Thought Bubbles #2: July 18th, 2007

By Christopher Hoerdemann

July 18th Comics.......the last big week

Seeing as school will be starting up pretty soon, it looks like my pull list will be becoming quite a bit smaller (since time to work at the comic book store will be scarce). So, this is the last week that I have been able to buy stuff that wasn’t really that essential to me. Case in point: I bought Zero Killer #1, which was very very light on story. I probably could have done without that. I also picked up the Wolverine Origins Annual, which was pretty in the art department but lacked a lot of action. However, it did have a nice tie to the current arc in Wolverine’s solo series. Thankfully, lots of the titles I buy are either mini series that are nearing their end, or they are ongoings that are almost finished up with a story arc. So from here on out, it looks like I’ll be buying the bare essentials.

So, my thoughts on last weeks comics.......

   

All Flash #1
• Wonderful all around. The art, the story, the everything! I feel bad that Guggenheim got the last Flash series kicked out from under him, but now that Mark Waid is going to be handling the title, I’m willing to forget that.

Ultimate Spider-Man #111
• This was a pretty nice way to say goodbye to Mark Bagley. In this issue, Peter finally comes completely clean with May, and Stuart Immonen makes his art debut. Overall, I think Bagley was the best Spider-Man artist of my generation, and I wish him luck in the rest of his endeavors.

World War Hulk #2
• Hulk Smash, me happy.

JLA #11
• According to Brad Meltzer, this issue was going to be the most experimental piece of writing that he’s done. When trying to live up to that standard, this issue fails. It’s simply a one issue story, a pretty good one at that, but I don’t think Meltzer should have tried to make it sound like more than it was.

The Order #1
• This was my pick of the week from last week, and I was pretty happy with it. Unfortunately, it’s getting the ax as I am cleaning up my pull list.

Countdown #41
• This issue symbolizes another step in the direction of “better than mediocre.” The art is a huge improvement, and the story is coming scarily close to being interesting.

The Brave and the Bold #5
• This issue does the Batman/Karate Kid fight way better than the JLA/JSA crossover did, plus it’s just a down right fun comic to read. This one, I am happy to say, is staying on my pull list.

Harry Potter and the Miracle of a Good Ending..........

JK Rowling found a way to end her epic story of the wizarding world in a way that will keep just about everyone happy. People died, battles were fought, Horcruxes were destroyed, and I enjoyed every single second of it. The entire book felt manic, and I really could feel the fear that all the characters were living in. These seven books are the Star Wars, or the Lord of the Rings of my age group. These books are now a part of pop culture forever, and I can grow old and say I was around when they first hit the scene. It’s nice to feel like I was part of something that people will remember for a long time to come. I’m not going to spoil anything, but I will end my thoughts on the book with this; it was epic, it was exciting, it was perfect.

   

Watchmen Casting News....AKA Zack Snyder Knows What he’s doing.........

Allegedly, the Watchmen cast has grown by three. Malin Ackerman (pictured below......check out the picture that superherohype.com is using) has been cast as Sally Jupiter, Jackie Earle Haley (pictured in the middle) will play Rorschach, and Matthew Goode (pictured at the far right) will play Ozymandias. The fact that most of these people are actual actors, instead of “stars” gives me lots of hope for the movie. The lack of Tom Cruise is also quite enjoyable. 

   

Punisher Recast........

The rumor goes that the man who played badass Centurion Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson) from the HBO TV show Rome will replace Thomas Jane as Frank Castle in the next Punisher movie. I am all for this. I like Thomas Jane, but I’m a little happier with Stevenson as Castle.

 

This Never Really Bothered me Before, BUT…….

Cover art that does not even come close to matching the art on the inside of the comic! I am usually not too picky about this, but the next issue of Wolverine Origins caused me to do a double take. Here are the two covers (both completely awesome by the way). The first is by Ed McGuinness, and the second is by Marko Djurdevic…… 

 
 

And here is a piece of interior art by Steve Dillon (a great artist, but to be honest, he’s a terrible fit for this title. His art seems out of place in a dark and gloomy Wolverine story)……..

 

What I’m trying to get at is that seeing those two covers, and then opening up the issue and being introduced to a jarringly different style is a bit of a strange feeling. I would have no problem with an Ed McGuinness cover if the interior art was a bit cartoony (see the current World War Hulk: X-Men mini series that McGuinness does covers for, and Andrea De Vito does the interior art for). Also, I would have no problem with a Djurdevic Daredevil cover because his art is pretty dark and gritty, as is the interior art of most Daredevil comics. So I guess that’s the end of my rant, but I would really like it if Marvel would match up their cover artists with books that have similar interior styles.

   

I’m Watching Best Week Ever.........

Britney is still crazy, Lindsay is still drinking, Paris is up to her usual hijinks, and Rosie O’Donnel is everyone’s favorite crazy celebrity. Hmmm, this episode could have come from any week in the last two years.

Closing Curtain.......

Well, I’m done for now. I’m going to sit back, relax, and watch the new 42” Plasma HD 720i TV that’s in my house!