This week I did something I never thought I might do. I dropped Buffy The Vampire Slayer from my pull box at the Comic Shop. I have been collecting Buffy TVS since the very first issue back in the late 1990's. I stuck with this title through thick and thin. I was able to get B&W advance issues in the mail in the early days of my reviewing adventure. It is the book that brought me to my current shop when the place I was at started to not have it in my pull box. I was in Divinity School and would pick up my comics as I drove back on breaks back home. Yet, I dropped Buffy. I also cut X-O Manowar, Wonder Woman, The Phantom Stranger, and Witchblade.
These cuts were about money. I found out Phantom Stranger was ending anyway so that was a moot point. Wonder Woman had been meandering for me and I felt i could look to trades now for that book. Otherwise these were just cuts due to the cost of the titles. I have had to become strict with what I will purchase over the $3 price. When in reality you get 22 pages of story it needs to capture my attention every week. I am not going to get drawn in by the crossover fever that hits every company. It just isn't in my ability to buy all your books for you "BIG EVENT" that happens every couple of months. I had to start cutting deeper.
Future's End might have a different effect on my DC buying. I still am digging the Earth 2 books. This five year jump probably will not bother me there. I am looking to stop my Lantern buys possibly. The paths and ends these books took seem to be away from what draws me to love those stories. Might be time for a clean break and look to trades. Aquaman is a toss up. It might be good, but I liked the Mera that was not so battle scarred. I liked the balance of her in a grocery store buying dog food or threatening to feed a terrorist to a sea monster. I just am not sure that Future's End will keep me at the levels I have been.
Money is tight. Medicine is a constant. Pay is stagnant. I have to cut my one enjoyable thing, comic collecting. It is sad. Especially when I have so little that can give me a break from worry and stress. Some love to hit little balls over pastures, others run/peddle/etc., some catch fish and other things. Me, I collect stories. I savor them and love just falling into those worlds and getting lost for a bit.
So fare the well, Buffy. You have been a constant companion since the TV show Savannah was canceled and I watched the replacement in that now gone dorm room in Buies Creek.
BDS
I will be getting this one in just under the wire for Friday according to Eastern Standard Time. I made up my mind at about 10:38 PM to do a Flashback Friday post, but my computer is not behaving well. I think that Microsoft did an update to screw with Windows XP. That is just a conspiracy theory, but why would I still get updates when they said I would no longer receive them? Anyway, we have a tale of Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) and Robin (Stephanie Brown). They will face off against the Penguin in this story.
It is really just a nice action story that has much fighting and major damage. They make the most of the martial arts and the ability of Robin to make an entrance. The light-hearted aspect is balanced by a chilling twist that will place one little girl in the middle of the Gotham underworld. It hits close to home for both heroines, Stephanie especially.
It is cool to see Stephanie and Barbara Gordon together and think of how one day there will be a Batgirl title for Steph and Oracle will be guiding her. The plot is good and this is an issue that one can own and not need to have the preceding or following issues to understand things. It stands alone.
BDS
Yes, I am getting a Flashback Friday posted. I am in a very blah mood, but just needed to do something to break this feeling of tiredness I have battled all week. I received the 25 pounds of comics this week and was a bit disappointed in one way. I really question that the kid friendly and teen friendly tags they used and the guarantee of majority Marvel and DC was met. I mean I had an issue of Violator #1 in the kid friendly pack. Anyway a problem I figured did happen. I had a few issues I wanted to pull out and keep for me. Velocity #1 is such an issue.
I have no real connection with the character. I know enough to tell a person on the street that she is a speedster and on a team called Cyber-Force. That pretty much is my know ledge of her. I have always liked the character design for her. The colors work for me. I like the red hair. She of all the Image characters from that period seems to be someone I would like. Otherwise I have little in terms of collecting to do with Cyber-Force.
In this opening book of her 1995 series we get a glimpse of her as a team player. Things stand out real quick about her. Carin is a very sympathetic woman. She cares and that can be enough to sense a reason she is using her abilities for good. She wants to help. It becomes real clear that she feels less than able to help. From her own thoughts we see her as the weakest of her team. She has doubts and fears. We are shown a memory image of her sister Ballistic, whom Image readers would know, but I don't. Carin tells in her narration that her sister is the tough and courageous one.
Now the plot. A serial killer of super humans. Through the turns and twists of the story he separates Carin and we get a look at his powers. They are impressive. He has Velocity's genetic marker and plans to hunt her. We know that this is now a cat and mouse hunt where she will have to become the hero she doubts she is to survive. It really is a good start to a story. Not knowing about this world I still can become invested in seeing the adventure take place. I get enough info to pull for Carin and want to see her prevail. Maybe one day I will find the rest of the story and know how it ends.
BDS
I just wanted to write a bit about why I have lost steam again. I was doing great there once upon a time with at least having a Monday and a Friday post. It worked as I cannot do up to date current reviews. I just recently have been battling energy problems. When I have burst of energy I tend to focus on work and life stuff that is not posting. I have been reading my back issues of things. I am not able to get to the shop as much and when I do I have so many books I just don't get any posts done.
I will be drifting away a bit soon as I put a hold on Terry Goodkind's new novel Severed Souls. I hear he will be killing a main character of this fantasy world. My fear is that it will be Cara who is my favorite. Still, once I get into that novel, free time is devoted to that story. It should just be a few days before the book come in to the local branch of the library system.
I only bought one comic at Hillsville. I will be missing the Hickory Con to help lead a church event. Works out OK as I have little money to spend on comics right now. What I had saved for Trunk Or Treat has been spent. Instead of handing out candy I will have comics to give. I ordered 25 pounds of comics. I hope my estimates of around how many books that will be is correct. I will have a Comic Shop theme, but I don't think I will do Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons. He is just too much of a jerk.
As I said, low energy. I am going to take my insulin and go to bed now. Probably be up at 4:15 AM. Not sure why, but that is a time I seem to wake up around. I have the carbonated water ready and will take a few swigs and slip the Sleep Ap Mask back on.
Take Care all.
BDS
