It's on sale now. I read it earlier tonight, and it's wonderful.
[ August 12, 2010, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: Cobalt Kid ]
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
A supernatural tale of romance and dating? It does sound like fun. I used to be a Patsy Walker fan but haven't followed Hellcat. Thanks for the tip, Stealth!
Posted by Ultra Jorge on :
I'm a Hellcat fan but can't stand when a writer pushes her foward and another one just pulls her back.
Anyways, this does look found and the art looks great. I will check it out.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
I plan on buying this!
I'm a Patsy fan in kind of the reverse way most other ones I know are. I loved Patsy because of her history as a part of Marvel Comics in the pre-Silver Age and Silver Age, but only warmed up to her in later years as Hellcat when I read the entire Avengers run. By the time I loved Hellcat, the character, she was dead for many years, until Busiek did us a favor and brought her back.
There was a recent Spider-Man/Hellcat comic out. I wonder if that helped her popularity-wise? She's got all the makings of a popular character for Marvel if they give her a chance.
PS - Immonen's art has never looked better. His art has always been pleasing to my eyes, but I think he's really mastered his craft. You can really see it on Ultimate Spider-Man.
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Read it - and it was a good hearkening back to the old Patsy Walker, complete with those goofy modeling pages. I know virtually nothing about Hellcat but this was pretty enjoyable. She seems a bit distracted here - "airhead" is maybe pushing it too far - I remember Patsy always being very responsible and sensible, so figure her behaviour is just part of the lightness of this story.
I'm also wondering if this story will tie in with the other ones, just because there seemed to be a lot of redheads around (except for The Thing tale).
Posted by Stealth on :
Cramer, the only Hellcat appearances I'd recommend are in the trade paperback Avengers: The Serpent Crown. Not only does Steve Englehart do an exceptional job writing Patsy, he also fills us in on what happened in Patsy's life after her own comic ended, and builds up nicely toward Patsy's transformation into Hellcat.
After Patsy was moved from Avengers to Defenders, she was at first mis-characterized by other writers, then burdened with supernatural nonsense by still other writers. It was all downhill from there, but now it looks like Patsy is Patsy again.
Posted by Stealth on :
Well, that was a fun and cute little 4-part story. I hope the creators get a chance in the future to showcase Patsy in a one-shot or a mini-series.
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Haven't seen the final issue yet but I've enjoyed this story. The art's a great fit to the character and the multiple Patsys are fun (it seems you're not supposed to use "fun" to describe a comic book these days, but there it is).
I did pick up the Serpent Crown and thought Patsy and her evil ex Buzz were the best part, although Thor always cracks me up. The story was pretty much serious superhero tale, but Patsy as a character seemed to be on a thin line between comedy and superhero.
Posted by Stealth on :
I forgot to report on this last month:
quote:Originally posted by Stealth: I hope the creators get a chance in the future to showcase Patsy in a one-shot or a mini-series.
My wish came true! Okay, sort of.
Stuart Immonen's not drawing it (boo!) but Kathryn Immonen's writing it (yay!) So at least there's a fair chance it'll be a good story and Patsy's characterization will be consistent with the MCP serial.
And while I have no interest in the Initiative, hey, it's Patsy written by Kathryn Immonen. It's going on my pull list. July can't get here soon enough.
quote:PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT, AGENT OF THE INITIATIVE #1 (of 5) Written by KATHRYN IMMONEN Penciled by DAVID LAFUENTE Cover by STUART IMMONEN Patsy Walker, S.H.I.E.L.D. wants YOU to join the Initiative…and protect the frozen north. You heard me right, sister. The Klondike. Seward’s Folly. Alaska. So pack some long johns and prepare for trouble. GUEST-STARRING: IRON MAN! 32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
This looks like it could be fun! I'll probably at least pick up the first issue.
Posted by MLLASH on :
Oh, wow... I have to get this.
Stealth, HELLCAT was possibly my first "MOST FAVE" heroine... The AVENGERS issues featuring the buildup and her debut as Hellcat were absolutely brilliant (and the Perez art didn't hurt either). I'll defend her early appearances in DEFENDERS (I can remember being thrilled to see her there) from the mid 40's to the 70s of that run but I detested the later supernatural garbage and the marriage to Son of Satan. Her "fate" in the HELLSTORM series was akin to watching someone you hate pissing all over someone you love. Pure birdcage liner for a true Patsy Walker/Hellcat fan.
I recently dumped all my Busiek-era AVENGERS issues EXCEPT the ones featuring HELLCAT and the Squadron Supreme.
I always loved how Dan Slott would use her any chance he got. I know Stealth doesn't care for the man's writing, but he and I apparently see about eye to eye on the Marvel characters we love.
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH: Oh, wow... I have to get this.
Stealth, HELLCAT was possibly my first "MOST FAVE" heroine... The AVENGERS issues featuring the buildup and her debut as Hellcat were absolutely brilliant (and the Perez art didn't hurt either)..
I agree 100 percent. She might have been my first fave, too, if my parents had allowed me to read super-hero comics back then. It must have been great to read those issues when they were current.
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH: I'll defend her early appearances in DEFENDERS (I can remember being thrilled to see her there) from the mid 40's to the 70s of that run but I detested the later supernatural garbage and the marriage to Son of Satan. Her "fate" in the HELLSTORM series was akin to watching someone you hate pissing all over someone you love. Pure birdcage liner for a true Patsy Walker/Hellcat fan.
Well said!
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH: I recently dumped all my Busiek-era AVENGERS issues EXCEPT the ones featuring HELLCAT and the Squadron Supreme.
Yay! As a non-fan of the Busiek-era Avengers, that's the best news I've heard all week. Perhaps you might share how you came to that decision? Perhaps in the All-Avengers Thread? I'd be interested to read your views on the Avengers overall.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
Before the Hellcat in Alaska story, Patsy will be appearing in the LAST DEFENDERS mini-series, as revealed in this answer to a question for Joe Casey, the writer of said Defenders series as fielded in a NEWSARAMA column:
"Let’s take these in order… Dr. Strange, if you read ish #3, you just saw him. Sub Mariner, yes. Hulk, yes. Silver Surfer, no. Val, no. Nighthawk… you have been reading, haven’t you? Hellcat, yes (for what is apparently her final pre-Alaska appearance). Gargoyle, see issue #1. Son of Satan… again, have you been following the book so far? The original Human Torch, no… but I figure the Blazing Skull satisfied your need to see body parts on fire, right?"
Posted by Stealth on :
quote:Originally posted by Mystery Lad: Before the Hellcat in Alaska story, Patsy will be appearing in the LAST DEFENDERS mini-series, as revealed in this answer to a question for Joe Casey, the writer of said Defenders series as fielded in a NEWSARAMA column:
"Let’s take these in order… Dr. Strange, if you read ish #3, you just saw him. Sub Mariner, yes. Hulk, yes. Silver Surfer, no. Val, no. Nighthawk… you have been reading, haven’t you? Hellcat, yes (for what is apparently her final pre-Alaska appearance). Gargoyle, see issue #1. Son of Satan… again, have you been following the book so far? The original Human Torch, no… but I figure the Blazing Skull satisfied your need to see body parts on fire, right?"
Save your money. Joe Casey sucks.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
HELLCAT in Alaska started this week. I'm not crazy about the art, just a tad too cartoony for my taste. Though once in Alaska, I liked it better.
Polar bears with antlers? What?
I enjoyed some of the dialogue, though some of it was also a bit painful to read. I think I liked the flirtation with the guy in the bar who ended up taking Patsy on a ride on his snowmobile. But it might be a little Lifetime movie of the week.
I dunno, Patsy should be happy-go-lucky. But not completely blithe. It sort of read like this was Ultimate Hellcat or something.
Posted by Stealth on :
I was disappointed with how frivolous the first issue was, and lacking the sharp wit and the tension of the MCP serial.
I'm not dropping it, but if it hasn't improved by the halfway point, I might.
What a letdown. Posted by Dingleberry Damsel on :
Bumping this thread in honor of Legion World's # 1 Patsy fan, Lash!
Patsy will next be seen in the mini-series "Heralds", co-starring with Monica Rambeau and Jen Walters. I am so there!
Posted by cleome on :
I still remember being weirded out by that DeMatteis arc in Defenders where Patsy and Damon had the, uh, hots for each other, and Damon's dad was messing with their minds by claiming that she was Damon's sister.
Nowadays, it would weird out the fans more if nobody bothered to make that connection.
You kids today... You just don't know...
[gets more Ensure and goes off to play shuffleboard at the park]
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
I sort of liked the Hellcat in Alaska story, although it wasn't great, it had its moments. It was a bit goofy.
Posted by Dingleberry Damsel on :
I do think the Hellcat in Alaska story got better as it went along, and overall I'd concur with FC. I don't recall why I didn't post about it at the time, but better late than never.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
The first issue didn't really grab me enough to pick up the second. While I want to like a series of Hellcat minis or an ongoing, they need to really have the quality there.
I may browse Heralds in the CBS but I won't pick up unless I get some good reviews here on LW.
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
I haven't followed all the incarnations of Patsy/Hellcat, but I wonder if Marvel has really settled on how they want her personality to be.
The original Patsy was very capable and sensible - the fashionista goofiness is something that only emerged in retrospect, reading those stories with today's perspective. I haven't had a problem with the mini-series depicting her as a bit of an airhead, but that characterization doesn't fit with any serious superhero story (unless Giffen could manage to cross her over into some Justice League International revival).
However, in those incarnations, she's been a nice change from the oh-so-capable superheroines. Maybe it's just my own perspective that isn't settled - I can't make up my mind which sort of Patsy/Hellcat I'd prefer.
Posted by MLLASH on :
I will always adore Patsy (and I got the AVENGERS tpb which features her intro) but I admit not buying after issue 1 of her last mini.
I also saw her on the covers of MARVEL DIVAS, but the cover art put me off a little.
Did anyone read that mini? Should I roll my pennies and get the TPB?
Posted by Set on :
I used to be a big Defenders fan, but the storylines around the the Hellcat, Devil-Slayer, Gargoyle, Cloud, Madcap, etc. seemed to yaw from incomprehensible to awful.
I think I read the stories mostly to see what Doctor Strange and the Valkyrie were up to!
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Lash, sorry I missed your question the first time around. The answer would have to be a categorical no. Marvel Divas was a waste of paper.
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lass: Patsy will next be seen in the mini-series "Heralds", co-starring with Monica Rambeau and Jen Walters. I am so there!
So Heralds #1 came out this week.
I can sum it up in a nutshell: great story (by Kathryn Immonen), bad art.
I'll stick with it because I like the story, but I think for most people it'll be a case of wait-for-the-trade.
It's coming out weekly BTW, but it's only six issues, so I imaging the trade will be out soon.
Posted by Mystery Lad on :
I had the exact same response to Heralds- good story, weak art. It's sort of a sequel to DIVAS- at least it continues the out-of-nowhere friendship between Monica (the former Captain Marvel) and Patsy. I guess that's really the only carry over. That and the horrible hair-do they've saddled Patsy with. When she's off-panel for a page or two, I have to remind myself just who she is when she reappears.
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Agree on all counts, Todd. And I would only add that Jen looks terrible with her hair pulled back. Hopefully she'll shake it loose at some point.
Posted by MLLASH on :
I'm surprised to hear about these Marvel books with bad art.
Thanks for saving me money on DIVAS, FFL! Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Always happy to help.
I think the problem with Marvel is that their superstar writers have their pick of the best artists, and the non-superstar writers (Kathryn SHOULD be a superstar -- she actually got me to like Emma Frost in Heralds #1, for heaven sakes -- but she isn't) have to settle for less.
Posted by future king on :
I'm a Hellcat fan ... but ONLY if George Perez is drawing her! Yeah man, rock on!!! Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lass: Lash, sorry I missed your question the first time around. The answer would have to be a categorical no. Marvel Divas was a waste of paper.
quote:Originally posted by Fanfic Lass: Patsy will next be seen in the mini-series "Heralds", co-starring with Monica Rambeau and Jen Walters. I am so there!
So Heralds #1 came out this week.
I can sum it up in a nutshell: great story (by Kathryn Immonen), bad art.
I'll stick with it because I like the story, but I think for most people it'll be a case of wait-for-the-trade.
It's coming out weekly BTW, but it's only six issues, so I imaging the trade will be out soon.
Here is a very positive review of Herald's #1 I thought you might be interested in FL.
Based on those few pages, the art actually looks pretty good!
I was going to skip this but based on your review and the one I linked to, there is a chance I may pick this up when I inevitably get the itch to go to the CBS but don't want to make the hour long drive to my regular shop so I go to the local one (I don't want to cheat on my shop so I just buy things not on my pull list).
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Thank you kindly for the link, Cobie.
I agree with a lot of what she says, especially about Emma (with this and Valerie D'Orazio's "X-Men Origins: Emma Frost", which I reviewed in the X-Verse thread, Emma is finally coming alive to me.)
I see the art 180 degrees differently from her, though.
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
I don't really read that much Marvel.
I do, however, have an old issues of Avengers that's falling apart, when the dead Avengers were brought back. I think it was during the George Perez days. Hellcat, Mockingbird, the guy who used to be Thor's host...
And one of those Official Indexes from 2005, like DC's Secret Files.
But I was interested in her, for a while I decided to use Patsy as the mother of one of my original characters, Ginger Anderson, but I never wrote anything about it during that time and Ginger's origin was revised once more.
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
It was indeed drawn by George Perez.
A fanfic with Patsy as a mother? Intriguing. I've always imagined that if she did have a daughter, their relationship roles would flip-flop back and forth. And I mean that in the best possible way.
I hope you will write Patsy somewhere someday. She's a treasure.
Posted by Sarcasm Kid on :
Well, it wasn't a fanfic per say. I was trying to figure out the character backgrounds, the OCs, before I did anything, but with these seven original characters of mine I kept re-writing them because I wasn't happy with them.
These seven include that DC character of mine, Ebony Dent.
This character who would've been Patsy's daughter, Ginger Anderson, was originally a mutant who could manipulate radio, heat, and light waves. But as time passed I dropped Patsy as her mother, and now the girl can manipulate any and all Earth-born elements with the codename May Queen. She lives in the X-Men Evolution world.
But I might use Hellcat in something.
Posted by profh0011 on :
After re-formatting a ton of related files at the SA Marvel site this weekend, I'd say MY favorite Patsy is the one drawn by... AL HARTLEY!
Herald's is laugh out loud funny!! i love it, it's my new favorite title. picked up issue 1 and 2.
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
Just read Heralds #2. Still good, and the art's actually starting to grow on me.
But it's clear now that Jen's hair is not slicked back -- it's SHORT! Ugh. I'll bet Loeb did that to her. Grrrrr.
Posted by Dev Em on :
The art looks like a cross between Guy Davis and someone else I cannot put my finger not great, but not terrible.
Posted by MLLASH on :
I rather enjoyed HERALDS # 1.
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
#3...and the supposed stars of the book get shunted aside in favor of the Fantastic Four.
Shame, cause it's still a good story, and Kathryn Immonen keeps proving she's one of the best dialogue writers working today.
Posted by MLLASH on :
# 3 already? I need to hit the CBS, ASAP!
Posted by Mattropolis on :
I have always enjoyed Patsy Walker. She brought something special to every book she was in, especially the Defenders.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Picked up Heralds #1 a few weeks ago and read it and like many others, I really liked it! A really solid read and like Lash said, I've got to get to the CBS ASAP to get the rest of the series.
There is a real lot to like in the first issue. There is a lot of set-up but done so in a good way; the "birthday party" sequence really does a great job humanizing Emma Frost in a way that makes her more likable than she is EVER in the X-comics. And the space-threats add a layer of seriousness to the title that goes a long way; it's a fun comic but its not a joke comic. These ladies kick serious ass when they need to.
I only read #1 so I hope we get more scenes with the ladies strutting their stuff going forward but we get at least one Crowning Moment of Awesome in #1: Patsy punching Einstein in the face and saying "C'mon, haven't you always wanted to punch Einstein in the face? Do you have an Oppenheimer?" Funniest line in comics for the week! That's Atomic Robo/Heckler funny!
I also actually really like the artwork as well. I know a lot of you are on the fence about it, but I found Tonci Zonjic to have really smooth linework that is pretty but also explosive. Her work is part of this current 'cartoonish revolution' in comics that I am totally loving these days, as we move away from the manga influence of the last few years. I bet by #5 everyone in this thread loves it.
Editorial Sidenote FL, would you mind if I changed the title of this thread temporarily to "Are you a Patsy Walker fan? / Now appearing in Marvel's Heralds" for the duration of this mini to draw attention of other posters here? This is a series other posters should totally be checking out!
Posted by Fanfic Lass on :
I don't mind at all, Cobie. In fact, I appreciate it.
I finally figured out who Zonjic's art reminds me of -- Peter Snjegberg (sp?) with fewer light-and-dark contrasts.
Posted by MLLASH on :
^COMPLETELY true now that you mention it!! Kinda tapped moneywise currently, hope the CBS doesn't sell out of Heralds issues before I get there next week!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
The Snjegberg similarity is dead-on and like Lash said, now that you mention it, I can totally see it.
That's a very good thing IMO, as Snjegberg is a superb artist whose art style is different from the rest of the industry to make him stand out. Loved his Starman work something fierce, and I also loved his various things over the years that pop up in cool places, like his Legion story during DnA's run.
Don't you kind of wish Emma would leave the X-Men comics and join Patsy and Photon somewhere else in an ongoing? I think it would benefit the X-comics (where she's become hugely annoying) and it would be cool.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Picked up #2 and #3 and I am still enjoying this miniseries quite a bit. Even though the amount of FF within the #3 took some time away from the rest of the ladies, it at least led to some great one-liners with the Thing. Immonen really has a knack for one-liners.
One complaint I have is that while I am really enjoying the art by Tonci Zonjic (as previously mentioned), I noticed a few pages each issue are done by James Harren, likely to complete the weekly schedule. The Harren art I find quite distracting and a bit ugly. It makes me wonder why the heck they did this as a weekly in the first place?
Next trip to the CBS I'll get the final two issues. It would be awesome if this could lead to a Hellcat/Photon series with various Marvel ladies joining them every so often. I particularly like Agent Brand & Emma Frost here. Val too is great but she hopefully has bigger plans in the MU to come now that she's going to be a primetime player on Brubaker's Secret Avengers.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Did anyone finish this miniseries? I thought it was a pretty solid story and am glad I bought it.
I loved the Tonci Zonjic artwork, but I have to say, I realyl didn't like the Emma Rios and James Harren stuff, so it felt a bit disjointed when their scenes came in.
Immonen writes a great Patsy Walker and I was glad to see her have a big role. She also writes Sue Storm very well, and in the interview currently appearing in many Marvel comics, she mentions how Sue grew into one of her favorites. It shows.
I did think the "return" of Supernova was a bit of a selfish reason for Immonen to do this miniseries, so if someone wants to use that as criticism, I can see why. Personally, I think all stories are based on somewhat selfish reasons on the parts of writers, so I'm cool with it.
This wasn't perfect, and perhaps a bit too FF-heavy at times, but it was a fun little miniseries. Both Emma Frost and Agent Brand were much more likeable here than they have been elsewhere.
PS - I re-edited the title of this thread back to its original title since the Heralds mini is over.
Posted by profh0011 on :
Cobie I read HERALDS 2-4 tonight but didn't see 5 at my CBS. Maybe they will get a reorder.
I think the story has been okay but I think the art went downhill with 2-4.
Honestly, I won't boo-hoo if I never get number 5.
Posted by Mattropolis on :
IMO,
The best Hellcat story besides her origin was the mini-series that Englehart wrote.
Posted by MLLASH on :
Posted by MLLASH on :
Posted by Power Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by MLLASH: Cobie I read HERALDS 2-4 tonight but didn't see 5 at my CBS. Maybe they will get a reorder.
I think the story has been okay but I think the art went downhill with 2-4.
Honestly, I won't boo-hoo if I never get number 5.
ME TOO! did they not print very many number 5s? I just want to know what happened since issue 4 was kinda jumping the rails ....
Posted by Future on :
For those not in the know, there's a Hellcat/Gambit story in issue 4 of X-Men: To Serve and Protect written and penciled by the Immonens! Charming, if a bit of a random tale.
That Hellcat costume Lash posted above is amazing.
Posted by Fanfic Lady on :
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You just don't know...![[Smile]](smile.gif)
