Gorga's Looking Forward to Wednesday 10/28/2oo9

It's another light week for me as well. Clare is hardcore. But more money for food for me! yay!

The usual Spider-Man related item:
"the New Avengers" #58

And I do want to see how Tony Daniel handles writing and drawing "Batman":
"Batman" #692

And I gotta at least peek at:
"Superman: Secret Origin" #2 of 6


UPDATE: 10/28/2oo9
I wasn't sure I was going to make it, so I didn't mention it... but I did, so now I will!

(From left to right: the enthusiastic writer Dan Slott, the contemplative writer Chris Claremont, and the gentlemanly artist Neal Adams signing and sketching at Forbidden Planet in NYC.)

Forbidden Planet was having a small signing event as part of Marvel's strange little MarvelFest NYC 2009 party-type thing. This magical thing we call the Internet told me that current on and off writer of "the Amazing Spider-Man" Dan Slott, classic writer of "the Uncanny X-Men" and fellow graduate of my alma mater Chris Claremont, and epically old-school realistic artist Neal Adams were going to be there.

So I made my way south to Union Square to pick up my comics and talk with some awesome comics writers and one excellent artist today. I really had NO time to devote to what turned out to be, essentially, a really wonderful tiny (but FREE!) comics-CON. If something like this goes down again, I will try to be there. Despite the fact that I was rushed, despite the fact that quarters were cramped and despite the fact that all three of these gentlemen had been there a full HOUR before I showed up, they were each wonderful and generous with their time.

Seeing Slott and Claremont was very nice and relaxed because I'd met each of them previously, albeit very quickly, but I was absurdly jittery around Adams suddenly at the moment I got to talk to him. He is an immensely talented individual. I was actually very surprised that all three of them had the time to talk to me! I was just one fan of hundreds they had to see for the day.

(Oh my god. I completely forgot in all the rush and my usual gushing excitement for all things Spider-Man that Slott also co-writes "the Mighty Avengers"! The first two pages of the latest issue of that series are among my favorite that have seen print this year. Should have complemented him on that.)

Then I was even more happily surprised that they had no problem with me taking a quick photo. "Quick" being the operative word about that photo above. See Mr. Slott! Fastest writin' hand in the West!

So: funny story. All this wonderful camaraderie is happening and I finish talking with the bouncing ball of comics glee that is Dan Slott and take my phtoto and then I remembered that I had my job at the bakery to get to! And I hadn't picked up my comics! I rushed and grabbed a copy of "the New Avengers" #58 and bolted to the thankfully short cashier line. While in line I looked at my phone to discover that it was 6:01 PM. I was already a minute late! Long story short, I made it to work in fair time because it's inside Grand Central Station, 10 minutes from Union Square. No flack on my back. They are surprisingly chill there. Now if only they sold comics...

UPDATE: 10/29/2oo9
So after a second quick comic shop trip today (this time to a shop closer to my work, during my break) I have decided to remain steadfastly sitting on my one purchase for the week. So help me god.

Sure couldn't hurt that backlog of books that need reviewing...

Already Tired of Tuesday!

I've got another minuscule week this week- when I went to go pick up my comics from the last two weeks on Saturday, I got only six things and, with my pull-list discount, it came out to less than twenty bucks, which amazed my mightily. This week, too, looks mightily small, as I'm picking up both INCREDIBLE HERCULES # 137 and Justice Society of America #32, but not much else.

A quick extra bit, though: in addition to that issue of Thunderbolts I talked about 'round about this time last week, I also picked up Joss Whedon and Fabio Moon's Sugarshock from Dark Horse, which I highly recommend, and I also put in an order for the first volume of Dark Horse Noir, which features a new Brubaker/Phillips Criminal story, as well as work by Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire and the aforementioned Moon with his twin brother Gaberial Ba. I haven't really seen anything about it yet, but the talent associated with the proect is fantastic, so it would be hard to be anything but excited.

Meanwhile, at the Pull List of Clare!- 10/28/09

Why? Why the week when I have money saved up? Why why why? Oh well, at least I'll be working a few shifts next month which means more money to feed my addiction. Oh the shame! THE SHAME! I still stand by my theory that weeks like this are plots designed specifically to separate me from my money.

On the Gotham Front, I'll be picking up Batman #692, Gotham City Sirens #5, and Detective Comics #858. I'm not terribly thrilled about Tony Daniel being back on Batman. DC-- I love you guys, really I do, but Battle for the Cowl blew. I was happy with the Winick/Bagley team. However, I am a sucker and I can't pass up most Batman comics. I'm really looking forward to reading Sirens as it is a continuation of a Joker/Harley Quinn story, and Paul Dini is the master of those stories. He invented them after all. Batwoman: Detective Comics has actually really grown on me. At first the story was only so-so but it's a lot more interesting now. Plus the art and panel layout is not just eye candy, it's a rich, decadent eye desert.

There are also three Blackest Night books coming out that I'm really looking forward to! First is Blackest Night: Titans #3. This hasn't been the best out of the Blackest Night mini-series but it holds a special place in my heart because it's the Titans. Also, it is good! Next is Green Lantern #47. After some awesome Sinestro stuff (a.k.a kicking Mongul's sorry ass!) we're moving back to the war between the Blue Lanterns and Agent Orange. This means more Saint Walker, and he's my favorite. And finally, the best-- Blackest Night #4. Still loving this, and if the book is half as good as that cover it will be money well spent.

Other DC books that will be making their way into my shortbox are Teen Titans #76. Even with McKeever gone, this book isn't picking it up. In all honesty, I should give this up but I can't give up hope that one day it will be good. And then there will be some Supes in my life in the forms of Superman Secret Origin #2 and Superman #693. Robinson's run on Supes has been great from the beginning and I love the Mon-El/Guardian stuff. However, what I'm really looking forward to is Superman Secret Origin. Johns and Frank (with Sibal's inks of course) team up to do a beautiful retelling. Look for a review of this within the coming weeks!

On the Marvel side there are only a few books. I'm making it a point to read all of "The List" so I'll be grabbing Dark Reign: The List- Punisher and Dark Reign: The List- Wolverine. I'm really interested in seeing how the all fit together when it's all done. It's a series of one-shots that ultimately are a mini-series. Plus, it's a nice way to see what's going on in parts of the Marvel Universe that I don't follow. I'm also getting Dark Reign: Young Avengers #5 and New Avengers #58.

Stuff that I can't afford this week (or for awhile) but would really like to own-- The Sandman Dream Hunters HC and the Old Man Logan HC. Sigh. So many nice hardcovers coming out lately. I still really want that new 1602 HC as well. A girl can dream, right?

Aw yeah awesome!

Or alternatively: Why Tiny Titans is One of the Best Books on the Market.
Yeah, "Aw yeah awesome!" totally the better title.

So it's been a while, guys. You all must have thought that estrogen had been completely siphoned out on this blog. Well, it's been a rough couple of months for your beloved geekette but hopefully you will be seeing more and more of me. Really, I can't let the guys have all the fun (or all the opinions). But enough about me! On to the main event and that event is Tiny Titans.

You may have seen Tiny Titans on the stands and thought "Cute" and giggled a little bit but ultimately passed it by, right? You may have thought that you really just needed that bajillionth tie-in to Dark Reign and passed it up. You may have thought it not very interesting, having no DARKNESS or DRAMA, and passed it by. Or you may have just not even given it a second glance because it's a book marketed toward kids.

Well my friends, using any of these reasons makes you a silly person.
I will stand behind the opinion that Tiny Titans is one of the best books being published right now and that everyone and their dog should be reading it. Okay maybe not your dog, cause dogs don't read, but certainly you should be reading it.

My high opinion of this book all started when I was bitching to Jon about how I don't have time to write much for the blog. Jon, just trying to help, suggested that I write a review of Tiny Titans #21 which came out this week. Despite the fact that Tiny Titans is one of my favorite books, my initial reaction to this suggestion was one of annoyance. "What? So, you and Josh get to focus on the important stuff while I'm supposed to just do the kids book? That's not what I want to be doing." Then I thought about it a little bit and came to the realization that this book is incredible and here's 5 reasons why.

Reason #1: Never Been a Bad Issue

How many ongoing series can you say this of? Go ahead, think of one. I'm waiting. Even stuff like Geoff John's run on Green Lantern or Ed Brubaker's run on Captain America. Come on, you know there's always been that one issue that was just a little off or just never really did it for you. With such pressure to get your work out there you're going to have a bad one once in a while. Now maybe I'm going to jinx it, but I'm going to say it: there has never been a bad issue of Tiny Titans. Bad issues of Teen Titans? Well, pretty much the entire McKeever run. Titans? Sorry, DC but the series really has been lacking awesome lately (seriously, pick an author!). Tiny Titans however? All awesome, all the time. This series is up to issue #21 and it has never let me down. Every time this book comes out I make myself save it until I'm having a lousy day because the book makes things instantly better! The combination of the charmingly simplistic art, hidden references, and light-hearted humor just does not disappoint.

Reason #2: Appeals to All Ages.

The world of Comics is predominantly a grown-up's world. Working at a comic store, I can tell you that my eyes light up every time a child comes into the store. Why? Because I don't really see it that much! Comics just aren't for kids anymore. I mean, forget the content, but do you really expect a seven year old child to understand the continuity clusterfuck that is big superhero universes? (and yes, I'm looking at you too Marvel!) How do we expect the genre to live on if no one in the next generation gives a rats ass about comics because they didn't grow up with them? Tiny Titans, however, is chock full of superhero goodies and wonderful things that kids can understand and enjoy, and these elements whet their appetite for more complex stories. We need comics that kids can enjoy and Tiny Titans really is the best book for that (it's also the book that draws in the most young girls, a super-plus!).

It's not just for kids though. I don't care how old you are. How smart you are. How cool you are. How mature you are. You are never too much of any of those things to not enjoy a good, old-fashioned laugh and some light-hearted fun. That's what this series is full of! And the jokes are certainly not low-brow comedy. I mean it, there have been no fart jokes. Like all good material produced with the "for kids" label Tiny Titans is full of easter eggs that go past the average child and tickle the grown up funny bone. Tiny Titans is chock full of jokes about stuff going on currently in the DCU that consistently leaves me in stitches.

Reason #3: Not Afraid to Mock the Genre

If there's something BIG and IMPORTANT and UNIVERSE CHANGING in the DCU, I can guarantee you that there is an issue of Tiny Titans making fun of it. Superhero comics have become so obsessed with events. Both companies jump from one world changing event to the next like they were engaged in the longest game of hopscotch on record. It's gotten to the point where you know there's going to be a big summer event from each company, guaranteed. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. Hell, anyone who's read my posts knows I think Blackest Night is one of the best things of the past few years. However, it's true that comics do this all the time and it's ridiculous. Tiny Titans, while the rest of us are making excuses for these events, just openly satirizes them. Like this image here where Acting Principal Darkseid declares a FINALS CRISIS. I giggled about this all day and had to reflect on the concept of how silly a "Final Crisis" is. It's important to be able to laugh at ourselves and the wonderful genre we love so. Much as we love superhero comics sometimes the editorial choices are just laughable, and through Tiny Titans we get to laugh at them too-- a healthy experience all around.

Reason #4: Jump in Anytime

How many times has a book looked really cool (or been reviewed really well) and you go to pick it up and you find there is so much backstory that you have no idea what's going on. Seriously, there are even books where I thought I knew the backstory that leave me feeling like a penguin at the north pole. The beauty of a book geared towards children and adults, you barely have to know anything to really enjoy the heart of the book! Sure, there are inside jokes and occasional references to stuff that has happened in previous issues but nothing that you can't piece together for yourself. If anything, it makes you feel like that little kid who is getting to explore this brand new universe for the first time and nothing rocks my world more than a little bit of childhood wonder. Go ahead, pick up an issue and read some of it. Not hard to follow at all and throughly enjoyable. So, even if Tiny Titans doesn't become one of your regular books you can still pick up when you so desire and be happy reading it. I'll warn you though, it's addictive and you may want to make it one of your regular books. Which is good because of...

Reason #5: Can YOU Beat $2.50?

Comic prices suck and they are constantly on the rise. $3.99 for a 20 page story and then a back-up feature that I only have a 50% chance of reading? Or worse: $3.99 for a book that's not any more material but is just a popular monthly title? Bull. Crap. We put a ton of money on the counter for the book that we read (and I'm assuming you all pay for your books because piracy only hurts your local comic shop and the industry!). We should get our damn money's worth. Tiny Titans delivers a monthly helping of childhood whimsy, clever jokes, subtle satire and tons of smiles for a reasonable $2.50. So many of us pay for books that suck because we can't help ourselves. Be it a tie-in or a series that we just can't give up on (Again, McKeever's run on Teen Titans) it'll ultimately find its way into our lives. Sometimes it just feels like you are throwing money into a bottomless pit, hoping that the mole people down there take money and may throw you up some diamonds. So my advice, edit your list. Get rid of that book that you've always secretly wanted to dump and replace the hole it leaves in your short box with Tiny Titans. You'll end up saving $0.49-$1.49 a month and you'll be a lot happier when you sit down to read the adventures of Robin, Raven, Beast Boy, Terra, Aqualad and a host of others. Plus, there are nearly always Alfred appearances and how can you say no to that.

So in short, Tiny Titans is a well rounded wonderful book that gives us many of the things that have disappeared in superhero comics and are sorely missed. You get straight up humor. You get something that you can give to a child. You get a book that is inexpensive, easy to follow, and proven to be awesome all the time! Win. Win. Win.

Aw yeah awesome! Aw yeah Titans!