John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by DNArington »

JohnMayo wrote:[*]Hawkeye (2012) #17 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
Felt like a filler issue and I couldn't make it through the issue on the first pass.[/list]
This issue was so disappointing. I've still been enjoying the series despite delays and a drop in quality, but this issue was such a misfire. It felt like they wanted to do another "Pizza Dog" issue where they do something unique and experimental, but it just (as you pointed out) felt like filler.
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

For comics originally released on 2014-03-26 (Weekly Comics Spotlight #346)
4 out of 5s:
  • Adventures of Superman (2013) #11 @ $3.99 [DC: Digital First]
  • Alex + Ada (2013) #5 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • All New X-Factor (2014) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Amazing X-Men (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Avengers Assemble (2012) #25 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
  • Batman: The Dark Knight (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
  • Captain Midnight (2013) #9 @ $2.99 [Dark Horse]
  • Catwoman (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Deadpool (2012) #26 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Doc Savage (2013) #4 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Eternal Warrior (2013) #7 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
  • Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) #13 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Hacktivist (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios: Archaia Black Label]
  • Hawkeye (2012) #18 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Indestructible Hulk (2012) #20 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
  • Injustice: Year Two (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [DC: Digital First]
  • Iron Patriot (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • Justice League Dark (2011) #29 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Marvel Knights: X-Men (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
  • Midas Flesh (2013) #4 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios]
  • New Avengers (2012) #16 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Origin II (2013) #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Pariah (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse]
  • Private Eye (2013) #6 @ $0 [PanelSyndicate.com]
  • Protectors (2013) #5 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Real Heroes (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Image] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
    Read PDF preview from Image Comics press site because copy from DCBS was delayed. Item shipped with 2014-04-02 comics.
  • Serenity: Leaves on the Wind (2014) #3 @ $3.5 [Dark Horse]
  • Superior Spider-Man (2013) #30 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Superior Spider-Man Team Up (2013) #11 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Survive (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (One Shot)
  • Walking Dead (2003) #124 @ $2.99 [Image]
3 out of 5s:
  • A Plus X (2012) #18 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
  • All New Ghost Rider (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • All Star Western (2011) #29 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Aquaman (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Avengers (2012) #27 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Blackout (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [Dark Horse] (New Title)
  • Bloodhound: Crowbar Medicine (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse] (Ended)
  • Brilliant (2011) #5 @ $3.95 [Marvel: Icon] (Ended)
    The previous issue shipped on 2012-08-22. The issue started out with zero story momentum for me.
  • Bunker (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Oni Press]
  • Captain America: Homecoming (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (One Shot)
  • Critter (2012) #19 @ $3.5 [Big Dog Ink]
  • Fables (2002) #139 @ $2.99 [DC: Vertigo]
  • Flash (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Forever Evil: Argus (2013) #6 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
  • Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion (2013) #6 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
  • Larfleeze (2013) #9 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Miracleman (2014) #4 @ $4.99 [Marvel]
  • One Hit Wonder (2014) #2 @ $3.5 [Image]
  • Penny for Your Soul: Death (2013) #6 @ $3.5 [Big Dog Ink]
  • Rachel Rising (2011) #24 @ $3.99 [Abstract Studios]
  • Red Lanterns (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Revolutionary War: Omega (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (One Shot)
  • Sandman Overture (2013) #2 @ $3.99 [DC: Vertigo]
  • Savage Wolverine (2012) #16 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Silver Surfer (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • Star Slammers Remastered (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [IDW] (New Title)
  • Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller (2014) #1 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52] (One Shot)
  • Superman (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Talon (2012) #17 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Teen Titans (2011) #29 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Tomb Raider (2014) #2 @ $3.5 [Dark Horse]
  • Uncanny Avengers (2012) #18 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Unranked items:
  • Worlds' Finest (2012) #21 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
    Waiting for Batman/Superman #9 which contains the previous chapter of the crossover before reading this issue.
Launched (ongoing): 3
Launched (miniseries): 3
One-Shot: 4
Ongoing: 35
Miniseries: 10
Ended (Ongoing): 4
Ended (miniseries): 5

Net change this week: -3
Net change over 2014: -1
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

For comics originally released on 2014-04-02 (Weekly Comics Spotlight #347)
4 out of 5s:
  • Action Comics (2011) #30 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Aquaman and the Others (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Archer and Armstrong (2012) #19 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
  • Batwing (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Black Widow (2014) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Deadpool vs Carnage (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • Detective Comics (2011) #30 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Earth 2 (2012) #22 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Elephantmen (2006) #55 @ $3.99 [Image]
  • Fairest (2012) #25 @ $2.99 [DC: Vertigo]
  • God is Dead (2013) #10 @ $3.99 [Avatar]
  • Green Lantern (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Invincible Universe (2013) #12 @ $2.99 [Image] (Ended)
  • Loki: Agent of Asgard (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Punisher (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Quantum and Woody (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
  • She-Hulk (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Stormwatch (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
  • Suicide Risk (2013) #12 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Swamp Thing (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse]
  • Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man (2000) #200 @ $4.99 [Marvel: Ultimate Comics] (Ended) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
3 out of 5s:
  • Captain America (2012) #19 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • G.I. Joe Special Missions (2013) #13 @ $3.99 [IDW]
  • Green Arrow (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Green Hornet (2013) #11 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Inhuman (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • Magneto (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Marvels: Gaurdians of the Galaxy Prelude (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [Marvel: Marvel Movieverse] (New Title)
  • Moon Knight (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Movement (2013) #11 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • New Warriors (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Shahrazad (2013) #4 @ $3.5 [Big Dog Ink]
  • Sidekick (2013) #6 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Starlight (2014) #2 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger (2013) #18 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • What if: Age of Ultron (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
2 out of 5s:
  • Field (2014) #1 @ $3.5 [Image] (Sampled)
    This didn't work for me so I won't be continuing with it.
Launched (ongoing): 2
Launched (miniseries): 3
Sampling (miniseries): 1
Ongoing: 28
Miniseries: 2
Ended (Ongoing): 3

Net change this week: 2
Net change over 2014: 1
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

For comics originally released on 2014-04-09 (Weekly Comics Spotlight #348)
4 out of 5s:
  • All New X-Factor (2014) #6 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Astro City (2013) #11 @ $3.99 [DC: Vertigo]
    This would be a great issue for Doctor Strange fans who haven't read Astro City to check out.
  • Batman Eternal (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps (2013) #21 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
  • Daredevil (2014) #1.5 @ $5.99 [Marvel]
  • Deadpool (2012) #27 @ $9.99 [Marvel]
  • Flash Gordon (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Green Lantern Corps (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Iron Man (2012) #24 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Justice League 3000 (2013) #5 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Kings Watch (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment] (Ended)
  • Magnus: Robot Fighter (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Mighty Avengers (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Nightcrawler (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [Marvel] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Secret Avengers (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Superior Foes of Spider-Man (2013) #11 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Walking Dead (2003) #125 @ $2.99 [Image]
3 out of 5s:
  • All New Doop (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • All New Ghost Rider (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • All New Ultimates (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel: Ultimate Comics] (New Title)
  • All New X-Men (2012) #25 @ $4.99 [Marvel]
  • Avengers AI (2013) #11 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Avengers Undercover (2014) #2 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Batgirl (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
    This issue seems to set up a haunted/horror block in Gotham City in a reasonably interesting way.
  • Captain Marvel (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Constantine (2013) #13 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Deceivers (2013) #4 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios]
  • Federal Bureau of Physics (2013) #9 @ $2.99 [DC: Vertigo]
  • G.I. Joe Special Missions (2013) #14 @ $3.99 [IDW] (Ended)
  • Indestructible (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [IDW]
  • Invincible (2003) #110 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Iron Fist: Living Weapon (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • Legend of Oz: The Wicked West (2012) #17 @ $3.5 [Big Dog Ink]
  • Royals: Masters of War (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [DC: Vertigo]
  • Shutter (2014) #1 @ $3.5 [Image]
  • Superboy (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Thunderbolts (2012) #24 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Twilight Zone (2013) #4 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Unity (2013) #6 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
  • What if: Age of Ultron (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Unranked items:
  • Superman/Wonder Woman (2013) #7 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Worlds' Finest (2012) #22 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
    Waiting for Batman/Superman #9 which contains the previous chapter of the crossover that ended in the previous issue of this title before reading that previous issue and this issue.
Launched (ongoing): 4
Launched (miniseries): 2
Ongoing: 30
Miniseries: 4
Ended (Ongoing): 1
Ended (miniseries): 1

Net change this week: 4
Net change over 2014: 5
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by drew »

Unranked items:

Superman/Wonder Woman (2013) #7 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
Worlds' Finest (2012) #22 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Waiting for Batman/Superman #9 which contains the previous chapter of the crossover that ended in the previous issue of this title before reading that previous issue and this issue.
Will the delays affect your ranking of these items or do you separate that; i know Hawkeye's delays/mishaps seriously affected my appreciation of that title
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

drew102e wrote:
Unranked items:

Superman/Wonder Woman (2013) #7 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
Worlds' Finest (2012) #22 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Waiting for Batman/Superman #9 which contains the previous chapter of the crossover that ended in the previous issue of this title before reading that previous issue and this issue.
Will the delays affect your ranking of these items or do you separate that; i know Hawkeye's delays/mishaps seriously affected my appreciation of that title
I won't know for sure until I read the stories but, yeah, I suspect the delays will negatively impact my rankings. With the crossover between Batman/Superman and Worlds Finest, the story momentum has already died off a bit for me. The harder it is for me to remember previous chapters of a story, the less I tend to enjoy the overall story.

For that very reason, I tend to read novels in as close to a single sitting as I can manage. it is challenging for me to keep a 200 to 350 page prose story in my head for more than a weekend. With comics, the art helps make the stories a bit more memorable and the installments are so much shorter than the average chapter of a novel that the month gaps between issues are less of a problem. Multiple month gaps start to be problematic.

What all might Superman/Wonder Woman take place after that I can uses as a trigger for being able to continue on with that title?
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

For comics originally released on 2014-04-16 (Weekly Comics Spotlight #349)
4 out of 5s:
  • A Voice in the Dark (2013) #6 @ $3.99 [Image]
  • Amazing X-Men (2013) #6 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Bad (bleep) (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment] (Ended)
  • Batman (2011) #30 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Batman Eternal (2014) #2 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Deadpool vs Carnage (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Five Weapons (2013) #8 @ $3.5 [Image]
  • Hulk (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • Justice League (2011) #29 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Sinestro (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (New Title)
  • Six Million Dollar Man: Season 6 (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Skyman (2014) #4 @ $2.99 [Dark Horse] (Ended)
  • Solar: Man of the Atom (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment] (New Title)
  • Star Mage (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Image] (New Title)
  • Superior Spider-Man (2013) #31 @ $5.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
  • Thor: God of Thunder (2012) #21 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Unwritten v2: Apocalypse (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [DC: Vertigo]
  • Wolverine (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
3 out of 5s:
  • All New Executive Assistant: Iris (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Aspen]
  • Batman and … (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Batwoman (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Birds of Prey (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • God is Dead (2013) #11 @ $3.99 [Avatar]
  • Green Lantern: New Guardians (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Harley Quinn (2013) #5 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Mercenary Sea (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Morning Glories (2010) #38 @ $3.5 [Image]
  • Ms Marvel (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Nova (2013) #16 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Porcelain (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Red Giant] (New Title)
  • Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Smallville Season 11: Lantern (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [DC: Digital First] (New Title)
  • Star Wars (Lucas Draft) (2013) #7 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse]
  • Supergirl (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Translucid (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios] (Sampled)
  • Ultimate FF (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel: Ultimate Comics] (New Title)
  • Uncanny X-Men (2013) #20 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • What If: Age of Ultron (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Winter Soldier: Bitter March (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Witchblade (1995) #174 @ $2.99 [Image] (Sampled)
  • Wolverine and the X-Men (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Wonder Woman (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • X-Force (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • X-Men (2013) #13 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • X-O Manowar (2012) #24 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
Unranked items:
  • Star Slammers Remastered (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [IDW]
    Waiting for my copy from DCBS
  • THUNDER Agents (2013) #7 @ $3.99 [IDW]
    Waiting for my copy from DCBS
  • Trinity of Sin: Pandora (2013) #10 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
    The story seems to take place after the end of Forever Evil so I'm waiting until then to
Launched (ongoing): 4
Launched (miniseries): 3
Sampling (ongoing): 1
Sampling (miniseries): 1
Ongoing: 29
Miniseries: 7
Ended (Ongoing): 1
Ended (miniseries): 2

Net change this week: 4
Net change over 2014: 9
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

For comics originally released on 2014-04-23 (Weekly Comics Spotlight #350)
4 out of 5s:
  • All New Invaders (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Avengers Undercover (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Batman Eternal (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • City: The Mind in the Machine (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [IDW]
  • Daredevil (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Elektra (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Fantastic Four (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Guardians of the Galaxy (2013) #14 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Harbinger (2012) #22 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
  • Justice League Dark (2011) #30 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Lazarus (2013) #8 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Letter 44 (2013) #6 @ $3.99 [Oni Press]
  • Midas Flesh (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios]
  • Original Sin (2014) #0 @ $4.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • Secret Origins (2014) #1 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Star Trek (2011) #32 @ $3.99 [IDW]
  • THUNDER Agents (2013) #7 @ $3.99 [IDW]
  • Tomb Raider (2014) #3 @ $3.5 [Dark Horse]
  • Walking Dead (2003) #126 @ $2.99 [Image] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
3 out of 5s:
  • All Star Western (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Aquaman (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Batman/Superman (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Bunker (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Oni Press]
  • Catwoman (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Eternal Warrior (2013) #8 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
  • Five Ghosts Haunting of Fabien Gray (2013) #11 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Flash (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Fuse (2014) #3 @ $3.5 [Image]
  • Iron Patriot (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Jack Hammer (2014) #3 @ $2.99 [Action Labs] (Sampled)
  • Justice League United (2014) #0 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52] (New Title)
  • Larfleeze (2013) #10 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Powers Bureau (2013) #9 @ $3.95 [Marvel: Icon]
  • Protectors (2013) #5 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Red Lanterns (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Savage Wolverine (2012) #17 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Saviors (2013) #4 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Star Slammers Remastered (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [IDW]
  • Superior Spider-Man Team Up (2013) #12 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Teen Titans (2011) #30 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
  • Thief of Thieves (2012) #20 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Thunderbolts (2012) #25 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Uncanny Avengers (2012) #19 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • What If: Age of Ultron (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Zero (2013) #7 @ $2.99 [Image]
Unranked items:
  • Superman (2011) #30 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
    I'm not sure if this is set after Forever Evil or not so I'm holding off on it for now.
Launched (ongoing): 3
Launched (miniseries): 1
Sampling (miniseries): 1
Ongoing: 34
Miniseries: 6
Ended (Ongoing): 1

Net change this week: 3
Net change over 2014: 12
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

For comics originally released on 2014-04-30 (Weekly Comics Spotlight #351)
4 out of 5s:
  • All New X-Men (2012) #26 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #1 @ $5.99 [Marvel] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Atomic Robo: Knights of the Golden Circle (2014) #1 @ $3.5 [Red 5 Comics] (New Title)
  • Avengers (2012) #28 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Batgirl (2011) Annual #2 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Batman Beyond Universe (2013) #9 @ $3.99 [DC]
  • Batman Eternal (2014) #4 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Batwoman (2011) Annual #1 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
    This concluded the long forgotten story from Batwoman #24 which shipped on 2013-10-16.
  • Doc Savage (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Dream Police (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [Image] (New Title)
  • Flash (2011) Annual #3 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Green Lantern: New Guardians (2011) Annual #2 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Hacktivist (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios: Archaia Black Label] (Ended)
  • Hulk (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Injustice: Year Two (2014) #4 @ $2.99 [DC: Digital First]
  • Loki: Ragnarok and Roll (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios]
  • Pariah (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse]
  • Rai (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Valiant] (New Title)
  • Serenity: Leaves on the Wind (2014) #4 @ $3.5 [Dark Horse]
  • Star Wars: Rebel Hiest (2014) #1 @ $3.5 [Dark Horse] (New Title) (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
3 out of 5s:
  • Adventures of Superman (2013) #12 @ $3.99 [DC: Digital First] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Avengers AI (2013) #12 @ $2.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
  • Avengers World (2014) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Battlestar Galactica (2013) #10 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Blackout (2014) #2 @ $2.99 [Dark Horse]
  • Captain Midnight (2013) #10 @ $2.99 [Dark Horse]
  • Egos (2014) #4 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Elephantmen (2006) #56 @ $3.99 [Image]
  • G.I. Joe (2013) #15 @ $3.99 [IDW]
  • New Avengers (2012) #17 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Origin II (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
  • Rachel Rising (2011) #25 @ $3.99 [Abstract Studios]
  • Shadowman: End Times (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Valiant] (New Title)
  • Silver Surfer (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
    Not a bad issue of Doctor Who unfortunately it features the Silver Surfer and not the Doctor.
  • Uncanny Avengers (2012) Annual #1 @ $4.99 [Marvel]
  • What If: Age of Ultron (2014) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (Ended)
  • Wolverine (2014) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • X-Force (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
Unranked items:
  • Forever Evil Aftermath: Baman vs Bane (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52] (One Shot)
    I'm waiting for Forever Evil to conclude before reading the aftermath.
Launched (ongoing): 2
Launched (miniseries): 4
One-Shot: 1
Ongoing: 22
Miniseries: 6
Ended (Ongoing): 1
Ended (miniseries): 3

Net change this week: 2
Net change over 2014: 15


I think I haven't properly marked a few series that might have ended so some of these counts might be a little off. I'll go back and check all of that whenever I get some spare time to do so.
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SpideySavestheDay
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by SpideySavestheDay »

Another week without a 5/5 book. Where did all those good books go? I thought for sure the last Astrocity was worthy of the top notch. Such a good read.
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

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A comic has to be practically perfect for me to give it a 5 out of 5 stars.

While some people give those out like candy, I tend to reserve that rating for the exceptionally outstanding comics. In addition to being an amazing comic, it has to be one that I think I'll still clearly remember months from now. I see a 5 out of 5 as a perfect score and those are few and far between in my opinion. The value of the rating diminishes with over use. Likewise, a 1 out of 5 (or the even more rate 0 out of 5) are reserved for the astonishingly bad comics. By definition, most comics are going to be average. That is the very definition average after all. If I'm not liking what I'm reading, I don't read it for long. As a result, most of what I read is stuff that I'd consider a 3 or 4 with the occasional 2 for issues that just misfired in some way.

A couple of years ago I read an article by Roger Ebert about reviewing and he made a comment about the risk of over praising a work. I forget his exact phrasing but essentially he said if you give a work the highest rating, you are sort of obligated to include it in you best of the year recap. I was hesitant to give a perfect score to anything other than what I felt was clearly exceptional work prior to that and even more reluctant.

I've read over 800 comics since the start of this year and so far, I only have six 5 out of 5s on my scorecard:

She-Hulk #1
Daredevil #36
Star Trek #30
Six Million Dollar Man: Season 6 #1
Loki: Ragnarok and Roll #2
Daredevil #1

Like I said, I don't give those out lightly.

There is also a matter of my mood and frame of mind when I read something. Sometimes I read a bunch of comics and they all seem to be really good. Other times it seems like a lot of what I'm reading is just average. Some of that is the material but some of that is a reflection of how easy or hard I am to entertain/impress when I was reading the material. There have been cases in which I read something that is just too similar to something else I just read and that impacts my opinion of the comics. Had I read that same comics before the other work that influenced my opinion, my rating very well might have been different.

The latest Astro City came very close to getting a 5 out of 5 as did Original Sins #0. And I reserve the right to revise my ratings on those comics and possibly change them to 5 out of 5s.
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by drew »

The latest Astro City came very close to getting a 5 out of 5 as did Original Sins #0.
yeah these were great reads (and thus 5s for me)
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by SpideySavestheDay »

JohnMayo wrote:I see a 5 out of 5 as a perfect score and those are few and far between in my opinion.
JohnMayo wrote:Likewise, a 1 out of 5 (or the even more rate 0 out of 5) are reserved for the astonishingly bad comics.
Not just overuse but a misunderstanding of what the ratings mean. Case in point, I read quite a few reviews of Sinestro #1; I wanted know what others thought of it. On average reviewers rated the comic at a 3-4 but one reviewer slammed it with a "1". Is that a fair assessment of just about any comic book? Does the reviewer understand the meaning of a 1/5? Is this the "right" comic for this particular reader? The answer for all three is no. A fan of the medium understands every intricate piece that it takes to deliver a comic book. I question this person's appreciation of the medium.
JohnMayo wrote:A couple of years ago I read an article by Roger Ebert about reviewing and he made a comment about the risk of over praising a work.
Great example of someone who understood the power of a rating whether it was a simple thumbs up/down or number of stars. Plus he was so articulate when explaining his point of view.

John, your reviews are fair and what more can a person ask for?
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

SpideySavestheDay wrote:Not just overuse but a misunderstanding of what the ratings mean. Case in point, I read quite a few reviews of Sinestro #1; I wanted know what others thought of it. On average reviewers rated the comic at a 3-4 but one reviewer slammed it with a "1". Is that a fair assessment of just about any comic book? Does the reviewer understand the meaning of a 1/5? Is this the "right" comic for this particular reader? The answer for all three is no. A fan of the medium understands every intricate piece that it takes to deliver a comic book. I question this person's appreciation of the medium.
Clearly Sinestro #1 wasn't the right comic for that reader. I'm slightly curious how/why they rated it so low.

In my opinion, a rating of a 1 is as much of a reflection on the editor/publisher as the creative team. Something that bad ought not to have been published in most cases. Or, at the very least, the editor should have worked with the creators to fix the shortcomings of the work. Sometimes a creator can be too close to the work to see it objectively. That is part of the job of the editor. A single star rating is indicative of poor storytelling to the point that being able to enjoy the story is practically rendered moot because it was next to impossible to decipher the story.

But sometimes, a rating that low is a reflection of the reviewer. I'll admit there have been a few things I've read over the years that were essentially lost on me and might have been better than I was able to see. Sometimes I just miss an aspect of the story that on a second look is clear as day. That doesn't happen often but it has happened to me. once that piece clicks into place, my entire opinion of a work can radically change.

A rating is a mix of the subjective views of the reviewer and a somewhat objective view of the work. I can differentiate something I like from something I think is good storytelling and/or good art. I can enjoy something that is lacking in the technical areas and not enjoy something that is great from a technical point of view. In some cases, the objectively "better" something is, the less I might like it. A really well done horror story isn't something I'm likely to enjoy. Some people, and it seem like the person that slammed Sinesto #1 with a single star might be one of these people, can't differentiate what they like from what they think is well done. I'm guessing that this person didn't see something in the issue that once pointed out would cast the issue in a new perspective from which the work really is inferior.

The best kind of example of that I can think of would be when a writer tells a great story with a character that people unfamiliar with the character enjoy but flies in the face of the core concepts of the character making it hard for those familiar with the character to enjoy. The first Mission: Impossible movie was that way to a degree. They took the one guy that was the hero of every previous Mission: Impossible series after the first season and turned him into the bad guy. The movie also turned an ensemble show into a solo star movie. But, at that point, the problem isn't the movie or story but the title and names of the characters.

Again, there can be a world of difference between a "well executed" story and an enjoyable story.

Were I to give a comic a rating that low, I'd kind of feel obligated to point out some things that could have been done to fix what I saw as problems with the work. At the very least, then the creator gets some constructive feedback on the work which they can take or leave as they see fit.
SpideySavestheDay wrote:
JohnMayo wrote:A couple of years ago I read an article by Roger Ebert about reviewing and he made a comment about the risk of over praising a work.
Great example of someone who understood the power of a rating whether it was a simple thumbs up/down or number of stars. Plus he was so articulate when explaining his point of view.
While I didn't follow his work all that closely, his views on reviewing have certainly colored my opinions on how to review something. At some point I need to read/re-read more on his views of reviewing.
SpideySavestheDay wrote:John, your reviews are fair and what more can a person ask for?
Thanks. I appreciate that. I try to be as fair and understanding as possible when reviewing something. Every creator is trying to make the best comic they can and have spent a fair amount of time and effort doing so. The least I can do is treat them and their work with respect and give an honest appraisal of what I think of the work. I've had a few creators tell me either in person or over email that my review was harsh/critical but fair which I take as a compliment. I'd much rather be know for being critical but fair than for blindly loving everything that comes my way.
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Re: John's Weekly Reading and Ratings

Post by JohnMayo »

For comics originally released on 2014-05-07 (Weekly Comics Spotlight #352)
4 out of 5s:
  • Alex + Ada (2013) #6 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • All New X-Factor (2014) #7 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #1.1 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Aquaman and the Others (2014) #2 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Archer and Armstrong (2012) #20 @ $3.99 [Valiant]
  • Batman Eternal (2014) #5 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Batman/Superman (2013) #10 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Black Bat (2013) #10 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Critter (2012) #20 @ $1 [Big Dog Ink] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Cyclops (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel] (New Title)
  • Detective Comics (2011) #31 @ $3.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Earth 2 (2012) #23 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Justice League 3000 (2013) #6 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Loki: Agent of Asgard (2014) #4 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [Marvel: Ultimate Comics] (New Title)
  • Real Heroes (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Image]
  • Suicide Risk (2013) #13 @ $3.99 [Boom Studios]
  • Swamp Thing (2011) #31 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle (2013) #6 @ $3.99 [Dark Horse]
3 out of 5s:
  • Batwing (2011) #31 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Black Widow (2014) #6 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Clone (2012) #16 @ $2.99 [Image]
  • Deadpool vs Carnage (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Epic (2014) #1 @ $3.99 [ComixTribe] (Sampled)
  • Fairest (2012) #26 @ $2.99 [DC: Vertigo]
  • God is Dead (2013) #12 @ $3.99 [Avatar]
  • Green Arrow (2011) #31 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Green Lantern (2011) #31 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
  • Illegitimates (2013) #5 @ $3.99 [IDW]
  • Iron Fist: Living Weapon (2014) #2 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Magneto (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Miracleman (2014) #5 @ $4.99 [Marvel]
  • Miss Fury (2013) #10 @ $3.99 [Dynamite Entertainment]
  • Moon Knight (2014) #3 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Movement (2013) #12 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
  • New 52: Futures End (2014) #1 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • New Warriors (2014) #4 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Original Sin (2014) #1 @ $4.99 [Marvel] (Full review in Weekly Comics Spotlight episode)
  • Punisher (2014) #5 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Savage Wolverine (2012) #18 @ $3.99 [Marvel]
  • Shahrazad (2013) #5 @ $3.5 [Big Dog Ink]
  • She-Hulk (2014) #4 @ $2.99 [Marvel]
  • Teen Titans (2011) Annual #3 @ $4.99 [DC: New 52] (Ended)
  • Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger (2013) #19 @ $2.99 [DC: New 52]
Launched (ongoing): 2
Sampling (ongoing): 1
Ongoing: 32
Miniseries: 7
Ended (Ongoing): 2

Net change this week: 0
Net change over 2014: 16
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