courtesy DC

Avengers: The Initiative #12 (Marvel) - The first class is revolved out for new super heroes. The best series Marvel putting out right now.

BPRD Vol. 8: KIlling Ground TPB (Dark Horse) - The plot gets icky…

Black Panther: Little Green Men TPB (Marvel) - I thought it was an episode of classic Star Trek, but there is a planet where 20s gangsterism is a way of life. How will the New Fantastic Four react?

Uncles Sam and the Freedom Fighters #8 (DC) - The last one! Go buy 10 copies! This is a great series no one is really giving a chance. Those of us who read it, love it, because the characters are balanced and the plot is hilarious and creepy. Don’t wait for the trade!

Jack of Fables #22 (Vertigo) - After the Pathetic Fallacy one-shot last issue, we return to Jack’s adventures, but this time in the Old West! What (and who) hasn’t he done?

This was a Marvel heavy week for me - mainly due to Deadpool. That’s not to say there wan’t more out from other publishers that deserves to be looked at, of course.

Deadpool Classic Vol. 1 TPB (Marvel) - This is a chronological reprinting of all of Deadpool’s major first appearances, hopefully leading into more volumes.

Deadpool vs. The Marvel Universe TPB (Marvel) - The end of Cable & Deadpool. This is where Deadpool teamed up with Wolverine, the Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange, the Mighty Avengers and fights Venom-ized dinosaurs! This also addresses story points from the first Deadpool series, which hopefully we’ll see in trade form down the line. Read the rest of this entry »

credit: Image

Amory Wars, Vol. 1: The Second Stage Turbine Blade TPB (Image) - Hey Coheed & Cambria fans! Be one among the fence and get this book, which reworks the already existing Coheed comics and completes the storyline (which is incomplete without the other albums’ series). Did I mention all of C&C’s albums are about an epic space saga that the band plans to release in comic form? No? I’m sure I did. Read the rest of this entry »

Last Defenders #2 (Marvel) - Last issue She-Hulk, Colossus, Blazing Skull, and Nighthawk were made members of the New Jersey Defenders. Needless to say, not all of them were thrilled with that. Better read those Defenders Essentials, though, because it looks like this series will reference old enemies and events.

Castle Waiting Vol II #11 (Fantagraphics) - Well, now the whole secret passage thing has been resolved, so hopefully we’ll get more info on other characters in the castle. But if I see one more bearded nun…

The Death of Captain America: Fallen Son TPB (Marvel) - These were one-shots by Jeph Loeb (Superman/Batman) about characters in the Marvel Universe dealing with Cap’s death. Each was meant to display a stage of DABDA - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. It already came out in hardcover, but I always recommend waiting for the paperback, unless you really loved it.

Titans #1 (DC) - The Teen Titans we know and love (the roster of the Teen Titans tv show) are grown up and off to bigger and better things, but fate, or marketing, will bring them back together to face a new (or old) foe.

Avengers Fairy Tales #2 (Marvel) - While these stories have been fun, like the Spider-man and X-Men fairy tales, they are kind of pointless. BUT, the first issue (Peter Pan) was actually really fun and captivating, probably because of the Windwaker-esque art. This week’s is the story of Pinocchio.

Secret Invasion #1 (Marvel) - Marvel’s big crossover event begins here! This is the comic that defines Marvel for the next few months.

Hulk: Planet Hulk TPB (Marvel) - What happened before Secret Invasion? World War Hulk, that’s what! This is the lead up for jolly green and how our favorite gamma-irradiated scientist became the king of a world.

Shazam: The Greatest Stories Ever Told TPB (DC) - A compilation of Captain Marvel stories, from his first appearance to his later 90s series. As not many definitive chronological collections have been offered at this point, this is really all Shazam fans have got!

The Boys #17 (Dynamite) - Storylines converge as a ghost from Huey’s past literally has a bone to pick with him.

Brit #5 (Image) - Robert Kirkman’s fun series about an immortal and the crazy world he lives in continues. Kirkman is really good with disposable ideas and characters, using fun and bizarre entities in the background or filler (I’m talking buzz saw-laden animals here, people).

Army of Darkness/Xena: Why Not? #1 (Dynamite) - As much as I love Bruce Campbell, I think he needs less focus. What I mean is the rate he’s going, he’s going to turn into a Chuck Norris Hot Topic fad that will burn out and with him, all that he’s ever touched, sort of like Rouge only with a bigger chin. I say this because fans of Evil Dead are excited about this crossover because the characters Campbell played, Ash and Autolycus, the King of Thieves, will meet. For me, that’s not that exciting as Campbell tends to play characters the same sarcastic way, and two versions of himself will be like someone talking to a mirror, only the reflection has a goatee. I’m more excited about Sam Raimi’s characters interacting with each other. I grew up on Hercules and Xena, and became enamored with the Evil Dead series because it was the same sort of humor. This should be about Sam Raimi and his legacy, and not about how “Bruce Campbell” they can make a comic. Read the rest of this entry »

Thor #7 (Marvel) - J. Michael Straczynski has not yet really wowed me. His run on Amazing Spider-man lacked direction and ended (probably by editorial mandate) with the erasing of about half of Spider-man’s continuity. The Twelve was a dozen new faces I didn’t care about. His run on Thor so far has been similarly lack-luster, with the exception of some funny moments (like the Asgardian gods attending a local government meeting). However, the momentum has been building in the series. I’m hoping the series does get better soon though, because I’m giving it one more issue until I’m out.

Angel: After The Fall #5 (IDW) - Time for big fights between all the demonic lords of LA! Read the rest of this entry »

Mighty Avengers #10 (Marvel) - I mentioned last week that New Avengers #39 and Mighty Avengers #10 were supposed to come out this week, but it looks like due to allegations of art theft against artist David Mack Marvel has delayed printing New Avengers #39. Controversy aside, Brian Michael Bendis’ Avenger titles have been top notch, even in the face of crossovers. I think that is because Bendis basically created Secret Invasion… Read the rest of this entry »

Short Post Due To Image Issues

DC Special: Raven #1 (DC) - Marv Wolfman (Crisis of Infinite Earths) returns to his Teen Titan creation, placing her in high school.

Penance: Relentless #5 (Marvel) - The conclusion of Speedball’s quest for vengeance.

The Boys #16 (Dynamite Entertainment) - A new story arc begins as Hughie finds romance.

Logan #1 (Marvel) - Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Lost) begins a three-issue miniseries looking at Wolverine’s past.

Justice League: New Frontier Special (DC) - This is being released to correspond with the animated movie. It features “a first-hand look at Faraday’s quest to outlaw masked vigilantes, culminating in the day Superman goes to Gotham to bring down The Batman. Also included are two back-up stories featuring Wonder Woman, Black Canary, Sgt. Rock and more.”

The Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 2 TPB (Dark Horse/Marvel) - Reprinting old Marvel Conan comics, Dark Horse has been bringing most of the Conan books to us as color comics in slim, expensive trades. These Dark Horse Presents books are like the Marvel Essentials - about twenty issues of black-and-white reprints in one volume. It may seem nit-picky, but it seems to me that the paper quality is much better for these Dark Horse editions when compared to Essentials or Showcase Presents. This volume contains classic Conan adaptations like “The Slithering Shadow” and “The Pool of the Black One.” Read the rest of this entry »