Apr 26 2012

Aquaman 8

Today, Shelby and Patrick are discussing Aquaman 8, originally released April 25th, 2012.

Shelby:  Geoff Johns first impressed me with Rebirth, the retold origin arc of Hal Jordan as Green Lantern. His narratives combine epic, sweeping action with a much closer, personal look at the characters. He has a knack for writing emotion that doesn’t diminish the super-humanness of these characters. Lately, I haven’t been quite as impressed; both Justice League and Aquaman have felt a little….pedantic. It’s true, I have fallen away from Johns somewhat with the relaunch, but I feel like this Aquaman arc is beginning to get back to what it is I first liked so very much about his writing.
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Apr 26 2012

The Flash 8

Today, Drew and Patrick are discussing the Flash 8, originally released April 25th, 2012.

Check out Drew’s exclusive interview with Francis Manapul here!

Drew: Last month, Patrick voiced some concerns about objectively judging this title. Maybe we want to like it too much to say whether we actually do. After putting this issue down a little disappointed, but deciding that it was brilliant before starting this write-up, one could conclude I’ve already crossed the line of objectivity. However, I’d like to make the case for why this seemingly eventless and exposition-heavy issue actually carries the torch of thematic unity that has made this title so fantastic.

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Apr 25 2012

The Vault – Blackest Night Lantern Corps Etched Pint Glass Set

The Retcon Punchers spend an awful lot of time looking for ways to celebrate our nerdy obsessions. This means a lot of time sunk into scouring Etsy, Deviant Art, Think Geek or whatever. Sometimes we see things so great we just have to share them… and then clutch them fiercely to our collective chest. Throw it in The Vault.Blackest Night Corps Etched Pint Glass Set

Website: Good Guy Comics

Who Would Love This: Drinkers with very specific groups of friends

Price: $79.99

If you worry that people are going to drink out of your glass because they all look the same, this set of Lantern Corps-themed pint glasses is for you (or at least the Avarice glass). Toast l’chaim with the Life glass, give your designated driver the Will glass, or just turn glass selection into an incredibly nerdy party game (as if there were any other kind). Really though, there’s a glass for everyone’s drinking style: the Rage glass for angry drunks, the Love glass for horny drunks, and the Compassion glass for friendly drunks. Things might get weird for the person using the Death glass, but nine is kind of a weird number for a party anyway.

Apr 25 2012

Interview with Francis Manapul: April 21st, Boston Comic Con

Francis was kind enough to stick around even after they turned out the lights.Francis Manapul was on fire at this weekend’s Boston Comic Con. After a full day of drawn-as-you-wait commissions, Francis was gracious enough to sit down for an interview — as he prepared a sketch for Saturday’s charity auction.

Check out Drew and Patrick’s review of the Flash 8 here!

Drew: With the new 52, the Flash seems to have hit the reset button a little harder than a lot of the other titles —

Francis: Oh, I don’t know about that. Anyway, sorry, go ahead.

Drew: Can you talk about where the decision to go to Barry’s “past” came from?

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Apr 24 2012

The Vault – Wayne Tech Parking Sticker

The Retcon Punchers spend an awful lot of time looking for ways to celebrate our nerdy obsessions. This means a lot of time sunk into scouring Etsy, Deviant Art, Think Geek or whatever. Sometimes we see things so great we just have to share them… and then clutch them fiercely to our collective chest. Throw it in The Vault.

Website: Etsy

Who Would Love This: Anyone who would have to find street parking in downtown Gotham otherwise

Price: $3.00 (or a buck, if you buy it with anything else)

Look we all know that it’s fun to go to the park near Wayne Tower tower downtown. It’s such a hassle to take public transit (two trains and a bus or three buses) and driving isn’t an option because parking in a garage is damn-near unaffordable. Plus, you never know when there’s going to be some secret meeting or fist fight breaking out in one of those things. No, you’ve got to get this Wayne Technologies (a division of Wayne Enterprises, I guess) so you can park in the employee parking structure under the building. OR IT’S ALL FICTION and you could just jam this sticker in your windshield and wait your entire life and still not have anyone notice. Shelby, this is secret nerdery stretched to its logical breaking point.

Apr 24 2012

Retcon Punch at Boston Comic Con

LINES

Drew: This past weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of attending Boston’s own Comic Con. Like Peter and Shelby‘s recent experience at C2E2, this was my first con. I arrived a little late, and found the line stretching around the block (the entrance to the convention center is around the corner and down a looong city block from where I took that picture), but was only the first of many lines I would enjoy that day. Continue reading →

Apr 24 2012

Birds of Prey 8

Today, Patrick and Drew are discussing Birds of Prey 8, originally released April 18th, 2012.

Patrick: Birds of Prey found such a strong, clear voice early in its run. I knew who Dinah was, I knew who Eve was and I understood their dynamic. They even had a cool villain that could control minds and make heads explode. As the team grew, so did my enthusiasm for the series. But the narrative waters are getting murky, and when my expectations grind so violently against the book that was delivered, my enthusiasm wanes. Continue reading →

Apr 23 2012

The Vault – Gotham Evening Post prints

The Retcon Punchers spend an awful lot of time looking for ways to celebrate our nerdy obsessions. This means a lot of time sunk into scouring Etsy, Deviant Art, Think Geek or whatever. Sometimes we see things so great we just have to share them… and then clutch them fiercely to our collective chest. Throw it in The Vault.

Website: The Art of Mark Dos Santos

Who Would Love This: Batman fans, Norman Rockwell fans, fans of irony and Americana

Price: $10.00

This edition of the Vault is special, because NOT ONLY did I get the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Dos Santos at C2E2, I actually purchased this fine print, along with two others. This is one of those sorts of prints that I call “secret nerd art.” These are probably more obvious than, say, my Firefly vintage travel posters, but they still count. I love things that, at a glance, are not nerdy at all. It’s only if you look closer and are a nerd that you see just how big of a geek I am. I am going to frame all three of these lovely signed prints and hang them proudly in my living room. Plus, Mr. Dos Santos informed me that is going to be starting a Kickstarter to make a coffee table style art book of his prints, so keep your eyes open for that.

Apr 23 2012

Green Lantern Corps 8

Today, Shelby and Peter are discussing Green Lantern Corps 8, originally released April 18th, 2012.

Shelby:  We talk a lot on this site about the balance of action and plot in the titles we read. Comic books have a fine line to tread, between providing enough action to keep things interesting and also creating a plot that’s deep enough to keep things interesting. Last month’s issue of Green Lantern Corps was one of those action-light issues, and I thought it was boring. More specifically, I thought the necessary plot points that were executed were done so in a overwrought and cliched way. This month we have another action-light issue, but happily Peter Tomasi has written a story that advances the plot into the next arc in a way that keeps me interested.
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Apr 23 2012

Captain Atom 7-8

Today, Peter and Patrick are discussing Captain Atom 7 and 8, originally released on March 21st, and April 18th, 2012.

Peter: As we continue in the post modern world of Captain Atom, we are seeing a lot of references to time and not-so-intuitive nature of cause and effect. The running clock which accompanies every scene-change ensures that this theme remains pervasive throughout. Time is ever moving around us, but in the world of Captain Atom, it’s something entirely different.
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