Charts – 21 July 2013
After last week’s hiatus, the march of the massive number one hits resumes…
32. Kings of Leon – “Supersoaker”
YouTube is sparking some odd video clips these days. That thing above is, obviously, not a video in the conventional sense – and it’s billed simply as an audio track – but by the same token it’s not a lyric video, nor is it just a still. It’s, well, over three and half minutes of various camera angles of a neon sign.
The X-Axis – 21 July 2013
Back to a more typical level of X-related output this week…
A+X #10 – Judging from upcoming solicitations, Marvel have finally conceded the commercial limitations of this format and decided to introduce a six-issue serial – which is the equivalent of a three-issue regular story arc, but still suggests a belated recognition that the appeal of a book that’s actively billed as utterly inconsequential is pretty limited.
Charts – 14 July 2013
The X-Axis – 14 July 2013
A mostly quiet week, but we do have the X-books’ first full-length Infinite book…
Astonishing X-Men #64 – Given that Astonishing X-Men doesn’t sell that well, and is sitting out the big autumn crossover, it’s hardly a surprise to learn that the book is being cancelled in October. Originally conceived as a flagship vehicle for top name creators, Astonishing long-since ceased to be anything of the sort, and basically continues to exist through sheer inertia. Rich Johnston is reporting that they’re going to relaunch it, which is depressing but hardly surprising.
Money in the Bank 2013
The X-Axis will be up… mmm, probably Monday night at this rate. Best get this post done first, since there’s not much point previewing a show after it’s happened.
We do have a podcast up today, though, so check that out one post below.
Anyway. Time again for one of the more important B-shows in the WWE pay-per-view calendar. The winners of the Money in the Bank ladder matches win title shots – one for the WWE Title, one for the World Heavyweight Title – that they can cash in whenever they want. That rule has been taken absolutely literally, so the winner basically gets to hang around for months on end waiting for an ambush attempt. Once in a blue moon a well-meaning babyface actually plays fair and uses his title shot to headline a major show, but that’s not a very smart idea.
So in practice, the winners of these matches will go on, at some point in the next year, to be major players. That’s why this show matters. This is the point where they really win the title; the actual cashing-in is usually a bit of a formality.
Will I be watching this one? Um, probably not, because I don’t have time. Still, let’s see what’s on the card…
House to Astonish Episode 110
We’ve got a pretty hefty slab of chat for you this time round, with discussion of Ales Kot being replaced on Suicide Squad, George Perez going exclusive at Boom, all the announcements out of the Image Expo (including DRM-free digital comics), Marvel’s new Inhumans-led direction, and a blitz through October’s solicitations. We’ve also got reviews of Trinity of Sin: Pandora, Sheltered and Superior Foes of Spider-Man, and the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe will not be cowed. All this plus Mark Millar’s DeathWilly, the Man-Duck and 22 pages of beautifully rendered pulleys.
The podcast is here, or here on Mixcloud, or available via the embedded player below. Let us know what you think, in the comments below, on Twitter, via email or through our Facebook fan page.
Don’t forget you can now get House to Astonish t-shirts and hoodies at our Redbubble store, which helps keep our website and hosting going while helping keep your torso warm.
Charts – 7 July 2013
The X-Axis – 7 July 2013
It’s the quietest week we’ve had in ages. In fact, I’m slightly surprised to learn it’s even possible to have such a quiet week given the volume of material the X-office puts out these days. This won’t take us long.
What If? AvX #1 – How’s this for the most optimistic solicitation of the year? “The biggest event of 2012 is now the biggest miniseries of 2013!” Come on, now. This isn’t even the most anticipated miniseries of the week. It’s a four-issue weekly mini with an alternate version of last year’s Avengers vs X-Men story, and honestly, the only reason I’m even mentioning it is because it’s so quiet otherwise.
Charts – 30 June 2013
So Robin Thicke doesn’t manage a fifth week at number one – but to be honest, he was unlucky. He still sold over 100,000 copies, and he was only dethroned by a track that had its release date brought forward when the record company finally started panicking about cover versions.
40. Evanescence – “My Immortal”
As covered on The Voice UK by Andrea Begley – of whom more in a bit. This is probably the best known Evanescence song that isn’t “Bring Me To Life”, and it made number 7 in 2003 before going on to an afterlife soundtracking TV shows and being used in, well, singing contests. The band’s biggest UK hit was, obviously, “Bring Me To Life”, which made number 1 the same year.
39. Kanye West – “Black Skinhead”
House to Astonish Episode 109
We’re a day or two late, but we have a lean slice of chat for you this time round, with news on Comixology’s new subscriptions and bundles, the six new launches from Vertigo and Gerry Conway’s comics creators royalty drive. We’ve also got reviews of Uncanny, Batman/Superman and Lazarus, and the Official Handbook of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is engaging in a cavalcade of crime. All this plus a village fête, the smell of paraffin and a taser taped to a rabbit.
The podcast is here, or here on Mixcloud, or available via the player below. Let us know what you think, in the comments below, on Twitter, via email or on our Facebook fan page.
Remember, it’s never too early to buy a House to Astonish t-shirt from our Redbubble store – they’re the coolest possible way to stop yourself for being arrested for public indecency.
