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Frank Castle wrote:Dark Avengers #1 - I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed more than I thought I would and more than I wanted too. Bendis has a knack for telling team books. I did feel like it was a "thunderbolt" rip off but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. In fact I enjoyed it more than the real Thunderbolts book. I may have to pick up more of these.
You've got a good point about Dark Avengers being better than Thunderbolts. I think that Thunderbolts started out really, really strong back in the day (I'd have given the original Thunderbolts #1 a 5 out of 5) but hasn't been at the peak for a while. Part of the problem I've had with the Thunderbolts title was the bimonthly schedule it had between May 2007 and May 2008. It killed the story momentum and hasn't really recovered from that for me.
I only started reading Thunderbolts during Civil War so I'm still new to it. I've been meaning to go find the old trades and give it read. I enjoyed Ellis's run, nothign earth shattering about it though.
On another #1 note, Battlefields Dear Billy #1. I know I'm giving this a green rating because I do love Garth Ennis but the story was good too. Garth tells great war stories. My gripe with the book was the art (Peter Snejbjerg) and coloring (Rob Steen), it looked like someone in middle school drew it and then had a friend throw some colors on it in photoshop. For a book by D.E. and having Garth on it, you'd expect the art to be better. Great cover by Garry Leach though!
Agents of Atlas - I loved this issue. I didn't pre-order it due to it being $3.99, but I picked it up in the store and already love the battle of wills between Jimmy Woo and Norman Osborn. And I loved the back-up story. I'd pay an extra $1/month if they kept putting in more back-ups like this.
Agents of Atlas #1 - Good first issue. The best part of the book was instead of 8 pages of director's cut material, they actual published a 8 page back-up story. Pretty good one.
Hotwire #1 - Good first issue. A lot of setup but at the same time enough story to satisfy me. I will be getting all 4 issues of this mini.
Secret Warriors #1 - I had high expectations for this book going in and it was everything that expected and more. I really great first issue and probably my favorite new Marvel title in a long time.
Frank Castle wrote:On another #1 note, Battlefields Dear Billy #1. I know I'm giving this a green rating because I do love Garth Ennis but the story was good too. Garth tells great war stories. My gripe with the book was the art (Peter Snejbjerg) and coloring (Rob Steen), it looked like someone in middle school drew it and then had a friend throw some colors on it in photoshop. For a book by D.E. and having Garth on it, you'd expect the art to be better. Great cover by Garry Leach though!
I agree the story that is being set-up here is another great read from Garth Ennis. The cartoonish artwork I would agree is a little off putting for a war comic. Although the story telling of the art is good with nice facial expressions and story pacing. I would give this a four out of five rating on Bob and John's CBP scale. The artwork on the previous series "The Night Witches" worked better for me. I'm looking forward to the upcoming issues.
Secret Warriors #1 = WOOT WOOT! Loved it, Caselli's art and Hickman's dialog were great
Bad Dog #1 = Joe Kelly is knocking it out of the park lately [I Kill Giants, Four Eye] and this continues. If you like buddy movies and have a sense of humor, this book is worth a look. Art works for me, but it's definitely a painted digital style FYI
Jersey Gods #1 = A lot of fun, crazy romp in the Kirby vein mixed with good ol' fashioned NJ humor. As a NJ guy born and raised, this book made me smile
Agents of Atlas #1 = Holy crap was that a good book. I had been waiting for this book for months and months and Jeff Parker didn't disappoint
Astonishing Tales #1 I enjoyed the Punisher/Wolverine story, I hated the rest. So for that reason it was an ok issue. But the funny thing is the Pun/Wolv story doesn't seem to be anything new and exciting "The Hunter becomes the Hunted" blah blah blah. Rockfort's art was damn cool though.
Last edited by Frank Castle on Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Stopped by the shop and read a few and grabbed a few other books, some #1 include:
Dead Irons #1 Interesting concept I guess but I had a hard time understanding the issue and found the art quite annoying. Glad I gave it read while at the store.
I Am Legion #1 I don't think I enjoyed it but I didn't hate it either. The story was interesting and Cassady's art made up for the slowness. Overall, it didn't do enough for me to want to grab another issue.
Hotwire #1 Idea by Ellis wasn't enough for me to enjoy it. The art was ok but not my cup of tea. I'm staying away from this book.
Secret Warriors #1 Hickman won me over. I was a little sad to see that Bendis wasn't going to be attached to the book and I dropped it based on that reason but people have been talking the book up so I grabbed it. I'm glad I did. Plus it has Nick Fury in it!
Agents of Atlas #1 (Marvel) Great issue! This one is a winner, and I really appreciated the back-up story they added to pad out the issue instead of just sticking in some who's who pages.
Astonishing Tales #1 (Marvel) Terrible issue. Let's put a coat of paint and a new title on the failed series "Marvel Comics Presents". Didn't work then, is not working here. Punisher/Wolverine story was OK. Iron Man 2020 was bad Iron Man story looked like something they found in a file cabinet that it should have stayed in. Mojo story was AWFUL!
Bang Tango #1 (Vertigo) I'm not sure where this title is going, but the 1st issue certainly did not click with me. Lots of dancing, crime, and ?transvestites?...
Black Panther #1 (Marvel) Marvel has been hyping the "female Black Panther" for months, and the is neither hide nor hair of this female BP anywhere in this issue. Add that to some relatively muddled flashback story-telling. I'm not encouraged about where this series is going, something I'll maybe pick up as back issues way down the line somewhere.
Jersey Gods #1 (Image) This was a bad knock-off of Jack Kirby, IMO. This issue was NOTHING like the preview that Image put out in Invincible (which emphasized the suburban interactions of these gods with regular folks). What I really got was Kirby knock-offs bashing meteors in space and fighting a Kalibak clone in a New Jersey mall. Main problems are that it was very different from what I was expecting to see, coupled with the fact that I am born & raised on the west coast, so the Jersey setting is not an "old home" familiar thing I gravitate to.
I will NOT be getting the #2 issues of any of the red/orange books above.
Still have to read Secret Warriors #1 & Soul Kiss #1, I'll report on them later
R.E.B.E.L.S. #1 -- Wow, what a fun start to this book! I love Vril Drox as a character, the classic anti-hero. Great art, well paced, and a chance to have its own fun niche that looks at the DC cosmic stuff without having to get too caught up in anything going on elsewhere.
R.E.B.E.L.S. #1 - This is probably the best first issue DC has put out in a long time. Great story. Great art. I grew up reading DC comics and it has some of my favorite space characters. I have been so-so on the DC space stuff lately, but this has pulled me back in. In fact, I would say this is even better than the Marvel outer-space books.
The only problem I am having is that I have really loved all the new books that I tried. That means I have to drop some books to make up for adding these new books
BobBretall wrote:Read a bunch of #1s yesterday, really mixed bag:
Agents of Atlas #1 (Marvel) Great issue! This one is a winner, and I really appreciated the back-up story they added to pad out the issue instead of just sticking in some who's who pages.
Astonishing Tales #1 (Marvel) Terrible issue. Let's put a coat of paint and a new title on the failed series "Marvel Comics Presents". Didn't work then, is not working here. Punisher/Wolverine story was OK. Iron Man 2020 was bad Iron Man story looked like something they found in a file cabinet that it should have stayed in. Mojo story was AWFUL!
Bang Tango #1 (Vertigo) I'm not sure where this title is going, but the 1st issue certainly did not click with me. Lots of dancing, crime, and ?transvestites?...
Black Panther #1 (Marvel) Marvel has been hyping the "female Black Panther" for months, and the is neither hide nor hair of this female BP anywhere in this issue. Add that to some relatively muddled flashback story-telling. I'm not encouraged about where this series is going, something I'll maybe pick up as back issues way down the line somewhere.
Jersey Gods #1 (Image) This was a bad knock-off of Jack Kirby, IMO. This issue was NOTHING like the preview that Image put out in Invincible (which emphasized the suburban interactions of these gods with regular folks). What I really got was Kirby knock-offs bashing meteors in space and fighting a Kalibak clone in a New Jersey mall. Main problems are that it was very different from what I was expecting to see, coupled with the fact that I am born & raised on the west coast, so the Jersey setting is not an "old home" familiar thing I gravitate to.
I will NOT be getting the #2 issues of any of the red/orange books above.
Still have to read Secret Warriors #1 & Soul Kiss #1, I'll report on them later
I flipped through Jersey Gods and Bang Tango at the LCS and they did not impress me at all. Thanks for confirming what I thought. I haven't enjoyed Black Panther since the Marvel Knights title.
BTW, I think the stories in Astonishing Tales were originally published as digital comics.
Secret Warriors #1 (Marvel) Excellent 1st issue, I was surprised by the reveal at the end, and will be back for #2. This is how to do a #1 issue.
Soul Kiss #1 (Image) This was an OK 1st issue, but could have has a bit more story to it. I think this may read better in the trade.
Batman Confidential #26 (DC) - 1st appearance of King Tut in comics, nice job on this one. The Garcia-Lopez/Nowlan art was a visual treat and the story was pretty good too.
Wow so many #1's right now but I'm not necessarily wanting to add to my monthly pull list and thus go over budget.
Bang Tango #1 (Vertigo) - This wasn't a bad or poorly made comic just not one that is for me. I didn't know what I was expecting with a name like Bang Tango.
Dead Irons #1 (Dynamite Entertainment) - This was interesting to look at but I didn't get much out of the writing. It had the effect of being spooky and entertaining but I was left kind of in a haze. I'd like to check out the second issue but this would probably be better in a trade.
Hotwire #1 (Radical) - This is like the first Ghostbusters movie but on extra acid and set in the future. The artwork is just amazing to look at and is worth the price of admission alone. The writing is a little cliche at moments but it moves along. I'm in for the whole four issue series and have yet to not like anything from Radical.
I am Legion #1 (Devil's Due) - Wow, there was a lot here to digest here. I'm not sure where it's heading but I'm curious. I wouldn't say the story flows but there's a lot of depth here. The artwork is nice to look at, but there isn't much action yet.
Jersey Gods #1 (Image) - I thought this was both entertaining and funny as advertised. There was enough story here to want me to come back for more. I don't have any connection to Jersey but I think the culture extends beyond to almost any other large suburban areas.
Soul Kiss #1 (Image) - This starts out really weird but I was able to follow along. I think they should have given the reader just a little more to want to go on to the next chapter. The artwork isn't bad but not really what I like to look at now.
Bad Dogg #1 : The story did not tread new ground, but it was a solid effort. As Wood says it is your standard Buddy Cop plot with the twist being one of the buddies is a werewolf.
Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising #1 : Typical military sci-fi fare. The art has a European/Heavy Metal feel to it. Some of it is muddy and the first few pages were kind of hard to follow. The story is set in a future where Earth is under the control of an Alliance which is expanding its regime to sovereign colonized planets and moons of our solar system. I liked the book, but I am a sucker for this type of story. If your not a fan of this genre the book may not be for you.
Astonishing Tales #1 (Marvel) - I should've known that I wouldn't like this because it's an anthology book from Marvel. It's not worth $3.99, it's not even worth 2.99. Sure it's got 32 pages of story versus the standard 22, but it's still not worth it. The wrap around cover was nice but that was about it.
Black Panther #1 (Marvel) - I'm willing to give this at least a six issue try. I'm new to reading Black Panther. I knew it was there but just hadn't given it a chance yet. I picked up a trade and really got in to the character and Wakanda. I'm intrigued enough to want to know more in this new series. The whole artwork as a package (pencils, inks, colors) for me, is really nice to look at. But $3.99 for the first issue, was just a Marvel bait and switch. It was only a 22 page standard comic with a Marvel "Saga" and a next issue preview. Marvel Saga's are free and this one is also in Marvel Digital Comics for free. Luckily, it was only a buck with DCBS or HC, and the ongoing series looks to be 2.99, for now. Marvel shoots themselves in the foot by making this 3.99. People in the comic book shop will just see 3.99 on the rack, and pass it up based on that alone. [WebWiz13]
