Monday, March 31, 2008

What I’m Getting Wednesday


The first week in a five week month, which means I don’t have to devote as much time to this post as my list is reasonable (for me) this week. I used to feel like the first week of the month was always the slowest week of the month. For some reason with my list none of the absolute top books were coming out week one. That has changed recently with this first week including Action, Scalped, The Twelve, Abe Sapien, Walking Dead and Archibald Saves Easter. The market share report is DC 44% (12 books), Independents 41% (11 books) and Marvel 15% (4 books).

Action Comics #863 – This issue is the grand finale of Superman’s adventure with the original Legion of Super Heroes. The only thing that is wrong with this issue is this adventure had to end. I have loved what Waid did with the latest Legion, but this book just struck all the nostalgic chords for me. Geoff Johns really crafted an old time Legion adventure that was very modern but had a silver age flavor.

Atom #22 – Rick Remender has really kicked this book up a notch right from the jump. This issue Atom is fighting the Genesis Bug that is within his own blood. I love how Rick has taken everything that came before, embraced and made this book his own right away. Patrick Olliffe on pencils was a great touch as he has a stronger realistic edge to his work, while still conveying the fantastic.

Countdown Final Crisis #4 – The last four chapters are finally here. I assume this issue we get to see what Earth faced the “great disaster” as I’m pretty sure it wasn't the main DCU, still I enjoyed last issue and hope that the final four issues have some merit. Still can’t wait for it to be over.

Detective #843 – Zatanna is back and it is obvious that Paul Dini loves doing a retro-con (as he did in the cartoon) of giving Bruce and “Z” a history. I actually like the idea myself and think that they would make a great couple. We also are finally promised some back story on the new Ventriloquist. I enjoy it when a hero or villain is updated. A new person with the name allows for different stories with that character that are not out of character as no character has been established yet.

Infinity Inc. #8 – From the cover it appears that the group is starting to become a group, but with Peter Milligan as writer it will never be what we expect. The addition of Pete Woods as the artist is saving me from abandoning this book. One severe problem on this book was the art and with Matt Camp and now Pete Woods that has been resolved.

Jonah Hex #30 – All you have to say is Jonah Hex and Jordi Bernet as artist and I’m sold. I have become a big fan of Jordi Bernet and now have some of his classic Torpedo work courtesy of Lee (THANKS). Gray and Palmiotti are writing a great western series.

Metal Men #7 (of 8) – This series is driving me a little crazy, as I have enjoyed the artwork, had fun with a lot of the concepts it has thrown out, but hated the over written script and needlessly complex jumping around in time. As a monthly series this book has failed, but I’m very tempted to get the trade as I’m almost positive this will be a great read as a trade.

Nightwing #143 – This has become a good series again. Peter Tomasi has redeveloped Nightwing as an integral part of the DCU. He has contacts with the JLA, JSA and his network via his own extended Bat family. This issue Tim (Robin) is joining Dick in trying to solve the mystery of who is playing Dr. Frankenstein with dead metas. Don Kramer fills in as artist and he is a solid choice as Rags apparently cannot keep a monthly schedule.

Supergirl #28 – Last issue she saw the future if she decides to save this little boy from certain death. The chain reaction she creates is profound according to those future people. Apparently she is still going ahead with trying to save his life. Logically you would think that a hero would still try to save the boy’s life and the let the chips fall where they may.

Trials of Shazam #12 (of 12) – Wow did this series take a long time to actual complete. Overall I have enjoyed this recreation of Captain Marvel and hope that Freddy takes his place among the DCU pantheon of heroes. By making Freddy Captain Marvel we can move the character forward and allow him to be a more modern version of the character. There is always room for solo stories told of the first CM that can be done more in the manner that was the characters norm in the golden age.

Midnighter #18 – Well Keith Giffen has finally made this an interesting series. The official hype “Assassin8, the world's deadliest hitman and a genetic chameleon, has defeated the Midnighter and taken over his identity. Next stop: the Carrier and the rest of the Authority...and the actual target of his assignment.” Add Lee Garbett as artist and I’m back to enjoying this book.

Scalped #16 – Scalped in 15 issues has risen to be one of the “cream of the crop” of comic series. The book packs so much raw emotion and fury into each issue that it is amazing. We are in the midst of the “Dead Mothers” story line as Dash tries to help figure out how to make the murderer of a young boy’s mother pay. The problem is the murderer is also an agent of the FBI, who is undercover and Dash has been told to leave him alone. At the same time Dash is not dealing with his feelings of loss for his own mother’s death and it is eating away at him. Simply a great series.

Abe Sapien the Drowning #3 (of 5) – This issue continues the Abe’s first mission for the BPRD without Hellboy. Last issue everyone else in his team has been killed so Abe is really on his own. In addition to a great story that is building more back story for Abe, this book treats us to the fantastic art of Jason Shawn Alexander and Mike Mignola doing the covers.

Archibald Save Easter – The best dang comic there is about deranged cartoon Aardvarks. I loved Archibald Saves Christmas and can’t wait to see this issue and what type of madness and mayhem will happen to the Easter Bunny. The best one liner for this book is Roger Rabbit meet Sin City. Grant Bond is both artist and co-story teller with Dwight MacPherson as co-writer.

Brit #5 – This is a quirky little series that has yet to really totally draw me in. I know Robert Kirkman is not writing his creation, but it really reads a lot like one of his books. Since most of his books take a while to develop I’m giving this book more rope.

Cemetery Blues #3 (of 3) - The tale of this erstwhile monster hunters is a fun read and Thomas Boatwright’s art has a wonderful quality to it. His art has a cartoon like vibe to it and is also more realistic then a true animation type style. At the same time it can be almost moody, great stuff. I hope to see more of our “heroes” in future tales.

Frank Frazetta’s Dark Kingdom – One Shot – The Death Dealer mini-series based on Frank’s painting was an enjoyable series, so I thought I would try the one shot based on another Frazetta painting. This harkens back to the days when Julie Schwartz at DC would commission a cover image and then tell the writer’s to put a story to it.

New World Order #3 – I’m so lost on this book and I have no good reason as to why I have hung on for issue #3. I guess I’m hoping it will make more sense after this issue.

Walking Dead #48 – I can not wait for this issue. Last issue we saw Rick’s wife on her knees with a gun to her head and it looked like someone from the inside was betraying them. Walking Dead is busting loose and has shaken the status quo up in a big way.

Anna Mercury #1 (of 5) – This is another Warren Ellis book from Avatar. I’m surprised that Warren has time to do anything with his name attached to so many different titles. Let me see at Avatar he has Black Summer, Gravel, Freak Angels and now Anna Mercury; at DC he still has Desolation Jones (supposedly) and at Marvel he has Newuniversal, Thunderbolts and Astonishing X-Men. He is one busy guy. Part of the official hype on this series “Dancing amid the spires of a city called New Ataraxia, there is a woman who can cloud men’s minds, leap across buildings as if weightless, unerringly fire twin automatic pistols in the most insane conditions, and disappear in a crowded room. She fights against the political repression of an insane technocratic society, and she comes from a place that no-one in New Ataraxia has ever heard of. And she’s got one hour to save the city from itself.”

Jenny Finn Trade Paperback – At this point all you have to say is written by Mike Mignola and I want to check it out. This is a tale that is described as Lovecraftian in its style, which is really a lot of Mike’s work. He takes Lovecraft type horror and then plays with it and makes it his own. This story is about a little girl in Victorian England who seems to bring disaster wherever she goes.

North Wind #4 (of 5) – This is another great story from Boom studios. This is a post apocalyptic tale of a young man who has returned to try and find revenge for what happen to his town when he was a boy. Set in a future where a new Ice Age has come to our planet.

Mega City Underground Volume One – It has been awhile since I have gotten any material from the Judge Dredd side of things, but the solicitation drew me in, especially with the creators “by Andy Diggle, Jock, Simon Coleby, Henry Flint.Lenny Zero was tired of life as an undercover Judge, and wanted to flee Mega-City One with the woman he loved. But she proved to be Judge Kramer of the S.J.S., and she sentenced him to life on Titan! Lenny blew her hand off and fled - hunted and heartbroken, Lenny's in big trouble, and it's only going to get worse! These are the stories of the undercover judges”.

Logan #2 (of 3) – My biggest problem with this book is that the B&W variant edition maybe a better looking book as Risso’s art shines even better without color. The first issue was a decent little story by Brian Vaughn, but Risso stole the show.

Secret Invasion #1 (of 8) – Marvel’s mega-event for this year finally kicks off. Personally I will follow the main event, but I’m avoiding add on books like the plague. Boy does all of this really feel like the nineties with event after event after event to keep spiking sales numbers. To make it even more like that time, there are five covers.

The Twelve #4 (of 12) – This is an outstanding series by JMS and Chris Weston. Each of the first three issues have been gems and I’m really enjoying this tale of twelve heroes who lost 60 plus years and are now trying to adjust to a world that has passed them by.

Young X-Men #1 – Not going in with any good expectations. I have cancelled each new X-books that I have tried out after one issue, let’s see if this book can stop that trend.


As I said this is a relatively small week from my perspective. A small side note I have decided to try and add as many covers as possible, but switched to a smaller format to fit them all.


The Best to Worse of Last Week post has been moved to Wednesday for this week, as tomorrow’s post demanded to be done tomorrow.

2 comments:

  1. ı'm big big big the biggest Milligan fan and i hope Infinity Inc. will rise again with Pete Woods. Do something for this rising, please.

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  2. Ellis is leaving THUNDERBOLTS soon. DESOLATION is waiting for a relaunch (kinda even though it's in the middle of a story arc). GRAVEL he writes a 5 page scriptment with story ideas and bits of dialogue that Mike Wolfer stretches into full script.

    ANNA MERCURY I believe is a mini-series in the length of BLACK SUMMER which I believe is starting to get late because of the Geoff Darrow approach of the artist.

    You said something nice about COUNTDOWN again. I'm convinced your brain has turned to mush.

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