Hey Kids! You Don't Need Drugs...To Kill a Cobra!

And now, the most badass thing to ever happen in an Archie comic:


That cobra got its head blown clean off!!

You rarely see a gun, or a silencer, or a decapitation in an Archie comic.

Quick Review: X-Men First Class #11

I want to say two things about this issue:

1. It was totally awesome and everyone should read it.

2. Two of the Continuiteens, who are comic shop employees, look exactly like my comic shop co-workers/pals, Dave and Tiina. Check it:


So we can't decide if the creative team of X-Men First Class are watching us at all times, or if Dave and Tiina just look exactly like comic shop employee stereotypes. Either way, we all felt uncomfortable at the shop yesterday.

I had totally planned a triumphant return to reviewing weekly comics this week, but frankly the complete and utter confusion I felt after reading the last issue of Countdown and the last issue of The Death of the New Gods left me exhausted. It took me three tries to get through the New Gods because I kept getting sleepy and bored.

But there were very good comics this week. I highly recommend, besides X-Men First Class, The Hulk vs Hercules one-shot dealie, Wolverine First Class, The Spirit, and Birds of Prey. Sadly, it's the last McKeever issue of Birds of Prey, but Tony Bedard will also be good.

I've been cranky about comics lately because they are canceling some of my favourites (Catwoman, The All-New Atom) but will no doubt be putting out endless Final Crisis tie-ins or Countdown aftermath whatnots that are total nonsense and completely boring. I'm sure a lot of it will be great, but there will definitely be a lot of stuff that does not hold a candle to even the least good issues of Catwoman or The Atom. Blah. When I am able to get my thoughts together I'm sure I will have a whole long post about all the reasons why it sucks that Catwoman is canceled.

Cliff Chiang Sketch!

My big plan for the past year was to go to the New York Comic Con. Not only have I never been to NYC, I've never been to a comic convention. Unfortunately exams and things got in the way of my plan, so I didn't go. But Strange Adventures' owner and all-around awesome dude, Cal Johnston went. And he got me this beautiful Cliff Chiang sketch!

Check it out!!!

Yay!!

I am trying to make it to Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC this summer. Hopefully things will work out for that.

Top 10 Marvel Characters

I write my final exam tonight, which is awesome. I will probably fail it, which isn't so awesome. Finance is hard and boring.

I haven't had time to post anything due to the emotional roller coaster of exams, the Habs making it to round 2 of the play-offs, and Catwoman being canceled (seriously, DC, WHAT THE HELL?! That is my FAVOURITE COMIC!). However, I do have a new list up over at Mondo Magazine of my Top 10 Favourite Marvel Characters. Here's the link to that: Daredevil Wins.

I'll be back in full form soon. I haven't even had time to read comics over the past few months. They will be a welcome change from accounting textbooks.

Quick Review: Titans Together #1

Note to Ian Churchill:

This is a skirt:

This is a muffin cup:


Skirt:

Muffin cup:


Skirt:


Muffin cup:


You'll notice the subtle differences, I'm sure.

Ok, now that we've had this talk, maybe you'll stop drawing things like this:

Siiiiiiigh.

Also, this comic is terrible.

Comic Foundry Rules

No time to do comic reviews this past week, but I do want to take a moment to praise the awesomeness of Comic Foundry Magazine. Issue #2 came out last week (this time in full colour!) and it is seriously great.

It's like if everything awesome about the comic book community came to life...and then maybe got cursed or something and became a magazine instead of a living thing.

Finally a magazine for smart, funny, cool comic fans!

The cover feature of the new issue is an interview with Matt Fraction...and, hey, putting an actual comic creator on the cover of a magazine instead of a picture of, like, Captain America?...nice one!

Also in this issue...

• A fashion feature on how to get Jimmy Olsen's look!
• An interview with Dinosaur Comics' creator Ryan North!
• All-Star Batman & Robin drinking game!
• Interview with Kristen Bell!
• A Venture Bros. Article!
• Album covers by comic artists!
• A letter from me!

It's super great. Support this effort by buying at least one copy!