Board 8 > Board 8 Comic Book Club #1

(+) Yeah! (+)

Still gonna be catching up soon!
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TotallyNotMI posted...

Oh wow.

.5 was... just wow. Heartbreaking.

Was the event referenced an event that occurred in the first Astro City series? Or is it akin to what I mentioned after I read the first issue, that this world is full of events and history and we don't always get to see it take place?

On the lighter side of this issue, Captain America and Bucky were hysterical. They were so goofy I couldn't help but laugh and love them

Yeah, .5 is my second favorite story in the entire series.

The whole concept of Astro City is not every truly having full knowledge of the world around you. You start to retain all of these little fragments about characters who live in this world that operates parallel to the everyday mundane reality of the normal Astro Citizens, but you become fascinated in them. It's a lot like celebrity, but on another level. So here is this massive event that you've never seen nor heard of before (which is actually quite fitting given what happened at the end of said event), and we only get a little glimpse. There's clearly a deep history to the series, and my personal favorite part of the franchise at this point is to make connections and start to hone out what the overarching history of Astro City is.

Issue #2 (which we didn't read) introduces a really fascinating character who only shows up like 5 or 6 times, but the way the character is presented in these small snippets really feels fleshed-out and real. It's just an amazing series.

I'm thrilled you enjoyed both stories, MI!
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Corrik posted...

Still gonna be catching up soon!

Can't wait to see what you think!
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Oddly enough, I kind of got a Dr. Manhattan vibe with Samaritan's narration in the first Astro City issue. He felt very distant and calculated, especially with the constant details about the flight times. Something about the statistics made me feel as if though there was no humanity behind the decision-making process for the day, which I guess also speaks to the idea that the daily life of a Superman is this sort of calculated, human-less existence. Samaritan is almost punished for trying to be human here, particularly with the time he "wasted" attempting to reassure the little girl.

At the same time, I agree with MI in that we are able to learn so much about the character through all of this. We learn so much through so little.

Very good story. It wasn't mind blowing, but it wasn't trying to be, and didn't need to be.
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Interesting. I always saw the measurements of time as lamentations from a brilliant mind that has that Superman-like capacity to see a hummingbird flutter its wings. I can understand how it comes off a little like Manhattan, but to me its a very melancholy perspective from Samaritan.
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I agree with scarlet here. The counting of time wasn't because he had no emotions it was because he so desperately wanted tonfly for the sake of flying, to be off the clock, to enjoy life for himself, but can't because of the responsibilities he took on himself. That is a lot of emotions.
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I think it's fair to compare both though, because when you look at writers like Grant Morrison, they equate Dr. Manhattan to Superman fairly frequently. So I think you see these super uber-perceptive god characters that share (to us) fairly congruent views of the world, it's easy to compare them to each other.

But, to me, the core of the story is definitely put best by MI.

It's a damn good story to produce this kind of great discussion!
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Yeah, I definitely feel as if though by mentioning Dr. Manhattan I'm contradicting my own thoughts as well, because I do think MI's description is a great one, and by admitting that we are exposed to the emotions of the character I am essentially saying he is not like Dr. Manhattan at all.

I think as I started reading I made the Dr. Manhattan comparison then by the end came to a conclusion similar to MI's, yet couldn't shake that initial idea from my understanding of the character.
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I really enjoyed the other Astro City issue as well. My favourite comics continue to be these depressing, emotional stories, and I'm not sure why. I think Tom King really got me to appreciate that style of story and I never find myself disappointed when I read one of them.

I like how in both of these stories we are thrown into a world of established characters that we know nothing about and it doesn't detract from the story at all. I don't need to know every little thing about any of these people because the message doesn't require me to possess that information.

One of my least favourite things in comics is when I am expected to know everything about a particular continuity to truly grasp a story, and it's one of the reasons why I chose DC over Marvel when I started reading a few years ago.
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Finished Marvels. It was fantastic! Loved the more "historical" take on the Marvel history (reminds me a lot of JL: New Frontier), and seeing the context of the Marvel civilian reaction brought a new light to how I see that as a plot element in that universe. I just wish I was a bit more in tune with Marvel lore so I could catch all the references to characters and events, but it wasn't really necessary. I did have to look up Daniel Ketch for the final joke, but at least that was obviously going to be a joke!

Gonna dive into Astro City now
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Both Astro City issues were pretty good. I liked the take on Superman. Part of the suspension of disbelief with Superman stories is that question of "why doesn't he just save people all the time?" I think the short answer to that is because he's superhuman but still human. So a story about a Superman who works full time and is still humanized, but in a much different, sadder way is just really interesting to see. Not how I thought that would go!
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I guess I better post some comments before next week gets put up

I found the point of view in 'Marvels' interesting, it is not very often you see things through the eyes of regular people in superhero comics. They don't have the big picture, and of course will worry that supers could turn on them (or accidentally destroy their city block fighting monsters from Uranus).

Astro City is very odd. It feels like these heroes protecting the city have large histories and backstories even though they were created just for this comic, or just have some random background cameo. It feels like Busiek created this world in its entirety and the backgrounds for every mook in tights before he even started writing.
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Marvels was very good. I too wish that I had read more Marvel to better understand some of the references, but I don't think my experience was any worse because of it.

The main thing that stood out to me was how much this was Phil's story. Despite this entire universe around him, we remained grounded in the life of one man and his growth alongside the growth of that universe. For a second I expected a dark ending near the conclusion there but am glad it ended the way it did.

I found it interesting that there was mass hysteria (as expected) for that first global invasion, but looking at any current continuity, an event of that level probably feels like an average Tuesday for the world.
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No packet today?
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It'll be up when I get home from work, no worries.

Just can't post it at work because the upload speed has been atrocious today.
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PrinceKaro posted...

Astro City is very odd. It feels like these heroes protecting the city have large histories and backstories even though they were created just for this comic, or just have some random background cameo. It feels like Busiek created this world in its entirety and the backgrounds for every mook in tights before he even started writing.

Odd in a good way?

Also, you're right. Busiek has deep histories; if everyone wants to read more, you can see so much detail as the story moves forward.
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Sounds good!
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scarletspeed7 posted...

Odd in a good way?

Also, you're right. Busiek has deep histories; if everyone wants to read more, you can see so much detail as the story moves forward.

yeah odd in a good way. I've read the whole first series and the first three issues of the second. i will probably read the rest sometime later
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PrinceKaro posted...

scarletspeed7 posted...

Odd in a good way?

Also, you're right. Busiek has deep histories; if everyone wants to read more, you can see so much detail as the story moves forward.

yeah odd in a good way. I've read the whole first series and the first three issues of the second. i will probably read the rest sometime later

Awesome! I'm really glad to hear you're enjoying it so much! You'll have to let me know about what you think of the Confessor storyline - I'm planning on it being up for a week at some point since it is my personal favorite story in the series.
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Meanwhile, we're nearing the end of Creator Month and I'm closing it out with Grant Morrison Week.

Grant Morrison is considered by many to be one of if not THE best writer in the business. I lean to the same assumption. His dissertations on the role superheroes play in modern culture deeply influenced how I read comics, and every one of his titles is unique in terms of voice, style and narrative. He's just a completely different class of writer.

He single-handedly saved the X-Men franchise at one point with his famous run on New X-Men that did everything from introduce characters like Fantomex and the Cuckoos to turning Emma Frost into one of the good guys for the first time. We're not reading that.

His run on Animal Man has become synonymous with the character and it's so influential that Deus Ex Machina is considered one of the best comics of DC Comics. We're not reading that.

He single-handedly saved the Justice League franchise by launching the celebrated title simply known as JLA. He turned the League into a Beatles of DC Comics, and kickstarted a surge of popularity that led to JLA at one point being the best selling comic in the business for years at a time. We're not reading that.

He wrote 52, Final Crisis, Multiversity. No, no, no. His 5-year run on Batman is considered by many to be the best run on the character, and it introduced Batman, Inc., Damian Wayne, and pretty much overhauled the entire franchise. And we're not reading that either. We're also not reading Doom Patrol, which became a cult classic, or Happy, which is now a great little show on SyFy.

We're reading All-Star Superman. It's been listed as a Top 1-5 Superman story almost everywhere. It's listed as a Top 10-25 DC - or comics in general - story almost everywhere. It spawned a great animated feature. It's the Eisner Award-winning 12-issue maxi-series that redefined Superman for an entire generation. It's one of the all-time greats, and that's what we're reading this week.

As always, hit me up on Discord if you're having trouble finding All-Star Superman.
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Oh damn. I was just wondering when we'd get to this book. ASS is so good.
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Hey! ASS... stands for All-Star Squadron.
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Morrison's Batman run might be the best extended run of comics I've ever read! Very excited to get into All-Star Superman.
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I mean it has been over a year since my last time reading All-Star Superman.
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Hmm, I read a comic once a year that I haven't read yet this year, so I might do that next week.

Are you on board for a little All-Star, prof?
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Yeah.

Didn't have time for last week's, but Marvels is so good omg.

The art does such a great job of giving the perspective of how big the heroes are.
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Hey, I have actually heard of this creator!
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profDEADPOOL posted...

Yeah.

Didn't have time for last week's, but Marvels is so good omg.

The art does such a great job of giving the perspective of how big the heroes are.

The panel of Phil taking a photo of Giant-Man is absolutely one of my all-time favorites in Marvel history. That stature Alex Ross creates is just magnificent.

TotallyNotMI posted...

Hey, I have actually heard of this creator!

I know you read Marvel... have you read his New X-Men?
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scarletspeed7 posted...

The panel of Phil taking a photo of Giant-Man is absolutely one of my all-time favorites in Marvel history. That stature Alex Ross creates is just magnificent.

Yes.

It's just.

Damn.

Busiek is really good at taking advantage of Alex Ross' art
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scarletspeed7 posted...

I know you read Marvel... have you read his New X-Men?

I have not! I've been reading Marvel chronologically for a while now. Am up to 1994. Will get there eventually!
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It's actually the same team on All-Star Superman, so you're getting the full writer-artist treatment!
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Keep reading, B8.
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Just read the first issue. Who is this Leo Quintum character? I've never heard of him and he is really weird.
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Sorry that I didn't get too invested here scarlet. Been pretty busy. I am taking note of the stories that I do have access to though. Unfortunately I can't seem to find the rest unless I pay an arm and a leg for it. (Surprised that so many folks are getting access so easily though... is there an archived site I'm not aware of?)

Anyway I love Vaughn's work so I will be picking up Pride of Baghdad as soon as I can find it. I already own all of Saga and Y: The Last Man.

On other things have you ever read 100 bullets? I just picked up all 13 books plus Brother Lono this week. Already on book 3 of the series and it's so good.
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TotallyNotMI posted...

Just read the first issue. Who is this Leo Quintum character? I've never heard of him and he is really weird.

Leo Quintum is an original character made for All-Star Superman. Think of him like an anti-Lex Luthor. He's around to show what's possible if a top scientific mind in the DCU actually worked with Superman instead of against him.

And if you think HE'S weird then buckle up.
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Leo Quintum really should have been brought into the New52 :(
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I agree, I like him a lot. I got Leo Quintum vibes from the woman scientist that Lobdell introduced in his run, but I don't think anything from that stuck.

Also I read the theory that (major ASS spoilers) he's a reformed, time-traveling Lex from after the ending. I wouldn't put it past Morrison to have intended that, which would make him kinda awkward to introduce into a main continuity.
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So um.

I've read the first four issues so far.

#2 wasn't bad.

But the rest...

We've read some stuff here I haven't personally liked but I can see what people would enjoy out of it.

This is just really bad.
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I believe I have said before how much I loved this series and its endearing weirdness, though I do not like the bizarro planet arc mainly because I despise the character of Bizarro and everything associated with him.
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TotallyNotMI posted...

This is just really bad.

Man, you're definitely going to be in the minority of this one. 2 and 3 are often described as one of the best Lois Lane stories, and The Gospel of Lex Luthor is often cited as one of the great Lex Luthor stories.
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PrinceKaro posted...

I believe I have said before how much I loved this series and its endearing weirdness, though I do not like the bizarro planet arc mainly because I despise the character of Bizarro and everything associated with him.

I can understand that. I really find Bizarro pretty dull in general. Very one-trick pony. I do like the concept of Zibarro at least. It's silly and kind of brilliant in its own weird way.
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I know! I didn't say anything after the first issue thinking if this is so acclaimed it must get better

Then the second issue was okay.

But the next two have just been unenjoyable to me! It feels like things are being weird for the sake of being weird.
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Don't worry. No one has to like everything. I hate Chris Claremont X-Men comics with a burning passion but they are always cited as the pinnacle of Marvel titles. We'll probably still read some down the line just because I'm not going to let my personal bias stand in the way.
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I can definitely see it being off-putting. Morrison loves celebrating the "weirdness" of comics and updating old-school Golden and Silver Age ideas, so I can see how the wackiness played completely straight could just seem stupid. But honestly I love it when comics pull shit like this. And there is some surprisingly good character stuff under all the flashiness. Like, of course Superman goes to rescue the genocidal lizard man who was just hurled into orbit. Of course he is on good terms with the king of the dinosaur people living at the center of the earth. Why wouldn't he be? He's a good person like that.

I will say the Jimmy Olson issue is a clear low point. And you'd definitely be doing yourself a disservice if you stopped before #5, which focuses on Luthor. At least read that one, even if you don't go any further.
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HeroDelTiempo17 posted...

Like, of course Superman goes to rescue the genocidal lizard man who was just hurled into orbit. Of course he is on good terms with the king of the dinosaur people living at the center of the earth. Why wouldn't he be?

I did like both of those parts! I even liked Lois having powers for a day. It was mostly Samson and Atlas who ruined that issue for me.

I also like Clark saving people by being 'clumsy'.

Good to know the Jimmy episode is the low. That was really really bar.

Just finished the Lex issue. It was good! Lex building an underground river under his cell was... um... more of that weirdness I'm not enjoying, but i can overlook that for the rest of the good stuff in that issue.
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And I'm going to finish reading them all no matter what!
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Issue 6 was pretty good too. I enjoyed the different Supermen and Clark getting a last moment with his father. And Superdog! Who doesn't like him.
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Hello and bad riddance!

I am enjoying these later issues a lot more.

I really enjoyed "Look Over There!" to get them all to look at what he was holding.
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There's another great little character moment in the first issue, and I didn't even notice it until this readthrough!

When Lex is controlling the mutant bomber, he mentions he has to transmit on a 9 minute delay. That means he's reacting to things before they happen (and he responds to dialogue naturally, so I guess he predicted the dialogue because he's a supergenius). The mutant clutches at Superman's throat the same way Lex does to Lane, so that's when Lex says his last words as the mutant. Which makes it seem like he actually lost his temper talking to Lane and it isn't part of the show (or it could be both and Lex is just that smart). So when you recontextualize that it's Lex exploding, it becomes this very self-aware outburst about how he'll kill Superman even if it costs him his life.

I love everything about Lex Luthor in this series.
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I don't think I ever noticed that before!

God, Morrison is just the best at that sort of story construction.
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