arrazello

Hope you're including me in that count. I wrote below in Spidey Noir thread after reading #3.

I'll say there's too much packed into each issue. I ended up confused and making the decision to read them all over again in one sitting when I get #4. I might be able to follow that way. The story pace is all scrunched up with too little cohesion.

Still haven't read #4 et. Like I said, need to wait until I have enough time to sit down and start at the beginning.

Only just got this months comic subs so I'm late to the party as usual.

Normally read Daredevil first off but this month it was X-Factor #40.

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with this issue.

After Peter David's 'this will blow you away' introduction, I was expecting something huge and the climax of this issue? Well, I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. It would have worked a whole lot better if the no-spoiler-warning had come at the end of the comic. Mind you, it would be hard to meet the mind-melting standard of #39.

But back to #40. Flip back to the entrance of Madrox and re-read the second balloon that comes out of his mouth, now contrast this with later events. Nice. Now that is the X-Factor and a perfect example of the more subtle foreshadowing that permeates this book.

I thought Dark Avengers #1 was fecking awesome with some great piss-taking.

So there

So... am I a monster for threatening to rip her comics like that? :(

Nah - it's hard to know what is the right thing to do especially when you have to act and think fast. I usually shout.

Personally, I'd threaten to confiscate the comic (or valued possession - it might work better with a computer game),

simply because destruction of someones property because they have you backed into a corner is not a good behavioural response to teach.

However, hiding someones property is um...

well at least they get it back.

I thought he might because...

...she's the main character. Her name's Revy and she's awesome.

Whether he does or not.

I think the first thing he might say on seeing that character is something along the lines of

... get a load of that Fan Service

Your non-comic reading son will love The Watchmen.

Are you saying that Arrzello minor will enjoy Watchmen or that he will enjoy criticising Zack Snyder's "approach"?

 

I love a good, well groomed moustache.

 

He won't read it - without duress. I've encouraged him to get into American comics but he is a manga freak. And an even bigger anime freak.

Does he read Black Lagoon?

I'll email and ask (he works away) - games computer programming - in True Geek Stylee

He won't read it - without duress. I've encouraged him to get into American comics but he is a manga freak. And an even bigger anime freak.

You're his mum! Guilt him into it, or something.

Nooooooo. You can't induce guilt in your children - over comics!

I'd have to do a straight swap - you read this issue of ****** and I'll read Fruit Baskets #123 or something like that.

North Wales

Chocolate in batter ala North England SCOTLAND stylee is a no no

Don't try to pin that atrocity on my lot.

Aaaw. I thought they did it Newcastle way too.

Recently read

Fallen Son: Death of Captain America

Bargaining was the best issue. And I really liked the whole card-playing scenarios in#2

I really don't like Tiger Shark's appearance in anything I've read so far.

And Civil War: Ironman

That I enjoyed.

Thunderbolts (Are Go)

Caged Angels = Really enjoyable.

I just love emo boy Penance and all his pain.

Your non-comic reading son will love The Watchmen.

Are you saying that Arrzello minor will enjoy Watchmen or that he will enjoy criticising Zack Snyder's "approach"?

 

I love a good, well groomed moustache.

He won't read it - without duress. I've encouraged him to get into American comics but he is a manga freak. And an even bigger anime freak.

A well groomed moustache - esp. with twirly handles is like a man smoking a pipe in a library.

But you'll never understand why.

Chili and chocolate is a fine, fine combination, in either sweet or savoury form. Never tried blue cheese and chocolate, but I can imagine it working under certain circumstances.

And don't forget chocolate and beetroot... but chocolate liquors are the best combination.

Chocolate in batter ala North England stylee is a no no

Yeah, that's from the second issue of the second series - which, if anything so far, is even better than the first.

Umbrella Academy - that's the MCR bloke isn't it?

Or not?

I know the reviews hype it but frankly that means nowt because he's probably got great press. For reasons of extreme prejudice, I have never given it a shot.

So it's good?

My non-comic reading son.

An excerpt from a recent email conversation. I told him that I had been reading about the Civil War (Marvel Universe)

He asked what is the Civil War? I say...

>> It centres around the Superhero registration Act when super-heroes are ordered by the government to register their superhero status and REVEAL their identities AND become paid employees of the government.

And he replies

But that’s a silly idea! Superheroes have to operate outside of the law to be effective. There’s no place in law for exacting measures to be taken on a case by case basis to determine how best to deal with a super-villain, and a set of appropriate laws can’t be drafted unless a full and proper definition is given for being ‘super’. After all, a lot of the super heroes and villains have no particular ‘super’ ability by nature; they might be from another world, be in control of a particular resource or be from a pantheon of Gods. That being the case, the definition of being ‘super’ would have to be a very loose one.

Not to mention that, if the heroes were under the employ of the government, the government would be liable for their actions – and where the super-villain in question is of the extra-terrestrial variety, this can have massive implications.

And just what constitutes a ‘villain’? Someone with whom the government disagrees? That’s a flaming, neon exclamation mark right there.

I’d be firmly on the anti-registration side of the coin.

Bless him. He don't even read the comics and he GETS it.

Yeah.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RED

That's really the only negativity that X-Factor has had to deal with though.

Messiah Complex was bad for X-Factor and did screw up the pace and ongoing plots, but I thought David bounced back very well, and it was just for three months.

Although, some would argue that Layla was the best part of X-Factor, and in that case, I can understand the complaints. I think the book has strong enough characters that Layla wasn't needed to carry the stories.

Yeah, Layla is a great character - refreshing, but as you say the book is rife with strong characterisation. I love Madrox but I think Rictor is my favourite (can't wait for him to get his powers back - it's going to happen isn't it? Yeah it is.) and M is a riot.

David did bounce back but there was the whole Darwin/Secret Invasion hurdle to negotiate too. The Mr Patrosky/Madrox dynamic was a nice interlude before that.

All in all - X-Factor has been one of the best things I've read recently.

Edit: Not best but a couple of the funniest I've seen. I'm juvenile, I know....

I gave up on X-Factor after the issue where Layla and a dupe go to Bishop's future-- the whole Messiah Complex event was running through the X-titles and that's what drove me off. I am so fucking sick of that shit, why can't they just let writers have their own (relatively) self-contained books? I swear, it seems that more issues of a given X-title in a year are devoted to stupid crossovers than they are to, you know, the actual book itself. Ridiculous. Marvel can eat a bag full of cocks.

I agree to an extent.

Definitely, the X-Factor was great up until #25 when the MC took over for 3 issues - it totally changed the pace and did not fit the mood of the book AT ALL.

I really don't think it has returned to form since then but #39 was promising and maybe...

(I wasn't too keen on the Endangered Species add-on but at least it was that - an add-on).

HOLY LIVING HELL! Did anyone else read the new X-Factor?!?!?!?

Yes, and

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Outstanding turn of events.

Mysterius the Unfathomable #1 by Jeff Parker-Oh, this is fun! Sure, it's about a bastard magician, but who on this forum ever gets enough of bastard magicians? I'd describe Mysterius as a mix of John Constantine and Baron Winters actually. If you're getting tired of the mood of Hellblazer, you might enjoy this book, as it has more of a light-hearted tone. I also was reminded of Mike Carey's Felix Castor books. I'll be around for issue #2, and this is my favourite book of the week.

Might check that one out then since I am tired of Hellblazer.

Forgot. Also this month

Incognito #1

Don't know how I forgot that - it was superb.

X-Men: Noir is probably my favourite comic running at the moment.

Yeah, the Noir titles are going to be right up my street.

I like the whole 1930's feel in most things.

Sandman Mystery Theatre remains one of the most enjoyable comic titles I have ever read.

You're reading the Marvel Civil War books and loving them?

Wow! You've really become quite the superhero comic fan in just this little short time.

Is it wrong?

I guess I've been doing quite a bit of um... research since I last popped by this forum (though I often look in to see what you're all chatting about and stay silent - yeah, I think that's called lurking).

I think Civil War is great and yes, I have rather surprised myself by getting so deeply into the superhero thing. I started with Vertigo but I rarely hunt down a Vertigo title these days. It's all Marvel right now. And I think I got a lot of catching up to do. I'm mostly back-logging at the moment. Haven't a clue about this Dark Reign thing yet. I guess the Dark Avengers is going to be confusing, but you got to jump in somewhere. I'll fill in the gaps - if and when.

Daredevil #114

Loving Daredevil but not as much as I did before Lady Bullseye appeared. Enjoy Stick's trainer though (whose name escapes me).

X-Men Noir #1 #2 and Spderman Noir #1

Preferred Spiderman, that was amazing, spectacular even. Ahem.

Think I'll be getting all the Noir series. Daredevil Noir better live up to my expectations.

Immortal Iron Fist #20 #21

Another series I'm really enjoying. Love the fight panels and how the kung fu moves are named.... 'the palm of 40 sorrows' 'the sting of the angry wasp'

Ho ho ho. Can't get better than that.

Jack of Fables #29

Jack has gone flat as a character but really into the whole Literals concept.

Fables #79

Fables never fails for me. Great characters, great story, always surprising, pretty art. Yum. Fables and its spin-offs are my only DC owned titles now, I think.

Hellblazer.

I hate to say it but this is the worst thing I am reading right now. Pants. I've dropped it. Really one-dimensional (IMO). I just can't get into it anymore.

Trade Paperbacks

Catching up on all the Civil War titles as I have been mostly ignorant...

Loving them.

After living with the same CRT 19" television for the past 15 odd years, it started doing the buzzing when white was on the screen thing, so my partner and I bought our first HD tv, a 26" Samsung. Just in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs too!

Congrats on your new purchase.

(Stanley Cup - what's that?)

Congrats arrazello, for seeing the world as it really is ;)

Thanks Bilirubin. Thing is, they said it like it was a bad thing.