JD's Comic Book Thread

I maybe the only one reading VALIANT titles here (am I) but I would recommend their summer event Armor Hunters to anyone looking for a short term try out commitment to the line. Issue #1 was a good read and the last page and what happens is a global game changer.

 

Been reading IDW's season 10 X-Files comics. They've been ok so far.

 

That title is about to hit #200, right?
I picked up Spawn #200 as a retry but didn't just love it enough to come back.
I have Witchblade #175 in my "to read" pile that came out last week.

When Savage Dragon #200 comes out I hope that's a "jumping on point" cause I'm curious about where the title is at.

Congrats on the letter being printed!

 

Malcom is his son yes? I did see #195 at my LCS and asked my shop keep about just getting #200. He doesn't order heavily on SD and at most he has 1-2 issues for the shelf.

The counter clerk told me to email the store owner about it, which I'm going to do.

 

I read Witchblade #175 and it seems to unfold as a renegotiation between the Blade and Sarah. Parts of it read like a scorned lover, or "petulant child" as Sarah put it, acting out and being angry about how she'd abandoned him. Apparently the Blade identifies itself as male, it took a masculine shape to address her.

I enjoyed the short backup story spotlighting a centuries old Japanese wielder of the Blade.

From Dark Horse:
X#14 - This is one of those hidden gem titles that I think people who like these type heroes are missing out on. I saw some sales figures posted and its #13 sold 3,700 issues. Not sure how DH keeps it going but I'm glad they do. X was captured by the Mob lords assassin thugs, beaten, nearly killed, escaped and in the weeks he's been healing new parties are at play in the town, HIS town. The issue ended with him setting up new digs at an abandoned police precinct while calling out the leader, Archon, of a new vigilante group in town.

Blackout #3 - it's a mini from DH and created, or co-created, by Mike Richardson the founder/owner of DH and this is one of those books of discovery for both you and the title character. I hope they put the DHP material into a #0 issue like they did Brain Boy cause the mini starts with him having the suit. It's clear he took it cause he realized the company was going to use if for ill intent but he's not entirely sure how it works. I keep thinking it has Scott Lang/Ant-Man overtures with it. Good read.

 

Based on how the first tie in book, Unity #8, read you should be able to just read the Armor Hunters main mini series for the event and be alright. Unity #8 told the story from that teams perspective and how events unfolded around them up to a point where the story intersected with portions of AH#1. It wasn't just cut/paste of panels. The same scene was viewed from the UNITY perspective. The text in places was the same but the angle was shifted.

I would say though that since XO and his armor is the main reason they've come to Earth that picking up his solo title alongside the main mini-event would be a solid move.


VALIANT of the 90s was some really good reading for the first 3-4yrs. Then the behind the scenes creative shook up happened and a number of titles went sideways, like RAI and Shadowman imo in the mid late 20's or the runs. But the mainstays like XO, Turok and Eternal Warrior were still largely readable. Most things after the "Birthquake" crossover event are considered to be the beginning of the end. Acclaim bought VALIANT and after only 6yrs they rebooted and retooled everything.

If you pick up Armor Hunters &/or XO I'd be curious on your take.

 

Glad you liked it SD!
XO #26, which came out yesterday, is all about Reebo and Malgam before they are recruited to be Hunters. It deals with their first encounter with a rogue armor which leads to their recuritment. XO isn't in the issue at all but because it was written so well and gives such backstory on characters who will be huge throughout this summer event, it was an engaging read. Just an FYI.

I checked with my LCS shop owner and he said that some IMAGE books have a pricey anniversary issue pricetag. If SD #200 has a $7.99 or greater tag he's not incined to order more than for holds. Usually a book like that I can then get from instocktrades I've noticed. The 30th Anniv IDW book that was $7.99 is available there.

 

I may be able to get it from instocktrades.com as they've carried single issues that large before for individual purpose on their site. The $7.99 30th Anniv TMNT special comes to mind from last month as a recent example.

Thanks for the info as my LCS isn't going to order but for the 2 hold customers and maybe 1 for the "wall". Not at that price he told me.

 

^^^^
I agree. My LCS owner is 97% consistent but this is one where he throws me.
It's an anniversary issue so order a few more. He did for Spawn #200 and Witchblade #175(they weren't $9.99 cover either though). That price point seems to be his sticking point based on his stores shoppers he told me.

Big Dog Ink is a smaller indie producer and they did a Sharzard #0 issue for $1.99.
I was mildly interested to flip through it on the stand before deciding though. He didn't order any for the shelf, just for subscription box folks who requested the title. Issues didn't appear on the rack till #5, which at that point I'd already put money into other titles.

People do still decide on a book at the point of release. I know I'm not the only one.

I just picked up Boom! Studios Robocop #1(picking up from the 80's saga) that way last night and I've never bought a title from them. LCS owners, you need shelf copies.

 

Have just started ro read Planetary by Ellis and Cassady for the first time. Great stuff!

 

I just finished reading Captain America: The Winter Soldier vol 2. I wasn't really in the mood to right a long review so I just wrote a quick short one.

I might try and do something a little more in depth later, if i feel like it.