Relaxing with a Comic Book

I decided to take a day off from the hustle and bustle and relax on my day off from work. After watching a few episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation on TV, I decided to do what I haven’t done in a long time, go to the comic shop.

I was so excited when I walked inside the store, lol. I didn’t know what to buy really because it has been a long time since I’ve read a comic. I think it’s been a year or close to it. I wanted a comic book that was at the beginning of a new story arc.

Hulk #9, by Marvel Comics, is what I chose.

Did I like the story? Well, remember I said I was going to relax? Well, I did at first. But by late afternoon I was back into the hustle and bustle. I picked my son up from school, cooked dinner, and all the other mom duties, lol.

I will read it soon. I promise. And then I will post my review.

By the way, did you know I am a Trekkie? I am also a Whovian!

What comic books are you currently reading? Let me know by commenting below!

Where do I Begin?

Hello!

I am finally back from my very long comic book reading and blogging hiatus. I did not expect to be away this long. Actually, I didn’t realize I was away 3 years! Wow. That’s a long time, huh?

Anyway, I haven’t read a comic book in so long that I don’t even know where to begin. I am ready to jump back on the bandwagon, but I have no idea what’s going on in the world of comics right now. I’m off work tomorrow so maybe I’ll go to the comic shop and buy a book or two.

Any ideas or suggestions for comics I should be reading these days? Marvel, DC, Image, Zenescope, Archie, etc.? Let me know by commenting below or sending me an email.

It’s good to be back.

Returning from Comic Book Hiatus Soon

I am so far behind in my comic books that I can scream.

I have not written a comic review in a long time.

I don’t know when was the last time I read a comic book.

I don’t even know if any of my titles are canceled.

I have not gone to the comic shop in about 3 or 4 months.  I’m sure my pull box has a gazillion comic books in it.

I could go on, but I won’t bore you like that.

I have been on a comic book hiatus off-and-on the past three years.  Not by choice though.  Personal issues gave this comic nerd no choice but to take a break.

But don’t you dare worry (I’m sure you wouldn’t even if I hadn’t said it) because I will be coming off this long, played out hiatus soon.

I have a lot of catching up to do.  Besides getting caught up in my reading, I have to find out:

• what, if any, titles (Big 2 and indie) have been canceled.
• the scoop on DC Comics doing away with its Vertigo imprint
• if DC and Marvel are re-numbering their titles again, knowing good and well that mess makes us hardcore comic book nerds furious

I can’t wait to get back started on my comic book reviews again.  I have not changed a bit.  Therefore my reviews will remain honest as I don’t sugarcoat anything.  I will continue to rant where I see fit.  And I will continue to have fun writing my blog posts.

I am hoping to get back in the swing of things within a few weeks.  But in the meantime you get to see a couple of selfies I took while sporting my authentic Infinity War t-shirt.  It is a 10 year Marvel Movie Studios commemorative.

No matter where I am when I wear the shirt, I get so many compliments from the guys, both teenagers and adults.  I am also asked if I am going to blow up or destroy the place, lol.  I love it.  I mean, Thanos is one of my favorite Marvel Comics villains!

What comics are you currently reading?  Feel free to comment below or send me an email.

My Brief Jump in the Stan Lee Mix

I learned of the passing of Stan Lee earlier this afternoon.  My son texted me from school to tell me.  I was too heartbroken at the time to read any articles about it.  Here it is hours later and I am still upset.

I am pretty sure the internet is being flooded with condolences and memories from comic book fans around the world.  Well I am adding to that mix.

Stan Lee was the creator and co-creator of many comic book superheroes and villains.  Thor and the Hulk have been two of my favorite Marvel Comics superheroes since I was a child.  Both comic book characters were created by Stan.  Doctor Octopus, Doctor Strange, Loki, Kingpin, and Black Panther are also favorite comic book characters of mine by Marvel that were either created, or co-created, by Stan.

My family met Stan “The Man” Lee at the Detroit Fanfare, a comic book convention in Dearborn Michigan, in 2010.  Not only was that the first year for Detroit Fanfare, it was also Stan Lee’s first time in Michigan in 20 years.

We had VIP tickets which included autographs, photo ops, and Stan’s Q&A panel.  Stan signed my Spider-Man omnibus.  We took a family photo and a photo with just Stan and my son, who was 8 years-old at the time.

I saw Stan three years later at Motor City Comic-Con in Novi, Michigan.  It was hot outside and the line was wrapped around the building.  Stan was met by a round of applause as he exited his vehicle and entered the building.  I was especially loud because he walked right in front of me.

Okay.  I am ending this blog post here because the tears are coming back.

Today is a sad day for the comic book community.  We have lost one of our greatest superheroes of all time, Stan Lee.

Stan Lee will be forever missed but never forgotten.

Excelsior!

P.S.  If you are a true comic book fan then you will NOT rush to list your Stan Lee signed items on eBay.  Cherish them because they can never be replaced.

Know What You’re Watching Before Watching

I am back from my comic book blog hiatus and I’m starting with one of my random temper tantrums.  This is a no bars hold blog post.  Anything goes.  You have been warned.

I remember watching Deadpool movie at the theater two years ago.  As expected, it was packed.  Lines wrapped around every which way.  Being the comic book fan that I am, I tried my best to ignore critic reviews.

However I did lash out a couple of times on social media because I got fed up with people dogging the movie.  It was obvious they hadn’t taken the time to read upon who Deadpool is and what he is all about.  I am a diehard fan of the Merc with a Mouth.  He is one of my favorite Marvel comic book characters and I have been reading and collecting his comic books for the past seven or eight years.

I appreciated Deadpool movie just like I appreciate the upcoming Black Panther movie which will be released in North America this Friday, February 16, 2018.

Just as a lot of people went into movie theaters without prior knowledge of Deadpool, I can already tell that this will also be the case about Black Panther, another Marvel Comics character.

I am beyond sick and tired of all the chaos surrounding Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Panther movie.  Folks are literally turning this movie into something that it is not, a BLACK movie.

People saw Black Panther in Civil War and got carried away.  They acted as if that was the first time the world had seen a black superhero.  Now folks are running around buying costumes and outfits to wear while watching the movie.  Private screenings are even being held at one of the theaters I frequent.  They want you to dress up and the media will be there.

A lot of black people are getting carried away for real and it’s driving me crazy.  This is because folks are not taking the time to read upon and learn about King T’Challa, aka Black Panther.

I am tired of reading social media posts where we (blacks) finally have something of our own.  They are telling us to take all our family and friends to see the movie so we can support and represent.

As a lifelong comic book fan I am easily irritated about the drama surrounding the Black Panther movie.  One lady posted asking if anyone is taking their kids to see the movie.  Um, why wouldn’t they take them?

I read a comment wondering if there will be racial undertones in the movie.  Someone responded that it’s not likely because Quentin Tarntino didn’t have anything to do with it.

Someone posted that we finally have a movie about us, but that it was written by a white man and owned by a white company (Marvel Comics).  Therefore our money is lining the white man’s pockets.

Okay.  This is where I, a black female and comic book nerd, must draw the line.

1. King T’Challa, aka Black Panther, is a black superhero comic book character by Marvel Comics.  He was created by two white men, Stan Lee and the late Jack Kirby.  He made his first appearance in Fantastic Four #52 in 1966.
2. He is ruler and protector of Wakanda which is a hidden, technologically advanced country in Africa.
3. He holds an Avenger card.  Yes, Black Panther is an Avenger.
4. If you really want to support and represent then don’t stop at the movie.  Continue supporting Black Panther by reading his comic book series.  Published by Marvel Comics, you can purchase print comic books at your local comic shop (LCS) or digital comics at Comixology.  You might want to check out Comixology’s website as soon as possible because their Black Panther graphic novels are on sale for ridiculously low prices.
5. And support Falcon’s comic book series while you’re at it.  Luke Cage has his own series, but it’s heading to the chopping block.  I’m mad as heck because that title is on my pull list at my LCS.

Speaking of Stan Lee, I dug up this picture of us for attention.

What I don’t understand is that I have been made fun of for years because I read and collect comic books.  Now these same folks are breaking their necks to see the movie.

I don’t care for drama.  I love my Marvel Comics, but I am not planning on watching the movie until at least two weeks after it opens.

For those of you that don’t know about King T’Challa, then read this before heading to the movie theater.  When you get there, leave the drama at the front door and just watch and enjoy the damn movie.

The Prowler #1 Now Review

This new comic book series is a spin-off from Marvel Comics latest Spider-Man event, Clone Conspiracy.  I am coming off a year-long comic book reading hiatus, so I had to put myself back into the comics loop.  I chose Prowler #1 because of the story’s description and its attention-grabbing cover.  I was instantly hooked after reading this debut issue.

The Jackal has somehow conquered death and is back on the scene.  He might also have discovered a way to achieve eternal life.  Apparently Jackal has brought several characters, villains of course, back to life and is giving them a new beginning at New U.

Previously killed by the “new” Electro, Prowler was also given a new life and fresh start thanks to Jackal and his cloning technology.  Prowler works for Jackal as head of security to keep the villains in check.  However, Prowler doesn’t like to be cooped up inside New U all the time so he occasionally slips out behind Jackal’s back to get some fresh air.  In this issue, he takes off to thwart a robbery attempt.

Not ready for his technology to be revealed, Jackal tells Prowler that he can’t come and go as he please.  Then he sends Prowler on a mission to find the culprit that has been trying to hack into his systems.  On his way to see Madame Web, also given a new life by Jackal, for information about the hacker(s), Prowler runs into Electro at New U.  There was a heated exchange between the two and Electro asked Prowler if he knew why Jackal brought him back to life.

Prowler continues on to his mission and all hell begins to break loose.

Sean Ryan is the creative writer of this new comic book series.  Phenomenal story set-up.  Great dialogue and character interactions.  Excellent character distinctions, especially Electro.  Pacing is on target, the story is easy-to-follow.

Great visuals by Javier Saltares and Jamal Campbell.  No complaints at all in this area.  I especially like Prowler’s costume, purple is my favorite color!

• Is the Jackal still a villain, or is a humanitarian now?
• Jackal asked Prowler if he took his medicine.  Just what is this medicine he has to take on a daily basis?  Is it for high blood pressure?  Is it a psychotropic medication?  Or is Prowler being kept alive by this medicine?
• What is Jackal up to and what is his motive for bringing Hobie Brown aka Prowler back to life and using him as head of security?

These are questions I am excited about learning the answers to, therefore I definitely plan to read the next issue of The Prowler.  At this point I don’t know if The Prowler, rated teens and above, is an ongoing series or miniseries.  I haven’t had time to check into that piece just yet.

The Prowler #1 was released on October 26, 2016.

VERDICT (drum roll please)
I highly recommend this title.  It is an excellent jump on point for new and returning comic book readers.  I give this debut issue  5/5 stars.