Slogging along. So tired.
Review code format (ranked 1-5, blah to faboo): [writing / art / new reader? / non-comics reader?]
Hellblazer #222 (Vertigo) [2/3/2/3] (w. Denise Mina; Leonardo Manco)
I am really tired of this story line. Just … stop. John’s not behaving in a way that makes sense. The long monastic conspiracy thing has had glimmers of interest, but … I’m this far from dropping this title. Really.
Invincible #33 (Image) [4/3/2/2] (w. Robert Kirkman; a. Ryan Ottley)
Angstrom Levy has captured Mark’s mom and baby brother. And beat them up. And now he’s transporting Mark into one universe after another, looking for one that can kill him. And he’s finally pushed Mark too far, which, with even a half-Viltrumite is dangerous.
Oh, yeah, and there’s a cameo by some zombies.
Still a greatly fun comic.
JLA Classified #24 (DC) [2/3/1/1] (w. Steve Englehart; a. Tom Derenick / Mark Farmer)
I’m sure someone thought that a flashback story of the “Detroit” Justice League (Vibe, Gypsy, Vixin, Steel, Martian Manhunter) would be an interesting “blast from the past.” They might have been right, but a five-part story? Against losers like the Royal Flush Gang? With really bad internal dialog for one of the heroes per issue? You know what, I’m glad Steel is long dead, because he does nothing here but whine. Ditto for Vibe. So there.
JSA #87 (DC) [3/3/2/1] (w. Paul Levitz; a. various)
JSA has been one of the most consistently popular titles DC has produced for the last several years. So, of course, it makes sense that they’re canceling it — so that they can create a new JSA title (at #1) in the fall? Feh.
This final issue has been coming for several issues, tied around a Gentleman Ghost tale. Which has kind of been more than a bit mediocre, compared to some of the things that JSA has done even recently.
JSA Classified #13 (DC) [3/2/1/1] (w. Stuart Moore; a. Paul Gulacy)
The end of Vandal Savage. Not sure we’ve needed four parts of tale to give us the character’s history. Especially poorly. Especially since it’s not actually the end. *sigh*
(listening to: Wainwright III, Loudon, “Tonya’s Twirls (Live)” from So Damn Happy)
(listening to: Giacchino, Michael and Tim Simonec, “New and Improved” from Incredibles)
(listening to: Battlefield Band, “Carnlough Bay” from On The Rise)
(listening to: Fitzpatrick, James & Prague Philharmonic & Chorus, “QB VII – Kaddish for the Six Million” from Jerry Goldsmith – 40 Years of Film Music)
(listening to: Chad, J. Pat O’Malley, Lord Tim Hudson, Digby Wolfe, Thurl Ravenscroft, Bruce Reitherman, “That’s What Friends Are For (The Vulture Song)” from Jungle Book)
(listening to: Lauper, Cyndi, “When You Were Mine” from She’s So Unusual)
(listening to: Nylons, “I Can’t Go for That” from Fabric of Life)
(listening to: Mamas & the Papas, “Too Late” from All the Leaves Are Brown)
Egad! I’ve not read Hellblazer in years. The story line seemed tired and stale in ’97-ish.
It’s come and gone since then. Different writers do different things. Following the tale of John Constantine the bastard trickster with a heart of gold is entertaining. The last year-plus have not.
Topic for next year: “When do you give up on a comic?”