Comic Book Journal

With the release of The Incredible Hulk Marvel Studios has cemented its place within Hollywood as a major contender and also silenced critics who thought that one superhero blockbuster was not possible–yet alone two back to back. Riding the success of Iron Man, the Hulk, whether loathed or loved was at least a financial windfall for Marvel who plans to release more titles in the future with the possibility of Captain America. The Hulk has already made over 54.5 million dollars in its first week. So DC now has to up the ante to compete with Marvel in film. The release of The Dark Knight on July 18th is a good starting point.

So why are comic book movies so compelling and successful this summer. I think that has to do more with the state of the nation than stories alone. Sure, they are all fairly entertaining, but can you think of any other vacation day that you spend less than going to the movies? With gas prices skyrocketing no one is going anywhere, The movies are local, affordable, and does provide that sense of escape that travel often does. What else are portable, affordable, and provides entertainment and escapism–comic books. Comic books plus movies equals summer vacation family fun that’s entertaining and inexpensive. Now is the time for the industry to really boom again and if publishers can capitalize on the market at this time, they could rebuild a loyal fan base for generations to come.

That’s this blogger’s view. With the economy being in its current state, it’s important for everyone to try to contribute to the health of the environment to use less expensive fuel and maintain the health of the planet. That’s why I’m going to have a bit of a contest. I have a comic book collection. I do not read all the titles I have every day. So I’m looking for some inventive ways to recycle my old comics. For the person who can come up with the most creative and original way to recycle or use old comic books will win–you guessed it, a HUGE stack of my old comics. Some could be valuable, some may not. They’re really not organized nor in alphabetical order. I’ll leave that to you. I’m running this contest until the July 4th, so put on your thinking caps. I’ll link to this post every so often for a reminder, and as always leave comments or send emails for entries.

Looking for cool things to customize your ride this summer check this out: http://www.comicbookjournal.net/top-ten-comic-book-auto-accessories/

Ok. For starters, I don’t know all that much about the character of the Atom, just that DC has relaunched the title before, so how does this fairly reincarnation stack up? With this title, DC might have also reinvented classic sci-fi in comics. The story was engaging, and the plot fast-paced throughout. The scripting and dialogue was also tight and Rick Remender’s use of caption drew me into the story. This dynamic interaction between written word and reader erased the fourth wall, leading to a thoroughly enjoyable read. Also–the art. Kudos to Pat Olliffe. The panels, the cover, the splash page, the detail, and the backgrounds, all virtually flawless. His style meshes perfectly with this genre as well, at times I felt I was reading a vintage pulp as the clear joy the artist has while drawing seems to seep through the pencils and inks. The only flaw I have with this book, and as I do with many runs on a series, is the lack of character introduction and a “previously” section in the beginning. With that said, I’d have to give thie book a solid nine out of ten. DC has stepped up their game, especially in sci-fi. Do they have any competition? I guess we’ll see, huh? For the skinny on other DC titles, see my recent review of the Action Comics annual at http://www.comicbookjournal.net/action-comics-annual-11/

We have fun here at Comic Book Journal don’t we? Hee hee. Ah yes, fun with numbers. To correct the last post, the Action Comics annual received a six on a scale of one to ten. Maybe I should invent a new scale hmm….something to ponder, perhaps a contest in the future then. Anyway I still have a ton of stuff to review, so onward!

With a title like Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters, I was not expecting to be entertained. In fact, I was expecting another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rip-off. And I though the days of animals having human characteristics were over. I thought Dynamite was a one-trick pony with Battlestar Galactica, but Dynamite has created an entertaining read with this series. Far from parody, ARBBH shows two aging former super hamsters fighting chupacabra in the Texas sun and reuniting with old allies.

While the story is entertaining and the artwork is nuanced and meshes well with the story, the book, in my humble opinion is overpriced. At $3.50 an issue the series, despite its high production quality will find it hard to attain and maintain readership. Overall, I’d give this book a seven out of ten. The comic is highly original with stylized artwork and high quality production– sure to attract new and younger readers, yet it could sink under the weight of its hefty price.

Interested in having a hamster of your own check out the forum on pets at home zookeeper on our own 451 Press. I’m sure you can search to find valuable advice on caring for your very own radioactive hamster. Here’s a link to one of the posts there: http://www.homezookeeper.com/wordless-wednesday-goofy-hat-boy/

Still more to come….