Weekly Comic Spotlight

[doctormo]

Hi John,

I am putting a list together and will start posting that soon. This list will not be complete just a starting point. Feel free to edit if I go too deep into the well of DC continuity. I believe there are some core and cursory issues that took place prior to DC Rebirth #1 that are important.

Thanks,

[JohnMayo]

Hi John,

I am putting a list together and will start posting that soon. This list will not be complete just a starting point. Feel free to edit if I go too deep into the well of DC continuity. I believe there are some core and cursory issues that took place prior to DC Rebirth #1 that are important.

Thanks,

If you can get it started, I'll see what I can do to fill in any gaps and keep it up to date.

[alienal121]

Hi John and Drew,
I just got around to listening to your Back Issue Spotlight #500. John, you were right in how interesting it would be to listen to, especially in regard to the manga you covered (Fairy Tale "#500"). As for some of the questions you had: 1) How it was published? Yes, it was probably first published weekly in the cheap (as John put it) telephone book sized magazines, price range probably $2 to $4, no color, newsprint-type paper. Also as John also alluded to, it's more of an anthology-type item with different chapters of other stories besides Fairy Tail. 2) Was it originally in Weekly Shonen Magazine? Yes, and Drew mentioned Shonen Jump. Well, those are just two of the many weekly magazines that come out here. Others are Young Jump, Business Jump, Young Champion, Young Sunday, etc. 3) Manga Vending machines? Yes, I've seen them. At first, they were a kind of misfire because underage little kids were buying from them on the street (and some of the manga have adult content), but eventually they put them in more public areas like enclosed subway stations and the like so the kids would be less apt to purchase if adults were around. As for the trades, John mentioned the wall-to-ceiling manga stores and yes actually almost any bookstore has aisles of manga, but I think the "trades" you'd find there are somewhat different than the U.S. style trade. For example, my friend is a big One Piece fan, but her collected editions of One Piece are like small paperback novel size collections with a few chapters, not a large-sized print collection. And if you go to a comic-internet place (where you sign in and basically rent comics, old movies, and internet-use for a low fee and sit in a cubicle to watch or read) most of the collected manga are in that small size. So I think the manga trades in the U.S. are different from how they sell the reprint collections here. Like both of you, I have some problems accessing manga material do to my years of American comics reading. I always try to start one but I never get very far even if it's translated into English, but maybe I should try to read one from the beginning as you both suggested. As for the Adventures of Superman and the Thor #500, I never read either of those so it was interesting to hear your takes on them. Anyways, congratulations on #500!

[drew]

many simply had the sky go red in a panel or two and that was it. (The sky going red happened because of the Crisis.)

Spoiler alert

[drew]

Hi John and Drew,
I just got around to listening to your Back Issue Spotlight #500. John, you were right in how interesting it would be to listen to, especially in regard to the manga you covered (Fairy Tale "#500"). As for some of the questions you had: 1) How it was published? Yes, it was probably first published weekly in the cheap (as John put it) telephone book sized magazines, price range probably $2 to $4, no color, newsprint-type paper. Also as John also alluded to, it's more of an anthology-type item with different chapters of other stories besides Fairy Tail. 2) Was it originally in Weekly Shonen Magazine? Yes, and Drew mentioned Shonen Jump. Well, those are just two of the many weekly magazines that come out here. Others are Young Jump, Business Jump, Young Champion, Young Sunday, etc. 3) Manga Vending machines? Yes, I've seen them. At first, they were a kind of misfire because underage little kids were buying from them on the street (and some of the manga have adult content), but eventually they put them in more public areas like enclosed subway stations and the like so the kids would be less apt to purchase if adults were around. As for the trades, John mentioned the wall-to-ceiling manga stores and yes actually almost any bookstore has aisles of manga, but I think the "trades" you'd find there are somewhat different than the U.S. style trade. For example, my friend is a big One Piece fan, but her collected editions of One Piece are like small paperback novel size collections with a few chapters, not a large-sized print collection. And if you go to a comic-internet place (where you sign in and basically rent comics, old movies, and internet-use for a low fee and sit in a cubicle to watch or read) most of the collected manga are in that small size. So I think the manga trades in the U.S. are different from how they sell the reprint collections here. Like both of you, I have some problems accessing manga material do to my years of American comics reading. I always try to start one but I never get very far even if it's translated into English, but maybe I should try to read one from the beginning as you both suggested. As for the Adventures of Superman and the Thor #500, I never read either of those so it was interesting to hear your takes on them. Anyways, congratulations on #500!

thats fascinating stuff - I would love to see comic vending machines in the states next to a redbox

[miscatonic]

The Deep started as an animated series from an Australian company. It is currently available to stream on NetFlix.

It has also seen some print exposure again in Australia. BOOM! has the first American rights for print publication.

I agree it is very enjoyable reading.

[drew]

The Deep started as an animated series from an Australian company. It is currently available to stream on NetFlix.

It has also seen some print exposure again in Australia. BOOM! has the first American rights for print publication.

I agree it is very enjoyable reading.

thanks miscatonic and welcome to the forum - nice to have you aboard

[JohnMayo]

I'm four episodes into the show on Netflix and enjoying iy.

[MichaelCastle]

I'm sure some of you have seen this article already but Newsrama posted Marvel is going back to the original digital code redemption.

Here is the Newsrama report:
Marvel Comics is going back on its recent changes to its digital redemption code program, and beginning May 3 will once again have codes in most of print titles for a companion digital copy of the same issue.

“We heard the message loud and clear on Digital same issue codes,” said Marvel's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing David Gabriel. “We heard how folks across the world were using them, relying on them, loving them. We are always looking to do what’s best for fans and the comics industry so we’re pleased to make this program even better. Now, print comics readers will receive a code for the issue they purchased, and also an additional bonus comic giving customers even more value for their purchase.”

[doctormo]

I read the Booster Gold/Flinstones Special and was amused. I thought Mark Russell was trying to tell a story that could be read without impacting his ongoing Flinstones' story. I think the more straight-laced hero version of Booster that Geoff Johns & Dan Jurgens nurtured after 52 would have felt out of place in this story. I think using a pseudo version of Giffen/DeMatteis Booster Gold was the right move. Like Drew, I was really intrigued by the Jetsons' backup. I may pick-up the first issue depending on how my finances workout. I also read the Adam Strange/Future Quest story. I thought it did a much better job of maintaining the tone of the Future Quest ongoing series. The Top Cat/Batman was kind of strange.

John and Drew hit the nail on the head when summarizing the purpose of X-Men Prime (2017). This book like its predecessor X-Men Prime (1995) was purely a marketing tool. I thought version from 20 years ago had much more story and a niftier cover. I think writer Marc Guggenheim (X-Men Gold) did an adequate job of setting up the new status quo. However, this comic did not feel meaty enough to justify it cover price. Had it been $3.99 or even $0.99 it would have been the X-Men's more modest version of DC Universe Rebirth #1. Thank goodness for comic shop/suppliers who offer discounts for subscribers.

Regarding Nightcrawler's death: he died occurred during the 2010 X-Men crossover Second Coming; he was protecting baby Hope Summers. Jason Aaron resurrected Kurt during the first arc of his Amazing X-Men series (2014 cover date).

[MrAloha]

Dear John and Drew,

Have you guys ever considered to review a mini series (like a four parter) or a short story arc (again, like a four parter)?
And not only grade each issue BUT grade the entire mini or arc.

The reason is I like to hear if both of your reviews change during the course of the mini series or story arc. For example, if it starts off weak but finishes strong. Or vice versa.

The reasoning behind this was from when John was updating Drew and us about, I think, The New Avengers story line that dealt with the Great Society for a couple of episodes. And I thought it would have been cool to hear both of your opinions on that story arc.

If you guys can, that would be cool.
If you guys can't, no worries.

John and Drew, thank you for doing these episodes every week. Thank you guys for all your hard work (scheduling a time to record, editing, etc.). I enjoy listening to them because 1) they are a lot of fun, and 2) sometimes I'll pick up an issue, that wasn't on my pull list, that you guys just reviewed.

Aloha

[drew]

Yeah those would probably fall into a Back Issue Spotlight episode - we have discussed doing one on the original red team double tap arcs 1-6 and other minis but I haven't had the time - different time zones and multiple podcasts can make thinkgs a challenge

[MichaelCastle]

Get ready for even longer story arcs. Tom King tweeted out that the next BATMAN arc will be 8 parts. I guess with double shipping that will only be four months but that just seems so excessive. I can only assume ten part and twelve part story arcs are not far behind.

[MrAloha]

Yeah those would probably fall into a Back Issue Spotlight episode - we have discussed doing one on the original red team double tap arcs 1-6 and other minis but I haven't had the time - different time zones and multiple podcasts can make thinkgs a challenge

Dear Drew,

No problem.
Thank you for responding to my post.

Aloha

[MrAloha]

Get ready for even longer story arcs. Tom King tweeted out that the next BATMAN arc will be 8 parts. I guess with double shipping that will only be four months but that just seems so excessive. I can only assume ten part and twelve part story arcs are not far behind.

Dear Michael,

YIKES! That does seem excessive.

I'm just have trouble keeping up on my reading stacks.

Aloha!