Internet problems. WordPress problems. Sigh. It’s Tuesday afternoon, isn’t it?
On top of that, it’s a slow week, picks-wise, for me. Luckily, Chris Mautner is there to pick up my slack.
Tomorrow sees the release of Zero Killer #1 and Casper the Friendly Ghost, Vol. 1, at Dark Horse, All-Flash #1 and The Programme #1 at DC, the Black Cherry and Madman Gargantua graphic novels at Image, and the first issues of Marvel Adventures Hulk and The Order at Marvel.
Elsewhere finds the new volume of Flight, and the debut of Monster Attack Network.
You know the drill by now: This is where Chris and I sift through the titles shipping this week, and highlight the notable releases. As always, let us know your choices in the comments below.
FEB070078 HARVEY COMICS CLASSICS VOL 1 CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST TP $19.95
MAR070068 LITTLE LULU VOL 16 A HANDY KID TP $10.95
Chris: Dark Horse makes a strong showing this week, with this one-two punch of classic comics. The first is their initial entry into what one hopes will be a long-running trade collection of classic Harvey cartoons, this one dealing with that really creepy ghost kid who was overly gregarious. The second is yet another Little Lulu volume, which is always good news in my house.
APR070028 SCREW HEAVEN WHEN I DIE IM GOING TO MARS TP $12.95
Chris: Another book from Dark Horse, this one collecting various gag cartoons by Shannon Wheeler. No Too Much Coffee Man here, as far as I can tell.
MAY070162 ALL FLASH #1 $2.99
Kevin: This one-shot is noteworthy because it heralds Mark Waid’s return to The Flash, a character he wrote for eight years during the ’90s, and with which he’s closely associated. That’s reason enough for many fans of The Flash and superheroes in general to rejoice, as Waid’s run on the title is generally highly regarded. Readers should probably cling to that, too, because there isn’t much else to celebrate about All-Flash #1. The comic seems like a place-holder, slapped together to fill the lull before the regular series returns next month, to clear up any confusion left by The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #13 and Justice League of America #10, and to put a period at the end of the brief Bart Allen Era. Contributions by seven different artists only reinforce the rushed feel. Karl Kerschl’s pages — all 10 of them — are absolutely stunning, making me long for his Teen Titans Year One miniseries. But the others? Well … did I mention Karl Kerschl’s pages are stunning?
APR070210 SHAZAM THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4 (OF 4) $5.99
Kevin: I can’t express how much I’ve enjoyed Jeff Smith’s take on Captain Marvel. Removing the Marvel Family from the influences and continuity of the DC Universe, Smith has managed to restore much of their Golden Age charm while updating, and toning down, some of the more head-shakingly goofy elements. (Tawky Tawny, for instance, no longer struts around in a green-checked suit. Now, he’s closer to Shere Khan from The Jungle Book.) Oh, how I’ll miss this miniseries. Pick of the week.
MAY070183 SPIRIT #8 $2.99
Chris: I believe Darwyn Cooke is back in full force with this issue.
MAR071841 GODLAND #19 $2.99
FEB071892 GODLAND VOL 3 PROTO PLASTIC PARTY TP $14.99
Chris: Whether you’re following Godland in the trades or issue by issue, this week has something for you, as both the third volume and the latest pamphlet hit stores tomorrow.
MAR072091 LEGION OF MONSTERS MORBIUS $2.99
Kevin: When I was a kid I loved Marvel and DC’s similar-looking vampire/bat characters Man-Bat, Baron Blood and Morbius the Living Vampire. That’s all I have to say, really.
APR078063 MARVEL ZOMBIES 5TH PTG MARY JANE HC $19.99
Chris: Your chance to take an up-close gander at the cover that broke Chris Butcher’s back.
MAY072159 NEW X-MEN #40 $2.99
Kevin: I’m still enjoying the “Quest for Magik” storyline, though I’d be hard-pressed to say why. I really like the energy of Skottie Young’s art, so that’s part of it. The rest of that pie chart is probably filled with “Illyana Rasputin/New Mutants Nostalgia” (40 percent), “Reasonably Easy-To-Follow Story” (8 percent), and “Other” (2 percent).
MAY072154 SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #1 (OF 5) $2.99
Kevin: I don’t really get the appeal of MODOK — he, The Leader and Egghead always kind of freaked me out — but this apparent Ocean’s 11-style take on a supervillain heist is kind of interesting. Maybe not five issues worth, but still …
MAY072110 THE ORDER #1 CWI $2.99
Kevin: After a slight trademark hiccup, The Champions The Order finally kicks off, by new Marvel darling Matt Fraction and new Marvel exclusive Barry Kitson. The series spins out of Civil War and Tony Stark’s Fifty-State Initiative, which doesn’t really interest me, but Fraction has been on fire with The Immortal Iron Fist and Punisher War Journal. So, I’ll be interested to see how he handles a more straightforward superhero-team book.
MAY072119 WORLD WAR HULK #2 (OF 5) WWH $3.99
MAY072121 WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #2 (OF 6) WWH $2.99
MAY072120 WORLD WAR HULK ROMITA JR VAR #2 (OF 5) $3.99
MAY072125 WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #2 (OF 3) $2.99
Chris: I’m not sure, but I think Hulk hits somebody in this issue. I really enjoyed the first issue of WWH and am crossing my fingers that it doesn’t take a sharp nosedive with the second issue. I’m not following any of the spin-offs, but there are a few this week for those that are.
MAY073606 ADVENTURES OF RABBIT AND BEAR PAWS VOL 1 GN THE SUGAR BUSH $7.95
MAY073656 BEAVER AND STEVE VOL 1 TP A SHOEFUL OF TROUBLE $12.95
Chris: These are porn comics, right? C’mon, they’ve gotta be porn.
MAY073311 BONE VOL 6 OLD MANS CAVE COLOR ED HC $18.99
MAY073310 BONE VOL 6 OLD MANS CAVE COLOR ED SC $9.99
Chris: It’s kind of impressive how Scholastic is able to get these color editions out so rapidly, isn’t it?
APR073468 FLIGHT VOL 4 GN $24.95
Chris: This isn’t my pick of the week, but I bet it will be the pick for a number of other folks. The little anthology that could features work by “Graham Annable, Clio Chiang, Michel Gagné, Amy Kim Ganter, Kazu Kibuishi, Fábio Moon, Ovi Nedelcu and others.”
NOV064107 GANZFELD 5 JAPANADA TP $29.95
Chris: This latest issue of the Ganzfeld highlights the work of avant-garde artists in both Japan and Canada, hence the title. I picked this up at MoCCA and it’s a truly stunning book, but if the whole Fort Thunder/Paper Rad isn’t your bag of chips, then you should probably pass.
APR073712 LOST COLONY BOOK 2 THE RED MENACE SC $16.95
Chris: The second volume in Grady Klein’s ongoing series for First Second, about a hidden village in 19th-century America. I haven’t had a chance to read the book yet — it’s currently buried in my review pile — so I can’t comment on it except to say despite the flaws of the first volume, Klein shows a good deal of promise.
MAY073136 MONSTER ATTACK NETWORK GN $12.95
Kevin: Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman and Nima Sorat team for this graphic novel about a group that battles giant monsters on an island in the South Pacific. I haven’t read it yet, but the title and the premise are enough to pique my interest. (Our own JK Parkin posted an interview with Bernardin this morning.)
APR073876 RUN BONG GU RUN GN $15.95
Chris: Manwha from NBM, about a mother and son coming to Seoul to try to track down the boy’s father. NBM made a strong showing with its previous manwha book, Buja’s Diary, so I’ll likely be checking this book out, too.
APR073469 STOP FORGETTING TO REMEMBER GN $19.95
Chris: Peter Kuper’s big-ass graphic novel debut, about a cartoonist, much like Kuper himself, who struggles with his chosen career, the onset of parenthood, and the general anxiety of the post 9-11 world. I reviewed it for the latest issue of The Comics Journal. I didn’t like it too much.
MAY073508 LEVITATION PHYSICS PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE OF DECEPTION $12.95
MAY073507 WIRE MOTHERS HARRY HARLOW & THE SCIENCE OF LOVE GN $12.95
Chris: Picks of the week. Jim Ottaviani’s dual books on science and popular culture are smart, informative and well worth your time. The first delves into the history of magic, specifically the history of the levitation trick. You know, the one with the hula hoop. The second, and better, book examines Harlow’s work with baby monkeys in an attempt to show that love was an actual, significant force in nature. Get ‘em both if you can.
MAR073426 COMICS JOURNAL #284 $11.95
Chris: The month’s issue features interviews with Roger Landridge, Gene Yang and the afore-mentioned review by moi. What more incentive could you possibly need?
MAY073936 PRISON BREAK MAGAZINE NEWSSTAND ED #5 $6.99
Chris: Man, I hope that’s about the TV show.
Here’s the full list of comics shipping this week:
DARK HORSE COMICS
MAY070014 CONAN #42 (MR) $2.99
MAY070040 GOON #19 $2.99
FEB070078 HARVEY COMICS CLASSICS VOL 1 CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST TP $19.95
MAR070093 HELLBOY ANIMATED RUBBER STAMP KIT $19.99
MAY070060 JOURNAL GUNGRAVE $9.99
MAY070062 JOURNAL HELLSING ULTIMATE $9.99
APR070057 KOTOBUKIYA LUKE VS VADER 30TH ANN LTD ED VINYL MODEL KIT $200.00
MAR070068 LITTLE LULU VOL 16 A HANDY KID TP $10.95
APR070015 SAMURAI HEAVEN & EARTH VOL 2 #5 (OF 5) $2.99
APR070028 SCREW HEAVEN WHEN I DIE IM GOING TO MARS TP $12.95
OCT068231 SERENITY IN DISGUISE VAR ORNAMENT $24.99
JAN070087 SPACE PINCHY TP (MR) $15.95
APR070044 STAR WARS 30TH ANNIV COLL VOL 6 ENDGAME HC $24.95
NOV060032 STAR WARS DARK TIMES #4 (OF 5) $2.99
FEB070113 WETA HELLGATE LONDON CABALIST STATUE $225.00
MAY070010 ZERO KILLER #1 (OF 6) $2.99
DC COMICS
MAY070132 ACTION COMICS #852 (CD) $2.99
MAY070162 ALL FLASH #1 $2.99
MAY070129 AMAZONS ATTACK #4 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY070155 AQUAMAN SWORD OF ATLANTIS #54 $2.99
MAY070229 ARMY @ LOVE #5 (MR) $2.99
APR070168 BATMAN HARLEY AND IVY TP $14.99
MAY070152 BIRDS OF PREY #108 $2.99
MAY070168 BLACK CANARY #2 (OF 4) $2.99
MAY070154 BRAVE AND THE BOLD #5 $2.99
APR070239 CANON VOL 2 $9.99
MAY070140 CATWOMAN #69 $2.99
MAY070157 CHECKMATE #16 $2.99
MAY070127 COUNTDOWN 41 $2.99
APR070221 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COMICBOOK HEROES VOL 2 WONDER WOMAN $19.99
DEC060315 EW4 AMAZONIA WONDER WOMAN AF PI
DEC060319 EW4 DARK SIDE SUPERMAN (GOOD) AF PI
DEC060316 EW4 JSA LIBERTY BATMAN AF PI
DEC060317 EW4 JSA LIBERTY THE FLASH AF PI
DEC060318 EW4 KINGDOM COME BLUE BEETLE AF PI
MAY078264 GREEN LANTERN SINESTRO CORPS SPECIAL 2ND PTG #1 $4.99
MAY070212 HIGHWAYMEN #2 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV060318 JOKER DELUXE VINYL STATUE BY KOTOBUKIYA $89.99
MAY070172 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11 $2.99
MAY070173 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VAR ED #11 $2.99
MAY070192 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #4 $2.25
MAY070209 PROGRAMME #1 (OF 12) $2.99
MAY070210 PROGRAMME VAR ED #1 (OF 12) $2.99
APR070241 RECIPE FOR GERTRUDE VOL 5 $9.99
MAY070142 ROBIN #164 $2.99
MAY070196 SCOOBY DOO #122 $2.25
MAR070217 SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY ARCHIVES VOL 2 HC $49.99
APR070210 SHAZAM THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL #4 (OF 4) $5.99
MAY070183 SPIRIT #8 $2.99
JAN070407 STARDUST STAR AND LORD PRIMUS MINI BUST SET $79.99
JAN070408 STARDUST TRISTRAN AND THE WITCH MINI BUST SET $79.99
APR070252 STORMWATCH PHD VOL 1 TP $17.99
MAY070146 SUPERMAN BATMAN #38 $2.99
MAR078189 SUPERMAN BATMAN VAR ED #38 $2.99
MAY070223 TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE ABOUT A BOY #1 (MR) $2.99
DEC060324 WOMEN OF THE DC UNIVERSE BIG BARDA BUST $45.00
IMAGE COMICS
MAY071851 BLACK CHERRY GN (MR) $17.99
MAR071869 DARKNESS LEVEL 5 DALE KEOWN CVR A $2.99
MAR071870 DARKNESS LEVEL 5 MIKE CHOI CVR B $2.99
MAY071905 DARKNESS NY COMICON LTD ED BASEBALL T/S LG $29.99
MAY071904 DARKNESS NY COMICON LTD ED BASEBALL T/S MED $29.99
MAY071903 DARKNESS NY COMICON LTD ED BASEBALL T/S SM $29.99
MAY071906 DARKNESS NY COMICON LTD ED BASEBALL T/S XL $29.99
MAY071907 DARKNESS NY COMICON LTD ED BASEBALL T/S XXL $29.99
MAY071852 FULL COLOR GN $15.99
MAR071841 GODLAND #19 $2.99
FEB071892 GODLAND VOL 3 PROTO PLASTIC PARTY TP $14.99
MAR071824 INTERSECTIONS LTD ED S&N HC GN $34.99
MAR071823 INTERSECTIONS SC GN $14.99
DEC061861 MADMAN GARGANTUA HC $125.00
DEC061862 MADMAN GARGANTUA HC LTD S&N ED $150.00
MAY071863 MELTDOWN TP $15.99
APR071853 PAUL JENKINS SUPER SUMMER SIDEKICK SPECTACULAR #1 (OF 2) $2.99
MAY071877 REPO #2 (OF 5) $3.50
FEB071898 SAM & TWITCH BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS COLLECTION VOL 2 TP $24.95
APR071861 SIDEKICK VOL 1 TP (MR) $16.99
DEC061871 SPAWN COLLECTION VOL 2 HC $49.95
APR071877 STRANGE EMBRACE #2 ( OF 8 ) (MR) $2.99
FEB071917 TEXAS STRANGERS #2 $2.99
MAY071911 WEAPON #2 (OF 4) $2.99
MAY071900 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA MACK CVR B #6 $3.99
MAY071899 WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA SUMITA CVR A #6 $3.99
MARVEL COMICS
MAY072104 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST QUASAR #1 (OF 4) $2.99
MAY072108 AVENGERS CLASSIC #2 $2.99
MAY072126 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #4 WWH $2.99
MAY072109 CAPTAIN AMERICA #28 CWI $2.99
MAY072082 DAILY BUGLE AUGUST NEWSPAPER PI
MAY072188 EXILES VOL 15 TP $13.99
MAY072096 FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #22 $2.99
MAY072127 GHOST RIDER #13 WWH $2.99
MAY072113 GHOST RIDER TRAIL OF TEARS #6 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY072133 GIANT SIZED MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #1 $3.99
MAY072183 HOOD BLOOD FROM STONES PREMIERE HC (MR) $19.99
MAR072091 LEGION OF MONSTERS MORBIUS $2.99
MAY072136 MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #26 $2.99
MAY072132 MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #1 $2.99
MAY072090 MARVEL ILLUSTRATED TREASURE ISLAND #2 (OF 6) $2.99
APR078063 MARVEL ZOMBIES 5TH PTG MARY JANE HC $19.99
MAY072141 MYSTIC ARCANA BLACK KNIGHT $2.99
MAY072159 NEW X-MEN #40 $2.99
APR072377 PARADISE X VOL 1 TP NEW PTG $29.99
MAY078066 SILVER SURFER REQUIEM 2ND PTG VAR #1 (OF 4) $3.99
MAY072154 SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #1 (OF 5) $2.99
MAY072110 THE ORDER #1 CWI $2.99
MAY072155 THUNDERBOLTS DESPERATE MEASURES $2.99
MAY072093 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #111 $2.99
MAY072166 WOLVERINE ORIGINS ANNUAL #1 $3.99
MAY072119 WORLD WAR HULK #2 (OF 5) WWH $3.99
MAY072121 WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #2 (OF 6) WWH $2.99
MAY072120 WORLD WAR HULK ROMITA JR VAR #2 (OF 5) $3.99
MAY072125 WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #2 (OF 3) $2.99
WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
MAY073090 WIZARD ANIME INSIDER BLEACH CVR #47 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99
OTHER PUBLISHERS
APR073923 2000 AD #1543 $4.10
MAY073684 2000 AD #1544 $4.10
APR073760 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #62 (A) $4.99
MAY073606 ADVENTURES OF RABBIT AND BEAR PAWS VOL 1 GN THE SUGAR BUSH $7.95
MAY073196 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #111 $2.25
MAY073197 ARCHIE DIGEST #236 $2.49
MAY073656 BEAVER AND STEVE VOL 1 TP A SHOEFUL OF TROUBLE $12.95
MAY073201 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #153 $3.69
MAY073621 BLOOD PSI ONE SHOT (MR) $3.50
MAY073311 BONE VOL 6 OLD MANS CAVE COLOR ED HC $18.99
MAY073310 BONE VOL 6 OLD MANS CAVE COLOR ED SC $9.99
MAY073609 BREATHE CVR A #4 (OF 4) $2.99
MAY073610 BREATHE CVR B #4 (OF 4) $2.99
APR073853 BREATHE CVR C #3 SIGNED ED $5.00
APR074367 COMICKERS ART STYLE VOL 3 $35.99
APR073925 COMPLETE SAVAGE TP $26.99
MAR073256 COVER GIRL #3 (OF 5) $3.99
MAY073349 DARK XENA #3 $3.50
APR074369 DEAD OR ALIVE XTREME 2 BEST SHOT $45.99
APR074371 DEVIL MAY CRY GRAPHIC FILE $45.99
MAR073679 DEVILS PANTIES #12 $4.95
MAY073396 DONT SAY ANYMORE DARLING GN (MR) $12.95
MAY073301 ES BROCCOLI VOL 3 GN (MR) $9.99
MAR073258 FALL OF CTHULHU MAVILLAIN CVR A #4 $3.99
MAR073259 FALL OF CTHULHU WALPOLE CVR B #4 $3.99
APR073711 FATE OF THE ARTIST HC (FEB063052) $25.00
APR074373 FIGURE MANIACS MAI HIME & MAI OTOME SPECIAL $48.99
APR073909 FINAL FLIGHT GN $10.00
APR073468 FLIGHT VOL 4 GN $24.95
MAY073397 FLOWER OF LIFE VOL 3 GN (MR) $12.95
MAR073662 FURRLOUGH #172 $3.50
MAR073093 GARGOYLES #5 $3.50
MAY073563 GENE SIMMONS HOUSE OF HORRORS #1 $9.99
MAR073125 GOLD DIGGER II POCKET MANGA VOL 1 $14.95
APR078040 GRIMM FAIRY TALES RETURN TO WONDERLAND #0 (MR) $0.99
MAY073392 HACK SLASH SERIES BAUGH CVR B #3 (MR) $3.50
MAY073391 HACK SLASH SERIES SEELEY CVR A #3 (MR) $3.50
MAY073398 HEROES ARE EXTINCT VOL 1 GN $12.95
APR073756 HOT MEXICAN LOVE COMICS 2007 (MR) $5.95
MAR073262 HUNTERS MOON #2 (OF 5) $3.99
MAY073532 IDW FOCUS ON STAR TREK $2.99
MAY073812 JOHN WOOS SEVEN BROTHERS VOL 1 LIMITED ED HC (MR) $29.99
APR073927 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #260 $7.50
MAY073202 JUGHEAD #183 $2.25
MAY073641 KICKASS GIRL SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET TP (MAR063330) $12.99
MAY073591 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #129 $4.99
FEB073228 LADY DEATH SACRILEGE PRISM FOIL CVR #1 $12.99
APR073445 LADY DEATH VS PANDORA JEWEL CVR #1 $39.99
MAY073270 LAST BLOOD #2 (MR) $2.99
MAY073142 LENORE #13 $3.95
MAY073508 LEVITATION PHYSICS PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE OF DECEPTION $12.95
MAY073114 LICENSABLE BEAR #4 $2.99
APR073556 LONE RANGER #7 $2.99
JAN073523 LONE RANGER PX CVR HC $24.99
JAN073522 LONE RANGER REG ED HC $24.99
APR073712 LOST COLONY BOOK 2 THE RED MENACE SC $16.95
APR073911 MEMORY GN (A) $9.90
MAY073136 MONSTER ATTACK NETWORK GN $12.95
MAY073399 NOT ENOUGH TIME GN (MR) $12.95
APR073577 PAINKILLER JANE #2 $3.50
APR073876 RUN BONG GU RUN GN $15.95
MAY073543 SCARFACE DEVIL IN DISGUISE #1 (MR) $3.99
APR073601 SCHOOL RUMBLE VOL 6 GN (MR) $10.95
APR074384 SHIN ONIMUSHA DAWN OF DREAMS OFFICIAL COMP WORKS $52.99
APR074053 SHOJO BEAT AUG 07 VOL 3 #8 $5.99
MAY073280 SIMPSONS COMICS #132 $2.99
MAY073207 SONIC X #22 $2.25
MAY073558 SPIKE SHADOW PUPPETS #2 $3.99
APR073758 SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM GN (A) $19.95
APR073854 STARSHIP TROOPERS ONGOING CVR A #3 $3.50
APR073855 STARSHIP TROOPERS ONGOING CVR B LTD SKETCH ED #3 $9.95
APR073469 STOP FORGETTING TO REMEMBER GN $19.95
APR074385 STREET MODE BOOK $37.99
MAY073560 SUPER BAD JAMES DYNOMITE TP $19.99
MAY073208 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #22 $2.49
MAY073618 TALES OF RAPHAEL BAD MOON RISING #1 (OF 4) $3.25
MAY073619 TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #36 $3.25
APR073562 TERMINATOR 2 INFINITY #1 $3.50
APR073926 THRILL POWER OVERLOAD HC $71.99
MAY073478 TRANSFORMERS TIMELINES SUMMER SPECIAL ONE SHOT $4.95
APR073355 VAMPIRELLA BLOOD LUST TP S&N ED $19.95
MAY073815 WALK-IN VOL 1 TP (MR) $14.99
MAY073562 WAR OF THE UNDEAD TP $12.99
MAR073274 WARHAMMER FORGE OF WAR CVR A #2 (OF 6) $2.99
MAR073275 WARHAMMER FORGE OF WAR CVR B #2 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY073229 WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 #3 (OF 3) (RES) (MR) $3.99
MAY073230 WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 GORE CVR #3 (OF 3) (RES) (MR) $3.99
MAY073231 WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 TERROR CVR #3 (OF 3) (RES) (MR) $3.99
MAY073232 WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 WRAPAROUND CVR #3 (OF 3) (RES) (MR) $3.99
MAY073507 WIRE MOTHERS HARRY HARLOW & THE SCIENCE OF LOVE GN $12.95
FEB073369 XXXHOLIC VOL 9 GN $10.95
MAY073981 YU GI OH GX CHAPTER BOOK #3 NIGHT SPIES $4.99
MAY073982 YU GI OH GX READER BOOK #1 JADENS SECRET $3.99
July 17th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
• All-Flash #1: Boy, I was wishing the guy on the cover was going to be Barry (despite the kinda creepy “Village of the Damned” look). It turned out Waid’s involvement with the book is going to be pretty minimal, so all that talk around the internets about some grand new Waid Era now seem pretty premature. Perhaps they needed a little “star power” to buff up the badly damaged Flash franchise…we’ll see if Waid’s brief involvement pulls it off.
• Brave and the Bold #5: Speaking of Waid, here he is on his best work in a while. I’m really enjoying this series, mainly for its spirit of fun and high adventure…without all of the Sturm und Drang of the rest of the DCU.
• Countdown: Officially dropped! This thing is going nowhere, and the tsunami of tie-ins and spin-offs are just a naked cash grab….moreso than the usual naked cash grabs, that is.
• JLA #11: Is this where Dwayne McDuffie starts? If so, I’m definitely in. The guy’s made F.F. readable again for the first time in five years, and I have no reason to doubt he won’t do the same for JLA.
• Shazam & The Monster Society of Evil: I tried a couple of issues, but the high price tag and the low-wattage story didn’t do much for me. Plus, I’m not fond of Smith’s tweaks, like making Billy and Cap completely different beings (I prefer the “Cap is an adult version of Billy” thing). Smith’s illustrations of Cap aren’t my cup of tea, either.
Avengers Classic #2: The first one was somewhat enjoyable…so I thought I’d give it another try. Hopefully the tone of the new stories will vary, and not be tongue-in-cheek all the time (as they were in issue #1).
Captain America #28: Solid story so far.
World War Hulk: Not on your life.
July 17th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Whoops! Forgot one:
• Lone Ranger #7: What? It’s out on time! Excellent! Fantastic (though glacially-paced) story. Good comics here, folks.
July 17th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
The books by Jim Ottaviani are wonderfully good. He was at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington DC, where I picked them up. When I was in high school (long long ago), our psychology class watched the old b&w NBC special on Harlow and his experiments with the baby monkeys. Just about broke my heart back then. It also made me resolve to always hold and cherish my children, should I have any – I now have two sons, and yes, I wouldn’t listen to well-meaning older adults who told me to not hold my babies so much; my sons are now self-assured young men who are confident of their place in life, not spoiled or insecure. The book brought all of that back to me as I read it.
July 18th, 2007 at 1:43 am
JLA is still written by Brad Meltzer. Grab one anyway.
Like Kevin, I’m specious regarding All Flash #1 but willing to take a look. On to this week’s picks.
Lone Ranger #7: Because we need more westerns.
Amazons Attack #4: I quite grudgingly have been enjoying this series. Taken as a JLA story arc it’s pretty good fun.
Birds of Prey #108: Can’t believe everyone skipped over Simone’s swan song on this solid title.
The Order #1: Fraction + Kitson earns this a look despite my not being enchanted with the whole Initiative thing.
World War Hulk #2: Big Dumb Fun at its finest. It’s a smash.
July 18th, 2007 at 2:03 am
as far as the Screw Heaven book, yep. Lots of Too Much Coffee Man. We open and close the book with stories from the guy. I’ve been doing less and less with the character as other things have come up (like an opera). He’s in this book. I’m not sure about the subsequent books.