Fandom this week...

[shinysylver]

First off I have to share to this video that I first found through the Marvel AR while reading F4 this week. It is about Matt Fraction's family and how it is similar to the F4 and how family influences his writing, but also how being a writer influences his parenting. What that means is you get to see inside his and Kelly Sue Deconnick's life a little and meet their kids. It is adorable. You can watch it here at MTV Geek.

Okay, now on to the comics and shows I've watched this week.

Fantastic Four #4 - This was a perfect Valentine's issue. I realize that I may be the only person who likes Reed Richards, but the way Hickman and now Fraction write him I really do like him and his relationship with Sue. It's not perfect and he is a very flawed man, but I get him and I like seeing a relationship that does require work, but that is also deep and built on love. This issue is basically a love letter from Reed to Sue and we see their first meeting in his recollections, which has been tweaked to age her up (thankfully!) since the last time Marvel showed it. Anyway, there is a beautiful twist in the issue where we discover that the cave paintings they find were actually done by Reed having gone back in time to paint them as a reminder to himself not to take Sue or his family for granted. He even paints a heart around her! I'm glad that it seems like Reed is about to tell her the truth about their trip and it only took four issues and a slightly stern face from her to get him there. This is an improvement!

Secret Avengers #1 - I didn't like this comic. It was well written and set up what could be a really interesting plot...but it was done in a way that made me uncomfortable. The issue got good reviews and focused on Hawkeye and Nat which meant I wanted to like it...but...
All the mind wiping as a function of the job made me uncomfortable to start with especially since the tech was introduced to Clint and Nat before they gave their permission. And lets just take a moment here to ask why Marvel must continue messing with Nat's head? Okay, then the big spoiler at the end? That Fury Jr. shot Clint and set him up to be interrogated via torture, telepath, etc. just so Maria could make sure that SHIELD's new mind wipe tech works under stress? That made me mad and uncomfortable as fuck. Basically if this comic turns out to be about Clint and Nat finding out what is going on and bringing the program down I will happily go back and read it, but right now I just don't like what I am seeing. Also I am a bit apprehensive about what this tech could mean for SHIELD's activities across all lines in the future.

Uncanny X-Men #1 This book goes hand in hand with All New X-Men so I picked it up as well. I am glad I did cause as I mention below, I love Cyclops and I love seeing all this plot revolve around him. He really does hurt so pretty. But OMG, the last page... Magneto is working with Maria Hill to discredit Cyclops?! This is going to be so good. Epic even.

All New X-Men #1-7 - I finally caved and read these after hearing such good things. I like Cyclops and love that he is getting some really meaty well developed fascinating stories to work with and this book has TWO Scotts running around! And both of them hurt so pretty! Beyond just Scott, there really is a lot of delicious character focused story telling because of bringing that first X-Men team forward in time. I am very much looking forward to seeing where this one goes over time.

Arrow - This was a fabulous episode and if the Slade/Ollie fic doesn't start getting written (and to a lesser extent the Dig/Felicity) then I just don't understand fandom. I really loved how focused this episode was on the island with only a few flashes to the present. Every scene in both places felt real and necessary to the story in a way that isn't always true of this show. Slade was fabulous both in the fights and just interacting with Ollie and I really hope we keep him on the show for a very long time.

Supernatural - When the show has both me and my mom cheering for Sam and telling him how awesome he is you know its a good episode. I mean we both like him, but usually that only happens with Dean and Cas in my house. I am very, very excited about the direction the show is taking with his character and can't wait to see how it plays out. I'm worried about Kevin and his nosebleeds and those pills Dean gave him though...

Elementary - Of course Sherlock knew about Joan. There was no way he didn't, but I am glad it is out in the open and their new working relationship has been defined. I continue to love the emotion that we see in this version of Sherlock. I love that he wants her to be safe and instead of the usual and sexist tropes of either trying to protect her himself or turning her away for her own good he just wants to make sure she is trained. I approve. I'm also glad that we got to see more of Bell's life and the place he holds in Sherlock's world.

So what do you all think? What have you been reading/watching?

Comments

[jesseofthenorth.livejournal.com]

Jeebus no wonder your are never around to chat with! lol
I haven't read any of that. I'm still trying to wade through IM and FF.\
I don't know if I am going to read secret avengers or not, whether I do or not it is still behind winter soldier on my reading list, and I am not done that yet.If you read more let me know what you think good or bad.

I loved Arrow and fell a lot more in love with Ms Smoak! She is so kick-ass/unfazeable! I kind of want to kick Slade in the crotch a few times, even though I got why he was being such a hard ass. But still. Poor Ollie!

SPN? Never love it more. Swear to god I keep saying, after every episode "That is the best ep ever!"
:DD

[shinysylver.livejournal.com]

Secret Avengers made me realize how much I've grown to like Clint by reading Hawkeye...because it made me upset to read him being done so so so wrong. TBH the only way I see myself liking Secret Avengers is if it turns into Clint taking down SHIELD. LOL.

[pinkelephant42.livejournal.com]

That video is really cute. :D

I picked up Secret Avengers because Clint/Nat and Budapest! And I agree with everything you said. It's interesting enough that I'll likely keep reading, and I like the art and writing, but the story made me very uncomfortable. Lately S.H.I.E.L.D. in general and what they're willing to do makes me pretty uncomfortable.

SPN: Sam is awesome! Though I thought Dean was extra adorable this episode. I don't like Kevin. I feel like this is an unpopular opinion but I don't find him that interesting and I don't like when the focus shifts to him. This season has been very up and down for me: some episodes I love and some I struggled to sit through, but I'm pretty happy with the last three episodes so I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

Other comics:

Still mad at Superior Spider-Man.

Captain Marvel: the two issues with Monica Rambeau I love so much omg. The latest one I loved slightly less but has some really wonderful character moments. I'm just not a big fan of Andrade's art for Carol. For action his exaggerations work beautifully, but most of the time I find it distracting.

[shinysylver.livejournal.com]

Still mad at Superior Spider-Man.

I haven't read much Spider-Man and had been planning to pick it up with the Marvel Now relaunch...until I heard what they were doing. It just seemed so disrespectful and skeevy, but I have also heard from some people who really like it. So I am not sure whether I will check it out for myself or not. Still waffling.

The latest one I loved slightly less but has some really wonderful character moments. I'm just not a big fan of Andrade's art for Carol.

I really loved the humor and writing in the latest issue, but I completely agree that the art wasn't a good fit. Even with that I still think it was my favorite issue of to date because of the humor and the quiet nature of a large part of it. I like seeing her day to day life...also how can you beat Spider-Cat?

[arsenicjade.livejournal.com]

Basically if this comic turns out to be about Clint and Nat finding out what is going on and bringing the program down I will happily go back and read it, but right now I just don't like what I am seeing.

Yeah, that was kind of completely where I was.

[shinysylver.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that twist with Hawkeye at the end just HURT. What a way to find out that yes, reading the Hawkeye comic has made me really like him as a character. I just want to take him back home and wrap him in a blanket, put on an ep of Dog Cops, and get Pizza Dog to cuddle him.

This is one of those times where I get so frustrated because in some lines I really like Maria and in others she does things like this where I just can't. I mean she is an interested character, but the seesaw is hard on me. SHIELD as a whole does me that way.

[arsenicjade.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's funny, b/c I wrote Maria recently and was like "THIS IS MOVIE-VERSE MARIA" for that precise reason. In the comics, it's a neverending game of "what will she be like today?"

Sigh. And the thing is, I really loved the dynamic of Clint and Natasha in this issue, but ugh. I just, no.

[jacketpotato.livejournal.com]

Holy crumbs, there are a ton of videos at mtv geek that I want to watch, how did I not know this?! Thanks for opening my eyes!

I'm still getting my feet in the Marvel Now world. I am reading the Iron Man but not really liking it. Thor God of Thunder I do like. I haven't tried any of the others yet.

I seriously need a Marvel flowchart, I just keep staring at everything and never beginning anything.

[shinysylver.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel, but I have the opposite problem...I'm starting everything and can't afford it! /o\

I can't quit Iron Man cause it's Iron Man, but I am starting to get to the point where I need to make a Solomon's choice and start dropping some titles.

If you have any questions about any of the Marvel Now titles I am more than happy to answer them. :D

[cellia.livejournal.com]

Oh man I'm so behind, but this makes me want to catch up.

I actually really love Reed too. Though, of course he changes depending on the writer. I love the idea that the team/title is centered around *family*. Also that he's a brain before a brawn (and many other things... I actually find his lack of social skills amusing).

Oh no what are they doing with Maria Hill? :( I love her so much, but her characterization can change wildly, and I still think some people see her as an easy villain/bitch. (And does Cyclops really need discrediting atm?)

Hawkeye as a SHIELD agent? His big thing used to be "no killing"... has he changed?

Ag I need to find some time to catch up on everything!

[shinysylver.livejournal.com]

I find Reed's lack of social skills to be pretty realistic and sometimes actually charming because I get it, you know? And yeah the fact that the F4 and FF comics revolve around the idea of family both biological and found is why I am reading them. It's a really pleasant change compared to most comics out there.

Maria in the Secret Avengers line is being pretty ruthless to the point I see it as reprehensible...but I love her in Indestructible Hulk. *sigh* I like that she is so morally grey at times and is tough as hell but sometimes they make it really hard to actually like her.

Hawkeye isn't actually a SHIELD agent which is why all the mindwiping is happening...he doesn't have clearance. He's still against killing as far as I can tell.

Cyclops is interesting because the general masses are starting to see him as an anti-government icon beyond the mutant issues. College students are treating him as a sort of Che Guevera figure with his face on signs and shirts. The superhero community sees him as a dangerous bordering on villainous person, but there is some popular support. Magneto's point is to kill him is to forever martyr him to the general masses and all future mutants, but SHIELD should instead show him as an unstable man not a freedom fighter. Although, it's Magneto so things are likely even more complicated.

[cellia.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Something about Reed... well I understand Sue, lol.

I love the idea of Maria as vaguely morally grey, or at least a counterpoint to superheroes in that she's willing to do a lot, but I still have to believe it's for the common good, not just because "ooo such a hard bitch." I like her as a new Fury in a way. A more "realistic" solution to some problems than a superhero.

Hawkeye: Ah, ok. Dammit are comics trying to make me like Hawkeye? He was the one character I was pretty cool with loving to hate.

How does Cyclops become antigov Che when he was basically world dictator 2 months ago? Or maybe people want a return to those Phoenix-y days? And Magneto as an ally in helping The Man keep power...lol, I'm sure he's just a concerned citizen.

Of course I should read these things. I'm writing about it all not really knowing anything besides what you've written here! XD

[perkyrusalka.livejournal.com]

I keep wanting to hate Elementary (mostly because my Dad keeps comparing it to Monk, who is apparently the original quirky detective) but I kind of am liking it.

I mean, not enough for fanfic, but it's okay.

[shinysylver.livejournal.com]

Yeah I don't fic it, but I do enjoy some tumblr gifs. :D