Transformers, Ottaviani Science, New Comics

Another new comic:

Superman Smashes the Klan 2

Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru continue to tell a wonderful tale about outsiders trying to belong.  The racists are suitable horrible, but getting their comeuppance prevents them from being unbearable within the context of the story.  

Transformers: War Within: Dark Ages 1-6

Transformers: G1 vol 1 1-6

Transformers: G1 vol 2 1-6

Transformers: G1 vol 3 0-6

After reading 31 issues of Dreamwave Transformers, my main complaint is that none of it matters.  These robots have been fighting for over 4 million years, and it feels like they’ll be going for 4 million more with no change in the status quo.  When there are no stakes, the pointlessness of it all comes screaming to the forefront. It’s all very gorgeous with some wonderful art, and the IP keeps it from being horrible, but those are the only reasons why I’m not cutting these from my collection.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes (maybe)

Rating: Didn’t suck

Two-Fisted Science

Fallout

This is the Jim Ottaviani science section of my collection.  Ottaviani has made a career of writing comics about famous (and lesser known) scientists throughout history, an endeavor that I wholeheartedly support.  Unfortunately, the writing is never as good as I want it to be - I love the subject matter, and I love learning about these brilliant people, but Ottaviani always struggles with narrative and clarity.  His comics feel more like random snatches of scenes that make sense to him in his mind, but come out jumbled when committed to paper. It’s an awful shame, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I keep buying his work regardless.  I keep hoping that it’ll get better, and I so want him to succeed, especially for such a noble purpose.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

New comics

Two weeks of new comics!

Punisher: Soviet 2

After a somewhat generic start last issue, Garth Ennis puts his stamp on this Punisher story with one of his “soldier tells another soldier a flashback war story as they sit there chilling” scenes.  No one does them better, this is what I came for.

American Jesus 1

I didn’t know that Mark Millar and Peter Gross were doing a follow up to Chosen.  This time, the child really is supposed to be Jesus.  Of course, Millar ends the issue with a trip to Waco, Texas, so there’s still plenty of room for expectation subversion.  I’m not sure if I care enough to pay for this anymore. Will see how I feel about it next month.

Old Guard: Force Multiplied 1

Same for this follow up to Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez’s Old Guard - Not bad by any stretch, but my memories of both the original series and this first issue don’t extend beyond, “Eh, nice.”  I have yet to want to reread the first series, don’t know why I should buy more of this second one.

Spider-Man 3

Aaaannnnd I’m out.  This has been on a steady decline since issue 1, and zombie heroes are the last straw.  Not that they can’t be well done (see the phenomenal DCeased), but this is just no good.  Also, I’m still mad at JJ Abrams from Rise of Skywalker.  

King Thor 4

Eh.  An underwhelming finish for what was, at times, an amazing run on Thor.  Kudos to Jason Aaron for his lengthy stint, but when I look back on this, it’s Jane Foster Thor that I’m going to remember, not this final arc.

Captain Marvel 13

Kelly Thompson reveals Carol’s dilemma far earlier than I expected.  Standard blackmail stuff, but Lee Garbett’s art and the execution of the story will keep me around for a little while longer.

Batman: Curse of the White Knight 5

Love the cover.

I find myself not caring about the story at all, and just sinking into Sean Murphy’s gorgeous art.  And I’m totally happy with that. 

Great take on the Azbats costume.

Lovely action sequence.

Really creative visualization of diving.

Doomsday Clock 12

I’ll need to reread this in its entirety to have any clue as to what just happened.  I’m pretty sure it wasn’t good, but there’s a chance that it wasn’t bad.

Harleen 3

Jesus moly, this is a masterpiece.  I’m trying to come up with a list of creators who are at this level of proficiency on both writing and art.  Is it sacrilegious that Frank Miller is the first person that I thought of? Is Stjepan Sejic just that good?  In any case, I want the Poison Ivy followup that he’s toying around with. Between this and Sunstone, Sejic is now on my list of tier one comic masters.

Harrowing final page.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Getting thoughts out on the page as fast as I can:

• I love Rey.  I think she’s my favorite Star Wars character, and it’s not even close.  So much of it has to do with Daisy Ridley’s performance. She imbues Rey with so much humanity and emotion, I can’t even.
• Was that a WEDGE ANTILLES cameo???  Woots!
• On the other hand, Lando was unnecessary but fine.
• I blame JJ Abrams for everything that’s wrong with this movie, and there’s plenty wrong.
• The action scenes are poorly filmed.  Kylo and Rey’s lightsaber duel on Endor lacked any kind of visceral excitement.  (Though I did really think that Kylo was going to lop off her hand.)
• There are so many plot holes and things that don’t make sense.
• The McGuffins are just plain stupid.  You’re telling me the Emperor had a dagger made with the coordinates of the compass engraved on the blade, forged in the shape of the skyline of the destroyed Death Star which will only work if the holder is standing in just the right place, which points to the throne room which is still pretty much impossible to get to?  And none of it matters because Rey just used the one from Kylo Ren’s ship after two hours of movie.
• CG young Leia and Luke.  Blech.
• Poe and Finn should have just kissed already.
• Kylo and Rey really shouldn’t have.  So unnecessary. There was so much between the two of them, the actors really sold that, but none of it ever felt romantic.  
• The plot was nonsensical.  Where did the Emperor get all of the resources to build that fleet?  Where did his followers come from? When did he have a son, and how did the son turn out to be so normal?
• Lightspeed jumping is pretty cool. 
• The main trio are fun together.
• Any poignancy in Threepio’s mindwipe was destroyed w/ his reboot.  Abrams made the same mistake resurrecting Kirk 5 minutes later in Star Trek 2.
• Disliked/hated all of Abrams’ retcons of Last Jedi, including Rey’s parentage, happy Luke ghost, and shunting Rose to the side.  
• The arrival of every ship in the galaxy at the end of the final battle was eyerollingly bad.  As were the horse charge, the Emperor’s lightning storm, and Hux’s random betrayal and throwaway death.
• Moments that could have been powerful if Abrams’ hadn’t botched the execution: Han and Kylo, Leia connecting w/ Kylo, Leia’s death, and Kylo’s death.
• All that said, I loved the final scene.  It was completely obvious, but still worked in every way for me.  You don’t choose your family and your past, but you can still decide who you want to be, carry on for those who inspired you.  Ridley owns every moment of it, and the final shot of her looking at the binary suns with John Williams’ majestic score one last time salvaged (but didn’t save) an extremely problematic movie.  

Regret watching?  No

Would buy on DVD? No?

Would watch again?  Yes?

Rating: Fine (It’s still Star Wars.  It’s really hard for Star Wars to truly suck.)

Transformers

Transformers/GI Joe: Divided Front 1

Dreamwave does another crossover, set in the present, but in continuity with the WWII story in my last entry.  The Pat Lee art is nice, but there’s nothing memorable about it. Past me stopped with this issue, and present me doesn’t even want that one around anymore.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Didn’t suck (Cutting)

Cybertronian 1-3

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye 1, 3-8

Cybertronian is Transformers Universe, but for the toys.  It’s so cool, and it contains tons of little factoids that I didn’t know. More Than Meets the Eye is the Dreamwave version of Universe, so all the art’s in the Pat Lee style, which is fine.  I don’t have the same fond memories of these they I do with Marvel’s edition, but I love these kinds of books.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Major feels

Transformers: War Within 1-6

Now I get into the Dreamwave take on Transformers.  This is the origin of Optimus Prime, with stunning art by Don Figueroa.  Turns out Simon Furman’s writing is a lot more entertaining when he’s got a top notch artist illustrating his stories.  I really like Figueroa’s take on the Transformers’ Cybertronian robot and vehicle modes.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Transformers Universe, Transformers/GI Joe

Transformers Universe 1-4

LOVED this as a kid - Biographies on every Transformer ever.  I devoured these issues again and again. (I didn’t re-read this, it’d be like reading an encyclopedia, but I flipped through it and soaked in the memories.)

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: No

Rating: Major Feels

Transformers/GI Joe 1-6

Transformers and GI Joe crossover during World War II with Jae Lee doing the art.  So cool. It doesn’t matter a lick that I can’t tell what’s going on half the time.  (Storytelling and clarity are not Lee’s strengths.) But he’s one of those rare comic artists who can get by with style and mood, and he displays that in spades here.  John Ney Rieber writes a competent story, with some really nice cross-IP moments.  

Scarlett and Bumblebee...

...to Roadblock and Grimlock.

And Storm Shadow gets eaten by a shark, which is amazing on so many levels.

A shark!

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Transformers, New Comics

New comics from over a week ago!

Ironheart 12

A somewhat lackluster finish to what’s been a fun series.  Riri gets some sciencemagical therapy and there’s a fight. As with Nadia Pym and Miles Morales, I’ll keep an eye out for any future series starring Ironheart.  These are great characters.

Superman: Up in the Sky 6

This series is good, but not as good as the reviews I’ve been reading make it out to be.  Tom King has some genius insights into Superman and what makes him tick, but there are times where he’s trying too hard.  (The “no, sir” bit doesn’t quite work with me. Neither does Superman patronizingly allowing Batman to win.) But on the whole, this is a really strong issue.  Very happy DC decided to collect these in a format that didn’t force me to go to Walmart.  

Helpless Batman is like the first time you realize your parents aren't infallible.

Superman gets as nervous as us when he likes someone :)

Batman: Universe 6

Brian Michael Bendis and Nick Derington’s Walmart adventures conclude as well.  A fine but unremarkable ending to a fine but unremarkable series. Which isn’t to say that Bendis didn’t have a few shining moments.  And Nick Derington has totally forced his way on to my radar. Fabulous. Showing his splash from a few issues ago here again, because I can’t get it out of my head.  

Perfection.

Batman: Creature of the Night 4

I had completely forgotten that this miniseries existed.  Kurt Busiek’s companion piece to Superman: Secret Identity (one of my favorite comics of all time) comes up way short in terms of quality.  It has a lot to live up to, but even on its own merits, it doesn’t really hold up.  Busiek doesn’t bring anything new to the “emotionally broken man lashes out with supernatural powers” trope.  I imagine I’ll cut this when the re-read comes around.

Ragnarok: Breaking of Helheim 3

My concerns from the last issue remain.  Fun, but forgettable.  I’ll probably finish out the arc, then stop buying.  But as with Stan Sakai, it’s hard to not buy Walt Simonson when I see it on the shelf.  

Lois Lane 6

This issue was almost a complete miss.  I never cared about Sam Lane, Lois’ father.  He’s a carbon copy of Thunderbolt Ross over at Marvel, the military father who irrationally hates his daughter’s superhero paramour.  One-dimensional and boring. So his death didn’t affect me at all, nor did the flashbacks to his various confrontations with Lois. But the final page hit me with surprising weight, as Lois reveals the true nature of her grief to Clark.  A nice bit by Greg Rucka.  

Transformers 52-54, 56-61, 69-80

Yeah, things stopped being so good after issue 50.  Not a fan of Simon Furman’s writing after he took over with issue 56, or of Andrew Wildman’s super-emotive robot faces.  

Not the expressions I want to see on my Transformers.

61 is the last issue from my original collection, I’m cutting everything after that.  (Two trades worth of issues that bought well after they came out so that grown up me could see how it all finished up.  Not that well, unfortunately.) 

  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes up until 61.  No after that.

Rating: Didn’t suck up until 61.  Stupid (and cutting) after that.

Transformers, Headmasters

Transformers 1-12, 14, 16-19, 21-25, 27, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36, 38-42, 46-50

Headmasters 1-4

Transformers.  My favorite toys growing up.  My very first comic book. 

This isn't my copy, but it's just as beat up.

I’m super grateful to my mom for buying this for first issue for 7 year-old me.  To think that it started a passion that’s lasted my entire lifetime is truly mind-blowing.  Unlike some other parents, she never saw comics as less than books without pictures.  Reading’s reading, and she always encouraged me to do that.  Maybe she didn’t buy me all the Transformer toys I wanted (who could blame her?  Certainly not I in hindsight), but she was always willing to get me the latest issue of my favorite title from the local grocery store (Laneco).  Thanks, Mom. Love you.

There’s no way for me to rate these comics with an objective eye.  I’ve read these issues countless times, they brought me so much joy as a kid.  Every month, writer Bud Budiansky (the Larry Hama of the Transformers universe) brought me the latest Transformers in a seemingly endless run of awesome stories.  A particularly awesome streak starting with issue nineteen stands out, even today:

19 - Omega Supreme!

21 - The Aerialbots!

22 - The Stuntacons!

24 - Optimus Prime dies!  The Protectobots and the Combaticons!

25 - Megatron dies!  The Predacons! 

A robotic Murderers’ Row.

BTW, I have gaps in my collection because I gave the issues that I didn’t like to a friend of mine who was moving away back when I was in seventh grade.  You’d think that the completionist in me would do whatever it takes to reacquire the missing issues, but looking back at them, they really weren’t that good.  I actually enjoyed this memory walk through my collection, without needing to read the sub-par stories. (The Mechanic? Robot Master? Those UK reprints? Ugh.)  I’m good with what I have. 

Some other highlights:

William Johnson’s the artist for issues seven and eight, and he’s really quite amazing.  His art has a level of detail and quality that’s a step above the other pencillers on the series.  It’s a shame that he didn’t do a lot more work in his career. His impact on hooking me as a fan of this medium can’t be measured.

Great action panels.

Creeepy smile in the last panel.

Graham Nolan of Batman fame provides the other artistic highlight of this series with a guest-penciller spot on issue sixteen.  Nel Yomtov, who colored most of the 80-issue run of Transformers, really did his best work with Johnson and Nolan.

Love the colors on Optimus.

Wonderful use of red in the last panel.

The smelting pools of Cybertron were legitimately disturbing to me as a kid.  

Scrounge's death still moves me.

I really consider the first fifty issues as the first phase of my comic collecting life, capped by the Underbase Saga that killed of a crap ton of Transformers.  After this issue, my fond memories start dropping off - I think that I started losing interest in the title around here, as I moved across the country, switched schools, and started sixth grade.  The Major Feels rating for Transformers stops after this point.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Major Feels

Princess Leia

Princess Leia 1-5

Better than I remember.  I’m surprised by how much I cared about Leia’s mission to gather the surviving Alderaanians in the aftermath of their planet’s destruction.  Mark Waid writes a good script, and the Dodsons’ art is strong as usual.

Heh.  Droid heaven.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

And that’s the end of the Star Trek/Wars box!  It coincides completely with the lifetime of my daughter.  I wrote 13 times out of around 40 days. Eh, not too bad considering.  I managed to read most days.

Box Summary:

Time spent reading: 22 hours, 28 minutes

Issues read: 196

Issues cut: 6

Highlights (Good or better): Star Wars: Republic 54-59, Darth Vader 1-25

Project Summary:

Time spent reading: 22 days, 18 hours, 36 minutes

Issues read: 4505

Issues cut: 578