This week I decided to go back and read a few of the DC Comics I’ve had sitting in a pile from my personal boycott of the publisher last year. I could not bring myself to venture into the main line superheroes, so I gave Scott Snyder my attention.
My thought is that the business decisions at DC Comics seem lost in regard to the direction of the value stream. Being a company which sells the primary product of monthly periodicals, I rely on stable, well written storylines to offer, and hopefully sell in collected form, for years to come. New versions of characters and alternate timelines will never replace regular, good writing. I feel with Mr. Snyder, I will at least have a solid building of story exposition with some rising action before the first climax rolls through. Issues with this structure, I am happy to recommend to patrons.
That being said, The Conjuring: The Lover #1 was my second choice. It fell behind another title on this week’s list Nice House On The Lake #2. Much like Nice House, I chose The Conjuring because of the writer, having no idea of the content. While reading it, I kept hoping that whatever was hidden in the shadows would not be revealed in the first issue. The exposition showed the struggle the character is facing, teased the monster in the dark, and closed the issue with the teasing images to get me to read issue two. Having enjoyed Wytches and Black Mirror, I hope The Conjuring will measure up to the long term sales these books have seen. as well. For now, thanks Scott Snyder for 22 pages of hope.
Sadness. Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer #1 did not do the original creator of the character, or noir as a whole, any favors. Those of you who love detective stories, in particular noir crime titles, run away from this one. The entire issue reminds me of the inner dialogue Steve Martin might use in a comedy portrayal of a hard boiled detective. I paid for issue two, and I may not even bother.
Valentine’s Day. Some of you know that each year I pick a “date” issue to read. The comic has to have characters actually trying to go out on a date in the comic, whether the date works or not. This year, I chose a new release because it actually came out the Wednesday before the holiday. Normally, I have to save an earlier comic or go looking for one. Nice job Archie Publishing. Which of course means this year I chose Archie Love and Heartbreak #1. These mini-stories take place at the carnival grounds with the characters split off as couples as they are on the Riverdale TV show. Betty & Jughead, Archie & Veronica oh wait, Veronica & Dilton? Yeah, I know, who is Dilton? There is also a Kevin Keller short which actually connects to the Betty & Jughead short, which was kind of nice to have happen. Each story is fairly short, typical, and as always, ends well. Even with the brief plots, I am glad I read it. I would have liked each short to be a few pages longer and made into an 80 page giant or something. Each ended a little soon and more books with lighthearted themes could help a little in today’s world.
- Archie Love and Heartbreak #1
- Gun Honey #2
- Autumnal #5
- Good Luck #3
- King of Spies #1
- Daredevil #19
- Daredevil #20
- Daredevil #21
- Firefly #20
- Black Cat 2021 #1
- Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer #1
- Captain Marvel #23
- The Fourth Man #1
- Mary Jane & Black Cat #1
- The Conjuring: The Lover #1
- Nice House On The Lake #2