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Casual Comics Cast Episode 1: Now Live!
Where did the time go? I thought that I’d take a “short break” to put up a podcast. Little did I know how long it would take to get one up and running. However, thanks to the best co-host (and announcer) in the business, Episode 1 of the Casual Comics Cast is now live.
https://podomatic.com/embed/html5/episode/8260448?autoplay=false
Check it out… and all comments are welcome in the webzone below!
Casual Comic Guy Picks: Hot Comic Books of the Week (April 2, 2014)
Here we are again. Another week. Another new comics day. The comics are like the mail. No matter how far behind I get (and I’m at least two weeks behind reading the comics I’ve bought), they just keep coming.
Not that it’s a bad thing… Just an observation. But that’s why my list is shorter this week. I have issues… BACK ISSUES!
Quantum & Woody #9
Quantum and Woody #9. By: James Asmus, Kano, Tom Fowler. Valiant Entertainment LLC.
People keep telling me that Quantum and Woody is a great title – one I should be reading. Also, I recall this title from my days persuing the shelves of Dragon’s Lair way back in 1988.
It’s been around forever, there’s a goat on the cover, and people tell me to check it out. Why not make it a pick of the week?
(That’s a rhetorical question since I already did)
Doctor Who Magazine #471
The colors on the cover image are HORRIBLE, but whatever. It’s a magazine about Doctor Who and I need some light reading this week. Plus, I just finished watching “The Green Death” and “Blink” is an iconic episode from the new series.
Shotgun Wedding #1 (of 4)
Shotgun Wedding #1. By: William Harms, Edward Pun. Image Comics.
The first issue of a new series. That’s an appealing proposition right out of the gate. The art is marvelous, so it’s got that going for it, too. Let’s check the solicit:
Mike Stone wants nothing more than to marry the woman of his dreams. Denise is smart, sexy, teaches the second grade, and loves Mike more than anything in the world. What she doesn’t know is that Mike is one of the world’s top assassins and was once engaged to a fellow assassin named Chloe. And when Mike abandoned Chloe on their wedding day, she vowed revenge… This April, treat yourself to an issue of SHOTGUN WEDDING each Wednesday! All FOUR issues of Minotaur Press’s latest miniseries will be released in April, and the covers for all four issues connect to form one larger image.
Sweet! A weekly? So if I like the first issue, I only have to wait week-to-week for the next installment. Count me in.
She-Hulk #3
She-Hulk #3. By: Charles Soule, Javier Pulido, Kevin Wada. Marvel Comics.
The Marvel She-Hulk series is brilliant with a capital “B”. I could not be more excited to see how Jennifer Walters continues building her legal practice whilst punching bad guys in the face. Plus, based on the last issue, I’m anticipating Hellcat being in #3.
If you’re not on board with this title, get #1 and #2 ASAP. By far, the best book being published by Marvel today. This book is so good that I guarantee I’m not only buying this, but getting the first appearances of She-Hulk and Hellcat from the back issue bins.
There’s absolutely no doubt that She-Hulk #3 is the Casual Comics Pick for the Hot Comic of the Week.
Until next time… support you local comics shop! If you’re in Omaha, be sure to stop by the relocated Dragon’s Lair – now open for business.
– CCG
Deadpool Team-Up Coming for Original Sin Event
OK, so maybe there have been other Deadpool team-ups in the past. I was browsing Comics Alliance, though, when I ran across this picture:
This is a team-up I can get behind.
This is the cover for Deadpool #30, coming in June. Marvel’s big event “Original Sin” should be in full swing by then, and this is the Deadpool tie-in.
Deadpool and Dazzler? Sign me up. I don’t know if Wade can play guitar worth a dang, but it should be a good show. I’d love to see areal band cosplay this at San Diego Comic Con and actually do a four-song set.
Anyway, that’s it. Saw the cover with Dazzler and I just had to share. Maybe I’ll peek in and see what Dazzler is up to in regular Marvel 616 continuity and get back with you later.
– CCG
Dragon’s Lair’s Picks: Hot Comics of the Week (February 19, 2014)
Aaaand we’re back with the hot new comic books from the week of February 19, 2014. We’ll see if I can manage to be in a bit of a better mood this week. Looking at the list that the Dragon’s Lair crew was kind enough to provide, it looks like a pretty good week.
As always, I’ve left the picks to the pros (for the most part) and the uneducated commentary is mine – no passing the blame on that.
Fables #138
Fables #138 by: Bill Willingham, Russell Braun, Christopher Moeller DC Comics
Fables is still running after 138 issues. Good for them. I always did have a weak spot for this title. I’m not sure this is the best jumping off point for new fans, but the one-shot sounds interesting: Read the rest of this entry
Casual Comics Rewind Review: Vision and the Scarlet Witch Volume 1, Number 3
Issues #1 and #2 of Vision and the Scarlet Witch are in the bag – review-wise. And, I’m loving them as much as I did the first (through 30th) time I read them. Even though it’s been about two decades since the last time I read this series, I’m still madly in love with the craziness of Marvel mini-series from the 80’s.
Behold! Vision and the Scarlet Witch Volume 1, Number 3. Written by: Bill Mantlo
Coming into the third issue of this four-issue miniseries, we’ve come to expect a pretty even split of action and family drama from the Vision and the Scarlet Witch mini-series. “Blood Brothers” doesn’t disappoint. Read the rest of this entry
Dragon’s Lair’s Picks: Hot Comics of the Week (January 15, 2014)
Ahhh… The new year is upon us and so are the new comics. Here are the picks for the best of the best bets for new comics this week. Rounding out the list is my pick for best comic reissue of the decade.
As always, weekly picks are provided by our friends over at Dragon’s Lair and uneducated commentary is mine and mine alone.
Monsters! and Other Stories Trade Paperback Read the rest of this entry
Casual Comics Picks – Hot Comics of the Week (January 8, 2014)
I’m flying solo on the picks this week, so bear with me – I’m winging it.
Avengers World #1
Avengers World #1; written by Jonthan Hickman
How many times will Marvel trick me with new Avengers titles that are numbered “1”? Answer… all the times. Read the rest of this entry
Casual List-a-mania: Top 10 X-Men of all Time
I’ve been sitting on this info for a while, but back in October, Marvel released the results of their “official” list of the top 50 X-Men of all time. Their “panel of experts” made some interesting choices for the best-of list.
The list seems a bit focused on getting the superfans excited, which makes sense. I don’t know that casual comic fans can even name 25 X-Men, let alone 50. So, I’ll briefly touch on Marvel’s rankings of 41-50 before giving you my own, “Official Top-10 X-Men of All Time (for casual readers).
Marvel’s Official Top 50 X-Men (#41-50)
#50 Sabretooth – Nope. Not an X-Man. I asked Hugh Jackman.
#49 – Joseph – Did he have an amazing technicolor dreamcoat? Read the rest of this entry
Casual Comics Rewind Review: Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2
Vision and Scarlet Witch #2 – “Faith of our Fathers” delves further into the complicated back story of the Scarlet Witch and her “father” Robert Frank. Turns out he’s not really their father, but Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver have been keeping that on the down low.
Four awesome things about this issue:
- The super couple just hangs out around the house in their full-on superhero gear. (To the delight of teenage boys because… Wanda in costume? Hubba, hubba…)
- They have a huge supercomputer with a teleconnection to the moon in the living room of an otherwise nondescript home in the suburbs. In fact, it’s quite near the covered porch where Jarvis is enjoying a spot of tea after the altercation in the last issue.
No danger, just my dad at the door. Better be sure I’m wearing the full costume, though, while I talk to my brother who is ON THE MOON!
- Robert Frank still actually thinks he’s the father of Wanda and Pietro. Quicksilver’s power is super speed. So was Frank’s when he was a hero in the 50s known as… wait for it… “The Whizzer”. Wanda and Pietro have never told Frank he’s not really their father. But face it, I couldn’t bear to bring heartache to an old man who still goes by “The Whizzer” either.
- Wanda and the Vision get around town via taxicab – even though one can fly and the other can teleport.
The issue starts out, wonderfully, in media res. The splash page shows the Vision, arm melted into a twisted slag. The guy can turn hard as a diamond or completely intangible. The sight of the Vision – in pain, arm smoldering brings immediate intensity to this issue.
Who knew this was even a thing that could happen?
Via flashback, the readers come to see just how Vision got into this mess. And, delightfully, it involves more family drama.
Robert Frank has another son, Nuklo, a 32 year-old nuclear beast with the mind of a child. Frank wants the Vision and Scarlet Witch to help him take back custody of his abandoned child from the research facility where he is being kept.
Once again, the art is wonderfully ahead of its time for a comic of this era – minimalist, yet striking use of lines and shading. And, the non-linear storytelling really works – helping parcel out more complex backstory and the emotional trauma while maintaining tension.
You all know that Vision and the Scarlet Witch have a special place in my heart. Rereading the stories convince me that the Marvel miniseries I knew and loved still hold up today.
– CCG
Thanksgiving Comic Rewind – The Best Thanksgiving Comic Book Issue Ever Published
When I got the (admittedly last minute) idea to write about the best Thanksgiving issue of any comic book in the history of time and space, there was no contest. That would be issue #4 of “Into the Void”.
But, since that hasn’t been written yet, here’s the VERY close second-place issue, Vision and the Scarlet Witch #6, “No Strings Attached” (per the splash page in the book).
Since it’s Thanksgiving, I’m going to give thanks for my ADHD and allow myself to tackle things a bit “stream of consciousness”. Or “wibbly-wobbly”, whichever you prefer. Read the rest of this entry
