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(From "Lightning Comics" volume 2, number 2, 1941.)
Comments Off on The insults were so much simpler in the old day
Posted in Daily Random Panel
By: Andrew Hines
We've strayed into a strange new world, where Spidey has a sidekick of his own creation. It's been a 3-issue arc involving a kid who is arguably the biggest douchebag in comics history. At the very least, he's on par with Cyclops. At the least, this arc shows how much Peter values the tenets of power and responsibility. On the other hand, it also shows why he should never, ever, ever have a sidekick. We may see Alpha in later years, if/when his powers return, but for now I'm happy that he's gone.
Dan Slott has done a great job of writing ASM for over a year and a half now. Since Spider-Island, he's shown the wall-crawler's even deeper faith in power and responsibility. The writing on this makes it quite interesting to see how Spidey and Alpha deal with each other and the drastic up-turn that Alpha's power has taken. It's a decent ending that doesn't completely write off Andy Maguire's ties into the super-hero world. As far as the Spider-Man stories have gone in the last year or so, however, this isn't exactly his greatest and it's far from his worst.
Humberto Ramos' art has never been my favorite. Despite that, the art has a great look to it. Teaming up with Victor Olazaba and Edgar Delgado on inks and colors, has brought out the good in his artwork. The art team hit some high notes on this issue that they didn't really reach on the last two issues. While good, it wasn't enough to push the issue over the top.
The combination of decent writing and good art earned the issue a solid "B". What I can say is that I'll still keep picking up ASM, especially for the next several issues, due to the reappearance of a classic foe.
Comments Off on End of the Sidekick
Posted in Super-Hero Stuff
My full-time (non-HeroMachine) job might keep me from actually getting to these before this evening, but it's time for another Open Critique Day!
If you have a HeroMachine illustration or another piece of artwork you've done that you'd like some help with, post a link to it in comments along with your thoughts on it -- what you think is working, what you're struggling with, etc. I will post my critique of the piece, hopefully giving some tips on how to improve it.
Of course everyone is welcome to post their critiques as well, keeping in mind the following guidelines:
That's it! Hopefully we can get some good interaction going here and help everyone (me included!) learn a little bit today.
Comments Off on Open Critique Day #47
Posted in Open Critique Day
(From "Lightning Comics" volume 2, number 2, 1941.)
Comments Off on It's a thin line between super-hero and creeper
Posted in Daily Random Panel
In the interest of catching everyone up, I am going to reprint our entire adventure so far, but with only the bits where we live. Here goes! Next week I'll do one of just the ways we die.
Comments Off on You're Going To Die VII
Posted in RPG Corner, You're Going to Die
(From "Lightning Comics" volume 2, number 2, 1941.)
Comments Off on I've got my lipstick on and I'm ready for action!
Posted in Daily Random Panel
We all know Batman has gone through some pretty weird stuff throughout his history. From fat guys dressed as penguins to Bat-Dogs and a pre-pubescent orphan boy in scaly underoos, the guy runs into more than his fair share of absurdities. For instance, I give you the Ten-Eyed Man:
My favorite part of the character concept is this:
A brilliant doctor named Dr. Engstrom reconnected his optic nerves to his fingertips, enabling him to see through them.
That's right. In Gotham City, they can't actually make you see through your eyes, but they can make you see through your fingertips. Let's pause for a second to imagine all the problems with a setup like this. No, not that dirty. No, not that dirty, either.
OK, class, let's take a step back and just go with eating. How the hell do you eat when all you can "see" is the greasy burger wrapper and salty fries you're gripping in your eyeball-tipped fingers? And let's not even get into picking your nose. Or what happens when you try to punch someone and suddenly you can't see because your eyeballs are tucked into fists.
Maybe that's the reason for the disturbing Line of Eyes marching down his torso, leading you down between the pecs, to the washboard abs, down just over the belt and HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THERE'S AN EYEBALL STARING AT ME FROM HIS CROTCH!!
Your clothes say something about you, folks, and what this eye design says is "Creeper". Back away slowly, call the police, and for the love of all that's holy, do not shake hands!
Comments Off on The eyes have it
Posted in Bad Super Costumes
(From "Lightning Comics" volume 2, number 2, 1941.)
Comments Off on Going through that door would only slow you down, good call.
Posted in Daily Random Panel
By: Andrew Hines
Jason Todd has been a cool character to try and understand again. As the second Robin, he was always a bit of a loose cannon. As Red Hood he was like carrying nitro glycerin while doing 80mph on a dirt road. He has loosened up slightly in the last year, as the reluctant leader of this misfit trifecta. He even commented in the first issue that if anything happened to Roy, he'd be "the worst former sidekick ever." Not a lie, really. Anyway, there are a few changes to his origin, but one glaring difference. He meets Batman by a means other than stealing the wheels off of the Batmobile. Despite having more potential for believability, it changes the early nature of his badassery. (If that's not a word, it should be.)
Scott Lobdell has rounded out a full year of writing this title and frankly, most issues has been full-on awesome. The only less-than-stellar issue was #8, which was simply average. This, however, was a very interesting re-telling of the origin. Particularly intriguing was the fact that it covered the entirety of his life. Literally, we see him from the day he was born and even get a glimpse into who his father was. We haven't seen much of his younger life, so thanks for that Mr. Lobdell. It really is a wonderful issue that explains a LOT about why jason is the way he is.
The current art team fits almost in the same vein as the first few issues with Kenneth Rocafort. The look of the comic, still in great hands, has pretty much stayed the same. The pencillers, Ig Guara and Pasqual Ferry and backup story artist, Brett Booth have done a fantastic job. Then there's JP Mayer's inks on the main story and Blond's colors, which are pretty good. There's a certain consistency on the art that no other artist transition has had in a while. Definite props on that. Then there's the cover from Kenneth Rocafort, which just looks great.
Overall, despite the art and good script, I can only give this a "B+". The downside, for me, was the fact that Lobdell changed how he met Batman. It's a letdown.
Comments Off on Origin Of The Runner-Up
Posted in Super-Hero Stuff
Three middle-aged nerds (including yours truly!) review all of the MCU movies in chronological order. Short, funny, and full of good vibes, check it out and let us know what you think!
Nerdmudgeon.com