On comics and other pop culture topics, including archived Comic Book Commentary posts from 2005-2007.
The interesting discussion over on The Engine about the potential opportunity Marvel's Civil War flub has opened up for indies misses a key point: your average Civil War reader doesn't care about non-Marvel titles, and condescendingly referring to those titles as "spandex super fights" or "Muscular Mutant Man Monthly" suggests they're not your audience anyway, no matter what's on the shelves that week.That point aside, though, there's some good information in there, not the least of which is that few comics creators know how to approach marketing, and even the bigger names feel a bit hamstrung by an industry that…
Reading is fundamental. Reading comics is supposed to be FUN, so don't waste your time reading bad ones! Tomorrow is my 37th birthday and I'm particularly feeling it in my knees as the softball season is starting to take its toll! Plus, I'm definitely going to have to get my shoulder checked during the off-season as I'm pretty sure I tore something. Nevertheless, my mutant power has always been denial, so I'll push through it. One thing I can't deny is that my passion for comics has been dialed down several notches recently as I again skipped my weekly visit…
Andrew Foley, who's always been refreshingly honest about how the collapse of Speakeasy Comics a while back has affected him, reveals the latest plot twist in that sordid little saga: Apparently, Diamond is still distributing copies of PARTING WAYS--they just aren't going to give any money to me or Scott Mooney. It turns out Adam Fortier still owes Diamond a substantial sum, and at some point, Diamond decided they were going to keep Speakeasy stock and continue to sell it to make up for their loss. Which means: if you got let off the hook and given your property back…
Read GOOD Comics, not just the ones you're used to! Try something new EVERY month. Before I take my first look at this week's list and write a single comment, I should point out the extreme level of disinterest I'm feeling towards comics these days. Like the cynical old man on the porch who hasn't heard a good song in decades, here's my weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 8/9/06. 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,…
Read GOOD Comics, not just the ones you're used to! Try something new EVERY month. For the first time in nearly three years, I didn't make my weekly pilgrimage to Midtown Comics and...life went on! Who knew? As a result, though, I've had to avoid most of the comics internerd to avoid spoiling any of the stories that await me when I finally catch up on Thursday. (Hopefully.) Coincidentally, perhaps, I feel like my snark-o-meter is revving pretty low today. Nevertheless, here's my weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 8/2/06. The full shipping is list available at…
Read GOOD Comics, not just the ones you're used to! Try something new EVERY month. My weekly look at select comic books being released Wednesday, 7/26/06. 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 Bumperboy and the Loud, Loud MountainADHOUSE BOOKS Bumperboy & Loud Loud Mountain GN, $8.95 Only irredeemably evil people would take a pass on Bumperboy, the best…
"The members of the 9/11 Commission, since we finished our work, have been very careful not to participate in a number of documentaries and at least a couple of books on the subject. We have believed since the beginning that what we have said and the official report itself ought to stand alone on its own merits. Then this came along as the exception."--Senator Slade Gorton, SDCC '06: THE 9/11 REPORT"Unlike the past couple of years, this Comic-Con wasn't marked by the frenzy of creator-exclusive announcements -- most of the "marquee names" at Marvel and DC are already under contract.…
