Received an email yesterday to say that the set was being postponed until later in the year and to compensate me I would be receiving a free gift and would also receive the first 3 issues free once they are released.

Out of curiosity, which issue was it that had a printing error? I’ve fallen a bit behind with my reading of the issues but haven’t seen anything like that yet, just wandering if it’s a widespread issue or was contained to that batch.

Achem. Anyway, I agree with all points! Loving the look of this. Marvel Phase Two looks like it’ll be opening on a high!

I may actually look at getting this, but I fear some of these may contain stories already printed in the current collection. I agree with you though, definitely greed from the publishers’ side, seeing how well the existing run is doing.

@PreyeshS – good to see a fellow South African collector here

http://elongtermloans.co.uk/

I read that they expected this collection to gain 10,000 subscribers but it hit the 40,000 mark – which was what caused initial delays in subscribers receiving some issues of the books.

For me, personally, it’s been a great collection and a perfect re-introduction to comic collecting. Only had the one problem so far which hatchette dealt with OK – albeit their customer service does not respond to emails in a manner that could be considered quick or even adequate.

Could it have tied in better with the cinematic releases – well I think this is the second print run of this collection, so perhaps that hamstrung the release timing?

The second series makes sense from a business stand-point – and actually addresses your complaint of not capitalizing on increased popularity/awareness of superheros.

I too, sadly, haven’t seen it in the shops nor can afford to subscribe. I wonder, though, is this one of the regional “test-the-water” subscriptions that hatchette do? If so, and the do a full blown release to follow on from the current collection, I might be tempted.

A DC based collection of the same quality, and it would be a case of “shut up and take my money”!

The precedent of “offensive speech” exceptions to the First Amendment
is there, but with few exceptions when these instances are challenged
in the US Supreme Court the case always goes in favor of protecting
free speech ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_free_speech_exceptions#Fighting_words_and_offensive_speech
).  The problem is that once you begin curtailing types of speech as
“offensive” then that opens floodgates.  At one point in history it
was offensive to say that gay people should have equal rights.  Now to
most it is the opposite. What if offensive speech laws had been
written back then?  Well I probably wouldn’t be reading this in the
USA because it would be restricted speech.

It is okay for Card to be a vocal homophobe same as it’s okay for me
to be vocally pro-gay rights, because the First Amendment allows us
both to voice our opinions.  The principle being that only when every
citizen is allowed to have free discourse on any topic can we all be
better educated to all viewpoints.

I’ve been a fan of Ender’s Game and it’s sequels since I was a child. Ender’s Game itself, and Ender’s Shadow, are easily two of my favourite books of all time. I’ve also enjoyed some of Card’s other works, including the Tales of Alvin Maker, and the much maligned Ultimate Iron Man books Marvel put out a few years ago, and their adaptations of the Ender series have also been on my pull list since they started. I also met Card, five years ago at San Diego Comic Con. I got the chance to speak to him, and he seemed like a really nice guy, who gave some genuinely good advice to me about being a writer.

So when I found out about his views a couple of years later, I was genuinely shocked. Especially since, as you point out, Ender’s Game and it’s sequels are very much about tolerance and equality, and not only that, I got the very definite impression of some homosexual undertones in some of the key characters. Characters who were very much painted as among the more altruistic, brave and heroic characters in the series. It was inconceivable to me that the Card I had met, and who had written the Ender books, could not only have, but would make very public, these views.

One thing I will say, is that I don’t think he’s actually equated being gay to being a paedophile. The story that this comes from, Hamlet’s Father, is crass, vulgar and not worth the paper it’s printed on, but I could find nothing in it making this connection. Card himself has gone on record as stating that he would never do this, and when he’s also been so public about his view that homosexuality is the product of rape, I don’t see why he would bother trying to lie about that one. Of course, I could well be wrong about that (I have been known to miss things like this on occasion thanks to a naivete within myself that people just wouldn’t say things like that). This isn’t me defending Card, as his views are clearly abhorent, it is simply my trying to get the facts straight in my own way. And, like I said, I’ll be more than happy to be proven wrong, if someone can point me to somewhere Card has stated publicly that pederasty and homosexuality are connected.

Regardless, my issue with this situation is the fact that I am such a fan of (most of) Card’s work that I’ve read. I can’t just turn that off, unfortunately, though I haven’t tried reading any of the Ender saga since I found out about his views. Is it possible to seperate the art from the artist, to use someone else’s words? I don’t know yet, but I know that a part of me wants to be able to.

However, what I will be doing from here on in, is trying my utmost to buy any further volumes in the Ender saga (the only works of Card’s I will attempt to continue with) second hand, so that none of my money goes to the man himself.

It may only be a small concession, but it’s the best I’ve got at the moment.

Apologies if this was a bit of a ramble.

The problem with comics, one of the reasons that so many people never start reading comics in the first place, is because comic book page layouts are the stuff of kindergarten entertainment. You’re sitting there watching your TV with what’s already happened, what’s currently happening, and what’s going to happen all in the same eye line. It’s an absurd delivery system for narrative content, but because it would have been too expensive to give each panel its own page, we have what we now know as the comic book page.

I thank the gods that digital comics came along to save this tired, fledgling industry. Without digital comics (and more importantly, Guided View Tech), comics would become about as useful as a newspaper.

You seriously need to pick yourself up a Kindle Fire or iPad or mini. Reading Comixology on a computer feels sorta sacreligious.

Once you start reading comics via Guided View on the appropriate devices, the experience is pretty amazing. I’ve never in my life felt any suspense when reading a comic. Happens all the time now.

That’s the benefit of a linear depiction in narrative fiction.

Abrams has his fingers in too many pies to the point, and runs out of ideas very quickly so he recycles them across his different shows and movies. The fact that they didn’t know what they were doing on “Lost”, that “Alias” went from a fun spy thriller to a weirdly esoteric thing, and that his latest show “Alcatraz” just about made it to thirteen episodes only underline this point. Nevermind the fact that there are more things wrong with “Star Trek” than right, and that his only sci-fi show “Fringe” became good once he’d left it aren’t really making me very hopeful that “Star Wars VII” is going to be any good.

One argument I have for giving “Fringe” another chance is that Abrams left the show after the first series, which is when it really kicked off and became one the best sci-fi shows of all times. So do go back and stick with it through the freak-of-the-week episodes of the first series, it’ll start paying off towards the end of the series. Yes, that’s a bit of an investment, but you’ll get four series of incredibly good storytelling out of it.

I also love that you get free comics given away every week on Comixology, and have discovered a few new loves this way.

My only bugbear, and it’s a minor one, is there’s no option (on the iPad, anyway) for me to organise my comics in the order I would like to store them. I think a little more personal customisation being made available to users would be a good thing.

Really enjoying this series, and look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Dark Horse version (I’m not a fan).

Well played sir, well played.

Dude, you would not believe how many different versions we went though before deciding this version Either way Old Uncle Bill ends up without a penis yo!

I agree that this was miles better than the first issue mainly because we are starting to see the format develop more here. It looks like each issue will focus on how one character interacts with a few of the others while filling in their backstory and motivations were necessary. Which incidentally is pretty much the same format as the Battle Royale manga.

A superhero Battle Royale sounds like a fantastic idea to me, I guess I’ll just have to read it to find out how wrong I am.

I enjoy the trashy lets get a bunch of teenagers to kill each other thing (it is one of the few things teenagers are good for) it can lead to some interesting character stuff if it is done well. Also this is only going to end in one of three ways:

1. The characters that survive will have an extra layer of depth added to them and it could lead to further and much more interesting stories.
2. It isn’t Arcade behind it all. It is actually Mojo and this is just one of his ill-conceived TV shows and anyone who “dies” is actually ok and in stasis ready for Season 2!
3. It is actually just a nightmare Hazmat is having and Mettle is just in the shower.

I can understand people who have been following the various characters for a while being upset by all the death and destruction but I am having fun with it.

http://2000ad.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/2000ad-prog-1798-review-1/

S

Great Cast. Great looking production design and a great director!

Cannot wait.

S

As for the Future Shocks thing, I wouldn’t know. Can any other 2000 AD readers enlighten us?

1) Pretty sure the computer is the same computer voice from Portal.

2) Wasn’t this exact story a 3riller (3 part Future Shock) in 2000AD just a few months ago? Really reminded me of it.

After watching it about 10 times on loop earlier i love the feel to it and i get what you are saying about the origin but it looks like it will be done great.

Fortress, Jor-El, Lara all look brilliant and this is the film i have been looking forward too most in the last two years or so. If you remember my ‘Church of Superman’ post last year you will remember me saying i am getting more into Superman as i get older and it still is the case with me reading AC, Superman, Supergirl, will get new Snyder and Lee title as well as catching up in some old stories.

Still desperate to get more older superman titles like All-Star and Death of.

Cant Wait and really hope we get a decent trilogy like the Dark Knight with a Justice League thrown in.

Thank you for the comments. They are much appreciated.

I’m sure Andy will reply himself but in the meantime, he lives in the US and the only comic book shop in his hometown, one he supported wholeheartedly in every way he could, has closed down. It’s a sign of the times and I write that with a heavy heart but it doesn’t make it any less true.

Buying digital comics is still supporting the industry that we all love, just not the local comic book store direct market segment of the industry. It’s a choice we’re all free to make, even though it is forced on some of us through circumstance, but it’s no less valid and it cannot be denied that the digital format has the potential to bring comics to more people than ever before.

I understand your personal opinions, especially given your chosen profession as the proprietor of a comic book shop, I even support them to some extent but I feel that you’d be better off focusing solely on the positives of the comic book shop and physical comics rather than trying to suggest that digital comics have no worth. The things that move us, have worth to us and nothing moves me more than stories, no matter whether that’s on paper or on the screen of my ipad.

There are some other Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan nods if you watch the Japanese teaser trailer, check it out @ about 1.01 min, it’s all in hand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrHlQUXFzfw

The USA non-mainstream market is sustaining four trends – superhero want-to-bes, titty-vixen comics, mature genre comics and bad licenses. IDWs Dredd should have been with the third group… TWD,BPRD, Garth Ennis, DHP… Instead it’s definitely in the latter.

As for the art.. Crummy. It looks dashed off, terrible zip atone and ill suited to a hard-boiled comic. Am lost as to why you call it American.. Pastiche manga looks more apt. As for the second story… Good god, what is going on there?!

I’d love IDW’s Dredd to work.. They say they listen to the fans… Well this one says they need heavy editorial and art turn arounds to make this turkey fly.

Also, please make all your books available as a iOS game. Ive bought all 5 to date, want more!

For the record, this isn’t true, though you are probably thinking of the Japanese-inspired land of Hachiman, the setting for Mark Smith & Jamie Thomson’s ‘Sword of the Samurai’ (Fighting Fantasy #20). Kakhabad, Analand and Mauristatia are definitely part of The Old World continent.

May have to search my old novels at my parents house, in the meantime I will look forward to your adventures

Sure I sort of dig the Cyclops/Wolverine taking over from Prof. X/Magneto thing they’ve been building the past few years but at the end of the day it just doesn’t seem right. Especially if you are a Cyclops fan like me. (Yes people like Cyclops, there are five of us and we do have a support group!) If they are going down the retcon route it means that Bendis and the rest of the X-Men writers will have the freedom to do whatever the heck they want for a few months before the reset button is pressed. They can do big, crazy, stupid things that will make people laugh and scream at the same time (a scraugh if you will). Say like making Cyclops a bad guy who kills Professor Xavier or making Wolverine the headmaster of a school OR have the X-Men have a big scrap with the Avengers!

I’m picking up All-New X-Men and I’m excited. It is the first X-Men book I will be buying for years (I usually get the cliffsnotes version of events from my brother) because it has the potential to “fix” the X-Men back to what I like about them.

Now, Willow 2, the Willowing? There was a sequel novel released to Willow. Maybe they’ll adapt that?

You bring up some interesting points regarding the spin-off media, I too am a big fan of the Zahn books and it would be a real shame if they are just thrown out of the continuity.

Surely the best idea for Disney would be to focus on much older Han, Leia and Luke as they guide the new generation of Jedi through the Star Wars universe…I know there are books about the new Skywalker/Solo twins but can’t quite remember what they’re called right now. This way they could appease fans of the novels aswell as have a whole new bunch of characters to tell stories about.

A more important question… The snow… Is Iron Man 3 a Christmas film? Am I going to have to redo the Official Sidekickcast Top Ten Christmas Movies Ever next year?

And how come Ianto doesn’t get a mention? He was perhaps the most realistic character of them all, he didn’t shag around and went from a straight relationship to a gay relationship – and the fact that they never really made that an issue is particularly great. He probably incarnated the “fluid sexuality” a lot better than Captain “I’ll shag anything” Jack.

“Star Trek” has always been tricky. But JJ Abrams promised that he would pitch a gay character to the writers for the next movie – and with at least one gay actor playing a main character – Spock of all people, although I don’t think they’d ever go there – maybe there is finally a chance of it happening. Or maybe they’ll do what Berman tried to do on TNG, and just have a gay couple casually sitting somewhere in the background, and it’ll be the most normal thing to happen on a starship ever.

I know you mentioned Silent Hill, I’m just backing that up with some fan-opinion.

Assassin’s Creed seems like it could be pretty good fodder for the game to film treatment.

My money will always be on Perfect Dark though, the game Goldeneye became when it wasn’t held to a film story, truly a genius and innovative game that would make a pretty good movie…apart from the shit with Elvis…cut that shit out.

Reads like you’re trying to create a situation purely through your own conjecture, a situation that probably doesn’t exist. Are there no other stories you can cover?

I don’t understand how you can say that the situations didn’t change the characters because the we watched her from being young Amelia (9 years old) through to becoming a quite outspoken brash kissogram (19 years old) perhaps slightly down to the fact that the Doctor left her waiting all that years making people think she was crazy because of the ‘Raggedy Doctor’. From there you have her and Rory growing as a couple and getting married (21 years old). We then go through the relationship of Rory and Amy when in Amy’s Choice she had to choose between Rory and the Doctor where she chooses Rory in what I believe to be a pinnacle point of there relationship of not being all Rory with Amy putting up with him but an actual equal relationship and one where they are both besotted by each other.

You have like you mentioned The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang with Rory waiting on her through to the flesh baby in The Almost People and finding out that the close friend Mels you grew up with was your daughter.

I do understand what you are saying with the points about not spending time in your child’s childhood and watching her grow up but the time difference between each episode/story/arc is months/years and in real life people loose children and where it is a difficult and upsetting thing we are perhaps seeing them a year or two later and where she didn’t get to see her kids childhood she still gets to see her kids and spend time with her.

Amy is a brilliant character and its one of that things where you want to remember people by the happy times when they are gone that leaving the last time we see her is as little Amelia Pond sitting in her garden waiting was amazing as that’s just now an iconic scene if you ask me and it’s almost like saying Amelia Pond will never grow up.

I think the longer they were in the show the standard of acting got better from both Arthur and Karen and if you read my article (I know you have already) It points out (hopefully) how they have grown on screen and as actors.

Perhaps a character like Amy is just not for everyone with that outspoken feistiness that perhaps does make it more difficult to understand and bond with but I like her personality traits as my misses is very similar.

I would argue that the development we saw in the first series was about getting Rory and Amy married, which in itself was just a plot point to bring the Doctor back into existence (albeit with the cool ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue incantation). I don’t think they changed as a result of the things they saw and what they did.

Mark

A must read post!

Let the kids stay up late and have popcorn, crisps and juice etc as they both whovians as well, its like family ritual.

Quitely draws my favourite beast, Emma and Jean by any artist along with my favourite Superman but i suppose its each to there own taste wise.

I have recently read the first four volumes of this new x-men and am buying 5,6 and 7 on Friday to finally finish the run and i have loved it.

Grant’s Quentin is just phenomenal and after riot at Xavier’s is in my top 3 X-Men of all time.

I agree that he tried to fit too much into the first arc as it could have spread out into later issues easily.

I know what you mean though, cannot see Marvel making as big a splash with this Marvel Now! event as DC did with the DC New 52

Newserama: Does that mean that Uncanny X-Force is ending?
Remender: It doesn’t. It just means that after issue #35, aspects of the book shift over into Uncanny Avengers.

Then we have X-Men and astonishing which both are set before AvX at moment so god only knows what will happen to them when they catch up or when the current arcs finish.

And this is where it gets crap because we are getting X-Treme X-Men which contains alternative X-Men, We are getting the Bendis All New X-Men with time travelling X-Men from the past and we are getting First X-Men which is based before the X-Men started.

Really, Really, Really crap three new titles to be getting considering the cancellation of what has been announced and what might be happening because I am not a big fan of alternative versions and versions of characters from other places in time.

They will sell Uncanny X-force as Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender Vol 1,2,3,4 and 5, the same goes for the rest of the titles. I think they just get an initial burst in sales when renumbering to #1 and on the back of the success/publicity DC received they feel they need something too.

I am personally looking forward to it and will probably end up getting at least a quarter of them but its Marvel though so they will probably at issues 15 or so put them back to there original numbering in some other kind of scheme hahaha

As for Wolverine I agree, I really like him as a character and I like reading hin but I am sick to the back teeth seeing and reading him.

What’s my point? It’s the nature of the business, it’s how Marvel shake things up without rebooting the whole universe a la DC. Do you have a right to be angry? Yes. Did I enjoy your rant? Hells yeah, and I hope it made you feel better. Will it change? Not a snowball’s chance in hell, we just have to accept it or speak with our wallets, stop buying their books.

All that being said, if they cancel Uncanny X-Men, I’ll be kicking off right with you brutha

and I don’t want to think about the horrible emo-spidy bits…

I watched Amazing Spider-man last weekend and I did enjoy it, however I am definitely looking forward to sequels more now that the much repeated origin is out of the way.

It seems now they’re even mixing their marketing campaigns, MARVEL NOW POINT ONE?! At least be consistent with how you’re selling yourself Marvel

I can see why they would want to get a little publicity out there about it but at the end of the day its not going to lead to any major sales spikes as they have already occurred. Sales on almost all their titles have held up well in the last few months. Some have even started their own momentum in terms of sales. Scarlet Spider being a noteable example. No one seemed to buy it for around five months and then we have practically sold out of all our copies
within the space of about a month based on positive reviews.

I can’t see any of their titles really generating higher sales volumes than they are already getting as they seem to be at a pretty good high watermark already. Obviously I can only give my view based on sales at my shop and I’m sure they don’t replicate themselves across the board too highly or Doctor Who Star Trek would be one of the highest selling comics currently out there and Venom would be a top five book. LOL.

Value sure it’s bettered but then for the majority of this run these books outstrip the prices of their equivalent hardcover releases – for the quality of printing and binding I’m astonished at the uncanny value of this amazing, indeed ultimate collection (yeah I know, I’ll get my coat).

For me it’s given me, along with digital releases and DC’s New 52 reboots, a more accessible way back into a medium I lost touch with due to real life getting in the way!

Keep up the reviews, enjoying reading them when my 2 issues drop thru the letter box each month.

Regards,

Bob Heske

When I mention Spider-Men it’s because I was speaking about cross over’s as well as tie ins, it’s the over use of characters and the every couple of moths massive story that is meant to change the Universe is some massive way or another.

Coulson as Vision would be epic.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r33/bigredape/320409_10150872731496746_1408822081_n.jpg

Honestly, the entire movie is rife with numerical clues, but I wont spill them all, it’s more for to let you guys enjoy the find.

One hint: The dashboard of the shuttlejet’s cockpit have the same row of numbers throughout the film….

-jeremie

Were it NOT for the fact that Joss is exactly the type of thinker to insert ‘this,’ I would not be prone to follow the ruse…

BUT!

there is a major easter egg IN the movie:
after the battle, they show a montage of new yorkers making comments. in the top left corner of the movie playing interface, there is a section that says:
DATA FILE A 113 / 103
The 103 is in a big circle…
google the covers for avengers #113 and #103

This type of thing makes me very eager for all that Marvel Studios has in mind… and feels very reassuring that the seven year old version of myself will be vindicated.

great article!

after the battle, they show a montage of new yorkers making comments. in the top left corner of the movie playing interface, there is a section that says:
DATA FILE A 113 / 103

The 103 is in a big circle…

google the covers for avengers #113 and #103

I could see them spending a couple of hundred million KNOWING they would get a return.

They can still cross over over and have cameo’s but at same time keep there own little part of the Marvel Movie Universe and open it all up even more.

Can you image solo movies leading to or after a Guardians movie a la Avengers, Iron Man and Cape etc but then in 5 to 10 years if people start to wain a tad from the movies a Mega Giant Avengers/Guardians cross over movie of huge size GEESUZ.

My question though, why don’t Marvel just re brand Guardians of the Galaxy as The Cosmic Avengers? From a marketing angle it would make a lot of sense, they could do a Guardians film but use the brand recognition and success of The Avengers movie to push this movie. I know we’re going totally off the point now but I’m just thinking out loud more than anything

How about the new idea that it’s a return to the old school Guardians of the Galaxy? I only ever read one random issue as a kid and it confused the hell outta me but I loved it, always wanted to go back and get the whole series but just didn’t.

If it’s Thanos, and I’m not saying it ain’t, he’s certainly the Titan of the moment, why is at the Spidey panel?!

Thanos to kick everyone who is an avengers arse with no one able to save the day until the avengers get some help from some peeps like Moondragon, Franklin, quasar, and Starfox along with all the cosmic members and when all is said and done and Thanos is down a new team will emerge, a cosmic team, a cosmic avengers team because Marvel love NEW ideas and well there hasn’t been a cosmic avengers team in like what 10 years or so hahahahaha

You’re probably right about it being too early for Ultron War but Bendis did mention it again in Moon Knight and I imagine that’s a character he’d like to use again soon.

Looks good but not much action in the trailer and I will be expecting more from the film but I am looking forward to seeing it.

I AM THE LAW

Also, where’s the next podcast?!

I think it looks good but there are some things that will bug me I reckon, like you though I will watch it when it comes out.

I recommend reading the Fatal Attractions for the early nineties, my intro to the x-men & comics in general and I loved it. Acts as a sequel of sorts to X-Men Genesis with the return of Magneto and features drama, betrayals and some truly epic moments in x-history. They recently released an omnibus collecting it and the stories leading up but it might still be a bit pricey.

You’ve already ordered Messiah Complex but you should also check out Messiah War and most importantly Second Coming which features Hopes return and in my opinion the best x-over since Age of Apocalypse.

Finally I’d recommend X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills. It’s a truly fantastic graphic novel written by Claremont, aspects of it were adapted for the second X-Men movie.

Trades also makes catching up on things amazingly easy. After being a Marvel Zombie for a few decades I’ve decided to try out some DC. I’ve already bought and read the Johns GL/GLC stuff up to Sinestro Corps War and have the first 3 Morrison Batman HC’s coming in the mail. IF I was sticking to floppies I’d have no hope of reading this stuff.

Though the best thing I like about trades/HCs? Giving them to non-comic people to try and get them hooked. My Joss Whedon Astonishing X-Men Omnibus has done the rounds with a few friends now….

I agree and am totally contemplating getting trades from Marvel, DC and the ones I am catching up like Walking Dead and other Image stuff but stick with the independent like you do.

It’s a big decision though.

Also I’m pretty sure I recognize the shop the photo is from

It would be nice for it to be part of story subtly like he is just reading gaytimes or attitude magazine at home but it isn’t made a big deal of it but what I don’t want to happen is for it to be mentioned all the time or for the character to suddenly start acting differently because gay guys can come across straight, I have gay guys that come across much straighter than me.

And I will back your bring back Droom campaign!

This is the only way I can see us getting a character like Moon Knight on screen. Marvvel really could do well with Secret Avengers film, the title has Avengers in the title but could be lower budget if they fill it with street level heroes/espionage type characters. I’m all for it.

I realise this isn’t really a comment on your article…maybe I should add something in here…bring back Dr Droom!

Do you think they’ll introduce the concept in the much mooted issue zero? Like, show a character flashback to him experimenting in college but not coming out in public until now?