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Comic Maven's Archives Update 14

3/29/2013

I've continued adding summaries to some of the series and I have started changing the structures of my reprinted review a bit after discovering how to put pictures next to text rather than above or under it (it's more complicated then it looks... sortof...). Let me know if you like the new structure and anything you think that needs to be improved or changed on the site!

Here are the article I reprinted this week:

Justice League International #10 Review

"Welcome to the JLI, where a way-too-big group of likable superheroes fight a bunch of clichéd villains who only seem to be interesting when they feel like it. It’s also where barely anything happens as usual, this time thanks to a web of relationships interfering with our main plot, which after several issues I have pretty much forgotten…"

Velocity #3 Review

"After waiting for a century in comic book time, Ron Marz has finally written the next chapter of Velocity – and boy was I expecting more from him. Super-speeder Carin Taylor (A.K.A. Velocity) is back with her usual quips, fighting against the clock to save her fellow Cyberforce teammates from a deadly virus her clones infected them with."

Suicide Squad #3 Review

"The Suicide Squad's strength lies in our lead anti-heroes Deadshot, Harley Quinn, El Diablo, Black Spider and King Shark. This issue gives us more great interactions between all of them, but introduces several new characters that have not made very interesting first impressions. The story manages to be somewhat interesting, but the order in which it takes place is unnecessarily confusing and the artwork is nothing special with only one or two moments that stand out, and not in a very good way."

Sports to the Comic Book Max: Mara Announced

"Coming this December from Image Comics, the first issue of Mara begins the title character’s journey through a technologically advanced world where the most important things are not morals and love but sports, war, and celebrity status – so, our world but with the technology a couple hundred years more advanced. Mara is the most popular person alive. She is both a model and an athlete and reaches unthinkably higher stardom when she gets superpowers on live television."

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Comic Maven's Archives Update 13

3/22/2013

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I've started adding small descriptions of series (and sometimes my personal experiences) which you can see when you click on the titles of the series. I'll continue to add these in the coming weeks.

Some other features you may see in the future include a change from .weebly.com to a .com, a transfer to a Pro Weebly account (meaning I will have features such as slideshows and search boxes available) and even more. Be on the lookout!

Here are the articles I reprinted for this week:

Blackhawks #3 Review

"So much action happened in this issue, with the uniquely designed Mother Machine reappearing, but despite all the action and the interesting technological babble, this issue was not satisfying after two solid issues."

Static Shock #8 Review

"Does the final issue of Static Shock put a shock to your system? It's a little too late for that; however this issue does make a few small zaps in the right direction. Yet confusing and contradictory plot points, plus a promising opening grossly misused, make this issue another irritating and squandered opportunity in the Static Shock series."

Velocity #2 Review

"The amount of greatness this comic book's story contains mirrors that of a coin flip – the first half seems to drudge on until you get half-way through to the material that is even better than the first issue."

Blackhawks #8 Review

"The first issue of Blackhawks seemed to predict a bright future for the series. Unfortunately, poor profits led to it being one of several potentially great titles that was cancelled during the first wave of the New 52. As the final chapter of Blackhawks this finale left plenty to be desired. But the close of the series was satisfying – even if it's not something that's going to be talked about."

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Comic Maven's Archives Update 12

3/15/2013

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Here are the articles I've reprinted this week on my Archives:

Suicide Squad #2 Review

"This issue of Suicide Squad shows just how inadequate and unnecessary the first issue was by being even more action-packed, having the storyline pick up its pace and showing just how much fun the characters are to watch. This is one of the best second issues I have read so far and shows how much potential this team of fierce villains previously on death row has, with only a few minor drawbacks."

Justice League International #9 Review

"I wish I could say steps are being taken to advance the plot in Justice League International – even baby steps would be something. Instead, just like last issue, nothing happens to further the plot. The only benefit is some narration from Godiva, and even that is misplaced! For a series that only has three more issues to live, Justice League International #9 does nothing to make the series memorable or important."

Static Shock #7 Review

"Static seems to have hit his stride at a low point: his narration never elicits as much emotions as he tries. And he tries hard. New writer to the series, Marc Bernardin, does breathe some life into the series, but refusal to drop an old plot element and the addition of some confusing or pointless material make this issue still sub-par and unworthy of a read considering the next issue of Static Shock will be the last."

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Comic Maven's Archives Update 11

3/8/2013

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Here are the reviews I've posted for this week. Expect to see more JLI, Static and Suicide Squad reprinted next week!

Justice League International #8 Review

"What happens when your title isn't getting the buzz you want? Insert a popular character. In this case, we get Batwing. He, like everything and everyone in this issue, adds nothing to the plot of this series. No progress is made here. It is an interesting and somber issue with some humor, but in the big picture it takes no steps towards forwarding the story. This slow pacing needs to pick up immediately since Justice League International has been cancelled via issue 12. Hopefully it can turn itself around and have a proper ending, but based on the pacing in this issue, it would take fifty more issues to have the story run it's full course."

Blackhawks #2 Review

"After a promising first issue the second issue fails to live up to its predecessor, but is an interesting read with a great story shaping up and some artwork choices ranging from average to excellent. The characters are less entertaining and the dialogue can get too lengthy, but while far from perfect, the issue is solid."

Static Shock #6 Review

"After six issues, Static has officially made me stop caring about anything going on in his universe. With a monstrous number of paper-thin characters, boring dialogue attempting with little to no humor, indecipherable artwork and a confusing storyline, Static Shock #6 is one of the worst comic books I have ever reviewed. A shame considering this issue has the best twist out of any of the New 52 titles I have read."

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Comic Maven's Archives Update 10

3/1/2013

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Happy March everyone! And no, these updates will not always be just reprinted articles, if I ever change something on the site I will talk about it here... but I don't have anything this week so -

Here are the articles I reprinted this month:

My Problems with Comic Book Covers

"A picture tells a thousand words. Those thousand words are a rant from me if the picture in question is a comic book cover. While admiration can be given to some covers for their artistic prowess (or a funny catch-phrase emblazoned on the front), there are multiple quirks that make me shiver in fury at the realization that these covers are nothing more than quick cash-grabs for creators. The culprits: variants, "Care-Thee-Not" covers, artistic impressments and false advertising."

John Rozum "Why I Quit Static"

"Back when Static Shock and several other DC titles had their cancellations announced, the obvious reason for all of them to be cancelled was blamed first: their sales rates were too low. But there was also more hinted at behind the cancellations of two specific titles: Mister Terrific and Static Shock. Both series feature African-American protagonists, and this has lead to streams of people yelling at DC and accusing them of being 'racist.'"

Deathstroke #11 Review

"The only thing that I felt Liefeld accomplished with this issue of Deathstroke was a promo for 'The Omegas' series. I don't think I would mind reading that series instead of this poorly drawn depth-lacking series whose main title character is as boring as the villain."

Justice League International #7 Review

"It's hard to tell how impactful this issue will be when the direction of the series is still unknown. This, combined with the several moments that appear pointless and the little characterization and conformity among the characters, make the issue a disappointment despite the fact that this could be the starting point leading to the deaths of several members of the JLI."

Static Shock #5 Review

"The Static series has always moved rather slowly, and the repercussions for such slowness caught up to the creative team in this issue. Every little minute detail – from character development to story development - are glossed over as quickly as possible to get everything moving. Way too glossed over, with many artistic problems, story confusion and just too much all at once in a title that has unfortunately taken another turn for the worse, making it's coming cancellation a little easier to swallow."

Blackhawks #1 Review

"The first issue of Blackhawks is surprisingly successful in creating an interesting array of characters, an intriguing storyline and art that has a few really good moments. But longtime fans of the original Blackhawks may be upset with these new characters and the modern setting."

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Comic Maven's Archives Update 14

Comic Maven's Archives Update 13

Comic Maven's Archives Update 12

Comic Maven's Archives Update 11

Comic Maven's Archives Update 10

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