What happened to the glitz and glamour of foil and hologram covers on comic books? Sure you can get 20 different variant covers, 19 of which are probably drawn by Mister Turner, but gone are the days of straight to shelf flashy covers. Or you could always go to Dynamic Forces if you are willing to part with your hard earned.

T'was the early to mid nineties, maybe the height of the "speculator" craze that brought about so many variables to the fore. Or maybe it was because the comic companies were just trying to defribulate a market that was all but dead. Either way, covers like Iron Man #290 with its gold foil inlay, Superman #123 with glow-in-the-dark electricity zapping from his new duds, Wolverine #75 with a banging hologram stuck straight on the cover and Spider-Man #25 with its giant hologram cover making it one of the coolest covers of its time.

Either way, these covers were exciting. Even though I wasn't slightly interested in any 2099 series except Spidey, I still had to get every issue #1 just for their kick butt chromium facia.

I'm not saying that chromium, foil and hologram covers are no longer released. Only that their prevalance on the shelves is going the way of the collectors card... only difference is, I was happy to see cards go.

 

Freezing time now, with the swelling of the fingers into massive clumps like the obese what nub along the side dishes into funnels from the troughs. Such as it is, the feeding of the face in times of icy cold weather. Breathe inside the house, those that can see their own heat hit the cold, well, house heating may very well be an optional extra next to thermal underwear.

Take forever for a resurrection when not playing in the big two companies of franchises. Well, looks like that any way when big title changes are concerned. Nevertheless, here comes a return of Tales From The Crypt #1. Horror at it's most. And a well wishing that the kind of stories what kind the nads of the comics back in times before the Comics Code Authority hold the same kind of bit a hungry cow does for clumps of grass.

Recently an issue in this series, must have been something back about #12, didn't really jive, nor was there any real beats of jazz. Wonder then what the tune is on Ex Machina #29 by the time it gets around to that. Probably over in Kentucky by the land of this very issue.

Bendis remains, but Bagley takes a walk with Ultimate Spider-Man #110 being his final solo issue of the long running series. Stuart Immonen is taking over on the next issue with half, but let's read out the final whole Bagley issue for a nice chunk of a Marvel series. Right now on #99 actually, looks like a corker.

And cannot just pass up on Tick 20th Anniversary Special Edition #1. Jam issue, throws in all sorts of creators to slam their take on the big blue boy with antennas out his forehead. Looks promising, looks like one ride of laughs and neck popping veins.

 

Happy days! I've been in contact with comic artist extraordinare, Todd Nauck and in between his ridiculously busy schedule he has managed to answer 10 questions for lil ol' me!

Todd is a veteran of the comic arts with credits including Teen Titans, Young Justice, Teen Titans Go, Supergirl and most recently Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man with superstar writer Peter David.

1. What was your favourite childhood comic book?

Probably Secret Wars. That was the series I started collecting comic books with. It established my love for comics featuring lots of superheroes.

2. What is your favourite current book?

Invincible by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley. It’s the most fun book to read. If you’re not reading it, check it out!

3. How did you get your start in comics?

A friend from art school showed my homemade WildGuard mini comics to Dan Fraga from Extreme Studios at a comic book convention. He took them and showed them to his boss, Rob Liefeld. I got a call 2 days later to come work for Extreme. Then I moved on to work for DC and Marvel Comics.

4. Who is your favourite character to draw?

Probably my WildGuard characters. There’s just something about drawing your own creations!

5. If you could be one superhero (or heroine) for a day, who would you be?

I’d say Green Lantern. I’d love to give a power ring a try.

6. Who is your favourite writer to work with and why?

I don’t have one favorite writer. But I do like working off of Peter David’s stories. J Torres has been fun to work with as well.

7. What will you be doing once you finish your run on Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man?

Right now, I’ll be finishing up my Teen Titans Go run. I also plan on doing more WildGuard.

8. If you weren't a professional artist, what would you be doing?

Trying to get work as a professional artist! Or a game show host.

9. What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Practice! Draw as much as possible. Work on the storytelling aspect, backgrounds, and layout as well as drawing cool shots of the characters. Don’t be afraid to show your work to editors. Learn from their critiques.
And most importantly, have fun!!!

and finally...

10. Autobots or Decepticons?

Autobots all the way!


Ya hear that? "Autobots all the way!" I knew I liked this guy!!!

Thanks again to Todd for taking time to answer my questions in between his deadline crunch.

 

Closing out the final part of this three part chapter in Spider-Man's life, the whole gang returns with a party of others in the mix. Quite the busload really, fitting them in takes a lot of switching back and forth. Not unlike web slinging through the city scape as the New Goblin and Spider-Man duke it out.

From there, it's just quite certain that watching Spider-Man 3 at the IMAX is the game of those with loose necks and even looser eyeballs. Eyeballs which may operate independently if given the scope of the action sequences Spidey swings through.

And such swinging, all in a flavour of style which deliberately signals just how much more fluid his actions are, how more in touch he is within. Touch too much and it's a case of emo reflux, comedic in all its glory.



Bruce Campbell is as ever a nugget of gold. Bryce Dallas Howard looking the way she does, really spot on perfect for Gwen Stacy, perfect as the foil and flip to what Mary Jane proposes in the life of Peter Parker. Still, hard to beat the chops of James Franco (Harry Osborn) across the spread of these first three movies. And Stan Lee? Yeah, well...

Forget about those who came in late, they'll always come in late. This is a movie at speed in which things move is quick, no let up save for the pauses to squeeze in the comedy. Sure, things such as characterization blaze right through with an apparent chasm between logic and motives.

Venom and Sandman, things move fast with these two as they develop during the course of the film. Not a hard task at all to follow their stories in this whole scheme of things. So many plots, so many characters, and Sam Raimi delivers it with a punch to the side of the face that keeps you asking for more.

 

February 8, as auspicious and as ordinary as another day. A day for new comics and a day to start remember a new number for questions made in person. They'll usually mark it as a side note, comparing, checking and look it up and down. Bums and the homeless think 19 at times. They're good odds to walk.

Turns out that #104 was not actually the end of the Clone Saga arc, which pools over into Ultimate Spider-Man #105 being the penultimate part of that multiparted section. Course, this never matters when everybody around spoils the storyline as they chit and chat in regular conversation. Still, that's the price you pay being six issues behind on reading. Whine, whine, whine, it's a drunken kind of stench.

Scalped #2 is on for the week and its first issue didn't make the quick pile to read. Said Native American mobster copy was also the victim of having a leaky water bottle crack a slit and wet itself. Carrying that kind of moisture really stands out when the pages crinkle down the corner and it's not a sound effect.

From the online preview pages alone, Secret #1 looks like it starts to have legs by the fifth page. Thing is, it only peeks at four, so the guess is on for what rolls around the page. Nice washy look to the art though, and with that, a feeling of things being a little questionable from the outset.

Real hang out is Fell #7. Tight and loose at the same time, it's crime fiction at it's most concentrated and easy to digest form.

 

Bang a gong, and it's February already, shortest month of the year, cruftiest of them all. Best month actually, when you come to think of it. On the cusp of the seasonal calendar that breaks in from summer into autumn. Doesn't stop the sweating though. And you'd think it was only the obese to crank out the drip glands heavy. Woah.

Haven't been reading big on the whole Choosing Sides thing at Marvel, but when Peter Porker's about, look out. Ultimate Civil War Spider-Ham Crisis #1 clearly states one side to choose. Pork. Or ham. Or bacon. Pigs ears a rather natty though.

Ah, the series that is a gift unto itself, Kabuki #8 is expected in this week. It's the comic that keeps on giving, but certainly makes sure you wait for it. And what a wait. Like amnesia kicks in the side of the donkey with a mule to boot. Classy, but certainly familiar.

Much like the state of affairs in Ex Machina #26. Other people might not have this problem, but any series that hits the stride into the 20s, and the brain can't recognise it being a different number. Same case with Futurama. Ever eternal on the same number despite the contents within and the cover itself changing on the listing.

Two more additions, Jack of Fables #7 and Wasteland #6 are possible goers. The former sits ready to be read with the first five issues holding up with staples far from curling. The latter was a great read on the first issue and the two after that are also in the holding bay. Looking over the pile of "yet to read" it's unlikely, no matter how good these two are, that they'll join too quick.

A little time perhaps.

 

The Jew-hating jurnlist known as Borat gets his own up in the green swimsuit of his this Thursday November 23. Possibly clashing with people who are trying to eat their food wrapped around things not of that hot lycra green he sports. Well, every one and everybody has their tastes and if it's of hair like that, a salad without dressing is surely a criminal offence.

What comes as no surprise other than a little bit of tardiness is the V For Vendetta 7 Inch action figure. Certainly nothing to do with a recent V related stand for issues that matter in the States. Finding answers and holding people accountable to their actions. Now that is a lot of V masks. Who's sweaty in the cold now?

Continuing to ruin the read before hand is knowing that Ultimate Spider-Man #102 might be on again with the whole whatever it's going on with. The "Spider-Woman" bit was mentioned about a couple of places, here's hoping the mind is wiped enough that when sitting down it only remembers the previous issues and less of the chatter from strangers.

Somewhere in the pile of all that is holey with the ordering system, Casanova #6 will fit right in. Nevertheless, it's ability to jump about like a cracker on a pepper bed is not without charm. Without sense in places, but not without charm.

And it's about time now whether or not Jack Of Fables #5 will be the last to be pulled aside of the series. All this delay in reading the previous issues seriously dents the hood of a non-existent car. But, there's something about wanting to pick it up fresh that's a driving force. Majorly.

One of the better stand-alone type comics out there will be Futurama Comics #28. No need to know anything preceding, the jump in is shallow and quick to get wet. Fun with a danish and a sploog of yoghurt for the hell of tasting what otherwise would be a normal morning breakfast in front of the weet-bix.

 

End of the month now and October 26 brings with it the change of day light savings in not a few days after it. Also on that weekend, Supanova, where most of the Comic Shop will be. Here's hoping that it'll be somewhat extremely quiet in store as the bods rush the stall at the convention.

Is it wrong to be falling so behind that picking up a comic is a habit of just walking from the shelf to the counter? Yes, yes it is. Read what's good for you like a raw egg is for those who like watching slimy things slide down their throats. Protein! They'll claim, but really it's the embryo they like most of all.

Ultimate Spider-Man #101 continues on good but tail end of the Bagley and Bendis partnership. One story line behind and who knows what sorts of secret plot breaks are spilling about the place. They whisper the notion of clones from far back still lingering about and all.

So, who knows about Jack Of Fables #4? First three are on the waiting-to-be-read pile and it's at that point that most new series are given the final chance to prove themselves. So...

 

One more week before the madness of the con sets in and the chill of silence rolls in the shop for every one surely must be at Supanova right? October 19, mark that down in the diary as following October 18 and coming in before October 20. Unless those calendars are the new fangled ones with numbers and days on them. La-di-da mister, you're on fire donchaknow?

It's an odd feeling reading it, but then why should reading a comic be something safe and warm? Like what reading Casanova #5 most certainly will charge down the line. It's not like swimming in a vat of hot chocolate is all the rage. Well, if it is, where's the pool?

After the earlier hit this week of what can kill any thing in the Absolute format, Sandman #1 Special Edition seems rather, well, who knows? Not like DVDs are the only ones that can get away with calling each new reissue a "special edition"

And where it all kicks that guvyer looking superhero spider butt is Amazing Spider-Girl #1. Relaunching after that last long and impressive run. Not that there was really much reason to reboot it in the first place outside of it being far from the #1 it started and this one gets the jump on.