1st issue Challenge

spid · Post by **spid** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 6:59 am

50 Girls 50 #1 (Image) Frank Cho seems to like to delve into the pulp material of yesteryear. He has explored the Jungle stories of the 40s and 50s in Jungle Girl, and now he has moved into the scifi genere with this book. The book reminded me of a B-movie, and it had the same sort of hooks for the audience.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:40 pm

50 Girls 50 #1 (Image) - Seemed to be a very thin story that existed mostly to get some girls out of their clothes and cheesecake it up a bit. Perfectly fine pursuit, by the way, but I'm already getting Cavewoman & Tarot, so I don't really need another comic in this category since I'm trying to cut back.

Shinku #1 (Image) - I liked this vampires vs. samurais story and appreciated the backstory that Marz put into play to explain the conflict.

Reed Gunther #1 (Image) - Very enjoyable light-hearted all-ages series. Hey, it's a cowboy who rides a big bear, what's not to like?

Fathom #1 (Aspen) - This was a really nicely put together primer that gave all the essential backstory on Fathom from her origin to date. That said, the story really didn't grab me to the point where I want to get more in light of trying to cut back right now.

Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #1 (Marvel/Icon) - I've really enjoyed the previous Criminal series but this one really failed to grab me. I think I like the ones set more in the urban criminal underworld. I can't get into what I particularly disliked here without spoilers, but I'm just going to skip this one. I'll be back to check out the next series.

Flashpoint: Abin Sur - Green Lantern #1 (DC)
Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #1 (DC)
Flashpoint: Secret Seven #1 (DC)
Flashpoint: World of Flashpoint #1 (DC)
3 out of 4 isn't bad. I was not a fan of Peter Milligan's Vertigo Shade series, and that was the heavy influence of Secret Seven. As a result, I really would not want to read more of that title, but can see other people loving it.

Reminder on ratings:
Green - I liked this and will be buying more issues of it
Orange - This was OK, but I didn't like it enough for me to add to my "buy list" right now
Red - I personally did not care for this and do not want to read subsequent issues.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 8:37 pm

Tattered Man #1 (Image) - This was strange in that I would say the writing had a major problem, but I really enjoyed the read.

The story itself was well done and pretty cool, and the art was great too. My biggest problem, and this isn't a spoiler, is how the old story is told. Basically some kids are robbing an old man's house and they find an item and ask him "what is this?" he then tells them a story in the same way you'd tell your 4 year old kid a fairy tale. I cannot believe he would go into that much detail, and I cannot believe kids looking for a fix would listen to it. Just totally killed any realism.

But get past that, cool read.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:34 pm

Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1 (DC)
Flashpoint: Deathstroke #1 (DC)
Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1 (DC)
Flashpoint: Frankenstein #1 (DC)
I liked them all this week! Good stories, fleshing out more of the Flashpoint world, and some good art too.

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:55 am

BobBretall wrote:50 Girls 50 #1 (Image) - Seemed to be a very thin story that existed mostly to get some girls out of their clothes and cheesecake it up a bit. Perfectly fine pursuit, by the way, but I'm already getting Cavewoman & Tarot, so I don't really need another comic in this category since I'm trying to cut back.

I thought this book was ok as well. Not bad but not great. Since I am also trying to cut back, I will not continue to get this book.

American Vampire Survival of the Fittest #1 - This book expands the American Vampire storyline by using some of the supporting characters that Snyder and King developed in the main book. This is as good as the regular series and Sean Murphy's art really fits with both the story and mood that Snyder has established with American Vampire. I really think American Vampire is Vertigo's strongest new franchise/title in years.

Flashpoint: Deathstroke, the Curse of the Ravager #1
Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1
Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1
Flashpoint: Frankenstein and Creatures of the Unknown #1
The second week of Flashpoint minis continue the trend established last week of producing solid good comics. I found all four of these enjoyed for different reasons. If you like any of the previous Flash stories featuring the rogues, you have to read Citizen Cold. Aquaman was a great story and
featured some surprising guest stars. Deathstroke as a pirate is just an awesome concept. And Frankenstein by Jeff Lemire is just pure gold.

GABE! · Post by **GABE!** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:10 pm

Flashpoint: Frankenstein and Creatures of the Unknown #1

I really enjoyed this Flashpoint mini. Not only will I continue with this mini, but I will also pick up the new #1 in September.

dbm · Post by **dbm** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:58 pm

50 Girls 50 #1 (Image) - Loved it. I dug the concept, the storytelling, and the art. Cheesy? Sure, but that was part of the fun. Loved it.

Shinku #1 (Image) - Didn't really do anything for me. Not much story; nothing really grabbed me, art nor story. Not terrible, just failed to hook me.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:14 am

American Vampire Survival of the Fittest #1 (DC) - If you like American Vampire (which I do) I see no reason why you wouldn't like this story too.

Fly #1 - A really interesting concept (a designer drug that makes you fly) that was poorly executed. I thought Raven Gregory's story was poorly paced for a 1st issue, too much introductory material & backstory that had nothing to do with the "hook" of the series, the "cliffhanger" should have happened about mid-way through the issue. The art (by Eric J) was very inconsistent. It almost seemed liked there were 2 different artists working on the book, one of whom had a cartoony style that really does not match with the tone of the story. I'm absolutely dropping this one.

Screamland #1 - I really liked this story of "what if movie monsters were real and were actors in all those movies". Told with wry humor and an art style to match, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 1:47 pm

Executive Assistant Iris #0 (2011) (Aspen) : I'm a little confused by this comic. Seeing as how the last Iris comic, #6 of the first volume, ended with a cliffhanger, it was weird to see this not even mention that. I guess that could be because it's a #0 issue, but then we're kind of left wondering where this story takes place in the timeline.

I also don't know if this issue alone would get someone interested if they had never read volume one. I think the volume one #0 issue did a much better job.

Either way, I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to seeing this "hit list agenda" unfold.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 7:55 pm

abysslord wrote: I also don't know if this issue alone would get someone interested if they had never read volume one. I think the volume one #0 issue did a much better job.

I never read the 1st volume & this #0 got me interested, so there's an answer to your question (at least from one person). I thought it did a good job of introducing the mythos. I also liked the text pieces in the back. Seemed to have very little Iris in it, though. Seemed to be setting up for all the connected minis. I was originally going to just get Iris (that's all I ordered from DCBS) but I'll check out the #1s for Lotus, Acteia, Violet, Orchid in the shop & maybe will pick some of these minis up too.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:07 pm

BobBretall wrote:
abysslord wrote: I also don't know if this issue alone would get someone interested if they had never read volume one. I think the volume one #0 issue did a much better job.
but I'll check out the #1s for Lotus, Acteia, Violet, Orchid in the shop & maybe will pick some of these minis up too.

I thought there were only 3, did you see a solicit for Acteia too?

And the first volume is really good, reminded me of Kill Bill with the revenge plot. I know you're cutting back on reading as it is but it's worth a quick read if you feel like it.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:29 am

abysslord wrote: I thought there were only 3, did you see a solicit for Acteia too?

Apparently there are only the 3. The Acteia cover I saw is just a variant of Iris #1 with Acteia posed on it. The logo running down the right edge says Iris #1.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:51 pm

Alpha Flight #1 of 8 (Marvel) - I don't like restarting a new series in the middle of an event like Fear Itself. Although I have enough nostalgia for the Byrne Alpha Flight to want to continue with it. Also Dale Eaglesham is one of my favorite Marvel artists right now. There were some funny moments in this issue and some sad one's too. I'm in for at least these 8 issues.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:48 pm

IanG wrote:Alpha Flight #1 of 8 (Marvel) - I don't like restarting a new series in the middle of an event like Fear Itself. Although I have enough nostalgia for the Byrne Alpha Flight to want to continue with it. Also Dale Eaglesham is one of my favorite Marvel artists right now. There were some funny moments in this issue and some sad one's too. I'm in for at least these 8 issues.

Alpha Flight #1 of 8 (Marvel) - I'm afraid I have to weigh in with a thumbs-down on this one. As Ian pointed out, starting a mini out with a crossover into Fear Itself was foolish. This was "Fear Itself: Alpha Flight" not "Alpha Flight". This is certainly colored by my personal dislike of the FI event, but there it is, it's causing me to drop this mini. I like Eaglesham, but not enough to want to read more of this.

I was also not amused by the "Die, Earth scum" tagline they've given Marrina, as well as several other "personality developments" for the characters that I didn't really care for. The personalities seemed different to me from the Point 1 issue, or at least I don't recall having a negative reaction to them there.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:53 pm

Captain America Corps #1 of 5 (Marvel) - This story was OK. Not great, not bad, but OK, I'd give it a 3/5. Unfortunately, it also looks like it's going to be a totally disposable story that will have no effect on any continuity and since I'm trying to cut back on titles it's a series I can easily skip.

Graveyard of Empires #1 (Image) - A zombie book set in Afghanistan, with some really meticulously researched plot elements. I really liked this, and learned some stuff I didn't know about the Afghan conflict. Different enough from '68 to earn a spot on my roster of books.