The Amazing Spider-Man #655 (Marvel)

"I guess......if I were Aunt May......you would have found a way to save me."~Marla Jameson to Peter Parker/Spider-man

Writer: Dan Slott
Art: Marcos Martin
Colors: Muntsa Vincente
Letters: VC's Joe Caramagna
Assistant editor: Ellie Pyle
Senior editor: Stephen Wacker
Editor in chief: Axel Alonso
Chief creative officer: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Executive producer: Alan Fine

Comic Book Week: February 23, 2011



 As promised to you guys last week I bought the Amazing Spider-man which I would not normally buy at the advice of my lcbs (local comic book shop.....natch! @strangeadventrz fyi!). The cover was very prettie so I was interested to see what was inside & I was gladly not disappointed!

Although a recap page would have been nice I quickly discovered that Marla Jameson has died & this book shows her funeral & the cast's reaction to her death. Marla Jameson is (was?) the wife of J. Jonah Jameson the now mayor of New York. I did not know this until my bf told me that & he had no idea that she still existed. While this may have reduced the depth of the book taken on it's own "Awakening (No One Dies Part 1 of 2" is a moving tribute even to one who does not know who the character is or was. The first half is told in silence mostly from J. Jonah Jameson's perspective & the stark reality of an old man left alone in the world was tear jerking. It reminded me of the episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where Buffy's mom died. *sniff!* :'(

The second half moves over to Peter Parker dreaming about all the people in his life who have died & his feelings of responsibility for those deaths. The shift in story telling styles is a little bit awkward but not so much as to ruin the story. This dream then leads to Spidey making a decision that seems very familiar but is quite different at the same time. This decision will clearly impact part 2 of the story next issue but really only the last 2 pages have any thing to do with the ongoing story & they end in a niceish cliff hanger!

Dan Slott is usually known for his humor but this story shows he can pull at ♥ strings too. The artwork is very old fashioned & sort of like John Romita Jr which is not normally what I necessarily like......kind of chunkie & too heavily inked........sorry! ^9,9^

The colors & letters are prettie.

So in spite of there being no recap & the art work not blowing me away Kara's Comic for this week gets a..........

RATING: 7 tear drops out of 10!

Thanx for reading! Sorry about there being no bonus this week.......tired & need sleep! nite nite! ツ*

X-23 #4 (Marvel)

"The first thing you learn is how to be alone."~Laura / X-23

Writer: Marjorie Liu
Artists: Will Conrad & Marco Checchetto
Colorist: John Rauch
Letterer: VC's Cory Petit
Designer: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Art: Leinil Francis Yu with Jason Keith
Variant Art Cover: Marko Djurdjevic
Assistant Editor: Jody Leheup
Editor: Jeanine Schaefer
Group Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Executive Producer: Alan Fine

Comic Book Week: ':o ?

This week I decided to do something a little bit different & I am going to try to continue it kindof.........the comix I bought last week did not satisfy me so I went out to a normal magazine shop & bought an issue of Marvel's "X-23" that I have never read. Next week I will try to buy a new comic that I would not buy for myself but for now let us call this a flash back! ;)

& for the week of February 16th my fav book was Supergirl #61 if you are interested.

The teen age girl Laura is a clone of Wolverine with teased genes to make her a teen aged girl instead of a hairy short man. ;) She also goes by the name X-23. She also has claws on her hands & feet both.

As with most of Marvel's comix there is a plot summary on the 1st page that very much confused me but then did not seem to have any thing to do with the rest of the issue which shows Laura on the run from some police men. She meets a teen aged prostitute who tries and fails to recruit her & does something bad to her pimp & meets a dashing member of the Xmen out of thin air & keeps running & then gets caught by the police men & then we end with a really strange suggestive shot that just made me a little nauseous because of the ties to Mister Sinister.

Sorry for the way I wrote that but that is the way I read it. I just was not into this story. I did like Laura as a character and the art work was gorgeous but the story was just not there. & the art work was pretty but it was confusing! It started out well enough but started to jump around & cover up the lack of back grounds with flashing lights. I also have to point out that for all of the editors in the list up at the top there were far too many mistakes in this story. There was a misspelled word that jumped out at me & Laura changes clothes randomly 1/2 way through but the new clothes consist of the same belly tee with a different pattern, the identical jeans with out blood stains & a cute leather jacket with & without a leather collar.

Also I liked the cover.........the normal cover is the 1 shown above.

So sadly this week............

RATING: 4 leather jackets out of 10!

As a special bonus please read my guest blog post at Girls Read Comics Too! It is 1 of a series of Memorable Moments of Marvel Women. Mine is about the death of Jean Grey as the Dark Phoenix!

& while you are visiting be sure to read about the other moments & other great posts!

Later gators! *mwah!* ツ*

The Walking Dead Weekly #6 (Skybound/Image)

"It's not the same as killing the dead ones, Daddy."~Carl Grimes

Creator/Writer/Letterer: Robert Kirkman

Penciller/Inker: Tony Moore

Gray Tones: Cliff Rathburn

Editor: Sina Grace









I have been sooooooo bad! I let my reviews slide for sooooooo long and just could not get back to doing them! Sorry, oops! But enough is enough. I just decided that this week I would pick an easy book to review & make it Kara's Comic for Comic Book Week February 9th, 2011........"The Walking Dead Weekly #6"!

If you are like me you may or may not have heard of The Walking Dead by the fabulous Robert Kirkman but ignored it until the incredible series on AMC. For that reason Kirkman is taking the original series and reprinting it in weekly format for those newbies that want to get back in on the bottom floor..........like me! ;)

I will admit to not being a big zombie fan..........I like horror but mostly vampires & my previous zombie experience has really only been with "Shaun of the Dead".......which I ♥love♥.......but The Walking Dead is different. It is more about the real people living in the world that now belongs to the zombies. Most movies are short so they are all about fighting the creatures until the end where they all somehow die or it looks like they will die. But in The Walking Dead the story does not appear to be ready to end any time soon so we get the few remaining living breathing people fighting zombies here and there but mostly just trying to learn to live in a world where they are really the ones that are always being hunted.

And the first difference I have noted in Kirkman's writing versus most other writers.......both here & on AMC.......is his pacing. While he does not rush the story in any way, plot points that you would expect to be held for a long time are resolved quite quickly & then new stories developed. It is quite strange & unusual actually in comics particularly where one sees stories that last for sometimes years where nothing ever seems to happen........like the New Avengers........or one sees big event after big event after big event......like the whole Identity Crisis through to Brightest Day thing. What identifies the comic versus the AMC series is Moore & Rathburn`s fabulous artwork! It is really a joy to behold in its gray toned glory! The characters are all unique & expressive, the zombies are terrifyingly beautiful, & the scenery is suitable to hang in an art gallery!

I do not want to give any story points away as it would give away both the television & comic book series, but this issue is where the two take the biggest divergence. The first 5 issues followed very closely the first 4 or 5 episodes but something very big happens at the end of this issue that shocked me! Someone dies that I had no expectation of dying & in Kirkman`s hands it made me gasp & cry.

This book is not perfect but it is a great read & so very pretty! & apparently season 2 of the show on AMC will not happen until fall of 2011 so whether you watched the 1st season or not I recommend grabbing the weekly fix from the printed version!

RATING: 7 undead zombies out of 10!

Thank you all so much for reading! Here is a preview of the second season of The Walking Dead on AMC: http://bit.ly/i2wVUV

Also I wrote a guest blog recently for Girls Read Comics Too! It has not been posted yet but please keep checking & hopefully it will be up soon.........& you will get to read some fabulous stuff by some other great women while waiting! ツ*

Haven't You Heard? ヅ

Hi, all! I know I have been neglecting you all lately and I hope to finally get back to a regular schedule next week with some form of 2010 in review.........but for this week I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of my readers / friends! Above is a map of where all of my visitors from around the world have come from........& it is all around the world (*pssssst!* Green means someone there read it.....the darker the green the more readers from that country!)! That is so cool! It makes this small town country girl feel sooooo wonderful! I just want to give you all a big .................
*hug*!

Luv & kisses, ♥Kara♥  ツ*!

The 1000 Tsweep Contest!

Hi, everyone!

I know that I have missed a couple of weeks so to make up for that & to celebrate my 1000th follower on Twitter, I have decided that I want to run a contest!

The rules are simple......in 140 characters or less on Twitter or on Facebook or in the comment box of this blog tell me what the best way to commit career suicide would be......i.e. tweet, "@SupergirlofArgo moon ur parishioners from the pulpit" X)) !

I will pick the post I find the funniest received by 3pm eastern standard time December 14th, 2010. The winner will get a signed copy of my bf's comic book "The Arcadian's #1" & it will be open to anyone in continental North America........yes the prize is free to me & I am trying to limit the mailing costs! This blog is just for fun & does not make any money!

Once I pick the winner I will get back to you to get a mailing address.......it just better be in America, Canada, or Mexico!!!!!! Please? I will even bag it & board it!

You can reach me at Twitter or Facebook from the Profile Badge at the top of this page & if you reeeeeaaaaalllllllly need to email an entry let me know & I will privately send you my email address.

♥ you guys! ツ*

Fables #99 (Vertigo/DC)

"Yes, I do believe a teaching moment is upon us."~The Dark Man

Writer/Creator: Bill Willingham
Artist: Inaki Miranda
Colors: Eva de la Cruz
Letters: Todd Klein
Cover: Joao Ruas
Associate Editor: Angela Rufino
Editor: Shelly Bond

Comic Book Week: October 20, 2010







Umm..............omg! 8O ❤

I know I reviewed the last issue of this book, but "Dark City" was just soooooo much more deserving I had to give you the scoop on this book!

I mentioned the villain the Dark Man last time (bit.ly/buHRzV)-he's a very bad guy who is about to face off against the heros-and in this issue he takes the front seat as we only see the regular Fables in passing. The story is told from the perspective of the witch Ozma's familiar in the form of a black cat, who is spying on the Dark Man for Ozma (btw-Ozma is probably Princess Ozma from the Land of Oz by Frank Baum! Cool beans! ;) ).

Willingham tells perhaps his best story in about half the series in an almost stand alone tale that is nonetheless leading into a bigger showdown. But in this issue its the artwork that blows me away! Klein & de la Cruz contribute but Miranda's linework depicting the architecture & people of New York city as pawns of the Dark Man is fabulous! The cover by Raus is hot but the first inside panel of the New York skyline just puts it to shame!

I'm dying to read the next issue! I hope Miranda is back! X9 ❤

RATING: 8 black cats out of 10!
 
Happy Halloween everybody! ツ*

Here is my favorite way to celebrate Halloween........Michael Jackson's Thriller!!!!!!!! 

ツ❦ Autumn Extravaganza! ツ❦

Comic Book Week: October 6, 2010

Hi! Guess what? I missed a week! Kay so that is a bad thing. But to make it up I am going to do the short review thing again & run down all of my fabulous reads from this week!

American Vampire #7 (Vertigo/DC)
(Scott Snyder & Rafael Albequerque, American Vampire created by Scott Snyder)

I AM STILL LOVING THIS SERIES!!!! I went back & realized this was my favorite book the last time I did these short reviews too. Well it has not lost any steam even with the loss of Stephen King......which says a lot!
"Devil in the Sand, Part Two" continues a vampire tale set in the early days of Las Vegas as it is becoming Sin City (not the Frank Miller 1, the actual 1). The art is wonderfully graphic & the story pulls me in......Eric Northman who? Skinner Sweet is the badboy sexy vampire for this gal! :9 ♥
I'm going to use the same rating system as last time cause I think it worked so very well (bit.ly/9FLZHa)......
9 ½ sunny days!!!!!!
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☁

iZombie #6 (Vertigo/DC)
(Chris Roberson & Michael Allred, iZombie created by Roberson & Allred)

I am really loving this series too! I have more than once mentioned how great Roberson's writing is on this series & Cinderella, & Allred is like a living legend on the art. "I, Were-Terrier" is all about the supporting character Scott who turns into a were-terrior during the full moon. He is of course friends with Gwen the zombie & Ellie the ghost. And in this issue we find out how he became a were-terrier & meet his grandfather who looks to be the newest cast member in a strange way. This book is just so much fun which says a lot for a comic centered around dead characters!
9 ½ sunny days!!!!!!
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☁

Hawkeye & Mockingbird #5 (Marvel)
(Jim McCann, David Lopez, Alvaro Lopez, Nathan Fairbairn....& I have to mention Paul Renaud for that beautiful cover! )
I said after the first issue of this series that I hoped it stuck around & for 5 issues it has just gotten better! The art is beautiful! The story is character driven & action packed! And that cover is worth framing! ♥
"Ghosts Part 5: Let Go" seems to end the series' first story arc where Bobbi & Clint have been fighting off a new Phantom Rider.....the first of whom Bobbi (Mockingbird) let fall off a cliff......& Crossfire.....the villain from Clint's (Hawkeye) first miniseries where Bobbi & Clint got married. But saying that, the letter column seems to imply next issue is the last & that that was always the plan! Not according to the first issue letter column! Boooo!!!!!!
9 sunny days!!!!! (ignoring the last ish announcement!)
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☂
 
 

Secret Six #26 (DC)
(Gail Simone ♥ & Jim Calafiore)

I cannot possibly gush over this book any more than I already have! Read it! It is funny & exciting & touching & beautiful & just consistently the best "mainstream" comic book that is currently being made! "The Reptile Brain Part Two of Four: Forced Merger" sees 2 Secret Six teams fighting in Skartaris where Warlord was once set (it is like DC's version of Marvel's Savage Land). This is not the best issue in the series but this book not at it's best is still very much better than almost everything else.....& it makes Bane look formidable again!
8 ½ sunny days!!!!

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☁ ☂

 
 
 
 

Incorruptible #10 (Boom!)
(Mark Waid & Horacio Domingues, Incorruptible created by Mark Waid)
 
Incorruptible is a spinoff of Mark Waid's other series Irredeemable. In the other series a Superman standin goes bad & kills a lot of people. In this one Max Damage was one of his worst villains who decided to go good to balance the scales. In many ways it shares a lot of the same character as Secret Six. The art is not quite to the same level but the way the story is proceeding is fascinating with a villain who is trying to not be a villain anymore mostly because he just does not seem right in the head! And in this untitled issue he must face a white supremacist cult devoted to the Plutonian....the "hero" I just mentioned.
8 sunny days !!!
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☂ ☂
 
 
 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #37
(Joss Whedon, Scott Allie, Georges Jeanty; based on the television series created by Joss Whedon)

What more can I say about this series? I love Buffy. I love Joss Whedon. I have grown to love Georges Jeanty. The art is great & you can see the characters from the television series brought back to life, & the story is by Joss (& Scott Allie) so it cannot be anything but good. But "Last Gleaming Part Two" is kind of a place filler story where nothing much happens.....just travel time mostly......but it does have both Spike and Angel (♥!) so that makes up for a lot!
8 sunny days!!!
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☂ ☂
 
 
 
 
 

Superman: The Last Family of Krypton #3 of 3 (DC Elseworlds)
(Cary Bates & Renato Arlem, Superman created by Siegel & Shuster)
 
This is the final issue of a 3 issue miniseries about what would have happened if Jor-el (Superman's father) had a chance to build a rocket big enough for his son & his wife (Lara) & himself instead of just Kal-el (Superman). Jor-el advances the science of the Earth while Lara brings the religion of Raoism to its people. The story is quite interesting and the art is quite pretty......kind of sketchy but realistic. In this issue the Guardians confront Jor-el & tell him he has changed the proper order of things because no superheroes but Superman came into being because he removed the necessity. This seems kind of odd in that the Guardians seem to have no problem with Superman being a hero just Jor-el. Then Lex Luthor basically shows himself to be the same as "our" Luthor & Superman saves the day. Good but not great.
7 sunny days!!
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☂ ☂ ☂
 
I think a low mark of 7 out of 10 makes for a great week! I hope you agree & thanx for reading! ツ*