Smallville reading order and pull list

Do you remember last week-ish I was asking about the reading order of the Smallville comics?
I tweeted Bryan Q Miller about it and he confirmed this is the reading order:
Guardian Detective Effigy Haunted Argo Valkyrie Olympus Hollow Titans Alien Harbinger Lantern Chaos Continuity

So now you know. Looks like I got Titans and Alien mixed up, and Effigy and Haunted mixed up.

In terms of my pull list I've put all the Convergence titles on there...because I miss the pre 52 books, so fuck it, why not..

There are 40 tie ins and 9 issues of the Convergence series. A twitter friend said he thought the tie ins were all double shots which makes this 89 issues,.... 'eck!

I'll just sell on the ones I don't like ;)

Pull list suggestions

So, from Sunday's request for new comics to read I got a lot of suggestions. Here they are with my decisions based on looking them up on the internet:

The Wicked and the Divine (Image)
From the blurb: Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critically thermonuclear floor-fillers Young Avengers and PHONOGRAM reunite to start a new ongoing superhero fantasy. Welcome to THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, where gods are the ultimate pop stars. But remember: just because you’re immortal, doesn’t mean you’re going to live forever.
Creators: Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson

Hmm. I like the idea, a bit, but from their twitter feeds I get the impression that Gillen and McKelvie think they are both too clever by half, which puts me off reading their work.  It depends on how myffic it gets.  I could check this out on comixology.

Little Nemo (IDW publishing)
The blurb: An all-new, all-ages series full of magic and whimsy from award-winning creators Eric Shanower (Adventures in Oz) and Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key)! Spinning out of Winsor McKay's brilliant early 20th century strip, Little Nemo in Slumberland sees King Morpheus' daughter, in the Royal Palace of Slumberland, select her next-playmate: Nemo! Only Nemo has no interest in being anyone's playmate, dream or no dream!
Now that sounds interesting.  I shall check it out comixology.

Grindhouse (Dark Horse)
The blurb: Grindhouse is back from the dead, and it’s meaner, badder, and dirtier than ever! In the first of four new exploitation opuses, Scalped’s R. M. Guéra joins series writer Alex de Campi for “Slay Ride,” a brutal holiday tale of revenge and supernatural terror in the driven snow!
Er probably also not for me.  I'm not interested in exploitation stories or brutal or violent stories.

Corto Maltese (IDW)

Long before the term “graphic novel” entered the popular lexicon, the Italian cartoonist Hugo Pratt pioneered the long-form “drawn literature” story in 1967 when he introduced Corto Maltese in the epic adventure “The Ballad of the Salty Sea.”

Pratt set the standard for all adult adventure comics in Europe, and by the mid-1970s Corto was the continent’s most popular series and Pratt the world’s leading graphic novelist. “He is one of the true masters of comic art,” says Frank Miller.

Pratt’s books remain best sellers in Europe and are published in a dozen languages yet until now, Corto Maltese has been poorly represented in English.

This is probably a great story and really well told and really worthy to be in the comics hall of fame, but I'm not interested in 1960s adventure stories where the lead is a bloke.

Rare Bit Friends
I found this info: http://www.rickveitch.com/2010/09/13/new-rare-bit-fiends-5.  It doesn't appeal to me.

The Itty Bitty books (Dark Horse) and Tiny Titans (DC)
These books are good at what they do but I'm happy reading them for reviewing purposes and then to pass onto my friend's kids but I'm not interested in reading them for my entertainment.  I do like Art Baltazar's Superman Family Adventures a lot though.

Bulletproof Coffin (Image comics)
The blurb:
Relive the Golden Age of comics! The Legendary Kane and Hine return to their greatest creations! SEE! Coffin Fly Vs. Zombie Nam Vets! The Shield of Justice walks the Dead Beat! The Unforgiving Eye sees all, forgives nothing! Red Wraith: He's red! He's dead! Ramona: Buxom, Beautiful and Bound! Big 2 Publishing, eat your heart out!

Nothing about this interests me.  I don't care for the Golden Age of comics.  Mention of a zombie makes me think they are trying too hard be funny or cool.  I have no interest in crime stories.  The Unforgiving Eye and Red Wraith just sound dull.  Ramona sounds like a postmodern crap ironic take on female empowerment.

New 52 Secret Six (DC)
Now I loved the pre 52 Secret Six but this new version has different characters, they've been New 52-ified and I don't like that so this is a miss for me.

Red Sonja (DC)
I *might* pick this up.  I like some of Simone's stuff but she can be hit and miss, and I'm not sure if I have anything invested in the Sonja character.

Ms Marvel (Marvel)
I already pick this up sporadically.

Silver Surfer (Marvel)
I have no interest in Marvel's space stuff and I'm thinking of getting a Marvel Unlimited subscription so I wll be able to read stuff online 6 months after it comes out, which makes better financial sense for me.

Revival (Image)
I tried this till about issue 18 but got bored.

Morning Glories (Image)
Got the first trade of this, loved the storytelling, hated the art.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (Marvel)
I'm sorry, I can't bring myself to read comedy mammal based characters.  I hate G'Nort and I wasn't impressed by Ch'P the Green Lantern. 

Loki: Agent of Asgard (Marvel)
I'll probably check this out when I get my Marvel Unlimited subscription.

All new Hawkeye by Lemire (Marvel)
I like Fraction and Aja's Hawkeye a lot, but I don't care about the character beyond that series.  If Lemire keeps explore Clint's new Deafness, and if he does it right, I might well buy it.

Ant-Man (Marvel)
I'll probably check this out with the Marvel Unlimited subscription.

Gotham Academy (DC)
I tried this.  It doesn't have enough superheroes in it for me.  Maybe I'll come back to it in a few months.  I like Gotham books, far more than I like Batman books, but I need to have superheroes or the cops dealing with villainous stunts in the foreground.  Issue 1 didn't do it for me.

Astro City
Now this I am tempted by.  I also want to read Top 10 again.

Captain Marvel (Marvel)
I really liked the first trade but ultimately I don't like Carol enough to continue with it.

Legendary Star-Lord (Marvel)
Now this I will check out via Marvel Unlimited.  This is because of the GotG film you understand.

Lazarus (Image)
Ooh it's by Greg Rucka.  That is worth checking out.

Velvet (Image)
Oh gods it's a spy thriller.  So not for me.

I also want to read Future's End (yes I know, I'm nuts), Injustice and I have a whole host of comics on my comixology account that I want to catch up on, most of which I reviewed (briefly) on my other blog New readers... start here! last September.  And Sex Criminals needs to go back on there. And Bitch Planet needs to be made a regular too.

If you've got any more ideas send them my way!

What comics should I be reading?

Right guys, I need ideas for stuff to put on my pull list. I think I'm missing out on some good comics.  So far I have:

DC:

Adventures of Superman

Batgirl

Batman/Superman

Justice League United

Multiversity

Sensation Comics featuring Wonder Woman

Supergirl

Marvel:

Hawkeye (although I think that's going to end soon..)

Image:

Ody-C

Action Lab:

Princeless: Pirate Princess

I will be adding Red Lanterns from when Landry Walker takes over, and Danger Club. I get Ms Marvel digitally (and sporadically) and I'm likely to try out the new Wonder Woman creative team digitally as well.  I want to catch up on the new 52's Green Arrow and Birds of Prey.

Is there anything else I should be reading?  I'm not that interested in Chew or Saga at the moment.  I dropped the lady X-Men team about 7 or 8 months ago and I don't want to try it out again.  I would like something like Fearless Defenders to exist.. does it?

I'm happy to add more Marvel and independent comics but if there is particularly good DC stuff I'm missing out on please tell me!  I've been totally out of the loop over the last year as I hadn't expected to be able to still afford comics now.

Thanks guys!

At last! A real blog!

So, I has been slack recently.  If by recently you mean several months.   I finally find myself re-energised (a break from work and studying, plus sleeping, boozing and eating tends to do that).  Now, while I'm waiting for dinner to cook, I shall regale you with my thoughts about the latest comic books.  Behold, my not so mighty ramblings....
Spoilers ahead.




AQUAMAN
Oh how I want to call him Aquaham.  And I'm an Aquaman fan.  I blame Spider-Pig. ANYHOO.  This book started brilliantly.  The things from the trench were terrifying.  Then they got less terrifying and the book now seems to be about Geoff Johns Showing Us How Much Of A Badass Aquaman Is.  Now, I really like Aquaman, I always knew he was a badass, but I'm now a bit tired of this being shoved down my throat every issue.  Now this arc has finished, I'm hoping we can get back to more adventuring and less Badass Proving.  And I hope the dog dies soon.
The splash pages of the trench were pretty awe inspiring though.

TEEN TITANS
This is the surprise hit of the relaunch.  I was prepared to hate it.  I kinda love it.  The art is a bit, well, 90s (angular and swivel waisted and pointy pointy pointy), but the story and the writing is wonderful.  And I even like the exaggerated art.  So there.  New fella, Miguel, wins points for not being a complete raving stereotype too.
This issue was the only one that made me laugh out loud this week. I would like to tell Tim that borrowing a t-shirt because your costume is ripped is not remotely comparable to N.O.W.H.E.R.E. 'stealing' teenagers.  Bart requesting Tim take the shirt off him fuels my slashy mind  Bart then modifying one of Tim's costumes and excusing it by saying 'oh please, it was in the back of your closet' is, well, great.
5 out 5 shiny stars to this series.  Long may it reign (and reign in fun too!  Teen Titans should eb fun, not angst ridden).


The SAVAGE Hawkman
He's savage, he's dangerous, he's got shiny, pretty, shifting, liquid artwork.  Very pulpy.  He hasn't got an engaging story. Sigh.  Another one I wanted to love, but don't yet.  We'll see, I'll hold on for another 4 issues then make my mind up.


SUPERMAN
I could easily drop this.  I feel nothing for this incarnation of the Kryptonian.  But, I'll hold on for a bit, cos I want to like it.

Now, for the rest of the comics I've been getting but which weren't out this week.

ACTION COMICS
Superman is a cocky lil bugger in this.  I like it.  It's much better than the regular Superman title.  Nerdy Clarkie is lovely.

ANIMAL MAN
THE MAN WITH ANIMAL POWERS!!
You should all be reading this.  It's brilliant.  Easily one of the best of the relaunch, in a very un superhero way.  It's very reminiscent of the Vertigo run of Animal Man.  It's mature.  It's probing.  It's a thinker.  As opposed to Justice league which is a brawler.

JUSTICE LEAGUE
For the first three issue this was my favourite of the new titles.  Then number 4 seemed to be a little bit too obvious, seemed to be too trendy, too knowing.  Or I could have been drunk when I read it.  Either way, it reminds me of Frank Miller's All Star Batman and Robin, which is just darned amazing, in a terrible way.  Justice League is macho, brazen, cocky, full of testosterone (even the ladeez are full of testosterone).  It's the equivalent of 1980s cock rock or 1980s action flicks - Die Hard, Predator, Demolition Man, Total Recall.  In short, exactly the sort of shit I love.

BATWOMAN
Pretty much as expected.  The relaunch hadn't changed dear old Kate's history, and J H Williams is still on art.  So, yeah, as expected.  Good.  Oh, except for the lack of Renee, who I now fear is dead. :(

SUPERBOY
Another surprise hit.  I was dubious about the premise, but it's been carried out with style.  And Rose Wilson.  Rose Wilson (done well) makes everything better.  Fact.  The art is ..round? Soft on the edges?  Hard where it matters?  Slightly cartoony.  Great, anyway.


BIRDS OF PREY rule the roost, yah?
Let's see, Dinah is made of awesome, Katana is delightfully bonkers, Starling has class and Poison Ivy is, Ivy.  Yah.  This is fun, and solid, and lots of other tasty things.  Consider buying it!

SUPERGIRL
As much as I'm grumpy about the need for another relaunch of Kara, I have to admit this is rather good.  Mahmud Asrar's artwork is lovely, and makes even the stupid elements of the suit work.  The story is well handled, it's nothing like the solicit and is definitely one of the better books of the new 52.  Everyone should be buying it (and I say that as a fair judgement, not just as a Supergirl fan).

WONDER WOMAN
This is amazeballs.  The reimagining of the Gods is inspired, the artwork is (ignoring a few eschergirl problems) gorgeous and the story so far, works. Mostly.  I'm going to ignore the terrible idea that is Zeus as Di's father.  I mean really.  The made of clay origin is magical and mythical and full of amazingness and Zeus as Di's father is boring.  Beyond boring.  I also dislike Hippolyta being blonde.  I know originally she was blonde, but I don't like it.  So bite me.
Ignoring those big problems, the rest of this book is fab.  Fab fab fab fab.

BATWING
I'm getting this electronically.  This here is Judd Winick being good, not Judd Winick being crap.  When he's good he's very very good.  When he's bad he sucks.  This is good.  Buy it.

The series I dropped were Hawk and Dove (got 2 issues, got bored), Green Arrow (my favourite character, made rubbish, beardless and boring, boo), Batgirl and Fury of Firestorm (neither were working for me, although I can see they are good).


Other than DC I'm also getting Ultimate Comics Spider-man and Dollhouse. Both are mah-ha-vellous.

I think I may be back in the bloggy spirit. Oooo.

More thoughts on DC's cunning new marketing strategy

I am referring to the one that says they will are targeting 18-34 yera old males.

In terms of what this means for me personally, and my reading habits, I'm not actually too bothered.  Ok, I am still sad about Teen Titans and Supergirl, but so far it looks like that from September  I am going to have 18 titles on my pull list, up from 15 (excluding the Flashpoint titles).  So you know, this reboot/relaunch has worked for me, as I will now be getting more titles.  I mean, I like a lot of things that the average 18-34 yr old male does - explosions, testostorone heavy films, cock rock, actions scenes.  I'm happy to have those stories (and with titles like The Savage Hawkman I'm sure I will be getting those in abundance).

The things that does irk me, is that, as James so elquoently put it, targeting this particular demographic probably means the emphasis will be on sex and violence.  Now this won't neccessarily mean bad stories, (ok this is coming from the woman who loved the whole ethos and art in the Guy Gardner - Warrior series), but it probably does mean that these types of stories will be told at the expense of other stories.  That saddens me.

As for the lack of imagination in who they are targeting, well, I think women, people of colour, LGBT people, will continue to buy the titles.  Even those folk searching for diversity and depth in their comics (and perhaps not finding it).  Because we are used to seeing cultural products that don't represent us, and it's just something we have to put up with.

In moral terms, this doesn't mean that DC shouldn't bother putting out products catering to/targeting/including 'minority' groups, but it will make a better story/universe if they do.  Sometimes, the only way to make sure you are more diverse in your output is to consciously think about how you can achieve it.  It doesn't always come naturally.  The reduction in women led titles, for example, demonstrates this.

On the other hand, Mr Terrific, Static, Blue beetle, Young Justice, The Fury of Firestorm, JLA and Aquaman are all either being led by (male) characters of colour or have CoCs with prominent roles.  Then there's Batwoman leading her title and I presume Amanda waller will be prominent in SAuicide Squad.  That's more than we got now.

The other thing that is bothering me about this relaunch is that I don't so much think that the reason your average Joe doesn't buy comics is because they think they are only for teenage boys, it's because they just don't know about them.  Most people barely know what they are, especially superhero titles.

The way to get more people buying your comics is not to target the same demographic you always have, but to tell more people, in general, about them.  DCWomenKickingAss has for months been saying that DC and Marvel should give away comics to girl scouts.  She's got a good point.  If people don't know about your product, they won't buy it.  If people don't know ways in to your product, they won't buy it.  If they don;t knwo where to buy your product, they won't buy it.  Those spotlight columns now appearing in the back of DC's monthlies are really good, and a great way to promote your back catalogue.  But it's preaching to the converted.  Part of the fault lies with comic shops too - retailers need to get out there and promote themselves more, but then again, how rich are most comic shops?

I wonder how skint DC is an organisation.  I wonder if they can only afford to market towards one group, and they've chosen the easy one as the cheapest and most efficient (in the short term) one.  Pushing their comics to a brand new audience, making new people aware that they exist, will be a long term, expensive process.  Which is sods law really, because if DC don't start bringing in new fans they are going to be, as an industry, fucked.

In which I get a bit annoyed

Cancelling 6 titles at the comic shop turned out to be be way more painful than I expected.  And now, I see that DC are promising all sorts of loveliness what with Blackest Night Green Arrow and Power Girl vs Wonder Woman.

I say Bah.

Blogging slowdown

I lost my job.  I am looking for another one but between here and New readers... blog stuff may have to slow down a bit.  Apart from anything else I'm gonna have to really cut my comics pull list, and that's the thing that gives me blog fodder!

Until I find new employment, of the ongoing monthlies, I will be reading only Supergirl and Red Robin.  It was actually a surprisingly easy choice and made within about 3 seconds.  I guess the other books aren't quite so vital after all!  I'll keep the minis and Blackest Night tie ins as they are all over in a month or so and it seems stupid to drop them with one or two issues to go.

With reference to New readers..., James will still be posting and I'll put up the odd thing, but it won't be regular.  So, this is another shout out for reviewers.  If you fancy writing something for the blog, be it a one off review or regular submissions, please email me on paicomics [@] yahoo dot co dot uk
Let me know what you'd like to review and either point me towards your blog or send me an example of your writing.

Thank you for your patience.

New Kid Flash title!

Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!
To be written by Sterling Gates. :D Fucking ace.
Of course this means I will have to look at losing some other titles because I cannot afford everything. I'm currently thinking of dropping Booster Gold, Power Girl (unless it*really* picks up), Gotham City Sirens, Detective Comics (depending on performance) and Action Comics (after the crossover has completed).
Those are the 5 I could lose. Then there's the 5 minis I'm currently getting, and then of course Blackest Night won't last forever.
Come November I'm going to have to seriously reevaluate what I buy. And sell on a lot of stuff I wasn't impressed by. I don't have the space for all these!

My Pull List

Hardcopy:
DC Week 1: Animal Man, Green Arrow (electronic)
DC Week 2: Superboy, Demon Knights (electronic)
DC Week 3: Birds of Prey, Supergirl, Wonder Woman
DC Week 4: Teen Titans 

Weeklies - Ame-Comi Girls and Smallville

My Marvel pull! Ultimate Comics Spider-man

My other pulls! Danger Club, Princless