The Pickytarian

I'm glad to see that you've gotten into Runners! It's a great comic. Now if it could just start coming out more often than twice a year....

The final issue of Livewires comes out this week. Of the various "Marvel Next" titles, Livewires was the best completely new thing (I don't think of Runaways or Young Avengers as completely new).

Speakeasy's "Rocketo" debuts. That book has been getting a great buzz, though I can't tell how much of that is based on content, and how much is because the art looks unique.

Slave Labor's "Rex Libris" also debuts. If you don't want to read a comic about an ass-kicking librarian, then I don't know why you read comics. Check it out: http://www.slavelabor.com/prev_rex/prev_rex.html

Hey, have you kept up with The Hunger? You seemed to like the first isuse, but I haven't heard anything since. The next one (#3?) comes out this week...I am enjoying it, but am not convinced that it has potential as a long-running series.

Glad to see you back in the comments Nevin. I apparently missed a bunch of stuff. To address your comments:

The Hunger - I bought the first two and enjoyed them, but they weren't without their flaws. The story is sort of uneven and the main character is a little too unsympathetic. The art is also hit or miss. On the other hand, it is an engaging premise and I can tell the creators are busting their butts on it. A tough decision.

Rocketo - Not feeling it. It looks long on style, short on substance. And despite the attention that the art has received, it doesn't appeal to me all that much.

Livewires - I've picked it up more than once but for one reason or another I've never felt compelled to buy it. It's probably too late now, maybe I'll check out the collection.

Rex Libris - Sold! Thanks for pointing it out.

I also forgot to mention Spider-Man House of M #3, which I originally only bought because I wanted to support Tom "SUPERFRANKENSTEIN" Peyer. After 2 issues I'm surprisingly interested in the story, despite the often-disagreeable art.

The Hunger: Yeah, when I worry about it's long-term potential, my main concern is that you can't have a well-meaning character who's just going around eating people's brains. I'm still giving it another couple issues to see if they have a plan in mind, but I'm pessimistic.

Rocketo: I'm not sure what to think of it yet. I have mixed feelings about the art, and the page samples I've seen don't look like they have a strong story. But some of the people who are talking up this series say that they've seen the long-term plans for it, and that's why they're so excited. I keep giving Speakeasy titles a chance, because it seems like they deserve it. Every one is *almost* good enough to keep buying, and I keep thinking that eventually they'll get it right. If this wasn't coming out on Speakeasy, though, I might not be buying it.

I'm with you on Speakeasy. They seem to be trying very hard, putting out (more or less) non-superhero books with high production quality. Unfortunately I have been underwhelmed by every one of their titles that I have tried. I think that they need to either hit upon a book that generates some buzz, or pony up the cash for a bigger-name creator or two. Easier said than done, of course.

"my main concern is that you can't have a well-meaning character who's just going around eating people's brains"

Bingo.

Hey guys,

Thanks for giving The Hunger a shot. I appreciate your honesty as well as your giving the book a chance to gain some momentum. With issue #3 already in stores and #4 out next week, I'm sure you'll be getting some of the answers to your questions.

Once again, I really appreciate your honesty. Chris and I are busting our asses and good constructive crits like yours really help us to gauge how well we're doing at telling our story.

JLT

Jose - I bought The Hunger #3, and left it on my pull list through #4. That means that I'll have to decide what I think of it after #4.

My impression of #3 was that it juggled the plots well and added some interesting elements, but it made no progress in resolving my main concerns. I think I could accept this as a mini-series, since that would require the main character to reach a resolution, one way or another, before long. As the set-up for a long-running series, though, (I think that's what this is supposed to be), I just can't get into it. I have more sympathy for almost every character who ISN'T the protagonist, and that doesn't work.

I'll be interested in seeing what you do next (are you the same J. Torres who writes books like Allison Dare? I just noticed the name), but I don't know how likely I am to follow this series past #4.

Thanks for sticking with it. Yeah, we're introducing a lot of elements with the first story arc but I'm trying to keep things as Charlie-centric as possible. Honestly, you might prefer it as a trade because it'll read more to your liking that way. Things really come together more as the arc winds down and people tend to want more bang for their buck out of floppies. I guess it's the more literary approach than a cinematic approach to writing.

Thanks again.

JLT