Sorry...

I wanted to have some reviews up today but my friends Jeff and Berto decided to hang out today so check back in tomorrow. Just so you're aware I picked up the new Uncanny, ASM, Thor and the conclusion to "Messiah War" in X-Force, so check it out!!

Here's an update...almost 6 months late!

I won't start by saying this is a new beginning and that I'll post regularly again. I will say however that I miss writing Doc's Comic Blog like a man misses talking about sports with his buddies. Instead of sports, I deal in comics and instead of buddies, I have all the world to preach to...ideally (and a select few friends who read this awesome albeit excessively-late blog). To those readers I would like to say that I'm doin' alright and miss you all. To all those who happen to haphazardly browsing blogs and read this I say "Welcome!"

Welcome to a blog in which the reviews match the source material. If the book sucks, we'll say it sucks. If it's amazing, we'll unabashedly say so. There are no politics that one might find on other web logs.

Some may be offended by the sometimes coarse language but as a journalism major, first amendment rights are very important to me as well as the other authors on the site. Occasionly, there are books that just can't be reviewed without a giant "This is @$#!^in' TERRIBLE" or is so good that "Holy #%@$" is the only justifiable context one can put it in. We try to avoid this but sometimes it's unavoidable.

Comics aren't for everyone but for those of us who enjoy them, we know how pivotal they are in our lives. It's not because we never grew up, it's because part of us really doesn't want to and that alone keeps us feeling young. Look at Stan Lee, the man's ancient but still kickin'.

So, after nearly 6 months in the waiting and countless hours of revisions...(yeah right), without further ado, lets have a review!!! (applause)

Herogasm #1 & 2

Before we get into this, let's just skip the part where I'm a sicko for buying this. All I know is that after reading this review you'll be somewhat intrigued by the story and (ahem) other things going on in the book. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way...this book was so AWESOMELY BAD that words are scarce! The title alone pretty much gives everything away.

Written by Garth Ennis, who is notorious for pushing the envelope with his heroes in the source book "The Boys" and drawn by the same artist, the book is jaw-dropping for something that can be sold next to "Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man," the kiddiest kid book around. The language and scenarios are just about the most explicit stuff I've ever read but the story is becoming more interesting as the issues progress.

Never having read "The Boys," I had no idea what to expect or who the characters are or what they do in the comic but it's easy to figure it out. They regulate the actions of "supes" if they ever get outta hand. However, they take a back seat to the event known as "Herogasm." Apparently, when there are these big events like Secret Invasion and Civil War, our beloved heroes actually go to a secluded island where debauchery is the order of the day. Let's just say there's a two page spread where the pages aren't the only thing being spread. Yeah...it's that bad...and worse! If you can see past the gratuitous...everything, there's a genuine story developing, involving the vice president becoming president through a coup d'etat of sorts.

Like I said, I've never read the book but the story is developing rapidly, though it's difficult to see the final destination. One things for sure, the book can go two ways. A)It'll be amazing or B) It'll be the biggest waste of money and was made singularly for the shocking first issue and fizzle out. I can't really see it falling in between the two extremes.

That being said, I feel that with "The Boys" being as successful as it is, this book will manage to satisfy and turn some people on...to the source book.

What did you think I was gonna say?

Perv...

3.5/5 stars

Bob's back...Yayyy!!!

Deadpool #6 Review

Once again it's been hard to review some stuff so pardon the two issue gap in reviews. Let's just say there's zombies and the issues almost seem like filler.
This issue has a much different, more relevant feeling as DP fights with Tiger Shark throughout most of the issue. The best parts of the issue, however, have nothing to do with the brawl.

The first series panels show another one of Deadpool's hallucinations/dreams/nightmares as a bunch of celebrities interview him about his battle with the unseen fight with Tiger Shark. Then it's revealed that he's washed up on the beach with a kid jabbing a stick in his eye. Pretty funny stuff.

Later, the best part of the issue comes to light. Bob from Hydra is back and dorkier than ever.
Deadpool tells Bob to throw him a gun only he forgets that Bob throws like a five-year-old girl and proceeds to throw the gun right into the Tiger Shark infested waters. Priceless.
There really isn't anything wrong with Daniel Way's version of Deadpool. He's crazier than ever and it's awesome.

Paco Medina comes back to fulfill his duties as artist and his work is just as colorful as always. A perfect fit for the cooky-crazy writing style of Way.

One problem though. Why does the cover suck? Let's get Paco on the covers and avoid this whole problem to begin with. The cover just doesn't deliver that sense of cartoony fun which fills its pages.

That's all for this visit to your favorite neighborhood Doc. Take two and call me in the morning.

4.5/5 stars

Catching up with Anita Blake

When I last reviewed Anita Blake: The Laughing Corpse, the first issue had just hit the streets. Now, the fourth just came out. I know, I’m a little backed up just like Kramer after he held it in for too long. Yeah, that was a kinda gross. Sorry.

Anyywayy…Anita has had a whole lot of preternatural and natural problems since then. When we last left Blake, a man named Harold Gaynor wanted her to raise a 283 year-old zombie which, as we found out, requires a “white goat” a.k.a. a human sacrifice. Blake says no way and finds herself another enemy. Then she’s called in to the scene of a murder where an entire family was killed. Anita’s on the case but really hates that she has to be.

Issue 2: Blake rules out all but the possibility of some sort of flesh-eating zombie as the culprit. So, she goes to the only person powerful enough to do such a thing, the voodoo priestess, Dominga Salvador. To make matters worse, Anita discovers that her mentor, Manny Rodriguez, was a devote follower of Salvador’s in his early days. It’s at the priestess’s home where discover the most disturbing truth of all – Salvador has uncovered the method of raising a zombie and preventing it from decomposing – the soul must be trapped in the body after death.

Issue 3: The voodoo priestess has agreed to ask around for any information about the brutal killings as well as revealing that her non-rotting zombies are to be sold to the highest bidder. The priestess also drops the bomb that Manny has “slew the white goat” more than once. That’s pretty messed up right there. Blake than heads off to the funeral of her friend Peter Burke, there she meets his brother, John Burke, the most powerful animator in New Orleans (Blake lives in St. Louis) and another suspect is exposed. After the meeting, Anita receives that the boy who was missing from the family slaying was found and they weren’t any closer to any definite leads.

Finally, that brings us to issue 4. Anita spends the first half of the issue talking with the reporter (YES!), Irving Griswold, who also happens to be a werewolf. The two exchange information as it is the currency used these days. Anita wants info on Gaynor and he wants an interview with the newly appointed head vampire, Jean-Claude. Later, when the two meet up for the exchange at Dead Dave’s, Anita hears the head vamp is looking for her – another problem for Anita with no help in sight.

As the two head into the crowded street, Jean-Claude makes his first appearance in “The Laughing Corpse.” He tells Anita she is his human servant and must begin acting like one. Obviously, this doesn’t go over well with the vampire executioner and she says “No.”

After the exchange, Irving is granted his interview (after repeated attempts) with St. Louis’s head vampire. Anita’s concerned though she doesn’t know why since Irving can turn into a blood-thirsty man-wolf at anytime. So, Anita makes her way to the cemetery where detective Dolph Storr is waiting for her along with two flame-throwing exterminators.

Let’s just say the nice visit to the graveyard didn’t end so well for Blake.

Now that we’re all caught up lets discuss the biggest problem with the series which occurs in this last issue. The previous issues were well-paced and thought-out, then issue four hits stands and everything becomes one rushed mess.

Why does Jean-Claude all of a sudden get thrown in when he isn’t even mentioned in the previous issues?

It completely throws off the pacing of the story. Who knows, maybe it’ll work. What do I know? I’m just a lowly comic nerd. I understand that it’s difficult to fit everything from a novel into a 10-12 issue run but that’s the beauty of it. The reader literally gets a graphic novel. That’s pretty much my biggest gripe with the series thus far. Otherwise, the story is thoroughly enjoyable and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

4.5/5 stars

Back by popular demand...of 0!

Okay, so it's been a long time since I last posted. Life's been a little hectic with the holidays and graduation (thanks for the post Rich) and finding the ever-elusive job in the field of journalism, but hopefully with this newly acquired free time I have, I can go back to blogging in some kind of regular fashion.
It also doesn't help that with no job, there's no money for comics so readers may notice a drastic cut back in reviews.
Ideally, I'll turn lemons into lemonade and write some more feature-y stories. I'm thinkin' of talking to the guy who owns the three comic stores around my hometown of Orland Park, IL and try to do a fake story that won't print anywhere but will become lost in the ocean of chaos that is blog fodder.
Anyway, I only buy the good stuff now so check back soon for more posts. There'll probably be an Anita Blake catch-up and review later today. Later this week: Deadpool, Witchblade and thoughts on the Secret Invasion conclusion.
Later.

Congratulations to the Doctor and the Surgeon

Those in the know, know that the Doctor (Dr. Hodge) and the Surgeon (Dr. Buzz) have finally graduated from Western Illinois. Congrats to both for surviving the ordeal. Best wishes on your future endeavors and keep posting to the Doc's Comic Blog when you have the chance.—RM

Gigantic is Mixed Bag

I really wanted to like Gigantic, a new offering from Dark Horse Comics created by writer Rick Remender (Fear Agent, End League) and artist Eric Nguyen (Strange Girl) and maybe I will eventually, but the first issue didn't grab me. The premise is similar to the film, "The Truman Show," but with a giant, Japanese-movie-style robot guy and Godzilla-like bad guys tossed in. Many aspects of Remender's script work well, particularly the stuff about Aliens creating the earth as an enormous reality TV show and the realistic dialogue between the two main Earth characters in the beginning. Additionally, the art is fine, albeit a bit sketchy in places. But the result is less a marriage of diverse influences in which the whole becomes greater than the parts, and more a hodge-podge of discordant elements that don't quite mesh. I think I'll check out issue two before passing judgment on the series but right now I'm on the fence.—RFM
2/5 for now

Loeb really f*#ks things up

Hulk #7 Review
DOC SMASH!!!!

What the hell is this book about now?

Bruce Banner is the Hulk again in addition to Rulk?

There are two different stories in one issue which seem to have no connection to each other. I mean Banner-Hilk is in Vegas and fights WENDIGOS?! Serioulsy, c'mon.

Rulk fights a bunch of minor female characters and the girls think they can take him?

The only thing good about this book was the art of Ed McGuiness but fortunately for him, he knows a bad thing when he sees it and bailed.

I think I'll give until the end of this arc to get good than it'll probably be over between me and the stupid green/red/purple/orange/lavender hulks.

2/5 stars

Bucky kicks in a new era of Cap

Captain America #43 Review
It's hard to see where Brubaker is going to take his awesomely awesome series now that the Red Skull is dead and Bucky is now Captain America. This issue marks the beginning of a 3-part arc which seems almost pointless when compared to the 40+ arc readers just went through, but if there's one thing about Brubaker's story is that seeds are sown long before they are harvested.

The biggest change is the introduction of artist Luke Ross who replaces the loss of Steve Epting this issue. Ross' style is similar to Eptings in that the colors are muddled and always seem to have a blueish hue to them. That being said, it's also the problem with his art. When someone takes the helm of something big, it's best to add your own style to whatever you're presenting. That just isn't evident in this issue. It's like editor said "Find me someone who can most closely draw like Epting G#dd#mn$t!"

It'll be interesting to see where the series goes now that the biggest event in comics is over. I wonder how long Brubaker can keep it up.

4/5 stars

"No Hero" #2 Continues Ellis' Rollercoaster Ride

A short shot: Warren Ellis' "No Hero" #2 hit the stands this past week and it continues the same high octane adventure ride only hinted at in the previous two issues (#0 and #1). Ellis' latest take on the super-hero genre shows there are still ways to craft a super-human tale in a fresh, new direction. Good stuff that is done well. Can't wait for issue #3.—RFM

4/5 stars