Ryan S. got held up and couldn't contribute to the Post-Crisis Previews this week (he'll still be reviwing though), but that doesn't mean we can't have fun without him, right? DC's getting most of my attention this week with double dose of Green Lantern action, Return of Bruce Wayne and Action Comics all on tap. Marvel's not completely out of the picture though as two Jason Aaron comics and Thor are dropping from them.
However, before getting to the previews, I want everyone to make not of the banner at the top of the site. Our anniversary is coming up on August 1st and, if you've been here for previous anniversary celebrations, you'll know we've always given back to the readers with contests for free comics. This year won't be any different, though the size of the prizes has. We'll be going with an omnibus as our top prize this year, so be sure to stop by on August 1st to celebrate and enter for your chance to win!
With that said, hit the jump to see what books I'll be buying this week and what I expect from each.
ACTION COMICS #891Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods
When Lex Luthor finally regained control of LexCorp, he thought he had everything he wanted. But in BLACKEST NIGHT, he briefly became an Orange Lantern and got a taste of true power. Now he'll do anything – anything – to get that power back. Buckle in for a greatest hits tour of the DCU's most wanted as Lex Luthor begins an epic quest for power, all brought to you by new ongoing writer Paul Cornell (Dr. Who, Captain Britain and MI-13) and artist Pete Woods (WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON), with covers by David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, Ultimatum)!
Kirk: Paul Cornell impressed me with his first issue on Action Comics. It was a great interpretation of Lex Luthor and I'm enjoying the focus on him. There were some hiccups along the way (the creepy Lois robot for one), but I'm still looking forward to seeing where he takes this story.
BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4 (OF 6)Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Georges Jeanty
The most anticipated series of 2010 continues!
Grant Morrison's can't-miss Batman story rolls on as Bruce Wayne's next stop on his amazing journey through time brings him to the Wild West – but will he escape alive? Artist Cameron Stewart (BATMAN AND ROBIN) joins Morrison to take The Dark Knight on a ride!
Kirk: I'm a little disappointed that Cameron Stewart had to back out of this issue. I've been looking forward to seeing his work since he showed me some sketches when I met him at a signing earlier this year. I'm not familiar with Georges Jeanty's work, but I'm sure I'll continue to enjoy Return of Bruce Wayne regardless of who's on the art. Morrison has yet to disappoint on this title.
FANTASTIC FOUR #581Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Neil Edwards
The first of a two-part story featuring the return of Nathaniel Richards. Follow us as he jumps through time back to the college years of Reed, Ben and Victor Von Doom and recruits them for an impossible mission in the future.
Kirk: Hickman's been on Fantastic Four for a while now and I'm enjoying the various seeds he's been planting while still being able to tell random one off stories. However, it's time for some of these long form stories to start paying off. That said, time travel adventures with past versions of Doom, Reed and Ben sound like fun. I wonder if the inclusion of Nathaniel will have any connection to Hickman's SHIELD series?
GREEN LANTERN #56Written by Geoff Johns
Art and cover by Doug Mahnke
BRIGHTEST DAY shines on as the mystery of the White Lantern piques the curiosity of Hector Hammond. The bizarre telekinetic escapes his prison cell and sets his sights on one being – Larfleeze! Plus, Hal Jordan begins unlocking the secret behind who took Parallax during BLACKEST NIGHT!
Kirk: Hector Hammond hasn't ever really done it for me as a Green Lantern villain, but he's been a sort of recurring character for most of Johns run on the book. He also seems to know a lot about what's currently going on with the entities, so I'm hoping we get some answers here. The most particular one is how they all ended up on Earth and within the continental US and why we are just finding out about their existence on Earth now.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #50Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Ardian Syaf
BRIGHTEST DAY burns on as Cyborg-Superman returns! You won't believe how far he'll go to secure his sinister new secret agenda. Plus, Green Lantern Ganthet has made a clandestine deal with Atrocitus. What is it and why might it spell doom for the Green Lantern Corps? The Emerald Warriors might have survived the BLACKEST NIGHT just in time for a great evil to rise!
Kirk: I'm actually looking forward to this issue more than the regular Green Lantern for a change and it's due to the fact Cyborg-Superman returns (technically, he showed up on a page or two last month). Where's he been? Why wasn't he involved in Blackest Night? What's he trying to do now? I'm dying to find out these questions and more.
PUNISHERMAX #9Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Steve Dillon
Frank Castle is now Public Enemy #1 in New York City, and nobody's loving it more than Bullseye, the psychotic assassin determined to bring him down. But what happens when Bullseye goes so far that even the Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, wants to shut him down? And how exactly do you pull the plug on the world's most tenacious hitman without becoming a target yourself?
Kirk: PunisherMAX has been a favourite of mine since Aaron relaunched the book. I'm really enjoying the additions of Kingpin and Bullseye to the MAX universe. They don't feel like out of place in this setting. However, this arc is dragging a bit. It started strong, but feels like we haven't really progressed from those earlier issues. I hope they pick up the pace with this issue.
SECRET AVENGERS #3Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Mike Deodato
What hides in the depths of the red planet? How does it link to the Shadow Empire lurking behind the scenes in America for nearly 150 years? And will our heroes be able to save one of their own? The Secret Avengers duo Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato bring the action.
Kirk: First issue opened strong. Second one spun its wheels. I still enjoyed it, but I'm hoping for something more with this third issue.
THOR #612Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Doug Braithwaite
Thor goes to Hell! In the aftermath of SIEGE, heavy metal horror and adventure! Fan-favorite writer Kieron Gillen continues his bestselling and critically acclaimed THOR run, reteamed with Doug Braithwaite. A lingering menace created by fiendish Loki as an afterthought returns to wreak havoc on the Asgardians! Can Thor and his unlikely allies defeat this devastating force of destruction?! Or in their weakened state after the battles of Siege, will this new, ancient enemy prove too strong?
Kirk: Gillen has been incredible on this book since taking over for JMS. Combined with his Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter miniseries, it's clear he just plain gets Thor and everything Asgard related. This current arc, which has its origins coming from Siege, has been excellent and makes me sad Gillen's run on the title will be ending soon.
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #15Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Ron Garney
It’s the action-packed conclusion to "Tomorrow Dies Today”…and at the end of it only one Deathlok shall remain. As Logan and the greatest heroes of the Marvel U unite to confront him, the question is raised: is he friend or foe? Or maybe even both?
Kirk: This is another Aaron written book I've been enjoying immensely, but like PunisherMAX, it feels like this current arc has been dragging on forever. The last issue began and ended at the same point we left off at two issues ago. They'll need a strong finish with this concuding issue to salvage the arc, though it's likely this will read much better in trades than it did on a monthly schedule.
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11 comments:
This week is huge!
DC is full of books. GL, GLC, and the return of Bruce Wayne are all definite pulls. I'm waiting on Action comics, but the news about Death being in that book, and it being written by Cornell are all good reasons to read it. I'm actually upset that the book won't be sticking with Luthor after this arc. No one is picking up Wonder Woman?
Marvel is pretty good too. FF, SA, and Weapon X are all on my pull lists. Thor is on my pull list too. I finally joined the party. Is anyone going to read Uncanny X-Men? And can someone tell me when they're going to make Whilce Portacio the permanent artist?
Ryan usually reads Uncanny. I can't say for certain, but I'd suspect he'll have a review of that this week.
Georges Jeanty has been doing some great work on the Buffy Season 8 book. Not sure if he'd be my first pick for a Batman book, but he is a great storyteller.
Getting a lot this week: Return of Bruce Wayne, GL, GLC, Wolverine, PunisherMax, Star Wars Invasion and Fear Agent (finally!!!!)
Also looking at Time Bomb, X-Men Legacy, Abe Sabien and Uncanny.
I dropped Secret Avengers.
I, on the other hand, am still sticking with Secret Avengers. One slow issue and everyone is dropping it? What's up with that?
Methinks also that they keep using Valkyrie as eye candy for these covers.
Marvel quoted you guys in their solicits for Avengers Academy 5. Good times.
I dropped Secret Avengers mostly because the $4 comics have a very short leash with me. I believe the only two that I currently pull are Wolverine and Punishermax
I'm off subject a bit, but is anyone excited about the X-23 book? I'm not so keen on the idea that I'm going to need to pull Daken and Wolverine for cross overs but I'm so excited.
@Kootie - I'm looking forward to it. Liu is a good writer and I'm a fan of the character. The crossovers (or at least the implication that there will be some kind of connection between teh books stories) is concerning, but I'm going to be checking it out when it's released.
aren't you picking up the flash???
@Anonymous 10 - It wasnt really clicking with me after the first issue. I enjoyed it a lot more than Rebirth, but decided not to continue reading it at this point. Ryan was following it still last I checked. He might ahve a review of it.
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