WHAT IS THE BUY PILE?

Every week Hannibal Tabu (winner of the 2012 Top Cow Talent Hunt/blogger/novelist/poet/jackass on Twitter/head honcho of Komplicated) grabs a whole lotta comics. These periodicals are quickly sorted (how) into two piles -- the "buy" pile (a small pile most weeks, comprised of planned purchases) and the "read" pile (often huge, often including comics that are really crappy but have some value to stay abreast of). Thursday afternoons you'll be able to get his thoughts (and they're just the opinions of one guy, so calm down, and here's some common definitions used in the column) about all of that ... which goes something like this ...

THE BUY PILE FOR JUNE 24, 2015

Transformers More Than Meets The Eye #42

(IDW Publishing)

This issue is hilarious and ridiculous and wonderful in many ways as two crews full of giant robots face a threat they barely understand. There are exactly two problems with this issue -- the ultimate resolution comes literally out of nowhere (even though what happens is greatly entertaining), and the art of the antagonist isn't the easiest to decipher. However, with one of Cybertron's greatest heroes out-speeching Optimus Prime, some great dance numbers (literal dance numbers) and some outstanding character development, it's all fun stuff even if it required some slightly contrived circumstances.

WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS?

Dancing robots. Awesome.

THIS WEEK'S READ PILE

Honorable Mentions: Stuff worth noting, even if it's not good enough to buy

When it first came out as part of Image's superhero revolution that also created "Invincible," "Venture" #1 was a cute twist on the Superman myth, positing Jimmy Olsen as an opportunist. This first issue hasn't suffered with time, establishing things well if being a little short on story. Good to see this gorgeous work back in print, though.

"Fight Club 2" #2 is twisted in revealing its true antagonist, but lacking the charisma and intensity of Tyler Durden is a deficit. Great art, decent riffs on the energy of the film, but not quite connecting as a single issue.

"Annihilator" #6 Is a high concept michegas, with metatextual references for its metatext. Drawn in LSD-influenced shades and carrying what could loosely be called a narrative skeleton, this book isn't bad, it's just driving in every possible lane, even on roads that have yet to be built. Another Grant Morrison musing, it's interesting to see just how it meanders and wobbles without ever falling down, but never managing grace in the effort.

"Grayson" #9 was a cute, stylish spy story about mistrust and scoundrel-ish behavior. However, for all its panache and style, it had about a thimble full of story. For the cost too pricy, but not bad.

The "Meh" Pile Not good enough to praise, not bad enough to insult, not important enough to say much more than the title

"Wayward" #9, "Transformers Windblade Combiner Wars" #4, "E Is For Extinction" #1, "Fade Out" #7, "Green Lantern The Lost Army" #1, "M.O.D.O.K. Assassin" #2, "Invisible Republic" #4, "Captain Midnight" #24, "Legacy Of Luther Strode" #2, "Superman" #41, "Black Hood" #5, "Sex" #22, "Loki Agent Of Asgard" #15, "Justice League 3001" #1, "Ant-Man Larger Than Life" #1, "Dead Squad Ayala Tal" #1, "S.H.I.E.L.D." #7, "Teen Titans" #9, "Sons Of The Devil" #2, "Tomb Raider" #17, "Solitary" #4, "Herald Lovecraft And Tesla" #4, "Southern Cross" #4, "Jem And The Holograms" #4, "Age Of Ultron Vs Marvel Zombies" #1, "Superman" #41, "Mulan Revelations" #1, "Spawn" #253, "Planet Hulk" #2, "Justice League 3001" #1, "Daredevil" #16, "G.I. JOE A Real American Hero" #215, "Deep State" #7, "Flash" #41, "Heart in a Box" #6, "Deathstroke" #7, "Doctor Who The Tenth Doctor" #12, "Thief Of Thieves" #29, "Infinity Gauntlet" #2, "Empire Uprising" #3, "Teen Titans" #9, "Punisher" #19, "Order Of The Forge" #3, "Tithe" #3, "Batgirl" #41, "Ninjak" #4, "We Are Robin" #1, "Orphan Black" #4, "Walking Dead" #143, "Aquaman" #41, "Korvac Saga" #1.

No, just ... no ... These comics? Not so much ...

Cool. Nothing sucked.

SO, HOW BAD WAS IT?

Any week when there were no legitimately bad books (although "Annihilator" tried) is not that bad.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

Slow going getting through the bulk of the "meh," but an inexpensive week where nothing sucks is nothing to complain about.

THE BUSINESS

As of right now, you can spend ten bucks and get about 175,000 words worth of fiction from the writer of this column. The links that follow tell you where you can get "The Crown: Ascension" and "Faraway," five bucks a piece, or spend a few more dollars and get "New Money" #1 from Canon Comics, the rambunctious tale of four multimillionaires running wild in Los Angeles, or "Fathom Sourcebook" #1 and "Soulfire Sourcebook" #1, the official guide to the Aspen Comics franchises. Too rich for your blood? Download the free PDF of "Cruel Summer: The Visual Mixtape." Love these reviews? It'd be great if you picked up a copy. Hate these reviews? Find out what this guy thinks is so freakin' great. There's free sample chapters too, and all proceeds to towards the care and maintenance of his kids ... oh, and to buy comic books, of course. There's also a bunch of great stuff -- fantasy, superhero stuff, magical realism and more -- available from this writer on Amazon. What are you waiting for? Go buy a freakin' book already!

Got a comic you think should be reviewed in The Buy Pile? If we get a PDF of a fairly normal length comic (i.e. "less than 64 pages") by no later than 24 hours before the actual issue arrives in stores (and sorry, we can only review comics people can go to stores and buy), we guarantee the work will get reviewed, if remembered. Physical comics? Geddouttahere. Too much drama to store with diminishing resources. If you send it in more than two days before comics come out, the possibility of it being forgotten increases exponentially. Oh, you should use the contact form as the CBR email address hasn't been regularly checked since George W. Bush was in office. Sorry!