As a further bit of explanation, and to demonstrate where I’m coming from, I will go through this week’s offerings and tell you how I plan to consume them. My rampant downloading will no doubt anger some comics professionals, but until that new copyright bill gets ass-rammed through Parliament I’m not technically breaking the law (since I’m not offering the items for download and thus “trafficking” the materials).
Note that wherever I mention “download,” it is shorthand for: “download, read it, then delete it soon thereafter.” The stuff I tend to download and keep tends to be either stuff I don’t own and is out of print (Golden and Silver Age stuff), or stuff I already own and want a digital copy of for my own use (my complete runs of Starman, Hitman, et cetera).
So:
ALL NEW ATOM #25: Download, if it’s not too much trouble to find it. This is the sort of comic where I am not really invested in the story; if I were at a shop, I might pick it up, leaf through it, then put it back down and never think about it again. Mostly because I have downloaded probably about half the issues of this comic, and every time my reaction is the same: “….eh.” It’s not a bad comic, it’s just kind of there. (Sorry, Gail Simone!) This probably adequately describes at least half – if not more – of my comics downloading.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #564: Download and read. It’s really easy to find the newest Spider-Man comic for downloading, and I like following the storyline. I just don’t particularly want to pay for it. When the first trade is released, if it’s a reasonable price (read: less than the pure chiseling that was the pricing on the World War Hulk trade), I might pick it up on a whim; the stories in the comic thus far are enjoyable Spider-Man stories but entirely disposable, so I don’t feel any particular urge to own this.
(Sidenote: I own the entire run of JMS’s ASM in trade, which is another run of Spider-Man that I first read online through downloads. Yes, I (mostly) liked JMS’ Spider-Man run, and especially liked it when he was working with John Romita Jr., so sue me that the new, unmarried Spider-Man isn’t as interesting to me. Maybe in fifteen years when death’s cold fingers are a bit closer to me and I desperately want to relive my childhood, okay?)
Also, I can’t remember if this is a Dan Slott issue or not, but I download anything Dan Slott writes just in the hopes that it pisses him off a little. I even download Avengers: the Initiative, which I don’t even read or like. FEEL MY FIT OF INTERNET PIQUE, DAN SLOTT!
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #10: Maybe download? This is probably on par with All New Atom for level of interest; I just find it mediocre. Whatever interest I have stems from leftover curiosity about what “officially” happens to Angel after the show ends, but that’s dropping fast thanks to the incredibly ugly art on this comic.
AVENGERS INVADERS #3 (OF 12): Download, because I am curious to see if they can go anywhere after the deeply retarded second issue, where the Invaders figure out that they’re in the future and then more or less arbitrarily decide that the Avengers are Nazis because of an offhand comment made by Bucky. Likelihood that I will ever pay money for this comic in any form: practically zero, because it is terrible. But I love a trainwreck.
BATMAN #678: Download because it’s Morrison. Might buy in future, I dunno. Grant Morrison is a great writer and all, but a lot of fans tend to forget that when he screws up, he pancakes hard. Then again, I have lots of Grant Morrison stuff on my bookshelf, so the odds are generally good I buy it eventually. Then again again, I don’t have The Filth. Then again again, when they put out the inevitable one-volume collection of All-Star Superman i will probably buy it, despite having already bought the initial hardcover.
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #1: Download, read, strictly first issue “try before buy” basis.
BLUE BEETLE #28: Download and read with eventual plan of purchasing trade if/when it comes out; I already own the first three trades of this title and will buy the fourth when it comes out, and the fill-ins thus far have been decent so I figure the fifth will join them.
BOYS #20: As Blue Beetle. I own the first two trades, eagerly await the third. I just don’t like having to wait for the trade and I refuse to buy a fucking comic book twice.
Some may argue that the cost of the floppies is a purchase price for immediacy, and that is a fair argument. It’s just one I’m going to ignore entirely. Guess what, comics: I’m your market. There are a lot more of me than there are completists willing to buy every issue they’re interested in reading right away, and I spend a fair amount of coin on you so it’s not like you don’t get anything out of me.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #16: Download, wait for trade again, already have the first two, thoroughly entertained by this title, happy to buy it in trade, not going to wait.
FABLES #74: Same again: I have every Fables trade and the 1001 Nights of Snowfall hardcover.
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #3: Download, because you know what? I missed the first two issues entirely. (This is the downside of downloading comics as your primary means of reading them on a weekly basis.) I’m curious, what can I say. (This, incidentally, shows one of the strengths of the downloading-at-very-low-cost delivery model for comics; there’s a lot more opportunity to try out a book. It’s a lot less common now for someone to pick up a random issue of a book like this for a tryout basis.)
JOKERS ASYLUM THE JOKER #1: Prior to copypasting the “coming out this week” list from Savage Critics, I didn’t even know this existed, so what the hell. Back in my purchasing days this might have been an impulse purchase. Now, not so much.
JONAH HEX #33: I’ve been thinking about getting the first trade of this for a while now. Not that downloading this issue will influence me one way or the other. But it’s on my “maybe” list. The problem I have is that most of the stories in Jonah Hex tend to flow together in a sort of same-ish way.
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #43: Will buy the actual issue. Legion is the one comic of which I buy single issues because I just like having the single issues, even though I buy the trades. Which is fine. I understand that for some people this is what they feel for every comic. (Not for me, though. The trade paperback release this year that made me happiest were the reprints of the old Denny O’Neil Question series, because I thought “thank god, I can finally get rid of those fucking single issues.”)
MANHUNTER #32: Probably download? I’m not emotionally connected to this book like it seems the entire rest of the comics internet is. If it’s stuck in front of me I’ll read it, I guess. (And yes, I read the earlier issues, I know it’s quality product, it’s just not a story I’m really that interested in.)
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #41: Same as Manhunter. I’m not in any rush to find this and read it, but if I see it, I’ll download it, read it, delete it, and fifteen minutes later I’ll be hard-pressed to tell you what the story was about, but I’ll remember being vaguely entertained.
NORTHLANDERS #7: See, I love Brian Wood’s other work, but this is another case where I read maybe the first two issues, liked it, then lost track of it entirely. I’ll probably pick up the first trade when it comes out, because my memory of it is good. (Of course, sometimes that backfires – I read the first few issues of Desolation Jones online, thought it was good enough, then bought the trade and hated the ending and sold it at a used books place.)
PATSY WALKER HELLCAT #1 (OF 5): Wait, there’s a Hellcat limited series? Well, huh. I don’t care, but I’m impressed there is one. (This really has little to do with the topic at hand. I am digressing.)
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #3 (OF 8): I read the first issue and it was so bad it almost became good. (Almost.) I might download this just for laughs, if I don’t have to look too hard for it. That “looking hard” for a download of this title involves maybe a minute’s worth of clicking tells you how invested I am in reading another issue of this comic.
SECRET INVASION FRONT LINE #1 (OF 5): Another train wreck waiting to happen. I eagerly await the new adventures of Sally “Stupidest Bitch In The Marvel Universe” Floyd. What stupid thing will she say this time? Truly, Paul Jenkins is one of the great comedic minds of our time.
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #1: Yeah, I’ll give it a look. And then probably lose interest again, just as I usually do with this revamp of the Squadron Supreme.
SUPERGIRL #31: I kind of download this one every month, in the hopes that I will see a Supergirl that I actually want to read about and maybe even spend money on. It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m optimistic.
TRINITY #5: Maybe this week it gets good.
WALKING DEAD #50: Another “download until the trade comes out” one. I like Walking Dead.
And that’s that.
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34 users responded in this post
I’ve been reading Avengers/Invaders as well. I have no idea what to think about it. While I’m in no way invested in it and could easily drop it, I haven’t seen anything that makes me think “Oh, fuck this.” Plus last issue, having Cap call Iron Man a fasicst, I admit, gave me a moment of fanboy glee.
I’m interested in the Hellcat mini, I flicked through her story in Marvel Comics Presents, but I didn’t buy it as I wasn’t going to spend $4 on 8 pages with what I feel is another 22 of filler (Though I bought the one with Deadpool. What can I say? I’m a whore for Deadpool). I liked what I saw in MCP and am glad to see that they’re doing something I’d actually be willing to drop money on, but we’ll see. My one disappointment is that Stuart Immonen is only doing the covers and not the interiors.
Everything else I just don’t care about.
Where does one go for these downloads?
DC++ is a good option. Newsgroups. But I don’t endorse that at all. Not me, no never.
Jenkins isn’t doing Front Line, and Sally isn’t in it. Reed has the writing this time, not remembering who his cast is. SO SAVE YOUR MONEY
Oh I make joke.
You don’t have The Filth.
To quote a certain confused cartoon individual: “Oh, you sad worthless human!”
I actually only buy single issues when they’re stand-alone stuff – Director’s Cuts, Annuals, One-Shots. The rest, I can weigh up whether to get in trade or not. I save more money that way. There CAN be an advantage to all the nearest comic shops being at least six miles away.
“SECRET INVASION FRONT LINE #1 (OF 5): Another train wreck waiting to happen. I eagerly await the new adventures of Sally “Stupidest Bitch In The Marvel Universe” Floyd. What stupid thing will she say this time? Truly, Paul Jenkins is one of the great comedic minds of our time.”
Iron Man didn’t friend her on myspace, so he’s out of touch with America and not fit to lead SHIELD.
I’m surprised MGK doesn’t like The Initiative. I would have expected him to eat ti up. I think it’s damn good, personally.
Unrelated to comics coming out this week, but you should read Star Wars: Legacy. Greatest material to come out for the Star Wars universe since the first Knights of the Old Republic game. Unless you hate Star Wars, of course. ^^
Wait a minute, Blue Beetle and Manhunter are still being published?
MGK, if you like Blue Beetle, then definitely check out Manhunter #32. Not only do Jaime and another BB cast member (who shall remain nameless because I thought it was a cool reveal) appear, but it brings up a new connection between the Scarab and the Darkstars.
@Sofa King
I didn’t like The Initiative until #14. Neither the characters nor the story appealed to me. Now this Hawaii team, this I can see myself reading regularly. The new 3-D Man is pretty interesting, and unlike certain other Marvel titles out that I won’t name he feels like someone who could make a good hero (and leader, maybe). Also, they fight giant monsters. How can you go wrong with Giant Monsters?
I don’t follow All-New Atom, but isn’t Rick Remender writing it now, and not Gail Simone?
I’ve been liking Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s a great start, and come on, Rocket Raccoon? What an awesome character.
Also, I though SI: Front Lines was written by Brian Reed.
Why do you angry at Dan Slott?
“I’m not technically breaking the law (since I’m not offering the items for download and thus “trafficking” the materials).”
Is this true, though? I mean, I’m presuming when you say “download” you mean a torrent, and isn’t the entire torrent mechanism predicated on sharing with loads of other people everything you’ve downloaded? (Until you delete it, anyway. But even for a short time…)
Nich: there are ways around that depending on what software you use.
^indeed. Many let you set your upload to 0.
The download model might be what it takes to get me back into comics. When I moved last month, I gave away 11 long boxes, filled with 1000’s of the finest comics of the 90’s. As well as an absolutely obscene number of assorted issues of the X-Men, some dating back to the early 1980’s.
I simply did not want them taking up space in my house anymore. To read them, I would have had to open innumerable mylar bags, not to mention figuring out what was in an individual box in the first place.
I wanted to talk about Starman (and how awesome it was) last year, and instead of messing with the boc in the bottom of my utility closet, I downloaded the series.
Because the electronic edition let me put up a single page to show people. It let me have access to the images for social purposes- ie, making LiveJournal icons, or otherwise commenting on the source.
At this point the only comics stuff I’m buying is Adam Pollina pages of mid 90’s X-Force issues. Something about being able to say “I have the original art” is wonderful. After all, how many people have the original art for their long term default icon framed and on the wall?
(Probably not enough people).
And at this point, i’d love to spend about $10-$20 a month on comics. And have them readiy for iconing. And not taking up space in my house.
“filled with 1000’s of the finest comics of the 90’s”
As someone who reads comics on the internet, I’m required by law to mock that sentence and say it’s an oxymoron. This has been a federally mandated fandumb moment. Thank you.
@MDF:
yes, Remender wrote the final arc of All-New Atom. And it was awful. all the silly weirdness and humor Gail Simone put in it was gone, save for some of Head’s dialogue.
@TA:
as I recall, Dan Slott is very vocally against downloading comics despite admitting that he torrents other forms of media himself.
@Captain Ultra: Nor will it feature Sally Floyd. I didn’t mention because it seemed obvious, so I presumed he was being sarcastic.
You know what comics I read at the moment? None. Having had to tighten my belt at the moment comics fell into a distant fourth behind books nice stuff to cook and going out with friends. They were ahead of CDs and DVDs, but only by a bit. This was mainly to do with the amount of entertainment per page to cost ratio. So if a single, white, twenty something male geek is cutting back on the comic consumption because of the price then the industry really is fucked.
Peppy — thanks for the explanation.
And, you can tell I didn’t follow All-New Atom — seeing as I didn’t know it was ending. 😉
Jonah Hex is one of the best comics out today.
Sally “Stupidest Bitch In The Marvel Universe” Floyd.
Poor Ms. Marvel. She just can’t win.
You know I do not understand the whole the Invaders are idiots for thinking they’re dealing with Nazis things.
The Avengers are the ones going in with all their muscle looking like thye’re ready to attack.
They want to avoid this they should’ve had a four star general in uniform meet up with them.
I love The Initiative, and I say this as someone who hated pretty much everything about Civil War and everything related to it. I mean I’m actually even pretty sure I hate the Initiative, but damned if I can make myself stop reading the comic book about it.
SUPERGIRL #31: I kind of download this one every month, in the hopes that I will see a Supergirl that I actually want to read about and maybe even spend money on. It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m optimistic.
I actually think the Supergirl they’re publishing now would be sorta-kinda okay if this had been how they’d originally introduced the character, instead of the Superboy-suckerpunching failfest they originally handed us. But as it is there’s just too much baggage of crap-awfulness for me to get on board with anything she does.
Supergirl: I actually liked Joe Kelly’s run on the book, but I realize that admitting that publically will make me a pariah like unto one who molests puppies.
My more important comment is a question: MGK, what do you use to *read* all the comics you download? Do you just read them on your desktop computer? I do most of my reading while commuting, so that solution really doesn’t so much work for me.
(I have read comics on my desktop, but it just seems unnatural.)
i’m one of the heaviest purchasers at the store i use, but there are still lots of titles i don’t get, obviously, and more than a few that intrigue me, but i’m trying to cut down, not add into my load. so how does this downloading thing work? i looked into zcult but they seem to have dropped everything marvel and dc, and using torrentz.com doesn’t really give me that many titles- certainly not the selection implied by the post. and the couple i got won’t open with comical, so maybe i’m doing something wrong there, too. how’d you guys learn how to do this?
I was under the impression that Dan Slott was off The Initiative. Isn’t it Christos Gage now? I dropped it after the horrendous art in #13.
Funny thing, I was just showing a friend how to do this last night.
Please note: USE VIRUS PROTECTION. SCAN ALL FILES BEFORE OPENING THEM!
I use uTorrent to search for and download torrent files. Of the searchable sites to use, I prefer Piratebay and Mininova, in that order. Search for specific titles, or look for the weekly torrent files that come out.
I use CDisplay to view the comic book files. I download files in either cbr. or cbz. format. These are just rar. and zip. files of the scanned jpg. pages renamed in order for CDisplay to be able to read them. If you change the extensions back to the original you can unarchive them and look at the jpg. pictures.
I own almost every appearance of LSH from Adventure #247 to date in hard copy form, from archives to actual issues. In the past few months I’ve gotten it all in digital form. Believe me when I say it’s a whole lot easier searching through files than long boxes.
MGK, you’ll be pleased to know that the artwork of Murky McMuddy on Angel: After The Fall is being replaced by the fellow who did the short, neatly drawn “Wesley” vignette in a recent issue. Don’t think this’ll change my mild-to-severe issues with the storyline itself but meh. An improvement is an improvement.
I encourage everyone to try Patsy Walker Hellcat! The art is great, the writing is funny. I’ve never read anything with the character in it before and I still loved it. She fights demon bears, with antlers, in Alaska! How can you not try this book?!?
Trinity 5 is the least lame since the first issue. Make of that what you will.