These threads always die such sad deaths, and I am compelled to systematically describe what I am buying, for better or worse, accompanied by actual reasoning of opinions.
Doom Patrol: Down Paradise Way TP, by Morrison, Case, et al. Just starting in, but I'm looking forward to it. Anybody else feel like Bolland's covers these days have become sort of... standard? By rote? His shapes and color palette seem unremarkable these days, from this latest to that new Alan Moore DCU TP cover. Maybe he's just playing straight to work with the source material...
Livewires TP (Digest Format) Warren, Mays. I read a lot of good things about this 6 issue random Marvel mechatech story, but didn't know anything about it except that the Gen13 guy was doing it and there were robots with Nick Fury's head. Picked up the digest on a lark and, embarrassing subtitle of "Clockwork Thugs, Yo" aside, it's a real joy - just really fast, twisted, manga-induced populist stuff - no philosophical meanderings, just lots of half-cute violence, smash and splode and fun character bits, unsettling plot twists, and a gruesomely fatalistic climax/ending that's extremely satisfying. Great, fast read about a team of five 'mechatech constructs' designed by a top-secret research group and programmed to annihilate other top-secret research groups in the Marvel universe, as seen through the eyes of their newest 'recruit'. They eat each other's flesh to recharge and learn new nanotech tricks and generally behave in morbidly enthusiastic manners. I'd be curious if anybody else read this previously or just picked it up.
Ghost Rider (2 of 6), Ennis, Crain. Officially ashamed of buying this, and ceasing to spend the money on this now. Ennis on autopilot meets overpainted Todd McFarlane-isms. (Huge Bastard in Position Of Power With Submissive Nerdhot Assistant in Glasses! Angels are aloof dicks! I like New York! Also Butts!) Ennis, like some other writers, requires an artist like Steve Dillon or Glenn Fabry, who knows how stupid the material is/should be.
I don't know why every Ghost Rider reboot tries so desperately to clothe the character in White Trash trimmings, but it's painful. As a wee'un I adored Howard Mackie's absurdly convoluted Ghost Rider arcs, even with all that miserable Midnight Sons business. Those issues were crap, of course, but something intangible about Ghost Rider was really nailed then, that made him the popular figure he is in memory now - it had less to do with white trash American identity than with absurd old testament fire and brimstone meeting, y'know, Venom and Dr. Strange. The part of me that likes Ghost Rider doesn't want to relate to him, it wants to be scared shitless of him.
Ex Machina #15 Vaughn, Harris. Starting to get bored with this. The first 3 storylines were really fast, good TV, but I feel like it's been spinning its wheels a bit since then. The payoffs are nice and subtle so far, but the setups are getting hard to bear with, and last arc's forced cliffhangers seem to be sticking around if this issue is any indication.
Yotsuba&! Vol. 1, Azuma. Yotsuba is a small child with a single father for a parent and an overpoweringly positive attitude, who may or may not be an alien. God, what a cute, fun read. Yotsuba is adorable and insane, and Azuma still has that great smug irreverence that doubles as sensitivity. Really recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Azumanga Daioh on any level or who doesn’t cling too hard to cynical or edgy tropes, or has watched a cartoon like Hamtaro and understood, even for a moment. A real breath of fresh air.
I also picked up Infinite Crisis #1 because I am a schlub at heart. More in that thread. |
