read Ten Grand #1, and loved it!!!

When I picked up my stash this week, as I dropped the pile on the counter with Ten Grand #1 at the top, the guy behind the counter tapped on its cover and told me what an excellent book this was. Well, after reading it twice I think that it's not an excellent book....it's so much better than that!!!

Nice cover, but doesn't do the interiors justice

The premise this story is of Joe Fitzgerald, a former Mob hitman who, after being sent on a job to kill the wrong guy, is killed along with the love of his life, Laura. However, given his past, he isn't going to end up in the same place as her after death , so an angel offers him a deal; be resurrected after death time and again to kill monsters and after every death he will get five minutes to spend with his girl. And so, this issue opens to find that this is his life but, after taking on a job for his standard fee of Ten Grand (hence the title), he discovers the monster he is after is the same one that killed him that first time.

Now, when a book is created by J. Michael Straczynski and Ben Templesmith you expect it to be good but, for me, this was something truly special to read. Built from what seems like such a simple idea, the character of Joe Fitzgerald is so engrossing and feels almost realistic in how he's portrayed while the story feels like the perfect splicing of a crime thriller and a supernatural horror in its execution. What makes this book truly special is Templesmith's art, which has a dirty, disturbing, very sleepy hollow-esque look to it that makes as much sense here as it did with Fell (oh, how I miss that book), Templesmith is top of my list of favourite writers and this book shows just why that is.

I have a rule that I will pick up a book on a regular basis only after I've read the first issue. I think it's a good rule because you never know whether a book will worth the time or not. However, with Ten Grand #1 I think I should have ignored my rule and put it on my pull list straight from the get go. This is by far the best first issue of a new book that I've read and feel guilty that I hadn't shown it more faith. Hopefully, my getting issues 2, 3 and beyond will make up for that.

Loves Free Comic Book Day

So, today was one of the best days in the comic book calender. This isn't because I got to collect my books for the week (although, that was a mostly sweet event; mostly because, sadly, there weren't enough issues of Snapshot #4 in stock for me), but because, the first Saturday of May is a worldwide event known as Free Comic Book Day!!

Now, Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is basically what it says on the tin; a chance to pick up certain comic books for the cost of nothing! Now, in my opinion, this is a great event because of its draw of new customers to shops, because people who aren't regulars in Comic book stores throughout the world, hell, even those who have never picked up a comic book, can go down to their local shop and pick a varied collection of works to help figure out if they like it and what they like, and this can only be a good thing (if only to keep great series with limited readership from getting the chop).

My free comic books

And so, while I picked up my regular stash, I grabbed some of these free comic books (after some persuasion) which was made up of the following:-
Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell - Now, in truth, this isn't my thing and so didn't read (I know, very wrong of me)
Infinity - Now this prelude to the Marvel event made me tempted on the main book when it comes along, but what interested me more was the preview of the new Warren Ellis Avengers book towards the back.
The Walking Dead - Now this was a nice read. It was nice to see other (pivotal) characters from the series given a sort of origin story
Beware the Batman - This one was a little more interesting than anticipated, given it's more for kids. That said, the Teen titans Go section didn't appeal to me for just that reason.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Now this was very fun (given that it's too light to be true Turtles) and has me tempted on getting the series.
Superman - This was issue 1 of the Lost Son story(which I've read) and so I skipped it. Is a good book though.
Star Wars - A fun read of what was essentially a preview book for many new Dark Horse titles. Most those stories I like (the Last Airbender was not one of those I liked).
Judge Dredd - Though it was nice to read a Dredd book, unfortunately, this one didn't do much to get me on board more permanently.

Now, in hindsight, I wish that Image had offered more of the anthology type freebies instead of just the Walking Dead FCB just so I could see some of what they plan to release in the future that I might want to pick up. However, I still think that the day did what was required and provided good material to help lead new readers into some of these books. But now I've read all this, it's time to get on with the stash that I paid for.

....Gets ready for the Bristol Expo!!!

Hurrah!!! So, after a week or so of umming and arring, last night i finally (after much nudging and convincing) got around to buying my tickets for this years Bristol Comic Expo. However, with arranging my attendance out of the way, now comes the hard work; getting ready to actually attend!! In fairness, this shouldn't be as hard as I make it out to sound, seeing as accomadation and food are pretty easy to arrange (in-laws providing both makes it easier). However, the trouble with getting ready to attend one of these things is, for me, what exactly do I take with me on the day(s)?

Now, the big issue regarding what to take is what comimc books do I want signed and in truth, this isn't too big an issue. Having gone through the list of guest on the Expo's books, I (unfortunately) don't have work for a great number of them (although I am angry at myself for getting rid of my Gears of War comics, which were pencilled by attendee Henry Flint), but I do have some and while most of what I do have is easy to select (although, should I take my Batman: The Killing Joke hardcover to be signed John Higgins?), I have one creator of which I just cannot decide upon; Paul Cornell!

Now, I met Mr Cornell back at Kapow 2011 and got a couple of Capt Britain issues signed, but since then he's had a few more books come out and so the options I've given myself are;
Captain Britain and MI:13 #1 - which I now have (after much searching) the 1st print original cover, as well as two of it's variants.
Demon Knights #1 - which has been an awesome series and just feel to get it signed gives it greater respect.
Stormwatch #1 - I didn't enjoy the book in honesty, but I have it and as it's not part of a ongoing series I don't feel as much of worry if it gets signed.
Action Comics #890 - Now this book I bought after Cornell himself suggested I did so it feels like taking this one is the way to go to validate that he made a good suggestion.
Action Comics #900 - It's a milestone issue, I'd be crazy not to get it signed. Right?

Luckily, I've still got a week to decide, but that's not long enough for a man who is incredibly indecisive to make this kind of decision. In truth it makes me kinda wish he was a bad writer, because I might not have as many options. Oh well, at the end of the day I could take them all and make a snap decision when the time comes. But first things first, I should makes sure the tickets arrive in my inbox before worrying about what I do when I get there.