This week's post: Approximately 97% pertinent review information free! Yes, I just thought I'd rant. About whatever strikes me about each comic book. Some economics will be involved. Come on, it'll be fun!

First of all, I did something somewhat unprecedented this week, for which you must all praise me! I mentioned that I am trying, howeverhaphazardly and fitfully, to cull some titles from my weekly purchases. So I skipped Batman #663. Yes, I skipped a comic written bythe God of All Comics starring probably my favorite superhero! Why would I do this? First of all, John van Fleet used to draw things, but this computer-generated art lookedas bad as Pepe Moreno's art in Batman: Digital Justice ... and that book came out in 1989! Second, it's a Joker story. Yawn. Third, I wasn't all that impressed with Morrison's first arc, which was entertaining but less than amazing. Fourth ... you know, if I want to read prose, I'll buy prose! I just didn't want to slog through all that to get to a resolution of "Hey, it was a Joker story!" So I skipped it.

I also skipped Ultimate X-Men #79 because that Ultimate Cable story was just lousy. Considering that not long ago this was the best X-title, that's quite a fall. I bought issue #1 in December of 2000 and every one since then. Robert Kirkman and Ben Oliver drove me from it! But it's liberating to drop a title, don't you think?

Casanova #7 by Matt Fraction and Gabriel Bá. $1.99, Image.



That's a creepy cover when you consider they're brother and sister.

This book costs two dollars, and I'm sure a lot of people say that it's not as long as "regular" comics, so the price makes no difference. I would argue, however, that Fraction and Bá pack more into each panel, and that there are more panels, than your standard comic book. So what's the deal with people who don't check this out? At least they could pick up an issue! Actually, the biggest problem with this book is accessibility. But Fraction says he will e-mail you a detailed plot synopsis if you ask him to!

And thetext pieces have been nice. This one is longer than usual, and, with one exception,Fraction isright:Watching your wife lose a pregnancy is horrible. The text pieces reveal a lot about Fraction, andthey are always interesting.

A trade paperback will be out soon: $12.99 for seven issues. You might want to check it out!

Gødland #16 by Joe Casey and Tom Scioli. $.60, Image.



Speaking of which, this costs sixty (60) cents. 60¢! 6-0! Why WOULDN'T you buy it? Plus, it's a recap issue, so if you haven't been buying it, here's your chance to catch up! I just don't get why you wouldn't give this a chance. I mean, everyone whines about the price of comics, and how it sucks that we have to pay 3 dollars for22 pages ofMillar shitting all over our childhood and Winick pretending thatCaptain Marvel is freakin' Marvelman, yet when a book that costs 60pennies come out, people ignore it. You have no excuse. If you don't like it, fine. But don't whine about the price of comics when companies outside of the myopic Big Two are trying to hook readers and you don't want to exit your comfort zone, because that won't fly!

Seriously. It's a good comic, and gets you up to speed nicely. Of course, if you don't believe a dipshit like me, you can always take the advice of this fine fellow who's quoted on the back of the book:



Now that's someone who obviously know what they're talking about!

Marvel Adventures #9 by Jeff Parker, Juan Santacruz, and Raul Fernandez. #2.99, Marvel.



I know this came out a few weeks ago, but my store sold out, so they had to get another one. It's fine. A nice little superhero book, although it'snot as great as everyone said it was. Parkergoes to theKarl welltoo often for a joke, for instance. But I will say: I would read an entire comic book about the A.I.M. company barbecue.

Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #12 by Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen, and Wade von Grawbadger. $2.99, Marvel.



Well, it's over. Not much to say, is there? I don't really mourn that much when one of my favorite comic books gets the axe. I regret it, certainly, but I don't go into a depression spiral like those Spider-Girl fans. Whatever. Nextwave deserved better, but so did a lot of good comics who went before their time. Go here for weeping and gnashing of teeth (and some very funny comments).

Whenever a book like this dies, it seems to be that it's a good example of what comics fans say they want but don't buy. You want non-stop action? You want some snarky humor? You want obscure, goofy, yet lovable villains? "Yes!" we clamor. But the answer is a resounding NO. We want heroes sitting around a table for four issues talking and a cloned god killing heroes. The numbers don't lie, people!

So it's gone. Please don't whine about how all comics do isshow one Superman beating another to death with his bare handsand turn heroes into thugs for the government and how sad it makes you. Because it doesn't make you sad. You love it.

Let's hear it one more time, Tabitha!



MINI-SERIES I BOUGHT BUT DID NOT READ.

Midnight Sun #3 (of 5) by Ben Towle. $2.95, SLG.



This comes out every three months, so I'll have a full review in late summer. Be here!

Well, that was fun. I just like to let off steam every once in a while, and this was the perfect week to do it, as one comic ended, another is going away for a while, and another is a recap issue. Rant along in the comments, everyone!