The Secret of the Wednesday’s Haul

It’s odd but for the last couple of weeks, it’s been hard for me to get really worked up about new comics.  I don’t know if it’s the economy or just tired comics but I could actually go another week without hitting a comic shop and would barely miss it.  And it’s not just me; I’ve noticed a general lethargy about Wednesdays lately from the general blogosphere.  And there’s some interesting talk about how accepting of mediocrity we as comic fans are.

Maybe it’s the economy.  Maybe it’s the political climate.  Maybe it’s just the changing of the seasons but there’s a definite strong and noticeable lack of interest lately in what’s happening on a month in/month out basis.  And it’s not just DC or Marvel.  Image has been rather bare-bones lately.  I can’t figure out what Oni is doing or what their focus is on but, other than Wasteland, their output seems haphazard.  Dark Horse has interesting projects but they lack any over-arching identity right now.  Fascinating work is still coming out of Vertical, Viz, Top Shelf, Ad House, Drawn & Quarterly and Fantagraphics but they’re on such a staggered schedule that it’s barely worth trying to figure out when things will actually come out.

That’s not to say good stuff isn’t coming out.  I can’t wait to get my hands on Tezuka’s Black Jack or to finally dive into Oni’s huge Local hardcover, or even finish reading Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President.  Heck, I’m looking at my unshipped orders over at DCBS and there’s a ton of good stuff hopefully still coming out this year (Captain America: Death of Cap v3, the reprint of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein and Godland V4 just to name a few)

I may just end up not going to the comic shop for another week and just head over to Borders and use their 30% off coupon this week on something good.

Final Crisis Revelations #3– The second issue was prtty good, even if it is a bit outside of Rucka’s wheelhouse.
Daredevil Cruel And Unusual TP– I appreciate what Brubaker is doing on this title but I came to the realization this morning that I don’t know if I’ll ever want to reread these books.  I loved his first storyline and wish he had gone more in that direction (Matt in jail or on the run in Europe) rather than returning to the Hell’s Kitchen status quo.  Depending on how this one goes, I may be dropping the trades of this series.
Immortal Iron Fist Book of the Iron Fist HC– More of a miscellany collection of leftovers from the Brubaker/Fraction run than an essential part of their storyline.  I could never get into their attempts at “Times Past” stories, preferring the focus on K’un-L’un and Danny Rand.
Pulp Tales One Shot Regular Edition– Chris Samnee!!!  Hopefully I’ll enjoy this than that Devil Slayer series from Marvel’s Max line.