On The Shelf This Week - 09.24.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Order any of the below titles by clicking here!
DEADPOOL #2, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Daniel Way, Art by Paco Medina
For starters, this issue features a cover from legendary Deadpool artist Ed McGuinness (who drew Deadpool during Joe Kelly’s unforgettable run). Maybe not enough to get anyone but the most devout Deadpool fan to buy this issue (they are buying it anyway), but it is a nice extra.
The faces of Deadpool fans were blue all over, as they collectively held their breath prior to the release of the last issue. Nicieza, Kelly, Simone - Daniel Way is none of them. And his reputation on Wolverine: Origins led many to write this title off before it was ever released. Whether it was low expectations or actual story quality (probably a combination of the two), the first issue of Deadpool was widely received with a cautious approval - a definite sense of promise. Of course, you read here prior to its release that it would be better than expected - good to see that advice turned out to be right.
So, one solid issue in the bag, Deadpool #2 is out this week. So far, so good. Daniel Way is still not in the camp of the “greats” - but if Deadpool’s publication history tells us anything, you are either great - or horrible. And he is leaning towards the former so far. Definite promise here.
HELLBOY THE CROOKED MAN #3 (OF 3), $2.99, 32 Pages, Dark Horse
Written by Mike Mignola, ARt by Richard Corben and Dave Stewart
Seriously, what a great time to be a Hellboy fan. Two solid films, increased exposure for Hellboy and B.P.R.D., and a steady stream of new comic from both titles. This is the final issue of the Crooked Man, which has been pretty decent so far. In the past, this meant a longish wait before the next Hellboy comic - not so much anymore. The next issue will be a one-shot - In the Chapel of Moloch, which will come out towards the end of next month. This issue features Mike Mignola back doing the art - a real treat for long time Hellboy fans. After this issue, a follow-up to Darkness Calls is set to begin in December entitled The Wild Hunt.
An excellent tie to be a Hellboy fan indeed.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST ORSON RANDALL DEATH QUEEN , $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Duane Swierczynski, Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli
Some readers who were heavy fans of Brubaker and Fraction’s run on this book are understandably a little let down by Swierczynski’s new run, but that was expected. It is always tough to follow a team as acclaimed as Brubaker, Fraction, and Aja were on Immortal Iron Fist. Still, his work isn’t too bad so far, and he has managed to do a passable job continuing the examination of the Iron Man mythos that Brubaker and Fraction focused so much on. That angle to this character drew in a lot of fans, and many are patient enough to bear the change in writers as long as the focus remains the same.
This one shot deals with one aspect of that mythos introduced in the ongoing - Danny Rand’s predacessor, Orson Randall. This issue takes place in the 20s, and looks like it is going for a noirish feel. Could be good - this issue will definitely appeal to those who weren’t totally turned off by this book after Brubaker and Fraction moved on.
TEEN TITANS #63, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Sean McKeever; Art and cover by Eddy Barrows and Ruy Jose
Last issue - what can you say about last issue? The cover and solicit made it seem so innocent - a nice little single-issue interlude that would shift the focus to the Titans’ supporting cast. And a silly super-dog to boot (appealing to my affection for Krypto on top of it all). What we got? something much more brutal. Clearly this won’t be the last time we see that innocent little pup, or his real master… but from the looks of this issue, we are going to have to wait for a bit.
McKeever continues to be strong on this book - he will no doubt continue to do so as we go into this new arc.
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR X-MEN ANNUAL #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski, Art by Eric Basaldua
Not to be confused with the Ultimate X-Men/Fantastic Four Annual #1 that was released a couple weeks ago. Of course, the covers are different, but in a time where Marvel heavily prints variant covers, that is no guarantee that people will realize that these are, in fact, different issues.
Not much to say about the issue that was released a couple weeks ago. It is intended to build towards the Ultimatum event, but it looks like that tie-in was marketing only. Suffice to say that if you enjoyed that issue, you will likely enjoy this one as well. Just be on the lookout, because confusion is inevitable here.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #126, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Stuart IMmonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Justin Ponsor
It really isn’t a stretch to say that this is the best Ultimate book on the market. That really isn’t news, but it also seems to be the only really good one left. Marvel seeks to change that with Ultimatum - hopefully that doesn’t hurt this book in the process, however. I somehow doubt Bendis will slip up at all in the wake of that event - despite anything that happens in the Ultimate Universe, he has always kept this title in its own little bubble. It is doubtful that Spider-Man’s involvement with that event will have any impact on this title in the long term.
Still, why even think about Ultimatum? Ultimate Spider-man has always stood well on its own, and continues to outshine its 616 Universe counterpart in every conceivable way. Sure, there is still a lot to love about the original Peter Parker, but this title allows you to enjoy all that is great about Spider-Man, without decades of continuity, bad storylines, growing-up, reboots and retcons… it is pure, the way Spider-Man was always supposed to be. If you are still not reading it, you really are doing yourself a disservice.
WILDCATS #3, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Christos Gage; Art by Neil Googe and Mike McKone
It wasn’t obvious to the Wildcats newcomer from the first issue (a rarity from Gage, actually), but this latest Wildcats run is quite good. Especially if you are a fan of the characters. Of course, from a title and a label that frequently features relaunches and chronically late issues, it is tough to take the leap and hope that this one will be different. Gage has a good record for timeliness, however, and should last at least as long as it takes for the Editors to decide to start everything over again. Abnett & Lanning’s Majestic lasted 17 issues, so you would think Wildcats have at least that long. If the first two issues are any indication, it will be well worth picking up.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
SUPERMAN #680, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by James Robinson ; Art by Renato Guedes and José Wilson Magalháes
While James Robinson has done an excellent job on this title since he took over, this issue is special for another reason entirely. Krypto. Superman is one of those characters that is tough to get behind these days, only because he is such an iconic and venerated character that it is tough to tell compelling and fresh stories about him. Highly skilled writers have managed to do a great job with him, but when the wrong person has taken on this title (or Action Comics), the quality dip can’t be ignored. Thankfully, Robinson has managed to keep this title readable and enjoyable.
But Krypto… perhaps it is a little biased, but Krypto’s inclusion here alone makes this title worth reading. Krypto is one of the best supporting characters in comics today, because he is at the same time totally silly, and totally serious. And when writers take care to portray him as just a dog (well, one with super powers), he just works. Should be an outstanding issue.
DARK HORSE COMICS
HELLBOY THE CROOKED MAN #3 (OF 3) $2.99 Now: $2.69
DC COMICS
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #5 (OF 12) $2.99 Now: $2.69
CHUCK #4 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
SUPERMAN #680 $2.99 Now: $2.89
TEEN TITANS #63 $2.99 Now: $2.89
TRINITY #17 $2.99 Now: $2.89
WILDCATS #3 $2.99 Now: $2.59
IMAGE COMICS
PERHAPANAUTS #4 $3.50 Now: $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #568 2ND PTG JRJR VAR $3.99 Now: $3.89
ANGEL REVELATIONS #5 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
DEADPOOL #2 $2.99 Now: $0.00
FANTASTIC FOUR #560 $2.99 Now: $2.89
HULK #6 $2.99 Now: $0.00
IMMORTAL IRON FIST ORSON RANDALL DEATH QUEEN $3.99 Now: $3.69
MS MARVEL #31 - MONKEY VARIANT $12.99
NEW AVENGERS #45 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SECRET INVASION #3 (OF 8) 3RD PTG YU SKETCH VAR $3.99 Now: $3.49
SECRET INVASION INHUMANS #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG RANEY VAR $2.99
SECRET INVASION X-MEN #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG NORD VAR $2.99
THUNDERBOLTS #124 $2.99 Now: $2.89
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR X-MEN ANNUAL #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #126 $2.99 Now: $2.59
ULTIMATES 3 #5 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.69
UNCANNY X-MEN TP DIVIDED WE STAND $14.99 Now: $12.99
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS TP ROOKIE $12.99 Now: $10.99
WOLVERINE ROAR $3.99 Now: $3.79
X-FORCE #7 $2.99 Now: $2.69
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
Post your comments in the Forum!
September 17, 2008
On The Shelf This Week - 09.17.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Order any of the below titles by clicking here!
AGE OF SENTRY #1 (OF 6), $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Jeff Parker and Paul Tobin, Art by Nick Dragotta and Ramon Rosanas
The very definition of retcon, this series takes us all the way back to the Silver Age for two brand new “classic” Sentry stories that will explore his origins. Adding a little lore will help Sentry as a character overall, so this isn’t a terrible idea. Plus Jeff Parker’s style is very much “new classic” - he has demonstrated many times that he can write classic characters in a way that feels like the original, yet is more suited to today’s audience. He is a really good fit for this kind of story, and is worth checking out because of his involvement alone. Should be interesting.
BATGIRL #2, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Adam Beechen; Art by Jim Calafiore and Mark McKenna
Two issues down, and this one is starting to look a little more promising.
This arc still has the feeling of a massive apology - though a much needed apology to be sure. But beyond the apology, there is the start of a strong foundation here for Batgirl. Beechen is doing a great job of blending the recovery of the mistake of her previous direction with the original core of the character, thus making her foundation that much stronger. Ultimately, we began with Cassandra Cain seeing how a girl trained to kill would adapt to an environment where killing was the last thing she could allow herself to do. Here we are seeing that conflict renewed and reinforced, resulting in a generally positive story.
This title looks like it might be worth keeping an eye on.
CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 02 DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA, $14.99, 160 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brubaker, Art by Steve Epting and Butch Guice
This was the arc that really explained why The Winter Soldier was such a big part of most of this title’s run. Collecting issues #31-36, this story starts a full six issues after the death of Steve Rogers in issue #25. At this point, many were asking how a title could continue for so long without the titular character. But this arc answered that question as Bucky finally assumed the mantle in issue #34 (as so many expected he would).
The whole Death of Captain America arc has been decent. A little drawn out at times, but Brubaker is an excellent writer, and it is clear that he is not writing by the seat of his pants here. The rise of the new Captain America is a collection worth picking up.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics (MONKEY VARIANT)
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Art by Paul Pelletier
This series really keeps getting better. The only bad thing about this arc is that it looks like the team is going to be shaken up a bit… the changes are mostly ok, but it looks like Gamora is off the team. This is kind of a shame, since she actually had some potential for growth. Hopefully this isn’t the last we have seen of her.
This story itself has a lot of great story elements - bits of Secret Invasion, a little “Identity Crisis” (Mental manipulation to join the team and be “good guys.”), and of course the best bits of Annihilation. You really can’t say enough about this title - combined with Nova, DnA have definitely made Marvel’s cosmic universe their very own, which has resulted in two of the best books Marvel has on the stands right now.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA TP VOL 01 TORNADOS PATH, $17.99, 224 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Brad Meltzer; Art by Ed Benes and Sandra Hope; Cover by Michael Turner
A good buy for the Justice League fan, or someone who hasn’t yet tried out the new series, and is considering it. This trade collects the first seven issues of Justice League of America (though, not issue #0, strangely enough) along with a few extras thrown in. This latest Justice League incarnation isn’t too bad - the pacing is a little slow and the stories haven’t yet been quite as good as classics from the past, but it there is a pretty firm foundation here, and the real highlights of the story have been characters other than Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman - something that was a little unexpected and ultimately to the benefit of the title’s quality on the whole. Trades are usually a great way to get caught up on a title … this one merits a look.
UNCANNY X-MEN #502, $2.99, 32Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker, Art by Greg Land, Jay Leisten, and Justin Ponsor
The X-Men books (Uncanny and Legacy) could be a better, but it has been a really long time since they have been this consistently good. Brubaker has been a lifesaver for this title, and Matt Fraction is the ideal guy to carry the torch. I am a big fan of the move to San Francisco - the Marvel Universe has been way too New York-centric, and this move seems a little more realistic.
#500 really did look like the beginning of a new “era” - something we often hear, but rarely ever see. The X-Men seem to be in good hands, and the new direction could mean good things all around for Marvel’s mutants. It is about time.
YOUNG X-MEN #6, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Marc Guggenheim, Art by Yanick Paquette
This really is a strong start for this title. It isn’t quite as good as New X-Men was at the beginning of its last run, but it is close, and there is potential for it to get better.
This title, like New X-Men before it (when it was written well), this book really captures some of the best aspects of the X-Men. The original X-Men (and the second team) were so good because they were a group of young, inexperienced students trying to make their way in the world. You definitely get that sense here - and in the aftermath of the last few stories, you can add that “In a world that hates them” to the description as well. The world isn’t full of mutants anymore, they are alone, the world hates and fears them, and they have to fight their own as much as they have to defend themselves. That is what X-Men is all about. Sure, Uncanny and Legacy are decent books, but those characters are all old grizzled veterans now, and their stories are kind of played out. These characters have so much room to grow, and that makes them more appealing.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
ALL STAR SUPERMAN #12, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Grant Morrison; Art by Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant; Cover by Frank Quitely
Superman holding a gun… that just looks weird.
Cover strangeness aside, this is the very last issue of the highly acclaimed All Star Superman series. Unlike the All Star Batman book, this title was arguably the best Superman title being printed throughout the course of its run. In fact, the only real weakness it had was its incredibly slow shipping schedule. It would have almost been worth holding this title until the script and art were mostly finished, but it is too late for all of that now.
Morrison did a good job of making each issue of All Star Superman accessible, so if you haven’t read this title yet, this issue is still a good one to try out. And if you like it, there is already a trade available - and you can bet the second trade and probably a hardcover are soon to follow.
DARK HORSE COMICS
INDIANA JONES & TOMB OF THE GODS #2 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DC COMICS
ALL STAR SUPERMAN #12 $2.99 Now: $2.59
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #2 $2.25 Now: $1.99
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #17 $2.99 Now: $2.69
CHECKMATE #30 $2.99 Now: $2.79
FLASH #244 $2.99 Now: $2.79
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA TP VOL 01 TORNADOS PATH $17.99 Now: $14.99
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #5 (OF 8) $3.50 Now: $2.99
STORMWATCH PHD #14 $2.99 Now: $2.69
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #7 (OF 12) $2.99 Now: $2.69
TINY TITANS #8 $2.25 Now: $1.99
TITANS #5 $2.99 Now: $2.79
IDW
SPIKE AFTER THE FALL #3 (OF 4) $3.99 Now: $3.49
MARVEL COMICS
AGE OF SENTRY #1 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 02 DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA $19.99 Now: $14.99
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #5 MONKEY VARIANT $8.99
ESSENTIAL OFF HB MARVEL UNIV MASTER ED TP VOL 03 $16.99 Now: $13.99
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5 MONKEY VARIANT $8.99
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #121 MONKEY VARIANT $8.99
MIGHTY AVENGERS #18 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SECRET INVASION #6 (OF 8) $3.99 Now: $3.49
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #3 $2.99 MONKEY VARIANT $8.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #502 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-FACTOR #35 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #16 $2.99 Now: $2.59
YOUNG X-MEN #6 $2.99 Now: $2.69
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
Post your comments in the Forum!
September 9, 2008
On The Shelf This Week - 09.10.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Order any of the below titles by clicking here!
FINAL CRISIS REVELATIONS #2 (OF 5), $3.99, 40 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Greg Rucka; Art by Philip Tan, Jeff de los Santos and Jonathan Glapion; Covers by Philip Tan
You know, it is almost worthy of some kind of scientific paper, or even a mathematical equation. Maybe this one should be Reade’s Law of Event Tie Ins: The quality of the Event Tie In is inversely proportional to the quality of the event itself. For the longest time, I have touted the brilliance of some of the tie-ins to substandard event books, and this one is no exception. Final Crisis - well, it sure has its fans, but it has its critics as well. Few are questioning the quality of the tie-in stories though. The first issue of this series came out one month ago, featuring the return of two beloved characters of the beloved Gotham Central series - in their new, more colorful roles. And it was great. Is great. Any fan of Gotham Central should be reading this. So should everyone else, for that matter.
GOTHAM CENTRAL HC VOL 01 IN THE LINE OF DUTY, $29.99, 240 Pages, DC Comics.
Written by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka; Art and cover by Michael Lark
Speaking of Gotham Central - if Final Crisis Revelations doesn’t make you miss that series, this should. This series was one of the saddest losses to the Infinite Crisis/One Year later shake-up, and there hasn’t been anything since in the DC line-up that has even come close to filling that void since. The Gotham PD has always been an important fixture in Batman’s universe, but Rucka made them stand on their own and shine in this series. The cops are so often bystanders in comics, Gotham Central showed what it was like for them to continue to work despite the colorful crazies and masks. A real human story in the middle of the unreal.
Missed it? Buy this hardcover - it collects the first ten issues of that outstanding series. Maybe if this book does well enough, something like this series will finally return. Fingers crossed.
STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS #1 (OF 5), $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacas and Stephen King, Art by Mike Perkins and Laura Martin[/size]
Card’s adaptations have been favorably received - The Dark Tower comics have sold exceptionally well - why not The Stand? The newest Stephen King title to be adapted by Marvel will, like the first Stephen King “event,” start with a chunk of the beginning of The Stand, and presumably will continue on through several minis.
Honestly - this is a great idea. King’s name brings real exposure - and his adaptations sell well among comic fans, and expose the medium to readers who wouldn’t normally buy comics. Even though a lot of these “outsiders” will probably purchase this adaptation in trade format from a bookstore, it still introduces the comic medium to them, and helps establish it in the mainstream as a viable artistic and entertainment format. A better overall public perception is a good thing for comics no matter how you look at it. And it doesn’t hurt that thus-far, these have been extremely well done. Expect The Stand to be the same high-quality product that The Dark Tower has been thus far.
ULTIMATE X-MEN FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski, Art by Brandon Peterson
You have all heard about Ultimatum by now - though we are supposed to be seeing the beginning rumblings of that story in all of the Ultimate books this month, this is probably the first real push for that story. Ultimate Origins set out to establish how the Ultimate Universe ticks - and Ultimatum is supposed to blow it apart. This story is pitting the Ultimate X-Men against the Ultimate Fantastic Four of two different time periods. Might be complicated, but it looks to be an action book, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to follow.
If you are at all intrigues by the idea of Ultimatum - this is the issue to start with.
X-MEN MAGNETO TESTAMENT #1 (OF 5), $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Grek Pak, Art by Carmine Di GiandoMenico and Matt Hollingsworth
Villains make terrible protagonists in ongoing comics. But they are a great focus for a mini. Magneto especially has been at the center of several over the years, and this one could well be the next in a line of good ones. It’s another “origin” mini - some are turned off by that, but as a character, Magneto’s origin story in Nazi Germany is an interesting one, and worth exploring. Pak is the kind of writer who usually puts story before hype- he can be counted on here to deliver a compelling read. This series is a must have for X-Men fans.
WONDER WOMAN #24, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Gail Simone; Art by Bernard Chang; Cover by Aaron Lopresti
This is an important moment in Gail Simone’s run - perhaps even a defining one. Her last arc (though admittedly, well reviewed - Simone is still somewhat bulletproof when it comes to this book) was a jarring shift in tone and pacing from her outstanding first arc. The very best ongoing story threads that remained from the start of her run were thrust way in the background for a strange diversion, the point of which is still somewhat obscured. Simone deserves the benefit of the doubt- time and time again on Birds of Prey, she frequently had slightly-less-than-incredible arcs, that invariably set up something big in the future. Something that was worth a little confusion. At this time, those seeds aren’t readily apparent, however, and the last arc overall seemed like something of a letdown.
Diana is back in her usual element in this arc, however, and the greatness of the previous story should be a little more front and center. Should Simone jump right back into that stride, stronger for this diversion, the worry would have been for not. Her history suggests she will - and all memory of last arc’s criticism will be forgotten. Hence the importance of this issue. Hopefully Simone delivers. A betting man would be smart to count on it.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
DEADPOOL #1, $3.99, Marvel
Written by Daniel Way, Art by Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco, and Marte Garcia.
The issue Deadpool fans have been waiting for with a hint of dread has finally arrived.
Towards the end of Cable & Deadpool, many readers finally got their wish. Cable was gearing up for his own solo book, and was very active in Messiah Complex - so the title converted to what amounted to a Deadpool solo book. And it was outstanding. Fabian Nicieza gave Deadpool fans everything they could have possibly wanted out of a Deadpool book - only then it was taken away from them. Cancelled.
Possibly in reaction to fan outrage, Marvel eventually announced a new Deadpool ongoing, only it would be produced by the same team that handles Wolverine: Origins. Fans frowned. Dillon’s art isn’t very well received, and considering the poor reviews Way gets on that title, people had little hope for the Deadpool ongoing’s potential. Deadpool did feature prominently in an extensive arc on Wolverine: Origins shortly thereafter, however, and that helped some. The art was still a bad fit, but in his story, Daniel Way showed a hint of potential.
And then Mavel made things even better by announcing that it would be Paco Medina, and not Steve Dillon handling the art chores. Fans weren’t quite ready to rejoice, but there was an audible sign of relief.
Will Way’s Deadpool live up to the hopes of Deadpool fans? Probably not. But the potential is there for it to be substantially better than many fear, and it could even be a decent read. Way has a slightly different presentation of Deadpool than that we are used to, but there are elements there that show a lot of potential. Bottom line? This is worth trying if you are a Deadpool fan. It is easy to expect the worst, but Way’s presentation of Deadpool in Wolverine: Origins was far and away better than no Deadpool at all. This series deserves a chance.
DARK HORSE COMICS
GOON #28 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DC COMICS
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #21 $2.99 Now: $2.69
FINAL CRISIS REVELATIONS #2 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
GEN 13 #22 $2.99 Now: $2.59
GOTHAM CENTRAL HC VOL 01 IN THE LINE OF DUTY $29.99 Now: $23.99
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #12 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SIMON DARK #12 $2.99 Now: $2.59
TRINITY #15 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WONDER WOMAN #24 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS #9 $3.50 Now: $2.99
RED SONJA #37 $2.99 Now: $2.59
IMAGE COMICS
INVINCIBLE #52 $2.99 Now: $2.59
PAX ROMANA #3 (OF 4) $3.50 Now: $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
BIG HERO 6 #1 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
CIVIL WAR HOUSE OF M #1 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.69
DAREDEVIL PREM HC GUARDIAN DEVIL 10TH ANNIV $24.99 Now: $18.99
DARK TOWER TREACHERY #1 (OF 6) $3.99 Now: $3.49
DEADPOOL #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED ODYSSEY #1 (OF 8) $3.99 Now: $3.49
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED THREE MUSKETEERS #4 (OF 6) $3.99 Now: $3.49
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT MARVEL KNIGHTS 10TH ANNIVERSARY $2.99 Now: $2.59
MS MARVEL #30 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SECRET INVASION #6 (OF 8) $3.99 Now: $3.49
STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS #1 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.59
ULTIMATE ORIGINS #4 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.79
ULTIMATE POWER TP $29.99 Now: $24.99
ULTIMATE X-MEN FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
UNCANNY X-MEN #500 2ND PTG VAR $3.99 Now: $2.69
WOLVERINE #66 3RD PTG MCNIVEN SKETCH VAR $2.99 Now: $2.79
WOLVERINE #67 2ND PTG MCNIVEN VAR $2.99 Now: $2.79
WOLVERINE ORIGINS VOL 05 DEADPOOL PREMIERE HC $24.99 Now: $15.99
X-MEN MAGNETO TESTAMENT #1 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
X-MEN VS APOCALYPSE TP VOL 02 AGES OF APOCALYPSE $29.99 Now: $24.99
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
Post your comments in the Forum!
September 2, 2008
On The Shelf In November 2008
DARK HORSE COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page 28 - Kull #1 (of 6), $2.99, 40 Pages
Written by Arvid nelson, Art by Will Conrad, and José Villarrubia
This Kull mini is going to adapt Robert E. Howard’s “The Shadow Kingdom” story - his first Kull story - for the comic medium. This story is set shortly after Kull becomes King of Valusia and deals with the Serpent Men, a reptile race of humanoids who use magic to disguise themselves as human. Kind of sounds a little like Skrulls, don’t they? Makes you wonder of Marvel’s Secret Invasion story brought this old classic to the mind of someone at Dark Horse.
The Shadow Kingdom is a good one - and should be a nice pick for readers who appreciate a good fantasy story.
Page 33 - My Name Is Bruce, $3.50, 32 Pages
Written by Milton Freewater, Jr., Art by Cliff Richards
Could it be possible that Bruce Campbell has jumped the shark? I don’t know - looking at this comic and the movie it is attached to, the idea of Bruce Campbell playing himself (an arrogant, can-do-anything, real-life action star version of himself to boot) just doesn’t taste right. But again, maybe that is just me.
Fans of the actor will no doubt check out the film, and along with it this companion one-shot comic. The word “companion” suggests that this comic isn’t just an adaptation, that there is more material to be had here. Maybe it is just a comic about the movie. Nonetheless, there are plenty of Campbell fans out there, and if you plan to see the movie, this issue is a good buy.
Page 34 - Gigantic #1 (of 5), $3.50, 32 Pages
Written by Rick Remender, Art by Eric Nguyen and John Rauch
A new mini from Rick Remender is always worth checking out. This series is an admitted “twist” on The Truman Show, where a brainwashed alien superhero is put on Earth to be the subject of a reality show, following his exploits as he attempts to save the Earth from danger. Fear Agent proves that Remender has a good grasp of sci-fi, and the concept writes itself - this series seems like a safe bet. Looking forward to checking this one out.
DC COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page 62 - Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion Day 1 (of 6), $2.99, 32 pages
By Billy Tucci
Tucci seems really excited to take on Sgt. Rock, which is a great place to start. So often you see writers just assigned to a character, and while they usually appreciate the opportunity, you don’t often see a writer with such passion about a character or topic these days. Tucci’s story is somewhat based on real life events, and it looks like he aims to celebrate the American solider, instead of finding a way to demonize them (as too often happens). A good Sgt. Rock story is always worth reading… and it looks like this one will be at least that.
Page 64 - Terra #1 (of 4), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, Art by Amanda Conner
While we are waiting patiently for the debut of Power Girl’s new ongoing series, we can check out this new Terra mini by the same team. This is the new Terra that popped up a while back in Supergirl (in fact, this series has been “in the works” for at least two years now), and while this isn’t about the classic Terra that most people identify with, we can expect this series to touch on the origins of each of the different versions of the character.
No idea if this series will lead into the Power Girl ongoing or not, though Power Girl does make an appearance here.
Page 70 - Batman: Cacophony #1 (of 3), $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Kevin Smith, Art by Walter J. Flanagan and Sandra Hope
Well - it is begging to be said, so why not say it. Let’s hope that Kevin Smith decides this series is worth actually finishing. Yes, yes, DC says that it has the entire script finished and in-hand, but that isn’t going to stop a lot of readers who were stung after Smith just decided not to bother with the Spider-Man/Black Cat series (though, he did manage to finish the final three issues of this six issue mini some three years late), and many readers are still wondering where the second issue of Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target is some six years later.
Kevin Smith fans will probably eat this series up, accepting DC’s assurance that all the scripts are in. Though smarter money is on waiting for the trade here, if you really have to have it.
Page 76 - Guardian of Metropolis Special #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by James Robinson, Art by Pere Perez
Looks like the original Guardian is back- kind of a shame, since Morrison’s Jake Jordan was one of the few bright spots of that Seven Soldiers mess, but what can you do. Nonetheless, Jim Harper is a good character, and should make for a decent story. This issue is going to build on the events in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #1, so you should remember to pick that issue up in October if you plan to get this one. This issue promises the “true” origin of the Guardian - possibly worth checking out for that alone.
Page 108 - The Sandman: The Dream Hunters #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Nail Gaiman, Adaptation by P. Craig Russell
20 years after the release of The Sandman, we are seeing this adaptation of a prose story put out some 10 years ago. To boot, the cover for this issue will be drawn by Yuko Shimizu, who provided illustrations for the original story.
Chances are, if you are a Neil Gaiman fan you already know of the story, and are already interested in picking this adaptation up. The preview pages look decent so far - Russell’s art is, as always, a good fit for the story style.
IMAGE COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page 152 - Noble Causes #40, $3.50, 32 Pages
Written by Jay Faerber, Art by Yildiray Cinar and Ryan Vera
This one is a real shame. Noble Causes was a great series that was a highly enjoyable read. Especially after Cinar took over on the art - his style was just a perfect fit for the story. Even as a fan of this series, it became impossible to keep up with after a while because the title was so late all the time. That is the problem with most Image books - they are nearly impossible to follow since you literally have no idea when the next issue will come out.
Really sorry to see this property go, but if the mini format works better for timeliness, then I am all for it. Hopefully this is not the end of Noble Causes.
MARVEL COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page M11 - Ultimatum #1, $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Jeph Loeb, Art by David Finch
Normal event rhetoric? Lessee… must have book, massive disaster, defining moment of truth, setting the stage for the universe for years to come… yup. It’s all there.
Ultimatum is promising to change the entire Ultimate Universe… that might not be a terrible idea. Of course, they should leave Spider-Man alone, there has never been anything wrong with that book, but all of the other Ultimate books really could use a fresh approach. Event fatigue will be a factor on this one - but thankfully, it only crosses into the Ultimate books with a few Annuals thrown in. The event itself gets going this month - all of the Ultimate books in September are on the checklist for the event, so if you are looking to follow Ultimatum, now is the time to start picking those issues up.
Page M20 - Adam: Legend of The Blue Marvel #1 (of 4), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Kevin Grevioux, Art by Mat Broome
No - it looks like this Blue Marvel is different than the duplicate of Marvel Boy. Marvel is trying something a little weird here - coming up with a new “powerhouse” hero (read: Superman clone), but making him a relic from the 60s that disappeared. Marvel seems really taken by the idea of having a Superman equivalent in the Marvel Universe - they really pushed Sentry for a while, but that just didn’t seem to work very well. Is this series the beginning of another attempt? Possibly - could be a good read nonetheless. Grevioux is doing good things on New Warriors, and this story does seem like a pretty original idea for Marvel. Could be worth checking out.
Page M22 - Avengers: The Initiative Special, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Christos Gage & Dan Slott, Art by Steve Uy
Avengers: The Initiative has been one of Marvel’s best books, and far & away the best Avengers title on the market right now. One of its strengths has been the variety of characters that appear in the book. Sure, some characters come and go, some characters are more successful than others, but they are always taken seriously, no matter how low in the overall Marvel Universe pecking order they are. Readers appreciate that.
One of the consequences of a title with so many characters are certain plot elements that just can’t fit into the regular story. Thankfully, when a title sells well, dangling plot elements like that can be dealt with in a special issue! The story in this issue will go back to Hardball’s involvement with Hydra, Komodo discovering his secret allegiance, and the untold origin story of Trauma (written by a returning Dan Slott). This will be a good issue - and a must for Avengers: The Initiative fans.
Page M34 - Guardians of the Galaxy #7, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Art by Paul Pelletier
Well - only 7 issues into it, and already a new line-up. I suppose that kind of makes sense - start with the familiar characters, then bring in a few new ones to solidify a stronger “team.” Gamora and Ronan didn’t seem much like team players anyway. Still, from the looks of the cover, the new team is mostly familiar anyway, and it is a good bet that Star-Lord will be back at some point. Guardians has been a highly entertaining book during its short run - this new arc should be more of the same. It should be a good chance for a new reader to jump onboard, being the beginning of a new arc - if you have missed this title so far you should give it a shot in November.
Page M51 - Iron Man: Weapon of S.H.I.E.L.D. #35, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Christos Gage, Art by Sean Chen
Looks like this will be the last issue of this title - leading into a brand new War Machine ongoing starting next month. Of course, Gage will not be helming that series, which is unfortunate, but Greg Pak is taking the helm, so all hope is not lost.
Some people question whether another Jim Rhodes book will be successful. After all, previous War Machine books weren’t exactly successful. These days, however, things aren’t so sure. Nova is a great example of a character that was never wildly popular, but whose solo book is doing fantastic. With the right writer, anything is possible. And with the quality of work Pak is putting out these days, things look good in the short term for a War Machine title.
If you are at all curious about the upcoming book, do be sure to pick this issue up, as it will no doubt lead right into it.
Page M53 - Nova #19, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Art by Wellington Alves
Speaking of Nova, looks like issue #19 is going to be a big one.
Once before since this title began, Abnett and Lanning have hinted at the return of the Nova Corps. Looks like with this issue it might finally be happening. Looks like Worldmind is going to be back as well - no telling how angry is going to be after the accident that shut his system down a couple issues ago.
Nova has been one of the most entertaining titles on the rack these days, and certainly on the top of the heap at Marvel. The prospect of a reconstituted Nova Corps is a huge step for the book. Looking forward to seeing where Abnett & Lanning take this one.
Page M64 - Thor: Man of War, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Matt Fraction, Art by Patrick Zircher and Clay Mann
This is the third Thor one-shot from Matt Fraction, and if the first two are any indication it should be worth picking up. This issue finds Odin, tired of Thor’s rebellious nature, turning on his son to put down his complaints once and for all. Odin vs. Thor - not too bad for an action one-shot, now is it? This team did a decent job on the last two one shots… you can expect this issue to be no different. A nice, safe bet.
Page M77 - X-Men/Spider-Man #1 (of 4), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Christos Gage, Art by Mario Alberti
Rather than just one team-up, this mini looks like it is going to be a series of team-ups spanning the entire history of the Marvel Universe (though you can bet that there will be a common thread throughout the whole story). Sometimes retrospectives like this can be interesting - and keeping in line with the “everything Gage touches is gold” rule which seems to be holding up so far, this series should be an outstanding read. A definite safe bet.
INDEPENDENT COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page 201 - The Greatest American Hero #1 (of 6), $3.50, 32 Pages, Arcana Studios
By Katt, Folino, O’Reilly, and Hilinski
Wow - William Katt writing a Greatest American Hero story? Well, it is a great 80s geek dream come true, but can he tell a good story? I would imagine that with the help of the more experienced comic writers working on this book, they will put together something decent.
Arcana has a great recommendation for putting out a quality product. There are few Independent publishers I would feel comfortable with putting out a book based on this nugget from my childhood - and Arcana is definitely one of them. Looking forward to checking this one out.
Page 222 - Farscape #1 (of 4), $3.99, 24 Pages, Boom! Studios
By Rockne O’Bannon, Keith R.a. DeCandido, & Tommy Patterson
The price seems a little steep for a 24 page comic, but I doubt Farscape fans are really going to mind. This series is going to be written by the creator of Farscape, Rockne O’Bannon, and is considered (for all intents and purposes) Season 5 of Farscape. The story will take us to Hyneria, and will pick up pretty shortly after the Peacekeeper Wars ended.
Between this and the upcoming Sci Fi Channel Web Series, it is a good time to be a Farscape fan. Now if we can only get a little more Firefly…
Craig’s Top Five Of The Month
#5 - Noble Causes #40, $3.50, 32 Pages, Image A goodbye - hopefully the Nobles will be back in mini form soon.
#4 - Terra #1 (of 4), $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics A good preview of the upcoming Power Girl team.
#3 - Avengers: The Initiative Special, $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel Comics One of Marvels best books, consistently. Looking forward to getting more on this dangling plot thread.
#2 - Gigantic #1 (of 5), $3.50, 32 Pages, Dark Horse Rick Remender is always worth trying. This one looks interesting.
#1 - Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion Day 1 (of 6), $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics As excited as Billy Tucci seems about this series, you almost have to pick it up.
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
Post your comments in the Forum!
The $40 Pull List - September 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 - 05/08 - 06/08 - 07/08 - 08/08 - 09/08
This month can only be described as quiet. It was a good month - almost every issue this month was enjoyable, and even the sub-standard ones weren’t outright horrible. This was also a rare month where nothing was dropped, and we still had room for one more new title (thanks to The Twelve taking another month off in September, and Fear Agent’s delays).
So overall, a good month. On to last month’s picks!
The Twelve #7, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 08/06/08 ON TIME
How frustrating is this. During last month’s budget crisis, I was so close to cancelling this book. Still am - but I was shocked to read something actually happening for a change. Was this issue a fluke? I really don’t know. Sure, there was a smattering of character moments that stuck out, and like most similar moments with JMS’s work didn’t add anything at all to the overall story, but this issue we started to see a glimmer of a plot and some tangible and relevant tension. It was honestly a nice change!
If I was forced to drop a title this month, this would be it - as it is, this nice step forward earned this title one more month. Hopefully #8 brings us more like this.
Status: SAFE
Jonah Hex #34, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 08/06/08 ON TIME
Last month, I hoped this title would go right back to excellent, and it did. An honest-to-goodness fresh story, outside the usual box (at least, in terms of a Jonah Hex story), and really well done. The sight of Hex standing next to the giant pile of chopped wood really spoke volumes. Hex can seem bloodthirsty, but really he is a hero, not unlike a Batman sort. The burial and subsequent unearthing of his “costume” (uniform) and guns would speak to that, along with his growing frustration over the wrongs being perpetrated right in front of him.
Unlike Batman - Hex doesn’t seem as interested in helping the people - just keeping the scales of justice balanced.
A great issue. Though, once again - the art was a major issue. Jonah Hex definitely shouldn’t look that pretty. Overall it was good, but they really need a regular artist on this book who can not only tell a good story, but can draw an iconic Jonah Hex. Sadly, Mark Sparacio doesn’t seem to be that person. I am totally excited to see what J.H. Williams III comes up with next month though.
Status: SAFE
Invincible Iron Man #4, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 08/06/08 ON TIME
Strange - it seems like we are seeing a lot more covers these days that actually relate to the action going on in the issue. This cover, however, has absolutely nothing to do with what is going on in the comic. Sure, we might get to that point eventually, but Stark and Stane don’t see each other, and don’t speak to each other. They talk about each other - a little - but that isn’t even close to what we see on this cover. Kind of annoying, really.
Well, I had to find something to complain about on this book eventually. Inside the cover, unfortunately, I can’t find any nits to pick. The plot progressed nicely, the character development was strong, the set-up for the eventual climax was there - and we even got a nice little juxtaposition of the intelligence of Reed Richards and Tony Stark (for the record - Richards is smarter, but Stark is more strategic and more media saavy).
Fraction continues to do a fantastic job on this book. If he keeps this up, Iron Man will be on this list for a long time to come.
Status: SAFE
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 08/06/08 ON TIME
Worth the wait? It would seem so. Already the tone of this new volume is much different than what we were used to from Sean McKeever - but it is thus-far typical Terry Moore excellence. Very typical slice of life - very much the way life would be for a young Mary Jane Watson in High School. No so angsty - not yet anyway, but that is a good thing in a market with a target audience that doesn’t much go for that kind of story.
I have to say that Craig Rousseau’s art was a good fit here as well. The title has a unique and appropriate look. He was a good choice for the pencils here.
It is great to have this book back on the List.
Status: SAFE
House of Mystery #4, $2.99, DC/Vertigo. Due Out 08/06/08 ON TIME
Still entertaining - but we are starting to see the cracks in this title’s long term potential. Unless the character of Fig will come and go along with her story, this title could start to get really monotonous as time wears on. The bright spot continues to be the short “story-within-a-story” - that kept this issue going, but the rest of the issue almost seemed like treading water. The other residents of the House are starting to see Fig’s ability to “speak” with the structure, naturally they think she is insane. That is an interesting development, but we are going to need a lot more than that and soon if this title is going to be compelling past a dozen issues. Hopefully this is all part of Sturges’s plan.
Status: SAFE
Manhunter #33, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 08/06/08 ON TIME
This issue was kind of a mash of everything. I think the use of the flash-forward here was ill-advised - it added some needless confusion to the story. In fact, I think the tactic is way overused in comics on the whole (you know, starting a start at a climactic moment several hours ahead, and then flashing back to fill in the details before the culmination of the story) - it’s impact as a literary device is almost gone, and it is rarely ever executed properly. Andreyko certainly botched it here.
Still - there is a lot to like about this issue, especially when taken together with the series as a whole. The most interesting development in this issue was the revelation about Kate’s son - that is going to lead to at least one solid story. Also - I really dig Kate’s Grandfather. What is with that obsessive need to talk and have ‘closure’ these days, anyway?
Glad this title is back, and I am still enjoying it. I just hope Andreyko knocks it off with the cheap, needless story devices and just sticks to spinning a good yarn.
Status: SAFE
Green Lantern Corps #27, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 08/13/08 ON TIME
The Warriors bar thing? Kinda cheesy, but it does have an old-style vibe to it, so it seems ok. It did distract a great deal from a few major issues going on in the book. Bzzd’s internment was well done, though a bit short. I was shocked to see the return of Green Lantern Saarek - that was a silly footnote I wasn’t sure would ever pop up again. If you are curious, and didn’t know - yes, it is more than a coincidence that this Green Lantern named Saarek has pointy ears. He is, in fact, a telepath from the planet Vulcan. He has even given the classic “Vulcan greeting” on at least one occasion. Danny O’Neil and Mike Grell must have just been a couple of real Star Trek geeks. Nonetheless, Saarek is back, and can now speak with the dead it would seem. With Blackest Night looming on the horizon, it is very fortunate to suddenly have someone with that particular talent.
Overall, there was a ton going on in this issue. Lots and lots of set-up to be sure. Definitely going to keep reading this one.
Status: SAFE
Wonder Woman #23, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 08/13/08 ON TIME
The trouble with this whole arc was that it took us away from the real juicy stuff Simone set up for us. I was enjoying the bits with the Apes and Wonder Woman’s involvement with Nemesis, and even the whole Department of Meta-Human Affairs/Amazons Attack holdover is good. But this arc took us away from all that, and I honestly have to say that the bulk of that story wasn’t very good at all. The only thing that kept my attention was the occasional looks back at the world Diana left behind - they were almost a promise that we would, someday, get back to that stuff.
Well, this arc is finally over, and it looks like Diana will be back in the real world next month. Thank goodness. I still have high hopes for Simone’s run, but this arc was a major hiccup way too soon for my taste.
Status: SAFE
Fear Agent #23, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 07/30/08 RELEASED 08/20/08
This is such a disappointment. I Against I was supposed to be the arc that Remender got everything back on track, and started getting this book out on time. Unfortunately just two issues into it we are already a month late. This is really one of the biggest problems in the comic industry as a whole - it is so hard to push these great titles when you never know when they are coming out. If something this good actually came out monthly, more people would buy the actual issues, instead of just waiting for the trade.
The issue itself was solid - everything we have come to expect from Fear Agent. Had to do a little “back reading” to get caught up on the story (consequence of chronic lateness), but it was entertaining.
Hopefully Rememder will finally fix this production problem, because the inability to put this book out on time is really starting to affect Fear Agent’s enjoyment - and that is a bad sign.
Status: SAFE
Rex Libris #12, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out 08/27/08 RELEASED 08/20/08
You hear “Decompressed Storytelling” a lot these days. Not sure what it means? Pick up a copy of Rex Libris. Marvel at how long it takes you to get through the entire issue (enjoying every page, of course - this is a great comic). Then realize that this comic is only 24 pages long.
Decompressed Storytelling gives you a lot of pretty pictures, and a comic you blow through in just five minutes. Rex Libris gives you your money’s worth. That is why this title remains on the list, even though it comes out only bimonthly - if that, if we are lucky. This month was another great one. Any issue with Imperial War Penguins is alright in my book. I really hope the end is not truly neigh for this book.
Status: SAFE
Nova #16, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 08/27/08 ON TIME
OK, well, maybe Nova fit into this crossover better that I initially thought it would. Super-Skrull is most recently linked with Nova, so it does make some sense to bring him into the event this way.
Abnett & Lanning have done a great job setting this issue up, and the cliffhanger is outstanding. Reading the issue, you can believe that the Super-Skrull’s intentions here are genuine. After all, what better way to return to glory amongst the Skrulls than to appear out of nowhere and help lead your people to victory? But his actions earlier would seem to contradict that. Ah, the sign of a good cliffhanger… you really don’t know which way things will go next month.
In the grand scheme of Secret Invasion, so far you don’t really need to know anything that wasn’t presented in this issue. That is exactly the way it should be.
No sense slobbering over this issue anymore. It was a great read, and I am sure most of you will agree with that.
Status: SAFE
Teen Titans #62, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 08/27/08 ON TIME
Wow - this issue was out of left field. Majorly. There does seem to be an ongoing theme here - the Titans numbers are dwindling. I have to admit - I kind of expected this issue to be more of a place-holder, a nice little “diversion” before gearing up for another major story. It had all the right elements - a focus on the supporting cast, a seemingly cute “superdog” added to the mix. But wow - those last couple pages… I definitely didn’t expect that one.
Outstanding. I really can’t wait to see where McKeever is going to take this.
Status: SAFE
Avengers: The Initiative #16, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 08/27/08 ON TIME
Ha - 3D Man and the Skrull Kill Krew. What more could you ask for here! It may be morbid, but the thought of the Kill Krew enjoying Skrull burgers was just a crack up to me. In a strange way, it seems like Gage and Slott are telling exactly the kind of stories that should be a part of the Secret Invasion Main Event, not tucked away in a tie-in.
I say this every month - this is the best Avengers book on the market right now, bar none. It gets repetitive, sure, but it is true. It is a prime example of the best Marvel has to offer these days.
Status: SAFE
Ultimate Spider-Man #125, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 08/27/08 ON TIME
Kind of a down issue really - we get those from time to time with this book though, so it is to be expected. The story is still all over the place - time shifts and sudden scene changes are ok when used sparingly, but when you drag that kind of thing out over a few issues, it is hard to remember where things begin and end. Overall I would have to say that the story structure of this arc is very poor indeed. Second example of a writer trying to do too much with a story in one month… hopefully these are isolated incidences. Excessive use of literary devices is bad enough, but in this case - when you combine that with Bendis-style decompressed storytelling, it is a recipe for disaster.
Overall this arc is off to a rocky start. Still not enough to drop the book, but it is a hair closer to the Endangered list.
Status: SAFE
LATE AND UNRELEASED ISSUES
Fear Agent #24, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 08/27/08 DELAYED UNTIL 09/24/08
TITLES CARRYING OVER
Jonah Hex #35, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/03/08
Nova #17, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/24/08
Teen Titans #63, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/24/08
Green Lantern Corps #28, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/10/08
Wonder Woman #24, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/10/08
House of Mystery #5, $2.99, DC/Vertigo. Due Out 09/03/08
Invincible Iron Man #5, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/03/08
Fear Agent #24, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 08/27/08 DELAYED UNTIL 09/24/08
Manhunter #34, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/03/08
Avengers: The Initiative #17, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/24/08
Ultimate Spider-Man #126, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/24/08
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #2, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/03/08
Rex Libris #13, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out 10/29/08
The Twelve #8, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 10/08/08
NEW TITLES
Marvel Apes #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/03/08
Why not…
SEPTEMBER TOTAL: $35.88
Budget = $40.00 + $.43 (Bank) + $3.22 (Fear Agent #24) = $43.65
$43.65 (Budget) - $39.87 (July issues) - $3.09 (tax) = $.69 banked for September
In past months I have created a printable Pull-List that you could take with you to the store. However, since it is really unlikely that anyone is really matching this list that closely, I have decided to try something different.
Facebook has an interesting Comic Book application that allows you to log a comic collection, and track a Pull List. It will give you updates on release dates for all the titles you might be interested in. I have decided to give this a try, in lieu of the printable list. The $40 Pull List is logged there - I haven’t updated all the old titles that were once on the list as of yet, but it is current for this month’s issues. Check it out, add the application, and you can keep an eye on these titles for shipping changes and other information!
Post your comments in the Forum!
StillontheShelf.com - no frills, just content. Powered by WordPress
©2003-2008 Craig Reade and Mad Cow Disease