NYCC 2013 - CAPTAIN SHE ZzzZZ

Another year heading to NYCC and already I have been bombarded with "firsts" and it has only begun with trying the infamous red eye plane ride. 

I expect NYCC will be nothing short of spectacular however, a note to self -under all future circumstances I must avoid the "red eye" flights. 

In the wee hours of the night the general public , of ALL nationalities, are awkwardly nosey, grumpy, smell bad, have ridiculously small bladders, and  steal blankets.  Which according to DELTA rules red coveted paper blankets are "delegated only one per seat and if you 'snooze' you loose"...midnight humor by the overly optimist and cosmetically painted pink flight attendee.  (This statement left me stunned and frigid as I hobbled back to my seat in pure amazement.)

In the beginning of time -my career of being a flying patron-my optimum seat choice was the aisle. Easy come and easy go! Bada Bing...you know the rest. 

Not on the red eye. Ohhhh nooooo!

Optimum seat choice my friend is smack dab in the middle of the aisle with a couple of Tylenol PM and a wine spritzer to wash those blue bad boys down apparently!

(I am strictly speaking from first hand observation experience ...real time)

Why the middle? Let me paint the picture. Get rid of the arm rests on both sides. Just lift them up. Bring your own oversized fleece blanket. Wrap yourself in it- then sit down. Put down the tray in front of you and squarely place your elbows in a wing span of 30ft on each side. This secures at LEAST 1/2 of each of your seating partners paid seating. You are a true success now, and a bonefide   sleeping machine - who ironically the flight attendants feel SORRY for because you must be so tired to sleep through all the traipsing up and down the aisles, the horrid midnight bodily order, and turbulence. This is how I came to know of the villain CAPTAIN SHE ZzzZZ!

Now, I am a small woman. A size 2. The cute 20 something girl in the window seat, opposite me, maybe a 0. The look of utter dismay justified we were in similar circumstances on both sides of the CAPTAIN. 

At one point, I noticed across the mass of SHE ZzzZZ that this girl  was so incredibly smashed up against the window she was practically riding wing side. However, I was jolted back into reality when I lost yet another bit of my shoulder and shin to the beverage cart. 

Oh, there was that one time when "wing side" (my pet name for my new comrade)  and I started talking for oh, 5 seconds, about how we had actually met at SLComic Con And what a small world it was. When suddenly our conversation was quickly ended by CAPTAIN SHE ZzzZZ  as she emerged from the fleece and we were both flashed with a face of a thousand terrors and horrors and then hushed in nothing less than that of a serpent spewing venom on its prey - immediate silence insured. 

"Wing side" seemed liked a nice girl. All cozy in that tiny window. That was fun to talk. 

As the flight progressed...for days, we finally started our approach for New York. 

SHE ZzzZZ emerged from her cocoon of hell and odorous smells and summoned the flight attendant for regular Tylenol and water. Hey aren't you supposed to wait for at least 4 hours? 

As soon as the seatbelt sign went on, and we started making our 15 minute decent - 25 people stood up to go to the restroom.  I was in utter awe! Pinky calmly but quickly was on the intercom - "we are approaching our final descent to New York please sit down." No one moved. 

Again.  The announcement.  I guess she just let them go because the traffic in and out went pretty fast. Until there was a Rabbi, a priest, and what I can only assume at this point HAD TO BE A MORMON BISHOP - all standing in line. I looked back and thought life just does not get any better than this at 4am mountain time/6am eastern.

Not a moment too soon did the holy trinity sit down before the plane was about to touch down - when lo and behold  two more people popped up to tinkle. Pinky got on the com quicker than the Tony Stark can create yet another IRON MAN suit, and in her nicest flight attendant don't make me pull this plane over voice , yelled, "SIT DOWN WE ARE LANDING PEOPLE!...thank you for flying delta, and welcome to New York. "

Note to self:

1. Middle seat is where gods sit on red eyes. 
2. Never cross a flight attendant in the middle of the night if your are freezing or you have to pee. 
3. If flying the red eye - grab the first blanket you see and hold onto it like your life depends on it. 
4. Wasn't there a horror movie at one time named red eye? Yeah...it has nothing on this. 

All-in-all, I am excited to be in the big apple to see friends, gather with others who love what I love, and to gorge myself in all things geek. 

NYCC here I come! 

Salt Lake Comic Con is HERE!

JL Flashpoint Paradox is Spittin' Hot Fire Awesome!

I just finished watching, Justice League The Flashpoint Paradox, and let me just take a moment to flip into child mode and speak a million miles too fast and say: 

"whattheheckjusthappenedthatwastotallyamazing-
andihardlytookabreathandwhendidauquamanhaveit-inhimtoeverbeabadguyandhowdidtheyjustgetaway-
withallofthat...andwowohwow!!!!!!"

Whew...ok now back to adult mode. DC animation is in full form with Flashpoint. With a winning production team of Geoff Johns (who wrote the original story), James Krieg (Screenplay), and Andy Kubert (illustration), along with a whole slew of amazing voice talent who you can check out on IMBd, it was bound to be a dang good watch anyway; but I was blown out of the water.  

Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan

In other reviews I have read, there have been many negative connotations regarding this animation. The way I feel about it is this - it does stray from the comic story line a bit, and it is a bit more graphic than your average Saturday morning cartoon genre, hence the PG-14 rating, and it is a bit shocking seeing your favorite Super Heroes in a different personality presence.  

But, isn't that what makes a good story?

Isnt that what constitutes as good art?

When something or someone stirs a passion inside of us or challenges something we were accustomed to believing?

I find a lot of times that the fans in the comic book industry are are a little too strong or critical on the very people who make the industry possible.  It is a very strange catch-22, if you ask me. 

I believe it is 100% ok to have an opinion, to have a voice, and to by all means be an individual...however, I do not believe it is ok to invoke those feelings and beliefs so strongly on others - that it influences the sales or purchases of products within an industry that collectively we are all hoping will thrive. 

With this being said, here is a generic review of Flashpoint Paradox:

WARNING SPOILERS not a lot but some...

While visiting his mother's grave, lamenting his inability to save her when she was killed in a home invasion when he was a child, Barry Allen (the super-speed superhero known as the Flash) is alerted to a break-in at the Flash Museum by Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, and Top. Defeating the Rogues, he discovers that they have been hired by his arch-enemy Professor Zoom to lure him in as part of a plan to destroy Central City. With the help of his allies in the Justice League of America, Barry foils Zoom's plot. However, Zoom taunts over the death of Barry's mother. Despite Batman's urging not to let Zoom get to him, Barry runs off.

The next day, Barry awakens to discover that the world has radically changed around him: his powers have disappeared, his mother is alive, his wife Iris is married to someone else, and the Justice League does not exist. In this new timeline, Aquaman and his Atlantean forces have sunk most of Western Europe, while Wonder Woman has led the Amazons in conquering Great Britain. The Atlanteans and the Amazons are at war with one another after a failed attempt at peace resulted in Wonder Woman murdering Aquaman's wife Mera. Government agent Cyborg has put together a team to end the war by taking out the two leaders, and approaches Batman to join them, but he refuses, causing the President to abandon the plan. Instead, pilot Hal Jordan is assigned to fly an alienspacecraft in a bombing run on the Atlanteans.

Aquaman is one mean motha!

Barry visits Wayne Manor, but is attacked by Batman, who he realizes is not Bruce Wayne (who died in this reality) but his father Thomas Wayne. Attempting to explain things to an incredulous Thomas, Barry retrieves his Flash costume from the ring in which it is kept, but Professor Zoom's costumes appears in its place, causing Barry to believe Zoom is responsible for changing history. Convinced to help Barry by the knowledge that Bruce lived in the original timeline, Batman helps him recreate the accident that gave him his Flash powers, only for Barry to wind up being severely burned.

In London, Steve Trevor attempts to exfiltrate undercover reporter Lois Lane, but is discovered by the Amazons and killed. With Trevor's information, the Amazons hunt Lane down, but she is rescued by the local resistance and falls in with them. Meanwhile, amongst the remains of Paris, Deathstroke and Lex Luthor are attacked and killed by Aquaman's forces while tracking the energy trail of Aquaman's new superweapon: a captured and weaponized Captain Atom.

Realizing that his memories of the original timeline are fading, the injured Barry insists Batman recreate the accident again, this time resulting in the successful restoration of his powers. Although he regains his powers back, Barry discovers that he is unable to travel through time himself because there is another super-speedster using Speed Force in this timeline, preventing Flash to gather enough energy to break the time barrier.

Oh, it is just all good and fun and a mix of EVIL on the side.

Flash seeks to recruit more allies instead, beginning with Superman, who in this world is a prisoner of the government after his ship crashed into Metropolis, rather than Smallville. With the aid of Batman and Cyborg, they break into the bunker in which the withered Superman is held and liberate him. Empowered by the yellow sun, Superman holds off the government agents who confront the group, but then flies off in fear and confusion. Flash collapses as his memories continues to alter, and is taken to the home of Billy Batson and his foster siblings to recover. Learning of Jordan's failed attack and the beginning of the final battle between the Atlanteans and the Amazons, Flash convinces Batman to join them in an attempt to stop the war.

On board Batman's jet en route to Britain, Batman shows Flash a message intercepted from Lois Lane of a super-speedster she captured an image of, who Flash identifies as Zoom. As they wonder why Zoom would let Lois live if she saw him, the jet is shot down by the Atlantean fleet, and the battle begins. Batson and his siblings combine into Captain Thunder (the Captain Marvel of this world) to fight Wonder Woman, while Flash, Cyborg and Batman occupy Aquaman only for Batman to be gravely wounded. At this point, Zoom reveals himself to Barry and explains it was not he, but Barry himself who was responsible for changing the timeline when he went back in time to save his mother and caused the fabric of reality to fracture. The battle continues around them with Wonder Woman using her lasso to force Captain Thunder back into Batson and killing him, and Superman arriving too late to save Cyborg from Aquaman (culminating in a wounded Aquaman giving the order to trigger the Captain Atom bomb). As the explosion tears across the landscape, Zoom mocks the Flash, when he is suddenly shot through the head and killed by the injured Batman, leaving Flash to be the only user of Speed Force in this timeline. Before dying, Batman urges Barry to fix everything, giving him a letter addressed to his son, Bruce. Barry races back in time, and stops his earlier self from preventing his mother's death.

Barry reawakens at his desk, and finds that everything is back to normal (although all the heroes in this timeline have their costumes slightly altered because this is now The New 52 timestream). He visits Batman to tell him about everything that occurred and gives him the letter from his father, prompting the tearful Batman to tell him: "You're one helluva messenger."

Bats and Flash having a tender New 52 moment.

Now if you need to read "Flashpoint" again or hhhmmm...for the first time, no fear GEEKSELIXIR is here! and well Instocktrades.  These people are just fantastic.  I purchased the whole flashpoint set ( 6 trade paperbacks) for only $55.59 and the shipping is free because my order was over $50! Yes miracles do happen folks.

To read the Flashpoint series in order you need:

* Flashpoint
* Flashpoint: Batman
* Flashpoint: Wonder Woman
* Flashpoint: Superman
* Flashpoint: Green Lantern
* Flashpoint: The Flash

I will be receiving my order any day now to re-read the series and catch up on the ones I missed. I am giddy with excitement! And check out Flashpoint Paradox, I think you will enjoy it.

MMMM, It's the Smell of Comics

There is nothing quite like the smell of a new comic book.  I have actually been told my whole life that this is how ALL new books smell, however, in my mind I have reserved it for ONLY comics.  

When I get my new comic books - single issue, trade paper back, or the beloved hard cover -I feel like I am part of a super secret club.  There is something magnificent about ripping off the shrinkable plastic cover and having that "new comic" smell smack you right in the face. 

The kind of comic book smell that I do not like however, is B.O. that can fester at comic cons.  Ask any person on the street and they will agree body odor is not the first on their list for whoopee ki aye smells.  In the heat of the comic con season - the "con stench" or "comic funk", is written about repeatedly.  Almost to the point that it is annoying.  The smell subject seems to be a fun topic for non con goers and con goers alike.

What is con stench - well, sexy to the power of NOTHING!

Crowds have been stated as pushing the 200,000 mark especially in large scale cons - like San Diego and New York.  In fact, the Comic Con has been referenced as "The sold-out Super Bowl of Pop Culture."   2012 broke records across the board for individual cons.  Averages were up in attendance, in sales, and for the amount of articles written about Comic Con Goers as smelling to high heaven.

Even Superman has odor!

Personally, there have been many comic cons that I have attended where I have NOT noticed any type of odd smell.  Granted - there have been those cons where odor is a "punch you in the face" moment of sour oddity.  

Reality is, that Comic Cons are insanely crowded.  

Reality is, when you smell ---YOU ARE THE LAST to notice it.  

Reality is, when you are around individuals that do smell - it will always be rude to make  ridiculous comments to the cosmic abyss - like "In Gods name, WHAT is that SMELL?!?"

Reality is, Cosplay is a give and take with re-wearing costumes, ventilation, and body heat.  

Reality is, others in the mass of comic clad happy goers may stink; but ultimately you don't have too.

Keep your comments to yourself!

Whether you are interested in having a positive comic con experience or not, is what is at stake.  Basically, every gathering with thousands of people is going to have some kind of smell. The wrap that comic cons have gotten for being the ODOR FEST of culture...is just not fair. 

"Excuse me, but I am trying to define your BRAND of odor."

Personally, when I go to comic cons I find that it is good to focus on two things:  Keep your self clean and Just smell the books!

There is much that is unexplained...However Beast with hygiene is not one of them.

Marvel NOW list in PDF

Of course you should visit Marvel.com...

After I wrote the "Marvel Now What?"
I had several requests for the timeline list in a printable form. 
As requested: PDF of HC and TPB dates.  With checkboxes and everything. So happy collecting.

The Awesome Picks Episode Featuring Elaine Atkins Manley!: DARKHAN CITY ...

Marvel Now WHAT?...a timeline to buy Marvel Now Hardcover and Trade Paper Backs

I do not collect many things, however when I do decide to be the pack rat - it is a perfect blend of enthusiasm and OCD! 

I want all of it, I want it in order, and I want to build a shrine.  This may be considered a tad shy of "crazy", however I live in denial, and it is a place full of sunshine and rainbows...and comic books.

Because, less is better - in what universe- when it comes to all things comic.  I love my comic book collection.
  
With DC New 52 I started collecting right away with the buying of single issues -digital and print.  My orderly disorder quickly became one convenient ball of chaos. I am still rooting around between long boxes and digital copies trying to figure out what I need next in each series. 

 After the DC experience, I quickly decided to wait in my reading binge, and look forward to the Marvel NOW trades hitting the shelf.  In my mind this made sense. But thinking outside the ordinary, is perfect unless you have no idea what to buy. Little did I know I would use my college degree of researching to accomplish this task.  My brother Robert had gifted me my first Marvel Now Premiere Hardcover. 

So beautiful and shiny! 

 I will admit I was swoon by the powerful force of the new library binding, ultra smooth cover. and to top it off - the digital codes that are available in each book for bonus collections.  I knew at this point - I needed all of them. 

I want to join, seriously, but where do I start?

Rippin' ready to go, I began the journey to find the release dates for the upcoming Marvel NOW books.  Two days later, 20 websites, and a couple store fronts researched, GUH!, I had comprised a functionable list. 

Being the overly generous person I am, I decided to put the list below for your Marvel pleasure... it was this or a wacky mime routine.  And as OZ said from Buffy...

"Nobody deserves mime, Buffy."

I listed the books according to Premiere Hardcovers and TPB till the end of 2013.

Hopefully I got them all. All dates are subject to change, and approximate times of month.

Marvel Now Premiere Hardcovers

All New X-Men..............Vol.1 Yesterday (#1-5).......................................................3/27/13

                                         Vol.2 Here to Stay (#6-10)................................................6/11/13

                                         Vol.3 Out of Their Depth (#11-15)...................................10/1/13

Iron Man........................Vol.1 Believe (#1-5)............................................................4/13/13

                                        Vol.2 Secret Origin of Tony Stark Bk 1(#6-11)...............8/20/13

                                        Vol.3 Secret Origin of Tony Stark Bk 2 (#12-17)...........12/17/13

Avengers.......................Vol.1 Avengers World (#1-6).............................................4/17/13

                                        Vol.2 The Last White Event (#7-11).................................7/23/13

                                        Vol.3 Prelude to Infinity (#12-?)........................................10/29/13

Uncanny Avengers......Vol.1 The Red Shadow (#1-5)...........................................4/24/13

                                        Vol.2 Ragnarok Now (#6-11).............................................11/5/13

Indestructible Hulk......Vol.1 Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.  (#1-5)......................................5/15/13

                                        Vol.2 Gods and Monsters (#6-10).....................................9/24/13

Thor:God of Thunder...Vol.1 The God Butcher (#1-5)...........................................5/29/13

                                        Vol.2 God Bomb (#6-11)...................................................10/22/13

Captain America.........Vol.1 Castaway in Dimension Z Bk1 (#1-5).....................6/12/13

                                       Vol.2 Castaway in Dimension Z Bk2 (#6-11)..................12/10/13

New Avengers..............Vol.1 Everything Dies (#1-6)..............................................7/3/13

Uncanny X-Men...........Vol.1 Revolution (#1-5)......................................................7/3/13

                                        Vol.2 Magik (#6-11)...........................................................11/19/13

Savage Wolverine.......Vol.1 Kill Island (#1-5)........................................................8/7/13

Guardians of the Galaxy..Vol.1 Cosmic Avengers (#GG1-3,#0.1,GG* Infinite#1)...8/29/13


NOVA............................Vol.1 Origin (#1-5,material MPO*)...................................9/17/13

Marvel Now Trade Paperback

Captain Marvel............Vol.1 In Pursuit of Flight (#1-6)........................................1/1/13

                                        Vol.2 Down (#7-12)...........................................................6/4/13

Thanos Rising..............Vol.1 (#1-5).......................................................................10/22/13

Avengers Arena...........Vol.1 Kill or Die (#1-6).......................................................5/21/13

                                        Vol.2 Game On (#7-12)....................................................9/24/13

Cable and X-Force.....Vol.1 Wanted Now  (#1-5,material MPO*).....................5/14/13

                                       Vol.2 Dead or Alive (#6-9)...............................................11/12/13

Journey Into Mystery..Vol.1 Feat. SIF, Stronger Than Monsters  (#646-650)...6/11/13

                                       Vol.2 Seeds of Destruction (#651-655)..........................11/5/13

Red She Hulk..............Vol.1 Hell Hath No Fury (#58-62)....................................4/16/13

                                       Vol.2 Route 616 (#63-67).................................................9/17/13

Hawkeye.....................Vol.1 My Life as a Weapon (#1-5,YAP*#6)....................3/19/13

                                      Vol.2 Little Hits (#6-11)....................................................7/23/13

                                      Vol.3 L.A. Woman (#12-?)................................................3/25/14

Fantastic Four...Vol.1 New Departure,New Arrivals (#1-3,FF#1-2,material MPO*)...4/16/13

                             Vol.2 Road Trip (#4-8)...........................................................9/13/13

X-Men Legacy............Vol.1 Prodigal (#1-6).........................................................5/7/13

                                      Vol.2 Invasive Exotics (#7-12).........................................9/10/13

                                      Vol.3 Revenants (#13-18)...............................................11/26/14

Thunderbolts..............Vol.1 No Quarter (#1-6)....................................................5/21/13

                                      Vol.2 Red Scare (#7-12)................................................. 10/1/13

Deadpool....................Vol.1 Dead Presidents (#1-6)..........................................6/11/13

                                      Vol.2 Soul Hunter (#7-12)...............................................9/3/13

                                      Vol.3 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (#13-19).......12/31/13

A+X.............................Vol.1 = Awesome (#1-6)...................................................6/4/13

                                     Vol.2 = Amazing (#7-12)..................................................12/3/13

Morbius Living Vampire: Man Called Morbius (#1-9, AS* #699.1).................12/3/13

X-Men.........................Vol.1 Primer (#1-4, UXM* #244)......................................11/26/13


The Superior Spider-Man...Vol.1 My Worst Enemy (#1-5)...............................6/11/13

                                                Vol.2 A Troubled Mind  (#6-10).............................9/3/13

                                                Vol.3 No Escape (#11-15).....................................12/3/13

Secret Avengers........Vol.1 Reverie (#1-5, material MPO*).............................9/10/13

Uncanny X-Force.......Vol.1 Let it Bleed (#1-6).................................................8/13/13


Young Avengers.........Vol.1 Style Substance (#1-5, material MYAPO*)........9/10/13


Fearless Defenders...Vol.1 Doom Maidens (#1-6)............................................8/27/13


Wolverine....................Vol.1 Hunting Season (#1-6)..........................................9/3/13


Gambit.........................Vol.1 Once a Thief (#1-7)................................................4/2/13

                                      Vol.2 Tombstone Blues (#8-12).....................................7/23/13

FF.................................Vol.1 Fantastic Faux  (#4-8)............................................7/23/13

                                      Vol.2 Family Freakout (#9-13)........................................12/10/13

Avengers Assemble... (#1-8).................................................................................1/29/13

                                        Science Bros (#9-13,Annual 1).....................................8/27/13

Avengers: Enemy Within...(#1, AA*#16-17,CM*#13-14,17).............................12/17/13

Marvel Now Directly to Book

Avengers: Endless Wartime (Hardback).............................................................10/1/13

Age of Ultron TPB.... (#1-10,AA*#14-15, FF*#5,FD*#4,TSS*#6,Ultron #1,UA*#8,WXM*#27,A* #10)............................................................................................................................9/17/13


*KEY

MPO - Marvel Point One
MYAPO - Marvel Young Avengers Point One
A -Avengers
AA - Avengers Assemble
AS - Amazing Spider-Man
CM- Captain Marvel
FF - Fantastic Four

FD - Fearless Defenders

GG - Guardians of the Galaxy

TSS- The Superior Spider-Man

UA -Uncanny Avengers

UXM - Uncanny X-Men

WXM - Wolverine and the X-Men

YAP - Young Avengers Presents

My Son the Hero

There is something innately disheartening when someone you care about relocates, for better or for worse.  It is a feeling inside that is tough to explain – especially when the move is for happiness and greater experience in life. It is just hard to let go.  Much like a character in a book we grow accustomed to, we feel security in knowing that their actions, mannerisms, speech, and reflexes are something we can just count on.  Page by page, or day by day – it is always there.  Until, the time comes to move on.   I believe we ultimately take for granted that security we feel everyday.

My son, the youngest of my three kids, has just graduated from high school and has moved out to spend time with his Dad before his enlistment into the military.  Today, I was wrapping up his many soccer trophies, certificates, and medals and sitting in his room contemplating how my life has changed from having this 17-year-old kid in it.

As I wrapped each trophy, it brought back a flood of memories. Memories that will always be there.  My son is very much a charismatic character and one that has beat the odds many times. A hero – of course – but hey I am his mom.

He was born premature with a collapsed lung and dealt with severe asthma from the beginning of his life. We had heard that consistent exercise could be beneficial for kids like him. Thus, we put him in soccer at 5. Little did we know that we had created an exercising monster.

With every asthma attack, my son would get mad, and beg to be put back on the field. He did not like to have boundaries.  Year after year, his goals were to push himself farther and farther. Using soccer as his way to conquer a physical ailment.

He had set backs, but you would not know it. Just like Robin, he kept coming back and he was stronger, faster, and more stubborn than before.  Eventually earning an MVP during his High School soccer career.

Comic Box:The Rotating Roster of Robins

Even though my son has never shared the intense love of comics that I obsess over, but he is proud of me with each of my new endeavors.  He even gets excited when I tell him about new projects I am working on…I am so lucky.  We do however share the same tenancity to achieve a goal and for this I could not be any more proud.

Today, I feel like a part of my security blanket is skewed a little. We create strong kids so they can take off and be something in the world. However, we forget – in order to take off – they have to leave. I am proud to be a mom. I am proud to have a son who in all respects is the only true super hero I know. 

Now go conquer the world Jonathan!

Art by Robert Atkins

I just finished Axe Cop volume 1,2,3, and Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon volume 1. When you are flying cross country there is a little bit of time on your hands, and I am a fast reader. 

Axe Cop was downright FABULOUS! Freaking bad to the bone!

 I loved volume 2 that was in color and told in three part episodic story arc, which veered from volumes 1 and 3 which were web comic style. 

Vol. 1 and 3 are also Interjected with the "Ask Axe Cop" question and answers that had me laughing out loud on a full plane. (For those of you that have heard me laugh...it is not a a quiet adventure.) 

The volumes read quick and easy. The story is fun and delightful and definitely makes one yearn for the day when our imaginations would just randomly go wild with no interference of adulthood. I definitely recommend picking up all three volumes.

Axe Cop is also available on the web comic site so you can experience a daily dose of chopping off heads and Axe Cop and his crew hitting the night scene in their cat suits to defeat sleeping bad guys! This stuff is just great! : axecop.com

Volume 1 in print Dark Horse 

Volume 2 in print Dark Horse

Volume 3 in print Dark Horse

Hawkeye, My life as a Weapon Volume 1, (Published by Marvel) was definitely a far cry different from Axe Cop. 

Volume 

 Personally I enjoy different. So this was right up my alley. The art was not your daily average comic book art. With David Aja and Javier Pulido as the artists - it is an adventure just to dive into the artistry. Matt Hollingsworth pulls some amazing play with the color art as well. All in all, Hawkeye, is a great example of how all parts of a comic need to work together to tell a story. Not just the story lines, which is told by Matt Fraction and is great, but subtle clues and hints through the flow of drawn lines and corresponding shades of similar color.

The story is raw and gritty.  Not what you would expect from Hawkeye.  Barton has a dark side, but there is a reason and S.H.I.E.L.D. is willing to use a self made hero who knows no boundaries.  I was definitely surprised! 

I also enjoyed getting to know the character (ex-Young Avenger) Kate Bishop in a different light, which is more complex.

I will be heading out to the nearest comic book shop to pick up the additional Hawkeye: Little Hits Volume 2

This just goes to show there is humor in all things!