My New Favorite Animal Mascot.

Doc Clamson.
Just kidding. Nothing will ever replace my love of Throg, not even an insane looking, mohawked clam. Not until Doc Clamson gets his own series, that is....

The good doctor flouts his only published appearance EVER in the pages of Peter Porker Spider-Ham # 16.

My Own Personal Throg

My love for the Frog of Thunder is well documented, so you can only imagine my immeasurable joy when I saw this today:



It's four and a half inches of awesomeness that MUST BE IN MY LIFE! Good on Gentle Giant for finally immortalizing the greatest avatar of the Thunder God that ever existed (Take that, Beta Ray Bill!!). That said, it's good thing I have until January to convince the FutureWife that it's a totally worthwhile purchase for our impending life together. I fear that'll be an uphill battle to say the least...

Um... Anyone have any bright ideas just how to convince her this is the best idea ever?

The Bill January 20, 2010

Stupid holidays and their stupid maybe late delivery. Twice in three weeks I was caught off guard by books actually shipping when they should. When did this all happen? WHO'S RESPONSIBLE THIS!?

ugh. Whatever. I got comics and I want to tell you what I think of them. Just try and stop me.



How An Avengers Spinoff Should Read:


Avengers Academy # 8
Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Mike McKone


Man, there's nothing I don't like about this book. It's got a fantastic cast, a clear vision for itself, a totally awesome artist, and, best of all, it feels like a book that actually counts. Unlike, say, Young Allies which I loved, but totally felt like it didn't 'matter'.

In this issue, our merry gang of students show that they're a little more villainous than heroic when dealing with the tough problems. It was actually a pretty great done in one tale about what it takes to be a hero. Sure, it seems like a good idea to deal out as much hurt as was inflicted on you (or more!) instead of turning the other cheek, but the consequences could be even worse.

It's great, and you should totally be reading it. If not, it'll become another one of my beloved but cut short series and that would just make me sad. You don't want me to be sad, again, do you?

Totally worth it, I promise!



How Not To Do An Avenger Spinoff:

Avengers vs. The Pet Avengers # 4
Writer: Chris Eliopoulos
Artist: Ig Guara


If you're any kind of reader of this blog, you know that I have a crazy soft spot for Throg. That first miniseries with these guys was fantastic! Everything I want in a quality book. I was an instant fan.

Since then there has been a significant, and consistent, decline in quality. And for me, this book will be my last with the Pet Avengers.

You'd think that with dragons, Throg awesomeness (which I stopped featuring because it wasn't all that great), and a big Avenger showdown, this series would be totally awesome, but somehow it just lacked... anything that would make me care.

Not that Eliopoulos doesn't try. Like the previous series, this one was all about finding one's place in the world, just instead of featuring Throg and mythical beasts it featured Lockheed and space dragons. The result was the same: Home is with the people that love you, regardless of their blood relation.

The other difference was the previous series had more going on than this one. This was a story that could have been told in one or two issues that was stretched into four and it shows. It's slow, thin, and just generally unsatisfying. Kind of like the previous series.

So, I'm cutting myself off. Not that it'll make that big of a difference, because I haven't seen anything about another one of these series in a while. Something tells me that Marvel was just as tired of these stories as I was.

That said, I will still totally pick up a Throg series if it ever happens. All five issues of the ongoing...



And that's literally all I got this week. Don't worry though, next week seems to be a big one, it all balances out in the end.

Also, in case you didn't notice, I seem to have figured out this whole domain name thing. With that in mind, I'd like to welcome you to the new home of Platypus Robot. Same as the old, just easier to tell everyone about.

Now, if you'd excuse me I have some sleep and Silver Surfer comics to catch up on.

The Bill December 15, 2010

A surprisingly big week for me this week, and thankfully one full of good stuff. So what do you think: Should I gush about the great ongoings I'm reading (Avengers Academy and Thunderbolts) or just focus on the miniseries I'm getting (Pet Avengers, Strange Tales II, Chaos War)? Well, there's only one way to find out. Meet me after the graphic.



Sad To See It Go of the Week:

Strange Tales II # 3
Writers: Too Various to Count
Artist: Also too many for my lazy self to credit.



What can I say, I'm a sucker for anthologies. Throw in a bevy of great indie artists and forget about it, I'm in it to win it.

I mean, sure not every story in this issue hit as hard as I wanted it to, and some just plain didn't make any sense, but the ones that did totally made up for it. The sheer genius of Kate Beaton's Rogue story, the visage of James Stokoe's Galactus, and the whimsy of Tony Moore's Thor tale was enough to keep me coming back for years.

Assuming, of course, that Marvel continues publishing this gem. Please, Marvel, keep publishing this book...

I get that this isn't a book that will appeal to everyone, sometimes the art is overly wonky, the stories are a bit too irreverent, and the ideas a little overly heady. However, when the stories work, they're pure gold.

Strange Tales on a whole reminds me of that glorious turn of the century (that's around the year 2000, for the centenarians among us) Marvel where the weird and indie were on the verge of becoming the mainstream. Perhaps it's my fondness for that era that makes me such a big fan, but I can't get enough of it.

If you dig the same stuff, then you should totally check it out in back issues or the inevitable TPB when it comes out next year. And if you don't dig that stuff, maybe you should just give it a chance anyway just to send the message that you enjoy unbridled creativity in your Marvel Comics.

Fantastic stuff!





Positively Disappointing of the Week:

Avengers vs. The Pet Avengers
Writer: Chris Eliopoulos
Artist: Ig Guara



Unfortunately, the same gushing praise cannot be said about Avengers vs The Pet Avengers. It's not that the book is horrible, it's just incredibly underwhelming.

I've made no secret of my love for this series of books. And I really want to like this book too, as I have a great affection for the characters and their interactions (with the exception of Ms. Lion, who really needs to die in a fire). This new series is just incredibly lacking.

You'd think that something as awesome as "The Pet Avengers versus Dragons" would be impossible to screw up, but somehow Chris Eliopoulos finds a way. I feel bad saying it, but the issues come off shallow, superficial, and overly decompressed; in other words, just not good. And it doesn't help matters that it took me all of five minutes to read the full issue. I felt like I was done even before I started reading.

It's not like the first series was Shakespeare, but at least it had some umph to it. Issue to issue, I felt like something happened and that there was a huge story unfolding with big secrets revealed at every turn. With this series, it's like I'm reading what ought to be a two issue arc stretched into four. There are some twists and turns, but I don't feel like anything's happening.

I'll buy the next issue just to finish off the series, but at this rate it'll be the last that I pick up. Here's hoping Eliopolous figures out how to bring the Pet Avengers back to greatness before the next series starts...




And that's all I got for tonight. If you're curious what else I bought, and by extension what I thought of it, make sure you check out my twitter feed @platypusrobot. Or, you know, just leave me a comment and I can tell you right here. I'm easy like that.

See you next time!

Your Monthly Dose of Throg July 2010

Honestly, after a disappointing last issue, and a sorely lacking special issue, I was worried that Throg's awesomeness was waning. I was worried that the awesome exploits of my favorite frog of thunder might be coming to an end, replaced by introspection and stupid feelings.

And then I caught the last issue of Thor and The Warriors Four (or caught it on The Weekly Crisis, whatever), where my favorite Avengers team stumbled into the fray. Literally.



And gave us the meeting we've dreamed of seeing: Throg and Beta Ray Bill.



I'm going on record, right now, saying that if that team up book ever came out I would buy a hundred copies myself. *

*This may or may not be true.

The Bill July 8, 2010

Wednesdays after holidays make me sad. We're living in the future here people, you'd think they'd figure out how to make sure I get my comics on time and not a day late because of some random day off.

The politician who figures out the solution to that problem will have my vote for life. Just sayin'...

Anyway, a day late and a dollar short, it's time for your new favorite reviews: The Bill!




Best of the Week:

Avengers: The Children's Crusade
Writer: Allan Heinberg
Artist: Jim Cheung


Can you believe it's been five years since Young Avengers # 1 came out? And consequently, that these characters have been in a holding pattern for the better part of three years? It's nuts! Thankfully, that all changes this week.

Finally, after getting all of his TV work out of the way, Allan Heinberg has returned for the next chapter in the Young Avengers' lives and it's pure honey.

Well, mostly anyway. He kinda ignores the fact that Cassie and the Vision were on an actual Avengers team for a while, not to mention that the whole gang were on opposite sides of the Registration debate, but whatever it's water under the bridge, right?

The story picks up as the team is facing off against the Sons of Serpents and Wiccan goes supernova to defeat them. Given his supposed connection to The Scarlet Witch, the big name Avengers are a (understandably) bit spooked and want to run a few tests. The ol' YA decide to fuck that noise and bust out in order to get all the answers they seek from the lady herself.

In all, it was a great, solid, first issue. Maybe not as great as the first first issue, but still pretty entertaining. Throw in some fabulous work from Jimmy Cheung (why hasn't he done a big crossover yet? He should) with great character interplay, and you got me hooked.

Too bad it's bi-monthly. See you in 60, Young Avengers!



Worst of the Week:

Tails of the Pet Avengers: The Dogs of Summer
Writer: Chris Eliopoulos
Artist: Chris Eliopoulos and Ig Guara

Wanna know what really gets my goat? False advertising.

Silly me, I thought I'd pick up this issue and get some great done-in-one Pet Avenger action, but I thought wrong. Instead it was a Franklin Richards-a-thon, with only fleeting glimpses of my favorite non-human heroes. WTF Marvel? I want my furry heroes.

Don't get me wrong, the Franklin stuff is cute and fun, but it was not what I was expecting. If it was: Tails of the Pet Avengers meets Franklin Richards Son of a Genius OR Franklin Richards: Heavy Petting, I would totally understand. As it is, there is no mention of Franklin on the cover, and nothing but on the inside.

Also, as a quick aside, why are we calling him Frog Thor now? Throg was WAY cooler and more clever in a not-so-clever-but-fun kind of way.

Extremely disappointing.





And so it goes. If you want to hear about anything else I bought (Like the sweet as Christmas Mandarin minimate) let me know. Otherwise, I'll catch you guys later.

The Bill June 15, 2010

Ugh. Disappointing weeks are disappointing. I only bought two books this week and, spoilers, I'm having a hard time choosing which one is the worst. Let's see what happens with my reviews:



Least Disappointing of the Week:

Lockjaw and The Pet Avengers Unleashed # 4
Writer: Chris Eliopoulos
Artist: Ig Guara


Why Pet Avengers? I love you so much, why do you have to do this to me? I'm trying to sing your praises to anyone who will listen and this is how you repay me: with a sub-par finale to a sub-par mini series.

I really, REALLY want this to be good, but it just isn't; it's lacking the magic of that first book. The fun character interplay is gone, the gender-confused Ms. Lion gets way too much panel time, and Throg went from being the emotional center of the team to generic leader type (not to mention that they changed his name from the awesome THROG to the significantly less awesome Frog Thor). I don't know what to say.

The theme of the series was finding one's place in the world, which is great, but they don't set it up at all, aside from Throg. Throg, who's journey we should be focused on, is tossed to the side as we are introduced to the last-minute villain (a little girl) and a hastily tacked on love plot between a Yeti and a Unicorn. While each plotline is about finding oneself and their place in the world, we never feel that moment of realization from anyone because no one is given the time to make that decision on panel.

It was all just kinda... underwhelming.




Most Disappointing of the Week:

Age of Heroes # 2
Writer: Various
Artist: Various


Ugh. Where to start with this thing? So much potential; So much unfulfilled promise.

The book's divided into four stories, two long and two very very short. We get long ones on Gravity (one of my favs) and American Son (ugh), while two short ones on the Young Masters (From the latest Young Avengers mini) and Gauntlet (from Avengers: Initiative). Of the four of them, I was greatly interested in three of them. I'll let you guess which one I didn't care about.

So what sucked about it?

First off the Gravity story, which was supposed to fill in the gap between Avengers: Initiative and Young Allies, was a whole lot of nothing. Here's a guy that has been a victim of circumstance.

His first miniseries is VASTLY under-rated and totally awesome, setting him up to be the Spier-Man for the 2000s in the 616. His next big appearance in the Beyond miniseries, had him showcase what made him so awesome; also it killed him. He came back from the dead during Dwayne McDuffie's Fantastic Four run, and then promptly joined an Initiative team in Nevada when he returned to Earth. The last we saw him, he had been transfered back to his home state of Wisconsin to serve with the Great Lake Avengers, much to his chagrin.

Alright, so background aside, what I wanted from this story is HOW he re-integrated himself back into New York and his life there. People knew he died. People knew he came back. Somehow his identity and all that was erased magically.

What? When? How? Why?

Instead of these answers, we get a story of Gravity deciding he should still be Gravity after he accidentally gets two kids killed during a villain fight. It was just... so not what I wanted to read about.

The Gauntlet and Young Masters stories were even worse. Here are some characters that were introduced and are in great big danger of falling into to limbo. I wanted a great send off for them. Where are they? What're they doing? What's their status quo? Instead we see Gauntlet in Afghanistan congratulating the soliders there for being real heroes (nothing wrong with that sentiment, just not the right place for it), while the Young Masters sit around wondering if they're good or evil. I.. what?!?!

If you can't tell, it was all very frustrating.




And that's all I got this week. All I got that was new anyway. I picked up The List: Wolverine for a dollar and it was AMAZING. Thank god for Jason Aaron and his crazy ideas, otherwise I'd be really upset this week.

Give me a glimmer of hope, how was your week?

Your Monthly Dose of Throg June 2010

A little late this month, but have no fear Throg is here.

I'm changing things up this month. While he had plenty of moments in this months Pet Avengers, leading the herds of mythological beasts to victory against an otherworldly evil, he had quite possibly his most iconic panel.

So I did what any self respecting Throg fan would do (and yes, I respect myself as a Throg fan) and created an inspirational image from it. I think it's pretty boss.



Perfect for AIM, LJ, or Blogger icons, the Throg FUCK YEAH pic will become an internet classic for years to come.

At least it will for me.

Your Monthly Dose of Throg May 2010

You thought I forgot about this didn't you? Well the jokes on you, it wasn't that I forgot about it (or that my computer crashed) it was that this issue was nearly impossible to find. It seems that my favorite character of 2009 is amassing quite a following; maybe it'll result in a solo mini-series? Only time will tell.

Anyway, the newest issue of LJATPA:U seemed determined to make up for the lack of Throg last issue by making this one all Throg all the time. This month's moment comes from Throg's return 'home'...



...his awesomeness making the mighty Hiemdall quiver in his boots...



Until he meets with the non-amphibian God of Thunder, who gives him a tour of the factory in which his hammer was made...



Before bestowing the best compliment ever to my favorite green hero...




That's a FUCK YEAH moment if I ever saw one. Keep on rocking it Throg, and maybe someday we'll see a Thor team up book with you, Original Recipe, Thunderstrike, and Beta Ray Bill.

See you next month... or whenever I can find the next issue.

Everything's coming up LockJaw

I've been an unabashed fan of LockJaw and the Pet Avengers since the beginning, and while I sing the praises of Throg whenever I can, the title character still has a special place in my heart. So you can imagine my delight when I was checking my toy blogs and saw this beautiful masterpiece:



Why he's with a non-asian Psylocke I'll never know. Regardless, it's the totally awesome crown jewel of the seventh wave of TRU minimates hitting sometime in the future.

I guess it's time to start a letter writing campaign for a Throg minimate.

Who's with me?

You're Monthly Dose of Throg

The new Pet Avengers Limited series officially kicked off this month, and with it my monthly chronicles of the sensational character find of 2009, The Mighty Throg (Or Frog Thor as he's known in some circles).

This being a first issue, I'm sure he's kicking ass and taking names. Let's see, where is he...



Oh, there he is!

I don't get it, why is he flying down like that?



Wha...??? No, this isn't how it's supposed to work! Throg kicks ass and takes names, he doesn't fail.

I... I just don't know what to say. If only someone could put my sorrow into words...



The transvesite dog took the words right out of my mouth. Throg'll be all right, right? He has to be.

Right? :(

Your Monthly Dose of Throg

Guess who's back, kicking ass and taking names?



Oh Throg, how I've missed you. These past few months have been dismal without your diminutive reptilian godliness, don't ever leave again.

And it looks like you won't, what with your own ongoing series starting next month! Now it's up to us, Internet, to keep him around forever. You with me? Good!

See you next month Throg!

Your Monthly Dose of Throg

Throg proved he was the best at what he does this month by finally assembling the latest Avengers team:


And then proceeding to lay a good ol'fashioned Asgardian smackdown on the mad Titan himself, Thanos.



And all was right with the world. Unfortunately this is the last time we'll se Throg for a while, his miniseries is over....

Lucky for us it was picked up for a full series come 2010!! WOOO!!!

Also, if you're in the mood for a fight tonight, head on over to Spacebooger and check out their Friday Night Fights Finale where yours truly is in the running for the grand prize... Twice!!

I think you should all head over there and let them know how awesome that Scud fight I posted was.

Your Monthly Dose of Throg!!

Throg shows off his greatest power in the latest issue of Pet Avengers: The Look.



The lesson: Don't ever question the Frog of Thunder.

Your Monthly Dose of Throg

Just a reminder why Throg is the coolest frog-based character in the Marvel Universe. Take that Frog Man!

Bonus Awesome:

Check out the sale at Joey Weiser's site. You can get a sweet looking original sketch of my main frog there.

My new favorite character of 2009

Throg!

All the grandeur of the God of Thunder in less than one-hundredth the size! What's not to love? Screw Marvel Apes, bring on Marvel Amphibians!

Catch the frog fever monthly in LockJaw and The Pet Avengers.