Wait, What? Ep. 117: Sometimes Dead is Better

One of Annie Wu's great covers from the interior of Hawkeye #8.

Yep, it looks like this posting on Monday thing might be our new podcasting schedule for the conceivable future.  I hope it is not a problem for everyone (including Hibbs, who just posted the shipping list a few hours ago, do go check it out and comment.

After the jump: our charming and trying-hard-to-be-respectable old chum--the show notes.

0:00-5:11:  Here's our opening, a bit more truncated than usual, just so we can jump in with the Bizarro talk and humor for children. 5:11-11:41:  This is definitely a full spoiler episode for the stuff discussed (although as Graeme points out, a lot of the stuff under discussion have discussed and spoiled by the mainstream press).  And although that sounds like the perfect lead-in to our discuss about Batman, Inc. #8, we actually end up talking a bit about Channel 52, DC's spoilery back-up feature currently in all its books, Dan Didio's writing which leads into Graeme's discussion of... 11:41-18:46:  the latest issue of Legion of Super-Heroes, by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen.  Graeme makes it sound pretty amazing, let's put it that way. 18:46-22:26: Graeme has also read Action Comics #17 (which Jeff read last week) and Graeme is far kinder about the work than Jeff was. 22:26-32:24: And so by comparison and contrast, there should be a discussion of Batman, Inc. #8  starting here…but instead we give a shout-out to Excalibur Comics in Portland, Oregon and grouse a bit about the Constantine preview currently popping up in DC books. 32:23-49:13: And then *finally* we get to Batman, Inc. #8.  A lot to talk about here, with Graeme bringing the hard questions and Jeff bringing the jabber. 49:13-1:05:55:  Also, in another round of DC Catch-Up, Jeff read Batman and Robin #17, that strange book that bridges the Morrison and Snyder sides of the Batverse, and what its future might be post-Batman, Inc. #8. 1:05:55-1:08:40:  Getting away from the Big Two books, Graeme and Jeff are both pretty enamored of Jennifer Blood, issues #22 and #23. We are very careful not to spoil any of the very big things going on in this book, but they are pretty darn good. 1:08:40-1:18:18:  Saga #10!  Although we start off by saying we will not spoil the end of Saga #10--Spoiler!!--we totally go on to spoil the end of Saga #10. 1:18:18-1:22:21: Jeff really liked issue #34 of Prophet, since he feels that Simon Roy really bring the "Space Conan" vibe to the issues he works on. 1:22:21-1:33:26:  Graeme and Jeff are apparently really out of the swing of answering questions, but we do have a few things to talk about that have been brought up by commenters in our threads recently about craft and intention and clarity. 1:33:26-1:42:37: It's been a while since we've digressed to cover other areas of pop culture, but Graeme has a recommendation for Jeff: The Following.  What does the show have to do with DC Showcase: World's Finest, The Strangers and Bad Machinery, both from Oni Press ?The answer may surprise you! (Probably not, but, hey, you never know…) 1:42:37-1:45:21: Jeff has a recommendation in his very-late-to-the-party kind of way.  If you like your comics in digital format, David Boswell has put up (nearly) all of Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman on his website for "pay what you like" downloads. Even Heart Break Comics, the amazing original graphic novel from back in the day (1984?) is available, and they're all fantastic. 1:45:21-end: Speed round reviews! From Jeff:  Witch Doctor Mal Practice #4, Black Beetle #2, Flash #17, and Avengers Assemble Annual #1 by Christos Gage and Tomm Coker.  Graeme has things to say about Brandon Seifert's other work, the excerpt from The Fictional Man, Al Ewing's latest novel, Angel & Faith #19, Young Avengers #2, and Hawkeye #8 by Matt Fraction and David Aja.  Do we also mention Hook Jaw?  Of course we do!  Also, we thank those who have supported this podcast by sending Jeff digital copies and other materials -- a topic about which Jeff was quoted in this article by Todd Allen over at Next Web -- and if you listen at the close at the ending, you can hear how Jeff COMPLETELY misunderstood what was happening at the beginning. That's, like, some serious circularity, man.

Okay, so since this is getting posted at the same time I upload to iTunes, there's a chance it's not out in the wild yet, but you can find it below, ripe for the plucking (I'm not the only who finds that phrase a little on the obscene side, am I?):

Wait, What? Ep. 117: Sometimes Dead is Better

As always, we hope you enjoy and thank you for listening!

Wait, What? Ep. 108: Frightful

I love, love, love that lonely little "beep."

Man, the holiday season, amirite? Emerging from the primordial swamp of Black Friday, Cyber-Monday, Fat Tuesday and Sexting Sunday, it's the show notes for Wait, What? Ep. 108...right behind the jump!

0:00-6:15:  Here we go!  Graeme is in a seasonal mood; Jeff is having tech problems again (the very expensive microphone he picked up?  Had to be sent back and repaired under warranty).  But we are both existential crisis free!  And if you're upset that there aren't any new episodes of "Let's Complain About Our Deadlines and Schedules" podcast, this is the five minutes for you. 6:15-19:16: Here's a dirty secret: I don't usually edit a lot of our on-line talk out but this season I thought I'd try to give all of you the gift of brevity.  There was actually a ten minute conversation about the Angus T. Jones and the Two and a Half Men controversy that I decided to cut just….uh, I dunno?  It had a natural flow to it but it also seemed a little digressive--even by our notoriously loose standards.  So I just cut (clumsily) in to the next "celebrities--what were they thinking?" story we talked about--the recent controversy with James Gunn.  (Our conversation took place just a  few hours before his issued apology.)  Do you guys have a preference about this kind of thing?  Would you rather hear our conversations unfold naturally, or would you just prefer we try to keep the podcast focused on the pertinent parts?  Let us know in the comments… 19:16-35:04:  Anyway, from there, we segue smoothly into talking about whether or not comics culture is inherently misogynistic or not.  Appropriately enough for such a broad topic (uh, pun is not intended there), we cover a lot of ground, talking about Journey Into Mystery and Red She-Hulk, the first issue of Bleeding Cool Magazine, and more. 35:04-35:26:INTERMISSION ONE 35:26-42:40:  All-New X-Men #2.  Graeme has read it; Jeff has not. So join us as Mr. Former fills in Mr. Latter on the story, the art, and  the overall not-as-terribleness of the first issue. 42:40-59:22: Jeff, oddly enough, has read Avengers #34 and New Avengers #34, Bendis' last issues and gets to turn the tables on Mr. Former. It leads into a discussion about whether the art is serving the storytelling in Marvel's current books with books like Indestructible Hulk #1 by Mark Waid and Leinil Yu. 59:22-1:14:40: Captain America #1 by Rick Remender and John Romita, Jr.: read by both, viewed skeptically by both (though more by one of us than the other).  For bonus points, we compare and contrast with Uncanny Avengers #2, and then sort of compare and contrast similar-seeming storylines running through the universe. Coincidence? Too much influence of one creator on another?  Not enough? 1:14:40-1:18:01: Also reviewed at the same time, FF #1 by Matt Fraction and Mike Allred by Mr. McMillan. 1:18:01-1:28:22: Amazing Spider-Man #698 by Dan Slott and Richard Elson is also discussed and *fully spoiled* by Graeme and Jeff.  Let the listener beware! 1:28:22-1:34:20: Iron Man #2 by Kieron Gillen and Greg Land, wherein Graeme coins the term "Greg Land face." Can we see a cure for Greg Land face in our lifetime? Also, bonus points to Graeme for the unexpected shout out to Jack Kirby's Silver Star.  God bless you, Graeme McMillan. 1:34:20-1:35:40: INTERMISSION TWO 1:35:40-1:48:45: Although Jeff wants to maneuver Graeme back into waters into which poor Graeme does not want to go--Grant Morrison's annotations about Alan Moore's opinions on Grant Morrison--we settle instead for discussing Batman Incorporated #5 by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham.  What can we say?  Sometimes we choose peace instead of war.  That said, Jeff thinks there may be some really interesting subtext in the issue but isn't quite sure where.  Come, puzzle it out with us, won't you? 1:48:45-1:52:39:  Also under discussion, because Jeff is wayyyyyy behind the times, a discussion of Action Comics #14 by G-Moz and Rags Morales. 1:52:39-1:59:27:  Flash #14!  And then some stuff about Judge Dredd because that's what we do these days: talk about Judge Dredd. 1:59:27-2:02:30:  Hey Angel & Faith #16 is a book Graeme was impressed with.  Jeff drags the full spoilers out of Graeme so forewarned--do not listen unless you've read the issue (or, like Jeff, kinda don't care). 2:02:30-2:07:33:  And continuing in the "Let Us Now Praise Non-Big Two Comics" section, Jeff really, really liked Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #1 and Multiple Warheads #2.  Alas, because Graeme had read also read Multiple Warheads, we spend the vast majority of the time talking about that very fine comic and Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #1 unfortunately gets short shrift by comparison. But they're both great! 2:07:33-2:23:02:  Also, a book we both read and decide to chew the fat about:  Masks #1 by Chris Roberson and Alex Ross.  For those of you who play that drinking game where you do a shot every time Jeff gets some little detail utterly wrong, prepared to get snockered. 2:23:02-2:24:20:  Though he doesn't go through them in anything like detail, Jeff read ten volumes of Hikaru No Go (vols. 7-17)  and totally loved it. That was some very enjoyable manga right there. 2:24:20-end: A super-super-super-short discussion about Shonen Jump Alpha going day and date with some stories in 2013. 2000AD online is also mentioned, as is Jeff's wont these days. And then we are out of there…for another week.

This is a thing that is already out there, people, already haunting the diaphanous underworld that is iTunes.  But, of course, you are more than likely to gather around the seance table, join hands, and perform the secret spell of conjuration below:

Wait, What? Ep. 108: Frightful

As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

"Don't Retcon me, Bro!" -- Hibbs on 5/29

What I think of things, below the cut...

ANGEL & FAITH #10 : Oooh, ooh, nice Chris Samnee artwork inside. Yes, very pretty, and Christos Gage continues to nail the voices and characters of this Buffy spin-off. I continue to feel that this is a far stronger book than "Season 9", and this stand-alone issue is a great example of same. VERY GOOD.

ANIMAL MAN ANNUAL #1: I remember, once upon a time, when DC Annuals would be indispensable objects -- wrapping up "The Judas Quest" or important Swamp Thing plotlines, or even changing the status quo of a series entirely, like with the Firestorm one. Ah, those were the days! Despite being billed as a tie in the the Animal Man / Swamp Thing shared plot thingy, this doesn't feel consequential even a little bit. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe this will be, in hindsight, a key chapter, but it sure didn't seem like one as I was reading it on Wednesday. I also don't especially like the changes to Moore's elemental cosmology, or the retroactive "red elemental" changes that this story balances upon. I thought it was nice looking, but ultimately very EH.

BATMAN ANNUAL #1: And this one I just hated. Hated hated hated. Mr. Freeze's Batman-Animated origin was a perfect blend of tragedy and misunderstanding, and villains who don't especially think they're villains (and CONVINCE THE AUDIENCE OF SAME) are, for me at least, the strongest kind of antagonist. So, to remove that tragic underpinning, and to make Freeze just another looney reduces the character dramatically. Now, I will stipulate that the Nora plotline could only go so far, and that, in many ways, it rendered Freeze with a strong "Sell by" date: either he cures her disease, or he doesn't, but you've got, what, maybe 10-12 stories, MAX, to do that with? BUt I still wouldn't have wiped the issue out in this manner, where you're effectively saying "we've been lying to the audience", rather than adding some new detail or knowledge. This is the first Bat-failure for me, from Snyder, and it tastes oily in my mouth. AWFUL.

GRIM LEAPER #1: Expectations are a weird thing. I thought the plot description of this book sounded intriguing, so I picked it up with a "I'm going to very much like this", and then I really didn't like it, and about at the 3/4 point I thought "I really DISlike this", and then we got to the love story and suddenly I started liking it, partly because I told myself I didn't. So yeah, Deadman meets Quantum Leap, maybe? But that's the uninterestingly executed portion, and it doesn't become interesting until you meet the second leaper The two halves washed out for an OK, for me.

STAR TREK TNG DOCTOR WHO ASSIMILATION #1: IDW needs editors who can help shape the pace of a story a whole lot better -- much like the Trek/LSH comic the story doesn't really start in this issue (or, at least, until the last page) -- there's a lot of blah blah about a federation colony... but who care about them except as a plot device? Why are 8 pages being wasted on them. then we effectively watch the end of a Doctor Who episode (and it looks like a fun one), before we get to a meeting that is just bound to be the first entire half of the next issue of "wacky misunderstanding", and by the time everyone is on the same page, and the antagonism actually starts, as it relates to the protagonists, the series is going to be halfway over. *sigh* I generally like JK Woodward's art, but it seems far too insubstantial for this story. Shame, I really wanted to see this one work. OK

SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES #1: That's just crazy cute, and any sub 9-year old should love this comic to utter pieces. I know Ben did. I say GOOD and Ben says "EXCELLENT!!!" (yes, with those exclamation points)

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #11 AVX: I really really like Nick Bradshaw's art. So much so that I almost don't even care that this isn't so much a story as "what happened between panels x & y in AVX #n". Hell, I'm even wiling to overlook Hope mimicking Logan's powers and popping out METAL CLAWS. Urf. Hm, maybe not that last one, since that doesn't make no sense. Anyway, doesn't matter -- pretty pretty pretty stuff, and the art lover in me says that makes this GOOD.

That's it from me, what did YOU think?

-B

(Oh, and new digital on the store this week:

AMERICAS GOT POWERS #2 (OF 6) BETTY & VERONICA FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #225 BLOODSTRIKE #28 BOMB QUEEN VII #4 GHOSTBUSTERS ONGOING #9 GI JOE SNAKE EYES ONGOING #13 GRIM LEAPER #1 (OF 4) HAWKEN #4 (OF 6) LIL DEPRESSED BOY #11 MONOCYTE #4 (OF 4) NEXT MEN AFTERMATH #43 PETER PANZERFAUST #4 ROGER LANGRIDGES SNARKED #8 STAR TREK ONGOING #9 STAR TREK TNG DOCTOR WHO ASSIMILATION #1 STEPHEN KING JOE HILL ROAD RAGE #4 (OF 4) TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #5 WALKING DEAD #98 ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS ANNUAL 2012