HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
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GREEN LANTERN #27, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Geoff Johns ; Art by Mike McKone and various

The hits keep coming - the Alpha Lanterns story arc slowed things down a bit from the War, but the story is still great. With the constant promotion tying this into the upcoming Final Crisis though, it is a little unsettling - just how much of this is going to be retconned out when it is all said and done? One of the strengths of the Green Lantern books lately was that they were self-contained, and not part of a mega-story that spanned the entire DCU. Now that we are about to get into that again, it does cause some worry. It is still a phenomenal read, however - a few jitters is no reason not to enjoy a great story. This title is still near the top of the heap in the DC line-up.

JSA CLASSIFIED #34, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by James Peaty Art and cover by Freddie Williams II

Highlighting what is so great about this title, this month we get a solid Hourman story. The Justice Society, unlike the League, is filled with characters who do not have their own ongoing titles. JSA Classified is an excellent chance to shine the spotlight on each member, developing them as individuals in a way that makes their contributions to the team book that much more rewarding. With the recent cancellation of JLA Classified, fears that this title is next are mounting. This should not come to pass - this is a great title that deserves a place in the DC line-up. You can help - just pick up this issue and enjoy.

NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #2, $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Carlo Pagulayan, Jeffery Huet, and Justin Ponsor

No regular New Avengers issue this month, instead we get an “Annual” that is supposed to continue from last month’s #37. Yeah, Annuals are typically better when they stand alone, but this looks like an excuse for an extra-sized issue. So whether it is an Annual or not is really moot - it is the only issue this month, so it is the same either way. This issue promises to tie into every major Marvel event from the past couple years (Civil War, World War Hulk, Secret Invasion) - so it might be a good issue to pick up if you follow the mega-events closely.

ULTIMATE SECRETS, $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel Comics
By Various

A handbook - for those who were curious about the title - this issue should bring us all up to date on the latest character developments in the Ultimate Marvel Universe, including a rundown of the new Ultimate X-Men team. Probably shouldn’t expect anything in the way of major revelations, but it is a sure bet for handbook fans, and Ultimate universe completists.

SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #1 (OF 5), $3.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Dave Lapham, Art by Tony Harris, Jim Clark, and J.D. Mettler

Looking for a little break from the retcon, but still want to read some Spider-Man? This might be a good series to pick of. Of course, this might still be considered a retcon, as it is placed in that hazy period between “the spider-bite” and Uncle Ben’s murder, but it should still deal with some pretty standard concepts, and not really change anything. There is a story to be told here - the loser-geek who suddenly gets it all is an interesting story-base, and that is exactly what you are going to see here. Could be a good early Peter Parker story.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #118, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Justin Ponsor

Ah - Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. Maybe it is the nostalgic part of me that remembers actually watching that show on Saturday mornings, but this story arc looks fun to me. Of course, we are getting Johnny Storm instead of Firestar - but hey - you make due with what you can get. At least he fits the theme. Should be a decent issue - hopefully it isn’t too serious a story.

WHAT IF SPIDER-MAN VS WOLVERINE, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Jeff Parker, Art by Clayton Henry

This “match-up” has been kind of done to death, with varying degrees of success (the semi-recent Marvel-Team Up fight was the best one I have seen to date), but this issue is less about the fight itself than the What If? concept behind it. This issue is a twist on the 1987 Spider-Man vs. Wolverine #1, in which Spidey and Wolverine are in Eastern Europe to hunt down (and protect) Logan’s friend Charlie, who is an ex-KGB agent. Long story short - Spider-Man ends up killing Charlie by mistake (instead of Logan), and returns to America distraught. This What-If twists that story, and tells what might have happened if Peter never returned. This will be a good buy for anyone who remembers that two-decade old story. Not sure how accessible it will be for those who haven’t read it, but there is sure to be a decent recap, including a redeux of the climax.

SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK

CAPTAIN AMERICA #34, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brubaker, Art by Steve Epting

Well, this is it - the issue in which Bucky takes up the Captain America mantle (or so we have been lead to believe). Last issue was a solid, fun read - even without the titular character, Brubaker has continued to make this title a fun read. Will Bucky work behind the shield? Well, he will certainly do a better job than anyone else in the Marvel Universe right now. It is still impossible to say whether or not Steve Rogers will come back or not (who knows- maybe he was a Skrull), but for a while, we will get to see how a Marvel legacy will work. We see this sort of thing often in DC (Green Lantern and the Flash, to mention but two), but outside Captain Marvel, we really haven’t seen anything like this in Marvel. At least for a major character. It will be interesting to see how it works out.

DARK HORSE

STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC # $2.99 Now: $2.69

DC COMICS

ACTION COMICS #861 $2.99 Now: $2.69
BATMAN #673 $2.99 Now: $2.69
BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #6 (OF 8) $3.99 Now: $3.49
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 13 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #5 (OF 8) $3.50 Now: $2.99
GREEN LANTERN #27 $2.99 Now: $2.69
JSA CLASSIFIED #34 $2.99 Now: $2.79
SPIRIT #13 $2.99 Now: $2.59
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #11 (OF 12) $2.99 Now: $2.69

MARVEL COMICS

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #9 $2.99 Now: $2.69
CAPTAIN AMERICA #34 $2.99 Now: $2.79
CAPTAIN AMERICA CHOSEN #6 (OF 6) $3.99 Now: $3.49
DAREDEVIL #104 $2.99 Now: $2.69
FANTASTIC FOUR #553 $2.99 Now: $2.69
HOUSE OF M AVENGERS #4 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.69
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT ULTIMATES 3 $2.99 Now: $2.79
MIGHTY AVENGERS #8 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #2 $3.99 Now: $3.49
NEW AVENGERS PREM HC ILLUMINATI $19.99 Now: $16.99
SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #1 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.59
ULTIMATE SECRETS $3.99 Now: $3.49
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #118 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE X-MEN #90 $2.99 Now: $2.59
UNCANNY X-MEN TP RISE & FALL OF THE SHIAR EMPIRE $29.99 Now: $23.99
WHAT IF SPIDER-MAN VS WOLVERINE $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN EMPEROR VULCAN #5 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.59

Heath Ledger Dies

This is certainly old news, but the death of The Dark Knight’s Joker has left in its wake a huge stir of drama. From the initial rumors that he died in Mary Kate Olsen’s apartment (later only to learn that Olsen’s connection to the whole episode revolved around the masseuse’s calls to her instead of 9-1-1 upon discovering his body), to the drug overdose rumors (that have yet to be substantiated), it is clear that there is a lot more to this story than we have yet heard. Which is perfectly understandable when you have a case of a celebrity dying at such a young age.

Ledgers alleged drug and depression issues have led to a lot of reasonable speculation about a drug overdose, but the most recent theory is that he actually died of a heart attack. Quite shocking indeed.

Since his death, you have gotten plenty of both sides of inappropriate - those who would damn him for the life he lead, and spitefully insist he got what he deserved (had he died of an overdose), and those who balk at any mention of the man outside the good, mourning his loss as if he were a member of their own family. The sad and morbid truth is that this sensational death is its own form of entertainment complete with sex, drugs, cover-ups, false leads, and a huge question lurking beneath the surface. It is dark, sure, but in many ways his death is providing just as much entertainment to many as the work he did in his life did.

I haven’t yet decided if that truth is fitting, or tragic.

In any case - you can bet that we will be seeing a completely different sort of marketing campaign for The Dark Knight as we quickly approach the release date.

NOTE: Opinions here may not reflect those of X-World Comics LLC or it’s staff and are solely the opinions of the writer.

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