099-Comic Review And Giving My LCS Another Chance

Alright first up comics for the last two weeks of August. With the loooooooong list of delays over at Marvel this was a very DC heavy shipment of comics for me. We start with the Marvel stuff first though. Astonishing X-Men #16 was in fact astonishing, every time I get a new issue I take a breath before opening the cover. AXM comes out bi-monthly(I believe with issue 19 it goes monthly until 24 when it all ends) and each issue always seems to top the issue before it. How can this keep happening I tell myself before I start reading. I set myself up for a huge dissapointment. You know what.....it still hasn't happened yet. I hope that Whedon and Cassaday can ride this out for the remaining 8 issues. Speaking of topping themselves again Bendis hits another New Avengers tie-in issue out of the park in NA #23 this is the Spider-Woman solo story and like the Luke Cage story last issue it might possibly be one of the best things Bendis has ever written. While the Luke Cage story was drawn by Leinil Francis Yu that artworks style didn't quite match up. Oliver Copiel does the art for this issue and it's spot on. I really wish he was going to be the new artist on New Avengers. Young Avengers/Runaways #2 was much better than the last issue, but gets bogged down in typical "we have to fight each other before we can figure out that we are actually on the same team and team up" stuff. The ending was enough to carry me through to next issue though. What can I say about Ultimate Spider-Man #99....shocking? confusing? insane? great? Yes. The Ultimate 2 2006 annual written by Charlie Huston(Moon Knight) was set in the aftermath of Utlimates 2 without spoiling anything. As those who read comics know Ultimates 2 is one of the most constantly late books on the market. I believe issue 12 is about 2-3 months late. Huston once again writes a great comic. This annual was totally on par with his work on Moon Knight and wouldn't mind if he took over The Ultimates after Millar, but that job already goes to Jeph Loeb(Lost, Wolverine). Batman #656 continues Morrison's stab at Batman in the DCU proper. I am digging it for the most part. The second arc which was just solicited excites me a bit more than the current arc, but I can't abandon Morrison not this early in a run, I know better. Speaking of Morrison, All Star Superman #5 finally finds the story coming together, the first four isses were kind of a mish mash but now it looks like there is a clear cut story with Luthor having tricked Superman into killing himself....you have to read it. Trust me. Justice #7 continues with Ross' amazing art and Krueger's killer story. It's the most intrested I have ever been in the Justice Leauge.

So I have lived in the Rockford area for about a year now and the one comic shop we have is pretty awesome selection wise. All the back issues and supplies you could imagine. Tons of toys and statues, and lots of gaming stuff. Which is a plus for me. However....I didn't care for the owner very much. He would follow me around the store and just sort of be rude to me. I have never stolen anything in my life so I don't appreciate being singled out as a potential shoplifter. This weekend though...I finally decided that the place is alright. Not only were they having an amazing sale (I got five packs of Coldsnap for like 12 bucks.) but all the people inside finally treated me like a normal customer or even a semi-regular. I appreicated it. So thank you Tomorrow is Yesterday you are alright by me.