On The Shelf This Week - 10.29.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Order any of the below titles by clicking here!
ASTONISHING X-MEN GHOST BOXES #1 (OF 2), $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Warren Ellis, Art by Alan Davis and Frank Cho
No matter what you think of Warren Ellis’s young run on Astonishing X-Men, you can’t deny that it has made waves.
The reader response to his first couple issues has been all over the spectrum. Of course, there are a few camps who reacted as you might predict - Ellis die-hards find it to be brilliant, and those Whedon fans (let’s face it - there are people out there who will like anything he puts out, no matter how bad) who were upset that he left the title could find nothing but fault in Ellis’s story. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.
As has been the case since this title was first conceived, Ellis is writing a different sort of X-Men than the kind we are seeing in Legacy and Uncanny. It isn’t meant to fit in with the other books, and it is questionable whether it is really supposed to fit in continuity that strongly. It isn’t bad - it is definitely more cerebral than the mainstream X-books, but it does suffer from a sluggish pace, and the art could definitely be better. Ellis typically writes for the long term - and as a result, his early issues tend to suffer a bit before he really gets the ball rolling. So there is a lot of room for improvement. So if you were thinking of checking Astonishing out - do so, but be prepared to give it a few issues to really get going. It isn’t as bad as you might have heard from some fans who were expecting something else all together.
Of course, this two-issue story is a tie-in to the current arc, which focuses primarily on Subject X. Might be a good test series if you want to sample Ellis’s story before committing to the ongoing series, or just a good supplement if you have enjoyed Ellis’s run so far.
CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR OPERATION ZERO POINT, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Daniel Knauf and Charles Knauf, Art by Mitch Breitweiser
This is the first of several promised specials that are intended to examine the career of Captain America. You know - if Steve Rogers was going to “stay dead” - this is a way that would really satisfy a lot of readers. There is no reason you can’t have classic Captain America stories set outside of current continuity - heck, let Bucky be the “modern” Captain America. Why not have a series that tells stories about the original, set during the War? It’s tough to say if these “specials” are leading into something, or if they are being published just for the sake of it, but if they are entertaining, it doesn’t really matter, does it? This issue will pit Captain America against Robot Nazis. Seriously, what more could you want? Should be a fun issue.
CHECKMATE #31, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Bruce Jones; Art and Cover by Manuel Garcia
And quite suddenly, this title comes to an end. This isn’t much of a surprise - a lot of its core readership was never satisfied after Rucka departed the title, and no matter how the story ended up, they just wouldn’t support Bruce Jones on their beloved book. The scorn might be well earned - his body of work since arriving at DC hasn’t been the best, and no one expected his run on this book would be that good.
Regardless of what you thought of the title, Checkmate’s sudden cancellation begs the question - did DC really mean to cancel this title after Rucka left? There was a dramatic shift in focus on this book once Jones came aboard, and the main cast took a back seat to the Chimera character. Did DC try and use this title as a vehicle to introduce this character, to eventually use in Final Crisis? Not a bad strategy - extending an existing ongoing would probably net more readers than just throwing a mini out there. Yeah, it hasn’t been anything like Rucka’s run since Jones took over, but it really hasn’t been a Checkmate book either. In any case, it comes to an end this month. Whether Checkmate as Rucka imagined it will ever return again remains to be seen.
FINAL CRISIS RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS #1, $3.99, 40 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Geoff Johns; Art and covers by Shane Davis and Sandra Hope
It seems like we have been seeing the “Prelude to Darkest Night” tag on Green Lantern issues for months and months now - easily excusable, considering how good Green Lantern usually is, but it does make you wonder when we actually are getting to the “real” prelude. Nonetheless, this definitely seems a step in that direction, as this issue deals specifically with a group that should be on the forefront of that eventual struggle, the Red Lanterns. Specifically, this story will deal with Sinestro, and their rage towards him and probably the Sinestro Corps as well. Johns has been doing a good job patiently setting up each of the colored Lantern factions, and giving them each individual identities and purposes.
This mini is certainly going to be one to pick up if you are closely following Final Crisis, and want to get all the tie-ins, but it may be better to pick this up if you are simple a Green Lantern fan anxiously awaiting Blackest Night.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA THE NEXT AGE TP, $14.99, 144 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Geoff Johns Cover by Alex Ross; Art by Dale Eaglesham, Art Thibert and Ruy Jose
It has been a while since these issues were first released, but if you were one of those who missed the relaunch of Justice Society of America (despite how great this title usually is, it often doesn’t get nearly the same level of attention that the “star-studded,” but usually weaker Justice League gets), this is a great opportunity to catch up on those early issues. This trade collects the first four issues of the latest Justice Society of America run (Issue #1 was a 48 pager, which explains why there are so few issues in it), which is every issue prior to The Lightning Saga crossover with the Justice League of America which started up on issue #5 (this has already been released in Hardcover, but there is a trade paperback set to come out in January).
This title started strong, and this trade will be a great read for anyone who missed it the first time around.
SUPERMAN #681, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by James Robinson; Art by Renato Guedes and Jose Magalháes; Cover by Alex Ross; Variant cover by Bernard Chang
So far, so good for the start of the New Krypton event. (If you missed it, it started last week in the Superman: New Krypton Special #1) Of course, Johns is promising big things for this arc - saying that it will do for Superman what the Sinestro Corps War did for Green Lantern. Not sure if that is an apt comparison… it does seem more like namedropping than anything. Green Lantern: Rebirth and Green Lantern Corpse really lit up the Green Lantern franchise - the Sinestro Corps War, while exciting, really didn’t do anything other than build off what was already a strong and well-established franchise. Superman has been good lately - as has Action Comics (though Supergirl was in desperate need of focus and direction) - Superman doesn’t need an explosive Sinestro Corps War to make the franchise good, all it needs is good writing. It has gotten that lately, and with a solid start to this event, there is little doubt that it will ultimately be successful.
TEEN TITANS #64, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Sean McKeever; Art and cover by Eddy Barrows and Ruy Jose
Some writers, when taking over a team book, would just dump old team they weren’t interested in within a few issues, and jump right to the team they wanted to see on the title. It would seem that this isn’t the case for Sean McKeever, who has made the evolution of the Teen Titans team a core part of the story. Titans are dropping like flies for a variety of reasons, and while it is entirely possible that the will all come back at some point, the fact that upcoming stories deal with a drive to recruit new members suggests that some of the departed Titans will be gone for the foreseeable future. And though we might have seen the last of some of these Titans for a while, to McKeever’s credit, he made an effort to build each of them up before sending them on - giving each one of them some kind of hook that could be used by any writer who wants to make use of them. Fans often gripe that some writers don’t treat their favorite characters with respect - those writers could take a lesson from what is going on here. This is how you respect characters - even when you plan on dumping them. There is no reason to expect that any of these characters have been seen for the last time.
In the meantime, Teen Titans is among the cream of the DC crop right now. A can’t-miss every month. Here’s to that keeping up for a long time to come.
X-MEN FIRST CLASS GIANT SIZE SPECIAL #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Jeff Parker and Roger Langridge, Art by Michael Cho, Roger Langridge, Nick Kilislian, Dean Haspiel, David Williams, and Jeff Parker
Marvel has kind of taken the First Class concept and beat it a bit to death with all the Wolverine: First Class spin-offs, but the original Jeff Parker product remains true to the original spirit and concept that made it such an enjoyable read. Adding to that mood is the fact that issue appears to be something of a Halloween special - that much the better. The current X-Men can’t ever recapture this feel, which makes the simplicity of a holiday special that much more believable when the characters aren’t burdened with the “serious and mature” baggage that they have today. If you want a fun, light-hearted read that doesn’t deal with CRISIS!!, and doesn’t tie into half a dozen other issues, then you should pick this issue up. You will enjoy it.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Marc Guggenheim, Art by Mike McKone and Andy Lanning
This issue sets out to answer the “mystery of Jackpot’s identity” once and for all. This revelation seems like a real yawner on the surface for readers - it is either Mary Jane or isn’t - by them trying to link her to Mary Jane so obviously reeks of a bait and switch, which means that if she is Mary Jane, it is somewhat corny, if she isn’t - well, everyone would have seen that coming. However, any excitement over the answer to that question can only last for so long, so it is a good thing that they are going to put it to rest. If they stretched it out forever, the so-called mystery would have just become tiresome, and the time would just lessen any impact the revelation might have.
Now Amazing Spider-Man has been pretty good since Brand New Day, so there is no reason to expect this revelation will be a wet blanket (despite the cynicism). There has to be something more to this, and there is little doubt that any answers we get this issue will lead into some other major plot-line or mystery. As Annual sometimes do, this could well set the stage for some of the stories we are going to get in the year to come.
DC COMICS
CHECKMATE #31 $2.99 Now: $2.59
CHUCK #5 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS #4 (OF 4) $2.99 Now: $2.59
FERRYMAN #2 (OF 5) $3.50 Now: $2.69
FINAL CRISIS RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #26 $2.99 Now: $2.69
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA THE NEXT AGE TP $14.99 Now: $12.99
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #47 $2.99 Now: $2.59
MIRRORS EDGE #1 (OF 6) $3.99 Now: $3.49
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #6 (OF 8) $3.50 Now: $2.99
REIGN IN HELL #4 (OF 8) $3.50 Now: $2.99
SUPERMAN #681 $2.99 Now: $2.79
SUPERMAN BATMAN #53 $2.99 Now: $2.69 TEEN TITANS #64 $2.99 Now: $2.59
TRINITY #22 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #6 (OF 12) $2.99 Now: $2.59
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #12 $2.99 Now: $2.59
WORLD OF WARCRAFT ASHBRINGER #2 (OF 4) $3.99 Now: $3.49
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
SHEENA DARK RISING #1 $3.50 Now: $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #575 $2.99 Now: $2.59
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
ASTONISHING X-MEN GHOST BOXES #1 (OF 2) $3.99 Now: $3.49
CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER OF WAR OPERATION ZERO POINT $3.99 Now: $3.49
MARVEL 1985 #6 (OF 6) $3.99 Now: $3.49
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #41 $2.99 Now: $2.59
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT ULTIMATUM $2.99 Now: $2.59
SECRET INVASION X-MEN #3 (OF 4) $2.99 Now: $2.69
THOR #11 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #3 $3.99 Now: $3.49
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #8 $2.99 Now: $2.59
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #29 $2.99 Now: $2.59
X-FORCE #8 $2.99 Now: $2.59
X-MEN FIRST CLASS GIANT SIZE SPECIAL #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
Want to add your thoughts? Post your comments here!
Post your comments in the Forum!
October 22, 2008
On The Shelf This Week - 10.22.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Order any of the below titles by clicking here!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #574, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Marc Guggenheim, Art by Barry Kitson, Mark Farmer, and Antonio Fabela
It has been several months since Brand New Day, and despite the fact that the stories we have seen since then have been very good, there are still some major continuity issues that are going to take a very long time to resolve. Looks like this issue is going to make a little dent there, focusing on Flash Thompson, telling the new story of what happened to him after he left school and joined the army. I expect that we will see lots of interludes like this one - after wiping out so much history, there are a lot of old characters that need to be accounted for once again. Tough to say if the new status quo is an improvement in of itself, but it is safe to say that the stories are much better now than they have been in some time. This issue should be no different.
BIRDS OF PREY #123, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Tony Bedard; Art by Michael O’Hare and John Floyd; Cover by Stephane Roux
So much promise in this issue. One would think that the Joker would play a much bigger role in Oracle’s life since he ended her career as Batgirl and confined her to that wheelchair - but she grew and developed just fine without him as an antagonist, and his appearance in this issue really is a rarity. Though, if the last page of the previous issue is any indication, we are finally going to be given a moment with the Joker and Barbara face to face. I smell a tease here, but since this arc has really been playing up a long-awaited confrontation between these two, I can’t imagine we will be robbed of that. However - we still have another issue in this story, so it isn’t a stretch to say that we won’t be seeing any real payoff until issue #124. Even still this has been an enjoyable arc. Looking forward to seeing how Bedard will wrap it up.
BLUE BEETLE #32 $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Matthew Sturges; Art and Cover by Rafael Albuquerque
Looks like we are going to see the official emergence of a new Doctor Polaris this issue. Of course, the original Doctor Polaris was an enemy of Hal Jordan, and later the Justice League. Provided this new Polaris has any connection to Neal Emerson, this will be one more thing that ties this current Blue Beetle to the Green Lantern Corps. Last arc was something of an aberration for this book - it was still a decent read, but it was hurt a bit in its attempt to inject the politics of illegal immigration into the story. Sure - it is easy to say that the setting of El Paso makes this an ideal title to delve into that issue, but that is really more an excuse than anything. This title is tough because it has been a fantastic read, but for some reason Sturges and DC continue to try and focus on race. Instead of presenting Jaime as a hero first, DC seems to want to present him as Hispanic first, which is the exact recipe for failure. Readers don’t care about heroes more focused on their race than being a hero - and making racial identity the central focus of any hero is dooming it to failure. Jaime as the Blue Beetle has lasted this long because he is a compelling character with a heroic spirit that readers can identify with. Sadly, the story focus over the last several months has started to damage that. Sadly, we haven’t seen the last of that. This Boundaries story is set to continue into December, and there is no telling what we will see after that.
It is painful to look at this title sometimes. It’s good - it really is. But every time the story steps into the political realm, it is really rough. I wish he best for this title, and it deserves to be read. But if Sturges can’t let go of the urge to turn this title into a platform for his political beliefs, and can’t stop making race the most important part of Jaime’s identity, everything that has been accomplished might just go down the drain.
To summarize - entertaining book, but there is starting to be real cause for concern. Still worth reading, but if there was only some way to let DC know that this isn’t what we want to see from this book…
DC UNIVERSE HALLOWEEN 08, $5.99, 80 Pages
Written by Mark Verheiden, Mike Johnson, Brian Reed and others; Art by Trevor Hairsine, Duncan Rouleau and others; Cover by Gene Ha
Looks like DC is delivering a jam-packed Halloween issue this year, filled with short stories featuring the Titans, El Diablo, Faust, and their Trinity of course…
As you might expect, you probably won’t see anything that really rocks continuity in this issue, but it is a great opportunity for creators to relax and tell a fun story for a change, without worrying how it is going to tie into everything else. Seems like a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #1 (OF 5), $3.99
Written by Simon Spurrier, Art by Javier Saltares, Tom Palmer, and Dan Brown
Jason Aaron has brought Dan Ketch back to Ghost Rider in his current arc on the regular Ghost Rider series - and as a result we are getting one of the best Ghost Rider stories we have seen in a while. Maybe Marvel has decided to do with Ghost Rider what Brubaker and Fraction did with Iron Man - it is a winning formula, so if they really are trying to focus on the Ghost Rider mythos, it is isn’t a bad idea. Especially if we get the kind of stories we are seeing in Ghost Rider now. Of course, with Danny Ketch back, Marvel is taking this opportunity to tell us what happened to him, and how he came to be where we see him in the current story. Aaron isn’t writing this issue, but it does promise to tie into the ongoing Ghost Rider - not a bad issue to pick up if you are really enjoying the direction Aaron is taking this property.
MS MARVEL #32, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Brian Reed, Art by Paulo Siqueira and Chris Sotomayor
Ms. Marvel has been a title that has gotten a bad rap over its history. The costume was a major distraction from the beginning - combined with Carol Danvers’ shallow attitude when we first saw her in this book really fueled the critics. Instead of seeing that the title was a fairly solid action book, there were too many opportunities to rip it for its perceived failings.
However, over the years, Carol Danvers has grown as a character. Her shallow beginning could better be described as a blank slate upon which to build a character. And instead of remaining an enjoyable action read, Reed has grown into the character and story and actually producing a compelling read. The last several arcs have been fantastic, and last issue’s post-Secret Invasion story was compelling.
This issue will turn back the clock a bit - going back to Carol’s time in the Air Force. Adding a little more depth - you can bet that this issue will tie into a future story in some fashion. Might be a good time to try this title out if you are curious - having just finished with the Secret Invasion crossover, it looks like it is starting to focus on itself for a bit. Let’s hope that lasts a while.
RUNAWAYS 3 #3, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Terry Moore, Art by Humberto Ramos, Dave Meikis, and Christina Strain
When you stack this title up against Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, it just hasn’t been as good. The first issue was different - improvement in some areas (The constant sexuality focus in this title was horribly misplaced - these are supposed to be kids for crying out loud. Dialing that back was a great move), but the story just wasn’t as solid as it has been in the past. Last issue was a marked improvement however - which makes me think that maybe Moore is trying to set something up for the long term, and decided he could count on the avid fans of the series sticking with him through a set-up first issue.
Still not fantastic - and definitely not as good as Moore’s other work yet, but there is promise here. And this is definitely better than the last Runaways arc we had.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #127, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Justin Ponsor
It has been a slow build (and sometimes confusing - I think they tried too hard to tie this into the video game), but now that we are reaching the end, the story has proven to be very much worth the journey. This issue has all the elements - Carnage, Venom, Brock and Gwen Stacy. Tough to know whether we should credit Bendis for this title, or just the concept itself, but even when it is average, this is the most enjoyable Spider-Man title on the market. The basics are what make it so - here we have Eddie Brock longing for his symbiote, Spider-Man with a personal life, trying to protect his identity - teen angst, and Spider-Man very much not in control of his destiny. Retcon Amazing Spider-Man all you want, it seems that the only real way to recapture what made Spider-Man special was to start all over. Even over 120 issues into it, this title is still special, and still very much Spider-Man. If you still aren’t reading this book, you are really short-changing yourself.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
SUPERMAN NEW KRYPTON SPECIAL #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Geoff Johns, James Robinson and Sterling Gates; Art by Gary Frank and Jon Sibal, Renato Guedes and Wilson Magalháes, and Pete Woods ; Cover by Gary Frank; Variant cover by Renato Guedes and Wilson Magalháes
This issue is the official start to the nine issue “New Krypton” story that is going to be featured in all of the Superman books through the end of December. DC has been gearing up for this crossover for a while - and with all three Super-title writers collaborating on it (Johns is fantastic at special events, and Robinson has been amazing so-far during his short run), it is a safe bet that this will be an entertaining story. Added to that is that this story is not tying into the entire DCU - might be a good event to pick up if you passed on Final Crisis and Secret Invasion because you are worn-out by universe-spanning mega-events.
By way of a checklist for the New Krypton story:
Part 1 – Superman: New Krypton Special (10/22)
Part 2 - Superman #681 (10/29)
Part 3 – Guardian of Metropolis Special (11/05)
Part 4 – Action Comics #871 (11/12)
Part 5 – Supergirl #35 (11/19)
Part 6 – Superman #682 (11/26)
Part 7 – Action Comics #872 (12/10)
Part 8 – Supergirl #36 (12/17)
Part 9 – Superman #683 (12/31)
That’s it! Just Superman books - not dozens of forced tie-ins throughout the DCU, and no supplemental minis to worry about. This is an event I can get behind in this era of mega-event fatigue. Check it out - this one looks like it is going to be really good.
DC COMICS
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #6 (OF 12) $2.99 Now: $2.59
BIRDS OF PREY #123 $2.99 Now: $2.59
BLUE BEETLE #32 $2.99 Now: $2.59
DC UNIVERSE HALLOWEEN 08 $5.99 Now: $4.99
FINAL CRISIS #4 (OF 7) $3.99 Now: $3.49
FINAL CRISIS SUBMIT #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
SUPERMAN NEW KRYPTON SPECIAL #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
TRINITY #21 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DEVIL’S DUE
WORLDS OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS #6 ROBERTS $5.50 Now: $4.99
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS #11 $3.50 Now: $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #572 2ND PTG JRJR VAR $2.99 Now: $2.69
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #574 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DAREDEVIL #112 $2.99 Now: $2.69
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #1 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
HULK #7 $2.99 Now: $2.69
MS MARVEL #32 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW AVENGERS #46 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW EXILES #13 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW WARRIORS #17 $2.99 Now: $2.69
RUNAWAYS 3 #3 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SECRET INVASION #7 (OF 8) $3.99 Now: $3.49
SECRET INVASION AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 (OF 3) $2.99 Now: $2.79
STAND CAPTAIN TRIPS #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG PERKINS VAR $3.99 Now: $2.79
TRUE BELIEVERS #4 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.59
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #127 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE X-MEN TP VOL 19 ABSOLUTE POWER $12.99 Now: $10.99
WEAPON OMEGA TP $12.99 Now: $10.99
WOLVERINE MANIFEST DESTINY #1 (OF 4) $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-FACTOR #36 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN LEGACY #217 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SPIDER-GIRL AND MANHUNTER CANCELLED
Two titles that managed to survive despite low sales and continued resurrections thanks to fan support both got the axe recently, as Marvel announced that Amazing Spider-Girl would be coming to an end with issue #30, and DC announced that Manhunter’s final issue would end with issue #38. (This is the third time that Manhunter has been cancelled, and frankly, I’ve lost count on how many times Spider-Girl has been cancelled - we have seen at least six at this point). Both characters have some hope of survival - Marvel is talking about making Spider-Girl a regular 16-page feature in Spider-Man Family, and Manhunter has made regular appearances in Birds of Prey - so fans of both characters will be able to see them in some form.
Still, it is a shame to see both titles go. Both were solid titles that had their own strengths, that probably could have done better if their respective publishers had just pushed them a little harder. As many times as Spider-Girl has been saved, you have to wonder if either publisher is just using this cancellation announcement as a means of generating viral marketing… every time Spider-Girl has faced cancellation in the past, sales spiked, and fan letters flooded Marvel. Manhunter has experienced similar (though weaker) support, but its long, long hiatus really killed the fan-support momentum it had when it was cancelled last time.
Check both titles out - they are both entertaining. Sadly, it seems that this time, their fate might be permanent - fans seem to be growing weary of rescuing books that the publisher doesn’t care about, and each time the reaction has been weaker and weaker. Spider-Girl held on for over 130 issues and lasted 11 years. If it hasn’t gotten the publisher’s full support by now, it won’t ever. Both will be missed greatly.
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!
October 12, 2008
On The Shelf This Week - 10.15.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Order any of the below titles by clicking here!
BATGIRL #4 (OF 6), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Adam Beechen; Art by Jim Calafiore and Jack Purcell; Cover by Andy Clarke
The fact that this one is a miniseries is indeed a mixed bag. On the one hand, it really has done a good job of undoing the damage done to this character during One Year Later, and has made fans of the character pretty happy. Plus, the fact that this is a mini means that there is no temptation to stretch this redemption out any longer than it needs to be. It seems that these days a comic writer will stretch out an essential character element for many stories, in an effort to retain interest in the title. This really couldn’t be done in this case - Batgirl needed to be fixed, and quickly, before readers abandoned the character all together. On that point, it is a success.
Beyond that - Beechen has done a decent job, but he is not someone who can take Cassie back to what she once was. This series is entertaining and fairly well done all around, but as an ongoing, it likely wouldn’t be able to achieve the level of fan loyalty the previous ongoing did. So while readers might once again be interested, it would probably be better if another writer took the helm if an ongoing was to follow.
Hopefully sales on this one will justify another run at Batgirl. Time will tell on that one.
FINAL CRISIS ROGUES REVENGE #3 (OF 3), $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Geoff Johns; Art and Covers by Scott Kolins
Long time Flash fans needed no coaxing to pick this miniseries up. The title just hasn’t been the same since Geoff Johns departed, and having him back for any number of issues on anything Flash related was too good a gift to pass up. Especially when you consider the focus of this mini - the Rogues. Geoff Johns somehow managed to transform the Flash’s traditional opponents into some of the best antagonists in all of the DCU. Seeing them get a chance to shine in this Final Crisis tie-in has been a real treat.
As you probably already know, Geoff Johns is set to team with Ethan Van Sciver for next year’s Flash Rebirth, which will return Barry Allen to the DCU much the same way that Green Lantern Rebirth returned Hal Jordan to the land of the living. Whether or not you like the idea of Barry Allen coming back, you can bet that the story will be a good one, and some of the seeds to that event are likely being planted right here. If you are planning on reading that one, hopefully you have been following this series as well.
HULK MONSTER SIZE SPECIAL #1, $3.99
Written by Jeff Parker, Steve Niles, Paul Tobin, and Various, Art by Gabriel Hardman, Lucio Parrillo, Dave Williams, Lee Loughridge, Val Stales, Guisseppe Cammuncoli, and Edgar Delgado
Worth picking up if only because it has the real Hulk in it! All seriousness aside, this issue is pretty well geared as a Halloween special, pitting the Hulk against Frankenstein, and a host of other Marvel Mosters. Looks like a good creative line-up as well - Jeff Parker has demonstrated on many occasions that he is excellent at writing Marvel’s classic heroes in their “default” or original forms - which means his Hulk story will be just plain old big green… you can’t ask for anymore. Plus Steve Niles - well, nothing says horror like Steve Niles. And it will be interesting to see his take on the Hulk.
Overall, this should be a fun issue, and a welcome one for fans who really miss the real Hulk.
IRON MAN DIRECTOR OF SHIELD #34, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Christos Gage, Art by Sean Chen, Sandu Florea, and Jay David Ramos
This title is quickly approaching the changeover to the War Machine: Agent of SHIELD ongoing - and the transition has so far been a good one. The switch from Iron Man to War Machine has been a logical one here, with Iron Man down thanks to the virus that shut down Starktech, it makes sense that War Machine would be a contingency. This concept was really forward thinking - something we have been seeing a lot from Marvel these days. As to another character taking over an ongoing book, this isn’t the first time we have seen this recently. True, that experiment wasn’t so successful when Hawkgirl took over the Hawkman ongoing over at DC, but that can be attributed to a lack of planning and some creative issues (namely the art) that put a damper on the title. Hercules taking over The Incredible Hulk has proven very successful for Marvel - and that has everything to do with an outstanding product being put out by the creative team. How War Machine will fare, however, remains to be seen. While Christos Gage departing is a bit of a downer, Greg Pak handling the writing chores for War Machine is very much something to look forward to. He is one of the most underappreciated writers at Marvel these days, and one of a few writers in comics worth checking out, no matter what title he is on.
War Machine is coming in December - this is the time to jump on board this title.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #19, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Geoff Johns and Alex Ross; Pencil art and variant cover by Dale Eaglesham; Cover by Alex Ross
This has been a fantastic arc for Justice Society of America - one of the best DC has to offer these days. If there is one thing you can find wrong with it, it’s that it is far too slow. Not sure if that is the influence of Alex Ross or not (most of his stories are ridiculously padded in order to accommodate pin-up panels), but it isn’t so bad that it can’t be ignored. Already we have seen some hints of a major story involving Power Girl in the works, mainly from the annual, but also in the solicits for November’s #20. Not sure if that issue is separate from the ongoing story that is set to end in December with issue #22, but Power Girl fans should stay tuned. It isn’t too much a sacrifice to follow this one, after all.
In all, as a sequel of sorts to Kingdom Come, it has delivered, and fans of that story seem to be pleased with this one. There can be no doubt that there will be some sort of collection in the coming months if you missed the boat.
ROBIN #179, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Fabian Nicieza; Art and cover by Freddie E. Williams II
In the wake of Chuck Dixon’s dramatic departure from DC, the future of this series was somewhat in doubt. Not that it would be cancelled anytime soon, but the sudden change on a creative team, especially in the middle of a major story can sometimes kill any momentum a title has. Thankfully for Robin fans, Fabian Nicieza was more than up for the challenge. He has picked up the story almost seamlessly, and now that we are a few issues in and coming out of Batman RIP, it is becoming his own. Nicieza is very much in the same mold of Chuck Dixon, and excels in writing solid characters that don’t have super-powers to rely on to make them interesting.
Dixon is missed. While it is a shame that we don’t know why Dixon left DC, you really have to give Chuck Dixon high marks for class. Too often in this day and age you will see a creator go nuclear in a situation like this and many expected this situation to be no different, waiting for Dixon to publically blast DC for the situation. The fact that we didn’t see that was a surprise, and it really is a shame that kind of behavior is surprising. You don’t see that level of professionalism nearly as much as you should these days, and hopefully the industry takes note. Kudos to Chuck Dixon - can’t wait to check out his Man With No Name series from Dynamite.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
SUPERMANS PAL JIMMY OLSEN SPECIAL #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by James Robinson; Art by Jesus Merino; Cover by Ryan Sook; Variant cover by Kevin Nowlan
Jimmy Olsen is one of those rare supporting characters that constantly pops up in entertaining stories all his own. Likely, this one will be no different. This issue is set to tie into the New Krypton Special, and will be written by James Robinson who is doing a fantastic job on the regular Superman title.
The story will follow Jimmy Olsen as he treks across the country in search of the story behind Atlas, one of Superman’s latest foes. As typical with a Jimmy Olsen story, there will be danger - it seems this time around he will be the target of Codename: Assassin. This is an interesting blast from the past - Codename: Assassin hasn’t really been seen at all in the last 30 years. It will be interesting to see whether this is a one-time appearance, or if we will be seeing the character pop up again.
DARK HORSE COMICS
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #4 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DC COMICS
BATGIRL #4 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #12 $2.99 Now: $2.69
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #18 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DC SPECIAL CYBORG #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
DC UNIVERSE DECISIONS #3 (OF 4) $2.99 Now: $2.59
FINAL CRISIS ROGUES REVENGE #3 (OF 3) $3.99 Now: $3.49
FLASH #245 $2.99 Now: $2.69
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #19 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ROBIN #179 $2.99 Now: $2.59
STORMWATCH PHD #15 $2.99 Now: $2.59
SUPERMAN BATMAN VS VAMPIRES WEREWOLVES #1 $2.99 Now: $2.59
SUPERMANS PAL JIMMY OLSEN SPECIAL #1 $4.99 Now: $3.49
TITANS #6 $2.99 Now: $2.69
TRINITY #20 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DEVIL’S DUE
MERCY SPARX #1 (OF 3) RANDOM COVER $3.50 Now: $2.99
IMAGE COMICS
PVP #41 $3.50 Now: $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
AGE OF SENTRY #2 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
ASTONISHING X-MEN #27 $2.99 Now: $2.69
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #6 $2.99 Now: $2.69
HULK MONSTER SIZE SPECIAL #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
IRON MAN DIRECTOR OF SHIELD #34 $2.99 Now: $2.69
MIGHTY AVENGERS #19 $2.99 Now: $2.79
NYX NO WAY HOME #3 (OF 6) $3.99 Now: $3.49
SECRET INVASION FRONT LINE #4 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.69
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #4 $2.99 Now: $2.69
KIRKMAN PROMISES TO BE “ON TIME IN ‘09″
Who could forget Robert Kirkman’s plea to save comics a couple months back. He instantly got criticism on all fronts - particularly from those who rightly pointed out that his own creator-owned endeavors are almost never on time, and that lack of attention to deadlines is one of the reasons projects outside DC and Marvel don’t do as well as they could.
Perhaps as a means of responding to that criticism, Robert Kirkman has guaranteed that every one of his titles - Invincible, The Walking Dead, Brit, & The Astounding Wolf-man - will ship by their solicitation date in 2009. A bold promise, and a welcome one. Of course, no word on what will happen if they don’t ship on time (outside of having more egg on his face) but it is at the very least a step in the right direction. You can bet each of his titles will be watched very closely next year.
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!
October 3, 2008
On The Shelf In December 2008
DARK HORSE COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page 33 - MySpace Dark Horse Presents Volume 2, $19.95, 176 Pages By Various
Wow, just when I got those songs out of my head, one little cover image gets them stuck once again. Many of you might know that Dark Horse is putting out a web anthology on MySpace, which recently featured a short Captain Hammer story by Zach Whedon. Of course, that short is still available online, but the computer still can’t beat holding the actual comic in your hand. The story was decent - told from Captain Hammer’s perspective, but it captures the same character voice we all remember from Doctor Horrible’s Singalong Blog. If that was a test balloon for a Captain Hammer miniseries, it was a good one. Time will tell on that one - picking up this trade would go a long way towards making that a reality.
Page 39 - Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #1 (of 8), $2.99, 32 Pages Written by Mike Mignola, Art by Duncan Fegredo and Dave Stewart
Another Hellboy series - another one in a long string. Once upon a time, it was a long wait between Hellboy minis, these days they seem to be coming more and more frequently. It’s a good bet that the success of both movies has a lot to do with that. This one is an eight issue mini, so it looks like there will be new Hellboy issues at least well into next year. The Wild Hunt follows the events of Darkness Calls, which was released last year - might be a good idea to pick up a trade of Darkness Calls (released earlier this year in March) before checking this one out - though it is probably not totally necessary, as these minis do a good job of standing on their own.
DC COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page 69 - Vigilante #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Marv Wolfman, Art by Rick Leonardi
This new ongoing focuses on the Vigilante character that popped up for the first time in Nightwing last year, and has also been seen in Gotham Underground. In many ways, this character is a victim of the crossover-mania that both publishers are still trapped in - since these books keep having to put stories on hold in order to contribute to whatever major crossover is about to happen. This prevents real character development, and new characters specific to individual titles suffer. Wolfman seems pretty serious about Vigilante, however, and as a result we are getting this new series. We still don’t know if this Vigilante has any ties to the people who carried that name before, but you can bet that this will be explored in time. Marv Wolfman, as always, is excellent at the “Street Level” characters - and should produce a pretty good story here.
Page 74 - Teen Titans #66, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Sean McKeever, Art by Eddy Barrows and Ruy Jose
Slowly over the past couple arcs, McKeever has been slowly shrinking the Teen Titans, as members were forced to drop out for one reason or another. When we reach this issue, there will only be four members left. As you might expect, a recruitment drive is sure to follow, and this issue is going to feature teenage-heroes from all over the DCU. This seems to be part of McKeever’s long-term plan for the title, but whether we are going to see a whole new make-up for the Titans or just a couple new members combined with the bulk of the old remains to be seen. If the former is true, McKeever definitely did a great job focusing on each of the characters we have seen leave, strengthening them, and opening the door for each of them to be picked up elsewhere. He deserves a lot of credit for treating all of these characters with such respect.
In any case, if this is the beginning of the newest Teen Titans incarnation, this issue is the ideal place to start. McKeever has been on fire on this title - and it seems like it is going to remain strong for a long time to come.
Page 78 - Batgirl #6, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Adam Beechen, Art by J. Calafiore & Jack Purcell
In a strange way, it is disappointing that this is only a mini, but if it were an ongoing - it probably wouldn’t be as good. The whole point of this story was to redeem Batgirl, and reverse the damage made to her by a series of poor editorial decisions. The series can only be considered a success on that count - Beechen has already managed to reorient Batgirl to the all-too-familiar conflict she was known for: wanting to do right, without doing what she was born and bred to do… kill. This final issue brings her face to face with her father, David Cain, who she intends to kill despite everything else she is working for. If this series ends on a strong note, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Batgirl return as an ongoing series.
Page 86 - Manhunter #37, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Marc Andreyko, Art by Michael Gaydos
A new Manhunter arc starting is more than enough reason for a sigh of relief. This title has become something of a “Spider-Girl” for DC, a title that continues to live despite the publisher’s attempts to cancel it. However - this book still sells far fewer copies than it deserves. Catwoman sold thousands more issues than Manhunter, and we all know what happened to that book. Of course, the sales threshold a title has to cross before DC will cancel a book is significantly lower than the mark for Marvel, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be wary.
This is a book that belongs on all of your lists. Period. Issue #37 is the start of a brand new story arc, so it is the ideal chance to give this book a shot. It isn’t tying into Final Crisis, it is still young so there isn’t a wealth of continuity to catch up on, and simply put, it is well written with good art. It is everything we aren’t getting from over half of the titles in the top 20.
You might think this is sensationalistic, but it really is true. Saving titles like this is the same thing as saving comics in general. If we don’t support the great titles, new readers stop coming to comics. Without new readers, the industry dies a slow death as the major publishers throw one major marketing gimmick after another in an attempt to stay afloat in a shrinking market. This strategy can only last so long.
Save Manhunter - save many of the underappreciated greats that get ignored in event-mania - and save comics. The choice is yours.
Page 99 - Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade #1, $2.50, 32 Pages
Written by Landry Walker, Art by Eric Jones
The return of Linda Lee? Well, after a fashion. This is the first issue of a new Johnny DC series featuring Supergirl in the eighth grade. Seems to make more sense to go back to the original adopted name than to make up something completely new.
Obviously, this series is going to be geared towards young girls - a demographic that must exist, else the old Powerpuff Girls series would not have lasted nearly as long as it did. Should be a good title to pick up if you have a daughter you want to share comics with.
Page 113 - Haunted Tank #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Frank Marraffino, Are by Henry Flint
House of Mystery seemed to be a success - why not bring back Haunted Tank as well?
For those who don’t know, Haunted Tank was a regular feature in the G.I. Combat anthology that ran between the 60’s and 80’s. It featured the ghost of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart sent to protect two of his namesakes - Lt. Jeb Stuart and an M3 Stuart tank (after a while, a Sherman). The stories were set during World War II.
This latest Haunted Tank is going to have a similar concept - General Stuart is still there, only this time he is protecting an M1 Abrams in Iraq. And that tanks commander is now Jamal Stuart - an element that may or may not work in this story’s favor. Sadly, over the years, the Confederate Flag has become synonymous with racism. While there is no denying the racial component that was such a big part of the Civil War, there were racists on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line, and that war was ultimately fought over states rights. At the time, you were just as likely to find racists among those wearing blue as grey in that war. Jamal Stuart being black, you can bet that Marraffino is intending to bring a little racial tension to this pairing. Hopefully that tension doesn’t become the entire focus of the series, however - Stuart was a renown cavalry strategist (hence the original concept) and having a racial spat become the focus of this book would ruin it. Though, if Jamal Stuart flies a Confederate Flag on his tank to honor the general like Jeb Stuart did - well, that is going to make the supporting cast think he is nuts, which will only make this story even better.
This series definitely deserves a chance, especially if you are a fan of war comics. It isn’t solicited as such, but early talk about this title had it listed as a 5-issue mini… so it might not be such a long commitment. However, if it becomes ongoing, it is better to get on board this one from the ground floor.
IMAGE COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page 140 - Frank Frazetta’s Silver Warrior #1 (of 4), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Joshua Ortega, Art by Nat Jones & Jay Fotos
The adaptation of The Death Dealer was fairly well received, why not try for another one? As many of you know, Frank Frazetta’s art has been a fixture in the pop culture industry for decades, appearing on movie posters, album covers, comic books, and stand-alone works. As with The Death Dealer, this series will tell the story of the figure that appears in Frazetta’s painting The Silver Warrior, and has been approved by Frazetta himself. If you enjoyed Death Dealer, you will probably like this one as well.
Page 166 - The Walking Dead #56, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Robert Kirkman, Art by Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn
This issue was originally set to be released in October, but it has been pushed back to December. Shame about the delay - especially considering Kirkman’s latest crusade to “save comics” - with chronic late books from the non Marvel/DC publishers being at the heart of the problem the industry suffers, having his (arguably) best book get pushed back like this doesn’t do his cause a lot of good. Of course, this title has always had timeliness problems - one can only imagine how big it would be now if this was never an issue. But I digress.
As before, this issue is worth checking out - it is the five year anniversary issue - and will look back on the lives of the remaining characters, and hint about what is to come. An excellent issue for the new reader to come on board with.
MARVEL COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page M5 - X-Men Noir #1 (of 4), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Fred Van Lente, Art by Dennis Calero
Marvel really likes recreating its characters to fit into different time periods, doesn’t it? The latest effort will begin in December’s “Marvel Noir” titles, starting with X-Men Noir. Noir, as many of you know, is that hardboiled detective story-style usually set after the great depression, often featuring drunken private detectives, beautiful clients, and in film - voiceover monologues. Many may not remember Van Lente’s short-lived Silencers series put out by Moonstone… suffice to say that anyone who remembers that unfinished work can tell you that Fred Van Lente is the perfect man to fit the X-Men into the noir detective genre. This is going to be a good series.
Page M6 - Spider-Man Noir #1 (of 4), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by David Hine & Fabrice Sapolsky, Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico
The second Marvel Noir title will be the Spider-Man version - likely to be the least unique of the three, but still some potential. It should be noted that unlike many Marvel special minis these days, these seem to be sticking to the standard $2.99 price point, which is excellent news. This story will retell Spider-Man’s origin with the expected noir twist - Parker will set out to fight the mobster who killed his Uncle Ben after he is given special powers by a spider-bite. Pretty standard - but you really can’t do one of these things without Spider-Man. The Daredevil one is going to be a natural fit, whenever that one is finally released.
Page M7 - Ender’s Shadow: Battle School #1 (of 5), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Mike Carey, Art by Sebastian Fiumara
I enjoyed Ender’s Shadow, but the more the blending of Ender’s Shadow and Ender’s Game is forced upon is, the more it has the feel of the Star Wars Special Edition. A cool diversion, but a permanent change? Ender’s Game stood well enough on its own, and I’d almost rather see a Speaker For The Dead adaptation at this point over Ender’s Shadow. But it is still a good story, and it will be a decent companion to the Yost penned Ender’s Game series that will have begun in November - Card fans should certainly check it out.
Page M15 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz #1 (of 8), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Eric Shanower, Art by Skottie Young
It is a little scary how perfect Skottie Young’s style seems for this adaptation. I never would have imagined it, but the Oz books traditionally had some interesting character styles - Young’s work is going to fit right in.
From the title, and the fact that it is a part of the Marvel Illustrated line, suggests that this will be an adaptation of the original novel - a story that should be familiar to just about everyone (who hasn’t seen the 1939 film?), with some elements in there that only those familiar with the original work will recognize. I am really looking forward to seeing what Skottie Young will do with this adaptation.
Page M18 - Ultimate Spider-Man #129, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Stuart Immonen
Looks like Ultimatum is finally going to give us the return of the Ultimate Spider-Woman. Sure, she was a little creepy, but the idea of having a female Peter Parker clone floating around makes for all sorts of uncomfortable situations (especially for a teenage boy), and exposing her to two friends of Peter Parker in the Human Torch and Kitty Pryde makes it all the more interesting. No idea how Ultimatum on the whole is going to turn out, but in this little corner of the Ultimate Universe, things should continue to be as entertaining as ever.
Page M41 - Marvels: Eye of the Camera #1 (of 6), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Kurt Busiek, Art by Jay Anacleto
I wasn’t really sure it would ever be possible to do a sequel of Marvels - but I suppose there was a lot of ground not covered by the original. Some people might be disappointed not to see Alex Ross’s name on the art credits - but those people should rest easy. Jay Anacleto’s pencil work is simply amazing. Anyone who has checked out his art in the past, particularly Aria, will tell you that he is the perfect man to present the Marvel Universe in the realistic way the original Marvels story was known for. Much potential for this sequel.
Page M63 - X-Infernus #1 (of 4), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by C.B. Cebulski, Art by Giuseppi Camuncoli
When we last saw Illyana, in the wreckage of the Xavier Institute during Divided We Stand, she had decided to regain her soul by causing great suffering among those who had wronged her. Well, it looks like this series is going to be the fulfillment of that promise. Naturally, the X-Men can’t stand for that, and will oppose her. Should be a decent series with lots of action - especially good if you are a fan of Illyana Rasputin and are looking forward to seeing her story continue.
INDEPENDENT COMICS
Pre-order any of the below titles by clicking here!
Page 210 - Kade: Rising Sun #1(of 4), $3.95, 32 Pages, Arcana Studio
By Sean O’Reilly, Jay Busbee, & C.D.
Hey - neat - Kade doing a team-up with Shi? Of course, the solicit is vague on whether it actually is Shi or not, but they use her name, have a drawing of her on the cover, and Tucci is doing one of the covers, so you can bet that it is her. Awesome news for Kade as a property - Kade has been around since the early days of Arcana Studios, and it has been fun to see the title slowly evolve. At first it showed real promise, but some of the inexperience of the creative team really showed through. These days, it is a polished professional product, and the folks at Arcana have a lot to be proud of. An appearance by Shi really makes it all the more legitimate.
Shi fans should check this out - they probably would enjoy the book anyway, but having her there is a nice added incentive.
Page 226 - Absolution #0, $1.99, 16 Pages, Avatar
Written by Christos Gage, Art by Roberto Viacava
In his relatively short career, Christos Gage has already established himself as the comic industry’s Midas (I still have to laugh, because I have seen Teenage Caveman, and I can’t believe that this is the same writer). Well, he has done so well on many of Marvel’s books, why not give his original works a shot?
Absolution is the story of a hero that comes to conflict with the most important rules of superheroism - no killing. Seems a little dark - and it is definitely a theme that has been explored in comics before. This title has something of an advantage because there are no venerated licensed characters to protect. You probably won’t ever see Superman finally deciding that killing the criminal is ok, but John Dusk? Maybe!
Craig’s Top Five Of The Month
#5 - Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #1 (of 8), $2.99, 32 Pages, Dark Horse. If Hellboy starts coming out this regularly on a permanent basis, it is going to stop being an automatic add on this list. Not that it isn’t great, but in the past, it made the top 5 just for existing!
#4 - X-Men Noir #1 (of 4), $3.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics. This month is really a creator showcase - I am really looking forward to seeing what Fred Van Lente is going to do with this story.
#3 - Marvels: Eye of the Camera #1 (of 6), $3.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics. Another creator buy - can’t wait to see Jay Anacleto’s Marvel Universe!
#2 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz #1 (of 8), $3.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics. Starting to look like I am an art guy here, but Skottie Young, art… yeah, you get it.
#1 - Haunted Tank #1, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics/Vertigo. If done right, this is going to be an outstanding addition to the Vertigo line-up. A lot of temptation out there to go the easy route though…
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!
October 1, 2008
The $40 Pull List - October 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 - 10/08
Sorry for the delay on this one folks - bad timing all around. Still- out in time for Wednesday!
In any case, this was a really strong month. Marvel Apes, the new title to the list, threw us a curve ball by deciding to be bi-weekly instead of monthly, and Fear Agent disappointed by once again being delayed. Wonder Woman came back strong, a great relief, and Nova afforded a real fanboy moment for me. An incredibly strong month, combined with Marvel Apes double-shipping at $3.99, and the return of The Twelve next moth really puts us in a budget pickle for October that will need to be addressed. Read on!
Jonah Hex #35, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/03/08 ON TIME
Weird definitely describes this issue. Some critics of Jonah Hex have suggested that it always seems to be a different variation of the same story - usually involving abusing women, rape, and a twist of some kind. Well, this is true, certainly. But formulaic storytelling is far from uncommon in comics, and usually in Jonah Hex it is done well.
As to reoccurring themes - well, rape is one that pops up again in this issue, in a way you might not expect. That, of course, has to do with the twist! Overall though, this was just a bizarre issue, but enjoyable. Once again, Jonah Hex’s place is secure.
Status: SAFE
Nova #17, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/24/08 ON TIME
Ah - what more could any old New Warriors fan ask for than an appearance by Darkhawk? Sure, there is a gap between what we saw in The Loners and what happened here, but that is the kind of thing that could be addressed should Darkhawk be the center of his own story at another time. Nova did make frequent mention of Darkhawk’s aggression issues, which featured prominently in The Losers, so there was a tiny tidbit of continuity there.
This was a decent story on its own, and it was also a pretty solid tie-in to Secret Invasion. Solid action, nice character appearances for the longtime Nova fan, the return of Worldmind, and a shock ending. Should be interesting to see how this story plays out next issue.
Status: SAFE
Teen Titans #63, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/24/08 ON TIME
Well, in the aftermath of last issues shocker, we discover that only Marvin appears to have died in the attack - Wendy isn’t doing so well, but she is at least among the living. Ares hasn’t gone away, but is lurking in the background, preparing something. Of course, Wonder Girl is clearly part of his plan, but what specifically is wrong with her remains unknown. In the meantime, the main story this issue deals with Bombshell in a murderous hunt for her father after escaping from prison.
A few good scenes - this story wasn’t quite as strong as past issues, but it is clearly the beginning of something much bigger. The Teen Titans are still short many members - a status quo that will no doubt be addressed once the Terror Titans story comes full circle.
Still enjoyable, and still very worth reading. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
Status: SAFE
Green Lantern Corps #28, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/10/08 ON TIME
Lantern Saarek takes center stage this issue by using his unique “gift” to help identify the group of Sinestro Lanterns that is murdering the families of Rookie Green Lanterns. The story itself was pretty straight forward - not much thinking needed, just a lot of action and anger, plus a little character development as Ice comes calling on Guy.
This title is still in a build-phase towards Blackest Night - and the mission Saarek has been dispatched on might well be another major step towards that upcoming event. Overall, this issue was solid - a strong addition to the pull list overall. No disappointment here.
Status: SAFE
Wonder Woman #24, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/10/08 ON TIME
Oh yes - this is exactly what I missed last issue. The Gorillas, the courting, her mother, with a little action thrown in at the end. The last arc was so jarring because almost all of that went away without warning, and we got something quite different. I am very glad to see that it is back (though, Simone did kind of progress from “they’re dating” to “they’re in love and he is meeting her mother” really, really fast. A minor quibble really - the title in every respect seems right back on track.
Though, I must admit, I agree with the criticism of Diana’s costume… I much preferred the skirt look myself. Way more dignified and practical. Odds of it coming back ever seem to be nill, but it isn’t too much to hope, is it?
Status: SAFE
House of Mystery #5, $2.99, DC/Vertigo. Due Out 09/03/08 ON TIME
The best parts about the “stories within the story” are that the tellers themselves think the most interesting parts of their tale are the most mundane. Artistic storytelling really takes center stage, as the narrator explains what they see as the most compelling parts, while the real meat of the story unfolds in each panel. Best part about this title, bar none.
The issues taken as a whole? Thus far, I am torn. This title has strength, but in 5 issues, not a lot has happened. We have seen Fig finally come full circle - in and out of the House that she created, but outside the things you could figure out in the very first issue, we really don’t have a lot of meat yet. Once upon a time, this title would be strong enough to have a safe spot on the list, but with so MANY good books on it right now, something has to give. Sadly, with this title at the end of an arc, the timing is just too perfect not to say goodbye, and give something else a shot.
Status: DROPPED
Invincible Iron Man #5, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/03/08 ON TIME
Once again, another great issue. Of course, considering the ending, you just know that this had to be part of Stark’s plan, and suddenly Iron Man will emerge whole and win the day in the end - yeah, a little cheeseball, but it is a superhero comic, and Matt Fraction is writing a mighty fine one.
It took a long, long time. I never understood why Marvel suddenly pushed Iron Man so hard. Finally they have a real reason. This title shot right up to the top in terms of quality among the entire Marvel line, and as long as this creative team is writing it, it should remain there. This title has to be one of the biggest surprises of the year. Keep them coming!
Status: SAFE
Manhunter #34, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 09/03/08 ON TIME
Off the bat - credit where credit is due - I have criticized many comic creators for jumping on hot-button issues, and immigration seems to be a favorite. Too often a writer will jump on the opportunity to paint one side of an important issue as monstrous demons - or racists in the case of immigration. Andreyko does it right here - mentioning a controversial issue, but doing so in a balanced way. I know he has read some people slam him on his liberal views on the issue - I for one have the opposite view, and I have to admit I really appreciate him taking the time to present a view of the opposing position that is more substantial than the usual hateful rhetoric. Kudos. If more comic writers handled issues like this with this kind of sensitivity, I don’t think politics in comics would be such a bad thing.
The issue itself was a lot better. The story was a bit more clear, and the scenes transitioned a lot better. Is it wrong that I feel that something horrible is going to happen to Kate’s son very soon?
Marked improvement. Back to being the great title it always was. Whew!
Status: SAFE
Avengers: The Initiative #17, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/24/08 ON TIME
Being able to say I told you so is always fun. Every since the very idea of Secret Invasion started to be floated about, the first thing I asked was why they couldn’t just have 3D Man appear and start rooting out Skrulls. That is exactly what we are getting in this story, and I am loving every minute of it.
Marvel is so weird these days. They are still really bogged down by some questionable marketing gimmicks and directives from the top, but they have such an outstanding group of creators that books like this one, Nova, and Invincible Iron Man can’t help but be fantastic. What’s not to love about this series?
Status: SAFE
Ultimate Spider-Man #126, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/24/08 ON TIME
This issue felt like the end of the arc, but we have one more chapter to go - namely, the return of Carnage, and Gwen Stacy along with it. Not a bad thing to go to, especially after what was a really exciting issue that featured an appearance by The Ultimates. Nick Fury’s team showed up to battle Spider-Man, who had been taken over by the Venom symbiote. Just another ordinary day in the life of Peter Parker, right?
This arc hasn’t been the strongest, but this was the best issue thus-far, the first this arc that really lived up to this title’s high standards. A great read.
Status: SAFE
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #2, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/03/08 ON TIME
Can I really say much about this issue that wasn’t said about the last one? Terry Moore is the perfect man to take on this title. It is strange - it is such a calm read - but you find yourself smiling a lot as you go through it. Nothing sensational - no shocking moments, nothing you don’t expect - just a slice of life story about an ordinary teenage girl who happens to know someone extraordinary. It is really sad to think that this title is only a mini right now. Hopefully sales are such that this will change before it ends. Loving it so far.
Status: SAFE
Marvel Apes #1, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 09/03/08 ON TIME
Marvel Apes #2, $3.99, Marvel Comics. Released 09/17/08
OK, well, it wasn’t terrible. The first issue showed a little promise - it was good cheesy fun with a dark ending. I liked it. Trouble was - the second issue came out suddenly 2 weeks later. At the time last month’s list was made, they really hadn’t announced a date for the second issue. I went ahead and picked it up anyway, just to read (though not as an official purchase), and was a bit let down by the second issue. Vampires? Seriously? Ape Vampires? Why didn’t they just make is Zombies if they were going to blend gimmicks. Or Skrulls. Not a smart move I don’t think.
In any case - there are only two issues of this series left. And at $3.99 a pop, I am not about to cancel another good title or two just to make room for this book for one more month. It isn’t worth it.
Status: DROPPED
LATE AND UNRELEASED ISSUES
Fear Agent #24, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 08/27/08 DELAYED UNTIL 10/15/08
This is just getting more and more frustrating. Great book - but it is impossible to get really behind it since the thing never comes out on time. Now the rumor is that Rick Remender is planning on ending it? Using the “I like stories to end eventually” excuse? I am sorry - if you mean a story to be finite, you write it that way - and Fear Agent is set up to be an ongoing story, not a closed one.
I don’t get why they can’t put this book out on time. This is the biggest reason it is so hard to get people behind quality books from publishers other than Marvel or DC- a shocking disrespect for the consumer. Too many prospective comic creators bust their butts month in and out just to try and get the chance to get the opportunity to break into this industry - there is no excuse for this kind of thing.
Rant over really - but I wish for once they could put this book out on time. Once would be a start!
TITLES CARRYING OVER
Jonah Hex #36, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 10/01/08
Nova #18, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 10/29/08
Teen Titans #64, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 10/29/08
Green Lantern Corps #29, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 10/08/08
Wonder Woman #25, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 10/08/08
Invincible Iron Man #5, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 10/08/08
Fear Agent #24, $2.99, Dark Horse. Due Out 08/27/08 DELAYED UNTIL 10/15/08
Manhunter #35, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 10/01/08
Avengers: The Initiative #18, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 10/29/08
Ultimate Spider-Man #127, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 10/22/08
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #3, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 10/08/08
The Twelve #8, $2.99, Marvel Comics. Due Out 10/08/08
Rex Libris #13, $2.95, Slave Labor. Due Out ?
NEW TITLES
Supergirl #34, $2.99, DC Comics. Due Out 10/01/08
If ever there was a character in need of a new direction, it is Supergirl. Well, she is finally getting it, starting with this issue. I do like what I see so far - and I wouldn’t mind having a representative from the Superman family on this list. Heaven knows I have tried a few times. Plus, this book will feature art from Jamal Igle and Keith Champagne. I loved their work on Firestorm, happy to give them another chance here. Hope it is good!
OCTOBER TOTAL: $38.87
Budget = $40.00 + $.69 (Bank) + $3.22 (Fear Agent #24) = $43.91
$43.91 (Budget) - $38.87 (October issues) - $3.01 (tax) = $2.03 banked for September
I am enjoying using the Facebook Comic Book application as a supplement to this list, so I am going to stick with that this month, and work on expanding it there. It will give you updates on release dates for all the titles you might be interested in. 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
©2003-2009 Craig Reade and Mad Cow Disease