Weekly Reader August 29, 2018

[Jeff]

Another month bites the dust.

Marvel Unlimited
Moon Knight 191
Jessica Jones 19
Defenders 9
Defenders 10
Iron Fist 77
Tales of Suspense 102
Dare Devil 598
Dare Devil 599
Doctor Strange 385
Luke Cage 170
Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock 1
Infinity Countdown: Prime 1

ComiXology
Quantum Age 2
Strangers in Paradise 64
Strangers in Paradise 65
Strangers in Paradise 66
Strangers in Paradise 67
Strangers in Paradise 68
Strangers in Paradise 69
Helsing 2
Helsing 3
Helsing 4
Red One 1
Red One 2
Red One 3
Red One 4
Red Hood & the Outlaws Annual 2

[Perry]

No idea what I am going to hit this week, it seems like a "play it by ear" kinda week. So far, I have hit these though -

Super Sons #1 - Decent start. Brings the joy back.

Marvel Two-In-One #9 - Hey, this is where we get the return of the Richards? Really? A month after FF #1

Die!Die!Die!#2 - This Kirkman action/gore/spy thriller continues its "Ennis' feel"
Isola #5 - Once again this title brings the amazing. It really is like reading a Pixar film .. through cell animated storyboards?  Simply beautiful and heartfelt story. When the first trade of five issues hits for that Image $10, everyone should get it, especially if it is on sale.

[Jeff]

Marvel Unlimited
Moon Knight 191
Jessica Jones 19
Defenders 9
Defenders 10
Iron Fist 77
Tales of Suspense 102
Dare Devil 598
Dare Devil 599
Doctor Strange 385
Luke Cage 170
Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock 1
Infinity Countdown: Prime 1

ComiXology
Quantum Age 2
Strangers in Paradise 64
Strangers in Paradise 65
Strangers in Paradise 66
Strangers in Paradise 67
Strangers in Paradise 68
Strangers in Paradise 69
Helsing 2
Helsing 3
Helsing 4
Red One 1
Red One 2
Red One 3
Red One 4
Red Hood & the Outlaws Annual 2

The weeks are moving pretty fast for me lately.  I can’t believe it’s already Sunday.  I got a new 10.5 inch iPad yesterday and I’m loving reading my comics on a bigger screen.  Weird what a difference an inch can make.

Quantum - not as good as issue 1. 
SIP - Still good and back on track after that weird retcon in the middle of the series.
Helsing - a fun little mini that I got for free.  I enjoyed it but wouldn’t pay for it.
Red Hood Annual - By the books wrap up of the aftermath of the last arc.  Average story.

[Perry]

I got a new 10.5 inch iPad yesterday and I’m loving reading my comics on a bigger screen. 

Heck yeah. I am dying for Samsung to come out with their 11.3 (or whatever). I love my 10.1, but nothing beats digital comics on a good sized, crisp screen!!!
Congrats!
 

Weird what a difference an inch can make.

That's what she ...

Quantum - not as good as issue 1. 

Agree. I think this is gonna be a series that really needed more issues when all is said and done, sadly.

Red Hood Annual - By the books wrap up of the aftermath of the last arc.  Average story.

Agree on that as well. Kinda interested in the new name (Red Hood: Outlaw) but at the same time I really enjoyed the team aspect of this series, not Jason, so not sure if I will stick around or not. Depends I guess.


Knocked out a couple more -

Red Hood and the Outlaws #25
Red Hood and the Outlaws Ann #2 - Nothing more to say really. Just okay.
Suicide Squad #45 - Only because ...
Aquaman #39 - I jumped back on this title, to see what was happening after

Atlantis rose

and saw it was a x-over with Suicide Squad, so I grabbed both just to check out. Ummm, okay actually. Not as bad as I was expecting. May stick on Aquaman after all, for at least an arc. Or maybe not. 

X-Men/Alpha Flight #1 - Wow, this took FOREVER to read.  Claremont being Claremont. And making Puck tall again? Oh yeah, I know Byrne loved that. 

Harbingers Wars II #3
Harbingers Wars II #4 - A decent story, I guess, and gotta love those conclusions that are not that at all. Continued?
Gideon Falls #1 (Re-read)
Gideon Falls #2 - Finally getting back around to this (Only because SOMEONE wants his issues back  ...  . One of those great "the art/tone/writer fit so well" books. Even though I had to go back and read issue #1 because it has been so many months, I am here for the long haul. I am still not a fan of black typeface on white letter boxes though, at least not with this font they are using. It can be hard to read ... for these old eyes at least, soooo, bad letter! Bad, Bad, Bad, letterer.
 

Super Sons #1

Marvel Two-In-One #9

Die!Die!Die!#2
Isola #5

[Jeff]

Marvel Unlimited
Moon Knight 191
Jessica Jones 19
Defenders 9
Defenders 10
Iron Fist 77
Tales of Suspense 102
Dare Devil 598
Dare Devil 599
Doctor Strange 385
Luke Cage 170
Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock 1
Infinity Countdown: Prime 1

ComiXology
Quantum Age 2
Strangers in Paradise 64
Strangers in Paradise 65
Strangers in Paradise 66
Strangers in Paradise 67
Strangers in Paradise 68
Strangers in Paradise 69
Helsing 2
Helsing 3
Helsing 4
Red One 1
Red One 2
Red One 3
Red One 4
Red Hood & the Outlaws Annual 2

Doctor Strange - ok THAT was a great payoff.  I’m glad I stuck it out.  And yes,it was good enough to keep me onboard. Great ending to this arc and I’m looking forward now to what’s next.

[Gay Titan]

Titans #23...sadly, it was NOT the return of Jericho and the art & story SUCKS!
True Believers Exiles...LOVED reading the reprint of the first issue from the first series!

[Jimmy T]

That very ,very first issue of Exiles was so amazing!

[Jeff]

Marvel Unlimited
Moon Knight 191
Jessica Jones 19
Defenders 9
Defenders 10
Iron Fist 77
Tales of Suspense 102
Dare Devil 598
Dare Devil 599
Doctor Strange 385
Luke Cage 170
Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock 1
Infinity Countdown: Prime 1

ComiXology
Quantum Age 2
Strangers in Paradise 64
Strangers in Paradise 65
Strangers in Paradise 66
Strangers in Paradise 67
Strangers in Paradise 68
Strangers in Paradise 69
Helsing 2
Helsing 3
Helsing 4
Red One 1
Red One 2
Red One 3
Red One 4
Red Hood & the Outlaws Annual 2

Red One - I figured a quick 4 issue mini from 2016 sounded fun.  Not crazy about the “good guys” being the pornographers but hey, it wasn’t a terrible story and the art made up for it.  But when I got to the end of issue four only to discover the story wasn’t over and the next issue was to hit the stands in 2017......dang.  Clearly this got cancelled and we’ll never know if they got to make the movie.

Infinity Countdown- I liked these two issues.  I haven’t heard any spoilers so I have no idea how this series has been received.  For me I’m kind of excited based on these two issues.

[Jimmy T]

I went back to look; I figure I haven't bought a monthly Marvel floppy since June 2015_ All New Captain America 6

[Perry]

I went back to look; I figure I haven't bought a monthly Marvel floppy since June 2015_ All New Captain America 6

Well I would hope not with you being on MU.  Why buy when all you have to do is wait half a year, initially, and then it is like free comics each week?
 
Not saying you were on MU the entire time, but certainly no reason to buy any Marvel now. Even if the desire was there.
 

If DC did the same I would expect a similar money saving effort.

If I could get DH, Valiant, Image, IDW and maybe Titan to do the same thing I would never have to walk into another LCS.
 

Of course with a lot of creators going to the graphic Novel format ONLY now(and for the life of me I can only recall Astro City as being one such title, but I know there are at least 3 more), I think the LCS will be competing even more with Amazon and books stores soon. Then they may really be screwed. Already digital is cutting at least 10% of LCS profits and THAT is only going to increase as more and more young people find that digital, when done at a reasonable price, is the best way to go monthly ... and they leave that trade/GN for the paper stuff.
 

[Perry]

Busy as hell yesterday so didn't get a chance to post, but here is what I finished Tuesday night.

Gideon Falls #3
Gideon Falls #4
Gideon Falls #5
Gideon Falls #6 - So glad I am reading this in bulk. Don't think I could follow it monthly and stay ... informed? 

Super Sons #1
Red Hood and the Outlaws #25
Red Hood and the Outlaws Ann #2
Suicide Squad #45
Aquaman #39

X-Men/Alpha Flight #1
Marvel Two-In-One #9

Harbingers Wars II #3
Harbingers Wars II #4
Gideon Falls #1 (Re-read)
Gideon Falls #2
Die!Die!Die!#2
Isola #5

[Jimmy T]

I went back to look; I figure I haven't bought a monthly Marvel floppy since June 2015_ All New Captain America 6

Well I would hope not with you being on MU.  Why buy when all you have to do is wait half a year, initially, and then it is like free comics each week?
 
Not saying you were on MU the entire time, but certainly no reason to buy any Marvel now. Even if the desire was there.
 

If DC did the same I would expect a similar money saving effort.

If I could get DH, Valiant, Image, IDW and maybe Titan to do the same thing I would never have to walk into another LCS.
 

Actually, I was buying some Marvel floppies as I was using Unlimited. Remender's Cap, Moon Knight, Captain America, Iron Man too, I think. If I liked it that much, well, I wasn't going to wait 6 months. I wanted it NOW.   I feel I'd do the same for DC, should they have a similar route ala Unlimited.

I didn't want to post to flame Marvel; this would have been true...uh...2 years ago real time. Right now? There's some damn good stuff from Marvel that I would purchase...but now that I'm so used to it, I just don't buy the floppies. I think I was just more surprised that it's been that long since I bought the floppy! 

Of course with a lot of creators going to the graphic Novel format ONLY now(and for the life of me I can only recall Astro City as being one such title, but I know there are at least 3 more), I think the LCS will be competing even more with Amazon and books stores soon. Then they may really be screwed. Already digital is cutting at least 10% of LCS profits and THAT is only going to increase as more and more young people find that digital, when done at a reasonable price, is the best way to go monthly ... and they leave that trade/GN for the paper stuff.
 

I know it's not up to me to determine the future fate of comics and selling and purchasing outlets, but man...the LCS future does not seem very strong to me.

I, for whatever reason, only buy Image as digital. Valiant I only buy in collections, and only as a $50 bunch from Instocktrades for the shipping discount. DC is the only monthly floppies I get, but man, I'm down to 5 titles; and there is only 1 twice a month book in there! I'm not helping any LCS either!!

[Perry]

Actually, I was buying some Marvel floppies as I was using Unlimited.

I just can't do that.   Part of the reason I took so long to get MU, besides the player/reader is that fact that I wasn't 100% sure I was done with floppy comic buying from the LCS but now I am pretty set that I won't buy anymore Marvel floppies, at least for the foreseeable future (even if my connection bails out).

DC was easy enough ... and like you, that was not a slam, we are who we are and I'm a Marvel guy first and foremost   so I was pretty sure me grabbing DC floppies was a thing of the past (again, for as far ahead as I can see) but yeah, I can't buy comics when I know I am getting them for free 6 months from now.

It is cool that you can, I just can't do it. I have a retirement plan I have to fund. You have a few more years to go on that front.
 

I know it's not up to me to determine the future fate of comics and selling and purchasing outlets, but man...the LCS future does not seem very strong to me.

Yep. Fans can get mad all they want and say that people have been forcasting the end of the LCS for years and all that, but all they have to do is look at how many shops there were and how many shops there are now (as well as how many are opening and how many are closing) and it is all in black and white.
It is a dead industry. Just taking awhile to flat-line.
 

I, for whatever reason, only buy Image as digital. Valiant I only buy in collections, and only as a $50 bunch from Instocktrades for the shipping discount. DC is the only monthly floppies I get, but man, I'm down to 5 titles; and there is only 1 twice a month book in there! I'm not helping any LCS either!!

Well, if DC gets the unlimited going (which I am still hopeful for at some point in the far future) and you're it and still buying DC floppies, even one of them, please call me ... I am here to help.