Review: New X-Men:Academy X #1-6
When the New Mutants re-appeared on the stands 20 months ago, I was just returning to comics after a 15-year hiatus and welcomed the sight of a familiar face to ease me back into the monthly habit. Joshua Middleton’s beautiful cover art featuring some of the women from the original lineup drew me in, and
Comment: Comic Book Superheros Unmasked (2003)
Comic Book Superheros Unmasked (CBSU) is a History Channel documentary that has aired numerous times over the last few months. Released in 2003, the film was directed by Steve Kroopnick and he takes us on a tour of the comic book industry from its Depression Era-beginnings through its modern-day multi-million dollar enterprises. Our guides are
To: Paul Tagliabue re: The Monday Night Football Affair cc: NFL Owners, ABC, ESPN, sports journalists Remember how much you guys derided the XFL when it debuted? Hypocrites. In other news, as I don’t like to post here too often about comic book stuff, and the one site I’ve been hanging out in doesn’t have
Review: Iron Man #1
Issues with Marvel’s questionable relaunches aside, I admit to being…intrigued. I wasn’t going to buy it at all but, seeing how Marvel didn’t release a single title of interest to me this week, I figured I’d take a gamble. It’s no secret that Warren Ellis is a good writer, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed his run
Review: Superman/Batman #8-13
I reserved judgement on this until it was complete, hoping there’d be a little more to it than than fanboy pandering, but alas, it is what it is. Credit Jeph Loeb for giving the people what they want, I guess. From his lazy, summer-blockbuster plotting and scripting, to Michael Turner’s incredibly overrated artwork, this story
My Top 5 Comic Book Titles
(ongoing series only) 1. Gotham Central – I’m a big fan of strong characterization and tight plotting, and this Batman-themed take on the classic police procedural, a la Hill Street Blues and Homicide: Life on the Street, features some of the strongest writing in comics. Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka are terrific, and Michael Lark’s
Guy’s Top 5 Comics of 2004
(ongoing series only) 1. Gotham Central – I’m a big fan of strong characterization and tight plotting, and this Batman-themed take on the classic police procedural, a la Hill Street Blues and Homicide: Life on the Street, features some of the strongest writing in comics. Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka are terrific, and Michael Lark’s
“Those who can, do. Those who can’t, edit.” While that’s not always true, in light of my inability to write something in time for the newly-launched e-zine of “cutting-edge non-fiction,” loupe, I’ve decided to do the next best thing…launch a web site of my own to highlight all of the great writing I come across
Reviewing on Amazon
Thanks to my reviews on Amazon.com – where I’m currently ranked 8345, and climbing – I’ve been offered a free copy of Ernesto Quiñonez’ new book, Chango’s Fire by his publisher’s marketing department. As Amazon has firmly established itself as THE online bookstore, it’s reviews have become more and more influential, with some places even
Breakfast of Champions, Running with Scissors
Days like this, I want to be at home, relaxing in bed with a good book. I’m currently reading Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions, one of the most subversively whacked-out books I’ve ever come across. In the midst of seemingly random observations he unexpectedly drops cynical nuggets of truth: Viet Nam was a country where