Thursday Morning Superhero

Yesterday was Poe Dameron Day and I hope your feed was as full of dreamy animated .gifs.  The dreamboat Oscar Isaac warmed our hears as the "best pilot in the galaxy" in The Force Awakens and due to the demand of fans, he was gifted his own ongoing series.  While other fans might not be as impressed with his ska resume as I am, he is clearly a fan favorite who rightly deserved his own series.  Brought to us by the creative team of Charles Soule, Phil Noto, and Joe Caramagna, it is sure to satisfy us fans clamoring for more Poe.

Pick of the Week:
Empress #1 - Mark Millar pulled off the Poe Dameron upset.  Despite it being his own day, Poe was out shined by this Mad Max-esque tale of a wife fleeing her tyrannical husband in a desperate attempt at freedom.  Featuring one of the ballsiest escape plans ever, she is able to escape the planet for now.  The pedal was to the metal in this new series that is brought to live with absolutely beautiful visuals courtesy of Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Ive Svorcina.  I'm assuming that there is already a negotiation for the movie rights to this one and Millar has another surefire hit on his hands.  Go read this now!!!

The Rest:
Poe Dameron #1 - The hunky pilot did not disappoint in his debut issue, which is a prequel to the events that unfold in The Force Awakens.  While not a lot happened in this first issue, it was filled with the humor that we expect from Poe and told us how he began to track down information on the location of Luke Skywalker.  It sets the stage to really dig deeper into the characters of the Black Squadron, who were mere blips in the movie.  The bonus BB-8 story from Chris Eliopoulos and Jordie Bellaire was the icing on the cake.  Must read material for fans of The Force Awakens.



The Fix #1 - Nick Spencer, Steve Lieber, Ryan Hill, and Nic Shaw just dropped a hilarious tale about criminals who are failing to keep up with the times.  Featuring dialogue and characters you might see in an older Tarantino flick, The Fix features an entertaining mix of corrupt cops just trying to make ends meet in a digital world.  The heist that kicks off this issue, an old folks home in a paltry score that almost gets them killed.  This is a really fun book that, if you don't mind some vulgar comedy, is a must read.  Very interesting cast of characters, which given Spencer's cast in Morning Glories should be rock solid, well written dialogue, and an interesting premise set up another hit for Image Comics.  Good stuff.

Old Man Logan #4 - I must admit that I have been really enjoying Jeff Lemire's take on this story, and this was the best issue to date.  The confrontation between him, Captain America, and Hawkeye is truly epic and demonstrates how deep their friendship truly is.  I am in the process of rereading Civil War in preparation for the movie, and appreciate the bond that these two gentlemen have.  I won't spoil anything, but the payoff in this episode is truly worth waiting for and I am excited to see where Lemire takes Logan next and I wonder if he ever will save his family and make it back home.



The Walking Dead #153 - You just can't trust Negan.  You think we would have learned by now.  You can't even keep him alive.  For someone that evil, you just need to sink to his level and kill him.  What have you done Rick?  He might be without Lucille, but you know he will get her back and is still very dangerous without her.  Rick may not be the perfect leader and may have made mistakes in the past, but I fear his people are about to pay for his biggest mistake.  Negan may have let fans down in the season finale, although from what I read it sounded like a great cliffhanger, but he is loose and we should all be terrified.  I fear we are about to enter a new chapter in this series.



POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.   

Thursday Morning Superhero

Happy New Year fellow nerds.  2013 was an amazing year of comics that brought us the conclusion of Locke and Key, Matt Fraction's Hawkeye, Saga, and the sci-fi epic Trillium.  2014 has some big shoes to fill and it will hopefully get off to a good start.  This week's issues technically dropped on December 31, so we will see what 2014 next week.  Here is to the last week of 2013 comics!

Pick of the Week:

Bad Blood #1 - Jonathan Maberry and Tyler Cook bring us a stunning debut in Bad Blood from Dark Horse.  What I liked about this comic is that it gave a new twist to the vampire genre.  It didn't feel like a cash grab on a hot genre.  Bad Blood is the tale of Trick, a senior in High School and former football star who has been sidelined with cancer.  He is very pale and sickly and wants nothing more than to have a normal senior year.  Due to his sickness, he unknowingly poisons a vampire that bites him and unleashes a series of attacks on his friends.  Given that this comic is set in Anytown, USA, the cops react like most would if a witness described a vampire.  Trick is understandably frustrated as he has nobody to confide his unbelievable story in.  I foresee issues associated with both his sickness and his vampire bite in future issues.  Great art from Crook paired with the witty writing of Maberry make this a must read title.

The Rest:

The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #7 - I caved to peer pressure this week and returned to Nick Spencer's humorous look at some of Spidey's villains.  Superior Foes has had positive buzz since it launched and I read a couple of issues that I enjoyed, but was not hooked.  I am pleased to report that this issue was fantastic and I look forward to picking up the back issues.  This reads great as a stand alone issue and is essentially the origin of the Beetle, a female foe who has fought Captain America and Black Widow.  Janice, the Beetle, started her life of crime at a young age, stealing birthday presents from a friend.  This book is peppered with genuinely funny moments as we learn about Janice's growth into the Beetle.  Great issue from Spencer and company this month.

Fables #136 - I decided to return to an old favorite this week as Bill Willingham has announced that Fables will be concluding in the near future.  While I wasn't current with the Camelot arc, it was surprisingly easy to pick up what was happening and it was enjoyable to see how much Rose has grown.  The art continues to shine and I don't think any comic delivers as frequently with beautiful covers.  While I am going to miss this series, I feel it is time to move on and this issue captivated this mundy's interest for one more trip with this rag tag crew.

Thursday Morning Superhero

My family has been battling the flu this week in a losing effort so I will be presenting a truncated version of Thursday Morning Superhero.  Strangely enough, I have turned to Death Note in my time of sickness and have been enjoyed revisiting the struggle between Light and L.  Oddly appropriate to how I am feeling, I enjoyed the conclusion of Death of the Family and the latest installment of Walking Dead.  Here is hoping to getting over this flu and returning to full strength next week.

Pick of the Week:
Batman #17 - Scott Snyder really knows how to build the anticipation and suspense through his writing and the combination of the gnarly art work from Greg Capullo has led to some of the most terrifying panels in recent memory.  There is plenty of shock and horror in this issue, and one most unfortunate two-headed cat.  Not sure what Mr. Snyder has against animals, but what I do know is that conclusion to this arc did not disappoint.  While not quite as good as Court of Owls, Death of the Family is still well worth your time and money.

Runner Up:
Morning Glories #24 - Having just done a reread of issues #1-23, I was quite excited about the latest issue from Nick Spencer.  With each issue a little more is revealed about Morning Glories Academy but so much is still unknown.  In the latest issue we really get to learn about Ike and his relationship with his father Abraham (who he has stabbed to death and is currently being held hostage at the academy).  I have a feeling that what caused Ike to kill his father the first time (being left out of his will after being promised a lot as a kid) was meant to protect Ike from the horrors of Morning Glory Academy.  We will have to keep reading to find out.  I can't wait for the end of Season 1, as they call it, and more is revealed.

Walking Dead #107 - This was an odd, but very successful issue.  It opened with a lot of tense moments and you felt that things could boil over very quickly, but things calmed down very quickly, Negan acted reasonable, and Rick and his crew are staying par for the course.  Despite the gesture of returning Carl to Rick, he is still hellbent on taking down Negan and with his crew now having the ability to manufacture bullets they may have the upper hand.  I can't wait to meet Ezekiel and I think this comic used the word "fuck" more than any other comic in the history of the universe.

Thursday Morning Superhero

For your viewing pleasure this week I tackled the conclusion of the epic Infinite Vacation, another installment of the Detective Comics, The Walking Dead and Negan, and a Star Wars comic that was quite enjoyable.  I love reading comics.

The Best:

Infinite Vacation #5 - It took 2 years, but the payoff was astounding.  Nick Spencer and Christian Ward created a beautiful book and a stunning conclusion to Infinite Vacation.  In this epic finale we learn of Mark's plan, which involved many other Marks, and his narrow escape to set things right.  What happens between him and Claire?  You should really pick up all of these books (only 5 issues!) and enjoy this twisted story with loads and loads of heart.  The design of this book alone warrants the purchase of a physical copy.  Ward outdoes himself and really delivered a stunning final book.  Click here to read my thoughts on the first 4 issues if you so desire.

Runner-up:

Star Wars #1 - Dark Horse has started a new ongoing Star Wars comic penned by Brian Wood.  If you are a fan of the original trilogy then I think you will be pleased with this debut.  Taking place following the conclusion of Episode IV, the rebellion is looking for a new location to establish a rebel base, but fear a spy is among them.  Meanwhile, the Emperor is displeased with Vader's failure and sets some things in motion that do not please Vader.  Very happy with the start of this series and I look forward to what happens next.

The not so good:
Repossessed #1 - I gave this title a shot in the dark in the hopes of discovering a new surprise book and was not successful.  The premise is an agency that, for a fee, will repossess demons from loved ones.  They are sent to pursue a client they don't feel is truly possessed and accept as it pays well.  Turns out, the demons are trying to trap them and they are in a hairy situation.  While the premise is OK, I can't say that the art or story did anything to draw me in.

The Rest:

Walking Dead #106 - Not a whole lot happened in this issue, but Kirkman is the master of delivering a final panel that leaves you begging for the next issue.  Rick finally finds where Negan's camp is and plans on finding out if Carl is there.   Some good zombie action and Carl continues to impress in a good issue, but one that left me wanting more.

Superior Spider-man #1 - After the events of Spider-man #700 I was intrigued enough to pick up this issue.  We get to experience Octavius at the helm of Parker and Spider-man and I found it quite enjoyable.  While creepy at times, when he is with Mary Jane, the internal struggle and the increase in intellect really breathed some fresh air into this franchise.  Definitely a good start to a series that I imagine a lot of people have issue with.

Detective Comics #16 - The Death of the Family event continues in this issue as Batman is trying to clean up the streets of copycat Joker gangs.  The difficulty lies in stopping the ones that are an actual threat and simply scaring the ones that are not legitimate.  This book shines in the second story in which we learn of the exploits of the new Penguin, the Emperor Penguin.  Clearly Ignatius Ogilvy is going to be a villain who will see a rise in power while Gotham is distracted by the Joker.  Well done Layman.

Infinite Vacation

A journey that began in May of 2011 is coming to its conclusion this week.  When I picked up Infinite Vacation at my local comic shop I had no idea what I was getting into.  It had an employee recommendation tag on it and was written by Nick Spencer, who I knew from his work on Morning Glories.  What I found was a book filled with twists and turns that left me salivating for the next issue.  The trouble was that there was no regularity to which the books were released.  It wasn't until early 2012 that we got issue #4.  While frustrating, the book remained fresh and took darker and more twisted turns with each turn of the page.  Upon hearing the news that the series would be concluding with issue #5 (64 pages!) this week, it felt appropriate to revisit this title again.  I am so happy I did.

The book centers around the Infinite Vacation corporation that has software that allows users can trade, buy, and sell their way through limitless alternate iterations of themselves.  Were you always curious what would happen if you dropped out of college to pursue your music career?  For $4,500 you can.  Want to see what life would be like if you didn't break up with your high school sweetheart?  With Infinite Vacation that power is on your mobile device or home computer.  Utilizing the probability engine, the fine folk at Infinite Vacation allow you to experience your wildest fantasy (and if you know anything about the twisted mind of Nick Spencer, i.e. Bedlam, there are some strange alternatives).

Our protagonist, Mark, visits an average of 9 alternate versions of his life per day, yet always ends up bored, alone, and in a dead end job.  No matter how hard he tries to find the perfect life things don't ever seem to work out.  On top of that, he recently attended the funeral for one of his alternative selfs and there seems to be a trend of them dying lately. His worries over his impending death are lost when he spys an attractive lady at the coffee shop who appears to be flirting with him.

Mark, of course, blows this opportunity and learns that she was interested, but knowing that he vacations frequently, she is not interested.  Turns out she is a deadender, a religious group that does not condone the idea of traveling across the multiverse.

As he sits at home and ponders this lost girl, another version of himself bursts in upset accusing him of murdering himself.

Without getting into spoilers, because you should pick up and read issues #1-4 before Wednesday, we learn that the Infinite Vacation people are out to kill our version of Mark.  We meet redneck Mark, who would have existed if his dad got custody of him, nudist Mark, and hacker Mark who team up to help our Mark uncover why they are after him.

Claire, the girl from the coffee shop, plays a significant role as the unlikely duo attempt to take down Infinite Vacation.  The good folk of Infinite Vacation are not above boxing universes (collapsing them and killing everyone inside), in order to stop Mark.  Infinite Vacation also unleashes the terror that is canibal Mark into multiple universes.  Safe to say that I will have a difficult time forgetting some of the terrible exploits and quotes from this fiendish character.

In 64 glorious pages this Wednesday we will learn what our Mark has planned to save the girl and save the day.

Christian Ward provides the art for this comic and his range of styles well fits the book.  Some scenes are elaborately detailed, close-ups of characters face either evoke a connection with the reader or instill terror, and you are constantly turning the book upside down and sideways to mimic the movement one must feel crossing the multiverse.  Ward's art greatly enhances this book and elevates the insane world in which we are engrossed.  It may have taken 2 years for this five-issue story to reach its conclusion, but after revisiting issues #1-4, it appears to have been worth the wait.  While I would have preferred an app that allowed me to travel to an alternative universe where the books came out quicker, I am very excited to crack open the book on Wednesday and read the conclusion to this phenomenal story.  Spencer also tweeted that you should pick up the physical copy if possible, because there are some effects that involve turning pages and what-not that will work better with a physical comic.  Happy reading!

Thursday Morning Superhero

Thursday morning is upon us and it is time for another recap of what comics I read this week.  That's right, it is time for Thursday Morning Superhero! My budget limited me from picking up some great comics this week, but I am quite pleased with my haul.  No real bad book in the bunch.

Pick of the Week:
 Chew #30 - Issue 30 of Chew is a landmark issue for multiple reasons.  It marks the half-way point in the series and the conclusion of the current Space Cakes arc.  This is a tough review to write because this issue features some of the humor that has sustained this excellent book, but also featured a very rare and dark moment that truly saddened me.  I can't say this book has evoked this type of emotion before, but I think it is testament to the characters and the world Layman has created.  I actually care about Tony Chu and his rag tag gang.  It appears that the path laid out ahead for Tony is going to be a rough one.  This book also featured a poster of a toilet seat at a hospital.  That is all.

Runner-up:

Uncanny Avengers #2 - Captain America and crew are still trying to deal with the aftermath of Avengers vs. X-men.  Cap wants to put together a new team that will have a strong mutant leader in an attempt to ease tensions on the homefront.  Meanwhile, Rogue, the Scarlett Witch and Professor X's body have been captured by Red Skull.  This book started a little slow, but I love me some Red Skull and his latest scheme didn't disappoint.  Really enjoying this series and can't wait for more Red Skull.

The Not so Good:
 Nowhere Men #1 - While this comic has me intrigued, I felt the story bounced around a bit too much for a first issue.  World Corp. is a group of four top scientists who are working on some pretty scary stuff, but I don't know what the true focus of the book will be.  It seems to be filled with good characters and an interesting premise, but it felt flat and didn't hook me.  This is one I will keep my eye on for future issues, but only if I hear good things.

The Rest:
FF #1 -Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four are leaving this dimension for a quest and need to find replacements to oversee FF for four minutes in their absence in case something happens.  She-hulk, Medusa, and Ms. Thing are quick to join, but Ant Man isn't so sure.  Interspersed with the kids' opinion about what FF is, Matt Fraction has a good balance of humor that keeps the pacing of the story fresh.  Something tells me that the four minutes with this crew in charge may be quite eventful.

Morning Glories #23 - More secrets are revealed about Morning Glories Academy and there are some hints about Hunter's origin.  Nick Spencer's world has grown a bit confusing with all of the flashbacks and the secrecy around MGA.  I am a happy reader as this book inspires me to reread this series from the beginning to see when the seeds were planted that lead to the payoffs in this issue.

Bedlam #2 - This issue continues the dark journey that was laid out in issue one.  We learn a little more about Mister Red, but there is a lot of mystery and intrigue surrounding this serial killer.  The police have their plan, but the demented mind of this killer keeps things very fresh and interesting.  If this series continues down the path that Spencer has laid out thus far, it will quickly become one of my favorite series. 

Thursday Morning Superhero

I hope you all had a chance to visit your local Comic Book Store and participate in Halloween ComicFest.  My children entered the costume contest at our local store and we picked up a handful of great comics that we enjoyed reading together.  Our highlights were Axe Cop, Cow Boy, and Johnny Boo.  Well, on to the weekly releases and as always, hit me up on twitter at @newhousebailey with any feedback.

Pick of the Week:

Bedlam #1 – Nick Spencer, the master behind Morning Glories and Infinite Vacation, takes a dark turn with Bedlam. Madder Red is a deeply disturbed serial killer who has baffled the police for years. This book opens with one of the most shocking and disturbing scenes I have read in some time. The art is equally disturbing and the character design is phenomenal. Bedlam grips you from the start and leaves you hanging on every word. Nick Spencer has another hit on his hands. Well done sir.

Runner-up:

Masters of the Universe: The Origin of Skeletor #1 – As someone who grew up a huge He-Man fan, I never knew what made Skeletor the villain that he was. In this book we learn the tragic figure that is Keldor and his quest for the throne of Eternia. It might be my nostalgic self taking over, but I enjoyed this book and the insight it provided to a franchise that meant so much to me as a child.








The Not as Good:

Happy #2 – It seems that Grant Morrison is either pure gold or something I don’t quite get. With Happy, I must say that I don’t quite get it. Nick escapes from the hospital from the help of his imaginary friend and begins to confront the mob. It is intriguing and I am left curious, but still don’t really get the overall picture. I will pass on the next two issues.

The Rest:

Hit Girl #4 – The ultra-violent series from Mark Millar continues as Hit Girl flirts with being caught after she swore to give up her role as superhero. While she is dealing with convincing her stepfather that she has hung up her cape, Ralphie Genovese makes a move to stick it to Detective Williams without realizing that he is holding Hit Girl at gunpoint!

Winter Soldier #12 –Bucky strives to get Black Widow back and must go through with an old Cold War mission to save her. With encounters with Wolverine and Daredevil, it is no wonder that this series is a success. Brubaker treats Bucky with the same care he gave Captain America for so long and it shows.

Lot 13 #1 – In a creepy tale of a family on the move, Steve Niles delivers an intriguing book filled with mystery and suspense. Not a whole lot of back story is provided, but enough is told that has me looking forward to the next creepy issue.

What I should have read:

American Vampire #32 – Scott Snyder continues his run on American Vampire along with Raphael Albuquerque in what continues to be a great book. The vampires are hiding amongst the Hollywood elite that is worth your time.

Fatale #9 – Brubaker continues his noir epic with another solid issue that I should have picked up. I have really enjoyed this series, but decided to move to trades a while back. Based on the success of issue #9 I might should have stuck with the singles.