tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111683812011-04-21T15:43:19.198-07:00Another comic book review site - but one written from a Conservative perspective.John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.comBlogger561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-74992229405161607232007-07-01T17:06:00.000-07:002007-07-01T17:08:25.051-07:00

Anyone is still reading. I plead dissertation.Also, I'm in small town Alaska with no comic shops at the moment. Back where I'm going to college, the shop is holding my comics for me, so when I get back in August I'll have a lot of reading to do.Look for new posts in September.{And the Director's Cut of Ghost Rider is better, but it's still not a very good movie.}

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-21796374841522218682007-02-24T17:43:00.000-08:002007-02-24T17:51:48.023-08:00

was terrible. But y'know, I'm tired of being told that it's wrong to complain about a movie where the guy is a stunt motorcyclist with his head on fire. A commentator at E-online said:Seriously, people, if you're going to go see a movie you know is about abiker with a flaming skull and magic chains, you forfeit the right to complainabout how the plot isn't logical or realistic.Sorry, but that's

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1165712764990394412006-12-09T16:53:00.000-08:002006-12-09T17:06:05.010-08:00

Hulk 101 - Planet Hulk continues to be the best comic Marvel puts out. Totally free of all political context, adolescent angst and pseudo-armchair psychology, the Hulk just basically kicks butt and takes names. Not totally mindless fun.52 needs a kick in the pants or some caffeine. Slow, slow, slow. Still, I need to find out what is up with Skeets. Too bad Lobo is being totally wasted and

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1164840690885352222006-11-29T14:44:00.000-08:002006-12-01T19:09:01.033-08:00

The guy behind the counter, knowing I am a fan of old school, JSA type comics, recommended this comic to me. It takes place during the McCarthy hearings and the Red Scare era.The basic run-down in issue 1 is that a superhero agrees to cooperate with the McCarthy commission by revealing his identity, but he stops short of naming names. Of course, McCarthy paints the hero as a commie sympathizer

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1164160678704963252006-11-21T17:50:00.000-08:002006-11-21T17:57:58.716-08:00

Re: The ending of Civil War #5.What a joke. Obvious, contrived and an attempt at gravitas that jumped straight past pathos into bathos. Rather than being appalled, I laughed out loud at Daredevil's idiotic attempt to allude to the New Testament. Just when I thought Civil War couldn't get anymore obvious, Marvel decides to smack us upside the head with even more heady, pretentious moralizing.

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1163195815511103762006-11-10T13:43:00.000-08:002006-11-10T13:56:55.523-08:00

(New) Battlestar Galactica #3: Well, I've discovered that there aren't very many (percentage wise) people who are fans of both "New" and "Classic" Battlestar Galactica.Dynamite is publishing comics in both universes, though their shipping schedules have been erratic so far. However, it seems they are intent on merging the two universes in small ways, making me wonder about the canonical status

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1162069088773427902006-10-28T13:42:00.000-07:002006-10-28T13:58:08.783-07:00

52, weeks 24 and 25: Well, issue 24 let me see what this series is missing: Ambush Bug! In fact, any DC series could use more Ambush Bug. Otherwise, this series is spinning its wheels big time. Stan Lee Meets the Thing: It's nice to see Stan can still write and write well (Ravage 2099 had me worried), and while this is quite hilarious, I also worry that maybe Stan can only write humor anymore

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1160672838099819092006-10-12T09:59:00.000-07:002006-10-12T10:07:18.113-07:00

http://phonogram.us/admin/logs/arch242ives/000866.htmlChristopher Priest is one of the better comics writers out there - Marvel should be ashamed it doesn't give him more work. His politics are to the left of mine, but he usually writes good stories that put characters and story first. Here is a post from his blog I found intriguing in light of Marvel's heavy handed Civil War. Some excerpts:

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1160608926010406862006-10-11T16:12:00.000-07:002006-10-11T16:22:06.030-07:00

But as for last week?Well, Plant Hulk chugs along at a fun pace, and the new Dr. Strange comic shows promise (and makes a good introduction to the character for new readers).However, I haven't posted on last week, because every time I do, it devolves into an angry rant over JMS' awful, awful Fantastic Four #540. I like to think I'm better than that, but I don't know if I am. Here are some small

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1159493024589193982006-09-28T18:13:00.000-07:002006-09-28T18:23:44.606-07:00

Well, DC's foray into a weekly non-anthology series hit issue #21 this week. From a scheduling standpoint, this is amazing - especially in an industry that is (in)famous for comics coming in months late (I think I saw a copy of Ultimates 2 #12 in the store this week as well. Issue 13 will be out in mid 2007 at this rate), DC deserves serious kudos for keeping this series on track and

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1158873541876921462006-09-21T14:08:00.000-07:002006-09-21T14:19:01.893-07:00

Well, Marvel is trying once again to capitalize on a character that is a media icon. After the moderately successful movies and Spike TV series, this Blade comic feels not only inevitable, but late as well (why release it AFTER the series is over?).And as with any other hot Marvel property, there is an attempt to make it more "user friendly" by melding the comic universe character with the TV or

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1158274169809986582006-09-14T15:34:00.000-07:002006-09-14T17:52:24.986-07:00

Wait - didn't I review this comic way back when? Nope.Heading into the comic store this week, I encountered a pleasant surprise in my pull box: Antarctic Press' manga-ized version of Beowulf. Apparently, the title "Beowulf" was still listed on my subscription list, so the comic stores guys ordered this, even though it was the Speakeasy comics version I had in mind (too bad about that company -

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1158095405786506242006-09-12T13:59:00.000-07:002006-09-12T14:10:05.810-07:00

Finally got around to seeing Superman Returns. Rather than review it (there are plenty of those on the net already), I'll just give my random thoughts, which may be a.) profound, b.)obvious, c.) too idiotic to merit serious consideration, or d.) all of the above.1. Okay - I get it. Superman is Christ (or something). If any of my literature students try to write a paper on this, I'll tell them

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1157669875732761672006-09-07T15:39:00.000-07:002006-09-07T15:57:55.793-07:00

So, I just finished reading through my stack of summer comics, and here are some thoughts:1. Planet Hulk is the best storyline in comics right now. Totally unpretentious - it doesn't pretend to be anything other than it is: Hulk fighting a whole lot. It's as sophisticated as a buddy movie, but it works.2. Marvel's Civil War is way too pretentious. The main series plays it (mostly) straight

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1157497958326641692006-09-05T16:10:00.000-07:002006-09-06T15:51:13.250-07:00

Back where there are comics to be bought. I just spent a whole lot of money (that I had saved up over the summer) on the comics I missed.New posts and reviews of summer highlights and new comics start tomorrow. See you then!

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1151562230312993832006-06-28T23:21:00.000-07:002006-06-28T23:23:50.323-07:00

I should have posted this earlier, but since May 25th, I've been at a summer job in a small town in Alaska - and there's no comic store nearby.If I happen to stumble across some comics, I may post some reviews, but otherwise, wait until September first, when I will return to college.

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1147977901242122692006-05-18T11:13:00.000-07:002006-09-14T19:32:36.900-07:00

Okay - I'll state the obvious first: Didn't we just read this story over in Jenkin's Spectacular Spider-Man? Well, not really, but the similarities are rather striking. I guess the mystical spider force needed to give Spidey a dry run.But this story arc is the one that got reprinted in Oversized HC format, so it gets the publicity and the review.There were three writers on this 12 part story

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1147366467805102502006-05-11T09:42:00.000-07:002006-05-11T09:54:27.820-07:00

Let me just say -The last two months of the semester were a bit too intense for me. Especially with this "dissertation thing."Reviews will start up again, now that I have a summer break. Except that I will be working over the summer in a small town with no comic store. I'll find a way.A few thoughts on Marvel's Civil War:JMS (J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5 and current writer on

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1141867576581535312006-03-08T17:09:00.000-08:002006-03-08T17:26:16.596-08:00

Brian Michael Bendis (BMB hereafter) ends yet another excellent series. I'm not sure how to review this one. With BMB off this and Daredevil, he has in essence jumped from, except for the Ultimate titles, the types of comics that show off his strengths. BMB writes best when dealing with small character dramas only occasionally punctuated by moments of grandiose importance (witness his most

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1140964921542042432006-02-26T06:28:00.000-08:002006-02-26T06:43:24.436-08:00

Justice League Unlimited: consistently well written, even if I prefer the now cancelled Teen Titans (though Speedy from the Teen Titans appeared in last night's episode).Last night's episode started out as a fun, insightful look at heroes. Five non-superpowered heroes have to take on the gray Hulk (well, being a DC show it wasn't "The Hulk" but other than some weird saber-teeth, this was the

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1140884320344198212006-02-25T08:08:00.000-08:002006-02-25T08:18:40.360-08:00

So here are a bunch of capsule reviews of several recent comics:Supergirl #5: What a waste. Loeb is a truly talented writer, but this series has (so far) had no point. Moving past the point there's way too much skin and T&A for a comic starring a 15 year old girl, this issue wasted a promising revelation with a backhanded dismissal.After four issues of pointless fight scenes, this issue starts

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1139710263180660442006-02-11T17:59:00.000-08:002006-02-11T18:11:03.206-08:00

Ghost Rider #6Well, the art by Clayton Crain was wonderfully spooky. It had all the right details, the perfect aura of depression and magic, and it created a world both bizarrely supernatural and oddly attractive.Also, Miss Catmint was a great character I wouldn't mind seeing more of. I'm not sure how she's going to get off the top of that building, but she'll likely manage. She has guts and

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1139351478364440152006-02-07T14:24:00.000-08:002006-02-07T14:31:18.376-08:00

Comes from a lack of money to buy new comics.But I have some money and will go to the comic shop tomorrow. My local comic shop, however, did not and will not order the "Liberality for All" comic, so I'm going to have to order that one online somewhere. Then I can see if it's any good and then review it.Two interesting items of note:1. Dan Jurgens has signed an exclusive contract with DC comics.

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1136937289632666162006-01-10T15:40:00.000-08:002006-01-15T16:22:52.543-08:00

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and a great New Years.Fallen Angel #1 (IDW)Yes, this was a series published by DC comics, but since DC couldn't find a niche for a comic that straddled the line between their more adult oriented Vertigo line and the all-ages superhero titles. However, as this comic contained the best writing Peter David has ever done (period), IDW comics picked it up. And so

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1132946518929259302005-11-25T10:59:00.001-08:002005-11-25T11:21:58.946-08:00

The Book of Lost Souls # 1 - 2 and Fantastic Four #532JMS (J. Michael Straczynski) writes both of these comics series. Both are for Marvel comics, though The Book of Lost Souls is being released under the "Icon" imprint (which is reserved for creator owned projects from what I hear).I must say this first: I love, love, love JMS' Babylon 5 (B5) TV series. I'm even a fan of some of his other

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1129758627847068272005-10-19T14:29:00.000-07:002005-10-19T14:50:27.856-07:00

Essential Ghost Rider Vol. 1 and Essential Werewolf by Night vol. 1:During the 1970s, when the Comics Code was loosened a bit, allowing for more "horrific" approaches to comics and superheroes. Marvel began experimenting fairly heavily with the super-hero/horror genre because of this, and while some iconic characters came from this period (Blade, for instance), most of the experiments from

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1128389010055003052005-10-03T18:15:00.000-07:002005-10-03T18:23:30.063-07:00

Well, I started out reviewing Defenders #3, when I realized something.Without giving a whole lot away, Umar RAPES the Hulk. This is played for laughs. Umar is, in this comic, forever searching for sexual satisfaction, but she can't get it. She uses her magic to force him to have intercourse with her (none of this is shown on panel, but it is heavily implied). That's rape, pure and simple.Why

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1127515659480108942005-09-23T15:39:00.000-07:002005-09-25T16:30:17.980-07:00

Franklin Richards: Son of A GeniusI have to applaud Marvel. They really are trying to bring kids back to comics, and here they have the perfect concept. Hopefully they can market it correctly. My six and a half year old daughter loved this comic, and so did I. As many other commentators/reviewers have said, this is Calvin and Hobbes by way of Dennis the Menace and the Fantastic Four. With

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1126370209917633992005-09-10T09:28:00.000-07:002005-09-10T09:38:22.896-07:00

I reviewed issue #1 here.This is a comic that qualifies as a total, 100% guilty pleasure. I find nothing to illuminate the human condition, redress the wrongs in the world, or realize the counter-hegemonic dialectic. That said, it's great fun. My wife is a bit bothered because fact when certain Arthurian females become vampires they start wearing rather slutty outfits, but I figure there's a

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1125524717194470212005-08-31T14:39:00.000-07:002005-08-31T14:45:17.213-07:00

I have nothing good to say about this utter travesty of a comic. Honestly. I could launch into a full on, caustic review, but it would serve no purpose. This was unfunny and too full of in-jokes.Perhaps I'll post a more positive review of another comic sometime later, but after reading this comic I am too depressed and despair of ever enjoying a comic book again.(okay - that last phrase was a

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1124807091934805182005-08-23T07:01:00.000-07:002005-08-23T07:24:51.940-07:00

A very interesting stand alone issue. This amounts to a "girls night out" among the super heroine set. The Invisible Woman (Sue Storm-Richards), upset that Reed seems to have forgotten their anniversary AGAIN, heads out to a night on the town with She-Thing, She-Hulk, Alicia Masters (one time girlfriend of the Thing and daughter of the Puppet Master) and (?) Emma Frost, the White Queen (Sue

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1124208605288562512005-08-16T09:02:00.000-07:002005-08-16T09:10:05.296-07:00

This is not a recommendation, it's just a simple heads up. Recall that Liberality For All comic I posted on a while ago? Well, it IS real, and the official website can be found here.A preview can be found here.Initial impressions? The preview doesn't give me enough to go on, really. I can say that what I see is okay, but that's about it. I think I'll reserve judgment until it actually comes

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1124033455930338592005-08-14T07:55:00.000-07:002005-08-14T08:32:52.046-07:00

Well, this comic finally came out. Originally solicited as several single issues by Marvel, it eventually came out, many months after it was supposed to, in trade paperback/graphic novel form.This comic set off a firestorm - Rich Johnston over at Lying in the Gutters declared that this was the beginning of a neocon take over of comics (or something like that). In any case, his rabid hatred of

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1123115416377091132005-08-03T17:27:00.000-07:002005-08-03T17:42:50.963-07:00

This is from last week. A review of some releases from this week will go up in the next couple of days.After the Joss Whedon love fest of earlier reviews, I start the next trend: A Dan Slott love fest. This series flew under the radar for me. I didn't even know it existed until last week. But, since it was written by Dan Slott (writer of the current She-Hulk and GLA comics), I decided to

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1122308354375158162005-07-25T09:02:00.000-07:002005-07-25T09:19:14.386-07:00

Well, Dan Slott is my new favorite writer. Between his excellent work on She-Hulk and his understated masterpiece Spider-Man/Human Torch, Slott is the best writer currently working for Marvel.This series is great. Slott resurrects old, obscure characters like Squirrel Girl (created by Steve Ditko, artist and often plotter on the original Spider-Man comics) and makes us care for them, deeply.

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1121299041035321812005-07-13T16:37:00.000-07:002005-07-13T16:57:21.043-07:00

Perhaps I should just rename this site "Joss Whedon love fest" or something. I never got into the Dark Horse Buffy/Angel comics, mostly because I was late to the Buffy thing in general (I didn't start viewing until the fifth season). And - as said before, I have never been a fan of anything with "X" in title and published by Marvel, so I have missed the Whedon revolution over in the X-titles.

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1120398551093247422005-07-03T06:32:00.000-07:002005-07-03T06:49:11.100-07:00

Well, as a mega fan of pretty much anything Joss Whedon (except his run on X-Men, as for some odd reason I have never ever ever been interested in mutant related comics) I was sorry to hear when the bizarre beings know as TV executives at the WB decided to cancel one of their best rated shows. Especially since the last episode ended with a gripping cliff hanger.This comic takes place at some

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1119500927506560102005-06-22T21:23:00.000-07:002005-06-22T21:28:47.533-07:00

There hasn't been much out the last few weeks that I want to review. Well, there's been GLA by Dan Slott, but I'm going to wait until that series is over before reviewing it (same with Spellbinders, Day of Vengeance and a few others).The "Big Events" like House of M and all the Infinite Crisis lead-ins look interesting, but I have no money to buy them, so I'm waiting for the trade when I can get

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1118599406397217402005-06-12T10:46:00.000-07:002005-06-12T11:05:51.226-07:00

Well, no comics came out this week that I was willing to buy. My comic budget is limited to a set amount, and I have a pull list for the comics - and there was nothing on it that came out this week.So, instead I'll briefly review the Man-Thing movie, as the DVD comes out on Tuesday. This movie had an odd history, originally as a direct to DVD movie, than Marvel toyed with the idea of a

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1117819503743718372005-06-03T09:59:00.000-07:002005-06-03T10:26:49.533-07:00

Yeah, yeah. Comics didn't come out until Thursday this week, due to the holiday.Lots of great stuff. Here's two I particularly enjoyed:Ballad of Sleeping Beauty TPBThis came out last week, but I didn't buy it until this week. I already have all (but one) of the original issues, but I figured I could spring for this collected version, especially since my local comic shop was having a sale.There

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1116466381445354042005-05-18T18:10:00.000-07:002005-05-19T10:13:35.723-07:00

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Teams 2005I have to admit, I'm a total sucker for these kinds of comics. As a comic geek, I love learning new things about the intricate make up of these gigantic shared world efforts known as comic book universes.This series from Marvel has proven to be just what the doctor ordered for both die-hard geeks and newbies. For die-hard geeks like myself

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1115494782421182762005-05-07T12:08:00.000-07:002005-05-07T12:41:37.886-07:00

No Wednesday review this week, as I didn't get my comics yet. Today is Free Comic Book day, so I'll likely get them when I head to the store later today. Perhaps I'll write my "Wednesday Review" on Sunday.But another storm is brewing. Here comic book and Star Trek writer Peter David takes Orson Scott Card for his unkind words about Star Trek (which can be found here).Here's my take on the

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1114654132276668122005-04-27T17:59:00.000-07:002005-04-27T19:08:52.280-07:00

In the 1980s (the time I was introduced to comics) one of Marvel's most popular titles was "What If?". Generally, this title explored the ramifications on a certain character if things had gone differently - say, Uncle Ben hadn't died (in the case of Spider-Man), or if Captain America had not been revived in modern times?This title died out, was revived, and has recently returned in a series of

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1114052645275315632005-04-20T18:58:00.000-07:002005-09-24T17:53:44.303-07:00

You can get a preview of this issue here. [Yeah, I know it says #2 on that website, but they're wrong. The preview pages that are up as of 4/30/05 at 9 p.m. are from issue #1.]This has the appearance of being a great new fantasy series. While a fan of superheroes, my favorite comics have always been the fantasy type (think Conan or Dragonlance comics). Perhaps that is why my favorite

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1113443452924451232005-04-13T18:05:00.000-07:002005-04-20T18:59:51.133-07:00

A new feature on this blog, one designed to get me posting more often, but also to disseminate some of my accumulated wisdom. Reviews are not always from a political perspective. Anyway, the point of the Wednesday Review is to pick a comic or two that has come out this week and review it. That's it. New comics come out on Wednesdays, for those who didn't know.First Review - She-Hulk:

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1113358284946823682005-04-12T18:59:00.000-07:002005-04-12T19:11:24.950-07:00

Hey, I have no idea what to make of this, but I'm always on the watch for stuff my readers might be interested in. If I find a copy, I may post a review, but here are the covers and solicitation for a new "conservative" comic book.This is not a recommendation (yet) - it's just me mentioning a curiosity. (The covers look real - does anyone out there know if this is real?). Title: Liberality For

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1113349977269236332005-04-12T16:42:00.000-07:002005-04-12T16:52:57.270-07:00

Jonah Goldeberg is the geek in residence on the Corner at National Review online. Usually, he is under the heel of a tyrannical K-Lo (K. J. Lopez) who refuses to let him discuss Star Trek, Star Wars and (a personal favorite of mine) Battlestar Galactica.However, today the rules have been relaxed and the Geeks are emerging from the woodwork.Click here and here and here and here and here and

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1111250386260950252005-03-19T08:30:00.000-08:002005-03-21T20:11:43.770-08:00

A slick, lavishly illustrated book, only hard core collectors or casual fans should be interested in this. There is no information that cannot be found in a hundred other places, and small factual errors abound. [Two examples: 1 - In the entry on Ghost Rider, the wrong Ghost Rider is identified as the star of the Hammer Lane mini-series from Marvel Comics. 2 - In the entry on Captain Marvel II,

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1110419133163524852005-03-09T17:38:00.000-08:002005-03-09T17:45:33.166-08:00

Small one first. I reviewed Ultimate Iron Man by Orson Scott Card below. Another good review (and one that doesn't talk politics) is here at Ain't it Cool News.The big news? Bizarre as it may seem, comic creator and political outsider Frank Miller (who really didn't like Reagan, but seems to have a political philosophy influenced heavily by Ayn Rand) is (wait for it)Writing a comic about the

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1110336410660514382005-03-08T18:30:00.000-08:002005-03-09T17:34:27.763-08:00

Well, last time I discussed Alan Moore a bit. Despite his very, very, very liberal views, I regard him as one of the masters of the form, and much of what he produces challenges me and I always come away enriched - I may (almost) never agree with the moral point he is making, but I find my self glad he made it anyway. Which is how dialogue between the right and left should be. It's too bad

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1110248204534713412005-03-07T17:46:00.000-08:002005-03-07T18:16:44.540-08:00

What a surprise. It's not that I care about his largely uninformed rants about how evil conservatives are (he thought Marvel comics was giving into evil by printing the war comic Combat Zone: True Tales of GI's in Iraq which is an okay comic, told fairly well. Yeah, it's got an agenda, but it doesn't sink to the level of propaganda like the new Black Panther series).Anyway, Alan Moore once wrote

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1109982371591573222005-03-04T16:20:00.000-08:002005-03-09T17:36:58.210-08:00

it is a Geek topic. Geeks have it rough. I fully embrace the fact I'm a geek and try to turn my geekhood into a dissertation or something. But - Even the Israeli army thinks we geeks are too weird for service.An excerpt:Ynetnews has learned that 18-year-olds who tell recruiters they play the popular fantasy game are automatically given low security clearance. “They're detached from reality and

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1109900117401600662005-03-03T17:11:00.000-08:002005-03-03T17:35:17.406-08:00

I have no images, but you can read the whole issue online for free (and its all legal) here.The Black Panther is a really cool character, and a great concept. Christopher Priest had a great run recently, despite it ending prematurely and with quite a few plot threads hanging.This new author, Reginald Hudlin, apparently writes screenplays, not comic books, but he shows that he has a good feel for

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1109817885611392492005-03-02T18:24:00.000-08:002005-03-02T18:44:45.616-08:00

[Reviews on this site will mostly be fairly informal]This comic, when first announced, was a hot-button topic. It was supposed to be a major coup by Marvel comics: award winning, best selling sci-fi author Orson Scott Card has agreed to write a superhero comic book! But, Rich Johnston's weekly column Lying in the Gutters over at Comic Book Resources started the debate by pointing out some of

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1109712754621893842005-03-01T13:28:00.000-08:002005-03-01T13:32:34.623-08:00

This blog will mostly be about comics. It will not always feature political postings. However, the title (up at the top), is meant to give fair warning/full disclosure. I love comic books. I am a PhD student (thus, apparently I'm highly educated and all that) who loves the form and the content of comics. However, I am also very much a conservative. There are a few issues I am a moderate on,

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168381.post-1109711073831529532005-03-01T13:02:00.000-08:002005-03-01T13:04:33.833-08:00

There's not much here (yet). But there will be soon.Just to get a feel for me (I'll post later): I mostly read Marvel comics, but I also read a few DC comics. I loved CrossGen and Valiant comics (both now defunct), find Dark Horse comics a mixed bag, and can't stand Image comics.My current favorite series is a fantasy Western called "The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty" by Beckett comics. But

John Phelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888272795693719527noreply@blogger.com0