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GABE! wrote:Punisher #1
This was not a very good first issue to a new series. This is starting out too slow and spent a lot of time introducing other characters, and Punisher doesn't make an appearance until the very end. I'm a fan of Greg Rucka, and I know that he is setting the building blocks for something amazing, so I'll keep picking it up. So if it wasn't Rucka, or another well established writer, writing this, I would not give this book a second chance
I'm right there with you, Gabe. This is on probation. I like Rucka, but I'm not convinced he's the right match for the Punisher. I liked the backup a LOT more than the main story (which, as you said, moved very slow).
I think I'm fine with just PunisherMax in the long run.
Rachel Rising #1 (Abstract) - I like Terry Moore, but there were only 18 pages in this thing for $3.99.....
As a 1st issue, this was a LOT of setup and would have been a lot more satisfying for me if there were another 6-8 pages to get this thing kicked off right. Especially how it ended (just trailing off as Terry Moore tends to do) it really feels like the 1st 1/6th of the pages for the 1st TPB, with not a lot done to ensure I got a satisfying 1st issue read.
This is on probation & may end up with me just getting a collected edition at the end. As a full story, I have no doubt this will be great (and green) but as a #1 comic issue it left a lot to be desired.
On one hand, I could give the following 2 books a GREEN as comics. Both were 3/5 comics IMO. BUT, since I'm not going to get either of them on a monthly basis I downgraded them to ORANGE
Broken Pieces #0 (Aspen) - Nothing intrinsically wrong with this one, it just didn't "click" with me for some reason.
Zorro Rides Again #1 (Dynamite) - Again, nothing intrinsically wrong with the series, but I find that the Zorro series' from the past have piled up on my "middle of the pack" to-be-read pile. I still have not read past #1 of the Death of Zorro mini. So, I'll skip this as a "buy it as it comes out" series and perhaps look for it as back issues down the road.
Punisher #1 - I'm with everyone else on this too. It was ok but nothing amazing. I'll stick around and read, it can't be any worse than Remenders Frankencastle.
BobBretall wrote:Infinite #1 (Image) - Read a press review copy of this & it was really cool. Liefeld has gotten a rep as a bad artist, but his work has a certain style to it (and a lot of imitators) and it worked for me in this issue just fine. Some of the preview pages I've seen on the net have been from near the end of the story, this starts out in the future and sets up Bowen a bit better than the preview which kind of drops you into him having already traveled into the past. I think it's definitely a book worth giving a look.
I read The Infinite #1 among a lot of other really good comics and this didn't hold up. It was a 3/5 for me. I liked Kirkman's story enough but it was a little all over the place. It was time travel, a love triangle, and metaphorically politcal. I may have been considered the art amazing in the 90's but no so much today. And yes, they're were a few wonky looking feet in there. I don't have a ton of nostalgia of 90's Image comics, but if you do this comic may do a lot more for you.
BobBretall wrote:The Vault #1 (Image) - Another press review copy read! Personally, I love Garrie Gastony's art (he also did Radical's Caliber) and the #1 story (by Sam Sarkar) has a nice balance of setting up the real world "treasure hunter" aspect of the story whilst dropping in some cool mystical/supernatural elements, particularly the last panel of #1. Really nice way to get me to want to come back for #2!
I loved The Vault #1. The story is really well thought out and put together. The art had so much detail in it. I think Garrie Gastony's painted art is some of the best in that style. I also like that this is a 3 issue mini series. They don't all have to be 6 or 12 issue series. Obviously this would make for an awesome underwater based movie. Although those types of movies are very expensive and hard to make (ie "The Abyss").
Bob, just curious, if you like the digital press copy enough, do you then go and buy the hard copy issue.
BobBretall wrote:Daredevil #1 (Marvel) - Mark Waid brings the swashbuckler back to DD, kind of refreshing after so many years of noir-ish storylines putting him thru hell time & time again.
There some really great ideas going on in this issue. I loved loved the art in this one. I liked the new funny Daredevil. So what if Matt isn't miserable and brooding all the time. I'm really looking foward to this new take on Daredevil.
BobBretall wrote:Sergio Aragones Funnies #1 (Bongo) - This is pure Sergio & is a must read for anyone who's a fan of this master cartoonist.
This one still makes me chuckle when I think about it. Brings me back to my youth and reading Mad Magazine when I should've been doing my homework.
This was not a very good first issue to a new series. This is starting out too slow and spent a lot of time introducing other characters, and Punisher doesn't make an appearance until the very end. I'm a fan of Greg Rucka, and I know that he is setting the building blocks for something amazing, so I'll keep picking it up. So if it wasn't Rucka, or another well established writer, writing this, I would not give this book a second chance
I've come to expect that Rucka is going to do things a lot differently than other comic book writers. This can also make for a challenging first issue of a story. My own personal issue is that I don't generally like the Punisher as a character. He's too bland for my tastes, he's just about vengeance. I actually loved Frakencastle because he was so different than the usual Punisher. I'll have to pick up issue two off the shelf to see if I want to continue.
BobBretall wrote:Rachel Rising #1 (Abstract) - I like Terry Moore, but there were only 18 pages in this thing for $3.99.....
As a 1st issue, this was a LOT of setup and would have been a lot more satisfying for me if there were another 6-8 pages to get this thing kicked off right. Especially how it ended (just trailing off as Terry Moore tends to do) it really feels like the 1st 1/6th of the pages for the 1st TPB, with not a lot done to ensure I got a satisfying 1st issue read.
This is on probation & may end up with me just getting a collected edition at the end. As a full story, I have no doubt this will be great (and green) but as a #1 comic issue it left a lot to be desired.
I really enjoyed Rachel Rising #1. I planned to get it in trade anyways because that's how I enjoyed Echo. I agree that there could have been a lot more talking in this issue. It would have been nice to have get a lot more of that last scene. It could've helped this first issue. I'm biased about liking this issue because I love Terry Moore's artwork (and lettering!). Plus, he's totally a nice guy if you get a chance to talk to him at a convention.
Severed #1 (Image) - It's great there are so many amazing horror comic books nowadays. This one is so spooky in many different ways. It's funny how close this comic is to That Hellbound Train from IDW. They both have got a young boy running away from home and trains. Nonetheless, I happen to love period pieces but I realize they're not for everyone. This story seems to be depression era but I'm not positive on that. The watercolor like artwork fits the story perfectly. I'll be back for more.
Joe Hill's The Cape #1 (IDW) - Here's another story that's messed up but also very entertaining. There's a scene involving a grizzly that's so awful but also kind of funny. Also that last scene, the writer and artist really know how to leave us on a cliffhanger with a perfect facial experssion. The artwork is very stylistic but also very well done. I'd recommend this comic as a very guilty pleasure. again
Phew, [WebWiz29] I read a lot of #1's over the weekend.
IanG wrote:I'm biased about liking this issue because I love Terry Moore's artwork (and lettering!). Plus, he's totally a nice guy if you get a chance to talk to him at a convention.
I'd have given Rachel Rising a green had I reviewed it on the criteria of Terry Moore being a nice guy & generically liking his art.
As it was, I decided to review it based on how well the comic held up as a #1 standalone comicbook, which was not so great, IMO.
IanG wrote:I'm biased about liking this issue because I love Terry Moore's artwork (and lettering!). Plus, he's totally a nice guy if you get a chance to talk to him at a convention.
I'd have given Rachel Rising a green had I reviewed it on the criteria of Terry Moore being a nice guy & generically liking his art.
As it was, I decided to review it based on how well the comic held up as a #1 standalone comicbook, which was not so great, IMO.
I understand you Bob, I agree the comic could've been better as a first issue. A first issue should feel like got a decent chunk of story not a couple of quick scenes. I think it's a good thing as readers, maybe not a reviewers, to move our tastes to creators that we've met and have a lot of respect for. Also because I know of Terry and his work then I trust that the story will pick up.
IanG wrote:Also because I know of Terry and his work then I trust that the story will pick up.
I have no doubt Terry will tell a good story over time, as it is collected in TPB form.
My observation was that he didn't seem to be doing anything to pace the story for the "single issue" reader. I also think 18 pages of story is pretty light for a single issue.
So, I'm not saying don't read the story......I'm questioning whether Terry Moore is putting together a package worth reading in issues, though, as opposed to waiting for the trade.
IanG wrote:Severed #1 (Image) - It's great there are so many amazing horror comic books nowadays. This one is so spooky in many different ways. It's funny how close this comic is to That Hellbound Train from IDW. They both have got a young boy running away from home and trains. Nonetheless, I happen to love period pieces but I realize they're not for everyone. This story seems to be depression era but I'm not positive on that. The watercolor like artwork fits the story perfectly. I'll be back for more.
I agree. I originally skipped this one thinking "I don't need another period horror book", but after reading a press preview of #1, I went out & bought the issue & will buy the rest of the series. Fir anyone who digs Scott Snyder's American Vampire, this is definitely worth checking out.....still horror, but less supernatural, more "real-world wacko" terror, which is worse in some regards. I also got the "depression era" vibe, I think that is when this is set......
