Simpsons Comics Thread

**Stevie V. Scrivello** · 03-03-2007, 01:25 PM

Well, I finally rested my workaholic derrier for the week and took a drive to my favorite location: the bookstore. From there, I committed the same heinous attrocity that I did with #126: I read the comic without buying it.

It's deja vu all over again, as Yogi Bera said (I think). There was absolutely no point in buying #127; if I had, I probably would have been thrown into that depression I suffer from when I feel I have wasted money. Yes, it was stealing. Yes, as the user Reverend Lovejoy pointed out last time, that was not a library. Yes, it's completely out of character for me to do anything wrong. I did though, for practical reasons.

#127? It was dull to the point of being unbearable. I wouldn't say that the crummy #126 was any better; this issue had its own unique problems. The plot was tepid and formulaic: the Simpsons are in the livingroom doing nothing important, Homer reads a comic book to them, said story commences with nary a laugh to be found, characters spout canned one lin...zzzzzzzzzz....

*pops awake* Sorry about that, but that was just about how I felt about this issue. Of course, I'm sure some people will enjoy it. Heck, if you like *cough* comedic gems like this exchange,:

Lisa: Sea fog?

Bart: Yeah, I see fog!

...you're sure to love it. You also probably have no taste whatsoever, but that's not my place to tell you that. I'm just a lowly sycophant who likes to review comic books.

-Stevie V.

**Reverend Lovejoy** · 03-04-2007, 06:57 AM

Well, from one comic review to another...

I finally bought the latest Bart Simpson today (the one I mentioned a page ago with very little enthusiasm) and I didn't really like it at all to be honest. I wasn't too sure about most of the stories (although I did like 'Maggie and Moe'), and I did give the CBG one a chance (I did say I would), and I still didn't like it. Sorry, Ivan.

One thing, though - in 'Nelson's guide to adult nerds' Lovejoy isn't mentioned. Maybe that makes him cool.

Whilst I do like #74, I do agree with Ivan that the art is 'below standard' to put it politely. The only panel I do think is drawn well is (big surprise here) the scene where Helen is giving Marge the 'judgemental gaze'. It's not just me being biased (she was drawn much worse in the other panels), I just think it was a good drawing of her with her eyes half-closed. And I like the way she's picking that box off the shelf. Nice work on the fingers.
Yes, I'm a nerd...

**baloobas** · 03-04-2007, 12:00 PM

Sad to see the comics getting so much bad press on here, I always enjoy them but I suppose these days everyone's a critic.
Slightly annoyed by people saying that they read them in the comic store without buying them - seriously why are you even bothering to post here ?.
I live in Ireland where a $2.99 comic sells for about $5.50 and I still rush out and get them every month.
Anyway, if anyone is interested, I have more new comic covers (including the next Super Spectacular) on my site, have a look, if only to moan about the colours/art/expressions/its not what its like in my head etc.

**Kiyosuki** · 03-04-2007, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by baloobas

Sad to see the comics getting so much bad press on here, I always enjoy them but I suppose these days everyone's a critic.
Slightly annoyed by people saying that they read them in the comic store without buying them - seriously why are you even bothering to post here ?.
I live in Ireland where a $2.99 comic sells for about $5.50 and I still rush out and get them every month.
Anyway, if anyone is interested, I have more new comic covers (including the next Super Spectacular) on my site, have a look, if only to moan about the colours/art/expressions/its not what its like in my head etc.

They're generally liked. I still check them out. Its just that the past few issues have been real stinkers. But in general the comic is a huge gamble. It either sucks so much the universe implodes on itself, or its surprisingly good. It is what it is so its not quite the same as the series, which can be either a great or terrible thing depending on the story and the staff at the moment. I see it as a sort of expansion of the series since it can do a couple of things like secondary one shots that the series can't do.

**Stevie V. Scrivello** · 03-05-2007, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by baloobas

Slightly annoyed by people saying that they read them in the comic store without buying them - seriously why are you even bothering to post here ?.

Because I am a generally upstanding citizen who seems to think that the 8th commandment does not extend to periodicals. I post here because I like the comics, and I generally do buy them if I feel that it will be worth my time. Lately, they haven't been, so in effect, I've been stealing. Now I feel awful....

Originally Posted by Reverend Lovejoy

Yes, I'm a nerd...

Yes, but you're a cool nerd. Even better, you're a cool, Lovejoy-loving nerd. (Yes, it's flattery, I know. Sorry, Reverend.)

**Charlie** · 03-06-2007, 03:03 AM

Originally Posted by baloobas

I live in Ireland where a $2.99 comic sells for about $5.50 and I still rush out and get them every month.

Yeah, around the same here. Costs me $5.80 for one US edition.

Shock horror to follow guys, I liked Simpson Family Robinson. And #126.

The trilogy issue, even though it followed the same formula as previous trilogies (the Simpsons play dress up), it's actually been the most enjoyable (even better than the Shakespeare issue). Each segment was as good as the others (around a B average from me), even though all up the Apu story was my favourite (however, the other two had it's moments). The only cop out was the ending, Marge turning into an elephant? WTF?!?

Now, Simpson Family Robinson (can't be stuffed adding the "Crusoe" onto the end of the title as all the promos called it plain old "Simpson Family Robinson" and I've gotten used to it

). It's one of those issues that's so different from the rest that it seems godawful when you first read it. To be honest I was ready to throw it out. I read it again, and I started to pick up on the jokes (great Homer moments: him building the boat in a cave that's too small, trying to cut down his house by accident, following his footprints in a circle, and using his closed eye to look through the telescope). Marge was the weakest character, followed by Frink. I liked how the fog hiding the village was used throughout the story, my main complaint is a few off spots by Costanza in the artwork (REALLY needs to learn to do a better Lisa and Maggie). However, I did like the comic-in-a-comic feel, and nice to see that some of Costanza's art from the story was remade for the front cover.

**baloobas** · 03-06-2007, 04:37 AM

Because I am a generally upstanding citizen who seems to think that the 8th commandment does not extend to periodicals. I post here because I like the comics, and I generally do buy them if I feel that it will be worth my time. Lately, they haven't been, so in effect, I've been stealing. Now I feel awful....

Yeah, I used to feel the same way about pulling bank jobs but once you've screamed "nobody move or the fat guy gets it" once, its suprisingly easy.

Now, Simpson Family Robinson (can't be stuffed adding the "Crusoe" onto the end of the title as all the promos called it plain old "Simpson Family Robinson" and I've gotten used to it ).

I can be a bit slow with message board humour but you've heard of "The Swiss Family Robinson" right ?
Nothing to do with "Robinson Crusoe" (except for the stranded on an island bit).

**Reverend Lovejoy** · 03-06-2007, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Ivan P

Yeah, around the same here. Costs me $5.80 for one US edition.

Shock horror to follow guys, I liked Simpson Family Robinson. And #126.

The trilogy issue, even though it followed the same formula as previous trilogies (the Simpsons play dress up), it's actually been the most enjoyable (even better than the Shakespeare issue). Each segment was as good as the others (around a B average from me), even though all up the Apu story was my favourite (however, the other two had it's moments). The only cop out was the ending, Marge turning into an elephant? WTF?!?

:-O

Sorry, I felt the urge to use that smilie. Nice to hear someone out there liked them (I haven't actually read either, so I can't really judge). Does this mean I can expect to see those pages with Lovejoy on soon?

For what it's worth, Baloobas, I like the comics, I just don't like the ones I've seen recently. It's good to know you enjoy them.

Originally Posted by Stevie.V.Scrivello

Yes, but you're a cool nerd. Even better, you're a cool, Lovejoy-loving nerd. (Yes, it's flattery, I know. Sorry, Reverend.)

I'll let you get away with it.

**Charlie** · 03-06-2007, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by baloobas

I can be a bit slow with message board humour but you've heard of "The Swiss Family Robinson" right ?
Nothing to do with "Robinson Crusoe" (except for the stranded on an island bit).

Yeah, I understand how the title is meant to be a joined parody of "Swiss Family Robinson" and "Robinson Crusoe", just the synopsis calls it plainly "Simpson Family Robinson" and over the last few months since reading the description I've just been getting used to calling it that:

A three-hour tour turns into a long-lost adventure, stranding the whole Simpson family on a deserted island in a classically illustrated tale of survival we call 'Simpsons Family Robinson.'

**baloobas** · 03-07-2007, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Ivan P

Yeah, I understand how the title is meant to be a joined parody of "Swiss Family Robinson" and "Robinson Crusoe", just the synopsis calls it plainly "Simpson Family Robinson" and over the last few months since reading the description I've just been getting used to calling it that:

No, I think the title is just meant to be a play on "Swiss Family Robinson" - you're the one bringing in Robinson Crusoe.

**Reverend Lovejoy** · 03-07-2007, 09:56 AM

Does anyone know where I can buy a copy of #126 (US edition) in the UK? I'm just curious, since it'll mean I can stop bugging Ivan about it.

About 'Simpsons family Robinson'... well, I haven't actually read it, but it does sound like a parody of 'Swiss family Robinson'.

**baloobas** · 03-07-2007, 01:14 PM

I get my comics from Forbidden Planet.
I've also used a couple of UK based websites to buy comics, www.comixshoppe.co.uk and www.thecomicguru.co.uk.
Both sell Simpsons comics.

**Charlie** · 03-07-2007, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by baloobas

No, I think the title is just meant to be a play on "Swiss Family Robinson" - you're the one bringing in Robinson Crusoe.

Then what's with the actual title of the book being "Simpson Family Robinson Crusoe"?

**baloobas** · 03-08-2007, 02:12 AM

D'oh ! you're right ! - ever heard the expression "I can't see the forest for the trees".
Must have looked at that title 20 times and the old brain never once registered the "Crusoe" bit.
I think I need to lie down in a cool dark room...........................

**Reverend Lovejoy** · 03-08-2007, 06:03 AM

That happens to me, Baloobas...

(insert question about #126 here. Very, very sorry, but I'm writing something based on those pages... sorry...

)

**Charlie** · 03-10-2007, 12:51 AM

I'm a bit busy at the moment, once I'm free of homework and worked the bugs out of my new design (well, actually content bugs :P) I'll try and get it to you. Should definitely be soon...it isn't much, he's only in three or so panels and gets killed at the end.

**Reverend Lovejoy** · 03-10-2007, 06:09 AM

Sorry, Ivan, I didn't know about that. (Homework does suck, doesn't it?)

Don't be in too much of a rush, though, since I've ordered #126 from one of the sites Baloobas mentioned (I won't be doing it often, though, since it cost an awful lot to post and my parents were annoyed).

**Reverend Lovejoy** · 03-13-2007, 11:17 AM

Well, I recieved my copy of #126 today...

I liked it, too! :-O

Like Ivan said, it is very enjoyable. The Apu story was great, as was the Aladdin one (that scene at the end where he finds a pot of gold made me LOL), but my favourite was definately SinBart (despite the name). It was interesting to see characters from the other stories appear, and there were some interesting scenes (although Bart's eyes looked unusually big in some of them). The whole Jessica/Bart scene seemed cool to me (big surprise ;-/), even if he does get crushed by a boulder; it was quite a nice break from the Bart comic, which I wasn't satisfied with.
Agreed about Marge turning into an elephant. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thought that didn't make sense. And did anyone notice Helen's name on the graves of Moe's ex-girlfriends?

**Charlie** · 03-13-2007, 11:56 PM

Yes! I did! Hoorah, now both your favourite characters get killed in the same story :P

**simplysimpsons** · 03-14-2007, 10:28 AM

I finally read #127 last night, and didn't think it was *too* bad. It was enough to hold my interest, and I actually thought the art was pretty cool. However there was something with the dialogue...Although a few good one liners, a lot of it felt strained and unnatural. I can't really put my finger on it, but it just felt that way. Sort of like the Jean era at its worst. Ah well, next month's looks great- be sure to buy that one, Stevie!

Edit: I'll grade that one a C+

**Reverend Lovejoy** · 03-15-2007, 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by Ivan P

Yes! I did! Hoorah, now both your favourite characters get killed in the same story :P

And yet, I still enjoyed it... No wonder there was no Queen of the Island of Birds!

**Stevie V. Scrivello** · 03-15-2007, 12:44 PM

Reading this, I feel immensely ashamed for not liking #126. No wonder I have such awful taste in comics.

**Reverend Lovejoy** · 03-16-2007, 08:22 AM

Don't be ashamed, Stevie. We aren't all going to like the same thing.

**Alpha** · 03-16-2007, 09:05 AM

I enjoyed #126.

#127 was awful. There were maybe two jokes in the whole thing and they weren't even good. Hopefully, the lady who wrote it won't be coming back any time soon.

I'm looking forward to the 24 parody in #128, though.

**Charlie** · 03-16-2007, 03:53 PM

I can't believe I'm the only person who loved #127...I thought it was written great, Homer especially was characterized very well. I'm looking forward to Mary Trainor's next work, since she also wrote #15 and #122, some of my other favorites. #124 (her latest story before "Simpson Family Robinson") wasn't as good, but it wasn't awful.

**StupidHippo** · 03-18-2007, 07:03 AM

when is #128 out?

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