typically a continuity whore but with a tightly written show like BSG, some consistency is expected. They even alluded to a “close call” contact prior to the mini-series in a flashback that alluded to the fact that someone on board BSG might have even been responsible for getting the Cylons attention that kicked off the whole thing but even in that flashback there was no direct contact. Hmmm…

By: Murphy

Murphy — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:39:16 +0000

OK. I’m sold. I’d read the first 2 issues of Brubaker’s ‘Iron Fist’, but hadn’t kept up with it. It sounds right up my alley.

By: Greg Thompson

Greg Thompson — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:45:28 +0000

Any new material in the Arsenic Lullaby collection?

By: Nick Budd

Nick Budd — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:36:35 +0000

(As a side note I think you meant Wendell Rand, not Vaughn, fyi).

Yeah, I did…Wendell Vaughan is Quasar. I was either high, fairly sleepy, or I am still working out some anger issues because of his death.

Whatever the reason, it’s fixed. Thanks for pointing it out, Justin!

By: Justin Boatwright

Justin Boatwright — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:28:19 +0000

Every new issue of Immortal Iron Fist makes me so happy to be a comics fan. B- or C-list characters like Iron Fist only get so many opportunities to shine but Fraction, Brubaker and Aja are making the most of their opportunity and are creating what will be the defining Iron Fist stories for years to come.
The vibe I get is much more than just a video-game Mortal Kombat schtick, but more a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon kind of reverence and respect for the classic Kung-fu movies of old. The story is about Danny’s personal journey as much as the fighting. Stuff like Lei Kung explaining to his students that karate is a spiritual pursuit, not a physical practice, are what elevates Iron Fist above just a cool action book. But it doesn’t hurt that Aja’s fight scenes kick ass as well.

(As a side note I think you meant Wendell Rand, not Vaughn, fyi).

By: Randy Lander

Randy Lander — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:21:00 +0000

Sorry about the lateness of this one, y’all! It was a busy day at the store, and we didn’t have time to get it all written up until late on Wednesday night. It’s a good week for comics, though… I know my Top Five of the moment is looking more like a Top 10 or 12.