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