The Bullpen

[David]

Going to San Diego? I'm not... But Phenomenal Pat Loika will be there! And he's also here! In not one, but TWO segments. First, he offers up this week's new releases and later, he returns to give us the rundown on what Marvel has planned for the convention this week! In between we hear from evaD (Bring 'em Back), Steve Raker (from his Comics Bunker), and Chris "Equinox" Chavez and Mike Sims both sharing some thoughts on recent reads. And our host pops up once or twice.

Comics mentioned include Immortal Iron Fist, Daredevil, Uncanny X-Men, X-Men: Legacy, She-Hulk, Wolverine: First Class, X-Factor, and Universal War One.

Get it here.

Little Charlie and the Nightcats, The Big Break (http://www.alligatorrecords.com/)

Comic-Con International: San Diego (http://www.comic-con.org/)

[Steve Raker]

Thanks, David!
d/l'ing now on this soaker of a rainy day....

[David]

Apologies for the lack of the aforepromised Marvel Tales.  It was hotter than I expected this past weekend and it turns out the time I thought I was going to have, didn't come to me.

Thanks, David!
d/l'ing now on this soaker of a rainy day....

My pleasure!  And it's raining here, too!

[Steve Raker]

Batman/Captain America

- Published by DC in 1996 for $5.99 in their ’64-page square-bound Elseworlds one-shot’ format of the time.

- Written and Drawn by John Byrne

- Story set in January 1945, featuring period Kirby and Sprang versions of Cap and Batman.

- Fun crossover elements, with Cap answering Commissioner Gordon’s signal with Robin by his side, then taking on the Joker, and the Batman and the Bucky encountering the Red Skull, a European battlefront sequence with Cap lending Sgt.Rock and Easy Company a hand, and the Joker and Skull simultaneously gassing each other with their trademark chemicals

- All in all the book is a fun read in my opinion, nicely presented both visually and in format choice.

Green Lantern/Silver Surfer

- Another DC/Marvel crossover of the time from DC, in the same format as Batman/Cap.

- Written by GL-writer-at-the-time Ron Marz (who previously made his name writing the Silver Surfer title after Starlin’s run), with art by the then GL art team of Darryl Banks and Terry Austin.

- An okay read with some fun fanboy moments, particularly when the surfer’s tube collapses in on him on a GL constructed wave, this book just doesn’t get the Steve Raker seal of approval.  While there are moments of brilliance – Banks draws a mean Thanos for instance; the art looks inconsistent and at times rushed. It's an okay book though, just coulda been better.

- Of note, this book's epilogue sets up and leads into the Marvel Versus DC company crossover event.

Silver Surfer:Dangerous Artifacts

- From 1996, a 46 page one-shot, $3.95, written by Surfer vet Ron Marz, with beautiful art by Claudio Castellini, in his best "jacked-up, tripped-out" Big John Buscema style.

- The story follows a minion of Galactus (the Surfer) and a servant of Thanos (the White Raven) on a conflicting quest to find a legendary power source contained within a returning comet.  Beautifully drawn book!

I just love Castellini's Surfer... I've got a silver-on-black T-Shirt with a surfer image from this ish!

Enjoy! ...don't read Star Comics!

[Equinox]

Batman/Captain America

- Published by DC in 1996 for $5.99 in their ’64-page square-bound Elseworlds one-shot’ format of the time.

- Written and Drawn by John Byrne

- Story set in January 1945, featuring period Kirby and Sprang versions of Cap and Batman.

- Fun crossover elements, with Cap answering Commissioner Gordon’s signal with Robin by his side, then taking on the Joker, and the Batman and the Bucky encountering the Red Skull, a European battlefront sequence with Cap lending Sgt.Rock and Easy Company a hand, and the Joker and Skull simultaneously gassing each other with their trademark chemicals

- All in all the book is a fun read in my opinion, nicely presented both visually and in format choice.

I've seen this on the shelves before, but never pulled the trigger on it before; definitely will be picking it up in the future.

[Adam Besenyodi]

Ha!  "Schmuck!"  You callin' me out, Price?!  I love it! 

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

I'm developing a Pavlovian response to hearing the inside of David's car: Ahhh, everything's going to be okay...comics come out today...David will be musing and sharing insights....Backwards Dave will be shedding some light on unjustly ignored characters... Chicken soup for the geek's soul.

[Adam Besenyodi]

I'm developing a Pavlovian response to hearing the inside of David's car: Ahhh, everything's going to be okay...comics come out today...David will be musing and sharing insights....Backwards Dave will be shedding some light on unjustly ignored characters... Chicken soup for the geek's soul.

My problem with this whole setup?  David makes too damn many turns!  I listen to the podcast in the car myself, and I can't tell you how many times this morning I looked down at my dashboard because I thought my turn signal hadn't turned off properly, only to realize that it was Mr. Price's turn signal I was hearing!   

[Mike Sims]

Enjoy! ...don't read Star Comics!

Hey, Alf and Madballs were two of my favorite comics as a kid!  In fact, I'm all for an Essential Alf and Madballs.

[New Mutant]

"I reserve all my displeasure for the FF..."  

Today I'll have to get my X-Men 500 today somehow.  What are the odds that I can find a copy at ComicCon? 

Don't forget that Uncanny is happening at the same time that Eternals is happening, since we saw The Dreaming Celestial looming over San Fran.

[New Mutant]

and furthermore (as I continue to listen) your travelogue for Foggy and Matt made me smile.  You know I was raised in Spring Valley, right?  Was living there when I was working in Mt. Vernon, and so 5 days a week I drove the Tappan Zee about a thousand times.

Re: Bring 'Em Back; that was my heart right there.  I was crying out for Frankie Raye to do or say something flame-based during the last movie.  (Yes, that's right.  I liked the movie).

DAVID.  How can you tell me you didn't like the issue of the FF with all those mysteries and the Valeria reveal and everything, though?!?

[evaD]

Re: Bring 'Em Back; that was my heart right there.  I was crying out for Frankie Raye to do or say something flame-based during the last movie.  (Yes, that's right.  I liked the movie).

I liked that movie, too. I'll tell you, though, I wish Frankie would have lasted longer as a human with flame based powers, or at least wouldn't have turned into such a jerk when she became a Herald.

[New Mutant]

I liked that movie, too. I'll tell you, though, I wish Frankie would have lasted longer as a human with flame based powers, or at least wouldn't have turned into such a jerk when she became a Herald.

Karma to ya!!

[David]

Ha!  "Schmuck!"  You callin' me out, Price?!  I love it!

I can't tell you how many friend and acquaintances, all Gentiles, butcher certain words.  Like nails on a chalkboard.

I'm developing a Pavlovian response to hearing the inside of David's car: Ahhh, everything's going to be okay...comics come out today...David will be musing and sharing insights....Backwards Dave will be shedding some light on unjustly ignored characters... Chicken soup for the geek's soul.

Karma!!

My problem with this whole setup?  David makes too damn many turns!  I listen to the podcast in the car myself, and I can't tell you how many times this morning I looked down at my dashboard because I thought my turn signal hadn't turned off properly, only to realize that it was Mr. Price's turn signal I was hearing!

 

It's all about being a courteous driver!  Have to change lanes from time to time.  But yeah, there are a few turns after I'm off the Taconic, more if I use the first exit (I usually use the second) to my house.  A left off the parkway, a right, a left at the stop sign, a right, a left at the stop sign, a right and straight into my driveway is my normal routine.

Hey, Alf and Madballs were two of my favorite comics as a kid!  In fact, I'm all for an Essential Alf and Madballs.

I was a Planet Terry and Top Dog man, myself.

"I reserve all my displeasure for the FF..."  

I know, I know...

Don't forget that Uncanny is happening at the same time that Eternals is happening, since we saw The Dreaming Celestial looming over San Fran.

You are correct, suh!

and furthermore (as I continue to listen) your travelogue for Foggy and Matt made me smile.  You know I was raised in Spring Valley, right?  Was living there when I was working in Mt. Vernon, and so 5 days a week I drove the Tappan Zee about a thousand times.

Damn.  The Tappan Zee brings back fond memories.  I haven't had to drive over it in a long while.

DAVID.  How can you tell me you didn't like the issue of the FF with all those mysteries and the Valeria reveal and everything, though?!?

I'm reserving judgment.  I'm not sure how I feel.  It's a neat twist, but I still have to look at the artwork and read the rest of the story going on around that plot point.

We'll see.

[Dallan]

I'm developing a Pavlovian response to hearing the inside of David's car: Ahhh, everything's going to be okay...comics come out today...David will be musing and sharing insights....Backwards Dave will be shedding some light on unjustly ignored characters... Chicken soup for the geek's soul.

I have to agree.  It's very soothing.

[Steve Raker]

I have to agree.  It's very soothing.

...especially right after 'doing the robot' along to the theme music!