Sunday Reading: 9-25-11

I’ll show you mine if you’ll show me yours; and this week the Bloc wants to show you: X-Men Schism #4, Wonder Woman #1, Batman #1, Daredevil #4, Ultimate Comics X-Men #1 and Darkwing Duck #16.

Show and tell was always a great time when I was a kid in school.  Kids bring in their prized possessions, their favorite toy, their most treasured item. You got to take something you found value in and hopefully pass that value on to others, or secretly cherish their jealousy.

That what Sunday Reading is all about. Taking your favorite thing from the week, that great read, you guilty pleasure and share it with everyone out there. This week a lot of the Comic Bloc writers and even the Editors have stepped up to show you theirs, you can feel free to do the same.

X-Men: Schism #4 (of 5)

The first comic out of the bloc today is a series that is causing quit the stir in the X-Men universe. Personally I’m liking the series but I have yet to make up my mind if it works as a whole, but it seems to have struck a strong cord with several comic bloc writers, Adam Scheiwe sees it as a great starting point:

Besides Uncanny X-Force I have not read an X-book in over 4 years. I know what has happened from reading online but have had little interest in the books. Schism is a great event to get me back into the X line and feels like a really personal event between Cyclops and Wolverine. It’s a nice read to re-acquaint me with the X-men before the Regenesis starts up

I hadn’t really thought of Schism as a friendly reintroduction to the X-Men, but now that I think about it I guess coming at the story with a more fresh views of the characters and not bogged down by their current portrayals elsewhere might lead to a more clean reading of the material.  Carmen Axle really thinks the story line is spot on and wants to make sure we don’t pass this by:

It’s finally happened, people. What we’ve all been waiting for – the fight between Wolverine and Cyclops has commenced! I was a little worried that with all the hype, this issue would leave me feeling underwhelmed, but that wasn’t the case. While not much happens event-wise overall in this issue, the tension between our main characters is palpable. There are low blows, cheap shots and no-holds-barred hits that have been building over years of being enemies to being allies. This issue, though fourth in the Schism arc, is the start to a great divide happening in the upcoming X-Men storylines – don’t miss it!

I think I might appreciate this series a little more now, if nothing else I’m going to try to clear my comic mind out and read it as is and see if my past references are maybe what’s holding me back from really getting into it.

Wonder Woman #1.

What does it take to get one of the Comic Bloc powers that be to chime in on a comic series? I guess that would be Wonder Woman #1. I skipped this book this week mainly because the last time I tried a Wonder Woman comic I was left with a run that wasn’t even finished before I got something different down the pipe, but after reading what Josh Hamman had to say, maybe I need to clear my comic mind again:

The highly anticipated wait is over (at least for me) and I now hold a twice read copy of Wonder Woman #1 in my hands. Overall I was very impressed with this book, it was a fast, yet intriguing read with well crafted visuals and story. Right from the top we are introduced to villains and friends of Diana, both categories lacking in her previous incarnations. The creation of the centaurs throws some intrigue and a little gore into our new Wonder Woman vision, hinting at what will hopefully continue to be a stronger and mature feeling book. I found the Naked-In-Bed introduction of the new Diana humorous after all the quotes from DC and the creative team, and I quote Mr. Chiang “female characters in comics being over-sexualized …We’re really just trying to tell the best story that we can and not have to rely on those … tricks”. This lapse is forgivable as overall the book was a fun read and well executed. I’d be lying if I said I won’t be picking up #2 the day it comes out. Well done DC.

Wow, it really sound like Wonder Woman is off to a great start in the new 52. If that wasn’t enough to win you over (or me for that matter) maybe Adam Schiewe’s words will entice you:

Like Batwoman before it this is a near perfect comic, a joining of a great story with breath-taking art. Azzarello sounded like an odd choice when he was announced as the writer for this book, and I have to say I thought so as well, but he managed to get people talking about the book. The story he tells is a horror/suspense/superhero story that can only be told with Wonder Woman. You have centaurs attacking a woman who is magically pregnant and Hermes attempting to stop them while Apollo uses women as oracles. That is some crazy myth inspired action that needs art to match, and luckily the book has Cliff Chiang. Chiang is one of the most underrated artists in comics as everything he draws is clean, full of emotion and portrays action like few other artists can do. And his Wonder Woman is both strong and beautiful, a true Amazon. This is how you make a Wonder Woman comic, it just works, its fun, powerful, looks great and has you wanting the next issue as soon as you finish it up.

I’m not sure if I’m sold enough to add this series to my pull list, but I will definitely be keeping my eye on it. I hope to see Wonder Woman show up on Sunday Reading more in the months to come and maybe it will be enough to have me jump back in on a regular basis.

Batman #1

Our Sunday Reading has already spotlighted some other books in the Batman part of the DCU and now we get to the main man himself. Batman is so important to the DCU that even if you don’t collect the title you pretty much always want to keep an eye on it just because you know DC is always give it the care it needs to be great. That seems to have happened here, so much so that a comic Bloc Editor, Dave Handler, has felt compelled to actually write something about the issue:

First, let me just say that I am hardly a Batman fan, especially Bruce Wayne. I find that most writers have him at best a jerk and at worst a psychopath. Not only that, but he was impossible to beat and was always ten steps ahead which made any mystery boring and his character completely unrelatable despite his being only human. The best Batman comic in my mind was one in which Bruce Wayne wasn’t even under the cowl like the pre DCNu Batman and Robin.

That all changes here with Scott Snyder’s wonderful Batman #1! First of all, half the story contains Bruce Wayne out of the cowl, something that has been lacking in his comics for years. Bruce is no longer brooding around angry at the world for robbing him of his parents, but he is finally doing what Batman could never do, cleaning up Gotham and pushing it to better itself. Not only that BUT HE SMILES! He is enjoying life outside of being the Caped Crusader and I loved every minute of it. The cameos of the Robins made it seem like they truly were a family which once again deflated the overused Bat-God and made him seem more human. Add in a breakout at Arkham and a nice mystery with awesome cliffhanger at the end drawn to perfection by Greg Capullo and I can honestly say you have hooked me in! 5 stars, the best Batman book I have read…maybe ever! In the conversation for the best book released in the New 52.

A book so good an editor not only took the time to review it, but made it a stunning review also! Now just to prove that it’s not just some crazy editor going off on something, Sunday Reading gives you a little more insight from Sunday Reading constant Adam Schiewe:

Scott Snyder is the new leader of the Batman universe, this man knows how to create a story that draws you in and doesn’t let go. If you read his Detective Comics run then you know this, if not go buy them and get a taste of how good Batman is going to be. If not for Wonder Woman this would have been the best book of the week, if you have even a marginal interest in Batman give this book a shot and enjoy the ride.

Daredevil #4

If Adam Schiewe keeps reading such good books and writing about them I may have to rename Sunday Reading to Adam’s Reading. It seems Adam has found another gem this month in a Marvel comic staple, Daredevil:

This may just be the best book Marvel is publishing (that isn’t Uncanny X-Force). Waid is crafting stories that only work with Daredevil, he is showing us a legal drama with superheroes that is like a mainstream version of Bendis’ Alias and a dash of Gotham Central. This is a happy Daredevil who just wants to help the little man out and fight some crime along the way. This is a non-grim and gritty street level hero, something almost unheard of in today’s comics market. And the art, oh the art. Marcos Martin steps in for the second arc and he keeps the bar high for artists on the book, the first few pages have 15 panels and everyone is used effectively. The little boxes of color that highlight the sounds and smells that Daredevil picks up with his super senses are a nice touch to the story and are just a few of the small artistic touches that makes this book a joy to read and look at. Try the book, it’s just good comics and better yet, it’s all ages.

A great book that is dark street level, done well and all ages?  What is Marvel thinking? Actually it sounds like the kind of story that really appeals to a lot of people, hopefully more people will check it out so we can find more books like this one.

Ultimate Comics X-men #1

Ok, confession time for me, I have never bought an Ultimate comic. I thought it was a doomed to fail idea that Marvel was trying to push as the next big thing. I saw it mostly as retelling old stories and trying to make the up-to-date and cool for a new generation, something I wasn’t interested in. Now that they have branched even further  away form the main stream Marvel U however I find myself getting more and more interested in checking them out. Once again Adam Schiewe pips my interest:

I honestly liked this more than I think I should have, Nick Spencer has always been a little hit and miss for me, I never got what all the fuss was about, but with this book I might just see it. The story is almost entirely set up, and reading it fills in all the gaps I needed to know about the Ultimate X-men (I never followed the Ultimate X-men title). The story is kind of a slow build until those last few pages hit and Kitty Pride makes a declaration that changes how I look at the book and sold me on the book for a while. The art by Paco Medina just adds to the story as he has a clean detailed style that just fits superheroes while looking “real” for the ultimate universe. If this book can deliver on the promise this issue holds I think we are in for a great addition to the Ultimate Universe.

Sounds like there are some strong plans to make this version of the X-Men something that will really shine. It’s on my radar, is it on yours?

Top Recommendation: Darkwing Duck #16

Another confession from me, usually when I’m looking for the Top Recommendation of the week I normally would go with the title that inspired most of the Comic Bloc writers or the review that was so passionate that is over shadowed everything else that week. Darkwing Duck gets the top spot this week because I loved Darkwing Duck when it was a cartoon and I truthfully have been over looking this series as something not really worth the time or effort of getting into. Afer reading what Robert McSantos has to say about it though I can see I have been sorely mistaken:

Even before they bought Marvel Comics, Disney owned one of the most fun superheroes ever created. This series has been one licensed comic that not only captures everything that was great about the show, but actually improves upon the original formula by taking it in a less episodic and more continuous direction. But the real superstar here is artist James Silvani, who litters the pages with many humorous hidden Disney references. This particular issue may not be the best jumping on point, as it’s the end of the most recent four-part arc, but if you haven’t been keeping up with this series, it’s worth hunting down back issues for. Unfortunately, Darkwing Duck is not long for this world, as Boom Studios’ license expires in December. But at least they’re going out with a bang, as the final arc will be a big crossover with Ducktales.

Maybe if more of us had followed through on our love of the cartoon series this quality book might still be around instead of heading into limbo. That’s often the tale for great series that they miss their audience simply because not enough people talk about those good things that are happening. Hopefully this will let Sunday Comics correct some of those mistakes and get the good comics the voice they need to be read by all.

So that’s what we have to show you this week. I hope this Sunday finds you well rested and happy with all the comic’s you read this week. IF not, maybe this next week you can take the time and check out one of the above books and see if you can find a new favorite. Or take the time and share your best of the best with us, because that’s what this is all about

Till next Sunday I’m you host Skip Scherer (lionknight) and I’ll be seeing you on the Bloc.