Weekly Reader, June 30, 2025

[Jeff]

Taking a couple days off this week so hoping I can actually read all of these.

Jimmy, Perry, and I are going to throw in a weekly pick from one us that we are all gonna read so we can discuss.  Feel free to join us on this new adventure!

Jimmy Pick for the Week
Amazing Spider-Man 312

Marvel Unlimited
X-Manhunt Omega 1
WEAPON X-MEN #2
ROGUE: THE SAVAGE LAND #3
WOLVERINE: REVENGE #5
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #15
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #3

DC Universe Ultra
Legion of Super-Heroes #312
ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN #3
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8
JSA #8
JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE ATOM PROJECT #6 (OF 6)

Hoopla
Ice Cream Man Vol 9: Heavy Narration (Collects issues 33-36)
Public Domain Vol 1 (Collects issues 1-5) - Zdarsky bonus borrow
Deadly Class Deluxe Edition Book Four (Collects issues 45-56)

Crossgen
Sigil 1
Sigil 2

ComiXology
Devil's Highway Volume 1 (collects issues #1-5)
Devil's Highway Volume 2 (collects issues #6-10)

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[Perry]

Okay, going to go a little smaller during the week and then if I have time to add more, I can I add more. I just don't have the time (or can't find the time, to be more precise) to read all I want in a week. Haha.
Anyway, let's give this week a go!!

Puppet Master Pick (Jimmy)
Amazing Spider-Man #312

Marvel Unlimited
Ultimate Spider-Man #15
Ultimate Wolverine #3

DC Universe Ultra
Absolute GL #3
Absolute Superman #8
JSA #8
Hellblazer #67
Legion of Super-Heroes #312

Hoopla
Power Fantasy #2
Seasons v1 (issue 1-4)
Assorted Crisis Events #4

CrossGen
Sigil #1
Sigil #2

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Ultimate Wolverine - I am just here. Not overly enjoying this title, to say the least, but I have so much FOMO in regards to this universe, sans the Peach Momoko's mutant title (that luckily, so far, has been its own thing... away from everything else... as far as I can tell) that I am going to try and push my way through this book to the end. I know this universe is ending/changing soon, so I am hoping I can hang on until then. 

Ultimate Spidey - Another good issue . I love the way young Richard's suit is shown here. Not uniform... ummm... not patterned, there is a variableness to its look. Really cool. And wow, poor Ben Rielly 

Puppet Master Amazing - Loved this issue!! Okay, sure, it is very dated with it's "let me explain what you are seeing" approach, instead of trusting the readers to know or figure it out, but that is the sign of the times for comics prior to the 2ks (I actually wonder when that shift of over expedition to the more normal style happened? I may have to check that) Anyway, great art... great comic art, over-energetic poses that would make Stan Lee smile and far more loose than I originally remember Todd being with his work. It was odd to see that, but also very cool. Story was also engaging and fun with quotes like "...When your wife's blood coats my hands like crimson gloves!" Haha, what? Ha, awesome. Yeah, great start to this Puppet Master crap.
 

[Perry]

Puppet Master Pick (Jimmy)
Amazing Spider-Man #312

Marvel Unlimited
Ultimate Spider-Man #15
Ultimate Wolverine #3

DC Universe Ultra
Absolute GL #3
Absolute Superman #8
JSA #8
Hellblazer #67
Legion of Super-Heroes #312

Hoopla
Power Fantasy #2
Seasons v1 (issue 1-4)
Assorted Crisis Events #4

CrossGen
Sigil #1
Sigil #2

**************************************************

Sigil - Welllll.... not the best read. Art in the first issue is really bad and the writing is clunky, disjointed and messy. All that said, I do remember enjoying this series, but maybe as I came on later (after Negation #2) perhaps I started reading this series from that point and either never went back and read these first few issues or I just don't remember doing so,  because I clearly remember liking this more than what I am now. Haha. The second issue is better, in art and writing, but still not as enjoyable as I remember. Hoping it gets to that "better point" that I recall it being soon, because I am not sure I can do much more of this title the way it is at this point. 

Assorted Crisis Events - An entire lifetime in one issue? Time really does fly by!!! Great issue. My favorite one so far. The anthology aspect is kind of cool as we are not, as of yet, tied down to any particular character, save one... (similar to Ice Cream Man in that regard) so if you want to see what this series is about, pick up this issue, issue #4, to get a good taste. The only draw back, for me, is I hate when they use white colored text. Especially on a softer background. It is a little hard for my old ass eyes to see. Haha 

Power Fantasy - Wow, still trying to learn all the characters, but this series is another Gillen winner for me. Essentially a story about Omega Level powers set to maximum. What what that be like? Well, amazing, duh! Just not for us regular people though. 

Legion - I keep getting my numbers wrong, but yes, I finished this one this week (#312. not that #313 that I had thought) and after reading 312, I was shown (by the DC app) that the next issue I should read is not issue #313, but instead Legion Annual #3. That is NOT the case. This is the second or third time even that the app has thrown an annual at us at the wrong time. If it happens to you, do not read that annual until after issue 315. Not that it is a big deal, at least not at the point I stopped reading, but still, if you want proper reading order, skip the annual for now.

Hellblazer - Wow, John Constantine with a broken heart. Ha, someone is gonna catch the brunt of that hurting heart  Would not want to be the guy, demon, angel or witch that faces him next.

JSA - Art was good for the story and I always love seeing some Nazi super-villains (especially when they're getting their ass handed to them), but... yeah... just, I don't know. maybe its too run of the mill for me? Hey, I think Lemire is a great writer, I do, but his hero stuff, at least his DC hero stuff, is just so average and mundane that I can't get excited about it. Next issue may just be my last. 

Absolute Supes - My least favorite issue of this title so far and hey, that's fine. It is still good, just didn't "wow" me like the past few issue have. Art and story still solid!! 

Absolute GL - This on the other hand... I am done. I do enjoy the alternate takes on heroes, be it Ultimate, Elseworlds, Black Label, or Absolute, but this title is almost too different for me. And if that was the only thing I was struggling with I would keep going (again, I do enjoy the different takes, normally) but the writing here is also a sore spot for me. I was saying the other day how, other than a couple titles (Immortal Hulk and the Ultimates non-ultimate universe title), I don't think I am a fan of Al Ewing's writing? Recently-
- Metamorpho started strong for me but I was off by issue #3
- Immortal Thor started interesting, became really interesting, and then fell off quite quickly for me
- X-Men Red I stayed on for FOMO more than anything
- Defenders which I love the artist, still I couldn't get past the first two issues
and
- We Only FInd Them... was cool, but the art killed that book 

Yeah, I think I am just going to stay way from Ewing for awhile.

[Jeff]

I don't know what I was thinking this week! Got so busy with the arrival of my new granddaughter that comics just went by the wayside.  I did get three done but no way I'll finish this list today!

Jimmy Pick for the Week
Amazing Spider-Man 312

Marvel Unlimited
X-Manhunt Omega 1
WEAPON X-MEN #2
ROGUE: THE SAVAGE LAND #3
WOLVERINE: REVENGE #5
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #15
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #3

DC Universe Ultra
Legion of Super-Heroes #312
ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN #3
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8
JSA #8
JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE ATOM PROJECT #6 (OF 6)

Hoopla
Ice Cream Man Vol 9: Heavy Narration (Collects issues 33-36)
Public Domain Vol 1 (Collects issues 1-5) - Zdarsky bonus borrow
Deadly Class Deluxe Edition Book Four (Collects issues 45-56)

Crossgen
Sigil 1
Sigil 2

ComiXology
Devil's Highway Volume 1 (collects issues #1-5)
Devil's Highway Volume 2 (collects issues #6-10)

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Amazing Spider-Man 312 - enjoyed this issue and the McFarlane art.  Weird getting dropped in the middle of the arc but fun too.  Really miss Harry Osborn being around. He was a great character.

X-Manhunt Omega 1 - A little choppy with the writing but I generally like where this left things. This was actually a setup for the Imperial event coming up.

WEAPON X-MEN #2 - ok issue 2.  Cast is fun to see together and fun seeing a villain like Strucker back in narcissist action.

[Perry]

Got so busy with the arrival of my new granddaughter...

Once again, Congrats!!

Amazing Spider-Man [...] Weird getting dropped in the middle of the arc but fun too.

Right? It makes me really miss the days when you had no choice in the matter. The days when if you were going to read comics, you were, most likely, coming betwixt story-lines. But that made it more fun, learning characters and plotlines as we went and going from store to store, scanning through different spinner racks at different stores in an effort to get one or two issue numbers prior to the one you just got. Not to mention being able to buy three of four comics and a Slurpee for about $2


The good old days!!

[Jeff]

Jimmy Pick for the Week
Amazing Spider-Man 312

Marvel Unlimited
X-Manhunt Omega 1
WEAPON X-MEN #2
ROGUE: THE SAVAGE LAND #3
WOLVERINE: REVENGE #5
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #15
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #3

DC Universe Ultra
Legion of Super-Heroes #312
ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN #3
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8
JSA #8
JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE ATOM PROJECT #6 (OF 6)

Hoopla
Ice Cream Man Vol 9: Heavy Narration (Collects issues 33-36)
Public Domain Vol 1 (Collects issues 1-5) - Zdarsky bonus borrow
Deadly Class Deluxe Edition Book Four (Collects issues 45-56)

Crossgen
Sigil 1
Sigil 2

ComiXology
Devil's Highway Volume 1 (collects issues #1-5)
Devil's Highway Volume 2 (collects issues #6-10)

———————————————————————————————

ROGUE: THE SAVAGE LAND #3 - Slow issue. The lull before the storm I believe.

WOLVERINE: REVENGE #5 - Good ending for the mini. Not a must read but I enjoyed it.

Ice Cream Man Vol 9: Heavy Narration (Collects issues 33-36) - not the best volume but creepy as usual.