Damn you podcasting!

Well, last month I posted that I was not planning to buy the Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman #14. But after listening to Peter David on About Heroes' podcast, he convince me to go ahead to purchase that issue. So I'm going to throw my hard earned $3.00 your way.

I recently got an Ipod and have discovered podcasting which has increased my monthly spending on comics. Podcast is another medium for comics artist and writers to the word out on their products. A lot of time they provide tid bits of information that can't be found in the solicitation blurb in Previews.

For example on Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman #14- "It's the return of Peter Parker's old flame, Deb Whitman! Unfortunately for Peter, she's written a tell-all memoir about her relationship with him, entitled "How Spider-Man Ruined My Life." Ouch! As if that weren't bad enough, the Vulture has been set loose from prison to scavenge for Spider-Man, but who's behind his release and what nefarious scheme do they have up their sleeve?"

Initially, the blurb did nothing for me. I had no idea who was Deb Whitman was and had little interest in the Vulture. So based on the lines from Preview, I was not going to order these issue and was planning to drop the issue. Then comes the About Heroes' podcast with Peter David. In the podcast, he briefly mentions the F-N Spidey and that was enough for me to order it. Deb Whitman was apparently an old girlfriend of Peter Parker that uses to date in high school. Peter drove Deb crazy between his secret identity and Spiderman. Peter David plan to run crazy with this story, plus throwing some unexpected twist like Betty Brant (another old girlfriend) in to the mix.

Again damn you podcasting...

First you tear my heart out....

Then you build me an new one. It has been a roller coaster week. Brian K Vaughan and Adrian Alphona announced they were leaving the book. I was sad. But Brian had an ace in his sleeve. He had hand picked his replacement, which was interesting... it was interesting that he had chosen Josh Whedon (Sweetiness!). Micheal Ryan was also coming on the book, which make it a double awesome! I love his art on Excalibur. My only concern is if this comic will maintain its monthly status.

Say it ain't so...

Well after the big news from Ultimate Spiderman and Mark Bagely, comes more bad news for Marvel fans. Creators Brian K Vaughan and Adrian Alphona are leaving the Runaways after issue 24. Brian announced on his message board before the official message from Marvel. (Kinda odd that they wouldn't stay for the 25th issue.) They will be surely missed and whoever attempt to fill their shoes got some big shoes to fill.

Ultimate Spiderman #98, 99 and Annual 2:

My month’s comics came in yesterday and boy did I get a lot of Ultimate title. I received: Ultimate Fantastic Four #32, 33 and Annual #2; Ultimates Annual #2; Ultimate X-men #76 and Annual #2; Ultimate Spiderman #98, 99 and Annual 2. That is nine issue of Ultimate title to read this month…

Ulitmate Spiderman #98 & 99
The clone wars storyline continues...

Spidey is reeling from the exposure of the Scorpion's unbelievable identity. But even that pales besides the string of revelations awaiting him such as: Who kidnapped Mary Jane and what does he/she want? Who does Spider-Man struggle against in the old warehouse where he fought his first battle? Who is waiting for him in the house in Queens he and his Aunt May abandoned recently? Your jaw will drop and your mind will go numb when you learn the solution to these mysteries. And the world of Peter Parker will never be the same.

Boy, does the solicitation description hits that these issue on the nail! Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley are really turning the Ultimate Spiderman universe around. At the end of issue 99 left me in awe and screaming "oh my jim-who-icky-monkey- slappy- butthole…" And let me say that I have only said that phrase once in my life. You will be absolutely shocked with this roller coaster ride. I can’t wait to see how they finish this series with issue #100. This is a must read. RATINGS: STORY- 10/10 ART 9/10

Ultimate Spiderman Annual #2
While Foggy Nelson offers Spidey some legal advice, Police Captain Jean DeWolfe gives him some other advice...on how to take down the Ultimate Kangaroo! Will Peter Parker be able to navigate his way through this all-action moral maze? And more to the point...will Punisher just shoot him instead?

Last years annuals were not very good in my opinion, so going into this issue I was ready to be disappointed... and of course, I was wrong. Instead I was wowed, the writing of Bendis again. This issue really feels like a well made action movie. It was follow up of the "Warriors" storyline and interjected throughout the story was a little back story on what has happened between the "Warriors" storyline and now. The flashbacks really added the movie feel to the story. And of course Mark Brooks’s art really shined and executed the feel to perfection. RATINGS: STORY-9/10 ART-9/10

The "Crocodile Hunter" killed.
Steve Irwin was one of my heroes when I was growing up. He was killed by a stingray. It's tail pierced his chest and through his heart. Rest in piece.... CRIKEY

Star Wars Legacy #2:

I just finished reading Star Wars Legacy and it is fun. Out of the new re-launch of Star Wars comics this one is the most intriguing of the bunch. While Knights of the Old Republic deals with the Jedi past and Rebellion is set between episode 4 and 5, Dark Times immediately after episode #3, this series happens 125 years after episode 6.

More than a hundred years have passed since the events in Return of the Jedi and the days of the New Jedi Order. There is a new evil gripping the galaxy, shattering a resurgent Empire and seeking to destroy the last of the Jedi. Even as their power is failing, the Jedi hold to one final hope: the last remaining heir to the Skywalker legacy who doesn’t want any part of the Jedi legacy.

The Star Wars geek in me loves the concept. The Imperials and the Sith are at war with each other. The New Jedi Order is on the run. The last Skywalker is a dirty bounty hunter. What is there not to love? Easily, this series is going to feel like an excellent episode of Joss Wheldon’s Firefly, which is a good thing. John Ostrander and Jan Duursema are the creators and I can give any more respect to them. I like the direction and I love the concept. Now go and read this comic. RATINGS: STORY- 9/10 ART- 8/10