The Bullpen

[Steve Raker]

Still making my way through the back issues.  Hope you guys don't mind kind of a mammoth reply because I actually jotted down some thoughts as I was listening.

Oooooo, goody, this is gonna be fun! 

By the way; as long as the the conversation is entertaining the episode could be three hours long and I wouldn't care.  Then again I tend to have long episodes of the various podcasts I either host or co-host so maybe I am biased on that.  In any case take as much time as the subject deserves and you'll be fine.

Now that we're a bi-weekly show, I feel less guilty.....like David has said, it's pretty easy to pause and pick back up where you left off or fast forward if needed given typical mp3 listening devices.....

- I have always liked that Marvel called their mini-series a limited series.  It is an all encompassing term and I find myself getting pickier and pickier about referring to Marvel minis as limiteds and short run series from DC as mini or maxi-series.

 ....plus, it's fun participating in our insider culture and giving in to the lore and customs!

- I really need to read those two Hercules series.  They have sat in the "someday" pile for years.

Yes, you do....pronto.....some of Layton's best work.  There's a nice HC collection out from last year or the year before......I gotta pick it up someday on the cheap if possible.

- I recently read the Wolverine series for the first time as part of my current reading project.  I liked it quite a bit.  I was familiar with the story thanks to the four issue Wolverine Saga series but seeing it unfold with all of that awesome Frank Miller art (from the time period where I really like his work) was still something of a revelation.  I realize a lot of the themes explored in that series have been done to death but I put myself in the mind set that I had never read anything like this before and I had a grand old time...some might say a Yabba Dabba Doo time.

You had a 'gay old time'!, eh? Great stuff that lives up to the hype....it's so funny to see how much material has followed that has been indicative of/inspired by/referenced/milked that series

- As with the Wolverine limited the Magik series was part of the previously mentioned reading project and I was surprised by how much I liked it.  I was totally new to Magik's story and had not read her previous appearances in Uncanny X-Men so I felt a bit lost during the first issue but the series was so well written that by the end of it I really liked Magik as a character and am glad that New Mutants is on the back issue stack.

It was cool how it fit 'in-between' the panels of the monthly book, and was a story that needed to be told in some way at the time

- Hawkeye is another series that is on the "must buy" list.

Yes, definately......put this up there with, or even ahead of, the Hercules series'....and with Mockingbird back in Hawk's life in current continuity, it's informing to see how they met and became an item....plus, Gruenwald's pencilling/storytelling is surprisingly good....and Breeding's inks make it look all nice and pretty. 

After recording this segment with Adam, I ordered the HC from Amazon or on ebay or from DCBS (i forgets which), and had it the next week....it was great to re-read in a modern printed, all cleaned up form! Check it out asap!

- Kitty Pryde and Wolverine is currently on it's way thanks to an inexpensive eBay lot.  Looking forward to reading that as well.  I like the happenstance of buying that series and hearing about it several days later.

Neat!

- I threw New Defenders on the reading pile because of the Beast/Iceman/Angel connection.  It's a fun little book and I liked Gargoyle right away, so once again I will be picking up that Gargoyle limited after hearing the discussion.

The Gargoyle series was the most surprisingly enjoyable re-read....great little sleeper series, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it if/when you cross that bridge.  Those issue of Defenders are among my favorites.  Great team....like the Champions and the Defenders combined!

(The running theme here is that Steve's segments are bound to drive me to spend more money and buy more comics.  Luckily the wife is understanding.)

 

And that is pretty much it.  As always I enjoyed the episode and look forward to catching up on the rest. 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and allowing us to re-visit this episode!  I wish I could pay your day off from work to listen to all the other old episodes so we could enjoy your comments on 'em!

[MichaelBailey]

The Gargoyle series was the most surprisingly enjoyable re-read....great little sleeper series, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on it if/when you cross that bridge.  Those issue of Defenders are among my favorites.  Great team....like the Champions and the Defenders combined!

I didn't really know what to expect when I threw New Defenders on the pile.  The lead in issues (124 and 125) were odd and quirkey and had an interesting narrative device in that elf, so I was curious what was in store for me.  I am about four issues in and I really dig the series.  I like the Beast.  Who doesn't like the Beast?  The scene in one issue where he is lamenting the loss of his Star Trek tapes was spot on perfect and I like the team dynamic.  This series is very much a warm-up for DeMatteis' work on Justice League several years later and I am loving the Kevin Nowlan covers.