December 2014 solicitations

So, December solicits came out this week and, for me it was a tough one. The reason for this was simple: when picking out comics I went nuts!!!! By the end of my first draft pick I had 23 issues of 19 different titles, an amount I don't think I've EVER had before. However, cooler heads have prevailed and the budgetier has chipped away and my list is the same as prior months.

The full list is as follows:-

Batgirl #37

Earth 2 #29

Earth 2: Worlds End #9-13

Fantastic Four #14

Daredevil #11

Alex + Ada #11

Copperhead #4

Lazarus #14

Of course, this is for a £30 budget and so circumstances may change, especially as my birthday and a Christmas occur in December, gaining me additional funds (or, at least hope they do). Should this extra cash appear then the above list is not all I hope to pick up, but I also intend to try and pick up the following:-

Secret Six #1 - I missed the last run of this book and have been kicking myself since. Well, it's back, Gail Simone is writing it again. I am not making the same mistake twice.

Constantine #20 - Constantine goes to Earth 2. I love Earth 2. Ergo, I'm buying this book (if I can).

Green Arrow #37 - I've heard terrific things about its Lemire run and, though it's got a new creative team, I'm curious to see if the quality has held.

Swamp Thing #37 - Been hearing rave reviews about the Futures End tie in (which I now hope to buy) and so if it is all that, I'd be interested to see what the series proper is all about.

And so, that is that. The second list is more of a wish list while the first is an absolute certainty, but hopefully I'll find some cash from somewhere so that what is on that second list can jump to the first.

Reviewing a bad comic book

So last week was a little gruelling for me as I was sent a recently released comic book to review (see the full review here) and, as much as I didn't really want to, I ending up giving said book a bad write up.

I've got to admit that I really hated doing this review because I didn't have a good word to say and was very tempted to just go to the editor and say "You know what? I can't do this one. Can you give me another?"

The reason for this is simple; I really dislike saying bad things about comic books!!

Now this isn't because all books I read are fantastic (wouldn't that make life simple?) but because it feels, in some way, that I'm berating the people behind its creation. I mean, who am I to discredit something which a writer, an artist, a colorist, a letterer and an editor have spent at least a month working on? It's not like I have 10 books lining the shelves or anything to show I know what I'm talking about.

That said, when I don't like something (and, god, did I not like this particular book) I am allowed, like everyone else, to voice my opinion. I just worry that it will be read and someone will think 'boy, this guy really doesn't like this person'. For me, it's never about the people who are making the books, it's just about what I'm reading.

Of course, that doesn't change my unease at giving a bad review, but then I guess it will never be that easy, though writing it down helps give my thought on the matter form. I just hope that, going forward, all these creators will just do me a massive favour..... and make their books that I review so incredibly fantastic.