Thunderbolts #116 – Book of the week.  While in the minority, I have really enjoyed Ellis’ run so far (especially as of the last few issues) and was really curious as to his plans for the next arc, which still aren’t fully clear except for the introduction of the Mindwave character. I generally feel Thunderbolts is at is weakest when they try to harp on one aspect of the character (Venom as a hulking beast, Bullseye as the clean-up man, Penance as sucky one), but now that we’re past the first arc, I think Ellis is taking more time to flesh out the characters and team dynamics in intriguing ways. Moonstone/Osborn plotting against Songbird, Venom actually showing emotion…but the craziest thing is that the best scene of the book actually belongs to Penance?!?! Yeah weird, but I’m loving it. Grade: A

Spirit #9 – I skim comics during my first read and then go back to do a closer re-read. Needless to say, I didn’t quite pick up on everything on my first read during the narrative-intensive points. Haven’t gotten around to re-reading yet. Grade: Incomplete

Batman #668 – Got caught up on this current arc with this issue and #667 and I’m really enjoying this series. Yes, it’s a simple whodunit, but I think Morrison is doing it in a very fun way. I don’t think I’ve seen Williams’ art before, but I really dig it (esp the spreads where the frames are laid in the glove outlines).  I had to re-read both issues twice to get familiar with the cast of characters, but a small price to pay for feeling good about adding Batman to my reading list.  Grade: A-

GL Corps #15 – The Sinestro Corps storyline is still plugging along strong in my opinion.  The sheer number of green and yellow lanterns flying all over the place is somewhat confusing for someone who isn’t too familiar with the series, but not significant enough to deter my enjoyment so far (case in point, my realization that Mogo was the name of the planet and not the lumpy alien Green Lantern).  I’m looking forward to the Lost Lanterns fighting the Anti-Monitor in the next issue. My only gripe about this issue was the art, which seemed very poor at spots.  Grade: B+

Countdown #36 – This was a fun issue and I’m looking forward to Deathstroke’s involvement in the rogue plotline.  Mary Marvel’s plotline looks like it’s taking off and I’m actually intrigued by it now. The search for Ray Palmer seems a little to disjointed, wandering from one battle to another, but the last panel of the mystery watcher seems to foreshadow it developing a bit more. The best part of this issue? Batman asking why Jimmy Olsen is wasting our time. Grade: B-

Green Arrow Year One #4 – With this and the last issue, I’ve had somewhat of a tempered enthusiasm about the mini-series. Looks nice and Ollie’s shooting people with arrows – should be a winner. Guess I expected it to be good and it met those expectations without striking me as being incredibly great. Call it the Daredevil Syndrome, I guess.  Grade: B-

X-men #202 – I’m glad I jumped back on with this arc and am really getting drawn in by how grand it is both in character/team involvement and story.  Ron’s comment about the involvement of many x-teams was really poignant and was something that I really have missed during my return to reading the x-titles.  The X-men are one huge family and Carey is making sure to touch that point.  We’re getting a bit more of the reasons behind the Marauders’ attack, but I’m hoping the future issues expand on why Sunfire and Gambit have aligned with Sinister.  Grade: B+

Halo #1 – Crap book of the week.  Ignoring the givens (Maleev art great), I’m not sure if I really cared for this issue. If it’s a Halo comic, I want it to be filled with Master Chief popping head shots all over the place. We got maybe 4 pages of Master Chief and a bunch of pages about two characters that I’m not really attached to at all.  Using a video game comparison, I feel like this was similar to Raiden popping up as the main character in Metal Gear Solid 2.  I’m curious to see how this series plays out and will pick up the rest of it, but this issue (by itself) was not very good.  Grade: C-

The Reign of Rioting Baby Puzzle Episode!

"Kwok and a microphone - now that's quite the combo!" exclaimed Planet Puzzle Leauge red block #2 (supposedly)

#66 is an enhanced podcast! What does that mean? Darned if I know. (Actually it means that we have chapter markers and you can click on the images for links!)

-Paramore - Riot!
-Spiderman: Reign
-The Simpsons Movie
-Marathon, Area 51: Blacksite, Planet Puzzle League
-100 children and monster insurance
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The icky gotham rocket sleeper episode!

“When I’m not stealing jokes about shark week, I like to listen to the Kwok Talk podcast.  I’d say he was stealing material too, but then I’d expect the podcast to be a lot better,â€? Wizards PG Gilbert Arenas was quoted saying (supposedly).

Be sure to take a break from the heat and join us for Episode #65 - now with 50% more material with no extra charge!

Show Notes:
-Ed Brubaker's Sleeper & Gotham Central with special guests Fred, Will, and Mike
-The White Stripes - Icky Thump
-Rocket From the Crypt
-XO, Lost Kisses, Worms from Silber Media
-Odd News: More horrible children names and free testicle surgery
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Extra Stuff:
-Fred - www.thisweekincomics.com, Comics this Week podcast
-Will - Hello, you're looking at my tumblog
-Mike - VIRB
-Pol - Fuzzy Typewriter podcast
-Silber Media
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Click here to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes & write us a review. (If not, I'll...shoot, it's too hot to do anything!)
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Click here to vote for the podcast on Digg.com