A Sunday Review

TV this week:

• Doctor Who Confidential: "The Italian Job" - I usually watch these and don't comment, because they are good but not so much that I feel I need to make a fuss. This one, however, showing the trip to Italy for the Pompeii episode, is really worth seeking out.
• Star Trek New Voyages/Phase II: "In Harm's Way" - I was surprised at just how good this one was, despite some eye-rolling fanstuff early on.
• Star Trek New Voyages/Phase II: "Center Seat" - very short Sulu story that follows directly on from In Harm's Way. Amusing.
• Numb3rs: "Checkmate" - this one felt slightly disjointed to me, thanks to Charles being off for training.
• Chefography: "The Food Network" - I missed the early years of the network, so it was fun to see the non-food-creation stuff that originally aired.
• Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: "Something Different" - I spent too much time in school buses in my youth to want to eat in one, even if the food is good.
• Classic Doctor Who: "Image of the Fendahl" Parts 3 & 4 - I want a pet Fendahline-y thing.
• Ghost Hunters: "Ghostly Conversation" - not as bad as the last few, but I'm going to miss the comparatively grounded Destination Truth now that its season is over.
• Smallville: "Descent" - I no longer care when a character appears to die, since all the characters on this show have died a few times each already.
• Doctor Who: "Planet of the Ood" - oodles of scary fun. The Circle must be broken!

Comics this week:

• DMZ #30 went in an unexpected direction in multiple ways, and now I really can hardly wait to see what happens next.
• Powers Annual 2008 is quite a book, with 13 pages of letter column. Which I didn't read. Because reading the Powers letter column feels like wading into a pool of slime.
• Noble Causes #32 annoyed me. Seriously. Bring back Liz and Race.
• Doctor Who #3 has cats. I like cats, but this is getting ridiculous.
• Lone Ranger #11 was nearly incomprehensible because it's been so long since I read the last issue.
• Darkness #3 explained the whole series so far and twisted the end. Not really my thing, but at least it's vaguely interesting.
• Red Sonja #32 had an alternate Red Sonja, and since I'm a sucker for alternates/what ifs/elseworld-type stories, I enjoyed this.
• Countdown 2 made the entire series sort of make sense. I'm sure it would totally make sense if I'd read the entire thing. Maybe.
• Superman #675 was heartbreaking and yet hopeful. Hrm.

No library books worth mentioning this week. Nor did we get a chance to watch a library movie. Last Sunday we went out to a play (The Wizard of Oz, oddly enough) which was a fun little production with an unexpected rocketship at the end (hubby-Eric knew about it, but I didn't). The cast was a mix of professional and non, with a live orchestra and a backdrop partially designed by my friend D (the one I buy comics for). So it was worth the trip.

Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews

A Sunday Review

TV this week: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: "Big Breakfast" (I always wonder how Guy can eat as much as he does), Torchwood: "From out of the Rain" (freaky freaky freaky - I hate circuses), Dinner: Impossible: "Santa Fe Struggle" (despite revelations about Robert's resume-padding, I enjoyed this one), Supernanny: "Banjany Family" (cross-dressing 3-year-old and poor snack management), Ghost Hunters: "Two to Tango" (not much of interest), Destination Truth: "Haunted Island: Death Worm" (hilarious! Those islanders put on a show for them), Ace of Cakes: "Celebration Week" (the ear cake was great!), and Smallville: "Hero" (Pete as freak-of-the-week, huh?).

Comics this week: My friend D, who buys some comics through me, decided to get the rest of Countdown, so I'm starting with Countdown 7 and I'm slightly confused. It had high points, though, and I'm curious to see how this whole thing ends. Green Lantern Corps #22 was the typical space adventure that I have no interest in. Wonder Woman #18 still hasn't got my interest. It's well-written, the art is good... I just don't care about the character. JLA Classified #54 had enough Aquaman to satisfy me, and Byrne's artwork wasn't nearly as bad as it's been in the recent past. I really like Tiny Titans #2, but I agree with the commenter who asked, "Who is the audience for this?" It seems a bit too continuity-laden for kids, but way too simple for (most) adults.

I like DMZ, but it sometimes reminds me too brutally of the current political situation. DMZ #29 continues the trend with a reminder of just how difficult it is to bring people who have been at war back together. I've been mostly disappointed in IDW's Lone Ranger, so I wasn't expecting much from Lone Ranger and Tonto #1. But this was great! Ok, it's a depressing story, but it's powerful. I'm glad D bought it. My friend D also bought Rogue Angel: Teller of Tales #1, which was also better than I was expecting. The archeology aspects probably pulled me in the most. I hope he gets the next issue. Doctor Who #2 was considerably better than the first issue artwise. I'm curious to see where the story goes from here, though, particularly the bits with planetary populations vanishing. Serenity: Better Days #1 nice set up. I liked it. "The Hero of Canton... he's real!" Bwah!

An unexpected bonus in the mail this week was the final State Quarters set from the US Mint. This one has Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii. I don't like Oklahoma or Arizona. Oklahoma has flowers and a bird, and I just don't like the composition. Arizona's design tried to do too much, and is cluttered as a result. New Mexico's simple design breaks one of my rules (state outline appears) but is otherwise very nice. The Alaska one is going to irritate Stephen Colbert, as it's got a bear on it. I also like Hawaii's coin. Best of the bunch? I'd go with Alaska. Worst is Arizona.

This week's movie was Justice League: The New Frontier. Not enough Aquaman, but otherwise pretty good. I think it might be a pretty confusing movie if you don't know your DC history. On the other hand, bits of the book that didn't make much sense to me now make perfect sense. I'm looking forward to seeing the extras on the disc.

I also got a Fortean Times mag and a couple of library books, but I haven't had a chance to read them yet. I've been too obsessed over the Aquawiki.

Past Sunday Reviews -- Comics at Amazon.com -- Previews

Really Rapid Reviews

These are mini-capsules: about one sentence per book with whether or not I recommend the book.

3 February 2007

JLA Classified #33: "The 4th Parallel" part 2a: Eh. I could take it or leave it. This one just does nothing for me. Mildly recommended.

Phantom Annual #1: "Five Days of the Dragon": I really liked this one. The ending was a bit weak, but the other stories were wonderful. Recommended.

Nodwick #36: "The Evil Wed(ding)": I like how everything ties up at the end. It's a good one! It's also the final issue of this version of Nodwick. Recommended.

Usagi Yojimbo #100: It's the freakin' 100th issue. Of course it's good. It's just not the normal stuff, since it's a jam issue with all kinds of guest art and writing. Recommended, but only for people who are already fans of Usagi.

7 February 2007

52 Week Forty: "Man Ain't Nothing But A Man": Lorena has a good role in this, and it confirms that she's part of the Titans during the missing year. Now I want to see more of the Titans during the missing year. Recommended.

Detective Comics #828: "Sharkbite": Another great standalone story, yet set in the wider context of modern Batman comics. WHY CAN'T MOST COMICS BE LIKE THIS? The Aquaman reference didn't hurt my opinion of the book, either. Highly recommended.

Action Comics Annual #10: Not bad. Kind of Silver Age-y in a good sort of way. If I was more interested in Superman, I would have enjoyed it much more. Recommended.

Justice League Unlimited #30: "Heavy Mettle": Booster Gold and Speedy? Booster Gold and Speedy!?? Oh my. Recommended.

Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil #1: "YROOB SZH Z HVXIVG!*": Very cute. Kinda cuddly, even. And sweet. Odd, in some ways. Recommended.

Astro City: The Dark Age Book Two #2: "Eyes of a Killer": If you are going to set up a story like this, the cliffhanger at the end of this issue is definitely a fantastic pay-off! Highly recommended.

X-Men Annual #1: "Covenant": My friend asked me to pick this book up for him because he'd been told it would be a good jumping on point. So I thought, what the heck, I'll read it too! Not bad, but the cliffhanger means nothing to me. Mildly recommended.

Lone Ranger #4: This book jumps around a little too much for me, but it's starting to come together in my mind. Mildly recommended.

Star Trek: The Next Generation #1: "The Space Between": Artwork on a licensed comic is so difficult to do "right", and I think this book just barely manages it. The story was intriguing, at least. Mildly recommended.