Episode 5

...It's been way too long.  I feel terrible about not making time to update in over two weeks, but I am back, and can hopefully put together a nice streak.

Life has been a bit nuts as of late, a few weeks ago we had our first scare with our daughter, that she might be sick.  It turns out we were just doing what first time parents do, overreact.  In the past two weeks, Aquagirl has been seemingly growing so much, and learning new things daily.  I really could go on and on about how awesome she is, and how much fun it is being a dad, especially hers.  Even on the days that she is fussy, or the nights she gets up super early, I still feel an amazing sense of pride and joy.  It is something you can't understand until you are in that situation.

In other news, my job has been hectic as well.  Getting out late prevents trips to the LCS, and leaves one unfortunately too drained to really do anything.  As I hinted about above, my mornings are pretty much spent hanging out with the little one.  Mommy and I spend time together at night.  It may be weird to some, but most nights we end up just talking, a lot of times about the same stuff, but after ten years we still enjoy each other's company above all.  I also think that we are finally going to get some normalcy back into our lives.  I think Aquamom would be better classified as Supermom some days, and I think those days are going to be more frequent as time goes on.

My pulls from two weeks ago did not disappoint, all the books I got were top notch. 

Unfortunately, I forgot to add The Fade Out to my pull list and wasn't able to get it at my normal store.  A week later, I did however find it elsewhere.  I kind of felt bad but ended up getting something that made up for it. 

In addition to the above book, I got the original cover for Grayson #6 (my LCS pulled the Flash variant for me).

I also happened upon a TPB of another Image comic that caught my attention.

I liked this authors work on Nightwing, and the premise of this story caught my eye.  A group of heroes, unionized in Chicago, in the '60's.  Superheroes and noir, two of my favorite things.  I am hoping that I enjoy this story as it definitely seems like something I would like.

That is however all the time we have for today, I hope to provide some brief commentary on the Grayson issue, and will go into some C.O.W.L, once I get the chance to dive in.

Until next time, continue to enjoy your families, and your comics!

Episode 4

...Long day yesterday so I didn't get much time to update and provide previews proper, so with the rest of the family sleeping in I will do a quick pull list preview...


Action Comics #38
Clark is home in Smallville during the rebuild from the last arc's destruction when a new entity shows up.  Just picked this book up at the beginning of the new story line.  Hoping that the book keeps up with its current quality as its counterpart, Superman, has been on point since Johns and JRJ took over.
Aquaman and the Others #9
Still sad to hear that this book's run is coming to an end shortly.  Although it isn't a great book, it is more Aquaman and that can't be bad.  Anyways, we should be learning more about the past relationship between the Operative and one of the Soldier's platoon mates.  Also curious to see the play out between the Others and the Russian themed super group that is threatening.
Detective Comics #38
The villain Anarky is present in Gotham and doing his best to incite chaos, as he believes this will, in a way, bring order.  Excited to see this story line furthered, as I really appreciate these types of Batman stories that are a bit more grounded and focus on his skills as a crime solver.
The Fade Out #4
Not too much here, as I have yet to read the first three issues (I know, I know, but sometimes you want to be able to enjoy something with peace that you can make it straight through).  I really want this book to turn out as good as all the things I've been hearing.  This type of noir really goes right up my alley.  I will be sure to review the entire series once finished.

Finally, hoping for a better, warmer day (although I may be about 5 months out from what I consider warmth).  Hoping to make it to my LCS before they close.  And wishing that I get more great update pictures from my wife with our little girl inside, they make even bad days a little brighter and cold ones a little warmer!

Until next time...

Episode 2

As promised...

All the packaging done by Midtown was top notch, and I know because I work for a packaging company, they actually bought this box from the company I work for.

I got the three Trade Paper Backs on top, and two issues of Image Comics' The Fade Out in addition to 50 self sealing bags and boards.

I heard about this series a few months ago on Comic Book Resources, CBR.com.  An old Hollywood crime drama, right up my alley.  As I mentioned in Episode 1, my LCS only had the second issue, but Midtown had issues 1 and 3 which allowed me to get up to date on this series.

This is the first collected volume of the year long weekly Bat-book event.  They were already pretty far in by the time I decided to purchase print comics.  Lucky for me DC decided to put out a collected edition.  It collects 21 issues so it may take me awhile to get through, but I look forward to it none the less.

Since I began reading comics, I have always tried to find a Superman story that wasn't too over the top.  It's not that I don't like those stories, I just wanted to read a more grounded, no pun intended, story.  Everywhere I looked, this one was raved about.  I haven't been the biggest fan of the author, Grant Morrison, but I think that I may have found something of his to connect to.

All Star Western was a title that was recommended to me by a local shop owner set up at a local comic con.  He told me that the book, even though told through the main character of Jonah Hex, focused on Gotham city in its infancy.  He was right, and the first TPB I got was a lot of fun, similar to Indiana Jones and a Clint Eastwood movie.  This volume 2 picks up where the first left off, and ties into an early New 52 event which introduced The Court of Owls.  

Now that I previewed these books, I will have to do a more formal review, nothing too extensive though.  Wouldn't it be awesome to do something like that for a living?  Since I don't, I will have to juggle these into an already seemingly heavy schedule and on top of that prefer to read in the morning.

...Oh, what's that, as I began to upload the pictures for this post, my little one woke up.  I feel bad because she has been either teething or a little under the weather for a few days now.  Her discomfort breaks my heart, and I feel for my wife who is lucky enough to stay home with her but must juggle her moods.

That is what family is all about though, caring for each other and doing what is necessary for the whole.  We are very blessed here and I try not to take it for granted, not only do I have a terrific little thing going, I have a neat hobby to occupy what little free time I have.    

Stay tuned for the next episode to find out what happens next, or just to see if I opened these books.  Until then, I'm off...