On The Shelf In November 2008
DARK HORSE COMICS
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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August 25, 2008
On The Shelf This Week - 08.27.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
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CATWOMAN #82, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Will Pfeifer; Art by David Lopez and Alvaro Lopez
Looks like last issues “Final Issue” wasn’t so final after all. Nothing but good news - sure, it seems like a tease, but one more issue of Catwoman is better than none.
As to the future of Catwoman, well, it looks kind of bleak. In discussing the make-up of that “The Real Power of the DC Universe” poster that has been floating about, it seemed that the powers-that-be (Dan DiDio) at DC didn’t even want Catwoman to be in the poster. Allegedly, Adam Hughes strongly disagreed, and finally submitted the poster with her in there anyway, with a note that she could be easily removed if need be. Clearly she fit the theme, and the image would have been incomplete without her, so there she remained.
So why didn’t they want Catwoman in the image in the first place? It seems like DC feels that Catwoman is overexposed, and that the fans didn’t really want to see Catwoman for a while. So the plan seems to be to completely bury her.
Sad news indeed. There are two or three different rants you could go on with this news, but nothing you don’t already know. Just pick this issue up - agree with DC’s stance on the character or not, it looks like it will be the last bit of Catwoman we will be seeing in a long while.
DC UNIVERSE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT #1, $3.99, 48 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Brad Meltzer; Art and covers by Adam Kubert and John Dell
Another Final Crisis tie-in… and another with some decent potential. Looks like this is a one-shot, penned by Identity Crisis’s Brad Meltzer (with Adam Kubert handling the art - automatically a good pick). Meltzer is excellent at character stories, and that is exactly what this issue is - a story about how the various heroes face the day before they might meet their doom.
A great creative team combined with a slam dunk premise should make for a decent read. This issue should be a safe bet.
FINAL CRISIS SUPERMAN BEYOND #1 (OF 2), $4.50, 40 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Grant Morrison; Art by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy
Maybe a must-have issue, but that depends on a lot of things.
If you generally aren’t enjoying Morrison’s Final Crisis story, this might not be the book for you. Then again, if you enjoy wild comic stories featuring different versions of the same character, you might think again. If there is one thing Morrison does well, it is the strange - and a two issue story featuring the Supermen of the 52 Earths with selected 3-D pages is definitely odd.
Superman, Morrison, and Final Crisis fans should be all over this series. The price point is hefty, but extra pages and the included 3D Glasses do help account for that.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #18, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Duane Swiercynski, Art by Travel Foreman
This is the second issue from the new creative team of Swiercynski and Foreman on Iron Fist, taking over for the much lauded Fraction/Brubaker/Aja team. So far, as expected, some readers are a little disappointed. It’s hard not to be - when you have a team telling stories that entertaining, it is hard not to be a little let down. Hope is not lost though - of course there is a dramatic change in the feel of this book, but Swiercynski is consciously taking this title down the same road that Brubaker and Fraction did - the mythos of the Iron Fist. Specifically, in this arc, Danny Rand faces the fact that no other Iron Fist has lived to be older than 33 (this, on his 33rd birthday).
This is a step down from Brubaker and Fraction, but no one every thought it wouldn’t be. But it is still decent - and there is a spark of potential here. It is tough going from great to good, but in this case, it might be worth it to be a little forgiving. This title might shine a little brighter in the coming months.
NOVA #16, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Art by Wellington Alves, Scott Hanna, and Guru-EFX
Seems like this title has been in a major event crossover for most of its history. Kind of a shame, really - and really emblematic of the problems that a continuous event season poses for titles. Thankfully, Abnett and Lanning have been up to the challenge, and have done a good job establishing this title despite the crossovers. This issue, of course, brings the Super-Skrull back into Nova’s life. Is it just a crossover because it involves a Skrull, or is it going to be a little deeper than that?
Ideally, the “Secret Invasion” will only be mentioned in passing, but even if it isn’t, Abnett and Lanning will do a good job integrating it into an already good story. There is a reason this book continues to be referred to as one of the best Marvel books on the market. Well worth your time.
TEEN TITANS #62, $2.99, 32 pages
Written by Sean McKeever; Art and Cover by Eddy Barrows and Ruy José
Looks like this might be a stand-alone issue, though it isn’t specifically labeled as such. Usually a stand-alone is a good place for new readers to jump in - that might not be the case here. This issue turns the focus to the other residents of Titans Tower - Wendy and Marvin. Oh, and Wonderdog - that bit will either be extremely awesome or wholly cheesy, no way to tell in advance. This seems to be a bit of “supporting cast” development - in team books, they tend to get neglected, but what would the Avengers be without Jarvis? McKeever has done an outstanding job on this title, and it is still very much worth checking out.
ULTIMATE IRON MAN II #5 (OF 5), $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Orson Scott Card, Art by Pasqual Ferry and Dean White
Wow - this one really drifted off the radar. Initially, it seemed like Marvel was putting this issue off for just one month, so that it would be released during the height of Iron Man Movie Mania, but that time quickly came and went. This issue was originally due out May 21st… so it is only three months late, but if you consider that issue #4 came out in March… well, 5 months between issues isn’t very good at all.
This was a solid series - and though it is difficult to support a book that is this late, especially going into the last issue, it is just to hard to miss how this one will end.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
RUNAWAYS #1, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Terry Moore, Art by Humberto Ramos, Dave Meikis, and Christina Strain
Marvel really has done right by this title. There was a time when it started to fall by the wayside, much like many of their “B List” books went, especially when Tsunami started to collapse. This was one of those times that fan support brought a title back from the dead. After series creator Brian K Vaughan left, many were sure that the title would slowly fade away. Putting Whedon on the book after Vaughan departed was a great way to keep fan interest in the series high. Of course, it has been frustrating that the book was chronically delayed during Whedon’s short run, but his “star-power” kept the book afloat, and the fan base willing and waiting. Terry Moore is probably better suited to write this book than Joss Whedon, and though not quite the “name” - Moore will certainly bring his own fan base to the table here.
This will be the start of something big for the Runaways. Sure longtime readers might groan at a new #1, but at the end of the day, the number on the cover means nothing. If #1 brings more people onboard for a great story, then it can only be considered a good thing, right?
That being said - a lot of people will wait for reviews or trades before deciding to pick up a new book. This is one of those times when you need to take the plunge and pick it up from the first issue. This isn’t like a new Avengers or X-Men book - if sales aren’t great from the start, Runaways will be on the chopping block right away. You will just have to trust me on this one - Runaways will be worth your money. Give it a shot.
DARK HORSE COMICS
STAR WARS REBELLION #16 VECTOR PART 8 (OF 12) $2.99 Now: $2.59
DC COMICS
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #4 (OF 12) $2.99 Now: $2.59
CATWOMAN #82 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DC UNIVERSE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT #1 $3.99 Now: $3.49
FINAL CRISIS ROGUES REVENGE #2 (OF 3) $3.99 Now: $3.49
FINAL CRISIS SUPERMAN BEYOND #1 (OF 2) $4.50 Now: $3.89
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #18 $2.99 Now: $2.69
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #45 $2.99 Now: $2.59
REIGN IN HELL #2 (OF 8) $3.50 Now: $2.99
SECRET HISTORY THE AUTHORITY HAWKSMOOR #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
SUPERMAN #679 $2.99 Now: $2.69
TEEN TITANS #62 $2.99 Now: $2.69
TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
TRINITY #13 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WILDCATS WORLDS END #2 $2.99 Now: $2.59
IMAGE COMICS
BRIT #8 $2.99 Now: $2.59
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #569 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ANGEL REVELATIONS #4 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
DAREDEVIL #110 $2.99 Now: $2.69
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #18 $2.99 Now: $2.69
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #27 $2.99 Now: $2.59
MIGHTY AVENGERS #17 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW AVENGERS #44 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW EXILES #10 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEWUNIVERSAL CONQUEROR $3.99 Now: $3.49
NOVA #16 $2.99 Now:$2.69
RUNAWAYS #1 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SECRET INVASION AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 (OF 3) $2.99 Now: $2.69
SHE-HULK 2 #32 $2.99 Now: $2.59
ULTIMATE IRON MAN II #5 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #125 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE X-MEN #97 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WOLVERINE #68 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #6 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-FORCE #6 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN LEGACY #215 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SLEEPER MOVIE?
Before Brubaker was the mover and shaker at Marvel, many will remember his “Sleeper” hit over at Wildstorm. Great series - in fact, the worst part about his departure to Marvel was that this series would be forced to end.
So the big news this week is that Sleeper has been optioned for a motion picture. Great news! Bad news? Sam Raimi is set to direct, and Tom Cruise star.
Of course this is all speculation at this point. Comics get optioned for movies all the time. But then - most people thought a Halle Berry Catwoman movie was a joke at first too.
At first - Raimi might not seem so bad. But considering the films he has made that were good - none of them quite fit the dark tone you would need to make Sleeper work. So not a terrible choice - good name recognition for comic fans, but not really an ideal pick.
But Tom Cruise? As Holden Carver? You have got to be kidding… It’s like they want the movie to fail. That is about as opposite you can get to the kind of character Holden is supposed to be. That’s worse than Keanu as John Constantine.
Let’s just pray that if this movie comes to pass, the director and the lead actor are totally different people. At least there will always be one Sleeper movie worth watching…
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!
August 20, 2008
On The Shelf This Week - 08.20.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
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BATGIRL #2 (OF 6), $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Adam Beechen; Art by Jim Calafiore and Jonathan Glapion
It really is tough to say whether this title is going to become as good as the last volume was. Batgirl, as a character, took a lot of damage in that harebrained OYL “turn her into a villain” scheme, so much so that the entire first issue of this series was devoted to repairing some of that damage.
Despite how badly Batgirl’s “heel-turn” was executed, you do have to give DC some credit for the way they have handled the backpedal. They are trying very hard to take what happened, explain it away, and return Batgirl to the place she was before that whole mess started.
There might be a positive unintended consequence to the restoration - the lack of trust. You can’t just explain away her actions to the point where the Bat-clan would take her back with open arms, and in a way that strengthens her character, and restores one character aspect that was lost during her title’s original run. Once Batman’s allies stopped fearing her upbringing as a lethal killer, she lost a little of the edge she had. Restoring that lack of trust, and the fear that she could, at any moment, turn on her allies once again - in many ways, this reversal might have succeeded in far more than it set out to.
Jury is still out on the long-term success of the title, but there is definitely something to work with here. One to watch.
BIRDS OF PREY #121, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Tony Bedard; Art by Michael O’Hare and John Floyd
There was a bit of a stylistic hiccup on this book when Simone left, but surprisingly, Bedard has managed to get the quality back up to just about where Simone left it. Not that Bedard isn’t a solid writer, but the way Simone redefined the Birds was legendary, and it was kind of hard to imagine anyone else writing them. In a way, Bedard has followed in her footsteps, not only building on the development Simone did to Zinda, Huntress, and Oracle, but he is also doing a pretty solid job with Black Alice and Misfit.
The short of it is - Birds of Prey is still alive and kicking. If anyone was worried that Simone’s departure would spell the end for this book, well… hate to disappoint!
CAPTAIN AMERICA #41, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brubaker, Art by Steve Epting and Frank D’Armata
Still moving right along on the whole Death of Captain America story. It is enjoyable - you can’t deny that it is well written and entertaining, but the flaws are really starting to show. For one thing - this story is just way too padded. Brubaker is writing it like it truly is an epic, but there is almost no real substance there. We are getting just enough character advancement to satisfy, and lots of gorgeous art, but that’s about it. I can’t help wondering how much better this story would be if it was progressing about twice as fast. Not Straczynski-level padding by any means, so it isn’t horrible, but it is noticeable.
Still - a decent read, and well worth your time. If anything, the padding makes things a little more accessible to the new reader!
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #1 (OF 5), $3.99, 40 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Geoff Johns; Art by George Pérez and Scott Koblish
The DC die-hards are still rallying behind Final Crisis, but beyond those core loyal readers, things aren’t looking so good for that event. Nonetheless, as Marvel has proven time after time, you can still have some good come from the worst event - tie in minis! This looks like it could be one of those moments. Geoff Johns penning the story of three different Legions (PreCrisis, Post Crisis, and “Three-boot” I would imagine) joining to stop the Time Trapper and Superboy Prime before they can erase Superman from existence. Not a bad premise at all! Could be a very exciting read.
HELM #2 (OF 4), $3.50, 32 Pages
Written by Jim Hardinson, Art by Bart Sears and Randy Elliot
A real chuckle. Issue #1 was about as silly as you could expect. Sure - the concept almost writes itself, but it is a pretty clever premise, and you don’t need to be too intellectual when you have a great idea like this.
As to that premise: well, if you don’t know, imagine your stereotypical comic book geek. He is overweight, unemployed, and living in his mother’s basement. Now, imagine this guy comes across a magical Helmet that, for one brief moment, mistakes him for “The Chosen One” and grants him incredible power. Of course, realizing the horror of his mistake, the Helm sets out to do the one thing that will allow him to separate from this so-called Chosen One and await the true champion: kill him.
Issue #1 was a riot. I am really looking forward to seeing the imaginative murder attempts Hardinson will come up with for the Helm. Should be a good issue.
ROBIN #177, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Fabian Nicieza, Art by Rick Leonardi and Lorenzo Ruggiero
You really have to hand it to Fabian Nicieza - he picked up the ball in a really tough situation, and ran with it. Dixon’s departure was a real shock for the readers, and that could have sent Robin spiraling down the drain at a critical time in the story. Thankfully, Nicieza more than kept the book afloat, and it continues to be a solid read. Really looking forward to what he is planning on post Batman RIP.
X-FACTOR SPECIAL LAYLA MILLER, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Peter David, Art by Valentine De Landro and Andrew Hennessy
As Messiah Complex wound down, Layla Miller ended up trapped in an alternate future. We have seen glimpses of her, but the actual character’s story will pick up again in this one shot, following her story through the “Summers Rebellion” taking place in her current reality. Probably not absolutely critical to understanding what is going on in X-Factor at the moment, but a great extra for fans of the character who might like to see what has happened to her since we last saw her.
YOUNG X-MEN #5, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Marc Guggenheim, Art by Yanick Paquette
The old New X-Men never really recovered from that ill-advised creative shift - this much is certain. The shift to Young X-Men was kind of jarring to some, but in the end it seems like it was the right move. A new creative team, new direction, mostly new team… somehow all that “New” reclaimed a lot of the appeal that was lost when the “Old” team of Christina Weir and Nunzio DeFillipis left New X-Men.
To be fair - Young X-Men isn’t quite that good. Not yet, anyway, but it is far and away better than what New X-Men became at the end of its run, and a solid X-book with good potential Definitely worth checking out if you aren’t already.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 20 AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, $12.99, 120 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Art by Stuart Immonen
This story arc was just plain fun, and it really highlighted the strengths of Ultimate Spider-Man. Spider-Man, the mainstream version, has really been missing something for a long time, and despite major event after major change, Spider-Man continued to fall from grace. It was occasionally good, but not something you really got emotionally invested in. Ultimate Spider-Man brought back one of the biggest strengths Spider-Man’s stories always had - an outstanding supporting cast.
This arc brought that aspect to the forefront, as Peter’s life as a “superhero” bled into his civilian life in a pretty unique way. We got to see Peter’s confidants, both “civilian” and otherwise (those who know who he is and what he does) put together with people who have no clue about him, and even others who put two and two together and had the class not to mention anything about it. Peter’s strange circle of friends exhibits the same sorts of dynamics you would find in a normal teen circle, respectful friends, girlfriends, spurned romantic interests, crisis and drama… one of the reasons this title is so engaging is that instead of just telling the story of a guy with superpowers, it has gone back to the classic Spider-man way of telling how those powers effect the personal life of the hero, but in a whole new way.
This is a great trade to pick up if you are looking for a solid Spider-Man story of any flavor. It is a fantastic example of why this title has been so good for over 125 issues. (Collects Ultimate Spider-Man #118-122).
DARK HORSE COMICS
HELM #2 (OF 4) 3.50 Now: $2.69
DC COMICS
BATGIRL #2 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #10 $2.99 Now: $2.69
BIRDS OF PREY #121 $2.99 Now: $2.59
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #16 $2.99 Now: $2.59
CASEY BLUE BEYOND TOMORROW #4 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
DC WILDSTORM DREAMWAR #5 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #1 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
FLASH #243 $2.99 Now: $2.39
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #24 $2.99 Now: $2.69
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #4 (OF 8) $3.50 Now: $2.99
ROBIN #177 $2.99 Now: $2.59
STORMWATCH PHD WORLDS END #13 $2.99 Now: $2.59
SUPER FRIENDS #6 $2.25 Now: $1.99
SUPERMAN BATMAN #51 $2.99 Now: $2.69
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #6 (OF 12) $2.99 Now: $2.59
TRINITY #12 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DEVIL’S DUE
DRAFTED #10 $3.50 Now: $2.99
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #568 $3.99 Now: $3.49
CAPTAIN AMERICA #41 $2.99 Now: $2.39
GHOST RIDER #26 $8.99
MARVEL 1985 #4 (OF 6) $3.99 Now: $3.49
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT SPIDER-MAN BRAND NEW DAY $2.99 Now: $2.59
SECRET INVASION #2 (OF 8) 3RD PTG $3.99 Now: $3.69
SECRET INVASION #3 (OF 8) 2ND PTG $3.99 Now: $3.69
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #2 $2.99 Now: $2.25
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #57 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE ORIGINS #2 (OF 5) 2ND PTG GUICE WRAPAROUND VAR $3.99
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 20 AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS $12.99 Now: $10.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #501 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-FACTOR SPECIAL LAYLA MILLER $3.99 Now: $3.49
X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #15 $2.99 Now: $2.59
X-MEN TP DIVIDED WE STAND $12.99 Now: $10.99
YOUNG X-MEN #5 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ROBERT KIRKMAN - “SAVE COMICS?”
Well, a pretty noble idea really. Kirkman, of course, recently left Marvel to become a partner at Image, and will be focusing on his three creator-owned projects there: Invincible, The Walking Dead, and Astounding Wolf-Man. He recently expressed a desire to use his new position to “save comics,” and called on creators to join him in changing the face of the industry.
He makes some fair points in his attacks on the Big-Two, specifically the focus on event-driven stories rather than quality runs. But then - that criticism doesn’t really hold too much weight, Bendis, for example has had an unprecedented (in modern times) run on Ultimate Spider-Man which is close to legendary, and his run on Daredevil was more than memorable. Ed Brubaker has reshaped more than one Marvel property. Even David Hine was given a lot of room to flex his pen in his Quicksilver/Inhumans minis.
You have to ask - is Kirkman upset that Marvel isn’t allowing creators a chance at Claremont-X-Men-greatness any longer, or is he upset that Marvel didn’t really give him that chance?
Kirkman also challenged creators to focus on their own, creator owned work, instead of working on corporate properties. You have to ask, however - who is going to publish those?
Image has been a beacon of creativity since its inception. In fact, between McFarlane’s Spawn and Kirkman’s Invincible, Image could lay claim to the home of the two greatest comic creations of the last 20 years. But then, why isn’t Image more successful? If creators should work on their own projects rather than work for Marvel or DC, why isn’t Image challenging the Big Two for dominance today?
Image’s business model is all you need to look at. How many Image titles ship on time every month? It is a common joke among comic readers, but if you really look at it, just how many artists are playing World of Warcraft (or heaven knows what else) instead of handing in their work? And when you are with Image, where there is even less pressure to deliver on time? Kirkman’s own titles have been plagued by delays throughout their history. They sell well, because they are outstanding, but for the mediocre books… which would you rather read: a book that came out on time from Marvel, or a six issue mini from Image that takes 2-3 years to release?
The idea that creators would abandon Marvel and DC is laughable. Since so few make a decent living outside the Big Two (throw Dark Horse in there for good measure), just how can you expect them to focus on their own efforts, when The House of Ideas and the Spin are paying the bills?
Saving comics? A noble idea. It might have been better for Kirkman to use his influence to fix the wealth of problems in-house at Image, before pointing out what is wrong with the rest of the industry. Holding creators accountable to deadlines and pricing Image titles competitively might be a good start.
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
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August 13, 2008
On The Shelf This Week - 08.13.08
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
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AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #23, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Tom Defalco, Art by Ron Frenz
Spider-Girl, while usually consistently good, has been all the more enjoyable these past few months. The “Brand New May” has proven to be a really compelling story idea, and definitely worth reading. Spider-Girl has always been an intricate story, with a lot going on at once - which really is to Defalco’s credit. To this day Spider-Girl maintains a very old-school Spider-Man feel. The large supporting cast with intertwining plotlines, some cheesy teen angst, some semi-poor art but amazing artistic storytelling… Spider-Girl is a title that is easy to read, easy to enjoy, and the fact that you aren’t burdened with an entire universe of continuity (just enough to make it interesting) is a huge plus. Can’t wait to see where this story ends up.
ASTONISHING X-MEN #26, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Warren Ellis, Art by Simone Bianchi
Brand new creative team started last month on Astonishing X-Men - Ellis and Bianchi took over for the departing Whedon and Cassaday. Marvel does look like it is going to try to maintain this titles “individuality.” One of the biggest selling points of Astonishing throughout its history was its detached nature. Today, with so many major events going on, it will be nice for readers to have a source of good X-Men stories that will not be bogged down by event mass hysteria. So far - results are mixed. Ellis has a very distinct writing style that doesn’t quite garner the same universal appeal that Whedon’s mere name does, so it might be a few months before this team really sticks with readers. If he pulls out a good story in the end, I suspect fan disappointment over Whedon’s departure will be quick to evaporate.
BROTHERS IN ARMS #3, $3.50, Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Mike Neumann, Art by Davide Fabri
A comic based on a video game is usually an easy one to pass up. They typically aren’t very well done, and are just an excuse to get the game’s characters on page in an effort to make a few quick bucks. This comic has gotten almost no attention, probably for that reason, but this might be an occasion where a good book is being overlooked. The few reviews this title has received have been extremely positive, and this series is being compared to some of the great war titles of the past. Plus, it is Dynamite - and they have been putting out some outstanding work of late. This might be a title to give a second look to - it seems clear that at the very least, it is more than your run-of-the-mill video game comic adaptation.
FINAL CRISIS REVELATIONS #1 (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
Yeah, this series is going to get some attention because it is a Final Crisis tie-in, but it really is interesting for an entirely different reason. Greg Rucka penning two Gotham Central alums - Crispus Allen and Renee Montoya - that is always worth checking out. Not sure how he is going to work out a Spectre/Question team-up, but there is little doubt he has a decent story in mind. This should be a good read.
SECRET INVASION X-MEN #1 (OF 4), $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Mike Carey, Art by Cary Nord and Dave McCaig
The Secret Invasion tie-in minis are in full swing, with a bunch of them coming out about now. Tough to say what to expect from this mini - seems like there will be a lot going on, so it could end up being a bit cluttered. Marvel is promising something HUGE in this series (of course, they say that about everything), and has indicated that every single X-Man will be appearing here. On the surface, that makes it seem like we will have cover-to-cover action, but some story tid-bits from future issues (Nightcrawler being subverted by a Skrull bible… that one had me scratching my head) definitely indicate that there will be a lot more than action in this series. Typically, the tie-ins are better than the event itself, so that may hold true here. Definitely one to pick up if you are an X-men fan who has been waiting for their appearance in this story.
WONDER WOMAN #23, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Gail Simone Cover by Aaron Lopresti; Art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan
Overall, this issue really did seem like a hiccup for Simone’s young-but-acclaimed run on Wonder Woman. There was a lot of potential - but with this final issue of the arc arriving this week, it seems apparent that a lot of that won’t really be realized. This could have been a decent story to help Wonder Woman come to grips with her true self… sure, it isn’t exactly the most creative story technique, but it is the way most truly “great” runs on a comic start… tuning up the character before sending them through the ringer.
Still - the previews for the upcoming story do show some promise, and while Ends of the Earth wasn’t as mind blowing as it could have been, there is still an issue to go, and a lot can happen.
SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK
X-MEN ORIGINS JEAN GREY, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Sean McKeever, Art by Mike Mayhew
McKeever would have been great during the early X-Men run. His style fits perfectly with that kind of character group - his work on Teen Titans now really shows that. With that in mind, it will be interesting to read his take on Jean Grey’s early career with the X-Men. This Origins story follows Jean’s first outing with the X-Men, starting with her admission to the Xavier Institute. Naturally, we should get to see the entire original X-Men.
Of course, this issue has been sitting in a drawer for a while now, with McKeever’s move to DC Excliusive, so it does make you wonder why Marvel has elected to release it right now. Probably a question we will never get answered, but it is worth thinking about.
With the good work done on X-Men First Class, it wouldn’t be too bad to see more of that original group. Especially if writers like McKeever will be taking them on. Less mutants was almost always better. We probably won’t really get anything new in this issue, but books like this are always about how old information is represented. A good pick for a Jean Grey fan.
DC COMICS
BATMAN #679 $2.99 Now: $2.69
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #20 $2.99 Now: $2.69
CHECKMATE #29 $2.99 Now: $2.69
CHUCK #3 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
FINAL CRISIS REVELATIONS #1 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #11 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SUPERGIRL BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL TP $17.99 Now: $14.99
TINY TITANS #7 $2.25 Now: $1.99
TRINITY #11 $2.99 Now: $2.59
WONDER WOMAN #23 $2.99 Now: $2.69
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
BROTHERS IN ARMS #3 $3.50 [b]Now: $2.99/b]
IMAGE COMICS
SPAWN #181 $2.95 Now: $2.69
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #23 $2.99 Now: $2.69
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #567 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ASTONISHING X-MEN #25 2ND PTG BIANCHI VAR 2.99 Now: $2.69
ASTONISHING X-MEN #26 $2.99 Now: $2.69
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #4 $2.99 Now: $2.59
FANTASTIC FOUR #559 $2.99 Now: $2.69
GENEXT #4 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
HULK CHRONICLES WWH #2 $4.99 Now: $4.39
LAST DEFENDERS #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
SECRET INVASION #5 (OF 8) $3.99 Now: $3.49
SECRET INVASION RUNAWAYS YOUNG AVENGERS #2 (OF 3) $2.99 Now: $2.69
SECRET INVASION X-MEN #1 (OF 4) $2.99 Now: $2.69
WOLVERINE TP GET MYSTIQUE $10.99 Now: $8.99
X-MEN ORIGINS JEAN GREY $3.99 Now: $3.49
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
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August 3, 2008
On The Shelf in October 2008
DARK HORSE COMICS
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Page 26 - Hellboy: In The Chapel of Moloch, $2.99, 32 Pages
By Mike Mignola, Colored by Dave Stewart
We do seem to be getting a lot of Hellboy these days, which is great. Of course, some of this probably has to do with the movie, but the hype surrounding that has died down quite a bit (especially since The Dark Knight was released), and it is unlikely that this issue is going to be a good movie-to-comic transition issue. Mignola is doing the art, which is great - it has been a couple years since he drew an issue of Hellboy, and it is always nice to see him take up that role again.
The movie was entertaining - just like the first, and did a lot for Hellboy’s public profile as a property. If good comics continue to come from that on a regular basis, then you can’t help but call the movie a success.
DC COMICS
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Page 60 - Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1, $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Geoff Johns, Art by Shane Davis and Sandra Hope
While Final Crisis has been lackluster at best, there is another DC event looming on the horizon that has some promise: “Blackest Night.” This issue, while a titular Final Crisis tie-in, might not be so closely linked with that story. Hopefully this is the case - Johns’ Green Lantern Corps saga is fantastic on its own, a Final Crisis link would only weigh the story down.
This issue promises to be a “prelude” to Blackest Night, with the new Red Lanterns warring with the Green Lanterns over Sinestro. I have my reservations about all of Didio’s talk of possible Black Lanterns (all the name-dropping is making me cringe), but we seem to be far from that point yet. No reason not to enjoy a good story just because of oncoming potential disaster. This issue should be worth picking up.
Page 63 - Vixen: Return of the Lion #1 (of 5), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by G. Willow Wilson, Art by Cafu
This series makes me miss JSA Classified. That format was fantastic, and if JLA Classified had followed it (and were still around), this is exactly the kind of story that would be a perfect fit. Vixen, while known, is certainly not on the A or B list of DC Heroes, and some stories boosting her exposure would have worked well in a JLA secondary title. Can’t really say if the mini is a better approach or not, but either way - if you are a Justice League reader, you shouldn’t forget to add this title to your list. It will give some good background on Vixen, and will hopefully end up being a decent read in the process.
Page 64 - Terror Titans #1 (of 4), $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Sean McKeever, Art by Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson
Still not totally sold on the idea of Ravager going back to the dark side, but McKeever has really hit his stride with his recent Teen Titans stories so perhaps it is a good idea to trust him. Ravager has been a key part of his Teen Titans story, and moving to this mini as a centerpiece, it is clear that he intends to develop her even more. Perhaps someday she would make an excellent foil for the Titans, but it might be too early for that. The best Titan villains have often been former members. Unfortunately, she wasn’t a member quite long enough for that kind of impact. Hopefully this story is a vehicle for her redemption. Either way, it should be a pretty good read.
Page 67 - Batman #681, $3.99, 40 Pages
Written by Grant Morrison, Art by Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea
So is Bruce Wayne really going to die? That is what DC is trying to tease with this story. Fans don’t really seem to be buying it (and there is a marked lack of interest overall in this story), but comments at the San Diego Comicon call this story back into question. Sure, it was played off like a joke, but every mention of a potential dead character being met with an “I need Black Lanterns” response was kind of an ominous thing, especially when you consider how well that kind of tactic has worked in comics before. Is Batman going to be killed, and returned as a Black Lantern? Or is Bruce Waybe just going to be declared completely insane, and unable to function as Batman any longer, as other speculate? Or is this all hype, and everything will return to the status quo once this story concludes? Impossible to say really - but it looks like all of this will be answered in October.
Page 74 - Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #1
Written by James Robinson, Art by Jesus Merino
Now this is a fun idea. As supporting characters go, Jimmy Olsen (for some reason) always makes for an entertaining story. I still remember that issue of Our Worlds At War he and Harley Quinn was featured in - a real show stopper that was. The point is - Olsen, as a character, can be confronted with all kinds of strange and dangerous situations where he is hopelessly outclassed and in dire peril, and still seem interesting. I’d love to see him have his own ongoing again - odds of that are miniscule, but this one-shot will be a nice treat. This issue will tie into the New Krypton Special, so if you are getting that one, don’t forget this issue.
Page 75 - Supergirl #34, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Sterling Gates, Art by Jamal Igle and Keith Champagne
Great news all around for this title. Outside of seeing Igle and Champagne together again (I still miss Firestorm), it is exciting to finally have the prospect of a responsible Supergirl. I don’t mean the character - she is a teenage girl, and “responsibility” isn’t necessarily most teenagers’ strong suits. But since Supergirl was brought back, she has been little more than an underage sexpot with absolutely no redeeming qualities of her own. Coming right after a much more practical Supergirl in Linda Danvers, Kara’s reintroduction was especially troubling. Still haven’t heard a ton about where this team will take Kara, but what we have heard so far is pretty good. Fingers crossed on this one.
Page 106 - Unknown Soldier #1, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Joshua Dysart, Art by Alberto Ponticelli
A new Vertigo series is almost always worth a look, and DC is really pushing Unknown Soldier. Already there were three full preview pages in this month’s Previews - it looked a little confusing, but it doesn’t really seem like the kind of story that can be demonstrated in so few pages. The story is set in Uganda - Dysart spent a month there doing research for the project, so it will be a bit grounded. There is a superhero vibe to it - at least in part. The protagonist suffers from a kind of split personality where the dormant one knows how to effectively kill. Kind of a Rose & Thorn thing. Well, its Vertigo - so it is worth a shot.
IMAGE COMICS
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Page 130 - Spawn #185, $2.95, 32 Pages
Written by Todd McFarlane and Brian Holdgun, Art by Whilce Portacio and Todd McFarlane
Trying to decide if this is a good thing or not. OK - a series creator returning to a book is always a good thing. McFarlane taking over as a writer for this title is surely sending Spawn fans into a giddy fit. But is it a step in the right direction? For a title that seemed to be finally getting back on track in terms of timeliness, is it really the best idea from a business perspective to go back to someone who was, in large part, responsible for the book’s inability to adhere to a shipping schedule?
Keeping the fingers crossed for this one, but consider me skeptical. I am sure in terms of quality, this issue and the subsequent arcs will be everything Spawn fans could hope for. Definitely buy the issue. But one can’t help but believe that it won’t be too long before we are once again talking about 6-12 month delays on this book.
Page 134 - The Walking Dead #56, $2.99, 32 Pages
Written by Robert Kirkman, Art by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn
Ah - the great thing about comics. You can declare an anniversary issue on the basis of issue number (25? 50? 100?), or you can go with simple years. We just celebrated the 50th issue of The Walking Dead - why not go with the 5 year anniversary as well! Eh - it seems a bit much, but The Walking Dead deserves all the attention it can get. This issue promises to be a little bit of a retrospective, exploring the history of the characters, and examining what has been lost to each of them. Sounds like a great jumping on point to me.
MARVEL COMICS
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Page M3 - Ender’s Game: The First Series #1 (of 5), $3.99, 32 Pages
Adapted by Christopher Yost, Art by Pasqual Ferry
It is great to see that this adaptation is going to focus on the original Ender’s Game novel alone, and not some weird blending of Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow. Don’t get me wrong - the whole Ender’s Shadow series was interesting, but not great. Not in the way that Ender’s Game and Speaker For The Dead are. It was beginning to seem like Ender’s Game in any form (film, comic, etc) would always be blended with Ender’s Shadow. While it does look like Marvel has plans to publish an Ender’s Shadow adaptation at the same time, the fact that they will be making them two separate books means that this adaptation should be relatively pure. Thank goodness. This should be great in comic form.
Page M14 - Ultimate Captain America Annual #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Jeph Loeb, Art by John Romita, Jr.
Page M15 - Ultimate Hulk Annual #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Jeph Loeb, Art by Marko Djurdjevic & Ed McGuinness
A pair of Ultimate Annuals this month - focusing on individual Ultimates team members. Not a bad idea leading up to the Ultimatum event - the Ultimate books have rarely focused on just one character (really, Ultimate Spider-Man is the only character that gets a solid solo treatment, not counting the recent Ultimate Iron Man books), and allowing The Hulk and Captain America get a little more face-time might not be such a bad idea. The Captain America issue is going to spend some time exploring the relationship between Ulimates Captain America and Black Panther, while the Hulk book will feature Power Princess in addition to the Hulk. Should be a decent couple issues… and a real test as to whether Ultimatum is going to be entertaining, or a bore like the unfortunate Ultimate Galactus story.
Page M20 - Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Marc Guggenheim, Art by Mike McKone
Well, Marvel has definitely been obvious about Jackpot, and who she is supposed to be. Well, despite all that, Marvel is set to reveal all about this “great mystery” in this issue. Of course, the fact that they have been so transparent about her identity means that there is probably something more to this than they have let on, and I am sure the specter of One More Day will once again rear its head. Impossible to say if this issue will help smooth over what happened in One More Day, or make things worse - Amazing Spider-Man has been much better since that event ended, and it might be damaging to call on it too strongly here. Time will tell. Should be worth checking out though, especially if you are following the mostly weekly title.
Page M22 - Amazing Spider-Girl #22, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Tom Defalco, Art by Ron Frenz
Wow - it has been a really long time since we heard any Spider-Girl cancellation flap. Too long, in fact… it doesn’t seem right! Of course, it is great that the latest volume of Spider-Girl has made it 25 issues without that threat resurfacing, and even better that the title, overall, has been pretty entertaining. The seeds of Spider-Girl being taken out of her element were just planted recently in the title, and it looks like things will be full blown by the time this issue hits the stands. Many people don’t really like the feel of Spider-Girl, but overall it is a great Spider-book, and sometimes even the best Spider-Man on the market. Through the mainstream Spider-Man’s ups and downs, this title (along with Ultimate Spider-Man) really exemplify what a Spider-Man story should be. Glad to see that this book is still going strong.
Page M28 - Captain America: White #1 (of 6), $3.99, 32 Pages
Written by Jeph Loeb, Art by Tim Sale
This series has been in the news a lot over the past few months, but it looks like it will finally be here come August. The fourth title in Loeb and Sale’s “Colors” series will focus on Captain America and Bucky, deep in World War II. With the overall tone of the previous Colors installments, and the violent nature of WWII that wasn’t really presented accurately when Captain America’s early WWII exploits were first put to paper, this could end up being a very dark read. This duo has done very well with their past collaborations, which makes this title an easy one to try out. Should be pretty good.
Page M68 - Thor: The Truth of History #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
By Alan Davis
Sometimes time travel stories can be fun - with superhero stories, it can be tricky, especially when going into the far past. This, though - should be fine - Norse Gods showing up in ancient Egypt isn’t as out there as it seems - and a good Thor story, especially a one-shot, it always welcome. Plus, Alan Davis is the entire creative team on this one, which is certainly worth notice, especially for fans of his. This one should be a solid Thor tale, definitely pick this one up if you are a fan of the God of Thunder.
Page M81 - Giant-Size X-Men First Class #1, $3.99, 48 Pages
Written by Jeff Parker and Roger Langridge, Art by Michael Cho, Roger Langridge, Nick Kilislian, Dean Haspiel, David Williams, and jeff Parker
Seems like all the really good issues this month are the extra sized ones. This one is no exception! Parker’s X-Men First Class has been an outstanding concept, and it is great to see it still around. A lot of Marvel characters have lost a bit of their original flare over the years, and that is especially true with the X-Men. Seeing a simple story with the original core group, and not having to worry about thousands of other mutant characters popping up and decades of weird stories and conflicting continuity is nice. This is a Halloween themed issue, with Beast looking into a few paranormal mysteries around the world, with the X-men in tow no doubt. Should be a fun issue - simple and enjoyable.
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Page 344 - The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes #1 (of 3), $3.25, 32 Pages, Viper Comics
Written by Dale Mettam, Art by Erich Owen
Heh - this looks like a bit of fun. Not sure how close to the original movie this comic will be - it is “based” on the film, which could mean a lot of things, but Dixon is present, so I would imagine it will be pretty close. I can’t help but wonder if this is in any way going to relate to the alleged remake that is in the works (though why you would need to remake this movie is beyond me, but I digress).
In any case - this is going to be a hilarious read and well worth tracking down!
Craig’s Top Five Of The Month
#5 - Batman #681, $3.99, 40 Pages, DC Comics - Not sure Bruce is really going to die here, but something major is going to happen one way or another.
#4 - Captain America: White #1 (of 6), $3.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics - The return of Loeb and Sale to Colors will be great news for many.
#3 - Amazing Spider-Girl #25, $3.99, 48 Pages, Marvel Comics - Spider-Girl has really bounced back in recent months, and regained a lot of its old charm. Looking forward to seeing where this Brand New May story goes.
#2 - Supergirl #34, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics - Looks like Supergirl might finally be going in the right direction.
#1 - Ender’s Game: The First Series #1 (of 5), $3.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics - This adaptation is long overdue.
The opinions in this article are the writer’s alone, and no not necessarily reflect the views of X-World Comics or comiXtreme.com.
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