Pop! Goes the Icon

Welcome to the first installment of Free Comic Mondays! Yes, all three of our regular readers might recall that waaaay back in February, I announced a forthcoming regular contest to WIN FREE STUFF. Well, it took a while (I’ve been busy, sheesh!), but here we are at the dawn of what is sure to become a not-entirely-weekly-but-sure-trying endeavor: Non-reviews of new comics and chances to win free stuff from the Pop! Goes the Icon Closet of Awesomeness™. Do you not believe in the Closet of Awesomeness™? Click here, buddy — it’s a virtual tour almost!

Why non-reviews? Um, we went over last week or so why I hate reviewing anything, comics included. Still, I do like to rant (why else would this blog exist?), so occasionally, I’ll mind-dump thoughts about comic purchases right here. We’ll get to the free stuff AFTER the ranting, of course.

X-Men: Legacy #210: Wow, OK, finally getting somewhere, though this framework of Professor X locked into astral plane combat with Exodus while a powerless Magneto kinda hangs out has been ludicrous, and just an excuse to wedge in all these flashbacks. So what have we gotten after three issues? Professor X walking off into the sunset alone, his powerful mind still powerful but now devoid of connection to the memories they contain. I have no idea where this is going, and after next issue, whether or not I care remains to be seen.

New Avengers #40: Um, SPOILER ALERT …

… Spider-Woman is a Skrull. I have a feeling when all this Secret Invasion nonsense is done, we’ll realize everyone is a Skrull, and has been for the last like 15-20 years (real time). Then it’ll be like 1988 all over again. Bring on the dancing horses!

DC Universe #0: Dear Dan DiDio: I tried, man, I tried to find some sort of jump-in point for your 52 universes of BS. I figured, “What better place than in the pages of a 50-cent comic book tying in to the biggest event DC’s had since its last biggest event?” Hoo-boy, was I wrong. Not only did this comic confuse the crap out of me, it reinforced my disdain for DC Comics. It’s like I’m a 10-year-old Marvel Zombie again. Seriously. Sigh. At least The Dark Knight trailer looks awesome.

Free Comic Book Day: Good show, comic book companies! Seriously: X-Men, Marvel Adventures, Hellboy, Iron Man/Hulk, and … most amazingly of all … a full reprint of All-Star Superman #1! This has to be the best FCBD yet. And … damn you DC … the aforementioned reprint is doing just what you intended: I think I’m going to buy the A-S Superman collection in trade. ARGH.

This week, it’s looking hot with Kick-Ass #3, Mighty Avengers #13 and Secret Invasion #2. I am kinda excited. What a friggin’ geek!

FREE STUFF TIME!!! OK, kids, we’re going to ease into Free Comic Mondays with an easy contest challenge — we’ll work our way up as the weeks go on, but I’m feeling a bit lazy today, so you benefit. This week’s prize is a copy of Black Lightning #4 from 1977. Why? Because it guest stars Superman, has Jimmy Olsen jive-talking, and WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FREE STUFF? Anyway, here’s your damn challenge: Pop! Goes the Icon has an official favorite comic book artist. Who is it? (Hint: Yes, the answer is in a previous post) Leave your answer in the comments below. The first person to comment with the correct answer wins. How friggin’ hard was that? Just make sure you fill out your e-mail address, or else I will have no way to contact you and get your mailing address, knucklehead.

“Your Lamborghini, then? Much more subtle.”