On The Shelf In July 2008
DARK HORSE COMICS
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Page 32 - Criminal Macabre: Cell Block 666 #1 (of 4), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Steve Niles, Art by Nick Stakai and Michelle Madsen
All that really needs to be said here is - “New Cal McDonald.” There are a bunch of you out there who pick up everything and anything Criminal Macabre, and just needed word that another one was on its way to add it on your list.
Even if you aren’t familiar with Criminal Macabre, it might be a good time to give it a look. Steve Niles is a proven master of all things dark and supernatural - thanks in large part to this very property. If you normally stick to the big 2 and are finally coming to know his work from his recent DC projects, this is a good one to pick up.
Page 34 - Hellboy: The Crooken Man #1 (of 3), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Mike Mignola, Art by Richard Corben and Dave Stewart
On a similar note, there are probably a bunch of you who added this title to your list before you even finished reading the word Hellboy. Of course, this series is set to start a week before the release of Hellboy II: The Golden Army to theaters. With the Hulk, Batman, and Iron Man movies out this summer, the Hellboy flick might have fallen under the radar for some of you, but it is coming. Dark Horse is even doing a “Hellboy Day” promotion on July second. In addition to this issue hitting the stands, Dark Horse will be putting out Bookmarks, Posters, and “variant” editions of Hellboy Free Comic Book Day issues. You will also see the Hellboy II comic adaptation this month, as well as a brand new B.P.R.D. series getting its start (The Warning #1 of 5, $2.99), which follows the events in The Killing Ground.
In all, July is panning out to be a fantastic month for Hellboy fans.
Page 44 - The Helm #1 (of 4), $3.50, 32 Pages
Written by Jim Hardison, Art by Bart Sears and Randy Elliott
This concept actually looks pretty amusing. It follows the story of a down-on-his-luck ex-employee of a video store who comes across a magic helmet. This helmet declares him to be the chosen one, and gives him incredible power. But then - the helmet realizes it made a mistake. I picture Thor - only Mjolnir is actively complaining the whole time that Thor isn’t good enough to wield it. Could be seriously funny.
DC COMICS
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Page 73 - Final Crisis: Requiem #1, $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Peter J. Tomasi, Art by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy
Well, it looks like DC is wasting no time in killing someone off as part of their Final Crisis event. Naturally, DC is being tight-lipped about who will actually die, outside the clue that it will be someone who has been a “Staple in the DC Universe for years.” Of course, that could still mean anyone - staple doesn’t necessarily mean anyone major. The image accompanying this solicit is nothing more than a spiraling flame - perhaps there is a clue in that too, but the answer will come soon enough.
Is DC trying to replicate Infinite Crisis here, an event that really began with the death of Ted Kord? You can bet on it. Will it be as successful? Read and find out.
Page 75 - Ambush Bug: Year None #1 (of 6), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Keith Giffen and Robert Loren Fleming, Art by Al Milgrom and Giffen
I’ll bet you all couldn’t wait for another Ambush Bug series!
It might be a good time for it - in the middle of yet another Crisis, it is always good to have a couple sanctuary books you can go to and enjoy without having to worry about where the story fits into the overall event plot. This books seems to be one of those.
Of course, creator Keith Giffen is on board, as well as the original series writer Robert Loren Fleming - Giffen is also doing the art (as with the original, so those who liked his 1992 special should be sure to check this out.
Should be some honest, stress-free fun. Looking forward to it.
Page 82 - Batgirl #1 (of 6), $2.99, 32 pages
Written by Adam Beechen, Art by Jim Calafiore and Johnathan Glapion
There is a lot that can be said about this - specifically regarding the mistake DC made in perverting Cassandra’s character in favor of a new Affirmative Action Batwoman…
But really do we need to? They seem to be going in the right direction now, so perhaps it is time to leave well enough alone.
This is only a mini, but it is a good sign. Adam Beechen is the man who introduced the “evil” Batgirl on the pages of Robin - he has been on the receiving end of some major backlash as a result of that, but it should be remembered that it was an editorial decision to make her “evil,” he just had the impossible task of making that logical. He isn’t Andersen Gabrych, but a series is better than no series.
A perfect situation? Not really - but it is a step in the right direction. Hopefully the only reference to “evil” Batgirl will be one or two panels explaining that she was crazy, and is better now. It really is the best way.
Page 83 - Two-Face Year One #1 (of 2), $5.99, 48 Pages
Written by Mark Sable, Art by Jesus Saiz and Jimmy Palmiotti
This one seems to have the “Year One” tag on it just for the sake of it. More than anything it looks like a Two-Face origin story that is being given the Prestige treatment. So definitely something if you are a Harvey Dent fan. Mark Sable is fairly new to comics - he had a couple of Image projects a couple years back, did a Heroes comic story, and is working on the Cyborg mini that is starting up this month. If you like what you have read of his so far, check this series out.
Page 90 - Blue Beetle #29, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Mattew Sturges, Art by Rafael Albuquerque
Matt Sturges comes aboard as the new ongoing writer for this book, taking over for the already-missed John Rogers. He is plunging directly into dangerous waters - taking a character that survived the backlash DC got when it made the move to diversify its line-up by showing race to the background and focusing on why Jaime Reyes is a hero (instead of making the minority hero’s race the #1 character trait, instead of why they are a hero in the first place, which is character suicide), and plunging him right into the “immigration” debate. This is a huge fine line - the debate over secure borders has nothing to do with race, and injecting the Blue Beetle into it because he is Mexican could have disastrous results.
Of course - it could be too soon to panic. It seems like almost every time that a comic has dealt with a political topic in the last 10 years or so, it has become an oppressive mess, sacrificing a decent story in order to get across a radical political point (you know, the usual holier-than-thou distortions), which only ends up alienating the reader. With that in mind, it only makes sense to prepare for the worst. On the other hand, Jaime Reyes is from the border town of El Paso. It only makes sense that this would be an issue at some point. As long as Sturges can tell this story without delving too deep into politics (and extreme attacks against those who don’t share his view), the Blue Beetle might skate through this writing change unscathed. Fingers crossed - Matt Sturges, don’t let us down!
Page 91 - Booster Gold #1,000,000, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz, Art by Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund
We have had the Zero-Hour tie in for Booster Gold - now it is time for the DC 1 Million tie in! And of course, he will have to come face to face with his 1 million counterpart, Peter Platinum. This series has been a lot of fun during its short run - sure it seems a little gimmicky that it keeps visiting these major events, but it has been a great ride so far. So why stop now? Booster Gold is still one of the best titles on the market right now, and well worth checking out.
Page 96 - Justice Society of America Annual #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Geoff Johns, Art by Jerry Ordway
Gearing up for the new Power Girl ongoing is this Annual which finds her back at home in Earth-2. Obviously this isn’t meant to be a permanent move, but it is a great character building story going into her ongoing. Geoff Johns will no doubt do an excellent job with this story (as he almost always does) - it really does seem like a great choice for a Justice Society ongoing. Dunno if it indicates anything about the future of the multiverse itself as a result of Final Crisis - hopefully it has nothing to do with that at all.
Page 106 - Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM!, $2.25, 32 Pages
By Mike Kunkel
Word of this one has been floating around for a bit now - it should make a great addition to the Johnny DC line. After all - there aren’t many superheroes out there that are really young kids, so the protagonist is already relatable to the target audience. Mike Kunkel has a fantastic style for this project - he has worked as a Disney animator in the past, so the look will be an easy transition for some readers. He does have a reputation for slow and late work, however - hopefully he will be able to keep up with the schedule on this book in order that it comes out consistently. If so - this book could be a pretty decent read, even for the older reader. Kunkel’s previous work on Herobear and the Kid attests to his all-ages appeal.
Page 113 - Storming Paradise #1 (of 6), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Chuck Dixon, Art by Butch Guice
You almost have to wonder if six issues is really enough to do this concept justice! Alternate history comics can sometimes be fun, and this one has an interesting theme. Instead of dropping a nuclear bomb on Japan in World War II, an accident kills all of the scientists working on the Manhattan Project. The result is the US is forced to invade the Japanese homeland - a strategy that some thought would result in more death and destruction than the bombs themselves unleashed on Japan.
This series promises to be dark, gritty, bloody, and could possibly be a real interesting look at what the war would have been like had those two nukes not been dropped to end the war.
IMAGE COMICS
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Page 154 - I Kill Giants #1 (of 7), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Joe Kelly, Art by J.M. Ken Niimura
Could be an interesting series - especially from someone with the sense of humor Joe Kelly has. He has proven he can handle the silly with his legendary Deadpool run, and his Space Ghost showed he can handle the serious and brutal - this series looks like it might be a combination of the two. It follows a 5th grade girl who carries around a Norse hammer, claiming that she hunts and kills giants. Of course, the question is - is she telling the truth?
Regardless of the answer to that question, this series looks like it could be pretty interesting.
Page 180 - Broken Trinity #1 (of 3), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Ron marz, Art by Stjepan Sejic
This issue is the beginning of Top Cow’s very own summer event series, bringing together Witchblade, The Darkness, and Angelus, one which promises the usual Big Event offering - a major “loss” (death?), a new big player to the universe, and a lot of action. This series might be difficult to follow if you aren’t that versed in the Top Cow universe (though the “primer” they put out on Free Comic Book Day will be of help), but it should be an explosive read if you follow any of these characters. Great for Top Cow Fans.
MARVEL COMICS
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Page M20 - Captain America: White #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Jeph Loeb, Art by Tim Sale
Marvel announced this one a couple months back at Wizard World LA - the return of Loeb and Sale’s “Colors” series, this time with Captain America in the spotlight. Like the previous Colors books, this series will turn back the clock (well, that is kind of obvious, since Steve Rogers is still dead) and follows Cap and Bucky during World War II.
Of course, this isn’t the official start of the series, more of a teaser - the issue will include an all-new Origin of Bucky story, and the standard sketches, scripts, and interviews. If you are planning on picking this series up when it gets its official start, this is a good issue to grab.
Page M23 - Fantastic Four: The True Story #1 (of 4), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Paul Cornell, Art by Horacio Dominguez
Should be a fun little mini - True Story somehow finds the Fantastic Four travelling inside the realm of fiction, fighting to save the characters in various classics. Of course, this isn’t exactly a new idea - Jasper Fford’s Thursday Next series (outstanding by the way) has book-jumping at its foundation - but just because this has been done before doesn’t mean it won’t be good. The theme might be the same, but you can bet there will be major differences. Sometimes the “Exploration” part of the Fantastic Four gets forgotten when continuity burdens the title itself - this series is a good opportunity to explore that aspect of the team once again. Could be interesting.
Page M28 - Immortal Iron Fist #17, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Duane Swierczynski, Art by Travel Foreman
Brand new creative team for the Immortal Iron Fist - of course, this is always a scary time. For a long time, thanks to Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker, this title has been one of Marvel’s quiet hits. This move is particularly scary - going from having two outstanding, well-established writers to Swierczynski, who has some novels under his belt and is writing the Cable ongoing - but overall nothing remarkable under his belt. Will he be able to keep up the quality? We can hope. Of course, it is at the very least worth a shot.
Page M33 - Marvel Adventures Super Heroes #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Paul Tobin, Art by Alvin Lee
Ah - this new title makes the Marvel Adventures Free Comic Book Day issue make a little more sense. The opening arc is going to feature a team-up of Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Hulk, but on an ongoing basis, this title will feature four issue arcs that will showcase either single characters who don’t have their own Marvel Adventures book, or groups of characters who might not normally work together. Fans of the ongoing Marvel regular continuity might not appreciate the Marvel Adventures books as much, but they are consistently great reads - stories that stick to the basic form of classic characters, and don’t get bogged down by complex story elements. Pure superhero action that you can actually share with kids. A lot to appreciate here.
Page M40 - Patsy Walker: Hellcat, Agent of the Initiative #1 (of 5), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Kathryn Immonen, Art by David Lafuente
Well, it looks like Marvel enjoyed Kathryn Immonen’s Hellcat story in Marvel Comics Presents, because she is back with her own mini. The serial in MCP wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t really seem like a story that demanded a new series for Hellcat - but perhaps she will read a little better in larger chucks. That serial did have the feel of a single one-issue story that was arbitrarily broken up.
This is good news for hellcat fans though - and any exposure for B and C list characters is always a good thing in the Marvel line-up.
Page M55 - Squadron Supreme 2 #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Howard Chaykin, Art by Marco Turini
Whoa whoa - Howard Chaykin on Squadron Supreme? Needless to say, that is a little scary. Chaykin is capable of producing good work (most recently, Bite Club was fantastic), but whenever Chekin takes up the writing chores on anything that involves the “US Government,” the political soapboxing is usual not far behind. It is uncanny - the moment politics enters into a Chaykin story, the overall quality takes a severe nosedive. Considering Mark Milton’s back-story and character, this is cause for concern.
It is still too soon to write this one off, however. They are coming off a successful crossover with the Ultimate Universe, and this series will feature Ultimate Nick Fury, who was left behind in the Supreme-verse after that crossover ended. Let’s just hope this series is more Bite Club, and less Challengers of the Unknown.
Page M58 - True Believers #1 (of 5), $2.99, 32 pages
Written by Cary Bates, Art by Paul Gulacy
This one is a little bit of a mystery - the solicit for True Believers reads like most of Marvel’s solicits these days - vague, full of slick wording that tries to convince you that this is the best comic ever, but without giving many details at all about what the series is actually about. To be fair - the current solicit writers are doing a much better job than they did a few years back, but it is still nice to read a solicit where they simply tell you what a new series is about, instead of a string of catch-phrases and grandiose, edgy proclamations.
You are able to clean that this series should be about a female team of “investigative reporters” who dig up the dirt on anyone with secrets in the Marvel Universe (Good, evil, or government), and post it online for all to see. Could be an interesting concept if executed properly. Worth checking out.
Page M59 - Astonishing X-Men #25, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Warren Ellis, Art by Simone Bianchi
This is the start of the brand new Astonishing X-Men creative team of Ellis and Bianchi, taking over for the highly acclaimed Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. This really should be the start of something good. As good as Whedon and Cassaday’s Astonishing run was, it was quickly overshadowed as the X-Men titles began to improve in the last couple of years. Now that the X-titles have started to come together and maintain a consistent minimum quality, the time is ripe for another leap forward. Warren Ellis could be the man to deliver that. Once again the ingredients are there for something special - I can’t wait to see what Ellis and Bianchi do with it.
Page M61 - Uncanny X-Men #500, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction, Art by Greg Land and Terry Dodson
This has to be some kind of first - I can’t recall another Marvel title that actually reached the 500 mark before without some kind of numbering gimmick - a real accomplishment! As well as an appropriate start to a brand new status quo. Brubaker and Fraction seem to work very well together (especially when Fraction takes the lead), so the latter’s addition to the writing credits is nothing but good news. We are yet another “new beginning” for the X-Men… hopefully between this title and Astonishing, we can finally overcome the years of bad stories that have bogged the X-Men’s continuity down.
INDEPENDENT COMICS
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Page 233 - Maintenance Volume 3, $9.95, 104 Pages, Oni Press
Written by Jim Massey, Art by Robbi Rodriguez
This is one of those titles I really wish I caught on to much earlier. Oni’s Free Comic Book Day effort featured an issue of Maintenance, and after that one small example I was already hooked on the series. Having read through the first collected volume of the series, I can say it is well worth the money. The story follows a pair of ordinary blue-collar guys who happen to work as part of the maintenance staff of a Supervillain Think Tank that offers they services to villains of all types. It is a very clever and entertaining read. It doesn’t seem like there is really any real starting point - this collection should be as good a place to start as any. You will enjoy this title.
Craig’s Top Five of the Month
5 - Storming Paradise #1 (of 6), $2.99, 32 Pages, DC/Wildstorm - A potential sleeper hit.
4 - Astonishing X-Men #25, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics - New creative team for Astonishing - even better than the original, if you ask me.
3 - Hellboy: The Crooken Man #1 (of 3), $2.99, 32 Pages, Dark Horse - With the Hellboy movie just around the corner, you can bet Mignola and company will pull out the stops on this series to attract new readers.
2 - Justice Society of America Annual #1, $3.99, 48 Pages, DC Comics - Seems like Power Girl’s stock in the DCU is really on the rise.
1 - Uncanny X-Men #500, $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel Comics - The first even natural 500 from Marvel, and a new direction for the X-Men is certainly worth notice.
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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May 5, 2008
The $40 Pull List - May 2008
If this is your first time reading the $40 Pull List, I invite you to see how it works by checking out some of the previous month’s editions (listed below). Those will give you a good idea of how the column works, and what you can expect month after month. If you are interested in the “rules” for the Pull-List, check out the very first column, the 01/07 edition. It isn’t too complicated, though, so just dive right in if you don’t feel like reading back issues! In addition, this column contains Spoilers, so if you are waiting for the trade, read at your own risk!
01/07 - 02/07 - 03/07 - 04/07 - 05/07 - 06/07 - 07/07 - 08/07 - 09/07 - 10/07 - 11/07 - 12/07 - 01/08 - 02/08 - 03/08 - 04/08
This month, the “mainstays” ended up being pretty good. We got a solid conclusion to the Annihilation: Conquest story, as well a nice goodbye issue from Kurt Busiek on Superman, but some of the minis faltered a bit. Both the Twelve and Young Avengers Presents seemed lacking, added to that a weak issue of Marvel Comics Presents made this month something of a downer.
This month’s read kind of made me realize how stagnant things have gotten. After a month like this, it is time to shake things up a little bit. Part of this whole experiment was to see if we could avoid getting caught in the trap of reading unenjoyable books month after month - and while it is true that some titles will have an off month here and there, a bad month overall is a good chance to shake things up a bit and let some fresh air in.
On to the specifics - April’s issues!
Jonah Hex #30, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 04/02/08 ON TIME
As always, Jonah Hex is a solid read. This issue was a little weak by its usual standard, but better the story falter a little on a short, simple story than on a drawn out complicated one. Not the best we have seen, but far from the worst and still ultimately passable.
The art was a solid improvement over last issue’s outing. Jordi Bennet seems to have a better handle on things than Gares did - so there is at least that. Sadly, no artistic stability anytime soon, though I am looking forward to seeing Darwyn Cooke’s take on Jonah Hex in July. That should be interesting.
Status: SAFE
The Twelve #4, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 04/02/08 ON TIME
Honestly, the most frustrating thing about J. Michael Straczynski’s writing style is the fact that he seems to give you almost nothing, but makes you want to read more. It is maddening - the promise of something awesome just over the hill, but that something awesome just never seems to come.
This issue is a good example of that. We get a little plot development - just a hair - and a few moments which could explode into something more, but they just don’t. More “it’s coming, just you wait!” In the past, I have always given Straczynski the benefit of the doubt, but as he has never come through in the end, with each passing series, it is harder and harder to show patience.
Not ready to give up on this one yet, but if we don’t start getting something of substance soon, I may just have to abandon this one.
Status: SAFE
Nova #12, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 04/09/08 ON TIME
You could almost insert this issue in right before Annihilation: Conquest #6, and it would be a seamless addition. If you are one of the few who aren’t following both series, this issue basically explains how the cure for the transmode virus comes about, and how Nova and the rest of the cavalry that pop up in #6 come together and begin their assault. Outside that, it was a fine issue of Nova that added a great deal to Gamora’s ongoing story. Hopefully her contributions to the series won’t be totally forgotten by the time issue #13 comes around.
Now that Annihilation: Conquest has been put to rest, hopefully we can get back to Nova’s story. I know there has been talk of his appearance in the whole Secret Invasion story - much to my dismay - with luck the impact of that story in this ongoing will be minimal
Status: SAFE
Annihilation: Conquest #6, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due out 04/16/08 ON TIME
Of course, this issue didn’t have Galactus laying waste to several star systems, but in its own way it was an explosive ending. As I predicted, the victory was on a much smaller scale, with Quasar finally coming to her own and delivering the killing blow. The seeds were sown for the new Guardians of the Galaxy series, and everyone rode off into the sunset. In the end, I am not sure if this series was “event-worthy,” but it was still an entertaining read. Hopefully Marvel will lay off the Annihilation concept for a while, and allow these characters time to grow in their own respective ongoing titles. Events are great - but events without solid character foundation tend to get cheap and unentertaining. It’s time to take a break!
Glad to have read this in any case, however. Looking forward to checking out Guardians of the Galaxy/
Status: SERIES CONCLUDED
Marvel Comics Presents #8, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 04/30/08 ON TIME
No bones about it - this issue was terrible.
The Vanguard and the Weapon Omega stories have been faltering for a long time. The former lacked any punch this issue - it just ended up being a lot of quibbling over semantics, and the revelation that there was a super-duper soldier from World War II (who is now dead) just fell flat. I am not sure where this story is supposed to be going, but I stopped caring a long time ago. The Weapon Omega story failed for the same reason - we didn’t see anything in this installment that we weren’t shown several issues ago. Things seem to be reaching a climax, but we keep retreading the same ground over and over again on our way there. Both of these stories are about twice as long as they need to be - we should have been finished with them around issue #6 and well on our way to something more.
The X-51 story was a mess - confusing and really uninteresting. Luckily we get more of that next issue. The Cyclops and Wolverine story was pretty well pointless - hate to say it, but we got nothing out of this issue that we haven’t been reading in the other X-books for the last couple months.
If I didn’t want the anthology to succeed so badly, and if there hadn’t been so many outstanding issues prior to this, I would drop it after such a bad issue. As it is - it gets another chance. Even if it is hanging by a thread. As it is, next month it looks like we are going to be saddled with 3/4 sagging ongoing stories. That does not bode well for the book as a whole.
Status: SAFE
Superman #675, $3.99, DC Comics. Due out 04/16/08 ON TIME
Boy, just when I finally get hooked on Superman, Busiek has to up and leave. The stinker!
As you already know, this issue was Busiek’s last, and he definitely went out with a bang. We had the full spectrum of angles here - lots of action, moral conflict, the big-bad villains threatening Metropolis to get to Superman, Big Blue being forced to fight with a villain, a giant, unstoppable monster, Superman winning the day with brains and brawn, and a few family moments. A great conclusion to a great run.
So what to do now? Superman has been outstanding, but sometimes when you are on a budget you don’t always drop a title just because it is bad. The end of a good run is sometimes a good time to say goodbye as well. So as good as Superman has been - instead of risking what seems like inevitable disappointment, perhaps it would be a good idea to say goodbye to Superman for now, and go out on a high note. Gives us a chance to try something else new!
Status: DROPPED
Young Avengers Presents #3, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 03/26/08 RELEASED 04/02/08
Man, is it just me, or is it kind of contrived that both this team and the Runaways both have Skrull team members who are in homosexual relationships? I know this is great stuff for the GLAAD folks, but if you ask me, it seems a little forced. There is nothing at all wrong with homosexual relationships in comics, but in both Young Avengers and Runaways, it seems like they were added just for the “hip” factor. Those little “moments” in this issue really didn’t seem to add much to the story. There is a time and a place for this kind of thing - and it didn’t really seem like either.
Beyond that minor gripe, the story was decent. No real advancement though - just seemed like a character showcase. Which, I suppose, is all these issues are meant to be.
Young Avengers Presents #4, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 04/23/08 ON TIME
This issue was a little better than the last, but on the flip-side of the coin, I am really not interested in the whole “love” angle. These are teenagers for crying out loud! Yes, teenagers are angsty, hormone-ridden balls of lust, but they just don’t have these deep, meaningful loves that consume their very existence. To them it might feel like it, but those feelings evaporate the next time an attractive guy or girl crosses their paths.
Again, the story wasn’t bad, but there was too much sex in the middle of it. But four issues into this thing, there hasn’t been a single issue that I really enjoyed. Thus far it has ranged from horrific to barely passable, always waiting for the next issue for things to get better. Time to cut our losses, I think.
Status: DROPPED
Teen Titans #58, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 04/30/08 ON TIME
Well, that was kind of interesting. A lot happened in this issue - I get the sense a lot of it is going to have to be dealt with a ways down the road. McKeever has opened up a can of worms with Miss Martian that is going to take some time to unravel. Of course, these past few issues seem to be happening all at the same time - so there is a little timeline confusion, but nothing too difficult.
Robin’s reaction to her request seemed a little off though. His whole training revolves around the covert - with the experience he has, in the community he is in, would he really freak out about “forging federal documents” when really all he was being asked for was help leading a normal life? Something tells me he would understand that request a lot better than McKeever gave him credit for.
Honestly, this issue wasn’t nearly as strong as the previous two have been, but then, Miss Martian’s issues are far more complex. I am sure it will be several arcs down the line before everything in this issue is fully dealth with.
Status: SAFE
Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #20 (#4), $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 03/26/08 RELEASED 04/16/08
Everyone is scum! That about sums this issue up - not that it is a bad thing. Actually, the only character that really wasn’t scum was Charlotte - and strangely enough, she is the only unlikable character in the bunch. Both Mara and Heath have some heavy sins on their back, but they are by far the most sympathetic. Well, Heath anyway, since Mara kind of paid for it in the end.
Still loving this title. Hating how delayed it is, but loving it all the same. I really hope they get their production issues nailed - it seems like the art is holding things up, which is usually the case these days. Hopefully Remender and Company can come up with an artist who is willing to do the work to get this title out on time. Even if it means a rotating art team.
Status: SAFE
Green Lantern Corps #23, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 04/09/08
Ah, Mongul is getting quite a little collection of rings now, isn’t he? This issue finds a new core group getting together to track down the Sinestro Corps rings floating around the Vega system (which, as Green Lantern fans will note, is usually off limits to the Corps). The issue provides a nice re-introduction to the main characters, and Tomasi gives us a good and accurate look at each of them.
After the mis-fire of issue #21 on the list, #23 is a good starting out point. I don’t forsee this title leaving the list anytime soon.
Status: SAFE
LATE AND UNRELEASED ISSUES
Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #21, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 04/30/08 DELAYED UNTIL 05/29/08
Rex Libris #11, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out 04/08 DELAYED
Fear Agent is once again delayed, but it seems like they are reshuffling things to make this one monthly once again. Let’s hope that is the case. As for Rex Libris - no idea when that is due out. The April release was tentative - with luck, that will hit shelves sometime this month.
TITLES CARRYING OVER
Jonah Hex #31, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 05/07/08
The Twelve #5, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/07/08
Marvel Comics Presents #9, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/28/08
Nova #13, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/07/08
Ultimate Iron Man II #5, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/21/08
Teen Titans #59, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 05/28/08
Fear Agent: Hatchet Job #21 (#5), $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 04/30/08 [b]DELAYED UNTIL 05/29/08[/b
Green Lantern Corps #24, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 05/14/08
Rex Libris #11, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out 04/08 DELAYED
NEW TITLES
Wonder Woman #20, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 05/14/08
Since we said goodbye to Superman this month, Wonder Woman seems a logical choice to fill that void. Simone’s run has received fantastic reviews, and coming off the end of a story arc, this seems an ideal time to jump aboard.
Final Crisis #1 (of 7), $3.99, DC Comics. Due Out 05/28/08
I fear I may regret this, but since we gave a couple of Marvel Events a try, might as well let DC have their shot.
House of Mystery #1, $2.99, DC/Vertigo. Due Out 05/07/08
This one looks like a lot of fun. And Matt Sturges has done a fantastic job on Jack of Fables - I am curious to see what he has in mind for this old DC concept. Should be a good something different.
Invincible Iron Man #1, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/07/08
Just a little late for the Iron Man Movie, but could be worth a look. Matt Fraction is awesome these days, and I look forward to seeing what he can do with the biggest villain in the Marvel Universe today. The art end on this book looks solid - LaRocca does a fantastic job and is generally on time, so I don’t think this title will experience the same kind of delays the last Iron Man ongoing did.
Giant-Size Incredible Hulk #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 05/14/08
Since we don’t want to overload with too many new ongoings and minis, how about a one-shot to round things out? This should be a refreshing issue for those of you who aren’t too fond of the way things have gone for the Hulk these days - Roger Stern returns to tell a “classic” Hulk story featuring Fred Sloan. Should be some good, old-fashioned fun. Looking forward to it.
MAY TOTAL: $44.82
Budget = $40.00 + $3.22 (Fear Agent #21) + $3.18 (Rex Libris #11) + $2.03 (Bank) = $48.43
$48.43 (Budget) - $44.82 (April issues) - $3.47 (tax) = $.014 banked for June
A whole ton of new books to choose from this month - kind of takes care of that list stagnation! Let’s hope it is for the best!
Here is this month’s Pull-List to print out and bring with you to the store: Here you go! Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the file, as always. If you don’t have it, you can download the latest version for free at Adobe.com.
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Off the Cuff: Batman The Animated Series
I spent a lot of my formative years watching Batman the Animated Series. And I loved it. That show defined not only Batman but all superheroes with its atmosphere, stories, and characters. Every single cartoon or movie is chasing the standard that Batman: TAS set.
Even the artwork was brilliant. It was the first show that I actually noticed the animation style. And I still think it used shadows better than any incarnation of Batman I’m familiar with.
That’s a high bar.
And in recent years I’ve feared that maybe my memories were tinted by rose colored glasses. Maybe Batman: TAS wasn’t half as good as my mind recalled. After all, I thought Voltron was the best show ever – it was devastating to learn that it’s not.
Talk about crushed childhood dreams.
Well let me relieve the fear – Batman: TAS is still the standard to beat. Watching it on TV these last few weeks has reminded me just how brilliant it was. What’s surprising is the show’s probably better than I remember!
As a kid I enjoyed it because of the action, the art, and the “coolness” of Batman. But I instinctively knew there was something more there – I just didn’t now what. Now I can now fully appreciate the subtlety of the characters and artwork. I can enjoy it for the depth of the story telling and character development.
Batman: TAS is still the greatest superhero cartoon ever created. And may possibly be the best cartoon ever created.
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May 2, 2008
Still on the Shelf 2008 - Free Comic Book Day Rundown!
Happy Free Comic Book Day, 2008!
Check out my rundown of this year’s offerings at comiXtreme.com!
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May 1, 2008
Ti’Hat and the Vulcan: Chapter Fifteen
“This is incredible,” Kim said as he read the information that was displayed on his PADD.
“What?” Chakotay asked, as he sipped his drink. The two had decided to take a little break in the officer’s mess before the fleet would move on to Kalat.
“If this data is correct, we are lucky something like this did not happen a while ago. We seem to have been going through a part of space that the Borg have almost entirely conquered for over a month now. I thought that Kes had thrown us well beyond Borg territory. Perhaps it is not as well defined as we once thought.”
“Maybe the ’silent invaders’ the captain of the Quahi vessel we ran into a few weeks ago referred to were the Borg. The Borg don’t tend to talk to much.”
“You can add conversation to the list of things the Borg feel are ‘irrelevant,” Kim joked. Chakotay had to laugh along with him. “Ever tried holding a conversation with Seven of Nine? She can end one before you ever start it.”
Chakotay smiled. “Most of my conversations with Seven of Nine never go beyond ship’s business.”
Harry started with a nervous stutter, swallowed it, and continued, “According to this data. It will take us another two years to get out of the Borg sphere of influence!”
“What about the rest of the journey home? Are we going to have to make any long detours to stay out of Borg space?” Chakotay asked.
“I have no idea. The data Tuvok got doesn’t have anything like a map showing the boundary of space that the Borg have claimed. That would make sense, as the Borg don’t seem to respect any boundaries. But there are several star systems noted in the information, and the computer was able to extrapolate a map of the nearby systems. Seven has been converting the data for use in astrometrics, so we should have the area charted in the next day or so.
“It looks like the Borg are really worried about us, too. There are only two other cubes within a month of here. By all outward appearances, they do not plan to mess around. We are to be destroyed.”
Chakotay smiled. “Not if B’Elanna has anything to say about it. She is driving the Engineering department insane with all of the modifications she wants done. She’s having three different shield nutation programs installed, modifying all of the phaser banks, and trying to get reaction time on the impulse drive down by fifteen percent. I am glad I’m not down there right now. I am sure some of them haven’t slept since she came back on duty.”
“She probably has Borg on the brain now. I was talking with Oro, from the surface, and he told me some pretty tall tales about her. It seems that she has become something of a legend on Bint’Ari. One story had something to do with her killing fifty Borg in one battle,” Kim said.
“That doesn’t surprise me. She bottles up so much of her aggression that I am certain that once she let it out, anyone who stood in her way regretted ever even looking at her.”
“I hear they named her after an animal on the planet. Ti’hat, I think it was. Oro described it, and it sounded something like a large Tasmanian devil,” Kim explained.
“Well, I wouldn’t call her that, if I were you,” Chakotay smiled. “From you, she might take it as a joke, but I don’t think I would take that chance.”
“All senior officers, to the bridge,” Janeway’s voice said over the comm-system.
“Oh well,” Kim said. “Looks like the fun is over.”
——————————————————————————–
Kim and Chakotay walked on to the bridge in time to catch the end of the conversation between Janeway and the Khamish Colonel.
“The modifications your Ensign helped us make to our shields are completed, and are working well,” the Colonel said. “The auto-nutation program may fail, however, if the shields are hit too hard.”
“That is to be expected,” Janeway replied. “Your shield generators aren’t designed for constant frequency modulation. Honestly, I am surprised that your engineers were able to manage it at all.”
“There is not a lot that we cannot accomplish, Captain,” the Colonel said. “The fleet is ready to depart. We’ve taken on the last of the Guard units the Bint’Ari sent to accompany us, and all of the repairs are completed.”
“Excellent,” Janeway replied. “Let’s be on our way, then.” As the channel closed, Janeway ordered Paris to proceed towards the Borg planet at Warp 6. Unexpectedly, The Doctor strolled onto the bridge, and sat down at an empty console.
“Doctor, I am surprised to see you,” Janeway said. “Is there something wrong?”
“It was my understanding that the Chief Medical Officer had a spot on the bridge. I was merely following tradition,” The Doctor replied.
“Drove yourself out of sickbay, did you?” Paris snickered.
“Certainly the presence of my ‘copies’ contributed to the decision to leave sickbay. I had no idea that I was so annoying! The copies are being entirely unreasonable. None of them will submit to deletion, and none of them will shut themselves off, for fear that they will be deleted if they do.”
“A reasonable fear, Doctor,” Janeway explained. “The only reason that you are not being pressured to delete yourself is that when the malfunction occurred, you were the first to reappear, and you were the first to get to your holo-emitter, and haven’t taken it off since. How would you feel if one of your copies were insisting that you be deleted?”
“They are!” The Doctor exclaimed. “In fact, the only thing that they can agree upon is that I should be the first one to go.”
“Rest assured, Doctor,” Janeway interjected. “Your problem will be dealt with once we are safely under way.”
“I need to learn to stop trying to improve my program,” The Doctor mumbled to himself.
—
“Captain, ETA to Borg planet two-point-five minutes,” Paris reported. The fleet was moving along at impulse speeds, after stopping for a short time about ten minutes away from the planet. The Khamish Commander thought it best to come into range of the planet with all of the fighter deployed, in case the Borg attacked sooner than expected.
“Any luck on the sensors, Mr. Kim?” Janeway asked.
“I’m afraid not, Captain,” Kim replied. “I can’t figure out what it is the Borg are doing to jam us. I can get a clear picture of the planet, and the surrounding space, but the cubes I’ve detected keep disappearing and re-appearing from the sensors. It is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
“How many different cubes have you seen so far?” Chakotay asked.
“I’ve confirmed that there are at least two Attack Cubes and one Scout Class Cube,” Kim replied. “There could be a hundred more, though. It is almost like there is a layer around the planet that is totally cloaked. I’m not reading any matter what-so-ever between the altitudes of ten and fifteen kilometers.”
“Species 756 exhibited a similar technology,” Seven suggested. “It is possible that the Borg assimilated that species since my, ‘liberation’ from the Collective.”
“Any idea how to neutralize it?” Janeway asked.
“None,” Seven replied.
“One minute until we are in range, Captain,” Paris reported.
“Captain!” Kim exclaimed. “The sensor interference is gone! Suddenly, I have a clear picture of the matter in that altitude range.”
“Perhaps it was impairing their sensor readings as well,” Chakotay suggested. “Maybe one of the cubes that was outside of the belt detected us, and they turned off the sensor screen to get a better picture of us.”
“A reasonable hypothesis,” Seven confirmed. “Our experience with the sensor screen indicated it blocked all sensor scans, regardless of their source.”
“How many ships are you reading, Ensign?” Janeway asked.
“Five Attack Cubes, two Destroyers, and six Scout Class cubes,” Kim replied.
“Looks like we have them outnumbered by a few thousand,” Janeway half-heartedly joked, referring to the thousands of one-man fighters that surrounded the fleet. Notify the Colonel our scans, she might not have a clear read yet.”
“Can you get any details on the planet’s surface?” Chakotay asked. “If we are going to knock out the Borg planet-based collective network, we will need some information of the location of the transceivers.”
“There is still some sort of dampening field blocking details about the planet’s surface from our sensors,” Kim replied. “I can tell that the planet-bound Borg are operating under an extremely decentralized system, much like a cube itself. The ground strike units are going to have to use the information from Tuvok’s download as well as their own sensors to locate the transceivers.”
“Such an attempt would almost certainly prove futile,” Seven added. “There could be several thousand transceivers on this planet. An invasion force would have to be significantly larger to disable all of them.”
“That is a chance we are going to have to take,” Chakotay replied.
“Janeway to Tuvok,” the Captain said as she tapped her comm-badge. “Are the shuttles ready to launch?”
“The Hesoid, Heston, and Aust en are standing by,” Tuvok replied. “The last quantum torpedo is being secured inside of the Heston, and we should be ready to depart in ten minutes.”
“We’ll try to get you as close to the planet as we can,” Janeway replied. “Janeway out.”
“Status of the Borg fleet?” Chakotay asked.
“It looks like they’ve seen us. They are moving this way,” Kim reported. “But they have not tried to hail us.”
“It will not be long,” Seven replied.
“We are the Borg,” the monotonous voice was heard over the ship’s comm-system. “Lower your shields and surrender your ships. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.”
“I spoke too soon,” Harry said.
“Have the Khamish fighters engage the cubes,” Janeway ordered. “We need a distraction in order to get close enough to the planet for the shuttles to get into the atmosphere without a problem.”
“Fire at will, Ensign Young,” Chakotay ordered the young tactical officer. “And if you would avoid the attack cubes for the time being, Mr. Paris, that might be a good idea.”
The Khamish fighter pilots, eager for the confrontation, surged towards the Borg cubes at full speed. A few disappointed pilots stayed behind with their ships, to prevent an attack on one of the Mothers. The Mother ships, in the meantime, were maintaining a very tight formation, and managed to lock their shields together so that each ship would benefit from the shielding of the others. Voyager skirted the edge of the battle, to avoid getting into range of one of the Attack cubes.
Janeway glanced several times at Seven of Nine during the opening minutes of the battle, trying to read some kind of reaction on the woman’s face. Seven did not oblige her with any discernable response. She remained transfixed on the view-screen, blinking only when necessary.
“Signal the Captain of Delta Mother, Mr. Kim,” Janeway instructed. “We need her to break formation and follow us towards the planet, so that we can drop off the landing parties.”
“Aye Captain,” Kim replied. “Delta Mother and four fighter squadrons will be here in about a minute.”
“Captain,” Paris called from the helm. “I’ve got a Borg Scout heading straight for us.”
“Mr. Young, fire a spread of torpedoes as the Scout,” Janeway ordered. “Perhaps we can discourage it.”
Five torpedoes lanced out the rear of Voyager, and impacted the Scout one after another. The small cube shuddered under the force of the explosion, but it did not slow down. Several bits of the ship were blown off during the explosion, so it looked more like a jagged rock than a cube.
“Captain, it’s on a collision course,” Paris warned. “I’m trying to move out of its way, but the cube keeps adjusting its course to match mine. I can’t stay ahead of it.”
“Aft phasers, Mr. Young,” Chakotay ordered.
“No effect, Commander,” Young replied.
“Set up the frequency rotation program,” Janeway ordered. “They may have already adapted to our current frequency.”
“The Khamish fighters have arrived, Captain,” Kim reported. “One of the squads is dropping several anti-matter pods between us and the Borg Scout.”
“Has the Scout changed course, Mr. Paris?” Janeway asked.
“No,” Paris replied. “In fact, its about to hit that antimatter-”
The viewscreen flashed a bright white glow. The Scout collided with the antimatter pods, which resulted in a spectacular explosion. Voyager was far enough away to avoid being caught up in the antimatter reaction, but two of the fighters weren’t so lucky. The explosion damaged one of the fighters, which in careening off course, collided with the second fighter, destroying them both.
“Signal the fighters our thanks, Mr. Kim, and give the Captain of the Delta Mother our heading,” Janeway ordered. “Mr. Paris, take us to the planet.”
“Aye Captain,” Paris replied, adjusting the ship’s course.
“The Captain of the Delta Mother is following,” Kim reported. “One of the Borg Destroyers in changing course to intercept.”
“Is it on a collision course?” Chakotay asked.
“It doesn’t look that way. A few of the Delta Squadrons have turned to engage it,” Kim replied.
“More speed, Mr. Paris,” Janeway ordered. “We need to get the landing party off before we can engage the cubes.”
“Captain, we are receiving a message from the Delta Mother,” Kim said. “They are going to make a stand here against the Destroyer so that we can make a run for the planet.”
“So long as some of us get to the planet,” Janeway replied. “Let’s see it, Mr. Kim.”
The view-screen blinked to a view of the rear of Voyager, and the crew watched hopefully as the Delta Mother engaged the first of the Borg destroyers.
——————————————————————————–
The commander of the Delta Mothership signaled her intentions to Voyager and the Colonel before she made her move. The Borg were not just going to allow the fleet to land troops on their planet, she knew that all along. But the Major felt that the Borg would have a harder time sending ships to attack the enemies that were heading for their world. They had only expected the five Attack cubes, though.
“We are coming about, Major,” the Lieutenant at the helm reported.
“Excellent. Give me a view of the Destroyer.”
The small view-screen shifted to the cube. Small flecks surrounded the giant vessel, the flecks being the attacking swarm of fighters. Several groups of fighters moved in tight formation towards the cube, each carrying out a different set of orders, in order to bring down the big cube as quickly as possible.
The Destroyer, which was vainly trying to hit the fighters that were swarming towards it with disrupter beams, did something unexpected. Invisible to those on the Delta Mother, the cube opened up a small circle on the side of their ship, and released a tiny, spherical probe. The sphere targeted one of the Khamish fighters that was moving towards the cube, and collided into it. The resulting explosion was so large that it engulfed the entire squadron that surrounded the assaulted fighter.
“What the hell was that?” demanded the Major, who stared at the blinding explosion with amazement.
“Some kind of explosion, sir,” the Corporal replied. “The sensors are reading a high level of radiation emanating from the explosion.”
“Get a fix on that squad,” the Major ordered. “How many made it through that explosion?”
“Two sir,” the Lieutenant replied. “They were out of formation at the time with engine trouble.”
“What about the rest of them?”
“Destroyed, sir,” the Lieutenant replied.
“There were two hundred fighters in that squad,” the Major sighed. “All but two of them gone.”
“Major, two more explosions have been detected. We have lost all contact with Blue and Green squads.”
“They have to be using some kind of nuclear weapon, Major,” the Lieutenant said. “A nuclear reaction involving antimatter results in a huge explosion, much larger than a conventional nuclear explosion. Any ship anywhere near such an explosion centered in a fighter squadron would be engulfed.”
“Lieutenant, order the fighters to break formation and engage the cube at point blank range,” the Major yelled across the bridge. “They won’t use those nukes so close to their ship.”
“Alpha Mother reports four of their squadrons have been lost in similar explosions,” the Lieutenant reported.
“How long until we can fire?” the Major asked.
“One minute until the MF cannon is fully charged,” The Lieutenant replied.
“Launch the Bint’Ari landing ships, and send a squad to accompany them.”
“They will reach the surface in ten minutes,” the Corporal said. “They won’t have a chance out there! There are too many Borg ships out there.”
“I don’t see us having much of a choice!” The Major replied, angrily. “Keep your station!”
“Bint’Ari ships away,” the Lieutenant reported. “White Squad is accompanying.”
“Have the Borg responded?”
“No, I would imagine that the Borg believe that they are retreating.”
“MF cannon is charged, Major.”
“Fire it then!” The Major yelled.
Seconds later, a brightly colored bolt of energy leapt from the Delta Mother’s cannon, and shot towards the Borg Destroyer. It opened up into a broad net, and collided with the cube at close to the speed of light. After the bright explosion died down, the Captain could see the barely damaged cube start to move.
“What happened?” The Major demanded. “I thought you said that the cannon was fully charged!”
“It was!” the Lieutenant nervously replied. “It seems that the fighters were unable to completely lace the cube, and there was too little antimatter to begin the chain reaction.”
“Major!” the Corporal called. “Two more Borg ships coming in to our sector. A Scout and an Attack cube!”
“Fighter status!” The Major yelled.
“White Squad is gone with the Bint’Ari, and we have lost most or all of six other squads.”
“Request assistance from the Command Mother,” the Major ordered. “Full reverse! Get us away from here!”
The mothership began to move backwards, then shuddered to a stop. The engines grew louder as they futilely tried to push the ship backwards.
“We are caught in a tractor beam!” the Corporal called. “The engines are at their maximum!”
“Activate the shield nutation program!” The Major ordered.
“It’s off-line, Major,” the Lieutenant replied. “The strain on the engines overloaded half of the computer systems. We have no shields.”
The Major continued to bark useless orders, as the Borg cube cut into the Motherships hull with a thin beam, until it reached the engine room. The beam stopped a split second before the ship erupted into a spectacular explosion.
Star Trek, Voyager, and related properties are © Paramount Studio, and the author makes no claim towards them.
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