On comics and other pop culture topics, including archived Comic Book Commentary posts from 2005-2007.

CBC Quickees: Public Enema and more…

It's been a long time between reviews, yes? Between the revamp here and PopCultureShock's server crapping out for almost a week, I skipped my Pull List Propaganda column this month and the pile is growing again. I'm saving the TPBs -- including Bluesman Vol. 1 & 2 and East Coast Rising -- for next month's column, but here's six quickees for your consideration.Thunderbolts #103 (Marvel, $2.99): The first Civil War tie-in I've read so far and it was actually better than the main event itself, which is really just a series of "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if...?" moments Mark…

Continue ReadingCBC Quickees: Public Enema and more…

CONTEST: BOOM! Sampler Winner

"If winning Wizard's award for Best New Publisher didn't make them front and center of your buy pile, maybe my pleas will.You need to buy their books. One visit to the website will show this isn't some normal run-of-the-mill I have friends in comics operation. They're one of the few remaining operations that gives me hope for comics not heading down the same stale path as today's movies.Alright, I give up. They aren't the best new publisher in years. I just can't name another one that's better..."Congratulations to Rob of The Definite Maybe for his winning entry in our BOOM!…

Continue ReadingCONTEST: BOOM! Sampler Winner

Crystal Ball: September 2006 Solicitations, Part I

Support GOOD Comics! Pre-order something new EVERY month. My monthly look at select comic books being solicited for release in September 2006. The full solicitations for DC, Marvel and Image are available at Comic Book Resources. Dark Horse's solicitations are available at Comics Continuum. Independent publishers will follow in a separate post. [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your local comic book shop (LCBS) offers a pre-ordering service, download a convenient order form from Diamond and be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com]…

Continue ReadingCrystal Ball: September 2006 Solicitations, Part I

On the Shelves: 6/21/06

Support GOOD Comics! Try something new EVERY month. My weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 6/21/06. The full shipping is list available at ComicList. [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com] PICK OF THE WEEK Fallen Angel #6APE ENTERTAINMENT Black Coat Call To Arms #3 (Of 4), $2.99 So much better than a black-and-white period piece with a throwback storytelling sensibility has any right to be, I can't…

Continue ReadingOn the Shelves: 6/21/06

MARKETING: Superman Joins MySpace

The Superman Returns marketing onslaught continues... Man Of Steel Seeks Friends AN AMERICAN CULTURAL ICON HAS landed in the leading American social networking site with the posting of a MySpace profile to promote the new "Superman Returns," premiering June 28. By Thursday evening, just five days after the site quietly went live, the profile had attracted 12,719 MySpace "friends," many responding to the site's slogan, "Show us your 'S'," with photos of themselves striking the iconic shirt-ripping pose to reveal the well-known symbol--including at least one fan who had the "S" tattooed directly on his chest. The Web site also…

Continue ReadingMARKETING: Superman Joins MySpace

LINK: Sent Forth from the Power

It usually takes me a few issues after I drop something from my pull list to lose the phantom limb feeling whenever I'm picking up my weekly stash, but in the case of 52, I miss it about as much as I miss Mo Vaughn playing for the Mets. I am still enjoying Douglas Wolk's weekly dissection of the increasingly convoluted storyline, though, and this week's entry was particularly good, in that same way I enjoy seeing an "0-4; 3 Ks" stat line for Alex Rodriguez.Wolk breaks down Grant Morrison's Great Ten, exposing the lazy research that apparently went into…

Continue ReadingLINK: Sent Forth from the Power

On The Shelves: 6/14/06

Support GOOD Comics! Try something new EVERY month. My weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 6/14/06. The full shipping is list available at ComicList. [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com] PICK OF THE WEEK G.I. Joe: America's Elite #12AMERICAN MULE ENTERTAINMENT Public Enemy #0, $2.99 Call me cynical, but after the lameness of last year's Mr. T comic book -- mercifully aborted when AP Comics folded --…

Continue ReadingOn The Shelves: 6/14/06

No more posts to load