Previews running diary: April ’07
We’re back for another month of Previews, and once again I’m parsing the thing so you don’t have to. If I come across as distracted, it’s because I’m doing some serious multi-tasking and watching Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story as I write. Maybe we’ll be lucky and Steve Coogan’s comedic brilliance will rub off. Now, since I did Marvel second last time, I’ll give them first shot this time around.
First, look at this cover. You know, World War Hulk could be cool. It could be like that Wolverine as Hydra villain storyline from a couple summers ago, except done right. However, this cover is freaking ridiculous. Nice to know that David Finch went to the Rob Liefeld school of proportions. Look at that left hand. It’s huh-yuge!
Page 5: Hey, Marvel’s finally showing us how the mutant community reacts to that whole “millions of us lost our powers overnight” thing. And it only took more than a year. You know what, though, Mike Carey is a good fit for this project and it could cement him as an elite writer.
Page 10: So, all of a sudden the Ultimate Silver Surfer looks like the normal Silver Surfer when he appears in Ultimate Fantastic Four, shortly before the celuloid Silver Surfer appears in the movie of the Fantastic Four. I’m confused.
Page 19: We’ve just had nearly ten pages of Spider-Man stuff that could just as well be promo posters for Spider-Man 3. Buh.
Page 31: Our first Michael Turner sighting. Once again, he’s drawing a Fantastic Four cover with a flame backdrop and Johnny being all flame-y. Now, though, it’s the Invisible Woman in a cheesecake pose. Her waist is this big. Seriously.
Page 34: Marvel PR at its best: “Someone has combined pirates, kicking, girls and Iron Fist into a single comic book. You’re welcome.”
Page 36: There are times when I enjoy John Romita Jr. His stuff in the preview for World War Hulk is pretty strong. At the moment, I’m leaning toward buying the mini but no accompanying books.
Page 50: Legion of Monsters: Satana? Umm, why doesn’t Marvel just create a new superheroine called Wondrous Woman?
Page 56: Marvel PR at its worst (on New Avengers #31): “No hype! No BS! The most important last page of any Marvel comic this year! Do not miss it!”
Page 60: The Punisher War Journal preview seems to indicate the answer to where Captain America’s uniform disappeared to. Frank Castle apparently took it home, ripped it to shreds, stitched into an abomination of a mix with his skull outfit. I feel so less depressed about CA’s death now.
Page 66: Michael Turner strikes, part two. We get Namor swimming toward us, looking as gay as he possibly could. At least MT is an equal opportunity objectifier.
Page 76: Awesome. X-Men #200 features a wraparound cover by Chris Bachalo and Humberto Ramos. Suddenly, Michael Turner is very slightly less annoying. On the plus side, I think I see that purple-skinned mutant who shoots stuff out of his hand in the background.
Now, on to the main Previews book…
Page 31: Umm, nothing interesting to this point. Just a word of warning, if you consider reading Dark Horse’s City of Others, don’t. It’s the worst thing I’ve read by Steve Niles and is almost bad enough to be a funny spoof of lame horror/action comics.
Page 77: The Brave and the Bold #4 brings Lobo and Supergirl together. With Mark Waid in charge, I’m down.
Page 79: On that note, Geoff Johns writing Sinestro Corps = good times. Hopefully this’ll get Johns off of the funk he’s been in post-Crisis.
Page 81: Oh, God. Michael Turner sighting part three. The cover to JLA #10, featuring Power Girl’s tits and Black Canary’s ass. There’s just so much wrong here, the least of which is that Power Girl’s spine twists like a bendy straw. Hats off, Mike!
147: Sam Noir is coming out with a collection, apparently. Good news. I enjoy the series, but then, I like samurais and noir. Go figure.
153: Of course I’m going to mention the preview for the third issue of Madman. And, of course, I’m going to link to the Q&A I did with Mike Allred. Tell me you didn’t see that coming.
253: Lots more Boom! Studios stuff coming along the pike. Good news. I’m mostly looking forward to The Foundation, which bills itself as X-Files meets 24. These guys know the target audience.
I’m distracted, so let’s get to an endpoint. How about the last page? An advertisement for a Marvel Zombies action figure, specifically the half-headed Captain America zombie. How fitting.