This is the place to discuss the episodes of the Comic Book Page podcast, the Comic Book Page website or pretty much anything else of interest to the Comic Book Page community...
I've decided to try rate all of the new comics I'm reading each week over the course of 2014. These aren't full reviews but quick ratings assigned after reading the issue without too much thinking on my part. I'm sure if I were to give every issue the same amount of thought I give issues I review for the podcast that some of these ratings very well might go up or down point.
For the purposes of these ratings, I'm going with a simplified rating scale along the lines of:
0: Should not have been published
1: Amazingly bad
2: Below Average
3: Average
4: Above Average
5: Amazing/Perfect
These are very similar to what I use on the Weekly Comics Spotlight but I'm not going to differentiate a low 4 versus a solid 4 versus a high 4. Either it is a 4 or it isn't as far as this goes.
I'll try to get these up every week on Monday after the corresponding Weekly Comics Spotlight episode goes up or after I've read all of the comics, which ever comes later.
Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger #15 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
2 out of 5s:
A Plus X #16 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Avengers AI #8 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
Batman: Black and White #5 @ $4.99 [DC]
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century #4 @ $3.99 [Hermes Press] (Ended)
Fantomex Max #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel: MAX] (Ended)
Fox #3 @ $2.99 [Archie Comics]
Inhumanity: Awakening #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Shadowman #14 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
New Titles: 3
OneShots: 2
Ended: 7
Net change this week: -4
[Edited on 2014-01-27 to correct started/ended information. I may play around with the formatting of this information a little. If you have ideas as to how to make it easier to read, let me know.]
Justice League of America #11 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
Marvel Knights: Hulk #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Miracleman #1 @ $5.99 [Marvel] (New Title)(Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
Miss Fury #8 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
Nightwing #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Nova #12 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Protectors #3 @ $2.99 [Image]
Revolutionary War: Dark Angel #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (OneShot)
It has been 20 years since the Marvel UK titles. I don't think there was any sort of outcry demanding they be brought back.
Secret Avengers #14 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Skyman #1 @ $2.99 [Dark Horse] (New Title)
Superboy #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Thor: God of Thunder #17 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Thunderbolts #20 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
Uncanny X-Force #16 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Uncanny X-Men #16 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Unity #3 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
Velvet #3 @ $2.99 [Image]
X-Men: Legacy #22 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
2 out of 5s:
Black Dynamite #1 @ $3.99 [IDW] (Sampled)
I ordered this because Jamal Igle was going to be the artist. They changed artists. I didn't care for the issue enough to keep getting it.
Noir #3 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
New Titles: 6
Sampled: 1
OneShots: 1
Ended: 6
Net change this week: 0
I'm tracking the status of each title each week so I can monitor how the number of titles I'm following changes over the course of 2014. Here are the six ways the status of a title can change:
Launched: The title launched and I added it to my reading list.
Added: The title already existed but I wasn't getting it and I added it to my reading list.
Sampled: I tried out the title but it didn't get added to my reading list.
OneShot: The title started and ended with a single issue. It doesn't make sense to track these as both being added and removed from my reading list since they are a momentary blip on the radar.
Dropped: The title kept going but I decided to not continue with it.
Ended: The title ended and therefore got removed from my reading list.
Green Lantern: New Guardians (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Hawkeye (2012) #16 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
I'm unamused that #16 shipped before #15.
Jack Hammer (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [Action Labs] (Sampled)
I pre-ordered the first two issues. I'll read the next issue before making a decision on if I add this title to my reading list or not.
Marvel Knights: X-Men (2013) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Origin II (2013) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Supergirl (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Superior Spider-Man Team Up (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Trinity of Sin: Pandora (2013) #7 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Walking Dead (2003) #120 @ $2.99 [Image]
Wonder Woman (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
X-Men (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
2 out of 5s:
Lil Boinic Kids (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment] (One Shot)
I wasn't expecting much out of this and that was exactly what I thought it delivered. So, on the upside, it met my expectations...
Unranked items:
Tiger and Bunny (2013) #4 @ $9.99 [Viz]
I haven't read this yet. Trades usually go at the bottom of my reading list.
New Titles: 4
Added: 1
Sampled: 1
One Shots: 1
Ended: 2
Net change this week: 3
Net change over 2014: -1
Adventures of Superman (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [DC: Digital First]
All Star Western (2011) #27 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
Batman and … (2011) Annual #2 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
Catwoman (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Earth 2 (2012) Annual #2 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
Fables (2002) #137 @ $2.99 [DC: Vertigo]
Five Weapons (2013) #6 @ $3.5 [Image]
Flash (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Forever Evil: Argus (2013) #44 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Green Lantern Corps (2011) Annual #2 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) #11 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Night of the Living Deadpool (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind (2014) #1 @ $3.5 [Dark Horse] (New Title)(Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
Star Trek (2011) #29 @ $3.99 [IDW]
Superior Spider-Man (2013) #26 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Worlds' Finest (2012) Annual #1 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
3 out of 5s:
All New Executive Assistant: Iris (2013) #3 @ $3.99 [Aspen]
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Adaptation (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
Aquaman (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Avengers Assemble (2012) #23 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Batman: The Dark Knight (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Cable and X-Force (2012) #19 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Due to a snafu with Marvel Previews, I got this a week after it originally came out.
Cataclysm: Ultimates: Last Stand (2013) #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel: Ultimate Comics]
Clone (2012) #14 @ $2.99 [Image]
Critter (2012) #18 @ $3.5 [Big Dog Ink]
Damian: Son of Batman (2013) #4 @ $3.99 [DC] (Ended)
Deadpool: Gauntlet (2013) #1 @ $0.01 [Marvel]
This is a free print issue with a digital code for the first issue of the digital "infinite" issue of the series.
FF (2012) #16 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
Released 2013-01-22, shipped late from DCBS
Green Team, Teen Trillionaires (2013) #8 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
Inhumanity (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Invincible (2003) #108 @ $2.99 [Image]
Justice League Dark (2011) #27 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
Larfleeze (2013) #7 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Miracleman (2014) #2 @ $4.99 [Marvel]
Never Ending (2013) #3 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse] (Ended)
Penny for Your Soul: Death (2013) #5 @ $3.5 [Big Dog Ink]
Released 2013-01-22, shipped late from DCBS
Red Lanterns (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Saga (2012) #18 @ $2.99 [Image]
Saviors (2013) #2 @ $2.99 [Image]
I only pre-order the first issue but liked it enough to continue with the series.
Smallville Season 11 (2012) Special #4 @ $4.99 [DC: Digital First] (Unknown Status)
Were all of these characters set up prior to this issue? I don't recall seeing most of them in this continuity before and they weren't introduced well here.
Super Dinosaur (2011) #21 @ $2.99 [Image]
Superman (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Teen Titans (2011) #27 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Thief of Thieves (2012) #19 @ $2.99 [Image]
Thor: God of Thunder (2012) #18 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Thunderbolts (2012) #21 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
Uncanny Avengers (2012) #16 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Uncanny X-Force (2012) #17 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Witchblade (1995) #172 @ $2.99 [Image]
X-Men: Legacy (2012) #23 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
2 out of 5s:
Furious (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse] (Sampled)
Tried it, didn't really care for it and I haven't preordered any other issues so I'm not going to continue with it.
Talon (2012) #15 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
I really didn't like the narrative structure of this episode. It felt backwards to me and not in a good way.
New Titles: 2
Sampled: 1
Unknown Status: 1
Ended: 4
Net change this week: -2
Net change over 2014:
All New Invaders (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
As a side note, I like the classic design of the Avengers SkyCycle much better than the one Captain America uses in this issue.
Archer and Armstrong (2012) Archer #0 @ $3.99 [Valiant] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
Black Widow (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Bloodhound: Crowbar Medicine (2013) #4 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse]
Twilight Zone (2013) #2 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
X-Men (2013) #10 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
2 out of 5s:
Batman: Joker's Daughter (2013) #1 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
This story didn't work for me. I intensely disliked a number of aspects of the story and character.
She-Hulk (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [Marvel] (New Title)(Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
This was a great launch to the series. I'll admit this was on the lower edge of a 5 out of 5 for me and came exceedingly close to be a very strong 4 out of 5. The art was the only thing making me debate if it was a 5 out of 5 or not and while the art style wasn't perfectly to my personal taste, the artist did a outstanding job on the issue.
4 out of 5s:
Accelerators (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Blue Juice Comics]
All New X-Factor (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
It doesn't happen often but the digital code was missing in this comics.
All New X-Men (2012) #23 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Astro City (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [DC: Vertigo]
Batgirl (2011) #28 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Batman (2011) #28 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
The ending of this got me more interested in Batman Eternal but the stuff leading up to that, not so much
Bunker (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Oni Press] (New Title)(Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
I've decided to add this to my reading list for now. I'm not sure how long it will stay on my reading list but I'll give it another few issues to see how the story goes.
City: The Mind in the Machine (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [IDW] (New Title)
Constantine (2013) #11 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Injustice: Year Two (2014) #2 @ $2.99 [DC: Digital First]
Justice League 3000 (2013) #3 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Fuse (2014) #1 @ $3.5 [Image] (New Title)
There were a few things that could have been explained a little better in this issue but I like the concept enough for to add this to my reading list.
Green Lantern Corps (2011) #28 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Harbinger (2012) #21 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
Justice League of America (2013) #12 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
Mercenary Sea (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [Image] (New Title)
I really like the art style on this issue and the story kept me entertained so this is getting added to my reading list.
Revolutionary War: Death's Head II (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Royals: Masters of War (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [DC: Vertigo] (New Title)(Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
I decided to get the rest of the miniseries.
Superman: Lois Lane (2014) #1 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
Talon (2012) #16 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Teen Titans (2011) #28 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
THUNDER Agents (2013) #6 @ $3.99 [IDW]
Thunderbolts (2012) #22 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
Uncanny Avengers (2012) #17 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Wolverine (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Wolverine and the X-Men (2011) #42 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)(Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
2 out of 5s:
Black Bat (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
Jack Hammer (2014) #2 @ $2.99 [Action Labs] (Sampled)
I only preordered the first two and I don't think I'll pick up the other two issues. It wasn't bad but it wasn't brilliant either.
Loki: Ragnarok and Roll (2014) #2 @ $0 [Boom Studios] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
Read PDF preview from Boom Studios press site because copy from DCBS was delayed
4 out of 5s:
A Voice in the Dark (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Image]
All New Invaders (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Bad (bleep) (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
Batman Beyond Universe (2013) #8 @ $3.99 [DC]
Harley Quinn (2013) #4 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Iron Man (2012) #23 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Lazarus (2013) #7 @ $2.99 [Image]
Ms Marvel (2014) #2 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
Skyman (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [Dark Horse]
Superior Foes of Spider-Man (2013) #10 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
Superior Spider-Man (2013) Annual #2 @ $4.99 [Marvel]
Thor: God of Thunder (2012) #20 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Wonder Woman (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
3 out of 5s:
Animal Man (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
With the regular Shadowman series ending will you continue with the End Times miniseries? It is usually considered the weaker of the Valiant titles and hasn't seemed to have been incorporated in the larger universe. I may drop after the miniseries. It has seemed rudderless since #0 and 12.
SpideySavestheDay wrote:With the regular Shadowman series ending will you continue with the End Times miniseries? It is usually considered the weaker of the Valiant titles and hasn't seemed to have been incorporated in the larger universe. I may drop after the miniseries. It has seemed rudderless since #0 and 12.
It has been floundering lately. I am getting the End Times miniseries. After that, we'll see. Odds are I'll keep with it if Valiant does until such a point that I'm actively hating it or otherwise need to cut back on my reading. If I had to cut a Valiant title, it would be Shadowman without a doubt.
