Maze Agency

Newsarama reports that IDW will reprints the first Maze Agency mini series by Mike W. Barr (one of the most way underrated Bat writers ever) and Adam Hughes. 25 bucks... A bit expensive but I'll be there! I have been expecting this for a long time.

Just another hint

Marvel is supposed to announce some rather big things in the convention season... 'Miracles' happen don't they?

Just a hint

Why bring back Donna Troy? Well maybe she will be the next Wonder Woman if the 'original' bites the bullet in Infinite Crisis ?

Or maybe she will be in a dead people team with Hal Jordan, Supergirl and Jason Todd ?

Byrned again

Even if Doom Patrol is doomed (and was from day one) it appears that 2005 may be a good year for Byrne artwise (he still write more BS on his forum that anyone at Newsarama but that's life). Blood of the Demon and Action Comics look very good and heart-warming for old fans of JB. And it seems that it's safer if he just pencils. He may plot but not write scripts and certainly not ink anymore.
Rumors have him on a Spectre book with Geoff Johns... I would have rather seen them on Flash as I think JB would be great on that book but this pair may work.

And now for something completely different

In which I finally start to write something new...

Yesterday I read Astonishing Xmen 10 and Batman Dark Detective 2.

Although I still enjoy Whedon& Cassaday's Xmen I must say that so far the first 6 issues were stronger (their old stuff was better ;) ). The story remains well told but the pace is slower and I really don't buy the apparent death of the team. The art is still just incredibly beautiful.

Dark Detective is comic books as I like them. Integrated into continuity without relying on it too much, noding here and there to old stories and events and yet the book is readable by almost anyone. And the art is such a joy. Marshall Rogers remind us why he was a great Batman artist and why he IS still a great artist. He seems to be channelling Sprang's Batman in the Batcave scene and I really liked the way his art (and the lettering) changed for that sequence. The dialogues are a bit cheesy at times but nothing like Star Wars Episode 3 fortunately.

It feels good to read such good comics.... And to blog too, I really need more time to do that.

This week I'll get...

After the smallest week in years (3 books : Det Comics, Lex Luthor by Azzarello (a pleasant surprise btw) and Intimates), things are still not back to normal :

BLOOD OF THE DEMON #1 : I still belong to the Byrne fan categories no matter what kind of BS he may say on his forum. I enjoy Doom Patrol and I'm looking forward to this book and Action Comics when he starts working on that. I have seen glimpses of art and it may be a good title.

NIGHTWING #105 : This is my favorite title these days, 'nuff said.

NEW AVENGERS #4 : the pacing is sloooooooowwwwwwwww and I have a hard time in trying to see where this book is going. It's enjoyable but tooooooooooooo long IMO.

GOTHAM CENTRAL #29 : I'll be there 'till the end with this one. It has been in my Top 5 since the beginning.

Once again a small week but I just read Astonishing Xmen 8 and the Man who laughs...

And so I'm back

One week of vacation, extra workload and at least 15 comic books behind. What's going on ?

A few comments here and there tho :

• Now it can be said, DD jumped the shark by issue 50. Bendis has not been the same since that. All plots look forced and even if the cool dialogue is there, something is missing.
• With the last 3 issues of Amazing Spidey, it also can be said : Spiderman has totally been retconned and redefined by JMS and Axel Alonso : retcons on his origin, his relationhip with Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy, major overhaul for Aunt May, for Peter's career and all that in less than 3 years. Remember Spidey 3 years ago ? No matter what people may say, JMS has done more for this character than anyone since David Michelinie or Roger Stern.
• Judd Winick is writing the most interesting Batman since No Man's Land.
• Nightwing Year 1 is classic material. Dixon and Mc Daniel shouldn't have left this book.
  
• Flash Ignition is one of those extra streched stories. I hope Johns has done better since that as it's definitely a letdown in his run.
• JLA Classified 4 : return of Geffen, De Matteis, Maguire, Rubinstein and Lappan : life is sweet.
• Astonishing Xmen and Phoenix Endsong are really good, the best Xmen in at least a decade save from some Morrion stuff and a few Jim Lee stories. But they really make me feel like nothing happened between the classic Claremont + Byrne/Cockrum/Smith era and last year. Not that I mind after all ;).

Boy I missed writing!

List of possible purchase for this week

God! One week and no new post. Where was I? Well the fact that my shop still hasn't received any new book for 10 days explains a lot of things...

So here's my pull list :

BATMAN THE MAN WHO LAUGHS : I'm a big fan of Brubabker's Batman. And now that he is Marvel exclusive it's too good an opportunity to pass.
FABLES #34 : it's one of those stories that Willingham does between two storylines. I never feel like reading them but they are always fun in the end.
FLASH IGNITION TP : I'm sure that my shop will NOT get this as I forgot to order it. Yet I want to read the continuation of Johns' run. Well miracles happen sometimes, don't they?
GOTHAM CENTRAL #28 : Now that Bru's gone, I wish that DC will not kill this book. But is there a writer to support Greg Rucka ?
NIGHTWING #103 : I just looooooove Dixon's Nightwing. I haven't been this pleased by this book for quite a long time.
MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #11 : This book is fun to read but I just wish the mastermind had been somebody else than Norman Orsborn. So overused.

This week is gonna hurt and the next one will be worse.

Random thoughts on recent readings

JLA Classified 1-3 : It's better in one sitting. I like Morrison's JLA, because it has a Silver Age style (or a Classic JLA style) with the big menace and the epic format and yet some touches of weirdness in the dialogues (there is a pricelles exchange between Wonder Woman and Aquaman in issue 3).
WE3 #3: I didn't know what to expect from this mini. Morrison has written a powerful and quite strange story. Issue 3 was quite powerful and the final of the 3 cyber-enhanced animals is quite touching. It's quite corny but it made me feel like hugging my cat. And I did. Yeah it's corny.
Powers ? 8 ? (latest one..) : Bendis is back at writing a terrific cop story. I had missed that and the book did too IMO.
Nightwing 101-102 : why did Chuck Dixon ever left this book (I know the answer but...). It feels good to read him again. And even if I like Devin Grayson's writing, she will never top Dixon on this book. The art by Scott Mc Daniel is quite a nice touch too. Bring back this team on this book.

Stuff I'll get this week

DETECTIVE COMICS #803 : Lapham has definitely something in mind and the dark turn is promising.
INTIMATES #4 : I still want to know where this book is going.
DAREDEVIL REDEMPTION #1 (OF 6) : just a quick look for Gaydos art.
NEW AVENGERS #3 : It still doesn't really feel like Avengers but it remains fun.
SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL #1 (OF 7) : just a look there too. 7 issues is waaaaaaaay too much and the fact that it's no longer a Max books makes it less interesting.
X-MEN PHOENIX ENDSONG #2 (OF 5) : too Photoshop-y for me but nice to look at.

Well I may have missed a thing or two but I feel it's going to be a slow week.