1st issue Challenge

Danscomics · Post by **Danscomics** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14 am

Flashpoint #1 - As the opening to an event I thought this was pretty good. They pretty much explained how things happened to anyone who was following The Flash recently (I read #12 and Flashpoint #1 back to back) so there isn't much mystery to pull me through the story. However, I'm still anxious to see more of what changed and whether things can be fixed.

My one complaint is the accessibility to new readers. As a relatively new reader to DC Comics I found there were some characters that I didn't know and some references I was missing. Also, I might be more confused about what was going on, if I hadn't been following the last few issues of The Flash. I'm not sure this is a title I would recommend to a new reader.

amunptah · Post by **amunptah** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:09 am

That was my concern. I'm a new reader and only know some of the Batman history via trades, so a big event like Flashpoint is too intimidating. This seems doubly so when the majority of it seems to be an alternate universe tale:
"Oh look! A character I know nothing about - but different!"

boshuda · Post by **boshuda** » Thu May 12, 2011 5:50 am

BobBretall wrote:Suicide Girls #1 (IDW) - I was expecting this to be more of a "guilty pleasure" book, a'la Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose, but was pleasantly surprised to find a pretty decent storyline with some mystery & intrigue around a repressive organization making people who don't agree with it's views vanish. I enjoyed it, and some REALLY nice pin-ups by Dave Stewart in the back (featuring unclothed girls, so steer clear if that kind of thing offends you).

I wish I had picked this one up. Quite a few people are saying the story was surprisingly good. I didn't grab it because it seemed like the only release info about it was "It's about the Suicide Girls - buy it because it's about girls who like to get naked and express themselves." For me, pop-culture references alone aren't enough to pick up a book. They should have let you write the solicitation material

The whole repressive organization thing plus Dave Stewart pin-up art is far more interesting than "This wild adventure pits the SG against a deranged killer and a crazed corporate cabal."

Danscomics · Post by **Danscomics** » Thu May 12, 2011 7:21 am

Mega Man #1 - I'm on the fence about this one. I picked it up mostly because I wanted to see what they were going to do with it, but it seems like the opening storyline is only a rehash of the first game. That's probably great for the young audience they are aiming for who weren't even a thought in their parents mind when the original game came out, but doesn't work for us old guys who remember the first game.

Since the first arc is only 4 issues though I'm debating whether to just hang in there and see if they are going to start original story lines at issue #5 or not.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Thu May 12, 2011 10:11 am

boshuda wrote:
BobBretall wrote:Suicide Girls #1 (IDW)
...... plus Dave Stewart pin-up art is far more interesting than "This wild adventure pits the SG against a deranged killer and a crazed corporate cabal."

Seriously, the Dave Stewart pin-up are off the hook gorgeous.....

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sat May 14, 2011 8:28 pm

Moon Knight #1 (Marvel) - I usually like Alex Maleev art, but I'm really not feeling it on this series. I thought it was a pretty mediocre story by Bendis, this one's not making it onto my pull list.

Gladstone's School for World Conqueror's #1 (Image) - Off the hook good book. Nice animation-style art complements the subject matter really nicely. I loved the story & characterization. One of the better books I've read in the "school for super-kids" sub-genre of comics.

Fear Itself: Spider-Man #1 (Marvel) - I love the McKone art on this, feels really old school Spidey. The story is really not doing anything for me. I guess the whole "everyone is going crazy with fear" theme of the fear itself event is really not resonating with me. This seems completely skippable.

Red Spike #1 (Image) - This was an "Action movie in a comic", with enhanced soldier a'la the guys in the power suits in the GI Joe movie (not exactly like that, I'm just using a broad comparison there) I liked it. I can see people not liking it who are not going to be looking for a comic that is providing this kind of story.

Moon Girl #1 (Red 5) - I really liked the painted-style art in this. The story was average, but interesting, but the art carries this one for me. Nice noir-ish feel.

Batman: Arkham City #1 (DC) - Checked out the #1 of this comics that's a bridge series between 2 video games. This really didn't do anything for me, maybe it would resonate more with people who've played the games.

Total Recall #1 (Dynamite) - The comic picks up where the 1990 movie left off. I've watched the movie 3 or 4 times and this comic resonates well with the movie, but I just was not "grabbed" by the conflict set up in the 1st issue, plus, I thought the art was pretty mediocre. I won't be continuing on with this series.

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:33 pm

Moon Knight #1 - I was a bit worried about this book. While I am a huge Bendis fan, Maleev's art has been hit or miss for me lately. I thought Maleev's art in this issue was really good, not his best work, but not the photo reference style. I liked the ending of the first issue. I am going to keep getting this book.

Gladstone's School for World Conqueror's #1 - I purchased this book originally for my daughters, but decided to read for myself (both to see if it is age appropriate and to see if it was good) I really enjoyed this book. It is such a fun read with great art. A lot of imagination went into making this book.

Fear Itself: Spider-Man #1- I thought this was not good at all. I have been reading the main Fear Itself and felt this book was such a weak tie-in. Almost as weak as having red skies and calling it a tie-in. I also agree that the whole "everyone is afraid" is not working. Very weak. I already pre-ordered the second issue, but after reading this issue, I will not pre-order the third. In fact, I have decided against getting anymore Fear Itself mini-series, except for the main one. Not just because of this issue but also because Fear Itself hasn't been that exciting.

Flashpoint #1 - I loved it. I thought both the story and art was amazing. I also though Johns did a great job introducing the "new" characters. I suspect that we will see some of these new characters become part of the "main" DCU once Flashpoint is over. My favorite characters are Captain Thunder, the Outsider, and Secret Seven. I also thought the use of Cyborg was really good in this issue and hope that after this mini-series, DC finally figures out how to use him properly. BTW, Johns still does the best cliffhangers in comics.

comicm · Post by **comicm** » Sun May 15, 2011 7:36 pm

Critical Millennium: The Dark Frontier #1 from Archaia was off the hook good Sci-Fi Goodness. I picked up this book at Supershow 2011 this year and was so glad I purchased this tale of Space Exploration in the vein of Star Trek except that humanity is not doing it for good but for really bad intentions. Loved this book. (5/5)

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sun May 15, 2011 9:56 pm

comicm wrote:Critical Millennium: The Dark Frontier #1 from Archaia was off the hook good Sci-Fi Goodness. I picked up this book at Supershow 2011 this year and was so glad I purchased this tale of Space Exploration in the vein of Star Trek except that humanity is not doing it for good but for really bad intentions. Loved this book. (5/5)

We reviewed this comic about a year ago on WCS #152:
http://www.comicbookpage.com/Podcast/?p=432

I thought it was OK, I really loved part of the issue & part of it fell flat for me, as I recall. Pacing issues & the fact that I generally don't like the literary device of starting near the end and then jumping back in time to tell the bulk of the story leading up to the "Oh S#@$" moment....

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Mon May 16, 2011 1:46 pm

Netherworld #1 (Image/Top Cow) - Really liked this book. The art was great, the story was a little cliche but being a noir book it's gotta have those elements in there. The twist was well done and has me wanting to read the next one. I'm glad I took a chance on this one.

Perseus · Post by **Perseus** » Mon May 16, 2011 2:28 pm

Flashpoint #1 - I kept seeing the negative reviews on this, but I wouldn't let that sway me. I read it, and I'm like, I really like this book. I love where the main character is thrown into the world and like, "something is wrong here. i need to figure out what happened." I just love the cliffhanger, and I'll be picking up Booster Gold this week. Flashpoint should read amazing in trade format.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon May 16, 2011 4:58 pm

Perseus wrote:Flashpoint #1 - I kept seeing the negative reviews on this, but I wouldn't let that sway me.

Where are all the negative reviews on the book itself? I've heard good things about the comic from people who've read it.

I've personally come out against the blast of additional minis, but that is not the same as an indictment against the main Flashpoint #1 comic itself (which I've not read yet).

I know many people are questioning the size of the event, but not necessarily the main book.

EDIT: I've read the #1 issue now, I thought it was OK, but didn't love it. I'll get the mini, but it wasn't some kind of religious experience for me that has me wanting to buy into all the side-minis.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue May 17, 2011 11:26 pm

Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #1 (Marvel) - Another really mediocre mini-series. I was really familiar with about 1/2 of the main characters featured in the book and didn't really get enough on the others to really care about them one way or another.

I'm firmly in the "I really don't like the entire premise of the Fear Itself event" camp. I'll read the main series, I have ZERO desire to read any tie-in minis. I'm dropping this, even though I liked the Mike Norton art, it was not enough to get me to want to read any more of this.

spid · Post by **spid** » Wed May 18, 2011 7:05 am

BobBretall wrote:Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #1 (Marvel) - Another really mediocre mini-series. I was really familiar with about 1/2 of the main characters featured in the book and didn't really get enough on the others to really care about them one way or another.

I'm firmly in the "I really don't like the entire premise of the Fear Itself event" camp. I'll read the main series, I have ZERO desire to read any tie-in minis. I'm dropping this, even though I liked the Mike Norton art, it was not enough to get me to want to read any more of this.

Different strokes for different folks because I really liked the issue. 90% of the cast were mainstays from Avengers: Initiative, and I really dug that series. In my mind it was the best Avenger's book coming out at the time. I like the tie-ins because they seem to be honing in on what I really like about the concept of the event which is fear in the general population in the Marvel U.

Danscomics · Post by **Danscomics** » Wed May 18, 2011 8:11 am

spid wrote:I like the tie-ins because they seem to be honing in on what I really like about the concept of the event which is fear in the general population in the Marvel U.

It's interesting, I think this is the first tie-in that really dealt with an overabundance of fear. Prior to that it just seemed like a lot of the stuff that you would see in everyday life, nothing really showing that this is a special case. I'm not sure if that is intentional or not, but I was expecting more of what we saw in this book where large crowds are rioting and there is an overabundance of fear.