Back to Sunnydale

You seriously didn't think that with CW#7 having come out last week we were going to talk about something like the Oscars? Well this is Back to Sunnydale my friends where the comic book is king and the biggest news last week was the end of Marvel's ongoing yearlong feud. By now it wouldn't be spoiling anyone to say which side came out on top of the conflict, and whether you enjoyed CW or thought it was a pile of rubbish, one thing cannot be denied, that is that in issue 7 McNiven turns in, by far, the best work of his career.

The far reaching effects on the Marvel universe as a result of the fallout are also very intriguing and even though most of my SBC peers were less than impressed with the final chapter, we cannot deny the fact that the implications on the Marvel U. will be far reaching. After one of these big events, the publishing companies always try to alter the status quo. Sometimes it's a frivolous change such as Spider-man changing to the black costume at the end of Secret Wars. However, this time we have some changes which are ripe with potential including:

• Tony Stark (a.k.a Iron Man) taking over as director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• the formation of two teams of Avengers (Hence the need for Bendis' new Mighty Avengers title which comes out today)
• the formation of teams of superheroes to be spread out across the 50 states instead of most concentrating in New York City.
• Oh yea, and Spidey wears black again

Though I would have preferred for another writer to take over the chores of Mighty Avengers, I surmise Marvel trusts Bendis will write the type of stories which are compact enough to be collected into trade paperback editions. I have no problem with experimenting with the Avengers' lineup as that has been done throughout the series' history, I do however have a problem with Marvel taking its most popular characters such as Wolverine and sticking him on the book solely for one reason: To sell more comics. How else can we explain a team featuring Logan and Dr. Strange? Maybe they should look into calling the comic "The New Defenders" and stick the Hulk back in there, after he gets back from being shot into space by the Illuminati.

I have been really busy the last week or so and have not updated this blog until now. I have rediscovered photography. For the long weekend I took a trip up north to San Francisco with my friend Steve to visit my other friend Tom Pendergast. These guys are more accomplished photographers than I am especially the latter who studied photojournalism in San Francisco State university. Here's a shot of both of them shooting a landscape in Montecito just north of the bay area which I took with my Minolta manual camera followed by a shot of what they are looking at:

We also drove up to visit the Redwoods in a national state park. This place was truly beautiful with nothing but wild life and trees all around us. We got to see the tallest tree in the entire planet and how many people can actually say that? Well I will post some more photos later as I get more time to scan them in.

...cue in AC/DC. Marvel annouced  that this month Spidey will be donning his black and white costume in all his monthly titles once again beginning with ASM #539. As a result of his involvement with the Civil war, Peter Parker has gone through a lot of turmoil so perhaps his donning the costume which he hasn't worn since the 80s will reflect the character's dark mood. Others speculate that it may not even be Peter in the suit but some other character (Ben Reily?) running around in the costume. It sure sounded and looked like Peter as I was reading the latest issue of New Avengers #27 this month.

CBR spoke to Spider-Man editor Alex Alonso last september about this interesting topic, though with Civil War still in progress, he was very tight lipped about any disclosures.  

Also, not to be outdone by anyone we are following in the New Agency blog's lead and starting a blog contest of our own. Simply fill out this form here. If you have followed this blog at all in the past two years and have been paying any attention then you should have no problem with the following questions. There's even some thrown in about BTVS for good measure. This will allow me to get an idea of who's reading this stuff. The one with the most correct answers will get a prize. Good luck!

...then you are probably more likely to want to check out Marvel's new adaptation of this popular series of novels. Following last week's release of issue #1 the comic has been getting a lot of attention in the press.

Evidently, fans of the celebrated author and his gunslinger creation Roland Deschain have been flocking to get a look at this first issue with stunts like midnight openings ala Harry Potter becoming common in many stores.

Today's trek to the local comic book store confirmed this as the clerk was having a discussion with a patron about how non-comic book readers were coming into the store trying to snag a copy.

I got an advanced copy from Marvel last week and though I have to admit that I am not familiar with the characters having never before read the "Dark Towers" novels still found the pacing of the comic to be quite good as an introductory tale. The artwork is most definately gorgeous with a great creative team headed by  Eisner-award winning artist Jae Lee and one of my favorite writers in the industry Peter David.

Westerns aren't my cup of tea so I probably would not be buying this on my own, though I think that if Marvel was seeking that elusive book which appeals to both mainsteam comic book aficionados and to those not generally keeping up with the medium then this might go a long way in appeasing a fair amount of both.

Sales of the first issue seem to be pointing in that direction. You can read a more detailed review of issue #1 here.

Other books which I picked up this week and recommend are New Avengers #27 by Bendis. (I just can't resist reading a book with Ninjas on the cover, especially if it's a tribute) and DC's 52 #40. 52 is beginning to pick up speed as the series moves onto its conclusion but it's been a total blast following the weekly exploits of DC's best superheroes following the events of Infinite Crisis these last few weeks.

I am starting a new feature here at BTS which I call the boob tube and it will examine the shows on tv that I think are worth watching. The other night I was checking out the latest installment of NBC's "Heroes." This is a show which I have followed from its onset last september and I have to say that it's really starting to heat up.

There was something that always bugged me about it but I could never put my finger on it and I think that I have finally figured out what it is. At first I thought that it was the fact its premise is somewhat derivative being so close to the American comic book "X-Men." The show has also been compared to the British production "The Tomorrow People". Indeed, the whimsical writer Peter David routinely refers to Claire's indestructible cheerleader character as "Cheerverine" in his blog as a tongue in cheek nod to her healing powers being identical to the Marvel mutant phenom.

Actually, what bugged me about "Heroes" was the fact as good as it was, it wasn't as compelling as some of the comic book series I was currently following. For example, last year's excellent "Generation M" mini which takes place after most of Marvel's mutant population has been depowered I think is infinately more interesting than this narrative. However, this show is free to watch and it is the closest show based on the American comic book format as it is being written by comic book scribe Jeph Loeb and featuring art by comic book artist Tim Sale. Having such close ties to the industry I feel compelled to follow it.

This week may have given us the best episode to date as we finally find out some secrets about Claire (perfectly played by Hayden Panettiere) and Sylar is running around loose. He reminds me of some of the creepy supernatural serial killers which Fox Moulder used to hunt down periodically on the X-Files. I am not going to review the episode here as I am sure there are millions of internet sites which already scrutinize the show to death including this pretty cool unofficial site.  You can always tell when a show has a cult following if the show has a message board or fan site attached to it like this one does. I am merely going to add that if Heroes hasn't been on your tv radar then you should definately check it out. Original eps air Mondays 9 PM PST on the Peacock and are rerun fridays at 4 PM PST on the Sci Fi network.

Story: After torturing the Governor with one sadistic act of revenge after another (and the reader by extension) Michonne catches up with Rick, Glenn, Alice and Martinez after escaping Woodbury and they all meet at the crashed helicopter site where the horror began. Michonne seems unresponsive to inquiries regarding the Governor's fate but she recovers in time to help the others fend off a massive zombie attack in the woods.

Comments: I was beginning to think that The Walking Dead was beginning to lose some of its bite (pardon the pun.) Last issue was simply horrible. The entire comic was one prolonged torture session as Michonne eschewed an opportunity to escape the town of Woodbury along with Glenn, Rick and Martinez in order to exact her revenge against the Governor. I realize that this showdown was long overdue, especially when you consider the horrors the Governor perpetrated on Michonne, however, Kirkman beats the reader over the head with this and instead of furthering characterization, turns in a lousy story. It was the first time I felt ripped off by this comic. Fortunately, things get back to basics and this issue is a big improvement over the last one. Michonne is still understandably shaken by the ordeal but she is still the strongest most kick ass female character we have seen in a long time in comics. Her stoicism and strength have always made her an appealing character and these characteristics are in full display again after the group gets surprised by "biters" in the woods and has to fight an army of them to get out allive. Before that Kirkman goes back to one of the book's strengths by developing Martinez' backstory. It turns out he was a gym teacher and his details of what life was like in the "havens" which government officials designated as safe places provide a poignant backdrop to the ensuing zombie ambush. Speaking of which, the zombie attack is full of drama and action as the characters fight for their lives and rush to jump into a car to escape the onslaught. Rick and the others decide to try and drive back to the prison but upon making it back they are greeted by a huge surprise. The comic ends with a fantastic cliffhanger. As a special treat, Kirkman and Image throw in a Christmas story featuring Morgan and Duane, characters which date all the way back to issue #1. Though the letters page apologizes for delivering a Christmas themed story in January, the tale is vintage TWD as the deperation of living in a zombie infested world are palpable and rich with human pathos. Charlie Adlard and the rest of the art team manage to shine in the back story where the characters' facial expressions reveal volumes and reiterate the thematic refrain in this comic: How much we often take for granted the little things.

Final Word: After a less than stellar effort last month, The Walking Dead returns with a strong rebound issue. Despite the fact the cover by Adlard and Rathburn is a bit misleading, this was a fun read which is what I have come to expect from this title. I also appreciate the fact Rathburn is turning some very cool back covers instead of giving us another advertisement. A reader in the letters column says that "The Walking Dead" is treating some of the reoccuring characters as sacred cows, immune to death and tragedy. This issue proves that may not be the case.