JD's Comic Book Thread
- Thread starter JD
- Start date
Its a good thing you're reading Millar's run first, before Hickman's. I never read Millar's run, so when I got to Hickman's run, he brings in NuEarth and explains absolutely nothing. Its easily the worst thing of his run, after the first mind boggling issue with it I just ignored the NuEarth stuff until it went away. It will probably mean more if you know the backstory, but I found it to be the second most annoying thing about Hickman's run, with #1 being probably not really being a spoiler, but I'll still not mention it just in case. Hickman's FF run is pretty good (not John Byrne good, but no one, even Stan Lee, has really had a run as good as Byrne's), but not without flaws.
FYI-- Hickman wrote a 5-issue mini featuring the FF that tied into the "Dark Reign" era that establishes stuff that is very important down the road that is not a part of the series regular run.
You can pretty much read his run on FF without the Dark Reign Fantastic Four mini. That was apparently a test by Marvel to see if he could cut it iirc.
It's where Reed first...
Which, IMHO at least, is at least as important of a development than anything in Millar's run. If JD is going for completeness, I would highly recommend it to him.
Hell, the plot development in question came up recently in the build-up to "Secret Wars". I'd say it's highly relevant.
...builds "The Bridge".
Which, IMHO at least, is at least as important of a development than anything in Millar's run. If JD is going for completeness, I would highly recommend it to him.
Hell, the plot development in question came up recently in the build-up to "Secret Wars". I'd say it's highly relevant.
I don't think the introduction of the machine is really relevant. You can go in the first Hickman issue imo without knowing about what occurred in FF DR. It's just a plot device to advance his first story. You only to need know that Reed invented this thing and it's more a plot device and metaphor for his obsession over his work, a larger theme in Hickman's run, but not really illustrated all that well imo in Dark Reign FF.
Comparatively the stuff with NuWorld continues the work Millar did and shows us what happened to them after they were brought from the future and the consequences were for killing their Galactus.
Comparatively the stuff with NuWorld continues the work Millar did and shows us what happened to them after they were brought from the future and the consequences were for killing their Galactus.
I would also point to the plot with Franklin and Valeria taking on Norman Osborn while their family is busy other things.
The moment where Franklin confronts Osborn wearing...
...was absolutely priceless. Franklin and Valeria are very important, arguably just as important as the Four themselves, in Hickman's run and this mini showcases them in a way that goes all the way from silly to terrifying. It's what made me change my opinion of Valeria from "indifferent" to "essential to the team". It's very indicative of the roles they will play down the line.
And that is a plot point that gets picked up on later as well. Also, Reed's promise to Sue about the machine you mentioned a few posts ago. If they were ever to publish a complete Hickman "Fantastic Four" volume, I would be very upset if this first arc were omitted. It just wouldn't be complete to my mind.
The moment where Franklin confronts Osborn wearing...
... a Spider-Man mask...
...was absolutely priceless. Franklin and Valeria are very important, arguably just as important as the Four themselves, in Hickman's run and this mini showcases them in a way that goes all the way from silly to terrifying. It's what made me change my opinion of Valeria from "indifferent" to "essential to the team". It's very indicative of the roles they will play down the line.
The "terrifying" part, of course, was Franklin shooting Osborn with a real bullet from a toy gun.
And that is a plot point that gets picked up on later as well. Also, Reed's promise to Sue about the machine you mentioned a few posts ago. If they were ever to publish a complete Hickman "Fantastic Four" volume, I would be very upset if this first arc were omitted. It just wouldn't be complete to my mind.
Also IIRC Reed building the machine is part character story showing the ongoing disconnect Reed has when he gets "in the zone" with his projects and ignoring his family...so while it might be irrelevant plot wise, it's important in Hickman establishing his character study with Reed. At least IMO.
Been a while since I checked in. I'm really behind on my reading but I was wondering if anyone is reading Valiant's Book of Death. So far I am enjoying it, but I find the lettering in the book really big for some reason. All the dialogue in the speech bubbles just seems too big to me. I've also enjoyed The Fall of Ninjak and The Fall of Bloodshot. They've written them in such a way that I don't think they'll ever need to de-canonize them.
I also recently picked up the first three issues of "The Disciples" from Black Mask Comics on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. It has a really cool sci-fi/horror angle to it. I'd recommend it if anyone is looking to try something new. I also tried out Young Terrorists from Black Mask since I was so pleased with The Disciples. It's not the kind of comic I usually read and I had a hard time getting into it at first, but by the end I was intrigued enough that I will give it at least one more issue to hook me.
I also recently picked up the first three issues of "The Disciples" from Black Mask Comics on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. It has a really cool sci-fi/horror angle to it. I'd recommend it if anyone is looking to try something new. I also tried out Young Terrorists from Black Mask since I was so pleased with The Disciples. It's not the kind of comic I usually read and I had a hard time getting into it at first, but by the end I was intrigued enough that I will give it at least one more issue to hook me.
Valiant's Book of Death has been a good read and I'm hoping ends on a great note. The exciting thing, for long time Valiant fans at least, is the prominence of Master Darque being the event's seemingly main bad guy.
I also have praise for both tie-in issue one shots Fall of Bloodshot and Fall of Ninjak and how these mini one shots are laying out loosely structured future events. Those reading RAI will recognize those events. Fall of Harbinger is next up!
The satellite chase book BoD:Legends of the Geomancer has also been a great addition to the world building and backfilling of lore surrounding the Immortals and Geomancers. I've been fortunate that my LCS only charged me cover for those since I was a loyal customer & a "buy all VALIANT" subscriber.
Staying VALIANT talk X-O Manowar #40 came out yesterday and was a great read. Starting a new arc, Exodus pt.1, it deals with the Vine coming to Earth(cause Aric/Shanahara) is there seeking aid and refuge. The Vine's homeward was destroyed recently due to events in the Dead Hand mini, essentially an epilogue to Armor Hunters. Well after Armor Hunters we Terrans are gun shy about aliens just showing up in orbit and crash landing other vessels. Tensions are tight!
I also have praise for both tie-in issue one shots Fall of Bloodshot and Fall of Ninjak and how these mini one shots are laying out loosely structured future events. Those reading RAI will recognize those events. Fall of Harbinger is next up!
The satellite chase book BoD:Legends of the Geomancer has also been a great addition to the world building and backfilling of lore surrounding the Immortals and Geomancers. I've been fortunate that my LCS only charged me cover for those since I was a loyal customer & a "buy all VALIANT" subscriber.
Staying VALIANT talk X-O Manowar #40 came out yesterday and was a great read. Starting a new arc, Exodus pt.1, it deals with the Vine coming to Earth(cause Aric/Shanahara) is there seeking aid and refuge. The Vine's homeward was destroyed recently due to events in the Dead Hand mini, essentially an epilogue to Armor Hunters. Well after Armor Hunters we Terrans are gun shy about aliens just showing up in orbit and crash landing other vessels. Tensions are tight!
You're lucky. It was going for almost $50 at Midtown Comics.
Book of Death has been pretty good and haven't noticed any problems with the lettering at all.
I do have a question about "Imperium" though...I understand that it takes place within the Valiant Universe...but is it meant to be the "future" of the Valiant Universe? It becomes Harada's "paradise"? I'm still not quite getting that being a noob and all.
I do have a question about "Imperium" though...I understand that it takes place within the Valiant Universe...but is it meant to be the "future" of the Valiant Universe? It becomes Harada's "paradise"? I'm still not quite getting that being a noob and all.
Imperium is indeed within the Valiant Universe and it takes place in "present day". Harada has visions about what he wants his building utopia to be and some issues have shown a "flash forward" vision of that. Perhaps those flash forwards are what confused things?
Okay that makes sense now. I kind of got it that it was Harada's vision we were seeing and not a reality, but the way it was presented kind of threw me off. I love this book btw...it's been awesome as well.
If anyone is looking to get into Valiant, Groupees is offering a bundle until this coming Friday. I wasn't familiar with Groupees, but it's like Humble Bundle, you pay what you want, but the more you pay, the more you get.
For $15, you can get 35 comics (most are TPBs, though they are offering a few #0 issues, and #1 issues, as well). Even though I spent about the same last year on Valiant's Humble Bundle, I paid the $15 to get some of the more recent TPBs/Comics.
For $15, you can get 35 comics (most are TPBs, though they are offering a few #0 issues, and #1 issues, as well). Even though I spent about the same last year on Valiant's Humble Bundle, I paid the $15 to get some of the more recent TPBs/Comics.
Similar threads
- Poll
