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 SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
Deathstroke #23 (DC Comics)
There are deficits to this issue -- let's say that up front. The ending could be stronger, and there's a long "accusation of a parent" shtick that didn't work as well as the one before it. However, the chess-like moves of the lead character, engaged in double-edged heroism for profit are extremely enjoyable. The Christopher Priest script wades in the worst elements of human behavior while the stunning visuals from Diogenes Neves, Jason Paz, Jeromy Cox and Willie Schubert make every engaging moment leap off the page. Challenging but engaging work.
Cyborg #16 (DC Comics)
Jump from the Read Pile. This issue celebrates the recent 100th birthday of Jack Kirby in a huge way, revealing that a series of seemingly disconnected narratives comprised an entire storyline that culminates here. The ideas here are big -- really, really big -- and give you a look at the DC universe that's truly novel and interesting. John Semper's script is a Cory Doctorow dream, and the jaw-dropping visuals from Allan Jefferson, Will Conrad, Wayne Faucher, Ivan Nunes and Rob Leigh will stop you in your tracks. This is a very pleasant surprise, delivering some concepts that make the titular character a true power player.
WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS?
Not bad, not bad ...
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THIS WEEK'S READ PILE
Honorable Mentions: Stuff worth noting, even if it's not good enough to buy
Batman #30 is vexing. On one hand, it's amazingly well crafted, with tension and action and solid dialogue. On the other hand, its plot makes next to no sense, with an alliance that baffles and a tactical application of force that seems enormously easy to counter. Kite Man continues to develop as a rich, full character (which is amazing and strange, in the same way Catman became a thing) but the events surrounding him are baffling.
Inhumans Once And Future Kings #2 is intriguing, coming very close to making it home. Black Bolt, Maximus and Medusa follow an "alpha primitive" to New York, only to have the foundations of their society questioned. Along the way, Karnak quotes Victor Hugo, Gorgon brings the pain and the CW approach to the science fiction characters had some appeal despite some lagging plot moments.
Justice League #28 had some great moments that showed why Superman is the enduring icon beloved the world over. The plot, however, was glacial, and the threat remained wholly amorphous.
No, just ... no ... These comics? Not so much ...
Re: Iceman #5. Bobby Drake may be an omega-level mutant, but he cannot freeze the speed of light. That's not how any of this works. Aside from a truly pointless Juggernaut fight, that takes the reader out of the issue.
SO, HOW BAD WAS IT?
"Freeze the speed of light?" Sheesh.
WINNERS AND LOSERS
The jump made the week work out so let's say this was a thin win.
THE BUSINESS
If you'll be at Wizard World Nashville, you can get 10 percent off admission and a chance to check indie artist sensation Quinn McGowan.
The writer of this column writes two weekly web superhero comics: Menthu: The Anger of Angels and Project Wildfire: Street Justice -- free every week. Can't beat "free."
The writer of this column isn't just a jerk who spews his opinions -- he writes stuff too. A lot. Like what? You can get Irrational Numbers: Addition (a supernatural historical fiction saga with vampires), Project Wildfire: Enter Project Torrent (a collected superhero web comic), 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, a story in Watson and Holmes Volume 2 co-plotted by 2 Guns creator Steven Grant, two books from Stranger Comics -- Waso: Will To Power and the sequel Waso: Gathering Wind (the tale of a young man who had leadership thrust upon him after a tragedy), or Fathom Sourcebook #1, Soulfire Sourcebook #1, Executive Assistant Iris Sourcebook #1 and Aspen Universe Sourcebook, the official guides to those Aspen Comics franchises. 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!