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Post by omega on Jan 27, 2016 6:16:40 GMT
Omega Men #8, another excellent issue where we finally get answers. Interesting to see Doc's backstory as a sort of WALL-E. I've also been reading the first collection of Futures End. The combination of AIs capable of holding conversation and revolutionary technology never ends well.
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Post by omega on Feb 4, 2016 8:26:53 GMT
Green Lantern #49. Building up to the big #50 and the battle between Parallax and Hal! {Spoiler}Sonar is a very different kind of bad guy here, presenting a threat that is far more personal than others Hal has faced, and they have yet to be in any proximity to each other. Sinestro, Parallax, Krona, Black Hand, Relic, the Durlans and the New Gods, Hal has met them in person and has far more of a handle on them than he does this one terrorist and his devoted followers, able only to defend. He's a more cerebral threat, and Hal has to battle to maintain his emotional stability (which manifests via Krona's Gauntlet, and can be a destructive force when uncontrolled) and use his head to thwart his plans. A nice bit of levity, Sonar's swearing when he learns his plan is at risk goes untranslated (he's not a potty mouth, he can't afford to be!), lampshaded in the accompanying text box saying that doing so would be inappropriate. Tjacha!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2016 17:24:39 GMT
Loved Star Wars #15 last month - it was an extract from Ben Kenobi's journal from when Luke was around 12-ish. Sets up the dislike from Uncle Owen to Obi-Wan in A New Hope despite never seeing that in the prequels.
Also, did not like Obi-Wan and Anakin #2, this mini-series is set between Eps 1 and 2 and apart from some cool stuff in flashbackss where Palpatine is sewing the seeds of seducing Anakin to the dark side, is very generic "Jedi's land on alien planet" stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 13:35:16 GMT
Just read the Batman V Superman prequel comics that set up the film. Some interesting things I took away:
Gotham and Metropolis are right across the bay from each other. That's somethind that we've never had, to my knowledge, before. They're neighbours.
The Batman has always been tough but since "what happened in Metropolis" - he's been brutal. So when we see things in the trailer like his branding of thugs - that might all be new stuff for him.
The Batman issue ends with Lex observing Bats on monitors taking down Firefly (who I guess is now the first villain in the DCU) and his gang - so Lex seems to have a Batman obsession, not just Superman.
Lex is buying up buildings destroyed by Superman and Zod, and already knows he can use Kryptonite against Superman.
Senator Finch, Holly Hunter's character, is grateful for what Superman has done but believes the miltary must have a way of bringing him down in the event he goes rogue.
Thousands of civilians died at the end of Man Of Steel in the Zod-Superman fight.
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Post by randomjc on Feb 9, 2016 14:51:04 GMT
Been reading Star Wars Trades (the New Marvel ones) I finished Kanaan Vol. 1, which was nice to see. Star Wars Vol. 1 was great, Vader was very much a powerhouse that was a force of just power that should scare normal people. And his reaction to learning Luke's name. I've started Vader vol. 1, which is good so far. That leaves vol. 2 for these trades, then the Leia mini-series, and Shattered Empire. So far the Marvel Star Wars comics have been very good. Just read the Batman V Superman prequel comics that set up the film. Some interesting things I took away: Gotham and Metropolis are right across the bay from each other. That's somethind that we've never had, to my knowledge, before. They're neighbours. The Batman has always been tough but since "what happened in Metropolis" - he's been brutal. So when we see things in the trailer like his branding of thugs - that might all be new stuff for him. The Batman issue ends with Lex observing Bats on monitors taking down Firefly (who I guess is now the first villain in the DCU) and his gang - so Lex seems to have a Batman obsession, not just Superman. Lex is buying up buildings destroyed by Superman and Zod, and already knows he can use Kryptonite against Superman. Senator Finch, Holly Hunter's character, is grateful for what Superman has done but believes the miltary must have a way of bringing him down in the event he goes rogue. Thousands of civilians died at the end of Man Of Steel in the Zod-Superman fight. I'm not sure how this makes me feel, It seems interesting, but any real energy or care I have for BvS really is gone after the last trailer I saw.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 15:03:47 GMT
As I said on the last page, I'm loving Marvel's Star Wars books. They're all very, very much in keeping with the tone of the films, something I think Dark Horse were too willing to disregard. There's room for other sorts of story but there's just a lot of milage in the gaps between the films alone, I think Marvel are doing well to mine them. And with guys like Gillen, Aaron and Wiseman, we're getting some seriously good writers here - good enough for any range. Marvel haven't gone with the B-team and it's paid off - the Star Wars books outsold Batman and Superman, Spiderman, Avengers and X-Men last year. Even the Leia mini-series outsold Spider-Man. Unreal!
The ones I've adored so far are the Vader books with him scheming behind Palpatine's back, the Lando mini and Shattered Empire. In fact, as I hinted above, Anakin And Obi-Wan is the only miss so far, and even that has some cool stuff in it with Palpatine.
Very, very happy with Star Wars right now - it's knocked some heavy hitters off my pull list.
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Post by randomjc on Feb 9, 2016 15:11:03 GMT
Since I am waiting on trades, it'll be a bit before I get to Obi-wan and Anakin, so I'll have to wait and see, but everything is great so far. It makes me sad that so much is grounded inbetween 4 and 5, but I doubt Disney really wants to move too far past episode 6 until at least Episode 8 comes out.
Though I am looking forward to Poe Damerons book in April. I may get the single issue for that.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 15:38:06 GMT
I'm a single issue guy most of the time anyway, and for these I'm realy glad of that as some of the cliffhangers have been great. When Vader finds out who the pilot was that blew up the Death Star? Chills.... I think with the main Star Wars book and Vader crossing over so much (and you really need to read both for the Vader Down arc) - the gap between 4 and 5 is certainly the one they're hitting hardest right now. With the massive nostalgia for the original trilogy right now, this is the perfect time to exploit the gaps. I've been surprised how closely woven they are - Leia's starts literally at the end of New Hope, the medal ceremony and Shattered Empire starts at the Ewok party at the end of Jedi. Lando is a prequel series though - well before he takes over Cloud City. Anakin and Obi-Wan is all (so far) between Eps 1 and 2 so for anyone wanting away from the classic trilogy, those might be worth a read (I loved Lando - one of the coolest books I've read in ages). I'd imagine we'll get a few Rogue One related books over the next year too, to set the new characters up. Charles Soule is doing the Poe Dameron ongoing and that excites me - his Superman/Wonder Woman book was one of the best New 52 reads. My buddy BB-8 will be in it too so even if I wasn't buying the Star Wars books, I'd still be all over that. I assumed when I heard Poe was getting a book it was going to be another mini - but it's an ongoing. There's another post-Jedi book coming - 3PO is getting a one-shot in April. Apparently its the story of his red arm
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Post by randomjc on Feb 9, 2016 15:54:56 GMT
I didn't know the 3PO book was post Jedi. And I guess Shattered Empire counts, but it looks too OT to feel like it's really filling in any gaps between the two trilogies.
They are releasing Vader Down as a singular Trade, so I'm not worried, per se. I've got a running tally of what is and isn't going to be in trades in the near future. And I can't really afford a week to week at the moment with too much ebb and flow in disposable income, it is far more practical to get trades, than paying an extra 1 or 2 dollars for back issues. (Though I may buy a run off EBAY once it's done and at a reasonable price.)
The 4 to 5 space is the best to explore at the moment, given you can put anything in there that won't really mess with Disney's future plans for the Episodes.
Have you picked up Chewbacca at all? Is it any good? (Not like I won't get it, just curious.)
I'd also recommend Kanaan book. It's a good backstory to Rebels, which is also a good show too.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 16:15:36 GMT
I liked the Chewie mini a lot. It's deliberately much more low-key than other Star Wars books. It's got a really lovely relationship between his new young friend Zarro (who doesn't speak Wookese) so there's a lot of things unsaid between them but that are really quite heartwarming and it's all in the art from Phil Noto. I'd love a sequel to it at some point showing Chewie having a similiar relationship with Ben Solo. And for people who wonder why Chewie didn't get a medal in A New Hope? This mini answers that in a scene that made me well up quite a bit I've quite enjoyed Kanan though it's easily the weakest of the ongoings (which isn't criticism - Vader and the main book have just been that good) and I'm glad it doesn't get into too much fan service, as I'm afraid Rebels has already done too often for me.
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Post by randomjc on Feb 9, 2016 16:33:26 GMT
Kanan is also the weakest, I think, because it is the most removed from Star Wars "Proper" being a comic based off a TV show, so a step removed. But it serves him well, as far as I've read. (The art is a lil wonky at times, I'm looking at you Hera!)
And I guess I don't see the show as all that fanservice-y. I've enjoyed it a lot.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 16:46:46 GMT
Kanan is also the weakest, I think, because it is the most removed from Star Wars "Proper" being a comic based off a TV show, so a step removed. But it serves him well, as far as I've read. (The art is a lil wonky at times, I'm looking at you Hera!) And I guess I don't see the show as all that fanservice-y. I've enjoyed it a lot. We've already had Vader, Obi-Wan, Bail Organa, R2, 3PO, Lando, Tarkin and Leia - that's pretty fanservice-y consdering we're dealing with core characters completely unrelated to either trilogy!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 16:52:22 GMT
Didn't mention above though, the Leia mini is great. It's all about her quest to round up remaining ALderaanians. Her character has never been better defined. Brave, resolute, regal but human, compassionate and completely willing to die for the cause. It also has an origin story for Nien Nnumb.
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Post by randomjc on Feb 9, 2016 18:08:22 GMT
Kanan is also the weakest, I think, because it is the most removed from Star Wars "Proper" being a comic based off a TV show, so a step removed. But it serves him well, as far as I've read. (The art is a lil wonky at times, I'm looking at you Hera!) And I guess I don't see the show as all that fanservice-y. I've enjoyed it a lot. We've already had Vader, Obi-Wan, Bail Organa, R2, 3PO, Lando, Tarkin and Leia - that's pretty fanservice-y consdering we're dealing with core characters completely unrelated to either trilogy! Obi-Wan, being the one who sent out the signal, and a tie to Kanan and the end of the Jedi and Order 66. Bail, R2, 3PO, and Leia all tie into the Rebellion, which this show is about, even if it doesn't focus on known characters.
Vader and Tarkin are related to the Rebellion, if on the opposite side. And considering this is very much a sequel series to the Clone Wars, if Asoka was going to be brought in, Vader was needed.
These characters aren't apart of the trilogies, but they are related to them, from Order 66 to the Rebellion, both key parts of either trilogy. The most fan service bit was Lando, who has nothing to do with Rebels or the Jedi, unlike every other OT/PT character introduced.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 18:56:02 GMT
We've already had Vader, Obi-Wan, Bail Organa, R2, 3PO, Lando, Tarkin and Leia - that's pretty fanservice-y consdering we're dealing with core characters completely unrelated to either trilogy! Obi-Wan, being the one who sent out the signal, and a tie to Kanan and the end of the Jedi and Order 66. Bail, R2, 3PO, and Leia all tie into the Rebellion, which this show is about, even if it doesn't focus on known characters.
Vader and Tarkin are related to the Rebellion, if on the opposite side. And considering this is very much a sequel series to the Clone Wars, if Asoka was going to be brought in, Vader was needed.
These characters aren't apart of the trilogies, but they are related to them, from Order 66 to the Rebellion, both key parts of either trilogy. The most fan service bit was Lando, who has nothing to do with Rebels or the Jedi, unlike every other OT/PT character introduced.
We seem to have a different view. of fan-service - just because there are (very indirect) connections, doesn't mean you need to throw the characters in en masse and certainly not so many by the midpoint of only the second season. What did most of them add to the table that an original creation couldn't? Let's be blunt - these characters like Leia or Vader are there to get someone the larger public knows on the tv spots and marketing. They don't know who Kanan or Ezra are so they're using characters the public do know. Regardless - I think we're a bit OT now I hope there is a Rebels strip for younger readers - the Star Wars books - even Kanan - aren't aimed that young at all. If any of them were to be skewed younger, you'd imagine Kanan would make sense but the tone of that, and the art, is much more mature than the series. Getting younger kids reading comics is a big, big issue facing the industry right now and if Marvel don't have a few titles planned from Star Wars aimed at that audience, they're missing the boat.
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Post by muckypup on Feb 9, 2016 19:08:46 GMT
oh you guys......I had not got any of these a was a bit miffed when they kicked dark horse out.
I am now checking bank and going to get em....
this is going to be expensive!
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Post by randomjc on Feb 9, 2016 19:19:33 GMT
Obi-Wan, being the one who sent out the signal, and a tie to Kanan and the end of the Jedi and Order 66. Bail, R2, 3PO, and Leia all tie into the Rebellion, which this show is about, even if it doesn't focus on known characters.
Vader and Tarkin are related to the Rebellion, if on the opposite side. And considering this is very much a sequel series to the Clone Wars, if Asoka was going to be brought in, Vader was needed.
These characters aren't apart of the trilogies, but they are related to them, from Order 66 to the Rebellion, both key parts of either trilogy. The most fan service bit was Lando, who has nothing to do with Rebels or the Jedi, unlike every other OT/PT character introduced.
We seem to have a different view. of fan-service - just because there are (very indirect) connections, doesn't mean you need to throw the characters in en masse and certainly not so many by the midpoint of only the second season. What did most of them add to the table that an original creation couldn't? Let's be blunt - these characters like Leia or Vader are there to get someone the larger public knows on the tv spots and marketing. They don't know who Kanan or Ezra are so they're using characters the public do know. Regardless - I think we're a bit OT now I hope there is a Rebels strip for younger readers - the Star Wars books - even Kanan - aren't aimed that young at all. If any of them were to be skewed younger, you'd imagine Kanan would make sense but the tone of that, and the art, is much more mature than the series. Getting younger kids reading comics is a big, big issue facing the industry right now and if Marvel don't have a few titles planned from Star Wars aimed at that audience, they're missing the boat. Well, the Comic industry stopped caring for young children reading comics 2 to 3 decades ago. the 90s were a dark time for comics. The problem is, you can't just make "kiddy comics" because the older fanbase won't buy, and the younger kids don't buy enough to make it worth while. It's the sad fact that inorder to sustain itself comics are marketed towards teenagers...
(And I would argue Vader exists to finish Anakin and Asoka's story from Clone Wars. And Fanservice is only a bad thing when it DETRACTS from the episode. And en masse is a bit of a leap, 6/7 episodes out of 27 contain characters from the movies. The second Season has had two characters from the movies, Leia, and Vader. So we can argue about whether it was too fanservicey, but almost all of it was front loaded to get people to watch. And yes, I can argue this all day, because I'm a nerd)
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Post by randomjc on Feb 9, 2016 19:20:26 GMT
oh you guys......I had not got any of these a was a bit miffed when they kicked dark horse out. I am now checking bank and going to get em.... this is going to be expensive! Yes, but it is worth it. Read the first issue of Star Wars, it sounds like everyone. It was great.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 19:45:58 GMT
Well, the Comic industry stopped caring for young children reading comics 2 to 3 decades ago. the 90s were a dark time for comics. The problem is, you can't just make "kiddy comics" because the older fanbase won't buy, and the younger kids don't buy enough to make it worth while. It's the sad fact that inorder to sustain itself comics are marketed towards teenagers... Yes, having read right through the 90s, I remember it well - everyone was going mature to capture some of that Spawn money . I think that solely marketing to teens and Gen-Y was the case 10-15 years ago but the kid-oriented book market has seen a big rise rise since then. Both my local comic book shops have decent sized kid sections, from the Midwest In Panels documentary I saw on youtube, that seems to be the case in the US too and books like Tiny Titans, Sonic, Disney Adventures and Superman Family Adventures have outsold some big, adult-oriented titles in recent years and they were never marketed at teens at all. Sure, they're much more niche but comics aimed at white teen boys to young adults with disposable income have been their chief income for a lot longer than just going back to the 90s. I think there's a sizeable base there for kid books. Geoff Johns has noted that though big blockbuster comic book movies don't see comics selling more issues generally, they DO in kids books sales. There are loads of kids comics out there so they must be more profitable than you'd have guessed or they'd be off the slate. My point wasn't that there need be more, it's that Star Wars is a property that should have them, absolutely. It lendss itself to the format very easily.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 19:53:23 GMT
oh you guys......I had not got any of these a was a bit miffed when they kicked dark horse out. I am now checking bank and going to get em.... this is going to be expensive! With Disney owning Marvel and Star Wars, there was never a snowball's chance in hell of Dark Horse getting to keep the licence. I loved some DH stuff but they got far too convoluted and directionless. There didn't seem to be a single aim or vision with what to do. They just put out what seemed like a good idea at the time. I knew the game was up when they made "The Star Wars" based on Lucas' original script. Absolutely awful. Marvel are keeping quite a tight rein on the books so far. Most are set within a few years of each other. They're very much making their own mini-movies set near to the other films. The mini-series format is working very nicely so far and the Vader book is some of the best Star Wars ever. This being comics though...let's see how long that'll last. If I get a whiff of renumbering, I'll officially panic
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