Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice into the Woods 3/22/2019

Welcome back, Donist World Denizens! For those of you new to our site, I’m Donist, and I am joined by Donist World CFO the Reverse Obie* (my friends’ Boston terrier whose fur recently swapped colors) and by our marketing director/administrative assistant/party planner/cleaning hater Tulip (my dog, Reverse Obie’s sister). Okay, yes, we missed last week. We’re late this week. We just finished a 13% Bierbara barrel-aged beer from Third Window after also having a beer sampler and a whole heaping mess of French fries covered in pulled short rib meat. This after two days of intense cleaning out of the Donist World storage unit. To be honest, we’re barely holding on by a thread, but that’s cool, we got plenty of dope comics to read. So, grab a tasty beer and some pizza, sit back, relax, and while you’re at it check out some great comics. Thank you for reading!

*Obie, through his dabbling in arcane magics mixed with ancient corrupt business practices, has had not just the colors of his fur switched, but a complete overhaul of his work ethic as well…I think I’m kinda okay with the mishap.

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Friday Slice of Heaven

I know, Denizens. I know. Something happened that has not happened in the eight and a half years I have been writing Donist World: I missed a weekly post. Now, my average is definitely still higher than a post a week, but still… Anyhow, I’ve been wrapped up in a bit of “spring cleaning” the past two weeks. What that means is cleaning out our storage unit over two days last weekend—which included climbing up a ladder to pull on a tarp that then dumped tons of fossilized rat poop down to what sounded like grains of rice raining onto hard wood; dear dawg, that was horrendous. This weekend was all about moving stuff to the newly cleaned storage, to Alpha Thrift, to the dumpster, to recycling, and to the dump. Let’s just say, everything in my body hurts. But I didn’t want to miss another post. Let’s just say I’m wicked-tired, but I wanted to give you all a little somethin’-somethin’, so I thought I’d do a flashbang lightning round of “Friday Slice of Heaven” of the things I’ve read the past couple of weeks. Yes, I know it’s no longer Friday, but whatever. Buckle up. Here we go…

Murder Falcon #6

(Everythinged by Daniel Warren Johnson, colored by Mike Spicer, lettered by Rus Wooton, published by Image Comics)
Dear gawd, I love this freaking comic. Monsters are invading Earth, but one man must sift through the wreckage of his life to take up a mystical guitar and summon Murder Falcon to help fight evil with the power of heavy metal. It might also be time to get the band back together. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful art and a story that will grab you by the feels much more than any other book on the stands. This eight-issue series is monumental and something you absolutely must read.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Doomsday Clock #9

(Written by Geoff Johns, illustrated by Gary Frank, colored by Brad Anderson, lettered by Rob Leigh, published by DC Comics)
I have no idea how they are going to wrap this up in only three more issues, but I will be there on new release day frantically awaiting each of those issues. The heroes of the DCU track Dr. Manhattan to Mars and the ensuing battle leads us to think something else is at play behind the scenes. I absolutely love this maxiseries and Johns and Frank are successfully pulling off what I had always thought to be impossible: providing a sequel and bringing the Watchmen universe into the DCU…I will say I need to see more Mime and Marionette.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Guardians of the Galaxy #3

(Written by Donny Cates, illustrated by Geoff Shaw, colored by Marte Gracia, lettered by VC’s Cory Petit, published by Marvel Comics)
When was the last time I could say I was reading more than one or two Marvel comics and being completely blown away by them? Yeah, I don’t know either, but Guardians of the Galaxy is an amazing thrill ride you cannot afford to miss. Thanos is dead after the events of some event I didn’t read and ultimately didn’t even need to read. The thing is, Cates has got you covered by setting everything up and letting you know that the cosmic “heroes” are gathered to stop the possible rebirth of the greatest threat to all of existence. Unfortunately, there are vastly differing opinions of how to do this. If you loved the fantastic Thanos Wins then this is a must-read.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Immortal Hulk #15

(Written by Al Ewing, illustrated by Joe Bennett, inked by Ruby José, colored by Paul Mounts, lettered by VC’s Cory Petit, published by Marvel Comics)
The last time I enjoyed reading the Hulk this much was when I was eight years old. This Hulk, however, is one steeped in horror and dread and mystery and all the things that keep current me on the edge of my seat. This issue has the Hulk and Doc Samson working together as Samson tries to discover why he is alive, what happened to Betty, and why a mutual friend’s grave is vacant. Props to Marvel for taking a chance on what is one of their most bizarre and intriguing comics.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Venom #12

(Written by Donny Cates, illustrated by Joshua Cassara, colored by Rain Beredo, lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles, published by Marvel Comics)
Venom is one of those characters that I could definitely apply the ol’ “take it or leave it” stance to…until Cates got a hold of him. Another solid horror title, with the “hero” trying to protect Earth from the threat of his symbiote’s god while struggling to come to terms with the fact that the symbiote that gives him his abilities might have been rewriting his memories. Dude, this book is so dang good, that I will probably have to pick up Cates’s Carnage title when it comes out too.

Mage: The Hero Denied #15

(Everythinged by Matt Wagner, colored by Brennan Wagner, lettered by Dave Lanphear, edited by Diana Schutz, design and production by Steven Birch, published by Image Comics)
Yeah, I was about fourteen when I bought my first issue of Mage: The Hero Discovered and it was love at first read; the final issue arrived when I was sixteen. Then I began hounding the poor LCS workers for roughly 11 years until we finally got Mage: The Hero Defined. Eighteen years after that series wrapped—and after learning to keep my enthusiasm to myself and not harass the poor LCS employees—the final chapter of the trilogy kicked off and here we are with the end of the whole dang thing. 35 years from beginning to end. Am I going to tell you how it all goes down? Nope. You need to start this journey at the beginning and luxuriate in the fact that you can go from chapter to chapter as quickly as you like, and I suspect you will want to whip through as it is a glorious ride. It’s safe to say an epic reread of the entire Mage trilogy will probably begin this summer. For me, magic will always be green.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Alright, I need to take some aspirin and try to get these sore muscles to loosen up. I might cry a little but that doesn’t make me any less of a man, doggonit!!! See you next week.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice into the Woods 3/22/2019

Comics Lust 3/9/2019

Welcome back, Donist World Denizens! For those of you new to our site, I’m Donist, and I am joined by Donist World CFO the Reverse Obie* (my friends’ Boston terrier whose fur recently swapped colors) and by our marketing director/administrative assistant/Carol Corp cadet Tulip. Yeah, I’m pretty late posting and almost didn’t have time to post anything this weekend, but my puppy executive team convinced me to pull myself together and get to writing. That said, the intro this week is short and sweet, so let’s get crackin’. Anyhow, prepare yourself for the awesomeness that is Captain Marvel, be kind to each other, mind your health and sanity, treat your friends to some tacos, keep your pets safe, cherish the ones you love, hydrate, and read some great comics. Thank you for reading!


*Obie, through his dabbling in arcane magiks mixed with ancient corrupt business practices, has had not just the colors of his fur switched, but a complete overhaul of his work ethic as well…I think I’m kinda okay with the mishap.


Not sure what “Comics Lust” is about? Take a look at the Introduction to “Comics Lust” post or take a look at the static “Comics Lust Table of Contents” page to jump to a topic.

Comics Lust

Ladies Night (Part 1)

It’s Women’s History Month and after seeing the positively fantastic Captain Marvel just two days ago, it’s high time we did some rapid-fire hits on some of the best superhero comics where women take the lead.

Captain Marvel

(Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Dexter Soy, originally published in 2012 by Marvel Comics)

If you are as pumped by the movie as I am, then look no further than this series by DeConnick that took a character with a backstory that was convoluted (to say the least), with a fluctuating power set that was difficult to keep straight, some interesting past costume choices (I like the Binary look), and reimagined the character by giving her a functional, non-ass-hanging-out costume (I believe designed by Jamie McKelvie), a more clearly defined and impressive set of powers, a more streamlined backstory, an actual personality, and gave us a character men and women, boys and girls could all respect and admire. The decision to have Carol Danvers take up the name of a great cosmic hero after his death in the early ‘80s is the cherry on top to this new and exciting Captain Marvel. You can start it all with the first few trades.

Ms. Marvel

(Written by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Adrian Alphona, originally published in 2014 by Marvel Comics)

With the original Ms. Marvel stepping up as the new Captain Marvel, there was a vacancy for the title of Ms. Marvel, and that is where Kamala Khan comes in. When a Muslim, Pakistani teenage girl is exposed to the Terrigen Mists—It’s an “Inhumans” thing…just go with it—she is granted incredible powers and sees an opportunity to do good in the world, just like her hero Carol Danvers. This series has won numerous awards and is a fun, inspiring story of a girl trying to navigate the worlds of superheroism, high school, family, expectations, and religion. It is simply delightful. You can dive in with the soon-to-be ten readily available trades.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman has been around for quite a while; since 1941, to be exact. So, it’s fair to say that the Princess of Power, Diana Prince, has had her ups and downs over her years in the DC Universe, so let’s spotlight a few creators who definitely got it right.

• Wonder Woman by George Perez (Everythinged by George Perez with other illustrators later in the series, originally published in 1987) Powerful, intelligent, beautiful, and surprisingly positive during a time when superhero comics were predominantly leaning towards the dark and gritty, Perez’s Wonder Woman is a bright and shining light with captivating story arcs and stunning art. Probably the best way to read this run is through the three Omnibus editions, with the last one containing the War of the Gods event…which I really need to read someday soon.

• Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka (Written by Greg Rucka, illustrated by many, originally published in 2003 by DC Comics) Rucka is known in the comic book world for his ability to create strong female characters, but in reality, he’s just a damn-fine writer able to tackle most any hero thrown his way…that said, this run is spectacular. Diana Prince is a diplomat from Themyscira who fights evil and inspires those around her. Your best bet is to get the two recently released collections with the first including Rucka’s OGN Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia. Heck, Rucka even returned to the character in 2016 with artist Liam Sharp and Nicola Scott as part of the “Rebirth” reboot of the entire DCU; the two deluxe editions for this later run are definitely the way to go.
• Wonder Woman by Gail Simone (Written by Gail Simone, illustrated by many, originally published in 2008) Admittedly, this is a run I have not yet read, but I eagerly anticipate correcting that error in my judgment as I have heard it is great. It is unfortunately out of print, but you can find it digitally. Her run ran from issues #14–44 of the 2008 third series.

Speaking of Gail Simone…

Birds of Prey

(Written by Gail Simone, illustrated by many, originally published in 2003 by DC Comics)

I am exceedingly past due for a reread of Gail Simone’s epic Birds of Prey run. Oracle (formerly Batgirl), Black Canary, and Huntress are brought together to stop an evil threat and decide to continue working together despite their many differences. Throughout Simone’s run—issues #56–90, 92–108—additional characters come in and out of the series including Lady Blackhawk, Big Barda, and many others. But regardless of who was on the team, each was a force to reckoned with in their own right but together they were unstoppable. Now, the bad news…it appears that all of Simone’s trades are out of print which is kind of odd, but I don’t think you’ll have to wait long for new collected editions as a Birds of Prey movie is slated for release in 2020. Simone did return to the title in 2012 with the New 52, but even those trades are out of print, which means you’ll need to scramble for the issues or buy digitally for the time being.


That’s it for this installment. Now, get out there and see Captain Marvel, you’ll be glad you did.

Comics Lust 3/9/2019

Comics Lust 3/02/2019

Welcome back, Donist World Denizens! For those of you new to our site, I’m Donist, and I am joined by Donist World CFO the Reverse Obie* (my friends’ Boston terrier whose fur recently swapped colors) and by our marketing director/administrative assistant/Carol Corp doggie Tulip. The puppy executive team and I have spent a few extra hours at the Donist World corporate office (Mom’s basement) this past week in preparation to close this Friday. We’ll have a couple beers and some great food before seeing a certain high-profile movie we’ve been eagerly anticipating; I just need to figure out how to sneak them in somehow. We can’t wait! Anyhow, prepare yourself for the awesomeness that will be Captain Marvel, be kind to each other, mind your health and sanity, treat your friends to some tacos, keep your pets safe, cherish the ones you love, hydrate, and read some great comics. Thank you for reading!


*Obie, through his dabbling in arcane magiks mixed with ancient corrupt business practices, has had not just the colors of his fur switched, but a complete overhaul of his work ethic as well…I think I’m kinda okay with the mishap.


Not sure what “Comics Lust” is about? Take a look at the Introduction to “Comics Lust” post or take a look at the static “Comics Lust Table of Contents” page to jump to a topic.

Comics Lust

Team Me Up, Donnie! Non-Big-Two Superhero Team Comics (Part 2)

When you say the words “Superhero Team,” people automatically think of The Avengers, The Justice League, The X-Men, and The Teen Titans. Those more fully steeped in the comic book world might mention the lesser known Legion of Super-Heroes, The New Mutants, The Doom Patrol, or others. The common factor amongst all of these superhero teams—aside from some freaking amazing runs, of course—is that they are all from the Big Two. But outside of the Marvel and DC comics world are some truly spectacular comics from smaller publishers that definitely warrant some much-deserved love.

Planetary

(Written by Warren Ellis, illustrated by John Cassaday, colored by Laura Martin, originally published in 1999 by Wildstorm Comics)

27 comics spread over 10 years…yeah, it was a brutal wait between issues but this Donist World Darling is so damn good it will forever sit firmly in my top 10 comics of all time. With this tremendous series, you get a complete story centered around three individuals who don’t look like your stereotypical superhero, but their unique abilities set them amongst the most powerful of the capes-and-tights crowd. New member Elijah Snow (very spry for a guy well over 100 years old, controls cold and ice), Jakita Wagner (nigh-invulnerable, superhuman strength, desperate to never feel bored), and The Drummer (not quite right in the ol’ brainpan, but can detect and read all forms of information whether that means electric, spiritual, or magical) are the three leading members of the group known as Planetary; there was once another member named Ambrose Chase, but Jakita and The Drummer will not talk about what happened to him…at least not yet (you’ll have to read the book to discover his fate!). Planetary sees themselves as archaeologists of the unknown and are dedicated to discovering the world’s secret history. Unfortunately, an evil group known as The Four (yup, Fantastic Four analogues) stands in direct opposition to Planetary and they seek to gather the mysteries of the world for themselves and always seem to be a few steps ahead.
Ellis brilliantly weaves in alternate versions of pop culture icons throughout the series like Godzilla, Tarzan, Captain Marvel (Shazam!), Nick Fury, Vertigo Comics characters, among others while Cassaday provides his career-defining work with beautiful colors by Martin who kept the series bright and vibrant in contrast to other popular works of the time. The best way to read this MUST READ series is through the two trade collections which include some extra one-shots, including the thrilling Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth that fans of the main series absolutely should not skip.
*note: Back in the day, I originally thought the series ended with #26, which left me with a rather unsatisfied feeling, but three years later, issue #27 arrived and completely delivered one of the most satisfying endings to a series I have ever read. I still get teary-eyed every time I get to those last few pages. Such a triumph of a comic!

Top 10

(Written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Gene Ha and Zander Cannon, originally published in 1999 by America’s Best Comics)

In a world where nearly everyone has superpowers, it stands to reason that the police have superpowered individuals on the force as well. Top 10 follows the cops of Precinct 10 as they seek to bring down serial killers, deadly gangs, and even an invisible ass-grabber. Moore—yes, THAT Alan Moore—creates a rich world with an impressive roster of characters with cool/bizarre abilities brought to astonishing life by Ha. I especially like Smax (a towering, surly, indigo-skinned, silver-haired tough guy), Girl One (a superhumanly quick and agile woman whose skin boasts constantly shifting patterns and colors), and Sergeant Caesar (a highly intelligent Doberman pinscher that walks around in a bipedal, humanoid exoskeleton) are my current favorites in the series thus far. Oh, yeah, I should mention that I finally just got around to reading this series and I’m loving every page of it thus far. Your best bet is to pick up the done-in-one collection…if you can find it.

Rising Stars

(Written by J. Michael Straczynski and later Fiona Avery; illustrated by a bunch of people including Keu Cha, Stuart Immonen, Gary Frank, and others; originally published in 1999 by Top Cow Comics)

Okay, to avoid trudging through the quagmire of Rising Stars material out there, I’m going to direct you to the Rising Stars Compendium which contains the following books: Rising Stars #0, ½, 1–24, Prelude, the short story “Initiations,” Rising Stars: Bright #1–3, Rising Stars: Voices of the Dead #1–6, and Rising Stars: Untouchable #1–5. I am definitely due for a reread of this series as I don’t fully remember much about it other than loving it at the time. What I can say is that after a fireball crashed in Pederson, Illinois, 113 children were later born with incredible powers. As they grew into adults, some sought to help the world while others looked to exploit it; they would come to learn their powers came for a grander purpose. Yup, I’m eager to immerse myself back in this world and experience the thrill of this series all over again.

Secret Weapons

(Written by Eric Heisserer, illustrated by Raul Allen and Patricia Martin, originally published in 2017 by Valiant Comics)

This one took me completely by surprise when I first read and fell in love with this short but compelling-as-heck miniseries and it too is calling out for a reread. The technopath known as Livewire seeks to gather four superhumans whose powers are considered by many to be “worthless,” but where others see a bunch of nobodies, Livewire sees great potential for good. Unfortunately, she needs to act fast as a mechanized serial killer is out murdering those with minor powers. Yeah, I was blown away by Secret Weapons #1–4 and you are in for a treat if you haven’t taken a quick dip in this nerve-wracking adventure. Luckily for you, there is a readily available trade, and lucky for me there are two additional issues that are not in the trade that I just learned about: Secret Weapons #0 (a prequel) and Secret Weapons: Owen’s Story #0 (following the adventures of Owen Cho who has the ability to summon things out of thin air…only he never knows what it is he might summon!). I know precious little about the current Valiant Universe and although Livewire seems to have a rich history around her you can jump right into the thick things and get along just fine.


That’s it for this installment, Denizens, have a great weekend and I hope you can make it to the theater this coming Friday to catch some Captain Marvel glory.

Comics Lust 3/02/2019