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Post by jonqcitizen on Sept 30, 2012 14:18:52 GMT -5
So, one year later......
Still Collecting: The Flash (monthly), Green Lantern (hardcover graphic novel), & maybe GL: New Guardians (tpb)
While you can't argue against the success of the New52....and I personally hope that it is sustained over the long-term....it has kinda ruined my love for some characters. Green Arrow & Hawkman were among my favorite DC characters.....now frustratingly sullied by bad writing and directionless editing.
Meanwhile, the Inde's flourish in my heart.....as simple titles like Godzilla, Planet of the Apes, and the upcoming Judge Dredd take the place of forgotten DC heroes. These are titles I would have laughed at just a year and a half ago, now they are some of the best titles going in my opinion.
DC's New52 brought me back to my local comic book shop, but Image, IDW, Boom!, and the other smaller publishers stole my heart away.
Dropping Red Lanterns puts me at -8 after one year...
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Post by jonqcitizen on Sept 30, 2012 14:01:17 GMT -5
The sales numbers; though dropping slowly, are right where they should be. If you look at the DC books with higher sales you see Batman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, & Superman. As part of the "Justice League Family", The Flash is doing great! The Flash's Annual is side-by-side with Superman's, just a couple hundred issues difference in sales.
All-in-all, DC should be very happy when seeing The Flash from this perspective.
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Post by jonqcitizen on Sept 30, 2012 13:52:12 GMT -5
Wow! Great Review! I didn't notice the "HIM" at first, but after rereading the issue, you may be right.....a wonderful little "extra" that could have epic ramifications to and for future story arcs, and Barry's character in general.
What I love about the issue is that it's the "calm before the storm"....just a free-flowing, tweaked origin story to get you all laid back and calm while ignoring the 800-pound Gorilla in the corner waiting for next month!!
I remained purposefully vague so that Savitar may not go into the issue all "spoiled" next week. I have deeper thoughts I may share after you've read it Savitar.....
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Post by jonqcitizen on Sept 10, 2012 6:15:33 GMT -5
Such actions and comments should never be accepted or condoned. Well said by all here....
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Post by jonqcitizen on Aug 30, 2012 11:38:09 GMT -5
Loved this issue (and your review, btw!), from beginning to end. To's artwork is growing on me a little, he is a good fill-in artist. I especially liked that they picked Kolins for the pre-changed Rogues chapter.....kinda like a flashback to Kolin's previous work on the previous Flash titles.
So Turbine is here now, so I'm hoping that future issues will show how he got here, and how he may directly or indirectly help The Flash save Iris West & the others trapped in the Speedforce.
I love the Rogues' Rules of conduct.....it's great, and shows they are more than just thugs...they're "family". #12 & this issue really have me pumped for the next year of The Flash! Especially the last couple of pages, showing the beginnings of the Gorilla invasion!!!!!!
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Post by jonqcitizen on Aug 24, 2012 17:35:16 GMT -5
While the numbers look good for both of the "Big 2", DC is dominant after you get out the Top 10 for each publisher.
Marvel has hung on with "Mega-Events", but most of their titles have been slipping in sales (Punisher, Incredible Hulk, even the much touted Daredevil isn't knocking off anyone's socks). Without "M-E's" Marvel would look pretty pathetic, which is why they're relaunching their entire line over the next several months.
DC has high numbers, but their titles are falling back into familiar patterns.....Batman titles, Green Lantern titles, & Justice League are selling great.....but titles like Green Arrow, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, etc. are struggling to find their ground.
In my opinion, it's the Inde-Publishers that have really benefited from the "New 52", and I think will benefit even more from Marvel's relaunches....lapsed and new readers show up at LCS's for the "Big 2", then find a whole lot of wonderful Inde work that they begin buying while dropping "Big 2" titles (as I did, dropping 7 DC titles & 1 Marvel to start picking up 8 Inde titles). Image Comics has noticed this; as well as the hordes of creators jumping over to the publisher to put out their works....they are launching boatloads of titles over the next 5-6 months, and a lot of them look better than what DC or Marvel are putting out.
Overall Comic Book Sales are Up, but the percentage of sales for the "Big 2" isn't really rising, those extra sales are going to the Inde-Publishers. I am fully expecting sales at DC & Marvel to start dropping a little in 2013, as inde publishers like Image, IDW, & Dark Horse see increases in sales.
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Post by jonqcitizen on Aug 24, 2012 17:15:05 GMT -5
I agree with your review, things are definitely getting interesting and the plot is unfolding slowly yet completely!
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Post by jonqcitizen on Aug 24, 2012 17:04:09 GMT -5
Well, color me informed for I didn't know Patty appeared back in the Bronze Age. .....(A speedster gets pickpocketed.....isn't that rather funny?).....All in all, very solid issue. Bring on the Glider! Didn't know that either! Pickpocketing a Speedster does show some "swag".
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Post by jonqcitizen on Jul 26, 2012 20:09:22 GMT -5
Great Review! I agree that the "Silver Age" feel is in this issue, which I enjoyed. It's nice to have that every once in a while in today's "all serious" & "real" Age.
I like Barry (a.k.a. Al......and I'm apparently old enough to get the Paul Simon reference....and find myself humming the tune as I post this) in the bar. It makes a temporary connection to the Rogues, and opens up future story arcs involving them, the "Keys", and with Patty if she ever finds out he's still alive.
I enjoy the subtle "meta" changes in the Rogues, and The Man & Booch have done well to keep the essence of the characters while making changes. Dr. Elias is turning into a great villain as well, much in the "Lex Luthor" fashion
I'm glad to see the "1&Dones" coming to an end, as we head into the Annual & Gorilla Warfare....which should have all the major players involved.
Liked the issue overall, and thought it was better than #10 in dialogue.
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Post by jonqcitizen on Jul 14, 2012 17:47:13 GMT -5
I'm not exactly sure what that means. 1/2 full-1/2 empty.....I was just saying that I think your and xBarryxAllenx's reviews were basically saying the same thing, except his came from a more "I liked this issue" point of view, and yours came from a more "I didn't like this issue" point of view.Just to clarify, I wasn't being serious about a ghost writer. ...I know, I was agreeing with you that the writing didn't seem up to par with previous issues. ....lol....at first I wondered if it was Gorilla City in the "recent" past, etc....since he was dropped there by the Speedforce. I suppose if I had thought about it some more I would have realized that it's in the "present", since Grodd now has a grudge against The Flash.Perhaps, but considering how they built this new character up as an ally of Flash, you'd think delve more into it. Fair enough...I wouldn't be surprised if the zero issues were a surprised forced element that M&B had to contend with. I agree with you there.....a gimmick to increase sales like an "event" would, but without having an "event".
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Post by jonqcitizen on Jul 13, 2012 19:11:57 GMT -5
I've decided to pick up Saga. Enjoyed what I've seen of it so far. What issue are you on? I'd say #1 is my favorite, but I've really enjoyed all of the "universe building" going on.....enjoyed #4 just for Marko's nervous explanation to Alana, & The Will's punishment for pedophiles.
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Post by jonqcitizen on Jul 13, 2012 18:35:36 GMT -5
Almost a year into the "new 52", and the Inde's have stolen away most of my $$$'s from DC.
Still Collecting: The Flash, Green Lantern, & Red Lanterns
I've dropped everything else except maybe GL: New Guardians (when it comes out in tpb), putting me at -7 after a year.
It's NOT that the "new 52" titles were bad, they aren't. The most positive thing that the "new 52" did for me was get me back into my local comic book shop (Capital City Comics in Reynoldsburg, OH). That; however, turned out to be bad for DC......I'm now collecting several Image Comics titles, and titles from IDW, Boom, & Dark Horse.
I think if you looked at numbers and did more scientific polls, DC's "new 52" and Marvel's .1 & Season 1 events would fall short of one man who has probably brought in more new readers than either of the "big 2"......Robert Kirkman and his "The Walking Dead".
Sales numbers show continual boosts and increases for The Walking Dead, and Image Comics in general....while DC & Marvel continue to show gradual declines and normal fall-offs on most of their titles. This shows that it's basically the same readers and fan base for the "big 2", while continual increases show new readership for The Walking Dead.
The Walking Dead tv series has boosted sales greatly for it's comic book, while DC & Marvel lag behind....while spending hundreds of millions of $$$'s for films. The Incredible Hulk's great performance and surging popularity from The Avengers movie hasn't help sales on the 2 Hulk titles, which continue their normal, gradual declines. Same goes with Iron Man, Thor, & Captain America....who all sell less per month (along w/ the two Hulk Titles) than The Walking Dead.
The Batman & Green Lantern titles always sell extremely well, but have shown little boosts from the GL movie, or the huge success of Batman Begins or The Dark Knight. That may change with Dark Knight Rises, we'll have to wait & see.
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Post by jonqcitizen on Jul 13, 2012 18:00:46 GMT -5
I think your two reviews are the "Glass half full or Glass half empty" argument. I lean toward xBarryxAllenx's review, because I'm a 1/2-full type of guy.
You do make some interesting points though; Speedster, including the seemingly missing "ghost" issue that would have gotten us all up to speed, allowing for more story in this issue. Ghost Writer? Perhaps....but I think it's just the learning curve of Manapul scripting an issue that he is not also the artist on.
I noticed in #9 that there is no explanation of how The Flash gets back to Central City from Gorilla City.....(I didn't notice it at first, but upon multiple readings it stuck out in my mind).....but I assumed it would be explained in the future or just isn't important. Perhaps it's the same for Dr. Elias' protests? It was there just to let us know that citizens in the Gem Cities no longer like The Flash as much, and not an actual story in itself.
....anyway, I thought the obvious starting point for issue 10 would be The Flash trying to get Iris West & her three companions out of the Speedforce....?
What I wonder is if "The Man" & "Booch" are having to kinda rush forward to try and get everything in line for the Zero issue and The Flash Annual? That said, all these issues are basically "one-&-dones" except for one small thread connecting them to the next issue.....that being Iris West & companions trapped in the Speedforce.....so I'm not all that worried about small points.
I will say despite Marcus To & Ray McCarthy doing well, I've been spoiled by the monthly masterpieces of Manapul & Buccellato!!! If they had done the art, I wouldn't have noticed anything but the pretty pictures....lol.
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Post by jonqcitizen on Jun 25, 2012 19:24:09 GMT -5
If you are a Godzilla fan, then the new on-going is for you! I like the direction the story is taking, and who doesn't love random destruction and chaos from the King of Monsters?I was "iffy" when I first heard about Higher Earth....but two issues in, I'm hooked! "Space is Dead" is the theme, as Rex & Heidi travel across universes from Earth-to-Earth.
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Post by jonqcitizen on Jun 19, 2012 17:12:56 GMT -5
I'm with you Savitar, but as the world has changed since Barry Allen was doused with chemicals in his crime lab, so must his origin. Just being an honorable and do-the-right-thing Man doesn't work for selling comic books these days (apparently).
I'm sure that lack of tragedy was to blame in the Green Lantern Movie's box office failures. Really, this is all Batman's fault!! lol.
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Post by jonqcitizen on Jun 19, 2012 16:46:05 GMT -5
I agree with both of you, Great Review xBarryxAllen! The spin that Manapul & Booch put on Grodd's ascension is mind-blowing (if there's a pun, it's intended)! Absorbing the memories and thoughts of his predecessor is a unique way to give Grodd an almost super-intelligence and the Speedforce's influence on the Gorilla City civilization giving them an evolutionary jump forward.....brilliant!
I also like the direction that Barry doesn't know who he is at first, giving consequence to the Speedforce "jumps". I love that Manapul & Booch give consequences to The Flash's actions....making him really have to think about what he is doing, and what his actions may cause.
I wonder if the Speedforce "cave" is a pocket universe of sorts, and if the "growling" that Iris and her fellow lost comrades hear is it's own lifeform within that universe?.....I know that's a stretch, and I'm trying not to postulate any theories because I want to be blown away by whatever comes next....just wondering.
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Post by jonqcitizen on May 19, 2012 18:38:46 GMT -5
Considering the sales figures and not the ranking, The Flash is stilling going strong.....and is right around the numbers of the previous series, and the sales figures & ranking are still well above where the The Flash title historically has been.
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Post by jonqcitizen on May 19, 2012 18:33:02 GMT -5
The Inde market has most of my attentions at the moment......Saga, Manhattan Projects, Higher Earth, Godzilla, & maybe a new Dark Horse on-going called Mind Mgmt.
Trying to work my way through all the Usagi Yojimbo graphic novels (all 25 of them), I'm currently on volume 16. A great on-going series by Stan Sakai....an Anthropomorphic Samurai Rabbit in 17th century Japan....every volume I've read is good, and the story just keeps getting better.
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Post by jonqcitizen on May 5, 2012 14:20:51 GMT -5
....lol....
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Post by jonqcitizen on May 5, 2012 14:17:35 GMT -5
Does matter much to me, as long as he's interesting and offers The Flash a challenge....
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