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| << April01, 2006 - [ComicBookNetwork E-Mag] CBEM 569.6 |
April01, 2006 - [ComicBookNetwork E-Mag] CBEM 569.3 >> |
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----------------------------------------------------------------- [7] The Nitpicker's Column Martin A. Perez magnus@montevideo.com.uy http://perdidoseneleter.tripod.com [Martin A. Perez (AKA MaGnUs) writes short stories, articles, comics and radio plays. One of his short stories has been published in the book Contagion: Wars Stories and his articles have appeared in online or print magazines like Inforol, Ururol, Kryptonian Cybernet and Strange Days. He co-produces and co-hosts a radio show about comics and related subjects, Perdidos en el Eter. An active part of Uruguay's fan scene, he's one of the creators of Montevideo Comics, the first local convention (since 2002), and one of the founders of Caballeros de Montevideo, which promotes RPGs through charity events. MaGnUs works at a tech- support call center, and is happily married to his wife Cindy, with whom he has a son, Gabriel, who already chooses Spider-Man over Mickey Mouse, and laughs at his father's Darth Vader impersonations.] <<WARNING! THIS COLUMN MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!>> Welcome to another installment of The Nitpicker's Column; sorry for missing the week before last; if you take a look at the column you might notice it was written mostly about that week's column, I sent the column out our good editor, but apparently my e-mail server acted up and decided not to send it until after the deadline. Actually, the apology before is for those who read the column via the CBEM; those of you reading it through Jazmaonline.com were left without a column for last week. I admit it, my primary focus is meeting my CBEM deadline, and when stuff like last week happens, David (LeBlanc, the CBEM's editor) just keeps my column in reserve for the following week. Thus, with a week already covered, I slack and don't write for that week. Well, enough of that, let's move on to this week's nits. <--------------------------------> "WHAT? YOU WANNA BE BILLED AS RANDEE GENTLE?" TITLE: Black Panther V4. ISSUE: 13. CULPRIT: VC's Randy Gentile (letterer). NIT-TO-PICK: I noticed this nit while checking out stuff for next entry. On page 3, on the credit boxes, the penciler Scot Eaton is credited as "Scott" Eaton, whereas in other Black Panther issues he's "Scot", as well as in most of the internet references I could find on him. NIT-O-METER: Just 1 Bazzar, but I couldn't let it go. <--------------------------------> "THAT SUPER-DENSE POWER MAN SEED IS MAKING THE GIRL GROW UP FAST!" TITLE: Black Panther V4. ISSUE: 14. CULPRIT: Scot Eaton (penciler). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 10, Luke Cage comes home, and is welcomed by his mate, Jessica Jones, and their daughter; problem is that the baby looks much older than she should be. I can buy that Luke Cage's baby girl might be larger than your average newborn, but if you look at her in The Pulse #14, you'll see that she's much smaller, normal-sized. NIT-O-METER: This gets 4 Bazzars, I really can't stand inconsistencies, and you know it <--------------------------------> "NOT A STYCKLER FOR SPELLYNG." TITLE: Black Panther V4. ISSUE: 14. CULPRIT: Reginald Hudlin (writer) or VC's Randy Gentile (letterer). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 10 as well, on the second-to-last panel, Luke Cage says to T'Challa "(...) big tymer." What? NIT-O-METER: Another 1 Bazzar nit, dammit. <--------------------------------> "WAKANDA: GREAT PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR THE MASSES, HORRIBLE ONE FOR ROYALTY." TITLE: Black Panther V4. ISSUE: 14. CULPRIT: Reginald Hudlin (writer) or VC's Randy Gentile (letterer). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 12's first panel, during a flashback, King T'Chaka says to T'Challa "(...) even wealthey people (...). What about "pour" people? NIT-O-METER: Second time in the same issue, this gets 2 Bazzars. <--------------------------------> "PUNCTUATION SMERCTION!" TITLE: Black Panther V4. ISSUE: 14. CULPRIT: Reginald Hudlin (writer) or VC's Randy Gentile (letterer). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 15, third-to-last panel, T'Challa says "Meanwhile the man who killed my father still walks the Earth."; and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think a comma should go after "Meanwhile". NIT-O-METER: Just 1 Bazzar, this column's average is gonna be the lowest ever... <--------------------------------> "MY ANTI-MATTER POWERS ALLOW ME TO CHANGE IT AT WILL!" TITLE: Infinite Crisis Secret Files & Origins 2006. ISSUE: One-shot. CULPRIT: Dan Jurgens (art layouts), Jerry Ordway (art finishes for Chapter One), Cam Smith & Art Thibert (art finishes for Chapter Two), and Nelson (art finishes for Chapter Three). NIT-TO-PICK: Throughout the issue, in chapters of the same story (occurring simultaneously), Alexander Luthor's hairstyle and length changes from chapter to chapter, one moment is cut short, the next the 80s perm runs rampant, then short again, etc... NIT-O-METER: This is just lousy art coordination, it gets 5 Bazzars. <--------------------------------> "LET'S PRETEND THE 80s NEVER HAPPENED AND NOBODY WORE HEADBANDS." TITLE: Infinite Crisis Secret Files & Origins 2006. ISSUE: One-shot. CULPRIT: Dan Jurgens (art layouts) and/or Nelson (art finishes for Chapter Three), and/or Jeromy Cox & Guy Major (colorists). NIT-TO-PICK: On pages 41-42, Superman of Earth-2 reminisces about the original Crisis, and one scene he recalls is Superman of Earth-1 holding the dead Supergirl in his arms... trouble is, in the original image Kara was wearing her very 80s headband, which she's not in this image... come on, that's one of the most recognizable covers in the history of comics!!! NIT-O-METER: This gets 5 Bazzars, minor nit on a major issue. Mind you, I would have gone harder on it if I was sure it was Cox's fault, he's the author of two of the worst coloring nits in this column's history, and Major is no stranger to me either. <--------------------------------> "IS IT THE JEN FEN?" TITLE: Queen & Country: Declassified V3. ISSUE: 01 of 03. CULPRIT: Antony Johnston (writer) or John Dranski (letterer). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 28, a very useful glossary is provided, however, it refers to the Sinn Feinn leader as "Jerry" Adams, when his first name is "Gerry." NIT-O-METER: Minor nit, I'll give it 2 Bazzars. <--------------------------------> "YES, I HAVE ALL HER COMIC BOOKS." TITLE: Runaways V2. ISSUE: 14. CULPRIT: Brian K. Vaughan (writer). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 13, second panel, somebody refers to Emma Frost as "The White Queen"; I don't think she's publicly known by that name. What's next, the general public referring to Apocalypse as En-Sabah-Nur? NIT-O-METER: 5 Bazzars. <--------------------------------> "LUCKILY, THIS AIN'T JOE Q'S MARVEL, OR ELSE I WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO SMOKE!" TITLE: Superman V1 (formerly Adventures Of Superman). ISSUE: 650. CULPRIT: Kurt Busiek & Geoff Johns (writers) or Pete Woods (artist). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 9, third panel, Perry White emerges from his office smoking a cigar... he quit AGES ago, when he got cancer, and I highly doubt he would go back to it... but I have been kind of away from the Superman books, so I could be wrong. NIT-O-METER: If I'm not wrong, and this is a mistake, I give it 7 Bazzars. <--------------------------------> "DEMOTED!" TITLE: Superman V1 (formerly Adventures Of Superman). ISSUE: 650. CULPRIT: Kurt Busiek & Geoff Johns (writers). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 10, Jimmy Olsen comes in to the Daily Planet's offices carrying coffee orders for the staff, and Perry White barks at him "Olsen! I hope you get coffee orders right more often than you take a good picture!". WTF?! As I said before, I've been away from the Superman books (except for Superman/Batman), but I do know that not only Jimmy is no longer an intern at the Daily Planet to do coffee runs, but he's recognized as one of the best photographers in the world, and has even begun to write pieces for the Planet... NIT-O-METER: Bad characterization and continuity, from two great writers, this gets 8 Bazzars. <--------------------------------> "I CAN FLY! I CAN FLY!" TITLE: Teen Titans V3. ISSUE: Annual #1. CULPRIT: Marv Wolfman (plot) or one of the following: Ed Benes, Dale Eaglesham, Tom Grindberg, Elton Ramalho (pencillers). Hard to know who pencils what page, since I'm not familiar with each of these artists' styles. NIT-TO-PICK: On page 13 we see several heroes working to rescue survivors of the Bludhaven disaster, but my problem is that Black Lightning is flying, when he does not have that power, as far as I know. NIT-O-METER: If I'm right, this gets 8 Bazzars for giving somebody powers they don't have. <--------------------------------> "I LIKED HIS LOOKS SO MUCH, I COPIED THEM." TITLE: Teen Titans V3. ISSUE: Annual #1. CULPRIT: One of the following Ed Benes, Dale Eaglesham, Tom Grindberg, Elton Ramalho (pencillers). Hard to know who pencils what page, since I'm not familiar with each of this artists' styles. NIT-TO-PICK: Again during the rescue efforts in Bludhaven, but on page 15, we can see Metamorpho (we know it's him because he answers to Plastic Man's call), but his skin has the "swirls" characteristic not to him, but to his "clone" Shift, member of the Outsiders. NIT-O-METER: Only 2 Bazzars, I suppose both of them could have the "swirls". <--------------------------------> "KEEP ON WITH THOSE KRYPTONIAN REVUJENATION TREATMENTS, THEY'RE WORKING!" TITLE: Teen Titans V3. ISSUE: Annual #1. CULPRIT: One of the following Ed Benes, Dale Eaglesham, Tom Grindberg, Elton Ramalho (pencillers). Hard to know who pencils what page, since I'm not familiar with each of this artists' styles. NIT-TO-PICK: On pages 32 and 33, Jonathan and Martha Kent make an appearance, and once more, I'm horrified to find out that they're drawn as if they were in their 30s or 40s, when they're more like in their 60s or 70s.... NIT-O-METER: 9 Bazzars, this is a repeat nit, although not by the same people than before... so I better give it an 8. <--------------------------------> "PLEASE! MAKE UP YOUR MIND ABOUT MY SHAPE!" TITLE: X-Men V2. ISSUE: 184. CULPRIT: Salvador Larroca (artist). NIT-TO-PICK: On page 18, first panel, Beast's feet are shaped like they were before his secondary mutation. I'm so tired of this error being made over and over again.... NIT-O-METER: 10 Bazzars, it's not going down as long as it keeps being repeated. <--------------------------------> "WHAT? WHO SAID THAT?" TITLE: X-Men V2. ISSUE: 184. CULPRIT: VC's Cory Petit. NIT-TO-PICK: On page 19, a line that obviously belongs to Ozymandias (Apocalypse's servant), has it's balloon tail pointing at Havok. NIT-O-METER: Only 6 Bazzars, it'd get more but it's not story- affecting since it's obvious it's not Havok's line but Ozymandias'. <--------------------------------> I know, I know, this column doesn't have the wit I usually display while writing it, but cut me a break, everybody has it's ups and downs... at least I can admit to it... This week's average of 4.7 gives it a shared first place for lowest average along with column number 8. Let's see if next week we can raise that number. That's it for now, until next week, I'll be on the outlook for more nits, because (almost) nothing escapes... THE NITPICKER! _________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- [8] Suspended Animation Michael Vance & Mark Allen MiklVance2@worldnet.att.net http://www.starland.com/sus [Michael Vance, a professional writer since 1977 and has been published in dozens of magazines including Starlog and Jack and Jill, and as a syndicated columnist and cartoonist in over 500 newspapers. His history book, Forbidden Adventure: The History of the American Comics Group, has been called a "benchmark in comics history". He ghosted an internationally syndicated comic strip, and his wrote own strip, Holiday Out, that was reprinted as a comic book. Vance also wrote the comic books Straw Men, Angel of Death, The Adventures of Captain Nemo, and Bloodtide. He is listed in the Who's Who of American Comic Books and Comic Book Superstars. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines and recorded by actor William (Murder She Wrote) Windom. Suspended Animation, has been published for more than sixteen years, and Vance worked in newspapers for 22 years as an editor, writer and advertising manager. Mark Allen lives in Western Oklahoma with his wife and daughter. He has been a Baptist minister for over 15 years, and has also written for the Oklahoma news industry. Having indulged in comics for nearly 30 years, Mark now enjoys using the written word to share with others what he believes is a true, and extremely under-acknowledged, art form.] The Surrogates #1 (of 5)/24 pgs. & $2.95 fromTop Shelf/words by Robert Wenditti; art by Brett Weldele/sold at wwwtopshelfcomix.com and comics shops. In the future, almost everyone owns a surrogate, an android who does everything one doesn't want to do, and some things one doesn't want to get caught doing. An android is a robot that looks like a human. Regrettably, in this exciting new mini-series, they act like humans as well. As proof, two androids whom are about to have sex in an alley are murdered... if one can murder something that isn't really alive. Well written, and drawn in an effective, abstract style, one of the strengths of this new SF series is its willingness to tackle tough political and moral questions without preaching to a reader. In addition, and worthy of praise, is the restraint used by the creative team when handling sexual issues and violence. Less is always more; nothing in literature is more powerful than the human imagination. Surrogates is highly recommended for mature readers. MV Tales of the Terminal Diner/96 pgs. & $9.95 from Sonic Comics/various writers and artists/sold at comics shops and www.sonicpublishing.com. Terminal Diner is an anthology of tales told over coffee at a restaurant located at the corner of Unreal and Real. You are as likely to buy a donut as an order of barbequed dragon wings. These pithy stories cover the gamut of literary genres and styles of art, and more than one is likely to be your cup of tea. None will offend anyone but the weakest of hearts. The only disappointment is that the diner doesn't feature an All You Can Read buffet. Terminal Diner features the work of professionals including Michael T. Gilbert, Don Lomax, Steve Skeates, Fred Hembeck, and the last story written and drawn by Oklahoma Cartoonists Museum associate, Richard "Grass" Green. MV Order you copy of the all-Vance horror paperback Apocris 1 at http://www.lighthousemediaone.co.uk/FutureProjects.html Interested in the exciting Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection and Toy and Action Figure Museum? Go to fourcolorcommentary.blogspot.com/ _________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- COMICS OBSCURA Mike Curtis shandafa@cyberback.com [COMICS OBSCURA are facts Mike Curtis has dug out during his 30 years of collecting Superman and writing about comics. His website for his comic imprint is www.shandafantasyarts.net ] INDIANA JONES AND THE LOST COMICS OF WHITMAN There are rare comics and scarce comics, but what are known as the "Whitman 8" are downright almost impossible to locate. In late 1962, Whitman came out with a set of what they called 'A WHITMAN COMIC BOOK." These 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 hardback books run over 100 pulp pages each of black and white (with spots of color) and most of the titles are filled with two page stories of the characters. The titles are: THE FLINTSTONES, DONALD DUCK, BUGS BUNNY, HUCKLEBERRY HOUND, AUGIE DOGGIE AND LOOPY DE LOOP, SNOOPER AND BLABBER/QUICK DRAW MC GRAW, YOGI BEAR and MR JINKS AND PIXIE AND DIXIE. They sold usually for 50 to 79 cents back in the day, but they will run you quite a bit more nowadays. Particularly DONALD DUCK, which features some primo Carl Barks Duck tales, along with some of the MICKEY MOUSE serializations Whitman produced during that time. _________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- [9] ComiX-Fan Reviews Eric J. Moreels x-fan@bigpond.net.au http://www.comixfan.com/xfan [Editor's note: Some of the following reviews have spoilers to plot details. This is a TEXT ONLY newsletter so those spoilers are not hidden by HTML code as they are on the ComiX-fan site.] X-FACTOR #5 Reviewer: Jason Grasso, Desperad07@aol.com Story Title: Captive Audience Silencing the Siryn Song Writer: Peter David Art: Dennis Calero Color Art: Jose Villarrubia Letters: VC's Cory Petit Cover Art: Ryan Sook & Jose Villarrubia Assistant Editors: Molly Lazer & Aubrey Sitterson Editor: Andy Schmidt Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada Publisher: Dan Buckley Published By: Marvel Comics I really, really wanted to like this issue of X-Factor. Not only was I a fan of PAD's original X-Factor run, but the first four issues of this series were so unbelievably good, I couldn't wait to see how the next chapter played out. And if it was going to be as good as it had been, I was readying some poetic superlatives for this review. But a funny thing happened on the way to www.comixfan.com . . . Issue #5 is easily the weakest issue of the run so far and a vast departure from the rhythm this series has had. It focuses on the aftermath of Siryn's beatdown at the hands of Damian Tryp (from issue #4). Other than brief bookend appearances by Rictor in search of Siryn, who has been captured in the interim, the rest of the X-Factor team is nowhere to be found this issue. Unfortunately in leaving the team out of it, the humor and witty interaction is gone too. Enter Doctor Leery. While I know many people might think this issue provides an interesting view of Mutant Town and the psychology of its inhabitants, I can't help but feel I got suckered into a horror movie. All the trappings are there: abandoned theatre, torture, psychotic villain with a penchant for pointy weapons. He blames the X-Men for the loss of his mutant powers. Leery felt proud to be a part of the growing mutant revolution and blames the X-Men for taking it away. Unfortunately, the whole thing plays out a little too hokey for me, utilizing fairly predictable horror film conventions. Almost the entire issue is his torture of Siryn and her perseverance through it all (see her vocal chords were temporarily paralyzed from Tryp's attack). Perhaps the silver lining in an otherwise fairly inconsequential issue is the continued character development of Siryn and Rictor, two characters who had been unfairly dumped to the background while a parade of X-writers forcefed the public with mediocre new characters the last few years. Rictor has been a bit of a flashpoint for fans in the past, many of whom never warmed up to his hotheaded disposition and Avalanche-esque powers. PAD strips both away and is able to give Rictor some much needed depth, going beyond the often one-dimensional portrayal other writers have given him. Rictor's continued depowered identity crisis takes a nice turn this issue and remains a very interesting aspect of the new X-Factor series (and an aspect almost entirely abandoned and mishandled by Marvel after House of M). On the other hand, Siryn didn't necessarily need character improvement, she just needed due attention. Here she is put through the ringer but still musters up the strength to help Rictor defeat Leery. (PAD has been playing around in the Buffyverse, so it's not surprising that Siryn breaks through with some Whedon-esque resilience.) Unfortunately, Ryan Sook's departure from this title also takes away from the quality of this issue. Calero's art just isn't as interesting; it's more immersed in shadow and foregoes the detail Sook was so good at it. And as a tease, Sook remains the cover artist so the first thing you see is his incredible rendition of Siryn. The minute you open the page, you don't see as good a piece of art again. This isn't to say that Calero's art is bad or ill-suited for the series, it's just a hard transition from Sook's unique and more befitting style. It's important to distinguish the vast difference between calling something bad and calling it disappointing. This issue is not but, but it does disappoint. There are certainly some valuable points to gain from the story. But I feel like they could have easily been folded into an issue with other events happening. The buzz in these halls is so loud it's hard to avoid the din and I'm one of those shouting about X-Factor's excellence. As with anything else, that can often elevate expectations so high that any noticeable decline in quality is magnified and amplified. Yet, perspective tends to creep back when even an average X- Factor issue surpasses a dreadful adjectiveless X-Men released the same week. I have no concerns with X-Factor being able to rise right back up and meet those aforementioned expectations. ART: 3.0 STORY: 3.5 OVERALL: 3.0 _________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- COMICS OBSCURA Mike Curtis shandafa@cyberback.com [COMICS OBSCURA are facts Mike Curtis has dug out during his 30 years of collecting Superman and writing about comics. His website for his comic imprint is www.shandafantasyarts.net ] HOLY MOTHER OF WALT IS THE END OF MICKEY? Although both the US and Great Britain began making experimental television broadcasts around the same time in the 1920's, the BBC ceased all television transmissions for seven years on September 1 1939 at noon due to the war. The last thing broadcast was a Mickey Mouse cartoon. _________________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine (CBEM) --------------------------->Disclaimer<--------------------------- This is an ANNOUNCE only mailing list, only the Editor can send messages to the list. No one else has access to the subscriber list. Replies to these messages will be received by the Editor ONLY, so you must CC: individual contributors if you want them to get your E-Mail. The E-mail to the E-mag MAY be used in future issues at the Editor's discretion UNLESS you specifically request that they not be. It is our policy to withhold names and/or Addresses, by request only, from letters of comment. All contributors are required to use their real name and have a valid Email address for their columns to be published. Send Email comments to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Material for inclusion in the Emag - press releases, solicitations, column submissions, Letters to the Editor, guesses for the trivia contest should be sent to ComicBkNet@aol.com The EDITOR, not the submitter, has final approval and edit rights on ALL material. Printed comic books and advanced copies for review in the Emag should be sent via US Mail or UPS to David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 TO Subscribe send a message FROM the intended address to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-subscribe@yahoogroups.com TO Unsubscribe send a message FROM the address to be dropped to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com You may also unsubscribe from the Egroups Web page at the short cut below. Shortcut URL to the Egroup page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag All contents COPYRIGHT 2006 The Comic Book Network. 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| << April01, 2006 - [ComicBookNetwork E-Mag] CBEM 569.6 |
April01, 2006 - [ComicBookNetwork E-Mag] CBEM 569.3 >> |
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