This week, the intrepid party managed to make it deeper beneath the city of Cauldron. After making their way in a tramline above a mysterious lake o' evil, they entered a gatehouse and managed to activate a trap that brought down the roof on top of them. (They never, ever, Search.) Then they fought a room of guards on their coffee break, who lobbed bottles of alchemist's fire at them. Cassandra, our answer to Red Sonja, took a load on her chest. Someone helpfully pointed out that probaby wasn't the first time.
Read some comics.
Wolverine #50-- I only picked this up because of the beautiful artwork of Simone Bianchi, who has done some stellar work on Detective Comics covers lately. I shouldn't have bothered. The story--Wolverine confronts Sabretooth yet again--was dull and unimaginative. Yes, they fight. Yes, nothing is really settled. Yes, we're supposed to care. Next!
Robin #157--I've really liked this title over the last year. But this issue features a team-up with Klarion The Witch Boy. Oh well. I knew it couldn't last forever.
Outsiders #42--Another title that has dropped in my estimation continues its downward spiral. For some reason, someone thought that giving Katana a butch haircut and easily the Crappiest Outfit of 2007 was a good idea. Well, it wasn't. The things I used to like about this title--the snappy dialogue, the darker storylines--have all been abandoned for an approach that doesn't even make sense: the Outsiders faked their own deaths so they could work as good terrorists? And now the world knows they aren't dead? And somehow their vigilante actions will land them in jail? What, them and every other superhero? Ah, my head. Even my love of Grace Choi is starting to wear thin. Cancel please!
Birds of Prey #99-101--Fortunately this is still good, or I'd start drinking. With Black Canary leaving the BoP to spend more time with her 'daughter' (so why does she then join the JLA? Oh, that headache again), Oracle is forced to adopt a rotating team of members. The team in this storyline--Huntress, Big Barda (!), Judomaster (who looks like she swiped Katana's old costume) and Manhunter--meet with my approval. A nice villian in Spysmasher, as well. I also am fond of new artist Nicola Scott. It's interesting to note that with the arrival of a woman doing the art here, it seems the Birds have all undergone a breast reduction: for years, C and D cups were almost a requirement to be a Bird of Prey. Now, Ms. Scott has introduced a more realistic approach to this oh-so important part of female superhero comics. Even Big Barda is reduced to a B-cup. Which, to me, is oh so wrong.
Conan and the Midnight God #1--I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again: Dark Horse is doing a mighty fine job with the Conan license. Here, with a story set during Conan's reign as King of Aquilonia, they do it yet again. It's those damn Stygians again, and they've gone and killed Conan's unborn son. Now those motherfuckers are in for it. Beautiful art, a firm hand on the writing, and you know somewhere, REH is happy.
Criminal #4--Another fine issue from Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips. I've always had a soft spot for decent crime fiction, and its' nice to see a modern hardboiled story. Brubaker is easily one of my favourite writers these days, but here on his own book he really give it his all, making for the sort of book I have to read the second I'm in the door. From recovering junkies, literate barkeepers, and a thief with a moral code second only to Superman, I think we're seeing the beginning of a new comics classic.
3 comments:
I don't know whether you like people doing this sort of thing or not, but since you're in London (I love your column, btw, and it's sad it's come an end - and that's not sucking up!), I wonder if you'd know of any D&D groups that are accepting new people, and any that would accept a complete neophyte.
Your best bet would be to go to L.A. Mood and see if there are any groups there. Usually there are some pages up from people looking for new members. Of course, be careful--finding a good group is very hard to do. If anyone in my group ever resigns, I'll let you know.
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