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Guys

I'm trying out WordPress as a host for the Geeks and the Gods. Still playing around with formatting and presentation but you can visit here http://peterobe.wordpress.com/

I look forward to seeing you.

Due 7 December 2011

Action Comics #4

Animal Man #4

Batwing #4

Detective Comics #4

Fear Itself Fearless #4 (Of 12)

Moon Knight #8

Penguin Pain And Prejudice #3 (Of 5)

Red Lanterns #4

Swamp Thing #4

X-Men #22

Due 30 November 2011

Batman Odyssey Vol 2 #2 (Of 7)

Daredevil #6

Haunt #19

Ultimate Comics Ultimates #4

Due 23 November 2011

Aquaman #3

Batman The Dark Knight #3

Flash #3

Green Lantern New Guardians #3

I Vampire #3

Justice League Dark #3

Savage Hawkman #3

Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #4 (Of 4)

Voodoo #3

Due 16 November 2011

Avengers #19
Batman #3
Birds Of Prey #3
Catwoman #3
DC Universe Presents #3
Fear Itself #7 Point Three
Fear Itself Fearless #3 (Of 12)
Green Lantern Corps #3

Incredible Hulk #2
Justice League #3
Nightwing #3
Red Hood And The Outlaws #3
X-Men #21 X-Men Regenesis

Due 9 November 2011

Batgirl #3
Batman And Robin #3
Batwoman #3
Deathstroke #3
Demon Knights #3
Fear Itself #7 Point Two
Frankenstein Agent Of Shade #3
Green Lantern #3
Penguin Pain And Prejudice #2 (Of 5)
Resurrection Man #3
Suicide Squad #3

Due 2 November 2011

Action Comics #3
Animal Man #3
Batwing #3
Detective Comics #3
Fear Itself #7 Point One
Haunt #18
Moon Knight #7
Red Lanterns #3
Swamp Thing #3
X-Men #20

Due 26th October 2011

Aquaman #2
Batman The Dark Knight #2
DC Comics Presents
Flash #2
Green Lantern New Guardians #2
I Vampire #2
Incredible Hulk #1
Justice League Dark #2
Savage Hawkman #2
Superman #2
Voodoo #2

Due 19 October 2010

Avengers #18
Batman #2
Birds Of Prey #2
Catwoman #2
DC Universe Presents #2
Fear Itself #7 (Of 7)
Green Lantern Corps #2
Justice League #2
Nightwing #2
Red Hood And The Outlaws #2
Superior #6 (Of 6)
Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #3 (Of 4)





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Snapshot of 52 thoughts

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Due 12 October 2011

Batgirl #2
Batman And Robin #2
Batwoman #2
Deathstroke #2
Demon Knights #2
Fear Itself Hulk Vs Dracula #3 (Of 3)
Frankenstein Agent Of Shade #2
Green Lantern #2
Resurrection Man #2
Suicide Squad #2









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Due 5 October

Action Comics #2
Animal Man #2
Batwing #2
Detective Comics #2
Justice League International #2
Moon Knight #6
Red Lanterns #2
Superior #5 (Of 6)
Swamp Thing #2
X-men #19
X-men Schism #5 (of 5)





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Due 28th September 2011

All Star Western #1
Aquaman #1
Batman The Dark Knight #1
Blackhawks #1
Fear Itself Hulk Vs Dracula #2 (Of 3) Fear
Flash #1
Fury Of Firestorm The Nuclear Men #1
Green Lantern New Guardians #1
Haunt #18
I Vampire #1
Justice League Dark #1
New Avengers #16 Point One (maybe)
Savage Hawkman #1
Secret Avengers #17
Superman #1
Teen Titans #1
Ultimate Comics Ultimates #2
Voodoo #1

DC the new 52 - initial thoughts - Part 1

I haven't been this excited about comics since I made my comic con pilgrimage out to New York in 2007. The DC relaunch has been all over every comic website and blog worth its salt since the original announcement. It has been interesting to get different people's take on it. Who thinks it is a good idea? Who doesn't? Who is going to stop buying DC comics because of it. Who is going to buy more DC comics? Which new comics will do the best? Will there be any surprises?

Well I am currently making my way through them, with the intention of reading all 52. So far, my thoughts are as set out below.






Firstly some high level thoughts:

There has been much talk of the hooded woman. Who is she and why is she in every single issue so far? Is she the same woman that appears at the end of Flashpoint #5?

Are these different titles all set within different universes? It is difficult to believe that Bruce Wayne operates with 3 different Robins (as suggested in Batman & Robin) and yet never met Green Lantern or Superman (as in Justice League)? In Green Lantern Hal has lost his ring just as it finished off in Old DCU. That is not the case in JL. So maybe they are the same universes but different points in each or they are one of 52 universes.

Clearly in some titles it picks up right where we left off in old DCU. Others have complete new timelines or backgrounds. Ollie in Green Arrow is nothing like the one we know.

Liked and will buy #2
Action Comics (undecided on this)
Justice League
Animal man
Batgirl
Batwing
Detective comics
Swamp thing
Batman & Robin
Bat woman


Justice League of course was the big gun straight out of the starting block. There was much excitement on this title for so many reasons. It was the first of the new ones. It picked up after the finale of Flashpoint (in theory). It has Lee and Johns (dream teams don't come much bigger than this) on art and story duties. It was starting at a point that pre-empted much that we already knew. It was to be the driving force of the new 52. It was to be the flagship title, bringing all the big names together.

Well, I think it was a cool first issue. I loved the art and the fact that Batman was prominent in it. The script was sharp and there were a few funnies. The last page was interesting (even from someone who is not a Superman fan).

They did say they were starting at the beginning and sure enough, these guys who we have seen together a hundred times are not close allies (as of yet). Hal appears to be a bit of a maverick, maybe even a bit of a tool. Needless to say, they have set it up for a lot of JL shenanigans. I must admit however that I can't help but contrast this initial JL to that of the All Star Batman JL that Lee and Miller constructed. Albeit very different but for example, Wonder Woman in All Star is the kind of hardcore superpower you want.

Batman family

I've always enjoyed Tony Daniels work, whether just drawing or writing too. There is no doubt that he gets Batman and I think likes the darker side to him. His art on RIP is some of the best you can get your hands on. He's up there with Lee in my opinion. The first double page splash of Detective Comics has Batman running across a Gotham skyline. An image we have probably seen a million times, but yet here you can't help but drool.




There are slight nods to Dark Knight Returns I think. I don't know if they are deliberate or just happen but either way I love the darkness. So Bruce is back in the cowl. This is evidently a different Batman to the one we see in Justice League or certainly much further on in his career. He is up against the Joker and is suggestive that this isn't the first time. The Joker doesn't seem to have changed. Still white faced and mental. Spoilers ahead - he seems to deliberately get himself into Arkham and meets with the Dollmaker. I think this is a new Batman villain and from the final page (below) you have to say, looks like we are in for a treat. This is Batman comics at it's best.




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Due 21 September 2011

Avengers #17 Fear Itself
Batman #1
Birds Of Prey #1
Blue Beetle #1
Captain Atom #1
Catwoman #1
Daredevil #4
DC Comics Presents #1
Green Lantern Corps #1
Haunt #19
Nightwing #1
Supergirl #1
Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #2 (Of 4)
Wonder Woman #1
X-Men #18
X-Men Schism #4 (Of 5)

Due 14 September

Batman And Robin #1
Batwoman #1
Daredevil #3
Deathstroke #1
Demon Knights #1
Fear Itself #6 (Of 7)
Fear Itself Hulk Vs Dracula #1 (Of 3)
Frankenstein Agent Of Shade #1
Green Lantern #1
Grifter #1
Legion Lost #1
Mister Terrific #1
Red Lanterns #1
Resurrection Man #1
Suicide Squad #1
Superboy #1

Some upcoming covers:














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Updates

Pretty exciting times in comics at the moment. The DC New 52 seem to be doing pretty well and everyone is getting pretty excited. So far I have only read Justice League #1 and I thought it was very good. I am deliberately trying to not read about this weeks comics as I don't want to know too much before I read them - hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get through them - pretty excited! Once I've done that I'll get my thoughts down on the blog.

In other news, I got my copies of Turf signed by both Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards. That was cool.

Also saw Batman Live at the O2 which was pretty spectacular - impressive show!

Marvel are not letting DC run away with the headlines, and are still pumping out Fear Itself tie-ins, constant X-men stuff (which I seem to miss) and of course the new Ultimate universe stuff - Hawkeye, Ultimates and Spider-man (which I think kicks off next week). Ultimates was ok, nothing spectacular. Hawk eye was quite cool. I probably won't read the Spider-man stuff.

Oh and I am looking forward to this:





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Due 7 September 2011

Ahhhhhhhh - so much to read!!!!

Action Comics #1
Animal Man #1
Batgirl #1
Batwing #1
Detective Comics #1
Green Arrow #1
Haunt #18
Hawk And Dove #1
Justice League International #1
Men Of War #1
Moon Knight #5
Omac #1
Static Shock #1
Stormwatch #1
Swamp Thing #1
X-Men #17

Due 31 August 2011

And so the New 52 from DC begins. I couldn't help myself - I've ordered all 52.

Flashpoint #5 (Of 5)
Justice League #1
Secret Avengers #16
Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #1 (Of 4) (maybe)




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Steve Jobs moves on

I just can’t contain myself on this!

I’ve been reading the various blogs, websites and forums this morning, all dedicating themselves to the fact that Steve jobs is stepping down. In many instances I’ve almost had to wipe the tears off the screen as Apple-ists try and gasp for air as the shock sets in as their hero decides to move on and ride into the sunset.

Of course, with this news, the stories take 3 routes – factual i.e. another selection of words to explain that Jobs has resigned. Future – what will now happen to the company? Past – how Steve Jobs saved the company and turned it into one of the most profitable companies in the world.

Well I have some thoughts of my own. Firstly, like anything in this day and age (and technology is no exception) there are cycles (or maybe circles as Google likes to call them). Nothing lasts forever. Microsoft had their day (20 plus years of leading the way) and regardless of what you think of Bill Gates, his company shaped technology, business, entertainment, gadgets etc. It doesn’t matter whether you like the company or agree with what they did or like their software or their mobile OS – they shaped technology. Simple.

But it wasn’t going to last forever. And so, a company named Apple (that Microsoft financially invested in) did two very clever things (aside from getting Jobs back in – via his then company) – they saw the future of mobile music. Where Microsoft continued down the OS route, Apple created the iPod. And they created iTunes. One piece of hardware and one piece of software changed the game – especially when they made them available to Windows users. The point is, without Microsoft, Apple wouldn’t be where it is today.

Looking at Apple now, they saw the benefit of mobile – the iPhone and the iPad. Game changers. Again, it doesn’t matter if you prefer Android (the fastest selling smartphones), are a PC user through and through, really dislike Jobs and his sneakers or love flash, Apple in the last 10 years have shaped technology. Simple.

And as for the cycles, well Apple probably won’t be as cool or future proof with Jobs moving role – in the next few years (after the next iPhone and iPad), it will be someone else’s turn. My money is on Google, although Facebook clearly fancy a go!


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