Robb's Got Issues 12-28-12

Trailer for "Death of a Superhero" Film

A friend sent me this link. A movie I knew nothing about, but am now looking forward to... A lot!!! Check out this trailer.

Who are the most recognizable characters in comics?

Who are the most recognizable characters in comics?

Well this is my opinion. Comics and their characters are bigger now than they have been in years. Due to more movies and cartoons and other media. Not to mention the “New 52” and “Marvel Now”. The big 2 are always trying to put their properties into the spotlight. I think there are 5 from DC and 5 from Marvel that have become so globally known, all I would have to do is show a picture and most would know who was in the picture.  Merging to our pop culture conscience. Who are these 5 from each company and why do I feel this? Do you agree? Check out my list after the jump.

Merry CBXF - Holidays!

Comic Book Cross Fire's Winter Singing Program

Superman's Origin & My Thoughts on the "Man of Steel" movie trailer

Well, Have you seen it yet? If not, you need to check this out. Man of Steel Trailer Link.

Ok now that you've seen it, What new? Whats different? What have we seen before? And what do I like? For those that know me, you know I'm a pretty hard core Superman fan. In many ways, Superman is family to me. So its important to me that they portray Superman Right! I don't want a remake of Christopher Reeve in tights or Geoff Johns origin story brought verbatim to the screen. But there are some story beats I need to have hit. I mean, 2013 is the 75th Anniversary of the creation of Superman. He deserves this!!!  The success of Nolan's film Batman comes from the fact that he veered away from Tim Burton's Batman. It was his own voice and film style, but her barrowed a lot from Frank Miller's Batman Year One. Now I liked Superman Returns. But it tried to recall a time when "Supeman the Movie" was the only superhero flick. It was an incredible movie, but since then we've had Dark Knight, X-men First Class, Watchmen, Captain America, Amazing Spider-man, The Avengers, and Jonah Hex. (kidding). But the bar has been set and Man of Steel needs to raise it not crawl underneath it. And like the Dark Knight barrowed heavily from the comics, Man of Steel looks like its stealing some things from its comic counter part. Here are a couple of the Man of Steel's Comic origins that I feel have some items worth stealing.

How it should have ended, The Man of Steel Trailer

CBXF_12-19-12_ Marvel Now - Avengers - Thunderbolts

Fan Film: Superman: The Golden Child - Full Movie

 

I've been a fan of these guy for a year or so. I saw the love they were putting into making their own Superman movie. Now its finally done and you can watch it here. For young film, this movie is great! Check it out!

Robb's got Issues 12-15-12

Cricket's Required Reading

Its been a while since I’ve felt compelled to write about something comic related. In fact, its been months. Life changes and so do my taste in comics. But since finding out that my wife was pregnant with a little girl... I’ve really grown more aware of what i’d like to share with her. Now, yes I know... she’s a few years away from reading and some things I’ll have to wait until I feel she is more mature to enjoy and comprehend. But Like I told Tracie, Comics are what broke me into the world of art and literature. Expanded my mind socially and showed a world that isn’t black and white. Comics expanded my imagination and vocabulary and played a role in my moral compass. They are as much a tool to my education as any text book I had growing up. I don’t want to be the kind of dad that pushes his hobbies onto his kids, but there are some things I just can’t wait to share with her, when the time is right. This got me thinking, what are those things? What do I want to share that shook my foundation and made me latch onto this illustrated love affair? Well here is my list... when the time is right, This is Cricket’s required reading.

CBXF_12-5-12_Bendis Good-bye to Avengers

Adam Thompson's Justice League

I was visiting comicalliance.com when I came across this art. Its an incredible panaramic picture of a possible Justice League by artist Adam Thompson. To see the full size and close ups. Please check this out.

Robb's got Issues 11-30-12

 

CBXF_11-28-12_Captain America #1 marvel Now, Man of Steel Rumors

CBXF_11-21-12_Thankful in Comics, Marvel Now, Age of Ultron

Tracie's Pull List - Week of November 14, 2012

Still playing catch-up, here. Sorry folks.

A lot of these are going to be more like mini-reviews than hyperbole/conjecture, seeing as I've read all of these issues by this point. But still, take a look won't you!

CBXF_11-14-12_Hellblazer & New Marvel NOW

Tracie's Pull List - Week of November 7, 2012

AMERICA, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT! You made your voices heard and stuff and it was great even though we almost tore each other apart over it. But it's cool now and we can get back to our regular-ass lives and talk about important things like comic books.

You like comic books, right? Good, so do I. Let's talk about them. Here is what I am purchasing with the money I earned at the job that I have.

CBXF_10-31_12 Disney & Star Wars

Tracie's Pull List - Week of October 24 & 31, 2012

Doubling up this week as I still play catch-up.

Also, did we actually have an October this year? This is ridiculous.

DC Picks the Best Super Villains for Halloween

In honor of Halloween, DC has put out a poll to determine the best villians. Instead of voting for the villain who'll run the country, vote for a fictional one. Check it out here.

Joker, before his face was pinned on.

CBXF_10-24-12_Ironman 3 Movie trailer

Tracie's Pull List - Week of October 10, 2012

Apologies to the one or two of you that follow my little shopping lists. I had this one partially written and completely missed writing up the releases for the 17th. I've been caught up in a move, performing several shows, and being without internet.

Here's my 10/10/12 write-up but we'll just skip 10/17 and move on to this week's in the next post.

The Next DC Animated movie...

(Spoiler-y)During Geoff Jones run on Action comics, He wrote a Story Arc called: Superman: Brainiac. This was an intense and moving story that introduced the bottle city of Kandor and ending the life of Pa Kent. At NYCC oit has been revealed this story will beocme DC next animated movie. YES! To learn more read here.

CBXF_10-10-12_Uncanny Avengers #1 & Comic News

CBXF_10-03-12_More Zero Issues, AVX ending, and more

Tracie Mauks AVX fantasy ending: CUT TO silhouetted figure, you can make out shape of a trenchcoat. CLOSE UP of a pair of hands. They start to spark brilliant colors. MOVE TO face of a smiling girl in pink shades. MUTHAFUCKIN' JUBILEEEEE!! The Phoenix not only restores her powers but cures her vampirism. TBC!!!

Tracie's Pull List - Week of October 3, 2012

So I watched the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Nick.com last night and I really dug it. Like a lot. Probably shouldn't type much about it right now as I may want to cover it on our Google+ Hangout tonight but you should check it out if you're a Turtle fan. Specifically one who grew up with the 80's cartoon.

I really just wanted to stay at home all day and watch my TMNT blu-ray collection after that. May yet throw one of them on tonight.

But not until after I pick up THESE babies from the shop tonight...

Tracie's Pull List - Week of September 26, 2012

You guys, I'm hungry and I've been sitting around my room all day so I'm gonna go and get some eats and pick up the following fine comics before throwing on the Joss Whedon commentary track for The Avengers and packing stuff away.


Let's hit it.

CBXF_09-19-12_President America & DC's Zero Month

Tracie's Pull List - Week of September 19, 2012

I've been on a kick lately of reading all these old Marvel/DC crossover books I never read when they originally came out. This was spurred on by the fact that I recently just found the issue of DC/Marvel: All Access that I was missing so I could finally read the mini in its entirety and squee and gush over the Jubilee and Robin pairing all over again. Their little Romeo & Juliet romance was undoubtedly my favorite thing about the DC Versus Marvel event, though the whole thing had me pretty stoked when that hit. I bought the trading card packs, sent in my votes, bought dang near all of the Amalgam books. Fun stuff! I missed out on or wasn't interested in the books that preceeded and followed that event but I grabbed a super cheap Crossover Classics IV TBP and have been enjoying the Green Lantern/Silver Surver and Batman/Punisher clashes. John Byrne's Darkseid/Galactus was expectedly overwrought but the novelty was still interesting. And he draws a heck of a Galactus. I've still got the Batman/Spider-Man and Superman/Fantastic Four crossovers to get to next.

I could probably write a whole column about the Jubilee and Robin romance or DC Versus Marvel in general so maybe I'll save that for another time and just get to this week's comic offerings...

CBXF_09-12-12_Comic Collecting/Hording & Death in Comics

Tracie's Pull List - Week of September 12, 2012

I was listening to NPR the other day and they were talking about the poor box office of this past weekend, which had no real major film releases of any note, unless you were cool enough to see Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk With Me, like I was. And, yes, it was the poorest box office weekend since 2008. This conversation quickly started to sound as though this summer was basically a movieless void and, while I understand that I am listening to NPR, they weren't even specifically talking about film quality but box office quality and I have to be like UH HEY GUYS, did we already forget The Avengers broke a ton of records and made an unexpected, powerful climb to being the 3rd highest grossing film of all time? Do we not remember The Dark Knight Rises making a buttload of money? Brave made money, Ted was a surprise hit, Amazing Spider-Man did huge despite initial remake backlash... I mean, I don't know what the barometer is. Is the summer box office down from last year? Sure. (like 4%?) But last year had the final Harry Potter, the final Transformers (well...), another Hangover movie, another Pirates, three huge Marvel movies... Like... I dunno, every year I guess we just have pundits lament about how bad Hollywood is and how bad the box office is and how much better things were last year or something and that is bunk. I mean, outside of the statistical numbers stuff, fine, 4% or whatever. But like... It was just weird for me to hear a conversation where not a single movie was mentioned and it was treated like there weren't any movies of quality released at all this summer like Prometheus never happened (cue disagreements) or all that money Magic Mike brought in somehow (SOMEHOW cough cough). How about Moonrise Kingdom snatching the highest opening Wes Anderson has ever had? I get that theater attendance goes down every year. The 3D "fad" that everyone likes to complain about helps to bring people back into the seats but it's still a downward trend thanks to the internet and sophisticated home theater systems. But c'mon you guys, let's not talk about these things like we're living in a wasteland bereft of art and entertainment. Just because our superheroes keep outdoing all of your regular-ass movies. STEP IT UP. Be better. Hire Joss Whedon.

That's my weird rant this week. Let's talk about comics now.

Superman Kiss - Robot Chicken!

Tracie's Pull List - Week of September 5, 2012

I saw The Avengers again this weekend for the Labor Day rerelease. There was nothing new added but I loved it all the same. And even better than that was seeing it with a group of people who had somehow never seen it before this point. That is the best when you get to see something again for the first time, vicariously, through friends. Their love just refueled my love that already existed for it. Just the best.

And then I got to shred any "wow, Avengers was cool, Tracie likes something cool" cred by geeking all over them with explanations of who "Ron Perlman's brother" was at the end. Anyway. COMICS!

08-29-12_CBXF: Marvel & Joss Whedon's TV S.H.I.E.L.D. & DC New 52 (a year later)

Tracie's Pull List - Week of August 29, 2012

JOSS WHEDON IS MAKING A S.H.E.I.L.D. TV SERIES FOR ABC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Jed and Maurissa too)

This is the only thing you need to know about anything before we rundown this weeks' comics.

How the Dark Knight Rises should have ended...

CBXF_08-22-12_Marvel Now, WW #12, AVX

Tracie's Pull List - Week of August 22, 2012

Hey, if you are looking for a movie recommendation, I highly recommend ParaNorman, the new stop-motion animated feature from the studio that brought you Coraline. (which makes it like 2-3 degrees seperated from comics, right?) Without spoiling anything, it did some stuff that I did not at all expect from a PG-rated animated feature and bravo to them. I hope that it resonates with audiences and, even though it's probably pretty scary for little kids, I feel like it has some good things to say to kids and parents and I hope it strikes up some good conversations.

Now, let's strike up some conversations about this week's batch of comics!

08-15-12_ Batman Earth One, The Fun that is our podcast

Tracie's Pull List - Catch Up To August 15, 2012

HEY, okay, so... so it's been a few weeks.

Sorry about that. Life has been very busy/exhausting for a while but things are maybe starting to settle down. BUT YOU DO NOT CARE! We are here to talk about comics! So, let's have ourselves a little bit of catch-up...

08-08-12_Off the Shelf & Batman in Elseworlds

Robb's Cover of the month for July

So for the first time, I find Jim Lee's Justice League to have the best cover. The color and the composition. This is very "Poster-esque". I just liked it.

And Hawkeye... man. Nice. Very "Batman Year One" by David Mazzucchelli. Bold lines and a high contrast with strong use of one to 2 colors. I loved this cover.

Mars Rover finds Martian...

He just deserves better. Superman and his future in the DC 52

Grant is leaving the Man of Steel. More specifically, the title Action Comics. And this makes me sad. He got the ball rolling. He kicked off a "new 52" Superman that is definitely different. But he’s leaving and I’m sad... and well... scared. Lack of communication and short-sightedness from DC frightens me. I say this because Yes, Morrison’s run on Action has been darn near pitch perfect. But the connection to the Man of Steel’s other title, “Superman” has been none! Even during the creation, interviews have revealed that George Perez knew nothing of what Grant was planning. So we have two different takes on a character “during a re-boot”?  Where was the symmetry? The title Superman is just poor. From art, to story, to use of villains. This is your flag ship character. And even though I am loving what Grant has done in Action, it doesn’t feel like a “larger” story arc. I hope I’m wrong. Morrison has a way of weaving in large/deep meaning tale, over vastly long periods of story telling. (ie. Black Glove, Final Crisis, Batman RIP) But right now, to me it feels like Grant just had an interesting take on Superman and told a cool story and really doesn’t have a larger plan. I find this future unacceptable. Because I don’t know what DC will do when Grant leaves.

Robb's Quick review for July - 08-4-12

Not a break up letter, But we can still be best friends. (Or Robb has decided to cut back on comics)

I hate to admit it, but I’m getting older. Life changes you and I find myself looking at the world differently. In the last 5 years I have had my world go from flat to round. So much has changed. I’ve changed. I’ve had incredible highs and tragic, gut punching lows. Through it all, through everything... Comic books have been there. I’m never going to abandon what we have. We have a family bond. Comics are my shoulder to cry on, my get away, my quiet place that I can be alone.

But I have to be realistic. Maybe its time for change. Slow things down. Its time to cut back. Make some alternative choices. Explore some more independant titles.

What do I mean? Many of the comics I loved and dated growing up, just aren’t as pretty anymore and have ugly creative weight. One title promised something and have never delivered. Some are too aggressive and have a billions spin-off that I don’t care about. Yet, others just can’t find a purpose or direction. I’m sorry comics, lately I need more. We started out as a torrid, daily love affair. Every night we’d lay in bed and escape. Romantic low light. Hours and hours of fantasy get away. No one understood us and we loved that. It was special. Intimate, 2-3 books, just us. I knew everything about you. All the trivial things and important things. Your creators, your backstory. Everything! There was no internet to interfere, no 52 titles that I had to own, no Invasion or Secret War I had to collect to understand you. Just me and my few titles. I miss that, comics. I miss that specialness.

We knew this was coming. At one point I got every thing you put out. I took it all and paid for it. You were expensive, but I believed you were something unique. I thought it’s only money. But you kept asking for more. More number ones, more events, more crossovers. You are so needy, comics.

Look, this isn’t a break up. I have a lot going on right now. And no, I’m not leaving you for another medium. I think “Movies” are shallow and needy, and  Novels are stuck up and pushy. No my heart will always belong to you Comics. You were my first real love and that will never go away. Ever! It’s me though, not you... I have a kid on the way. And I can’t waste time and money on a plot that goes nowhere. Not to mention, you’re taking up all kinds of room. Hell, I can’t keep you in order with all the re-numbering. So I guess it kinda is you, after all. No, Its not over. We can still be more than friends. Best friends, still. I’m thinking the weekly booty call? Not to mention we still have the podcast and the blog. It’ll be like old times. I’ll cut back on you. Just get the stuff I really want and stop reading the junk I’m reading out of habit.  No more Teen Titans, Green Lantern Corp, Superboy, Supergirl, Nightwing, to name a few. And I’m putting some of you on warning... All Star Western, You used to be hot, what’s going on?  Superman... yes, Superman, Your new creative team...seriously, you better shape up... and Wonder Woman... No worries, You're awesome. We’re good. Keep on, keeping on.

CBXF_08-01012_Off the Rack

Dark Knight Returns, Animated Part 1 - Trailer

CBXF 07-25-12 Summer Movie Wrap-up

Superman Classic: Bizarro

So I found the next installment of Rob Pratt's Classic Superman fan shorts. This is incredible.

Robb Watches "The Man of Steel" Trailer...

Tracie's Pull List - Week of July 18, 2012

BATMAN IS HAPPENING YOU GUYS. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

Wonder of wonders, I am actually attending the midnight opening of The Dark Knight Rises. I honestly don't think I've been to a midnight opening since X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Is that film to blame or is it merely a window to state my life has been in since that time. I don't know. What was I talking about? The Dark Knight will Rise at 12:01 AM on Friday (though the movie theater thinks that still counts as Thursday) and members of Comicbook Crossfire will be there, openly weeping into each other's arms. Y'know. For justice.

A 3 hour midnight movie on during the workweek would normally be a terrible idea for me, lacking access to any Lazarus Pits, but I managed to get a half day off work for morningtime sleepings SO WE GOOD.

Almost as exciting for me is the rise of another superhero in comics this week so let's talk about that, shall we...?

SDCC: Home-Con 2012 or "I want my Marvel NOW! now"

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 has come and gone with not a single Marvel NOW! announcement to be found. Disappointing. But it... makes... sense in a way? I guess? SDCC has become so much less about comics and more about movies (and video games and things people actually still spend money on). The only big DC Comics announcments were Neil Gaiman's return to Sandman (major crossover appeal) and Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained comic (movie dude does comic of his movie). Oh... and the confirmation that Stephanie Brown is in fact being replaced by Barbara Gordon in the Smallville comic. Because she's "more iconic." (STILL GONNA CALL HER NIGHTWING, THOUGH) Also they hate us.

The only company that seemed to have anything to say about comics was Image (and, I guess Legendary... which is a comic publisher founded by a movie studio). Being on their home turf in southern California, it makes sense for Image to want to make some waves (not a surfing reference, sorry). They definitely turned my head by announcing a lot of high-profile creators creating new books for the company... and strangely, most of them are folks you'd normally associate with Marvel, these days. Greg Rucka and Michael Lark reteaming on Lazarus (billed as Godfather meets Children of Men), Matt Fraction and Howard Chaykin teaming up to tackle some controversial topics, and my personal favorite, a spaghetti western from Kelly Sue Deconnick and Emma Rios. All this plus two new books from Joe Casey, a new series by James Robinson and J. Bone, and new stuff from Chris Roberson and Derick Robertson. That's a good chunk of comics from some great creators AND they're all brand new concepts/characters to boot.

The best Marvel had to offer, comic-wise, were a handful of AvX follow-ups, details on "Minimum Carnage," the breaking of my heart with Punisher: War Zone being Rucka's last run with the character, and a Marvel NOW! Point One, which appears to do much what the last Point One one-shot did, setting up new creative teams and status quos (it was a big part of kicking off AvX). The most light shed on Marvel NOW!'s behalf was the creators behind the Point One book,which could give an idea of who to look for on books in the line: Bendis, Fraction, Loeb, Spencer, Gillen, Hopeless, McNiven, Allred, McGuinness, McKelvie, and Larroca. There seemed to be heavy hinting that, much like the last Point One book, this one would include another Nova story by Loeb and McGuinness. (I'd be terribly happy if this lead to a series/mini by the team)

Now, to be fair, I'll be buying all of these books they announced (minus the Minimum Carnage event and probably Red She-Hulk). I'm all about Kieron Gillen doing an AvX: Consequences book. I'm all over Jeph Loeb and Dan Slott doing A Plus X Avengers/X-Men hugfest/makeout session. Then there's AvX Babies by Skottie Young and Gurihiru which appears to be a book created only for me. What I was really, really hoping we'd see, though, were more announcements/clues regarding Marvel NOW!. Aside from the Point One book and the list of creators contributing to that, we really don't have anything new to go on. Now, I suppose being only halfway through AvX, Marvel should want to keep the focus on that and these new follow-ups but... the timing of the initial Marvel NOW! announcement seemed like it was to prime the pump for further reveals and excitement at SDCC. But then... SDCC isn't really a con about comics anymore, is it? Not primarily. Not in the way it used to be. It's still a great event for comic fans, certainly, but it's not the same the for publishers. All the biggest announcements of the year used to come out of SDCC. Now I'm hearing that the Marvel NOW! news might be held back for New York Comic-Con in October. It makes sense, considering it's still a new-ish con that holds a bigger spotlight on publishers, taking place on the home turf for DC and Marvel, and hasn't been around long enough to become completely taken over by TV and Movies. NYCC and C2E2 appear to be where the real comics news happens anymore. It used to be SDCC and Wizard World Chicago. (the latter is now but a ghost of its former self) This is... This is fine, I guess, right? It's just the changing landscape of things. I think the timing of things and the history of SDCC easily led to a lot of anticipation and expectations for things, particularly from Marvel pubishing, that it just really wasn't the time or place for. They got some huge attention for Marvel Films (again, a home-turf announcement for that branch) and nice things from Image and the like. I guess the Fangirl in me was hoping for just a little bit more but I can choke it down and be patient for a couple more months to see just what else will come out of this mishmashy world that Marvel NOW! is teasing us with.

CBXF Part 2, Issue One Vol. 3

Comicbook Crossfire Ep 1 Vol 3. (07-11-12)

Tracie's Pull List - Week of July 11, 2012 (plus a "Why So Skeptical?" rant)

For the record, I loved Amazing Spider-Man. LOVED it. I've seen it twice now so I can confirm that that's not just the new movie glow clouding my judgement. It definitely resonated with me on levels I wasn't expecting and I think it's a very smartly done reboot and I can't wait to see these people come back and do it again in two years.

Now, it feels like the only thing we fanpersons have to live for in the movie world is The Dark Knight Rises, next week. I've seen weird reactions from both close friends and internet stalking victims. I thought we were all on the same page with this you guys. Remember how much we loved Batman Begins and what a glorious breath of fresh air it was for both the Batman franchise and comic book movies in general? Then remember when The Dark Knight happened and completely change the landscape and all of a sudden a dude can dress in a cape and mask and still have his movie be legitimized as art and get nominated for awards and bring in insane amounts of money? It was like the culmination of everything we've been working towards as comic fans to show people that we're not just trapped in some sort of state of perpetual childhood, that there are actually compelling stories to be told with these characters that can and should be enjoyed by everyone and not those with a predilection for people in tights.

So then what happened to where all of a sudden we're just... not sure about this Dark Knight Rises movie? Why. So. Skeptical? I hear concerns about Anne Hathaway as Catwoman which make me feel as though you've never seen an Anne Hathaway movie that didn't have the word "Princess" in it or maybe that you've just never seen her, period, or maybe don't know what beautiful, intelligent women look like. That's certaily a possibility. Then there's all this being iffy on Bane stuff which is fine I guess but I, myself, don't get it because I think he looks and sounds scary as hell. I mean, I'm sorry he's not covered in tubes full of mutant juice, dressed in a luchador outfit. That's all well and fine for comic books and Schumacher movies but that's not the world Nolan has built here. Clearly you must understand by now, there have BEEN two movies, and this is a very particular world that has been set up very carefully and there are things that don't work in this reality like they do in the comics but that doesn't make them any less valid. Nothing about these films has been about being a slave to canon. We've seen enough different versions of Batman by now to realize they all have their place, they all have validity. This is Nolan's version and it's been a danged masterpiece thus far so I have no reason AT ALL to think he'll suddenly fail to stick the landing when, if anything, he's gotten better with each and every film, Bat or not Bat.

And let's please all take a moment to remember how wrong we were about Heath Ledger. Remember that? I was skeptical once, too, and I was wrong, wrong, wrong, so you know, maybe this Nolan guy knows just what the heck he's doing so let's all stop our hemming and hawing and GET EXCITED. Please.

Oh, also there's comics out this week and I want them and two of them even have Bat Men. Read on!

Robb's Quick Reviews for July

Robb's Pick for Cover of the Month: June

Again,I'm behind... But this was an easy month for me to pick. This month, the ladies lead the way. The runner (Wonder Woman #10, is an creepy, cool and  beautiful Cliff Chang rendition of the River Styx with an Undead, Gun totting Diana. I love this image! As for Amanda Conner's Silk Spectre cover...Its Amanda doing what she does best. Her style is perfect for this character and I can't wait to read more.

Tracie's Pull List - Week of July 4, 2012

There appear to be some sort of anti-nerd forces working against me this week. I missed my chance at getting free passes to an early screening of Amazing Spider-Man. My BROTHER got passes and didn't invite me to be his Plus One. The CBXF crew all appear to be too busy on Independance Day to sneak out and see the movie with me. AND every comic shop in town appears to be open tomorrow except the one I have my pull list with. Seriously, we are a town FULL of comic shops but the ONE that I choose to patronize the most is the one that actually decides to honor the holiday.

Harumph.

So MAYBE I'll have to go by myself or wait til the weekend to see Spider-Man and I GUESS can wait until Friday to pick up my comics. (can't make it Thursday, unfortunately...) TOUGH BREAKS. Tough breaks for Tracie who just wants to read comics and see comic book movies. I DON'T ASK FOR MUCH IN LIFE. WE AGREED THAT I COULD DIE ALONE SO LONG AS I HAD THESE THINGS.

Ah, well... at least I can still TALK about comics. ...To myself... Unless one of you looky-lous would like to chime in. WHICH YOU MAY! Chime, chime away with this week's Pull List:

Episode 1 - Comicbook Crossfire Podcast Vol. 2

Tracie's Pull List - Week of June 27, 2012

YOU GUYS, I loved BRAVE so hard. SO HARD. And another incredibly inventive and adorable short. Hot dang those Pixarians.

Before the film, they had what may be the best Amazing Spider-Man trailer I've seen. I may be in the minority on this but every new trailer I've seen has got me more and more exctied for The Amazing Spider-Man. I know it has the misfortune of being sandwiched between The Avengers and Dark Knight Rises but, dare I say it, I've got hopes for this. HOPES.

Also, hey, if you've found yourself missing our charming faces, we do apologize. The Crossfire gang has been going through some busymaking life changes and that's made it difficult to keep up our monthly vidcasting. We're floating around an idea of how to make up for this, though, so stay tuned for that. And, in the meantime, we've got a 30-part series of Robb and I talking about Superman on the YouTubes. (it's actually only 5 parts I think) ("ONLY...")

If you enjoy OPINIONS, you'll love these PRE-OPINIONS regarding this week's comic releases:

Superman vs the Elite part 4 (Morals and Super heroes)

Tracie's Pull List - Week of June 20, 2012

Pixar's BRAVE opens this weekend!

As does George Washington: Zombie Smasher or whatever.

But... but... BRAVE! PIXAR!

I'm excited.

Cars 2 wasn't the disaster everyone likes to think it was but I've been itching to see Pixar return to what they do best, creating NEW IDEAS, new worlds, and uplifting and/or breaking hearts along the way.

SPEAKING OF new ideas and new worlds... well... you'll get that in Saga but I'm afraid the rest of my pull list is Marvel & DC. Sorry. There might be some world remaking in one of them, though...

Superman vs the Elite part3

Superman Vs. The Elite Part 2 (Trailer for the Dark Knight Returns)

Superman vs the Elite Part One

Tracie's Pull List - Week of June 13, 2012

Comics Pull List is a teensy bit late this week due to technical problems and time contraints and also Robb, Sean, and I totally watched Superman Vs. The Elite. But hey, it's just Wednesday Thursday. Here are the comics I'll be buying/have just bought today yesterday:

May's Quick Reviews by Robb

Cover of the Month for May

Sorry this was late... been busy, but this was an easy month. Jim Cheung's  A vs. X Round 3 has an incredible cover. It pays homage to the famous Mike Zeck Cap vs. Wolverine cover I loved growing up. Runner up, is once again Eddy Barrows on Nightwing. I have lost most interest in this bookm but I just adore the cover art, what can I say!

Tracie's Pull List - Week of June 6, 2012

PROMETHEUS is opening this week and I hopehopehope the trailers have not already given away the whole movie but I'm putting a lot of faith into Ridley Scott's return to sci-fi, Damon Lindelof's script, and am excited for any sort of return to form for the Alienverse.

Also exciting? THIS WEEK'S COMICS:

Abstract Heroes - Round 3

How Avengers should have ended

Abstract Heroes - Marvel 1st set

Here is the Marvel Edition of Abstract Heroes. I have more coming!

Hulk

Thing

Thor

Wolverine

Sue Storm

Friendly Fire - After the Avengers Movie

So After the movie, Tracie and Robb kept the ball rolling. See what came up in their Avengers discussion.

Abstract Heroes - DC 1st set

Ok, So I've seen others do this abstract representation of comic heroes. I thought I'd do a few. Whatcha think?

Aquaman

Flash

Green Lantern

Wonder Woman

Robb reviews Wonder Woman



Tracie's Pull List - Week of May 30, 2012

Apparently Omaha, NE won't be getting Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom until the end of June, so... so much for THAT plan.

On the plus side, I was very pleased with Men in Black 3, as I treated my brother to an IMAX 3D viewing for his birthday. I completely forgot that there was to be a 6 minute preview of Amazing Spider-Man beforehand and I'm glad that my chronic lateness still got us in the theatre in time to view this. I gotta tell you, I'm excited for it. Yes, there's still some hesitation, but hot dang I enjoyed that preview. Going to DEFINITELY make a point to see this one in 3D IMAX because it's got the BEST use of live-action 3D I've seen in some time. Very cool. And while my brother was not at all won over with the extended Awkward Hallway Scene between Peter and Gwen I thought it struck as very honest and genuine and cute and I like that Peter is (super)smart and awkward and wirey.

This should continue to be a pretty sweet summer for movies.

You know what's LIKE a movie but smaller, shorter, and unmoving?

COMICS!

Tracie's Pull List - Week of May 23, 2012

I usually like to use my pre-comics-ranty-space as my movie or TV ranty space because these are the things I spend most of my time thinking about...
 
AND THIS TIME IS NO DIFFERENT.
 
This weekend, what might be my second-most anticipated movie of the summer, after The Avengers, opens in theatres!
 
MOONRISE KINGDOM!
 
You were expecting Dark Knight Rises, weren't you? Well... that's... tied for 2nd.
 
Really, it's way too hard for me to choose, and they're way too different kinds of movies to really compare. We'll call Dark Knight my 2nd most anticipated genre film of the summer and Moonrise Kingdom my 2nd (or does filtering out "genre" make it #1?) most anticipated "regular folk" movie of the summer. Though "regular folk" rarely appreciate Wes Anderson as much as they should. And, bless him, he certainly doesn't cater to any lowest common denominator. It's always a major event for me when a new Wes film is released. Even moreso than what will likely be this weekend's biggest competitor, Men in Black III.
 
I am pretty excited about MIB3, though. Reservedly. I was a huuuuuuuuge fan of the first one but I hardly remember a thing about the 2nd, other than the memory of being pretty underwhelmed and the strong memory of it bothering young Tracie that they changed the voices for the worm aliens from how they sounded in the first film. I think due to their popularity/predominance in the animated series. I plan to pick up both films on blu-ray this week, though, in anticipation. I am nothing if not a faithful little nerd.
 
But, hot dang, Moonrise Kingdom is going to be the one to hit my sweet spot.
 
Alright, COMICS NOW.
 

Tracie's Pull List - Week of May 16, 2012

I'm a sleepy baby, coming off of a couple long weeks and another longish one in front of me so let's just dish about comics, shall we?

Robb discusses a possible DC answer

Tracie's Pull List - Week of May 9, 2012

So, I hear critics and people with money are really digging that there Avengers picture. You can see some of our thoughts, a couple posts down.

It's starting to sink in just how staggering a moneymaker this could be. It really doesn't have a whole lot of strong competition until May 25 when Men in Black III opens. And that could really go either way, depending on how the film turns out and how badly an audience wants to see a third MIB after the underwhelming second installment.

Sure, I'll be there, but probably not until after I've seen Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, which also opens that weekend.

(I am part of that surprsiing crosssection of people who will go see The Avengers multiple times but will also see any new Wes Anderson film opening night)

HEY, QUICK PLUG, if you're in Omaha, NE this weekend, come see me perform in the latest hit melodrama from the Florentine Players, "Only A Miner's Daughter or Curses! Shafted Again!" I'll be playing the villainess so please come and boo me, as my self-esteem clearly needs a thrashing... Thurs, Fri, and Sat at 7:30pm at the Florence Reception Hall, 29th & State St. $10!

Anyway. Comics...!