When I was 17, it was a very good year...

[mike_smith]

Just so I could throw my last issue of Previews away, this is my comics list for November, posted here because I really need to keep better track.

Subscriptions
Superman/Batman #24
JSA #79
Nightwing #114
Detective Comics #813
Batman #647
Wonder Woman #223
Amazing Spider-Man #526
Wolverine #36
Captain America #13
Fantastic Four #533

Buy at the

Comments

[jim_smith]

What'd he say his name was?

[mike_smith]

Galva Ron.

[jim_smith]

Hail Galva Ron! Long Live Galva Ron!

[merenwen_81]

You know what makes it even worse? We already knew Voldemort killed his dad and paternal grandparents from book four, where he uses his father's bone (among other things) to get a new body.

He can't treat Harry like some impertinent student one minute and then talk to him like some cherished comrade in the War On Voldemort the next.

Oh, he can and always has. Well, not so much the cherished comrade part, but he's Harry has always been his favourite. I hated Albus in book five, because he didn't bother telling Harry about his parents or Voldemort before it was too late. He told Harry to learn occlumency, but not why it was important. Instead he just let Harry think he was evil or crazy when Voldemort was trying to take over his mind. He didn't tell Harry about the prophecy either. I also have issues with how D-Dore treated Sirius, but you don't want to hear that.

[marciamarcia]

D-Dore has so many issues with the whole Omnipotent Puppet Master thing that it sometimes makes me wonder if he wasn't a Slytherin.

you and me both, sister

[jazzypom]

I also have issues with how D-Dore treated Sirius, but you don't want to hear that

You and me both.

I'm glad that I'm following your readings though, just because.

Thanks for doing this for us, Mike Smith.

[marciamarcia]

Morfin (Mastadon!)

I know it's been often said, but this, truly, wins the internets. Also, its admirable (or scary) that you remember the morfin' order.

This chapter also reminded me of how, occasionally, I feel like I need to verify that "Hulk Hogan's Rock n' Wrestling" was, in fact, a real cartoon and not something made up by the voices in my head.

[jim_smith]

I'm not impressed. Let's see him list the Thunderzord morphin order.

[mike_smith]

Sigh...

Mastadon/Lion Thunderzord!
Pterodactyl/Firebird Thunderzord!
Triceratops/Unicorn Thunderzord!
Sabretooth Tiger/Griffin Thunderzord!
Tyrannosaurus/Red Dragon Thunderzord!

And when Tommy upgraded to White Ranger he got the Tigerzord. Happy now?

[marciamarcia]

Wow. I stand even more awed.

I saw the pink ranger on some Lifetime movie about anorexic gymnasts not too long ago. Interesting fate for her.

[grapefruitzzz]

You think *you* want a RoboRon? I've had to sit through five other books of the whiny, jealous little sod.

Dumbledore has spent the entire series seemingly trying to be Enigmatic by occasionally messing Harry around. He made a spectacular cock-up of misunderstanding the teen hero mentality in the last book and only then, after five years of deliberate obfuscation did he apologise for talking crap at important moments. I don't like him much either.

[tekalynn]

And after Dumbledore's book 5 Big Apology, a sentimental tear trickled into his beard. Gah.

The thudding sound you heard was the simultaneous chucking of 15 million hardcovers of OOTP hitting the wall at that moment.

[grapefruitzzz]

I was ok with the apology. It made sense, if it was a little late in coming. What annoyed me was that it CHANGED NOTHING! Harry hardly got more answers in this book - if anything, he got more questions. And if there's one thing we know about Harry, it's that if no one answers his questions, he comes to his own (often completely stupid) conclusions. Good move, Dumbles.

(I still like him, by the way, I just wish he were a little more open with the boy who's destined to save the world).

--Annika

[mike_smith]

You think *you* want a RoboRon?

No, I _got_ a RoboRon. Big difference.

Dumbledore has spent the entire series seemingly trying to be Enigmatic by occasionally messing Harry around.

Yeah, I'd gathered. My biggest problem with this is that it's not even original. Professor X wrote the book on manipulative-yet-well-intentioned headmasters forty years ago. I half-expect Dumbledore to fake his own death, and possibly have an imposter take his place as part of his overall plan to foil Voldemort, because that's exactly how Charles Xavier repelled an alien invasion back in 1966.

[sneaker328]

I tried very hard to resist defending Ron but I failed. Sorry. It's a shame because this book really isn't his best showing unless you already love him and understand where all the aggression is coming from. But his best qualities- his loyalty, protectiveness towards those he loves, incredible bravery and willingness to risk his life for his friends, and even his snarky humor, aren't really on display in this one. (Also this is the Hormone Book- he wasn't nearly so horny in any of the previous books.)

[jim_smith]

You know, he's kinda picking on all the characters. Ron's just the one who fits a Transformers pun.

[sneaker328]

Oh, I know. I didn't think he was picking on him. I'm just not wired to not defend Ron, especially because I totally get why someone who hadn't read the other books would find him really irritating.

[mike_smith]

Honestly, it's not the character I have a problem with. The problem is that this book is so blasted slow that the character becomes repetitive. How many times do I have to see Hermione storm off in a huff whenever Ron shows up? How many times do I have to see Ron get all flustered because he can't figure out how to set things right