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 7, 2018

Rise Of The Black Panther #3 (Marvel Comics)

Jump from the Read Pile. The word you're looking for here -- and truthfully, in the cinematic version, especially as seen in Captan America: Civil War -- is "certainty." T'challa does not show doubt or hesitation, he acts unless speaking solely with his most trusted confidantes. Statesman, spy, scientist, hero, this issue shows the titular character play each role with certainty and deftness and it's very enjoying to read. If Evan Narcisse keeps writing this way, he should be able to write Black Panther comics as long as he wants, and the visuals from Paul Renaud, Stephane Paitreau and Joe Sabino gave the work the urgency and fun of McGregor while capturing the coolness of Hudlin's run. This is very, very good.

WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS?

Almost as fun as watching M'Baku Challenge videos!

Page 2:



THIS WEEK'S READ PILE

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

Justice League #40 had a thimble full of plot but along the way science-d the heck out of a potential solution after having an intense discussion about the merits and costs of vigilantism. A little more going on than there should have been, but some good stuff here.

You can point to a number of panels in Hawkeye #16 and say, "wow, that's really something." Unfortunately, the story as a whole was mostly one long fight scene against forgettable antagonists and never rose above its almost slapstick whimsy.

East Of West #36 offers a hard but empty revenge fantasy, showing the Endless Nation (stand ins for the aboriginal peoples of colonized lands) marching on the Union (a stand in for the world hegemony). Presented as such it strikes powerful chords, but the tune lacks urgency (as one character notes) and is vague in its direction. Sci fi political tone poetry, yes, but not exactly narrative worth your money unless this is specifically your inclination.

Doctor Who The Tenth Doctor Year Three #14 had a big, interesting idea in its final third obscured by lots of big, less clear ideas steeped in cross temporal jargon. The last few pages are really good, but the central conflict is a mess.

Amazing Spider-Man #797 had a good framing device and some great Norman Osborn moments but meandered too much in the middle. Gorgeous looking work that zigged and zagged more than it needed to.

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

Yay! Nothing awful!

SO, HOW BAD WAS IT?

Any week without a bad book is cause for celebration.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

Go on. Take another victory lap around the Golden City. You deserve it.

THE BUSINESS

This column started its run on Comic Book Resources on March 9, 2006. It's been a long time, and it's time for more of a shake up to keep things fresh. Look for changes in the column coming in the coming weeks, and thank you for being along for any of it.

This weekend catch this columnist at Eagle Con at Cal State Los Angeles, where he will moderate a spotlight panel on TV producer and comics writer Eric Wallace and wield Mjolnir itself to preside over the latest installment of Versus: Who'd Win Battles Between Your Favorite Comics Characters with its original cast, comedian Vito Lapiccola and attorney James Thompson, Esquire.

The writer of this column writes a weekly web superhero comic -- 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 Scoundrel (historical fiction set in 1981 east Los Angeles), 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!