DARK HORSE COMICS
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Page 34 - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull #1 (of 2), $5.99, 56 Pages
Written by George Lucas, David Koepp, and John Jackson Miller, Art by Luke Ross, Faboi Laguna, and Dan Jackson

Yeah - I’ll admit it. I was kind of shocked to see this movie actually get made. I can remember way back when the Last Crusade was released, they made a point of saying there would never be another Indiana Jones movie again. I remember a huge deal being made of Indy’s whip, hat, and bag being donated to a museum, since they wouldn’t be needing that anymore. I guess like comic deals, these sorts of promises don’t last long. Looks like they have aged Indy appropriately - the hammer and sickle in the background of this cover suggests that the Nazis have given way to Soviet Russia as the main threat.

There hasn’t been a bad Indiana Jones movie yet - there is a first time for everything, but let’s pray this isn’t that time. Both parts of this movie adaptation will be out this month - something to watch for if you enjoy these.

DC COMICS
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Page 69 - DC Universe: Zero, $.50, 32 Pages
Written by Grant Morrison and Geoff Johns, Art by George Perez, Tony Daniel, J.G. Jones, Aaron Lopresti, Ivan Reis, Philip Tan, and Carlos Pacheco

This one is actually “retro-solicited,” and is due out at the end of April, so keep your eye out for it if you are going to be following Final Crisis. You can’t go wrong with a 50 cent issue - it does look like DC is going to pull out all the stops to get people on board for their summer event. Do I still have reservations about Final Crisis? You bet. Comic readers are still suffering a bit under the weight of event fatigue, and we really haven’t seen an end to the crossover madness that has gripped the comic industry since Infinite Crisis lit up the charts.

But if this really is the FINAL Crisis, and DC will finally put the events to bed for a while in the wake of this? Well, I will continue to hope, and I think this might be cause to give DC this one Final chance here. Hopefully they make it worth the risk.
This, of course, is all leading to-

Page 70 - Final Crisis #1 (of 7), $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Grant Morrison, Art by J.G. Jones

A lot of hints, but what this story will bring is still a bit of a mystery. It is being touted as the end of a trilogy that started with Crisis on Infinite Earths. It didn’t seem like there was much left after Infinite Crisis to touch on, but then again, the original Crisis seemed to have a somewhat solid ending, and they found a really good way to continue that story.

Still in wait and see mode on this one. If you are a DCU fan, this is going to be a must read. Hopefully DC gets back on the horse after a rocky could of years and delivers and event that can bring some stability back to the line, and allow them to move forward without having to go to the event well once again to stay on top of the game.

Page 72 - Rann/Thanagar: Holy War #1 (of 7), $3.50, 40 Pages
Written by Jim Starlin, Art by Ron Lim and Rob Hunter

Well, this is a little disconcerting. The Rann/Thanagar War was by far the weakest of the minis that lead up to the original Infinite Crisis, despite the fact that it spun out of an outstanding Adam Strange mini. Of course, the players are all back from that second series, continuing the War that never had a solid conclusion. The fact that Starlin is taking the lead on this book is cause for comfort - the far-flung reaches of the DC Cosmos seems to be his strong-suit, and it is reasonable to assume that he can deliver a solid story here.

Page 75 - DC Special: Cyborg #1 (of 6), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Mark Sable, Art by Ken Lashley and Jonathan Glapion

The first issue of the Raven DC Special mini hasn’t even hit the stands yet, and we are already seeing another Special featuring a former Teen Titan. Of course, the Donna Troy DC Special was outstanding, and the Raven mini probably got a huge initial order thanks to Marv Wolfman. Mark Sable doesn’t quite have the credentials that Marv Wolfman has - his career is still relatively young, only achieving notoriety thus far for his Image mini Grounded and as a two-part Heroes web comic. A tall order following up the past two DC Specials - hopefully Sable is up to the challenge!

Page 81 - Batman: Gotham After Midnight #1 (of 12), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Steve Niles, Art by Kelley Jones

This is not Steve Niles’s first Batman story -his work on Gotham County Line two years ago was well received. Of course, Steve Niles tackling one of the darkest, most popular characters in comics does seem like a natural fit. Joining him on the art side is Kelley Jones, who was behind the art on the Batman: Red Rain series, the Elseworlds story that featured a vampire Batman. That is indeed a perfect fit. I am pretty sure this is supposed to be the regular DC Batman in this story, but it should be a solid read nonetheless.

Page 107 - The Lost Boys: Reign of the Frogs #1 (of 4), $3.50, Wildstorm
Written by Hans Rodionoff, Art by Joel Gomez and Don Ho

A return to the 80s? No other way to look at this title. This does indeed feature the return of Edgar and Alan Frog from the 1987 Lost Boys film. I guess there is a new Lost Boys story out this summer, “The Tribe,” so this seems like a good way to reintroduce those characters. Of course, many comic readers probably don’t remember the original film, but it is never too late to check it out. It did help to redefine the vampire genre at the time, and is still relevant, considering the popularity of the genre in this day and age.

Page 119 - House of Mystery #1, $2.99, 32 Pages, Vertigo
Written by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham, Art by Luca Rossi

Based on their work (Sturges & Willingham) on Jack of Fables alone, this title should be worth a look. Of course, comic scholars will remember the DC series of the same name that had a 32 year, 321 issue run. This Vertigo series attempts to reinvent that title’s concept, and should be a decent anthology with a similar but more modern style. Good anthologies are still few and far between - and Vertigo is the perfect place for a horror book like this one. This title has the potential for a nice long run - get in on the ground floor!

IMAGE COMICS
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Page 147 - Bomb Queen V #1 (of 6), $3.50, 32 Pages
By Jimmie Robinson

Robinson’s Bomb Queen returns with a new mini - and hey, it is a 6 parter! Is ongoing far behind? Bomb Queen is enjoyable - though really raunchy and definitely not safe for kids. One look at the cover might lead you to believe that this book is a typical adolescent male fantasy book featuring a mostly naked lead, but it is, in fact, a parody of that fine comic tradition. (Or at least that is what Jimmie Robinson says - could it be an excuse to justify the raunch? I’m on to you man!!)

Bomb Queen is an outstanding satire of superhero comics - well worth a shot.

Page 149 - Gemini #1 (of 5), $3.50, 32 Pages
Written by Jay Faerber, Art by Jon Sommariva and FColor

Anything by Jay Faerber is worth trying out - that is a universal law of comics. Seeing him take on another title is a little troublesome - his plate seems full with Dynamo 5 and Noble Causes, both of which have severe tardiness issues, and it stands to reason that a new mini might just make that problem worse. However, Image fans know that release dates are often “suggestions” and have come to accept a drawn out release cycle.

Gemini is the story of a guy who doesn’t actually know he is a superhero - and a superhero who doesn’t know who he is in normal life. Outside a few examples of insanity and dual personalities, this isn’t an approach to superheroes we have seen much of, so there is something unique here. Faerber has been gold with his Image work thus far - this series is a safe bet.

MARVEL COMICS
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Page M4 - Sky Doll #1 (of 3), $5.99, 64 Pages
Written by Barbara Canepa, Art by Alessandro Barbucci

French comics get so little play here in the states, which is a shame, because what I have seen of them has been outstanding. Sky Doll is a decidedly adult story which deals with the differences between spiritual and sexual love. What I have seen of the art on this title is fantastic, and it will be interesting to see it translated.

Sky Doll is the first of a few Soliel titles set to be released in America by Marvel - so keep your eye out for more.

Page M18 - American Dream #1 (of 5), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Tom DeFalco, Art by Todd Nauck

The last few MC2 minis have been great, but after the Fantastic Five one, it kind of seemed like it might be time for a more personal story. So, it is an ideal time for an American Dream mini! For those that don’t know, The American Dream, Shannon Carter, is the bearer of the Captain America standard in the MC2 Universe. Spider-Girl has been on a role of late, and these minis are really doing a lot to flesh out the MC2-verse once again, and I am really looking forward to seeing The American Dream get some much-needed solo exposure.

Page M19 - Avengers: The Initiative #13, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Christos Gage, Art by Steve Uy

OK, maybe this is just the Slingers fan in me jumping for joy, but seeing Prodigy make another appearance, this time as a main cast member. Between Ricochet’s appearances in Loners, this, and the upcoming announcement that poor dead Hornet was really a Skrull (hey - it is totally happening, just you watch!), we are one shadowy figure away from all of the Slingers being active in some way, shape, or form. A small part of me weeps for joy at the mere thought…

Fanboy moment aside, Gage is outstanding, and I am excited to see what he will do with this new group.

Page M21 - Avengers/Invaders #1 (of 12), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Jim Kruger and Alex Ross, Art by Steve Sadowski

Wow - I remember a time when Bucky was cited as the best possible example of “dead means dead” in comics (with Toro being a distant third). And with this issue, there will be 2 Buckys floating about in the Marvel Universe? If I told you about this 5 years ago, you would have laughed in my face.

This is the much heralded return of Steve Rogers - well, another Steve Rogers plucked from history, along with his entire team of Invaders from World War II. Not sure how much this is meant to fit into the actual mainstream Marvel continuity, but it does deal with some leftover issues from Civil War (Especially where Tony Stark and Captain America are concerned), so there is a good bet it is meant to have some lasting impact. If you liked Earth X, or anything else by that team, you might enjoy this series.

Page M29 - Franklin Richards: Not-So-Secret Invasion, $2.99, 32 Pages
By Marc Summerak and Chris Eliopoulos

This takes the cake (no lie) as the very best Secret Invasion crossover yet - five brand new Franklin Richards stories, this issue finding H.E.R.B.I.E. and Franklin in a pickle as Skrulls take over the Baxter Building! All of the previous Franklin Richards issues have been solid all-ages reads that will appeal to fans of the old Calvin & Hobbes strip. This issue should be cute and funny as each of the past ones have been.

Page M30 - Immortal Iron Fist #32, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Matt Fraction, Art by Khari Evans

This title has gotten a lot of quiet praise, but it doesn’t seem to have quite the buzz about it that other outstanding Marvel books have. Which is really a shame - ever since this book started telling stories of Iron Fists throughout history, it has been nearly impossible to put down. This issue picks up the story of Bei Bang-Wei from back in Immortal Iron Fist #3. Even if you haven’t much enjoyed Iron Fist in the past, it might be a good time to give this title a shot. You may well be surprised.

Page M31 - Guardians of the Galaxy #1, 32 Pages
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Art by Paul Pelletier

OK, I am not so crazy about Wraith, but any team that features Rocket Raccoon, Gamora, Quasar, and Cosmo (if you have read Nova recently, you know who that is) has my full confidence. This new title is spinning out of the ongoing Annihilation event. If it is anywhere near as good as Nova has been, it will be a can’t miss title. Even if Conquest is seemingly a little forced at this point (It might have been too soon for a sequel), Abnett and Lanning are still spinning gold with Nova, and even Conquest, despite its weak moments, is one of the better Marvel titles on the market right not. If you are looking for a new ongoing, this is your best bet for the month.

Page M33 - Giant-Sized Incredible Hulk #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Roger Stern

Boy, Uncle Rog is popping up all over the place, isn’t he? This is a welcome sight, especially for those that aren’t particularly fond of the new red Hulk. This issue will reprint Stern’s Incredible Hulk Annual #7, as well as a new story which finds Fred Sloan (unless you have been following Hulk for a while, that name might not be familiar to you) roaming the country getting stories of the Hulk from the people he has affected for his book. Expect a bunch of real old-school Hulk tales with this one. Should be a refreshing change.

Page M35 - The Invincible Iron Man #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Matt Fraction, Art by Salvador Larroca

Iron Man, Iron Man, Iron Man. Movie will be out this summer - and April is when Iron Man-ia sweeps the Marvel line-up. Six issued dedicated to Iron Man alone - the first part of the four part “Viva Las Vegas” mini, the current ongoing (Renamed “Director of SHIELD), the second part of the Legacy of Doom mini, the Manual, the finale to Ultimate Iron Man, and this issue, the start of a new Iron Man annual which looks to be the new marquee Iron Man book. Not to mention everything else Iron Man will be in this month. Hope you like Tony Stark!

Well, the goods are many. Matt Fraction is outstanding, and if anyone can make Tony Stark at all sympathetic again, it is him. Civil War did a lot of damage to Iron Man (there is a reason Tony Stark is called the best villain in the Marvel Universe right now), and it is hoped that some of that damage will be repaired before the film comes out.

The bads? Well, you might have a bit of Iron Man overexposure, but you are sure too after you see all six covers for this issue. You read right - six! No it isn’t the 90s, and this isn’t a Top Cow book. Maybe they are going a little crazy here?

I have a lot of faith in Matt Fraction, and on his name alone it is worth checking out this issue.

INDEPENDENT COMICS
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Page 247 - The Man With No Name #1, $3.50, 32 Pages, Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Christos Gage, Art by Wellington Dias

All of the sudden, the western genre is exploding. This new series is indeed based upon the character played by Clint Eastwood in the Dollars trilogy. With the renaissance of the genre, it is still a little difficult to establish new characters, so another iconic western hero getting his own series can only fuel future growth. Gage handling the writing chores is even more exciting - he has earned a fantastic reputation in his short career. This will add a little diversity to his resume.

Page 327 - I Was Kidnapped By Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space #1, $.99, 32 Pages, Platinum Studios
By Megan Rose Gedris

Seriously, with a title like that, you at least have to check it out! Actually, you can - all you need to do is head over to Drunk Duck and check it out for yourself. Silly is a good way to describe it. The look of the art works, invoking old 50’s sci-fi pulp is the perfect touch. The comic speaks for itself - if you like what you see on the link, can’t hurt to try this out. It is only a buck after all… well worth the cost if you ask me.

Craig’s Top Five of the Month

5 - The Invincible Iron Man #1, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics[/b] - Seems to be a good month for Matt Fraction, and a good month for Iron Man comics. Especially if he brings his usual quality to the table.

4 - American Dream #1 (of 5), $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics - A long overdue solo mini.

3 - Final Crisis #1 (of 7), $3.99, 40 Pages, DC Comics - Remember there was a time when a major event #1 would be an automatic #1 in any month? Lucky to make #3 these days, sadly. Hopefully this is the beginning of the “Final” uber-crossover for some time.

2 - House of Mystery #1, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC/Vertigo - It’s a horror anthology. Any kind of quality anthology is going to get my recommendation these days.

1 - Guardians of the Galaxy #1, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics - Abnett, Lanning, Gamora, and Cosmo. A perfect combination. Abnett and Lanning are already writing the #1 book in the Marvel line-up. Will this make it #1 and #2?

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

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