A small list this week but like you, the pile of work is higher than the pile of comics. Autumnal #2 was the best of the lot. The book has a growing story and the color continues to make the appeal solid.
This week is a short list due to the catalog being due and the October catalog needing to be loaded. I will say that I enjoyed all of these. This week’s pick is Pulp.
This week I have to pick Cimmerian Red Nails #1. It was nice to be taken a little closed to the late 1970’s in this issue. It gave us the flavor of Robert E. Howard’s writing and combined all the elements we have come to hope for in a barbarian story. The girl, the strange creatures, the sword fights and even the strange cultures. Conan readers, pick this one up, it is likely as close as we are going to get.
I also want to make an honorable mention this week for Black Cat. The two issues, though not related, reflect on the characters past history and relationships and still involve crime. There is even a reference banner in the annual, which is a tool new writers seem to have forgotten about.
This week is a little short but the latest store fixture move has increased visibility so the extra hours were worth it.
Though the list is short, We Only Find Them When They Are Dead #1 turned out to be a book with potential. The first issue is the standard space vermin cutting up material for profit, but the family legacy detail is a well placed emotional thread. We have been short science fiction books lately and I am glad to see one start up that has a subplot. Though first prints sold out, in three weeks we will have the second prints. I would not jump on this as a speculation book, it is not that kind of thing, but it was good enough to read.
This past week was about Marvel’s Empyre story. Though I have not gotten issue #6 yet, I do not have great hope for it to conclude in a way that makes me feel better about the story. The event is plagued with poor artistic choices which make it hard to identify secondary characters and no subtle hints as to the master of the endgame. For those who have read chapter 5, where is the half face reveal or the glance between conspirators?
The news-leaked “wedding” seemed just shoved in there.Though I hate spotlighted social agendas, this one deserved a little more. The two characters are actually a long term, established couple and deserved better.
The biggest positive was easy, Carol Danvers becoming The Accuser was probably one of the better ideas in the story. I am not sure it will have any long term success but a Marvel space book without her just would not work.
Lastly, my one question… Where the hell is Groot in this story?
A small list this week but as the month ends I have to move my attention toward the closing catalog. I did sneak a few in and though I enjoyed the first half, the second half of the Lois Lane story seemed to forget what the first half had done. The romance is between Lois and Superman is nice but the Question relationship made it more of a Justice League feel than a Lois story.
This weeks manager’s choice is The Death of Nancy Drew #2. The issue returned the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew team up and gave you the touching additive of a professional willing to commit a crime to help find a murderer. I appreciate the sacrifice of a long term character to further the plot and hope they are repurposed the character as a fallen angel of sorts.
Our catch up efforts continue as we clear some old reads once left behind. Since some of our people have requested them, we will finish them ASAP. This weeks pick for Manager’s Choice is Strange Academy. This title is well scripted and has a youthful, fun feeling that reminds us all about the first day of high school. Issue two breaks down the school day one period at a time. Both teachers and students have to adjust as the day ends. I look forward to issue 3.
Welcome back to the Monday Morning Grind. Most of the shutdown was spent merging the stores but August is back to normal, so here we go. One small change. We will be adding a location in the store for the Owner’s Choice of the Week. An example will be made of the below, so check it out.
This weeks choice is Criminal. No issue choice as the two complete a four part story and it is that story we are choosing. This title is compatible to Daredevil and likely ties for series of the year.