BC Refugees Blog

I’m using my five-star rating system for these titles in order to help you determine what will get you the most value for your time and money and what may not matter as much.  These secondary titles are  all addendum, elaboration and background information and truthfully could all be considered non-essential (some being even more so).  I’m glad Marvel is doing things this way rather than placing major developments outside of the main mini-series. AVX: VS #3  (August 2012)  The Thing vs. Colossus by writer Jeph Loeb; penciller Ed McGuinness; inker Dexter Vines; colorist Morry Hollowell; and letterer Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne.  Black Widow vs. Magik by writer Christopher Yost; penciller Terry Dodson; inker Rachel Dodson; colors by Guru eFX; and letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna.  Events in this issue take place during AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #5 as part of the fight on the Moon. This series is absolutely non-essential to the AVENGERS VS. X-MEN storyline, ...

  I’ve been away from the comics world for two weeks and have a lot of catching up to do, so here we go . . . If you haven’t been reading this saga and are still debating whether to jump in or not - - I say read this now and then go for it!  I’ll try to clue you in on what you’re missing without spoiling it too much.  The primary result of your getting onboard will be that you will be entertained first and foremost.  You will also be amused and most likely become engaged enough in the storyline to explore some of the cross-over titles.  However, none of that is mandatory and you can still enjoy this storyline in bits and pieces.  I feel it will deserve a place among the Top Five of 21st Century Marvel sagas but haven’t decided yet whether it will have a significant impact on the Marvel universe the way some of the other events have.  My favorite of these remains THE CIVIL WAR followed closely by AVENGERS DISSASSEMBLED.  I don’t yet rank AVENGERS...

Just when you might think that limited-interest specialty genre magazines were a species facing extinction - - - a new one pops up! Since I'm among the hold-outs who still like to be able to physically handle their reading materials - - I love it! Later this month yet another website enters the magazine world as THE NAMELESS splashes it's beautifully horrific visions onto glossy paper. Love it to pieces! BLEEDING COOL magazine doesn't officially launch until it goes bi-monthly in October 2012. But you can read a smaller sized version this month for $1.49 with Issue #0 from Avatar Press. I pre-ordered my copy from Captain Blue Hen (Newark, DE), so they may have some extra copies at the store. I would also expect to find copies at The Comic Book Shop (Wilmington, DE) since they are listed in the BLEEDING COOL retailer list as a supporter of the magazine launch. You won't regret seeking this appetizer out and having a taste for yourself. I know I will surely retur...

from the official press release . . . . . . Stan "The Man" Returns to Baltimore as 2012 Guest of Honor! BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - May 30, 2012 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is honored to officially announce that Stan "The Man" Lee will be the returning as the Guest of Honor for the second year in a row at this year's convention. The show will be taking place at the Baltimore Convention Center the weekend of September 8-9, 2012. Lee will only be making public appearances on Saturday, September 8, 2012, signing autographs and posing for photographs with guests in attendance of the show. "Stan's first appearance at the Baltimore Comic-Con was an unmitigated success last year," said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Having him return for a second go-around is simply amazing and a great opportunity for those who missed him last year to meet a living legend in the comic industry!" Known the world over as the architect of th...

  AVENGERS VERSUS X-MEN - - - ROUND FOUR - - - with spoilers AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #4 (Marvel, July 2012) Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction and Jonathan Hickman, story. Jonathan Hickman, script. John Romita Jr., pencils. Scott Hanna, inks. Laura Martin, colors. Chris Eliopoulos, letters. So far, the creative team on this series has been pulling off what I did not think was possible at Marvel. Four issues in (plus side journeys) and this story continues to engage, continues to entertain, and continues to amuse. It’s a carefully-crafted blend and a nice and deft balance of humor and seriousness. The light hearted nature is controlled and far removed from coming off as silly (always a danger when too much fun gets introduced). The serious nature of these events is properly conveyed, and done so without traces of heavy-handedness or pomposity. I’m impressed - - and I don’t think it’s simply because I haven’t been wrapped up in a Marvel event for so long tha...