This doesn't really have any impact on anyone, but with a week to go before True Believers Comic Festival takes place again, I just thought I'd spend a bit of time to ramble and vent.
(Not that venting is the right word as it denotes anger.)
So, I'm not attending this year. Since True Believers started in 2015, I have attend it's opening year, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Therefore, this'll be the first time since the convention began that I won't be there.
It's kind of heart breaking when you think about it.
I love going to True Believers!! In the last four years, I've met so many great creators and with each visit not only do I meet more but I get to see loads of people I call my friends. the Locks, the Angells, the Boyles, Matt Garvey, Andy Bloor, Mike Garley, the ACP, Sam Webster, the list goes on and on. Also, I get to walk amongst literally hundreds of people who are just like me; there to get comics and love them to the nth degree. You've no idea how positively life-affirming it is to be in that kind of atmosphere.
Also, the guy who runs it, Stuart Mulrain, is absolutely awesome!! Last year, I bought a necklace for my wife which turned out to be broken. Stuart helped me track down the vendor and I was able to get it sorted. Therefore, I will always have much respect for Stuart after that.
However, this year I just can't go, although the reasons I can't are in no way bad things or to be blamed. As I think I've mentioned previously when I restarted blogging, my wife and I are expecting our second child. This is great news, naturally, but it also means I need to stay home as carrying a child AND chasing a 2 year old is hard work (it is to me and I only do one of those things). Therefore, I can't in good conscience go off gallivanting and leave my wife to hold the fort.
The other reason is that I'm flat broke, having spent all my money on baby equipment and counselling for myself. And because every year I go to TBCF I end up going way over my budget for comics I can buy, I'm not sure I'd have the strength to stick to my £0 budget this year, or remind myself that I don't have anymore space to get more books.
I fear I've made it sound like I've been forced into not going and nothing could be further from the truth. I'm an adult (sadly) and it's my decision to skip this year, but I have to confess that I do wish my life was in a bit more of a stable footing (i.e. more money, an extra month until due date) to allow me to go.
True Believers is a great day! Always has been and I don't see any reason why it won't be again.
Therefore, if you are going, do me a favour and enjoy every second of it!! (Oh, and let me know what you buy :-) )
Monday, 28 January 2019
Monday, 21 January 2019
Marvel 2-in-1 Vol. 1: Fate of the Four
Now this might end up being something of a biased post today as, if you don't already know this about me, I'm quite the Fantastic Four fan.
However, (shock horror) Marvel 2-in 1 is FANTASTIC!!!!
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
So, during my 'time off' last year, I found myself a little bit of money and so went down to my LCS and picked up two trades; God Country and the first volume of Marvel 2-in-1.
For the uninitiated, Marvel 2-in-1 follows the remnants of the Fantastic Four; Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) and Ben Grimm (the Thing) as they try to get on with their lives in the wake of Secret Wars and the rest of their family going missing. However, when the Infamous Iron Man appears to present Ben with his 'inheritance' from Reed, the pair begin an adventure to across the multiverse in the (possibly) vain hope of finding their family.
To be honest, this is (once again. I think it's a problem I have) a vague and/or simplistic description to what goes on but it would take me forever to write a more specific synopsis (by then you could have read the thing). However, regardless of the length of my description, it wouldn't change just how much I loved this!!!
I thought that 2-in1 was a truly awesome read, with Zdarsky seemingly channelling the spirit of the Waid/Wieringo run (without doubt the best run I've read on the book) with unflinchingly fantastic accuracy. Marvel 2-in-1 really felt like the Fantastic Four book which I've been deprived of for years now (maybe even more so that Slott's new run) as practically every page felt like it was quintessential FF.
What made me think that in particular was just how well I felt Doom and Ben were both written throughout the arc. Indeed, all of the characters were well written and enjoyable and exactly how I think they should be, but when it came to Ben and Doom, both sounded exactly as they should in my head as I was reading. Doom in particular was a phenomenal representation, feeling just like Doom should despite his more heroic notions, and has convinced me to check out Infamous Iron Man at some point (a series I had previously disregarded).
Meanwhile, Jim Cheung's art is just so perfectly fitting for this book and these characters that it makes me sad that we won't be seeing him on the proper book, especially with how awesome he makes the cosmic bits look. In fact, the fact that Zdarsky and Cheung weren't tasked with the return of the FF proper is something I consider criminal (and I like the Slott run, so far). However, the pair try an cram plenty of references to the first family here (my favourite has to be the reference to all Human Torch actors at the start), so I guess I should be happy I got them to work on something close to the real thing.
In the end, there was absolutely nothing wrong with this trade as I read through (although, I did say I might be biased). It was a fantastic patch to get me through missing the 'greatest comic magazine' and, although I'm sad that the series has probably finished now, I am looking forward to volume two being released.
And only a month to go until then!!!
However, (shock horror) Marvel 2-in 1 is FANTASTIC!!!!
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
So, during my 'time off' last year, I found myself a little bit of money and so went down to my LCS and picked up two trades; God Country and the first volume of Marvel 2-in-1.
 |
| Marvel 2-in-1 Vol.1. Image from Comixology (because my photo was REALLY bad.) |
To be honest, this is (once again. I think it's a problem I have) a vague and/or simplistic description to what goes on but it would take me forever to write a more specific synopsis (by then you could have read the thing). However, regardless of the length of my description, it wouldn't change just how much I loved this!!!
I thought that 2-in1 was a truly awesome read, with Zdarsky seemingly channelling the spirit of the Waid/Wieringo run (without doubt the best run I've read on the book) with unflinchingly fantastic accuracy. Marvel 2-in-1 really felt like the Fantastic Four book which I've been deprived of for years now (maybe even more so that Slott's new run) as practically every page felt like it was quintessential FF.
What made me think that in particular was just how well I felt Doom and Ben were both written throughout the arc. Indeed, all of the characters were well written and enjoyable and exactly how I think they should be, but when it came to Ben and Doom, both sounded exactly as they should in my head as I was reading. Doom in particular was a phenomenal representation, feeling just like Doom should despite his more heroic notions, and has convinced me to check out Infamous Iron Man at some point (a series I had previously disregarded).
Meanwhile, Jim Cheung's art is just so perfectly fitting for this book and these characters that it makes me sad that we won't be seeing him on the proper book, especially with how awesome he makes the cosmic bits look. In fact, the fact that Zdarsky and Cheung weren't tasked with the return of the FF proper is something I consider criminal (and I like the Slott run, so far). However, the pair try an cram plenty of references to the first family here (my favourite has to be the reference to all Human Torch actors at the start), so I guess I should be happy I got them to work on something close to the real thing.
In the end, there was absolutely nothing wrong with this trade as I read through (although, I did say I might be biased). It was a fantastic patch to get me through missing the 'greatest comic magazine' and, although I'm sad that the series has probably finished now, I am looking forward to volume two being released.
And only a month to go until then!!!
Monday, 14 January 2019
Justice League: No Justice
Back at the beginning of December, when my birthday hit, I was gifted with a number of comic trades to sink my teeth into including the previously mentioned Batman: White Knight, Avengers Forever, the 3rd Volume of the New 52 Action Comics and Justice League: No Justice.
I recall when No Justice was first solicited I thought it a real temptation, and almost made my pull list until the realisation that it was a weekly event and not monthly. Therefore, it turned out to be a format that I could ill afford on my dwindling finances (not helped by the fact the weekly Star Trek: TNG: Through the Mirror mini-series had dropped the month before)
And so, when questions were asked by my family as to what I want for my birthday, I figured 'why not this. It looks cool.'
Thankfully, this moment of self-recommendation seems to have paid off as I did enjoy Justice League: No Justice.
The plot is relatively straightforward; in the aftermath of the Dark Nights: Metal storyline, the Justice League has broken the source wall (effectively the edge of the universe). As a result, four Titans (think DC's answer to Galactus) have been released with the sole intention of eating planets based on which of the four universal energies (Mystery, Wonder, Wisdom and Entropy) dominate it. Their first stop: Colu, the home of Brainiac. Therefore, Superman's villain recruit many of Earth's Finest and Worst to save first Colu and then the universe. Of course (in a nice George and Tony homage I noticed on Longbox Review), hilarity ensues.
Now, as I started this trade I did find myself a little concerned that this would be a book I'd be quickly reselling as it felt rather slow to get the ball rolling. In fact, I think the best way to describe the opening of No Justice is to say that it was missing an introduction or some sort of prologue which lead us to the point the story opens. In fairness, given how much it is referred to, I suspect that Dark Nights: Metal is actually that prologue. However, while the synopsis on the back makes mention of DN:M as having changed the galaxy, I hadn't expected a literal follow through and so I was a little annoyed that I needed to read that first (spoiler: I haven't read DN:M yet!)
However, as the story moved forward and I got more into it, I really started to get.....well, more into it! Justice League: No Justice then became this all action, epic movie-like event that I would expect from a JLA title (or even their counterparts at the House of Ideas) which really had me hooked more and more with each page turn.
I really enjoyed (almost) all the characters who appeared in this story (Damien Wayne still doesn't endear himself to me), with characters I love feeling like how I always view them in my head and some characters who do grate on me actually feeling likeable. What I loved most about the characters though were those who found themselves in kind of lead roles as both Martian Manhunter and Green Arrow both came across as the most pivotal to the story in my opinion, a decision which (if the case) I'm more than happy with.
That said, I was a little annoyed that the villains who took part in this 'adventure' weren't more villainous. E.g. Why did Lobo, the most mercenary of all the villains not ask for payment to be a 'hero?' I have to admit I thought it strange but, then again, many a movie has been ruined by thinking about a characters actions in a 'logical' manner. However, if this view had been included, Starro's presence would have allowed for a really awesome character arc. Oh well.
I love Francis Manapul's art (it was, admittedly, the sole reason I started picking up Trinity back when it came out) and really enjoyed his work on three of the four issues. His art had a very unique style this time around which I think was thanks to some more retro colours, giving the whole title a much more cosmic look. I missed this look when Riley Rossomo took over on issue 3, but his work was cool too and it wasn't a change which made or broke my feelings.
I've got to admit, while the ending hints at new, different stories to come in the DCU, reading this made me think that we reached that place already. This read completely different to any DC event I've read previously, but that's no bad thing.
So, although it went a bit slow to begin with for me, I still think it was worth the effort and makes me both excited and interested in the new Justice League and Justice League Dark (respectively) as well as a lot of other DC books.
Hopefully, I'll get access to some of them soon, somehow.
I recall when No Justice was first solicited I thought it a real temptation, and almost made my pull list until the realisation that it was a weekly event and not monthly. Therefore, it turned out to be a format that I could ill afford on my dwindling finances (not helped by the fact the weekly Star Trek: TNG: Through the Mirror mini-series had dropped the month before)
And so, when questions were asked by my family as to what I want for my birthday, I figured 'why not this. It looks cool.'
Thankfully, this moment of self-recommendation seems to have paid off as I did enjoy Justice League: No Justice.
The plot is relatively straightforward; in the aftermath of the Dark Nights: Metal storyline, the Justice League has broken the source wall (effectively the edge of the universe). As a result, four Titans (think DC's answer to Galactus) have been released with the sole intention of eating planets based on which of the four universal energies (Mystery, Wonder, Wisdom and Entropy) dominate it. Their first stop: Colu, the home of Brainiac. Therefore, Superman's villain recruit many of Earth's Finest and Worst to save first Colu and then the universe. Of course (in a nice George and Tony homage I noticed on Longbox Review), hilarity ensues.
 |
| Justice League: No Justice (in a very bad photo by me), which makes me think of the Battle for Bludhaven Infinite Crisis tie-in. |
However, as the story moved forward and I got more into it, I really started to get.....well, more into it! Justice League: No Justice then became this all action, epic movie-like event that I would expect from a JLA title (or even their counterparts at the House of Ideas) which really had me hooked more and more with each page turn.
I really enjoyed (almost) all the characters who appeared in this story (Damien Wayne still doesn't endear himself to me), with characters I love feeling like how I always view them in my head and some characters who do grate on me actually feeling likeable. What I loved most about the characters though were those who found themselves in kind of lead roles as both Martian Manhunter and Green Arrow both came across as the most pivotal to the story in my opinion, a decision which (if the case) I'm more than happy with.
That said, I was a little annoyed that the villains who took part in this 'adventure' weren't more villainous. E.g. Why did Lobo, the most mercenary of all the villains not ask for payment to be a 'hero?' I have to admit I thought it strange but, then again, many a movie has been ruined by thinking about a characters actions in a 'logical' manner. However, if this view had been included, Starro's presence would have allowed for a really awesome character arc. Oh well.
I love Francis Manapul's art (it was, admittedly, the sole reason I started picking up Trinity back when it came out) and really enjoyed his work on three of the four issues. His art had a very unique style this time around which I think was thanks to some more retro colours, giving the whole title a much more cosmic look. I missed this look when Riley Rossomo took over on issue 3, but his work was cool too and it wasn't a change which made or broke my feelings.
I've got to admit, while the ending hints at new, different stories to come in the DCU, reading this made me think that we reached that place already. This read completely different to any DC event I've read previously, but that's no bad thing.
So, although it went a bit slow to begin with for me, I still think it was worth the effort and makes me both excited and interested in the new Justice League and Justice League Dark (respectively) as well as a lot of other DC books.
Hopefully, I'll get access to some of them soon, somehow.
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