Walking Dead, Archer and Armstrong, Bloodshot, New comics

New comics!

Rorschach 6

I don’t remember enough about what’s gone before to know where this comes in the timeline of the story.  The letter exchange between Laura and WIl is fine enough, as are the snippets of the presidential debate, but this is one of the slighter issues of the series so far.

Taskmaster 4

More fun than the previous issue.  The fight between Taskmaster and Okoye is well done, and I like how Taskmaster was constantly thwarted in his attempts to look at her.  (He can’t copy her movements until he sees her.)  One issue to go, looking forward to his showdown with Black Widow.  

Walking Dead 97-193

For the majority of my time reading this series, I’ve been giving the issues a Pretty Good rating.  But I’ve had to change my assessment after finishing the whole run - My collection initially ended with issue 168 (The emotional death of Andrea).  But I had to know what happened next, and bought the last four trades to finish up the story.  (That doesn’t contradict the Wouldn’t buy again rating; I wanted these issues to finish up the collection.  But were I to lose my whole collection, I wouldn’t buy Walking Dead over again.)  

In the final analysis, I tore through the last 97 issues of the story in 3 days; There’s no way a comic that’s only ‘pretty good’ can grab my attention like that.  A couple of final thoughts about Walking Dead:

There are few villains in comics as compelling as Negan.  An amazing job of writing by Robert Kirkman to make him so sympathetic after the horrors he’s performed.  George RR Martin’s the only other writer I can think of off the top of my head who can do that so well.

The spreadsheet I made keeping track of all the deaths.  (I stopped after TPB 28.)  Kirkman killed 68 out of the 111 characters I tracked.  The majority of the survivors were introduced at around the halfway point of the series (The discovery of The Hilltop).  

The introduction of the Commonwealth was a little too far fetched for me; That society was way too developed from what we’d seen up until then.  

The status of the world in the flash forward, which was as implausible as the Commonwealth, still felt earned.  I was ready for the happy ending after so many issues of death.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good 

Archer and Armstrong 1-4

Moving on to the Valiant comics in my collection.  (Except for Ivar, Timewalker, which somehow wasn’t grouped with them.)  Archer, which has the same creative team as Ivar, elicits pretty much exactly the same comments - Well done humor, good action, interesting plot, but not enough to keep me reading.

(Archer reads as a clone of Connor Hawke, which is a point for, not against, the series.)

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Bloodshot 1-4

An entertaining but forgettable story about a superpowered agent rebelling against the government that created him.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Walking Dead, Movies

Liberator

Caught this show on Netflix.  The rotoscoping effect was used to cut down on production costs, and I really like the atmosphere that it creates for the series.  It’s a nice parallel piece to Band of Brothers, very much in the same vein.  It could stand to be just as long - four episodes isn’t nearly enough to capture everything that Felix Sparks did in his over 500 days of combat.  

The scene that stood out the most to me is the one with George Patton.  Peter Woodward gives a spectacular performance, absolutely stealing both the scene and the entire show for me.  (I’ve gone back to watch it multiple times.)  The way he snaps and bites off words is riveting.  

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: Yes

Rating: Good

Walking Dead 37-96

I’ve been making a list of the truly shocking moments in the series as I come across them.  I’m noticing that they’re all the things that I still remember from my first time through - Rick getting his hand cut off, Carl losing his eye.  And of course, Lori and the baby getting shot.

I remembered the moment, but I’d forgotten how horrible it truly is.  It left me emotionally gutted.  It’s made worse by Rick’s beautiful scene with Judith from the previous night, which speaks to me on a totally different level now that I’m a dad.  

After that, the series has basically lost some of its emotional force.  I don’t care as much about what happens to these people anymore.  It’s probably what a lot of these characters feel, but I don’t have to die to make it stop…

Also, Negan is coming up, and I’m kind of dreading it, to be honest.  Talk about brutal, memorable moments. 

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good (Really good for issue 48)

Walking Dead, New Comics, Movies

New comics!

Black Cat 3

Lots of fun.  Standard “resist temptation of infinite power” plot, but Jed MacKay makes it a fun ride.

Captain Marvel 26

Great ending for a fun Elseworlds story.  Even better is the effect it has on Carol’s life - She breaks up with Rhodey because she isn’t the mother of his future daughter.  It’s a time travel twist that I haven’t encountered before, and it’s an intriguing one that’s sad and thought provoking.  

Movies that I’ve been watching:

Straight Up

An entertaining romcom where the ostensibly gay protagonist explores a nonsexual romantic relationship with a girl.  A few things that stood out to me: 

The dialogue is sparkling and hilarious on the same level as the best Gilmore Girls episodes.  (Fitting, considering their first conversation is about that show.)  I wish that there was more exploration of Rory (Katie Findlay), there are hints of a traumatic past that were teased but never fleshed out.  I don’t know why all the supporting characters were so convinced that Todd’s gay, I would have preferred more possibilities for his sexual confusion; It would have brought a much more interesting, less seen dimension to the film.

Great performances by Findlay and writer/actor James Sweeney, which make this worth watching.

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: No

Rating: Nice

Booksellers

A documentary about the rare book selling business in New York City.  It delivered exactly what I was looking for going into it.   I love documentaries like this, exploring a fascinating corner of the world that I’ve never explored before.  

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: No

Would buy on DVD: No

Rating: Nice

The Farewell

Finally got around to watching this a couple of years after the initial release and hype.  Given what I knew going in (Awkwafina returns to her birthplace in China to say goodbye to her terminally ill grandmother (who doesn’t know she has cancer)), there are absolutely no surprises through the whole film.  That said, it feels remarkably authentic and Chinese.  All of the characters feel real, with no hint of “acting” from the performers.  These are all people that could be family members of my own.  

The culture clash between East and West over the ethics of not telling the elderly patient is one that I’ve gone through myself.  (I still don’t know where I come down on the issue.  It’s probably a situational thing for me.)

I’m glad I watched it, but it wasn’t the unforgettable experience I’d read about.

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: No

Would buy on DVD: No

Rating: Nice  

Map of Tiny Perfect Things

There have been a lot of time travel movies lately.  This offering from Amazon Studios takes the teenager romance track.  Kyle Allen and Kathryn Newton are a most adorable pairing.  (Their first kiss is awfully sweet.)  They both pull off the long-take perfect day scenes like choreographed, graceful dancers.  The pseudo-twist where this is actually Newton’s story and not Allen’s forces a nifty re-examination of the film. 

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: No

Rating: Pretty good

Walking Dead 1-42

Not a lot to say about this.  I bought this series as each trade came out, every six months or so.  Every time, I’d be enthralled by Kirkman’s ability to write gripping situations and his mastery of the cliffhanger.  But I eventually stopped buying it with the 28th (!) volume.  That’s how long it took me to get sick of the cycle: Rick finds a seemingly safe place to stay.  Something goes wrong, people die, and he moves on to the next location.  Each “episode” is well-crafted, but the repetitive nature of it finally wore me down.  All the cruelty, death, and endless grind proved to be too much.  And while that may be what the characters all feel as well, I at least had the option of getting out without dying a grisly death.  

I’m going into this expecting to cut this from my collection; I haven’t ever wanted to re-read this, and the 28 books are just taking up shelf space.  But 6 volumes in, I’m certainly engaged and can’t bring myself to get rid of them.  But there’s plenty of story to go.  

To keep myself occupied, I’m keeping track of all the deaths in the storyline in a spreadsheet.  I’m curious to see how it looks by the end of it.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

The Boys

The Boys 1-72

Herogasm 1-6

Highland Laddie 1-6

Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker 1-6

The first time around, I stopped buying this after issue 14.  It wasn’t bad, but not worth continuing.  Years later, I was in London and saw a bunch of the trades for five bucks apiece.  Seeing as how Garth Ennis is one of my favorite writers, I decided to give it another shot.  After that, I was pot committed and finished out the run in trade paperbacks.  

Going into the re-read, I had memories of Garth Ennis at his unrestrained worst - gore, shock value, sexual depravity (I have no objections to any of that, but there’s got to be a worthy payoff), and an unsatisfying conclusion.  I wasn’t expecting great things from this.

I tore through 90 issues in 6 days.  And while it certainly isn’t close to Ennis’ best work, it’s not the mess that I remember.  It’s the lowlights that stand out to me:

Hughie’s treatment of Annie when he discovers her secret is inexcusable.  Highland Laddie is a boring, pointless mess, redeemed only by the appearance of Annie.  Butcher’s final plan is so horrible and mean-spirited that it leaves a wretched feeling in my stomach.

On the plus side, Annie is the best part of the comic.  Her growth is great to read, and though she really deserves better than wishy-washy Hughie, I like seeing her get her happy ending.  

The Ennis Excess, rather than ruining The Boys, is what makes it worth keeping around.  His twisted takes on classic superhero teams are hilarious in their fucked up way.  He’s willing to take things to the next level of “wow, he really went there,” and I gotta say that it usually works for me.  

Nice parody of Frank Quitely...

Basically an issue-long Aliens parody...

The original scene:

Love Frenchie and the Female's idea of stress.

Years before John Wick

I'd feel worse if he wasn't such a bastard.

Frenchie and the Female have one of the best relationships in the comic.

Which makes this sequence heartbreaking.

Sigh.

Definitely readable and I’ll keep it around, but I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever come back to this.  

Comparing it to the tv show: Hughie is a lot more likable in the show, so his relationship with Annie is even better there.  The plane crash sequence, as horrible as it is in the show, is even more tragic in the comic; the incompetence and inhumanity of the Seven is magnitudes worse.  

The biggest difference is with Homelander; he’s genuinely scary in the show, and I’m always on pins and needles when he’s on screen - I have no idea if he’s going to lash out and kill whoever’s in front of him.  (Kudos again to Antony Starr.)  There’s never that sense of dread with him in the comic, even with his body count.  

I’m not sure which one I like better.  Probably the show.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good at the beginning, Nice by issue 30.  Highland Laddie Didn’t Suck.

Black Hammer

Black Hammer 1-11-13

Bought the first trade on the recommendation of a colleague.  I’m disappointed that I got the second.  Upon reflection, I’m sure it was a matter of “want to know what happens next” more than “I like this and must have more.”

There are a couple of nice moments - Eva’s death is pretty harrowing, and I like that Dr. Star is named Jimmy Robinson (an homage to James Robinson and his stellar run on Starman).  But other than that, the mood is too dreary, the art too drab (a mix of Mike Mignola and Guy Davis).  I may try to read the last 12 issues in the arc to see how it all ends, but these first 12 are getting cut.

(Went back to my initial reviews, and they almost completely mirror my thoughts today.)

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Fine

Movies

Some movies that I’ve watched while my daughter naps next to me:

Mile 22

A decent action film.  Iko Uwais of The Raid fame is the standout.  Mark Wahlberg could stand to tone down the intensity;  Maybe try a setting that’s below 13 once in a while, huh?  

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: No

Would buy on DVD: No

Rating: Fine

Entertainers

A super fun documentary about the World Old-Time Piano Playing Championships.  It’s impossible to not feel happy listening to this music, and some of the playing is absolutely jaw dropping

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: No

Rating: Pretty good

About Time

A satisfying romance that really provoked a lot of thought after it was over.  The time travel aspect really made me think about how I would use it myself.  Cheesily enough, the movie did reinforce my desire to appreciate the specialness of every single day.

 I love the subway montage at the beginning of the relationship.  The father-son bond is the real tear-jerker part of the film, wonderful work by Bill Nighy and Domhnall Gleeson.  Rachel McAdams is at her apex adorableness here.  

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: Yes 

Rating: Good

What If

One of the most generic romcom plots ever, but Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan sell the crap of it, elevating the material into something totally enjoyable.  

(I love Kazan's smile at the end of Big Sick)

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

To All the Boys: Always and Forever

Way better than the second one, I really liked the “going to different colleges” point of conflict.  It’s a lot less painful than the love triangle of the sequel, and it’s something that’s rarely addressed in high school romances.  I don’t know if I buy that Lara Jean and Peter will actually make it through four years of college, but they have a better shot than most.  I’d like to see the Before Sunrise treatment for the two of them, four years later.  

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Marriage Story

Holy geez, was this hard to watch.  So much emotional pain.  But the writing is superb, and the acting by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver is really as good as you can get.  (I don’t think I’ve ever seen Driver do anything bad.)  I’m not eager to watch this again, but there’s no arguing its brilliance.

(One of my favorite Driver performances.)

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: No

Rating: Pure joy (Or whatever the equivalent is for emotionally exhausting in a good way)

Young Avengers, New comics

New comics!
Batman/Catwoman 3

It’s hard to come up with new stuff to say about this.  The usual early Tom King series fun, beautiful Clay Mann art.

Future State: Catwoman 2

At the end of the day, an Elseworlds story that probably wasn’t worth the purchase price: Otto Schmidt has done better work, this one was a little too sketchy.  One moment that I thought was nice:

Strange Academy 1-6

Heard some good buzz for this, and the Humberto Ramos art is excellent.  Don’t think it’s quite good enough to keep buying, though.

Young Avengers 1-12

Young Avengers Special 1

Not as fun as my memory recalls.  The Jim Cheung art is still gorgeous, but I realized that aside from Kate Bishop, I never found myself caring about any of the other team members; Patriot is a whiny, bitter, close-minded dick, Wiccan and Hulkling have little to distinguish themselves outside of “gay couple,” Stature can’t talk about anything besides her dead father, and Iron Lad takes off after five issues.  The concept of the Young Avengers is really strong, but the execution is surprisingly lacking.  

Always loved Cheung's Hawkeye design.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Civil War: Runaways and Young Avengers 1-4

Typical fight-each-other-make-up-then-fight-the-bad-guys crossover.  Sets up Noh-Varr for Kieron Gillen’s run.  I expected more from writer Zeb Wells after his hilarious Avenging Spider-Man stint.  Stefano Caselli’s distorted ugly faces are great for Secret Warriors, but not at all suitable for a book starring teenagers.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Young Avengers Presents 1-6

Meh.  Character building pieces for the team, but nothing that grabs my attention.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Avengers: Children’s Crusade 1-9

More fun than the original Young Avengers series, but I’m again underwhelmed despite the epicness of Wanda’s return.  Too much of it feels derivative, I think.  The argument over what punishment Wanda deserves for No More Mutants is a retread of all the Dark Phoenix disputes.  (Though AvX happens after this, I think.)  

For all his bluster about being willing to do the hard thing...

...even Wolverine is not immune to monologuing.

Doom with cosmic level powers was already done in the original Secret Wars.  Cyclops being a dick...well, he’s always been a dick.  

Eli's clearly a Scott-in-training.

What an idiot.

But damn if Jim Cheung doesn’t draw a stunning Scarlet Witch.

LOVE this outfit.

At the end of the series, the Young Avenger deaths had no emotional effect on me at all; the final indictment of its success (failure) as a series.    

Yeah, no great loss.

Credit to Allan Heinberg, though, for writing some pretty funny moments:

Callback to an amazing issue...

...with a superb retcon.

Kate rocks.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade 1

A waste of time one-shot explaining Iron Lad’s return in the series.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Didn’t suck

Young Avengers 1-15

Kieron Gillen’s run starts off with a bang.  I was completely enjoying myself with his sense of humor, the magnificent Jamie McKelvie art (super creative layouts!), and the overall fun. 

Three pages into the first issue...

...and I'm hooked.

I'm a fan of the humor.

But as things went on, one major factor dragged it down:  I hate Mother, and the fact that she’s the big bad makes her unignorable.  Her powers are visually gross (what she does to Hulkling is nightmare material) and her level of unfairness pisses me off.  Her unavoidable off-screen presence places a constant feeling of dread over the story that exhausts me and detracts from the reading experience.  

Gross gross gross gross

One of the not gross powers.  This is just sweet art.

But it sure is pretty.

I like that I never noticed until they called it out in the last issue.

Even the credits are amazing.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good to Nice after five or so issues

   

That’s it for X-Men box 6, with some Young Avengers thrown in to fill it out!

Box summary

Time spent reading: 17 hours 18 minutes

Issues read: 171

Issues cut: 5

Highlights (Good or better): Most of Bendis’ Uncanny X-Men, the Ultimates arc of All-Star X-Men

Project Summary:

Time spent reading: 33 days, 16 hours, 37 minutes

Issues read: 6940

Issues cut: 844