I got and have already read Manifest Destiny. I thought the art was great, I thought the writing on the first issue leaned too heavily on some easy exposition devices (someone writing a journal entry; pairs of people standing around talking about the situation they are in). I like the premise, but I wish the first issue could more dynamically introduce us to the premise, rather than do a lot of standing around downloading the premise. But, the art, and the potential, are enough to get me to try at least one more issue.
Also, and this may be too much of an inside baseball digression, but I have to admit that books from Skybound rub me the wrong way-- it seems that this is the imprint that Kirkman has built to invite other writers to, like him, be credited as the sole creators of a comic. Surely artists are being paid, and for all I know being paid very well and given great royalties, I have no insight into that-- but it is definitely the imprint where a writer can be the only one granted the title of "creator" of a new work of comics: A world, and new characters, even if they didn't draw, or perhaps didn't even design, a thing. That doesn't feel right to me. And, hell, in the case of Thief of Thieves, you can be the sole "Creator" when you aren't even scripting the issues OR drawing them.
And these books, in the indicia, are wholly the property of Skybound. So- if I read this indicia right- that unlike many other Image books, as well as even many of the creator owned works at Vertigo, Icon, Dynamite, Boom, Dark Horse, Avatar, and others, these are books where you can be the capital-C Creator, but not the owner.
So, it seems, that Kirkman has created a place for creators to do the sort of work that is what he told creators they shouldn't take back in his manifesto in 2008. And that just rubs me the wrong way. Whatever little button in my brain that makes me feel good about buying a creator-owned book, like most Image books, is not pressed by Skybound.
I bought Umbral, looking forward to reading that on the weekend. Looked like too meaty of a read for the subway.
Yeah, it's definitely a bit of hypocrisy on Kirkman’s part, but in this day and age, everyone involved should know what they're getting into, and as longer as they're satisfied with the working arrangement, who are we to say it’s wrong? And if they grow dissatisfied, they can always leave the book.
Of course. And I am sure that they go in knowing what they are getting into, and likely glad for the work. I get that. I think it just rubs me the wrong way since Image often (and USUALLY rightly so) praises itself as being a place for creator owned comics, and yet one of the main faces of the company- and past, very vocal advocate of creator owned comics- seems to be doing that thing that the original partners, flush with money, did in the early days. When they went from striking out to be independent, to then bulking out their studios with work-for-hire talent.
Now, to be fair, I don't know what deals those working (but it seems, not owning) for Skybound have. Likely much better than how some of the people assigned to imitate the Image founders got treated.
But it all seems a but like the end of Orwell's Animal Farm to me. It does not prohibit me buying Skybound books (just as it doesn't prevent me from buying licensed books, or other work-for-hire). But it is definitely something I notice. And I always get a beter feeling when I check the indicia and see the main creators of the book also credited as the owners. To me, THAT feels like creator owned comics.
Anyway, back to the first issues. . .
Just one more comment from me, and I'll leave it be. If the artists are getting paid on the front end, with the potential to earn royalties on the back end, I have absolutely no problem with Skybound. There just aren't many places left where artists can hone their craft while getting paid a decent regular wage. As much as I love the product Image is putting out now, most of the creators that are being published there just don't make any money from those books. They get paid on the back end, and it may be months before they see any return from the work they put in, assuming the book actually breaks even at some point, which can be a big assumption. But that’s the only kind of deal most of them can get while trying to break into the business.
DC and Marvel, for all the titles they put out, don’t nurture young artists as much as they used to. They don’t have to with all the indie publishers doing that job for them. So if a kid fresh out of art school can get paid a decent page rate, and possibly get royalties down the line, all while perfecting his craft, I say good for him. It’s certainly not the worst deal in town.
On the other hand, if the artists are only getting paid on the back end, it's probably not worth their time to work for Skybound.
I got and have already read Manifest Destiny. I thought the art was great, I thought the writing on the first issue leaned too heavily on some easy exposition devices (someone writing a journal entry; pairs of people standing around talking about the situation they are in). I like the premise, but I wish the first issue could more dynamically introduce us to the premise, rather than do a lot of standing around downloading the premise. But, the art, and the potential, are enough to get me to try at least one more issue.
Also, and this may be too much of an inside baseball digression, but I have to admit that books from Skybound rub me the wrong way-- it seems that this is the imprint that Kirkman has built to invite other writers to, like him, be credited as the sole creators of a comic. Surely artists are being paid, and for all I know being paid very well and given great royalties, I have no insight into that-- but it is definitely the imprint where a writer can be the only one granted the title of "creator" of a new work of comics: A world, and new characters, even if they didn't draw, or perhaps didn't even design, a thing. That doesn't feel right to me. And, hell, in the case of Thief of Thieves, you can be the sole "Creator" when you aren't even scripting the issues OR drawing them.
And these books, in the indicia, are wholly the property of Skybound. So- if I read this indicia right- that unlike many other Image books, as well as even many of the creator owned works at Vertigo, Icon, Dynamite, Boom, Dark Horse, Avatar, and others, these are books where you can be the capital-C Creator, but not the owner.
So, it seems, that Kirkman has created a place for creators to do the sort of work that is what he told creators they shouldn't take back in his manifesto in 2008. And that just rubs me the wrong way. Whatever little button in my brain that makes me feel good about buying a creator-owned book, like most Image books, is not pressed by Skybound.
I bought Umbral, looking forward to reading that on the weekend. Looked like too meaty of a read for the subway.
Yeah, it's definitely a bit of hypocrisy on Kirkman’s part, but in this day and age, everyone involved should know what they're getting into, and as longer as they're satisfied with the working arrangement, who are we to say it’s wrong? And if they grow dissatisfied, they can always leave the book.
Of course. And I am sure that they go in knowing what they are getting into, and likely glad for the work. I get that. I think it just rubs me the wrong way since Image often (and USUALLY rightly so) praises itself as being a place for creator owned comics, and yet one of the main faces of the company- and past, very vocal advocate of creator owned comics- seems to be doing that thing that the original partners, flush with money, did in the early days. When they went from striking out to be independent, to then bulking out their studios with work-for-hire talent.
Now, to be fair, I don't know what deals those working (but it seems, not owning) for Skybound have. Likely much better than how some of the people assigned to imitate the Image founders got treated.
But it all seems a but like the end of Orwell's Animal Farm to me. It does not prohibit me buying Skybound books (just as it doesn't prevent me from buying licensed books, or other work-for-hire). But it is definitely something I notice. And I always get a beter feeling when I check the indicia and see the main creators of the book also credited as the owners. To me, THAT feels like creator owned comics.
Anyway, back to the first issues. . .
Just one more comment from me, and I'll leave it be. If the artists are getting paid on the front end, with the potential to earn royalties on the back end, I have absolutely no problem with Skybound. There just aren't many places left where artists can hone their craft while getting paid a decent regular wage. As much as I love the product Image is putting out now, most of the creators that are being published there just don't make any money from those books. They get paid on the back end, and it may be months before they see any return from the work they put in, assuming the book actually breaks even at some point, which can be a big assumption. But that’s the only kind of deal most of them can get while trying to break into the business.
DC and Marvel, for all the titles they put out, don’t nurture young artists as much as they used to. They don’t have to with all the indie publishers doing that job for them. So if a kid fresh out of art school can get paid a decent page rate, and possibly get royalties down the line, all while perfecting his craft, I say good for him. It’s certainly not the worst deal in town.
On the other hand, if the artists are only getting paid on the back end, it's probably not worth their time to work for Skybound.
That makes sense, and insightful as always.
I think if it wasn't for Kirkman trying to make himself the face of 'Be a creator-owner! Don't let yourself get exploited in work-for-hire! ' in his manifesto and debate with Bendis back in 2008 then it wouldn't give me this feeling. If he hadn't been so prescriptive to others about it back then I wouldn't even think of it. Maybe his thinking evolved, perhaps even as the market changed, since then. Or maybe he got that "FU" money from the Walking Dead TV show, can afford to make use of talent and own their work the same way the big boys can, and did so.
And it would also be different if-- after creating something of his own-- and later hiring people to work with him to expand and create more of it, like a Mignola. But in the case of most of these Skybound books, he is acting as the producer- the money and the infrastructure- and therefore is becoming the owner of what is produced. It just seems like he has become the person he told people not to work for.
... Which is not to say they shouldn't do it. Because, as Bendis argued back in 2008, and as you are well-articulating, there are points in your career when you need those jobs.
Though there is also something different about, say, doing some years at a publisher work-for-hire on their property in their universe or with their licensed property. . .and doing work-for-hire on your own idea. I think that is what feels a little more icky about it for me.
But I should leave it be at that, as this is a thread to talk about these first issues, and I am getting things off track.
I thought Velvet #1 was nearly as masterful as any other Brubaker spy and/or noir and/or Cap story I've ever read, and I mean that as high praise indeed. I was planning on just buying the first issue and then probably reading it in trades. But now I'll probably start getting it in issues.
Pretty Deadly #1 was, eh, okay. The art was nice but the story seemed way too meandering and vague for my tastes. Apparently DeConnick admits that she was "making it up as she was going along", and it definitely read that way. I don't regret my purchase but would only read more of it if I heard GREAT things in the future. (It reminds me of what I DIDN'T like about East of West...)
Damian #1 was good! The writing was a bit weak in certain spots but overall I enjoyed it. Being a huge fan of Morrison's run and the Future Batman/666 reality helps a ton.
Amazing X-Men #1 reminded me of how much I liked Wolverine & The X-Men when it first started. IMO that series deteriorated after the first year or so, so I'm happy to have a reinvigorated Jason Aaron X-title going forward. The art was basically as great as McGuinness has ever been. And that's saying something.
Yesterday I read the Scooby-Doo Team-Up #1 from last week and the Mr. Peabody and Sherman #1 from this week, both written by Sholly Fisch. The Scooby-Doo was okay. It captured the feel of the cartoon fairly well, though I’m not sure that’s entirely a good thing in this case. Amusing, but I won't be continuing with it.
Mr. Peabody on the other hand was pretty darn good. It did a better job of capturing the feel of the cartoon, which in this case is a very good thing. Unlike the Scooby-Doo, this one made me laugh out loud in a few places. I probably will get the rest of the series.
Black Science was enjoyable. It had a very EC sci fi feel. Similar to Fear Agent.
I want to try this one. I didn't get to my regular shop this week, being out of town. The shop I went to Saturday didn't have it, so I'm hoping my shop will still have a copy when I get in this week.
Another Manga whose first volume just came out that's worth your time:
From the New World Vol. 1 (Vertical) Vertical tends to get the more "adult" (and by that I don't mean porn) series and does a great job adapting them for Western readers. This book is damn near everything I look for in a good manga:
1 - Great story - A future earth where a great cataclysm has happened. Magic is back, and societies are rebuilding themselves...but there's a great divide between the children learning to use their magical abilities and the adults who don't trust them. This book gets dark REAL frickin' quick...and it's brutal about it.
2 - Amazing artwork - they tout the artist on this book as "a rookie"...we should all be so lucky to be this amazing on our debut. Characters are lively and energetic, backgrounds and scenery are sheer eye-candy, and while yes, there's some nudity, it's not the gratuitous fan service you'd imagine when you hear this is a manga.
It's not for the kiddies, so fair warning there. I'll have a full review of it up on comicspectrum.com fairly soon.
When I was at the comic shop this week Pretty Deadly cought my eye on the shelf because I remembered Peter posting about it (and maybe he mentioned it on his podcast too, but I don't remember). Anyways, I picked up the first two issues and I think that they're excellent. I highly recommend it.
I also liked the first issue of Black Science, and the first two issues of Rocket Girl.
I liked the pulp sci-fi feel of Black Science. Kind of a Jonny Quest vibe. And it has great art.
Rocket Girl is a fun adventure comic. A little bit sci-fi. A little bit superheroes. And I enjoy Amy reeder's art in the book.
Seeing all these creators on new works, away from the mainstream, makes me wonder if Jerome Opena will ever be available to do some kind of kick-ass sci-fi book. One can hope.
I read Jupiter's Legacy #s 1-2 last night and they might be two of the better comics that I've read this year. An interesting story is being set-up and I am looking forward to seeing what will unfold here. I'm into it.
I guess I got an Image #1's pack fro December and didn't realize it.
DEAD BODY ROAD 1: This was pretty good I'll probably look for the trade of this one.
KRAMPUS 1: This was eh, it wasn't terrible but there wasn't a lot that stood out to make it great either.
SAVIORS #1: This I liked, it's b&w which I usually shy away from but this wasn't bad at all.
CARBON GREY vol.3 #1 I got the first vol #1 of this and I remember liking it and intended to keep up. I didn't and then this made very little sense to me, the art is nice enough but the words were too plentiful to keep my attention.
My local comic shop guy tried to sell me on Krampus (mostly in jest. Mostly). He knows when I give a good solid "Naaaahhhh" to back down the salesmanship. lol
The most interesting thing about it for me was that the back cover was a picture of all of the Santa Clauses from all over the world in the picture and then underneath it had a key telling what each ones name was and which country they came from.
Let's catch up with January 2014! Instead of bemoaning the cancellation of comics, here's your chance to do a positive and get in on the ground floor. Preorder, let your comic shop know you're picking up the titles, spread the word. Even comics from DC or Marvel need numbers to survive.
I picked up Deadly Class #1 last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Gone back and preordered the next couple too. Remender gives some interesting insights to his childhood too.
All New Invaders #1 - I picked this up because I like the Golden Age Human Torch and I am really looking for James Robinson to do well on this. I liked this, but I am interested in seeing what kind of threats he comes up with for the team to deal with. Given this roster, if you take them out of their World War II setting, it will be very easy for this to become just another Avengers title. My favorite part of the first issue was the shared memory of them facing Hela during WW II, as well as the Golden Age Human Torch's fight scene. I'm not thrilled with the $3.99 price tag, but I think I will keep picking this up.
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1 - I thought this would be an ongoing, but sadly it looks like another mini. It does take place after the film though, so they are doing right by us in that respect. I really hope they make a Firefly or Serenity ongoing though, lord knows the hole that's left after the Star Wars license heads to Marvel will need filled. Some great nods to both the tv series and the movie in this issue, with great artwork. The voices and dialogue really rang true.
I dug it. I wasn't sure if I had room for another Hickman Avengers book, as much as I have been enjoying his era so far, but I heard that this book might mean that the double-shipping on some of the others will slow down, so I gave it a try. So far so good. As with Avengers and New, it feels cinematic, big, and high stakes. I like that this one might give the spotlight to some of those in the large roster that haven't got as much focus. I'm onboard for now.
I was excited for this one. Robinson. Pugh. I enjoy depth of history these characters have. So I was surprised by just how mediocre the first issue was. It felt like a '90s book, and not one of the few and far between great '90s books. I think I would be more excited if this book was actually set during WW2. And it may be that it will pick up once more of the team is actually together. But at $4/issue, the second chance that I will give to this one will only be if it is via Marvel Unlimited.
Comments
DC and Marvel, for all the titles they put out, don’t nurture young artists as much as they used to. They don’t have to with all the indie publishers doing that job for them. So if a kid fresh out of art school can get paid a decent page rate, and possibly get royalties down the line, all while perfecting his craft, I say good for him. It’s certainly not the worst deal in town.
On the other hand, if the artists are only getting paid on the back end, it's probably not worth their time to work for Skybound.
I think if it wasn't for Kirkman trying to make himself the face of 'Be a creator-owner! Don't let yourself get exploited in work-for-hire! ' in his manifesto and debate with Bendis back in 2008 then it wouldn't give me this feeling. If he hadn't been so prescriptive to others about it back then I wouldn't even think of it. Maybe his thinking evolved, perhaps even as the market changed, since then. Or maybe he got that "FU" money from the Walking Dead TV show, can afford to make use of talent and own their work the same way the big boys can, and did so.
And it would also be different if-- after creating something of his own-- and later hiring people to work with him to expand and create more of it, like a Mignola. But in the case of most of these Skybound books, he is acting as the producer- the money and the infrastructure- and therefore is becoming the owner of what is produced. It just seems like he has become the person he told people not to work for.
... Which is not to say they shouldn't do it. Because, as Bendis argued back in 2008, and as you are well-articulating, there are points in your career when you need those jobs.
Though there is also something different about, say, doing some years at a publisher work-for-hire on their property in their universe or with their licensed property. . .and doing work-for-hire on your own idea. I think that is what feels a little more icky about it for me.
But I should leave it be at that, as this is a thread to talk about these first issues, and I am getting things off track.
Pretty Deadly #1 was, eh, okay. The art was nice but the story seemed way too meandering and vague for my tastes. Apparently DeConnick admits that she was "making it up as she was going along", and it definitely read that way. I don't regret my purchase but would only read more of it if I heard GREAT things in the future. (It reminds me of what I DIDN'T like about East of West...)
Damian #1 was good! The writing was a bit weak in certain spots but overall I enjoyed it. Being a huge fan of Morrison's run and the Future Batman/666 reality helps a ton.
Amazing X-Men #1 reminded me of how much I liked Wolverine & The X-Men when it first started. IMO that series deteriorated after the first year or so, so I'm happy to have a reinvigorated Jason Aaron X-title going forward. The art was basically as great as McGuinness has ever been. And that's saying something.
A VOICE IN THE DARK 1
https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/series/a-voice-in-the-dark
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA STARBUCK 1
http://dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513020930600111
BEN 10 1
http://idwpublishing.com/news/article/2507/
CATACLYSM ULTIMATES 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/48412/cataclysm_ultimate_comics_ultimates_2013_1
HARLEY QUINN 0
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/harley-quinn-2013/harley-quinn-0
SCOOBY DOO TEAM-UP 1
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/scooby-doo-team-up-2013/scooby-doo-team-up-1
STAR WARS DAWN OF THE JEDI FORCE WAR 1
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/22-793/Star-Wars-Dawn-of-the-Jedi-Force-War-1
BLACK SCIENCE 1
http://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/black-science-1
CATACLYSM: ULTIMATE X-MEN 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/48409/cataclysm_ultimate_x-men_2013_1
the MAXX: MAXXIMIZED 1
http://read.idwpublishing.com/The-Maxx-Maxximized/comics-series/12331
MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN 1
http://read.idwpublishing.com/Mr-Peabody-Sherman/comics-series/12012
NEVER ENDING 1
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/22-403/Never-Ending-1
QUEST 1
http://shop.zenescope.com/quest/gft-quest-1-cover-a/
Mr. Peabody on the other hand was pretty darn good. It did a better job of capturing the feel of the cartoon, which in this case is a very good thing. Unlike the Scooby-Doo, this one made me laugh out loud in a few places. I probably will get the rest of the series.
CARBON GREY vol.3 #1
http://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/carbon-grey-vol.-3-1-of-2
DEADWORLD RESTORATION #1
http://read.idwpublishing.com/Deadworld-Restoration/comics-series/12333
HAWKEN MELEE #1
http://www.archaia.com/pr-archaia-and-meteor-announce-hawken-melee/
ROVER RED CHARLIE #1
http://www.comcav.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_2_358&products_id=13414
TERMINATOR SALVATION FINAL BATTLE #1
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-235/Terminator-Salvation-The-Final-Battle-1-Pete-Woods-cover
From the New World Vol. 1 (Vertical)
Vertical tends to get the more "adult" (and by that I don't mean porn) series and does a great job adapting them for Western readers. This book is damn near everything I look for in a good manga:
1 - Great story - A future earth where a great cataclysm has happened. Magic is back, and societies are rebuilding themselves...but there's a great divide between the children learning to use their magical abilities and the adults who don't trust them. This book gets dark REAL frickin' quick...and it's brutal about it.
2 - Amazing artwork - they tout the artist on this book as "a rookie"...we should all be so lucky to be this amazing on our debut. Characters are lively and energetic, backgrounds and scenery are sheer eye-candy, and while yes, there's some nudity, it's not the gratuitous fan service you'd imagine when you hear this is a manga.
It's not for the kiddies, so fair warning there. I'll have a full review of it up on comicspectrum.com fairly soon.
I also liked the first issue of Black Science, and the first two issues of Rocket Girl.
I liked the pulp sci-fi feel of Black Science. Kind of a Jonny Quest vibe. And it has great art.
Rocket Girl is a fun adventure comic. A little bit sci-fi. A little bit superheroes. And I enjoy Amy reeder's art in the book.
DEAD BODY ROAD 1
https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/dead-body-road
DOC SAVAGE 1
http://dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513021103301011
GFT: CODE RED 1
http://shop.zenescope.com/code-red/
GRIMM: THE WARLOCK 1
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513021105700111
HALO ESCALATION 1
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/22-701/Halo-Escalation-1-Anthony-Palumbo-cover
HONEY WEST & T.H.E. CAT 1
http://moonstonebooks.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=31
INDESTRUCTIBLE 1
http://read.idwpublishing.com/Indestructible/comics-series/12334
JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 1
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/justice-league-3000-2013/justice-league-3000-1
KRAMPUS 1
https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/krampus-1
LUNITA 1
http://amigocomics.com/?p=857
MARVEL KNIGHTS HULK 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/46950/marvel_knights_hulk_2013_1
SHERLOCK HOLMES: MORIARTY LIVES 1
http://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513021106400111
SMALLVILLE: ALIEN 1
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/smallville-alien-2013/smallville-alien-1
WWE ONGOING 1
http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/952?stockItemID=OCT131279
Krampus: the 'evil Santa' making a comeback
btw. have picked up the comic and quite enjoyed it. Awesome and moody art/words.
For the week of DECEMBER 18th.
GHOST #1: With Ryan Sook on art!
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/23-857/Ghost-1-Terry-Dodson-cover
HARLEY QUINN #1: She already had a zero issue before this, but it's a #1 nonetheless.
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/harley-quinn-2013/harley-quinn-1
ILLEGITIMATES #1 of 6: from IDW
http://read.idwpublishing.com/The-Illegitimates/comics-series/12330
MIDAS FLESH #1: from BOOM!
http://www.boom-studios.com/series/title?series_id=1016&name=The Midas Flesh
SINISTER DEXTER #1 of 7: also from IDW
http://read.idwpublishing.com/Sinister-Dexter/comics-series/12329
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER & THE CRY OF SHADOWS #1: Released before the Marvel/Star Wars announcement.
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/23-688/Star-Wars-Darth-Vader-and-the-Cry-of-Shadows-1
TEEN TITANS GO #1:
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/teen-titans-go-2013/teen-titans-go-1
DECEIVERS #1: From BOOM!
http://www.boom-studios.com/series/title?series_id=1017&name=Deceivers
ORIGIN II #1:
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/47454/origin_ii_2013_1
ROBOTECH/VOLTRON #1:
http://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513021104000111
SAVIORS #1: By James Robinson and J.Bone from Image
https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/the-saviors-1
BAD BLOOD #1:
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/23-766/Bad-Blood-1
BALTIMORE: CHAPEL OF BONES #1:
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/21-544/Baltimore-Chapel-of-Bones-1
DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #1:
http://www.vertigocomics.com/comics/dead-boy-detectives-2013/dead-boy-detectives-1
JUICE SQUEEZERS #1: by David Lapham!
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-453/Juice-Squeezers-1
LEGENDERRY: A STEAMPUNK ADVENTURE #1 of 7: with Bill Willingham
http://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513021268900111
REVELATIONS #1: returns!
http://www.boom-studios.com/revelations-01.html
TWILIGHT ZONE #1:
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513021267200111
DEAD BODY ROAD 1: This was pretty good I'll probably look for the trade of this one.
KRAMPUS 1: This was eh, it wasn't terrible but there wasn't a lot that stood out to make it great either.
SAVIORS #1: This I liked, it's b&w which I usually shy away from but this wasn't bad at all.
CARBON GREY vol.3 #1 I got the first vol #1 of this and I remember liking it and intended to keep up. I didn't and then this made very little sense to me, the art is nice enough but the words were too plentiful to keep my attention.
From the week of January 08th:
ALL NEW X-FACTOR 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/47962/all-new_x-factor_2014_1
ADVENTURE TIME: THE FLIP SIDE 1
http://www.boom-studios.com/adventure-time-the-flip-side-01-cover-a.html
AVENGERS WORLD 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/48745/avengers_world_2014_1
B.A.R. MAID 1
http://shop.zenescope.com/b.a.r.-maid/
BLACK WIDOW 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/47986/black_widow_2014_1
FRACTURE: RETURN OF THE HERO 1
http://www.actionlabcomics.com/fracture-is-back/
MINIMUM WAGE 1
https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/minimum-wage-1
VAMPIRE DIARIES 1
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/the-vampire-diaries-2013/the-vampire-diaries-1
BLACK DYNAMITE 1
http://blackdynamite.com/2014/01/15/black-dynamite-1-comic-on-sale-now-from-idw/
CURSE 1
http://www.boom-studios.com/curse-01-cover-a.html
DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/50079/disney_kingdoms_seekers_of_the_weird_2014_1
EGOs 1
http://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/egos-1
GATE-WAY 1
http://read.idwpublishing.com/Gate-way/comics-series/12673
INJUSTICE YEAR TWO 1
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/injustice-year-two-2013/injustice-year-two-1
MIRACLEMAN 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/49601/miracleman_2014_1
SKYMAN 1
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-895/Skyman-1-Freddie-Williams-II-and-Dan-Scott-cover
X-FILES CONSPIRACY 1
http://read.idwpublishing.com/The-X-Files-Conspiracy/comics-series/12663
ALL NEW INVADERS 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/48354/all-new_invaders_2014_1
BAD ASS 1
https://dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513020932000111
BO PLUSHY GANGSTA 1
http://www.actionlabcomics.com/the-official-bo-plushy-gangsta-trailer/
DEADLY CLASS 1
https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/deadly-class-1
ELFQUEST: THE FINAL QUEST 1
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-774/Elfquest-The-Final-Quest-1
GEORGE ROMERO'S EMPIRE OF THE DEAD: ACT ONE 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/47503/george_romeros_empire_of_the_dead_act_one_2014_1
HACKTIVIST 1
http://www.archaia.com/archaia-titles/hacktivist/
JUDGE DREDD: MEGA CITY TWO 1
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=19918
MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDS FOREVER 1
http://read.idwpublishing.com/My-Little-Pony-Friends-Forever/comics-series/12670
SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED: A CRISIS OF IMAGINATION 1
http://www.dccomics.com/comics/scribblenauts-unmasked-a-crisis-of-imagination-2013/scribblenauts-unmasked-a-crisis-of
UNWRITTEN vol.2: APOCALYPSE 1
http://www.vertigocomics.com/comics/the-unwritten-vol-2-apocalypse-2013/the-unwritten-vol-2-apocalypse-1
WONDERLAND ASYLUM 1
http://zenescope.comixology.com/Wonderland-Asylum-1-of-5/digital-comic/61847
FURIOUS 1
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-458/Furious-1
SERENITY: LEAVES ON THE WIND 1
http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/23-608/Serenity-Leaves-on-the-Wind-1-Dos-Santos-cover
TALES FROM OZ: TIN MAN 1
http://shop.zenescope.com/tales-from-oz/tales-from-oz-1-the-tin-man-cover-a/
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1 - I thought this would be an ongoing, but sadly it looks like another mini. It does take place after the film though, so they are doing right by us in that respect. I really hope they make a Firefly or Serenity ongoing though, lord knows the hole that's left after the Star Wars license heads to Marvel will need filled. Some great nods to both the tv series and the movie in this issue, with great artwork. The voices and dialogue really rang true.
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/48745/avengers_world_2014_1
I dug it. I wasn't sure if I had room for another Hickman Avengers book, as much as I have been enjoying his era so far, but I heard that this book might mean that the double-shipping on some of the others will slow down, so I gave it a try. So far so good. As with Avengers and New, it feels cinematic, big, and high stakes. I like that this one might give the spotlight to some of those in the large roster that haven't got as much focus. I'm onboard for now.
ALL NEW INVADERS 1
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/48354/all-new_invaders_2014_1
I was excited for this one. Robinson. Pugh. I enjoy depth of history these characters have. So I was surprised by just how mediocre the first issue was. It felt like a '90s book, and not one of the few and far between great '90s books. I think I would be more excited if this book was actually set during WW2. And it may be that it will pick up once more of the team is actually together. But at $4/issue, the second chance that I will give to this one will only be if it is via Marvel Unlimited.