On The Shelf This Week: 03.12.08
Mar 12
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
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ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #5 (OF 6), $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Art by Ton Raney, Scott Hanna, and Frank D’Armata
Admittedly, last issue was kind of a disappointment. First time since the Prologue to the first Annihilation that an issue was really a let down. This time though it wasn’t the art – it was the story. It wasn’t terrible – it was just that nothing really happened. The last Annihilation had such momentum that it felt like the mini couldn’t contain the story – this one is starting to feel like they need to stretch it. On the whole it has been good though – and probably better than it could have been seeing how quickly they turned around with the sequel. This issue is the “penultimate” issue, so it’s a good bet that things will pick up going into the finale. We can hope!
AVENGERS FAIRY TALES #1 (OF 4), $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by C.B. Cebulski, Art by Joao M.P. Lemos and Christina Strain
This one isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but the last round of Fairy Tales issues (the X-Men mini) wasn’t half bad. Basically these are single issue stories featuring your favorite Marvel heroes subbing in for classic Fairy Tale characters. Again, this issue can’t be mentioned without bringing up the awesome cover by Claire Wendling. She really needs to get more mainstream work – it is just gorgeous!
JLA CLASSIFIED #54, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Roger Stern; Art by John Byrne and Mark Farmer; Cover by Josh Middleton
With this issue, JLA Classified comes to a close. Always sad to see a title go – especially with the potential this one had. At the very least, they are going out right. Stern and the art team have delivered a solid JLA story that isn’t just an unused idea from the old pre-Infinite Crisis JLA team. I wish all of the arcs were like this one.
MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #7, $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Marc Guggenheim, Christos Gage, Robert Venditti, and Rich Koslowski, Art by Dave Wilkins, Joyce Chin, Jeremy Haun, Andrea Divito, and Tony Washington
This title has had its ups and downs, but it is still a worthy project. Most of the downs have less to do with story quality, and more to do with simple lack of skill crafting a good anthology book. It is kind of a dead art, and Marvel seems to be relearning it as they go. The Vanguard story has been decent, and the Weapon Omega story is finally starting to get good. This issue will feature the last part of Christos Gage’s outstanding Savage Land story, and a new Namor story as well. Well worth reading for Gage’s effort alone, but you should enjoy the rest of the issue as well.
WONDER WOMAN #18, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Gail Simone; Art by Bernard Chang; Cover by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson
Gail Simone’s first arc on Wonder Woman has come to an end, and overall it has to be considered a success. Like many efforts from Simone, it was a decent start, but filled with more promise than real stand-alone quality. She did a good job wrapping up the loose ends from before, and setting the groundwork for what is to come. I expect this title will be clicking on all cylinders by the end of this arc, or starting with the following.
This issue also marks the start of a new artist – Bernard Chang is taking over for the Dodsons. He has worked in and out of comics over the years, notable for his New Mutants mini in the late 90s and his work on the Dr. Mirage series at Valiant. Can’t wait to see what he will do with Diana.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
SUPERMAN #674, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Kurt Busiek; Art and Cover by Renato Guedes and José Wilson Magalhaés
While Superman is a great character, those who have read me for a long time know that I have never been the biggest fan of the Superman comics. He is just one of those characters who is neigh impossible to write anymore. He’s seen it all, done it all, and become too powerful – so many writers try to tell a different kind of Superman story, and ultimately fair, or they try to escalate things even further, making an even bigger mess of things.
Issue #673, and by extension the entire last arc, was an example of Superman brilliance. Sure there were a few issues here and there with the plot – mostly on the Lois and Chris end, but nothing that outright killed the story. But the Superman parts – pure genius, bar none. I can’t recall the last time I really saw little things in a comic and thought “that’s so Superman.” Busiek really has a handle on this title, and at least from the looks of the cover, the new artist has a good take. Can’t wait for this arc.
DARK HORSE
STAR WARS REBELLION #12 $2.99 Now: $2.59
DC COMICS
BAT LASH #4 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
BATMAN STRIKES #43 $2.25 Now: $1.99
BOOSTER GOLD #7 $2.99 Now: $2.69
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 7 $2.99 Now: $2.59
COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY #6 (OF 8) $3.49 Now: $2.69
GEN 13 #18 $2.99 Now: $2.69
GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #6 (OF 9) $2.99Now: $2.69
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #6 $2.99Now: $2.69
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #22 $2.99 Now: $2.69
JLA CLASSIFIED #54 $2.99 Now: $2.59
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL HC $24.99Now: $18.99
SALVATION RUN #5 (OF 7) $2.99 Now: $2.69
SIMON DARK #6 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SUICIDE SQUAD RAISE THE FLAG #7 (OF 8) $2.99 Now: $2.59
SUPERMAN #674 $2.99 Now: $2.59
SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #13 $2.99 Now: $2.69
TINY TITANS #2 $2.25 Now: $1.99
WILDSTORM REVELATIONS #5 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
WONDER WOMAN #18 $2.99 Now: $2.69
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #18 $2.99 Now: $2.69
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #553 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #5 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
AVENGERS FAIRY TALES #1 (OF 4) $2.99 Now: $2.69
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #10 $2.99 Now: $2.69
AVENGERS INITIATIVE TP VOL 01 BASIC TRAINING $14.99 Now: $11.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA #34 DIRECTORS CUT $3.99 Now: $3.79
CIVIL WAR CHRONICLES #9 $4.99 Now: $4.39
FANTASTIC FOUR #555 $2.99 Now: $2.69
GHOST RIDER TP VOL 04 REVELATIONS $14.99 Now: $11.99
HEDGE KNIGHT 2 SWORN SWORD #5 (OF 6) $2.99Now: $2.79
IRON MAN ENTER MANDARIN #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
LAST DEFENDERS #1 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.84
MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #9 $2.99 Now: $2.59
MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #7 $3.99 Now: $3.49
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED MOBY DICK #2 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
MIGHTY AVENGERS #10 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW EXILES #3 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SPIDER-MAN RED SONJA PREM HC $15.99 Now: $2.69
THUNDERBOLTS #119 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WOLVERINE #63 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-FACTOR #29 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW SGT. ROCK MINI
It has been a while since the last Sgt. Rock mini – which was outstanding (if a little… spread out), and seeing Easy Company return once again is gratifying. While an official release date hasn’t been announced, Billy Tucci has been doing exhaustive research on Omaha Beach (including a trip there) and the history of the D-Day invasion, which should make the story even more authentic. His stated goal for the series is to make every person thank at least one Veteran, and (for a change, it seems) really try and highlight the heroism of the US Army. Being an army veteran himself, I can’t think of many people who would be more suited to the task.
DC needs to hurry and make this sucker official!
SAY IT AIN’T SO, JOHN ROGERS!
One of the quiet successes of the DC line-up over the past two years has been their new Blue Beetle series, thanks in large measure to the outstanding work of series writer John Rogers. Unfortunately, he is stepping away from the title (supposedly temporarily, but you know how that goes), in order to work on a yet unnamed DC project. Say it ain’t so! Will Pfeiffer has been announced as his replacement, and while he is a solid writer who should do justice to the character, Rogers has been spot on with it, and has some giant shoes to fill.
Best of luck to Will Pfieffer – but Rogers better hurry back, or fans might start looking for him!
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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