why Invincible is the best comic around

where else can you have good old fun by punching supervillains named ... Dinosaurus?

not to mention every comic ends with some sort of a cliffhanger. Robert Kirkman manages to nearly knock every issue out of the park, and with an art team that is consistent with its output.

drive-by readings: Invincible #64-65

Invincible #64-65 (Image) "Conquest: Conclusion"/"Conquest: Epilogue" Robert Kirkman Ryan Ottley Cliff Rathburn FCO Plascencia Rus Wooton

and here i am, (un)fashionably late for the party. hey, it's Kirkman's fault. anyhoo, what can i say about Invincible #64-65 (#64 will henceforth referred to solely as "The Headbutting Issue") that hasn't been talked about already? nothing much, i guess. i'm very impressed with Ryan Ottley. very very impressed. solid, cartoony yet detailed, and with FCO Plascensia (is that a group or an individual), the colors bring the destruction to vivid life. this is how they should've done G.I. Joe the cartoon version back in the '80s. because you can't have war without somebody dying. see that bone sticking out of Mark's arm during the punch-to-punch splash page? ahhhhhhhhhh! and Conquest's mangled face afterwards? yeeeeech! one can imagine Ottley beside himself with glee as he was illustrating these.

and after all that damage our heroes took, including us readers flinching at every impact, i can't think of anything else right now except Atom Eve. and her new enhancements. go away now, leave me alone.

what are the odds on the rematch with Conquest? issue #75? #90? #100?

drive-by readings: The Authority #13

The Authority #13 (DC/Wildstorm) Dan Abnett Andy Lanning Simon Coleby Cliff Rathburn Drew Johnson Ray Snyder Carrie Strachan Wes Abbott

just when i crack open an Authority book for the first time in a long time, who do we have bedeviling my sentimental team of badasses? why, its whatsisname Kaizen the old fart. not sure how he's alive and well - i'm just getting up to speed with this brave new world they're in. let's see - Apollo and the Doc are missing, Jack's a cripple, and Midnighter just went off to find his Sun God. now they're in for a fight as Gamorra sends his superclones and his proxy daughter Cybernary to reclaim the remnants of this world. gee thanks, old fart. Midnighter, when you do come back, make it permanent this time, will ya?

holycraphowdidimissthat

sorry for the spoilers - but holy crap!!! this is the most intense comicbook violence i've seen since Invincible #62.




and Kirkman has the balls to make us wait another month?

Kirkman: yes.

-----
Invincible #63

drive-by readings 022109

Dark Avengers #2 (Marvel) "Long Live H.A.M.M.E.R." Brian Michael Bendis Mike Deodato Jr Rain Beredo Cory Petit

wow. i mean, WOW. two issues in, and i already have a perverse admiration for this loony "team". damn you, Bendis. as hyped weeks ago, the Dark Avengers first mission is to rescue Dr. Doom, who's in a lover's quarrel with Morgana Le Fay, who in turn gets "(un)headed" (heh.). Bendis' knack for people talking at the same time is in full display as always, though sometimes its like teenagers yakking (and posturing) all the time. i can't wait 'till the backstabbing begins. maybe it was a good thing they brought Osborn back (gaaaaaahhhh! schism!). who else can manage all these strong-willed assholes in the first place?

Invincible #59 (Image) "Powerplex" Robert Kirkman Ryan Ottley Cliff Rathburn FCO Plascencia Rus Wooton

and i thought i hated Superboy Prime. this Powerplex character made me want to beat him down a la Chris Brown (k-ching!). what a whiny jerk. he's a caricature of an '80s villain who has no other train of thought except "i will have my revenge, you will pay for your crimes!" serves you right for killing your own family, asshole. i think Kirkman got into a mood hating this kind of jerk and wrote a story out of it, gnashing his teeth all the way. if anything, he sets up a future - if annoying - villain to pester Invincible.

X-Factor #40 (Marvel) "Slings and Arrows" Peter David Valentine De Landro Pat Davidson Jeromy Cox Cory Petit

Peter David told me not to tell.

well, it involves guns, and priests, and nuns, and lies, and despair writ large.

not to mention the art has picked up a bit, and it should, considering David's writing.

but seriously, he told me not to tell.

i don't know why Namor or Aquaman kvetchs

... about ruling Atlantis ...

because in the Image universe, there's really nothing to do down there!






they just need to pull out that trident from their ass, and go out and do something productive. relax. no one's gonna touch your family jewels undersea kingdom.

-----
Invincible #58

cherry picking

cherry picking: stuff i double-clicked read. will try not to spoil. i said try.

World War Hulk is NOT the end of the world!

as we can see here, Jen got a haircut, lost her powers and is back to lawyering. which means the world survived World War Hulk. now if only we could learn in advance what happened. Recorder, speak up!!! oh, he blew up?! dang.

Marc Ecko supports the New Warriors

that's all you need to know. oh, and Stark Tower (and Tony Stark) are still/again upright. which corroborates the statement we made above. this officially makes all plot threads running in the Marvel Universe entangled - what happened when?


'Cuda, Woulda, Shoulda.

guess who's back ................! yep, its your friendly neighborhood gangsta Barracuda! mayhem ensues. and Frank's all tied up. and is possibly a pappy?

sh-lut

Jenny Walters is a slut!!!

yeah, like we didn't know that.

well, now its public knowledge (you can see the Page Six blurb!).



nice hairdo, though.

imagine the guy on trial laughing at you, not caring if he gets the chair or not. geeez.



i bet Tony Stark had cameras in the courtroom.
-----
She-Hulk #19
Dan Slott, Ty Templeton, Rick Burchett, Cliff Rathburn