SPOILERS - JMS comics 12/21

[Jan]

Ah...life is good. Three JMS titles came out today but I must have missed one last trip because there were four waiting for me. In order of favorites:

Book of Lost Souls #3-"The Insufficiency of Rain". As much as I loved the cover on this one, I almost wish that one of the panels of Lee fighting the Darkness or bursting from the wall with the sword had been used. It'd make another great wallpaper for my computer. The story was great. Sure, it's probably one of JMS's most common themes but I think seeing it along with the examples of the 'voice of reason' helped keep it from being stale. I went back and read it again, more slowly the second time. I sure wish they'd stop calling it a miniseries in the small print, though.

Fantastic Four #533-"What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas". I've got to admit, I'm more interested in what's going on with Sue and Reed and what's going to happen with the kids...whom we haven't really seen much of. And, boy, has the Hulk changed since I saw him last...which admittedly was a long time ago. I want to see more of what's going on with Ben, too.

Marvel Knights Spider-Man #21-"The Other-Evolve or Die". I'm sure that it's just because there's two titles dealing with death being read close together that this is so noticable but doesn't JMS ever use the words 'die' or 'dead'? No offense, but somebody's 'gone' when they leave the room, not when they quit breathing. This is a good story, though. I think something's going on with MJ. And I'm sorry, but the art does *nothing* for me on this title. Aunt May looks like a blob and there's just no...I dunno, feeling to these drawings. The story and emotions deserved better. Heaven help me, I actually liked Wolverine in this one. He did something nice in a way that lent MJ strength and she'll never know or appreciate it.

Supreme Power: Hyperion #3 of 5 "The Least Resistance". I'm sure I haven't but suddenly it felt like I'd missed an issue. Suddenly there were a bunch of 'Supremes' that I'd never seen before. A whole chunk of time seems to have passed that I missed someplace. I probably need to go back and re-read from scratch.

I almost wish I had the patience to wait for the trade paperbacks but the rush-out-and-grab-the-latest-JMS-story is hard to break.

Jan

[Jan]

Isn't anybody else reading the comics?

Jan

[Radhil]

Nay. Too busy to do the 40 minute one-way run to the only decent comic shop around here. Even if I had the patience to keep doing that monthly for the issues. Which is... tempting.... *sigh*

[Spoo Junky]

I just got BoLS #3 yesterday. I enjoyed the story, being a spare-time artist myself. I'm anticipating the next issue, though, since JMS going to reveal some more of the mythology.

I have the #2 cover as my wallpaper at work and several people have asked about it. One girl was very taken with Colleen's artwork and may even start to look out for some. I told her about CD coming to Toronto in April. Don't know if she'll make it to the show though - she may be just about ready to have her baby.

[Jan]

Nay. Too busy to do the 40 minute one-way run to the only decent comic shop around here.

Thankfully I finally found one that's only a few minute's hop from where I work. I tried doing the mail order thing when JMS only had Spidey and that didn't work well. I'd go bonkers now there there are four (plus whatever mini or stand-alones he's doing that month). Okay, okay...MORE bonkers.

What about the trade paperbacks, Radhil? Those make more sense by mail order.

Jan

[Radhil]

What about the trade paperbacks, Radhil? Those make more sense by mail order.

I'm all about the trade paperbacks, 99% of my meager collection. It just exempts me from conversations like this. For months. Blech.

[Jan]

It just exempts me from conversations like this. For months. Blech.

Yeah, that's a drag. But feel free to ressurect threads, okay?

I have the #2 cover as my wallpaper at work and several people have asked about it.

Yeah, I've been doing that, myself. I still get odd looks when I explain that it's comic art but at least they're getting the idea that comic books aren't just Archie and the spandex & cape crowd.

Jan

[phazedout]

Wandering slightly off-topic (y) here Jan, but have you seen "Unbreakable"? Samuel L Jackson's character really takes the whole comic art thing seriously. It's a fairly good watch compared to the sh**e that's on at this time of the year anyway.
Phaze
on the "going to my local club for lotsa Guinness tonight" ID

[Jan]

Wandering slightly off-topic (y) here Jan, but have you seen "Unbreakable"? Samuel L Jackson's character really takes the whole comic art thing seriously. It's a fairly good watch compared to the sh**e that's on at this time of the year anyway.

No, I never did-I'm not usually one for thrillers. I'll keep an eye out for it though. I'd forgotten that it was by Shyamalan.

Jan

[manwithnoname]

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Fortunately, I read ALL of JMS' comics. It would take superhuman powers for me not to read his comics. Scientists have stated nicotine as being at least as addictive as heroin. My unscientific study highly suggests any JMS comic is more addictive than nicotine and heroin (Disclaimer: never tried herion, just smoked several cigarettes my whole life. Hey, I did state my study is unscientific).

Shuffling through my stack of comics this past Thursday had me grow a huge smile -- four JMS comics!

BoLS: I felt like Denni when she was looking at her drawing of Lee, Colleen's art keeps getting better, gives me the strangest feeling of watching the events unfold right before my eyes, almost as a dream. Jan, do you know if Colleen sells her original art? If you could find out, that would be great.

FFour: Sorry, haven't read it yet. Will read today. I jumped ahead and read the letters column, though. Molly, the assistant editor, introduced a monthly poll in the column. This month's is "Who's your favorite member of the FF, and why?" Who's your favorite FF member, Jan? Why?

Supreme Power: I know what your saying about missing an issue here. But, if you read the previous issue it starts immediately right after the last issue's page. I don't know if JMS planned it this way, but not only are we disoriented and unsure with the last page of issue 2 and first page of issue 3, the characters are disoriented and unsure as well. Masterful storytelling. I hope Marvel publishes an oversized hardcover compilation of the Supreme Power Max run. I have all of the single issues, but reading/drooling the story without ads and interruption in a larger format sounds like heaven.

MK Spider-Man: I agree with your art critique here, Jan. The art was distracting for me. I don't mind American manga art styles, but the characters looked weird in a lot of panels. Good news: the artist is gone after "The Other" storyline.

[Jan]

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Fortunately, I read ALL of JMS' comics. It would take superhuman powers for me not to read his comics. Scientists have stated nicotine as being at least as addictive as heroin. My unscientific study highly suggests any JMS comic is more addictive than nicotine and heroin (Disclaimer: never tried herion, just smoked several cigarettes my whole life. Hey, I did state my study is unscientific).

Merry Christmas to you, too! I think the JMS comics/stories addiction is different from those chemical addictions. Unless they discover some new JMS-induced endorphin...

BoLS: I felt like Denni when she was looking at her drawing of Lee, Colleen's art keeps getting better, gives me the strangest feeling of watching the events unfold right before my eyes, almost as a dream. Jan, do you know if Colleen sells her original art? If you could find out, that would be great.

Well...the Colleen who posts in this forum is actually none other than Colleen Doran herownself. Colleen? Is there a way for folks to obtain any Doran comic original art? Ebay? Conventions? (I want that one and that one and that one...)

FFour: Sorry, haven't read it yet. Will read today. I jumped ahead and read the letters column, though. Molly, the assistant editor, introduced a monthly poll in the column. This month's is "Who's your favorite member of the FF, and why?" Who's your favorite FF member, Jan? Why?

It's hard to tell yet. Reed, so far, but then he's been the focus for the story so far. Next, Ben. It would seem there's a lonely, sensitive soul in there. I'm hoping to learn more about Sue during this thing with the children and Johnny's a blank so far. Seems he's got a temper but I don't know anything more about him. What about you, manwithnoname?

Supreme Power: I know what your saying about missing an issue here. But, if you read the previous issue it starts immediately right after the last issue's page. I don't know if JMS planned it this way, but not only are we disoriented and unsure with the last page of issue 2 and first page of issue 3, the characters are disoriented and unsure as well. Masterful storytelling. I hope Marvel publishes an oversized hardcover compilation of the Supreme Power Max run. I have all of the single issues, but reading/drooling the story without ads and interruption in a larger format sounds like heaven.

Amen. Or trade paperback, at least (or are there some already?) I haven't branched out into non-JMS comics yet but his definitely gain soemthing when viewed without ads. Midnight Nation sure did and I'm expecting Lost Souls to do the same.

MK Spider-Man: I agree with your art critique here, Jan. The art was distracting for me. I don't mind American manga art styles, but the characters looked weird in a lot of panels. Good news: the artist is gone after "The Other" storyline.

No complaints here. I doubt I'll 'do' many of the crossovers anyway. This one seemed important to the overall arc, though.

The next two Lost Souls come out close together. January 11 and February 1. Those will have to last us a bit since I understand there won't be a March issue (probably because these three come out so close together). Anyway, we wouldn't want to wear out our artist, would we? We want to get lots of use out of her yet!

Jan

[colleen]

I haven't put any of my original art up for sale yet, but I will be making some pages available at various conventions. You can also write with an inquiry about specific pages. I take Paypal. Eventually, I will be listing pages with my agent Spencer Beck.

For a really good look at the cover of #5, my website has a large scan up:

https://www.colleendoran.com

Click on the image for a good look.

Thanks for all the nice comments! I am hard at work on issue 6 already!


c

https://www.colleendoran.com

https://www.adistantsoil.com

[manwithnoname]

My favorite FF member is Sue. She is the backbone of the team. She is married to one of the top five smartest men on earth, arguably the galaxy, and she co-leads the team. Ben and Johnny have many comedic, heated interactions that lead to physical confrontations, Sue defuses all of this while raising two children. Many women and men would feel inadequate standing next to Reed, but Sue stands tall and secure in her own intelligence and abilities. When the team is in the middle of a situation, Sue is already putting things into action when Reed will ask her to do the exact thing she's already doing. Reed will ask her to "focus more" or "just a little longer, honey." Franklin has exhibited an intelligence that will grow one day to possibly rival that of Reed's, and he has Sue's empathy, tenderness and generosity (Recently chronicled in the other FF title, Marvel Knights 4). Reed is always doing research and developing something to patent and/or save the day/world, this leaves Sue to raise Franklin, Valeria, Johnny and Ben.

Reminder: Comics will arrive stores this Thursday due to the Christmas holiday.

My 2nd fave FF member is Reed. JMS developed a fondness at the beginning of his run. Ben is third, all around kind-hearted soul and faithful friend. He's smoked cigars and played poker with Wolverine, c'mon, that's cool. Franklin is fourth. Johnny is still a blank slate. I know he's the "resident hot-head," but really lacks dimension. I hope JMS develops him somehow.

[ManInTheMiddle]

Off Topic Aside:

Speaking of the FF. When the heck is Galactus going to return ?.....DAMMIT.

Boy, they sure messed up Stan Lee's world a few years back with the introduction of the Beyonder etc. They tried to straighten that little escapade out by later saying he was a "Cosmic Cube". Then they had the Celestials destroy "The Destroyer"....etc...etc. Bet ol' Stan was pullin' his hair out over that stuff. Nice to have JMS in there straightening that crap out.

Oh well, back to.....

[manwithnoname]

Whether JMS' FF future stories include Galactus or not, I'm there. I enjoy his stories too much.

Good news: No, I didn't save a bunch of money by switching to GEICO. But, JMS has been working on a Silver Surfer mini-series that is sure to include Galactus. JMS/Marvel has stated it should be published sometime in 2006, hopefully early 2006.