Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 08/13/08

After a slow start, Secret Invasion cranks up the tie-in machine with a good four or five tie-ins this week alone. However, most of these looks pretty good, to be honest, with the Fraction penned Thor and the War of Kings lead-in, Inhumans, tie-ins. The only dubious one is the X-Men tie-in, but I'll give it a shot since they at least got Carey writing it.

On the DC side of things, we've got the Brainiac story continuing in Action Comics and Batman tripping out with Bat-mite in Batman RIP.

Personally, I'm happy to be finally catching up with Captain Britain & MI:13 with the second printings of issues 1-3.

Also, be sure to check out the final post on the Why I Buy Certain Comic Books series of guest posts

Hit the jump and enjoy the Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews!

ACTION COMIS #868
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

"Brainiac" part 3 of 5! The frightening storyline that sets the stage for the SUPERMAN event of 2008 continues. Against everyone's advice, Superman has journeyed to the deepest reaches of space to initiate contact with an alien being he thought he knew: Brainiac. But after learning about the truth behind Brainiac's existence and his plans for Earth, Superman may regret his decision.

Kirk Says: DC has big plans for Superman, what, with Kandor (don't even try and figure out which version) returning and its population of several hundred thousand Kryptonians taking up residence on Earth, and it all starts with this Brainiac revamp.

If that's not enough reason to pick it up, Brainiac just caused a Sun to practically go supernova in order to take down and capture Superman last issue. Johns is really hitting his stride on Action Comics and this is probably the most exciting time for readers of Superman's books since he died.


ASTONISHING X-MEN #26
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Simone Bianchi

The superstar team of Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi take the X-Men to the "Second Stage"!
"Messiah Complex" pulled the X-Men team together, "Divided We Stand" tore them apart. Now the X-Men are back to business -- with a new look, a new base of operations, and a mystery to solve that will take them into previously uncharted territory and test them to their core. It all starts on a spaceship hovering 300 hundred feet above the twisted wreckage of Chaparanga Beach. Its sole inhabitant: the mysterious Subject X. Five minutes -- just five minutes is all he needs, all he’s asking for.

Can the X-Men afford to give it to him?

Kirk Says: What the hell? It's only been a month since the last issue of Astonishing came out. You'd almost swear this was a monthly book. I wasn't overly impressed with the first issue of the post-Whedon era, but I'm sure things will pick up now that Ellis got all the introductions and explanations about the new base out of the way last issue.


BATMAN #679
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel

"Batman R.I.P." — Part 4! Robin and Damian team up — yes, you read that right — to search for the missing Batman. Meanwhile, the Club of Villains — The Hunchback, Pierrot Lunaire, King Kraken, Charlie Caligula, Scorpiana and El Sombrero — rampage through Gotham City! This incredible fourth chapter of "Batman R.I.P." ends with the surprising return of a character you never thought!

Kirk Says: While I haven't been completely enamoured with Batman RIP, the previews for this issue looked surprisingly good. Batman, in his new hobo costume, goes around tripping out, fighting crime and debating whether he's crazy or not with the imaginary Bat-Mite. Still waiting on the Joker to actually make an appearance. It's kind of disappointing he was shown off in his new look to start this whole event off and then disappeared.


BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #20
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Kevin Maguire

In part 4 of the 5-part tale "The Bat and The Cat," Batman enters the fray as Batgirl and Catwoman continue their first, explosive confrontation over Commissioner Gordon's stolen notebook!

Kirk Says: Have I mentioned lately how much I'm loving this flashback "teamup" between Batgirl and Catwoman? Between Fabian's spot on dialogue and witty dialogue to Maguire's picture perfect facial expressions, this is one of my favourite Batman stories of all time. Hopefull this praise doesn't jinx the whole thing with two issues left to go...




BOOSTER GOLD #11
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Dan Jurgens

Guest writer Chuck Dixon jumps into the Timestream to tell a tale of Booster Gold and Batman! When Booster is charged with stopping a time-traveling villain from Batman's past, he must travel back in time and go undercover as Killer Moth to stop this mystery man from destroying Gotham City! Guest-starring Batgirl!

Kirk Says: Hmm, wonder if this solicit of Chuck Dixon as writer will be scrapped like his recent Robin credits, where he was listed as the writer in the solicits for the last two months only to be replaced by Fabian Nicieza?

I'm kind of iffy about the future of the Booster Gold series with both Johns and Katz leaving last issue, but I'll give it a couple issues to impress me.


CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI:13 #4
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Leonard Kirk

It's the final battle for Britain as MI-13 makes its last stand against the Skrulls. But the door to the darkness has been opened, and evil is loose in the world, and that might make even the end of the Secret Invasion look like the beginning of something much worse. Be here for the moment a team is created, a hero returns and a new legacy is born.

Kirk Says: I've lamented the lack of copies for this series' first few issues, but I finally grabbed the first two reprints and the third issue should be out this week to conincide with this issue, so I should be all good to review it.

Based on everything I've seen and read so far, I'm thinking I'm going to love this series.


FANTASTIC FOUR #559
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Bryan Hitch

You should have remembered the old adage, Johnny: love the woman, love her family. And when the woman is the super-villain called Psionics, that raises the stakes to a whole other level. Now it’s the morning after, and Lightwave, Natalie X, Alex U-16, Doc Banner and the Burning Man expect you to live up to your responsibilities. It’s the Human Torch’s worst break-up ever—or will it be a shotgun wedding? Plus: where in the world is Doctor Doom?

Kirk Says: Okay, after ending last issue with a splashpage of "Doc Banner", who appears to be the old "Banner in control" Hulk, this issue better have some answers as to who the heck he is and what's going on here. You can't just toss something like that out there with the nonsense that is Loeb's Hulk and not give us an answer. My guess? Marvel 1985 version of the Hulk and some kind of tie to the One Man Event Millar has planned with all of his titles this year.


FINAL CRISIS: REVELATIONS #1
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Philip Tan, Jeff De Los Santos and Jonathan Glapion

Greg Rucka (52, Whiteout, THE QUESTION: THE FIVE BOOKS OF BLOOD) and rising superstar Philip Tan unleash the wrath of God in this FINAL CRISIS tie-in!

With the end of creation nigh, Crispus Allen must embrace his role as The Spectre by exacting God's vengeance on some of the DC Universe's most vile sinners. But even as Allen struggles with his duty, a new threat is arising – one that only his former partner, Renee Montoya, a.k.a. The Question, can help him fight!

Kirk Says: The Spectre just doesn't work in the DC Universe. Why is he punishing rapists, like Dr Light, when the Joker or Lex Luthor, or numerous other guys with body counts in the thousands, go free? They should just pack him off to the Vertigo line like Madame Xanadu and do something unique and interesting with the character instead of constantly hand holding and beating around the bush with the non-punishing of the real badguys.

That said, I'm willing to give this a look just for the Batwoman and Question ties.


GREEN LANTERN CORPS #27
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Luke Ross and Fabio Laguna

Witness the grand opening of the new Warriors bar! Then, meet a mysterious new Lantern by the name of Saarek,who can hear the dead. What brings him to Oa – and why are the dead growing restless?

Kirk Says: Is it me or is this book coming out more often than normal? It feels like I just read the end of the Mongul fight a week or two ago.

Oh well, I'm not going to argue with quicker doses of good comics. The Saarek character sounds like a convenient Blackest Night plot device character, but I'm willing to bet Tomasi can make it work.

Also, it's about time the Warriors bar opened. It's been a while since Guy and Kyle moved to Oa and there hasn't been a single mention of the bar outside of a random conversation about zoning permits or whatever.


SECRET INVASION #5
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Leinil Francis Yu

Embrace change. With these two words the Skrull Empire declares their intentions to the entire Marvel Universe.

Embrace change. With these two words thousands and thousands of comic fans who have declared Secret Invasion the comic book blockbuster of the summer brace themselves for the shocking changes that are about to happen to their favorite characters and institutions. Embrace change, True Believer, because change is coming!

Kirk Says: After last month's promising Thor and Cap ending tease, they had better whoop some Skrull ass this issue or I'm going to be pissed.

Oh, who am I kidding? We all know Bendis is probably just going to flash to the Savage Land and have some random 'who do you trust?' circular dialogue with all the heroes and 70's Skrulls.


SECRET INVASION: INHUMANS #1
Written by Joe Pokaski
Art by Tom Raney

Spinning directly out of SECRET INVASION – the hunt for Black Bolt begins! You learned that he was replaced by the Skrulls in New Avengers: Illuminati, now it’s time to find out if the Inhumans’ former king is dead or alive! How will the loss of their leader tear apart the Royal Family? Can the mighty monarch recover from this personal blow – that is, if he’s even still living? And how far will Medusa, Crystal, Triton, Karnak and Gorgon go to find their disposed king? Writer Joe Pokaski (TV’s Heroes) and artist Tom Raney (Annihilation: Conquest) unite for an adventure that not only expands the events of this year’s biggest story, but will lead to huge events in 2009!

Kirk Says: Wasn't really interested in this until the War of Kings announcement. Hopefully this actually has something to do with that event's set up outside of the solicit description.


SECRET INVASION: RUNAWAYS / YOUNG AVENGERS #2
Written by Christopher Yost
Art by Takeshi Miyazawa

Things look bleak for the future of the Marvel Universe. Xavin has turned on the Runaways. Hulkling is out of commission. Can the rest of the Runaways and Young Avengers keep it together? Heck, can they survive?

Kirk Says: First issue of this was good, but very Runaways oriented. Let's see if the Young Avengers can get a few lines of dialogue this time around.





SECRET INVASION: THOR #1
Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Doug Braithwaite

The Skrulls are coming for Asgard, and they’ve got the gods in their sights! But it’s not just the pantheon who stand to suffer the repercussions of the aliens’ secret invasion -- the citizens of small-town Broxton, Oklahoma are about to become collateral damage in the attack…and the God of Thunder must defend two cites at once! For a job this big, Thor will have to turn to one of his oldest and closest allies…Beta Ray Bill!

Kirk Says: What I originally wrote off as a cheap cash-in attempt is now one of my most anticipated books this week. Fresh off his mind-blowling awesome wrangling of blood colossi in the Thor: Ages of Thunder one-shots, I'm dying to see more of Fraction's Thor and adding Beta Ray Bill to the mix just makes this all the better. Just don't make him a Skrull and piss me off Fraction!


SECRET INVASION: X-MEN #1
Written by Mike Carey
Art by Cary Nord

It’s aliens vs. mutants as the Skrull Invasion hits the West Coast! X-Scribe Mike Carey and super-hot artist Cary Nord (ULTIMATE HUMAN) bring you a story that will shock X-Fans and have everyone talking for years to come. The Skrulls don’t expect the X-Men when they hit San Francisco, but don’t think they don’t have something very special prepared for Cyclops and his army when they find them at their new home. STARRING: ALL THE X-MEN. YUP. ALL OF THEM.

Kirk Says: The least enticing Secret Invasion tie-in of the bunch this week, by far, is this X-Men issue. After going to all that trouble of moving out to San Francisco and hiding their new base, we have the Skrulls coming to pay them a visit at their front door. Why did they move again? To get away from their villains and keep a low profile? Mission accomplished.


WONDER WOMAN #23
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan

It's the finale of the 4-part "Ends of the Earth" epic! Wonder Woman returns from the darkest corners of the DCU, and she's brought something nasty back with her! And will Diana fall at the scene of her Amazon sisters' greatest tragedy? You've never seen Wonder Woman like this before!

Kirk Says: Don't ask me what's going on with this Wonder Woman Ens of the Earth 'epic' because it's barely making sense to me as it is. Somehow, while fighting 'the devil', Wonder Woman pushed him off the edge of the Earth and they landed in Washington near the Lincoln Memorial. And that's the least confusing part of this storyline!

Despite the odd plot, it's been a lot of fun to read and Simone's done some great stuff with Diana and her characterization. Definitely worth checking out.

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