What Comic Books Have You Read Today?

[Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man]

Report what comic books you have read today--and tell us a little something about it while you're here!

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I'll tell you what... I bought Fantastic Four #33 (LGY #726) at the same time as the "new number one" and I like that one a whole lot more. (Odd, because it's by the same creative team.) As it is, I am perfectly willing to take the "To Be Continued" from the end of #1 and replace it with "The End" (of the Fantastic Four).

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

I liked FF #33 better too -- it's a really good story, as opposed to what I consider a solid first chapter to a new story. I'm curious: What makes FF #1 so objectionable to you? Is it the art? It's not actually the same creative team; it's just writer Ryan North who's carried over from one volume to the next. 

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Well, yes, the art... and not just Johnny's moustache, but the way they feel they have to draw it even while he's flamed on (see below)... the way '90s Superman artists felt they had to draw Clark Kent's ponytail sticking out to the side even when drawn from the front. Also the powers... now the Invisible Woman is making Green Lantern-style "light constructs"? They're supposed to be invisible. (Imagine what that splash page should have looked like.) I have complained before (probably the last time there was an FF "new number one") about how Mr. Fantastic's powers were being depicted more like those of Plastic Man. Now they're more like those of E-Man! Look how he turned himself into a sailboat (!) on page 19, and how he forms his hands into a hammer and chisel on page 21. Also, I'm not being sexist, but there is no way Sue (or anyone else) is leader of the team when Reed is around. There was a scene from the Byrne era in which the Thing acknowledges, "Without Reed here, yer in charge, Suzie," but he himself had to wait until Reed and Sue left the team for his chance at being leader. 

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Those changes aren't new to this issue, and I'd already made my peace with them. North has been getting wilder with Reed's powers since he first appeared in the previous volume, stretching his eyeballs and other stuff. I'm not crazy about the chisel -- I'd think his form shouldn't be dense enough for that -- but overall, he's one of the smartest people in the universe. Shouldn't he be at least as creative with his powers as Plastic Man (if not as whimsical)? Likewise, I don't have a problem with Sue recognizing that she can shape her forcefields in certain ways, and getting better with it over time. In the previous series, she and Reed used their respective powers to secretly communicate in Braille. And long before this team came on board, I think there's precedent for both of these developments, albeit on a simpler level (Sue creating a force-field chair, Reed making a big spiky fist). 

Johnny's moustache is just artistic license. I think it looks silly, but like Johnny, I dig my heels in and like it more every time someone complains about it. Sometimes you've gotta try something new with your face, y'know? It's only hair.

As for Sue being the leader, I think that's something she and Reed have worked out with the rest of the group (including the larger group of their families, who are more and more prevalent in the book these days). I think of her as the tactical leader, leaving Reed free to do the deeper dives into observation and extrapolation. I think she's a better communicator than Reed, which is an essential part of leadership. 

[ClarkKent_DC]

It was a jolt to see Sue describe herself as the leader; she hasn't been. She HAS had some insane upgrades to her abilites in the current (just concluded series, since they are starting over with an unnecessary #1 issue). One I'm pleased with is she is described as a scientist with degrees and credentials, which is a long way from being the "pose and point girl" she was in the early days of the title.

As for Johnny's mustache, I happily await the day he gets rid of it It looks terrible, and always has. He initially grew it as an effort at a disguise, but he doesn't need it for that anymore.

[Richard Willis]

I think of her as the tactical leader, leaving Reed free to do the deeper dives into observation and extrapolation. I think she's a better communicator than Reed, which is an essential part of leadership. 

I haven’t read it yet (my bad) but, thinking about it, how often does the genius run the show in fictional action/adventure? Unless he’s Doc Savage, he’s usually advising the leader. Sue has always been portrayed as smart. When Doctor Doom underestimated her in his first appearance, he was defeated by her.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Mr. Fantastic was a "two-fisted man of action" as portrayed by Lee/Kirby, just as likely to throw a punch as to think his way out of a situation. Byrne's "roots" approach wasn't really "back to basics" at all in regard to Reed Richards, but since then his primary "power" has been accepted as his brain rather than his stretching ability.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I don't recall when I first realized that I didn't own Michael Fleisher's three-volume The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes (I was certain I had bought the 2007 resissue), but I think it was about five or ten years ago when I went to look something up in the Superman volume and didn't have it. A week or so ago I was in HPB and saw v3  (the Superman volume) on the shelf and snatched it up. Since then I have found v1 (Batman) and v2 (Wonder Woman) online for less than half price, so I snatched those up, too. While I was at it, I picked up Supergirl (1996) #47-48, the only two issues of the PAD series I was missing.

(I refrained from posting this notice to the "Important Info" forum.)

[ClarkKent_DC]

 I have an original paperback copy of the Batman volume -- originally titled The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume 1: Batman -- and read through it so frequently I nearly have it memorized. I wore it out, and bought another original paperback copy.

I have an original paperback copy of the Superman volume -- titled The Great Superman Book, to tie-in to Superman: The Movie (which actually is just titled Superman, but we need a way to distinguish the 1978 film from the 2025 movie) -- and read through it so frequently I nearly have it memorized. A few years ago lucked into getting a hardback copy from the Friends of the Library store, and for only five bucks!

For decades, though, I never saw any edition of the Wonder Woman volume. So I broke down and got the reissue, which is printed at a scaled-down size, which I don't like but is affordable. 

[Philip Portelli]

I pestered my mother like crazy until she bought me The Great Superman Book.

In high school at a secondhand book shop, I found the Batman volume for $2.95. I considered it one of the best purchases of my life!