MARKLEY’S FEVERED BRAIN: FINALLY…….IT IS 2013!

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Wayne Markley

by Wayne Markley

Since it is the beginning of a new year (well, because of timing of publishing this blog it is week three of the new year), I believed I would take a long time to discuss what I have liked in the past year as well as what I look ahead to in 2013, as well as what I hope comes to pass. Of course, all of this will only pertain to the comic book world, however besides that is why you checked out this blog.

Looking back over 2012, it was not a poor year. It started out with DC’s new 52 being fresh as well as the hot topic with the original 52 titles still being published. Over the program of 2012, around 20 or so titles from the new 52 were cancelled as well as new titles were introduced to replace the cancelled titles. marvel chugged together with a wide range of titles both great as well as bad. They complied with DCs lead (sort of) by introducing marvel NOW!, which unlike DC’s new 52, was not a total trashing of their history, however was a re-launching of the majority of their books with new innovative teams as well as new number ones. Also, marvel seems to have put a great deal more believed in to the books they have relaunched. Unlike the new 52, I have really enjoyed the majority of the marvel NOW! titles.

One of the things I am most looking ahead to in 2013 is the continuation of a few of my new preferred titles. To be fair, when I state my preferred title this has a tendency to modification week to week depending upon what I have just recently read. However, there are a few books I cannot wait to checked out monthly as they are almost guaranteed to be a fantastic combination of storytelling as well as art. The titles that come rushing to mind are a little group, however I would extremely suggest any type of of these titles without a second believed as well as almost all of these are just recently introduced or are offered in collections.

Daredevil #24

Daredevil. mark Waid has taken a character that has had a number of high points as well as low points throughout the years as well as brought a fresh as well as interesting new handle Matt Murdock as well as friends. Every month when this title comes out I think, “Cool, a new DD, however it will not top last month story,” as well as I am always wrong. It gets much better every issue. tight storytelling that is extremely well believed out as well as fantastic stylish art make this book a must read.

Indestructible Hulk #4

Another title I cannot wait to checked out is likewise by mark Waid, as well as that is the Indestructible Hulk. Yes, Hulk. When I very first checked out that the premise of this was Hulk – agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., I believed this is going to bomb. I might not have been more wrong. just like Waid’s Daredevil, this book is extremely entertaining, well believed out, as well as a joy to read. The stories are complex as well as playful, as well as like DD, Waid has put a great deal of believed into the characters as well as their motivations. It is only three problems in, however if this present high quality continues this run may rival the amazing run by Peter David. (Now if marvel would only surface collecting Peter David’s run on the Hulk).

All-New X-Men #8

A third marvel NOW! title I discover a joy to checked out is the all-new X-Men. I discover this book to be Brian Michael Bendis at his finest. I understand (as I have this discussion a great deal at the store) that Bendis is not everyone’s preferred writer, however with the all-new X-Men, he has been able to take a unique concept as well as produce a extremely entertaining book that is both extremely present as well as utilizes the old (as in the 1960s) history of the characters in a extremely considerable way. (Note: you do not have to have checked out any type of of the old books to appreciate or comprehend what is going on in the all-new X-Men. however if you are a longtime fan, there is an added layer of enjoyment).

Wolverine as well as the X-Men

The final marvel book I am looking ahead to is Wolverine as well as the X-Men. This book has been going for over a year now, however it has risen to the top of my must checked out list. Month after month it is a mix of whatever that made the X-Men fantastic over the years. There is adventure, fascinating characters, fantastic art, humor, as well as most of all, a mix of single standalone stories as well as more complex story arcs. Whether it is a gag about the institution grounds burping (you have to checked out the book to get the joke) or intergalactic gambling, this book is a joy to read.

Batman as well as Robin #18

These four books lead into something else I would like to see in 2013. much better storytelling. I point the finger directly at DC on this one. The new 52 has ended up being a mess over the last year. There are still a few books worthreading (Batman as well as Robin comes to mind), however the most of the books are a mess. The stories are constantly altering as the innovative teams keep being shuffled. You have major storylines with the exact same characters (Superman, Batman, question lady are prime examples) all going in different directions at the exact same time. If Superman is having “Hell on Earth,” he should not be in the Rotworld storyline. After all, exactly how many times can the whole world be in peril at the exact same time? exact same is true with Batman in both the death of the household as well as the Rotworld story at the exact same time. They might at least make a recommendation that the Rotworld story just occurred or death of the household just wrapped up without providing anything away in terms of storyline. It is like each group of books has their own separate world which ignores the rest of the DC Universe. I clearly keep in mind when they introduced the new 52 one of the goals was to have this new coherent universe, which in less than a year, they have totally butchered.

Gasoline Alley

I am likewise looking ahead to more traditional newspaper strip collections. The last few years have seen some amazing collections from IDW, Fantagraphics, as well as others. They have brought into print such long forgotten classics as Alex Raymond’s Rip Kirby, Archie Goodwin as well as Al Williamson’s amazing trick agent Corrigan, Walt Kelly’s Pogo, Floyd Gottfredson’s Mickey Mouse, Dick Moore’s Gasoline Alley, as well as much more. In 2013 they have already revealed future volumes of all of these continuous collections, however likewise revealed is the total Crocket Johnson’s Barnaby (Joy, Joy!). All I might hope for now is the previously revealed (as in years ago) however never came out collections of Neal Adam’s Ben Casey newspaper strip as well as Cary Bates as well as Russ Heath’s Lone Ranger strip. I question I will ever see these collections, however I can hope.

The Massive

One final thing I am looking ahead to in 2013 is new as well as innovative visions by any type of number of creators. most of these books have been coming out of picture as of late, however there are some fantastic titles from a number of publishers. a few of the present crop that I do enjoy reading is Harvest, Colder, infinite Vacation, Manhattan Projects, The Massive, shadow (and the Spider), fantastic Pacific, as well as a number of other titles. These books show there is a broad spectrum of storytelling available about any type of number of subjects with well told stories as well as fantastic art. I admit I never understand what I am going to come across most of the time as the advance listings do refrain from doing these titles justice as well as up until I had checked out them I would have had no concept they are as great as they are.

There are many other things I am looking ahead to, such as more European collection from Humanoids, Cinebooks, as well as others; the continuous reprints of the traditional 2000AD library from Rebellion; the continuing mining of the Archie Archives of traditional material in a wide range of formats; as well as so much more. I do believe 2013 looks to be a extremely great year for comic reading. I just hope the business end can continue to broaden as well as discover new visitors to enjoy all this riches of material. As always, whatever in this column is my viewpoint as well as does not show the thoughts of opinions of Westfield Comics or their employees. Please feel free to send comments or evaluation copies or dislike mail to MFBWAY@aol.com.

Thank you.