Yea! Gladstone's is coming!

Gladstone's Series 2 is happening! Gladstone's School for World Conquerors was one of my favorite comics. It wrapped up its first arc and then disappeared. It's been in the works, and now the second arc is getting Kickstarted into a digital existence, for now. Hardcovers are to come later, but — even though I generally don't like digital versions of print-intended comics — for now I think this is deserving of support to get done. I can't wait for Series 3, either!

Swamp Thing #17

I know I'm way behind in my reading, but Swamp Thing #17 was horrible! The whole thing felt very phoned-in, from the stiff, clichéd writing to the mediocre art that's horribly mismatched with the story and makes the issue look like a low-rent kids’ comic. I expect better from you, Scott Snyder (and Jeff Lemire if I'm to accept the credits as-is). And, even though I don't expect better from you, DC, if you couldn't manage Yanick Paquette for the interiors, couldn't you get someone who'd match the feel of the book? This is not what the conclusion of, more-or-less, a 34-issue story should be. (Even though it feels like the real conclusions are in issues #18 of the two books.)

Very disappointed, guys. Very disappointed.

Peter Parker's death and inevitable rebirth

I only read Amazing Spider-Man every once in a while (largely because it's bimonthly) — though I do keep up with its goings-on — so I can't speak very well to how the writing's been lately, or even to how the story's been lately. I was interested in the Doc Ock-on-a-deathbed story idea, but in the end, I didn't buy any of the issues.

Anyway, Peter Parker is dead, Dock Ock is going to be the new, better Superior Spider-Man, and well, does anyone really think this will last? Of course it won't. And that's okay. I knew when Johnny Storm died that he'd be back, and probably in issue #600. The return was done exceptionally well, so it was validated for me. Death and rebirth is a ubiquitous part of Big Two comics and it can be okay.

So, the question isn't will Peter Parker return? The only questions are: when will Peter be back? And how? Well, I don't know quite when (probably a bit before Amazing Spider-Man 2 comes out in theaters), but I'm calling how here: Doc Ock will somehow sacrifice himself to bring Peter back. Like, switching bodies back (posthumously) or something similar.

There we go. I'm calling it, that's how Peter comes back.

Well wishes for Peter David and his family

(Haven't posted in a long time, but I'm starting to get back in the swing of things, so here's to more posts soon…)

I just read that Peter David, writer of my beloved X-Factor suffered a stroke last week. I am very sorry to hear this, and I'll send all the positive energy & well wishes I can to him and his family. His wife is posting updates on his condition and recovery on his blog, including ways you can help.

Again, my deepest sympathies to PAD and his whole family (especially his young children, for whom this must be very difficult). I hope for the best possible recovery for Peter.

Weekly Previews for January 11, 2012

This is my huge week (in number of comics), and one day (probably just before it's not my huge week anymore, as these things go) I'll switch to getting my comics on the second week of the month instead of the first. Then maybe I'll be up-to-date with all of the books coming out. But, for now, I'll just mention the slew of regulars that're released this week and comment only on the ones about which I have something to say.

(Also, I missed last week's Previews, but there was really very little to speak of. Only three books I was looking at, only one was iffy, and I was very tired. So, no Previews. Last week, that is. This week, plenty.)

Weekly Previews for December 28, 2011

Getting back into the swing of things after Christmas, here's the last Previews of 2011! There are no endings here, but there are a couple of penultimate issues, one of a series and one of a writer's run. We're also going back to the beginnings — or closer to them, anyway — with the second point five issue of The Unwritten. For those and the rest, read on.

Weekly Previews for December 20, 2011

As I'm sure this'll be my last post before Christmas, Merry Christmas to everyone for whom that means something. For the rest of you, all I have are comics and some good ones at that. We've got two versions of Batman (kind of), Mike Mignola, Nathan Edmondson's new creator-owned series, and more. How much more? Keep reading and find out.