Friday, September 30, 2011

Comics and Dakine | We Talk Story

My "rejiggered" term is becoming infectious. Check out this article written by the "Savage" Omar; about a general view of "The New Rejiggered 52 - One Month Later". Comics and Dakine | We Talk Story

I am the guy sticking his tongue out in the picture. Thanks Omar. :P

Link from Listener Mail - Episode 25

One of our listeners who was nice enough to shoot us an email (which we read on Episode 25) had an honest breakdown of a couple of the titles from the "New Rejiggered 52". I read what he wrote and it was a good honest opinion on a handful of titles. So, what are you waiting for check out what Julian Titus had to say for yourself.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Hooded Girl from the New 52 (week 4)

The Hooded Girl (or The Strange Woman) from the splash page in Flashpoint #5 is appearing in every issue of the New Rejiggered 52. I snapped her appearances in the 11 titles I picked up this week and also dug around (www.bleedingcool.com) to find the rest of the appearances. So far she has shown up 54 times (my extra Suicide Squad #1 appearance included). Check out week four's appearances below and her prior appearances: Week 3, Week 2, and Week 1.

(image from www.bleeding cool.com)


Popping up in All Star Western #1 which takes place in the 1880's the Hooded Girl appears in the crowded bar at the beginning of the book.

In Aquaman #1 the Hooded Girl appears in the seaside restaurant where Aquaman orders up a meal of Fish & Chips.

Right before the riot/break out at Arkham Asylum in Batman: The Dark Knight #1 the Hooded Girl makes her appearance.

In Blackhawks #1 the Hooded Girl appears right as a bystander snaps a photo of the Blackhawks logo. It almost looks like the Hooded Girl is pissed that the bystander snapped a picture of her.

The Hooded Girl appears in the crowd (big surprise) about halfway through Flash #1.

Near the end of Fury of the Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 the Hooded Girl appears in the air watching Ronnie and Jason fight each other.

I guess the Hooded Girl wanted to hear the little boy's comment about Kyle's costume in Green Lantern: New Guardians #1.

The Hooded Girl appears right before the Enchantress's out of control spell defeats Superman, Cyborg and Wonder Woman in Justice League Dark #1.

In Savage Hawkman #1 the Hooded Girl appears toward the end right when Carter becomes Hawkman to battle Morphicius (what a dumb name).

In the crowd (yet again), at the party to unveil the "New Daily Planet Building" in the beginning of Superman #1, is where the Hooded Girl makes her appearance.

The Hooded Girl appears in the shadows after a female agent gives the beat down to some punks in Voodoo #1. (And yes after a good beat down you need to smoke!)

Here are the Hooded Girl's appearances in the titles I didn't pick up this week:

I, Vampire #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)

Teen Titans #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)

The Hooded Girl has appeared all month in the "New Rejiggered 52" number ones and it has been fun trying to find her in each issue. Will she be around next month for the number twos? We will just have to see.

Conspirator Brock's Pull List for 9/28/11

For all of the curious people out there wondering what I like to read week to week here is a list of the titles I am going to be picking up for the week of 9/28/11:

(Note: I have included deep links for some titles if you wish to support Comics Conspiracy when you buy digital comics.)

01. All Star Western #1 DC
02. Amazing Spider-Man #670 Marvel
03. American Vampire #19 Vertigo
04. Annihilators: Earthfall #1 of 4 Marvel
05. Aquaman #1 DC
06. Batman: The Dark Knight #1 DC
07. Blackhawks #1 DC
08. Captain America & Bucky #622 Marvel
09. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz #1 of 8 Marvel
10. Flash #1 DC
11. Fury of Firestorms: The Nuclear Men #1 DC
12. Green Lantern: New Guardians #1 DC
13. Justice League Dark #1 DC
14. Savage Hawkman #1 DC
15. Superman #1 DC
16. Voodoo #1 DC
17. X-Men Legacy #256

DC titles I passed on this week:

I, Vampire #1
Teen Titans #1

This is the last week of the "New Rejiggered 52" number ones and I am actually getting a majority of the titles this week. All Star Western #1 is the title I'm giving a shot this week. I've never really gotten into the Jonah Hex titles but I figured this would be a good place as any to give them a try.

This week of books seems to be a good return to the amount of books I normally get. Marvel has the Annihilators: Earthfall this week that looks promising (and hopefully something I can discuss with Ryan on the podcast), and I am happy that this is the last week of the "New Rejiggered 52" number ones. I have not been picking up everyone of the 52, but what i have picked up I have for the most part enjoyed. Remember you can now find these titles and more in digital format at our Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront.

As usual I'll be talking comics on The Comic Conspiracy, and on the Geekbox Forums. Now get out there and enjoy some good old fashioned comic book reading.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Suicide Squad Reading List

List Updated: 12/03/2014

*Note: This Reading Order List is not final.*

On The Comic Conspiracy: Episode 24 we focused the entire podcast on the DC super villain team the Suicide Squad. Our gracious guests Ryan Scott and Gage gave us an in depth and honest look at this eclectic team, thrown together by the government, to carry out suicide missions so they can work time of of their prison sentences. Ryan Scott is such a fan that he contributed a lot of great information about the Suicide Squad on Wikipedia. He had contributed so much information Wikipedia removed some material, because it was to in depth. So, if you want more info on the Suicide Squad go here, and you will have info aplenty.
Gage was nice enough to provide a Suicide Squad reading / appearance list since the series hasn't been collected in trade. I have personally used this list to help compile my Suicide Squad mapping so I can have the issues bound. Hopefully this helps guide you when it comes to reading Suicide Squad. Here is the list for you to check out:


Pre-Super-powered Squad:

Brave & Bold #25-27, 37-39
Star Spangled War Stories #110 and 111, 116-121, 125, 127 and 128


Modern Day Squad:


addLegends
Collects Legends mini-series #1-6
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology


This is where the modern Suicide Squad begins, and where Amanda Waller is introduced to the DC Universe.




Suicide Squad (1987) - Volume 1

Trail By Fire (Vol.1)
Collects - Secret Origins #14 and Suicide Squad #1-8
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

Or you can read the single issues in this order:

Secret Origins #14
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #1, 2, 3, 4
Firestorm (Vol. 2) #64, and Annual #5
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #5, 6, 7, 8


The Suicide Squad series has a brief tie in with the events of Millennium (specifically in Millennium #4), and a few other books that also tied in with the Millennium event.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401220657/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401220657&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=NEX4SMIBSJXCQLALMillennium
Collects -  Millennium #1-8
Buy on Amazon


Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #9
Detective Comics #582
Captain Atom (Vol. 1) #11
Spectre (Vol. 2) #10



After Millennium The Suicide Squad does there own thing for a bit, and they have a few crossovers with the Doom Patrol and the Justice League International (JLI). Most of these issues are currently not collected in a physical trade paperback form. You can read some of them digitally though, and I have included the links for you to check out.

Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #10
Suicide Squad/Doom Patrol Special
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #11 and 12

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K7EIX8A/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00K7EIX8A&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=I5PAMUQFP2W2IMYKJustice League International Vol. 2
Collects - Justice League International #8-13, Annual #1 & Suicide Squad #13
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

The two issue crossover with the Justice League International begins with JLI #13, and finishes with Suicide Squad #13.





After reading the JLI crossover you will want to go pick up Secret Origins #28. In this issue Nightshade's origin is retold as a flashback, and the story is a prelude to the Nightshade Odyssey story arc that runs through Suicide Squad #14-16.

Secret Origins #28
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #14, 15, 16, 17, 18

After the Nightsahde Odyssey, and the return of Jihad it seems like as good a time as any to take a look at one member of the Suicide Squad...Deadshot.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401242987/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401242987&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=TY57L452DV6YQ2J2
Deadshot: Beginnings
Collects - Deadshot #1-4, Batman #369, and Detective Comics #474 & 518
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

You should read the following issues in this order:

Deadshot (1st miniseries) #1 and 2
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #19
Deadshot (1st miniseries) #3 and 4
Manhunter (Vol. 1) #6
Suicide Squad Annual (Vol. 1) #1
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #20, 21, 22
Manhunter (Vol. 1) #7 (Shows how Count Vertigo was captured)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401220665/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401220665&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=D2H5WL7LEFOOY27J
Invasion!
Collects - Invasion! #1-3
Buy on Amazon

There are alot of tie-ins with the Invasion! story, and overall it isn't one I would highly recommend, but it is a line wide event that the Suicide Squad was apart of, so if you want to check it out go for it otherwise just read the Suicide Squad issue. and move on.

Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #23 (happens between Book #2 and 3 of Invasion)

Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #24, 25, 26

"Janus Directive" crossover event:

Checkmate (Vol. 1) #15
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #27
Checkmate (Vol. 1)#16
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #28
Checkmate (Vol. 1) #17
Manhunter (Vol. 1) #14
Firestorm (Vol. 2) #86
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #29
Checkmate (Vol. 1) #18
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #30
Captain Atom (Vol. 1) #30.
Firestorm (Vol. 2) #87 ("Janus Directive" Epilogue...kinda)


Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #31-36, 37-54, 55-58
War of the Gods #3
Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #59-66

All of the following titles are guest appearances or random stories that have some Sucide Squad connection.

Eclipso #11-15 (Amanda Waller leads a team of "Shadow Fighters" made up of squad
regulars Nemesis, Manhunter, Major Victory)

Outsiders (Vol. 2) 5 and 6 (Return of Jihad)

Superboy (Vol. 3) #13, 14, 15 ( Watery Grave 3 part story arc that has the Suicide Squad in it)

Chase #2 and 3

Adventures of Superman #593 and 594


Suicide Squad (2001) - Volume 2

 Suicide Squad #1-12

Superman Secret Files 2004
Checkmate (Vol. 2) #6 and 7
52 #33 and 34
Checkmate (Vol. 2) #18, 19, 20


Suicide Squad (2007) - Volume 3

Suicide Squad: From the Ashes
Collects - Suicide Squad (2007) #1-8
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

JLA: Salvation Run
Collects - Salvation Run #1-7
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology






The New 52:

Suicide Squad (2011) - Volume 4

The New 52 Suicide Squad has been a very solid title. This series is actually a really good place to start if you are interested in getting into the Suicide Squad.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401235441/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401235441&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=ABKIWQ43IHXF2DQ4
Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Kicked in the Teeth
(Collects - Suicide Squad (2011) #1-7)
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401238440/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401238440&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=4P6GDSDK57JPL76S
Suicide Squad Vol. 2: Basilisk Rising
(Collects - Suicide Squad (2011) #0,8-13, and Resurrection Man (2011) #9 )
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401243169/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401243169&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=M5XCW4NYMJW2KYGS
Suicide Squad Vol. 3: Death is for Suckers
(Collects - Suicide Squad (2011) #14-19)
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401247016/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401247016&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=YBIYGQ3ILLJVQ4UE
Suicide Squad Vol. 4: Discipline and Punish
(Collects - Suicide Squad (2011) #20-23, & the Deadshot and Harley Quinn Villains Month one-shots)
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401250122/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1401250122&linkCode=as2&tag=conspirbrockc-20&linkId=7ODDV7NL6AL4HTFB
Suicide Squad Vol. 5: Walled In
(Collects - Suicide Squad (2011) 24-30)
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Comixology

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Hooded Girl from the New 52 (week 3)

The Hooded Girl (or The Strange Woman) from the splash page in Flashpoint #5 is appearing in every issue of the New Rejiggered 52. I snapped her appearances in the 8 titles I picked up this week and also dug around (www.bleedingcool.com) to find the rest of the appearances. So far she has shown up 41 times (my extra Suicide Squad #1 appearance included). Check out week three's appearances below and her appearance last week and the week before.

(image from www.bleeding cool.com)


The Hooded Girl makes a very poignant appearance in Batman #1. She appears at the beginning of the book standing in front of the closed down Majestic Theater.

In Captain Atom #1 I was afraid I was going to miss seeing her, but she was really easy to find.

In the very, very sexually charged issue of Catwoman #1 the Hooded Girl is in the background in the Russian club.

In DC Universe Presents: Deadman #1 the Hooded Girl pops up early on in the book, but she is actually in the past watching Boston Brande before he became Deadman. Creepy.

While John Stewart gives a "construct" presentation to some business execs the Hooded Girl watches intently in Green Lantern Corps #1.

The Hooded Girl appears in the 31st century in Legion of Super-Heroes #1 about halfway through the book.

I am going to pick up Red Hood and the Outlaws #1, but we were shorted this title at the shop. Again...DAMN YOU DIAMOND!
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)


In Wonder Woman #1 the Hooded Girl was hard to spot for me, but I found her near the end watching two centaurs bear down on Zeus's pregnant little sexual plaything. Did I spoil something there?

Here are the Hooded Girl's appearances in the titles I didn't pick up this week:

Birds of Prey #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)

Blue Beetle #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)

Nightwing #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)

Supergirl #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)


Who is she, and why is she appearing everywhere and anytime? We will just have to wait to find out.


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Random Comic Pick - Episode 24 (The Suicide Squad Special)

My random comic pick on The Comic Conspiracy: Episode 24 (The Suicide Squad Special) is Suicide Squad (Vol. 1): Trial By Fire written by John Ostrander and drawn by various artists. This trade collects the first eight issues of the series and includes Secret Origins #14. If you listened to Episode 24 (The Suicide Squad Episode) then you are probably either interested in checking out this title or completely turned off from reading it. Either way Trial By Fire is a great introduction to the Suicide Squad; a team composed of villains who must go on "suicide" missions to get time taken off their prison sentences and Ostrander does a wonderful job mixing C/D/F list characters together to make stories that are engaging and fun to read. I am completely talked out about the Suicide Squad, but if you are into off beat teams check this title out.

Since the Suicide Squad hasn't really been collected I will be getting a reading list up so you can search around and maybe get the single issues to read. Here is the Suicide Squad Reading List. Enjoy!

Don't forget that we are having a contest to win a good chunk of the Suicide Squad series. So go to iTunes and write a review for the podcast. The best review wins this collection of Suicide Squad books.

Remember Comics Conspiracy is a great place to order comics and you can also download comics at the Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront for your computer, tablet or phone.

Conspirator Brock's Pull List for 9/21/11

For all of the curious people out there wondering what I like to read week to week here is a list of the titles I am going to be picking up for the week of 9/21/11:

(Note: I have included deep links for some titles if you wish to support Comics Conspiracy when you buy digital comics.)

01. Batman #1 DC
02. Captain America #3 Marvel
03. Captain Atom #1 DC
04. Catwoman #1 DC
05. DC Universe Presents: Deadman #1 DC
06. DMZ #69 Vertigo
07. Fables #109 Vertigo
08. Fear Itself: The Home Front #6 of 7 Marvel
09. A Game of Thrones #1 Dynamite
10. Green Lantern Corps #1 DC
11. Legion of Super-Heroes #1 DC
12. Red Hood and the Outlaws #1* DC
13. Wonder Woman #1 DC

DC titles I passed on this week:

Birds of Prey #1
Blue Beetle #1
Nightwing #1
Supergirl #1

* We were shorted this title. Damn you Diamond! Again!

Week three of this "New Rejiggered 52" and it seems that I am sticking to picking up most of the titles DC has put out except 4. The one title I am giving a try this week is Red Hood and the Outlaws (but have to wait for this one because we got shorted all our copies. DAMN YOU DIAMOND! I am not a fan of the Red Hood, but this books seems to be the new incarnation of my favorite team Batman and the Outsiders so I'll give it a try. Not to mention the sexy Starfire is in the book and that is a reason in and of itself.
This week has some interesting reads for me. I am looking forward to Batman #1 written by Scott Snyder, Legion of Super-Heroes #1 by Paul Levitz, Green Lantern Corps #1 by Peter J. Tomasi, of course Fables and DMZ, and there is also the comic book adaptation of George R. R. Martin's A Games of Thrones which from a quick flip through looks very hopeful. I passed on buying X-Men: Schism #4 of 5 this week because the story hasn't held any sort of muster, but I will read it even though I think the story has been garbage. This is the way it has been for me on a lot of Marvel books and I am sad that this seems to be the case. I am as ever hopeful for Marvel to do something that will get me back and excited.
Remember you can now find these titles and more in digital format at our Comics Conspiracy - Comixology Storefront.

As usual I'll be talking comics on The Comic Conspiracy, and on the Geekbox Forums. Now get out there and enjoy some good old fashioned comic book reading.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Mick Gray Signing at Illusive Comics...

Yesterday at Illusive Comics in Santa Clara, Mick Gray was there doing a signing. He is an amazing inker in the industry, and he was at Illusive Comics to sign copies of the new Batman and Robin #1, Jonah Hex #70 or any of his other work that people decided to bring.

I had Brody with me so we only stayed for a few minutes, but Mick is a really nice guy who loves what he does and is really down to earth. I mentioned Comics Conspiracy and he said that he hadn't been there, but would like to check it out one day. He signed a copy of Batman and Robin #1, the "New Rejiggered 52" Solicitation book and my copy of the graphic novel Joker for me; which was my random pick for this week's episode not knowing Mick Gray had done the inking on it. He was also nice enough to take a picture with his daughter Genevieve, Brody and me.


(I think I should get everyone who rejiggered the DC universe to sign my "New Rejiggered 52" Solicitation book and then I will have something worth nothing or something worth a bit more than nothing. Either way I'll meet some interesting people along the way.)

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Hooded Girl from the New 52 (week 2)

The Hooded Girl (or The Strange Woman) from the splash page in Flashpoint #5 is appearing in every issue of the New Rejiggered 52. I snapped her appearances in the 9 titles I picked up this week and also dug around (www.bleedingcool.com) and found the rest of the appearances. So far she has shown up 28 times (maybe 29). Check out week two's appearances below and last week's appearances here.

(image from www.bleeding cool.com)


The Hooded Girl appears poolside near the end of Batman and Robin #1.

Halfway through Batwoman #1 the Hooded Girl shows up in the background at a crime scene.

In Deathstroke #1 the Hooded Girl appears on the first page in the far left and she looks like she's put on some weight. (Oh and all those guys with guns...they die on the next page.)

While Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris are talking on the street (after she bails him out from jail) is where the Hooded Girl makes her appearance.

The Hooded Girl watches over Grifter after he escapes from being held captive halfway through Grifter #1.

In Legion Lost #1 the Legion may be lost, but the Hooded Girl knows where to find them. She appears here watching the destruction of a small town.

In Red Lanterns #1, as we see the RAGE build up in a man over the death of his grand father we see the Hooded Girl watch from an alley way.

Towards the end of Resurrection Man #1 the Hooded Girl watches Resurrection Man run from the plane crash wreakage. And if I'm not mistaken she seems to have long fingers now.

The Hooded Girl looks on as Deadshot is tortured in the beginning of Suicide Squad #1, but is this her only appearance in Suicide Squad?

It appears that the Hooded Girl also appears in the bottom of the above panel in Deadshot's flashback.

This morning I submitted a tip to Bleeding Cool.com about this extra appearance of the Hooded Girl in Suicide Squad #1, and they used my image above in their 13 More Appearances of the Strange Woman article. Check it out!

Here are the Hooded Girl's appearances in the titles I didn't pick up this week:

Demon Knights #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)

Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)

Mister Terrific #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)

Superboy #1 appearance
(image from www.bleeding cool.com)


Who is she, and why is she appearing everywhere and anytime? We will just have to wait to find out.