Weekly Comic Spotlight

[drew]

anyone read any of the books we reviewed in the last few episode(s) - agree/disagree with our grades?

On Batgirl #48, I was really enjoying it until we found out who the antagonist was that was affecting Barb's memories. That knocked it down to a B- for me.
I just read Poison Ivy #2 last night, still knocking around in my head, but right now, a solid B.
Lastly, while I really enjoyed Power Man and Iron Fist, I don't feel the great need to read the next issue. B+

yeah, it was like an episode of elementary or other crime procedural - since this is the only other character we've been introduced to so it must be them

[drew]

the latest episode included a much anticipated title from a comic legend - what did you think of these books?

Weekly Comics Spotlight #446 (2/24/2016)

DC: SUPERMAN THE COMING OF THE SUPERMEN #1

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John B+ Drew B-

Marvel: HERCULES #4

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John B Drew B

Other: NOWHERE MEN #8 [IMAGE]

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John C+ Drew D+

in case you haven't listened yet - I included spoiler tags for our grades

[Joe3c]

yeah, it was like an episode of elementary or other crime procedural - since this is the only other character we've been introduced to so it must be them

Exactly. Showing my age, but any guest star that was suspected at first on Murder She Wrote always committed the crime.

As for this last episode, I have only read issue two of Hercules. I picked it up to give it a try. I really like the premise and characterization. The execution was a bit lacking, but I love the character. So with bias, I give it a B+. I don't think it is going past issue six, so I will probably wait and pick up back issues or the trade.

[drew]

Exactly. Showing my age, but any guest star that was suspected at first on Murder She Wrote always committed the crime.

That was a great show-always loved how one of her friends/relatives was at some point accused of the crime and you knew it wasn't going to be them

[Joe3c]

Funny that Murder She Wrote popped up in the newest episode!

Of the three, I read Green Lantern 50. I haven't been reading the series lately, so it was nice that the story was told in a way that a reader could jump right in. I do agree that it would have been much better if there had been an ending to the story instead of to be continued. Overall, I enjoyed it. If I ignore the price, B.

[NiklasJ]

Finally a PeterParker comic!

IMO
I dont mind that Parker has some success for a change, its not that unbelievable that a 30 something physics/engineering genius can get his act together and actually earn a few dollars. Especially since

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

Doc Ock the Superior spiderman

did most of the heavy lifting finishing his PhD, starting the company and getting involved with Anna-Maria.

It´s quite clear Peters friends do a lot of the work around the globe giving him time to play bodyguard and SHIELD-consultant as SpiderMan. Its also clear that its the same person in the smoking and spider suit since he didnt hesitate to bug out of a joint shield operation to go save aunt may as usual.

Its not the first time things have looked good for Parker either, he´ve had well paying physics/chemistry work on several other occasions, famous photographer for spiderman etc... No doubt the better he does the harder the eventual fall will be, what about going full circle and merging parker industries with alchemax keeping alchemax name since parker is disgraced. (pure speculation)

About the book, spiderman in space?? whats not to love, quipping with fury jr, basic good spider comic id say, B/B+
(A should be reserved for something really special)

[drew]

the latest weekly comic spotlight episodes - what did you think of these books?

Weekly Comics Spotlight #447 (3/2/2016)

DC: GREEN LANTERN #50

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John B- Drew C+

Marvel: BLACK WIDOW #1

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John B+ Drew A-

Other: FUSE #18 [IMAGE]

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John A- Drew B

Weekly Comics Spotlight #448 (3/9/2016)

DC: BATMAN/SUPERMAN #30

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John A- Drew A

Marvel: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John A- Drew B

Other: STAR TREK #55 [IDW PUBLISHING]

PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER_SHOW PRIME_BBCODE_SPOILER:

John B+ Drew B-

in case you haven't listened yet - I included spoiler tags for our grades

[clobberin_time_bs]

I have to agree with Drew (and John, but Drew's more enthusiastic about him) that Tom Taylor is one of the best new writers out there. I don't think I've read anything by him I didn't like yet. I did a spit take though during your discussion about his use of more classic versions of the characters and John said Marvel tends not to change their characters as radically as DC does. I think the only classic character at Marvel right now that's even close to his classic status is Iron Man. Falcon is Cap, Thor isn't Thor, Spiderman is rich, Cyclops is a dead radical, Jean is still dead and /or a teenager, Wolverine is dead and/or a teenage girl, Wasp is different, the FF are presumed dead, and the X-Men are hiding out in limbo (and I do think that is a metaphor). If a Marvel fan went to sleep in the 70s or 80s and woke up today he wouldn't recognize Marvel. That's not necessarily a criticism, if people are enjoying the stories now, more power to them. But I think Axel is trying to put his stamp on Marvel and these radical changes are part of his plans. Just an observation.
Keep up the good work guys!

[drew]

I read Green Lantern 50. I haven't been reading the series lately, so it was nice that the story was told in a way that a reader could jump right in. I do agree that it would have been much better if there had been an ending to the story instead of to be continued. Overall, I enjoyed it. If I ignore the price, B.

sometimes that can be a big if...

[drew]

I think the only classic character at Marvel right now that's even close to his classic status is Iron Man. Falcon is Cap, Thor isn't Thor, Spiderman is rich, Cyclops is a dead radical, Jean is still dead and /or a teenager, Wolverine is dead and/or a teenage girl, Wasp is different, the FF are presumed dead, and the X-Men are hiding out in limbo (and I do think that is a metaphor). If a Marvel fan went to sleep in the 70s or 80s and woke up today he wouldn't recognize Marvel.

wow, put like that Marvel characters look STARK-ly different

[JohnMayo]

If a 70s or early 80s DC reader fell asleep and woke up today, they would have missed the entire Post-Crisis continuity. They characters being published now are different characters. The DC characters get rebooted with new or altered backstories or they get new power sets. At Marvel, the characters grow and evolve. Sure, we get new people as Thor, Cap, Spider-Man Wolverine etc but Peter Parker is still Peter Parker with the same origin and backstory. The female Thor doesn't invalidate the real Thor's history or existence.

[bralinator]

I have to agree with Drew (and John, but Drew's more enthusiastic about him) that Tom Taylor is one of the best new writers out there. I don't think I've read anything by him I didn't like yet. I did a spit take though during your discussion about his use of more classic versions of the characters and John said Marvel tends not to change their characters as radically as DC does. I think the only classic character at Marvel right now that's even close to his classic status is Iron Man. Falcon is Cap, Thor isn't Thor, Spiderman is rich, Cyclops is a dead radical, Jean is still dead and /or a teenager, Wolverine is dead and/or a teenage girl, Wasp is different, the FF are presumed dead, and the X-Men are hiding out in limbo (and I do think that is a metaphor). If a Marvel fan went to sleep in the 70s or 80s and woke up today he wouldn't recognize Marvel. That's not necessarily a criticism, if people are enjoying the stories now, more power to them. But I think Axel is trying to put his stamp on Marvel and these radical changes are part of his plans. Just an observation.
Keep up the good work guys!

The characters are still essentially the same. Peter Parker still failed to stop that robber WH killed uncle Ben, and as for the Fantastic Four, they are still who they are, they've simply grown or evolved. It's still Reed, Ben, Sue and Johnny. I think the characters, while evolved, are still based on that same origin.

[Joe3c]

Need to listen to the newest episode. Sounds like it was a good one.
Of the three read Batman/Superman. Tom Taylor really gets Superman. I loved the ending (Hope that isn't a spoiler) I hope he continues to write the character after Rebirth. A for the issue.

[clobberin_time_bs]

The characters are still essentially the same. Peter Parker still failed to stop that robber WH killed uncle Ben, and as for the Fantastic Four, they are still who they are, they've simply grown or evolved. It's still Reed, Ben, Sue and Johnny. I think the characters, while evolved, are still based on that same origin.

I agree their origins are the same and that they've grown as characters (or died), and I also agree that DC had changed its characters more because they have rebooted the whole universe, but one of the memes of comic book fandom is that comics will always revert back to the status quo and it just seems to be taking much longer or not happening at all. Jean has been dead for a decade, Logan died a year or more ago, Eddie Brock hasn't been Venom for 8 - 10 years, and it is now ok for multiple people to run around with the same name (Spiderman, Hawkeye, and Cap). Like I said, none of this is bad, some of these stories are pretty good, but it seems like Marvel really is trying to avoid the classic status quo right now and it might take (a lot) longer to revert back to it than it did in the past, if it ever happens.

[Perseus]

Drew, you talked about who you wanted to write Amazing Spider-Man after Dan Slott. I know you wanted Tom Taylor, and that is a great choice.

However, if he couldn't, why don't they let Nick Spencer have a crack at Spidey. I think he could do a real good job.

What do you think?