Another Monday, another Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews! Another light week, if you can call 10 or so comics a light week, for me here at the Weekly Crisis. The books I'm most looking forward to are Sky Doll and Marvel 1985. There are other books I expect to be great, such as Captain America, Incredible Hercules or Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge, but they lack the same level of anticipation I have for the previously mentioned titles.One thing I'd like to bring everyone's attention to is the amount of comments and feedback my question to the readers, What Do You Think DC Comics Is Doing Wrong?, has garnered. I've read every single comment and the amount and, most importantly, the quality of the responses has been staggering. I'll be going over the comments and collecting everyone's thoughts, along with some of my own, on the subject and posting a summary of the answers in the next day or two, so make sure to head over to the comments section and make yourself heard or just partake in the well thoughtout responses from your fellow readers.
With that out of the way, I'll let you all get to this week's previews. As always, comments or book suggestions are always welcome. Hit the jump for the previews.
BATGIRL #1 (OF 6)Written by Adam Beechen
Art by Jim Calafiore and Jonathan Glapion
Fresh from appearances in BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS, the enigmatic Cassandra Cain stars in this six-issue miniseries written by Adam Beechen (COUNTDOWN, ROBIN) with pencils by Jim Calafiore (GOTHAM UNDERGROUND)!
Now that Batgirl has finally gained Batman's trust, it's time to conquer her inner demons and prove herself to the rest of the world. This six-issue epic will take Cassandra on an intense, personal journey involving friends, family and foes!
Kirk Says: On one hand, I like Cassandra Cain and her Batgirl persona. On the other, I've grown to hate just about everything Beechan has ever put without fail. I hate the fact they made Batgirl evil and drove her character into the ground, but I'm happy to see them try and redeem her in recent months. Do I support this series to say I want more Batgirl or do I not buy it to tell them I don't want Batgirl as written by Beechan? I'm confused and not even sure if I'll end up buying this or not, but I'll put it on the list for the time being.
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #9Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez and Bit
Metamorpho finally makes the trip back to Earth — only to be immediately arrested! And while Katana and Batgirl attempt to break Rex out of a Paris jail, they also manage to abduct a mysterious astronaut! Plus: don't miss the return of the former Outsider called Looker!
Kirk Says: Dixon seems to be hitting his stride with the last issue, but that's a moot point now that he's off the title and only a few issues penned by him left in the can. I'm not really sure I what I want to do with this title. I was tempted to drop it not too long ago, but now I'm sticking with it for some reason. Dixon's departure sounds like a good time to cut my ties, but I might wait and see what the new creative team has in store.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #40Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve Epting
It's Cap versus Cap for the future of the American Dream as the Red Skull looks on in laughter! And Bucky learns the true identity of the man behind the other mask! The epic Death of Captain America continues in Part Four of "The Man Who Bought America" by the acclaimed team of Brubaker and Epting.
Kirk Says: It's Captain America by Brubaker and Epting. That's reason enough to pick this issue up. This should be Bucky's first real test as Captain America, too, and I'm curious to see how the fight plays out and finally up the pace of the past few issues.
FINAL CRISIS: ROGUES' REVENGE #1 (OF 3)Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Scott Kolins
The critically-acclaimed FLASH team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Scott Kolins reunites for a tale of villainy and twisted justice tying in to FINAL CRISIS! Captain Cold and the Rogues were accessories to the murder of Bart Allen. They've become what they never set out to be – wanted! Wanted by the good guys, by former Rogue Pied Piper, and by the Secret Society of Super-Villains. But just as they try to disappear underground, good, old-fashioned revenge yanks them back. And where is the Flash during all of this? It's a Crisis — take a guess.
Kirk Says: I've been hearing about Rogues' Revenge for a long time and it has been linked with Final Crisis since the beginning, but I, honestly, have no clue what it's about. With the return of Barry Allen, is he going to be spotlighted in this story or is it purely a Wally West centric story? Or is it just a focus on the Rogues? And how does it tie into Final Crisis, if it even does, outside the name in the title? I hope it at least answers how they escaped the JLA and JSA whom arrested them in Final Crisis #1...
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #119Written by Fred Van Lente & Greg Pak
Art by Rafa Sandoval
SECRET INVASION TIE-IN!
"SACRED INVASION" takes a shocking turn! Betrayed by one of their own, their strategy in shambles, Hercules and the God Squad find themselves marooned on a hostile world with countless hordes of alien slave-deities between them and their final goal of the Skrull pantheon! They have no choice but to fight against impossible odds for their very lives, for in this realm, gods can die, and in this issue -- A GOD WILL DIE!
Kirk Says: Incredible Hercules has been knocking it out of the park with most of its issues. While I haven't been labelling them as Must Reads, mainly because there are, admittedly, some flaws in the title, they've been a tonne of fun to read and I'm really digging this motely crew of gods and demi-gods they've put together to hunt down the Skrull gods. Not essential to the Secret Invasion story, but this tie-in will probably prove, outside of possibly Captain Britain & MI13, to be the best of the bunch.
MARVEL 1985 #3Written by Mark Millar
Art by Tommy Lee Edwards
“THE VISITORS”
They’re coming for us. The most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe are here—in our world—and they’re not taking prisoners. The only people who stand between
salvation and destruction are 13-year old Toby and his dad, who once was friends with the enigmatic Clyde Wyncham. MARK MILLAR (CIVIL WAR, KICK-ASS, WOLVERINE) and TOMMY LEE EDWARDS (BULLET POINTS, The Question) continue this epic super hero crossover, with far-reaching and surprising implications for the Marvel Universe!
Kirk Says: With its target audiance mainly being the children of the 80's, Marvel 1985 isn't for everyone, but, for those that grew up in that time period, this comic is pure nostolgia wrapped in fun with a dash of excellent narrative and a relatable main character. Hell, even if you didn't grow up during that time period, I think you'll probably enjoy what this title has to offer and it's really kicking it up a notch this month with the villains finally making their presence known to the towns people.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #16Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Khoi Pham
SECRET INVASION TIE-IN!
ELEKTRA IS A SKRULL!! Words that have echoed through Marvel Comics for the last two years. But how did this happen and for how long has this been true? THE ANSWER IS HERE! Hint! She went down swinging. Plus the answer to the biggest question in modern Avengers history...
Kirk Says: Biggest question in modern Avengers history? That question best not be, "how was Elektra replaced?" because no one really cares. Sure, having a Skrull beat up Elektra will probably fill out 22 pages, but it's nowhere near the top of the list of questions people have about Secret Invasion or the "modern Avengers".
SKY DOLL #3Written by Barbara Canepa & Alessandro Barbucci
Art by Alessandro Barbucci
Translation by C.B. Cebulski
The internationally acclaimed best seller comes to the end of its first arc! As power-hungry Papess Lodovica seeks more control over the citizens of Papathea, the "heretics" who still honor the memory of the outcast ruler Agape rise up in protest. Suddenly, our lovely sky doll, Noa, finds herself in the middle of a Holy War – one which she quickly becomes swept up in as rumor of her true powers spread. Roy and Jahu do their best to protect her – but as Noa soon discovers, no one can avoid their true destiny!
Kirk Says: Buy this book. Buy the first two, too. Also, I just want to say, that cover is striking. I can't describe what it is about it that just grabs me, but it's incredible, nonetheless.
X-FACTOR #33Written by Peter David
Art by Larry Stroman
Secret Invasion tie-in! A She-Hulk crossover! Darwin and Longshot show up! New cover artist, Boo Cook! New
interior artist, Larry Stroman! And...oh yeah...X-Factor's new digs! What do we have to do, put it in your hands
ourselves?!
Kirk Says: Ugh, just when X-Factor was getting back in its groove, we get another event tie-in. Oh, and not just a regular tie-in, but a crossover tie-in with a book that has absolutely nothing to do with X-Factor in the form of She-Hulk. Joy. This should end in nothing but tears.
X-FORCE #5Written by Chris Yost & Craig Kyle
Art by Clayton Crain
“ANGELS AND DEMONS”
It began with one simple mission: Kill the Purifier leader Matthew Risman before he kills any more mutants. But everything went to hell…and now it gets worse. Wolfsbane’s decent continues. War rages between Risman and Bastion. The Choir rises. And if that weren’t enough... it’s X-FORCE VERSUS ARCHANGEL. Part 5 (of 6)
Kirk Says: I'm thinking this is the best X-title on the market post-Messiah Complex. It should be interesting to see where Yost and Kyle go with the numerous plots they've set up over the course of this fledgling series, from Bastion and his army of resurrected human, mutant hating X-baddies to what happened with Archangel last issue and everything in between.
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12 comments:
Actually, if I remember correctly, Rogue's Revenge was originally a six issue mini that wrapped into Final Crisis when they were working on the tie-ins and reduced it to three double sized issues. I assume it has to do with the Rogues trying to break away from Libra's Society. I assume the Flash will be Barry since they killed his grandson and he is making his come back in FC. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't appear till the last issue though.
I am actually looking forward to The X-F/S-H crossover for some reason. I guess I just have faith in PAD. His She-Hulk wasn't bad just kind of boring and slow since it was mostly set up when I was reading it.
I'm picking up X-Force and Captain America, and might start on Marvel 1985. The X-Factor tie-in is shutting me down from trying to the title again, frowns.
I'm kind of upset that they don't give Batgirl a monthly, instead of this miniseries thing, but this might be a test. unfortunately, as you said, Beechan is on it.
No interest in the Outsiders at all, and with Dixon leaving, I'm not doubting it'll get cancelled sooner, rather than later.
Have you seen the preview for X-Factor? The story looks pretty interesting with Darwin and Val Cooper spying on their investigations. How do you feel about Stroman on this book? I think it is definitely a departure from the style this book has been using since the beginning (mainly Raimondi). I just do not know if I can get into his weird style of art.
Eric is correct on the origin of Rogues' Revenge.
The basic setup is that the Rogues are sick of being yanked around, and from what they see, it goes back to when Inertia tricked them into killing a Flash. (It's been pointed out that most of them tend to blame other people for their own mistakes.) So they're going after Inertia. Meanwhile, just about everyone is out to get them, including Wally, Piper, Zoom and the Society. And for all we know, possibly Barry too by the end.
If you want more info before picking it up, I've collected links to 5 interviews about the miniseries over the last few months. There's also a preview up on the front page of Newsarama today.
I was tempted to buy Batgirl until I saw who was writing it. I'd rather avoid the series, unless reviews are good.
All I'm getting this week is X-force, unless Broken Trinity is coming out.
Broken Trinity is going to be awesome, Kirk, if you may ever be interested into getting into Witchblade or The Darkness, I suggest it, it looks like it will be good.
Kirk, IGN has a preview of Batgirl up if you are interested.
Also, I wish Marvel would hurry up and announce a hardcover for Sky Doll. I actually want to get the Soleil books for my bookshelf. And of course to read them.
I do not want to read Batgirl
And yet, I must. :(
there's a review of 1985 up at bigshinyrobot already:
http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews/archives/477
In a decade or so, I'd like to see "Marvel 1995". It could include an entire issue made of nothing but Clones, Gratuitous Violence, and Sex scene upon sex scene...with Cyde Wyncham!
@eric - Is Rogues Revenge doublesized? I know the FC tie-ins are all higher priced, but I thought they were only like 30 pages or so, not full blown double sized.
Thanks for the Batgirl preview link. DIdn't see that one yet. Doesn't instill confidence in me, but at least the art looks good...
@ethreal - Not sure if starting on 1985 is a good idea unless you can get the first two issues. Might just want to wait on the trade at this point.
@chris - I actually haven't checked it out, but my 90's crossover sense was tingling with the thought of two unrelated books being crossed over for some mega summer event.
@kelson - Thanks for those links. Sadly, they're still pretty vague over the whole thing, but I'm sure I'll enjoy it on some level. I've never been a big fan of Kollins art, though. Everyone else seems to love it though...
@andrenn - I tried getting into Witchblade and Darkness back when they were first coming out, but never saw the appeal. I'll try to give it a flip through at the shop this week.
@zeromus - ahaha, same here, same here.
@salieri - I don't know why, but that made me laugh way more than it should have. ahahah.
@anonymous - This is the second post in a row you've posted one line links to your website. I don't mind people linking to their blogs or sites,b ut please try to contribute to the conversation before throwing out a link.
For example, talk about 1985 and say whether you enjoyed it if you have an advanced copy and then let people know they could go to that link to read a review. Just dropping the link with one sentence makes me think it's spam, but I'll leave it there for now. Please, try to keep that in mind if you choose to comment in teh future.
@Kirk: I believe all of the FC books are 40 pgs. long so they are at least longer than normal issues.
About the X-Factor/She-Hulk crossover I remember PAD saying it was his idea since fans requested it so much. That inspires some confidence.
this week is dry. im just gonna pick up Rogue's revenge. *sigh. DC needs to entice me better.
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