Confessions of a Comic Book Guy is a weekly column by Steve Bennett of Super-Fly Comics and Games in Yellow Springs, Ohio. This week, Bennett talks about his failed attempt to see Captain America: Civil War and then looks at some comics that were pleasant unexpected surprises.
I had planned to spend the bulk of Free Comic Book Day at Super-Fly Comics & Games, making several stops at some of the comic book shops along the way. Unfortunately, those plans were scuttled when a serious stomach ailment held me prisoner inside my apartment. The next day I was going to see
Captain America: Civil War Sunday with a friend but couldn't get in, but not because the showing was sold out. Thanks to "reserved seating" (something that up until that very second I didn’t know was a service Regal Cinemas provided).*
The next available showing was both hours away and in Regal’s RPX (Regal Premium Experience), which as advertised does provide "crystal clear all-digital projection" and "power uncompressed surround sound" (see "
Confessions of a Comic Book Guy--What We Can Learn From 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'"), but also costs twice as much as a regular ticket. At this point, it was nearly 3pm and to make up for our disappointment my friend suggested we go "somewhere nice" for a late lunch. It wasn't until we were finally seated after a wait and navigated a surprisingly crowded dining room that it finally dawned on us. We had committed the grand faux pas of attempting to eat out on Mother's Day, the worst part of which being that I really should have known better. Take it from someone who worked in kitchens for over a decade; if you truly love your Mom this is not something you ever want to do.
Which I suppose brings us to the theme of this week's column: you just don't know. Oh, you can think, feel, even believe something will happen or that something is so as hard as you can. But in the end, you know nothing until something is actually known. For example, one reason I try to read as many of the comics currently coming out as I can (see "
Confessions of a Comic Book Guy--You Can't Read Everything (Lord Knows I've Tried))" is because very often you’ll find some pleasant unexpected surprises. For instance:
DC’s
Looney Tunes #230. As previously established, I find this comic a reliable venue for seeing your favorite classic WB characters looking as they should (what is known as "on model" in the animation trade), as well as shoehorning in cameos by some of the studio’s more obscure characters. This issue features a cover and Daffy Duck story drawn by the always great Dave Alvarez as well as an appearance by the department store manager (a.k.a. "Great Gildersneeze") from the 1945 short "Hare Conditioned." It's clear that DC understands how to make really good funny animal comics, I just wish they would make more of them.
Guardians of the Galaxy is the sort of standard issue Marvel comic that I usually wouldn't go out of my way to read. But I have read this run from the beginning, and the best compliment I can give is that like the movie, for the most part, it’s lively fun; in short, something that anyone who had seen and liked the movie would also like. Issue #7 features some lovely art by Valerio Schiti and a plot that finds the usually one-note Rocket Raccoon actually smiling (!) as he Bonds with Guardian pro tem Ben Grimm.
I don't regularly read the
Hellboy comics but entirely at random I did pick up a copy of
Hellboy and the BPRD 1953--Beyond the Fences #3 and was completely knocked out by the crisp, clean art of Chris Roberson. I loved his work on
Edison Rex and was disappointed by the lack of new issues, but it's clear from his work here that in his absence his art has gotten so much better.
* While the ticket seller was trying to explain how "reserved seating" worked to me I couldn’t help but notice a large cardboard standee ad by the counter for Regal King Size Recliners that were now at "select movie theater locations." And by some good fortune, ours was one of those locations. According to the ad copy, these "luxurious recliners are cozy, comfortable and spacious, adjustable to multiple positions and include padded footrests. Regal guests can rest and relax in these movie theatre recliners, becoming further immersed in the movie while experiencing this luxury environment." As previously established, I don't go to the movies all that often these days, but this development might make a difference. But I imagine these seats will be reserved as well.
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.
