Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween

Customer Reviews:

Batman is my hero!.......2007-08-20

This is an amazing batman comic so pick up if you are a diehard fan of not only Batman, but Jeph Loeb or Time Sale. The story is amazing and I can't wait until they release the Absolute Batman Dark Victory...which is the sequel to this amazing comic. I suggest you pick this up if you are a fan.

Peace...

Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale 4EVAH!.......2007-07-17

They rock and they make Batman's world as real as Frank Miller did with Year One. Instant Classic. A Great Noir story as well.

Woow, wooow, WOOOOOOOW!!!!!.......2007-06-13

For any Batman fan - I needn't write this, but you should have it. It's amazing!
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, just a few words on that later on. But, to be honest, who is new to this?! It was one of the best Batman storylines ever, with the most awesome artwork. Tim Sale to me is the most "European" of the American artists, his images - each and every cell - can be framed and studied for ages for perfect composition, lighting, pencilling, inking and coloring. So much style and class, woooow!!!
I already read the series as it came out, then waited for the HC back in 98. So why bother? Man, am I happy that I got this. The printing is fabulous! Thick paper, not glossy but matt like the original, deep wonderful colors almost like serigraphies (a huge compliment to the folks at DC! You can see that to them it has also been a work of love to get this out to us)
Now to those unfamiliar with Batman (?!?!) or comics(?!?!?!) Buy this, please, just to get a feel for what is is that all these others are enjoying so much year after year after year.
Unlike many other Batman stories you don't need to know who is who. You can read it as the series' introduction. All the villains are present.
For those of you familiar with the usual suspects, don't worry, the storyline never gets boring. The introductions are perfectly woven into the tale without pausing it for a second.
It's a murder mystery to be read and watched over and over again.
Without spoiling anything, I'm just giving you the original DC introduction from 98:
A costumed hero learning he can trust no one.
A serial killer using the holidays to mark his handiwork.
A crime lord trying to hold onto a crumbling empire.
A city beset by gangsters becoming a haven for freaks.
An honest district attorney hiding a terrible secret.
A dark woman tempting the Dark Knight detective.
And a friendship that would be shattered forever.

P.E.R.F.E.C.T. !!!!! Buy this!!!!! And enjoy for ages.

Awesome Batmal Tale.......2007-06-13

This is a terrific story with a solid mystery, great writing, beautiful artwork, clever dialogue, and rich characters. Highly recommended for both Batman/cominc book fans and anyone looking for a fun read! Entertaining and interesting--a classic. All the Batman villians in one story--what more could you ask for? And a spooky whodunit theme. Buy it for yourself or your friends. One of the best graphic novels of the last 20 years.

Classic Batman Story Gets the Absolute Treatment.......2007-04-09

Released in 1996 to 1997, Batman The Long Halloween was one of DC's most popular titles in the year the mini-series was released in monthly installments. I vividly recall Wizard Magazine's enthusiasm as they ran many articles speculating on who "Holiday" was.

Now ten years after it's initial run, DC has given the story the "Absolute" treatment. The result is what you can expect from the Absolute editions. A first rate production, the color is crisp, the pages thick, the extras include an interview with creators Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. Again, it would have been nice to see some of Loeb's scripts, but the inclusion of the series proposal and their discussion of the series striking covers makes up for the lack of scripts (for me it does anyway). If you are a fan of The Long Halloween, or Tim Sale's art, this is a must have. I wonder what the next Absolute Edition will be...Dark Victory perhaps?

Average customer rating:

its just the civil war graphic novel
Superb one of teh best storyline ever told!!
Good story, but nothing out of the ordinary
Good idea, poorly executed
Cop Out

Civil War (Marvel Comics)
Mark Millar
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 078512179X

Book Description

The landscape of the Marvel Universe is changing, and it's time to choose: Whose side are you on? A conflict has been brewing from more than a year, threatening to pit friend against friend, brother against brother - and all it will take is a single misstep to cost thousands their lives and ignite the fuse! As the war claims its first victims, no one is safe as teams, friendships and families begin to fall apart. The crossover that rewrites the rules, Civil War stars Spider-Man, the New Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and the entirety of the Marvel pantheon! Collects Civil War #1-7, plus extras.

Customer Reviews:

its just the civil war graphic novel.......2007-09-15

only read this if you have not read the civil war series and if you havent it is the coolest comic book crossover. also it has a bunch of explosive scence of heroes fighting heroes

Superb one of teh best storyline ever told!!.......2007-09-09

the plot and of course all those superheros in 1 was great to see! i would say buy this if notin else cuz u will enjoy this piece of comic! hope they make this in2 a cartoon movie or an actual movie... BUY IT!!!!!!!!

Good story, but nothing out of the ordinary.......2007-09-04

Although CIVIL WAR has been a huge success for Marvel (at least, according to the sales report given by Diamond Distribution), I felt that this storyline was not that well executed, in accordance to the potential it may had.

Although it seems like the was between heroes for and against the registration act will impact the Marvel Universe for a long time, I felt that this storyline TRIED TOO HARD to setup just bits and pieces of teasers so people would go and buy other heroes tie-ins into the story, instead of spending that space/time in exploring the consequences of this war, or even the causes in a more detailed way. (For my taste, the origin of the problem was too quickly presented and resolved. Therefore, it lacked impact.)

I have never been a Marvel fan, and probably will never be, because this, in my opinon, happens to ofter in MU stories. (DC does things like these in many ocassions, too, to my disappointment, but I feel to a lesser degree.)

I would rather recommend following the New Avengers title, which is more explorative of causes and consequences into its plotlines.

Good idea, poorly executed.......2007-08-31

The whole concept of "What gives the right to superheroes to make unilateral decisions on who is right or wrong?" is a great one. Why doesn't Spider-man have to become a policeman to fight crime? I can't go arrest the guy who cut me off in traffic even though I know he broke the law.

But this series was 1 issue where they discuss this a little, 5 issues where they fight and play hide and seek. And 1 last issue where they have a final fight that ends because the leader of that side changed his mind. Plus all the ancilliary books that really don't add much to the debate. And every other book in the Marvel universe is changed by this series. Should have been a little more cerebral.

Cop Out.......2007-08-20

Why would a man who is so intent on fighting for what he believes in just cash it in cause a few civilians got hurt??? after all he is captain America he knows that when you fight for a cause collateral damage is expected.

Oh and not to mention the absolutely infantile knee jerk reaction displayed by the punisher when the criminals are about to join the good guys?? anyone with even the slightest idea of how to write would know that the punisher character is far deeper than that.

But im sure that was more of a quesada decision than it was millars.

overall 2/5 is a score i feel is worth of this propaganda in disguise

Average customer rating:

An extraordinary effort -- Moore's best
Awesome character development, ingenuous story
One of the Essential books for comic Fans
The Standard
The Watchmen Live On!

Watchmen (Absolute Edition)
Alan Moore
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1401207138

Amazon.com

The story concerns a group called the Crimebusters and a plot to kill and discredit them. Moore's characterization is as sophisticated as any novel's. Importantly the costumes do not get in the way of the storytelling; rather they allow Moore to investigate issues of power and control--indeed it was Watchmen, and to a lesser extent Dark Knight, that propelled the comic genre forward, making "adult" comics a reality. The artwork of Gibbons (best known for 2000AD's Rogue Trooper and DC's Green Lantern) is very fine too, echoing Moore's paranoid mood perfectly throughout. Packed with symbolism, some of the overlying themes (arms control, nuclear threat, vigilantes) have dated but the intelligent social and political commentary, the structure of the story itself, its intertextuality (chapters appended with excerpts from other "works" and "studies" on Moore's characters, or with excerpts from another comic book being read by a child within the story), the finepace of the writing and its humanity mean that Watchmen more than stands up--it keeps its crown as the best the genre has yet produced. --Mark Thwaite

Book Description

Has any comic been as acclaimed as Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen? Possibly only Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, but Watchmen remains the critics' favorite. Why? Because Moore is a better writer, and Watchmen a more complex and dark and literate creation than Miller's fantastic, subversive take on the Batman myth. Moore, renowned for many other of the genre's finest creations (Saga of the Swamp Thing, V for Vendetta, and From Hell, with Eddie Campbell) first put out Watchmen in 12 issues for DC in 1986-87. It won a comic award at the time (the 1987 Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards for Best Writer/Artist combination) and has continued to gather praise since.The story concerns a group called the Crimebusters and a plot to kill and discredit them. Moore's characterization is as sophisticated as any novel's. Importantly the costumes do not get in the way of the storytelling; rather they allow Moore to investigate issues of power and control--indeed it was Watchmen, and to a lesser extent Dark Knight, that propelled the comic genre forward, making "adult" comics a reality. The artwork of Gibbons (best known for 2000AD's Rogue Trooper and DC's Green Lantern) is very fine too, echoing Moore's paranoid mood perfectly throughout. Packed with symbolism, some of the overlying themes (arms control, nuclear threat, vigilantes) have dated but the intelligent social and political commentary, the structure of the story itself, its intertextuality (chapters appended with excerpts from other "works" and "studies" on Moore's characters, or with excerpts from another comic book being read by a child within the story), the finepace of the writing and its humanity mean that Watchmen more than stands up--it keeps its crown as the best the genre has yet produced. --MarkThwaite

Customer Reviews:

An extraordinary effort -- Moore's best.......2007-10-03

"The Watchmen" is a tour de force of the graphic novel genre, showing Alan Moore at his best. Moore invents a graphic universe, with a unique cast of characters whose interesting histories and personalities add complexity and fascination to the entire book.

The central character of the work ("hero" is too happy a term) is "Rorschach," a psychopathic masked avenger who is tracking down whoever is killing off a cast of masked former crime fighters, who are now in middle age if now retirement. In the world of The Watchmen, "adventuring" by masked vigilantes has been made illegal. Most of the superheroes have gone along with the law, and have more-or-less happily hung up their masks, cowls and crime-fighting devices to attempt the uneasy adjustment to normal life. Moore creates a complete reality that spans generations, where now-elderly retired crime fighters have passed the baton to a younger (now middle-aged) generation. But the stirrings of adventure lie just below the surface, and it doesn't take much perturbation to bring them to the surface.

Moore's heroes seem familiar, but they're not. Night Owl, a paunchy and bespectacled nerd, wears around in a slightly-ludicrous owl costume, complete with wings and night-vision goggles. In a bit of (I think) intentional humor, his arctic outfit is actually shaped and colored to resemble a snowy owl. Ozymandias is a wealthy acrobat, obsessed with ancient Egypt, and now spins his former glory (via toys and merchandise) into gold. Silk Specter, a leggy beauty 15 years younger than the rest, is living with Doctor Manhattan, a scientist whose 1959 turn in a radiation chamber that rendered him, naked, blue, emotionally tone-deaf, and with the godlike ability to transfer between worlds and dimensions. Not to mention that he likes to go around without clothes.

The story starts with the gruesome death of The Comedian by persons unknown. After the cops leave, Rorschach arrives (through the broken high-rise from which the victim made his unintended exit) and the fun begins. The rest of the novel spins a story of dark personal secrets, an not-so-innocent world unaware of impending danger, and the desire to take up old passions -- all set against a world in which political powers are posturing and threatening each other with annihilation. The heroes spend a great deal of time dealing with their personal issues -- former loves, the loss of friends, parenthood and aging -- while wondering whether and how to engage in the growing turmoil around them.

Moore's heroes are not bound by the rules of "good guy" niceness that we might expect in comic books. They curse, intimidate, attack, manipulate, act psychopathic and work outside the rules, leaving behind a high body count. It's no wonder they were outlawed by more decent people. The strip deals with quite dark issues -- warfare, murder, rape, abandonment, even free will and determinism. It is extremely violent, sexy and rough -- way too much for even the PG-13 crowd. The story is told as an interlocking and overlapping narrative, with lots of meaningful repetition, flashbacks ad even a tragic comic-within-a-comic whose plot mirrors the novel's own. The plot is fascinating, and will keep your reading -- though much too quickly to grasp every detail. Like any good book, this one needs to be read and reread to catch the way it plays with history and characters.

I could go on and on. "The Watchmen" is an unexpected masterpiece, taking the comic book form far from its banal origins, to tell a tale that is repellent and fascinating and extremely well-executed. It's one of the books you must read before you die.

Awesome character development, ingenuous story.......2007-09-29

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons is my absolute favorite graphic novel. I just finished re-reading it. It's actually the comic that inspired all of my magical approaches to using comics as a magical tool/technique. I'm also always amazed at just how in-depth the story is...how much detail is put into the characters, even the minor ones.

I also have my favorite characters, which are the Comedian, Rorschach, and Ozymandias. I like all of them because they stand out as fairly unique characters even in a comic book that already has unique characters. They have very distinctive personalities...

The comedian is a very amoral character and that amorality allows him to embrace perspectives that enable him to move past situations that would stop people. He knows his nature and utterly accepts without the moral qualms that many people would have. I like his character not because of his actions, but because he is so at peace with who and what he is.

Rorschach...well my favorite scene is where someone attacks him and he uses only his shirt to essentially trap the person...your hands, my perspective. Again his is a perspective that allows him to see past the obvious constraints and find solutions where other people won't go.

And ozymandias embodies lateral thinking overall...again that perspective, that way of taking a situation and turning it from a disaster into something else. Plus a continued focus on improving himself, being able to see what he can do...and not letting limitations stop him.

I admire anyone who takes a different perspective and makes it work.

Good book...go read it if you haven't...cause it definitely applies to the post 9/11 world.

One of the Essential books for comic Fans.......2007-09-27

It might be an old book, but it still holds weight today.there is nothing else to say other then, you MUST read, and re-read to catch everything in it

The Standard.......2007-09-24

What can I say that hasn't been said already. This is the "Hamlet" of the comic book world. The "Godfather" of comics, if you will. The "Moving Pictures" of the comic book industry. What Moore and Gibbons have crafted here is a wonder unrivaled in the comics world. The sheer level of detail that they put into their work is astounding. Literally every single panel on every single page contains something important, some detail that if noticed, will make the reading experience that much more magical. I savored over this book for about two weeks before I finished it. It took me about two hours per chapter. This isn't the type of book that you can just breeze through, like many of today's comics. You will find yourself deeply drawn into this world and the lives of its characters. They will become like old friends to you. The mystery, the intrigue, the action...its all fantastic. You are in for a fantastic experience when you read The Watchmen.

The Watchmen Live On!.......2007-09-08

After hearing that the book THE WATCHMEN is at last being made into a movie, I thought now was a good time to reread it and see how it would stand up today. I first read this back in the late 80's and it is just as mind catching a story as it was then. Still love it. Hope the movie does the book justice....but why wait for the movie READ THE BOOK FIRST! OUTSTANDING!

Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus

Average customer rating:

WHEN MILLER WAS KING!
great!!
Vol. 1 of the COMPLETE Frank Miller run of Daredevil
The standard by which all others are judged
Frank Miller MUST read

Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus
Frank Miller , Roger McKenzie , David Michelinie , and Klaus Janson
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785123431

Customer Reviews:

WHEN MILLER WAS KING!.......2007-08-28

Before Sin City, before Dark Knight Returns, there was Frank Miller's Daredevil. In my opinion the best thing he ever did. He took a "B" rated super hero comic, that was being published bi-monthly, and turned it into one of the best selling monthly books of it's time. The ideas that Miller introduced in these stories are still resonating in the Marvel Universe today. He turned Daredevil into a super-bad ninja warrior. He made the Kingpin a major villain with unlimited underworld clout. He transformed Bullseye from a two-bit hood into the world's greatest assassin. And most noteably, he introduce Matt Murdock's ninja assassin love interest, Elektra.

These are some of my favorite comics of all time. The stories are a brilliant blend of super hero adventure and film style action and pacing. Not as light and upbeat as some of the books of the time, but not as dark and depressing as the "gritty" stuff Marvel is publishing these days. While I really liked some of the early adventures of DD by Stan Lee, Wally Wood, John Romita etc., for me Daredevil begins and ends with this legendary run. Nuff said.

great!!.......2007-06-13

awesome collection of the frank millar daredevil run! great quality printing, pages feel great.

Vol. 1 of the COMPLETE Frank Miller run of Daredevil.......2007-05-27

I'm not gonna try to sell you on this book 'cause if you're looking at it you're already a Frank Miller fan. So... before I purchased this book I wanted to know what issues were contained therein! Above there are claimes this book contains DD issues #158 thru #191; this is only sort of true...

This most wonderful book ACTUALLY contains:

Daredevil #158 - 161 and #163 - 191 as well as the DD story from
What If...? #34!

Cool bonuses are: ALL of Franks DD trade paperback reprint covers, thumbnails and color guides for issue #190, a new introduction and an 1981 interview w/ Frank and Klaus,Frank's DD page from Fantastic Four Roast #1, AND Frank's intries from the Offcial Handbook of the Marvel Universe!

You know you want it True Beliver!

'Nuff said!

The standard by which all others are judged.......2007-05-17

In the early 80's, Frank Miller took a tired, lost superhero with low sales and proceeded to reinvent crime comics forever. Dispatching with the standard superhero sensibilty and owing a great debt to Will Eisner's The Spirit, Miller created a new milieu in which the flaws of both Daredevil and his alter ego, Matt Murdock were write large, his supporting cast was fleshed out and his gallery of villians expanded to include ninjas and gangsters.

Along the way, the typical hero-villan confrontations became wrought with far greater emotion than had been previously shown. And, yes, the violence quotient was ratcheted up exponentially.

These stories famously became the basis for the Daredevil movie but here they are in their definitive form. The hardcover collection has all of Miller's Daredevil output from the early 80s. In them, you can see the pre-cursor for Miller's own Sin City. Additionally, Miller's pencils were never better than here. Unlike his future efforts, the style does not overwhlem the substance here. His pencils and Klaus Janson's inks mesh in a manner that occurs only a few times in comics history, joining the great penciller-inker teams like Kirby/Sinnot, Swan/Anderson and Byrne/Austin.

The only minus: it does not include the final portion of Miller's DD output: the classic "Born Again" series he wrote in the mid-80s simultaneously with another little thing he was working on called "The Dark Knight Returns". However, that's carping. This is meant to show Miller's work on the monthly when he was expected to write it forever. Of course, that never happens. But, at least we'll always have this omnibus to remind us of what was...

Oh, yeah, and there's also Elektra!!!!!!!!!

Frank Miller MUST read.......2007-05-13

I own all of the original Daredevil's in what might be the greatest comic book series of all time. When this was released I immediately ordered it so that my sons could relive the experience without touching the precious (and valuable!) originals. As I knew, they both devoured the edition like a starving survivor lost in the desert would consume food and water. This is food and water for all thirsty and hungry Miller fans that never read Frank at his youthful, artistic and brilliant best. Be daring.....buy it and don't put it down until slaked. You will never regret buying but will regret not.

Average customer rating:

limited in its bio's
Tons of good information!
The Marvel Encyclopedia
so many errors!
It's not an encyclopedia

The Marvel Encyclopedia
Daniel Wallace , Tom Brevoort , Andrew J. Darling , Tom DeFalco , Peter Sanderson , and Michael Teitelbaum
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0756623588

Book Description

Marvel Comics' character roster boasts some of the best known and most popular characters ever conceived-heroes that are international household names, both as comic book stars and movie stars, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk and Wolverine. This unique, one-volume encyclopedia contains more than 1000 of Marvel's greatest, with full details of their powers and their thrill-packed careers. The encyclopedia's range of spectacular art features eye-popping work by Marvel's finest artists, while the authoritative text is supplied by a team of top Marvel comic book writers. In addition, double-page features, illustrated with classic covers, trace the fascinating story of Marvel Comics through the decades. The Marvel Comics Encyclopedia is an essential book both for new fans and for those who grew up loving the excitement, heroism and humor of the Marvel Universe. Includes a foreword by Stan Lee.

Customer Reviews:

limited in its bio's.......2007-09-19

Though the book is imformative, the bios are very limited. There are no scales to properly determine strength and intelligence. Also there are a lot of typos, leading me to believe that they didn't care much when they created this. If you want a short overview on marvel characters then this book is for you, otherwise don't bother.

Tons of good information!.......2007-08-06

Great book for anyone. Being an avid marvel fan I thought I knew most everything, but I have learned a lot from this book. It is a good buy.

The Marvel Encyclopedia.......2007-06-11

The book is well illustrated and has exhaustive description of each character of Marvel Comic Books.

so many errors!.......2007-06-07

Like any Marvel fan I was very excited about getting my hands on this encyclopedia, only to be sorely disappointed by the amount of errors found within it's pages. Error examples include: page 46, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, an image of Nightcrawler is found under a listing for Black Tom Cassidy. Page 212 , an image of the Shiar imperial guardsman Nightside is shown under the character listing for Nightshade. Page 171 An image of the Asgardian character Lorelei is shown under the character listing for the Savage Land mutate of the same name. These are few example of the many errors throughout the book.

It's not an encyclopedia.......2007-06-06

There isn't enough information on individual characters. (There are a lot of them, and there are pictures, but the pictures take up some much space that there's none left for details.)

The Road to Civil War (Spider-Man, Fantastic Four)

Average customer rating:

pretty good
Graphic SF Reader
Really not that necessary.
ROAD TO AWSOMENESS
No

The Road to Civil War (Spider-Man, Fantastic Four)
J. Michael Straczynski , Brian Michael Bendis , Alex Maleev , Ron Garney , Mike McKone , and Tyler Kirkham
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785119744

Book Description

Ripped from the pages of New Avengers, the Eisner Award-winning team of Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev present an explosive hidden story of Marvel's secret past, the secret history of Marvel's most secret team - how they came together and how they are ripped apart. Plus: Spidey's got a new lease on life, new powers and a new costume, courtesy of his new best friend Tony Stark. So what could possibly go wrong? With clouds quickly building on the horizon, the bonds that Spider-Man now forges may very well determine his capacity to withstand a coming storm. The Marvel Universe is about to split down the middle, and the line is drawn here! You will be asked: whose side are you on? Collects New Avengers: Illuminati; Amazing Spider-Man #529-531; Fantastic Four #536 & 537.

Customer Reviews:

pretty good.......2007-09-06

Good points and not so good points.

The concept is outstanding and a long time coming, in my opinion. The overall story is great, one of the best to come out in a while, not as good as DC's Kingdome Come or Justice, but very good all the same.

On the down side, why can't the art on the inside be as good as the art on the cover??? I gess not everyone can be an Alex Ross, alas. Also, the writing really leaves something to be desired. Way too long-winded.

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-04

Powerful plotting people.

This gives some of the backstory to the whole Civil War brouhaha in that we again see that some of the most powerful Marvel Universe hero leaders meet in secret to discuss how they should look at the world and their operations in it.

The beginnings of the political split that causes a lot of conflict is here, with Namor and Dr. Strange opposed to Reed Richards and Tony Stark. The X-Men's influence is again negligible.

Really not that necessary........2007-08-31

Avengers: Illuminati is really the only comic in this collection that I enjoyed. I was hoping for the entire collection to be more about them, however it was really a random story involving the fantastic four and Thor's hammer and Spiderman's falling into the hands of Tony Stark.
Absolutely not necessary for the Civil War storyline.

The Illuminati story is useful for the new World War Hulk storyline though.

ROAD TO AWSOMENESS.......2007-08-18

AFTER LOOKING ON AMAZON FOR TWO WEEKS TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THIS WHOLE CIVIL WAR IDEA I BOUGHT THIS OFF THE SHELF TO SEE IF IT WAS GOING TO BE WORTH THE MONEY TO FOLLOW THIS HUGE STORY.I WAS SO EXCITED WITH IT I BOUGHT TEN MORE IN THE SERIES FROM AMAZON.SO THANKS TO ALL OTHER REVIEWERS AND LISTMANIACS FOR HELPING ME OUT.THE MAIN PART OF THIS BOOK WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE ALL OUT ACTION BUT THEY FOUND ROOM FOR A COUPLE COOL SPIDERMAN BITS.ALL IN ALL YOU COULD SKIP IT AND NOT REALLY MISS OUT BUT IT DOES SHOW A COUPLE TIMES THE CONFLICT WITHIN THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES OF THE REGISTRATION ACT.NAMOR IS ONE CHARACTER IVE REALLY ENJOYED IN THE WHOLE SERIES AND HE STARTS OFF HERE IN HIS CRANKY WAYS.FOR ME THIS BOOK WAS A GREAT START TO A COMIC COLLECTION.(IF YOU HAVE READ THIS AND UNDERSTOOD BLACKBOLTS 'NOD AND POINT' ANSWER TO HELPING OUT TONY AND REED,THEN WELL DONE COZ I WAS CONFUSED.LATER GOT THE POINT IN BLACK PANTHER STORY.)

No.......2007-07-11

Not really my thing because I prefer straight history, but his did have its moments.

Average customer rating:

Perfect X-Men Introduction
The best X-Men run in at least two decades
An imaginative, daring run for an established series
Dark, edgy, and utterly brilliant
THE PUNK ROCKER OF COMICS IS IN FULL FORM!

New X-Men Omnibus
Grant Morrison
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785123261

Book Description

Sixteen million mutants dead... and that was just the beginning! In one bold stroke, writer Grant Morrison (The Invisibles, JLA, Fantastic Four: 1234) propelled the X-Men into the 21st century - masterminding a challenging new direction for Marvel's mutant heroes that began with the destruction of Genosha and never let up. Regarded as the most innovative thinker of the current comic-book renaissance, Morrison proceeded to turn the mutant-hero genre on its ear. Gone were the gaudy spandex costumes - replaced by slick, black leather and an attitude to match. Now, his entire Eisner Award-nominated run on New X-Men is collected in one deluxe hardcover! Collects New X-Men #114-154 and Annual 2001

Customer Reviews:

Perfect X-Men Introduction.......2007-08-20

I've been reading comics books since I was 10 but have never really gotten in to X-Men. I've never been a fan of "team" books and tend to read solo titles. But, having heard all the hype about Grant Morrison's revamping of the X-Men and looking to try something new, I decided to pick up the New X-Men Omnibus and give it a whirl. It was exactly what I was looking for. The story was engaging, with Morrison and Quietly weaving an intriguing and suspenseful yarn that really explores who the X-Men are. Aside from the main storylines, I found the de-evolution of Beast to be interesting and would like to hear more of what happens with that. Also, the further evolution of Iceman was a plot device that was introduced but not really expanded upon.

The physical book itself is stunning. Presented in an oversized, coffee-table format allows the comics to be reprinted larger than their originals. The enlargement really allows the reader to concentrate on Frank Quietly's distinctive illustrations and lends itself as a superb guide for aspiring artists.

Overall, Marvel has done an excellent job with their Omnibus books, and this one is no exception. If you can find it for under $100 and are in the market for an excellent read, this is the book for you.

The best X-Men run in at least two decades.......2007-07-10

Remember when Uncanny X-Men was a cutting edge comic? When I started reading the X-Men titles in 1990, they had this mystique surrounding them. X-Men was the dangerous superhero team that the "cool" comic geeks followed. Looking back it seems a bit ridiculous. A lot of that mystique came from a single character (Wolverine), dynamic artwork by Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, etc. and continuity so baffling that only the truly obsessive could keep track. Unfortunately the X-Men titles began to slide into mediocrity shortly after I started reading them. Just when I was ready to stop reading them altogether, Marvel decided to really shake things up.

They brought in Grant Morrison. By placing more emphasis on character development and sharper dialogue than on spandex slug-fests, Morrison, along with writers like Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, Warren Ellis, and Garth Ennis, are responsible for what has to be the best wave of comics since Frank Miller and Alan Moore started deconstructing the genre back in the mid 80's.

It says a lot that of the two X-Men Omnibus volumes released so far, one contains Chris Claremont's initial run on Uncanny X-Men and the other is Grant Morrison's entire New X-Men run. Both runs revolutionized their respective titles, smashing the status quo and challenging traditions. Morrison's run introduced a major new villain, unleashed a new wave of Sentinels, destroyed Genosha, killing 16 million mutants, and made Emma Frost an A-list character...and that's just the first four issues! Throughout the run we're treated to a Scott/Jean/Emma love triangle, revelations about the Weapon Plus program that created Wolverine, Xorn, the U-Men, the destruction of the Shi'ar Empire, a riot at Xavier's School, a completely unhinged Magneto, a disturbing vision of the future, and an unforgettable night on the town with Wolverine and Cyclops. Morrison smashes through the X-Men Universe with punk rock-like abandon and uses the shards to put together something new and exciting that would, for a while, make the X-Men an edgy, must-read comic once again. And his movie-inspired uniforms were a huge improvement over the old costumes.

The artwork sadly, is not as consistent as the writing. Nobody managed to stay on the book for more than four consecutive issues, but at least the artwork was (mostly) high quality. I've come to absolutely love Frank Quitely's quirky style, so his issues are my favorites. Ethan Van Sciver (Green Lantern) also shines here, as does Chris Bachalo, who's drawn pretty much every X-book by now. The occasional issue by Leniel Yu, Phil Jiminez, and John Paul Leon are well done, but Igor Kordey's artwork is the low point of the book. His style is just not suited to this kind of title. The final issues were drawn by former X-Men artist (and current Witchblade/Darkness hotshot) Marc Silvestri, who definitely helps end things with a bang.

This is a shining example of what comics in the 21st century can be, and will go down in history as one of the three most important X-Men runs ever. The fact that you can get all of the issues in one mammoth hardcover volume is just the icing on the cake.

An imaginative, daring run for an established series.......2007-05-27

First off, the presentation of all of Morrison's issues here in this hardcover edition is very well-crafted. Marvel has provided quite a bit of bonus material including scripts, unused art, the "Morrison Manifesto" and an introduction by Mike Carey. As for the stories themselves, the arc consists of about 42 issues, and is as well-executed and thought provoking as any X-men run in recent memory. (I hesitate to say "EVER" because comics were quite a different animal in the late 70s/early 80s when Claremont & Byrne were doing their thing.)
The one drawback or advantage, depending on your personal taste, is that the artwork varies over the course of the book; the product of different artists being utilized throughout. I personally did not find this detrimental; it was nice to see characters/situations presented in different styles while retaining the narrative voice. This collection is a breath of fresh air from one of comics' most distinct talents helming one of comics' premier series.

Dark, edgy, and utterly brilliant.......2007-04-16

In the world of the New X-Men, the oppressed are not ennobled, but embittered. A sainted martyr is nothing more than a failed tyrant. The heroes are simultaneously corroded from within by their own human failings and assailed from without by the forces of evil.

The Nihilistic setting and gruesome plot are not lightened with comic relief, but instead barbed with sardonic humor. Nothing is sacred. Morrison goes so far as to viciously satirize comic book fans in the context of a school shooting. Those of us who have cheered Magneto while dreaming of mutant powers will grimace and chuckle in uneasy self-deprecation. Far from the lighthearted banter seen in other X-Men works, the humor is as twisted as a supervillian's soul.

The stories have the feel of thrillers rather than action movies. The villians are as original as they are disturbing. The empathetic reader is more likely to shudder in revulsion than bristle in righteous outrage. The result is much more emotionally engaging than the usual over-dramatic rush by the "good guys" to defeat the "bad guys" in a flurry of oversized onomatopoeia and droll one-liners.

The characterization is stark and unforgiving. Along with the usual great, tragic flaws, the characters are presented with all cutting edges exposed. Emma Frost particularly shines as a jumble of weakness and strength, selfishness and altruism. With Logan's utilitarian ethics, Jean Grey's telepathy, and Henry McCoy's dry wit, she adds a much-needed "edge" to the X-Men team.

The most brilliant aspect of the New X-Men is also the most subtle. Forgoing the trite and pompous narration employed by most comic authors, Morrison lets the characters' dialogue and actions speak for themselves. With the vividly realistic artwork and seamless, linear layout narration would be an irritating redundancy.

After finishing the New X-Men Omnibus, I had the feeling of waking from a dream, suddenly aware of my physical surrounding for the first time in hours. Only when I emerged from Morrison's world did I realize how thoroughly it had absorbed me.

THE PUNK ROCKER OF COMICS IS IN FULL FORM! .......2007-02-27

The manifesto by the author in the extra features explains it all: Grant Morrison set out to jumpstart the X-Universe in a way that has rarely been seen before. He succeeds in leaps and bounds. Here, he has all the epic grandeur spawning from the teams 40+ year history. But instead of getting bogged down by all that past, he uses it as "window dressing" for great stories about enormous characters.

HAVING THE WHOLE RUN IN ONE COLLECTION IS A DREAM COME TRUE! The oversized, glossy pages are gorgeous, and this is definitely worth the price tag.

And finally, the thing I like best about Morrison, is he made it suck to be a mutant again. For too long, Mutants were mostly beautiful people filling out sexy spandex that were "cursed" by their gifts. Wah. Characters like beak (a scrawny chicken-boy) and Three-Faced John make it easy to see why mutants are outcast, and that's what makes them so interesting.

p.s. I took off a star cause i'm not the biggest Frank Quietly fan.

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Other Books
The greatest tale of batman
Not For Me (...and possibly not for you)
One of the great graphic novels of our generation
It's either this or Alan Moore's Watchmen

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Frank Miller
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1563893428

Amazon.com

Miller went far beyond the call of duty. The Dark Knight is a success on every level. Firstly it does keep the core elements of the Batman myth intact, with Robin, Alfred the butler, Commissioner Gordon, and the old roster of villains, present yet brilliantly subverted. Secondly the artwork is fantastic--detailed, sometimes claustrophobic, psychotic. Lastly it's a great story: Gotham City is a hell on earth, street gangs roam but there are no heroes. Decay is ubiquitous. Where is a hero to save Gotham? It is 10 years since the last recorded sighting of the Batman. And things have got worse than ever. Bruce Wayne is close to being a broken man but something is keeping him sane: the need to see change and the belief that he can orchestrate some of that change. Batman is back. The Dark Knight has returned. Awesome. --Mark Thwaite

Book Description

If any comic has a claim to have truly reinvigorated the genre, then The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller--known also for his excellent Sin City series and his superb rendering of the blind superhero Daredevil--is probably the top contender. Batman represented all that was wrong in comics and Miller set himself a tough task taking on the camp crusader and turning this laughable, innocuous children's cartoon character into a hero for our times. The great Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, the arguably peerless Watchmen) argued that only someone of Miller's stature could have done this. Batman is a character known well beyond the confines of the comic world (as are his retinue) and so reinventing him, while keeping his limiting core essentials intact, was a huge task.Miller went far beyond the call of duty. The Dark Knight is a success on every level. Firstly it does keep the core elements of the Batman myth intact, with Robin, Alfred the butler, Commissioner Gordon, and the old roster of villains, present yet brilliantly subverted. Secondly the artwork is fantastic--detailed, sometimes claustrophobic, psychotic. Lastly it's a great story: Gotham City is a hell on earth, street gangs roam but there are no heroes. Decay is ubiquitous. Where is a hero to save Gotham? It is 10 years since the last recorded sighting of the Batman. And things have got worse than ever. Bruce Wayne is close to being a broken man but something is keeping him sane: the need to see change and the belief that he can orchestrate some of that change. Batman is back. The Dark Knight has returned. Awesome. --Mark Thwaite

Customer Reviews:

Other Books.......2007-09-03

Well, it really doesn't get any better than this. I was hooked on hits from the first time I saw the cover image in a comic shop.

The news media scenes now, are pretty much right out of today, with screaming pundits on the television, American style.

The fascism and violence prompts Bruce Wayne out of retirement. Heartened by the assistance of a young girl, he plans his strategy.

He has one major obstacle.

Superman, who is now a covert special forces operative lapdog.

The greatest tale of batman.......2007-08-14

This book tells the return of Batman in an future where Gotham City is in peace but sudenly appears a new threat, mutants, and they are powerfull and they work like a gang of destruction, you will see the Joker, Superman, Catwoman, Two Face, etc all of them older, cracier and pitiless. Fank Miller give power to the history he is a genius, and the drawing is strange but with a lot of impact and action. If you like batman, you must have this book, and if you never read a batman comic, then when you read this one you will change your mind.

Not For Me (...and possibly not for you).......2007-08-06

I will start by saying that I have enjoyed DC Comics and their heroes for almost twenty-five years. In particular, I have always loved reading about Batman, Robin, NightWing, and anything that was related to the Gotham crime fighting circuit. I couldn't believe that after all these years, I had yet to read what was regarded as one of the best graphic novels of all time. While on vacation this summer, I decided it was time to finally read this classic.

First, the artwork doesn't appeal to me. I know others love it and will defend how wonderful it is. That's fine, it just doesn't suit my tastes and I can get over it provided the story is good. So, is the story good? It's okay. I can definitely see why other people like it, and I appreciate the different approach Miller took to the time and setting, I felt that it was too over the top though. I found myself wondering if this was suppose to be ten years after Bruce's retirement, or forty. I also didn't care for some of the assumptions that are made throughout the story in regards to several characters' pasts. The development and appearance of "Robin" in this novel was weak and pointless, other than to provide a cheap reason for an event (that I won't spoil) that takes place near the conclusion of the book.

Finally, I felt like the book drug on way too long. The brutality of Gotham City and the Bruce Wayne vs. Batman ego struggle was beat to death in my opinion. I could have cared less about the politics of Gotham, which also was repeated time and time again. I didn't feel as though there was a decent balance between those storylines and the ones involving Two Face and Joker.

To wrap this up, I will be honest and say that I did not enjoy this masterpiece the way almost everyone else has. The futuristic story and excessively "dark" setting feel like paths I've been down too many times in too many other books. I am glad though that most seem to have enjoyed the story, it just isn't for everyone.

One of the great graphic novels of our generation.......2007-08-01

A friend of mine let me borrow his copy of this and I read the whole thing straight through. Now a year or so later I am buying The Watchmen and this book comes up as recommended. I can't help but buy it. Frank Miller paints an incredible revision of the idea of Batman. His art and story flow so well together. This book has helped to re-define the current definition of a graphic novel. I can't recommend this enough.

It's either this or Alan Moore's Watchmen.......2007-07-25

This is without a doubt, one of the finest graphic novels you will probably ever read, if not the absolute best. If you ask me, this is as honest a portrayal of Batman/ Bruce Wayne as we're ever going to get. A vigilante in every sense of the word, this older, darker Batman is preoccupied with his age and the persistent belief that he can die at any given moment. There's a believability to his internal thoughts and actions that strikes one as being completely realistic. I think that's what makes this project work so well, the fact that all of the characterizations in the book are spot on and make perfect sense. The Joker is a homicidal maniac, not some clown. Commissioner Gordon is a man who's been around for a long time and knows that once they get him out of his position, there may be no one else who can keep Batman out of trouble. Superman becomes a weapon for the government. Some other familiar faces show up and some may or may not be how you remember them to be but Miller manages to keep everything fresh and interesting.

The art takes a little getting used to but I think for the most part it works. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole mutant gang thing but those are my only trifles with the book.

In the end, I feel that this is the best Batman story I've ever read or will ever read.

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things get a little nuts for Ultimate Spider-man
Bendis and Bagley pour it on for issue #100 of "Ultimate Spider-Man"

Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 17: Clone Saga
Brian Michael Bendis
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785119280

Book Description

As Peter Parker tries to sort out his relationship with the X-Men's Kitty Pryde - and continue his friendship with Mary Jane - a mall-food-court lunch turns into a free-for-all as Peter and MJ are interrupted by the debut of... the Ultimate Scorpion! But who is the Scorpion - and what sinister conspiracy is threatening Spider-Man's very existence? The clues have been laid over the past 96 issues... and it all starts to come together here, as we begin the most shocking, most mind-blowing Spider-Man story ever published! Collects Ultimate Spider-Man #97-104.

Customer Reviews:

things get a little nuts for Ultimate Spider-man.......2007-09-11

More than any previous TPB, the clone saga proves that the Ultimate Spider-man comics are not about regurgitating the original Spider-man characters and plots. The Scorpion and even Dock Ock featured in the Clone Saga are not at all the same characters conceived in the 1960s. The Mary Jane, Gwen Stacy, and Aunt May are also very different characters than we would expect from the mainstream Spider-man universe, and they have very different relationships with Peter Parker. This is not at all a bad thing. It means that instead of grasping at someone else's vision, Brian Michael Bendis is telling the story that to him and his present-day audience is fresh and meaningful.

Don't get me wrong, though. This is still good comic book fun, with all the ludicrous, over-the-top twists and turns the genre implies; in fact, it is even more extremely so. But if you are the kind of person that can suspend your sense of disbelief for a little bit and enjoy some pure entertainment, it doesn't get better than the Clone Saga.

Penciller Mark Bagley is in top form here--there are some truly steller panels in this TPB. As Bagley leaves Ultimate Spider-man for other projects, his contributions to Ultimate Spider-man, and especially his work in the Clone Saga, will not be forgotten.

Bendis and Bagley pour it on for issue #100 of "Ultimate Spider-Man".......2007-04-05

I approached the "Clone Saga" that makes up "Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 17" with great trepidation. After all, it was the cloning plotlines that became for me where "The Amazing Spider-Man" jumped the shark and I stopped reading it and the rest of Marvel's Spider-Man titles. Then there is the way that writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mark Bagley have consistently come up with creative twists and turns on the original Spider-Man stories, which becomes an additional concern when you are getting up to issue #100 of "Ultimate Spider-Man" because the first time around Stan Lee came up with Peter Parker creating a formula so he would no longer be Spider-Man and it backfired, ironically making him more like a spider by giving him two additional pairs of arms. So you link "Spider-Man" and "clones," and I start getting really nervous.

"Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 17: Clone Saga" collects issues #97-104 (which means it does not include #105 containing the epilogue). At this point Peter is dating Kitty Pryde and since everybody knows her identity as Shadowcat, when she is seen romantically with Spider-Man that means Kitty cannot be seen dating Peter. However, the fact that Peter is still seeing Mary Jane is driving Kitty crazy: what she calls "hanging out" he calls "going to school together." Their relationship is not helped when MJ drags Peter to the mall so they can talk and he can get back on his game and Ultimate Scorpion shows up and a fight ensues. The ante is upped considerably when Spider-man unmasks the Scorpion and sees his own face looking back at him. Meanwhile, MJ is suddenly abducted from her own bedroom. Spider-Man takes the unconscious Scorpion to the Baxter Building so that Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four can run tests. The results show a 94.2% DNA match with Peter Parker and now the fun begins in earnest.

Bendis and Bagley really pour it on in this story line. In addition to the debut of the Ultimate Scorpion we have the first appearance of the Ultimate Spider-Woman, the "return" of Gwen Stacy, and another even more surprising appearance by somebody who is supposed to be dead. When Aunt May finds Peter and the late Gwen Stacy in her kitchen you figure that things could not be getting any more complicated, but it does, and all before we actually get to issue #100. We still have Ultimate Carnage, Ultimate Six-Armed Spider-Man in a Black Costume, and Ultimate Kaine (sort of), so there are more than enough clones to shake a stick at in this story arc. The net result is, in a word, excessive. I have not yet listed all of the clones let alone all of the major players that make up the "Clone Saga." In these issues Bendis and Bagley get to one of the landmark moments in the history of Spider-Man and because it happens in the middle of everything else that is going on the effect is rather diminished. Or maybe I was just numb after reeling from all of these things being dumped on our young hero.

One of the strengths of "Ultimate Spider-Man" has been the use of multi-issue story arcs so that Bendis and Bagley do not have to come up with a different villain each month (that is how you end up with the likes of the Terrible Tinkerer). If you count multi-part stories in "The Amazing Spider-Man," the Scorpion also showed up in the 17th Spider-Man story, which was issue #20, towards the end of the second year of Lee and Steve Ditko's run on the title. Taking multiple issues to tell a story involving Spider-Man versus the Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus or whoever, allows for more depth in the story telling. Here the piling on of characters and plot lines provides a sense of density rather than depth. The "Clone Saga" is certainly ambitious, more comparable to the "Ultimate Six" mini-series than anything else, but I actually found it to be the least satisfying volume to date.

Next up is the Ultimate Knights story arc, which will be significant because it will be the last "Ultimate Spider-Man" stories drawn by Bagley, which has announced he would leaving the title with issue #110. This ends one of the longest continuous runs by a creative team on a Marvel comic book, technically beating the record set by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby on the "Fantastic Four" (I understand ignoring the "FF" annuals that would mean Bendis and Bagley fall short in number of stories, but anything in triple figures is impressive since we are talking eight-plus years of work). Of course, Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragones did ten years on "Groo the Wanderer" for Marvel, but the witless barbarian was never one of the flagship characters of the company.

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The Way To Go
Superb
Being teenagers is rough enough without having super villains for parents
Fantastic
A great adventure for readers of all ages

Runaways, Vol. 1
Brian K Vaughan
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785118764

Book Description

In Pride & Joy, six young friends discover their parents are all secretly super-powered villains! Finding strength in one another, the shocked teens run away from home and straight into the adventure of their lives - vowing to turn the tables on their evil legacy. In Teenage Wasteland, the Runaways find a kindred spirit in a daring young stranger and welcome him into their fold. But will this dashing young man help the teenagers defeat their villainous parents... or tear them apart? Plus: who do you send to catch a group of missing, runaway teenage super-heroes? Marvel's original teen runaway crimefighters, Cloak and Dagger, make their first major appearance in years! In The Good Die Young, the world as we know it is about to end, and the Runaways are the only hope to prevent it! Our fledgling teenage heroes have learned how their parents' criminal organization began, and now they must decide how it should end. As the Runaways' epic battle against their evil parents reaches its shocking conclusion, the team's mole stands revealed, and blood must be shed. Which kids will still be standing when the smoke finally clears?

Customer Reviews:

The Way To Go.......2007-09-27

For Runaways Fans: This is THE way to read Runaways. Under the attractive dust jacket, the cover is made up of a soft black vinyl material that is extremely durable. The book itself is huge, letting you appreciate the art in a way that it may not have been able to be appreciated in the original comics and the infinitely smaller digest trade paperbacks. Plus, the book is loaded with extras. We've got an introduction, sketches, a letter from Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, and the man who eventually takes over the writing duties of Runaways himself), and the actual proposal for the series by Brian K. Vaughan. Whether you're buying this because you want to get the most you can out of the series or because you're a fan wanting to own a true collectors item, this is more than worth the $[...]. Forget those tiny, manga-looking digests. THIS is the way to go.

For New Comers: Not too long ago, I was one of you. I'll help you make your decision. Have you read any of Brian K. Vaughan's previous work? Do you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Veronica Mars, Heroes, Supernatural, YA lit, or comics in general? Do you like quirk? How about a bit of geekery? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, give this book a try. It's a comic series worth getting into.

For Nay Sayers: The biggest complaint I'm hearing is that "Runaways" is 'too young' or 'too immature' for them. I say unto thee: the first issue left that impression on me as well. But read past it. Read between the lines, and a complex story will emerge through what seems simplistic. The mythology of the story (and the villainous "Pride") will grow, and the characters will have a sort of endearing depth to them. Give it another try, will you?

For Me: I loved this book. Eighteen issues of quirky, Young Adult, fantasy-drama written, pencilled, and colored beautifully is precisely what I was looking for when I purchased this book. My reviews for the individual six-issue arcs found in this book can be found HERE (Runaways Vol. 1: Pride and Joy, (No Link Here For #2, So Here's The URL:) [...], and Runaways Vol. 3: The Good Die Young). The only problem I had with this book was finding a shelf big enough for it to fit in!

9/10

Superb.......2007-09-12

This is one of the best comics series I've ever read (I'm 34 and a longtime comics reader). It is simply great. If you are familiar with the Marvel universe, you should like it even more.

Being teenagers is rough enough without having super villains for parents.......2007-05-14

I picked up this collection of the original eighteen issues of "Runaways" because on a recent visit to my local comic book store I learned that Joss Whedon was now scripting the title. I had never read "Runaways," but since I was already reading "Astonishing X-Men" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight," the other two comics that Whedon was scripting for Marvel, I picked up issue #25 of the title. The problem, of course, is that I have never read "Runaways," even though it was the 2006 Harvey Award Winner for Best Continuing Series. Marvel published a one-shot comic "Runaways Saga," obviously intended for readers like me who have come late to the party, that recaps all of the 42-issues by Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona (Volumes 2 and 3 of "Runaways" has the next two dozen issues). But "Saga" is like a string of 42 "previous on 'Runaways'" segments and since it is relatively easy to get the entire run of pre-Whedon "Runaways" that was what I decided to do (Besides, I read "Saga" and apparently retained none of it by the time I got Volume 1 and read it).

The Runaways are six teenagers who meet each year at an annual gathering of their parents, only this time they manage to spy on what is happening and see the ritual sacrifice of a young girl. Figuring out that their parents must be super villains of some type, calling themselves the Pride, the teenagers run away, discovering in the process their unique abilities, which they then plan to use to bring their parents to justice. Finding out about the kids and their powers is half the fun, so there is no reason to give everything away. Suffice it to say that some of the powers are relatively basic, but a couple are quite interesting, especially the one with the mystical Staff of One. There is an interesting wrinkle is that the parents of each of the Runaways are unique, from time-travelers, aliens and criminal bosses to mutants, mad scientists, and dark wizards, which has significant implications for the Runaways.

Actually, it seems nobody calls them the Runaways; at this point they are simply the children of the Pride, and my biggest reservation about this story is when we find out what is up with Pride. That "deal" is strange enough, but then the Pride's twist on the original deal is where I started rolling my eyes and asking myself a lot of questions: Would the Gibborim allow this reinterpretation of the deal? Do humans, mutants, and aliens granted immortality age or do they stay the same age--adult or teenager--forever? Are they prohibited from being fruitful and multiplying? Do not ask me what this has to do with the Celestials, Galactus, the dread Dormammu and every other extraordinarily powerful creature in the Marvel Universe, because it would only make my head explode, and realize that these questions will not make sense until you read these stories.

Ultimately, the problems with the back story on the Pride does not matter because the big appeal with these comic books is that this is a group of teenage superheroes. This makes them distinct from both the pre-adolescents of Power Pack and because they are going after their "rents" they are devoid of a mentor like the X-Men had with Professor X. Being mentored matter because these kids are still a step away from being novices, as opposed to the Teen Titans, who at least in their original instantiation were all superhero sidekicks. The Runaways squabble a lot more than the Merry Mutants ever did (although I suppose a lot of what they do is better qualified as whining). When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby came up with the Fantastic Four the idea of a bickering group of superheroes was a radical notion, but Vaughn and Alphona get to deal with puberty, hormones, and a telepathic velociraptor. The genesis for the Runaways was the idea that while superheroes from Superman to Spider-Man had total respect for their (foster) parents, most teenagers are playing out some primordial death match with their parents (Pick your complex: Oedipus, Elektra, or mix and match as necessary). Besides, the Runaways have a pretty good excuse for disobeying their parents.

"Runaways" is also different in two other significant ways from your regular superhero comic books. The first is that it takes place in Malibu, which means this is off the beaten path when it comes to superheroes. Cloak and Dagger show up, not because this is their turf, but because being a runaway is something that they know about. So this comic takes place in the Marvel Universe in much the same way as "Tomb of Dracula" and "Man-Thing," where a superhero might show up from time to time, but that is the exception rather than the rule. The second difference is that the pacing of these comics is similar to the television show "24." Issue #1 starts at 6:01 p.m. on Day One and by issue #12 we are at 12:26 a.m. on Day Four; so that initial story takes place over the span of 54 hours. Issue #9 takes place over the span of 22 minutes. Issue #13 jumps ahead a week, and then #14-17 covers an evening and night of the same day, and then #18 is an epilogue that takes place later. I am not totally enamored with the results, but there is enough here that is intriguing enough to justify rounding up, and I think that with the different situation that will present the Runaways in Volume 2 things can only get better, which would explain the aforementioned Harvey Award. Plus, Joss Whedon likes it enough to do six issues.

Fantastic.......2007-05-06

Brian K Vaughan has done it again. Just when you thought he couldn't get any better, he does, and he gives us Runaways. This 18 issue volume is quite the page turner, filled with plot twists, comic book cliches (which are humorously made fun of to no end), and the freshest group of characters in the Marvel Universe. Six teenagers (Alex, Nico, Karolina, Chase, Gert, and 11 year old Molly) discover that their parents are actually evil crimelords who control almost all of LA. They decide to Runaway and put a stop to their parents evildoings. BKV cleverly plays off classic teenager attitudes and puts them in a comic book world. The art is also amazing. Adrian Alphona has a unique and attractive style that can be summed up as simply beautiful. And his teenagers actually look like teenagers, which is rare for comic books, where most characters are adults. Part of the draw to this book is that it is set in LA, a place in the Marvel Universe that doesn't have many super heroes or villains. So we get a fresh setting, fresh art, fresh characters, fresh stories, and an amazing time overall.

A great adventure for readers of all ages.......2007-04-10

I am not a serious comic fan. I own about three dozen graphic novels, which is a lot compared to the average American, but paltry compared to serious comic fans. But I can't imagine many not loving this story about six young kids who become runaways when they realize their parents are super villains. It is set very much within the Marvel comic universe. Captain America appears briefly and there is mention of the Avengers. Also, one of the six kids is a mutant of the X-Men variety. But the story is not at all dependent on any in depth knowledge of the Marvel pantheon of heroes and in fact having such knowledge won't actually add much to the enjoyment of the story.

I want especially to recommend the book to parents of children. I deeply regret that this wasn't around when my daughter was young and we were still reading books together. There are a couple of bits that might be disturbing to very small children, but I would have felt comfortable reading this with my daughter when she was 8 or 9. The book is especially good for girls, because in an unusual alignment, four of the six kids are girls and in fact both the oldest and the youngest are female. A girl of 10 would really identify with Molly aka Bruiser (though she would prefer to be called Princess Powerful), an eleven-year-old mutant with super human strength (though upon using it she always has to take a nap afterwards). But I don't want to mislead and suggest that this is mainly or even primarily for kids. This is an "all ages" book in the best possible sense. An adult of 60 could easily enjoy this as much as a child of 16.

This is certainly a nonstandard collection of heroes. I've mentioned Molly. Karolina Dean is the oldest, the child of two famous actors who in fact are aliens from another world. Karolina aka Lucy in the Sky turns out to have remarkable powers based on her ability to channel the energy in sunlight. Alex is not gifted with any powers, but is a master of strategy and tactics and a brilliant prodigy. Chase is your the dimmest bulb of the bunch, but uses his parents' fistigons, metal gloves that spew out fire. He is given the name Talkback by the others. Nico aka Sister Grimm has taken possession of her mother's Staff of One, with which she can cast any spell, but only one time. Gertrude aka Arsenic has no powers, but is the recipient of a velociraptor who is tied to her DNA and who responds to her telepathically whom she names Old Lace. (The first volume never addresses the question of precisely what Old Lace eats to stay alive.) The wonderful twist is that one of these heroes is in fact a mole and still faithful to the Pride, the super gang formed by their parents.

I can't recommend this volume strongly enough. It is a wonderfully fresh take on the idea of the superhero. Creator Brian K. Vaughan went on to write two more volumes of their adventures and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER creator Joss Whedon is now continuing it (though I feel compelled to add that as much as I love what Joss is doing with the X-Men, the Runaways, and his continuation of BUFFY in comic book form, I would really like to see him get back to TV).

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