BSCreview » Jan-ken-pon

Night of Knives by Ian Cameron Esslemont – review

Jay Tomio — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:44:10 +0000

Night of Knives is a really intriguing book to me because I have gone back and forth on it, and some of the baggage that comes with it is rather unique. It was not a book I’d have described as “top shelf” in the year it was released, but it is one I find myself rereading. Among [...]
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A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. – review

Jay Tomio — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:32:55 +0000

Over the course of the next month or so I'll be relocating some reviews I did some years ago at my old blog (The Bodhisattva) over to BSC. Some content that no longer makes sense (if it ever did!) and is no longer applicable, like links that don't exist anymore, will be removed. Also, I now have the benefit of handing this to a second pair of eyes for editorial corrections--which I didn't have or really care about before! This one will be a review of the classic SF novel A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller Jr. Check it out after the jump... No related posts.

Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell – review

Jay Tomio — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:56:04 +0000

Over the course of the next month or so, I'll be relocating some reviews I did some years ago over at my old blog (The Bodhisattva) over to BSC. Some content that no longer makes sense (if it ever did!) and is no longer applicable, like links that don't exist anymore, will be removed. Also, I now have the benefit of handing this to a second pair of eyes for editorial corrections--which I didn't have or really care about before! This one is a look at Tobias Buckell's debut, Crystal Rain. Check it out after the jump...
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The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker – review

Jay Tomio — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:32:06 +0000

Over the course of the next month or so, I'll be relocating some reviews I did some years ago over at my old blog (The Bodhisattva) over to BSC. Some content that no longer makes sense (if it ever did!) and is no longer applicable, like links that don't exist anymore, will be removed. Also, I now have the benefit of handing this to a second pair of eyes for editorial corrections--which I didn't have or really care about before! This time around is my review of R. Scott Bakker's The Darkness That Comes Before. Check it out after the jump...
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Blade of Tyshalle by Matthew Stover – review

Jay Tomio — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:19:12 +0000

Over the course of the next month or so I'll be relocating some reviews I did some years ago over at my old blog (The Bodhisattva) over to BSC. Some content that no longer makes sense (if it ever did!) and is not applicable anymore, like links that don't exist anymore, will be removed. Also, I now have the benefit of handing this to a second pair of eyes for editorial corrections--which I didn't have or really care about before! This time it's a review of Matthew Stover's Blade of Tyshalle--simply one of my favorite novels ever. Check it out after the jump...
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Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds – review

Jay Tomio — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:30:17 +0000

Over the course of the next month or so, I'll be relocating some reviews I did some years ago over at my old blog (The Bodhisattva) over to BSC. Some content that no longer makes sense (if it ever did!) and is not applicable anymore, like links that don't exist anymore, will be removed. Also, I now have the benefit of handing this to a second pair of eyes for editorial corrections--which I didn't have or really care about before! The first one will be a review of Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space (from 2005), what I felt was a nice little intro to a space opera, that at the time was much more of a "serious" SF read for me--at least in terms of what was Identified as Space Opera. Check it out after the jump...
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Book Review – Revelation Space

Deadpool #16 review

Jay Tomio — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:02:15 +0000

No other character can have an issue like this and be successful. Certainly no very-in current continuity character at the Big II. Deadpool is like the circus visiting you, and when the circus visits the X-Men -via ringmasters Daniel Way and Paco Medina- you get one of the two regular titles at Marvel that every month prove that fun comics (along with Agents of Atlas) can thrive, to the extent that this “comics should all go to OGNs” flag waver can see the value in needing each and ever 30-day fix. Hell, put me down for The Daily Deadpool. Moe after the jump... No related posts.

G.I. Joe – Classic Reread: Special Missions ‘Best Defense’

Jay Tomio — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:36:02 +0000

As some may know, I've started my reread of the the G.I. Joe run first published by Marvel, via the collected TPBs recently published by IDW. Recently, I started reading the Special Missions (also published by Marvel, 28 issues – '86-'89) and I figured I'd sprinkle in an issue of Special Missions coverage after every third issue I go over of the main series. Before getting its own series, the first Special Mission can be found as an extra in issue 50 of the main G.I. Joe Get the scoop after the jump...
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Classic G.I. Joe Reread – Issue #3 ‘The Trojan Gambit’

Jay Tomio — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:02:41 +0000

This is a continuation of my issue-by-issue review of the classic G.I. Joe comic series originally published by Marvel Comics, and now reprinted by IDW via trade paperback. Please check out the index to view previous reviews, particularly the first installment (if you have not already) as it offers a bit more in regards to initial perspective. On to issue 3, "The Trojan Gambit…"
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The Last Resort #1 review – Palmiotti and Gray!

Jay Tomio — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:12:32 +0000

I talked about this in Tomio's Want List awhile ago. I read it soon after, but I'm just now getting the time to talk about it now and decided to reread it, remembering I rather enjoyed it the first time around. I would point to this issue as being a prime example of how to put together a first issue of a new series. The stage is infected, set and blown up. Read on after the jump...
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Tomio’s Want List – The Last Resort by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray

Classic G.I. Joe Reread: Issue#2 – Panic at the North Pole

Jay Tomio — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:27:53 +0000

This is a continuation of my issue-by-issue review of the classic G.I. Joe comic series originally published by Marvel Comics, and now reprinted by IDW via trade paperback. Please check out the index to view previous reviews, particularly the first installment (if you have not already) as it offers a bit more in regards to initial perspective. On to issue 2…
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Guardians of the Galaxy #18 review

Jay Tomio — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:54:47 +0000

I hadn't read an issue of The Guardians of the Galaxy since I reviewed the 15th issue, so I have to admit that I likely missed quite a bit, and even beyond the case of a normal reprieve as that absence represented what had to be War of Kings material, which I can only assume had ramifications specific to the team--a team whose adventures have ranked among my favorites that Marvel has had to offer over the last couple years, perhaps eclipsed only by the wonderful Agents of Atlas. With the delay in mind, I will have to say that the often discussed relevance of the recap pages Marvel utilizes payed off for me, though admittedly in a net-conscious world I could have found out the info easily. Still, I both appreciated and benefited from it being there and on hand. Read on after the jump...
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Jan-ken-pon – Marvel’s USA Comics 70th Anniversary Special review

Jay Tomio — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:37:18 +0000

I've really enjoyed all of these 70th anniversary specials (see my review of Marvel Mystery) that Marvel has been putting out, highlighting the what I think is an underrated heritage. It may be because Marvel is today's industry leader and has been so for at least the last two generations of comic fans that we never really give proper credence to their rich history. If we do, we rarely go beyond Fantastic Four#1 or Amazing Fantasy#15 in our considerations, and it's a shame because it is before that era that Marvel was establishing the prototypes to what would would become their modern pantheon. More after the jump...
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Jan-ken-pon – Deadpool Merc with a Mouth #1 review

Jay Tomio — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:10:35 +0000

First, the cover is a lovely reminder of savage days and Big John. A Deadpool synopsis is one of the most beautiful things in comics. Nerd tech-loving terrorist organization sends the Merc to retrieve an item from a rival fascist terrorist organization-both groups of which claim origins in the Silver Age. That all? Hell no, this is Wade Wilson, not just Bond. He's also getting shot down to the extraction point from orbit in what is essentially a bullet in a planned crash and burn landing. Oh, he is also landing in the Savage Land which is full of dinosaurs and other pre-historic mayhem.
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Jan-ken-pon – The word on Charlie Huston’s My Dead Body & Daniel Abraham’s The Price of Spring

Jay Tomio — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:27:16 +0000

Okay, these are some thoughts on two books I've recently finished, one released in July, the other coming out in October. One from Tor, the other from Del Rey, so both from houses with big yards, both from authors I'm familiar with (at least their work), and both continue & conclude previous adventures. These are brief thoughts on Charlie Huston's My Dead Body, and The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham. You can check out my preliminary thoughts I expressed on each within my Now Reading posts (here and here). As an aside, I'm not saying they will always occur, or even that they will occur at all, but if you're the type who avoid spoilers at all costs, you may just want to take a pass. Check out the verdict after the jump...
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Jan-ken-pon – Classic G.I. Joe Reread: Issue#1 – Operation Lady Doomsday

Jay Tomio — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:36:52 +0000

Some may remember that I did some reviews of issues of Marvel's G.I. Joe run over at my blog. It had gaps in it because I was going off of a lot of issues I had just bought, and decided to run with it (I called it A Cup of Joe then, and no I was not aware of the Joe Quesada feature--I really don't pay attention to stuff like that). I'm going to continue it now, but start from the beginning, utilizing IDW's collecting of the former Marvel run. When I get to those I have covered at my blog, I'll bring them over to BSC, so basically we are going to have a lot of Joe goodness going! This is the first part in me relaying my experiences as I reread the collected volumes of the original Marvel run of G.I. Joe reprinted by IDW (the first vol. includes issues 1-10) It is going to be an issue-by-issue breakdown, so make sure you come back to get scoop on the second issue. This first post will probably be substantially longer than the rest as I’ll go over a lot of the establishing points that permeate from issue one on.
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Jan-ken-pon – Tomio’s Want List: Alan DeNiro’s Total Oblivion, More or Less

Jay Tomio — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:03:52 +0000

Tomio's Want List is a subpostgenre of Jan-ken-pon (which has no known boundaries) that showcases items I run into that have to find here way on to my shelves, man-compound, longbox (with mylars), or deposit box. Usually, these are pretty much off the cuff, and often times (like most desires) are based on very little reason. There is reason here though, as you well know if you have had the pleasure of reading Alan DeNiro's collection Skinny Dipping in the Lake of the Dead, which was published by Small Beer Press, and in line with the quality you'd expect from everything they publish. Via twitter today I was led to this baby though. Read more after the jump...
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Jan-ken-pon – Spotlight Modern: Birds of Prey#8

Jay Tomio — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:30:52 +0000

This is another oddball issue, though from one of the two major publishers, that really speaks to how 'story' can still elevate prices in modern books. It also (more relevantly) has the benefit of a dip in print run. DC tends to have very few comparable issues with Marvel in the late copper/modern era, as the former has first appearances of Cable, Deadpool, and Venom (aka – the original Image founders visual creations) that have developed back issue demand-- the only one that immediately comes to mind are the two early Harley Quinn appearances (which will probably end up in Spotlight Modern as well at some point). No other issue in this--very recommended-- run has a premium associated with it.
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Jan-ken-pon – Spotlight Modern: Marc Spector Moon Knight#55

Jay Tomio — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:44:49 +0000

This is an issue that tends to be bring out extreme opinions (if considered at all). There tends to be two sides. One, views the book as representative of what was wrong with '90s comics, the second wave and offspring of the Image founders being put into the spotlight once again at Marvel comics. The other (where I guess I'd place myself) remembers the event of this issue, an obscure title from a publisher who was the market leader who had most of its headlining artistic 'style' recently move on. More after the jump...
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Jan-ken-pon – Spotlight Modern: Fatale Inherit the Earth

Jay Tomio — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:23:07 +0000

Recently I had a post about '90s comics (disguised in a post about Shooter's new gig at Dark Horse). This is start of (that I started elsewhere) of a feature I want to now do within Jan-Ken-Pon, highlighting individual comics (or their collected formats) that interested me either due to content, collectability or a combination of the two. Today, to kick off the feature I chose the Fatale: Inherit the Earth hardcover. The first thing I want to say is yes, I will cover more than (Jim) Shooter related comics! I went with this because it tripped one of my (several dozen) Ebay searches last month and there was one for sale with a BIN for $225 (no, it was not mine or anyone's that I'm aware of knowing). Your second question—some variation of WTF?-- just became your first.
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Jan-Ken-Pon – Now Reading: The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham

Jay Tomio — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:22:58 +0000

I just finished Charlie Huston's My Dead Boy (the subject of my last 'Now Reading'--and I'll have a brief review up in the future) and while there are some pretty cool galleys out right now for books being published a it later in the year, I wanted to first close out Abraham's Long Price Quartet. More after the jump...
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Jan-Ken-Pon – Love Note, Burn Notice

Jay Tomio — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:15:03 +0000

It was recently announced that Burn Notice was renewed for a 4th season. I just love this show. It's very hard to go 3-4 season for an hour long show like this and not get lost in a haphazard and invented on-the-fly mythology that wasn't there upon creation due to being unable to bank on initial success... More after the jump...
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Jan-Ken-Pon – Tomio’s G.I. Joe Want List for Max Brooks and IDW

Jay Tomio — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:47:19 +0000

Special addition of the Tomio Want List today! During SDCC it was announced that IDW had tapped novelist Max Brooks (The Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z) to write a five issue G.I. Joe series, each featuring a JOE and Cobra character. One character had been confirmed, and it was both the best and most obvious choice of Firefly. If you're working outside of the half dozen of so central characters, Firefly is easily the coolest character out there, and I'd imagine the #1 choice of most people that are at least somewhat familiar with the franchise. Read more after the jump... No related posts.

Jan-Ken-Pon – Now Reading: My Dead Body by Charlie Huston

Jay Tomio — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:25:51 +0000

Just thought I'd note what I'm reading at the moment. It's scheduled to be published in the U.S. in October and in the UK in December. This is Charlie Huston's fifth novel depicting the adventures of Joe Pitt, and about 50 pages in I feel like we are back on track in a series that really surprised me, as getting me interested in any vampire Vampyre related novel is close to an impossibility. The first novel is the hook and full of energy--it's legitimately hard not to like. More after the jump...
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Jan-Ken-Pon – Jim Shooter’s Gold Key (and ’90s Comic Book Validation)

Jay Tomio — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:09:48 +0000

There is this idea, or perhaps more apt, a stigma associated with the term '90s comics. You can multiply that several times over if mentioning '90s superhero comics. Regarding either, it's a rather overstated stance if one considers what came out of the decade. More after the jump... No related posts.