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AICN COMICS REVIEWS ELLIS' CROOKED LITTLE VEIN! X-FACTOR! ROGUES REVENGE! AND MUCH MORE!

Amazing turnaround if it is. by RMA	Jul 23rd, 2008 06:01:00 AM
I've been picking up Amazing Spiderman for the last few months as a reflex rather than out of any desire to see what's happening...hope this issue signifies a turnaround.
Amazing Spider-man by palewook	Jul 23rd, 2008 06:04:32 AM
has been lost since the One More Day reset. Still not sure it's found footing in 566. It's probably the best issue since the reset. Which might not be saying much..
i loved Stroman's X-Factor stuff. by Gatsbys West Egg Omlet	Jul 23rd, 2008 06:36:40 AM
i haven't liked any Strong Guy since his. and yeah, Havoc was a bad ass back then.
but i haven't followed it by Gatsbys West Egg Omlet	Jul 23rd, 2008 06:37:33 AM
in years and years. the new run is worth getting into?
Gatsby by optimous_douche	Jul 23rd, 2008 06:47:08 AM
X-Factor is WELL worth getting into and now is the perfect time. Strong guy is back to the same old Guido and quite frankly I like thisversion of jamie Madrox far more than the one from years ago. He's finally moved from bufoon to immature adult. As a fellow member of the Peter Pan club, I can relate to his desire to have fun at all costs, yet still feel the compelling need to make a difference.
by BangoSkank	Jul 23rd, 2008 07:03:09 AM
Gatsby: I wouldn't pick up the latest issue as a starting point, because --as mentioned above-- it's being dragged into SI. However I would recommend picking up a trade. Some great stuff. Can anyone tell me if Amazing Spiderman is still being put out four times a month? I'd be more willing to give Spidey another shot now and then, if it didn't require me to buy one every week. I wasn't really bowled over by anything last week... we found out what happened to Elektra, um, woo-hoo? Although I am enjoying the direction of X-Force, that issue was more or less one long scene reintroducing Archangel as a badass... This week we've got Uncanny 500, we'll see... we already got a sneak peak at some of the changes with Astonishing, and I wasn't exactly in love with the direction.... We got War Heroes, which I'll at least give a shot, and my first issue of She-Hulk in 20 years, because of the X-Factor tie... and probably more Secret Invasion stuff which has run both hot and lukewarm for me.....
I thought Crooked Little Vein was horrible by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 07:31:59 AM
Just bad, bad prose, and a plot that couldn't have been more ridiculous and contrived. The vice-president just shows up at the shitty P.I.'s office and gives him a job. No. The whole book was basically just an excuse for Ellis to run through every perversion that's currently tweaked his antennae. Seriously, as a book, it's a piece of shit.
Crooked Little Vein by Iowa Snot Client	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:01:54 AM
Jagged Little Pill, now in maximum strength intravenous form!
Laserhead by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:03:50 AM
Shit, based on the review I was going pick it up, now I won't. Thanks. I got too much other shit to read anyway. Shit.
Laserhead's in here a lot.. by rev_skarekroe	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:07:36 AM
...and I don't recall ever agreeing with him. So I'll be getting Crooked Little Vein, but I'm waiting for the paperback.
Brand New Day... has actually been good by Steve Rogers	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:23:02 AM
I know there's a lot of hate for BND on this board, but to be honest I think a lot of it is a reaction against ONE More Day, not the Brand New. Yes, One More Day was horrible, honking shit. But BND is, I have to say, the most fun I've had reading Spidey in 20 years. Kudos to Slott, et al. Bring on JRJR.
Actually, we've agreed on a few things, rev by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:25:11 AM
And if you don't usually read books, maybe you'll like CLV. But Ellis's prose is truly, dismally bad. The kind of stuff writers mock. And if you're a fan of detective novels, or have ever read a detective novel, his plotting does seem amateurish and contrived compared to most of the stuff out there. The book and its plot really is just an excuse for Ellis to laundry-list the perversions he runs across in his 'research.'
Brand New Day is such crap! by fanboyspodcast	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:29:45 AM
Even though it's losing thousands of readers each month...BND can't disappear fast enough for me! Just utter crap!
Well, Laserhead I stand corrected if we agree on stuff. by rev_skarekroe	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:31:05 AM
And from your description this book doesn't sound any worse than the Chuck Pahlaniuk stuff some people drool over.
BND - rehasing shit from 15 years ago by spidercoz	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:34:31 AM
I swear I've read every one of these Brand New Day issues already, way back in the day. Just change the names and it's all the same. At least with the Ultimate rehashing they put it through a blender first.
That's EXACTLY what it's like, rev by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:35:28 AM
I think Pahlaniuk is a god-awful writer. So if you don't like him, I don't believe you'd like CLV.
ambush bug- stop reviewing anything. please. also- by THE_ONE_MAN_GANG	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:51:04 AM
and i took a look at your comic out of curiosity... that is the type of comic book that makes people who dont read comics think we (people who read comics) are retarded. nice job. seriously that is a bad comic even for indie standards. stick to reading them.
What have the sales been like for Brand New Day? by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:55:08 AM
Anybody know? Is the reboot being considered successful?
Well now, Re: Pahlaniuk by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 09:11:49 AM
I like him(although I just finished Snuff and it is far from his best work but still enjoyable) but at least he has a body of work in the field to back him up. I'll scim through Ellis's book and take a look at his writing then make a decision.
Pahlaniuk Hate by Series7	Jul 23rd, 2008 09:27:31 AM
Yeah blah blah don't care, was hating him after Haunted then he totally redeamed himself with Rant. But has anyone read the William Christopher Bear stuff? Like the Poe trilogy starting with Kiss Me Judas?
Either Bring back the real Kraven the Hunter by cookylamoo	Jul 23rd, 2008 09:33:18 AM
or forget the whole thing. What is this, the fifth or sixth time they've tried to replace him with some sucky clone. They brought back Norman Osborne. Now bring back the K-Man.
Re: Rant by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 09:49:37 AM
Yeah Rant was a fucked up book and his best since Choke. Spoilers: Who sits down and thinks "Hmmm how about a book about how if you have rabies it enables a certain function in your brain that given the stimulus of an impending car accident allows you to travel back in time."?
Madrox and Guido by Gatsbys West Egg Omlet	Jul 23rd, 2008 10:23:35 AM
are two of the best superheros ever. i want to hang out with those guys.
back to comics momentarily, but... by Homer Sexual	Jul 23rd, 2008 10:28:00 AM
I am a serious bookworm, read probably a dozen novels a year in additon to a huge comic habit. I bought Crooked Little Vein a year ago, haven't read it yet, but my S.O. liked it. He also likes a lot of the dick-swinging style Ennis and sometimes Ellis does, fwiw. He was heavy into Preacher and says Preacher and Crooked are in the same vein (groan intended. yay puns). Umm, Pahlaniuk is a frequently great writer. The book of Fight Club is outstanding. So is Survivor. So is Lullabye. (Coincidentally, currently reading Rant, by Pahlaniuk, and it's a lesser effort. Denise Mina is a writer I think posters here would enjoy. I got her first book, Garnethill, because of her run on Hellblazer. I didn't really like her Hellblazer because her style seemed more suited to prose than comics. I am so glad I did, her novels rock. And, like I said, I'd strongly recommend her to comic fans who also read fiction. Best novel ever? Easy...it's A Confederacy of Dunces! I have read it twice and will probably do a third one this year.
note to Sailor by Homer Sexual	Jul 23rd, 2008 10:34:55 AM
What is weird is that we both agree on Pahlaniuk's body of work, but I loved Haunted and found Choke overrated. And, as mentioned, am not that into Rant either (although you just gave away something I haven't gotten to yet). Do we agree that Diary was his worst book?
"Crooked" just came out in paperback, Rev. by SleazyG.	Jul 23rd, 2008 10:50:49 AM
That's why Bug reviewed it--he didn't get the hardcover either. Oh, and the paperback is actually sort of like a TPB: additional materials the publisher threw in the back, not in the original hardcover. Some source material, some stuff culled from Ellis' web writings, etc. So you're actually getting even more bang for less buck.
Palahniuk is good and bad. by SleazyG.	Jul 23rd, 2008 10:53:58 AM
SURVIVOR and LULLABY? Good. CHOKE? Not so much. The problem is that he really does revisit similar themes and subject matter far too often. In fact, that's why I liked LULLABY: he was forcing himself to stretch. But I feel like you can only revisit porn, hookers, transsexuals, religion, etc. so many times before it feels like the same old same old from him. Shit, I liked SURVIVOR a lot, but even that was playing with some of the same identity/duality issues as FIGHT CLUB. What I really want outta this guy is for him to push himself to go in new directions and deal with new subject matter. I should probably get something more recent by him, but I've read a lot of negative reviews from fans of his earlier work, so I don't even know where to start at this point.
Loved Chuck P. when I first.... by BangoSkank	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:11:06 AM
began reading his stuff, which was the day after I saw Fight Club... but I think he uses the same voice a lot of the time, and it just doesn't always work for me. Could not force myself to finish Diary, and then struggled with Haunted.... Maybe enough time has passed that I'll give Rant or Porno a chance, 'cause --goddamn-- I LOVED both Fight Club and Survivor, and enjoyed Invisible Monster, Choke, and Lullaby to varying degrees as well.
Has anyone read Mike Carey's by BangoSkank	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:14:51 AM
The Devil You Know? Also, I've had CLV in my Amazon queue since it was released.... It's down to $4 in hardcover, maybe I'll finally pick it up.
Homer Sexual by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:17:53 AM
Yes, we agree about Diary. Sorry about the Rant spoiler. I did put "spoiler" there but I know sometimes it's hard to stop reading.
by Homer Sexual	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:19:48 AM

BangoSkank by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:19:51 AM
"Porno" is by the guy who wrote Trainspotting.
SleazyG by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:22:58 AM
Read "Rant". Force yourself to finish it. I know that doesn't sound like a glowing recommendation but when you hit the end you'll have one of those "Holy shit" moments that Chuck's books often have at their conclusion. Like when (spoilers for Choke) The girls ID bracelet falls down her arm and you realize this whole time she was a pateint at the hospital, not a doctor.
Bango.. by Homer Sexual	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:23:18 AM
You are right, that's why I'm not feeling Rant...seems like the same old, same old. I hated the throughline in Haunted for the same reason, but then the actual stories were just so outstanding. Seriously, Guts is the best short story I have ever read in my life. Sailor, you are totally right. it is my own fault for continuing to read past the spoiler warning. And now, back to comics. It was really pegged here that Final Crisis is all about bring back Barry Allen, I guess, for some reason I don't understand. I am going to try and come up with a comic from last week I really liked.
Thanks OMG by Ambush Bug	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:23:57 AM
for those insightful and detailed criticisms. I put the link there at the end for the hell of it, which is the exact same reason I made the little comic little comic in the first place. If you didn't like it. That's cool. No biggie. But if you were looking for a story that takes itself way too seriously, it doesn't surprise me that you were disappointed. The tongue was firmly planted in cheek while I was making that book (it usually is when I write my reviews too). Either way, just because you told me not to, I think I'll continue to write reviews and the occasional comic for the forseeable future.
Will Christopher Baer by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:27:57 AM
I've read 'Kiss Me, Judas' and 'Penny Dreadful', mostly because we have the same publisher and they sent me a bunch of free books. I thought they were alright, somewhat better than Palahnuik, but still fairly sloppy. I really like detective fiction though, and like Ellis I don't think the work holds up next to the better examples of detective fiction- McDonald, Crumley, Ellroy, Lehane -it just introduces a bunch of fringe elements into the form.
You can continue writing reviews Ambush Bug... by MrSensitive	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:29:18 AM
...just as long as we also get more stories about women rejecting you for reading comics. That's gold Buggy, pure gold!
Hey Bug by optimous_douche	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:31:29 AM
At least folks are clicking your link :-) I would love to get an ass reaming for my link, at least it would mean people are goin to it. It takes courage to put your thoughts on paper and even more to do graphics when you are not a graphics guy. You were published...nuff said.
Laserhead by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:31:44 AM
You do agree that Chandler perfected the detective story some 70 years ago, right?
Sailor by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:39:27 AM
I LOVE Chandler. His stories and books are more fun than going to the movies. I've got the library of america editions of his work and duplicates in dog-eared paperbacks. But I think Ross MacDonald came closest to 'perfecting' the detective story with his Lew Archer series.
Laserhead by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:43:20 AM
Never read MacDonald, will give him a try.
MacDonald's best by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:46:05 AM
Try 'The Chill' and 'The Galton Case'. I think those are his two best. All his stuff recently came back into print.
Sailor by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:47:18 AM
Or try this book: 'The Last Good Kiss' by James Crumley. Hardly anybody knows it, but that's one of the best detective stories EVER.
I'd go for the easy joke... by Joenathan	Jul 23rd, 2008 11:49:07 AM
something like: comic reviews always a week late, so naturally any book reviews have to be at least a year late... but I'll refrain. No I won't... Hey, Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan came out about a year ago, soooo... are you going to review it next week?
Laserhead by Sailor Rip	Jul 23rd, 2008 12:09:11 PM
Thanks.
The Ambush Bug preview at Newsarama is hilarious. by Laserhead	Jul 23rd, 2008 12:15:06 PM
And also, back to my question: does anybody know if Brand New Day's being considered successful or not? How are Spidey sales compared to a year ago?
Thanks, SleazyG by rev_skarekroe	Jul 23rd, 2008 12:55:52 PM
Now I'll have to get it and put it at the bottom of the foot tall stack of books on my list. And if I hate it, Laserhead can say "I told you so".
Bug. by Felix_Happer	Jul 23rd, 2008 01:23:02 PM
You're dead on. I have not enjoyed Moon Knight this much since the Sienkiewicz' run.
Comparing Venture Bros. by droog	Jul 23rd, 2008 01:57:37 PM
...to The Helm is like comparing Young Frankenstein to Scary Movie.
Warren Ellis by kungfuhustler84	Jul 23rd, 2008 01:58:22 PM
What a great comic book author. I will definitely have to check out his novel on the strength of his comic work alone. Thunderbolts and Planetary are two of my favorite books. I'm excited to get money so I can finally read it!
Umm... by alaska1125	Jul 23rd, 2008 02:02:00 PM
...I'm pretty sure no one pointed this out, but Ron Marz was not (and is not ) a "realistic artist". He's actually a writer. Stroman's stuff threw me for a minute on page one. After that I remember why I liked it.
CLV was ok by DOGSOUP	Jul 23rd, 2008 02:56:42 PM
But it didn't service it's own story.It was one gross out gag to the next with sprinkles of plot. I want Warren Ellis to try again.
This is slightly off topic... by Mavra Chang	Jul 23rd, 2008 03:23:21 PM
But is for people attending Comic-Con who are fans of "30 Days of Night": Limited Edition 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust Comic Book! Get a free, limited-edition Dust to Dust comic signed by scream queen Shawnee Smith and horror icons Ken Foree and Ted Raimi! Visit FEARnet in the Sony Entertainment booth #4313 on Saturday the 26th from 12-1 PM. Only 10,000 free copies of the comic are being pressed, so aside from the opportunity to meet stars you'll be taking home a great piece of memorabilia.
Laserhead by the milf lover	Jul 23rd, 2008 08:05:03 PM
Joe Quesada has been claiming up and down that people love Brand New Day, that sales are getting better and that it is considered a big success by Marvel. I dont know how "accurate" this is, or who the "people" are that he's referring to, reading his interviews half the time he just sounds so defensive about the abomination he perpetrated with One More Day. Personally I dont really care, I havent bought a SpiderMan comic in the last 15 years that wasnt drawn by John Romita Jr, Stazinski's run was pretty awful and I'm glad JRJR dropped out before Sins Past. But I am looking forward to his upcoming run on Amazing, if only because I get to see him draw a lot of different characters. I'm also enjoying the hell out of KickAss, but damn the constant delays.
Thanks milf by Laserhead	Jul 24th, 2008 09:38:40 AM
I'd like to see those numbers. I've picked up a few BND issues, keeping an open mind, and it just seemed like really boring, retro stuff. Basically what I read in the 80s.
Laserhead... by DuncanDisorderly	Jul 24th, 2008 01:57:22 PM
Check out icv2.com, they've got all the sales numbers since BND started.
Thanks DD by Laserhead	Jul 24th, 2008 02:29:59 PM

wow... by the milf lover	Jul 24th, 2008 03:00:06 PM
I just looked at that icv2 site... damn the Amazing BrandNewDay sales have dropped by more than 25% in the last 6 months! Quesada is so full of shit!
Warren Ellis: The Only Adult... by Buzz Maverik	Jul 24th, 2008 11:45:41 PM
...still amazed that he can smoke cigarettes. Seriously, have you ever seen a smoker over the age of 9 who made such a big deal out of being able to light up? Okay, movie producers in the 90s seemed to impress themselves whenever they smoked a cigar, but otherwise...
In all fairness, Buzz... by SleazyG.	Jul 25th, 2008 12:53:32 PM
...he was amazed about it here in Chicago because the whole state of Illinois has banned it in public places--unless it's under very limited circumstances, such as "performance art", which is how his talk was classified. He's also amazed because the same sort of bans have kicked in back home for him, so he can no longer smoke at the pub. Mind you, I fully support such bans and am deeply annoyed by anyone foolish enough to attack them...just explaining why he was so surprised/pleased.
BND by fanboyspodcast	Jul 25th, 2008 01:51:09 PM
Since it's retcon Brand New Day has declined EVERY SINGLE MONTH. There hasn't even been 1 month where it was close to being even. Not sure what Quesada is talking about when he says sales are great. From the first issue (obviously inflated) to current the title has shred anywhere from 44% to 25% of it's readers. Right now the only thing making it profitable is the three times a month sales. Per issue numbers and readers...less and less.
Wow by Laserhead	Jul 26th, 2008 11:05:08 AM
I hope Quesada and the shareholders understand what that means. I worry that he just points to 'Amazing Spider-Man' sales being higher than ever-- which they would have to be since it's now released three times a month --and the board just nods and gives him a raise.
Sailor Rip.... by BangoSkank	Jul 26th, 2008 03:36:57 PM
This is a little late into the week, but... Thanks for the correction. I was thinking of Snuff, which --if I understand it right-- is about a giant porno gangbang.... Mixing up my titles.... Was Porno the sort-sequel to trainspotting that had the giant talking tapeworm in the guys belly? Never mind, it really doesn't matter.... and way off topic to boot.
Bango... by Whitemouse	Jul 26th, 2008 05:27:58 PM
'Porno' is the sequel to 'Trainspotting' (all the characters came back it's set 10 years on from Renton stealing the money) the talking tapeworm one is 'Filth' (that's enough Irvine Welsh) now Chuck...I'm not sure which one Snuff is, which is the one with the short stories that begins with story about the boy in the swimming pool? I think that's either Snuff or Haunted...we need an AICN Book Column at this rate
re by sila80	Aug 26th, 2008 03:27:18 AM
Bingo!!! Real information! ----------- Wrinkles treatment - free info!
test by rost	Oct 1st, 2008 05:20:27 AM
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AICN COMICS REVIEWS ELLIS' CROOKED LITTLE VEIN! X-FACTOR! ROGUES REVENGE! AND MUCH MORE!

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