Today, Jack and Shelby are discussing Hawkeye 9, originally released April 10, 2013.
Jack: Oh, poor, dear boy, Clint, what will we do with you? Getting mixed up with shady ladies, pissing off cops and criminals alike, dirtying the name of the Avengers by living in the morally gray, breaking hearts, and, always, always getting hit in the face. Continue reading
Today, Shelby and Drew are discussing Young Avengers 1-3, originally released January 23rd, 2013, February 27th, 2013, and March 27th, 2013.
Shelby: My sister used to work at Barnes and Noble, in the Young Adult section. It’s been a long time since I was what the publishing world considers a “young adult” so I didn’t have super high hopes when she told me I absolutely had to read The Hunger Games. Like Harry Potter before it, however, Suzanne Collins’ dystopian trilogy transcended the age of the “intended” audience to deliver strong and sympathetic characters and an engrossing plot line. I feel similarly about Young Avengers. It may not be billed as a book for teens, but Kieron Gillen has taken the concept of “teen versions of characters you already know” and crafted something much more meaningful than I initially expected. Continue reading
Today, Patrick and (guest writer) Michael D. are discussing All-New X-Men 9, originally released March 20th, 2013.
Patrick: ”What are we doing here?” It’s a practical question, but it’s also often a petulant one. The question is so charged, packed with implications about the many other ways the asker would rather be spending their time. In my experience, the next thought after “what are we doing here?” is usually “I’m leaving.” When you’re young and unattached, it’s a dangerous question because it can lead you to take almost any course of action. So when a time-displaced mutant that feels alienated from his only friends asks “What are we doing here?” it’s cause for alarm.
Today, Patrick and Ethan are discussing Uncanny X-Men 1-3, originally released February 13th, February 27th, and March 13th 2012, respectively.
Patrick: The X-Men are the perpetual outsiders. They’re different — that’s their whole shtick. Sometimes the X-Men don’t even get along with the X-Men. With Uncanny X-Men, Brian Michael Bendis doubles down on this outsiderness, pitting Cyclops’ band of merry mutants against every one — the government, the Avengers, the rest of the X-Men. It’s the rumblings of a truly unnerving mutant revolution.
Today, Ethan and Shelby are discussing All-New X-Men 8, originally released March 6th, 2013.
Ethan: Time-travel narratives always have the potential to bring up questions of self and identity. Though he wrote in less sci-fi context, Famous Dead White Guy David Hume talked about self not in terms of one, coherent, persistent soul but as a collision of different, constantly changing ideas and perceptions, like a train barreling forward with an ever changing set of passengers. While I may feel like I’m one, same person from one day to the next, I’m occasionally startled when my brain abruptly serves up a memory from the past. I remember the experience, the decisions, the stimuli as if it was me, but the choices and statements made by that past person often seem alien. That person was, in many real ways, NOT the me I am now. Reading All-New X-Men 8, I was happy to see that writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist David Marquez took some time to play around with these ideas.
Just over a year ago, we began reading monthly comics in earnest when DC relaunched its entire publication line. The New 52 afforded a great opportunity for uninitiated readers to get into ongoing titles. While a great discussion could be had on the differences and similarities between the New 52 and Marvel’s new Marvel NOW! relaunch, the latter seems clearly designed to emulate the successes of the former. With that in mind, we thought we might take this opportunity to expand our horizons into Marvel’s publications. Marvel NOW! affords us a unique chance to get into a title at the ground level, following new creative teams as they embark on new arcs with classic characters. We intend to capitalize on this opportunity, but we need your help. Continue reading
Patrick: Comic books are weird. Heroes die, travel through time, visit other universes – and yes, they occasionally punch holes in reality. And yet the biggest barrier most non-readers face is the simple fact that buying comics is a strange process. You have to put together a pull list, visit a special store and you can sink innumerable hours into figuring out what you’re supposed to be reading.
Plus: print media. OH PRINT MEDIA! Magazines, newspapers, regular books – all printed media is becoming increasingly unprofitable. So ten years ago, The Powers That Be decided the only logical conclusion would be to give away free comics once a year at independent comic shops all around the country (oh and Canada too, if that’s your thing).
Now look, you’re at least moderately geeky, right? You’re excited by either The Avengers coming out this weekend or that new Dark Knight Rises trailer, if not both. You don’t even need to invest any money at all to pick up new comics this Saturday. There’s a free Avengers book and there’s a DC New 52 book – and we’re probably going to to write something about it. There are also FORTY OTHER FREE TITLES to grab (I’m so going to get my hands on that Mega Man book if it kills me).
Naturally, all of the Retcon Punchers will be hitting up local comic shops during the day. If you wanna hook up at the store, just sound off in the comments – we’ll be happy to say hello!
Shelby will be at Alley Cat Comics in Chicago, Illinois
Peter will be at Fanfare Sports and Entertainment in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Drew will be at JP Comics & Games and New England Comics (at Coolridge Corner) in Boston, Massachusetts
Patrick will be at Meltdown Comics, The Golden Apple (they’ve got Burt Ward in the afternoon!), Melrose Music and Comics and Secret Headquarters in Los Angeles, California
In 2008, Marvel Studios introduced Tony Stark to the big screen in “Iron Man.” 4 years, one sequel, and new Thor and Captain America franchises later, we are a week away from “The Avengers.” This is the first time a studio has created separate movies for each team member, leading into a full-fledged, comic book team movie. Will it work? More important, could it be done for a DC team? What would it take for a full-fledged Justice League movie? Retcon Punchers sound off. Welcome to the Chat Cave.
Patrick: Oh, it’ll work. I don’t think there’s a doubt in anyone’s mind that The Avengers is going to work. It’s release geniusly coincides with the weekend of Free Comic Book Day, so fans of the movie may find themselves wandering into their local comic shop. Once inside, they’ll inevitably stumble on Marvel’s big cross-over series: Avengers vs. X-men. We laugh at the corporate buzz-word “synergy,” but this is some impressive fucking synergy.
Retcon Punch 