CBF Quick Picks #114 : Wolverine and the X-Men #10
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Marvel’s events have had a history lately of having their tie-ins being of better quality than the event itself. Look no further than Wolverine and the X-Men #10, as Jason Aaron once again turns in a clinic of a script. It speaks volumes that he’s able to juggle the AvX event along with other sub-plots that will carry this book forward after the event is done. Chris Bachalo once again brings his dynamic art to the fold to showcase some great layouts.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a podcast without a Scott Snyder sighting. With Batman #9, he and Greg Capullo bring us close to the end of the Night of the Owls saga with medieval armor, animatronic dinosaurs, and tons of Talons. Rafael Albuquerque gets to shine in the Jarvis Pennyworth back-up that, while it seems like they’re planning a retcon here by not having Alfred there in the beginning, explores more of the great history of Gotham City.
MorrisonCon Is Coming
I’ve been meaning to post this for a while, as the premise of the convention is quite unique from what we typically go through around the country for con season.
Feast your eyes on this:
As described on the official web site, MorrisoCon seems to be taking more of a seminar approach. Put together by Grant Morrison himself and Ignition Sequence, which is a collaboration of Isotope Comics’ James Sime & Kirsten Baldock and iFanboy co-founder Ron Richards, this convention is looking to event programming to be the selling point. That’s right – no showrooms, no dealers, and no insanely long lines.
It’s selling off of its featured guests in Jim Lee, Jonathan Hickman, Frank Quitely, Chris Burnham, and more listed on the site. In particular, the con hopes to achieve innovative conversations and workshops with these guests revolving around a variety of topics about the industry and where it can head next from a creative standpoint. And while there are no current plans to have art exhibitions, the convention is not stopping its guests from bringing art pages to hang in their gallery or to sell to those that are interested.
What makes this more unique is that MorrisonCon is keeping the guest list to 1,000 attendees with a single package of $699 and a double package of $1,099. Costs include lodging at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and access to the different nightclub parties that are being planned.
It’s definitely a different approach to the standard cons we see each year. I’m sure some of us are balking at the asking price for this con, but you can’t deny that if successful, it could help bring about some change in the creative and business direction of the industry.
Check out the site and its extensive FAQ for more details.
CBF Quick Picks #113 : American Vampire #26
You can always go back home. That’s what Scott Snyder shows consistently with the book that brought him to the game in American Vampire #26. He brings artist David Cruz with him in this new 2-part arc in the deep south, where a character from the Ghost War arc gets the spotlight. The creative team here portrays a stunning rendition of Alabama in the 50′s. It’s been great seeing Snyder put these side stories in his run to lay out the mythology even further.
Francis Manapul stays amazing with Flash #8. We get a nice in-depth look into the speed force and how it affects a character like Turbine. It also leads us into an anticipated storyline full of gorillas. I’ll let you figure that out from there.
CBF 37 : State of the DC Universe and Why Dan Is Selling His Comics
CBF 37 : State of the DC Universe and Why Dan Is Selling His Comics [ 1:45:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadWith 8 months of the re-booted DCU in the books, Daniel M. Clark and I decided to check in and see what the state of that universe is and whether or not it’s still worth diving into. The highs are discussed (Snyder’s Batman, the risks taken in other genres) just as much as the lows are (how exactly are we still thinking that Batman and Green Lantern’s unchanged timelines fit into all of this?). One thing’s for sure – it got us talking for a long while.
From there, we play a game of “What Ya Reading?”, where I praise the latest works from Image Comics and I find out that Dan is selling the majority of his comic book collection. Revelations and cliffhangers abound in this epic part of the show. We might have to reboot Dan when his books are sold 
We have thoughts and I know you have thoughts. Let them be heard here, fellow citizens…
Music provided by Burning Shapes – Someone Else’s Words
CBF Quick Picks #112 : Venom #15
The journey Flash Thompson is going on is a fascinating one. You have Rick Remender to thank again for his incredible character work in Venom #15. There’s some intriguing sub-plots with Flash now being part of Secret Avengers and Eddie Brock’s new purpose in life, but how he handles his relationships in the face of the loss of his father is what sells this book. Odd to say when talking about a Venom book.
And of course, there’s the giant elephant in the room that we have to talk about. Avengers vs. X-Men #1 begins Marvel’s next event, as we see the beginnings of the Phoenix Force making its arrival and the battle to decide what to do with Hope. It would have been easy to dismiss this because of the failure in Fear Itself, but that would do a disservice to the nice start this event has. Good art from Romita Jr. and a nice build to what should be a good ride should it sustain this quality for the next 11 issues.
Music provided by A Candela Lie – Road to Omega
CBF Quick Picks #111 : Saga #1
It’s weeks like these that remind me why I love comics. The superheroes may dominate the market (and quite honestly are keeping it alive), but new ideas pop up that make me happy to know how much more this industry has to offer.
Look no further than Brian K. Vaughan’s return to comics with Saga #1. If you know his knack for characterization in previous works like Y: The Last Man or Ex Machina, you’ll be no stranger to this premiere. Mixing it with a Star Wars and Romeo & Juliet premise makes for intriguing drama. Even better, Fiona Staples brings a grounded approach to the art that makes you feel so much for the characters that you forget that it’s a sci-fi book. Please get this book – if not for you, then for your father’s brother’s former college roommate. He’ll appreciate $2.99 for 44 pages of content and no ads.
Not to be pushed to the side, Vertigo unleashed Paul Cornell and Ryan Kelly’s political sci-fi drama in Saucer Country #1. I’m always a fan of genres meshed together and Cornell’s a good writer to do it. This could have easily went the X-Files route and it still could. But the focus on the New Mexico governor and her history keeps it grounded and focused – even if she’s not all there.
While it’s not creator-owned, it’s still a book you’re overlooking. Suicide Squad #7 is icky, creepy, and messed up. But it has Harley Quinn. And it has Joker’s face. And it has Joker’s face on Deadshot’s face. I’m going to stop typing now…
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