Greg's Comic Book Club #20: Participation Thread

I’ve actually been wanting an excuse to read this book, as it gets a lot of mentions and rave reviews on reddit (/r/ComicBooks). Even so, I knew very little else about the series going into it. Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever read a Hulk solo book before, so I was looking forward to this for multiple reasons. Overall I really enjoyed this book, which is a nice break from the last two Required Readings that I really didn't enjoy. I did find the ending hard to follow and really understand, but I feel like Vol. II would help answer some of those questions, and I’m definitely adding it to my list. I love the idea of a Bruce and Hulk sort of wandering the country stepping into seemingly unrelated small town mysteries/occurrences (that we later learn aren’t so unrelated). It reminds me a big of Superman: Grounded and the Captain America version (#695ish?) where these heroes try to help the “regular” people that don’t always get the help the need. It’s a nice twist to see The Hulk wanting it as much as Bruce. Also, this Bruce is a broken Bruce and that really brings another level to this story that I enjoyed. Having The Hulk day “I’m the smart one now” was an interesting twist. The idea of a Hulk that cannot die has been mentioned/explored before but I like this tale on it.

Great idea! COIE is a daunting book, but gosh damn it people should read it. And so weird, I just finished Smallville a couple weeks ago! Glad I took the chance that it could possibly crossover with Crisis...I started it when Elseworlds finished last year and slowly burned through all 10 seasons.

Kala Del Giorno

Required Reading: I've never been super into the Hulk as a hero, and this trade did little to change that for me, though I enjoyed reading it overall. I liked the interplay between Hulk and Banner, with Hulk vocalizing his defense of Banner in issue #5. "When you hurt Banner, I take it personal" is just a cool line. The trade was also reported as horror, but like some others I felt it was just a darker take on the Hulk, and the only really horrific part being issue #2. While I liked the trade, I don't plan on going forward with it.

Required Reading: I was gonna get to it this weekend but then I turned into Extra Life and the whole weekend got away from me. I blame the enormous kids! What I've Been Reading: Harleen: Stjepan Seijic continues to do great work with this book but I don't like how Joker is portrayed. Most origins for Harley portray her as the foolish psychiatrist who can't see Joker's obvious deception. This moves a little too far in the other direction where I genuinely can understand how she could fall for him. He's portrayed as kinda sympathetic and seems to genuinely care about her, which is too much for me. Also, Harley reminds me a lot of the characters from Sunstone but that's probably due to the art. Black Hammer/Justice League #4: This book is really good but I don't see anyone talk about it, which sucks! I think people assume you need to be caught up on Black Hammer but you really only need to have read the first 1 or 2 issues since the book doesn't really deal with any of the plot from that book. It's more about the JL having to live on the farm and the BH crew going to the DC Universe. Their perspectives on each other's worlds is great and this book is wonderful. X-Men #1: Mutant Threesomes! This book was a lot of fun and a really nice look at the new normal for mutants post HoX/Pox. It was nice to see Cyclops just relax and be happy considering how much he's gone through over the past few years. I'm really excited to see where it goes from here. Also, for those who missed it, there's a floor plan of the Summers house and Scott, Jean and Wolverine's rooms have doorways between each other, implying that there's some sort of polygamous relationship going on there. Fun! Money Shot #1: This was a fun surprise! It's a book about scientists who fund their space exploration by shooting porn with the aliens they come across. This issue was mostly set-up but it was a lot of fun and it's looking promising. I'm really interested to see where it goes from here. Superman Smashes the Klan: This book was a mix of delightful and frustrating! For those that don't know, this book is adapted from a radio serial about Superman taking on a stand-in for the KKK. I loved seeing Gurihiru again (of Gwenpool fame) and the moments between the family members was delightful. I also liked seeing Supes and the Daily Planet crew in a classic setting with modern writing. The frustrating part obviously came in the form of the racism from the Klan but it was nice to see that not everyone was on board with it. Smallville season 11: When Tom Welling was announced as Superman I decided to watch all of Smallville for the first time and I just finished a week ago so I started on the comics. I'm 63 issues in and, while I like it, I wish the art wasn't so...good. The characters look nothing like their Smallville actors and now that most of the Smallville people are gone, it really just feels like a fun Elseworlds story. It's still cool though! Request for Greg: Hey Greg, I know you don't usually take requests for the next required reading but I thought I'd throw this out there anyway. The next episode of the comic club will most likely be coming out the week before Crisis on Infinite Earths premieres on The CW so it seems like a perfect time for us all to read one of the greatest crossovers of all time!

Required Reading: Immortal Hulk Volume 1 I’ve always found the idea of the Hulk more interesting than any of his comics. The idea of the Hulk being a personification of all of Banner’s suppressed rage, all of the psychological conflict Bruce goes through in his day-to-day life, the Hulk representing the darkness Bruce can never get rid of, even in death, that all appeals to me. However, most of the Hulk comics I’ve read always seemed to dwell on the physical side of things. “How’s Hulk going to beat this impossibly strong mad beast? By being an even more impossibly strong mad beast, that’s how!” Yeah, not my cup of tea. This run, though, it’s different. There’s a lot more focus on Bruce’s state of mind than any actual conflict. Bruce coming to grips with the fact that he cannot die, that this monster is always going to have a power over him, well, it’s terrifying. The art reflecting the narrator’s perspective in issue 3 was a genius move. Speaking of art, those Alex Ross covers? *chef’s kiss* Can never have too much Ross. As far as the main plot goes, I’m hooked. The mystery of the green door and its hold over gamma inflicted people leave me eager for more. And then there’s issue 4. Listen, I’ve lived in Minnesota all of my life, and as resident of Minnesota, I have a request for all you writers out there: Kindly fuck off with all of this, “Oh yah, you betcha,” stuff. Freaking, Fargo, I’ll never forgive those Coen brothers. If I see another bastardized attempt at the MN dialect, I’ll shove a “sodah pop” up someone’s butt. WE DON’T. FUCKING. TALK LIKE THAT. Sigh. Lingo aside, I really enjoyed the required reading, and will continue with this run. What I’ve been reading: Not much, this month. I finally caught up with Saga, boy am I anxiously waiting for that to pick up again. I think the best thing I’ve read is DIE, thanks for talking about it on this show. You can tell Kieron Gillen really put a lot of thought into everything with book, the world building is top-notch. Honestly this is such a great idea, the PTSD from a Jumanji scenario, the horror of having to go back, it’s wonderful. I have no complaints about DIE, and would recommend it for the required reading. Comics are pretty cool.

Question When I went to buy this month’s required reading I stumbled across an Ebay listing with 6 minutes to go and no bids, for tpb volumes 1+2 of Immortal Hulk signed by Al Ewing. They were the same price as new, so I jumped at the chance to grab them without really thinking it through. This leads to my question: what value do you put on having a signed edition of something? And how do you feel about them turning up on Ebay? Required Reading I think this is the first time I’ve been disappointed in a required reading. Maybe my expectations were too high, but it just didn’t grab me in the first volume. I didn’t buy Bruce pretending to be dead while playing vigilante (because he seemed happy to let Hulk work at night) and I personally didn’t like the changing art forms because I thought it confused the book’s identity. Then Sasquach was introduced (who is this guy?) and of course there’s the cliché of the random reporter with the backstory of her secret connection to the main guy… But in a plot twist I really enjoyed Volume 2, and I’m glad I bought it at the same time as volume 1 or I never would have gone back to the series. It seems to be going in a deliberate direction now, complete with a mystery and some Daddy issues. Now I’m hooked and have 3 lined up. What I’ve been reading Ultimate Spiderman by Bendis (Ultimate Collection vol 1) I really like this, but – even though this is my first Spiderman comic – because so much of the story is so familiar from other media I’m finding it hard to say I completely love it so far. Can’t wait to keep going, as there were some surprising moments in this and I think once I’m away from the mostly-familiar origin story I’ll be more drawn in. Batman Rebirth vol 3 (around issue 38) Omg, give me all the Batman, I can’t put into words how much I’m loving this series. I’m trying to pretend I don’t know how the wedding goes… Manifest Destiny by Chris Dingess, vol 1 (issues 1-6) This book follows the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition to explore America’s wild frontier, but it’s revealed they were given an additional secret objective by the President; to find and rid the world of demons and monsters. Each volume seems to be a different monster encounter. I’m enjoying it so far, it benefits from narration via journal entries making it easier to follow the character motivation. So far, the whole expedition is coming off as shockingly naïve and unprepared, and while the details might be fantasy, I think that element may be rooted in reality… Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by North Henderson (issues 1-8) This book is completely ridiculous, in a really heart-warming way. Is it secretly Deadpool writing fanfic? And I didn’t notice until half-way through that there are notes at the bottom of each page, so I had to go back to catch it all! I think it’s ultimately a little *too* light and comedic for my tastes, but I’d recommend it to anyone wanting that in their reading! What I’m reading next: The Walking Dead (the final 48 issues) I weighed the final compendium and it’s 2.3kg (5 lb). Wish me luck!

Katie Gallacher

For Kris---not so much a question, just wanted to gush that I haven't forgotten your artwork you posted on Twitter of a really buff Jason Todd...so um, thank you for that. Required reading: The Immortal Hulk vol. 1 This is my first read of any Hulk material since I started to read comics a few years ago...I'd say this was a pretty excellent introduction. From what I understand, this is a return to form for the Hulk, and that the 62' Stan Lee/Jack Kirby run was a huge inspiration for this book. I really love the premise of a Hulk who can not die, and of Bruce Banner not being able to control him when the sun goes down on him. The issues felt very pulp like, almost stand alone but they have connective story to them, and I really love that. The pencilling by Joe Bennett, inks by Ruy José and Paul Mounts on colors set the tone perfectly to Ewing's writing. In addition, the Alex Ross covers are just beautifully haunting and grotesque. Also, really liked the quotes before the beginning of the issues---really sets the tone of what you're diving into. I feel like it's been awhile since I enjoyed a recommended reading, so it gives me great joy to say that I loved it and that I'll be recommending it every chance I get. What have I been reading? Not a whole lot, unfortunately :( I lost my comic book shop once again (this time for good) and it was very last minute so no preparing for where we go next. I've decided to not go to another shop for now. I might consider it next year, but ultimately the shop I consider second best is nearly an hour from me so I'll probably just order online when I absolutely need to (like the last issue of Doomsday Clock, and finishing my Deathstroke run). I have such a big backlog of comics, so won't be in short supply of reading when I get back into the mindset of things. But in light of all that, here's a few books I did manage to get this weekend--- Joker: Killer Smile by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino- I love Gideon Falls, so this was a no brainer to pick up. Lemire and Sorrentino breathes new life to a character that can be a bit tired out sometimes (though he's doing pretty well these days). The art is so damn good (the splash page of the joker fish scene is really something), and Lemire's storytelling is on point once again. Also shout out to Jordie Bellaire who does colors, really wonderful job. DC Black Label is really doing an excellent job showing off stories with imagination. Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #4 (Fraction/Lieber): Jimmy (or should I say "Timmy") Olsen has become a YouTube personality a la Jake Paul, and does ridiculous antics for clicks that make lots of money for The Daily Planet...like putting bees in Dr. Fate's helmet or installing a revolving door at Arkham Asylum etc etc. In the mix of all this, he's still trying to figure out who's trying to kill him, with some help from Lois Lane. This book is hectic and wild, and I love it so much. Steve Lieber's art, again, is so freaking wonderful. I will continue to recommend it until I turn blue. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk. Looking forward to in November... The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage (Jeff Lemire, Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz...I don't have to say anymore than that). Batman: Creature of the Night #4 (hopefully this will be the last time I put this book in my looking forwards...it will be A YEAR AND A HALF since issue 3 came out. Worth the wait, I hope.) November by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charreitier, Colors by Matt Holllingsworth- This book sounds fantastic, here's the solicitation, "NOVEMBER follows the lives of three women intersecting in a dark criminal underground. As fire and violence tears through their city on a single day and night, they discover their lives are bound together by a mysterious man that seems to be the cause of it all." This is the first volume of a three book series, comes out on the 12th.

Kala Del Giorno

Ollo Greg and Kris. Don’t really have a question. I just want to say that Kris your new batman print is awesome! Required reading; IMMORTAL HULK: I’m not really a Hulk guy, especially when he is on his own. However this book was getting such high praise from everyone ever, I was hoping it would change my mind. And it kind of did. The book is said to be horror and while I don’t quite think it is, it’s definitely dark in tone. The main draw for me is this mystery of the “green door” and with the father reveal at the end, I’m all in. I also love the way this book makes the Hulk feel like a threating monster. Those two double-page spreads in issue one are amazing. They really make the Hulk feel huge and menacing. I’m still not Hulk’s number one fan but I’m now definitely a fan. I give it 4 “Hulk’s feet are so big. He must walk like he’s in flippers. No wonder he likes jumping about” outta 5. What I’ve been reading; LOIS LANE; This might be my favourite thing from DC right now. Lois really feels like an actual Person due to the great dialogue by Rucka. Her relationship with Clark is perfect as well. The best it’s felt in a long time. This along with the Questions (1&2) return and the mystery, make it just a page-turner. I give it 5 “I think Jon is scarred for life after ‘shower-gate’” outta 5. HARLEEN; I have never been a Harley Quinn fan, and I think part of the reason for that is DC don’t really know what her character is. She’s so popular that DC put her in everything but the version we get is always different. For this reason, I was a bit hesitant to read this but I love Stjepan so I gave it a go. This is exactly what I want out of a Harley Quinn story. I love the deep dive into her past and way of thinking that isn’t just “I was normal, now I’m crrrrrrazy!”. The slow pace of it really helps you get invested in her fall. You know what’s going to happen but you still hope it doesn’t. It’s the most interesting Harley Quinn has ever been for me and I love it. I give it 5 “Joker sure knows how to make moving his hair look hella sexy” outta 5. THE LAST GOD; like all great fantasy stories, there are a lot of names I don’t know how to say and a lot a secret history that will be revealed in time. It was a compelling first issue with an introduction to the world and its main players, nothing mind-blowing but I’m interested to see where it goes. My only fear is that I don’t know if three issues is enough to make it work. Hopefully, they get a “Chapter 2” once issue three ends. I give it 3 “you know this is fantasy when they have pages at the end telling you how to play the in-universe song” outta 5. JOKER - KILLING SMILE; I’ve been looking forward to this as Lemire and Sorrentino are one of my favourite creative teams. And while I wouldn’t say I was disappointed it felt like it had only just started by the time it finished. I think a longer page count like Harleen would have really benefitted it. But from we got it seems like a creepy story about that joker driving his therapist mad. For some reason, I’m getting Shining vibes from it. I sure hope this guy doesn’t kill his family. I give it 3 “stop giving the joker therapists, have you learned nothing!” outta 5.

Required Reading: Immortal Hulk Volume 1 I'm actually caught up with this series at this point. I think a couple months ago I mentioned this book as the best thing I read this month, and I'm so glad it got chosen as required reading. The story is a fantastic look at many aspects of the wider Marvel universe that sometimes get overlooked. I've never read a Hulk book before, so some of the deeper references are for sure over my head, but that hasn't lessened my enjoyment of the series at all. Other Interesting Reads This Month: Black Science 43: This series came to an end, and what a ride it was. I don't want to spoil the ending here, suffice to say Remender is definitely writing a pessimistic story. If you were waiting for this one to be done to see if it's worth it to check this series out, I would say it for sure is. Hickman's X-Men Saga: House of X and Powers of X concluded, X-Men 1 released, it was a good month for the X-Men. A Summer's family dinner (why is Jean's room adjoining to Cyclops's AND Wolverine's??), we finally see how the law will be handled on Krakoa, and the team that always loses finally has their one chance to win. I'll be picking up at least the number ones for the upcoming X titles over the next few weeks,hopefully the quality remains as good as it has been these last three months. Harleen 1: A new take on Harley's origin, written and drawn by Stejpan Sejic (writer/artist of Sunstone, husband of artist for Swing volume 1). This is a really interesting take on her origin. Sejic does a really good job of portraying Joker as someone who is menacingly terrifying, but also has this strange charm as well. This is only set to be three issues I believe, and this first one has me excited for the rest of the series.

Jared Horwitz

Required Reading Prerequisite: Avengers: No Surrender. Avengers #675-690 Writers: Mark Waid, Al Ewing, Jim Zub Artists: Pepe Larraz, Joe Bennet, Kim Jacinto, and Paco Medina This was a sixteen week crossover event consisting of the the four Avengers titles: Avengers, Uncanny Avengers, U.S. Avengers, and Occupy Avengers. The Avengers are caught in a game of war between two cosmic beings, and the two teams that fight for them; the Lethal Legion and the reborn Black Order. Earth is the chosen battlefield, and it's transported a cosmic plane. It's relevant to Immortal Hulk because Banner, and Hulk are reborn in the middle of this series. issues 683 and 684. Immortal Hulk: I read through the four trades, issues 1-20. The first few issues didn't grip me, the inspiration from the 70's show left me wanting more, but I liked the second half. I also remembered that the "must read" hypetrain started around issue 6, so I knew it would get better in the second trade. As far as the art goes, Joe Bennet, the inkers, and colorists are doing amazing work. The insane anatomy in the transformations are stunning in a horrific way. I really like the visual differences between day and night. With Banner the palette is slightly muted, and we see hues and shades of yellow, orange, and green, with Hulk we see blue, violet, and some tertiary colors. Definitely continue reading the series if you dug the first trade. The second trade starts momentum that continues through the third and fourth volumes, and the focus on the differences between Banner and Hulk shine. Recent Reads: The White Trees: Two issues Writer: Chip Zdarsky Art: Kris Anka, and Matt Wilson I read this before Anka was announced, so I'm excited he's back on. The children of three retired warriors have been abducted, and now they have to travel across the land of Blacksand to save their kids. Across their journey we see what they'll do for their kids, and how their old battles have affected their lives through the years. So far, this is easily my favorite book of 2019. 4 Kids Walk into a Bank. Five issues Written by Mathew Rosenberg Art by Tyler Boss and Clare Dezutti We follow a 12 year old girl named Paige and her crew of nerdy friends. They're playing D and D one afternoon when a gang of sketchy thugs walk into her house to visit her dad. Paige's dad pulls a shotgun on the guys, they bolt out, leaving Paige suspicious of who they are. We learn that her dad is a reformed criminal who was involved with the thugs before she was born. Paige doesn't want her dad to get involved with the thugs who are setting up a bank robbery, so she steals their blueprint of the bank, and plans to rob it herself with her friends. The story is incredible, but the sequential art and design is the real star. The book is mostly on a grid of six to twelve panels, and frequent change ups make a nice visual contrast.

Parker Luckenbach

Immortal Hulk is incredible. The art and the way that it truly shows how Bruce handles this monster inside of him is astonishing. The art is so unique from something made today that I'm always exctied when a new issue pops up on my marvel unlimited. Can't recommend it enough. Also DIE, Daredevil, and Batman are still top notch. So bittersweet to see Tom Kings run ending, but give me that Phantasm goodness in Bat/Cat

Garry Hormann