DARK HORSE COMICS
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Page 40 - Pigeons From Hell #1 (of 4), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by John R. Lansdale, Art by Nathan Fox and Dave Stewart

Kind of a remake, but this one looks like more of a reworking of the old Robert E. Howard work. Landsale has some experience with Howard’s work, having written some Conan stories before, and he did write Bubba-Ho-Tep, which makes him ok in my book. There is definitely a Birds vide to this story - should be a great horror mini for fans of the genre to sample, plus anyone who is familiar with Howard’s work outside of Conan.

DC COMICS
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Page 73 - Countdown to Final Crisis #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
By Various

This is, of course, where it all hits the fan, leading right into the Final Crisis event starting up next month. DC has clearly put a lot of eggs in this basket - for better or worse. Event fatigue is higher than it has ever been (at least since I started reading comics), and people who like to write like they know anything (myself included) have predicted that this event could be the worst thing imaginable for DC to do right now. Speaking as a fan, I really, really hope they prove me wrong here.

Page 75 - DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar #1 (of 6), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Keith Giffen, Art by Lee Garbett & Trevor Scott

No sign that this is in any way tied into Countdown or Final Crisis - and that is actually a good thing. One old-fashioned universe crossover, with no strings attached. And heck, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman crossing into the Wildstorm Universe is major enough inof itself. This mini should, hopefully, be an unabashed superhero brawl, and hopefully lots of fun. Giffen does have the right licks for a series like this.

Page 76 - Titans #1, $3.50, 40 Pages
Written by Judd Winick, Art by Ian Churchill and Norm Rapmund

Did we really need another Teen Titans related series? Especially one that spins out of that Titans East issue? Still can’t get the taste of Vulcan’s death out of my mouth. From the cover, it seems like the original New Teen Titans will be getting together for this series - which I suppose is good for fans of that team, but almost all of these characters have grown to the point where they don’t need the Titans anymore, and can stand on their own. Characters like Vulcan - great characters that haven’t matured are ideal choices for the Teen Titans - immature, lots of power and potential - “kids learning the game” as it were. Well, at least he was, until they just killed him off!

Seriously - I like the classic Titans as much as anyone, but at this point, they shouldn’t be anything more than mentors for the new kids. Having a high profile Titans book launched right this is really little more than a disservice to the actual Teen Titans book, especially now when McKeever finally found his groove. Disappointing.

Page 80 - Batman #676, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Grant Morrison, Art by Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea

This is the beginning of the much hyped “Batman R.I.P.” story. Off the bat, with The Dark Knight on the horizon, you know they aren’t going to kill Bruce Wayne. Oh, it might look like it - they might even have him “disappear” for a while, but come time for the movie, you can bet he will be right in the middle of everything once again.

Not that it wouldn’t be interesting for someone else to take on the mantle of the Bat. Any fan of Batman Beyond will agree that it can be done, and in Tim there is an ideal successor waiting in the wings (he might need a little developing, but the basics are all there). Sadly, this smells of more hype than anything else. Hopefully we get at least a decent story out of it.

Page 83 - Batman: Death Mask #1 (of 4), $5.99, 48 Pages
By Yoshinori Natsume

You know, this is not a bad idea at all.

Manga is still huge these days, and mainstream American comic publishers have had a hard time attracting those young readers to the American comic format. So why not start a new manga series with a high-profile Japanese artist (I don’t really know from Manga - I am assuming Natsume is high profile?) featuring a Superhero mainstay? This isn’t the first time, but it is really the first time one has been marketed like this. With any luck, this series will be a success. If it gets manga fans interested in Batman - that is a step in the right direction.

Page 126 - American Splendor Season Two #1 (of 4), #2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Harvey Pekar, Art by Various

What is not to love about American Splendor? The first Vertigo series a couple years back proved to be just as good as some of the originals, and it is really nice to see it back again. A lot of newer comic readers might not be used to his “slice of life” style, but there is sure to be something here that most people should at least find a little interesting. Glad to see Pekar back.

IMAGE COMICS
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Page 148 - The Walking Dead #50, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Robert Kirkman, Art by Charlie ADlard and Cliff Rathburn

Kirkman’s other masterpiece finally makes it to 50 issues. It seemed like zombies weren’t anything special when that first amazing arc came out, and now they are all over the place. The Walking Dead has continued to be a solid, satisfying read month in and month out - full of surprises and plot advancement that you just don’t see in many comics these days. These characters (the ones that are left) have come so far in 50 issues, you would hardly recognize things if you hadn’t been following it for a while.

This issue is also featuring a “superhero” variant (a playful dig at Marvel’s tendency to release “Zombie” variants of their issues) - this was solicited at 1-to-100, but it looks like they are increasing that to 1-to-25, which should make it a little easier to find it if you are interested. You will also be able to pick up a reprint of the very first issue earlier in the month, complete with the script and a few other nice bonuses. A fitting celebration.

MARVEL COMICS
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Page M11 - Ultimate X-Men #93, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Robert Kirkman, Art by Salvador Larroca

The future is just a little more hazy on this book now. This issue will be the very last of Kirkman’s troubled run. There is a bit of a buzz about the forthcoming replacement - Jeph Loeb, but his starting issue has yet to be announced. In fact, it has been “put on hold” for a couple issues, during which time we will be seeing an unnamed fill-in writer take the title on. This might not be so bad, except this was exactly what we heard about Bryan Singer’s run, which never actually started.

With this title being so close to 100, it is interesting to reflect that it has never really found its groove. There have been fans of particular writers here and there, but overall this book has never achieved the same level of quality that Ultimate Spider-Man has month in and out throughout its entire run. Maybe we are closing in on an ideal time to start fresh with a new #1?

Page M17 - Amazing Spider-Girl #19, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Tom Defalco, Art by Ron Frenz

You know, this issue looks like a lot of fun - Spider-Gurl versus an all-grown-up Arana? Not sure if we are getting the standard Superhero miscomminucation here followed by a team-up, or something a little more intense, but considering the flak Arana got when she was first introduced (from Spider-Girl fans fearing that she was being groomed as a replacement for May), the match-up makes some sense. This is a done-in-one issue, so Arana fans who might want to check this out don’t need to worry about a long, drawn out arc - possibly a good issue to give Spider-Girl a try?

Page M19 - Annihilation: Conquest #6 (of 6), $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Art by Tom Raney and Wellington Alves

Of course, there is no way to tell if this is going to be as explosively awesome as the finale to the last Annihilation event, but the way things are going - it just might be. Abnett and Lanning have taken the wasteland that is the Marvel Cosmic Universe and virtually single-handedly made it the very best thing in the Marvel line-up. And even though this is the last issue of the event, it is just the beginning - with Nova continuing, and the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy series getting started shortly, it really is just the beginning of even more great reading. Definitely an issue not to miss.

Page M30 - Hulk vs. Hercules: When Titans Clash, #3.99, 64 Pages
Written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, Art by Leonard Kirk and Marko Djurdjevic

This one kind of feels like an Incredible Hulk/Hercules annual in a way that is kind of fitting - so it should be a good one to pick up for those who followed Pak’s run in the Hulk for a while, and those who are enjoying his take on Hercules. There is a mix of new and reprinted material here - not sure of the mix, but the issue promises to include a brand new story where the two titans collide, and a few reprints of the best stories involving the two. Hopefully at least half the issue is devoted to new story to make it worth the price - if so, this will be a good buy.

Page M33 - Iron Man: Legacy of Doom #1 (of 4), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by David Michelinie, Art by Ron Lim & Bob Layton

The clock is quickly ticking down to the May 2nd release of the Iron Man movie, and naturally along with that comes a bunch of Iron Man comics, like this new mini that pits Iron Man against Doom in what they are calling the “third part of the Camelot Trilogy.” Of course, it is really more of another sequel - that word Trilogy tends to get bandied about too often anymore, but pretty sure this wasn’t intended to be a three part epic from the start. In any case - this picks up the same story thread that started in Iron Man #149-150 and #249-150. Should be an excellent buy for longtime Iron Man readers.

Page M41 - Secret Invasion #1 (of 8), $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Leinil Fancis Yu

Well - here is the start of Marvel’s major summer event. This one has warmed up a little more low-key than previous ones like Civil War and World War Hulk - even still, we have more than passed the point where people are tired of the crossover events. This one will probably do well - but not nearly as well as World War Hulk then. Especially since you consider the fact that everyone expects the “Skrulls” to end up being people who died that they want to return to life, or anyone who was missing for any inexplicable reason. A great way to bring people back to life - just say they were kidnapped by Skrulls, and the rest takes care of itself. Hey - wishful thinking, but this is an instant return for Hornet!

Low expectations here, but that could work to Secret Invasion’s advantage. Not impressed with the “this will change the Marvel Universe forever!” promo - don’t we always hear that? But time will tell. On the whole though, while this has Marvel Universe spanning implications, it does seem to be pretty focused on the Avengers books. Marvel is having a lot of success with events that really focus on one corner of their Universe or another - if this keeps to that formula, they could have a winner here.

Page M62 - Young X-Men #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Marc Guggenheim, Art by Yanick Paquette

New Mutants, New X-Men - ok, so this concept isn’t exactly new. But hey - it is a step in the right direction. The last creative shift on New X-Men was sour, and this title puts a better writer at the helm and puts the focus back on characters which deserve some page-time (no more X-23 show). Yeah, it’s a new #1 in the wake of yet another event, but this is a case where the move is a smart one. Might be a good time for those who jumped ship on New X-Men after Weir and DeFilippis stopped writing to give the group a try.

INDEPENDENT COMICS
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Page 331 - Gunplay, $14.99, 120 Pages, Platinum Studios
Written by Jorge Vega and Priest, Art by Dominic Vivona

Platinum Studios has been quietly putting out some quality stuff in recent months. Not only are they publishing DJ Coffman’s outstanding Hero by Night, but they are also hosting this graphic novel by Jorge Vega, which won the second annual Comic Book Challenge. Like most good comic westerns, this one has its own supernatural twist - the protagonist is in possession of a gun which must kill once a day, or he is made to suffer. This one looks like it will be a great addition to a blossoming Western genre. Also featured in this graphic novel are a few prose back-up stories by Priest - another reason to give it a shot. Should be good.

Craig’s Top Five of the Month

5 - Young X-Men #1, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics. A much-needed new start for Marvel’s young mutants.

4 - American Splendor Season Two #1 (of 4), #2.99, 32 Pages, DC/Vertigo. Whenever Pekar comes out with a new comic, it should be on your list. If ever there were laws to comic collecting, that would be one of them.

3 - Secret Invasion #1 (of 8), $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel Comics. Marvel’s major summer event - could actually end up being a vehicle to reverse a lot of continuity issues that fans haven’t been too happy with over the years. Could go either way, but a better upside than down here.

2 - The Walking Dead #50, $2.99, 32 Pages, Image Comics. 50 issues of an outstanding title. Never too late to give this one a shot.

1 - Annihilation: Conquest #6 (of 6), $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel Comics. Bar none, this is the best thing going on in either of the Big Two’s line-ups. Can’t wait to see how this one wraps up.

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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