Wednesday, December 16, 2009

DC Preview Review for February Part 1 of 3

Jim: So DC finally did the old classified thing for their solicitations. It is funny because retailers are supposed to be able to know the contents in order to be able to determine how many too buy. Still it is important for the story to keep things under wrap.
Lee: Don’t tell me your surprised! But, there’s lots of good stuff outside of Blackest Night this month.
Gwen: OOO! Mystery!

BLACKEST NIGHT #7
On sale February 24 • 7 of 8 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari
Sketch variant cover by Ivan Reis
As Nekron continues to wage war on life throughout the universe, Hal Jordan discovers the grim, true mission behind the villain’s return. But the truth is so cosmically abysmal that it threatens to expose a secret that could tear the very universe asunder. You can’t miss this stunning, penultimate issue to the year’s biggest event!
GREEN LANTERN #51
On sale February 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy
Variant cover by Greg Horn
The most epic battle in BLACKEST NIGHT yet comes to a shocking conclusion as Hal Jordan makes the ultimate move to take on the Black Lantern Spectre. But what price comes with the unleashing of Parallax? And what does this mean for the future of the emotional spectrum’s avatars?
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #45
On sale February 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art and cover by Patrick Gleason & Rebecca Buchman
Variant cover by Greg Horn
The battle for the Green Lantern Battery on Oa comes to a bloody end as the new front in the War of Light emerges!
BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #3
On sale February 3 • 3 of 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Nicola Scott
Cover by Greg Horn
Variant cover by Ryan Sook
Following closely to the events of BLACKEST NIGHT, this miniseries event concludes as the Amazonian Princess comes to terms with who she is and what her role is in the world. But will her acceptance make her more appetizing to the Black Lantern hordes – or could that emotion be their undoing?
ADVENTURE COMICS STARRING BLACK LANTERN SUPERBOY #7
On sale February 10 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Travis Moore
Covers by Francis Manapul
TOP SECRET!
BLACK LANTERN GREEN ARROW #30
On sale FEBRUARY 24 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by JT KRUL
Art by WILL CONRAD
Cover by GREG HORN
Variant cover by MIKE GRELL
TOP SECRET!

Jim: All of these books have the “Top Secret” label. After keeping Final Crisis separate DC is betting almost the entire line minus their big two on Blackest Night. So far it has been good, but the ending is make or break it time.
Lee: I have to say, of all the event comics I’m not reading this appears to be the most interesting. People generally seem to like it which is more than any other event in the past couple of years.
Gwen: A secret that could shatter the universe! Hal finds out that his whole world is just a comic book and decides to confront Geoff Johns in a blow out battle in hopes of resurrecting Kyle. Of course anything that brings Kyle back is fine with me. *cries*

DETECTIVE COMICS #862
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Jock
Co-feature art by Cully Hamner
Cover by JH Williams III
On sale February 24 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Two mystery cases collide, as Batman gets closer to finding a missing socialite while Batwoman uncovers a gruesome new villain who has grafted knives onto his skin. There will be blood “and souvenirs of victims flesh” in Cutter part 2!

Lee: And here I thought Marvel had cornered the market on over the top violence and gore. But, the bloody stripe down the middle of the cover, some bloody knives, and guarantees of mutilated victims only ups the ante for Marvel.
Jim: Really this is not all that bad. I mean the implications are there, but it is not explicate.
Gwen: Explicate?
Jim : Explicit - Sheesh minor mispelling - damn spellcheck.

BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #9
Written by Paul Dini; co-feature written by Marc Andreyko Art by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs
Co-feature art by Jeremy Haun
Cover by Dustin Nguyen
On sale February 17 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
It’s Batman, Robin and Abuse against Zsasz’s army! Will the heroes be able to save the captured children in time?

Lee: Speaking of violence and disturbing villains, let’s not get started on Zsasz! But, credit to Nguyen for an outstanding cover. It’s violent but not over the top. This will look great on the stands.
Jim:It is a great looking cover. It’s funny but I don’t remember Zsasz first appearance, but they have used him sparingly, but to great effect over the last few years.
Gwen: Zsasz... how would one actually pronounce that. Still, I agree with Lee, awesome cover art.

BATMAN: THE WIDENING GYRE #5
Written by Kevin Smith
Art by Walter Flanagan & Art Thibert
Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz
Variant Cover by Gene Ha
On sale February 24 • 5 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
As Batman and a new partner-against-crime tackle the streets of Gotham City, Bruce Wayne’s personal life takes a step to the side as the women in his life force him into an awkward position.

Jim: I skipped this book and I have heard no buzz on it at all. I wonder if the sales are any good. I think the Kevin Smith is a god thing is pretty well over.
Lee: All Kevin needs is another movie and all the hype will come flooding back.
Gwen: Batman's women problems are never a story pull for me - his women have become akin to Bond women these days.

SUPERGIRL #50
Written by Sterling Gates, Helen Slater & Jake Black
Art by Jamal Igle, Jon Sibal & Fernando Dagnino
Cover by Michael Turner
Variant cover by Joshua Middleton
On sale February 17 56 pg, FC, $4.99 US
Special celebratory 50th issue! Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle reunite to tell an epic, oversized battle royale between the Girl of Steel and a mysterious, diabolical new foe! Still reeling from last issue’s harrowing events, Supergirl is put to the test when she uncovers a terrible secret about her friend and confidant, Lana Lang.
Plus! A look into a day in the life of the Girl of Steel written by Jake Black and Supergirl herself, actress Helen Slater!
Featuring a cover by the man who redefined Supergirl for the 21st century, Michael Turner, SUPERGIRL #50 is an extra-sized extravaganza you won’t want to miss!

Lee: I cannot believe this series has made it to 50 issues. I think Jim even stopped buying it because it was so bad. Or, if he does still buy it, it’s so bad that it never gets mentioned on a Tuesday best of post. This series needs to just go away. AND, the cover is excellent for all the wrong reasons!
Jim: Actually this series has become decent under Sterling Gates. I never mention it because it is a middle of the road book. The first 30 issues of this series were a waste.
Gwen: The variant Micheal Turner cover is scary as I can count Supergirl's ribs =/ His artwork is shiny but his women are just painfully skinny. And Jim's right, the series has gotten better.

HUMAN TARGET #1
Written by Len Wein & Peter Johnson
Art by Bruno Redondo, Sergio Sandoval, Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
Cover by Lee Bermejo
Photo variant cover
On sale February 10 • 1 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
On the heels of the highly anticipated Human Target Fox television series comes a brand-new adventure pitting Christopher Chance against the organized crime...of the world! When he’s tasked with protecting a highly placed informant and collecting damaging evidence throughout Europe, every assassin and goon from Paris to Prague will be gunning for the Human Target!
From series creator Len Wein comes an all-new, action-packed adventure featuring the art of Bruno Redondo (PUSH) and covers by some of the industry’s most popular creators! As a bonus, we’ve also got a backup story by Peter Johnson, executive producer of the Fox series, with art by the amazing Chris Sprouse (TOM STRONG)!

Jim: Len Wein no longer has it for me with his recent efforts. This book only made the cut because of the TV show and putting it out on the DCU side tells me no edge to this series.
Lee: The last series was so very, very good that this doesn’t stand a chance. The concept needs to push the envelope to be any good and as a TV tie in, I bet it’s very restrained. I hate to say it, but I predict failure.
Gwen: I like some of the Human Target stuff so I'll just hope that it's good :)

Tomorrow Return For Part 2

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