Short Notes: New-ish Comics

I ran through a period of time when I tried my hand at some regular comic book reviews.

Then I ran out of time.

Also, they cancelled Greg Rucka's Punisher and that was the book that pulled me into trying my hand.  I kind of lost heart after that.

Still, I continue to read a handful of comics regularly.  So, because this is my blog and I can do whatever I want, I thought I would give some quick thoughts to recent issues (and thanks to my local shop, Beyond Comics for pulling my books and especially for Lazarus #1, which due to a miscommunication did not get pulled for me so the owner gave me HIS BOOK; thanks guys! You rock!).

First, Lazarus #1 by Greg Rucka (writer), Michael Lark (artist), & Santi Arcas (colors): GET THIS BOOK.  This is the first issue in a planned long (but finite) story set in a dystopian future.  Now, from Hunger Games (book and movie) to Elysium (upcoming movie with Matt Damon) and everything and more in between, dystopian future settings are hot, and some may feel saturated.  If you were to give Lazarus a pass because of that feeling, it would be a BIG MISTAKE (yes, it's my blog, I can yell if I want to).

Lazarus is the story of a world ruled by powerful families who control almost all wealth.  Each family has vast holdings, private armies, scheming members, and at least one champion, who is a bioengineered miracle.  The family at the center of the tale is Family Carlyle, and their champion is Forever Carlyle.  In the first pages of the first issue she is mortally wounded.  Then we get to see why her kind is termed a Lazarus and why she is a bioengineered miracle.

If you want a taste before you buy, there is a free teaser story (complete unto itself and not part of the first issue) here.  You should read it, then you should go get issue #1 and you should put the series on your pull list. 

RIGHT NOW!

Hawkeye #12 All I have to say is DAMN YOU MATT FRACTION (in the best possible way).

I opened this book, which continues the storyline of the last few issues, and I was just going to look at the first page . . . . and . . . the next thing I knew, I was at the end, and I do not have issue #13 in my hands yet!!

DAMN YOU!

Read this book.

Captain Marvel # 13 In general, I love what Kelly Sue DeConnick has done with Captain Marvel.

I did not love this issue.

Not really even a little bit.

The art was a mess.

The story that had been building within the title got hijack for an "event" across a bunch of other books I don't want to buy.

I got to the last page, and I kinda did not care.

That made me sad.

I hope this mess is over soon and Kelly Sue can get back to her focus on the character driven book of fun and adventure that I so admire.

Sad to say it, but unless you are a completists or collecting all the other books this story got splashed across, you can skip this.

I may not do more reviews, but then again I might.  We'll see what next month brings.

Short Notes: BJ Shea's Geek Nation

This summer has been insanely busy.  The 13th Age game has been on unintended hiatus as no-one has been able to synchronize their schedules.

So, in the meantime, let me recommend to you the fantastic podcast BJ Shea's Geek Nation.  I ran across this program first for their 13th Age actual play broadcasts.  I had not planned to become a regular listener, but I gave some of the regular shows a try, and I was hooked.  The general show runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Tuesday they focus on Magic: The Gathering, and on Thursdays they have "Special Ops," which focuses on special topics that writers Brandon Jerwa and Mark Rahner choose and discuss. 

I find all the regulars on the show to be interesting, funny and to bring a diversity of perspectives which alert me to interesting topics, new trends and new media to check out (books, comics, film, games, etc.).

The interplay of the cast is lively and fun, often tinged with the kind of joking, puns, "friendly" put-downs, and movie and book quoting that characterized the time I spent with friends in my formative years growing up geeky.  Listening to one of the shows puts me back in a room among people who speak my language fluently.

I recommend the podcast very much.