Tuesday, February 21, 2006

This Week's Releases: February 22, 2006

This week's trip to 2005 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award Winning Night Flight Comics will not "Make Comics Better", nor will it "Push Comix Forward". On the contrary: I may, in fact, be hurting comics. Jog points me to things that might broaden my horizons, but there are weeks where I like my horizons just where they are.

What can I say in my defense? Sometimes I just like comic-booky comics that have superheroes and tights and fists. The second arc of Astonishing X-Men was a pretty-well-unmitigated disaster, but it's hard not to give this series another chance. I feel sure Cassaday and Whedon will deliver the superheroes and tights and fists I am craving.

Were I to be pushing comics on one direction or another, I would be pushing it towards the direction of Mouse Guard, I think: Great art, unique(ish) subject, the promise of "all ages" but not "for kids". The American Way may, in fact, be pushing comics backwards to a time where the intersection of politics and powers was nouveau ... but considering the political wit of writer John Ridley's Three Kings, it's worth a try.

As a side note, the lateness of Infinite Crisis is interesting. At the moment, Diamond's not expecting it next week, either. Was Rich right? (Scroll to "State Of The Industry", and expect spoilers.)

  • American Way #1
  • Batman #650
  • Green Lantern #9
  • JLA Classified #17
  • Wonder Woman #226
  • Astonishing X-Men #13
  • Captain America #15
  • Iron Man: The Inevitable #3
  • Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #2
  • Mouse Guard #1


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2 comments:

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez said...

I hear you on the maintaining horizons thing. Preparing for NY Comic-Con has seriously tested my endurance, to the point where I'm in the mood to hurt some comics but good!

Spencer Carnage said...

What can I say in my defense? Sometimes I just like comic-booky comics that have superheroes and tights and fists.

That reminds me of the time when my friend Ryan was trying to decide on what to buy with his gift certificate to Earth-2. Darren and I had almost convinced him to buy Blankets, to the point that he was standing at the register, ready to pay for it when all of sudden:

"Wait a second! Why am I buying this and not buying that Grey Hulk Statue up there!? That's like going to Blockbuster and renting an indie movie!! Get me that Hulk Statue, damn it!!"

It was beautiful and sad all at the same time.