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 MARCH 25, 2015
Nothing (No Publisher Mentioned)
After an exhaustive reading, there were two decent quotes in otherwise "meh" comics, but other than a new comic that can't be reviewed due to a conflict of interest, there's nothing that meets the standards of the column. Sorry.
WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS?
Ruh roh ...
THIS WEEK'S READ PILE
Honorable Mentions: Stuff worth noting, even if it's not good enough to buy
"Catwoman" #40 is a masterful tease, a symphony of build up and bated breath that ends with an anticlimax. This column has long felt Selina Kyle's ascension as mob boss would make a better prose novelization than sketchily depicted periodical, and that assertion holds.
"Solitary" #2 was an improvement over the not bad first issue as a super powered convict is caught in what has to be an unconstitutional application of criminal justice. Unlike when Frank Castle or Rorschach get sent to prison, this is not a grinning holiday of violence and sight gags, but instead an oppressive and cyclical punishment for someone who may be innocent. Well done but one heck of a downer.
"All-New Ghost Rider" #12 had wall-to-wall action and outstanding art, but an anticlimactic and somewhat pat ending. It's allegedly going to be back after "Secret Wars," but we'll see how this new status quo plays out.
"Chew" #47 had an effective and hilarious procedural portion from a decidedly unexpected source. However, the ongoing and underlying plot lines stalled with a false flag finale that seemed spurious. When this is on TV, we'll all say it's brilliant.
The "Meh" Pile Not good enough to praise, not bad enough to insult, not important enough to say much more than the title
"Effigy" #3, "Quantum And Woody Must Die" #3, "New Avengers" #32, "Wayward" #6, "Daredevil" #14, "Sinestro" #11, "Powers" #2, "Invincible" #118, "Captain Midnight" #21, "Batman Eternal" #51, "G.I. JOE Snake Eyes Agent Of Cobra" #3, "Legendary Star-Lord" #10, "Arkham Manor" #6, "Nightcrawler" #12, "Walking Dead" #139, "Jem And The Holograms" #1, "Deathlok" #6, "Justice League Dark" #40, "Matty's Rocket" #1, "Gotham Academy" #6, "PastAways" #1, "Elektra" #11, "He-Man The Eternity War" #4, "Uncanny X-Men" #32, "Wicked + The Divine" #9, "Transformers Windblade Combiner Wars" #1, "Red Lanterns" #40, "Valiant" #4, "Deathstroke" #6, "Guardians Of The Galaxy" #25, "Skullkickers" #31, "Curb Stomp" #2, "Infinity Man And The Forever People" #9, "D4VE" #2, "New 52 Futures End" #47, "Deadpool" #44, "Conan Red Sonja" #3, "Darth Vader" #3, "Thief Of Thieves" #27, "Guardians 3000" #6, "Flash" #40, "Inhuman" #13, "Tomb Raider" #14, "Secret Avengers" #14, "Batman And Robin" #40, "Miami Vice Remix" #1, "Earth 2 World's End" #25, "Nova" #28, "Bunker" #10, "Aquaman" #40, "Dream Police" #6, "Amazing X-Men" #18, "13 Coins" #6.
No, just ... no ... These comics? Not so much ...
"Multiversity Ultra Comics" #1 is kind of terrible. It really tries hard to be metatextual and clever, trying some creative narrative exercises, but despite bright, crisp artwork and a preponderance of ideas, the whole thing just falls apart on itself, even in its own words, and accomplishes nothing as a story. Stop it.
SO, HOW BAD WAS IT?
Uh ... it was aight ...
WINNERS AND LOSERS
No valid purchases, more "meh" than we wanted ... guh.
THE BUSINESS
Wanna know something funny? This column debuted on Comic Book Resources a little over nine years ago as of this month. We're already in to the tenth year at CBR (not counting the years on another site and done independently, dating back to 2003). It's an amazing honor to continue doing this work.
Oh, and in case you missed it, this columnist wrote "Soulfire Sourcebook" #1, on stands and available digitally as of this week, a great looking book from the wonderful team at Aspen Comics.
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, the official guide to the flagship franchise for Aspen Comics. 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!