Comic Comments – Ghost of An Old Friend

I loved Ghostbusters when it came out. It was the summer after I graduated high school.  I think I saw it four times in the theater with various groups of friends.  Years later when DVD technology came into our home it was the first DVD I ever bought.  I wanted to introduce Aaron to the fun that was Egon, Peter, Ray, and Winston.  That’s why I put the comic on my pull list when I returned to comics.  Unfortunately I jumped on at issue 4.  This arc covers issues 1-4.  I was set for the next arc which I loved (and was commented upon at my G+).  So I had to go back and get issues 1-3 to complete this arc.  That took some doing as it was sold out, but I finally got the issues and read the whole arc.  It’s good to have the gang back together and complete.

First let’s credit the team that built this arc: Erik Burnham – Writer, Dan Shoening, Artist – Luis Antonio Delgado, Colorist – Tristan Jones, PCOC Pages – Shawn Lee, Letterer – Bobby Curnow, Associate Edits (Issue 1) – Tom Waltz, Editor.  Now for cover credits by issue.  Issue 1: Cover A (pictures here) – Art by Dan Schoening, Colors by Antonio Delgado – Cover B Nick Runge – Covers RIA & RIB Art by Dan Schoening, colors by Antonio Degado.  Issue 2: Cover A – Art by Dan Schoening, Colors by Luis Antonio Delgado – Cover B (pictured here) by Nick Runge – Cover R1 Art by Dan Schoening, Colors by Luis Antonio Delgado. Issue 3: Cover A – Art by Dan Schoening, Colors by Luis Antonio Delgado – Cover B (pictured here) by Nick Runge – Cover R1 by Tristan Jones. Issue 4: Cover A (pictured here) – Art by Dan Schoening, Colors by Luis Antonio Delgado – Cover B by Nick Runge – Cover R1 art by Erik Burnham, Colors by Luis Antonio Delgado.

Next we need to get the legal statement out of the way – All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

This whole story centers on the moment in the first movie where Ray chose the StayPuf Man to be the Destructor for Gozer. This led to the ending we are familiar with and made the GBs a world hero and franchise.  All is well that ends well right? Uh for everyone but Gozer.

This arc centers on Gozer trying to get a second chance to enter our plane of existence.  The first step is getting Ray to select something a bit more ominous.  Ray has an ally in this his fairy godfather – Jake Blues.  Yep the John Belushi character of the Blues Brothers.  With Jake on your side you know you are going to win!

Through out this second chapter of the Gozer story there are connections to the movies.  Slimer makes another appearance.  We see the Carpathian’s painting in the background of some scenes.  Mr Peck from the EPA (yes the dickless wonder) gets a new job from the Governor of New York.  It’s all good if you love this universe.

This art is fun and cartoony.  I don’t mind because honestly so were the movies.  It all fits nicely into the universe and carries forward the story much better than the animated series did.  I can see some influence stylistically from the series but it is not too much.

Finally the covers – the Cover B series draws inspiration from famous band album covers.  There’s the Beatles Abby Road Album on Issue 2, and Queen II on Issue 3 pictured here. The alternate for Issue 01 was KISS Destroyer inspired.  Issue 4 moved into TV shows with the R1 cover inspired by the Brady Bunch.  I enjoyed seeing the thumbnail of the ones I didn’t purchase. Yet,  I won’t be getting into the collecting of cover variations.

In the end I loved it.  It’s like the Dark Shadows comics for me a visit to something I loved at a younger time in my life.  With the rumor mill churning on GB III announced to start production in 2013 this is a fun way to fill the time and get excited for the next movie in what has become a comedy cult classic.

***YOU KNOW WHAT’S NEXT*** POSSIBLE SPOILER SCANS***

Comic Comments – Pull List Update

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a post updating on my pull list status.  Some comics have fallen by the wayside and others have come on the list.  Let’s look at what I am reading and why.

If you’ve been to Cons you’ll laugh and nod while reading.

The Adventures of Comic Con Girl had me laughing and nodding.  I’ve been to Cons and I know of what they are parodying.  This is a limited run and fun to laugh at ourselves.  I look forward to her adventures and know if this was on-going it’d drop but for the short limited it’s worth the read.

This issue Logan IS the bomb.

Actually I’ll have to say it wasn’t Logan being a bomb that brought me back. What brought me back into this title was the previews of this issue. I loved how the team reacted and worked together after the Logan bomb went off. How they supported him and worked with each other to figure it out. I like that kind of X-Men story it’s too much inter fighting and not enough teamwork stories lately. So I went back to issue 50 just before Northstar’s wedding issue. Oh Logan blew at the wedding reception luckily he’d left the tent to walk off his ‘too many canapes’ that were upsetting his stomach.

You wouldn’t know it today since I’m heavily Marvel and Independents but DC and I go way back. So far back that my first word was Batman, not Mom, not Dad, but Batman. However I burned on DC decades ago. I’d tried about every five years or so to make a foray into their titles to be disappointed. However the free Earth One I got with the preview of the Batman story line hooked me. That was a title I liked with just Batman. I put my old buddy back on the list in hopes we can renew our friendship. Would be could to welcome him back with Wolverine and Bigby as a favored hero.

I liked Top Cow back in the day. Then with the buzz surrounding this and the kickstarter project I just gotta see the results. So this went on the pull list. I’ll let you know what I think.

I’m staying with this title out of nostalgia. I loved Dark Shadows back in the early 70s and this has kept the vibe. Unlike the Depp/Burton butchering of it, this held true to what I adored. So as long as they keep up with the original I’ll keep this on my pull list.

Deadpool‘s own title the best of the Merc with a Mouth. I enjoy him as the antidote for the overly serious superhero/villain stories. He’s staying on the pull list for the fun that he is.

Fables is a staple of any pull list I ever create. when starting a pull list first on the list is Wolverine and second is Fables. Fables for consistence excellence in writing and art. I’ve never been let down by them in the years I’ve been reading.

The latest and currently on-going spin off from Fables. Just like the main titles have never let me down – neither have the spin-off titles. So I’m on board.

I have a handful of favorite characters in Marvel beyond Wolverine. One of the is Nick Fury. When this started set in the 60s with great cover art I was interested and haven’t been disappointed. I’ve heard the tale of Fury in WWII many times but Fury in the 60s-80s not so much and enjoy this take on him.

Another favorite Marvel man of mine is Gambit. He’s had his own title many times – this is his 5th. I wouldn’t miss it. I’m waiting for the first arc to complete before reading but I have flipped through. I’m anxious to see what he’s like here as teacher by day – superhero thief by night.

I’m a fan of the Ghosbusters movies. The first DVD I ever bought was the first movie. So I had to try this comic, they had me at John Beluishi as Jake Blues was the guardian angel of Ackroyd’s Dr. Raymond Stanz sold me on the series.

With the pleathra of paranormal “reality” shows and my penchant for loving those types of stories I had to try out this title. I’ve not been disappointed and it still sits on my pull-list in a well deserved spot.

When Marvel Zombies were introduced I loved them as a novelty gag. I didn’t nor am I interested in a series based on them. BUT a Halloween special SURE! Zombies, Marvel, and Halloween pass the candy corn I’ve got reading to do. I’ll also be getting the Holidays special just like last year. Hopefully I’ll be more timely in reviewing it.

Speaking of zombies – this centers around zombies in Wisconsin. I couldn’t resist. I’ve not read waiting on complete first arc before I dive in. I know it’s been highly praised and is in multiple reprints to meet demand.

I read great reviews of this and jumped in at issue 6 which was sold as a good jumping on point. I liked it so much I went back and bought issues 1-5. I’m a fan of the odd and strange. I’ve been intrigued by UFO tales since there was a bulletin board outside my 3rd grade class about them back in 1974. This story is good at weaving in all the classic tales, theories, incidents, and such into the telling. I am enjoying it very much.

Okay another type of story I enjoy the heist/scam story. Think Oceans 12, The Heist, The Sting, etc. Scam struck me as being in that vein. I put on the list and was surprised when I got issue 1 that it’s more than a double sized issue. I’ll stay on to see where it goes. So far so good.

Okay I jumped on this for two reasons 1) awesome reviews 10 out of 10 rating this I gotta see and 2) I’ve had to make similar decision (not so extreme) working in the rad waste industry as a consultant. I’ll be honest I’ve not read them yet again waiting for a full arc so I can judge. But if it lives up to a portion of what the reviewers claim – it’s awesome.

I got this to see where the over all Marvel universe goes post AvX interruptus. I hop on and off the New Avengers boat as the title and arcs grab me. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay on this Uncanny Avengers title but for now I’m willing to stay for at least the first arc.

I’m on and off the X-Force boat like I’ve been the Avenger boat. Anytime Cable isn’t there I’ll consider it. I don’t like Cable and avoid him unless Deadpool is there then I consider it REAL HARD. So here we have Wolverine and Deadpool my most favorite character and one of my other favorite Marvel men. So I’m on until this title ends at issue 35, which is 4 more issues.

Okay I’ll admit it I hopped on this title after falling for the TV show it inspired. Yes they are two different stories with the same characters and kinda the same plot but not exactly. Both are excellent both get my time, neither am I dropping. Good writing will always keep me enthralled.

Remember back at Fables I said whenever I start a pull list… well this is the first title on it. My favorite character by far in the comics is James “Logan” Howlett. This title at times rocks and other times sucks (like the most recently completed arc sucked.) At times it’ll be so bad I’ll drop comics all together for years (AHEM Evolution arc I’m looking RIGHT AT YOU) but then something awesome will come and I’ll be back. So this time I put on my barn boots and waded through the last arc of Sabertooth Reborn and hoped for better. Isn’t that always how it is with the one you love they’ll drive you crazy.

This would be number 3 on my pull list. I love this title and hope, hope that they assign strong artists to it. I adore the growth of character it took to make Wolverine headmaster of his own school. Five years ago we’d thought it’d been Scott but no it’s Logan who inherits Xavier’s dream and carries on. It makes perfect sense in many ways. I love watching it be carried out. I hope this title is around for a VERY long time and sits there on any pull list I make with Wolverine and Fables.

The final title doesn’t have a preview cover released yet – Wolverine Max. It’s a Wolverine title so yeah it’s on my list. It’s another retelling of the Wolverine tale so I might like it if it’s limited like Wolverine Noir was or I might get bored and dump it. Been there done that don’t need another universe to follow… like recent First X-Men title for me. Only time will tell. Check in to my next pull list post and see if it stayed or read the Comic Comments I do and see what I think.

Until next time!

Comic Comment – What’s on the Pull List Now?

Once again I’m been messing with my pull-list.  I hear of such great comics I just have to jump in and give them a try.   Then there are old faithfuls that almost always get unless the arc is so bad I suspend it until they are through it.  So what’s on the list now and why?

A bit of legalese – All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique.

Adventures of Comic Con Girl (Antarctic Press) won me over with the title alone! I mean really how can I a fangurl pass up a book about a fangurl’s adventures? At various comic cons no less! I’m in! It just started. I’ll start my comments with issue 1.

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