Venneh

There's a new demo, so Jim and I are probably going to stumble our way through it in English this time. And please based baby Jesus. That would be great.

Final Fantasy XV now has a five episode prequel anime, and a goddamn CGI movie starring Sean Bean, Aaron Paul, and Lena Hadley. The fuck?? Oh, and a release date. September 30th, 2016, which I think was the original release date for Half Life 2?

We Can Never Go Home: 2 dumbass teenagers on the run with a duffel bag full of money, and also super powers. A nice, contained mini that moves quickly, gets you invested in both the kids, how deep in over their heads they are, and their eventual fates. Art's solid, it's a fun ride, definitely worth a read. Single Issues: 62TPBs/Collections: 33Digital First Issues: 10

The Death-Defying Dr. Mirage: Second Lives 4: So, half of the draw of the original was De La Torre's fucking gorgeous art. Here's the thing. We get a fill in artist for the back half of this issue, and he's clearly trying to be DLT, but looooord, it's rough. I probably would've been better off getting this as a trade than doing this month to month. Still worth it as a trade, I think. The Ultimates 5: Fucking gorgeous Rocafort double page splashes, with Ewing admits that he uses sparingly for story impact? More of Ms. America and her girlfriend, if at least briefly? I am so fucking here for this. And because I'm here for this, it's probably going to get cancelled. (Witness: Weirdworld, Angela, and Survivors Club all got cut within the last week or so.) Angela Queen of Hel 6: Ooooof. This issue reminds me that I'm pretty much here for the writing only, because while Jacinto gets to do some neat splashes, the art quality drops hard and fast, with moments where Jacinto forgets how to draw eyes and heads. Fun writing, though, at least. And again, sad this is ending, surprised it got dropped after one issue of sales (Bennett said she was told in Nov), but hopefully they bring Hans back for the last issue, as they're circling back to Witch Hunter Angela. Single Issues: 62TPBs/Collections: 32Digital First Issues: 10

It's like they went, "Mad Max, but let's literally miss the entire point of either properties!" Jesus.

It's getting cancelled at issue 6, may as well stick all the way to the end. Archer and Armstrong vol 3: Amelia Earhart. The lost island of Roanoke. Ambrose Bierce. Generals Americanizing aliens and sending them as attack forces. This comic is goddamn ridiculous and just a great ride. Harbinger vols 1-3: This, on the other hand, is real fucking rough. Finally turns a bend with Faith's focus issue in... I want to say vol 3, or late vol 2, but until it gets there, ouch. More on this on the segment Jim and I will be doing. Harbinger Wars: Solid event comic, not spectacular, but still well done. Single Issues: 59TPBs/Collections: 32Digital First Issues: 10

Listening to this later - we were over in the Mignola panel when this was happening.

So, Angela Queen of Hel is cancelled as of next month's issue, apparently. Not surprising. What is surprising is that Bennett got told about the decision back in November. For context, the first issue went on sale on October 28th. That means that at best, Marvel had sales data for one issue tops, and maybe pre-order information for issue 2, before they decided to axe it. That's... pretty goddamn early to axe a book, no? Especially when there are titles doing WAY worse (looking at you Illuminati and Red Wolf). I'm happy Bennett got to take it out on the note she wanted, and that Moss fought for her to be able to do so, though. In other news, Weirdworld has disappeared off the solicits for June, which probably means it got the axe after 6 issues.

Magic Knights Rayearth II Omnibus: CLAMP does magical girls, fantasy worlds, and mecha, only this time with even more at stake than the last round. One of the rare series to actually deal with the fallout of the original, both for the fantasy land and for the girls. Plenty of out of left field craziness (surprise: Mokona is actually god apparently) to go with it. Early days for the team yet, especially on the art front, but it's still neat to return to something I haven't really read since middle school/high school. Still enjoyable, and still worth the read, especially in one massive volume that the boy found at C2E2 for $8. Archer and Armstrong vol 2: We get an artist change for this arc, which seems to be standard on some Valiant books. Again, leans full into the ridiculousness, while also keeping the stakes of the cults they're working against high. Continues to just be a fun ride, and we have the next volume from the Valiant Humble Bundle they did a while ago, which means we're probably gonna read it before D+D tonight. Single Issues: 59TPBs/Collections: 27Digital First Issues: 10

Scenes from last night: J: Your boyfriend is Luther Arkwright trash. (a bit later) J: Ugh, stop it, SMS. Me: I do believe the phrase is "can't stop, won't stop" Me: Yeah, I just Taylor Swifted Arkwright J: My girl. (we may need to come with a warning for diabetes or something.)

Monstress 4: Oh thank fuck they added a recap page, that helps lots. Continues to be unfairly gorgeous, and the recap page helps properly contextualize what's going on, especially as arc end nears. Cry Havoc 3: *grins* is all I'll say about the story. It's neat to see what aspects of Kelly's art all the different colorists bring out, and everyone gets some real fun stuff to do. So here for this. The Spire 7: Oh fuck me, I think I see where it's all going to come together. And it's gonna be gloriously fucked. Also neat: Miyazaki aesthetics applied to mass murder. Looking forward to seeing how this wraps. Also, neat preview for Weavers in back. Single Issues: 59TPBs/Collections: 25Digital First Issues: 10

A friend let me know the ending, because there's no way in hell I'm seeing this in the theaters. Oh man. Not gonna lie, I am really looking forward to some of your reactions.

Dead Drop: Once again proves that so long as Kot has an editor to rein him in, he can do great stuff. (Kot is one of the very few creators I prefer to see corporate stuff from, as his creator owned stuff - Wolf, Material - is at best an unedited Lamborghini tire fire.) Tightly plotted chase comic centering around the race to find a virus, with some good twists, and a tight resolution. Gorham worked with Kot on Zero, and you can tell they work together well. Got this as part of the buy 3 get 2 at Valiant's booth, definitely worth a page through. Single Issues: 56TPBs/Collections: 25Digital First Issues: 10

Bloodshot Reborn vol 1: We did Valiant's buy 3 vol 1s and get 2 free deal yesterday at their booth. This is one of the ones the editors recommended to us, and I can tell you right now I was not expecting to like it this much. It's Punisher by way of government experimentation, hallucinations, and more of a conscience than Punisher has been written with in years. Hyper masculinity tropes that I would've never expected to like. Great blend of realism and fantasy on the art, and issue 5 especially does a great job. I want to read more from just this one volume. Also can see the connection to the larger universe via the Rai stuff I've already read. I'm in. Imperium vol 1: Alright, Valiant has my attention as a publisher. Interesting to see another part of the universe align. I wasn't as big on this one, possibly because I'm coming in without the major background on Harada, and because I could see the first issue twist coming a mile away. But when Angela showed up, I was a lot more interested, and with that last issue, I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes as a series. Archer and Armstrong vol 1: This tries to be serious for like two issues, then accepts it's ridiculousness and leans into it. Art style is best described as Conner-esque, which, given that Palmiotti is elsewhere in the company, isn't surprising. Lots of setup here, but it's necessary for what's to come, and follows through well enough on it. Good fun read, won't follow it monthly, but will follow it on the trade. Single Issues: 56TPBs/Collections: 24Digital First Issues: 10

Rai vol 2: Kindt does great work with developing our secondary characters more, some more world building, and the plot against Father in the space of about 4 issues, all while doing some great plot stuff and delivering some gut wrenching moments. Crain is a bit more restrained on this arc, but still does a beautiful job. 1602 Witch Hunter Angela 3-4: read these again because i replaced these and 1 for about a buck each (the radiator did unexpected water damage to some sorted comics). Hans does goddamn gorgeous artwork still, and the general arc of the story, and the flashbacks/side diversions are wonderful. Great little mini. Saga 34: again, a general build up to the punch of that last page, and getting all the pieces in place for the last bit of the arc. Some cute moments scattered throughout. Still pretty. Still glad it's the boy buying this and not me. Single Issues: 56TPBs/Collections: 21Digital First Issues: 10

Life is Strange - who's all played this?

Pssst. It's Sauvage on the art for Faith, Bennett is the one who writes Insexts.

By Night in Chile, Roberto Bolaño: Comes chronologically after Amulet, in terms of his writing career, but Amulet felt like the stronger entry to me. Lots of great passages, but some of the parts between the recollections don't seem to flow as well. It's entirely possible that this may be a translation thing, too. Still a great read, though be prepared for stream of consciousness style writing and pov.

*reads above paragraph* *arches eyebrow* Son, just don't.

A Brief History of Seven Killings, Marlon James. This won the Booker prize last year, and I can see why. Multiple povs, from first to third and everything in between, and all kinds of voices and writing styles, from the voice of a British agent to a boy in the gangs of the Jamaican ghetto. Covers about thirty separate years, radiating outward from the attempt on Bob Marley's life, fictionalized. There's only three povs that make it all the way to the end, and I'm not gonna tell you which ones they are. Get this and read it.

The Terracotta Bride, Zen Cho: a $1 novella I picked up over on Kindle. Blend of Chinese fantasy with just the barest hint of sci-fi, mostly focusing on the Chinese afterlife. It's got some neat ideas, doesn't seem fully fleshed out, but it was a nice quick read. Would love to see it expanded on.

The Legacy of Luthor Arkwright: Sequel to Luther Arkwright. I was able to follow the story a lot clearer on this, which I appreciated. Talbot switches to color on this, which, with some rare exceptions, doesn't suit him that well, unfortunately. Definitely worth a read through if you can find it for a good price. The New Mutants/X-Force: Demon Bear: pretty much what it says on the tin. I've only seen Sienkiewicz doing covers or paintings, so to see his older art is pretty neat. The stuff on the later New Mutants/X Force are certainly.... A thing. Number Cruncher: Si Spurrier does 2000 AD. One mathematician attempts to beat karma and it's accountants and be with the woman he loves. Feels real Phillip K Dick. Jim found it for $5, it's definitely worth a quick read through. Single Issues: 53TPBs/Collections: 20Digital First Issues: 10

Lumberjanes vol 2: just what I needed after this week. Fun plot thread, cute, and some great references. Single Issues: 53TPBs/Collections: 17Digital First Issues: 10

I'll be over here with the BUCKY BABY contingency

Vision 5: I'm gonna miss King when he leaves this book. Yes, the opening Shakespeare monologue is pretentious as hell, however, with the way it frames the rest of the book, and especially the litany of what Vision has saved the world from, and those last two pages, goddamn. Bellaire does an amazing job on the coloring front here this issue. The Mighty Thor 5: Well, damn. Great fight issue on all fronts, and a good twist to the gut to set up the new status quo going forward. Kind of love how the end of the actual story is a big ol' middle finger to the people who don't like lady Thor. (Though, wondering how soon it gets reversed.) And again, christ, Dauterman and Wilson make a real fuckin' pretty comic. Gotham Academy 16: More in the yearbook series. I can take or leave Niimura's bit, but the first story with Maps trying to meet Batman is pretty cute. Insexts 4: A widening mythology, and some real goddamn pretty art, along with a great reveal? Please keep writing like this forever, Bennett, and keep Kristantina on art, it's great. Single Issues: 53TPBs/Collections: 16Digital First Issues: 10