Wednesday Pickups 5/9/12

Two weeks in row? How can it be so? Answer, lots and lots of blow. In all seriousness though, it is that time  again, where I examine the funny pages... I mean comic books of the previous week and help you navigate the ever vibrant shelves of your local comic shop. This week I'm looking at another slew of number #1s, two newer favorites, and... Uncanny X-Force (partly to challenge myself to think of new ways of saying "OMG I LUV THIS COMIC!" and partly because I know some of you slackers still aren't reading it.) So without further ado, let's get to it.

Our first book is the new title from Boom! Studios, Higher Earth #1; Created & written by Sam Humphries, art by Francesco Biagini, colors by Andrew Crossley, and letters by Ed Dukeshire. Dropped into a trash dump of a world (both in looks and how higher earths classify it) a mysterious stranger recruits one of the planet's lone inhabitants, a young woman named Heidi, for a secret mission involving planet hopping up the food chain. While I feel a lot of comparisons could be drawn between this and Marvel's recent Cable series, if for nothing else than the two main characters, this is an awesome first issue that really leaves me wanting more. Humphries and crew deliver a gritty, futuristic interstellar-adventure that is well done across the board! The story is intriguing and and well plotted; the art is eye-catching and flows so fluidly, and before I forget the best part is IT ONLY COSTS $1! Do yourself a favor and pick this book up, even if you don't like it that much you only wasted a buck so win-win. Not sure yet how I will continue with the book, whether in issues or waiting for a collected edition, but I can promise you I will be returning to Higher Earth soon.

Out next book comes from Avatar Press, Dan The Unharmable #1; Written by David Lapham, art by Rafael Ortiz, and colors done by Digikore Studios. Dan is a man with a plan; live as simple as possible, help out the occasional college coed, and oh yeah be invincible. I only moderately enjoyed the issue, but Lapham goes to one of his trademark moves and leaves us with a crazy ending that is going to make me return for more. Overall, the book shows glimpses of the work I love by him (namely Young Liars) such as it's  strange characters in "every day" settings and subtle jabs at established mindsets but at the same time it feels a bit more forced here. On the art side, Ortiz just kind of follows the Avatar party line (above average attention to detail, with as much blood and destruction as possible) but doesn't really do anything interesting with it and presents panels that feel so flat and isolated. Bottom line, I would only recommend it for those who've taken a ride with Lapham before and trust him to take you for a wild ride by the time it ends; for everyone else; I say wait and see how it all shakes out. As for myself, I have to give it at least few more issues based on  the aforementioned ending in this one and  trust in Lapham.

The final first issue of the week comes from Image, Mind The Gap #1; Written by Jim McCann, art by Rodin Esquejo & Sonia Oback, letters by Dave Lanphear, and production by Damien Lucchese. A phone call, an assault, the usual suspects, an unusual location, and an out of body experience introduce us the new "world" of Ellis Peterssen who has just entered a coma or possibly something more. Jim McCann, assisted by some beautiful artwork from Esquejo and Oback, invite us to solve (and enjoy) the mystery of who attacked Ellis Peterssen, and I for one am accepting the challenge. While there are a lot of mystery series out there, so many of which seem more formulaic than thrilling, this particular one enthralled me and had me thinking about it well after I set the issue down. My lone complaint so far is it does seem to be a bit heavy on the references, but that too could prove endearing over time. I won't say too much more about that now, but if everything goes to plan you will be hearing more from me about this book before it's second issue (oh a mystery inside a review of mystery comic, how meta.) For now, I really recommend giving it a shot if you enjoy losing your self in a whodunit from time to time and for those who don't, at least flip through it to check out the art.

From a damsel in distress to one causing her own fair share, we go to another Image book with mysteries, Fatale #5; Written by Ed Brubaker, art by Sean Phillips, and colors by Dave Stewart. The first arc of this series comes to a close as Hank, Jo, and Walter are thrown together one last time with not everyone making it out alive. I know I just ragged on mysteries in the last paragraph, but this is another one that really works for me mainly because the mystery seems so secondary to Brubaker's character's and the macabre story he is trying to tell. Complimenting it in perfect harmony is Phillips thick, shadowy art, that refuses to leap off the page but instead lures you into it's murky, occult world. Through five issues this has been one hell of a ride that's left me anxiously waiting for more and pondering just how deep this rabbit hole goes. While I wouldn't say it's a must read for everyone, if a mature and supernatural mystery sounds up your alley, you would be remiss not to give it a chance.

Heading over to Marvel we have your monthly dose of mutants with Uncanny X-Force #25; Written by Rick Remender, art by Mike McKone, color art by Dean White, letters by Cory Petit, with two back up stories written by Rick Remender and art done by Jerome Opena. A new arc begins as two members quit X-Force, leaving the other three in a bit of a pickle when their latest quarry knows they're coming. I knew I would enjoy where ever Remender took the story next as so far he's done no wrong in my eyes on this title, but I was a little apprehensive about how well McKone's artwork would fit in the book. I am thankful to report though, that White's colors more than helped to smooth the transition and present us with some of the best McKone art I've seen since his early Exiles stuff. As for the back-up stories, I'm usually not a huge fan of reprints in the back, especially when they add to the price but don't supplement the story. However, in this case I'm going to allow it, mainly because I can't help but love anything Opena creates. Final verdict: buy it unless you hate good comics! (But seriously, a good jumping on point if you've been waiting.)

Last up, and my favorite comic of the week, is Hell Yeah #3 from Image; Written by Joe Keatinge, illustrated by Andre Szymanowicz, lettered by Douglas E. Sherwood, and colored by Jason Lewis. Ben Day, our misanthropic protagonist, gets all the details on why super-ladies from another earth came looking for him; While back at his now demolished high school another group of universe hoppers comes looking for him with something more sinister in mind. I've been digging the first couple issues of the title, and #3 only makes me love it more as Szymanowicz finally gets to let loose with some great action panels. On the narrative side, Keatinge's story continues to be interesting and well paced, leaving us with another perfect cliff hanger. Seriously, out of all of Image's newest titles, this is easily my favorite! And to make matters even better, this issue starts up a fun, unrelated back up story (yes, I know I just bagged on those but this one doesn't jack up the price.) So please check out this title if you're a fan of mixing your hyper violence with your crazy, superhero worlds or you know, you just want to explore a story where superheroes make other entertainment obsolete in a medium some of the major companies seem to be pushing for that.

That's it for this week, but since it is currently a new Wednesday be sure to grab the new issues of The Secret History of D.B. Cooper, Saucer Country, and Red Hood and the Outlaws. Have any recommendations? Leave'em or tweet'em.

Wednesday Pickups 5/2/12

It's that time once again, where I try to get my comic blogging back on track and inevitably fall back to not doing so within a few weeks. I don't expect this time to be any different, especially with nicer weather right around the corner, however with another batch of new titles dropping this week, and a few good usual suspects, I figured I'd give it a shot. So without further lame introing, comics from May 2nd, 2012.

Kicking things off this week we have Venom #17 from Marvel; written by Rick Remender & Cullen Bunn, with pencils by Kev Walker, inks by Terry Pallot, colors by Chris Sotomayor, and letters by Joe Caramanga. A prologue to the upcoming Savage Six story arc; this issue assembles the cast of villains looking to take down Flash Thompson, while he himself once again calls on the Venom suit to rid him of Crime Master's black mail once and for all. A nice, soft-start to "Savage Six" this issue delivers a good taste of what the book has been like so far and where it's going in the near future. Remender continues to write Flash through the ringer, both emotionally and physically, giving him only enough down time to see how far he has fallen. One could choose to view this as depressing, but I find it only makes the character that much more interesting as we see him try to be better (sometimes succeeding and often not.) On the art side, Kev Walker's pencils continue to grow on me. While they aren't quite as visceral as Tony Moore's, they offer a pretty good substitute with a unique sense of action layout. All in all, a pretty good issue and definitely a good jumping on point if you've been wondering what this Venom series is all about.

Also from Marvel this week is Age of Apocalypse #3; written by David Lapham, with art by Roberto De La Torre, colors by Lee Loughridge, and letters by Cory Petit. The X-Terminated continue their fight for humanity by trying to stop Beast from reviving some of this world's deadliest mutants, finding assistance in from some unlikely allies. Still not entirely in love with De La Torre's art but find my self really enjoying Loughridge's color palette, which is spot on for this dystopian world. On the narrative side, I'm digging Lapham's story but do think it could be jarring for those not familiar with the universe. Ultimately, I like the book but would probably recommend most readers wait for a trade collection to get a good taste of it instead of just sampling this title with any given issue.

Next up is a bloody, double feature from Image starting with Pigs #7; story by Nate Cosby & Ben McCool, art by Breno Tamura & Will Sliney, colors by Chris Sotomayor, and lettering & design by Rus Wooton. After their paid hit-man failed last issue, the sleeper cell takes matters into their own hands and breaks into prison to eliminate their target. Another good issue from Cosby, McCool, and crew; furthering the story enough to satiate our blood-lust while still dangling the mystery of what the cell is really up to right in front of us. To be honest I was a little worried momentum wouldn't carry over, as it's been a little while since the last issue was released, but now I'm finding that each issue of this book can really be enjoyed without the context of the others (although that context does make it so much better.) If you're up for a tale of intrigue, assassination, and possibly revenge definitely give Pigs a shot.

Rounding out the Image double feature is a brand new mini-series, Epic Kill #1 of 5. Created, written, and drawn by Raffaele Ienco, Epic Kill follows young Song as she begins begins her quest to find that man that holds all the secrets to her past. I would like to say this comic goes beyond the generic summary I just gave it, but it really doesn't. I don't want judge it too harshly based on this first issue, but Ienco's book looks and feels like a third rate action story that never approaches living up to it's name. Maybe it gets better in the other issues, but for now I would advise staying away from this book.

Going back to Marvel, we have Exiled one-shot (part 1 of 5, so not really a one-shot); Kieron Gillen, Dan Abnett, & Andy Lanning on writing duties, art by Carmine Di Giandomenico, colors by Andy Troy, and letters by Clayton Cowles. Evil creatures from Asgardian past escape hell, and end up on earth forcing a confrontation between the Norse gods and the New Mutants that leaves everyone confused. Not the easy introductory issue I was hoping for, coming from only reading New Mutants, but not exactly terrible either. So far this cross-over seems a lot more like pressure marketing than a compelling tale flowing naturally out of the two books, however it did interest me enough to want to pick up the Journey Into Mystery issues if only to find out what is actually going on. Art-wise it left less of an impression, as it neither wowed or disgusted me, leading me to hope for better in the remaining for parts but won't end up being too dissappoint if there isn't. Final verdict on this one, pass on it till it's collected unless you're already buying one or both of the comics titles it bleeds into this month (Journey Into Mystery and New Mutants.)

Last up and my favorite book this week is the flagship title of DC second wave of 52 books, Earth 2 #1; written by James Robinson, pencils by Nicola Scott, inks by Trevor Scott, colors by Alex Sinclair, and letters by Dezi Sienty. On a earth very much like our own (if our own was that of the regular DC earth) three iconic heroes wage a final battle for humanity's freedom ending in a tragic result, but one that will give birth to a new generation of heroes. To be honest, I wasn't to hot on this book going in and might not have picked it up if my local shop wasn't offering it for a dollar off, but man am I glad they did. While I stand by my thoughts on most of the  DC books (I've read and liked) no needing a reboot to tell their stories, this one absolutely did (sort of picking up the remains of JSA) and they knocked it out of the park! Robinson's sets the stage for what could be a great title with his story and Nicola Scott's art is looking way better than the last time I saw it in the pre-reboot Teen Titans series, probably somewhat due to the talents of Trevor Scott and Alex Sinclair. Definitely grabbing the next few issues of this to see if it keeps it's momentum, but I highly recommend grabbing this first issue and checking it out for yourself.

That's it for this week but next week is shaping up to be just as good with new Uncanny X-Force, Crossed, and Batman so be sure to head out and pick those up today.

Wednesday Pickups 3/14/12

The invasion of the #1s continues this week with entries from Avatar Press, Image, and Oni Press; Accompanied by old favorites Unwritten and the X-Men! I will give you a few moments to compose yourself after that shock... ok, long enough.

Kicking things off is X-Men Legacy #263, written by Christos Gage with pencils by David Baldeon. Contradicting the beliefs that lead them to separate from Cyclops group, Rogue and the other staff of the Jean Grey School  must team up with Cyke's young, mutant militia to stop Exodus from killing old one-eye. While it's not my favorite of the mutant titles, I do like how this book has become the most contemplative of them, reflecting it's main character's (Rogue) journey all the better. At first glace Baldeon's art might seem to clash with that idea, but it ends up working quite well as his detailed facial expressions convey just as much conflict as his muscle-bound, action panels. Not a must buy, but definitely a title to check out if "Schism" left you wanting as much as it did for me.

Switching universes, we head over to Ultimate Comics X-Men #9 to see what Nick Spencer and Paco Medina are cooking up. Camp Angel, the government's internment camp for mutants, takes center stage this issue as those who it affects most are finally privy to the truth behind the creation of mutants. While I've been waiting for them to deal with this since the camp was first shown (in issue #1 if I'm not mistaken), I have to say this is the most disappointing issue of the comic so far. Now to quantify that statement, my major problem from the issue is the creative team plugging in the 616 Storm (aka the Storm that readers of regular marvel comics) in place of the unique Storm of this universe for most of the comic. To this reader, who is pretty familiar with both, it just reads as a lazy and cheap way to build the issue's climax. Hoping Spencer and Medina don't have any more like this in their remaining few issues together, or I might end up looking forward to creative team change coming later this year.

Heading over to Vertigo we have The Unwritten #35, the conclusion of "Tommy Taylor and the War of Words." The battle we've been waiting for is finally here, Tommy (with his newly minted magical powers) vs. the man who killed his father, but is either the other's true enemy? Another fantastic issue from Carey and Gross, tilting the world on the reader just as they're sure they've found solid footing in the book. I've read very few comics that have kept this high quality of story-telling and art through out their run, and fewer still that have such an original concept. Not only a must buy issue, but a must buy series every month!

Getting into the #1s, we have the first issue of Crossed: Badlands. Here we are introduced to a new group of survivors, by Garth Ennis (writer) and Jacen Burrows (artist), in the bloodiest of all lands, the U.K. Not a great issue, but an ok/disgusting read if your mind and stomach can handle it. Hopefully Ennis is just shaking off the rust with this first issue, and brings his "A" game in the next few; after all it's been a few years since he played in this universe. The better Crossed debut of the week comes from the internet and is FREE, so get over to http://www.crossedcomic.com/ and check it out (unless you're at work, in which case wait till later.) Si Spurrier and Javier Barreno (the creative talent on the web comic Crossed: Wish You Were Here) know exactly how to bring a reader in, with an interesting main character and an "interesting" Crossed.

From Image we have the most talked about title of the week and maybe the last few for that matter, Saga #1. Written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Fiona Staples, Saga follows two new parents as they try to give their newborn baby girl a chance at life, by evading the opposing interplanetary armies that would see her and them dead or imprisoned. Call me a sap, but I loved this first issue. It perfectly presents the characters, the world, and their problems in over-sized issue, all for the (formerly) standard price of $2.99 (or $1.99 if you were lucky enough to shop at one of the Amazing Fantasy Books and Comics shops in South Chicagoland.) Some may find it a bit heavy-handed but I can't help falling for Staples dynamic panels and Vaughan's young narrator. Mixing the best elements of sci-fi and fantasy, this is a title I can definitely get behind and certainly recommend every one gives it a shot.

Narrowly beating out Saga for the top spot this week is The Secret History of D.B. Cooper #1, published by Oni Press. Telling the "true" story behind the mysterious man that is/was D.B. Cooper, this comic ventures into a world of talking stuffed teddy bears and psychological hit-men seamlessly. In what is the first work I've read by him (although he is already established in the industry) Brian Churilla knocks it out of the park, while wearing both the artist and writer's hats! I normally hesitate to call an issue perfect but here I gladly use it, if only to try and express just how much I enjoyed this comic. Even if you're not into historical mysteries (or fictional elements being added to them), this comic has something for everyone including well executed sci-fi elements and strong, defined characters. While I would like you to try most of the comics mentioned here, THIS IS THE ONE YOU MUST TRY!

Ok, that's it for this week and since we're a little later than planned you've probably already pillaged the fresh goods from your local comic shop. If you haven't however, give Smoke & Mirrors #1 (looking forward to it myself), Red Hood and the Outlaws #7 (Screw the haters, probably the funnest book in the DCnU), or John Carter: The Gods of Mars #1 of 5 (I'm waiting for the trade but that art fabulous art by Ramon Perez is sure going to make it a long wait) a shot. Done, now go read comics or make some so I can read them or blog/podcast about them so I read/listen to that.

Wednesday Pickups 3/7/12

Attempt #207 to get my weekly comic reviews back on track, odds of success: 3720 to 1. So you're saying there's a chance?

First up this week chock-full of inaugural issues, 3 of them including this one coming from Image, is Fairest #1. Spinning out of the pages of Fables, this new ongoing seeks to tell the stories of the universe's fairer maidens but opens with the prince of thieves, Ali Baba, getting into some mischief. Featuring stunning artwork (with pencils by Phil Jimenez, inks by Andy Lanning, and colors by Andrew Dalhouse) and witty dialogue (Bill Willingham on writing duties) this issue is a fun read but might be a bit dense for the first of the series. I leave it at might, because while it seems that a lot of this story was previously set up in Fables, that could just Willingham dropping us a little further in and playing catch up somewhere down the line. Honestly, if you're reading Fables, I'm betting you'll be picking this up and you should since it has the makings of being a fun book. On the other hand, if your a little unfamiliar with the universe (such as myself, only having read the first Cinderella trade) I would recommend checking out Fables first or waiting for this to be collected and getting more of the story in one sitting.

Next up, also hailing from Image, is The Manhattan Projects #1. The Brothers Oppenheimers' lives had led them down very different paths, as one is recruited to the secret government think tank the comic gets it's title from the other suffers through a rather unsavory event. Jonathan Hickman writes a spectacular script to the start of this fictional account of the Manhattan Project, imagining it as dealing with anything supper powered or occult in World War II as well as developing nuclear weapons. Complimenting Hickman's all-encompassing plot, Nick Pitarra's detailed art tells just as much about the characters we meet, and Cris Peter's colors give them a life all their own. While I was a little skeptical going into the book, I immensely enjoyed this first issue and can't recommend it enough to fans of sci-fi and historical fiction. At the very least give it a flip through while browsing at your comic shop of choice, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Concluding this trio of Image first issues is Hell Yeah #1. Perpetual slacker Ben Day seemingly lives in a perfect world, where 20 years ago superheroes showed up and started it on the path towards utopia, that is until a group of super-chicks from another dimension come looking for him. While it may sound like a premise that's been done already, writer Joe Keatinge and illustrator Andre Szymanowicz have put their own spin on it that I can best describe as something of a cross between the movies Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Rebel Without A Cause (or if you're looking for more of a comic comparison, it feels a bit like the first issue of The Strange Talent of Luther Strode.) While the book presents you with an antiquated rebellious teen, or so he seems at first glance, it also doesn't mind laughing at him and giving the reader a few laughs as well. The first issue might not have been enough to draw other readers in, but I'm thoroughly intrigued and will be picking up the next few issues to see where it goes.

Taking a break from this #1-a-thon, I decided to check out Avengers Academy #27; partly due to urging from John over at the Burnt Weiners Podcast and partly due to the Runaways making a guest appearance. In this part 1 of "War With The Runaways", Nico and gang show up looking for help in getting back their dino-member Old Lace, but their understandable problems with authority figures set them on a collision course with the Academy faculty. Yes, hero groups meeting to do battle is nothing new (actually, I'm pretty sure the Runaways did this just last year with the Young Avengers, which is neither here nor there) but I will give writer Christos Gage the benefit of the doubt with it as he at least manages to keep the personalities involved interesting. Art-wise though the book gets less leeway though, as more than a few panels just felt out of proportion to me and don't exactly leave me wanting to look at anymore. That said, I'm going to at least finish out this two part arc, and pay the title a bit more attention when looking at previews, especially now that I know it revived Juston Seyfret from the early 2000's Sentinel series.

Back to the first issue trend, but staying with Marvel, we have Age of Apocalypse #1. Humanity's hope of survival is dwindling fast with their only hope being the de-powered Jean Grey, Sabretooth, and The X-Terminated against Weapon Omega's (formerly this world's Wolverine) mutant domination. While I really enjoy this issue, knew I would like David Lapham's writing but ended up liking Roberto De La Torre's art more than I would have thought, I do think it might put up a barrier to new readers and those that might be jumping back in to the AOA since it's original creation so many years ago. The book expects a reader to be just a bit more familiar with what is going on than I would like in a first issue, similar to my complaint with Fairest #1 from earlier in this post. The good news here though, is that Lapham's writing style will be quick to erase that gap within a few issues, as I feel he often gentle adds a little bit of summary to his books as they go on. On the other hand, if you don't want to wait that long Uncanny X-Force #19.1 is a great introduction to this universe (which I reviewed only a handful of post ago, saying it should be called Age of Apocalypse #0 instead) and was only released in January so it should still be on your local shop's shelf. Definitely looking forward to more though, as I love me some Lapham and this universe really grew on me after being featured in Remender's Uncanny X-Force.

Saving the best for last, from DC comics we have Swamp Thing #7. Every thing Alec Holland has been going through in the first six issues comes to a head here as he must make his final decision on whether or not to once again become the Swamp Thing, that is if it isn't already too late. As usual Scott Snyder (writer) and Yanick Paquette knock it out of the park! Synder (as he has already proven with American Vampire and Severed) can balance themes just as well if not better than anyone else in the business, doing so in this book with the all demanding nature and the ever-present horror. As if that wasn't enough, his dialogue manages to take the characters a step beyond the page; shaping them not just by what they say, but how they say it. That right there is enough for a great book, but Paquette's art brings it up to the amazing ranking. His panel structure is so fluid and pencils so detailed that you just want to hang every page of this book on your wall, unless you have little ones it might give them nightmares. Also, just want to get in a quick mention of the job Nathan Fairbairn does with the colors on this issue; the reds. blacks, and greens all fit together so well not just with the art but with the major themes already being examined and coming up soon. Seriously if you're reading any DC books and this isn't one of them, your doing it wrong.

Well, that is it for this week. Basically a bunch of great books that you should be checking out and one of two that may be a little more niche. Looking forward to this coming week, there is another wave of #1s on the horizon as Saga, Crossed: Badlands, and the Secret History of D.B. Cooper all premiere; plus, as usual with me, a bunch of X-Men books drop that I will be sure to grab. Any thoughts/questions/suggestions, go ahead and leave those down below in the comments, and if not see you back here in 7*.

(*Intentionally left off the measurement for that 7 so I could take as long as I want to write next week's post mwhahahahaha! But seriously, it I'll try and keep it to 7 days.)

Wednesday Pickups 1/11/12

Lots of good books this week (so many that I left off of the usuals like Unwritten), so let's get right to it:

First up this week comes from Image and is one of their newer titles, The Last of the Greats #4. The Last - A super alien whose siblings were all killed by humanity - deals with the starling realization from last issue that there is a "daughter" of The Greats and that he is now a father/mother while our protagonist Beaumont suffers for his oh so human choices. It's hard to talk too much about this issue without giving away it's ending, suffice to say it something I really didn't see coming but isn't exactly out of left field either when you think about the book's themes. Joshua Hale Fialkov continues to write a interesting story about power and instincts, while Brent Peeples; Nick Nix; and Eddy Swan (Penciler; Inker; and Colorist, respectively) present gentle artwork that isn't afraid to switch to violent on a moment's notice. Definitely recommend checking this out if you are looking for a book that deviates from the normal super-hero fare.

Moving over to Dark Horse Comics, we have Orchid #4. Lord Wolfe, self designated ruler of civilization, tells the tale of his beast-controlling general who he is about to sic on Simon and Orchid. While I liked the first issue, since then the book has been going down hill and this will be the last one I pick up. The world Tom Morello created for the book is interesting and has potential, but I just think the story he is telling with it is getting shallow and boring. This coupled with Scott Hepburn's art leaves me more disappointed that satisfied after reading it, so probably a book your going to want to pass on.

Going back to Image, we have the debut issue of Joshua Luna's new book, Whispers #1. Sam Webber is a man who spends a bit too much time in his own head, but that is about to change as he's just discovered he can leave his body while sleeping and effect the lives of people he knows. I was a little skeptical about how Joshua's work would be solo - most of his previous work has been collaborations with his brother Jonathan - but I have to say I really liked this first issue. Josh's art has a distinctly rougher feel, that works for the title and his story feels human with just a dash of weirdness to keep it interesting. If you've enjoyed the brothers' previous works - Ultra, The Girls, The Sword - I recommend giving this a shot.

Heading over to Marvel, we have X-Men Legacy #260.1 kicking off an east coast X-Men triple feature. Rouge's group settles into their new role at the Jean Grey School For Higher Learning with a friendly game of football and some unexpected grounds-keeping. Christos Gage and David Baldeon (writer and penciler) turn in a perfect .1 issue, that not only manages to introduce us to the regular cast (both new and old) but tell a self-contained story that establishes the book's tone. If only Marvel would make sure every .1 were held to this standard, I would get behind this initiative. Definitely check this one out, even if your not an X-Men fan it's worth a read.

Venturing off the school grounds, we catch up with Madrox and crew in X-Factor #230. The group continues to mourn for Jamie - who unbeknownst to them is bouncing around alternate dimensions - as Wolverine shows up to help them in more ways that one. Only my second issue back reading X-Factor, but it's already commanding a regular spot on my pull list with Peter David's comedic writing and the cohesive art of Emanuela Lupacchino, Guillermo Ortego, and Matt Milla (penciler, inker, and colorist.)  Looking forward to more great times from this crew, especially with their newly added characters - aka my main reason for returning to the title. A must buy if you want more than a few laughs from you funny books.

Heading back to Westchester County, and surprising even me as pick of the week, is Wolverine and the X-Men #4. The school gets a couple new students, straight over from Uncanny X-Force, and receives a guest lecture from Deathlok. While I stayed away from the book for the first few issues, based on the art and the bad taste the writer's last X-Men tale (Schism) left in my mouth, I decided to give this a shot with the new characters additions, and man am I glad I did. Feeling like a blend between Morrison's New X-Men and Kyle & Yost's New X-Men, Jason Aaron has written something in this book for every one. Mutants both young and old struggling to deal with their powers and the world in general may be the oldest synopsis for any X-Men book but why fix what isn't broken. While it could be viewed as a step backward from the previous years, the book setting it's self up as something so similar to books from almost ten years ago, I now see it more as giving readers an option for their mainstream X-Men consumption. You can follow the heavy hitters and action packed adventures of Team Cyclops in Uncanny X-Men, get back to the roots of young mutants learning to deal with the world in this title, or pick up both if your like me and can never seem to get enough X-Men. So check this one out if your craving that mutant education of yesteryear, as it also makes for a great introductory issue.

That's it for this week and since I "may" already be working on next week's reviews, I'll just leave it at that.

Wednesday Pickups 9/14/11

Fresh September continues with four new titles this week, as well four regular favorites. So let's get right to it:

We start in the X-world, with Uncanny X-Force #15. The Dark Angel Saga blazes on as Fantomex, Deadpool, and Deathlok may be all that stand in the way of global genocide; God help us all. Another spectacular issue from my favorite on-going title, Rememder's characters remain well written, while Opena's art never ceases to amaze. Only a few issues left in this storyline, and while I can't wait to see how it all shakes out at the same time, I really don't want it to end.

Heading off world, we catch up with X-Men Legacy #255. Magneto, Frenzy, Gambit, and Rogue continue their search for Havok and Polaris, but they might be getting in over their heads. While I do enjoy Mike Carey's story here, and not just because it is the gateway for some of my favorite X-ers to return regularly to X-books, Steve Kurth's pencils aren't exactly my cup of tea. I generally find myself not a fan of artist's whose face drawings come out strange or misshapen, and Kurth is no exception. That said, his action sequences are alright and do make the downsides tolerable. Overall, I am looking forward to where this title is heading and hopefully an artist change in the near future.

From Marvel, we head over to DC's Vertigo line with The Unwritten #29. Tommy and Lizzie get closer to unraveling the mystery of his father's journal with neither of them liking what they find. This great and original series continues with another solid issue. While I don't want to get into too many specifics and give anything away, one of the final scenes in this issue gets into some Marshall McLuhan ideology and offers a brilliant critique on the way the comic book industry has been run at times. A must read for long-time comics fans as well as those just getting into the medium.

Last up from Vertigo this week is, the penultimate issue of American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #4 of 5. Cash and Felicia's covers are blown, so let the slaughter of Nazi vampires begin. Really enjoying this mini from Scott Snyder (writer) and Sean Murphy (artist), but that should come as no surprise since I love both of their work. While I was worried from last issue that this mini would end up trying to explain too much of this vampire world, Snyder has succeed in telling just enough to not get to far away from the main series roots and leave some question unanswered. In addition to that, Murphy's art really shines this issue as he gets to draw a lot more action that we've seen so far. Looking forward to the final issue, as the end of this one sets it up for a bloody conclusion.

Kicking off the new titles is Pigs #1 from Image Comics. Mischief and murder have forced a second generation KGB sleeper cell based in Cuba into action, and America authorities are left trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Superb story concept and execution by Nate Cosby and Ben McCool on this first issue. They paced the action and drama quite well in addition to ending with a cliffhanger that makes the wait for the next issue unbearable. My only complaint so far is Breno Tamura's art is a little rough for my taste, but I could see myself warming up to it as the book goes on. Always happy to support something that tries to tell an interesting story, and this title is no exception.

Going back to Marvel, for the third installment in their relaunched Ultimate line, we have Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1. In this first issue we meet Miles Morales, an average kid in New York, whose life is about to change forever in multiple ways. Stupendous start for Brian Michael Bendis (writer) and Sara Pichelli (artist)! This issue seems to have that perfect balance of being something original, with a new protagonist, and having the classic feel of a super hero origin story. I've been enjoying all the new titles from the Ultimate Comics line but so far this one is my favorite, although the last one to come in the one I'm most looking forward to.

Finishing out the week we have two of DC's new 52, and the first of those is Superboy #1. Scientists at a secret facility have combined the DNA of Superman and that of human to produce a clone with amazing abilities, but only time will tell if Superboy inherited his "father's" penchant for doing good. While I wasn't amazed by this first issue, I was surprised that I did like it and how well it was done. Written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by R. B. Silva, this first issue does a solid job of introducing the character and showing where he is coming from. One particular inclusion I liked, was that of Rose Wilson (aka Ravager pre-DC Reboot) who was beginning to be a romantic interest for him at the end of Teen Titans and might end up being one here, a nice nod to the readers that creator's haven't thrown everything out in the DCnU. I think the next issue will weight a little more on whether I will be picking this series up regularly, so I'm hoping for it to grab me a little more.

Last up, and barley edging out the new Spider-Man for pick of the week, is Red Lanterns #1 from DC Comics. Atrocitus and his blood thirsty red lanterns are back, but it seems their leader made have lost his taste for rage. Extremely impressive first issue from Peter Milligan and Ed Benes! While I was a little worried these characters wouldn't be able to hold their own title, Milligan has erased all doubt and Benes great art is just blood-red icing on the cake. I can't wait to see future issues getting to the core of these lantern's rage as is done for Atrocitus here and any additions Milligan makes the core. If you've grown a little tired of the event-centric Green Lantern books over the last few years, as I have, I think this book might be just what your looking for in the new DCU.

Another solid week of floppys in the books, and next week looks to continue the trend with a whole lot of appetising X-titles. See you back here in 7 days for some X-Men, X-Women, and maybe if we're lucky something X-rated.

Wednesday Pickups 9/7/11

This week, I get my first taste of the new DC universe and a few regulars make an appearance. Lots of good things to say about this group, so let's get right to it:

Kicking things off this week, from Image Comics, is Hack/Slash #7. The Fame Monster story arc continues as Cassie discovers the identity of the slasher while Vlad has to return to his "Meat Man" roots to deal with a few of the slasher's lackeys. I have been enjoying most of this series so far, Daniel Leister's art was good as usual, but this particular issue felt a little dry. The humor-action combo I've come to expect on the book seemed pushed to the side for the old cliché of the villain revealing his master plan for multiple panels, which one could find appropriate in this book but to me just seemed boring. I'm hoping Tim Seeley rights the ship in the next few issues.

Moving over to Dark Horse Comics, we have Star Wars: Dark Times #2. Former Jedi Dass Jennir continues to traverse the desert moon of Prine, looking for civilization, while the crew of the Uhumele continue searching for him while getting acquainted with their new Jedi companion, Beyghor Sahdett. Admittedly, I was kind of hoping for more from Dark Times when it returned to store shelves. While Douglas Wheatley's art is stellar, and great for a Star Wars book, Randy Stradley's story feels predictable, slow, and just doesn't have that same galactic thrill of the former series. I will be giving it a few more issues to see if he turns it around, as for now though I wouldn't recommend anyone jumping on it.

A returning character that has retained his luster is Casanova, from ICON, who is back this week in Casanova: Avaritia #1. Everyone knows the the truth about Cass and his father (well, the guy who would be his father if he was from this dimension) has put him to the arduous task of cleaning up all the time-dimension anomalies caused by Newman Xeno kidnapping him in the first place. As I already mentioned, I am still in love with this series. Matt Fraction (writer), Gabriel Ba (current artist), and Fabio Moon (former and future artist) have created a world quite unlike anything else in comics today. The craziness of the art and story blend into a perfect storm that causes one to either love or hate the book, with not surprisingly many readers choosing the former. Usually I would suggest grabbing the first collection of the series to get a good grasp of the happenings, but I think this issue is actually a great jumping on point being a little more straightforward with the story than the book has been in the past. Get on this book one way or another and start having some nonsensical fun with your science fiction.

Filling out the second half of my comic stack this week is DC with four of their new/relaunched titles, first up is Action Comics #1. Sporting blue jeans and an arrogant attitude, this rebooted Superman has his sights set on the corporate fat-cats, who exploit the working man and operate outside the law but he soon finds this also puts him at odds with law enforcement. While I am digging the art in this first issue, penciled by Rags Morales, I'm not yet sure how I feel about the direction of this book. Instead of something new it feels like Grant Morrison (the writer) is just turning Superman into more of a public menace/vigilante ala Spider-Man or Batman. Going to pick up a few more issues to get a better grasp of it, and to get more of Luthor who was great in this first issue, but I hope it isn't just more of the same.

From Metropolis, we go global with Justice League International #1. The United Nations has decided it's time to get a few superheroes in their pocket, a group that can handle large threats but also answers to them. Lead by Booster Gold and composed of heroes from various nations, this team looks to save the world while having the authority to do so, that is if they figure out how to work together. Overall, I liked this first issue but not really as much as I was hoping to. The art is great, with pencils by Aaron Lopresti and inks by Matt Ryan, but the writing leaves something to be desired. A lot of Dan Jurgen's (the writer) dialogue feels forced or just out of place, some of them talk like they've known each other forever when this is supposed to be the first time they're meeting. I did enjoy some of the book though, especially Godiva and Booster Gold, so I'm hoping the writing evens out as we go along.

Bringing things back in a bit, we head to Louisiana to check in on Swamp Thing #1. Mysterious events occur in simultaneously throughout the planet and no one has any idea why. Superman decides to track down Dr. Alec Holland, the only man who might be able to understand these occurrences due to having the memories of the titular force of nature, and while Superman gets no answers Dr. Holland hasn't been totally truthful with him. Great first issue from Scott Snyder (writer) and Yanick Paquette (artist)! No real back story is required to get what is happening, and the natural/horror elements leave you wanting more. Can't wait to see where Snyder and Paquette take this book.

Animal trumps nature for pick of the week, as Animal Man #1 nabs the top spot. Buddy Baker has been out of the tights more and more these days. With having a family that is growing up, being an active animal activist, and enjoying some success as a Hollywood stunt-man turned actor, he rarely goes out on patrol, but that doesn't mean when a guy takes a hospital hostage he is going to sit on the side lines. I loved this first issue from Jeff Lemire (writer) and Travel Foreman (artist)! Instead of making Animal Man more like every other hero book on the stands, they focus on what makes him unique and base the entire book around it. Foreman's art excels equally in the domestic interior of Buddy's house and the trippy, exotic locales of his nightmare, leaving me salivating for whatever he draws up next. Easily my favorite book of the new DC Universe, so far, and I can only hope there is more coming that is just as excellent.

That is it for this week, next week should have a few more regular titles but I am sure some of the DC newness will slip in as well. Until then ponder what you would serve at a meal where both Animal Man and Swamp Things are in attendance, my guess is Spam.

Wednesday Pickups 7/20/11 & 7/27/11

I'm bundling the last two weeks together since I got caught up in some other thing. So, lets get right to it with the comics from the 20th.

Kicking things off, we have Uncanny X-Men #541. Tieing in with Marvel's summer event, Fear Itself, the X-Men are trying to stop the possessed Juggernaut who is working a scorched-earth path towards San Fransisco. While it's a scenario that's been done a dozen times before, Greg Land's art and Kieron Gillen's strategic take on the matter keep it interesting. It is also worth mention that this tie-in hasn't distracted from the direction the book has been going, as so often happens with these major events. Not a ground-breaking issue by any means, but sill a fun read.

From there, we cut out the adjective with X-Men #15. Wrapping up the "First to Last" arc, this issue features the final showdown between the X-Men and the Evolutionaries, who are trying to "save" them. A pretty good issue and arc, Christopher Yost's story has a classic feel while still managing to show how a lot of these characters have changed over the years. The combined artistic talents of Paco Medina and Dalibor Talajic, the former handling the current happenings with the latter covering the flashbacks, also work in a nice harmony to flush out the comic. I'm not sure what is happening with this book after the X-Men: Schism event, but if the same creator's stick around I will as well.

Departing Marvel and getting into Image, we have Hack/Slash #6. Starting the new arc, "Fame Monster", this issue features a slasher going after pop culture "celebrities", all the while treating Cassie to his vicious slayings by showing them in her dreams. Another great issue from Tim Seeley and Daniel Leister, with it's patented comedic-horror plots, fan service, and gory moments. If you've ever wanted to see some tan guys from Jersey get into a real situation, this one's for you.

The pick of the week this time is a special book you won't find on your local shop's shelf, Matinee Eclectica a special publication put out by Dirty Third Comics. I first heard of Matinee Eclectica through a wonderful crowd-funding site called Kickstarter, and have been looking forward to reading it ever since. The basis of the anthology is that all the stories are written by relative new-comer Ryan Schrodt, who partners with a different artist for each mini-tale. Generally when it comes to Anthology books, I find a lot to like and at least some parts that are dreadful. Matinee Eclectica breaks that pattern though, as I like every story and love quite a few of them. Schrodt really shows some writing chops in expertly handling all the major genres from super-heroes and sc-fi to western and horror tales. Just as impressive, is the combined talent of the artists assembled here. I don't want to start listing them all, as I would inevitably forget someone, but they are certainly creators I will be looking for more of in the future. Now, I'm not sure where you can get the book right now outside of con appearances, but I would start with contacting Mr. Schrodt through his completed Kickstarter campaign or the email given there. I, for one, can not wait to read more of his stuff in the future.

Let's keep rolling right into the books from the 27th.

First up this week is the lone DC universe book, Teen Titans #98. Begining the last story before the DC reboot, this issue features the return of Superboy Prime to the regular DCU, who is looking for revenge on Conner and the Titans. I'm kind of torn on this issue. It presents some interesting ideas but on the other hand they are all ones that I can't see being wrapped up in the two remaining issues of this title. The art however is pretty well done, with grittier pencils by Eduardo Pansica that fit the story's darker mood. Either way I'll be picking up the last couple issues and I'm crossing my fingers that they don't disappoint.

Next, we continue to catch up with the Inhumans in FF #7. Black Bolt returns to his people but he certainly doesn't come to bring them peace. Still not really enjoying this mini/fill-in story that has taken us away from what is happening with the Future Foundation. Hickman's writing is ok but Greg Tocchini's rougher art really does nothing for me. Next issue looks to be back on earth and hopefully Epting will be handling the art once again.

Rounding out my Marvel/non-X pickups, we have Venom #5. In this issue, Flash deals with his oldest foe, his father. At first I thought I wasn't going to like this one as it has starts off having an "after school special" kind of vibe to it, but by the end Remender makes it all worth while as he dives deeper into the mind of Flash Thompson. The kind of command he has over characters in his writing is unparalleled in the industry, and he makes each title more appealing than the last (something we will get back to with Uncanny X-Force later in this post.) Tony Moore and Tom Fowler, the two artists handling the issue, also contribute quite a bit as their touching panels hit just as hard as Remender's plots. This book is quickly becoming one of my favorite Marvel titles every month.

Heading over to Vertigo, we have American Vampire #17. Henry, Skinner, and the rest of their outfit escaped the cells, but it's straight from the frying pan and into the vampires running around on fire. Another fantastic issue from Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque, filled with vampires (American and otherwise) and World War II action! This penultimate chapter of the "Ghost War" arc wraps up the perfect amount, leaving the most anticipated showdown for the final issue. Still really digging this book after a year and a half, and can't wait for more.

Going from buckets of blood to kegs of it, we have Crossed: Psychopath #4. Amanda and Rick see what "The Crossed" did to Darwin and Claire last issue, while Harold let's us see what happened to his first "love", Lori. David Lapham and Raulo Caceres continue to put out the sickest comic on the shelves, but its also one of the best done. The free reign Avatar Press gives Lapham constantly challenges his creativity for crazy story-telling, while Caceres art does wonders bringing the stories to life with fluid panel structure and mesmerizing, full-page spreads. Certainly not a title for everyone, but if you are a horror or gore fan you need to be reading it.

Closing out the week we have four X-books, starting with X-Men: Schism #2 of 5. The X-Men are on damage control, as the numerous countries that have activated Sentinels are falling victim to the robots. Meanwhile, the new Black King of the Hellfire club continues moving pieces into place before he overtly strikes as his mutant foes. This issue brought the mini-series down quite a bit, as the slow pace seems out of place in an event story and Frank Cho's art is not looking it's best. Additionally, Jason Aaron seems to be over-stating character's personalities and feelings to justify a predictable end that readers can see coming a mile away. There are still some things I like about the book, such as the new Hellfire Club direction, but I am really hoping the third issue brings some needed improvements.

From the X-Men as a collective, we head into the smaller groups starting with X-Men Legacy #252. The group begins searching Paris for Styx, Legion's most dangerous personality that got loose, but it doesn't go as well as they'd hoped. I am enjoying this story from Mike Carey, as he subtly makes these characters deal with their personal demons and left over feelings from "Age of X". The pencils by Khoi Pham don't really strike me strongly one way or another, but they do have their moments. Probably not a good point for some looking to get into the X-world but an enjoyable book anyways.

Taking second place this week is my favorite covert X-team in Uncanny X-Force #12. The Dark Angel Saga continues as X-Force teams up with the remaining Age of Apocalypse X-Men, while their individual leaders (Wolverine and Jean Grey respectively) ponder more than a friendly alliance. As I mentioned earlier with Venom, Remender has a flair for character development and this issue is no exception. That in addition to his over the top story and Mark Brooks pencils make this another fantastic comic. My sole complaint is the limited amount of panel time Dark Angel has been given, but that is more of the Angel fan in me speaking than a critique.

The top spot this week goes to Abnett and Lanning's New Mutants #28. Moonstar brings in a therapist to help her team deal with the personal problems their each going through. While this approach has been done before in comics, it hasn't been done with the speedy, no-punches pulled attitude this issue brings. Instead of having the characters confess all their problems in monolouges or thought bubbles, Abnett and Lanning choose to hit these not so merry mutants right in the face with them. Presenting a great pay off for those that have been reading for years, and a nice summary for those just joining in, this issue is a great read for any comic book fan and I definitely recommend checking it out.

That's it for this week, so go read some comics or at the very least complain on the interent about ones you don't like.

Wednesday Pickups 3/9/11

We've got eight books this week with a nice variety, only half are superhero ;)

Starting things off we have X-Men: Legacy #246, Chapter 3 of Age of X. Legacy (Rogue) remains on the lamb from her fellow mutants and isn't the only one asking questions. Another solid issue in this x-over as Mike Carey's story builds naturally while Clay Mann's pencil's add the perfect amount of grit and grim to this dystopian future/alternate present. Maybe a little dialogue heavy in some places that were unnecessary but other than that no complaints and looking forward to more.

Rounding out Marvel books this week is Hawkeye: Blindspot #2 of 4. Clint starts searching for leads on who killed his former mentor, Trick Shot, while reminiscing about his early days in the Avengers. A descent issue that features some awesome flashback art done by Nick Dragotta and Brad Simpson but the ending "surprise" reveal felt too cliche and formulaic. Hoping Jim McCann manages to use it in an interesting way for the second half of the mini-series but it certainly isn't working for me yet.

Speaking of comics that ended terribly, our first comic from DC this week is Justice League: Generation Lost #21. Each member of the team deals with the death of Blue Beetle in their own way as they decide if they will continue their hunt for Max Lord. I love 95% of this issue (for you nerds out there, this is an actuate percent since I liked 19 of the 20 pages.) Judd Winick nails these characters motivations, which doesn't surprise me as he has been doing it the whole series. What did surprise me was the final page reveal, which I really dislike and for much of the same reasons as I dislike the ending of Hawkeye this week. There are very few ways I can see Winick turning this into something enjoyable but I'm still holding out hope that it won't ruin the rest of the series for me.

Last DC book of the week is Booster Gold #42. Booster appears back in the present, apparently having served his time in future. It was no trip to Cleveland, however, as he tells Rip and Michelle about his disturbing adventure with his cell mate, the Perforated Man. Still enjoying these wacky time tales from Giffen and DeMatteis, even if this issue had a little less humor than usual. Looking forward to the fallout of what was revealed here especially as it relates to the partnership between Booster and Rip.

From Avatar Press we have Captain Swing and the Electrical Pirates of Cindery Island #3 of 4. The captured constable gets a little tour of the island but all hell breaks loose as Brock, the bow-street runner, discovers their location. While I still like the mini, the break between issues really killed any momentum it had going. When the last issue comes out I'll try to sit down and read them all at once, betting it has a lot better flow that way.

Heading over to Image's Shadowline brand we have Twenty-Seven #4 of 4. Will Garland meets up with the mysterious forces that set him on his current path and, surprise surprise they don't get along. Overall I enjoyed this mini series. Its art, done by Renzo Podesta, is consistently interesting while the story done by Charles Soule was oddly paced at some points but still fun to read. I know there is a second mini-series planned for the summer but I think I might pass on it as the ending here really didn't leave me looking for more.

Runner up this week comes from Th3rd World Studios, The Stuff of Legend Vol 2.: The Jungle Part 4. Concluding this arc Maxwell reveals his dark secret to the animal toys while Jester, Princess, and Harmony run into some old friends in the hunting grounds. Another fantastic issue from Mike Raicht, Brian Smith and Charles Paul Wilson III. Great art, engaging story, and unique characters (not just some Toy Story wannabees) make this a must read for me every time. Looking forward to the next volume, The Jester's Tale starting in the summer.

Pick of the week is once again a Vertigo Resurrected title, Finals #1 (a collection of the four issue Finals mini-series from 1999.) Written by Will Pfeifer with art by Jill Thompson, Finals tells the story of five seniors at Knox State University. All of them are working on their senior projects, and since KSU is known for pushing students harder than anywhere else each project is peculiar and more extreme than the last. This college tale of devolving men, out of control cults, and dead time travelers really did it for me as it nailed a lot college personalities (even ten years later) while still being fun and out there. Give a chance if you enjoy a good college romp or are digging the other Vertigo Resurrected books as much as I am.

That is it for this week. Next week should feature a fairly sizable stack but get ready to hear about all the awesome stuff I pick up at C2E2.

Wednesday Pickups 2/16/11

[Announcer's Voice]Coming in at nine books, zero trades, this stack packs quite a wallop with its floppy stock and chiseled right angles. Hailing from the slightly slushy streets of Chicago's south suburbs, this cartel of comics contains books new and old, bright and dark, DC and other, THE COMICS OF FEBRRUUUUUUARY SIXTEENTH, TWENTY ELEVENNNNN![/Announcer's Voice]


We start things off this week with Green Lantern Corps #57, the conclusion of The Weaponer storyline. The small group of Green Lanterns stand with The Weaponer and Thunders of Quard against Sinestro and his corps, but will it be enough or will the truce be broken and ignite another War? Guest staring Firestorm (on loan from Brightest Day) we get an answer, and all too quickly. With the slow build the arc has been utilizing, this final issue seems out of place wrapping everything up too nicely and not really justifying one character's major choice. Tyler Kirkham's pencils, brilliantly assisted by BATT's ink and Nei Ruffino's colors, looked spectacular but Tony Bedard's story seems like it was rush to conclusion (possibly for the crossover starting next month, War of the Green Lanterns.) While I've really been digging the title lately I think this upcoming crossover gives me a nice opportunity take a break from the book, along with our next book.

Moving over to GLC's slightly older brother we have Green Lantern #62. Concluding The New Guardians arc, this issue finds Hal and his colorful buddies going toe to toe with Krona, the former guardian who accidentally created the anti-matter universe and is now after the Entities. Contrary to most of this arc, I really enjoyed this final issue. As usual, Doug Mahnke's art looks great and Geoff Johns writing showed some of the chops I first started liking him for, including an unexpected result for the battle and a tough choice for Hal Jordan. That said, the good here just doesn't out weight the "meh" I've been getting from the book lately. Going to take a break from this as well, both to check out some other stuff on the stands and to see if I really miss it that much.

Next up is one book that won't be leaving for the foreseeable future, Booster Gold #41 (now you can laugh at that bad future pun.) Rip decides it's time Booster pays his debt for stealing all the future tech that allowed him to be come a super hero but the Nazi he recently displaced from the forties has other plans. Really been enjoying this book and as previously mentioned, that shows no signs of stopping. Giffen, DeMatteis, Batista, and Perrotta make for wonderful writing and artistic duos that seem to bring new things to the table all the time. This issue illustrates exactly how far this character has come, as Booster treats the villain as a pest in the same manner major villains used to do to him. Maybe becoming a bit to big for his britches though, the ending comes as a bit of surprise to us and him, but trusting this creative team I known it has a purpose.

Rounding out the DC books this week is Brightest Day #20, the conclusion of Aquawar. Arthur and Jackson stand as the land's last defense from Black Manta, Siren, and her invading army of banished Atlantians; but they might not prove to be enough with out a helping hand from some friends. Art, as usual from Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, is great with the highlight being a two-page splash of Aquaman leading the local sea life on the charge. The story on the other hand, from Johns and Tomasi, might be showing the first signs of falling apart. Very similar to the end of Hawkman and Hawkgirl's story, Aquaman comes to a flat stopping point and seems to hint that every other character's will follow suit. It remains to be seen but if this is the case, the series end probably won't be up my alley.

Heading over to IDW, we have The Suicide Forest #3 of 4. Our two protagonists finally meet, and in the title location no less, as Ryoko and the other park rangers comes across Alan with forest spirits not far behind. Really enjoyed the pacing of this issue as it begins the final act of this supernatural horror comic in a rough and deadly fashion. Gabriel Hernandez art works perfectly with the setting, causing the reader to lose himself in the woods along with the characters and feel the cold darkness in the final panels. Can't wait to see how it all turns out next month, as in true to the medium we are left with quite the cliffhanger.

Moving along, to my favorite title from Archia, we have Cyclops #4 of 8. Pistoia and his soldiers are sent to the latest United Nations involved war theater. While on the surface Pistoia appears to be darker and less caring his internal conflict has reached a boiling point. This fantastic series keeps going with another great entry. While its been present all along, the most prominent feature of this issue is the strong use of panel structure. For the sex scene, it heightens the thrill while letting us in on a secret; when the men make a discovery in the forest, it simultaneously horrifies and provides the laugh track of the viewers at home; when Pistoia goes searching for answers; it illuminates the past with the flashlight beam while leaving the now in the dark. Definitely looking forward to the second half of the mini-series and where it goes.

Uptight #2, published by Fantagraphics and created by Jordan Crane, shows up with another set of short stories accompanied by a slick cover. In "Take Me Home" a young man is plagued by the memories of one fateful night, while "Before They Got Better" introduces us to a grandfather who's slowly losing his patience with family squabbles. Lastly, we get another installment of "Keeping Two" where the guy's imagination runs even wilder about the whereabouts of his girlfriend. Found myself enjoying this issue more than the first one. While the art retains the simple black and white style, especially the great use of shadow in "Take Me Home", I found the stories here more interesting and direct. Will make sure to grab #3 for next week.

Getting into Marvel's wares, we have Hawkeye: Blindspot #1 of 4. Since his trip to Russia, Hawkeye's aim has been a bit off, due to a nasty blow to the back of the head. Now the big brains have figured out his vision is deteriorating due to an inoperable pressure build up and if things weren't bad enough, villains from his past return looking for blood. Enjoying this story and re-telling of Clint's past so far. I think it definitley shows more focus than Widowmaker with just Jim McCann handling the writing, with the only questionable aspect being who he sets up as the major antagonist (however, I might be the only one that thinks that due to my lack of knowledge of the character.) The art holds its own as well, drawn by Paco Diaz and colored by Tomeu Morey, with little touches such as the faded newspaper look of the past or the enhanced vision goggles bright colors endearing it even more to me. If we can't have Hawkeye and Mockingbird back as a book, Blindspot is a pretty good replacement.

Pick of the week also comes from Marvel, Uncanny X-Force #5. Kicking off a new arc, Deathlok Nation, we get a bit more insight into the enigma that is Fantomex while the rest of team struggles over how their first mission ended. One of the best things about Rememder's writing on this book is he let's me enjoy every character, not just the ones I normally do. While I've never been a big fan of Deadpool, Rememder's Deadpool is a likable character and even more so for a great moment he has in this issue. That would be enough to keep me on the book but Esad Ribic's art rocks it just as much. From action packed battle scenes to the memorabilia filled Cavern-X (like a loving homage to the batcave), he keeps the viewer engaged and conveys just as much of the story as his writing partner. If every X-Book was as solid as this, Namor, and New Mutants I could easily see myself going back to the days of getting every one of them.

That's it for this week but if you like what you read make sure to stop by again, same time and place. As usual comments, critiques, and suggestions can be left below or sent to talesofthegeeklanterncorps@gmail.com Now, I'm off to get started on reading next week's books. Psychic prediction- Crossed: Psychopath #1 nabs the top spot. ;)