This week was a pretty big week…well, at least in terms of charges to my credit card.  My total bill come out pretty close to $40 and, strangely enough, didn’t include any trades or graphic novels at all.  An unusal thing for sure because I almost always find some sort of higher priced book to pick up. 

1. Secret Invasion #2
2. Mighty Avengers #13
3. Conan #50
4. Rann-Thanagar Holy War #1
5. Avengers-Invaders #1
6. War That Time Forgot #1
7. American Dream #1

With that out of the way, let’s get on to the comic reviews!

At the top of my list and soon at the bottom of my trashcan, Secret Invasion #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and Lenil Francis Yu.  Lenil’s artwork on the series continues to be flat, uneven and very awkward.  I’m not sure what Marvel was thinking by hiring him to draw a book where multiple versions of characters are appearing in and out of costume because everyone he draws looks the same.  It doesn’t help that Yu isn’t the strongest storyteller around as the book quickly becomes very confusing — I’d go so far as to call it unreadable. 

Speaking of storytelling, have I warmed up to the series after 2 issues?  Not at all.  The crossover “event” seems to be nothing more than Marvel attempting to fix a lot of its character and continuity mistakes and missteps over the past 10 years.  Truthfully, they’re forgetting about their biggest mistake of all…putting Joe Quesada in charge as editor-in-chief.  Of course, allowing Bendis to come on board as a writer is a very close second.  Hopefully we’ll eventually find out everyone is a skrull and pretend none of it ever happened.

Secret Invasion has replaced Secret Wars 2 as my nominee for worst company crossover of all time.  It’s nice to see Marvel finally answering the question of how badly one company can fuck itself up. Read More »

It’s another exciting week here at the Nifty Nerd and we’ve got a new episode of Comics That Piss Me Off to go along with new comic day for the week of April 23, 2008.  This week we’ve got some good stuff and some bad stuff, and a new Modern Master volume all ready to become the latest addition to my “bathroom reading” stack of books.

Let’s see what wonders are waiting in this week’s buy pile:

1. Mighty Avengers #12
2. Hulk #3
3. Number of the Beast #2
4. The Spirit #16
5. Justice League of America #20
6. Modern Masters Volume 16: Mike Allred

First up, Mighty Avengers #12 by Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev.  I am a regular reader of the Mighty Avengers, in spite of it being a fairly poorly written book, and I have to say this new issue confused me.  I say this because as I read the issue I kept flipping back to the cover to make sure it was an issue of the Mighty Avengers and not its companion book, the New Avengers.  Bendis must have been confused himself as he wrote the book because it features not a single member of the Mighty Avengers, and focuses almost completely on the renegade team and Nick Fury.  This book is even worse than regular Marvel books which require you to have read every previous issue of a book for the past 5 years…this book requires that you have read every issue of some other series.  Marvel really needs to get rid of Brian Bendis if they want to open their books up to new readers…or open the books up to good writing. Read More »

Yo, yo, Yoda!

You know, week in and week out I take a bullet right in my bank account for you, my loyal readers.  It’s true.  Every week I go in to my local comic book store (Comic Cellar, off of Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia, CA) and I pick up a lot of books I don’t normally read…and, inevitably, I wind up picking up a number of books I know in advance are going to suck ass.  That’s right, I waste my money so you don’t have to.

Let’s take a look at what is in this week’s buy pile:

1. Brave and the Bold #12
2. Legacy of Doom #1
3. Captain Action #0
4. Superman #675
5. Dream War #1
6. Captain America #37
7. Wonderlost #2

Definitely a mixed bag for me this week. Read More »

Even in my jaded old-age, there is still nothing better than new comic day and a weekly trip down to my local comic shop.  The only real difference between now and when I was younger is my tendency to hit the shop later in the day in order to avoid the inane chatter that goes on Comic Book Guy style fans and counter clerks.  If I see one more overweight comic geek with a fedora and a vest or trenchcoat, I may wind up on a killing spree.

This week’s damage came to a bit over $35 and I walked a way with a big ol’ stack of stuff.  Some good, some bad and some just kind of so-so.  Here’s the list:

1. FX #2 by Wayne Osborne and John Byrne
2. Titans #1 by Judd Winick and Ian Churchill
3. Number of the Beast #1 by Scott Beatty and Chris Sprouse
4. Justice Society of America #14 by Geoff Johns and Dale Eaglesham
5. Wild Cards: The Hard Call #1 by Daniel Abraham and Eric Battle
6. Justice League Unlimited “Ties that Bind” trade paperback by Adam Beechen, Paul D. Storrie and a host of artists Read More »
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It’s time once more for a new installment of “Comics That Piss Me off!”  I’m just back from my local comic shop (the Comic Cellar in Monrovia, CA) and I have to say this week is a bit better than last week.  Here is the quick list:

Clandestine #3
Young X-Men #1
Project Super Powers #2
Action Comics #863
Green Arrow 13″ Figure from DC Direct

For those of you who are completely stunned by the lack of Secret Invasion #1 on my pull-list, don’t you worry your little heads.  You see, I was so…um…impressed…yeah, that’s a good word for it…I was so IMPRESSED by Secret Invasion #1 that I’ve decided to do a second, all-Secret Invasion edition of Comics That Piss Me Off.  So, just hang on and I’ll be following up with that very soon.  Until then, let’s get back to this week’s haul. Read More »

Welcome to the first installment of a new feature here on the Nifty Nerd (www.theniftynerd.com).  It’s a little something I like to call “Comics that piss me off.”  Every Wednesday I’ll be going over my picks for hits and misses in the world of comic book new releases.

The hits for this week of March 26, 2008?

None really.  It’s sad but I really don’t buy many new comics any more.  Growing up and even through art school I’d buy $40-$50 a week or more — I’d buy everything.  My love of comics hasn’t diminished any, but the quality of the work has definitely gone in the toilet.  There really isn’t much worth reading anymore.  This is all especially sad now that I have enough disposable income to buy anything and everything on the stands.  Very sad.

This week I picked up Green Lantern #29, Legion of Superheroes #40 and the Mighty Avengers #11.  Unfortunately, none of it is really worth recommending. Read More »